The worried sleep that had kept Luna collapsed gave way to semi-consciousness. In dismay she rolled over in the bed, her sides sore. Desperately, she kept her eyes pinched shut, clinging to the hope that she could drift back into full unconsciousness. Luna pined for that few extra minutes of sleep. To her dismay, through the distant wall the familiar voice of Guardian Angel rumbled enough to catch her ears and she knew she could no longer return to resting. Her fiance seemed to still be interrogating Nyx, his tone harsh and short even through the walls of the cabins. With a stretch of her back and wings Luna slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position on the bed. Her mind drifted to the comforts of the Palace she had grown accustomed to. How she wished again for the hot baths, the copious volumes of food and her traditional morning banana peel. None of them were readily available here on the Midnight Onyx. But, that was how it had to be.

Heaving a heavy sigh she accepted the losses. As much as Luna missed the conveniences they were not necessary. There was much to do, nutrition and focus were more important than taste and ritual distraction. Thus, she slipped out of the small bed, giving her haunches a light roll as she did. The galley kitchen would suffice and provide an end to her growling stomach and so she made her way to the door of the room. To her great surprise as she opened it two guards turned and looked at her with wide eyes. They turned to face each other for a moment and one of the pair dashed off without a word. He shot towards the stairwell that led to the kitchen and was gone before Luna could even open her mouth. Likewise the remaining guard filled the silence.

“Your Majesty, please,” He started, pausing for a short breath. “Please continue to rest. His Lordship has already had meal plans made and we will be delivering them to you shortly.”

While Luna mostly ignored his statement she could not ignore his positioning. Even as she made a few cautious steps around him, he blocked her.

“I insist.” He took another step to continue to keep her from leaving the room.

Luna rolled her eyes. She did not need to be waited upon. She had just overcome the urge not two seconds before. She gave the guard a cool look. He withered for a moment but returned to being resolute.

“As you wish,” she frowned.

Slowly she ducked back into the room. Even as determined as she was Luna did not possess the energy to argue and make the guards go against her fiance’s orders. Back in the cabin she could still hear Guardian Angel speaking to Nyx. She was beginning to get concerned for him. The stallion had not even considered sleep since Ashijinir had contacted Gusty back in Canterlot three days ago now. The potent headache that she had been retaining for most of yesterday returned and reared its ugly self across her forehead at the thought of Gusty Twilight. Her headache graduated from a general pain across her forehead to a piercing terrible in her temples. Such was the power of the thought of the Queen of Fire and Gusty Twilight being acquaintances. Since she had realized the connection, Luna had been dreading the collective meeting. This was made all the more relevant by the dubious state of the mare’s mind.

The adjacent cabin door creaked as it was roughly opened. Heavy stomping of hooves followed and the door to her cabin opened with the same fervor. Guardian Angel strutted in, a deep scowl etched onto his face. He shut the door behind him with a bang, not looking at her. Finally, after stalking over to the large chair he turned his gaze to her and his grimace turned tired and worn.

“Are you alright?” Luna asked reflexively.

He smiled. His fangs and slitted eyes present he shook his head no, but evidently with a lifted mood thanks to her words alone. Guardian Angel gave a long stretch and sigh from his chair.

“Did you feel anything from Zeccaran while you slept?” he questioned. The beleaguered face he had shown before having disappeared.

She had not, and this time it was Luna’s turn to shake her head. They remained silent for a time. She did not mind. Luna deeply enjoyed Guardian Angel’s presence alone. Somehow, against all odds he managed to be calm and collected and that made her smile. This was stopped by a sudden growl from her stomach.

“Have there been any changes since I fell asleep?” she petitioned for conversation. Even with her comfort with her fiance, she still did not like the idea of her body making undue noises so readily.

“Nothing specific. It seems that the Curse is trying to extract information from Zeccaran.” He paused, his face waxing philosophical. “Or she is trying to kill him. Either way that’s the price we will pay to keep that beast busy.”

“I’d prefer that we intervene before either happens,” Luna admonished.

Before they could discuss more a knock came to the door. Guardian Angel ordered the guests to come inside before she could object. And these guests were Royal Guard, laden with trays and trays of food. To Luna’s surprise, most of these trays were filled with fresh meat. The sight of bloody flesh started to make her gag before she could catch herself. Her discomfort seemed to be lost on her fiance as he immediately snagged a tray and hungrily tore into the meat. Such was his lot. It did not make the pile of pancakes, bananas, peaches, potato fries, orange juice, and coffee that came in piles and pitchers upon two trays appetizing, however. Thus, she stayed still, waiting as their attendants set up a folding table for her, grimacing as Guardian Angel moved onto his next tray with gusto. The guards shared her sentiment. One of them turning green and quickly exiting the room.

The rest of the staff left just as soon as they sat her food before her bed. The little folding table they set up wobbling from their hasty exit. Luna warily watched Guardian Angel as blood splashed up against his face. What type of meat he devoured was not something she cared to think of but it was hard to not wonder as he moved to the third tray.

“So. As you were saying.” He paused to swallow the bite he was chewing as he spoke.

“It would be good to stop this business. And I had an idea. One that you’ve used.” Luna continued. With a bit of bile coming to the back of her throat at the site of him continuing to devour meat she reached for a fork with her telekinesis. Anything to pull her eyes away from Guardian Angel eating like he had never been to etiquette school.

“Do you recall three nights ago, just before Ashijinir made contact with Gusty?” she asked.

“Yes, I do. It was the last time we had any breathing room,” Guardian Angel replied through another mouthful. Luna peeled a banana in the meantime and ate her favorite part, coupled with a bite of pancake. Though it was a bit of a forced exchange. Her appetite has since left her.

“You did something to hurt the Curse that night. And I was wondering if that is something you can reproduce. It certainly gave us a solid day of stability. Up until this business with Zeccaran...which makes me think that maybe if we work together, I can pull him back into this realm with that distraction.” Luna turned her gaze back to her fiance. His eyes narrowed. It was obvious he did not approve of the idea.

“No. It won’t work.” His voice was cold and steady. “ It has already experienced that vulnerability. It won’t leave its guard down this time.”

Luna frowned at Guardian Angel as he padded his bloody face with a towel that apparently had come with his food. He met her eyes for a second and a flicker of anger played across the depths of his pupils and Luna turned back to her food dejectedly.

They sat in silence as she ate. It was a moment’s peace in an otherwise chaotic hell. It felt wonderful to actually share a brief respite alone together. The sweet syrup on her pancakes and the smell of coffee made it almost seem that they were actually a regular couple enjoying a late Saturday morning breakfast. Then the thoughts of the day came back to her.

“We can’t just leave him there.” She could hear the scowl in her own voice.

“We can and we will. Going in to save him is exactly what the Mytsn wants us to do,” he replied with venom.

“You would know wouldn’t you. The two of you are quite alike. It is a wonder that you aren’t actually conspiring together!” Luna hissed back.

She met his eyes as the last word in her accusation exited her mouth. His perfect confidence shattered in an instant. The calm face and relaxed posture transformed into a look of betrayal and hurt that Luna had only seen once before. And just as she was to feel regret for her words the look in his eyes went feral and furious. The air in the room went cold yet her fur and skin felt too hot to wear. An immense amount of angry magical pressure filled the space and she was rendered scared and speechless.

“Don’t you dare compare me to that thing again. I’m not like that. Not anymore and never again!” His voice was quiet as he spoke. But, it was as if he screamed it into her very mind. Luna writhed uncomfortably in the bed.

His fury subsided and he turned his face from her; sparkling light in his eyes as if he was on the verge of tears. Still unable to speak, Luna remained transfixed. She had not meant to strike a nerve. He had not lashed out but his alone power was frightening. However, just like her own frustration she could feel his, not just with her comment but with the whole situation.

“Damn Curse. It can sit and literally do nothing and still win,” he murmured harshly.

“This is what it wants. It knows that it can sow discord between us just by holding Zeccaran, or anyone for that matter. I should be glad that it did not take Amethyst. Hell, I should be happy that dumb zebra is getting what he deserves but I’m not! It's just so…” His voice broke for a moment as he wiped his eyes. “Every little thing makes this all the more difficult.”

More than anything at the moment, Luna understood how he felt. She was not ready to go in front of the Queen of Fire. She was not ready to pretend everything was fine. She was barely ready to keep watch on Gusty when her turn came this evening. Who was watching now? Luna held the question. Her voice had returned and she had other things to say first.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I should not have said that. It is not true.”

“It’s fine. After all, I am a demon aren’t I? Look how scared i just made you.” He dismissed his own feelings with such cool efficiency that Luna left blinking in disbelief. It made her feel terrible because he had recognized that he made her fearful of his possible actions. Worse, she knew not to be scared, he had, and continued to be, the living action of redemption, he would never hurt her.

Luna slipped out of the bed and strode over to Guardian Angel and his chair. She placed a hoof against his chest. He responded by pulling her off her hooves and into his lap. The chair did not fit them both but his wings served to support her legs and back as he tilted her to match his position in the chair.

“Who is watching Gusty now?” she asked softly. There was no point dwelling on the feelings of remorse. If they moved forward together and forgave each other then they would make it.

“Nyx, actually.” Guardian Angel moved some of her mane out of her face with a hoof. He was much calmer now, his previous confidence returning.

“You trust her?”

“I trust her to not want to die twice.”

“You are so harsh.”

Luna smiled and shook her head. He kissed her before she could kiss him. They shared a tender moment. Stating their regrets and apologies, rocking back and forth together as they did. One thing was certain that if the Curse intended to drive a wedge between them, Guardian Angel would not let it happen. Even if that meant he would get mean and refuse to rescue Zeccaran. Luna could deal with it for now, and they both knew that.

“They have been partying for quite a while now,” He said, starting up a new discussion on the situation.

“Partying? Who is partying?” Luna questioned

“Gusty and Ashijinir.”

Luna’s jaw dropped. There were no words to describe the impossibility of such a claim. She knew it was no lie. Yet, every part of her being wanted to object to such an absurdity. It just went to prove that Gusty truly was the greatest of all anomalies. Luna decided to let it go. It hurt her head too much to try and think about it rationally. A knock came to the door and they both turned to the front of the cabin in confusion. Guardian Angel shrugged and she called for whoever it was to enter.

Pixima Stormwalker walked in, her eyes narrowed and accusatory. Luna slipped off of Guardian Angel sheepishly. Pixie stomped as he walked not hiding her anger in the least. Her pretty face contorted into a deeply lined scowl.

“It's been over 6 hours since the shift switch. Where is Zeccaran?” she questioned between sharp breaths.

“Locked up, away from you,” Guardian Angel replied without missing a beat. He flopped out of his chair with a loud clop and stood with the two mare calmly.

“Why?” She asked incredulously.

“None of your business, that’s why. It’s on a need to know basis, and you must not know. You’ll only cause trouble if you do. He’s not in any danger. As of yet. And we will keep it that way.” The stallion remained steadfast in his words.

“I know he is in the room next door. I can just break in,” Pixie retorted smartly.

Luna had seen enough of the two siblings argue and jumped in before her fiance could say more. It was best that she practiced a bit of a diplomatic tongue anyway.

“Guardian Angel is being dramatic. Zeccaran is just a little sick. Please, refrain from seeing him. He is not himself,” she said. It was not quite a lie. Pixie’s expression signaled that she seemed to take it for full truth. That was why her words surprised Luna.

“Just tell me the truth,” she hissed to the alicorn.

Luna looked over to her fiance. His face was colored with suspicion and distrust. She knew that Guardian Angel did not trust his sister, especially with Gusty on the line. Frankly, Luna was finally starting to see why: Pixie seemed to only care about what interested her and the success of the operation was not one of them.

“Luna said it best. Zeccaran is not himself. No matter what he’ll go back to normal with time. How long that will be is unknown. He’s locked up for everypony’s safety, including yours, okay?” Guardian Angel stated.

His reasoning was hopefully the actual reason Nyx was locked in Gusty’s cabin. Luna had yet to ask what the plan was for the super-imposed ghastly creature within the zebra’s body. All she knew was that somehow Guardian Angel had convinced Nyx to use Zeccaran’s magic to observe Gusty’s mind.

“Alright. But, I don’t like it.” Pixie responded slowly. She turned around and left as quickly as she had come.

“I’m going to triple the guards outside the cabin.” Her fiance said the instant the door was closed.

“I think that is a good idea. I have to figure out how to approach this party in the meantime.”

Guardian Angel nodded and departed leaving her alone in the cabin. Luna heaved a sigh. It was back to business as usual.

The cabin was silent over the soft sounds of Zeccaran’s body breathing. The stallion that resided in the room with the resident possessed corpse stared out the window set that looked out over the jungles of the dragons’ isle. His shoulders hurt from the sheer stress he felt. That feeling paled in comparison to what he would have given for a day that he could call regular: which was anything. Bunker turned his gaze back to his prisoner. He had heard the voice that had exited the zebra’s lips, he had seen the eyes. They were not his friend’s. He shuddered with disgust and dismay.

But who could blame him for his sour mood? His other friend had spent the better part of an hour berating the beast within Zeccaran’s flesh to behave. For Stormwalker to personally come and chastise something was a signal that this little adventure Zeccaran had been taken on was not one of relaxation. What ate at him more than anything else was that he could do no more. Even though his pegasus companion had requested him to keep watchin the cabin as the last line of defense between hell and what have you, he felt useless. What was he supposed to do if something was capable of slipping past all the guards or worse defeating them all in combat. He was beginning to think that Stormwalker thought him a much finer warrior than he was.

Bunker heaved a long sigh and momentarily watched a set of large and colorful birds take wing over the canopy of trees. They were pretty things and held his attention for the moment. However, his momentary distraction was not enough to make him unable to notice the sudden pressure of magic behind him.

Spinning about quickly, Bunker witnessed a most peculiar site. A snap-hiss of a teleportation spell sounded and with a flash of light appeared Princess Luna. He balked in confusion. There was positively no reason that the alicorn needed to teleport into the room. The guards would have let her pass. She was not on the restricted list. Not even close.

“Princess of the Moon,” he quipped her title like he usually did. “What is with such a display? You know that your fiance does not want any magic being used frivolously at the moment.”

Before Luna could answer the hum of static and beeping prickled his left ear. He instinctively twitched it. The exterior guard lieutenant hailed him over the communication earpiece. Luna took notice of his twitchy ear and even more of his fast moving hoof. He pressed the answer button.

“We just saw a flash and have magic cast indicators flashing. What’s going on in there, Bunker?” The posh voice of the lieutenant asked into his ear.

“Princess Luna just teleported into the room,” he replied. He watched the mare and gave her a roll of his eyes. An exception could easily be made for her. After all, she was one of the Dream Watchers, it was important she have easy access to one of her squadmates.

“Can we see her? Have her walk up to the window,” came the soldier's voice again.

“They want to confirm it's you, go up to the window,” he told her.

“Of course. How silly of me, I forgot about the magic rule. I did not sleep well.” She started to stroll up towards the glass as she spoke.

Curiously, she wore a pendant that Bunker had never seen before. She also carried a bag that he had seen somewhere before, but not within Luna’s possession. Puzzled, the stallion stood still and picked his own brain. He watched in thought as she placed the bag down on the floor and flipped her mane back. The sun caught her features, making her teal eyes sparkle with the sort of luster Bunker would usually attribute to Gusty’s fur instead.

“Alright, that checks out. Boss says that it doesn’t matter if she did that. She’s good to teleport back out.” The reply came finally after a few extra seconds of waiting.

Bunker nodded up to the cloud where he knew the lieutenant hid with a pair of binoculars. A glint of light sparked twice from the position. It was a silent confirmation, but necessary nonetheless. He turned to Luna still thinking over where he had seen the bag.

“Come to visit the flesh-prison, Princess?” he asked.

“Excuse me?” Luna’s face twisted into confusion.

“Sorry, that was a bad joke.”

The Princess nodded plainly and hopped over towards Zeccaran. She seemed to lack her usual careful grace, then again with the severity of the times perhaps being momentarily taken by whimsy was not so bad. Bunker watched her curiously his mind finally snapping to a realization. The bag belonged to Zeccaran. It had been one of the items teh zebra had brought onto the Midnight Onyx. But why did the Princess have it now?

“Has he had any trouble dreamwalking?” Luna asked. Her voice seemed cautious as if she was picking her words carefully. This simply added to Bunker’s growing suspicions. Not to mention the question was too broad to be one Luna would even ask

“No problems as far as I can tell,” he lied.

The faux-zebra had repeatedly complained about the issues with casting the appropriate magic. Bunker had stood in this room and heard it said in front of Guardian Angel. The same stallion who would have told Luna such a report. Something was not right but he could not put his hoof on it. There were too many simple explanations to accuse a Royal Pony of being an imposter.

Meanwhile, the Princess rummaged through her pilfered bag with a wing. As she did a sudden and sharp beeping made him reach up and smack his MIC out of his ear. He knew the sound, it was the special warning hail that signified a low power crystal. The MIC tumbled down to the ground where its high-pitched whine could be heard in the room. It drew Luna’s attention as well. She looked at the device on the floor with concern then up at Bunker.

“I have a few replacements from Zeccaran’s personal stash in here.” She motioned at the bag. “You’d have to calibrate it though.”

“That’s easy. I’d have to do that even if you recharged that one. I’ll take it, please,” he replied in kind.

It was a bit convenient that Luna had acquired the bag and the equipment but perhaps the moony mare had simply been preparing the material for when she was to leave and visit the Queen of Dragons. It was an excellent piece of equipment after all. The Princess reached into the bag with her mouth and produced a new MIC and gave it a toss instead of using her telekinesis. Bunker caught it and went about putting it on. He slipped the earpiece in and undid and placed the forehead band that kept the gear in place.

Once it was there Bunker blinked. His head felt strange. It was like he had taken several large shots of whiskey in quick succession and his perceptions were just starting to tilt into drunkenness. He fought the sensation. There was no reason for him to be feeling the way he did and he needed to be hyper attentive. If something was to happen to Zeccaran’s body Gusty and Guardian Angel would probably be quite cross with him. Focusing, Bunker reached up to the device again and turned it on, he then sent the broad hail with a push of a different button. Still the feeling did not pass. He cast a glance at Princess Luna who stood watching him closely. However, when he looked at her the sensation passed.

“Feeling okay?” She questioned with a smile.

“Yes, whatever it was has passed. Is there anything you need Princess?” Bunker asked back.

“Just keep watch at that window and pay no attention to me or anything out of the ordinary you may hear. And let the lieutenant know that your MIC suddenly lost charge and I recharged it for you.” Luna smiled widely with a sort of strange satisfaction he did not recognize as hers.

“Of course.” Bunker thought it odd that he was accepting Luna’s advice to lie but he did not think of much else.

The attending officer hailed the stallion as was required to re-link the device. He turned away from the Princess and forgot she was there. In fact Bunker could not even remember the last few moments. Not that he minded. It was like a great weight had been lifted off of his back and that was enough for him. He told his officer what he was told to say and only received general resigned acceptance of the fact. It seemed so quiet in the room now, but that was good. Bunker liked it quiet.

Behind him, far from the eyes that looked into the windows, Luna reached up to her pendant and pulled it off. A small whoosh murmured in the room and Bunker did not notice, just like he was not supposed to. The image of the Princess of the Moon disappeared and was replaced by the real pony that had worn the magic pendant. Pixie Stormwalker grinned slyly to herself. While it was a rather egregious waste of her resources to impersonate a Royal and infiltrate a locked chamber, she considered it worth it.

Of course the only reason it worked out in the end was the enchanted items she used. A little illusion magic on a pendant, a potent bit of persuasion magic on the MIC she had given Bunker, and a stored teleport spell. The most important however, was something of her own invention. A small device she liked to call the M.E.W.T.(Magic Erasing Wave Transmitter). She had activated the machine when she had fiddled in the bag right in front of Bunker. The results had been perfect, only disrupting the magic in the room and not the detection spells outside of it. Pixie was quite proud of herself for it and could not wait to show off the device to Zeccaran now that she was sure it worked.

In the end everything had gone according to her improvised plan. No one would be the wiser for at least half a day. The only issue Pixie could perceive was that Bunker had told exterior guards who had then told her brother that Luna had teleported into the room. The guise had been necessary to ensure whatever interior security was fooled. Pixie was happy that she had taken the precaution. Perhaps even happier that she had managed to smuggle the equipment on board without getting it confiscated by her elder brother. However, Luna’s sudden appearance in the room was something that Guardian Angel was sure to ask his fiance about. Especially because it broke the recently enforced orders on frivolous and extraneous use of magic on the Midnight Onyx. Still, the quickest he could likely put the information together would be about an hour, probably right about the time the actual Luna was leaving to go speak with the dragons. That gave her time to get the information she wanted out of Zeccaran. Whatever that information that was, remained to be seen.

Without another moment’s pause Pixie hopped over to her boyfriend and looked him over. He sat on a small chair, his body leaned into one of the corners. She did not bother to wake him. He lay in magical sleep doing his duty to monitor Gusty Twilight. Pixie did not dare interrupt such endeavors no matter how badly she wanted to know what Zeccaran had to say. There was no reason to put the two of them in danger by alerting Guardian Angel prematurely. So she waited.

Finally, after a long set of minutes a sharp bell rang. It came from a manual alarm clock that sat just behind Zeccaran’s chair on a shelf. Pixie did not move as Bunker turned around and observed them. As instructed he made no issue with her presence, not so much as looking at her. He walked over and turned the alarm off watching Zeccaran as he came around. The zebra slowly woke up, blinking his eyes rapidly and not focusing on the world around them. Bunker dutifully reported that Zeccaran was awake and on break. The stallion returned to the window and stood there silently. Pixie waited eagerly for her boyfriend to realize she was in the room.

“Zec!” she whispered excitedly to him.

His eyes snapped to her, his pupils dilating. Pixie bit her own lip before instantly pressing her lips into his. He tried to return the gesture but his mouth mostly flailed about uselessly. She released him only to find his face colored with fear and confusion.

“Zec-” She looked him over just to be sure, “-what’s the matter?”

“N-nothing...I just uh...um…” Her boyfriend trailed off his eyes looking around the room worriedly.

He called out to Bunker who did not turn around. Pixie quickly shushed him with a wing, grimacing in sad betrayal. It would seem that Luna’s words were true. He clearly was not feeling himself. He was at least safe and not in the danger she had thought him to be in. She caught his eyes and he froze. Almost imperceptibly she saw a flicker of topaz color the inner ring of his purple irises. With it came a strange feeling, a feeling that the eyes she looked at were not her lovers. It made her mind spin, made her question even the feeling of the fur on the frog of her hoof. Whatever was going on she knew was beyond her control and that sent shivers up and down her spine. Pixie loathed being unable to affect her fate. And now, perhaps for the first time ever, she felt her chest ache far worse for the fate of another. Gritting her teeth she fought the urge to spit, to scream, to fight. She deeply despised the idea of Zeccaran’s safety being out of her control. However, freaking out right now while she was compromised was not in her or her boyfriend’s interest. What was important was finding out as much as she could from whoever this imposter was in front of her.

“You are not Zeccaran. Who are you?” She seethed quietly.

“Uh..I’m uh…” the zebra stammered futilely.

Pixie raised her hoof and slammed it into the imposter’s chest. The body of her boyfriend yelped in pain like he would but somehow managed to sound wrong as if it did not know what it was supposed to feel when harmed. In her subconscious she could feel her mind flay from the stress. The feeling of total juxtaposition of her entire life was crushing her. She felt as if she was leaning over the edge of a cliff with no wings.

“Who. Are. You.” Pixie twisted her face into a wicked smile.

“I-I’m Nyx.”

The smile turned into a scowl. That answer made no sense. In a flurry her mind raced through answers. None of them were right and she knew it. What was more she was both furious at and impressed with her brother’s ability to convince so many ponies close to her, including Zeccaran, to keep secrets from her. If things were ever to return to normal for her, studying her elder sibling’s ability to manipulate would be the first thing she did. There were still more questions.

“The Nyx?”

The faux-zebra nodded warily. It looked as if it was ready to scream for help actively. However, Pixie kept its attention on her alone and not on any thoughts of escape or help.

“So...barring all the other questions like: ‘how did you survive getting eaten?’ and ‘why are you in my boyfriend?’ or other things like that…..how about:” Pixie shuddered with each extra breath she took before continuing, “Where is Zeccaran?”

For a brief moment Nyx’s face waxed thoughtful. It returned to its confused and frightened state quickly. Pixie needed this information. Somehow, she suspected the monster impersonating her lover knew that. It made her even more frayed than before.

“Well...well he’s trapped inside Gusty’s mind,” it answered.

“Dreamwalking complication I assume? What else don’t I know?” She hissed back at the paltry imitation of the beast that was supposed to be the Mistress of Fear.

Nyx visibly weighed her options. Pixie made it abundantly clear that the only thing Nyx had to fear right now was her. She slapped the creature across the face. This time, it understood that what was done hurt. Though it did not cry out, comprehension dawned on the faux-zebra’s features. It vacantly reached up and rubbed the place where she had struck it.

“There...there are too many details to relay efficiently,” Nyx mumbled dejectedly.

“Enlighten me. We only have limited time before my brother catches me.” Pixie leaned up close, pressing her nose into the creature.

Nyx kept it short and simple. She spoke of the quick details, the core of the principle of what was happening. Pixie had her repeat it. She did not believe her ears. She could not comprehend the process, the danger, the insolence. Once she heard it for the second time she leaned back away from the creature that inhabited her Zeccaran’s body. Her mind ground to halt. There were only more questions. More worry, and more depravity reared their beautiful heads in her mind’s eye. She turned a twisted and unsettled grin back to Nyx. Vacantly, she could feel her sense of the world start to come apart. That did not matter, not quite yet. Still, she wanted to make sure she understood what she had been told.

“So. Let me rehearse this for you. My brother, my soon to be sister-in-law, my best friend, and my boyfriend, have all been successfully keeping from me, the information-” Pixie paused to draw a calming breath. It did not work. “-the information that Gusty has an interdimensional monster, not unlike you once were, inside her mind.”

Nyx nodded.

“And on top of that. Zeccaran, my boyfriend, you know, my one thing I have going for me right now, not only was in on the secret, but he is now trapped inside Gusty’s mind with that unspeakable horror and no one was going to tell me about it. Aaaand no one is going to rescue him.”

“That is correct.”

Pixie looked directly into Nyx’s eyes. The creature withered. That was the right description. Creature, abomination, usurper: Stealer of her lover and latchkey accomplice. Her mind flashed to her brother, how dare he destroy all her work and act lazy about it! How dare he pretend she was insignificant compared to this! The betrayal, the hurt, the insecurity, the inability to control and analyze the situation, it all came crashing down onto Pixie in one fell swoop. She grit her teeth again preventing her from screaming as her mind moved from a flurry into a blizzard. This was not it, this was not the end of her control, not just yet, she refused to give in. The urge to lash out grew closer than before, but things still did not add up, there was still more to analyze.

Zeccaran would not willingly keep a secret from her unless Guardian Angel was involved. That was a certainty as surely as Celestia and Luna would raise the sun and moon. Likewise, her boyfriend had told her much of how the process of Dreamwalking worked, and what Nyx had told her backed that up.

“You seem troubled,” the faux-zebra said as she sat there contemplating whether or not to freak out.

“Quiet. I’m trying to figure out how this all fits together and how it all works!” she growled at the creature.

“You know I feel the same way. Like I’ve had this dryness in the back of my mouth? Throat? And my abdomen kind of hurts and it's been making noises…”

Biting her tongue and drawing blood she narrowly avoided falling into a fit of rage at having Nyx describe hunger. Pixie hissed a vicious breath through her clenched and now blood-stained teeth. She forced herself to take a few breaths, making sure they were even and reasonable. Her veins pumped fervently like the ichor within them was boiling. Unfortunately, the attempt at calming herself did nothing. She continued to seethe as Nyx looked at her with more and more concern, probably unaware that she portrayed emotion at all on Zeccaran’s face.

“Something that I need to know, you freak of nature, is how Zeccaran got stuck, and why no one is going to get him, right now, something I would believe is in everypony’s best interest,” Pixie made it more of a statement than a question. Which it was of course. She needed to know, desperately deep within her heart of hearts. Because if there was even the slightest chance she could regain some semblance of control it would hinge on Nyx’s next words.

“Y-your b-b-brother.” The beast swallowed hard after stuttering words that made Pixie’s hot blood go cold.

“Your brother thinks that the Curse is trying to bait us. Bait us into making the attempt. His hypothesis is that if Luna and I, and possibly himself, tried to reach the portion of Gusty’s mind we have the Curse trapped in, where it is holding Zeccaran, it will take the opportunity to break free. A-and if it does that, it gains control of Gusty.”

“And that would take an alicorn level of threat up to a full blown world ending event,” Pixie finished the thought and Nyx nodded in agreement.

Anxiety took her in that moment. She could feel the tears welling up on her face. Shaking, she tried to think of anything that could help her anything but going to her brother. There was nothing. She tried again, and like a calculator she quickly returned the same answer in her head. Frustration and fury took her and Pixie no longer held in her hurt, her anger, and her fear. From her lips rose at a booming bellow that seemed to echo around the room and then out of it. Bunker did not move just as he was to remain making Nyx look between them in apprehension. Pixie snarled at the usurper of her beloved’s body and stomped about the room. She needed more time, she needed to try again. There had to be another way.

Outside the cabin she could hear guards realizing that she was inside. She no longer cared. It no longer mattered. Hastily, she went about collecting her equipment, even the special MIC she had given Bunker. As soon as everything was in the bag she burst out of the room. The guards all stood with their spears ready, her brother stood in their center. He cocked his head at her but did not move to stop her as she marched past. The ponies attending him did the same and she easily returned to her cabin, the cursed cabin that smelled like Zeccaran and slammed the door shut behind her. The lock latched with the force of the vicious shutting. Determined beyond all things, Pixie opened books and notes and scratch paper in the cabin, writing out logic trains and the situation many times. It was the only thing holding her together now.

Knocking followed and calls for her name too. Pixie ignored them. She was far too engrossed in figuring out her plan, something, anything, for her to do to get Zeccaran back.

Outside the room, Guardian Angel and a pair of his soldiers stood silently. All of them could hear the younger Stormwalker muttering loudly to herself. With a grim face the leading stallion let his wing lose some of its form and he pushed it into the lock. Just like the door to the lab that his sister and Zeccaran used he let his unnatural body pick the lock. He jerked his head, motioning for one of his attendants to peak inside. The soldier did so without hesitation. After a few long moments he turned and faced Guardian Angel again. His face was pale and his eyes wide with fear.

“Seems like everything is fine!” he barked unevenly.

Guardian Angel did not need his psychic abilities to tell the pony was lying. However, with the briefest venture he felt, more that heard, the stallion’s apprehension and disturbance. Images of papers stuck to walls, flashed across is his mind’s eye. More than anything the manic look locked into his sister’s eyes was the most telling. Everything was not fine. Guardian Angel grimaced. He had warned her she was not supposed to know, but since when had Pixie ever listened to him?

“I’m going to go patrol the forward cargo hold!” the same soldier from before yelled. He yelled more to himself than anypony else if those present were being honest.

“There’s no patrols scheduled there though…” the more fortunate of the two said.

“There is now!” proclaimed the first fellow.

He dashed off leaving the demon-stallion to tell his cohort to follow the pony who had left. Alone, Guardian Angel stood outside his sister’s cabin for a time. He debated if defusing this particular bomb at this particular moment was best. Not to mention figuring out how she had managed to infiltrate the room and fool Bunker. Just before he made his decision a sudden piercing pain hit his head. What came with it were the wails of a weak and foolish zebra that was finally getting the punishment he deserved. The Curse had made its move. The bait was Zeccaran and it was going to make him deal with the stallion’s screams, just so he could worry about what it planned to do with them. Evidently Gusty was too drunk to notice. Something told Guardian Angel that was why the Curse acted now.

Fettered by the experience, he struggled to leave the cabin area. However, though his progress was slow, he made his way to the very front of the Midnight Onyx’s prow. There he stood. Torn between reveling in Zeccaran’s well-deserved fate, and worrying over what the Curse had in store for them next and the loss of his second most important Dreamwalking asset. The sun set as he remained there unaware of what more happened in Pixie’s cabin.

In that small room, the younger Stormwalker plotted fervently. She had not felt this way ever, but in a way it was liberating. Her mind flew through ideas both good and bad, faster than ever before. The room tasted funny and her dilapidated state was palpable even to her. Her papers became scattered and the walls were stained with pen, pencil, paint, and marker. Nothing and everything worked, nothing and everything failed. Again and again she tried to find other options, other ways. In the end there was not a way out of the situation. Still she tried again, hours passing as the chime of the room’s clock banged angrily in the background of her mind.

Eventually she found herself laying on the floor sobbing. This was her breaking point, her very core shattering. She had relied on luck, she had planned on controversy. Pixie even had let things outside of her control play out. She was never surprised. She liked it that way. She needed it that way. That was what made this moment antithetical to her very existence. Her muscles pulsed, contracting and twitching on their own. Pixie looked around the room, her blurry eyes seeing things that were not there. None of it mattered beyond the overwhelming fear she had now. Her game had been upended and she could scarce stomach the consequences of following through. Because the one critical issue with her quandary was who this all relied on.

She already knew his answer. She knew how it would play out. But no matter what happened she had to play this part. For herself, for Zeccaran. That was the only thing that mattered now. That determination to set things right urged her to stand. Her mind’s demand for normalcy, for extricating the situation from her brother’s control a paramount endeavor. She desired above all, freedom from this circumstance. Thus, she moved, fleeting out of her cabin and around the ship.

Pixie searched the Onyx. After what felt like an extra hour of walking around the vessel she found her brother. Out on the deck, near the furthest point of the bow, he waited alone. When she reached him Pixie realized he stood wide-eyed and vacant. His face was pale and his eyes locked on another place. With the two of them completely alone emotion and instinct took her.

Pixie reared up on her hindlegs and punched him with all her might. She might not be as strong as him but she was much stronger than the average pony. However, she could feel the blow crack her hoof as it ricocheted off of his face. It was like she had punched a mountain. Fortunately, Pixie did not notice the pain. The only pain she could feel right now was the hurt in her heart.

Guardian Angel’s eyes snapped to focus and as he looked at her the glow of the ship’s lights made the sweat shine on his face and neck.

“Fix this! Fix this, please!” she shouted over distant sounds of happy dragon roars.

Guardian Angel did not respond as she stood before him. Pixie shuddered, barely able to hold herself together. His face flashed with rage making some of the sweat on his brow steam off as his fangs grew long and his eyes turned red. Then, he groaned in pain for a moment, his look becoming unfocused. It was not her that had hurt him, it was something else. She pondered what it could be, the possible answers only making her even more upset. Finally, when he looked up again and met her eyes, his gaze looked into her soul. The red color of their ancestors’ bloody irises reflected her face and Pixie became transfixed as he spoke.

“So. This is what does it for you, huh? Zeccaran is what makes you lose it?” He questioned softly.

“Yes. In the game of chess I've been playing by myself he’s the most important piece.” Pixie was hit with the gravity of what she was saying. She truly had gone beyond her comfort zone, beyond all logic.

“It’s him, I know, but yes. I need him I-I-I...I can’t do this without him,” she stammered.

The softness of her voice caused the quiet of the deck to reach her ears. None of the ponies under her sibling’s command came to them. It was as if it was meant to be this way. Idly, Pixie judged by the height of the moon, noticing it was mid-evening and realizing how much time had passed since she had been in the cabin. That was a distraction and she let it go. Defiantly, she returned her gaze to Guardian Angel and strengthened her stance before her brother, tears on her eyes, feeling supremely not herself. This adversity was not one she had overcome not by any means. So when Guardian Angel snarled and his face waxed angry she suddenly was gripped by fear and loss like never before. Like it was years ago when she was young, like she had just finally understood what it meant to carry Shadow-kin blood, only much, much worse.

“You are only giving me more reasons to leave him in there. Even if we somehow keep Gusty safe,” He snarked and snarled.

“Please. Please help me,” she pleaded angrily. Her pride was more than bruised, but Zeccaran mattered that much to her.

For a moment or two, her brother’s eyes unfocused again. His breathing quickened and his face grew pale. Pixie stared at him with concern, even moving a hoof in front of his face.

“What the hell is going on?” she asked. Guardian Angel came back to her as she spoke. He gave his head a shake.

“The Mytsn is having her way with your boyfriend,” he replied quietly.

A fury boiled suddenly inside Pixie that she could not control. She reared up to punch him again but was stopped as he batted her hooves away with little effort. With speed that she could not see, only feel, her back hooves were knocked in the air and she was forced to her rump.

“You said he was safe! You vile, inbred monster! You fucking liar!” She hissed at her brother.

“I said he was safe, As. Of. Yet. Besides, it's not like this is going to mess him up anymore than he already is.” His nonchalant dismissal made her even more upset.

Pixie blathered out more insults. She could not hardly tell what she was saying. Her mind, her soul, had been worked into such a frenzy that she let them fly. She stood up again trying to punch him once more.

“Enough!” He boomed.

The deck shook beneath her hooves. Then she felt it: the magic pressure. She had never truly felt what her brother could do. His mane and wings burst into flame, and his anger and hate glowed in his eyes like the brightness of the sun. Pixie could feel only terror in her heart, making her freeze. She had never even been playing a game against him and yet suddenly she felt like she had lost. She knew his powers, but never experienced them, not like this. It made shivers run all over her body, like frozen wind constantly beating against her. However, as soon as he made his outburst did his anger disappear. His face suddenly went sad, a comprehension that made his brow heavy accompanying the melancholy that danced in his eyes. Slowly, he released a long sigh, from deep within his chest.

“You have no idea how truly I understand how you feel. From the deepest part of me, my absolute core, do I understand your feelings right now. Not for Zeccaran, of course. But…yeah,” He said. His voice was colored with a sadness she had never heard come from him. Uneasy, Pixie waited for him to continue. “Still…”

“I can’t have you get in the way right now.”

The world spun and Pixie could not focus. Had he hit her? Had she simply collapsed? Was it both? What was so sharp on her neck? Why did his voice hurt her head when he spoke? She did not know.

“You will give me two days. Then you can have two weeks, hell, two months! Freak out as much as you like then. But, until then, dear sister...you’ll be staying in your cabin.”

His voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Pixie looked up at him from where she lay on the deck. Then she was hoisted up roughly and carried off. She did not care. It did not matter. She was bound to his will now. She just needed Zeccaran back, she needed some type of release. She was tossed into her piles of paper and she skidded across the blurry room and her notes. Pixie waited there, broken. She waited until someone finally came to visit. Unfamiliar eyes on her favorite face. With a twisted grin, she knew how she could survive the next two days. There would be plenty of entertainment. And even thought she knew it all would be lies, it still felt better than her brother’s lies.