I was gobsmacked what the Earth pony before me was saying.

“The Bloodmoon? The Lord Bloodmoon?” I asked, hoping for clarification. “You offer ponies to his minions to be taken to his castle?”

“Yes… It’s- It’s something we’re not proud of.” the mare sighed, turning her gaze downward in shame.

“No not that- You’re telling me, that you make regular contact with his forces?”

“Well, not exactly…” she hesitantly stated. “Every thirteen years, on the blood moon, the Bloodguard comes and demands one of our own as an offering. A show of ‘fealty’ they call it. We usually leave the pony tied to a pole just outside of town. Night comes and goes, and in the morning there’s no pony to be seen.”

I rubbed my chin in thought.

“Is- Is there any blood or body parts? Or tracks even?”

“N-no… Well, blood that is. No blood where we can see. But there’s often lots of tracks.” she nodded, confusion on her face.

“Hmm…” I hummed. “And the Blood moon is three days away?”

“Yes that’s right.” she nodded again.

“I have good news then!” I beamed. “You won’t have to worry this Blood moon! Because I volunteer!”

“You WHAT?!”

“Absolutely not young filly!” Starswirl chastised the next morning.

My declaration had caused quite a stir in the village, and a huge town meeting had been called. The important speakers in the village sat with us around an oval table, the day to day peasants stood around the table, listening in on the proceedings.

“Absolutely not Luna!” Clover added.

“Your sister is a benevolent ruler Luna. But if I allow this she will have my head on the headsmare’s block before she could say ‘Sorry master’!” Starswirl pounded a hoof on the table in emphasis.

“Luna,” Clover sighed. “We understand you… ‘Like’ to save ponies. But surely there's a way to… Somehow save these ponies from this fate without sacrificing yourself?” she pleaded.

“It’s not that we’re not appreciative of you offering…” their Reeve tapped his hooves together nervously. “But just… Why?!” he squeaked loudly, his voice pitching up with confusion. “You’ve barely met us and you’re willing to go?! For nothing?! Who does that?!” the stallion began to hyperventilate. Several more voices rose to add into the deluge.

“Calm down everypony.” I tried to reassure them, trying to speak over the tumult. “I just need you to trust me.”

The crowd seemed to settle a bit, but they certainly weren’t happy to.

“I can’t tell you why. You’ll think I’m crazy.” I continued.

“Too bloody late fer that lass.” someone from the outer crowd called out.

“Be it as it may,” I tried to ignore the stallion who shouted. “I have a reason, a plan, and a very strong urge to do this. And I just cannot tell you those reasons quite yet.” I tried to stress.

“And if you go, what will your sister think?” Starswirl interjected. “‘Oh me oh my! What ever has Luna done now? Ah well! Nothing to worry about at all!” he stated in a falsetto tone that was meant to mimic Celestia’s. He must’ve been truly panicking if he was breaking his stoic persona to be sarcastic. “Of course not!” he finished, returning to his own voice. “Don’t be daft Luna! You’re smarter than this!”

“I just…” I held in a deep breath. “Can’t.” I sighed out. “I cannot tell you. You wouldn’t understand and I don’t expect you to. I just… Feel like I need to do this.” I looked around, looking at every face I could see. “I get that you don’t understand. Why I would go. Why would I willingly go to my doom? But it’s like there’s an open door. An invitation to come inside. If I do enter, I’ll be granted greatness beyond anything I can imagine. But if I don’t… The door will close forever. And no one will ever enter.” I glanced around again, gesturing with a hoof. “My friends, comrades and acquaintances alike! You know me. You know when I am jolly and you know when I am serious. And have I ever steered you wrong when I am serious?” I stood up, forelegs on the table. “I swear to you all. I have no intention of throwing my life away. But I must go.” I felt tears begin to well in my eyes. “And if you won’t let me… Then you won’t be able to stop me.”

With the threat looming, the air seemed to grow slightly colder.

Everypony shared a look at my speech. Not quite sure what to make of the situation.

“Luna…” Starswirl began, trying a more calm approach. “Are you sure about this? This would be the most dangerous thing you have ever done. And if you don’t come back… I don’t know what that will do to Celestia.”

“More sure about this than anything.” I replied quietly. “If I don’t go I will regret it for the rest of my life. And... As much as it hurts me to say, it would be easier on Tia for my quick death. Dying how I lived. No needing to see me fade away over the years. There’s no telling how much longer than me she’ll live.”

Not strictly the truth, but not technically a lie either.

A large portion of the ponies sighed in understanding, they didn’t like it, but they understood.

“If I succeed, you will know it immediately within the week. If I fail… Well. Don’t be standing next to Tia.” I tried to sugarcoat. A few chuckled one or twice, but most were thinking deeply.

“Luna… If you’re sure…” Starswirl began. “Oh stars damnit! Okay! Fine!” he called out. “Won’t be too long before I’d join you in the Elysium Plains to smack your ears anyway…”

The tension seemed to break now that it was decided.

I didn’t have much of a plan as I had made out.

While it was true, the Moon's plan was viable, the simple truth was that nopony knew what Lord Bloodmoon’s lair was like. If that wasn't the case, then a start of a rock-solid plan could be thought out. But no one knew what was inside, what it looked like, or even where it was! There could’ve been anything inside and it could've been anywhere!

You just can’t plan for that!

Therefore, the reason I had to take this opportunity now was made up of several interlocking reasons. If I were to forgo this opportunity with the intention of returning 13 years hence, it could be possible their spies would see me coming… And lay a devastating trap… If I were to leave now, it would be a spontaneous revelation. Even the best spy can’t account for spontaneous whimsy.

They would suspect just another helpless victim… Their guard would be down… It would be easy to slide the knife in. And that would have to be enough. No plan could be made. Yet no suspicion was to be had. And with the blessing…

Yes… It was possible.

With the Moon’s Blessing I needed no weapon. But there were things I could do to prepare. Starswirl had an “invisible pocket” spell. He made use of it to keep his favorite instruments on his person, just out of touch with our world so they could be carried weightlessly, and without hindering the old stallion. With it I could take a few things. Doubtlessly necessary because the odds of the Bloodgaurd letting me keep any saddlebags were basically nonexistent.

No wonder he somehow managed to have everything he needed when he needed.

I liberated several jars of preserved garlic from the village’s foodstuffs. The common rumor was, vampires could not stand garlic. If it were because of some curse the Alicorns had bestowed on them, or if garlic was just too pungent for their fabled senses I didn’t know. But it was a common enough belief that there surely must be some reason for it to have traction. Several other things were acquired as well. A wooden stake, because a spare weapon couldn’t hurt, a wooden, carved depiction of an ancient Alicorn, a few days worth of rations that I could stave off hunger with if they didn’t feed me properly, and a few vials of liquid a somewhat crazed looking Pegasus had claimed were “holy”. They sparked slightly if jostled too much.

I wasn’t too sure about the vials, but I had been around enough Pegasi lightning to know that it couldn’t not be useful.

Starswirl came to the rescue again with the garlic. It was specifically the smell that famously repelled vampires. That meant they could find my stashed garlic more easily if they were more sensitive to it. So I had to find a way to somehow cover up the smell. The old wizard helped twofold. Firstly, because I didn’t want the guards to suspect anything so I did my best to not be near any garlic in case they smelled it on me and figured out not all was what it seemed. So Starswirl helped by using an old food preservation technique. The food would be placed in a jar and sealed with wax. The jar would then be placed in a special enchanted pouch. The pouch would keep the food in the same condition it was placed in the container until removed from the pouch. No one knew how it worked, but it was thought it was an old spell from the Alicorns. Memorized and retaught over the ages just because it was so useful. But for me the spell had an interesting side effect that I intended to abuse.

You see, the spell kept food just as warm as it was made months, even years later. But once closed, it would not smell like the food was even there at all. You would not feel heat off the pouch, you would not smell the lingering scent, and it weighed next to nothing despite being able to carry weeks worth of food, if you rationed and organized the insides of the pouch properly.

This side effect was perfect for hiding the garlic. The pottery jars they were in had a tint of garlic to them. Not enough to be prominent or obtuse, but just enough to notice. Just enough to be found.

Enter, the invisible pocket to make sure no smell escaped.

The three days passed how you might think it did. I went around the camp to gather my supplies. But garlic, a wooden stake, rations and a depiction of an Alicorn weren’t that difficult to acquire in the farming village. So that left a sizable portion of the time fending off Starswirl, and Clover. They had only stopped pestering me an hour before I was led out to the outskirts of town. A few villagers asked me why I was doing this. After the fourth one asked, only to receive the same answer, did the village seem to understand that they wouldn’t understand.

The time had arrived. My supplies were in place and hidden. I had a “ceremonial void ring” placed around my horn. I had practiced with the blade the Moon’s Gift summoned to scrape the ring off without the direct use of magic a few hours beforehand. It still dizzied me when I tried, but I eventually got the hang of it and could do it with decent results.

That just left me with being brought out to a log pole embedded vertically into the earth. A rusted manacle and chain clamped around my limbs.

The Reeve of the village approached.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he gently whispered, not loud enough to be overheard but conversationally in such proximity. “You owe us nothing stranger. And the village may still agree to trade you for another pony. If only so a great pony such as yourself doesn’t have to die on their behalf.”

“I have never been so certain.” I answered honestly. “Tell them that while I will do this for them, they are not the primary reason I chose this." The Mayor nodded, not really understanding, but understanding enough to know a larger plan was at work here.

“Luna I must insist you at least entertain the idea of considering.” Starswirl tried once more. “Like it or not you are important. As a general, as a sister to our new Princess, and as a very fierce friend. You do not have to throw your life away.”

“Starswirl. I understand all of this.” I said gently. “If it were any different I would wait and plot to pounce. You know I’d find some other way.” I sighed. “But forces beyond me have set the stage. If I do not take the center stage, the act about to unfold will be much harder for Equestria.” I looked him dead in the eyes. “Sometimes, the clever thing is not to wait and search for an answer. Sometimes, the clever thing is to strike when neither side has an answer.”

He looked at me, confusion written across his features. But then realization, at least what he thought was realization, dawned on him as the evening light faded. But he said nothing, knowing that hidden eyes and ears were likely already watching.

"What do I tell your sister?" he asked.

"Tell her... Tell her she would be a hypocrite if she asked me to stop."

That confused the hay out of him, but he shook his head.

“Good luck.” he half chirped, turning back towards the village and silently heading to safety.

Clover was next.

At first, we didn't say anything.

"Lu..." she said after a few minutes.

"Clover." I responded.

"I... I don't know what I'll do if you don't come back."

My heart dropped in my chest.

I hadn't considered my feelings for Clover for this endeavor... And despite myself, I found myself caring about how she felt an awful lot.

What were my feelings for Clover?

Something tender and soft... That made my heart ache most pleasantly.

"I..." I started, trying to articulate what I was feeling.

But as much as I wanted to wrap myself around Clover, I wanted to free the Moon more.

I had to go.

But it wasn't fair to Clover, regardless of her feelings for me.

As much as it hurt, I needed to let her go.

"Clover..." I started again. "What are your feelings towards me?" I asked

"What?" she asked, taken aback. "What kind of question is that?! You're my friend! I lov-" she silenced herself, putting hooves to her mouth in shock.

I didn't know it was possible, but my heart sank further.

"I love you too Clover." I whispered.

"I..." Clover stammered. "You don't have to do this! It's not too late! You can come back with me! We- We can live our lives together!"

"No Clover. I can't." I insisted. "I have to do this. And as much as it hurts to say, it isn't fair to you. If- If I don't come back... I want you to forget about me. Live your life. Find another, fall in love with them, and forget about me."

I closed my eyes, steeling myself for her outburst.

But she didn't.

Her response was the sound of hooves scraping the loose dirt, fading into the distance towards the village.

I breathed out, banishing the inner turmoil I had subjected myself to.

As much as it hurt... I needed my head clear.

One by one, what few villagers had come to make sure the deed was done left for their huts. An uneasy night awaiting them. Knowing that a stranger was risking herself for their sakes, but they themselves were safe for another thirteen years.

I closed my eyes, savoring the last rays of sunshine on my face that I would ever feel again if I failed. Finally, the last wisp of heat from the Sun faded, and the first consistent chill of the night began.

Funny, after doing so much to stop Eternal Winter... Only to perhaps never see the Sun again.

I didn’t know how long I waited. Patiently waiting with my eyes closed. At peace. Listening to the sounds of the nighttime wilderness. The chill intensified incrementally several times over the wait, as the temperature dropped.

It was really becoming dark...

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