Two hundred and forty. That was the number Luna kept repeating to herself as she prepared for her meeting with the so-called Diamond Doge. It was a tragic number of lives to lose, certainly, but it inspired her as well, for she had expected to lose many more against so vast a force as the one that had been assembled to defend the city of Dragon's Hoard. She was sorrowful about each one who had died, as she had known them almost more intimately than family, but she was also proud. Proud of how hard they had fought, and proud of what their sacrifice had accomplished. Two hundred and forty.

Luna's new, personal entourage of soldiers, selected to replace the royal guards who had abandoned and betrayed her, soon opened the door of the warehouse in which she was sitting. She had no desire to have an audience with this Doge in one of the city's ostentatious mansions. They were currently serving as hospitals, homeless shelters, and barracks, their previous inhabitants given rent-free apartments elsewhere in the city for the trouble. The garish attempt at creating sunlight in that upscale area of the city also caused her, as the new Princess of the Day, a slight physical pain, like a headache.

Most importantly, there was still blood on the ground in this warehouse. She did not want this dog to be at all comfortable in his surroundings.

Luna's guards marched in, leading in an upright diamond dog in a black tuxedo, who was using one foreleg to support an older, squatter dog adorned with more jewelry and fine cloth than he could possibly have a right to. His belly scraped the ground as he padded in on all four of his legs. The first diamond dog produced a silk cushion and placed it for the Doge to sit upon.

The Doge leaned over and spoke to his attendant in a raspy, garbled voice, in a language different from the ones all the other diamond dogs here had used, yet Luna could understand him clearly. “Ask her what her demands are so we can get this over with,” he was saying.

As the dog in the suit turned to translate, Luna raised a hoof toward him. “I heard that perfectly well,” she said, staring straight at the Diamond Doge with her two radically different eyes. “As Queen, it is our duty to be well-versed in a wide array of languages.” She also injected a small amount of magic into the words of both parties to make them understood, but they did not need to know that.

“Thy services are not required,” she added, glancing at the Doge's companion and flicking her hoof outward. “Begone.”

The two dogs looked nervously at each other, but eventually the Doge reluctantly nodded toward the exit. The suited diamond dog departed with a stiff bow. Luna's guards went as well.

The large loading doors slid shut with a slam, leaving the two leaders completely alone. Luna's sparkling armor and the starlight in her hair illuminated the space faintly. The silver light cast flickering shadows among the pile of crates with the slow, wavy movement of her mane and tale. She basked in the silence as she stared down at the bloodstains between them. The Doge looked all around him, his tiny, sunken eyes following the shadows as if they were living things, stalking around the edge of the light. Much of that effect was deliberate manipulation on Luna's part, but she kept her horn from glowing and giving that fact away.

“Returning to thy previous remark,” said Luna, lifting her gaze to bore into the Doge's frightened little eyes, “our demands are simple. We have been informed that it was thou who gave the command to massacre the pony captives in this city. Is this true?”

He tried to stare back, but he could only withstand the furious intensity of Luna's glare for a fraction of a second. He tried to pretend the shadows had distracted him. “Does it matter what I say?” he asked softly. “You've already made up your mind.”

“Indulge us,” Luna said, “and assume that we have not. Wilt thou answer our query?”

“Are you going to kill me like you did the masters of Barkstone?” the Diamond Doge said, shaking enough that his rolls were starting to jiggle. “Like you did the ones in this very city? I assure you, I am far more valuable to you alive than dead.”

“Is that so?” Luna lifted herself into a full standing position, but instead of walking toward him, she went to the broken window and examined the sharp edges of the glass, still not cleaned up from the battle earlier.

“Yes, and I am not only referring to money,” he explained. “I have connections. I have respect. Think how much easier your rule would be with me using those things to your advantage.” The Doge smiled at her.

Luna did not even turn her head toward him. “Indeed. This endeavor would be much easier that way.”

“I'm guessing this war has drained your country's coffers somewhat, has it not?” The Doge shifted to a more comfortable position on his cushion. “I would be happy to make a contribution, except that much of my savings are in other cities. I would need my freedom to go get them.”

“Freedom...” Luna rolled the word around in her mouth, tasting it. “That word soundeth foul coming from thy lips, death merchant.” Without warning and with barely a sound, Luna bounded across the room until she was face to face with the Diamond Doge, who was instantly paralyzed by the sight. “Didst thou command the massacre?”

Luna's eyes narrowed, her one dragon-slit pupil shrinking until it appeared like a sharp blade.

“Yes!” he blurted out, then began babbling in a torrent of mumbles that Luna had a hard time following. It was mostly equivocations about how the council agreed to it, had pushed for it even, and it was just a bluff, and it was her fault really, and, and, and...

Luna cut him off with a sweep of her foreleg. “How many slaves dost thou own?” she asked in a voice laced with frost.

“Ponies, or in total?” he said, followed with an immediate slap to his forehead by his paw. “They are in the other cities anyway! I only brought a small retinue with me here.”

Luna lowered her neck farther, causing the Diamond Doge to attempt to push away on his cushion. “Once they are all freed—and freed they shall be—a great reckoning awaits thee, dog. We shall not kill thee. Thou shalt be tried according to our laws. If thou art found guilty, Tartarus awaits. We pray that thy durance there shall give thee time to reflect upon the true nature of thy crimes.”

Her horn lit up with white light, which then surrounded the doors as well. Once they were open, pony soldiers filed inside.

“Until we meet again,” Luna said, watching as they carried the shivering little dog away. She took several minutes to compose herself, to stop thinking about how many dozens or hundreds of ponies might be even now suffering abuse in the other diamond dog cities. When she was finished, or as finished as she could be, she embarked on a more personal, but no less unpleasant, mission.

“Good evening, young Blueblood,” Luna said, her voice tense and slightly inquisitive.

“Hello,” he said flatly. Blueblood was attempting to brush out his coat and mane with a worn, coarse brush. It got caught frequently, and he had to add more power to his levitation spell to remove the knots, curls, and mysterious, dirty objects caught on him.

“I wanted to give thee my thanks,” said Luna as she invited herself into the vacant apartment which he had been assigned to stay in, one of the many left behind by fleeing refugees. “Thy help was invaluable to our efforts.”

“That's great,” he replied, snarling as his brush caught on some dried blood and nearly ripped part of his mane out.

“And...” Luna shifted her weight among her hooves as she struggled to put her thoughts into words.

Blueblood said nothing, merely looking with disgust at the split ends that had resulted from getting the blood out.

“And it appears as though I may have made a slight error in my judgment of thee,” Luna finished. “Thou saved many lives by risking thine own to rush to the slaves under that storm of arrows.”

“Yes, I know.” Blueblood had moved on to a smooth section of hair along his neck, but his tone was still short and frustrated.

“Hast thou never groomed thyself before?” Luna asked, stepping closer to him. “Allow me.” She started to cast her own levitation spell around the brush, but he ripped it away.

“I've got it,” he said.

“In this state, thou must bathe first, Blueblood, or this will all be for naught!” Luna reached out to try to take the brush in her hooves, but he floated it to the other side of his neck.

“I said I've got it!” Blueblood snapped and slammed one foot on the floor.

Her head drew back from the shout as if she had been struck. Hot anger boiled in her heart, but she had been indulging that part of herself so much lately that she paused for a second. That second allowed Luna to control her words and regard her fiancée thoughtfully.

“I am sorry I spoke so harshly to thee before,” Luna said. She held her head high, but there was a halting uncertainty to her words. “Please, let us make peace, and not quarrel over it.”

“Quarrel?” Blueblood walked to the other side of the apartment, clumsily brushing himself along the way. “Who's quarreling? I haven't even raised my voice.”

Luna ground her boot into the floor, but thought before speaking again. In fact, she thought for several seconds. A deep, worn frown formed on her mouth.

“Blueblood, hear me...” She waited, but, since he gave no obvious sign that he was either listening or not listening, she continued. “If it is thy wish, I give thee leave to go home. I should never have kept thee against thy will to begin with. It was an action devoid of justice and honor, and if rectifying it costs me politically, then so be it.”

“Uh, what?” Blueblood dropped the brush and turned his head back toward her, one eyebrow raised. “I thought that particular issue was settled when you attacked the royal guard to claim me!”

“They attacked me!” Luna raised her voice along with his, but then took a deep breath and calmed herself again. “That matters not in this issue,” she said more quietly. “All that matters is that thou art free. Do with thy freedom what thou wish.” She stepped to the side, giving him a clear path to the doorway, and informed the guards to let him pass.

Blueblood did not move.

“If thou art concerned for thy safety,” Luna added into the silence, “then I give my word that I shall send sufficient guard to conduct thee to Equestria securely.”

“Since when have you been so wishy-washy?” Blueblood asked. Seeing Luna's puzzled expression, he rolled his eyes. “Ah, another of those modern expressions you steadfastly refuse to learn, despite years of exposure. It means you're not sticking to your positions. You keep going back and forth on your decisions and opinions. When we met, every time you decided something, that was that. What's different now?”

“There is a great deal that is different,” Luna said slowly, only partially successful in keeping the dark rage out of her voice. “But it is no concern of thine now. Thou canst return to thy duties patrolling thy father's lands, or resume partaking of the luxuries of Canterlot, or whatever thy desire may be. I do not require thee to stay here.”

“I am going to stay though,” he said, a hint of anger in his tone too. “Ignoring, for a moment, the distinct possibility that you'll change your mind tomorrow and hunt me down again, the fact is that I had my chance and I failed. It is my fate to be here. You say I am free?” He chuckled bitterly. “No, Your Majesty. Nopony is free. Some of us can deviate from the script a little more than others, but the acts are already written.”

He lifted his brush back up with his telekinesis and began running it through his long blond tail. “Besides, why would I want to leave? There are many beautiful, brave, strong mares here who I'm sure would love to spend time with a Prince and a war hero.” Blueblood smiled and flicked his tail as he groomed it.

“Thou art no Prince, and thou shalt not prey upon my soldiers like that, thou vulgar cur!” Luna yelled. From far, far overhead came a rumble, like there was a thunderstorm on the surface.

“Prey upon them?” Blueblood looked aghast. “I would do no such thing. I promise you, they'll be coming to me. And I would appreciate their attentions a lot more than those of the mares I met all the time in Canterlot.”

“No!” Luna said with a command-like finality that surprised even her.

Blueblood's grin widened. “My, that was certainly... decisive. Very much an improvement.”

“Pardon me?” Luna stalked toward him, ignoring the faintly flirtatious ministrations he was performing on his tail and hindquarters with the brush.

His smile shrank as she stared him down, but it did not vanish completely. “Listen, Your Majesty,” Blueblood spoke softly and earnestly, without his usual debonair swagger. “I said I would marry you, and I will, if you will still have me. I will play my part, for the good of Equestria. But, while your reaction to my teasing suggests you might have some feelings for me, as I do for you, I would take it as a great kindness if we spoke as little as possible when we're not at formal engagements.”

“That suiteth me perfectly well!” Luna stomped back out to the hallway. “I shall see thee at the wedding, then!” She slammed the door shut with a spell, only because she thought kicking it closed might have shattered the entire wall. She left the building, taking the guards with her, and resumed her royal duties for the day. There were patrols to coordinate, and scouting parties to send out to the other cities in preparation for their occupation. Blueblood could wait.

Dealing with the food shortage was the following item on her agenda. There was enough to go around, barely, but most of it was concentrated in the paws of merchants and aristocrats. Luna tried to be diplomatic, to appeal to any sense of morality they had, but that only got so many on board. Once she resorted to intimidation, however, they all fell in line, lowering their prices and making hefty donations to the army's food distribution efforts.

She had accomplished her goal, but Luna still walked through the streets frustrated and in low spirits.

“Is there aught I can accomplish without force?” she whispered to the small alley shortcut she was taking. “I cannot even marry without threats. I thought this time would be different. I told myself it would be different for hundreds of years. I...”

Luna's thoughts became too deep and dark to fully express with words. She wandered the stone avenues, barely registering the salutes of the sentries she passed in her brooding. By the time she arrived at the location where she was to meet with the Andalusian mercenaries, her face had fully become a blank slate.

She rounded a corner to see a mosaic plaza built over the omnipresent obsidian. The tiles depicted a black dragon rearing back and breathing fire down the largest boulevard connected to the crossway. Nearly half of the tiles, though, had been pried loose, and probably sold. Just as she felt ready to wallow in her anger again at the blatant disrespect for art and beauty, she saw the tall Andalusians standing in the center of the piece... bowing to her.

Startled by the image, Luna failed to begin the speech she had planned for when she met them. Instead, she stared in dumb silence.

“Good evening to you, Your Majesty,” said a mare with a mahogany coat and hardly an inch of mane on her head. Luna remembered her as one of the ones she had defeated during the battle.

“To you as well, warriors,” said Luna. After her acknowledgment, the mercenaries rose from their bows. They were showing her respect, but not fealty. “Please forgive our lack of manners, but there is much to be done. We can spare but little time for this meeting.”

“It will not take long, mighty one,” the mare said. “I am Aliya al-Jamal. I have been chosen to speak on our behalf while our Amir recovers from her wounds. As you are pressed for time, I shall introduce the rest of our warriors at a later date. For now, we offer you aid.”

“What manner of aid?” Luna turned her head to the side and eyed them skeptically.

“Knowledge, the greatest of all,” said Aliya. “We know these realms under the earth well. The cities of the diamond dogs have been waging proxy trade wars against each other for decades, using mercenaries such as us. We have taken only as much money as we need to survive, for it is the opportunity to test our mettle against the creatures of the other mercenary armies that drives us.

“As a result, we have been to all of their cities. We know the disposition and experience of armies throughout the Underdark. We also know the other mercenary captains personally, as well as some of their capabilities. We offer this knowledge to you freely, as a token of our esteem.”

“We would be most grateful for such information,” Luna said, “but would divulging it not prevent any future employment?”

“Most likely,” Aliya said, turning to look at the braid-less warriors by her side. “In truth, your words during the siege struck us to the core. We had not considered the consequences of the battles we were fighting. What could thirty horses do to change such a situation anyway? We have been humbled, both by your strength and by your integrity.”

“I am reminded of the words of the prophet Saadiq,” a stallion said solemnly, bowing his mane-less head. “'Beware the prayer of the oppressed, for there is no veil between it and God.' He must have heard the prayers of the oppressed in this city, and answered them with you.”

Luna's cheeks flushed, but they were hidden from the sight of the Andalusians by her helmet.

“In light of this,” Aliyah continued after she and the others had whispered their well-wishes on the prophets, “and the fact that you will likely face many powerful foes in the times ahead, we offer ourselves to you. Will you have us?”

“I...” Although they could not see her blushing, the Andalusians no doubt noticed her uncertain tone. “We can perhaps come to an arrangement. But we pay only a living wage, and we ration all of our food as a matter of discipline.”

“Such a situation would be quite familiar to us,” said Aliyah, “and more likely to do honor to the prophets as well.”

“We shall need to consider this further,” Luna said, chewing on her lip. “For now, please share with us what information you deem pertinent.”

“There are but few diamond dog mercenary companies,” Aliyah explained, “and the ones that do exist could easily be bribed into neutrality, if you wish. I say fight them anyway, but of course, that is not our decision.

“The most dangerous of your foes will likely be the griffons, because they are the only ones besides us who fight for things aside from money. They have a passionate need to acquire glory and renown, which some in their culture value more than gold. When greed and emotion mix, dangerous fighters are born, as I am sure you well know, Your Majesty.”

“As for…”

Luna cut the Andalusian off with a slight raising of her hoof. “It would be better if this information were delivered to one of my captains,” she said. “There is… much on our mind, currently.”

“As you wish, mighty one,” Aliyah said, bowing her head courteously.

After sending the mercenary horses off to speak with Captain Gumball, Luna made her way back to her unfurnished quarters near the middle of the city. Along the way, she chanced to see Blueblood and, before she even knew what she was doing, she hid in the shadows to avoid him seeing her.

Now that Blueblood was free to roam the city, he was indeed attracting a lot of attention. The soldiers who approached him as Luna stalked from the darkness were hesitant due to his engagement with Luna, but they still offered to buy him drinks and play games with them. He graciously accepted the offers. Luna heard him turn them down gently whenever they suggested more intimate activities, with him citing his upcoming wedding as his excuse, a gesture which discouraged some soldiers, but made some swoon all the harder over him.

She did not confront him over the scenes, as much as her heart may have wanted her to. Instead, she turned and vanished.

As the day drew on, Luna kept up a calm, commanding face in public. It would not do for a Queen to show such petty jealousy. But when she was alone, she found herself sobbing and clenching her abdomen to keep from making too much noise.

“This is absurd,” she whispered to the dark, abandoned storeroom in which she hid. “I am weeping like a foal over some insufferable stallion. I have not wept since... since...”

Perhaps it was better to be crying over a rocky relationship than over betrayal, corruption, and murder. She allowed herself five minutes, surrounded by darkness, with only the dim red glow sneaking in from the edges of the doorway to illuminate her tears. Then she wiped them away, quickly healed her bloodshot eyes, and went back to work.

As Luna helped oversee the distribution of food to the diamond dogs who had lined up in huge queues stretching down every nearby street, no one asked her why she looked partially like Nightmare Moon, nor did she offer any explanation. She got many looks from her soldiers, but they were not looks of fear or disapproval, no matter how much her inner voice told her they were. In stark contrast to the diamond dogs, whose looks were mixtures of awe and terror, the ponies saw her with sympathy and understanding, while still respecting her enough to execute her orders faithfully. She found it remarkable, although less surprising once she thought back to the connection they had shared with her during the battle.

Luna had not connected that quickly or deeply with her warriors in many an age. Those near her had been like parts of her own body. In another battle or two, that might happen with the entire army. It entailed risks, of course, as she felt the loss of even one as keenly as if they were her own child or sibling. But it created a peerless fighting force. She would have to continue their training, and soon. It would be a relief to not have to train hundreds per night over and over though. There was no longer any rush, and they had proven themselves in real, physical battle.

Nonetheless, as she watched them hand out packages of bread and vegetables to the starving poor of Dragon's Hoard, Luna decided that they had earned a brief respite. Which reminded her that she had earned some as well. She had scheduled half an hour for grooming and relaxation, a fact that seemed bizarre to her. She hardly ever scheduled anything, and now here she was detailing precisely how much time per day to relax. It sounded like something Celestia would do...

Luna shut that path of thought down immediately. She would get very little relaxation if she thought of... her. So, as she walked back to her quarters, she thought of possible training exercises she could do with her army, a much more comfortable and less guilt-ridden topic.

After wrapping up her allotted time of bathing—hot running water was one of the few things in the city that was not loathsome—and brushing, trying and failing to meditate, and perhaps a little brooding, Luna strolled out to the balcony of her apartment. Before she could begin sighing and gazing darkly out at the city below, she heard the sounds of commotion from down the street. A column of armed ponies was marching through the gates, over five hundred strong. Captain Basilea had returned from her mission to escort the slaves of Barkstone to Equestria. Luna flew down to meet them at once.

The bat pony commander did not seem the least bit perturbed by Luna's half-Nightmare appearance. Her race had the largest repository of lore about Luna and Nightmare Moon in Equestria though, so she likely already knew it was possible. They also had similar eyes themselves. The pegasi that came with her were a little more wary, but Luna had confidence that their comrades would soon help them understand. She directed them to Captain Gumball's command post, where they would be assigned quarters throughout the city. She thought she saw some unfamiliar faces in the crowd, but Luna's attention was drawn to Basilea, who was saluting her crisply.

“Welcome, Captain,” Luna said, raising her foreleg sharply. “If thou art tired, I give thee leave to rest before giving me the report.”

“I am well, ma'am,” Basilea replied, a little out of breath, with her dark coat shining with sweat. “Well enough to convey the most important information, at least.” She turned her head from side to side. “So, did we miss the war?”

“For the most part.” Luna smiled. “There remain many details to attend to, but we have broken the mightiest power they could throw at us. 'Tis a pity thou wert not here with us. The moat of magma would have been less of an obstacle with more fliers.”

“Moat of magma?” Basilea smiled back awkwardly, her fangs getting in the way. “It seems as though I have missed many interesting things.”

“Do not despair, my captain,” Luna said. “There is much fun left to be had as well. While most of the other cities have surrendered, some continue to resist. But first, what is this 'important information' thou spokest of?”

“Ah, of course.” Basilea dug in the pockets of her cloak, producing two scrolls. One was bound with Equestria's royal seal, the other with a seal that Luna could only dimly recall. It depicted two golden keys pressed into red wax.

“These were given to me by messengers from the southeast,” Basilea said. “Twilight Sparkle tried to send them to Celestia, but her dragon's sending spell did not work. When the situation was explained to her, she asked that they be delivered to you instead.”

“I see.” Luna opened the first letter and read.

“Also, ma'am,” Basilea continued, “at every village and town where we stopped, we had to turn away volunteers for the army. Hearing about the captives of the diamond dogs whom we returned, ponies came for miles along our path to be recruited. I told them that I must defer to you in this matter, although I did take the liberty of bringing along some of the most promising candidates. I hope I did not overstep my authority.”

“No, no,” Luna waved a hoof distractedly. “I am pleased with thy initiative. I...”

She read the last few lines of the letter over and over, sighing when they did not change.

“What is it, ma'am?”

“Twilight Sparkle and her friends have found Zecora,” said Luna in a tone of forced steadiness.

“Is that not a good thing, ma'am?” Basilea asked. “You are close to her, are you not?”

“My relationship with her is irrelevant,” Luna said, more defensively than she had intended. “She is a foreign national who was extended the protection of the crowns by Princess Celestia. Now the griffons have taken her prisoner, and they refuse to negotiate for her release with anyone but me.”

Luna tore open the other sealed scroll.

To Luna,

Be you Princess, Queen, or common pony, we will have words.

I have not forgotten how you humiliated me before my comrades and the dragon Oracle, casting me aside as an annoyance. Nor have I forgotten that you did so in defense of a fugitive criminal who has done incalculable harm and injustice to my family. I have heard that you consider yourself some paragon of virtue, but I say that you are just as much a hypocrite as your sister.

I do not call you a coward, but I do say that cowardice is the only vice you lack. It seems Zecora disagrees, but of what value is the opinion of a traitor and assassin? You can always tell someone's character by the company they keep, it is said.

The zebra is locked away in my castle, where she can do no more to defile this world. I had planned to execute her, but I am instead keeping her alive long enough for you to see her one last time before I run my blade through your neck.

Whether you come and duel me according to the code of your precious chivalry, or whether you stay away and wait for my army to come to you, we shall meet soon. If you think the treaty of neutrality with Oracle will protect you, you are mistaken. We are more than willing to take the long way around, and if he decides to intervene anyway, we are more than capable of putting down a dragon and still having enough troops to lay waste to your pathetic army afterwards.

I don't know where you might be when you get this, so I'll give you a couple months. But after that, Luna, you had better come to me, or I will come to you.

In the name of House d'Anjou,

Adelaide, the first of her name

“Is all well, Your Majesty?” Basilea's calm, dry voice cut into Luna's reverie, which had lasted for several minutes after she finished reading the letter.

“I am summoning a meeting of the captains in one hour,” said Luna, taking both scrolls into her aura as she turned to leave. “Wilt thou be rested enough by then?”

“Yes, ma'am!”

“Dismissed,” Luna called over her shoulder as she steadily returned to her quarters. Once back in the almost-bare apartment, she locked the door tightly and slumped against it. She was still in that exact position when it came time for her to go, only distantly aware that any time had passed at all.

“That is an absolutely trap-tastic letter,” Lyra declared in the campaign tent, which had been erected in the middle of the city's central plaza. She had just come from giving testimony at the slave merchant trials, so she was still wearing an exceedingly shiny and exceedingly impractical parade uniform—form-fitting chain armor made of gold, covered with tassels and adorned with medals Luna had awarded her.

“I am well aware,” Luna said, clad once again in her moonsilver cloak, which grateful former slaves had begged to wash for her. After she had removed the severed head inside to prepare for the mass funeral ceremony, of course. “Still, this is a missive that cannot be ignored.”

“What's this treaty she refers to here?” Gumball asked, pointing her hoof at the relevant section of the letter.

“That,” said Luna with a shake of her head, “is one of the measures taken by Princess Celestia to safeguard Equestria's borders during my absence. As she is not as gifted in the ways of war as I am, she had to find other ways to protect our subjects. In exchange for gold and gems, Oracle agreed to prevent any armies from passing through his domain, which encompasses the frontier between Equestria and Griffonce. From what I understand, he hath served as a great deterrent to other would-be invaders from the east as well.”

“Perfect!” Lyra said, grinning. “Let's march in there and give 'em what-for then!”

“I admire thy enthusiasm,” Luna said, “but that will not be possible. The treaty applies both ways. No army of ponies may cross his territory without being attacked either. Moreover, the occupation of the Underdark must be conducted justly, and that would not be possible if we were all to leave.” Luna took a deep breath. “Thus, as the griffon's quarrel is with me, I shall go by myself.”

“You cannot be serious,” Basilea blurted, then clamped her mouth shut.

“I am,” Luna said, favoring Basilea with an understanding glance rather than an angry glare. “I have every confidence that this army could defeat Oracle and the griffon army, but I will not risk their lives for one zebra... no matter how important she may be to me.”

Luna stared down at herself, hardly believing she had just said that.

“You don't have to take the whole army,” Gumball said gently, “but that doesn't mean you have to go alone either.”

“Yeah!” Lyra agreed, nodding vigorously. “You should at least take me, and maybe your blushing bridegroom too.”

“I need thee here,” said Luna, lifting her eyes, but not her head, “though perhaps I should indeed bring Blueblood. We shall need to marry soon, because the journey will require me to pass through his father's lands. I imagine that the elder Blueblood will want to see that his son is in good health...”

Luna blinked slowly as she trailed off. While she was busy trying to calm her emotions, her captains continued to speak.

“Should we have the wedding here, then?” Gumball inquired. Her tail was wagging slightly, and there was a glint in her eyes, no doubt from seeing all the food she would get to make for everyone.

“Sure, why not?” Lyra shrugged. “It would still be better than Princess Cadence's wedding. Before joining up with the army, I had nightmares about that one all the time.”

“I am not sure this is the appropriate place for such a celebration,” Basilea interjected. “Many have died here, on both sides. This should be a time of mourning for us all.”

“Well, that's totally depressing, 'Lea,” said Lyra. “It doesn't have to be today, but wouldn't a wedding be just what we need to lift our spirits? Everypony here has been through a lot. They need something to look forward to, I say.”

“I agree,” Gumball said, her mouth watering as she stared dreamily off into space. “The cake ingredients I could get at the markets here would be heavenly. Who doesn't look forward to cake?”

“It would still be disrespectful,” Basilea said sternly, “not to mention unwise.”

“Are you all quite done analyzing my wedding?” Luna spoke up suddenly, raising her head once again. The three other heads in the tent bowed slightly to her. “Good. I agree with Captain Basilea. The wedding shall not be held here, but instead in my fastness in the Everfree Forest. It will be a small ceremony. Because it is not a long journey there, one of you can be spared long enough to attend, should you so desire. Up to fifty non-essential soldiers may also come. The other details, such as food, music, clothing, and so forth, will be decided by my bridesmaid.”

“Who's your bridesmaid?” all three asked.

“I do not have one, as yet,” Luna answered, somewhat sheepishly. “I was hoping one of you three would do me that honor. Thou, Basilea, gave the first slaves we freed back their homes, a gift of incalculable value. Thou, Gumball, conducted the siege of Dragon's Hoard with skill and courage. And thou, Lyra, risked all to prevent a horrific massacre of the very souls we came here to protect. If I could ask each of you to be by my side when I am wed, I would.”

“Which one of us do you want, then?” said Basilea, a deep blush rising to her face.

“I leave that to you,” Luna said as she began rolling up the scrolls and getting to her feet. “This is not a command, but a request, from one mare to another. I would love to discuss it further, but we all have much to do. I shall set out tomorrow evening, so there is more than enough time to decide. Any questions?”

“Just one,” Lyra said. “You're not going to take whichever one of us ends up being your bridesmaid, trap them in a gooey cocoon, and feed on their love, right?”

Luna rolled her eyes and snorted. “Any more questions like that, and I just may.” She flashed them a wicked, amused grin as she left, and the captains shared a brief but genuine laugh together.

After the funeral that evening, where Luna helped the strongest earth ponies carve massive graves in the obsidian cavern, she made sure to schedule only relatively minor tasks for herself, such as signing decrees and overseeing reconstruction. Later that night, she would have to stand in judgment of her own soldiers, and she needed her mind clear and focused.

For a moment, she considered trying to sleep. She did not feel the urge to do so, even after all she had done for the past few weeks, but she wondered if it might not be a good idea anyway. If it would help her see things more clearly, it would be worth a shot. But it had been so long that she was not sure she could prevent herself from dreaming. Luna was afraid of what she might dream if her subconscious were allowed to roam free. With the emotions and experiences she had been through lately, the results could be disastrous, not just for her, but for those around her too.

So, in the interest of not inflicting horrible dreams on herself or others, Luna continued her long, sleepless vigil, turning the sun and moon endlessly over the world even though she could not see them.

She arrived at the courthouse early, allowing her to catch the end of the day's slave merchant trials. As she passed through the thick oak doors, she wrapped nearby shadows around herself like a veil, so that her appearance would not cause a disruption. If anyone scrutinized her, they would see through the deception, but the eyes of all but the guardponies were locked on the proceedings.

Ahead, past rows of benches packed with ponies, diamond dogs, and several other species under the watchful eyes of armed pony sentries, Captain Basilea now presided as judge. Gumball had been conducting the proceedings with competence previously, but Basilea was an actual student of law. Luna also wanted her for the job because she possessed a more grave, neutral aura. Luna respected Gumball greatly, but she had become quite emotional during previous sessions. If anything, it made Luna respect her more to hear that she had choked up with fury and sorrow while the slave witnesses were relating the abuses they had suffered, but in this delicate matter, appearances were extremely important.

Basilea wore a parade uniform similar to Lyra's, though the metallic parts of hers were stained purple, with the tassels and padding colored a shade of maroon. She sat upright behind a desk made of the same rich wood as the doors, her forelegs crossed patiently on its surface. The desk was piled high with papers—transaction records, witness testimonies, identification forms, and so on. She was reading each one carefully as the two counsel standing before the desk waited.

Representing the state of Equestria was Captain Lyra, whose nearly omnipresent grin was nowhere to be seen. Her face was set into a grim expression, which Luna did not think suited her at all. Evidently the diamond dogs in the audience disagreed, however, if the pointing and hushed, dreadful whispering about “Goldeneyes” was any indication.

Seated on cushions behind Lyra were five former slaves, each one bearing some kind of injury. A pegasus with bloody bandages wrapped around the bases of his wings watched the proceedings dispassionately. Two unicorns, their horns sawed down to nubs smaller than a newborn foal's, looked on with dry, red eyes. There was also a young doe there with bruises all over her body. She wore a furious scowl that stood in stark contrast to the depressed, defeated faces of the others. Finally, the pony named Emerald was there as well, having been wheeled in by an army medic, since all four of her legs were bound in large, stiff casts. She appeared ready to burst into tears at any moment. All five of them had brands burned into their flanks—the ponies' brands directly over where their cutie marks used to be.

To Lyra's side stood a familiar face—Ludwig, clad in his customary spotless white toga, who was representing the alleged slave owners. Although “alleged” was only a technicality at this point. Their complicity in the slave trade had been proven already through seized documents and multiple witness accounts, from diamond dogs and ponies alike. All that remained was to determine the extent of their involvement, and to pass down sentences accordingly.

“...and if the slaves' overseers were overzealous in their protection of the owners' assets,” Ludwig was saying, more to Lyra and the pony stenographer than to the judge, “it was done without my clients' knowledge. They would never condone such abuses.”

“What of the brands, then?” countered Lyra. “They clearly show the family crests of your clients.” Venom entered Lyra's voice, which Luna was totally unaccustomed to hearing.

“The brands were for their protection, counselpony,” said Ludwig without missing a beat. “If an unowned pony were to walk the streets of Dragon's Hoard, they would be vulnerable to all manner of depredations. It was an act of compassion to clearly mark them.”

“An act of compassion!?” Lyra whirled to face him and started scraping one hoof against the shining obsidian floor. “Listen, you disgusting—“

“Counsels, be silent, please,” said Basilea, glancing up from her reading. “If you are bored with the entry of this evidence into the official record, you will keep it to yourselves.”

“Of course, Your Honor,” they both said. Ludwig added a flourishing bow and a smile to his words, while Lyra silently fumed.

The whispers from the observers in the courtroom grew louder once the two representatives stopped talking. Luna listened carefully, especially to the diamond dogs. Even they were appalled by the damage done to the slaves. Luna was confused and disgusted that they had somehow not noticed it before. Perhaps hearing the slaves actually describe what it was like for a unicorn to be without their horn, or for a pegasus to be without their wings, had opened their eyes. Luna hoped so, because even though it was in the distant past, she could clearly remember times when both had happened to her.

Her horn had been sliced from her head in the middle of a three-day battle with a rampaging tarasque. It had been difficult to defeat it with access to only the most wild, uncontrolled magic, but she managed to lead it far enough away from civilization that the only collateral damage she did was to the terrain. But after the fight, it had felt as though she was cut off from the vast web of life. Where before Luna had felt herself part of a greater, wondrous whole, after that, she had barely felt connected to herself. It was as though a huge part of her had been suddenly, painfully paralyzed. It had taken years for her horn to grow back, and years more to regain enough control over her magic to cast a minor levitation spell without it blowing up in her face. And that was as an alicorn... a normal unicorn might never have recovered.

Luna had also lost her wings, or rather had them ripped from her body, when trying to hunt down the renegade dragon Fafnir. His followers had hoped to keep her from following him by preventing her from flying. She had not been skilled enough back then to heal her wings quickly, and so she was without the freedom of the sky for days. She had eventually trapped and slain the dragon by hiding in a wild thunderstorm, as she had still been able to cloudwalk, but knowing that any misstep during the battle meant she would have plummeted to her death had been terrifying. For months afterwards, as her wings had slowly, agonizingly grown back, Luna distinctly remembered how soul-crushing it had been to have an entire half of the world violently cut off from her.

She was glad she had come early. She had a much clearer idea of how to deal with her wayward soldiers now.

“There,” Basilea declared, stamping the last paper in the pile with her hoof. She unfurled her wings and cracked her neck as she stretched her legs. “I find this evidence to be relevant to the case. The court will take an hour recess to allow for the military tribunal, and for the counsels to compose themselves, then we will examine the evidence in detail.” She sorted the documents into two stacks and carefully balanced them on her leathery wings, carrying them over to where the stenographer sat scribbling with his stylus.

“Anyone who is not a member of Equestria's military will now clear the courtroom,” Basilea said as she returned to her desk, took the gavel in her teeth, and banged it twice.

The guardponies among the audience began gently but insistently leading the civilians out.

A few minutes later, the soldiers who had been killing the suspected slavers after the siege were led in. The tribunal assembled before them—Luna, Lyra, and Basilea. The three did not sit behind the desk, but instead stood in the middle of the floor, only feet away from the prisoners. The prisoners stood stoically, chests out, shoulders back, but Luna could feel the pain in their eyes as clearly as if it were her own.

“I shall read the charges,” said Luna, glancing at the clerk who still remained in the room, “so that they may be recorded. You stand accused of the deliberate killing of unarmed civilians, and of doing so without the knowledge or consent of your superior officers. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the only two prescribed punishments for this offense are permanent banishment, and death by beheading. Do you understand the situation as I have explained it to you?”

“Yes, ma'am!” the accused said. It was almost as one voice, except for the quivering of a few.

“The most senior officer involved will now step forward and explain this group's actions to the tribunal.” Luna met the eyes of each soldier, remembering the intense training of each one, recalling all they had accomplished in the army's battles so far. Sergeant Blossom stepped out from the ranks.

She was a tall, stocky earth pony with a ragged green mane and a dark blue coat, giving the impression of a deep pond with strands of seaweed floating in it. Her voice was low, resonant, and contrite.

“Upon the conquest of the city,” Blossom said, “we set out to seize incriminating documents before they could be destroyed. In the process, we accosted several individuals who appeared to be holding slaves. The slaves were... they were beaten and broken. We were not prepared to see the damage that had been done to their horns and wings, since we had seen nothing that extreme in Barkstone.” She sighed deeply, her mouth twitching at the memories. “We decided to follow your example and execute those responsible. We were not completely thorough in our verification process, due to the heightened state of our emotions, and we take full responsibility for that weakness on our part.”

Lyra bit her lip during the speech, her eyes gradually lowering until she was staring down at her hooves. Basilea and Luna looked on with level gazes.

“That example of mine cited,” said Luna with a great deal of effort, “was a mistake. I too was experiencing a heightened state of emotion, and I momentarily lost sight of the fact that, outside of the chaos of battle, imprisonment is always preferable to death. Reform is always possible.”

“You think they would have reformed!?” Ensign Breeze spoke up from the middle of the prisoners.

“Be quiet, Ensign!” Sergeant Blossom hissed, but Luna was already standing up and answering.

“It is not my place to say,” Luna said, “nor is it yours. But this argument serves no purpose.” She began circling around them, not actively trying to be menacing, just making sure that each of her soldiers got a good look at her. “As you may have already surmised, this tribunal is a formality. I have already decided what shall be done with you.”

Though their hard stares remained locked straight ahead, some of the soldiers began to sweat.

“We are constructing a school in this city,” Luna said, “a place where we can share our knowledge and our wisdom with the denizens here who have been so sorely lacking them. I am leaving for Equestria 'ere long, and I shall be sending back teachers, doctors, mechanics, professionals and volunteers of all kinds, each of whom will have much to give.”

The soldiers on trial stopped sweating, and their disciplined stares developed a slightly confused aspect to them.

“Your task will be to refurbish the grandest mansion in the town for this purpose. When you are not on camp duty, this will be your life. You will make it ready for their arrival according to the specifications of our engineers.

“It will not bring back the dead, to be sure. Indeed, perhaps the world is a brighter place for them not being in it, but no matter what the case may be, you must strive to create good to fill the void in the tapestry of life left by their passing. Otherwise we risk more evil taking the place of that void.”

Luna stopped circling, standing directly before Brandywine, whom she knew to be the true instigator of this episode.

“Lest you think this is a light punishment I am setting before you, know that I have struggled with this very conundrum for centuries. It could be that you will learn nothing from it, but I encourage you to be creative and proactive in identifying ways to give to this community in positive ways. They have suffered so much negativity. These diamond dogs need open hearts to light their way, now that we have extinguished the suffocating fires of oppression.”

She turned away sharply and went back to join Lyra and Basilea. They were both silent and still as statues.

“As for the breach of discipline involved in performing this deed without direct orders,” Luna pronounced, “your camp duties for the next month shall consist of the hardest and most unenviable labor we require. Meditate on all I have just told you as you are digging latrines and hauling away rubble.” She finally took a moment to breathe, then said simply, “That is all.”

She motioned for the guards to open the doors and told them to escort Sergeant Blossom and her comrades to the construction site to begin their task immediately. She gave a curt nod to her captains, then left without a further word. Not knowing what else to say, the two of them began preparing for the diamond dog trials to resume.

Luna spent the next half an hour preparing for her departure. It was not as though she had much to pack—only some hay and writing supplies, really. But each step took several extra minutes. She was packing her memories too, and that was not a quick process. Several times, Luna stopped her preparations and simply stared out of the windows. She watched some citizens walk by calmly, even waving at the pony soldiers they passed, while others went by carefully, as if afraid of incurring the wrath of the soldiers. One such patrol immediately caught her full attention.

Ensign Breeze was in it, and her group was passing by a family of five beggars. They were no longer homeless, thanks to the ponies' redistribution of housing, but they were still painfully skinny and clothed in rags. Brandywine said something to her sergeant, and the patrol halted. She went over to the family, who flinched and backed into a wall as she approached. She stopped, set down her spear, and took off her saddlebags. Rummaging through them, she produced several hoof-fulls of carrots, celery, and bread—several days' worth of rations.

Luna turned her ears all the way forward and reached out with her magic.

“Take it,” Brandywine said as she pushed the food toward them. “I'm not hungry.”

The diamond dog pups devoured as much food as they could, and once they had had their fill, the parents came in and ate the rest.

“What do you say, little ones?” the father said, gently nudging his puppies.

“Thank you, ma'am,” the three children chorused.

The parents nodded with tears filling their eyes. Brandywine nodded back. She was smiling, but it was a small, sad smile. She walked back to join her patrol, but before she could get back in formation, the other members of her squadron were going through their own packs. The family refused to accept any more food from them, instead pointing them down the street, where more hungry beggars waited.

“We don't have enough for all of them,” the sergeant said, frowning.

“We should still do what we can, sir,” said Brandywine.

Her commander thought for a moment. “And so we will. But make sure to keep at least half a ration for yourselves, everypony. We're no good to anyone if we're starving too.”

Luna watched them distribute what meager supplies they had for several minutes, her heart swelling with pride. Perhaps there was hope for that one after all. Then she remembered what she was supposed to be doing, realized she already had everything she needed for the journey, and departed her quarters.

A significant portion of the army, and a surprisingly large crowd of mostly lower-class diamond dogs, had gathered at the gate to see the Queen and her entourage off. Blueblood was performing his part admirably, pressing close to her and smiling and waving at the crowd. Luna draped a wing over his back tenderly. Another piece of her heart broke when he subtly flinched away from the touch, but she could not blame him for it. She took a deep breath, shoving that hurt deep down inside and focusing her attention on the crowd.

“Subjects of Equestria, new and old,” she spoke, ethereal wind carrying her voice to all of them, “hear our words. It pains us greatly to depart at such an important moment, but a grave matter has arisen in another country, and only the Queen can resolve it.

“But take heart, ye of virtuous spirit! Even from afar shall we protect your dreams. And beware, ye who possess black hearts, for we shall see your sins, and restful sleep shall be ever out of your reach.

“We shall return as soon as this other crisis is resolved. You shall be ever in our thoughts in the meantime. If you be well and do well, the stars shall always watch over you.”

Luna inclined her head, and the soldiers immediately went down to their knees in a mass bow. Many of the diamond dogs followed suit. She hoped that was because some of them actually respected her, but if they were doing it out of fear... Well, hopefully the fear would keep them in line, at least.

“Guess who's going to be your bridesmaid?” Lyra whispered from a couple feet away. “Spoiler alert! It's me. The three of us decided I've already done the most death-defiance, so I should get a break. Plus, I'd like to actually be part of a wedding that doesn't go horribly wrong, for a change.”

Luna's smile could never match the size of the grin Lyra was sporting again, but it threatened to come close. “I am most pleased to hear that,” Luna said. “Is everything in readiness?”

“Yes, ma'am!” Lyra said.

Luna, Lyra, and Blueblood walked out of the gate, with the specially picked honor guard of fifty ponies spreading out in front of and behind them. The moat was now mercifully drained of magma, so crossing the bridge was much easier and less harrowing this time.

“Wait!” a mare shouted just as the gates were about to be closed. “I came all this way to join up, and you're leaving already? I thought we were friends!”

They turned around to see an earth pony with a bright red coat and an even brighter red mane pushing her way through the crowd.

The rear guard were about to stop her, but Luna commanded them to let her by.

Quicktail ran straight up to her and stopped. She stood there for several moments, panting and trying to catch her breath. “Whew!” she said. “I came running as soon as I heard your voice. Where are you going?”

“How could that possibly be thy concern?” Luna asked, her head cocked to the side. “What art thou even doing in this place?”

“Your bat pony captain thought I showed a lot of promise,” Quicktail said, “so she let me tag along. By the way, hi, Bloody!” She winked and waved at Blueblood, then turned to Lyra. “Hi, pony I don't know yet!”

Lyra mumbled a stiff greeting.

“Shouldn't you be patrolling my father's lands?” Blueblood asked. “For that matter, where is the rest of your merry little band of reformed robbers?”

“Actually, that's another reason I'm here.” Quicktail moved closer and began speaking conspiratorially through her teeth. “I may have a little bit of an ulterior motive for coming.”

“Forgive me if I am not beside myself with shock,” Luna drolled.

“Ha ha,” Quicktail countered sarcastically. “You see, after Prince Blueblood here took off, the other Prince Blueblood decided that me and my mates weren't trustworthy. He had us locked up. Okay, so we had actually broken some minor laws too, but you and I both know why he really did it.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we're friends with you, of course!” Quicktail's smile grew wider, and Lyra's frown grew deeper. “So, I made a remarkably daring escape and set out to find you. I was hoping you could use your queenliness and such to get my mates pardoned. In return, I'll join your army, and I imagine they will too. Or perhaps you're more inclined to a good old-fashioned regime change in his duchy. We can help with that too. You know, set up his much wiser and more handsome son to rule in his place?”

“I will do no such thing!” Luna protested, but already the political gears were turning in her head. “Absolutely not,” she emphasized, which only caused her to consider the possibility more.

“Hey, forget I mentioned it then.” Quicktail laughed stiltedly. “So, can I come along? Please?”

“No way,” said Lyra. “You're a thief, and you attacked Luna!”

“I didn't mean it,” Quicktail said, holding up her forehooves. “Honest. Besides, I've given up my life of crime to serve Equestria. Right, Bloody?”

“From what I've seen, yes,” Blueblood put in. “She was quite loyal and talented during our patrols, if a bit obnoxious.”

Unnoticed by the others, Luna's lip quivered slightly as she thought she heard a slight emphasis on the word “talented.” She tried to brush it off, but her jealousy had grown to oversize proportions over the last couple days.

“Hmph,” Quicktail grunted. “That last bit was uncalled for. But thanks.”

“Let us consider it while we are on the road,” Luna pronounced. “We are wasting time. Art thou prepared to march, Quicktail?”

“Yep!”

Luna's eyes narrowed. “That will be 'yes, ma'am,' or 'yes, Your Majesty', from henceforth.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” The former bandit leader put on an over-the-top haughty air of nobility as she responded.

“This is a really bad idea, ma'am,” Lyra said. “She's trouble. With all due respect, of course.”

“I can hear you, pony-I-don't-know-yet,” said Quicktail.

“Yeah, I know.” Lyra's hoof started to scrape the bridge as her glare intensified. “What of it?”

“You can at least insult me to my face, pinhead.”

“Fine,” Lyra said as she closed the distance between them, getting so near that their muzzles pressed together. “This is a really bad idea. You’re trouble.”

“Can we please save the backbiting for another time?” Luna groaned. “Walk at opposite ends of the column if you must. Either way, we are leaving. Now.”

“Oh, I can already tell this is going to be so much fun!” Quicktail said, backing away from the staredown and throwing her forelegs around the two nearest ponies, who happened to be Lyra and Blueblood. “Does anypony know any good songs?”

“I do, actually,” Lyra said as she extricated herself from Quicktail's grasp with a disgusted sneer. Lyra turned toward Luna, shook away the ugly confrontation, and regarded her solemnly. “I was going to sing it next time we marched anyway, so I might as well do it now. It predates the classical era, but it's easy to pick up if anyone doesn’t know it...”

Lyra moved ahead of the others, taking her into the front group of guards and away from Quicktail. She began to beat out the rhythm with her gait.

Luna stopped in her tracks, chills traveling up her spine, as Lyra began to sing in a clear, soaring soprano. Then she slowly took up the same gait and jumped in, singing heartily, but not so heartily that she would drown out Lyra’s voice. Blueblood and the soldiers followed along as best they could, but Luna knew this song by heart. It had originated in the olden earth pony tribe, but once the tribes were united, it had become one of Equestria's most beloved marching ballads, sung by countless ponies as they defended their hard-won home from countless threats. Luna and Celestia had marched to face Discord's legions with their entire army singing its words. However, true war had become so rare in modern times that only the oldest history books even mentioned the march.

“Wander my friends, wander with me, like the mist on the green mountains, moving eternally,” part of it went, translated from old Equine.

Luna was glad that silence prevailed once the song trailed off, because she could not have spoken any words to Lyra at this gesture. Tears ran openly down the Queen's face as she marched back to Equestria.

Author's Notes:

Putting full song lyrics in stories always looks a little weird, so here's the full version, with lyrics in both modern and the pre-classical earth pony dialect of Equine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc8pHIAV9v8

Yes, I did borrow it from Battlestar Galactica. I regret nothing.