The hours passed, as Twilight’s notebook turned to pages again and again in the white Alicorn’s magic aura. Her formal duties put to the wayside, Celestia groaned.

“So. It’s down to this. We know Arin’s purpose here – at least, as much as we can guess. But, we’re still missing one piece of the puzzle. The Magic Academy lost several archaic potion compounds during the Storm King’s Siege. Twilight had gathered notes on them, but many of the ingredients are relatively new to our scholars, and had little research devoted to them.

“Alright. So what are they?” Honey asked, sipping away at tea. “Well, besides stolen. Y’know. That thing that happened to them. Yeah.”

Celestia nodded, tracing over Twilight’s notes – giving a rough summary, with pictures!

“Ahem… ‘Charrous Root – a mildly poisonous and rare herb root. Not particularly lethal to a pony, but can cause disorientation and an increase to heart rate. The issue being is that it breaks down in the liver, creating the poisonous effect in a slow release.

Erklin Fae Shroom – A luminous mushroom that heighten's one's senses, and induces a very mild intoxication, also can elevate one's mood. Its luminousity determines its intensity, as it's more potent at night.

Tarrowkin Bark – a thin strip off of a full grown tarrowkin tree, which grows to be at most two hooves high. Its effects are unknown, but some say it relaxes the mood. It dries quickly when cut, making it easy to travel and store. It has a particularly sharp taste.

Flynikae Moss – A psychotic moss that can cause heightened feelings of depression. Sweet to the taste, and a brilliant green.’, that’s not including more common roots and herbs. All in all, a couple thousand bits in foraging.”

Luna gave a sigh, “We hate solving these mysteries. Might we call in an expert? Surely there must be somepony capable of discerning the uses of potion ingredients such as these.”

“Sister, Twilight already did that. She contacted Zecora in the Everfree Forest, a masterful herbalist and alchemist. And her letter – came up with nothing, as mixing them all into a potion would essentially cancel half of the effects out.”

“So what, you’re supposed to eat them one by one or something?” Vapor joked, “Or like, make a dozen little potions over the course of a day?”

Luna’s head snapped to Celestia, eyes growing wide. “Who makes thy tea?”

“Oh no Lulu, trust me. There’s nothing in my tea. I would notice. I have had tea for well over a thousand years – and I’d recognize it if something was off. Like too much lemon.”

“Well. What if you wanted to make a bomb with it, or?…” Arin suggested, iffy on the idea himself.

“No no, that simply wouldn’t work. Not unless you intended to inhale it, a lot of these effects only occur when ingested and processed through the liver.”

“…Food.” Luna nodded. “Then food, perhaps. Perchance these ingredients, when put together – creates a poison strong enough to kill even us, Sister.”

“Sister, we both know that to be wrong. Poison simply isn’t effective on us; there has been several attempts that turn to just mild discomfort, don’t you recall? And I feel no hampering to my abilities, either.” Celestia swirled a spoon in her tea cup, lost in thought.

“I think we’re going about this all wrong.” Arin said, “it’s just like before, on the ship. We need to think of their plan, and what happened to make it come unraveled. On the ship, we figured out that the assassination attempt on you was never meant to fail. Why?”

“To cause disharmony and leave the Crystal Empire unprotected.” Celestia nodded, her brows furrowing in concentration.

“And who would take charge of your duties?” He pushed on. Honey Rose munched on popcorn. Wherever she got it from was irrelevant in this moment.

“…My sister, Princess Luna.”

“So if you’re dead, I’m still alive. All of those potion ingredients could be used to make a poison, or, it could be used for something else. Specifically for Luna.” He scratched his head, before pointing at the picture of the glowing mushroom.

“This may be a direct sign of that. Twilight’s notes say that this mushroom is more effective at night. Right? That’s when you’re asleep, or at least trying to. And when I first arrived, you were on a strict diet of salad, while Luna could eat… whatever she wanted, really.”

“…We see.” Luna said, nodding. “But alas, this is inaccurate as well. Celestia, at least for a while, had the ability to slip in unannounced to the kitchen, and make away with whatever she desired. Cakes or other snacks, it had no barring.”

“Wait Luna, hold on. If it’s being added to food, it may be strictly added to your food. And it would be served by… oh. By the course.” Celestia blinked, blushing. “That means I could have ingested some of the herbs, but not all of them, whenever I um… found a piece of cake or two, unguarded.”

“Ha! Some of these ingredients sound like the perfect thing for the codgers back at the old folks home. Except maybe the depressing moss, bleh. Mood uppers are great, when in the right company!” She quickly changed her tone of voice. “Not that uh, I’d know anything about that. Heh. Just some uh, bar talk with stallions.”

“Whoa, hold on now. You visit the bar? I knew I recognized you! Stick’s Pub, right?”

“Oh yeah! Heeey Vapor~ I thought I recognized you to. Hehe~” Honey’s golden eyes drew in half, a soft blush forming on her cheeks. She waved a little hoof at him, smiling. “I don’t think we finished our ciders two months ago, handsome.”

“Heh… yeah.” He scratched the back of his head, Honey deciding to slip in a little closer to the now nervous pegasus.

“Honey, I think that’s important. On a serious note, what could these ‘uppers’ do?” Celestia questioned further, prying a bit into the less than legal side of things.

“Well, they make good feelings feel better, while dulling the bad ones. Great if you’re a lonely mare looking for some… late night fun, at the bar.” Her hoof rested on the back of her neck, twiddling her limb in her yellow mane. “Though they’re often uh, short lived. Long lasting uppers aren’t common in Canterlot. Y’know, unless you’re stupidly rich and okay dealing with shady ponies.”

Celestia began to digest that, thinking quietly for a moment. “Luna. You’ve been drugged into falling for Arin.”

It was like Celestia took a bat and popped the Lunar Princess on the back of her head. She spat out her tea, covering the new lovebirds before her as she took up a coughing fit.

“Hey, wait – what? No, that… really?” Arin’s jaw dropped, another bombshell for the day. “It… Luna, you love me, right?”

When Luna finished coughing up her tea, she nodded gratefully. “Of course I do! Arin, you’ve been a blessing since you arrived! You’ve given me company on these lonely nights, I…”

“Lulu. You’ve never been that lonely. You’ve been jealous before, but you’ve always been an independent mare. Remember?” Celestia confirmed, her eyes soft and understanding.

“Well, yes… but perhaps knowing somepony would join me-”

“Arin joined you out of courtesy. You snapped that up because the Flynikae Moss left you a depressed mess. You’re jumpy and hyper when you see him, that’s not like you at all – that would be the uppers from the Fae Shroom. Even if he wasn’t a social butterfly, the Tarrowkin Bark would numb any missteps he took. The Charrous root probably prolonged the effects of these, while our immunity to the debilitation it would inflict allowed it to build up in our system. Enough for you to be a needy mare. Not needy enough to invite a guard into your room, who would deny the request out of fear of you – simply put, you’re unable to bed a stallion here. But definitely needy enough to find shelter in an outsider you hardly know, especially one who didn’t fear you. A fresh start.

“The Lulu I know would never take things this fast. I don’t blame you or Arin at all – but I know now what they wanted. Kill me, you’d eventually marry Arin over persistence from Cadence, or even of your own free will, war would be declared against the Umbrum – Arin would become king by default. But the question is now… why.” Celestia rested a hoof to her chin, as if she didn’t just destroy Luna and Arin’s relationship in one fell swoop. “What role could Arin play, in this scenario?”

Arin had dug his face into his hands, after a moment of thinking. It all made sense. A soft sob following at the realization of just how thoroughly used he was. Instantly, Luna was at his side – soft wings engulfing him as her hooves drew him to her chest. Soft shushes breaking the cries, her forehead against the sulking Seraph’s own.

“Shh… Arin. It’s okay.” She whispered.

“It’s not. It’s really not. First, I learn I’m part of a plot to overthrow royalty – then I find out the mare I started to have genuine feelings for was drugged into loving me. Why must I be… this? A tool! A toy! A pawn for a demented, vile king! And for what? To hand the kingdom over to him, after all the bloodshed is done? I… I…” He heaved against her chest. Guilt and sorrow became one, as the Knight broke down. The toils of war had hardly begun, and the man’s spirit was one of the first casualties.

“Arin, please… calm down. I love you, I…”

“You don’t. You loved the fact that I could fill the abyss of emotion the drugs made. You loved the feeling of having someone to lean on. You never loved me, only the thought of me. Like when a fool dreams of marrying their idol – they only love what they see of the surface. And you saw me as that idol, a tool to plug the hole in your heart.”

Luna’s hooves, once trailing with care across his back, stopped. Fear filling her face as Arin pulled away from her.

“I just… I need to be left alone. Leave me alone. All of you.” He said, taking a second to wipe the tears free. He had never been this emotional once in his life. But everything Celestia has done to help him make new friends has opened him up, and left him vulnerable to the worst pain he’s ever felt.

Nocturne and his bow fell to the floor, with the quiver by its side as he made his way out of the courtyard. He could feel their eyes on his back. He didn’t care anymore. He didn’t need to. Fake love, fake friends, fake emotion. Next he’d learn that Vapor Cloud was bribed by Celestia to spend time with him, or that Honey Rose is paid to be his friend, too. Actually, that wasn’t even far off.

He vanished behind the doors to the Garden, heading west – deeper into the housing quarters of the Castle. He needed to be alone, now more than ever.

The Night Princess stood to give chase, after several seconds – but Celestia’s hoof caught hers, giving it a gentle tug. “Luna, let him go…”

“Oh, so thou can crush his heart evermore? Smash what’s left of his mind to bits, too – he didn’t need to know what happened to him in his home. ‘Erenorn’ – he did not desire those memories, yet you gave it to him. He did not request that you crush my love, he… he…” Tears began to well in her own eyes, breaking eye contact with her Sister.

“Lulu, please…”

A crack of blue magic engulfed the midnight mare, and she vanished in a flash. Celestia was left holding nothing but the air.

“Celestia, uh… I don’t want to say you bucked up… but, being your Knight and all, I will say, that was pretty stupid.” Vapor said, tracing his hoof around one of the red squares on the picnic blanket. “Could have been… a little more gentle with your words there.”

“Yeah, you sounded like Twilight whenever she said something stupid at dinner. Which happened a lot more often than you think! Like, three times, at least. Why do you think I kept putting my sponge in her mouth?” Honey Rise chimed in. “Like student like teacher, or something. I guess.”

Celestia clapped her face in her left hoof, sighing. Well, there goes moral.

---

Arin sat with his legs dangling in the wind on one of the tower’s balcony’s. It wasn’t Luna’s, it wasn’t Celestia’s. Whatever it was for, he didn’t care nor bothered to recall at this moment. His brain didn’t want to work anymore. Sure, he knew the Castle like the back of his hand. But sometimes, it was good to just let your brain trail off and go on autopilot.

He had sat past the lowering of the sun, and the raising of the moon. He didn’t care for food. Nor did he want to be there when the chef’s faced the full force of a royal investigation; undoubtedly dinner would be a disaster. He had a feeling that, downstairs, the only food around would be tossed in place of military rations for the time being. And in his current mindset, he’ll pass.

He watched the moon steadily rise. At this point, by now, most ponies were about to head to bed. He would usually be up and about, but after today, he was exhausted. His head slumped against the bars of the balcony’s golden rail, a tired sigh following.

“Good evening, Sir Arin.” A familiar voice snapped his head away from the chilly metal, a set of green eyes piercing the moonlight. Just at the edge of the stairs, stood Queen – Er… Umbra. “What are you doing perched upon my new residence?”

He blinked, thinking, recalling the layout of the castle. This was a guest tower, after all, right?… what was she even doing here? His face must have warranted her explanation, and she reached to a frankly massive pack on her back – withdrawing a letter from Princess Celestia to place in his hands.

“You’ve been invited to stay in the castle, for the coming war, and to help find the Crystal Heart?” He asked, bewildered at the note.

“Indeed. I may not cherish these powers any longer, but they serve a purpose still. And if it will help prove that I can be a pony at… heart, then I’m willing to try.”

She stumbled to the door, absolutely exhausted. Letting the weight of her bags tumble free past the threshold of the guest chambers, she wiped the sweat from her brow and joined Arin by the rails.

“You’re beat up… what happened?” He asked. Her forehooves draped over the ledge beneath the rails, rocking freely in the cool night air.

“Today has been strenuous. I decided to abandon my former home, and instead settle here. Whether Celestia agrees or not is irrelevant. These accommodation are…. More than sufficient.” She nodded, gazing up at the moon. “It is beautiful here. I used to care not for beauty, but over the last several days, beauty has become…”

She paused, thinking. “Important. Not beauty of the body, but of mind and soul.”

Arin nodded, sighing. “Yeah. I always thought Canterlot was the most beautiful place in the world, ever since the day I arrived. Other places just can’t compare.”

Umbra nodded. “You have not spoke much of your home, in the short time you stayed with me. What is it like?”

“It’s a… it’s a dark place, at times. Not dark as in lacking light, but dark as in… the ones with power abuse it. Those who can’t fight back work as slaves, left to suffer in squalor. My kind was frequently butchered in waves, to keep our population down. Inerts like me rarely made friends, as they may be killed, or die from work injuries.” His hands rested on the bars, sighing.

Umbra was quiet for a while, her thoughts turning inwards. “And what did you think of those in power?”

Arin’s face turned into a pained grimace, anger boiling inside of him. “At the time, I simply dealt with them, as any Inert should. To be a second class citizen, left to toil and rot in the fields… you could go your life simply ignoring the politics of those above you, only serving when it saved your hide. Now, that acceptance has turned into pure hatred. Because I was used. Used for their own personal gain. And the things I thought I had, the things I thought I earned or made – it turned out to be all at their whim. To take what they wanted from the kind and forgiving friends I made here, or at least believed that I did.”

Umbra’s muzzle hung low, her crimson horn slipping between the bars. “I… understand. I… this is strange. A new emotion. One I haven’t felt, or recall feeling before. I feel sorrow, yet not for myself.”

He pulled his head away from the bars, eyes traveling over her pained face. “Empathy. You’re feeling empathy.”

“Empathy.” She went quiet again, eyes distant. Thinking. “How does empathy help me?”

“It doesn’t help you, not directly. But it helps those around you. It means you can relate to someone in a way, and know what they’re feeling. It’s like… if I cut my arm, you can understand that pain, and feel it to.”

She nodded. “I haven’t felt this before. Even when you were injured, Arin. I simply knew you would die without attendance, and that your body needed time to recover.” Umbra stood up from the cool concrete, in one fluent, elegant motion. She turned, disappearing into her guest room for a moment, before returning with two pillows.

“Sit.” She commanded, setting one on the floor for him. The other joined her original position by the rail.

Arin shuffled the pillow under him, crossing his legs to watch the moon.

“I know the pain you speak of, as I suffered it as well, Arin. This is why I feel this… ‘empathy’. I felt… enslaved, to the Umbrum. And that accepting their demands, I was merely existing beside them to save my own ‘hide’, as you said. Now, I bare a hatred for them. My life could have been at my own desires, but instead, I’ve been a puppet to their whims. In this way, I relate to you, Arin.”

She placed a hoof to the bars, giving her first sign of actual, legitimate emotion beyond stiff mock royalty. Her mane hung low, a gentle sob rocking her. “I hate them. For what they’ve done to me. For my life they’ve ruined. I could have been happy. I could have made friends. But I merely gave up, and did their bidding, like the arrogant foal I was.”

Slowly, Arin stood up, and made his way to Umbra. Setting the pillow by her side, he chanced reaching a hand out to her as he sat down. A flinch, but no other response, as the tears continued to fall.

Seems like everyone needed help today, him included. Gently, and with the utmost of care – his arms pulled her in, hugging her to his chest. His nose pressed to her mane, her sweat having dried fully in the cool night air. She smelled of familiar pine trees and firewood.

“I was convinced, too. I was brainwashed with a memory charm, to believe all was lost. That every relation I made had died, that I was the last of my kind. In truth, I was sent here simply to help steal the throne.”

That only made her squeeze harder. “I understand now, I understand. Empathy. To share one’s pain. This is… I feel it. I feel it.”

“I’m not alone.” She said. “I am unique, but not alone. Thank you, Arin. You have been a boon, a… friend.”

He smiled. “And so have you, Umbra.”

For several more minutes, she simply rested there, against his chest. “Arin?”

“Yes Umbra?”

“I do not believe I asked. But, why, perchance, are you up here alone? Are you no longer a Knight of Luna? You are without blade.” She said, her breathing steadying.

“I… it’s complicated. If you’re not tired, we could talk about it.” He said, and she replied by squeezing on tighter.

“I am awake. Tired, but awake. Please. If you are here for me, I am here for you. That is what I feel, right now.”

His shoulders relaxed. Slowly, he began to recount everything over the last day. Killing his first Seraph. The mind charm, and what he saw. How carelessly Celestia crashed his relationship. Today, he was at the lowest point he’s been, and he needed time alone.

“I can understand the pain of discovery, as well. And… I did something horrible when I was innocent. Long ago, when the Umbrum… did that, to me. I turned Princess Amore, a kind and benevolent ruler, into crystal, and smashed her to pieces. I… I felt so much pain for what I’ve done. I still do, buried beneath all of these… other, emotions. Just… everything is so deep now. Layered in hate.” She eventually returned to her pillow, looking up to the stars.

“I can not fix your pain with magic or words. All I can tell you, is what Princess Luna has told me. Hope. Hold on to hope. Hope to fight back the darkness another day. No matter the pain, no matter the problem. You’ll overcome it, as long as you don’t lose hope.” She rested a hoof on top of his, shining green eyes glimmering in the moonlight.

Arin nodded, closing his eyes. Taking that hoof in his palm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you. You’ve been everything I’ve needed tonight, Umbra. An honest soul, wise beyond your years. Again… thank you.”

She didn’t know how to respond. It took her several minutes of soul searching, before a soft “You are welcome.” came in reply.

After another minute more of hoof holding, Arin made it to his feet. Using his grip on her hoof, he pulled her to her legs as well. Gently tugging her into a hug. “If you need anything, Umbra. Anything at all. Let me know, and I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

“Aha. I would like the Crystal Empire… please.” She said, flat faced.

It took Arin a moment, before his eyes narrowed. “Was that… a joke?”

She smiled, nodding. Forcing a chuckle from the seraph, squeezing her tighter. “You’re learning pretty quick. Keep this up, and you’ll have more friends than me!” He continued to laugh softly, setting her down. She was an inch taller than Luna – close to eye height, now that he wasn’t at death’s door.

“But I do have a serious request, if I may be so inclined.” She smiled, genuine. “I’d like for you to visit me every day, until further notice.”

A smile filled his cheeks, scratching the back of his head. “Um… well, I can do that. Do you think Luna can join us occasionally?”

She went quiet for a moment, weighing her options. “I will consider it. But for now, you are needed elsewhere.”

With a bow of her head, Arin departed back down the stairs.

---

Luna gazed out the window, inspecting the stars. Each and every one had to be perfect, every single night. Tonight was no exception. No matter the loss, she had to prevail. She had to hold on.

But, even she needed a moment’s rest. Turning from the window, she approached Arin’s nook. Of course, he never used it… never had the chance. Their relationship went to far before he could so much as touch the sheets, not to mention their time in the Crystal Empire taking them away from Canterlot.

A knock at the door. Her ear swiveled to the left, and she thought faintly of ignoring it. She didn’t want to be bothered tonight. Not now.

Another knock.

“Tia! Not tonight!” Luna stomped her way to the door, “Haven’t thou done enough as it is-”

When she clicked the handle open, it was none other than her Knight. “A-Arin…” She stuttered, freezing on the spot. She fell back an inch, as if unsure what to do.

“Luna, may I come in?…” He asked quietly. The Princess nodded, coming back to her senses – stepping out of the doorway.

“I just… I had some time to think it over. And after thinking, I… well, I can’t give up. Not on you, not on this. Not on everything that’s happened, I-mf!”

Luna’s hooves darted tight around his chest, her soft lips meeting his in the sweetest of kisses. He stumbled, clutching the door to catch his balance before leaning in, returning that kiss twice fold. Arms wrapped around her, wings fluttering in the cool night air. She eventually pulled away, gazing deep into his brown eyes.

“Arin, We are sorry, for everything that has happened. And there’s so much more to come. We… I need you. This isn’t any drug talking, nor any lonely babbling. I need you as my friend, my lover, my Knight. I can’t do this alone. Not again. Never again.” She whispered, her hooves taut around him. “Won’t you stay, please? We-I need you.”

He gave a soft sigh, hands running up to gently scratch her mane. “I was going to stay anyway, so… yes, of course.”

A more humble, loving squeeze followed his reply. “Don’t believe that what We provide is hollow. Our love is young, but blossoming. Give it time to grow.”