By the time the train arrived in Canterlot, the moon had risen to its peak in the heavens, and a serene quiet had enveloped the entire city. Karon had been sleeping for most of the journey and was woken from his rest inside the carriage by the shrill whistling sound the train made as it came to a halt.

He rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times before he sat up and looked out the window. There was no great view of the city unfortunately, merely the sight of a few closely standing buildings lit up by the street lights. Karon sighed deeply at the sight, it reminded him a little too much on what he had given up to be here.

Here, in the city of empty streets, boring non-Ponyvillian houses and no friends. No Rarity, no Pinkie Pie, no Lyra, no nothing. He remembered all too well how many snobbish condescending looks he had been given the last time he had been here, and he had been in the company of Equestria's greatest heroines back then. If that didn't impress the Canterlotians, he doubted anything would.

He missed Twilight.

She had been pedantic, organized and just incredibly rigid in general. All things Karon was not and hated in others, but Twilight had manage to pull it off without earning his ire anyway.

How could he have missed just how important she had become to him? During the time he had been lying about his relationship with Rarity, he had just thought about how important it was she didn't find out. He had never stopped to consider why, why it was so important she wouldn't look at him the way she had when she found out about it

He had certainly never given it a thought to what Applejack, Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash would think. Just Twilight, she was the important one.

“Too late now. It would be best just to forget about it. Concentrate on the moment and all that.”

“You know, I don't think anything you have ever said has helped me.”

“That's because you never really listened.”

Not willing to get into an argument about it, Karon put on his hat and grabbed his belongings. It's a funny feeling you get when you realize that all that you have can be fit inside one folded shirt.

Outside, the air was colder and far more brisk than he would have thought, and as soon as he stepped off the carriage, a strong wind nearly blew his hat off. He had forgotten that Canterlot sat on the outcrop of a mountain pretty high above sea level and was very grateful Rarity had made his robe resistant to wind.

Rarity....

“Don't think about it....”

He shook his head hard and pressed the hat further down his head to make sure it stayed on. Looking around himself, he didn't see anypony out besides one lonely train conductor further down the station. He adjusted his grip on the bundle and began walking down towards him.

The soft leather boots hardly made a sound on the hard rock surface and so when he spoke the pony was completely caught off guard.

“Excuse me, would you mind giving me directions to the castle?”

The poor pony jumped up in the air from fright and turned around wide eyed to reveal himself as an old gray maned stallion. When he saw Karon standing before him, his eyes widened even more and his legs  shook visibly.

Karon groaned, this would just be the beginning.

“I'm not as bad as I look. Now, could you give me some directions to Canterlot castle?”

“Y-yes of course sir. Just follow palace road, the very wide one, and you will eventually reach the castle....”

When Karon didn't take his eyes of him, the stallion swallowed nervously. Most of Karon's face was kept in shadow from his hat, but his eyes glowed as strong as ever.

“....T-there should be s-some guards at the gates outside. Talk to them! They will help you.”

The last part was said in such a way it couldn't quite hide that what the stallion had really wanted to say was, 'they will deal with you'.

But Karon thought nothing of it and nodded in thanks before heading off, leaving the relieved stallion and feeling vaguely annoyed at his spinelessness. Sure, his appearance didn't exactly inspire confidence, but even Fluttershy had managed to get over her fear of him once he started to talk.

Of course, she was used to dealing with strange and possibly dangerous creatures. Around here in 'civilized' land, ponies would most likely only deal with strange and possibly dangerous cuisine at the most.

He hated the place already.

“You thought the same thing when you arrived in this world for the first time.”

“Yeah well ... okay fine, I'll give the place a shot, but I swear, if just one snobby pony gives me an arrogant remark, I will do things that will make Loki's toes curl up in delight.”

“I love it when you talk dirty.”

Despite the rather shallow set of directions he had been given, Karon managed to make his way to the castle gates. He passed by several late night cafes and restaurants on his way and every single pony that had seen him had stopped and stared until he disappeared out of sight.

Well not entirely true, some ran away.

But the guards at the gate didn't even flinch when he came into view and made no move towards him. Instead they waited patiently as he approached them steadily. When he stood almost within touching distance both pair of eyes snapped to him in perfect synchrony and the one to the right spoke in an iron hard voice.

“State your business.”

“I am Karon, the human mage who has been residing in Ponyville as per princess Celestia's orders. She offered me passage to ask for her assistance if I would ever need it, and I have come to hold her to that promise.”

It might have been a bad choice of words because both pair of eyes narrowed dangerously when he finished, but they shifted their gazes momentarily to each other. The one to the right gave the left one a nod and he opened the gate but closed it behind him. Most likely getting somepony that could verify what Karon had just said.

So he took the time to study the remaining guard. His coat was of a light gray color and he wore a dark gray armor with what looked like a stylized saddle on his back. On his head he wore a helmet resembling those of a Greek hoplite with a white mane sticking out on top. If it was part of the helmet or his real mane was impossible to say.

His eyes were the color of sand, but there was a quality to them that reminded a lot more of granite or diamonds. Solid and very much unyielding.

Curiosity getting the better of him Karon carefully stretched out his mind and examined the guards aura. As soon as he made contact with it the guard flinched and looked at him hard, not knowing what had just happened, but suspecting it was him.

Karon took a few seconds to get an impression before he withdrew. He was quite frankly impressed. Not only had the guard instantly sensed that he was scanning him, something that could be likened to feeling when a single strand of hair landed on your skin, but from what little Karon had managed to make of him, the guard's mind was like a fortress. He was no unicorn and had no discernible magical potential to speak of, but his mental discipline was ... scary.

He was like a machine, but an organic machine that constantly investigated, built upon and reacted. This was a creature that knew and controlled himself so perfectly, he would have instantly known if he was being manipulated by magical means. And even if he would fall for a trick he would never fall for it twice.

Karon reexamined every assumption he had built regarding ponies and came to the conclusion that he had managed to underestimate them ... again. The princesses were no fools. They might rule a land overflowing with peace and prosperity, but they were still ready for war and destruction.

He spent the rest of the time thinking of ways he could perhaps manage to manipulate the guards without their knowledge, but his musings were interrupted when the second guard melted out of the dark shadows from beyond the gate soundlessly, and opened it once more. Karon remained still until the stallion nodded his head towards to castle to show he was free to enter.

“You are allowed passage. Welcome to Canterlot castle, the jewel of Equestria.”

With a respectful tilt of his head to the guard, he entered the castle grounds and began walking down the stone path. Just a short way in, another guard stood blocking his way, but this one wore a helmet with a plume twice in size of the previous guard's. Most likely, somepony of higher rank and skill since he was a unicorn.

“Karon the human?”

“No, I'm Steve the human. Karon should be right behind me.”

Not even a hint of a smile.

“Yes, I'm Karon.”

“I have orders to escort you to princess Celestia without any delay.”

“By all means, escort away.”

The guard snapped around and began marching up to the castle, not walking, marching. It unnerved Karon in ways that cannot be understood by those who does not look upon stability and order as disturbing.

But the surroundings were nice at least. Doing his best to ignore Sergeant Mcstiffypants, as he had named all guards for the moment, he drank in the sight of the castle bathed in moonlight and felt a calm settle over him. Involuntarily, his gaze shifted to the large mountain that dominated the view to the east, and he thought the same thing he thought when he had first looked upon it.

“That place must contain tons of vaults and tunnels housing whatever trinkets and artifacts the princesses have collected over the years.”

“You will not break into it.”

“But...”

“You will not break into it.”

“But what if there is a huge mountain of magical tools and tomes in there? Entire library's with secret knowledge not known to unicorns or us....”

“....You will not break into it without a detailed map and an escape plan.”

“And a patsy, can't go wrong if you can blame it on somepony else.”

“You are learning.”

The path they walked led them up to same two huge double doors Karon had passed through when summoned to face the princesses judgement. The guard's horn shone for a brief second and the doors swung open wide, allowing both of them to pass through before closing again.

The sound of the respective foot and hoofsteps echoed clearly through the large marble hall, and the walls were still draped with banners of all ages and forms. Memories and testaments to enemies and allies alike from times long gone.

They took a left through an archway and walked down a far more narrow hallway, allowing no more than maybe three or four ponies to walk beside one another. There were several doors lining the hallway, but they entered none of them. Instead, they continued to the very end were a circular stair rose up towards what Karon suspected was one of the towers.

The Guard didn't stop or say anything, so Karon remained quiet and swallowed whatever unfunny joke he would have thought of. They passed through several levels where doors appeared, but the guard remained in constant uninterrupted motion. And for every level they rose, Karon breathed a little heaver, and mutinous thoughts about tripping the guard and listening to him bounce down to the ground level came often.

So tempting....

But finally, they reached the top and a golden door with a symbolic sun etched into its center stood before them. The guard stopped before it and knocked very respectfully on the door before he turned around and faced Karon. He gave him a stone cold stare that Karon imagined was meant to intimidate him, or maybe it was just the guard's default expression.

“Beyond this door lies princess Celestia's personal chambers. Our instructions were very clear that we were to bring you here no matter the time. Please head inside and speak to her.”

“Sure sure, just a question though. Could you send something up here to eat? I couldn't find anything on the train and unless I get food and drink soon I might try and eat somepony.”

“I will send one of the servants. What do humans eat?”

“Fruit would be nice, also meat if you got some. Not raw though.”

Now the guard was definitely giving him a stare meant to intimidate.

“Could you repeat that?”

“Oh you thought I was joking about eating somepony. No, no, I'm an omnivore, I can all kinds of things. I actually spotted some very tasty looking ponies on the way here. Mmmmhmmmm nothing beats a grilled pony snob, but just fruit and maybe fish or chicken if you've got it.”

The guard looked halfway between attacking him and vomiting by now, but he didn't respond other than nodding. He turned around and began the walk down the stairs, his gray coat looking a little greener.

"Hey, if you've got any relatives you don't like, just send them my way!”

No response, but the sound of the guard's marching pace seemed to increase.

“That was a bit unnecessary.”

“He made me walk up a bagiljion flights of stairs.”

“He was just obeying orders.”

“Since when did you get so empathic?”

“He was a ranking member of the royal guard. You don't want them to see you as a potential threat or a nuisance.”

“Well I am a potential threat and I will be a nuisance for anypony wishing to impose the rule of law on me.”

“It would be easier if they don't know that.”

“Point taken.”

He put his hand on the golden door and pushed on it. The door swung open without a single squeak or sound and revealed a room full of small golden lights. Everywhere he looked there was the same thing, varying slightly in strength and size. They seemed to originate from something that was scattered a little everywhere in the large room, but aside from the strange lights, there was not much special about the room.

A huge window at the far end from which a balcony could be accessed and a large bed in front of it. Several long tables stood against the walls and two small set of stairs led up to a second floor where several bookcases stood, filled to the brim with books and manuscripts.

It actually wasn't that different from how Karon's old home had looked like, just a bit bigger and all contained in one room. On the bed was Celestia, her legs folded beneath her and her head resting on a large pillow. Not sure if he was supposed to disturb her or not Karon settled for exploring the room a little more instead.

He went over to the nearest table upon which several of those strange lights sat. When he looked closer, he could see that the light originated from within a crystal. He picked it up carefully and immediately he could feel the energy stored within it. It was constantly producing a small stream of the energy and it took the form of light in this case.

If it was intentional or not Karon didn't know, but it was certain that anyone or anypony with just a hint of magical talent would be able to use one for a lot of neat tricks.

And there were a lot of them.

He went through every one on the table and found all of them to contain a great storage of energy, some a little more than others, but it was enough to keep the light shining for several months if not perhaps a year before running out.

You could do a lot of things with that much in reserve.....

He was interrupted in his day dreaming by a delicate cough from behind him and he turned around to see Celestia awake, standing next to her bed.

“Karon ... What brings you to Canterlot?”

“I am in need of aid, and I have the distinct memory of you offering me that very thing if I would ever need it.”

“I did, and I will not go back on my word, but could you first explain what has happened and why you are in need of my help?”

So he did, leaving out the more painful details but still remaining entirely truthful in his account of what had transpired the previous day.

After he was done, Celestia's usually serene looking features had shifted into something resembling sadness, and if Karon didn't read her entirely wrong, she was also a little surprised to hear he had acted so ... selflessly, but then again, so was he.

“I am happy that the situation was resolved, but it brings me great sadness to hear to what lengths you had to go. You have my eternal gratitude and sympathy. I know all too well how it feels to sacrifice for the greater good.”

“I don't know if I would go that far ... I just took the only option I had left.”

She gave him a knowing smile that said she understood things far better than he thought, perhaps even better than he did himself.

“You had many options, but you still choose the right one. I could ask nothing else of my loyal subjects, but it pains me to know it cost you everything you have gained since arriving here. As a token of my appreciation, I will provide a room for you here at the castle and anything else you might need to make a life for yourself here in Canterlot.”

“That's very gracious of you. I wasn't expecting quite that much.”

“It is nothing really. There is plenty of room at the Castle, and it can get very lonely here at times.”

Celestia's voice had remained almost exactly the same during the few times he had spoken with her. With the exception of the time they had fought each other, her voice had a soft yet authoritative tone to it, like a parent gently instructing a child or telling a story.

Which is perhaps why the tremor at the end stood out so clearly, as if the usually calm demeanor she kept was not strong enough to keep her personal feelings in check.

“You should invite Pinkie Pie sometime. I swear, if you give her half an hour, she could have half the population of Equestria here ready to party.”

A soft trickling laughter erupted from between her lips, but even then the tremor remained a bone deep weariness that was becoming more apparent the more Karon studied her. He briefly considered reading her aura, but thought better of it. She would know, and he doubted she would like the intrusion.

“I do not doubt the element of laughter's abilities. I saw them demonstrated first hand when she was a guest at the grand galloping gala.”

She looked away and gave a practiced sigh, one she had given many times before.

“But there is a difference between two simple friends and a subject and ruler. Each and every day I meet with many ponies, mostly nobles but all ponies are welcome to my court, but no matter who they are, I am always their ruler. I am always the Princess Celestia to them, and I do not reject that. I love all my little ponies and care for them more than you can imagine, but no matter how much I consider all of them my friends, it will never be ... normal.”

“Not that I don't appreciate the whole sharing thing, but why are you telling me this?”

She turned back to him and faced him squarely and for just a brief moment Karon thought he saw the alicorn she had once been. Young, curious, caring and ever so eager to find adventure and see the world.

“Because from the first moment you saw us, you knew who we were. You could also sense us, all the power we possess and you still didn't react. You treated us as you would have treated any other being that you believed came to take you away, and even after it was over and you submitted to our judgment, you still didn't look at us like all ponies do. Even the griffons, otters, zebras, harpies and minotaurs look at us as if we were more than them.”

“You do know I was kinda half drunk when we first met?”

“The smell was hard to miss, yes.”

“Oh, hehe. Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize, but my point still stands. With the exception of Discord and a few dragons, you are the only being in two thousand years that has looked at me like you look at me now.”

“Uh am I staring or something?”

“No, but when you look at me you look at ME. Not the Princess Celestia just ... me.”

“Well honestly Tia, I've met things more impressive than you before.”

“...Only Luna calls me Tia.”

“Not anymore. 'Princess Celestia' is kind of a mouthful.”

She looked shocked at hearing the nickname her sister had given her long ago in their childhood be uttered from an alien being from another world, but not angered by it.

“Thank you, but I would ask of you to refrain using it out loud in public places.”

“Sure sure, but you still haven't really told me why you're revealing all of this?”

“I admit that I gave you a place here at the palace out of more than just gratefulness. Both Luna and I have a difficult position, and ruling Equestria demands much from us. I have had time to settle into my role, but Luna ... is having difficulty. There is a lot that has changed since she ruled by my side, and even then, it was harder for her than it was for me.”

“I think I see where this is going....”

“It is my hope that you will become a friend to my sister and I, somepon- ... someone we can rely upon in an unofficial capacity.”

“You are extremely trusting to offer me something like that.”

“Perhaps, but your entire existence within our borders is reliant on my whim, which has been known to be fickle at times.”

“...Point taken.”

“I am not threatening you Karon, but you are different, unique even, and that is something very unusual for me to say. I have lived for nearly three thousand years now and I have experienced most of what this world has to offer. I have shaped Equestria from the lessons I learned in my youth and have brought peace to every pony within it. Yet I have never encountered any creature quite like you, and after believing to have seen everything it is ... inspiring to see there are still surprises to be found.”

“I've heard similar things from other long lived beings.”

“I do not doubt it, but the question still stands. Will you become my confidante and friend, will you help me when I have need of help I could not ask of any other?”

“This seems pretty important to you? Why me?”

“I told you, you are different, and you also have proven to possess considerable skill when you challenged me and Luna. I have done all I can to make sure that Equestria remains in peace and prosperity, but not without effort. The Canterlot court is not as innocent and caring as it would appear, so take care around the nobles.”

“So basically your shanghaiing me into becoming some kind of secret asset with freaky powers to deal with stuff you can't?”

“Only if you agree to it, but it would be more than that ... Luna and I have always been close, but ever since she returned there has been ... a rift between us. She will need time to heal and it pains me to know I cannot alone be there for her.”

“She didn't seem to be much of a fan of me when I saw her.”

“Luna still resents humans because of something that happened a very long time ago. She always had trouble letting go.”

Before Karon could ask what exactly had happened a polite knock came from the door and Celestia opened it with her horn. A white unicorn with a short light blond mane walked inside with a tray hovering beside her. Her eyes widened when she saw Karon and she looked nervous. Maybe the guard has said something about him eating ponies? The guard had been fairly boring and Karon doubted he even knew what a joke was.

“H-hello, I was sent up with a tray of food for your guest your highness. I hope everything is alright?”

“It's fine Feather Touch, please put it on the table beside him.”

She looked ready to faint when Karon looked her straight in the eyes, but she managed to levitate the tray of food over to the table without dropping it. When it was put down she made a slow bow to Celestia before turning around and walking towards the door.

“Feather Touch, could you please prepare the guest room over in the east tower, the one beneath Luna's bedroom.”

“Of course your highness, is the guest staying long? Shall I take on the responsibility for the rooms state during their stay?”

“Yes he is and I would be very grateful if you did.”

“He?”

“Karon here is the guest. Please make sure you are available at all times if he needs your assistance with anything. I want you to act as his guide and assistant during his stay here at the castle. Provide him whatever he needs or asks for.”

“Oh dear.”

The poor unicorn turned so white she almost looked transparent as she slowly turned her head and looked at Karon. He couldn't resist, so he opened his mouth and closed it with a biting motion, his teeth clacking as they slammed together. She let out an “Eeep” that would have made Fluttershy proud and started trembling. She turned her eyes over to Celestia and pleaded with them soundlessly.

Celestia in turn looked over at Karon disapprovingly, and he rolled his eyes in return.

“Does it make you feel better if I tell you that I have never actually eaten a pony and don't really plan on it?”

The unicorn shook her head.

“How about this, as long as you make sure I am feed I won't eat you.”

The unicorn turned from terrified to insulted in a split second.

“I would never fail in my duties as a servant of the royal Canterlot court! If Princess Celestia herself has commanded me to provide for all your required needs then that is what I will do ... even if you eat me alive!”

“All my ... needs?”

“Of course, whatever you require I am here to serve.”

“So you will provide everything required to make sure my stay here is ... satisfactory?”

“I already told you, whatever you desire is my top priority as of now.”

“So you will cater to all of my needs?”

“Yes, I will be happy to serve under you.”

“I am sure I will be able to make you enjoy serving under me....”

“The joy of being a part of the honored tradition of castle servant is all the reward I need.”

“Dear lord, she is oblivious.”

Karon couldn't stop smiling at the unicorn. She would be fun, he could tell.

Celestia wasn't as oblivious as poor Feather Touch though and her mouth hung a little open as she stared a Karon. She blinked a few times and her gaze shifted to the unicorn.

“Thank you, please make sure the room is ready for when Karon arrives there.”

“Immediately your highness!” she said as if she had been bestowed the greatest honor in her life. The fear of Karon had apparently disappeared when her dutifulness had been questioned. She walked out of the room with her head held high and the bundle with his belongings hovering at her side. Leaving Karon very optimistic for his future entertainment.

“Are all humans as ... forward as you?”

“I was just having fun with her. I wasn't serious.”

“Even so, I would ask of you to treat her with utmost respect and kindness. She is a very valued member of the castle servants.”

“Perhaps.”

“That wasn't a suggestion.”

“Are you beginning to see the downside of our little arrangement?”

Celestia hesitated and her face grew a little darker as she understood what he was saying.

When Karon had arrived and explained what had happened, she had seen an opportunity, but in order to seize it she had confided in him what she wanted without trying to hide anything. He understood why since she wanted them to have a more personal relationship, but she had still made the mistake of showing her cards openly to a trickster.

Now he knew that she needed him, and so he had leverage.

“Don't worry Tia, I don't plan on exploiting this in any way. I doubt you would stand for it for long, so yes I will help you. I will be your secret friend or whatever you had in mind, but I will still do things my way.”

She looked a little less thrilled than she had before, but she nodded in understanding.

“As long as you understand I will not allow anything that will endanger ponies needlessly.”

“Of course, but since you told me all about this right away, I take it you have something urgent in mind you need of me?”

She looked surprised that he had figured it out so soon, but then again, it only proved she had been right in her assessment of him.

“Yes, as I told you earlier, I have grown concerned about Luna. Ponies do not shy away from the night like they used to, but most of them still prefer the warmth of sunlight. Luna has lacked company and friendship for too long, and I want you to make friends with her and help her overcome whatever difficulties she has adjusting.”

“So what is she doing now?”

“She is outside in the training yard. The nocturnal guard are the only ponies usually up at this time, and she has taken to watching them train. However, they are all oath sworn to protect her with their lives, and they will never be able to substitute real company for her. They must always look at her as a princess.”

“Whereas I have no difficulty treating her like I treat anypony else.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay, why not. It's not like I have anything better to do.”

Celestia's eyes shone with a fierce joy and the room seemed suddenly a little brighter. Karon walked over to the tray on the table and removed the lid to reveal what looked like steamed vegetables and ... was that fish?”

“It is ... oh god YES!!”

Karon began eating the delicious meal with his hands and smacked his lips with every bite he took. It was a dead thing and it was just wonderful to eat something that had once been alive again. If staying at the castle meant he could have meat every day, it would almost make it worth leaving....

Suddenly his appetite was gone.

He kept on eating, but his previous gusto was gone and the food tasted far less delicious than it had a moment ago. Celestia remained silent during his meal and only watched impassively. When he was finished he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and turned to face her.

“You don't seem very shocked to see me eat meat. Every other pony I mentioned being able to do that to looked either terrified or disgusted.”

“The gryphon's idea of a state dinner is to fly outside and hunt live dear and rabbit together, and eat them raw. After a few centuries of diplomatic dinners with them, you grow accustomed to seeing far worse than a steamed fish being devoured.”

“You are different from what I expected Tia. I honestly thought you were a pretty bland and colorless head of state.”

She turned away and looked into a mirror standing against a wall. Her reflection looking back at her with a gaze that contained thousands upon thousands of years of experience. Memories of pain, love, despair and hope swirling around behind her eyes.

“I am very different from what I once thought I would be, but we become what we need to be.”

Karon sensed she was beginning to sink into a dark mood. She probably hadn't confided in someone this way in a very long time. Keeping those emotions pushed down took its toll on the mind and heart. So he walked over and joined her in looking into the mirror. Inside it he saw someone that definitely didn't look what he had thought he would become either.

“I know what you mean ... but hey, cheer up! At least you look great for you age,” he said and slapped her on the ass playfully.

She froze and her eyes focused on him with the terrible force of a burning sun behind them. Her lips were tightly drawn and her brow furrowed in anger as he only smiled back at her.

“Relax Tia, you're not my type, but if you were, I would have swept you off your hooves by now.”

Her anger melted away when she snorted involuntarily and shook her head in disbelief. The beings that would have spoken so brashly at her had all been enemies, but now she had found one that maybe could be a friend and ally instead.

It was enough to forgive a few lapses in protocol.

“Please, don't do that again.”

“Maybe....”

She stared at him hard but didn't comment any further.

“So, before I go off on this baby sitting quest for Luna, I must ask, why exactly does she react so negatively to humans?”

Celestia sighed and looked at him like she knew just how ridiculous she sounded.

“When Luna was just a filly a human broke her favorite toy.”

“What...?”

“Humans have been known to appear from time to time. Sometimes books or other tools of their making as well. When Luna and I were just a fillies, one strange looking human appeared out of nowhere and started acting hysterically. Before he was taken away, he managed to trample Luna's favorite toy.”

“A wild human appears...!”

“Quiet.”

“So uh, humans pop up every now and then?”

“It is not common, but it has been known to happen. I am not sure why, but I believe that the human world and our are closely related and sometimes small rifts can occur.”

“Close, but there's more to it.”

“I suspected you knew about this relationship between our worlds. One of the reasons I have taken such an interest in you is because every human we have ever encountered have been hysterical and didn't appear to understand what was happening. None of them ... adapted successfully.”

“I guess none of them possessed magic.”

“Not as far as we could understand them, no.”

“Yeah, well nice to know why she looks at me the way she does.”

“Don't judge her too harshly. Luna has never had an easy life, and of the two of us, she has always been the more sensitive one.”

“I'll be nice....”

“Relatively.”

“...but I should get to work so ... see you around.”

He walked towards the door and had just opened it when Celestia called out to him.

“Karon.”

“Yes Tia?”

“Put those crystals you pocketed back please.”

                            ***************************************************

Outside, the air was soothing and gave relief to all that had withstood the glare of the harsh summer sun. The gentle reflection of the moon's light flowed down from it in silvery beams. A couple of clouds stood in the sky, unmoving, and hid a few of the stars from view, but their brethren shone for all to see. Their light, distant and sobering, was a reminder of the vastness of the universe and just how small the troubles of ponies were in the greater scheme of things.

How small the troubles of a lone lunar princess...

Luna stood on top of one of the walls that surrounded the nocturnal royal guard's training ground. Each and every one of the ponies had been handpicked for their dedication and personal suitability for a life where the moon was their mistress, and the sun but a distant memory.

They had all sworn to protect her, to give their life for her safety if needed. It was an unbreakable commitment and only those with the strongest of wills could make it. But despite their undying loyalty to her, it was not what she craved.

However, it was all she had at the moment. Ponies no longer feared her night, and most enjoyed the beauty of her wonderful night sky as much as they did the golden sun of day. She had the love of her subjects again, not in the way she had always imagined, but it was still love.

Some still feared her, but they would leave such fears behind them as time passed. So, why did she feel so restless? She had even made friends with some of the ponies and had visited many villages during the celebration of nightmare night.

But there was still a loneliness present that she couldn't put her hoof on, and Luna had always hated when she couldn't find an answer to a question.

And the stars shone as distant as always...

She was brought out of her contemplations at the sound of hoofsteps approaching. But she corrected herself when she looked over at the approaching figure. Not hoofsteps, footsteps.

“Why does thou disturb my peaceful meditations?!”

“You can drop the act little Lunatic, I heard you speak in normal before remember?”

“You are as insolent as ever, please excuse yourself from our company!”

“No can do, I'm here to kidnap you.”

Luna blinked several times in rapid succession from surprise.

“What did you say?”

“Hah! I knew it was just an act!”

She scowled when she realized she'd been tricked and turned her face away from him with an affronted “hmph!”

Karon grinned but didn't let it deter him.

“The sky is beautiful tonight don't you think?”

Her ears twitched a little, but she didn't answer him.

“You know, I once heard an old pony back in Ponyville tell me a legend on how the stars came to be. Do you wish to hear it?”

She turned to face him with a suspicious glare but still didn't speak.

“Uhuhrm ... Yes, well, it all began a very long time ago. When the two beautiful princesses of the sun and moon ruled together in peace over all of Equestria, and all the ponies rejoiced in the sun of the first sister's day, but slept through the second sister's beautiful night. In time, the second sister came to grow bitter and angry of this.

Her jealousy grew and grew until it became so powerful that it turned the beautiful lunar princess into a wicked mare of the moon, Nightmare Moon, and she sought to plunge the world into eternal night, and only by the first sister's intervention was she stopped. And so, she was banished to the moon she had raised every night and her sister took on both their duties.

And each night she lowered her sun and brought forth the moon, and each night she wept as she looked up at her sister's prison. The moon she had loved so much, but nopony had loved more than the sun. And each night she wept, a single one of her tears would fall up into the night sky where it would remain, glistening brightly for all to see so the ponies would know just how sad the first sister was.  And so this continued until finally the sky was full of hundreds and hundreds of stars, and when a thousand tears had fallen, the stars themselves could no longer bear the sadness that had created them.

And they came together to free the locked away princess, because the first sister had not wept for Nightmare Moon. Her tears had been for her sister, who she knew was lost but not beyond hope ... and she had been right, as we all now know.”

Luna's eyes were glistening with held back tears as she looked up at the stars in a way she had never before.

“Tis but a ponytale. The stars have always been there...”

“That does not mean the story is not true. Your sister loves you little Lunatic, and she is hurting to see you the way you are now.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks unbidden, unable to hold them back anymore she turned to look at Karon.

“What do you want?”

“To help in whatever small way that I can.”

“I do not require help, human.”

“My name is Karon, and you really need to let that toy incident go.”

Her tears dried up and she furrowed her eyebrows at him.

“I don't know what my sister has told you but I-”

“Yeah yeah you are perfectly fine and you were sitting here all to your gloomy self because your life is perfect.”

“There was a time where you could be imprisoned for talking to royalty like that!”

“You would have to catch me first!” he said and slapped her ass the same way he had slapped Celestia's.

She jumped up and her horn glowed fiercely as she showed her teeth and an angry growl issued forth from deep within her chest.

“Insolent colt! I shall teach you a lesson!”

“Still have to catch me first!” he shouted and disappeared underneath a veil of invisibility.

Luna's eyes darted from side to side trying to spot him to no avail. Frustrated, she unleashed her magic and streams of midnight blue energy lashed out in wide arches. They sought hungrily for the insufferable human, but the quarry remained unseen.

Down in the courtyard several of the guards were shouting to hear if something was happening, their instincts to protect her immediately kicking in. She didn't answer them, instead she stomped her hooves in the ground angrily and small lightning strikes erupted from nowhere to vent her anger.

But she turned her head towards the other side of the wall where the garden was located when a sound caught her attention. Down at the ground Karon stood and wriggled his fingers at her in mockery, daring her to try and catch him before turning around and sprinting into the garden.

Luna's eyes narrowed into slits and she took off into the air after the fleeing human. When she did several of the guards shouted in confusion, and not knowing what to do, they ran out of the courtyard and followed behind her.

Luna flew above the trees and brushes and scanned for the human. The wind tossed her mane carelessly around and as her heart rate increased she felt herself become immersed in the hunt. Down below, she spotted the crown of a tree moving in an odd way. Smiling to herself wickedly she descended silently and remained hidden behind a large carefully trimmed bush in the shape of a manticore.

She carefully peeked out from her hiding spot and looked up at the tree, and as she had suspected she saw the vague outline of Karon sitting on top of a large branch. Her wicked smile returned and she retreated back behind the bush to keep the glow of her horn from being seen.

At first not much happened, but gradually the cool mountain breeze became stronger and stronger. And it was focused only in one place, where Karon was hiding. Luna stepped out from her spot behind the bush and casually walked towards the tree that was now wiping back and forth in different directions as a strong gale crashed into it from several directions.

Karon could do nothing else but hang on to the branch for dear life to keep himself from being tossed from the tree. Luna looked up at his terrified expression and his impromptu swearing in a language she could not understand and laughed.

The laughter bubbled out of her in streams of joy and relief. The sight before her just so utterly ridiculous there could be no other reaction to it.

She failed to remember that the emotional release also increased the energy channeled into the spell and the wind took on even stronger force. Karon shouted something before his grip on the branch slipped and he was flung out of the tree and landed heavily on the ground several meters away, he didn't move.

Luna's laughter ceased immediately and she watched his prone form with concern. She hadn't wished to hurt him for real. She trotted over towards him hastily, but before she could reach him several of the guards that had caught up to them rushed forward and put their hooves on him.

Karon shrieked in pain as the rock hard hooves dug into his still battered body. The fall from Twilight's library had not left him without considerable bruises.

“Unhoof him immediately! What does thou think thou are doing!?” she shouted at them angrily, reverting back to her old ways without even thinking of.

“But your highness we saw you pursue this ... creature an-”

“The creature is the human named Karon, and unless we are mistaken, he is here in our sister’s invitation!”

“The what now?” one of the guard asked and tipped Karon around to get a better look at him.

“Hey it is the human! He matches the description we were given.”

“Did we just attack one of the guests?”

“Your highness, if I may be so bold, why were you chasing after this ... human if nothing was amiss?”

“We were just playing tag you idiots!” Karon managed to cough up in between self-pitying groans.

“You were doing what now?” one of the guards asked and looked down on him with confusion.

“Tag, it's a game where you chase each other. The princess looked bored and I was just trying to entertain her!”

The guard all looked at each other in confusion then backed off, allowing Karon to rise to his feet. He did so slowly and exaggerated his injuries a bit for added effect.

Luna was staring at him just as confused as the guards but didn't say anything. Instead, she waved her hoof at them in a dismissal and they immediately bowed to her and began the walk back to the training yard.

When they were out of earshot Luna spoke.

“This was all just a game?”

“Of course. You were far too sad for what is proper for a princess, and if there is one thing I have learned from Pinkie Pie, it is that fun and games have a way to bring a smile to even the most depressed of individuals.”

“I ... was not aware we were commencing a game of ... did you call it 'tag'?”

“Yes, I touched you so you were 'it' and was supposed to chase me. Then you were supposed to chase me until you manage to touch me and I become 'it' and I chase you and so on.”

“Does this mean I ... lost the game?”

“Technically the game is still on.”

“There is no escape from THE GAME!”

“Hush you.”

“I think I understand the rules, are you hurt? Do you need to see a doctor?”

“No I don't think so. I just have a lot of bruises from the last time I fell out of a tree.”

“Oh, but if you are, please head over to the southern wing. Our court physician and unicorns specializing in healing live there.”

“I'll be sure to remember that,” Karon said and turned his back to her, looking over in the direction she had pointed.

He had looked towards the castle for less than three seconds before something hit him hard enough in the back to send him flying face first into the ground. He came up sputtering and turned around and saw Luna looking at her right hoof then pointed it to him and exclaimed.

“You're the it! ... Of the tags!” she flapped her wings and they carried her back a few meters where she stood and watched him expectantly.

“Oh, well if you say so, but you forgot one thing.”

“Is there a rule I don't know?”

“No, but Celestia is standing over there,” he said and pointed behind her.

Luna turned her head curiously, but gasped when she heard Karon run towards her at full speed and slapped her flank in passing.

“Cheating! You fooled me and it was not fair!”

“All's fair in love and tag little Lunatic. Come get me if you can!”

Luna watched him run off once more and laughed into her hoof before charging off after him, her horn aglow with magic, and before her, a madly cackling Karon taunted her with words and play, but this time, she answered his taunts with easy laughter.

                                              ***************************************

“Oh the pain ... oh the excruciating pain.”

Karon limped through the empty corridors of the castle towards the room that was now his. Since he was just one floor below Luna in a part that was connected to the rest of the castle, she had accompanied him most of the way.

They had spent hours in the garden chasing each other back and forth, using more and more complicated pieces of magic in an attempt to outwit each other. Karon had definitely drawn the short straw there. He was good with a lot of things, but he just couldn't measure up against a being that had used and collected magical skills and tricks for thousands of years.

And despite his relatively good physique, he just couldn't measure up against a pony in running, and climbing a tree isn't that significant an advantage if the opponent can fly....

Which is why he finally threw open the door to his room feeling battered all over and exhausted. He didn't even care to look around. Instead, his eyes locked on the large bed and flopped down on it. He didn't care to remove his clothes, and instead he pulled the covers over himself halfheartedly and relaxed his burning muscles.

“That was ... hard work.”

“But at least our plan worked.”

“Yes, I think it did. First we brought the troublesome feelings to the surface, then when she didn't try and suppress them anymore we turned them to anger instead and made sure all of it was focused towards me. After that, we led her on a chase that was supposed to get her to focus on the present as well. Then we tried, and I think succeeded, in evoking sympathy. Finally, we topped it off with making her slightly confused then re-directed it to make her feel a small connection with me by saying it was all for her benefit and then proving it by playing with her for a bit.”

“It wasn't a bad start no. I just wish I didn't have to hurt so much.”

“I didn't think she would throw us out of a three.”

“Yeah well she did, but the plan worked and it was worth it.”

“Indeed, we're done with the first part now.”

“Yes, but we are far from finished.”

“Indeed, tomorrow is a new day and phase two of operation 'Turn little miss Lunatic into a whole and happy princess again without dying' commences.”

“I can hardly wait...”

Next Chapter: Chapter 23: Insane servants, stalker guards and a criminal mastermind Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 50 Minutes