”Hurry! Before somepony sees us!” Karon whispered loudly and held up the door leading to the room Celestia had provided Twilight with for her stay in Canterlot. The unicorn in question shot Karon an annoyed glance as she levitated six sleeping ponies through the door and entered herself. Karon looked both ways down the hallway to make sure nopony had seen them before closing the door behind him.

The both of them had argued quite extensively of where they were supposed to store the sleeping ponies until it was time to wake them up. Karon had argued the best place would be somewhere hidden and unknown by most so the professor had no chance of discovering them by accident.

Twilight on the other hoof had argued that the best place would be in her room since she could simply say they were sick for the moment. Which also would explain why there would be servants inside taking care of them. And if one or two of those servants were in fact guards well, that was just the princess being reasonably protective of her beloved elements of harmony.

Karon argued long and hard but in the end he surrendered and allowed Twilight to have her way. She knew more about the way ponies reasoned and what would be considered normal than he did, and also......she was a woman, her victory was already assured.

That and the fact that Feather Touch had arrived and interrupted them right in the middle of their shouting contest, faced with not one but two females Karon had given in. Slightly reassured when Feather had explained Twilight was right after she had been clued in on what the argument was about.

How the servant unicorn had managed to acquire and transport six additional beds into Twilight's room before the duo had managed to sneak through the castle with the levitated group of ponies were beyond understanding. But it had happened and Karon watched as Twilight floated each pony into a different bed and left them there to sleep.

The room was very grand which was the only reason there was any space left at all after putting an extra six beds into it. In the middle stood a large double bed which was now flanked with three smaller one pony beds on each side.

At the far right up against the wall was the bed upon which Rarity was resting. Karon walked over to it while Twilight began discussing care-taking details with Feather Touch.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down on Rarity. She had the same peaceful content look he was used to seeing on her while she slept in his arms. He had watched her like this many times before late at night before sleep had taken him.

He stretched out his arm and dragged a finger along her jaw, letting it continue on it's path upwards until it ran over her ears and stopped at the very tip. She moved a little and clutched the sheets a little tighter against her chest but no other reactions came of it. It was strange, she had always woken up whenever he did that with a happy, although lazy, morning smile.

He continued to watch her sleep with a twinge in his heart, she had always been so soft and warm against his naked skin. He imagined crawling down next to her on the small bed that would barely fit him alone before he noticed the room had gone quiet.

He turned his head and saw Twilight looking at him with an unreadable face while Feather's eyes looked about double their usual size. Shoving his emotions into a very dark and distant corner in his mind Karon stood up and walked over to them.

The sooner he could leave all feelings for Rarity behind him the better it would be for everyone and everypony involved. He hadn't set that thing with Eldros and Spike up for nothing.

“What are you staring at?” He asked and gave his loyal servant an irritated glare. She quickly composed herself and her face turned into her usual look of patient attentiveness.

“Nothing sir! Just admiring the care you display for your friends sir! Not only are you a just being for defending us servants, but you are also compassionate to those close to you. I could not be prouder to serve you than I am right now!”

Twilight let out a snort that Karon ignored. She was just jealous he had gotten a personal servant like Feather Touch while she had received a small baby lizard with a clashing color scheme.

The blond unicorn looked to be plenty insulted enough on her masters behalf anyway, which seemed to annoy the hell out of Twilight. The thought of another pony siding with him rather than her must sting a little.

So Karon smiled at the purple unicorn and spoke.

“Twilight, I told you about the spy network I had Feather Touch set up. Would you mind helping her organize it so we can begin utilizing it as soon as possible?”

“Why me? Surely you would be more suited for it since it's supposed to be YOUR spy network.”

“Yes but I do not have your amazing skill in organization Twilight. Truly, your ability to boss people around humbles all of us.”

She glared at him but only said. “Fine, what do you want me to do.”

“Just get the network up and running. Make sure the servants shift are planned so I always have a few ready to be sent out on tasks.”

“What are you going to have them do exactly.”

“Tracking some of the professors shadowy minions is my first idea. I just have to find them first. There is no chance More-than Tardy would allow himself to be tailed. He is too clever for that, but his people probably wont be. Intelligent people prefer servants with limited imagination so they won't get too ambitious.”

“I still think it would be better if we asked the princesses for help.”

“They've already made their moves, and that was placing us on the board.”

“Celestia's move anyway, I don't think Luna is aware of what is going on.”

Twilight looked over at her sleeping friends and a worried expression came over her.

“What if something happens to them because of this?”

“I happen to have a certain captain of the nocturnal guard itching to have a conversation with me. I'm sure it will be no problem for me to commandeer a pair of guards to be stationed inside this room since I have an official position now.”

“Can't you at least TRY and act like you take this responsibility seriously? Every magic user in Equestria is counting on you to act on their behalf. They are NOT counting on you to treat this like some sort of joke!”

“It is a joke Twilight. I only got the position so More-than Tardy wouldn't use it to screw Celestia over.”

“But you...I...Can't you understand that this actually means something!? That you are supposed to be the representative all unicorns have needed for a long time?! Please try to act like it. You need to make plans and organize a staff and compile everything you need to know about Equestria's current magical society so you can make important decisions!”

“Why would I need to do that now that I got you here?” He responded and flashed a bright smile.

Twilight did not look amused.

“Calm down miss Sparkly pants I got this. I have already discussed what needed discussing with the consortium and told them to send over the info I needed, and the unicorn community got along fine before I arrived. So unless you think the professor might not be that great of a threat after all, I should probably focus on him right?”

“You could still act a bit more responsible.” She mumbled in her breath.

“Are you encouraging me to deceive and put on a show Twilight?”

Whatever she mumbled next was too quiet for Karon to hear but he was pretty sure it wasn't something nice.

“Feather, before you and Twilight get busy with organization and such, could you send a message to the guard captain that I would like to talk to him tomorrow morning?”

“Of course sir. I will return with it as soon as I can.”

“No need. I think I should go see Luna now before I get stuck performing whatever plan we can hatch. Once you've talked to the captain just get back here and help Twilight get the network up and running.”

“As you wish sir. I shall follow your orders to the letter.”

“You go ahead and do that.”

The servant unicorn bowed to him while Twilight rolled her eyes and walked out the door. Karon followed behind but stopped in the doorway and faced Twilight.

“You should stay inside with them until I can get some guards and servants for it.”

“I know how to take care of my friends Karon.”

He closed the door and headed down right towards Luna's bed chambers. It was late afternoon so technically this would be during her sleeping hours once more but since little Lunatic would be busy ruling during the night he needed to get to her around the twilight hours.

Of course since it was summer time the night wasn't particularly long, but the princesses kept to their respective schedules no matter the real state of planetary illumination.

He was halfway there when an idea came to him and he stopped. It would be a long shot, but if he was right then...

“It's worth a try.”

He changed directions and instead of the lunar princess's chambers, he headed towards the barracks of her faithful protectors, the nocturnal guard. He would NOT be a welcome sight in there but he needed help right now and Dusk Keeper was the only pony available at the moment.

Of course that wouldn't be so if he hadn't put six ponies in a suspended magic sleep, but nobody's perfect.

When he arrived at the entrance to the barracks, he felt a slight tingle of apprehension and suspected this might not be the brightest of ideas after all. But caution had never been a strong suit of Karon's, so after a moment of brief deliberation he opened the door and strode in like he owned the place.

Every eye in the barrack immediately settled on him, and with the exception of one pair they all narrowed in anger. The odd one out was Dusk Keeper sitting alone at the far end of a table. Obviously his compatriots weren't that fond of him now that they thought he was friends with Karon. Which would explain why the earth pony was begging him with his eyes not to come over.

Karon ignored the pleading look completely and marched over and sat down next to him. A mumble swept over the room as every guardsman in it imagined they were now having their suspicions about Dusk Keeper confirmed.

The stallion in question became very aware of this and his face fell down between his front hooves, hiding his face from the shame.

“Can't you just leave me alone?”

“It's about M.” Karon said nonchalantly.

The stallion looked up from his position behind his hooves with a disbelieving face and didn't respond.

“I know who he is.” Karon continued as if he was just talking about the weather.

“Who?” Dusk Keeper whispered fervently, his eyes aglow with need.

“It's the unicorn professor known as More-than Tardy.”

Dusk's eyes twitched and moved around the room as he was quickly trying to put pieces of information and suspicions together. His frown deepened with every moment that passed until it looked like he was trying to stare the table to death.

“Are you sure?”

“Without a doubt. He more or less admitted it when I confronted him.”

Dusk abandoned all attempts at pretending he had no affiliation with Karon and gave the human his undivided attention.

“What!? You confronted him and he admitted it! Why is he not in chains rotting in the deepest part of the dungeons!?”

“Because unless you don't care at all about his really powerful and extensive criminal organization we can't touch him at the moment. Besides I don't have any proof other than my own testimony. And even if Celestia would take my word for it the professor looks to have nestled himself in pretty deep with the nobles and traders in the city. Tia might have the right to do whatever the hell she pleases but that doesn't mean a very large group of ponies won't be very angry if she arrests somepony like More-than Tardy on my word alone.”

Dusk was clearly frustrated at not being able to get to the one responsible for the disappearance of his friend, his hooves pressed down hard against the table until cracking sounds could be heard coming from it. He was quite strong apparently.

“But I DO have a plan that might help us get to him.” Karon finished and gave the guard pony a meaningful look.

“What do you need?”

“Your help.”

“With what exactly?”

“You are still on Luna watch right?”

“Since the entire company besides me is still being punished yes.”

“Good, because I will be taking Luna out into the city now and that means that you are supposed to follow with and guard her. Thing is, the professor knows I'm onto him and he also has his eyes on the throne so he will have reason to keep both me and Luna under watch. But I know for a fact that he doesn't have any spies within the castle itself.”

“Yeah the servants are all crazy loyal with their death oaths and all that.”

“You know about the oath?” Karon asked and blinked in surprise, Feather Touch had said it was a carefully guarded secret.

“Please everypony knows about the oath and that the servants are nuts, it's the reason no pony has ever tried to turn any of them.”

“That was...news to me.”

“It’s hardly a secret. Do you have any idea how many jokes there's around about the servants?”

“Uhh no.”

“Visit Pony Joe's shop after regular closing hours when the working ponies get there and you'll hear them tell jokes for hours on end.”

“I'll consider it. But since More-than Tardy can't get any spies inside the castle that means he will almost definitely have some posted around the gates. And if one of them sees not only the number one enemy human but that he is also in company with one of the princesses...”

“They will have no choice but to follow you to see what you are doing.” Dusk Keeper finished and his anger turned to resolve.

“That is my hope anyway, so instead of followed us around like a good little guard I need you to check if anypony is following us around. And please, don't wear your guard uniform this time. Try to blend in.”

The stallion involuntary looked down on the midnight blue armor he was wearing and his helmet lying on the table to his side and nodded.

“Okay, I can handle that. I will go out and blend in with the crowd closest to the main entrance, when you pass by I'll keep behind you unseen and check for anypony that looks to be following you.”

“Try and looked for the pony who tries to remain unseen and look uninterested. Last time Luna and I went out into the city every single pony stared openly, a spy will try and blend in inconspicuously so staring openly will be counter against their nature. That's who you'll have to try and spot.”

“I'll find him alright, and when I do I'll make him tell us everything.”

The earth pony slammed his hooves together to demonstrate that he was thinking of something mainly violent as a means for persuasion.

“If need be, we'll see. But  focus on the task at hand I need this to work fast.”

“Why?”

“Because I have a nagging suspicion my open challenge towards the professor has made him prepare his final move. Which will happen during the upcoming noble's party unless I'm mistaken.”

“But that's in three days time!”

“Exactly, so let's get this right the first time and hope they'll take the bait.”

“I'll go right now, just make sure nothing happens to the princess while outside. She is still my responsibility to protect and I will be too far away to act fast enough of anything goes down.”

“Don't worry little guard, she is an alicorn in company with a badass slayer of timber wolves and...big bird things. We can take care of ourselves.”

“You didn't kill the bird.”

“It's head was half crushed, there is no chance in hell that thing survived more than a few minutes after it ran way.”

“If this was just a movie or some hack of a fantasy story that would be a terribly set up for the bird thing reoccurring with a vendetta.”

“Well how lucky we are to not be in a story then.”

Dusk Keeper didn't look entirely convinced but he gave Karon a nod and went towards his hooflocker to store his armor while Karon walked out of the barracks. Angry whispers followed in his wake and more than a few day dreams of revenge was spawned at the sight of his back turned.

Supressing a shudder at the anger streaming off the guards behind him Karon left the barracks behind him and returned to his route towards Luna's personal chambers. The marble hallways usually glowed with a white gold light from the reflected rays of sun shining through the tall thin windows.

But now they shone less and Karon looked out a window he passed by, curious, and saw that gray rain clouds were gathered above the city and blocked out the sun.

Glad that Rarity had made him the hat since it would  work perfectly to protect from rain he continued unfazed towards Luna's chambers and hardly threw any insults towards the stairs at all as he ascended them towards the top.

When he reached it he came upon an unpleasant surprise, some kind of force field. It was subtle and not particularly strong, shimmering slightly in the air and so very visible to the naked eye. It was not meant as a security measure obviously, it was meant as a hint and Karon suspected it was directed at him in particular.

Don't disturb my sleep.

He grimaced at the sight before him and sighed deeply. This would be a lot harder than he had anticipated, and now that there was more than just friend-making time with the little Lunatic involved, he needed to make it happen.

He rubbed his hands together quickly and blew on them, it was an old trick if you wanted to jump start the metaphysical sensory nerves. It might not be the official term for them but that was how Karon preferred to look at them as.

In truth the entire body and it's assorted systems are overlaid with energetic systems running parallel with them and working in co-function. There were of course more systems and types of energy the higher up on the spherical scale you climbed, but the physical ones were the basic and as such it was easier if one used them together with the purely energy based ones.

After all, the body is the body, whether you looked at the physical, mental, astral, spirit or soul, it didn't really matter. The aura was it all and it was supposed to work as a whole, so when you treated it as such the best results were attained.

It was one of Varsif's lessons Karon had actually taken to rather fast and without arguing, it made sense in a way.

So it was with practiced ease Karon's aura stretched out and connected with the barrier. His energy bounced of it like light striking a mirror and absorbed none of it. Which meant it was a reflective barrier before him, which was honestly easier to make than one that simply blocked it. Energy doesn't just disappeared it needs to be redirected.

Karon tried again and this time sent out energy from his astral counterpart in his aura and it bounced of just as before. Smacking his lips Karon tried again, this time with mental energy and it flowed through the barrier without meeting any resistance.

“So it stretches up into the astral and that below but no further. Either Luna didn't think it worth the effort or she honestly didn't expect us to be able to utilize any form of magic within that sphere.”

“Wouldn't surprise me if she didn't consider it a possibility. I have yet to meet a unicorn with any kind of magic focused on the mental realms so she might not even be aware of the extent of my experience within it.”

“Lucky for us. One might think she should have learned from the dream trap you put her and Tia in.”

“Obviously not.”

Karon finished the thought with a smile and sat down on his knees and placed his hands on his thighs. He focused on his breathing and pushed it deep down into center before exhaling slowly, his diaphragm pushed at by his upper stomach muscles.

He continued the routine for a few minutes until he felt his heartbeat reach a steady rhythm with his entire body, every cell in him breathed in harmony and his body began working as a clock without his supervision.

He focused his mind and shaped a vessel for it with mental energy pouring out of him in three steady streams, joining together in front of his seated form and creating a crude copy with his general features.

When he considered the vessel good enough he transferred his mind across the streams joining it and his usual body. It was no different than the way a person transfers their attention to a specific part of their body, and Karon could still feel the hard marble floor underneath his aching knees. But it was an extremely distant sensation, very little data came across through the link and unless something very painful or dangerous would happen, Karon could easily ignore it.

Satisfied everything had gone smoothly, he passed through Luna's barrier without any resistance and floated like an invisible ghost within her room. He found her on the bed breathing softly as she slept and it only took a minute of brief consideration before he formed a connection to her and entered her dreams.

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

He stood in a dark meadow surrounded by ancient trees and a lake reflecting a great full moon in the distance. Above him the sky was burning fiercely with the light of a thousand stars and shades of silver, indigo and black danced all around.

The grass was soft and wet with dew and the Trickster looked down to see his naked feet. It was a strange sight since he had shaped boots in an image of his real ones, but it did not disturb him. Perhaps the ground beneath was something you were not supposed to shield yourself from within this dream, it mattered not.

He turned his head left then right, his eyes hungrily devouring the sight before him and searching for the one he sought. But to no avail it would seem, for wherever his chosen quarry hid, it was outside of the reach of his gaze. Pondering his next move the Trickster drew breath through his nose and tasted the night air and all it offered.

The smells were rich and possessed an inscrutable depth which only the night may provide to that it holds within. Within the Trickster a hunger awoke, a hunger not lost but less than it had once been. But now stoked by the taste of awaiting mystery and whispered secrets of the night, his legs moved on their own and his eyes set upon the horizon with greedy need.

Yearning for his feet to tread upon virgin soil and dust be wiped clean of treasures both past, present and future the Trickster marched forward with burning eyes. Two jewels of shining amber joined the silver, black and midnight indigo of night and the world was a frozen moment of perfection.

However, the rapture of the Tricksters heart and mind slipped like the thawing ice from mountain rock as a sound reached his ears. His eyes turned towards the heavens and beheld the spread wings of mother Night herself. The sound of her wings were like the booming of a distant war drum, but calling not for blood and death. No, it called for naught but the attention of all who heard and asked for but a moment of their time.

A moment spent in awe as mother night blessed the world with her presence, a single moment spent gazing at star and moon and allowing their beauty be felt.

It was a song of joy, hope and love. The soothing embrace of winter chill and darkened sky sang a song of desire and rest. But the notes of beauty above all was joined by the notes of despair, sorrow and empty loneliness.

An aching heart cried as mother Night flew across the sky and with no one there to answer her call.

Beneath the soaring mare, the Trickster stood and watched with his burning eyes, eyes that had beheld sun and moon and star of both dreams and waking worlds. And to mother Night's siren call unanswered, laughter sprang forth.

A laughter of playful games and tricks most clever echoed forth across the sky and the stars themselves held their breath. Mother Night heard the laugh, and as her lone song was joined by another kind of singing, she swept down from her place amongst the silver clouds and found the waiting Trickster.

Her mane was adorned with the thousands of yet unborn stars framed by the indigo of her shining night. Her eyes bore the color of the sea as moonlight caressed its surface and her coat and wings an even darker shade of ocean depth.

She carried the image of her beloved moon upon her skin surrounded by the dark of space and on her head rested the crown. The crown of mother Night, onyx black and sapphires blue joined with silver etched by symbols of ancient time and place.

Mother Night herself stood within the heart of her domain and beheld in surprise as a Trickster answered her call with laughter unbound.

“Thine presence here is without sense or reason.” She spoke with a voice of whispering winds above distant mountains, a soothing breeze ever ready to turn to gale and storm.

“Reason and sense of other minds are chains not of mine, for I am Trickster oh lady most honored.”

“Shall madness be all that answers my call and scorn of my work be my just reward?”

“Leave thy musings of madness and scorn behind, fear has no seat within thine own house.”

“How shall I vanquish fear when mine house is invaded by that unchecked and unbound?”

“Unchecked and unbound! Tis a lie most foul! Bound by chains and locks are we all, for how could we ever rhyme if there was no sound? Only the edges of mine choosing do I not dance upon and locked chains I put upon myself and swallow the key with great appetite!”

“Of what chains and edges does thou speak? Reveal out loud and let thy words settle my fear.”

“Upon my heart and soul I bind the chains of friendship, love and duty. Friendship of all I dare call dear. Duty to mine own self and that I dare hold true. And love to all I dare call pure.”

“But do thy chains truly hold? Or does rust of weariness and doubt mar thine self imposed shackles?”

“Only time will tell, but mine heart has been ignited by forces most mysterious and profound.”

“Trust is fragile and like heart and mind shatters easy at the sharpened edge of betrayal.”

“Trust is a spinning coin of changing sides, to halt and hold is to let it fall.”

“Then how can I show mine own trust and be bestowed trust in return?”

“Why a simpler suggestion has never been ready to speak in times now and then.”

The Trickster joined his gaze with mother Night and snow white teeth reflected moonlight rays.

“Open thine eyes and allow me entrance.”

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

Karon opened his eyes, his real eyes of skin and blood, as his mind returned to his body. He grimaced once more when he felt how stiff and pained his legs were. Marble was not the most comfortable thing to be seated on.

The door leading to Luna's door stood open and the barrier keeping him out was gone. Satisfied with his accomplishment he rose up and rubbed his legs gingerly, prickling stabs were felt all over his legs and blood rushed back into them.

“No wonder the little Lunatic had troubles speaking normally if that's how her mindset is shaped.”

“Don't speak of it, it will take me days to get the pattern out of my head.”

He entered Luna's chamber and found her waiting for him inside, she stood at the center of the room and looked at him with mixed emotions. He could guess they were probably something like embarrassment for the barrier, anger at having her mind invaded and fear for him having seen her so open and vulnerable.

Karon had no idea how long that little trip had taken and he frankly didn't like what he had said and felt inside her mind either particularly much. A trickster that couldn't hold his tongue was not a trickster that stayed alive for long.

So instead of spending time in awkward conversation carefully tip toeing around what had just happened he walked up to Luna and put his arms around her neck in a hug.

He stood still until she decided to lower her head to his shoulder and pushed a little against his head. They remained like that for a few second before Karon broke it and said.

“Let's get something to eat.”

“I could do with some food yes.” Luna said in return and smiled at him.

“So, are we good? No chipped edges around our friendship?”

“We are, as you said, good.”

“Excellent.”

They both walked towards the door but when Luna passed through the frame Karon asked.

“So can I get to ride you now?”

She craned her neck so she could stare back at him, judging by her face he had just said something incredibly insulting or just plain weird.

“Absolutely not! I'm not some transportation mule for humans!” She finally answered and walked out the room.

“Don't say it....”

“I never specified what kind of riding I was talking about.” Karon said.

Luna didn't say anything back but he saw how her horn flashed as she walked down the spiral staircase and being an experienced trouble maker Karon's trickster sense began tingling and he ducked.

Unfortunately that meant that the book that came flying from the one of the bookshelves didn't hit him in the back but instead flew right into his head. He heard the thud quite loudly and toppled over to his side and the world began spinning a lot too fast for his comfort.

Growling angrily in part for Luna and in part for his own idiocy Karon grabbed the book and looked down at it with contempt.

The eloquent tongue: An extensive work on all things etiquette and the proper way to address royalty

Scowling he threw the book back inside the room and slammed the door shut behind him. He gently rubbed his head and began his descent down the thrice accursed stairs while he thought he heard giggling coming from below.

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

It was lightly raining outside when Karon and Luna exited the castle but not enough to be unpleasant. Not for Karon at least, he had a hat and clothes on. Luna on the other hoof looked up at the sky with an annoyed frown and conjured some kind of shield similar to the one she had used on her door above her.

The rain continued its steady pour while the pair made their way to the castle gates. It was a pleasant beginning of their walk since the rain had had time to sink into the earth and plants, and the air was full of the scent of fresh life.

The guards stationed at the gate opened it immediately at the sight of the princess and the court wizard. When they went through, Karon scanned the streets and windows for anypony suspicious looking but none could be found. For that matter Karon couldn't see Dusk Keeper either, but that would hopefully just mean he was doing a good job staying out of sight.

Hopefully.

The thought that More-than Tardy's spies might have seen him and decided to get rid of the threat might have crossed Karon's mind briefly. But he reminded himself that the guard pony could take care of himself and he was supposed to keep to public places. Besides that More-than Tardy, and certainly not his spies, most likely didn't know a thing about Dusk Keeper.

No, he was alright.

Instead, Karon focused his attention on Luna and decided to leave the spy work to the guard pony. The princess in question didn't look as thrilled to be out as he could have hoped but at least he had managed to get her out of bed. It was a start.

“How about we go somewhere dry and perhaps with a roof over our heads?” He said and tried to sound cheerful, he didn't want her to catch the worried tone in his voice.

“That would be preferable.” She said and shot the sky an evil glance.

“Good I heard that this place called Pony Joe's is supposed to be good.”

“I believe I have heard mention of this place from my sister but I can not remember the details.”

“Then it will be a surprise for both of us.”

Despite the decision to leave the spying to Dusk Keeper, Karon tried his best to cast as many innocent looking glances around as he could. There weren't a lot of ponies outside because of the rain and all the market stalls were closed.

But The few ponies that were out all stopped and gave the princess and the mage an open stare before hurrying away again. That was until he saw one pony that didn't look to be in a hurry going anywhere, and unlike all the other ponies he only gave them a passing glance before focusing his eyes elsewhere.

However, Karon saw how his eyes returned to them with passing intervals and his suspicions arose very quickly. He changed the course of his walk and headed straight towards the red maned blue coated pegasus with a quickened stride.

When the pegasus saw this his eyes widened in panic. But that could easily be at the sight of a strange looking creature in company with the princess coming towards him. Karon couldn't be sure.

The pegasus looked about ready to flee but Karon managed to intercept him before then.

“Excuse me, do you happen to know the way to Pony Joe's?”

The pegasus blinked and the air he had been holding was let out visibly. Karon's eyes narrowed as his suspicions were more or less confirmed, he wouldn't be relived if he had been nervous about speaking to him or the princess.

“Down Palace street, its right across from a very big hat store and it has a sign that says Pony Joe's Doughnuts.”

“Thank you friend.” Karon said and gave him a pat before following the directions he had been given with Luna in tow looking miserable. She didn't like rain obviously.

Karon hoped that Dusk Keeper was watching. And if he was then he should be paying close attention to the pegasus and wondering why Karon had approached him. If he then saw the pegasus following them trying to remain undetected he would know that was the spy.

Or one of them.

Karon's heartbeat quickened at the thought and realized there could easily be more, perhaps watching for a tail and any other manners of tricks Karon might have up his sleeve. More-than Tardy was paranoid and now also grossly overestimated him. It wouldn't be far fetched to believe he had ordered safety precautions to be taken.

He was so focused on his thought Karon didn't realize Luna had stopped following him for several minutes before he blinked and looked back. Behind him several stores down, Luna stood outside a shop with a doughnut shaped sign hanging from the side.

Karon silently cursed his distracting thoughts and shook them off as best he could, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

Inside the shop it was bright and dry, the floor was checkered in a black and white pattern and large windows opened up on the sides. Several wooden tables were placed around the shop and at the far end was a counter that a tan colored brown maned stallion wearing a white shirt and hat stood.

Over the entire counter was doughnuts placed in display and Karon had to admit most of them looked very tasty. Luna seemed to agree because she hurried towards them with a hungry expression and all eyes in the shop turned on her.

Karon looked over each one and felt how hyper alertness was creeping up on him. Tiny little details like smudges on their coat or clothes seemed to tell him trillions of stories of where the could have originated from and every single detail in the entire room called out to him.

Karon was pretty damn sure a blood vessel in his eye popped and he stared at the room with unchecked paranoia. He hadn't been paying attention outside, what if the pegasus had ran to his accomplices and told them they were heading here? What if they decided to beat them to it and all arrived here before he and Luna had? What if every single pony in here beside the owner and Luna was More-than Tardy's spies...and killers?

“Pull it together. You're a trickster and a mage.”

He tried to draw whatever comfort he could from that fact and swallowed the lump that had appeared in his throat. He walked up to Luna and took his place beside her, on the other side of the counter Pony Joe was showering love over his new guests and insisted that anything they wanted would be on the house.

“Fine by me, I forgot my purse anyway.”

Luna brightened up considerably at this and ordered not one, two or three doughnuts, she ordered ten. That and a large cup of coco. Karon settled for less and ordered two doughnuts and one cup of coco.

Pony Joe gathered all their chosen food and put them on a large plate which he carried out with his mouth while balancing the two cups on his back. Luna dug into hers with a ravenous appetite and murmurs of respect were heard from the other customers as she devoured all ten of her doughnuts in less than five minutes.

She drank all of her coco with a few large gulps before she realized what she had done and smiled sheepishly towards the rest of guests.

“That was some fine eating if I may say so myself princess. Only time I ever saw anything like it was when we had this crazy pink earth pony here, ate thirty-four doughnuts in ten minutes if ya can believe it.” An older looking earth pony with steel gray coat and brown mane said from across the room.

“I can.” Karon muttered and thought of Pinkie Pie sleeping inside Twilight's room.

“I apologize profusely at my manners, it had just been a long time since I last ate something so...uncomplicated.”

“Well that us here at Pony Joe's, uncomplicated through and through.”

“So everpony gathered here is a regular?” Karon asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Yep, all of us here are working ponies that have come here for almost every night now for many years.”

“No other strangers besides us?”

“Nope.”

Karon felt his worry lessen and finally disappear at the news. If they were all regulars for many years back, the possibility that they were all spies were close to none existent.

And after that Karon became more relaxed and entered into conversation with the ponies gathered in the shop while Luna did the same with a few of the others. As the hours rolled by and the sun was setting behind the cover of clouds, the mood became more and more relaxed and soon all of the ponies and humans were eating and drinking loudly and laughing even louder at jokes. Mostly about the crazy castle servants, and none laughed louder than Luna at those.

However as the light darkened outside, Luna turned to Karon and spoke loudly so all inside could hear.

“I need to return to the castle now I'm afraid. I still need to raise the moon and attend to my duties, I hope you all will have a wonderful evening.” Around her the ponies cheered and Luna spoke in a more quiet voice to Karon.

“Thank you...for bringing me here.”

“It was my pleasure princess, you needed to meet up with regular ponies. Your real subjects.”

Luna gave him a crooked smile before she snatched one of his doughnuts with her magic and walked out into the rain and back towards the castle. It was a little less loud after the princess left but the mood was no less bright.

If anything it was brighter as the ponies gathered discussed their surprise and pleasure at finding the reclusive lunar princess to be so in touch with regular working ponies like themselves. They all spoke high praises of her character and more than one glass of coco was raised in her honor that night.

It might have seemed a small thing to Karon at first, but he didn't realize at the time just how much working ponies talked and how far and fast the rumors of the lunar princess's sudden appearance would spread. And just how much she would grow in popularity from it.

Instead, Karon just found it amusing they were so taken by their nocturnal princess and remained inside chatting with the ponies. Many of them understandably had questions about both Luna and himself. He might have told a few very untruthful stories about his exploits within the Everfree forest and about the many mares he had explored as well but that didn't matter, they were just as appreciated anyways.

It was later at night when midnight was approaching that Pony Joe began serving booze and the night became VERY merry after that. Unfortunately no pony actually believed Karon when he claimed he was behind Applejack's daniels resent rise in quality and the many new types of booze on the market.

Which was a bit annoying since they had bought his lies but rejected the truth, but it was nothing a few shots of vodka couldn't forgive.

It was some time after midnight that Karon stumbled out of Pony Joe's shop to a lot of waves and shouts of farewell. Outside the air was moist but cool and the mountain wind kept the humidity at very tolerable levels.

He stumbled down the street towards the castle and was humming on a song he was making up as he went when suddenly something slammed into his side and sent him flying into a nearby alley. Dazed and confused Karon tried to stand up only to fall over as a hoof slammed into his side once more and he let out a pained cry.

He looked up to see several darkly dressed ponies emerge out of the night and before he could do anything else they all fell upon him.

Next Chapter: Chapter 27: Factory of dreams Estimated time remaining: 14 Hours, 24 Minutes