Unintended

I was angry at myself for having hit him. I was angry at him and myself for having stayed behind to answer his questions and not just declined politely and gone to bed to avoid the waves of emotions that occurred and were now still occurring. However I was most angry with myself for the way I'd been acting around my sister, especially when he was there.

I rushed down the hallways passing guards and stunned castle staff and not trying to hide my blurry eyes, I galloped up the observation steps to where my sister was preparing to leave to attend some form of Royal business and practically threw my hooves around her, sobbing like some small filly.

Tia was surprised at first but then her surprise turned to anger and she asked coldly "What has he done?" Obviously referring to our guest but misunderstanding what he had really done for me and why I was pretty much crying.

"He's opened my eyes big sister! I'm so sorry for everything but it's going to be all ok. I know you're just looking out for me and that's great and all but I can handle myself. I'm just so pleased that you're my sister and that you're here" I wailed a little dramatically for me, thinking that I'd gotten over all this phase a year ago.

Tia couldn't help but begin to tear up as well and she also embraced me whilst her assistant stood bored behind her, checking his pocket watch with his magic, his bristled moustache looking very upset and his eyes clearly rolling at the emotional but time wasting scene. He of course had been in the service of my sister for many a year but I could not remember his name, "Kle" something though he was one of two others though my sister's most reliable assistant.

"So our stranger said something then?" Tia asked and I nodded in affirmation "He really did say something. Something that made me so glad that I have a sister and that you happen to be her, also that and you are still alive and not dead has something to do with it"

My sister seemed glad but after a few minutes of staying in our warm, sisterly embrace she asked "Am I going to be able to have my body back this century or is this going to be a waiting game? Cause you know I've had as much practice as you."

I sheepishly let go and wiped my eyes "So sorry sister" I apologised. She nodded and looked towards her assistant who tapped his pocket watch furiously. "I'm sorry Lulu but I need to dash now, already two minutes behind schedule and so much to do" and with that she took off without a word else to be put in.

Was I a little hurt that she'd just left like that after I'd poured my heart out? Absolutely, but with what The Red Stallion had said I was hyped on being alive and having family to be around. This sadly clashed with the fact I'd done a twelve hour night shift and stayed up a few hours more what with the Supreme Commander coming through the gateway to his world.

I decided to go to bed then and try and catch him when I got up to raise the moon. He probably would be stuck in the same sleep cycle as I now and so I would likely get to see more of him which pleased me greatly as he was a distraction from the usual routine.

He was fascinating in so many ways. He was angry and vile one moment but then a cool, calm and collective gentlemen the next. A pony of wise words and wisdom but then one who threw insults around like some common sailor the next, which although was not very high-class like made for a deeply tangled personality.

Indeed his twists in personality were as fascinating as how he'd come to be here and the land he hailed from. "He must really love his land to want to get back to it so much" was all I could think of his eagerness to leave, though I supposed I too would not like being stuck in a foreign dimension. The way he described it seemed that ponies were quite content with his rule or leadership or whatever he did over there so that must mean that he was a good leader who was admired and respected.

However the undeniable sadness that had him hooked seemed to stem from all that he did for his ponies and with the speech he'd given me in his chambers it would appear that he carried around a large amount of baggage. I hated to dig but it was one of the things that made him mysterious and thus interesting to me.

I sighed from the guardrail at the hot sun and headed back inside. I needed to get to bed to raise the moon, no point in getting up if not to make sure everypony else got to sleep or else I'd be out of a job. Not that it was really my choice to do anything but then I didn't mind being one of the most important ponies in Equestria even if it wasn't acknowledged.

I trotted off slower than before and failed to hide my blush when passing all the ponies that had seen me in tears a few minutes ago. "Hopefully they won't talk so much about this" I thought, knowing that it would be a nice piece of gossip for the nobles to sink their claws into and rip apart at the next social event or fundraiser or whatever my sister did next.

I got back to my room and after entering and closing the door I once more let out an enormous sigh, rubbing my eyes and beginning to really regret the soppy, moment of emotional breakdown I'd suffered on my sisters behalf when all she'd done was to get a little teary and then carry on with guise of ruler as usual.

I shrugged and decided it wasn't worth worrying about all of these pointless things and to get to bed. Before that however I decided to inspect the round, groove-cut marble pillar that the Red Stallion had fallen through when he'd gone through the mirror he'd described.

I still couldn't believe that was his real name but since I didn't really want to press him over every little thing about him immediately then I decided it best to ask tomorrow or maybe a day from now.

The pillar was nothing special in looks, there was a small chip on one of the grooves and it shone bright white like all the other pillars in the castle. I touched it and nothing happened, not that I thought it would cause it was just a pillar but something strange did happen after I withdrew my hoof.

Something flashed in my mind, too quick for me to see but it was strange how it seemed bad though I hadn't seen it or anything I knew that it was bad just by some kind of inner feeling and I shivered, suddenly very cold.

"Curious" I thought but then yawned, exhausted from everything I would soon probably faint if I didn't get to bed. "Enough playing around Luna now you do need to get to sleep" and after taking off my black chest plate regalia crown, and remaining three shoes I was able to get to bed at last and settle down for a hopefully good day's sleep.

It was never hard to fall asleep for me and since I ruled over ponies dreams it was easy for me to control my own, though sometimes they took trips into nightmares but that was only in times of stress or sadness. However tonight I was too tired and so I focused less on dreaming and more on resting.

My internal alarm clock woke me up just as the sun began its long decent into the hills where it would look brilliant and inspire thousands of proposals this day alone. "My moon is still more romantic" I thought, smiling as I stood up and began to get ready for my night shift.

I never liked having to get up but then what pony in their right mind would like getting up and going to work at nine o'clock at night? All other ponies were winding down now and in a few hours the majority would be resting or partying until the day. I took a glance over at the pillar once more and poked it. No flashing images clouded my vision so I must have just imagined that before, probably taking in how tired I was added to the chances of hallucination.

I trotted off happily, wondering if that strange stallion had awakened yet. If he had then he'd probably have found my sister so I went to the observation tower.

On my way I saw the traffic of scribes and guards decrease as the night shift set in. My own personal guard wasn't exactly as massive as it had been so they weren't able to cover even half the castle which meant that the bulky day guard had to cover the castle's security at night as well as day.

It was a little insulting but then few ponies signed up to become a night guard. Day guards were prestigious, steadfast soldiers in golden armour and the image every young colt aspired to be one day. Night guards were silent, mysterious and thanks to the wing modifications of the Pegasi they were viewed as a complete different species by many although that of course was absurd.

I sighed and thought back to the times when games were held to see which guard was the best usually lasting a full day to make it fair with generally every pony drawing and much fun being had. But that was from a different time, a time now long gone and taken up only in the memories of me, my sister and maybe a history book or two had they not all crumbled to nothing by now.

I flicked my shimmering mane back and ascended to the top of the stairs where sure enough my sister was standing alongside our strange new guest, clad in his strange but very dashing uniform decorated with all his medals.

"Ah Luna, just in time to see the sun set. The supreme Commander and I were just discussing the details of how he will return home, I'm sure he'll fill you in but I myself must retire so goodnight" she yawned as the sun dissipated behind the hills and she turned and bid the Supreme Commander a goodnight.

The Supreme Commander seemed better now that he'd had a decent rest. More strong and sturdy in his posture and very calculating. "Goodnight Princess" he bid to my sister in that very thick accent before he bowed his head to me and offered me a goodnight as well."

I smiled and hid him a goodnight as my sister disappeared down the steps. I lit my horn up and in moments the large and pearly white moon began to rise over the land, bathing it in a lovely light as usual and showing off the stars.

I noticed the Supreme Commander staring at my horn as I finished putting he moon in place and smiled "Never seen a pony raise the moon before?" He smirked and shook his head, replying "Not me no, I didn't believe your sister when she told me that you also keep the sun and moon rotation cycle going but well it seems you have proved me wrong. Seeing how she lowered and you raised the sun however I must admit I am impressed by your raw power."

I blushed, usually my sister always got the almighty powerful deity compliment but it was nice for somepony to recognise my magical ability for a change.

"It's nothing really. Just a normal nightly thing to do for me" I shrugged, downplaying the entire thing. He smiled "It isn't normal to me. Where I come from the sun and moon completes their cycles without magical help."

I was interested by this and muttered "Fascinating" under my breath. He looked over at me and asked "Oh yes I am quite the novelty aren't I?" The way he'd said it didn't sound like he was being humorous so I quickly defended "It isn't every day you get the leader of another world zapping into your bedroom."

He cocked his head and shrugged "Fair point, I suppose you are right" he cleared his throat and asked "Anyway, would you like me to give the brief that your sister gave me?"

Although I'd have liked to know what my sister knew I had the entire night to talk and dine with him and so replied "It can wait till later, for now if it would be ok I'd like to ask some questions about you."

He looked over at me a little unsure but after a moment he replied "I suppose you are the ruler of this land and the least I can do is answer a few questions." It was good that he thought that because I would have simply not pushed it had he declined for fear of insulting him in some way, especially after our talk the previous night.

"Ask away Princess" he prompted and so I began with "What does your cutie mark mean?" This question seemed to completely perplex him and he thought for a few moments before he flatly asked "Sorry what?"

I thought he was joking and went to smile but by the look on his face he was clearly perplexed. "Oh maybe they call it something different where you come from. You know the picture on your flank signifying what is your special talent in life, what you're good at."

He looked behind at the right side of his flank and cocked his head. "There is nothing there your majesty" he pointed out. Now I was sure he was pulling my leg but when he began to look confused again I sighed I pointed "Your left flank Supreme Commander."

He looked round and almost had a fit. "What in the name of the Star is that!" he shouted at me in shock and anger. I was a little confused but stepped back and explained "It's a cutie mark, everypony has one it tells us our destiny kind of, you know our special talent."

He calmed down a little but quickly said "This is new, nopony has this where I am from. How do you get rid of it!?" He demanded trying harder to see it. I shook my head, wondering why he was so upset and replied "You can't it's there for life, marked into your fur. I suppose you could dye it out but it would still effectively be there."

He looked to my cutie mark and sighed "So let me guess... your talent is moon related?" I smiled and nodded "Yes indeed, how in Equestria you guessed that is beyond me. He chuckled but kept staring intensely at his flank as if he had laser vision and could just burn it off.

"Anyway do you know what it signifies?" I asked him, trying to get him out of his slight depression. He shrugged and turned back "It is the symbol of equality for my people so I guess this means that my cutie mark means fairness."

The way he said it he didn't seem to be quite so sure so I asked "Are you positive of that because you are kind of on the bench there. "He nodded sure of himself this time. "Yes it just signifies that" and after he just dropped the conversation.

I trailed my fore hoof along the ground awkwardly before I noticed the pouch on his side and pointed it out, asking "What is that thing strapped to your waist?"

He smiled and replied "I actually wanted to know if you had these in your world or not. I see you have electricity and I've seen a train in the distance but do you have firearms?" He asked as he pulled out with hi magic a silvery, metal kind of l shaped thing that must be called a firearm.

I shook my head and he explained "Well it's a long range weapon that is used by the military of the people, well they usually use rifles but they all have the same principle. It fires a small metallic object through the barrel here, which will then travel to hit its intended target. All you have to do is point and shoot basically.

I nodded in understanding and asked "Like a simple bow and arrow or a crossbow?" He squinted his eyes and slowly nodded "Sure yeah, whatever those are." I ignored the fact that he'd never heard of crossbows and asked how does it work?"

He smiled and put the metal firearm back in its holster. "Now Princess that would be telling. Besides I am a ruler and not a gunsmith so I couldn't tell you very much."

He seemed a little guarded against that topic so I moved on. "Does everypony in your homeland talk like you?" He nodded in affirmation replying "The Soviet ponies have always been told that we are thick accented." "Your accent is very smooth and fluid, a lot like the griffons" he muttered.

I smiled and asked "So you have Griffons in your homeland as well?" He nodded and then spat "We have been at war with them for over four centuries now and we have entered a stalemate in the fight, all it has done is drain out resources and created a huge loss of life."

I was shocked and surprised by this sudden knowledge and asked "Why in Equestria have hostilities lasted so long? What do you have to fight about?" He shook his head. "We call them fascists where I come from. Does this word exist in your language?"

I shook my head and asked what it meant and he grimly went on to explain "Basically they don't like other nations and believe the Griffon race superior. No relationships with other races are allowed and there are strict restrictions on everything you can do. Many suffer and many die by the claws of the Eagle, the ruler of the land."

I was just trying to comprehend what he was saying. That so many would die by the hands of their own leader was beyond any evil I could think. I prayed that had I defeated my sister I would not have slipped into the business of death so easily.

"I just don't understand how somepony could do that to another" I said breathlessly, truly astonished beyond comprehension. "That is why we fight, for a free world to live in where all are equal" he explained, leaning on the balcony of the observation tower.

Silence separated the next few minutes as we stared at the night sky. I wasn't sure what else I could ask after discussing such a depressing and dark topic. "Maybe we should not have talked about my world, it is far less kind than yours, if only everypony followed Ponyism" he explained his head low, staring at the castle below us.

"I agree with that I suppose" I said, not wanting to upset him with the memories of his homeland though I knew nothing about Ponyism. I could understand why ponies followed him with all his preaching of freedom obviously being true. I also understood how stressful it must be, way more than my job of ruling and raising a big lump of rock.

"So then you are on better terms with your sister?" He asked after a long while and I nodded "Yes I must thank you, it's been a hard year since returning but now I think it will only be better and better."

He cocked his head and asked "What do you mean returning? Did you go on a trip?" he asked me politely and I shook my head, turning sad. He didn't push anything but with all he'd told me I decided I could tell him what a monster I'd been.

"You see it's the reason my attitude with my sister can sometimes be awkward and tense." He nodded and that prompted me on to explain "You see my sister and I have overcome so much together but she always got the worship and the glory. The sun was of course always up along with ponies but few stayed up to see the night and many who did worked through it."

He saw this and nodded, just keeping silent as I explained sadly "I became very dark and jealous then and began to resent the glory my sister got, eventually this led down a path of evil which ate up my soul and caused me to attempt the takeover of Equestria in the form of a powerful being known here as Nightmare Moon."

He looked up and smiled "Like a revolution?" He asked but I shook my head, not a revolution against evil though, it was a revolution against my own sister because she got all the love and fame and I got nothing." I hung my head in shame, knowing that he would probably judge me as all the others had. This would always affect me until the end of time.

"But what happened then?" He asked and I looked up at him. He seemed as complacent and neutral as before and his deep eyes did no judging of me. "Well this was a thousand years ago you see so my sister wielded the power of these magical artefacts and banished me to the moon for a thousand years."

His face dropped and I assumed that he was about to reprimand and tell me what I'd done was wrong followed by some gallant remark about trusting your sister.

Instead he exclaimed "You are a thousand years old!?" to which I replied "Why yes, did royals where you're from never live that long?" He grabbed me roughly and shook me, demanding "How did you do so!?"

"Ok fine let go of me ok it's just the curse of the Alicorn to be immortal forever" I told him to make him let go of me. He let go of me and didn't seem to notice my hurt expression as he paced around. "You are immortal? Both you and your sister and other... Uh whatever you called yourself?" He asked and I nodded "Yes, we are forced to live out an endless life with old age never rising and death never coming to claim us unless we are struck down by some disease or by the hoof of another, not that it will ever come to that hopefully."

He began to laugh and pointed to himself "Well it's nice to know I am not the only one who is destined to live to the end of time" something which in turn surprised me immensely and I asked "You are immortal?" He shook his head and explained "I don't know if I am or not, I was able to extend my life so that I could lead my people for ever and ever but I don't know when or if I can die of old age."

I was unsure why he would do such a thing if he was big on equality as it seemed selfish but then he lived for the people so I supposed it was almost a curse like that of my sister and mine. "How did you do it though?" I asked and he explained "I had hundreds of scientists and mages at my disposal so it was actually quite easy, the way I understand it we harnessed the power of some almighty tree in the Neverfree forests and coupled its soul into mine, this is how I am still living and breathing, over half a century old and still going strong and looking good."

"Those names seem familiar but I cannot put my hoof on it" I thought and shrugged. There was another pony in this world that was able to extend his life through magic. Though this magic was poisonous, evil and dark and corrupted him to inflict such horror on the ponies under his rule. He was a tyrant like those of your world, enslaved his people and worked them to death.

The Supreme Commander said nothing before asking "Is he dead?" In that same flat tone he used for serious matters and I answered "Yes I believe that in the final confrontation of his reawakening a few months ago he is now no more." He nodded his head slowly and simply said good before going back to watching the sky.

I kept watch over the land and we enjoyed the companionable silence and after a while I said "Twilight Sparkle will be here tomorrow. She has become an Alicorn like my sister and I, though we were born to it."

He thought for a few moments and asked "She will find a way to get me home then?" to which I replied "Oh I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't home by the end of the week." He grinned "Is it a Saturday today or do you not have weeks and months in this land?" to which I chuckled and answered "No we do have those and yes it is a Saturday."

I felt happy talking to him and so we began to converse on many topics of the differences between our worlds, the similarities and other small and insignificant topics. Dancing around and away from heavy topics of war and politics that had affected both our nations but with the result of his being "Bathed in blood of the people" like the flag of his nation as he described.

"I can see improvements that could be added to your land though" he said, missing the insulting edge that he's said it with. I was in too good a mood to care much and asked "Oh really? Like what?"

He casually leaned back against the guard rail of the tower and replied "Oh I can just tell that you don't have a standard military, just these slow guards. Neither do I believe you have an intelligence agency and those could be handy in the case of stealing from other nations and unravelling unrest in yours."

I shook my head and held up a hoof, stopping him there. "I'm sorry Supreme Commander but we would not need or ever want such things, I can understand why your nation needs to keep peace but Equestria is naturally peaceful and those would cause great protest."

He bit his lip and shrugged and apologised "I meant no offence but maybe you could think them over?" I shook my head and replied; "You'd have to tell my sister, I don't really deal with that kind of thing."

He nodded his head as if in understanding. "Is it because your sister banished you to the moon for millennia that she doesn't let you keep power or maybe it is because you don't really want it yourself and are too scared?" he said accusingly, yet so very plainly as if he was commenting on the weather.

Insulted I stepped back and stammered "Excuse me!" To which he replied casually "Well your sister makes the decisions, signs the papers and rules the land and is loved by all. You don't do anything seen by the people and nobody really knows you, am I right? I'm just saying that since you have a crown you could at least do something to be more noticed because right now you are kind of like a mascot to your nation."

Not being able to take any more of this I hit him straight in the face with a right hoof, feeling and hearing the audible clunk that felt really good. It was not because he was lying but because he was telling the truth that I had to simply hit him, but very rudely for that matter was he telling it and he deserved it.

The decision to hit him had been spontaneous and not well planned though as with a grunt he was knocked backward and tumbled off the balcony into the black darkness of my night below. "Oh Celestia" I said crestfallen before diving after him.