The deep black night held a steady sway over the city of Canterlot. The moon shone a soothing silver light down, illuminating and creating a decent enough view for any sentient out and about that day who cared to stop and appreciate it. But, as was to be expected, there were no souls out that night, for there was no business to be had that at such a late hour. Well, any business that required one be out and about when there was not a soul to be found. That kind of business was usually the shady secretive shenanigans that were usually done late at night, true, but in darker and discreet areas of town, not out in plain sight under the surveillance of the silver moon in the sky.
Needless to say, a particular kind of business was about to be undertaken at the Royal Castle that night. The kind involving two individuals and two individuals only; there were some strange sayings going round amongst residents and workers of the castle that the high Princess was acting... strange. It was making the quicker minded mighty suspicious and the more rational merely intrigued.
However, all these wise words had escaped the attention of Princess Luna, as she made her way to the throne room that night, finding it very odd that she encountered not one soul on her way there. Normally there were always guards up and about at all hours, as she knew well, for she was a natural nocturnal; a required habit for the mare who raised the moon and maintained a vigil over the night. It used to make her so sad that there was very rarely any sort of appreciation for her contributions to the celestial cycle, but she had more than adjusted to that by now.
By now, she had come to the door that lead into the throne room. Opening it, she was immediately struck by how big and empty the whole place was; the room was very dark, save for the two big streaks of light that spread across the floor from the scattered windows, her moon shining through. It comforted her, before she suddenly thought how odd it was that she needed comforting, for she was hardly in any sort of danger here. True, it was a very peculiar time for a meeting, and the lack of any guards was certainly a concern for her. But if Luna knew there was any such individual who made her feel safe, it would have had to be her fellow alicorn waiting for her at the very end of the room.
"You summoned me, sister?" She uttered, once she was within earshot.
Her sister prodded, for her back was turned to her. Princess Celestia observed her with a peculiar look on her face; in fact, her whole form was peculiar, for the distinct brilliant white hue seemed to embrace the darkness rather than stand out of it. It made Luna all the more intrigued, if it was possible for her to become even more intrigued.
"I... summoned you here? Did I?" Celestia repeated, almost judgemental like.
"Of course you did sister." Luna replied. "Is this a bad time, we can do this another time if you like."
She thought nothing of it at first, but Luna got the impression that Celestia uttered a barely discernible cry every time she was addressed... as sister.
"No. No!" She suddenly exclaimed, startling Luna. "This is a perfect time. The best time. Away from all those eyes. What do we need se... ss-hmm."
"Sister?" Luna asked in concern.
"Security." Celestia finally uttered, sounding shaken.
"Are you alright, sister?" Luna found herself asking.
"Please." Celestia asked. "I would prefer Celestia. It's only being courteous."
"Oh. Alright. Are you okay, Celestia?" Luna was puzzled to ask.
The Princess walked away from her, across the wide darkness of the throne to gaze out of the window.
"I've been better, I can assure you, dear Luna." She said wearily.
"What troubles you?" Luna asked with concern, and a certain sense of pride, for it was rare for her to be the more... healthy of the two.
"I believe my influence... has waned as of late." Celestia began. "Over my su... subjects. I do not possess the presence I believe I once did."
"You're puzzling me si... lestia." Luna corrected herself. "I've don't recall something like this before."
"No, you wouldn't." Celestia acknowledged. "I don't expect you to understand. It's like, I was in so many places before. Now, I am in so fewer places. Do you understand?"
"Not really, to be honest." Luna admitted.
"No you wouldn't." Celestia repeated. "You are... so unlike me."
"...Right." Luna said slowly. "Well, what can we do about this?"
"Yes, what can we do about this?" Celestia parroted back. "Or rather, what can you do about it?"
"...Err, excuse me?" She asked.
"The time has come, dear Luna." Celestia said, almost foreboding like.
"Time for what?" Luna asked, almost fearful like.
"The time to establish my influence once again. In a much more permanent se... sense." Celestia explained. "And for that, I require you to send a message."
"What err... kind of message."
Celestia grinned. "In Ponyville, there is a certain individual by the name of... Dave Ross. I require a message be sent to him."
"That's a odd name." Luna noted. "An associate of yours?"
"You could certainly say that." Celestia remarked. "The message I require be sent is as follows: The hawk is rising. Zero. One. Two. Seven. Four."
Now Luna was starting to get really puzzled. And suspicious.
"I don't understand, sis... Celestia." She said. "What is this about? Why do I have to send this? And..."
"First of all!" Celestia abruptly cut her off. "I do not require that you understand this. I only require that you do as you are instructed. Are you not loyal, Luna?"
"Loyal?" The Princess of the night dared to ask, becoming very agitated.
"Luna, Luna." Celestia began, sounding unusually sincere now. "Am I not your... sister? Your elder, wiser... powerful sister? Can I not give you an order and have you follow it, for we are flesh and blood, are we not?"
"Well I..." Luna stumbled to get her words out, for her sister was casting some kind oh spell on her. "It's just that... you're being so strange and secretive. It's only because I'm concerned for you."
Her sister was quiet. Something in her words seemed to have triggered something within her. She looked like she was struggling to contain herself, like she would break into a million pieces. But eventually she had composed herself, and was once again observing her with a very distant look on her.
"I appreciate your... concern." She remarked. "But, this is a task of the highest importance. And I would not trust it to any other."
"...I understand, sister." Luna replied. "It will be as you say."
"Good... good." Celestia remarked wearily. "Now I am very tired. If you will excuse me."
"Of course, dear sister." Luna said, before taking a respectful bow and turning to slowly trot back across the darkened throne room.
The door closed behind her, leaving the room in an eerie quietness once more. The Princess, deciding that she had had enough of this particular setting, turned to leave herself.
"Good pawn." She muttered as she went along.
Man, where did all that time go to? I mean seriously? Well, I should really apologize to any still invested in this for promising a return and then not following up on it, but don't you worry about no more. I'm at that stage where I've got good momentum and ideas and an overwhleming urge to really wrap this up, so you can rest assured that I fully intend on seeing this through to the very end one chapter at a time.
So, good to be back again I guess.
