Hello dear readers Halsenbert here, with a new chapter of Moonbeam.
I thank you very much for all this time that you have followed the story, I hope it's still to your liking and above all that you are enjoying it to the fullest.
Here we will make an important contrast from the end of the previous chapter and some things may also be clarified and new XD questions will arise.
I hope you enjoy this little chapter so... Lest Begin!
Author's note: MLP does not belong to me,either its characters, the characters and OC's of this story belong to their respective authors, this story was made not for profit and with the sole purpose of entertaining.
Read and review.
Moonbeam
Chapter 22 – The Advice.
PUFF
The flash of the teleportation spell caught the attention of the warriors, who immediately turned around to meet the white pearl-colored alicorn with multicolored mane.
-Your Majesty!- the warriors exclaimed bowing and lowering their weapons.
-I am sorry for the sudden visit, but there's something important that I need to discuss with Zephora- announced the alicorn in all seriousness.
-You don't have to worry princess Celestia, we've been waiting for you-
Kendall's deep voice caught her complete attention as the soldiers turned away to give the enormous zebra warrior room to approach the deity.
-Zephora sent me this- Celestia said spreading the scroll -She used an emergency communication spell- the deity added looking into the zebra warrior's eyes.
-I am aware, please follow me, my wife awaits inside our place-
Both set out on the journey to the hut that belonged to Zephora, the deity could smell incense emanating from inside.
-Please go ahead, princess- the warrior said before the deity could said something.
The deity of the Sun entered the hut crossing the threshold that Kendall kept open. Inside were several hoofmade furniture that were built using wood from the trees of the forest. The coffee table on which she had enjoyed her tea several days ago had disappeared and instead there was a large black cauldron under which burned a fire that was throwing a dim heat. Inside the cauldron, a glaucous, viscous liquid bubbled constantly.
The incense's aroma flooding the interior, came from multiple stiks that were lit around the room. As she approached the cauldron, an unpleasant, putrid smell invaded her nose forcing her to go back several steps to inhale the aroma of incense once again.
The place looked empty, so she took a seat on one of the bearings nearby and proceeded to read the letter again
Dear Princess:
The fruit of my research has been achieved, there more I'm afraid that at time I had not succeeded.
For your presence I request to tell you of my research.
Att: Zephora
The note was short, but the tone denoted that the zebra had discovered something that was urgent to talk about.
-Your Majesty- the voice of the zebra caught her attention - I'm sorry to keep you waiting for me-
-No problem Zephora, but tell me, what you discovered that you're so worried about? Such as to send me an emergency note-
-With your own eyes you must see, if from this mystery you want to be free- the zebra replied, approaching the princess.
The deity came close to the alchemist, while the zebra prepared a mixture with some of the bottles that she had at her disposal. None of them looked particularly attractive to the princess of the Sun.
-I'm sorry about my absence the night I wasn't in your presence. I found myself digging into some ancient texts, investigating what could have caused this mess- said the zebra offering the deity the drink she had made.
The Alicorn's first instinct was to reject the gesture, but she decided to accept it and drink it while the zebra looked at her attentively.
The mix had an extremely bitter taste, Celestia's tongue had been altered to enjoy sweet flavors, which caused her mouth practically screamed in protest at the feeling of the liquid touching her tongue and passing through her throat.
Her body shuddered unintentionally as the alicorn started liking her lips in an attempt to remove the taste from her tongue.
-Sombra's spell possessed a secret I wasn't aware- the zebra continued, taking the princess's empty cup.
The deity kept quiet, but kept her attention on the zebra.
-The spell's goal is to weak your mind, making you forget who you are. Using the fear of the nightmare he pretended to weaken your soul, Luna's main power does come from the same source though. So, in order to succeed, the king had to replace the nightmare with a memory that would damage her conscience at will-
-You mean, King Sombra made her relive a painful memory instead of locking her in a nightmare like he did with me?-
-The dark venom her sanity could had affected, releasing the chains of her darkest self-
-That explains her aggressiveness- the princess said quietly.
-Tell me your highness, do you remember anything that could had been used like this?- ask the zebra.
Celestia thought for a moment, trying to remember something that would give her a clue. She suddenly remembered the night Luna created the first shooting stars. That night Luna had cried inconsolably until she fell asleep.
-After we used the elements to stop Discord, Luna tried to create a Night spectacle that could be seen from any corner of Equestria. The night before she had everything ready, my sister asked me to spread the word among our subjects, so they could enjoy the nigh show Luna had prepared for them. But my oversights and overwork caused me to completely forget about the event and not a single pony was able to enjoy the show- said the deity recalling the painful incident - Luna wept heartbroken that night for hours-
-Even the purest heart has a dark side, just like the darker soul possesses pure light- the zebra replied by placing a comforting hoof on the alicorn's shoulder.
-Luna has been very aggressive lately, today even ended up attacking a soldier, I do not think that her attitude towards him had been completely unjustified, but the Luna I know would not have let such a provocation cloud her mind-
The zebra looked at the princess, her eyes denoted concern, but at the same time they looked as if the equine was in deep thoughts.
-Tell me Zephora, will it be permanent?- asked the concerned deity.
-Kindness and generosity must be your tools, if healing her hearth is what you wanna do.-
-Well I must admit that lately those two things have been lacking in our relationship- the monarch replied, she lower her gaze after recalling the slap she had given her sister earlier.
-I must warn you, your majesty, that if Luna's heart is devoid of love and affection, the princess could be swallowed by darkness with no possible redemption-
-I don't know what to do, I can't just forgive Luna's outbursts or praise her recklessness-
-Love her, yet not to spoil her. It's the advice I can give you, thought If I were you, I will check her too- the zebra replied raising an eyebrow.
-I know, but it seems that the more time we spend together the more we fight each other- the princess replied, dropping to the ground frustrated.
-Maybe it would better be to advice, for you to help the princess of the night feel more relaxed- the zebra said.
-Perhaps if she spends time in the old castle with her special some pony and away from me for a few months, our situation could improve-
-Ah yes! the warmth of a special one can heal our heart. A time alone might be helpful, thought you should be careful. Not to pay attention to your relation, can prevent to amend the whole situation-
-¿Situation?-
-Luna's heart must be healed, protected from further hurt you should keep her-
-She will be well protected in the old castle. Her friend will be by her side-
-There are too many ways of harm, you should keep that in mind. The guard will keep her body safe and sound, but her mind could be twisted upside down- replied the zebra by offering another cup of the strange remedy. This time the deity rejected the offer.
-I appreciate your offer Zephora but no- Celestia declining the zebra's cup. -I still have to go back to Canterlot and get some rest... by the way- mentioned the alicorn before standing up -Have you had any other dream about the creature that threatens my sister?-
-No- replied the zebra denying with her head.
-I think I know who it is or at least we've seen it-
The zebra stood to take a piece of parchment, ink, and a pair of feathers, which she gives to the princess of the Sun.
Understanding the gesture, the princess lit her horn and began drawing a picture of the creature she and Siegfried crossed paths that night inside the EverFree forest. As soon as Celestia finished, she gave it to the zebra who observed it with an eyebrow raised.
Certainly, Celestia was not the best draftspony, but the doodle was so strange that the zebra had a hard time deciphering it.
-Maybe it would be better for me, if you tell me what did you see?- said the zebra looking over the scroll.
-Well it was a tall creature, like me. With a long horn like mine, a pair of wings and sharp fangs. Oh yes and it was shaped like a kind of insect, although its body was very pony like -
The zebra thought for a moment, scratching her chin with one hoof.
-Oh I almost forgot, that creature led an army of black creatures very similar to it, all of them looked like ponies, but with small horns like stings, transparent wings and scales covering their bodies. Just like big bugs-
-Very bad this could be, if the creature you'd seen is what I think it is- said the zebra walking to one of the shelves and taking a thick old book.
-Do you know what creature it is?- asked Celestia approaching the zebra.
-The description of a changeling you give, ancient creatures are indeed. From love they feed sucking it out in order to keep their own lives- the zebra remarked.
-Wait, what do you mean by sucking love out?-
-The kiss of a changeling can all good feeling take out, leaving their victims in a dark state they cannot get out-
-It means that...-
-The condition of the princess could worsen, if one of these creatures was around her-
Celestia pondered for a moment, certainly Luna's attitude had become overshadowed after her confrontation with those creatures, although she attributed it more to the state in which they had left Crisi.
-I will postpone the transfer of Luna until after Heart's Warming Eve, but I will need you to be very attentive, those changelings may wish to approach my sister. I will prepare a forced teleportation spell ready on the Old Castle's Throne room. so that Luna can escape to Canterlot's Castle if something goes wrong- The zebra nodded. -Thank you Zephora I'm counting on you-
That said, the princess left Zephora's abode and set out to retreat back to Canterlot. Using her teleportation spell once again.
-Zephora- Kendall's voice got the alchemist's attention -You look worried, is there any way I can help you?-
The zebra shook her head.
-I understand… what about the potion, did it work?- the warrior asks.
-Sure I'm not yet, but inside the princess of the Sun was no threat. Shayla must go to the capital and give a sample of the concoction to the princess of the night- mentioned the zebra.
-It must be something important if you're planning to assign our daughter for this job-
-She's the only one I can trust on, cause the bracelet will keep her away of troublesome -
-I do not understand why you want to do it, you have already given Princess Celestia the chest that keeps that creature sealed and now, you want the heraldic bracelet to be close to the princesses. You know well that if we do it, darkness could be more interested in the two sisters. StarSwirl would not agree that both objects remain close to the princesses either, it's too dangerous. You know he sacrificed everything to keep them safe from the Pony of Shadows.
-Destiny may not be changed if that's our fate, but undoubtedly they will return sooner rather than late. The Darkness is moving again, to reclaim this land like back then. And the clearest proof are the elements states, as they are starting to search some pony who carries them.-
-I know, but...- said the warrior nuzzling Zephora's neck -If your foreboding is correct, their return will mean your end-
-As long as the elements remains hope will stay. We gotta try, even if it is something that could condemn our lives-
-I know, I just wish she would do something before too late-
-In the past she cannot directly interfere, as her mere presence can affect the simplest fates-
-I know- the warrior said. -But... are you sure they won't interfere more than necessary? We could make a big mistake if we let them keep going without supervision. Don't get me wrong, seems to have good intentions... but a mistake could cause the whole world to collapse -
-Everyone of us do what we think its correct, as mucha as I can tell, that's why they had planned to act tonight instead - comment the zebra looking at the bubbling cauldron.
-Now I'll have to create a potion. As if the changelings are involved in this, we won't have any other option - the zebra mentioned by kissing Kendall's cheek.
-I'll help you recollect the ingredients- the warrior said, following in the hoofsteps of his beloved mare.
When she regained consciousness, the Changeling princess found herself lying under the warm hold of a pair of indigo wings and hooves.
She felt the cold breath of her beloved princess of the night stroking her neck. Last night activity had been strenuous. It wasn't that she complained about it, but Chrysalis found it really strange that Luna chose to leave her post early to spend time by her side, it was not common in the indigo alicorn to avoid her duties like that.
Worse, Chrysalis had noticed something really strange about Luna the night before.
She looked down at Luna's Hooves that kept her in that warm embrace and noticed that one of them was bandaged. She took the Princess leg with her own to observe it more closely. The wound didn't look serious, the changeling hadn't even noticed anything different in the way Luna walked the night before.
She turned carefully trying not to wake up the deity of the night. The changeling then watched Luna sleeping peacefully for a moment. The calm rhythm of her breathing that made her indigo chest go up and down, her mane covering part of her face. Chrysalis use one of her hooves to carefully stroke Luna's cheek, she could feel the soft fur of the deity of the night rubbing her scales.
-I'm happy to have you by my side Lulu- said affectionately the changeling, gently kissing the lips of the ruler of the night.
Chrysalis came out of bed with extreme care before heading to the bathroom. She soaked her face a little before taking a towel and drying her scales. When she looked up, she found a pair of bright green eyes and a gleaming emerald mane. The changeling princess let out a gasp as she recognized her mother's face in the mirror.
Chrysalis shook her head and looked again. She noticed that it really was her own face reflected in the mirror, but for some reason it was very similar to her mother's.
She could not understand why, but somehow her body seemed to have strengthened considerably, her wings seemed to emit a slight glow, though not as intense as her mother's. Likewise, the feeling of dissatisfaction in her stomach had completely abandoned her. She didn't feel hunger or discomfort in her body anymore, in fact, she'd never felt so good in her whole life.
-So, this is what it feels like to consume large amounts of love- she said quietly looking at her hooves.
-If I can consume enough love, I would be able to give back my mother all the pain she made me felt- she growled.
-Mother will regret what she did to me day and night inside the dungeons- Chrysalis continued looking at her own reflection.
-The next time we meet, I'll be the predator and not the prey- she said as her eyes shone brightly.
Beyond the boundaries of Everfree Forest, a new hive was under construction, the changelings worked day and night without rest, to fortify the walls that were built around a rare throne made of a black stone as hard as granite.
The queen bit her hoof shedding some of her blood on the surface of the rock, making it glow brightly.
-Excellent with this the hive will be protected from these sorcerers, not even Discord itself will be a threat as long as this throne remains intact.-
-Your Majesty?- asks Moth entering to the throne room.
-I hope you bring good news dear- the queen replied in her metallic voice.
-Of course, you will see… we have discovered that in Canterlot will be held an open-door party, apparently they will let any pony get in to enjoy a banquet offered by the princesses of Equestria-
-Excellent Moth, do you have any idea when the event will be?-
-In a couple of days, Your Majesty-
-Well, prepare a couple of our best warriors, we will attend the ceremony too-
-But your majesty, I thought you said that we should stay away from the capital-
-Don't be such a coward Moth, we can't refuse such a generous offer from the princesses. And I am pretty sure that my dear Chrysalis is already doing her job properly, soon she will have drained Princess Luna's love and when she does, we will be one step closer to our target-
-What do you mean?-
-That soon I will be able to take the place of Celestia and I will be able to feed on all those ponies that love her so much. But first I'll have to take care of my rebellious daughter and her foolishness
-Your Majesty, I do not understand, if what you wanted was to replace the princesses, why did you not do so when they attacked the hive? We outnumbered them, we could have beat them up if you hadn't stopped us-
-Because at that time the princess of the night had nothing worth obtaining, there is no point in feeding on a pony whose heart has no love and my dear daughter will discover that by the hard way. Tell me Moth, do you know what happens to a changeling that consumes the last drop of love of the creature he has fallen in love with?-
-N-No, Majesty I don't know-
-If a changeling completely drains the love of a pony he has fallen in love with, his body will be unable to consume the love of another creature. Because he will develop a heart, which will be sealed by the feeling he shared with that special creature, which means that he will starve to death as soon as the creature with which he formed the bond cease to exist- the queen said -It is curious how nature works, isn't it?, we feed on the pure feelings of other creatures, and we also take the risk of dying if we develop feelings in our own- Cocoon added.
-But your Majesty, the princess does not know, if we do not do something, she could...-
-... Although there is a cure- Moth was interrupted by the queen.
-Fortunately, please don't scare me like that, tell me, how can we save the princess?- asked the soldier.
-By pull out her heart in the same way I did it- the queen mentioned by lifting the scale from her chest, showing the soldier the hole where her own heart should be found -Changelings are not born with a heart, that's why we feed primarily on the love of others, but if we develop a special feeling for another creature, we will develop a heart too. As we rip out the heart we develop, we lose the feelings that bind us to the other creature, destroying all the ability to feel love again or to develop a new heart in the future- continued the queen covering the hole in her chest.
-So, were you ever in love?- the soldier asked.
-You should know your place soldier- replied the queen in a rather annoyed tone. Which quickly suck up the little changelings color from his face.
-I'm sorry my queen, it won't happen again-
-I hope so. Now go find the others, I want a good intrusion team for this operation-
When she opened her eyes, she found herself again in that magical and wonderful landscape. The soft breeze stroked her white fur and playfully moves her mane, which for some reason had returned to its original baby pink color. She looked in the distance once again to where that majestic crystal tree remains.
No matter how many times she saw it, the colossal size of that tree never ceased to amaze her, and she could see that it was completely different from the one hidden beneath the old castle.
Celestia walked around the trunk of the tree whose brilliance was still shining. But she didn't find the mare from the last time.
She then turned to observe the landscape from the perspective of that mare, the deity of the Sun pressed her back against the surface of the tree's trunk.
She looks in the distance, that beautiful place looked so peaceful and calm. The white-pearl alicorn could almost feel the peace of the place completely filling her heart.
Celestia closed her eyes as she enjoyed the singing of the birds, the soft grass under her royal flanks, the sense of calm coming from the crystal tree located behind her.
Everything was so perfect that she could hardly believe it.
-It's the first time I've seen your mane like that- mentioned a voice, her tone denoted that strange feeling of happiness combined with melancholy.
The deity searched the surroundings in search of the other mare, until the noise of the leaves got her attention.
She turned her gaze towards the foliage of the tree, inside she could see the silhouette of that mare, to her misfortune the mare was still perfectly blocked by the light of the gigantic tree, which only allowed her to observe the silhouette of the mare's body.
-Who are you?- asked the white alicorn blocking the light with her foreleg to try to focus her gaze on the pony.
-I'm very sorry for what I did the other night, but I had no choice- the mare replied as she lay completely on one of the branches, her straight tail falling loosely while the wind shone it gracefully.
-What are you talking about? Where are we?- asked alicorn looking around.
-I've only came to give you a little help, but I really hope you won't need it- the mare mentioned as she watched a strange gem between her fore hooves.
That gem had a light-blue glow and was shaped like a party balloon. Thought Celestia did not really know why she knew that, she really didn't know what a party balloon was anyway.
She also couldn't understand how she could distinguish that little gem so well, but not the mare who guarded it.
-Help me with what?- that conversation only raised more questions than answers, which started to get the ruler of the day frustrated.
-A smile can be false if it is not born from the heart, I met a pony who could hide its pain behind a really convincing one. You don't know how much I regret not seeing it before. I just hope you don't make the same mistake I did- the mare said.
Celestia could see the purple glow of the other mare's eyes for a few moments, when the mare brought the gem to her lips to kiss it tenderly.
-Please take good care of it, it has a very important memory for me- replied the mare by dropping the blue gemstone, which landed on Celestia's hooves.
The moment the princess felt the gem touch her forelegs she could feel an energy running through her whole body, somehow that gem give her a sense of joy like never before, she soon knew that everything would be fine. At that moment, a kind smile appeared on her face unintentionally.
-No matter what happens, promise me you won't give up- the mare said as the wind blew again.
Celestia observed the mare from her current position, for some reason and although she could not be completely sure of it, she felt as if that pony was weeping. The deity of the day tried to say something, but the strong wind prevented her from doing so, at the same time as the tree's glow intensified until she was completely blinded.
-... I'm sorry- it was the last thing she could hear the mare muttering with a tone of deep sadness.
The deity suddenly woke up, with her hoof raised up in the air and her wings fully extended under the sheets and blankets.
That dream had been so real that she found it hard to believe it was just a dream.
Celestia brings her hoof to her magenta eyes from which tears sprouted nonstop. She couldn't understand why, but for some reason Celestia couldn't stop that feeling of melancholy that invaded her at the time, as if she was that mare crying over the tree branch.
Author's Note:
I'm sorry this chapter is so short, I still think it looks pretty good. Now we know who the tree pony is, it's a shame Celestia doesn't, XD.
I decided to add a backstory about how the changeing race worked, I must say, that this was my belief before the end of season 6 of MLP.
Without further a due I wish you a nice weekend, until next time.
ALLONS-Y
In memory of Victor Fidel Beloved grandfather and mentor.
March/1938 - October/2018
In memory of Carolina López Beloved aunt and life's example.
May/1947 - February/2020