Lunar Apprehension 3 -TEMP-

     The solid gold coins made a lovely tink as they fell out of the molds, dropping to the stone floor. Tsyreim gathered them up and looked them over, comparing with the original. "I'd say that's a pretty fine bit of craftsmanship there."

     "If you say so." Gem replied. "What do you plan on buying with them?"

     "Souls." Tsyreim simply said, then grinning. "As if you need to ask."

     "...Food. The fastest way to my son's heart." Gem giggled, Tsyreim immediately speaking up. "Come come now mother. I never said anything about my heart. I just wanna try some of their goodies."

     He shakes his head and looks outside, realizing he's slept most of the day already. "Well looks like I'll be heading over earlier than I thought." He walks inside. "Wish me luck mother, I'll be back later with some regular-pony food."

     "Yes, taunt me with them why don't you?" Gem jokes.

     "I'll make one of the crystals absorb some of em, how about that?" Tsyreim grins, trotting outside with a small pouch of his homemade currency. "Who knows, maybe it'll work."

     "You'll probably just make a crystal all sticky on the inside." She calls out after him, then waiting a bit till she can't sense him anymore. "I want him to be happy, but now Celestia is complicating things greatly with her search for him... What in Equestria did she want with him anyway?"

     Tsyreim watched the vendors closing down their shops, noting the ones he was most interested in. Then as with the night before, he crept into the town as they slept. He went up to Applejack's stand and his horn glowed, beginning to manipulate the lock. The lid popped open, and he looked over the apples, taking a few and noting the price sign, leaving the money accordingly inside as he closed the lid.

     He wandered the various shops and took only a bit from some so he could try out the wares. And after placing some herbs and spices into his bag, he turned to leave. He looked back at the carts he had opened and didn't feel right. So he searched around for some paper. Finding a small stack, he began to write a few thank you notes, and small apologies for breaking into the stands, placing them into the carts.

     "That's much better." He smiled, trotting back out of town. "Hopefully they won't be irked by my shopping." He pulled out an apple as he headed back to the cave, looking it over and taking a bite out of it. He savored the sweet juicy flavor, taking his time eating the rest of it. Tsyreim didn't often get the chance to have apples since the forest didn't have any apple trees in it. So this was a rare treat.

     Passing the ruins of the old palace, Tsyreim paused and looked up at it. Celestia's words echoing back through his mind. There was no doubt about it. The tone in her voice suggested she believed him to be involved, if not partially responsible for her sister's Nightmare Moon madness. And if it wasn't for his fear of an overly angry Alicorn, he'd go and explain it all to her.


- - - - - - -


     Applejack took a breath as she reared up, kicking back and hitting a tree. The top shook vigorously, and apples began falling from the branches, followed by a soft rain of small green leaves. As she began to stack them in the baskets however, she heard her brother call out to her.

     "Hey sis. Granny Smith's got the pies all cooked an ready." He said, walking up to her. "Do you really need that many apples? How many did ya sell yesterday?"

     "Well ah had a pretty good day yesterday." AJ replied with a grin. "More sales than the usual." She hoists the baskets up onto her back and trots toward the house, Bic Macintosh in tow. "Now ya say Granny's got all the pie's done?"

     "Eeeyup." Mac says, opening the door. "She may be old, but she don't fool around when it comes to the pies."

     "I know that's right." Applejack chuckles, waving to Granny Smith, who had already fallen asleep in her rocking chair. Big Mac loaded the pies onto Applejack's baskets. "Aight, you're good to go sis. Have fun."

     "See ya'll later." AJ says, heading off for Ponyville again.

     As she arrived however, she saw several vendors talking and looking at looking back at their carts nervously. She shrugged it off and headed to her own, setting down the baskets and opening the top. She stared down into it, noticing there were slightly less apples than she had left before.

     "Land's sakes... What happened here?" She pulled a note out from under a small stack of bright shiny new gold pieces. Twilight walked up behind her as she began to read the note. "Applejack, it happened to you too?" Twilight asked, looking at the note.

     "I apologize for any damage I may have caused to your shop. But I realize I am probably not the most well-received of ponies here." Applejack looks back at her cart. "Well no damage here, but whoever it was still broke into it." Directing her attention back to the note, she continued reading. "...As I do not wish to be coupled with the image of a thief, I have left what I hope to be sufficiently adequate monetary compe... Compensation?" She looks at Twilight with a confused look. "If I didn't know you already shopped durin' the day, I'd say it sounds like YOU wrote it. All them fancy terms and whatnot."

     Twilight couldn't help but giggle at that. "Well it certainly wasn't me, cause I'm trying to figure out who did it too. Several other vendors had the same incident." She pointed to the others, looking all over their cart in confusion.

     "This pony did it to them too?" AJ tilts her head curiously. "What'd they do? Just come in the night and make a shoppin' spree?"

     Looks like they did." Twilight shrugged, then turning to see Rarity trotting into town. "Excuse me Twilight, but I just couldn't start my morning without something to eat." Her eyes drifted over to Applejack's stand and the coins as she spoke. "All this dress-making for the upcoming gala has me simply-ooh! What is this?" She zipped straight for the shiny new coins on the cart.

     "Some mystery shopper left em here last night." Applejack muttered, looking around. "Nopony knows who left em."

     "Well I wasn't aware that Celestia had ordered more coins to be made so soon." Rarity said, turning as Twilight corrected her. "Actually, she hasn't. So that makes this only that much more mysterious."

     "Well, they are real aren't they?" Rarity picks one up. "You have to make sure they're real of course." She begins to analyze the coin with her magic.

     "I thought you was only into the... Shiny gems and whatnot." Applejack added. Rarity however simply laughed. "Darling, I specialize in the beautiful. Gold, is beautiful. And these..." Her face turned serious.

     "What is it Rarity?" Twilight looked at it.

     "Th-These are solid gold..." Rarity blinked. "None of the coins made these days are solid GOLD. These are worth far more than the coins they represent!"

     "Ya don't say?" Applejack scoots the stack over, looking at them. "Well then, where ya reckon they came from anyhow?"

     "I have no idea." Rarity said, giving it back to Applejack. "But it certainly is a mystery isn't it?"

     Applejack grins. "Well if this 'mystery pony' plans on continuin' with these solid gold coins, I'd gladly oblige em." I'll leave the cream of the crop if they want."

     Twilight shook her head. "Celestia must be notified about this. By all reason, these are fake since they were not ordered by her to be made. And that is kinda... Against the law. On the other hand though, these are more authentic in the gold than the real coins are."

     "Soooooo... I can keep em." Applejack blinks. "Cause they DID take a bit of mah inventory with em."

     "I'm sure Celestia will let you keep them." Twilight rolls her eyes. "She's not completely unreasonable. I'll simply let her know in a letter tonight. She might come by again. Especially since I have a feeling this is related to that mystery pony she's been looking for."

     Rarity gasps. "Wait, you think he's sneaking into town at night and just... Sneaking around and breaking into things??" She looks back toward her shop. "I'M GETTING NEW LOCKS."

     "Relax Rarity." Twilight shows her the note. "Whoever it is, isn't interested in stealing anything. So what they took, they payed for."

     "...It's still dreadfully disturbing..." Rarity muttered, looking around. "Even if they do have a source of pure, beautiful gold... Umm... Well on second thought, maybe I'll have a shed built next to my house."

     "A shed." Twilight stares. "Why, a shed?"

     "Well it wouldn't be hideous of course!" Rarity continues. "I'd put samples of my work inside and a big sign on it that says 'Mysterious pony: feel free to donate gold for my continued work in the-Hey! Where are you going?" She calls out to Twilight, who just shook her head, walking back toward the library. "I've got studying to do, and probably some investigation too by the looks of it."

     She didn't do as much studying as she did investigation however, and spent a good bit of the day interviewing the vendors and various other ponies about anything suspicious they may have seen.

     Pinkie Pie on the other hand, thought it was a grand event and took great pleasure in being detective. Though it wasn't so much detective work as it was talking endlessly without letting the other ponies actually tell her what they knew.

     Eventually, Twilight returned back to the library and sat at her desk, trying to piece what little information she had. She looked back at the door as she thought she heard something. "Hello?" She called out, waiting for an answer.

     She shrugged and returned back to her work, then hearing a soft noise at the door, immediately knowing what it was now. She walked over to the door and opened it. "Hello Fluttershy. Come on in."

     The small cream and pink pony slinked inside. "H-Hey Twilight... Umm, sorry to disturb you, but umm... I'm disturbng you aren't I? I'm sorry, I can go if you want..."

     Twilight shook her head. "No it's okay. I needed a break from trying to figure out this big mystery around town anyway. It as making my head hurt with so little information to go on."

     "Mystery?" Fluttershy stood up. "What mystery?"

     "Oh, somepony was going around last nigth and 'broke into' some of the vendor's shops. They took some stuff, but payed for it all and left an apology in each one."

     "Eek! A creepy pony who lurks around at night?" Fluttershy instinctively cowered down.

     "Calm down Fluttershy. Their notes were actually very polite. I have a feeling they may just be shy as well." She winked.

     "Well... Anyway... Ooohhh, what did I come here for again!" Fluttershy tapped her head and then stood up again. "Oh! Umm, I was wondering if you could help me... Angel, they umm... They ran off into the woods... And I wanted to go look for them but..."

     Twilight giggles. "It's alright Fluttershy, I'll help you look for them." She looked down in surprise as Fluttershy hugs her. "Ohh thank you Twilight. The forest is so big and scary..."

     They head through town, and reach the Everfree forest. Twilight looked down at Fluttershy and chuckled, patting her. "Relax, we'll find Angel and will be out of here in no time."

     Several hours later, Twilight looked around nervously, though not nearly as nervously as Fluttershy. They still hadn't found the lost bunny, and it was going to be night soon.

     "A-Angel!" Fluttershy called out. "P-Please come back now... It's getting dark... And scary..."

     "I'm sure we'll find them..." Twilight grinned unconvincingly. They had wandered quite a ways, and she was afraid to admit she herself wasn't exactly sure where they were. Suddenly Fluttershy jumped into the air and shrieked as something ran through the bushes toward them. And suddenly Angel came bounding out and latched onto Fluttershy, shaking. Clearly they were worried about the night too.

     Fluttershy calmed down considerably after she realized it was Angel, and landed next to Twilight again. "Oh... Thank goodness we found you... I was so worried..." She looked up. "Come on Twilight, we need to get out now."

     They both paused for a minute and looked at each other before speaking at the same time. "Which way is out??"


- - - - - - -


     Tsyreim trotted through the forest, heading back to town with apples on his mind. He paused as he heard leaves rustling, and listened quietly to see if anything was coming. Waiting a few seconds, he began to continue his route, hearing the noises again. And... Talking?

     He leapt into some trees and scanned the bushes. "What do we have here? Company?" He mumbled to himself, nimbly jumping through the branches to get closer. He alighted within a large tree and looked down, seeing two Ponies huddled up in the bushes, looking around nervously.

     "Hey..." He mused. "That's the Twilight and... The other one. From defeating Nightmare Moon. What are they doing clear out here so late?" He listened in as Flluttershy spoke as comfortingly as she could to Angel. "W-We'll be fine... Just remember... No running out into the deep... Scary forest again... Please..."

     "We're just going to have to wait out the night I'm afraid..." Twilght Sparkle said. "Spike is probably worried sick right now. I never get back so late..."

     Tsyreim watched them for a few more minutes, before hatching a plan. He hated to reveal himself. But even moreso, he hated not helping those in need. And these two certainly needed helping. He began to work his way around, making sure not to just jump in on them and give them a heart attack.

     Twilight sighed and layed back, comforting Fluttershy as she looked up as a black pony with a green glowing horn stepped out of the bushes, looking directly at her."Wh-What?!"

     "OH NO SOMETHING'S COMING ISN'T IT??" Fluttershy immediately began to freak out. Twilight put her hoof over her mouth to silence her. "Look! It's that pony from the ruins!"

     Tsyreim winked. He had their attention now, and began to calmly trot away, heading directly for Ponyville.

     Twilight called out. "W-Wait!" Looking back at Fluttershy, she urged her up. "Come on! He's probably headed to Ponyville!"

     "B-But he's s-scary..." Fluttershy seemed glued to the ground. Twilight looked her in the eyes. "Do you want to stay here all night then?"

     "...Right behind you..." Fluttershy flew behind Twilight, hot on Tsyreim's trail. Twilight however, completely forgot they were lost, and was more interested in finding out who this strange Pony was.

     "Slow down!" She called out, seeing him between some trees, looking back at her. "Who are you?" She gasped as in a green flash, he was halfway closer to her. He turned and his horn glowed, illuminating the area around him as he ran through the forest, Twilight rushing forward to try and reach him.

     Fluttershy dipped through the trees, following behind with Angel holding tight to her back. "You want to catch him?" She asked in confusion. "I'm more content to just follow..."

     "I have to find out who he is!" Twilight panted, running hard. She suddenly felt lighter, and looked up to see Fluttershy straining to lift her slightly, using her wings to boost Twilight's speed. "Th-Then let's go...!"

     Tsyreim continued running at a quick but steady pace, and looked behind just in time to see them right behind him. He flipped in a flash, vaulting up into a tree and dimming the light as they tumbled to a stop slightly ahead.

     "I am attempting to help you..." He said slowly. "What then is this with you trying to 'catch' me?"

     "Why won't you just answer a darn question?!" Twilight spat out, huffing as she started catching her breath.

     Tsyreim dropped from the tree and walked toward them slowly, looking them over. "Then pray tell, Twilight. What is it that you wish to know?"

     "Who are you?"

     "A guardian." He replied. "Enough said, shall we continue then?"

     "No, that's not enough. I know..." Twilight continued, walking toward him. "You were there when Nightmare Moon was first banished, and you were STILL here when we defeated her again. A thousand years later..."

     "Ok, so I've been around the block a few times. What's you're point?" Tsyreim said, eyeing her curiously.

     "There are only two ponies I know of who are immortal." Twilight said, Tsyreim correcting her. "You mean three now."

     "Whatever." Twilight glared at him, clearly he enjoyed toying with her. "So what is your name?"

     He paused. "That is not important. Nobody would know it anyway."

     "Well it's better than to just call you 'that mystery pony who breaks into shops and forges money' isn't it?" She grinned, knowing she had his full attention now.

     He couldn't resist a grin as well. "So you knew it was me. I do hope the shop owners weren't terribly angry about it."

     "They were mostly disturbed, till they realized you had given them solid gold coins." Twilight added. "The coins we use aren't solid gold, and new coins haven't been made for a long time."

     "Oh, well bonus to them then." Tsyreim shrugged. "That's enough talking now anyway, let's move. He walked past Twilight, looking down at Fluttershy as she huddled up. "Relax, you'll be safe at home in no tim-urf!" He grunted, bumping into a forcefield Twilight generated.

     "I'm not done talking with you..." She said, glaring at him. "You still didn't tell me your name..."

     "If it's really THAT important to you, then fine. The name is Tsyreim. T-s-y-r-e-i-m. Tsyreim. Now may we go?" He tapped his hoof impatiently.

     Twilight sighed and lowered the barrier. "Don't think I'm done asking questions though..."

     "Oh I gathered that real quick." Tsyreim said, still walking. "Come along now, no doubt your friends are all worried for your well-being." He walked them the rest of the way, ignoring most of Twilight's questions, and vaguely answering the others just to satiate her seemingly insatiable mind.

     Twilight finally got fed up and yelled out. "WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING ME??"

     Tsyreim stopped and turned toward her calmly. "Rejoice. I haven't revealed or talked to anypony for a thousand years. You should feel honored that I even answered some of your questions." He started walking again. "Being overly cautious is what has kept me safe and alive all these years, and I'll be darned if I allow some overly inquisitive pony to ruin any safety that I thought I had."

     Eventually he brushed some bushes aside, Ponyville just over the hill in plain sight. "There, you may go now. EXCEPT for one thing..." He looked at Twilight and Fluttershy. "I am well aware of Celestia's search for me. And the look in her eyes anytime someone brings me up is not a comforting one. So it then goes without saying, that even though you are to report back to her, I am telling you to not."

     Twilight shook her head. "Celestia is my TEACHER. And I am supposed to report back to her all the time."

     Tsyreim groaned and hung his head. "Your TEACHER? Dear God... Of all the ponies I have to happen upon..."

     "Do you have a problem with Celestia?" Twilight stared at him.

     He stared her down and planted his hoofs firmly. "I have no problem with anypony unless they first have a problem with me. And needless to say, I very much have a feeling that that may be so with your beloved teacher... Otherwise, I would have already approached her and talked about it a thousand years ago."

     Twilight grumbled and just shook her head in frustration. "Well, thanks for the help... But we have to go now..." Twilight stomped off back toward Ponyville. Tsyreim sighed and looked back at Fluttershy. "And what of you?" He asked. "I suppose you're going to report to Celestia as well?"

     She however simply meeped and slowly crept around him, not saying a word. Tsyreim shaking his head. "You need not fear me. I have no intention of harming anyone or anything."

     She looked back at Twilight and then Tsyreim. Giving a feeble little wave and barely audible thank you, before flying back down after the purple unicorn.

     "What have I just got myself into...?" Tsyreim sat on the hill, looking up at the night sky as the last of the stars was put in place.

     Twilight walked into town and heard a pony yell out. "SHE'S BACK! OVER HERE!" Twilight stood back and looked around as ponies all ran over, Fluttershy hovering above her.

     Applejack hugged her tight. "Land's sakes Twilight... Somepony saw you enter the forest and still hadn't come out by night. Ya'll had us worried sick!"

     "Well I'm fine..." Twilight mumbled, Applejack eyeing her curiously. "Ya sure about that, sugarcube? Cause ya look like you got somethin' on yer mind."

     Twilight began to speak, but looked up when Fluttershy tapped her on the shoulder. "Umm... Twilight, we probably shouldn't..." She whispered.

     "What's wrong?" AJ tilted her head. Twilight waving it off and heading back to the library. "It's nothing... I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'm tired."

     The rest of the ponies watched her walk away, and applejack turned to Fluttershy. "What the hay was that all about?" Fluttershy just looked around nervously and started stuttering. "Umm... Well, I, I mean we... We should get to bed. It's terribly late." She grinned nervously and flew off back toward her house.

     The rest of the ponies looked at each other, mumbling questions. Applejack however just shook her head and turned to them. "Well they're back at least, we all can be grateful for that. I guess just leave em be. It is late anyway, thanks for ya'lls help lookin' for em."

     A pair of eyes watched from the bushes as the ponies dispersed, heading back to their homes. "Great going Twilight, that wasn't suspicious at all." Tsyreim muttered. "Looks like I'm going to have to stay on the down low even moreso now."

     He waited till they were all asleep, then went about his midnight shopping again, a little more carefully this time. Leaving the coins and notes as he browsed. Looking around, he slipped back into the forest.

     Twilight stood up again with her binoculars, she had been peeking out the window, watching him go from vendor to vendor. "Well he's certainly our mysterious shopper..." She muttered, looking back as Spike snorted, lying asleep on the floor. He had been working hard lately, and had apparently fell asleep while she was gone, completely unaware that she was ever lost.

     Twilight walked downstairs and began to write her letter to Celestia, talking about a 'mysterious midnight shopper', and other things. But for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to include Tsyreim's name or the information he gave her that night.

     Twilight looked out the window at the palace in the distance, it just didn't feel right telling on him. So she included as little about it as possible. Yawning, she tried to remember anything else to put down, but slumped over on the table, falling right asleep. Letters would have to wait.