//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: A Visit By Sunset Shimmer // by Heavyhauler75622 //------------------------------// A Moon later… Luna quietly walked down a path in Canterlot, thinking. How beautiful Her Night was tonight; the stars sparkled like colored diamonds on deep purple and black velvet, even darker than the usual incredibly deep dark blue she usually painted upon the sky. It had taken a bit of doing, keeping Celestia’s Sun from bleeding through to the sky, as well as focusing Her Moon, but the effect was breathtaking… She loved Applejack’s apples, and her cider was astounding. Nightmare Night was definitely losing its sting; she was getting the entire Filly and Foal Hospital refurbished and modernized, with no impact on taxation. Pinkie had taken her Lapis pebble, and had a necklace made from it. She had tried to give it back to Luna, but Luna asked shyly for Pinkie to keep it, as a symbol of peace between them over Nightmare Night. The Six had been guessing when the two of them would stop blushing about the new friendship. The new gown Rarity made her for The Grand Galloping Gala. Fluttershy coming by to check on Tibbey, including baths and grooming. Tibbey’s claws could be painful. Twilight has written to Celestia, and to her as well, how the Dazzlings were starting to rejoin life, according to Sunset Shimmer. The music. Amazing. Amazing how music tied it all together. Even an incongruous thought about how Celestia missed Twilight’s salutation at the start of her scrolls. Celestia. Her rock. Twilight, her best friend. Even those crazy moments when Discord just couldn’t take it anymore, and had to come see her. Tonight was the night. It was time… Luna quietly walked into the Specialized Incantation Isolation Room, shut the doors as silently as she could. It was around two in the morning, and Canterlot was slumbering peacefully. She left the lights off…it suited her mood of the dramatic tonight. A slight pause, as she tugged the lever to the ‘on’ position. It was wise to take this last precaution, as her ears suddenly fogged up. She popped them against the increased pressure. Ah, that’s better… Her eyes adjusted quickly to the light of her horn. She walked to the center… What to use? she thought. Almost anything would do. It wasn’t the… She smiled quietly. But of course. That one. The best place to start is always the beginning… The Princess of Kind Dreams was a tremendous singer, though she didn’t do very much of it in public. Like so many things about her, she was actually quite shy and introverted about it. Too many eyes, too much judgment; in far too many ways, she felt like Fluttershy . She shook her head. Enough introspective navel-gazing, Luna. Bravery. Like Twilight. Be like Twilight…until you can once more be wholly you… First, the F, then the higher A, another F, an E, and again the F…then a D, an E, another D, a lower C, and then a lower A… She kept singing, as the room flashed into brilliance… As she sang, she floated upward, unnoticed. Her gaze was turned inward, as the Rainbow Magic worked its beautiful patterns on the outside. There was much more occurring here than vanity… A small dark part within Luna froze in the incredible light inside of her. It ran first this way, then that, looking for a place to hide from the love within her. Suddenly it stopped, waiting, in fear. “Do not be afraid,” she said to the dark. “I am here.” “You cannot be! This is my place! My domain! I rule the Night here, within you!" “No longer, I think,” she said sadly to the dark. “Your time is now past. Jealousy and anger are no longer enough for Us. We desire…we need more than that. Don’t We?” “No! Our Dark…it is what We are! The others will come for you again, separate Us from them when the Fear becomes too much! Remember?” “I do. But look around you. The light…this light…is love. Love for them, and for Us. All of Us. This light…is for you as well.” She alighted very softly in front of the dark. “It is time for you to be loved as well, Nightmare Moon.” The purple smoke twisted into the Mare in the Moon. “What are you saying?” she said, panicked. “There is no recrimination here, Nightmare. We both surrendered to the dark. When I was freed, I selfishly shut you away, hated you for what you made of me. I put you in a tiny box, and called myself clever for doing it. I hated you. And it was not right. You are a part of me. No pony can survive long hating themselves.” She sighed. “We are one pony, Nightmare. As much a part of me as I am to you. I tell the others you disappeared in the light of The Elements; I lie to them, as I think of you in that box." The Nightmare lowered her head, her armor barding gleamed and her horn sharp. “I have no need of you!” “You stumble in the dark, lost. I stumble in the light, blinded. I want Us to walk without blinders anymore, Nightmare. I want us both to be free… The hateful visage of Nightmare Moon…cracked. Not a thing changed in Luna’s vision, but she knew…she felt, the sudden uncertainty in the black mare. “There is nothing for me in the Light! Our Sister…” “Is not the provider of this light, Nightmare. No spell or incantation, no bright Sun washing away shadow. This is me…for you…” “Impossible.” The cracks grew as indecision took hold. “Take my hoof, Nightmare. Let me show you there’s another way…” “I…” Luna held out a foreleg… She woke up on the floor. For a moment, she was disoriented…the dark… Am I dead..? “I feel…different,” she whispered. Her aura reached out to the lights… “OW!” she cried as the light hit her eyes full force. Her hooves flew to her face. “Damn it, Luna! You know how bright it can be in here! Watch it!” She started to get up. “Unhhh...figures I’d fall on a tile floor,” she groaned. She held her left shoulder with a right hoof and rubbed the sore spot. She also carefully tested her left wing, extending it and giving a gentle flap. “Fantastic…no broken bones. Just a painful shoulder…and becoming cold as hell from laying on bare tile…” She stood. “Well, all that works, at least,” she groused as she walked around. “Just a tiny limp in the left rear. That should go away with a little activity and gentle stretching.” She reached out with her aura again, flipped the lever open. Luna stretched her neck and yawned to get her ears to pop. She shook her head a bit afterwards. “Okay…everything seems to be working. I can always ice this shoulder and my rump, get any swelling down early. Then a nice warm bath tomorrow; some moist heat to promote blood flow and get the bruising out,” she said as she walked to the doors. “Now…the list. First, I want to go to one of those new mane and tail salons. I’m dying to try some of those shaved coat patterns. Some nice scrollwork on my legs. Even RD doesn’t have the nerve to try that! And then some Wonderbolt flight training. Get fancy, get fast. Garam Masala Pilaf. Phall with potatoes. I wanna try that, no matter the heartburn. And Sis…I’m NOT gonna play nursemaid to Equestria during The Gala this time. I got a new gown. A Rarity Original, and I’m gonna find a cute guy and dance my hooves off this year!” “I wanna flirt, and get a little tipsy, and tell Celestia she needs to loosen up and get a boyfriend. Or girlfriend. Or both; scandalous! That hasn’t happened for fifteen hundred years!” She frowned slightly. “At least that I know about…” The doors sighed open, interrupting her. She flipped off the lights as the open door filled with warm, inviting Night. I feel…different, she thought to herself, as she walked outside. Dawn was still a little time away, though the sky was beginning to lighten to the east, just as she designed. I feel…better. Not just existing. She smiled, a big, cheek stretching grin like one of Pinkies. One that warmed her chilled body. I feel…whole again. I feel…alive!!