Luna's Lament

by Wilgrove

The Whole Story

“My dear sister, how are you today?” Princess Celestia asked as she pushed the door open into one of the royal bedrooms. The room was dark, just as it had been for the past few days. A beam of light emanated from the hallway, drifting lazily across the floor until it fell on the room’s lone occupant. Princess Luna laid there in her bed, not moving, not saying a word. Her head turned away from the door and thus from the rest of the world.

Luna had been lost in her own little world for quite some time. Although she was happy to be home in Equestria, and was grateful of the celebration in Ponyville, the events that had unfolded a thousand years ago and since then had concerned her.

She laid there in the darkness, thinking and pondering. Her thoughts soon transformed into images and sound before her. A thousand years ago, she ruled alongside her sister, Princess Celestia. She was the ruler of the night sky, while Celestia ruled the day time. They brought balance to Equestria, and to each other.

However, despite her best effort to give her subjects a beautiful night, a night that any pony would be proud of, she felt a certain disregard for her work from the citizens of Equestria. Luna recalled the jealousy and anger that came from this, and while Celestia had tried to comfort her and to encourage her, it had only almost worked, almost.

From there on, Luna's memory became uncertain. “What happened next?” she silently thought to herself as she racked her brain and memory, trying very hard to think about what happened next.

However, nothing came forth, the next memory she had was of seeing her sister in the now-abandoned Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. Even that memory was fuzzy to Luna. She remembered seeing Celestia and saying something to her, but that was all. She didn't really come into focus until they were on their way to Ponyville.

Luna wanted to ask her sister what happened because she would surely know the answer, but she was afraid of what she might find out. “What if it's something horrible? What if I don't want to know? Would I even be able to handle such powerful information?” All Luna could do in the dark was softly cry.

But slowly, she began to remember. She was doing something at night, then something happened. Something grabbed a hold of her tail and legs and wouldn't let go, no matter how hard she tried to fight against it. It slowly engulfed her. She let out a gasp as the revelation came to her: something had possessed her! She knew she had to talk to her sister soon; there was no other way of getting the information she needed.

Over the next few days and weeks, Luna tried her best to recover from her possession. Although she was still lost in a fog of confusion, she tried her best to eat, to drink and to at least get out of her room. However, it took several tries before she had enough willpower to open up the door. Something was holding her back…was it anxiety, and if so, anxiety over what, exactly?

Luna also noticed, through a mirror in the room, that she had reverted back to her filly form, which that she hadn't had since the beginning of creation. This only added to her confusion and building frustration. She knew she had to talk to her sister, but her fears kept her from it. Luna paced her room, softly talking to herself.

“I should be able to talk to my sister. We have always loved one another and trusted one another. So, how come I can't talk to her or trust her now?”

She shot her head up and put on a look of determination. “No, this isn't the way a princess is to act. Something horrible has happened to me and I must find out!” Luna purposely walked out of her room, down to the Royal Hall, ignoring every other pony as she went.

The Royal Hall had high ceilings, stone floors and stained glass windows all along the walls. These told the stories of Equestria's history: the founding, the sister's defeat of Discord, the works of Star Swirl the Bearded. Luna was familiar with all of these events; after all, she was witnesses to most of them. In the middle of the hall were two wooden tables lined up from one end to the other, and at one end of the Hall stood Luna, while at the other was Celestia, sitting at the sole throne of Equestria.

Luna gazed at her sister sitting on the throne holding her royal court, and as soon as Celestia also took notice of Luna, she began speaking quickly to the court.

“Thank you all for coming, I believe that concludes our business for this morning. You all are dismissed until tomorrow.” The court bowed their heads towards Princess Celestia and slowly exited the hall.

While Luna waited for the court to exit, she noticed one stained glass window she never seen before. It showed the scene of six ponies harnessing the Elements of Harmony onto a pony that look awfully similar to Luna. How strange. She slowly entered into the now mostly empty hall and approached the window. Celestia came over and stood by her side.

“Pray tell, sister, what is this?”

Celestia let out a soft sigh, “My dear sister, I don't know if you are ready for this, and am afraid that such information would be devastating to you.”

Luna looked at her sister. “I have been lost in a fog of confusion for some time. I have only bits and pieces of information to go on. I implore thou to tell me the meaning of this. Why are those six ponies using the Elements against me?”

Celestia closed her eyes, and soon the Hall became dark. Her horn started shining with the glow of daytime, and soon, Luna started to see images forming before her. Soon came one of her and Celestia from what must have been a thousand years ago.

“We were once rulers of Equestria,” said Celestia softly as the image played before Luna's eyes, “for a while, you were happy, as was I. We did our best to care for our citizens and to provide them with happiness. However, you soon became resentful, angry, and jealous. Our citizens played and enjoyed in my daytime, but they slept through your magnificent nights. You saw this as a disregard to you, as well as to your work of art.”

“Yes, yes, I know this already, sister!” Luna interrupted with an impatient tone in her voice.

Celestia continued, “My dear, your feelings left you vulnerable to forces of evil and dark magic. For it was not long after you started having these feelings, that you became possessed by an entity known as Nightmare Moon.”

The image of a frightening Nightmare Moon played in front of Luna.

“No, no, this cannot be!”

But Celestia nodded. “Nightmare Moon threatened our country with eternal night. I tried everything in my power to free you - I begged with the creature, I pleaded, I was willing to do anything, but it would not budge. And after all of my attempts to reason with the creature had failed, I knew what I had to do. I took up the only forces that were more powerful than ourselves sister. That’s right. I took up the elements of Harmony.”

Luna swallowed, trying her best to control her rising anger and frustration.

“Why?! Doest thou know what it can do? Doest thou not remember what it did to our enemies’ sister?” Her voice became more frustrated and angry as Celestia continued her tale.

“It was the only way; I had to protect Equestria, and you.”

“How did thou protect me by using the elements on me?!”

Celestia met her gaze sadly.

“By banishing you to the moon, until I could find the answer to your freedom.”

Luna stood there in total shock. Celestia was about to progress her story when Luna let out a defiant yell, starting out in her normal voice until the Royal Canterlot Voice surged through. She slammed her front left hoof onto the hall's concrete floor, creating several jagged fracture extending from her hoof. Her eyes flashes to solid white.

“MY OWN SISTER HATH BETRAYED ME! THOU KNEW OF ONE'S POSSESSION BUT THOU CHOOSED TO PUNISH ME ANYWAYS!”

Celestia couldn't do anything else but brace herself against the brunt of Luna's rage.

“TELL ME SISTER, FOR HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN IMPRISONED IN THE MOON?!”

Celestia spoke softly, remorsefully, “a thousand years.”

Luna let out another yell of rage and frustration as she rose from the floor and flew out of the Hall. Celestia began chasing after her sister, calling for her to wait as she went. Luna flew out of the castle; the yell in her throat had died away to be replaced by a steady stream of tears. She made her way into the Canterlot Sculpture Garden, where she landed and, in tripping through the grass, stumbled upon the statue of a very menacing and overbearing Nightmare Moon. She looked up at the statue with tears in her eyes. She tried to repress her rage, but couldn't. Once again the Royal Canterlot Voice surged from her and in her anger she slammed her two front hooves down onto the ground, creating a single fracture which extended from her hooves up onto the base of the statue.

Luna collapsed onto the ground, her eyes filled with tears. Celestia soon arrived with the Castle's Royal Guards, and before attending to her sister she told them to redirect all the ponies from the area because she did not wish them to see her sister in such a vulnerable state. The guard nodded his head in acknowledgment and left.

Celestia laid down next to her sister, wrapping one of her wings around her.

“I'm” she paused. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you, you weren't ready. I'm, I'm also sorry for other things as well. Luna, I was barely a mare when I took up the elements. I, I didn't understand their full potential.”

“One would think that thou didn't love your sister anymore if you were willing to banish her to the moon.” Luna replied with hurt in her voice.

“Luna! Never! I have never stopped loving you!” Celestia started choking back tears, “Luna, you are my sister, a sister that I have always loved, and will always love!”

The two sisters looked at one another before throwing their hooves around one another and breaking down into a storm of cries and tears. The pain that Celestia had hidden away for a thousand years came surging back in full force. The Castle Guards carried out their orders, keeping the citizens of Equestria from seeing the Royal Sisters in such a private moment.

Later that night, Luna looked into the sky, at the beautiful and wonderful night Celestia had created. She let out a soft sigh as sadness overcame her. She wasn't yet powerful enough to take her rightful place as the Princess of the Night and she missed the raising of the moon and the bringing out of stars. No two night skies were exactly alike, and it appeared that Celestia had kept up the tradition.

“I know it's not as good as your work, but I think it looks decent.” Celestia walked to her sister's side and looked up at the moon. “I can't change what has happened Luna, but, I promise you that if, back then, I had known what I know now, I would've done things differently. You must believe that.”

“My mind knows sister, but my heart does not.”

Celestia frowned, “Is there any way I can help you?”

“I’m afraid that this is something that I must work out for myself.”

With that Luna nuzzled her sister's neck before retiring for the night.

An old wound had been re-opened in Celestia, but a new one had been cut into Luna. She spent time in her room, mulling over the revelation of her possession and banishment. A thousand years, a thousand years she was banished to the moon and somehow she didn’t even remember it.

One day, Luna approached her sister in the Royal Study. She had a tired and ragged look about her.

“May I come in?” Luna asked, standing at the open doorway. Celestia was writing something onto a piece of scroll that's been laid out onto a golden podium.

Celestia turned and smiled at her sister, “Of course, Luna.” She then noticed Luna's appearance. “Is everything alright?”

“I, I can't sleep sometimes Celestia. I have these dreams that I can't explain.”

“What are they about?”

“Well, sometimes I remember them, and sometimes I don’t. And then the ones I do remember, I care not to.” Luna then noticed the scroll and podium. “Art thou attending to thy royal duties?”

“No, I was just corresponding with a student of mine. I wanted to spend some time with you, so I asked Prince Blueblood to rule in my stead while I take some time off.”

Luna entered into the royal study. “Who is this student you speakth of?”

“Her name is Twilight Sparkle. She's the most powerful unicorn I've ever met. In fact, if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be here, sister.”

“Please tell me how.”

Celestia bowed her head and thought over her sister's request before answering, “Very well.”

The Royal Study darkened and, much like before, Celestia's horn glowed in the colors of sunlight. This time Luna sat down in front of her sister as she projected an image of the Summer Sun Celebration.

The celebration was taking place in Canterlot, it had all the usual festivities: rides, food, and entertainment of every variety. At center stage stood the sun disc and the Royal Guards. At once, the guards blew their horns, getting the crowd's attention. Celestia appeared on stage and, as she smiled and looked upon her subjects, she flew up into the sky until the sun framed her body. The crowd let out a loud cheer. The image then froze and everything turned gray until a purple unicorn stood out against the background.

“This is Twilight Sparkle,” whispered Celestia. “She was there at the Summer Sun Celebration so many years ago. I didn't know it then, but she was about to become very instrumental in my plans to free you.”

The scene before Luna quickly changed to the middle of Canterlot, where Celestia was walking along the street when all the sudden a loud boom shot out. She then looked up to see a purple and green dragon, its head sticking out of the roof of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, Celestia quickly rushed into the building, where she laid eyes upon the young Twilight Sparkle.

“I couldn't believe my eyes, Luna. Even then I knew how much raw ability she had. It was then, and only then, was I able to start piecing together the puzzle.”

Luna spoke up, “but sister, even if she has all this raw talent, no one pony could wield such awesome powers of the Elements, it would be suicidal!”

“Yes, my sister, that was one of my mistakes. When I wielded the elements in an attempt to save you, it nearly cost me my life. It was because I wielded the elements alone that I wasn't able to bring about their` full potential.”

Images started flashing rapidly, of Celestia and Twilight Sparkle studying, laughing, teaching one another, practicing.

“She had the raw abilities,” continued Celestia, “but none of the discipline. I thought it would take a long time to prepare her to use the elements, but actually her ability came about as quickly and nicely as any pony could hope.”

More images began to appear, this time of Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie.

“You are correct, Luna,” Celestia explained. “For one pony to wield the awesome power of the elements would be deadly. Five others were needed, in my lengthy travels I have come across the five that I felt would bring about the full potential of the elements.

“Applejack represents honesty, Rarity, generosity, Fluttershy kindness, Rainbow Dash, loyalty and Pinkie Pie, laughter. When Twilight Sparkle was ready, it only took a small push on my part to set forth the events in motion that were required to free you.”

Next, a scene of Twilight Sparkle and Spike riding on a golden chariot appeared. “Make some friends,” said Spike. The scene rapidly changed to the main six standing in the Castle of the Royal Sisters. “The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are my friends.”

The images disappeared and the Royal Study became bright again as the two Royal Sisters stood in front of one another. Luna eyes were searching for what to say next; she still had so much to digest, but nonetheless she went ahead with asking her next question.

“Sister, what did thou do from the time of my banishment to the time you discovered the unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle?”

Celestia walked over to one of the bookcases that lined the far wall of the study and reached out with her hoof, pulling gently on one of the books. At the tiny movement, the bookcase suddenly slid over to reveal a hidden passageway. Celestia beckoned to Luna and they both went down to a small room hidden away inside the mountain that the castle was sitting upon.

Celestia lit several candles to reveal a small chamber that housed books, scrolls, pictures, maps, some lining the walls, others strewn about on the desk that stood against one side of the room.

“When I wasn't holding the royal court, visiting our subjects, or teaching my students, I was here,” began Celestia, a hint of nostalgia touching her voice. “For a thousand years I've searched for answers.”

Luna approached the ancient map of Equestria and saw that many of the towns and cities had a glaring red X marked through them.

“I've called upon every practitioner of magic and read every book I could get my hooves on,” continued Celestia, “and none of them ever had the answer. Luna, I did this for a thousand years, and all for you, because I knew that the creature known as Nightmare Moon could not truly be who you were,” Celestia turned to gaze at her with eyes that were sad and happy at the same moment. “who you are.”

And Upon hearing this, Luna couldn't do anything but let out some tears and rest her head against Celestia's neck in appreciation.

As Nightmare Night approached, the citizens of Equestria began putting up the holiday decorations, and even Canterlot Castle was being dolled up for the holidays. Even though Luna didn’t know much about this holiday at first, after listening to the talk around the city she was able put enough of the pieces together to realize that it was about Nightmare Moon.

Luna began tearing down the decoration around the castle, even though the staff objected. In fact, one of the servants came to Celestia and told her what Luna was doing. Celestia soon found Luna tearing down strings of holiday lights that were hung in the archway of one of the entrances to the castle.

“Luna, what are you doing?”

Luna flew down and landed in front of her sister, spitting the string of lights out of her mouth and stomping on them, breaking the covering and the bulbs.

“This holiday is a disgrace, sister. Why would thou even permit such an insulting holiday, that celebrates a darker side of me?” Luna hissed, annoyance coloring her voice.

“It isn't in honor of you dear sister.”

“Yes, a holiday that celebrates Nightmare Moon, to whom the children must give their candies or else she'll gobble them up, isn't in honor of me,” Luna replied sarcastically.

“As far as our subjects know,” her sister replied coolly, “Nightmare Moon is only a myth, meant to scare little fillies and colts. They also hold Mare in the Moon with such regards.”

Luna stood there with a questioning look on her face, a look that seemed to encourage Celestia to continue.

“Shortly after your banishment, I knew I had to protect you, and protect your reputation. That is why I started the Nightmare Night celebration. My hope was that if everypony thought that the Nightmare Moon and the events surrounding it was nothing more than an old pony tale, then when you returned to us, our subjects would be more willing to accept you. Using a pseudonym, I was able to write the myth into a book and distribute it to every library and bookstore in Equestria.”

Luna blinked.

“Doest the holiday have to continue as it is?”

“No,” her sister answered, “soon the night will be yours again, and you can do with it what you will.”

“Good, and once the night is mine again,” Luna paused, smiling gently, “it shall be changed from this celebration of nightmares and terror, into a bright and glorious feast.”

Celestia let out a soft smile, and Luna smiled back before both sisters hugged one another.

That night as Luna slept, she found herself in a dark void, then all of a sudden started seeing horrible images flash all around her. Some of the dealt with Celestia, while others dealt with the citizens of Equestria, and seeing them brought forth terrible and horrible pain for Luna. She tried to run but the images seem to always surround her; she soon realized that there was no escape, then a disembodied laughter came forth from the void, a taunting laugh, and she suddenly started screaming.

A white flash appeared before her eyes and she was in her royal bedroom still screaming and thrashing in her bed. Celestia rushed into her room and to her side. “Luna! Wake up! Wake up; it's just a bad dream!” Luna shot up from lying in her bed, now screaming with eyes wide open.

It took a few minutes for Luna to calm down enough to be able to talk, and even then she was still shaking in fear, but able to speak.

“Horrible images sister, it was just horrible! I, I” Luna broke down into tears and Celestia quickly cradled her sister in her hooves. After a half hour of calming her sister down enough so that she could go back to sleep, Celestia walked out of Luna's bedroom and into the hall outside the bedroom.

“She's been having night terrors ever since she came back home.” she whispered to herself. “Sometimes she'll remember them, and sometimes she won't. I just wish I had noticed it sooner.” She sighed regretfully, then exited the castle to go seek advice.

There was a knock on Twilight Sparkle's door. “Hold on, I'm coming, I'm coming,” she called as she hauled herself out of bed to answer the door. “Why would anypony want to visit a library this late at night?” she muttered to herself as she opened up the door, gasping when she laid eyes on Celestia.

“P-Princess Celestia!” Twilight exclaimed in surprise, “p-please come in! I wasn't expecting you to be here so late!”

“My apologies, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said quietly, “but I need to ask your counsel on a matter of grave importance.”

“Yes, of course! How could I help you?”

Celestia paused, glancing down.

“What do you know of in regards to night terrors?”

“Night terrors?” asked Twilight with a confused look on her face. She stood there thinking before she welcomed Celestia inside and walked over to one of the bookshelves in her library. There, she found a book titled Pony Psychology 101, and using her unicorn magic, hovered the book over to her wooden podium and started flipping through the pages.

“Night terrors, night terrors, night terrors, Ah ha! Here we are, night terrors.” she paused, giving the page a quick once-over. “Night terrors are usually nightmares that are brought about through repressed memories. Only by confronting the memories head on can the sufferer hope to rid itself of the night terrors.”

“Hmmm, interesting,” Celestia tapped her hoof against her chin. “May I ask for one more piece of advice?”

“Sure Princess, anything for you!” replied Twilight with a sheepish look on her face.

Celestia smiled softly at her student. “Tell me, what do you know of possession?”

Twilight blinked.

“Possession, isn't that nothing more than just hocus pocus, you know, fake magic?”

“Please, Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked with an urgent tone in her voice. “I must know.”

Twilight Sparkle noticed the worried look upon her mentor's face and swallowed. “Right, possession,” she started combing through the books; usually this was Spike's job, but since it was past his bedtime, she was on her own. However, she was soon able to find the book.

“Possession and Other Forms of Dark Magic. Huh, never noticed this here before,” she gave the book a confused look before opening it up and flipping through the pages. She soon came to the page she was looking for and began reading.

“While not much is known about the possession of a pony through dark magic or other means, what is known is that when a pony does become possessed, this usually ends in,” Twilight let out a gulp, “death. A pony who is possessed will have their life force drained through the entity’s own magic. This is usually accomplished through manipulation of the sense.”

“Such as sounds and images?” Celestia asked, interrupting Twilight’s reading.

“Yes,” Twilight responded. “Princess, may I ask what this is about?”

“My faithful student,” Celestia glanced down sadly. “Although I am willing to share everything with you, in this regard, I cannot.”

And with this, she gave her student a nod of respect before exiting the library, and Twilight couldn't do anything else but stand there as her mentor walked out into the darkness of the night.

The following day, Celestia found Luna in her bedroom, reading a book on Equestrian History. Celestia sat by her sister's side, and tried to get a look at the book over her shoulder.

“May I ask what you are reading?”

“Memories sister,” Luna murmured. “Just, memories.”

“Luna,” said Celestia, “I want to help you with your night terrors, but only if you'll allow me, and only if you'll trust me.”

Luna looked up at her sister. “How doest thou intend to help me?”

“I want to know what you've been dreaming.”

Luna looked at her older sister for a long time before she finally gave her a slight nod. Her horn glowed the color of the night sky and then a bright flash overcame the sisters before they suddenly found themselves in a dark void.

“What are we looking at, Luna?” Celestia asked, but Luna did nothing but sit there with her head bowed.

Soon the surroundings changed to the sisters’ private dining room. Everything seemed incredibly realistic, as if they were really there. Right before their eyes they could see Luna and Celestia, eating a meal after they had lowered the sun and raised the moon. Celestia soon realized where they were.

“This, this is the night you were possessed,” she breathed.

Luna said nothing.

Jealousy and contempt shrouded the meal; Luna sat in silence and Celestia tried in vain to act as if nothing were wrong. When they were finished, Celestia went to bed, leaving Luna to rule Equestria. After handling some minor bureaucracy work, Luna headed out to the Palace Garden.

She followed the familiar stone paths, not really seeing anything or anypony until she reached a quiet corner of the garden. She sat in her normal corner and she, Princess Luna of the night, began to cry.

Celestia felt the pain Luna felt as the people shunned her gift of night. Nopony knew how much effort she put into each night sky, and to have them ignored by the very ponies she performed for was a deep blow to her psyche. Perhaps if somepony had explained to the young and naïve princess that her nights were not made in vain, what happened next could have been avoided.

There were strict orders that kept Luna from being disturbed, and the guards made certain that they were enforced. Not that they could have come upon her unnoticed, however - she had set weaves of magic to alert her to a foreign presence, and tonight, for the first time, she felt the alarm. She rose, drying her eyes and returning to her regal appearance as best she could.

"Who goes there?" she called, "Doest thou not know that we have given orders to remain alone here?"

There was no answer, but the presence remained and she felt it drawing nearer.

"Who is there? Show thineself!"

Again, no answer, and the presence grew ever nearer. There was something about it that made even one as powerful as Luna shake with fear. It felt to her as though the garden was closing in on her, and even the shadows appeared to grow longer as though reaching for her.

No, she realized, she wasn’t imagining it; they really were growing! She watched frozen as the tendrils of shadow reached towards her. As the shadows rose before her, she finally broke.

"CELESTIA!" she cried, turning away from the grasping shadows. "HELP ME!"

But by then it had reached her, wrapping around her flailing hooves. It was less solid form as a liquid and it flowed onto her. As it covered most of her body, she felt it speak to her in what was obviously not an audible sound but instead seemed to communicate directly with her mind. It was a soothing voice, soft and reassuring. It fed off her anger, her sorrow, her pain. It longed for her pain, and the more it flowed over her, the stronger it became.

She heard her own voice come unbidden from her throat.

"My dear Luna," the creature cooed, "don’t be alarmed. With your form, I shall control this land and bring about that which you desire as well. These foals will have no choice but to love your nights. For under my power, the night will last forever!"

Luna fought hard. She was trapped within herself, unable to move, but she would fight with anything and everything to stop this monster.

“Oh no, my dear," the creature’s voice smiled, "we cannot have that. Sleep Luna. Sleep deep within me, and know that I am doing that which you could not."

And suddenly the vision ended and the sisters were met with the black void once again. Celestia was speechless, having now witnessed firsthand what Nightmare Moon had done to her sister. She felt Luna's pain, the sensation of the cold form wrapping around her, and heard the voice of Nightmare Moon.

Celestia looked over at her sister. Luna sat there shaking with her wings wrapped around herself.

“Luna,” Celestia began, but images started to flash around them before she could continue, images of pain and terror. One was of Celestia being tortured in an unknown dark chamber, another of Nightmare Moon sitting on the Throne of Equestria and ruling the country with fear and terror. And these were just some of the many horrible visions projected all around the sisters before a disembodied voice suddenly boomed around them.

“You are a horrible sister, Luna, and she's better off without you.”

“They never appreciated you, and they never will!”

“Pain and suffering is being inflicted upon your citizenry and it's your fault!”

The voices seem to have no real source and they overlapped with each other and the images. Celestia watched as Luna just sat there, trying her best to control herself, and almost failing.

Then, suddenly, Luna's bedroom appeared around the two sisters once again. It was only then that Celestia finally understood everything. The dreams that Luna had shown her were in such vivid detail that Celestia felt as if she were going through the ordeal herself.

“These are the dreams I've been having sister, these are the dreams that have kept me up at night.” Luna voice was low and soft as she spoke. “These are more than just dreams, though.”

“They're repressed memories, Luna,” replied Celestia with a sad nod. “That's why you've been having the night terrors. You need to deal with these memories so that you may be more at peace with yourself.”

“But how can I be at peace when I know what I have done?”

“Luna,”

“Sister, I know what thou is going to say, but thou know as well as I do that if I didn't have those feelings, then I wouldn't have turned into the creature of nightmares. I, I just don't know how anypony is going to forgive me, or accept me after what I’ve done.” Luna looked away from her sister with sadness in her eyes.

Celestia stood there for a minute before sitting right next to her sister. “Luna,” she said softly, “I can't tell you whether or not they're going to accept you. However, you won't know until you try. How do you expect anypony to give you a chance, if you won't give them a chance?”

Luna looked down, thinking about what her sister said. She was right, of course, Celestia always had pearl of wisdom for anypony who needed it, and tonight, that pony was Luna.

She nodded her head in agreement.

“But sister, what do I do about my memories?”

Celestia closed her eyes before answering.

“You need to forgive yourself, sister. You've been carrying this burden for too long, and I need to forgive myself as well. Even now I question whether or not I've done the right thing a thousand years ago, whether or not there was another way. That's in the past, though, and all we can do now is forgive ourselves, and each other.”

Luna looked up at her big sister with a slight smile on her face.

“I forgive you sister.”

Celestia smiled back. “And I forgive you as well, Luna. But the real question is, do you forgive yourself?”

“Y-yes, I do, sister, and I hope that you do too.”

“I do.”

The Royal Sisters gave each other hugs before Celestia departed for her bedroom, and for the first night since her arrival back into Equestria, Luna was able to peacefully sleep.

It was the night before Nightmare Night as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia stood on the castle's balcony facing west. Luna’s mane and tail flowed with the colors of the night sky and her fur had changed from light blue to dark blue. Even her cutie mark had darkened. She was still smaller and slimmer than Celestia, but she had grown out of her filly form and into a beautiful young mare.

It was time to perform the dance that they had performed a thousand times before Luna's banishment.

“Are you ready Luna?” Celestia asked.

“Yes,” Luna answered, “I would like a chance to create my own night, once again.”

Celestia nodded to her sister and her horn began to glow in the colors of the sunlight. With great concentration, Celestia brought down the sun. Luna looked up at the darkened sky, and gulped, trying to control the anxiety she felt.

“You can do it sister, I know you can.” Celestia said, giving Luna a word of encouragement.

Luna nodded and flew off of the balcony. As She stretched her front legs, her horn begin to glow dark blue. Slowly, the moon rose above the mountain tops and into the skyline and the wind began to pick up as Luna exerted more and more of her power. When the ceremony was complete and the moon framed Luna in its light, she let out a great yell, and her eyes flashed solid white.

The Royal Canterlot Voice surged from Luna's throat as the wind begun to pick up speed, whipping both of the sister's manes around their bodies. Luna's mane expanded and spread like the stars across the sky, her yell reaching a feverish pitch before she fell back onto the balcony in new silence, with the high winds having died to stillness.

Celestia rushed to her sister's side, and the castle's royal guards arrived to see what had just happened. However, they were stopped in their tracks when before them, they saw the wonders of the night sky as had not been seen in a millennia! Stars were shining brightly, the moon was casting its soft light upon the landscape, and one guard even spotted a comet blazing across the sky.

“How...how does it look?” Luna asked, her voice sounding weak and her throat dry. Celestia smiled as she lay down next to her sister.

“This may be your best work yet.”

Luna smiled as she pushed herself off the floor of the balcony, wavering a little bit but able to regain her balance with Celestia’s help.

“The night is yours again, Luna.” Celestia said with a smile on her face.

“Thank you sister, doest thou plan to retire now?”

“No, I would like to help you get ready for Nightmare Night, and I know just where to start.”

Luna wondered what her sister was up to as she followed her to a part of the castle she had never seen before. Celestia opened up a strange door to reveal an old chariot, painted in various shade of blue with Luna's emblem in the middle of the front. Cobwebs and dust had made their home on the chariot and even the seat looked like it could use some repairs.

“My chariot!” Luna exclaimed happily. “Thou has kept this all these years?”

“Yes sister,” smiled Celestia, “I kept this, as well as this, for you.” On the other side of the room opened up another door. Two gray stallions with yellow cat-like eyes and bat wings stepped out. They both kneeled before the princesses.

“Luna, I have kept your chariot and the bloodlines of the Night Guards alive,” said Celestia, “although your guards are small in number, in time they will equal in the numbers of my guards.”

“Oh thank you Celestia!” Luna cried, and quickly gathered up some of the castle's staff and set them to working on the chariot. They gave it a good wash and repaired any broken or worn out parts. She also had new reins fashioned into the chariot, made out of steel linked chains. After rolling it out onto the castle's ground, the newly refurbished and washed chariot gleamed in the morning's sunlight.

After inspecting the chariot and making sure it passed her standards, Luna got down to setting up her Royal Court. However, since everything was on such short notice, and for a princess that ponies have only heard rumors and gossip about, not very many ponies showed up. However, enough were there for Luna to fill out her court.

It was now Nightmare Night, and the preparation that Luna undertook lasted until it was time for the Royal Sisters to do their nightly dance. After the lowering of the sun and the raising of the moon, Celestia followed Luna into her royal bedroom.

Luna started putting on her royal footwear and her crown as well as her breastplate. Celestia watched with pride as her sister prepared herself.

“So Luna, where will you be heading off to first?”

Luna let out a slight smile. “Ponyville, Tia, it's probably the one place thou traveled to most, so hopefully the citizens in the tiny village will be honored to have me.”

She donned a cloak that was as dark as the nights she ruled over and proceeded to walk out into the Royal Hall. The new court waited anxiously for Princess Luna to arrive. They had only heard rumors and gossip about her. Some of the stories were good, others were not.

Luna soon appeared into the Royal Hall from the far entrance, keeping her head up in a dignified manner as she made her way onto the Royal Throne. Members of the court looked unsure as to how to handle the long-lost princess. Luna did not leave them wondering long, and clapping her front hooves together twice, she began to speak.

“ROYAL COURT OF THE NIGHT!” she shouted. “WE CALL YOU HERE THAT WE MIGHT MAKE OUR INTENTIONS KNOWN! TONIGHT, WE SHALL ABOLISH THIS DREADFUL CELEBRATION AND TRANSFORM IT INTO ONE THAT PROPERLY HONORS THE TRUE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT! NIGHTMARE MOON IS NO LONGER, AND WE SEE NO REASON TO HONOR SUCH A DREADFUL CREATURE OF FEAR AND HORROR!”

The royal court quickly bowed and shivered in fear. It had been a long time since anypony had heard one of the royal sisters use the Royal Canterlot Voice. Nearly a thousand years, in fact. Luna looked down at her court in puzzlement.

“THOU DOEST NOT LIKE OUR CHANGES?” The court did not answer, but chose to remain shivering in fear. “WE ARE ALREADY LATE FOR OUR ARRIVAL IN PONYVILLE. WHEN WE RETURN, WE EXPECT A PROPER AND FULLY FUNCTIONING COURT!” And with that, Luna walked out of the hall and to her waiting chariot. She clicked her tongue twice, and she and her escorts took off into the night sky, headed towards Ponyville.

Luna returned to Canterlot after a night of celebrating Nightmare Night in Ponyville. The celebration had gotten off to a rough start when ponies kept running away and screaming at the sight of the Princess, but with Twilight Sparkle there to help, Luna was able to not only take part in the fun, but was also given a whole new appreciation for the holiday.

Celestia was waiting for her when she returned and she took notice of Luna's smile and was quietly happy as they both did their morning dance of lowering the moon and raising the sun.

After doing their morning routine, the sisters sat down for breakfast. The last time either sisters had sat down together for a meal was the night Luna became possessed, and there had been an air of jealousy and contempt hanging over it. However, this meal had a very different feel, that of of acceptance and happiness, all radiating from Princess Luna.

“So, I take it the Nightmare Night celebration went well sister?” Celestia asked.

“It went better than well, sister. It was wonderful,” Luna smiled. “Thou was right, I had to give these ponies a chance, and even though I had a rough start, the citizens of Ponyville finally came around and…and they accepted me.”

The two sisters smiled at one another and as they finished their meal, both of them felt finally at peace.