Chapter one
Little beginnings
The backstreets of Canterlot are not exactly what one might think. That is, if you that they’re going to be filled with rats and garbage bins. Perhaps this is true to a degree, if you account for apparent lack of dirt, dust and tumble weeds that take hours to cross your view. No, the backstreets of canterlot are almost as prim and proper as their main streets, but with all the garbage no one wants. However, if one thinks really hard, they are actually are completely alike. But thats not why I brought them up, I did because I wanted to mention a small little basket, filled not with treats, or nic-nacs somepony threw away. But a small baby foal, perhaps 4 months old with a ruffled maroon coat wrapped in a tattered blue cloth. At the moment he was sleeping, a smile danced upon his face. He was content. He did not know where he was, if he could, he would not care. The night sky was glittering with a thousand stars and a soft breeze blew through the tight little alley.
Returning to the world outside the basket in the alley, we find Princess Luna taking a retreat into the night sky she had set forth once again. She was took great pleasure and content from her nightly glide through the sky above canterlot . Once in awhile she would swoop down into the streets below and land, merely to acquaint herself again with city she looked over. Like a mother checking in with her foal. But she didn’t only restrict herself to the streets she knew in and out, Luna liked to take every chance to try something new. It is to this day that Luna swears her luck was so great she could have picked the winning lotto number every single time, but always insists this turn of events far outmatched anything else that could have happened. For as she was trotting down one of the unknown alleyways -between 4th street and Station street- she suddenly stopped. Now we cannot say that Luna’s hearing was any better than your average ponies, but to Luna, its what makes this encounter that much more special. For as she passed the basket, she accidently bumped into it and out spilled the sleeping foal. One thinks that he would wake and scream and shout as many foals do. But not this time, infact he gurgled. Which was why Luna stopped. A distinct sound a gurgling foal makes, and not a sound Luna was intimately familiar with. Now, Luna may have been called names like ‘scaredy-cat’ by her older sister (and not without reason mind you), but she was more confident these days. Which is why she spun around having conjured a toy duck. She spent a few embarrassed seconds reconfiguring her weapon of choice, then set upon her perpetrator. Then stopped short before she could spray the foal with water from a spritzer. Time and time again, ponies have tried to come up with a word for what Luna felt. The best description however comes down to “D’awwwww”.
The foal had woken up from his little encounter with Luna’s hooves, and having notified Luna of his existence was now beset with two of the biggest eyes he had ever seen. So he gurgled with pure innocent happiness, and Luna felt her heart almost burst. She longed to just gaze at the foal, who unknowingly gaze back, but cold reality caught up to her. Luna realized that she was standing in an alleyway, with no pony around, and yet here at her hooves was a foal. Instantly she ran to the end of the alley, saw nothing, and run back to where she came from. Luna bit her lip, and then chewed it. What was she to do? Nothing in her long life prepared her for this. She couldn’t just leave him, but she didn’t want to take him, in case whoever was his guardian returned. But then she thought, if he had been left in this alley, whomever had been taking care of him no longer wished to have him. It all fit to her, which broke her heart. Who would leave such a helpless foal out in the dark? A gust of wind blew through the alley way toppling the foal rolling him towards her hooves. “Fine” Luna spoke as she stooped to pick him up, “We must find you something to eat.”
He merely gurgled again.
~*~
Luna flew slowly on her return trip home, which she had begun immediately after she had left the alley, taking every care to hold him safely. And as she arrived at the Balcony of her room, she spotted her sister moving into her room. Luna hesitated, how would her sister react when Luna arrived with a baby foal in her arms. She would think that Luna stole him. Luna cursed herself for her own shortsightedness, but now she could do nothing but hope that Celestia would understand. So with care she descended into her room, and quickly walked over to her bed. “Ah Luna, you’ve returned finally, I had hoped to talk to you but you were out- Luna, is everything alright?”
“Ah! Yes of course sister! We are most well! Why do you ask?”Luna hastily replied as she quickly set the foal down and spun to face her sister. Who was in her face. “Are thou okay sister?”
“Maybe, if you would be so kind as to tell me what you have behind your back?” Celestia inquired by straining her neck to get a better look. Luna mirrored her movements. And for a while it was like they were playing a game. Until Celestia feigned a right and quickly went left catching Luna off balance. Thus Luna ended up sprawled on the floor while Celestia had a good look at the baby foal. “...Luna? Please do tell me that my eyes decieve me. For I see a foal Luna.”
“Uh, heh-heh. Thou see’s Sister...What could I do otherwise!? Please dear sister! I could not leave him in that alley! Thou must understand!”
“What do you mean sister? Did you find him in a alley? Alone?”
“Yes! I mean, yes sister, he was all alone in that alley, lying asleep in a small basket. I did not see any other pony. So I decided to bring him here where he might be safe.” Celestia raised her brow in curiosity. Not often did she hear about desertions, but she knew they happened.
“So tell me Luna, where did you find him then?”
“In the first alleyway on the right after turning into station street from 4th street!” Another eyebrow raised, followed by a chuckle when Celestia realized Luna was dead serious.
“It takes running into a baby foal to elicit the ability to remember street names from my dear forgetful sister?”
“Yes! I mean-No! But..yes...somewhat.” Luna struggled to get the right words to move out of her mouth.
“As much as I can see the bond you have already made with him, i’m afraid we just can’t raise a foal. Not with our responsibilities.”
“But thou would not have to! We mean, we would take care of him.”
“Luna, I don’t think you understand the weight of the situation, he is not a simple pet that you feed once and awhile Luna.This is another pony, of whom will grow to be a full fledged... lets see, ah. A grown pegasus. I hope you understand that we have not the time to devote to raising a foal sister. Not with our responsibilities.” Celestia told Luna albeit with a heavy heart. “I think the best course of action is to take him to a orphanage tomorrow sister.”
“But Celestia! How can I just give him away as if he were a possession? And how do I know if he would be taken care of? I do not like the idea of him growing up without a sort of parental figure sister. I want to give him what I had with mother and father. You cannot deny him such a simple right.” Luna rightly asked her sister. And Celestia was hard pressed to answer, the mention of her father and mother brought to her many fond memories. It did not make her decision easier but neither did it change what she thought was best.
“Luna, I know you only want best for this foal but you must remember Luna. We just cannot raise a foal. Neither of us know how, and I doubt we will learn quickly. Please Luna, I know you realize it is best, let us just put this behind us.” Luna nodded, it was true, even if she were to take care of him, she had not the faintest idea what to do.
“Yes sister. But... Do you think it would be best to find a suitable home for him tomorrow?”
“Of course sister. Now I am going to retire to my bed, I wish you a pleasant night sister.”
“As with you sister.” Thus Celestia left quietly. Luna turned to face the foal who had fallen asleep once more on the crest of her pillow. Luna was at crossroads, her sister who was far more logical and calm than herself in these situation almost always knew best. But Luna wanted to be with the foal. To care for him. To teach him how to fly. To show him the joys of life under the night sky. She couldn’t just ‘put it behind her’. She knew that much.
So as Luna watched the baby foal lie on one of her pillows, she felt determined to do something. Remembering Celestia’s students fondness for planning and logical reasoning she thought “What would Twilight do?”. A grand question indeed she reflected. “What would she do if she was in this position, not that I see her being so anytime soon. I hope.” So Luna sat on the bed and thought hard. But not for too long because in a flurry of motion (well tailored not to shift the bed too much, or the pillows) she ran for the door. “The library! But of course!”
*
The canterlot library is famed throughout equestrian librarians as the most inconceivably massive library that stands to this date, and also has the most impeccable quality of service. No librarian has ever considered themselves a librarian before setting foot in it’s hallowed halls, and checking into the small inn 5 shelves down on the right (for no less than a week). Nopony knows how it came to be so massive, not even the princesses themselves. Celestia just happened across a small wooden door in the side of the mountain one day. Inexplicably it was filled with books (in another language mind you, but there nonetheless). And each time anypony brought a new book in, it grew. The library now has of course has expanded well beyond the limits of the mountain, let alone the city limits. Celestia uses an interesting analogy of a rabbit hole to another dimension to explain the libraries mysterious properties. One can find this fine paper bound by string in a sealed glass case, surrounded by protective magic and a few magical traps in to boot; on the wall above the massive structure that is the check in/out counter.
Its also best to note that the head librarian is a diamond dog who was once a pony. Its a long story and he neither wishes to explain, or revert to his former identity. So as one learns more about the library, he/she will find that there are levels of depth to the library. Level one and two and three can be accessed by walking no less than ten minutes (to the end of level three that is, nice big numbers are painted on the sides of shelves as a friendly reminder). Levels four to five require a lamp to be able to read, no windows exist on a plane that cannot theoretically exist. Any level beyond seven require an experienced librarian and lots of lamp oil. And it is only with the head librarian that a pony can venture beyond level 89, plus food rations for two weeks including water, enough lamp oil to light canterlot for 5 minutes and a map. The map is of course completely arbitrary, but still ‘Sniff’ as they now call the head librarian, wishes to keep the privilege of thinking he knows where he’s going to himself.
Luna of course has never been further than level one hundred and twenty, when she required a book about how old Celestia might be (a bout of curiosity that took a month to satisfy*). Fortunately she only needed to delve into early level 1 for the Idiots guide to finding a good orphanage, and other various reference books. Sat down, and poured herself into the texts she had never had the time (or the mind) to ever read.
It was early the next morning of course that the deputy librarian Dusty Tomes, happened upon her in reading area number 4, asleep, surrounded by stacks of books. He of course first assumed it was Twilight visiting once again, but was surprised to find a tiara on the floor next to the stacks of books. Tentatively he began to shift through the books to find Luna fast asleep. To his surprise and his hearts, she sprung awoke. “Something is ahoof.” She said with conviction, grabbed the tiara from Tomes grip and galloped away. Leaving Dusty to clean up her mess. Not that he minded, but he should have probably left some of the more interesting books to somepony else.
“Don’t! …Touch!...The foal!” Luna shouted as she travelled at full speed towards her room, passing many confused ponies along the way. As she burst into her room, a sword is conjured and then pointed at the neck of the offending pony. With as much will as Night scope could muster she didn’t raise her hooves above her head. Instead channeled the instinct to her hind legs which shook uncontrollably. Then Luna slowly took away the maroon foal from her, sneering through the entire ordeal. Unfortunately for Night scope, Luna became too engrossed in comforting the foal to remember the sword-which-kept-coming-closer-to-her and she kept-backing-into-the-wall.
“Luna? Stop please?” Night scope pleaded. Only to be rewarded with a different turn of events (suiting the same purpose but slightly more jarring).
Celestia walked into the room, with no more expectation than her sister still fawning over the foal. What she encountered was somewhat akin to that, excluding the sword held at a very menacing angle directed at Night scopes neck. “LUNA @#$^$!(*) What in Fausts name are you doing!?!”
Luna turned to see what all the fuss was about, especially since her last name was used, but saw Celestia looking past her. Once again turning to see what all the fuss was about she almost shrieked, and quickly flung the sword out the balcony*. “Oh Faust! I’m so sorry Night scope! I just got so worked up! I promise it will never happen again!”
“I..It...Its o-okay princess. I..Think I shall go now...”
“Go home and rest Night scope.” Celestia told the shaking mare, Night scope could only manage a meager nod, almost indistinguishable from her shaking, and slowly but surely set down the corridor. “Now Luna. I suggest that you put the foal down immediately and write her a letter of apology.” Celestia more ordered than suggested.
“But sister-”
“NOW.” Which came out with a little more force.
“Yes sister...” Luna gave in. No arguing with her here. So Luna set the maroon foal down and brought her writing material over from her desk. She tentatively turned to eye her sister who just pointed at the paper. Well it looks like she’s not going to let this go. Thus pen hit paper, and for the next few minutes Luna tried her best to apologize, but she couldn’t explain why she needed to protect him so. Hopefully she understands my actions.
“Good. Now Luna, I can see that you’ve only made more of a connection to this foal. But if this is what’s going to happen every time some other pony tries to touch him, he’s going to have to go now.” Dread burst into Luna’s face.
“NO! I mean.. I thought I was going to be the one to find him a new home.” She quickly brought down her tone. Luna didn’t want to test Celestia. Her sister sighed.
“Yes... I did promise that. But he must have a home by tonight. Is that clear?” There was no compromising on this Luna knew. “Well as long as you understand this we will not have an issue. Now, i’m going for I have work to get to. Goodbye.” Luna watched her go. Then as soon as she saw that flowing mane disappear round the corner she hastily grabbed more parchment and wrote three more letters. Each to a very important pony, everything hung on their co-operation at this point.
Luna glanced at the maroon foal, grinned to herself, and put the finishing touches to the last parchment. Then she galloped out of the room (slowly on account of the foal but, with the same determination). She would she this maroon foal again, if it were the only thing she ever did again.
So as the world rushed passed by the little foals eyes, he saw his first memory unfold before him. Luna’s face, sure, determined.
Foot notes:
*The quest was of course inconclusive because the book had mysteriously disappeared, much to Celestia’s surprise.
* No, Celestia did not curse. She merely spoke Luna’s last name that cannot be pronounced in any language.
*Much to the surprise of Shining Armor as he made his morning rounds. Needless to say, he decided to cut his rounds short.
Authors notes:
Just so you know, whenever a * mark appears it means there's a footnote at the bottom of the chapter.
Oh and Thanks goes out to Ageis shield for inspiring this fic!