I sat, enamored with the large selection of books at my disposal. The Royal Library featured an even greater selection then when I had last visited it. Which, while being only yesterday, felt as if it was years ago. I sifted through the library, plucking books away until I had a sizable collection at my disposal. I found the assortment of books...comforting.
Books serve one purpose; to inform their users. They don’t judge based on past actions, nor do they limit you. Books are so much easier to deal with than ponies. They’re complex with the information they contain, yet straightforward when regarding intentions. A book does not tease your senses, nor mock your ability and experience.
A millennium ago the texts were better preserved and fewer in number. I had read through all of them then, and I planned to do the same now. I could feel it now, worlds colliding inside my mind as I soaked up opposing viewpoints on different subject matter. These glorious constructions would help me fit into the world and understand the subjects I had not known for a thousand years. Oh, how I longed to be able to make some sort of connection to them.
My relationship with my subjects has been...strained, to say the least. They do not openly shun me, but I can feel the fear and distrust radiate from them. They are wary of my presence in the kingdom. Sadly, it is not hard to imagine why.
Since my entrapment in the Moon stories have circulated of Nightmare Moon, a pony whose soul was as black as her mane, and whose very presence suggested impending disaster. An entire holiday had even been built up around fear of Nightmare Moon...fear of me.
Whenever I approached one of my subjects they would bow, not out of reverence, but out of trepidation of what I would do to them if they did not show deference. When I speak they cower with the force of my voice, shying away from me. I await the day my subjects gaze upon me with respect and love rather than fright and dubiety.
Regrettably, that day is not likely coming within the foreseeable future. While I do wish that I could befriend my subjects I still prefer the company of books. Books hold the knowledge of entire civilizations, record the power of mages of great ability, follow ponies of influence throughout their reign, all of it being knowledge that is at my beck and call. My goal is to read every book in this library, and since my return I have gotten halfway to that goal.
I added a few dozen novels atop of my pile, preparing to read throughout the Night. It was only about seventy or eighty novels so I would likely be able to finish by the next day.
While I was reading through a book entitled “Litigation’s Transfiguration Incantations” something out of the ordinary (at least for me) happened. A small white filly approached me with caution and the slightest hint of curiosity. She was not dressed in the garb of a royal messenger nor was she dressed in the “Junior Officer” honorary guard armor. She had a book clutched close to her that wore the title of “Nightmare Moon: A Categorized List.” How exactly do you categorize a living being into a list?
“Princess L-Lu-Luna?” She spoke rather tacitly.
“What would you require of me?” This was, surprisingly, the first time anypony had approached.
“I have a question for you, Princess Luna...” Her confidence seemed to gain some momentum when she realized I wasn’t going to strike at her.
“Please, speak your mind.”
She hesitated a moment, obviously piecing together a way in which to coherently and concisely present her question. Finally she asked, “What was it like?”
I had an inkling as to what she was asking but I wanted to build her confidence, as to convince her that I was not a threat. Perhaps, if I was fortunate, I could befriend somepony today. “I do not think I am quite positive what you mean. Could you, my loyal subject, please elaborate?” She drew back a bit, frightened by the power of my speech. It would probably prove best to lower my volume a bit. I had shed the use of the “Royal We” after a short time, but volume was still an aspect of my speech that I had trouble commanding.
The young filly pulled herself together and rather nervously said, “I want to know what it was like to be Nightmare Moon. I want to know what it was like to be trapped in the Moon for so long. I want to know what happened that made you Nightmare Moon. I want to know how you escaped the Moon.” She grew more confident as she went along until finally she was able to meet my stare. And by meet my stare I mean that her eyes happened to lock with mine at which point she nervously looked away.
“Why would one so young as yourself care?”
“I just love history...and the truth.” She said, adding on the last bit after a moment of hesitation.
If my endeavors to make peace with Equestria failed would it really matter if one pony knew the truth behind my dark past? The question itself was simple enough, however the answer was long and rather vexing.
“Time is needed to form a coherent answer to your question, my dear- I am quite sorry, but I do not know your name, young pony.” I said.
“My name is Rainfall, your majesty.”
“Indeed. Well, Rainfall, you shall meet me here at dusk tomorrow so that I have time to form a response to your question. I bid you a good evening, young Rainfall.” I said.
“Goodbye your majesty, and I hope you have a great day- I mean Night!” Rainfall then proceeded to dash away tripping in the process. Her lexicon of Nightmare Moon flew out of her hands and hid the ground with a sharp thud.
I helped her to her feet and levitated the novel back into her arms. “Now then; I have much work I must proceed to do, so please do excuse me.” I received a polite bow in return.
___
I stood there raising the Moon, turning it ever so slightly, giving the illusion of a crescent. I had lavished the sky with different shades of blue, indigo, black, purple, and so much more. They all blended together so seamlessly, accentuating the Moon and the beauty that was the heavenly bodies. As for the stars, I threw them every which-way creating constellations and left and right. Some seemed to fade away while others smoldered and glowed so bright and elegantly. The sheer beauty of the Night was lost on Equestria, though.
Even after the Nightmare Moon fiasco I still felt under-appreciated. My sister did her best to make me feel wanted, but I knew the truth. Ponies basked in the warmth of the sun and slept through the Night; a tapestry of eternal glory that was unfairly ignored. These are feelings I have tried to repress, as they have led to trouble in the past, but it seems there is a follicle of truth in my jealousies.
I had been contemplating the young filly’s question and how I could best answer it. The story itself would be easy to recount. I had had a millennium to think over the tale. Most of the books on the subject of Nightmare Moon are made up of fairy tales and legends anyway, so it would be good to inform at least one pony of the truth.
As the Night dragged on I began to think more and more of the young filly. She was not of nobility so who was she and I why was she so curious about my past? No other pony had ever shown any type of interest in me, so why now? She may have just been an aspiring historian, or perhaps, something much darker was at work here.
Either way, I still did not trust her. I was not one prone to trust others. At heart I was a conspiracy theorist, always on the look out for schemes and plots that threatened the delicate balance of things. Of course, the only reason for that was because I was also a conspirator, and thus, knew the tricks of the trade.
___
I awaited on the top floor of the library skimming through the vast array of literature, working upon my abacus, trying to divulge the secrets encased in the leather bindings before me. I never used my telekinetic abilities when reading, to do so would be to deprive myself of being able to feel the cool, leather-bound cover. When a book was left in my hooves I could feel and hear the crackle of each turning page, I could smell the high as it rose off the pages.
I broke myself away from my reading when I saw the young filly, Rainfall, galloping towards me. As she got closer to me she slowed her pace and became a bit more weary of were each hoof landed. I suppose one feeble conversation is not enough to blast away years of dark legends and fairy tales. It would have to be a slow process, similar to erosion, if I was to claim a friend. Once she reached me she takes a very deep bow, although she has her eyes on me the entire time. Even with her fears she seemed to show genuine excitement at the prospect of learning.
“Princess Luna, I’m ready to learn about the past.” said Rainfall. My bad, I thought you were here to go treasure-hunting.
“Is that so? I must warn you not everything in those books of yours are accurate Miss. Rainfall.”
“Really?” She asked with an inquisitive tone. “Well that’s weird, why wouldn’t Princess Celestia keep the books historically accurate?”
“My sister is quite busy. She hasn’t had me around the last thousand years to raise the Moon. It’s quite stressful to manage Equestria and nature.” My reply came out in a steady tone, but in truth I did not believe a word of it. Personally, I thought that she had filtered certain details out of the records to ensure I was not ostracized upon my return to Equestria. It went swimmingly, considering that my subjects avoided me as much as possible.
“Okie-dokie then. So can you tell me about your history now, Princess Luna?”
“Why yes, of course I can.” I coughed, preparing to begin the tale I had thought over the previous Night. “It was over a millennium ago here on Equestria. I was a young pony at the time, perhaps having aged a century or so, and my sister and I had just defeated Discord using our combined power. I was left to guard him while my sister researched a way to permanently seal him away...”
___
I sat in the dank cellar, guarding the foul beast that had ailed our fair land for so long. He was trapped. My sister and I had placed him in a forcefield; something that could be used to hold him while Celestia tried to find where the Elements of Harmony were hidden. Discord had hidden them away from Celestia and I, even made a riddle of where it was.
Instead of both of us playing around with him like foals, my sister and I combined our magic and subdued him temporarily. We used our combined energy to create a forcefield to hold him. It would not have last long, however. Celestia had to solve Discords’ riddle, and she had to do it fast.
Discord, a behemoth of a chimera that threatened harmony itself. He was a chaotic and treacherous being that took the form of a Draconqeuus. Discord merely took the form he thought best represented chaos. He was a spirit, a drifting entity that was from a metaphysical reality. The creation of the Draconqeuus allowed for him to exist in the realm of Equestria using a body he found suitable.
However, how he came to be and why he existed did not matter, he was threat. A grand manipulator who brought entire cities to their knees with just a word. Yet, with the snap of his fingers he could produce the same result with magic. His actions were always so random, so asinine. He was like a foal playing a game.
At the same time he was a genius. His games were always so complex and twisted that it made one wonder what went on in Discord’s head. Of course, that was probably the point wasn’t it?
Celestia told me not to interact with him or risk being twisted around his finger like a string. I did not plan on letting him deceive me, though. I did not truly believe he could. He sat in his cell quiet, and calm. It was strange. When we had first put the spell on him he was enraged. It took all of Celestia’s strength to keep him pinned while I casted the spell. It wouldn't even last.
“You know your just as important as her, right?” So the Draconqeuus could speak after all. I decided it would be best to ignore him.
I sat there in silence, with my eyes focused on Discord. His gaze met mine momentarily. It was disturbing to say the least. I have seen rage, I have seen happiness, I have even seen insanity, but what I saw in his hypnotic sight was something new, something that should be feared. The only word that I could think to use to even come close to describing what I saw within those disproportioned eyes was anarchy. Untainted anarchy. And as loathe as I am to admit this, it was not horrible, there was a peculiar elegance to that chaos.
My reverie was broken when he spoke. “You don’t have to sit in Celestia’s shadow.” Even stuck in his gaze I was able to scoff at the idea.
“In her shadow? Hardly. I am her equal, we rule together. I watch the Night and she watches the day.” I had little faith in my words. Our subjects rejoiced in the warmth of her sunlight and receded into their homes when I brought out the impassioned splendor that is the Night.
“Ha ha ha! That’s a laugh! Equals!?! P-a-lease Princess Luna, do not, and I mean do not, insult me! You’re her shadow, quite literally.” As he was speaking he conjured large bowl full of cotton candy. He proceeded to pick out the candy and eat the bowl instead. “I love the Night personally. Why I would bring it about every... well every Night! Or every day just to shake things up. I wonder why Celestia can’t appreciate it like you and me?”
“Your attempts at trickery shall not work. We are well aware of your methods. Sister only wishes the best for us.” I knew what Discord was doing, even then, but I could not keep the seed of doubt from growing.
___
“Hold on a second Princess Luna,” Rainfall interjected while I was speaking.
“Why have I been interrupted!?!” I boomed rather loudly. I have always hated being interrupted.
Rainfall shrank back and asked in an almost inaudible voice, “If you knew he was trying to trick you then why were you jealous?”
Her question was a valid one, and one I had anticipated. I sat back down, calm and serene once again. “These feelings of jealousy had always been within me. Discord’s comments just brought them to light I suppose. Nothing, not even Discord, can control who we are; rather he or she just influences the feelings we have bottled up. Our bones could be ground to dust. That does not mean that our mind has been, though. No, all decisions made are our own. And my decision was to be jealous. Now then, let us get back to the tale at hand.”
The young filly gave me an attentive stare and crossed her hooves in anticipation. It certainly had not taken long for her to forget that I was a monster.
___
Discord continued to chatter away aimlessly, but I ignored his ramblings. I did not want him to burrow any further into my skull than he already had. I bided my time waiting for Celestia to appear and save the day. All I felt was contempt at the thought of it. Big, strong Celestia had to come help her poor, helpless little Luna. I seethed with anger, anger that I now see was unfounded.
Celestia arrived during the evening bearing the Elements of Harmony. Apparently they were hidden inside of her mane the entire time. Discord sat in his cell very quiet. Than he began to laugh, at first quietly, but it grew into a loud booming laughter that echoed in the marble halls of the castle. It was...discomforting to say the least.
“Why do you laugh, devil? You have lost.” Celestia said in a steady voiced that echoed her confidence.
“My dearest Celestia, why wouldn’t I laugh? I have already planted the seed of chaos and soon it will grow.” Discord gave a twisted smile, as if he found the thought of an eternal prison humorous.
“This spell shall imprison you in stone permanently!” Celestia was not about to play into Discord’s game. “Come sister, let us rid the world of this trickster!”
I stood by my sister’s side ready to support her while she performed the preparations. A glowing aura began to surround us as our combined strength built upon itself. Soon a large orb of light enshrouded the dark dungeon. As our magic became stronger and stronger Discord began to speak.
“I sure do hate the word permanently. It’s such a serious word; and a boring one too. When I come back, and believe me when I say “I will come back”, I think I’ll get rid of that word. Replace it with another one. Maybe something with a ‘k’ sound. Oh, now you two have me planning, I hate planning, it’s so... un-chaotic. One more thing before I depart, and this is a message to you Miss. Night. Memento Luna, remember the Moon.”
With that final word Discord morphed into stone.
___
“Wow, that wasn’t in any of the books...” Rainfall said.
“Celestia was too focused on the Elements to hear anything Discord said. At the time I didn’t consider it important enough to tell anypony. And now nopony trusts me enough to listen. It's almost ironic”
“Oh, yeah, sorry Princess Luna.” Rainfall was bearing the apologies of all ponies not just herself in that statement. It was a sweet sentiment.
“Tis’ nothing. Let us continue this another time. I have grown weary of my voice and wish to finish this fine assortment of literature.”
“Yeah, of course, Princess. Goodbye. And goodnight.” She took a deep bow, her eyes steadily watching mine, and trotted away. I would not call her a friend, but it seemed her fear of me was beginning to be replaced by curiosity. And curiosity was good. Very good.