//------------------------------// // A New Type of Canvas // Story: Remember the Moon // by Leviathan //------------------------------// ___ A harsh wind echoed in the distance. “Princess Luna!!! Where are you hiding, darling? We could have so much fun if you just revealed yourself to me!” The voice of Paradise sounded depraved and mad. I held my breath for a moment. The spirit was unaware as to the location of Rainfall and I, but that would not last long. It sounded like it had been drawing closer when it had spoke. If we could somehow manage to stay concealed long enough, my sister might become suspicious as to my whereabouts. That would take too long though. I quite regret asking the guard to inform my sister of what would appear to be a scheduled absence. So once again, I am alone. No one would be able to come help me. I would be stuck in this forest, accompanied by a deranged spirit. How delightful. No, I could not get bogged down by the problem. I had to think of a solution. We cannot exit the cave. An action of such a nature would leave Rainfall and I exposed. I could not battle the spirit head-on, as that would leave Rainfall unprotected. Unless of course Rainfall was able to fight as well. No, I could not ask one so young to help me undertake a feat so great. I could transport a message straight to the castle, but that kind of magic could be easily traced. And it was likely that Paradise had surrounded the forestland with some sort of shield. What, then, could I do... “Princess Luna?” Rainfall lifted her head up to look me in the eye. “Yes my dear?” I kept my voice calm and under control. After all, there was no point in provoking unnecessary anxiety in my companion. “I know that there aren’t a lot of things we can do...I can see that. You can leave, you know. You can survive. You don’t have to keep protecting me.” There was no sorrow in her voice. Just the sound of somber acceptance. The sound of a true friend, I suppose. A friend that I will protect. “No, my dear Rainfall, you are incorrect. There is a reason Equestria has survived for so long. We have thrived off of plentiful resources, skilled ponies and pegasi, magic, knowledge, weather manipulation, and stable government, true enough, but everything comes back to one simple quality. Harmony. It takes so many forms, friendship, love, respect, leadership, loyalty, honesty, kindness, bravery, generosity, laughter, magic, faith, family, guidance, peace, and so much more. Abandoning you now would be to stomp upon that which has made us great. Such a travesty would be an unacceptable portrayal of not only myself, but of the whole of Equestria.” As I spoke my mind thought of the conversation I’d had so many years ago with Luzear. My words now were not so dissimilar to his. It seems that the old rapscallion left quite the impression. Rainfall stared up into my eyes and nodded. She was skinny and her body bore marks of severe negligence, but her eyes burned with a passion. I saw something ignite within her soul right then. A resolve sprung from within her, one that had seemed non-existent earlier. “I’m ready then, Princess.” I smiled, happy to see this little pony express a bit of spirit. “That is excellent news. We can only bide our time at the moment, however. Perhaps I should just continue with my story?” The young pony seemed rather confused that I would want to continue with my story rather than dealing with the threat at hoof. I did not want to tell her that I had no plan at hoof. That would only serve to impair the situation further. Instead the best option (at least from my view) would be to continue the story and craft a plan as I went along. “But that...thing...is out there... That’s kind-of important...” “I wonder how that being came to be? It seemed to be rather familiar with you? You wouldn’t know anything about it’s origins would you Rainfall?” I immediately regretted my manipulation when I saw the hurt expression on Rainfall. It seemed my social ineptitude had struck again. I tend to lash out when under pressure. However, this feeling was not fueled entirely by such petty emotions. I also had a nagging suspicion that Rainfall knew something of this predicament. Perhaps I could extract the information from her with a more tactful method. She cringed at the implication. The expression of confusion instantly replaced by that of a trapped animal. “I-I-I just can’t say right now Princess... I just can’t... I don’t have the words to describe it...” A tear dribbled down her cheek and the sheer amount of sorrow in her voice foreshadowed a deluge of anguish that could probably flood Paradise Grove. “Nothing can truly stay hidden. The past is a lesson we have to embrace in order to create a thriving future. Concealing the truth, no matter how agonizing it is, can only cause more suffering.” My mind diverged once again, thinking over how to get out of this situation. Rainfall bit her lip. “How about you finish your story first? Like you said you would.” I had to let out a sigh. She was quite bright. My manipulative traps are usually complex enough to fool most ponies. I suppose that Rainfall just needed time. Which, inconveniently, was the one thing I was not privileged to. “Yes...the story. So as I was saying before...” ___ I sighed and simply accepted what had come to me. If I had to be trapped within a responsive being capable of thought, communication, and magic I would want it to be a library. Perhaps I could even find a way out. Perhaps I could learn how to escape from my captor through a gift from my captor. How dramatic that would be! “Library of the Night, please bring forth your selection of magical literature.” The library responded. The shelves once again spun around. In a matter of moments I was faced with an entirely different section of novels. It still seemed impossible. I scanned the titles of each novel and saw many I was not familiar with. Which is surprising since I had read through the entire Royal Library forty-six over. Some of the novels themselves were unique one-of-kind books such as diaries. Diaries from necromancers and such that would only be found in the Private Archives. Yet, somehow, this place had a copy. The vast selection was quite unique. While some of the titles may have been unknown to me the authors were not. There were quite a few novels that claimed to be published by the ponies of legend. I was astonished to say the least. I flipped up book after book, collecting a vast array. I was ravenous. I had already seen, first-hand, the abilities of this library and I had no reason to doubt that it’s sources were valid. I levitated a stack of twenty to thirty books to the small rounded table and deposited myself onto the flooring. I opened the first book which was entitled, “Sky Manipulators.” The binding was thick and the crackling leather spoke of the age of the work. I turned the page and began to read. It was approximately an hour before I had divested the stack of all of its intelligence. Oh, and the knowledge it beheld was simply magnificent. According to the book, I could do more than simply raise the Night. I could control it. I could choose what it’s appearance would take and other such things. I could create constellations, not just move them around. This astonished me to say the least. There had been powerful groups of ponies before Celestia and I who had been able to raise and lower the Sun and Moon, mainly because they had to. As far as any historic expertise was concerned, though, it would be impossible to choose what shape the Sun and Moon or what pattern the Night and Day took. The novel claimed that there was a simple process for alicorns of my power to imprint a manifesto of ourselves onto the Night sky. It gave an instruction guide that would have scared most unicorns. I even memorized the list. -Before you even begin this process, detach yourself from your surroundings. Clear your mind of any thoughts that may become a hinderance to this meditational magic. -Now that you have cleared your mind, imagine. Yes, just imagine. Dream of flowing streaks of color waving through the atmosphere. Conjure beautiful nebulae to fill the darkening void. Invent majesty to inhabit majesty. Now then, use ctrl+s to save your imaginings. -With your mind cleared and your imagination saved you are now ready to begin. Harness your magic and let it circulate throughout your body. It should be similar to water trickling down a stream. -Now begin the traditional ritual of raising the Day or Night. -Release your stored energy in a steady current of 44.4256 decibels MP. -Allow your body to absorb the exchange of radiation between the atmosphere and your magic. Lock off the excess energy once the radiation levels have reached that of 12.5 MP. -Contain all the excess energy now. If you’re unable to contain it you will die. Do not attempt this step unless you are highly aware of your own abilities and limits. This step is integral to the entire spell and non-avoidable. Be prepared. -Next, unleash the fantasies of previous steps upon the night sky. As you imagine the images you pictured earlier, slowly release your stored energy at a pace of 6.25 decibels MP. The sky should now look as you pictured it. Unless you died. If you died, there is a chance you caused a slight case of magma rain. I loved the idea of it. Being able to not only raise and see the Night sky, but also be able to construct it would be divine. I could, quite literally, impress my personality upon the stars! I could even share this book with Celestia! Then my mind snapped back to the harsh realm of reality. Celestia... The last words we had shared between one another were those of hatred and bitterness. Guilt hit me hard, and the salty tang of sadness filled my throat. I could feel my heart beginning to split at the mere thought of being away from Celestia. I had been quite foalish hadn’t I? We had spent our whole lives together. We had not had a mother, nor a father to grace our lives. All we had had throughout the years was each other. She had always been there for me, and I likewise. Now I was trapped within a...thing...unable to contact her. I wonder how long before she finally began to worry about me? Probably not long, she had always been very forgiving and very concerned with the well-being of others. Perhaps I should be more forgiving like her... My thoughts were interrupted by a dull thud behind me. I looked over to see a book splayed upon the hardwood floor, dust burgeoning from it’s edges. One glance at the cover and curiosity took over. I attempted to use magic to levitate the work towards me, but the book remained unmoved. I loosed a sigh. Apparently the Library of the Night was still against me wielding magic. I walked over to the novel and picked it up with my hooves. I was not used to doing things the earth-pony way, so my grip on the literature was loose and amateurish. I brought the novel into the light. “Spells of the Ages” I read the title aloud. The indentation where the author’s name should have rested was blank. The spine bore no marks or indications that there was a publisher. In-fact the entire novel appeared to be hand-crafted. It was simple leather, with an ancient papyrus paper that held together quite well. Turning the object over revealed little else. The back of the book was leather. It was blank. Nothing much there. The grade of leather used was rather atypical, though. It was worn and beyond old, yet it held so firmly. That may just because of how protective the Library of the Night appears to be of it’s novels. Besides that, though, there was some kind of power resonating from the book. It was a mystifying force. It was subtle and quaint, easy for me to accidentally overlook at first, but once my eyes locked onto it I was hooked. It seemed to give off some kind of aroma that just drew me inwards; this aroma was different to that of a freshly opened novel. No this scent was different, it was superior. I brought the novel to the table. I placed it down on the wooden surface and tried to flip the page with magic. As if by some sick command, a nasty current passed through the tip of my horn and down the length of my body. I quivered as I felt it pass through my mane, singing my form with tiny bristles of pain. I checked my form for any damage. There appeared to be nothing visibly wrong with me. all of my ribs were intact, my horn was free of cracks, my veins were not erupting out of body. Everything was in order there. So what had happened? What had that sensation been? Could the book have caused it? I looked down at the weathered volume lain in-front of me. I touched it with a hoof and attempted another spell. Again the same shockwave vibrated throughout my body. This one held much more severity, however, and knocked me to the ground. I looked up, Dazed and Confused. This book obviously did not react well with foreign magic. Not that I would have been able to use it anyways considering that the library would not even allow me a simple levitation spell. I placed a tentative hoof forward, hoped that magic was the reason I was getting burned, and prepared for another burn to consume me. My confidence grew proportionally as my hoof edged closer, and I became a bit overconfident. I held a triumphant hoof on the volume for a few seconds before- Another shock ripped through me. “Ouch! You are a rather obstinate book, aren’t you?” As I finished my thoughts a small parchment landed on my snout. A solid sneeze caused it to float off of my nose and fix itself on the ground. I looked down upon the scroll and read the contents. Dear Luna, Perhaps you should ask one’s permission before trying to take that which does not belong to you... Yours eternally, The Library of the Night “You may imprison me here, but do not mock me!” If I was to be trapped within this place I would be so with my dignity. Then I noticed the small P.S. note at the bottom of the scroll. P.S.- Does not everything wished to be respected? Do you not wish for the respect of your subjects? Do you not wish for the respect of your sister? Then give out that which you wish to receive. I frowned. It was hard to believe that a book was alive, let alone that it strived for respect. Of course, I was in a magical library that was able to think, communicate, inhibit magic, and house impossible literature, so maybe, just maybe, I could extend the boundaries of reason and logic a little. “Excuse me, Spells of the Ages? Would you please allow me to access the information you hold so closely?” It took all of my willpower not to roll my eyes, but I managed to remain calm and await an answer(If one came). The book flipped open. I edged forward to read the contents of the page, but the moment I neared the novel it snapped shut. I blinked away dust and stared at the weathered leather. I ground my teeth together and asked through gritted teeth, “Pretty please???” The book once again flipped open. “Thank you, thank you very much.” I looked at the contents of the page. The folio that looked back up at me documented a spell entitled, “Nocte Aeterni.” I brushed through the pages quickly, reading, preparing, empowering my mind. I sat there for hours soaking up the wisdom contained within the literature housed in the “Magic” section of the Library of the Night. My worry for my well-being had been replaced by a lust for knowledge. A lust for knowledge that would grant me that which had eluded me for so, very, very, long. Support. Whether it be in the form of love, respect, discipline, humility, submission, I did not care. I just wanted the world to know me. It is strange how forgetful we are, is it not? At some point in time, I don’t quite recall when, another note appeared before me. Dear Luna, It is getting rather late. Perhaps you should exit and tend to the world. You’ve learned quite a bit from me this past night haven’t you? We should do this again quite soon. If you would be so kind as to twirl around you will see that your exit has reappeared. Yours Eternally, The Library of the Night I turned around slowly. Sure enough, the black door had dissipated and been replaced with a small wooden frame. I walked towards it and pushed open. It slid open with a loud creak that resounded throughout the impossible hallway. I walked towards a distant light and found myself right where it all began; I stood, erect, in a moonlit room. I looked upon the sky. It appeared to be nearing evening. On the verge of twilight, even. It was time for me to raise the Moon. I left my room casually, hoping that my absence had not been noted. I was in luck, the stallions who defended my room did not even glance at me as I walked by. So it could not have been more than a day since I had last seen my sister. I headed off towards the balcony from which my sister and I usually raised and lowered the Sun and the Moon, respectively. I walked onto the balcony to see that I was alone. I glanced around, trying to locate any signs of a recent presence. My gaze locked onto a note that was tacked onto one of the enclosing walls. Luna, I apologize for my harsh words earlier. It was unfair of me to say such things, but you must understand the position I am in. Since Discord has been overthrown it has been rather difficult helping Equestria recover. Know that if I lashed out at you it was not due to any true feelings, merely shadows of my darker side. Anyways, I will be absent from Canterlot for three days. Happenings have occurred that have forced me into a position where I must check-up on certain aspects of the kingdom. You will have to tend to Canterlot and the skies during said absence... I truly am sorry, Luna. Love, Celestia I simply stared at the note for a few moments. This was an interesting turn of events. For three days I would be free to test out the spells I had learned in the Library of the Night. Free to test them without anypony getting in my way. I had time to work out a schedule, even. Good. I cleared my mind of all distractions. I concentrated my magic into my horn and let it flow in a continuous stream throughout my body. I relaxed further and intertwined my magic with that of the Moon’s. As more and more of its vitality poured into me I prepared myself to entrap it. As soon as I felt the radiation levels of conflicting magic peak I spread out my dark tendrils and created a net in order to contain and restrain the energy. Then I let my imagination run free. I could create constellations of dragons, mares, wizards, lizards, and nebulae of color and shape, asteroids of size and durability, stars of brightness and wonderment, I brushed cool blues across the canvas. I created all of it. I added all of it to that which was already there. I contributed to the beauty that is Night. Its immense and immeasurable beauty was within my grasp. I could mold it to fit any constraint I wished! But why restrain it? I released absolutely everything that Night. My entire soul was poured onto my dark canvas. I blended shades of azure, blue, black, violet, white, and even faint red into a conglomerate that would set the stage for my next stroke. I placed shot clouds of dust and gas in every direction, swirling them all into one central point. Some have taken to calling these nebulae. Then, I threw in some roughage. I hurled comets of unparalleled proportions through the air, watching as they cast bits of light here and there. Next, the stars. Stars are simply sensational, are they not? I gently placed them in respected spaces throughout the sky, creating constellations and guiding lights. Their brilliant twinkle is always able to transcend the foreign side of the Moon and nestle into my heart. I took care to form one constellation in particular. One I did not want to disappear. One I would not, and will not, let disappear. I place its bits at strategized points so that everyone within view of the Night can see it. A symbol of hope and truth in a world filled with despair and ambiguity. A picture of a dragon, encased in a crystal shell. I place that constellation more for myself than anypony else. A way to reassure myself that he is, indeed, watching over me. The wonder of it all! Freedom. So much freedom. Control of color, control of shade, control of shape, freedom to exercise my will, so much power was placed before me. My jurisdiction was literally touching the stars. Those stars, those lights in the sky, those heavenly bodies that seem so immeasurably vast and important, were at my hooves. And I loved every moment of it. I sat proud of my accomplishment, proud of what I had made. I flew up to the tallest tower of the castle and perched there watching Canterlot. I watched my city and my citizens. I watched the way they live. I watched the way they handle themselves. I stared around myself. Nopony has even acknowledged the break of Nightfall, let alone appreciated its beauty. They all just trotted along unaware of the effort I had exerted. They ignored my beautiful Night. They ignored me. They did not respect me. They did not care for me. To them I was merely there. A tolerated presence at best. They wander about and chat with each other, all of them unaware to that which is going on around them. The rich idly walk by the less fortunate, with their noses turned upwards. They haughtily speak of matters which hold no relevance. They laugh at the anguish of those around them. All of them claim to want to help their fellow pony yet they refuse to dirty their hooves in the process. They are scum. True scum. The beggars and the poverty-stricken lay about unwilling to help themselves. They look around and blame everything but themselves. I see some try to back others into corners and divest them of their belongings. Others sit on the street corners, hustling those who walk by, wearing false smirks. They are scum. I cringe in disgust at their blatant disregard for their fellow pony. It was not right. I would not allow them all to be so cruel and unjust to each other. Equestria was based on better values than that. Far better values. Values Luzear said we had been based on. I flew back down to my balcony and headed back into the castle. I would force these ponies to notice the Night. I would force them to see me. I would force them to respect me. I would force them to love me. More importantly though, I would force them to account for themselves. I would make them judge the way in which they live. I would make make them account for their dishonorable and repulsive actions. Equestria would be a land that I could be proud of. A land that my sister could be proud of. The land which Luzear had described. With these thoughts in mind I headed towards my room and the Library of the Night, determined to find an answer within the enigmatic texts. Something snapped within me that day, and I was left an empty shell of what I had once been. The flourishing seed of darkness which had inhabited me now owned me. I was on a mission to control Equestria. To make it ‘better.’ I barged into my room and through the mirror, heading steadily towards the black door. The wooden was that which lay before, though. It put up no resistance and let me through instantly. It was there that I began to plot. I would sit there, in my library, researching a solution to a problem that only I had perceived. I looked through novel after novel trying to find something, anything that could help the situation. Nothing yielded the results I sought and I began to lose hope. What would happen to Equestria if I could not protect it from itself? After hours of endless searching exhaustion took a firm hold on me. I collapsed to the ground, sobbing. What could I do? What could I do to protect Equestria? What could I do to protect this sacred and virtuous land from those who wished to harm it? What could I do to preserve that which Luzear claimed Equestria to be? A scroll drifted onto my nose. I wiped the tears away from my cheeks to look at it. Dear Luna, Do not cry my dear, the solution to your problem is quite simple really. You have shown you can control the Night sky, so why not exercise that same control over the rest of Equestria? Use your power, use my knowledge. Domineer control of Equestria and make its aesthetic beauty known to the world. We could brighten this shining land. Your friend’s dying words claimed that Equestria was unique and special, and now you can prove those blessed words correct. Study the vast array of literature that is shown before you. Be my ally, my friend! We could do so much together. If you stay here under my tutelage I can promise that which nothing else offers: success and love. My many subjects bear the wisdom of bygone centuries, and they are more than willing to listen to you, Luna. They hold secrets which were locked away, secrets locked away by ponies who feared change. So then, my dear Princess of the Night, what say you? Do you want to leave your mark on history? Do you want Equestria to live on? Do you want your crystalline mentor to live on? Then hear me now. Let the glory and elegance of Equestria shine upon the world. Illuminate this land on the background of your Night! Do not let the ponies here forget you! You who brings salvation in the form of Night! Yours Eternally, The Library of the Night I lifted myself up from the ground. “Library of the Night. I am ready. I shall study that which you offer and I shall make bring Equestria to even greater heights!” I pulled novel after novel off the shelve, levitating them towards the small round table. I sat at the desk and opened the first of many... For thirty years I studied in the library diligently, ignoring many of the duties that befell me. The only times I made my presence known to Equestria was during ceremonies and the raising and lowering of the Moon. Besides that I was a recluse. A dedicated recluse, but a recluse. My sister worried for my well-being and often tried to communicate with me, but I never discussed anything with her. My mind was determined upon one goal: giving a brighter future to Equestria. I studied everything from black magic to history in the library, never once stopping to think. I learned so many spells and incantations that had been lost for centuries. The banks of knowledge I absorbed strengthened me in the physical sense, but left me unstable in my mental capacities. Throughout this time my only true companions were the Night sky and the Library of the Night. No pony in Equestria knew of my intentions. No pony knew that I was planning on ‘saving’ Equestria. After so much time, though, I became ready. I gathered my intellect and my powers and came up with a plan that would ensure ‘peace’ and ‘harmony.’ ___