I sat with my princess at a small mosaic table. Before us sat sunflower cakes and orange slices. The irony was not lost on me, but I ate anyway. I needed my strength. It was a couple of hours past midnight and already I was tired. Heart Charmer had awakened me early in the morning for the last part of our journey, and I was not adjusted to my typical night-schedule.
The princess seemed only to nibble at her food, as though she was simply putting on a show of eating for my benefit. I studied her. Earlier she had looked just as she had in the glory days, before Nightmare Moon and the struggle against Celestia. Now, however, she looked gaunt, her deep blue complexion paler than what I remembered. I finished my sunflower cake and broke the silence.
“Your Highness, I would ask of thee what duties I am to maintain as thy Companion.”
Princess Luna stopped her pretense of eating and regarded me from across the table. Her eyes, as always, were unfathomable. “I must confess, Sir Cloud Twist, I am uncertain of the fullness of thy duties as yet. T’will not be as thy previous station of captain, of that thou can rest assured.”
I tried to contain my confusion. My princess had given me a position without being fully aware of the duties it required? Even though I had agreed to it, I had no real concept of what being her ‘Companion’ truly meant. “I surmised this station would be unlike that of a captain,” I offered cautiously. That was true, at least.
Luna sighed and rose, walking over to the open balcony overlooking Canterlot. “Thou art the only pony, save my sister, who was part of my life from before, Sir Cloud Twist. All others are gone, passed from this life many years ago. I would have somepony to share my thoughts with.
“The relationship between my dear sister and I is newly reformed. She already blames herself wholly for mine exile. I have no wish to burden her further with my continued struggle. Nor do I wish to allow that dark spirit to overtake me again.”
“BLAMES HERSELF? AND WELL SHOULD SHE FOR HER HEINOUS ACTIONS AGAINST THEE!” The words burst from me before I could stop them. The anger I had felt before my self-imposed banishment roared through me and I found myself on my hooves with my wings spread open wide.
Princess Luna turned from the window to look at me, startled by my outburst. “Dost thou feel this way, truly?” she asked me, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Aye, my princess. T’was HER actions that forced thy response. Her negligence, her tyrannical rule over that which was meant to be shared. All who were loyal to thee could see that thou wert coerced to react as thou didst.” I stomped a hoof against the hard marble floor.
Princess Luna stood still, her eyes locked on mine. Then, before my eyes, she seemed to wilt. As she sank down to her knees, her beautiful nimbus hair seemed to solidify and hang lankly around her, taking on a pale blue color. Her wings were drawn tightly against her sides with her head hanging low, and she began to cry with deep shuddering sobs.
In an instant I was beside her, my anger forgotten. I wrapped a wing around her protectively, soothingly I hoped. This was not the reaction I was expecting. Awkwardly I tried to soothe her, uncertain as to the protocol for such a thing. “Shh, shhh. I am here, my princess. Whatever thou wish, I will do, be it in my power. I serve no other. Shh, there, there.”
I rubbed my front hoof against hers in a comforting gesture. Should I nuzzle her? Ordinarily that would be acceptable behavior in situations like this. Quickly, I dismissed the thought. Certainly that would not be appropriate for Her Royal Highness. Instead, I rubbed my hoof against her foreleg again and held my wing around her until her sobbing finally came to a stop.
She looked up at me, the pale blue hair softly curling around her face. It seemed odd to me, yet I felt it made her more approachable. More down to earth. The thought made me angry. That something would upset my princess so to bring her down to this level. Her hair should never be thus, if that was what it signified. Unable to help myself, I wiped away her tears with the tips of my other wing. Abruptly, she looked away from me.
“T’was only my fault, Cloud,” her voice was low. I sucked in my breath. She had never called me by anything other than Sir Cloud Twist before. She continued, “I was jealous, and lonely, and bitter. I let those feelings overcome me. I thought I would force my sister to see things as I didst, and in turn force the ponies of Equestria to see as well. All I desired was for them to see.
“But then the dark spirit took me, and I was no longer able to control myself. As though my consciousness was shifted away and my body overtaken.”
Princess Luna trembled beneath my wing. I shifted closer to her until the tremor subsided. “Were I to give into my fears once more, I know the dark spirit will take me again. I fear that my sister will not be able to contain me again and might be forced to destroy me next time. Or worse, that I wouldst destroy her. This must not come to pass.”
I nodded to her, trying to readjust my thinking. This was not what I had expected to hear. Certainly, I knew parts of it. But overtaken? Was that where the term Nightmare Moon had come from? Was this the reason they called her that?
Princess Luna began to rise and I quickly pulled my wing back. She smiled at me wanly before shaking her head. As she did so, her hair took on its normal color and form, a nebulous aura around her. I found myself at a loss for words.
“I need to make my rounds again. There have been stirrings my sister and I must keep watch on. Then it will be time for the moon to set and the sun to rise. Thou shouldst get some rest. Spells of the nature thou hast been under take much energy, even from the spell’s target. We will talk more anon. Thou shalt reside in the chambers across from my own. Shield Wright will see thee there.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” I bowed to her.
She stepped onto the balcony before turning to me once again. “Sir Cloud Twist?”
“My princess?”
“T’was not I who ordered thee against my sister’s forces.” With that, she stepped off the balcony, swooping down before pulling up and flying into the night sky.