The Grand Galloping Gambit

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As Twilight shared a solemn moment with her sleeping love, a dark presence observed them from afar. Deep azure eyes pierced the darkness, glaring begrudgingly at the two from across the castle. The dark form continued to survey the two for a short time, its seed of hatred growing within. Princess Luna eventually grew weary of watching and slunk back from her balcony into the darkness of her room. “We have finally returned to our former glory, yet still they shun Us! Why does Our Sister receive all the reverence of our subjects, while We are left on our own?” she cursed, dragging her bitter self over to the bed.

Luna fell over onto her bedspread with a loud thud. Drearily, she viewed her surroundings. The dark of the night was thick and heavy, sparing few precious beams of starlight that peered in through the balcony. Not that it had mattered much, as her room was almost completely bare. Aside from the large, round bed white ornately sown sheets she had been laying on, only a dresser and cold fireplace added their company to her solitude. It had almost been as lonely as when she was on the moon, only now she had a clearer view of the inhabitants of Equestria. Eventually, her wistful eyes came upon the same portrait that decorated her sister’s fireplace mantle, but over the thousand or so years, it had collected a thick layer of dust which Luna neglected to clean. “’Tis but a distant memory that I fear We shall never share again.” She sighed, allowing her neck to lazily fall over the edge of the bed.

Memories of Luna’s beloved sister began to swirl about in her mind. Celestia had always cared for her, ever since she was a filly; and she had nothing but hazy memories of her parents. Tia was always very sweet to her and took very lovingly to her. Back then, she remembered the world being emptier as well as colder, but Tia was always by her side to accompany her. This was the only comfort she had ever truly known, and for that she was always grateful to her sister. Luna recalled one of her dearest memories with her sister, the night she had earned her cutie mark.

---

Celestia approached Luna, presenting her with a beautiful, deep blue crown and ornate baby blue shoes. “Today marks the date of your birth, dearest sister, and I believe you have finally come upon the age of which you should be taking on our royal responsibilities.”

Luna’s eyes glowed with surprise and excitement. She was still quite a small filly, but trusted in her beloved sister’s decision. She did not respond, but merely nodded quietly. Luna quickly shuffled her hooves into each shoe, surprised at how well they fit, and knelt before her sister. Celestia gently levitated the ornate three-pronged crown from its cushion, slowly placing it upon Luna’s head. Luna shut her eyes in anticipation, expecting something to follow, only to open them in response to her sister’s muffled giggling.

“W-what is so funny Sister?” Luna pouted as she blushed, her sister’s mock of the situation both annoying and embarrassing her.

“Nothing at all, young filly, but you still have much to do this day.” Celestia responded confidently, kneeling down and craning around the small filly in an attempt to alleviate her frustration. “Come! Let us engage in today’s true endeavor.”

Luna followed her sister through the castle’s halls while the sun slowly set behind the mountains. The orange light shone brightly through the windows littering the halls, casting a brilliant light throughout the entire castle. Luna admired her sister’s beauty in the light, for she had a much more mature and curvaceous body than her own little filly self. She might even go so far as to say she was envious of how beautiful her sister was. It was almost as if she glowed in the warm tangerine light. She was most jealous, however, of her sister’s giant solar cutie mark, but that mattered not, for tonight was hers.

Eventually they came upon an empty room in the castle. Celestia nudged the large door open and urged her sister to enter. Nervous at first, Luna gulped before she trotted in. As she approached the balcony her sister had directed her to, Luna could feel her stomach begin to churn with anxiety. Celestia eventually joined her on the terrace. Luna looked up fearfully at her sister, overcome with dread. Celestia returned her stare with an encouraging smile.

“Go on, sister. Show me how much you have learned and how far you have come.” Celestia cooed with a gentle smile.

“U-um, o-okay, but only because you said you think I can do it!” Luna shakily replied.

“Oh, I’m quite sure that after all that practice you are up to the task at hoof.” Celestia reassured her.

Luna flinched at her sister’s words. Unsteadily, she approached the edge, each hoof shaking as she stepped forward. Once more she looked back at her sister, who only smiled in reply. “This is it,” she thought, staring out to the bare line of light the sun had made as it was almost completely hidden by the mountain tops, “Time to earn your place and show Tia you are just as strong as she is!”

With that, she braced herself, placing her hooves apart as if preparing for an impact she could never endure. Then, slowly, a dim, blue light began to appear from her horn. As the grim sneer on her face begins to twist into a cringe, the light grew greater and greater. Eventually, the soft blue aura completely enveloped her horn, causing beams to spray off in random directions and sparks to follow. Beads of sweat rolled down her body, as she poured every ounce of her being into focusing her magic.

It was then that the crown slowly began to glow as well. Her attention was directed her eyes to the symbol sitting upon her head. It was not just some regal icon, it was granting her greater focus! Luna drew great power from a well deep within that she had never know existed. Her eyes were then quickly drawn to her hooves, which remained firmly planted on the ground, despite the fact that it was deteriorating all around her. The raw magic coursing through her was causing the platform to slowly shatter into small pieces as if it were made of glass.

“FOCUS SISTER!” she heard Celestia shout in the Royal Canterlot Voice, her own mind clouded by the sounds of her untamed magic thrashing about, “YOU MUST FOCUS!”

Luna closed her eyes, attempting to comply, and directed her magic even more. She bit her lip as a tear of pain rolled down her cheek. That’s when it happened. Slowly, a bright orb began to peak out from behind the mountain top. The sky grew a deep violet, as the orb continued to rise, showering the land in a soft light. At first, its path was unsteady, but eventually it found its natural course.

“ENOUGH SISTER,” Celestia shouted in The Royal Canterlot Voice again, “YOUR WORK IS DONE!”

Luna let go of her focus, waves of energy rippling through her body. She felt her body give way and collapse in place, exhausted from the exertion. She was completely drenched in sweat, and she could still feel light surges of pain caused by her tense muscles. What little energy she had, Luna used to lift her head and look back her sister. Her stalwart sister replied with a small, proud smile. A soft smile found its way on Luna face as well, despite the tension she felt. She had done it; she had raised the moon.

Luna felt her body lift off the ground, alarmed to discover it beginning to float all on its own. She glanced over at Celestia with large, fearful eyes, but her sister seemed completely unfazed as her smiling expression remaining unchanged. A brilliant light enveloped her, forming a cocoon of radiance her eyes could no longer see through. Luna’s body was overcome with a cool, soothing feeling. The tension was released from her body, and all the sweat died instantly as well. Letting go of her fears, Luna closed her eyes and let the flowing light take her, but as soon as she did so the light let her go, causing her to gently drift her back to the ground.

Luna opened her eyes and surveyed herself for any injury. Instead, she came to study her form, shocked by her new visage. Her mane and tail had grown significantly in both volume and length. They had also become a dark blue, much like the night sky, and were littered with little sparkles resembling the bright stars that populated the sky. The outer strands now shone a beautiful translucent blue, highlighting her features. In fact, her whole coat had grown a darker blue. Luna craned her head back to admire her newly acquired cutie mark, but found her view to be obscured by newly acquired wings. Delighted, she made for her sister, who was tearing up at the sight of her, only to trip over her own hooves. She gazed down, also shocked by her now elongated, beautiful legs. She gazed up her sister and began to cry as a grin of delight spread across her face. Luna had ascended her unicorn body to become one of the most powerful creatures in the land, an alicorn!
She would be more shocked by the transformation, had she not witnessed her sister’s ascension personally. The two had shared one of the most sacred moments of their lives. Celestia quickly trotted up to the collapsed Luna and hugged her, both sisters sharing tears of joy for Luna’s success.

This moment instantly became one of her most precious memories.

---

Luna gazed back down at her body. It was no longer that of the filly she had been reduced to after the Elements freed her heart from the clutches of the darkness that was Nightmare Moon. It had returned to the mature alicorn she remembered it to be. Her mane and tail were luscious again, just as before, and her legs had become long and slender once more. Her coat, too, had returned to its glory, the midnight blue hiding her well toned muscles.

The transformation was largely due to her sister restoring some of her powers. However, since Celestia had no true control over the moon, the amount of power she could grant to Luna was sparse. Her body was complete visibly; however, she had been direly weakened by the Nightmare Moon incident. She had gone through several months of physical therapy, but even then, she was in nowhere near the form she used to be. She could not move as fast as she used to be able to, nor as far, and despite developing her wings, they were still quite flimsy and could not be trusted for long and strenuous flights. It had been especially hard to face these facts whilst everypony still treated her as a monster; as even the doctors who understood her situation still greatly feared her. It had become impossible to make friends with anypony.

Luna got up slowly and approached the balcony once more, viewing the Element called “Twilight” still sharing a tender and tranquil moment with her beloved sister. The two ponies were deeply entwined, sharing a tight embrace. Luna let out a deep, lonesome sigh.

“We wouldst enjoy thy company as well, my little ponies. We art equally sad and lonely,” she began, “But thou continueth to deny Us thy companionship! Thou hast even gone so far as to shun Us, calling Us a “monster”, despite the knowledge of Our change. And now thou dareth make off with Our own sister?! How dareth thee! HOW DARETH THEE!!!”

“WE ARE THE PRINCESS OF THE DARKNESS THAT IS THE NIGHT, HER MAJESTY PRINCESS LUNA! WE DEMAND THAT THOU TREATETH US WITH THE SAME REVERENCE AS OUR OWN SISTER!!!” Luna bellowed into darkness of her room.

She felt a twinge. An inexplicable surge of hatred and anger rose from within her as she finished her decree to the empty room. The jealousy and madness of the events she had been witnessing began to swell within her, growing ferociously. An evil that had been suppressed was rising again. It was Nightmare Moon.

Luna fell over, writhing in agony and thrashing about. “NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU CONTROL ME AGAIN!” she howled, every ounce of her being fighting to push back the darkness consuming her. Searing pain continued to wash over her as her body thrashed violently. Her flailing outbursts and screams of affliction echoed through the empty halls, falling upon deaf ears. As she continued to combat her affliction, cloudy images played through her mind. They were memories from when she had been Nightmare Moon.

A lavender pony stood before Luna, challenging her. She was shocked to find the same small foal charging viciously at her. Burning pain caused the images within her clouded mind shift. Suddenly, six foals stood before her, their lavender leader triumphantly grinning at her. She had witnessed the foals successfully gather the Elements of Harmony, and reeled in horror as they fired the fully charged, rainbow colored beam at her. The instant the multicolored beam collided with her, unfamiliar feelings washed over her. When she had expected to severely wound her instead had warmed and soothed her wretched soul.

The feelings Luna remembered from that moment transcended images and memories, jumping between the past and the present, immersing her in a whirlwind of emotional intensity. Confusion steadily settled into clarity as the distinctions between the feelings became more and more obvious. Kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, honesty, and the magic of friendship, these we’re being expressed to her in their purest form. It reminded her that the Elements of Harmony was not simply a raw tool of destruction, like that which had banished her, but a means of conveying sincere hopes and feelings to other poor souls lost to the darkness. The Elements had shown her something she had long forgotten through their heartfelt wishes to grant harmony to her twisted mind. Their power had momentarily given her mind peace, causing her to realize once more that which she truly desired in the first place. Something she longed for so much, she couldn’t stand to live without it, thus, driving her into the darkest corners of her mind. Luna desired friendship, more than anything, and the Elements showed her through their power that she could still find it.

Slowly, she regained control of herself as the darkness faded away. This was not the first time she had fought the darkness back, but it had never been such an intense and exhaustive experience as that one had just been. As Luna rose to her hooves, her knees buckled and her legs shook. The moment had obviously taken its toll on her, but she did her best to ignore it. Once again, she shuffled towards the balcony, peering into her sister’s chamber. To her surprise, however, the chamber was void of the silhouettes of the two.

Luna let out a deep sigh. Once again she was alone. Luna hung her neck down and slowly stammered back into her room. Eventually, she came upon her bed, throwing her body down upon the mattress harshly. Luna could feel her eyes slowly glazing over as tears began to come upon them, but a sudden spark ignited deep with her. She could feel it, somepony reaching out to her, longing for her friendship just as she had. It had given her a reason to carry on, something to believe in and chase after. It had given her hope.

“We must remain resolute if we wish to reclaim these feelings once more!” Luna began with a newfound resolve, “If only we could meet with the Elements, then surely… THAT’S IT!”

Just then, it struck Luna. When she returned to her proper state, her sister had instructed her many times on how to make friends and gain the subjects trust once more. Specifically, she directed Luna towards the direction of the Elements. They had even held several private briefings, Celestia teaching Luna of each of the Elements. Luna slowly began to recount the details aloud to herself.

“Let Us see,” she began. “There is the one called ‘Apple Jack’ and she is the Element of Honesty. No, honesty will do us little good in a situation like this. There is also the Element of Loyalty. I believe she was called ‘Rainbow Dash’. She could be quite helpful as We are always in search of new loyal servants. Oh, but We do not need more servants in this case…” Luna pouted in frustration as she continued to ponder her options. “Sister told Us there is one dubbed ‘Rarity’, the Element of Generosity. We need not generosity, either. Nor do We need laughter. The one called ‘Fluttershy’ is the Element of Kindness. Yes, she will certainly be able to help us! One who specializes in kindness will certainly be able to aid Us in Our quest for friendship! She is the one We must seek and she is surely here, tonight!”

With that, Luna picked her tired self up and charged out the doors of her chamber. If she could just meet with the Element called “Fluttershy”, then they could surely show her how to capture the hearts of their subjects. She galloped through the dark empty halls, cheerfully reinvigorated once more, her excited stomps echoed deep into the hall. However, nopony was alerted, as the dimly lit corridors remained empty save her. This was it, finally, a chance to win back the hearts of everypony! They would come to worship the night just as they do the day.

Luna nearly stopped dead in her tracks. “We mustn’t be too hasty! If we show ourselves to be far too eager to please everypony, they will mistake us to be foal hearted!” she whispered to herself quietly as she slowly trotted towards the massive foreboding twin doors leading to the main hall. “We must make an attempt to ease our way in, lest we wish to cause a stir at the Gala.”

Slowly, Luna nudged the creaky door open. As they gradually opened, slight rays of light snuck between the cracks until a brilliant light shone forth. Luna flinched at the blinding light as the dimly lit hall behind her flooded with radiant luminescence. It was impossible to see through the starry vision caused by the shining rays at first, however, Luna’s eyes eventually adjusted to reveal to her the stunning room. The Grand Hall had been more beautifully and elegantly decorated than she had ever imagined! As she peered around, Luna marveled at the glimmering lights and intricate banners that decorated walls and ceiling. Momentarily, she had wondered if the Element they called “Rarity” had been involved in such an activity, as she had heard from her sister that decorations had been somewhat of Rarity’s specialty. As she continued to gaze into the room, a frown slowly crept upon her face. The Grand Hall was completely devoid of ponies.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Luna spoke softly to herself in disappointment. “Surely the festivities could have not possibly ended so early!”

Luna continued into the hall from the top of the grand stairs, slowly inching her way in hopes to avoid detection from any remaining parties. Her efforts were in vain, however, as she came to realize the grand hall had completely emptied itself. Still, she continued to search for signs of life.

“Perhaps thou have all moved on to the Grand Ballroom?” Luna worriedly mused to herself. “…Yes, surely this must be the case.”

Wearily, Luna made her way towards the Grand Ballroom. Doubt and anxiety slowly crept upon her as she drew closer to her destination, which quickly changed when she came upon her sister and the Element they called “Twilight Sparkle.” She seemed quite stricken by the oddly heavy silence filling the ballroom before them, but quickly reassured herself, “Sister must simply be addressing Our subjects. We shall make Our way around to the rear entrance so as not to disturb them. ”

Lady Sparkle, the Element of Magic. Luna thought to herself. While We can understand magic’s practical uses, We do not see what purpose it shall serve in Our quest for friendship. Still, the fact that she is Sister’s private student must mean she bears some significance. I have never seen Sister so close to any other pony since the banishment of Nightmare Moon either. There's something about her... Luna quickly shrugged it off and continued on her way.

Luna continued to creep around behind her sister and Twilight, hugging the wall to avoid being spotted by the Gala guests. She tried to calmly make her way towards the door around the corner leading into the Grand Ballroom, but her excitement quickly lead her into a softly progressing gallop. She eagerly flung the large doors open, causing a loud ruckus. Luna noted that the door to the Royal Gardens were also open at the opposite end of the ballroom and there seemed to be a small commotion going on as well, but her view was obstructed by the massive crowd of ponies. Unconcerned by this unknown, she swiftly trotted her way in past some awestruck guards and into the crowd of guests. Luna continued to survey the guests for a moment, searching for the Element of Kindness. However, she came upon the Element they called 'Pinkie Pie' instead.

It seems the one called 'Fluttershy' is not currently present, but surely the Element of laughter, one who values friendship as highly as spreading joy, would be willing to aide in our quest for friendship! She quickly thought to herself. This is it Luna She assured to herself. Let them know of your intentions of sharing love and friendship once more and we are sure to win them over! She drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes as she began…

“YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE ME!!!” a roar bellowed out, echoing across the entire hall. Luna jumped back, startled by her own outburst. Just as soon, the entire room burst into utter chaos. Pillars fell and statues crumbled as ponies and creatures of the gardens fled in all directions away from her.

“…No, what have I done?!” she whispered quietly in despair to herself. She stood still in dread and shame amongst the crowd of chaos. “Please… Wait… I’m sorry!” she whimpered out towards her frantic and frightened subjects, but to no avail. The guests paid her no heed as they continued to scream and flee from her.

Devastated by her massive failure, she sought somepony, anypony, to comfort her. Eventually, her eyes met with her sister’s and Twilight on the far side of the hall. She reeled as Twilight made a horrified face at her and began muttering unintelligible words to her sister. Luna’s eyes quickly shifted to her sisters, who had been glaring back at her this entire time. Oh no… Sister is furious at Us… she thought in terror and dismay. She was certain Celestia would chastise her for her insolence later, but for now it appeared that she was whispering a message at her.

Celestia’s eyes grew narrow with what Luna assumed was disgust as she slowly mouthed a single word at her from across the room, “…Run.”

Luna reared back in total and utter horror. She could do nothing but utter nonsensically at her sister’s command. She felt her stomach sink as she dreaded the wrath her sister was soon going to unleash upon her. Mortified and heartbroken, she burst into tears, galloping back to her chamber as fast as she could. It was at the door that Luna happened upon one of her Dusk Guards, Eventide.

“Faithful Dusk Guard Eventide, you must help Us!” Luna cried.

“P-p-princess Luna, wh-what is the m-meaning of this?!” he stuttered out, clearly shocked by Luna’s distraught state.

“Sister, she is out to punish Us in, and it shall be far more sever then you could ever imagine!” she yelped. “Please, just divert her away from Us!”

“P-punish you? S-stop her? B-but how am I supposed to do something like that?” he reeled in confusion. “I can’t just lie to Princess Celestia! That would be treachery on a national level! I could very well be labeled a traitor. I’d be exiled from the kingdom. I’d have nowhere to go! What about my family?! Okay, so I don’t have a family, but what if I found one? Where would we go? What would we do? How can we survive out in the cruel worl..”

“SILENCE, THOU ART OUR ROYAL GUARD AND THOU SHALL DO AS WE COMMAND!” Luna interrupted in The Royal Canterlot Voice. “So please, just tell a small fib on Our behalf. Just this once.” She pleaded with a soft yet desperate smile.

Eventide’s panicked tone quickly changed into a much more serious one as his eyes grew cold and he struck a militantly attentive pose. “Very well Princess. We shall divert our lady Princess Celestia’s attention away from you, just as you command. We shall face what disciplinary actions may come with dignity, proud that we have served you to the fullest since your return.”

“Thank you, Eventide. You make Us proud to have you as Our Dusk Guard. Your valor and heroism shall be rewarded greatly if we meet again.” Luna replied sternly, causing Eventide’s eyes to widen and jaw to drop in horror. Upon finishing her last words a familiar sound echoed throughout the halls.

Luna could hear the powerful hooves striking stone as her sister swiftly strode towards her chamber from down the hall. It was the kind of canter Celestia trotted in when she was intent on confrontation. Luna rammed her door open and slammed it closed behind her. She then threw herself onto her bed and scrambled under the cover in an attempt to hide. The distinctive stomping grew louder and fiercer until it finally stopped just outside and she could make out mumbling between the two. She continued to whimper, letting out soft cries from under the covers. She feared the wrath of her sister more than anything in all of Equestria, but she had to know how it was going. Luna did her best to listen, the sound of her own sniveling making it harder to discern.

“Where is she? Have you seen her Eventide?” Celestia demanded.

“N-no Princess, I have no seen her all ni-ni-night!” he replied, his voice trembling in fear. “At any rate, she is most certainly not here!”

“Are you certain Eventide? You are a faithful and loyal Dusk Guard. You see all that moves about the night, so surely you must have seen where she has run off to!” Celestia retorted forcefully.

“N-no, no I haven’t seen her at all Princess. I just got back from my b-b-break and haven’t seen any p-p-pony yet. Not even the other D-d-dusk Guards!” he quickly replied, wincing at the realization at how careless he had been at his job during his break.

“Urgh, where could she have gone to?!” Celestia stamped her hoof. “Very well, inform me immediately if you become aware of her location. That is an order. Do you understand?”

“Y-yes P-p-princess! I will l-l-let you know r-r-right away!” the words fumbling from his mouth. Clearly Eventide was just as horrified of receiving Celestia’s wrath as Luna.

“I am off to continue my search for her then. Her actions led to this… catastrophe, and the situation must be rectified!” Celestia commanded in a stout tone as she trailed off down the hall again.

Eventide collapsed in a pool or sweat, trembling for dear life. He had never seen Princess Celestia in such a state that even making eye contact sent shivers down his spine. Grateful his traumatizing ordeal was over, he peered down the hall to be sure the Princess of the Sun had left. With the coast clear he let out a deep sigh of relief and tapped on the doors to the chamber.

“P-p-princess Celestia has passed, P-p-princess Luna. I believe you are s-s-safe for now, but please, exercise caution. I fear for your safety.” Eventide whispered shakily, seemingly still traumatized from his encounter. With that, he trotted down the hall and off to his post.

Meanwhile, in the chamber, Luna was busy losing herself. “I’ve made a complete and total foal of myself!” she cried into her pillows, losing all her royal composure. “Not only does the entirety of Equestria now hate me, but my own sister has joined in their alienation of me! Surely she will banish me once again for my stupidity!” Luna continued to cry endless pools into her sheets. She had spoiled her chances at finding friendship once again over some foolish outburst, all because she could not control herself! “The Elements will never want to see me ever again after that, if not just to banish me to the moon once more!” she cried out into the empty chamber, her sobbing echoing throughout. She thrust her hooves upward, reaching into the empty air longingly for some clasp in comfort. “The Elements will never want to help someone as stupid and foolish as me...”

Luna desperately longed to be held and feel any sort of affection or comfort in this, her most awful of moments. Slowly, she recalled her empty hooves, placing them over her pounding heart in attempts to soothe it. It was no use however, and she brought her hooves up to continue crying into them once more. Betrayed and forsaken, Luna continued to cry, tossing and turning in sadness and torment.

Celestia was now on a war path with Luna. The only person in Equestria she could speak with without being feared as a monster now completely and utterly hated her for ruining the Gala. The one friend she had left had abandoned her and now she had nothing left. The Dusk Guards were nothing to her but royal guards, and she considered none of them to actually want to be her friend. Everypony else could not see her as anything but Nightmare Moon, and would never accept her friendship. To top it off, Luna’s only hope, the Elements, probably hated her as well. All of her chances had vanished into the night with one fell swoop.

Celestia never appeared again to deliver punishment Luna had expected, nor did she ever come to comfort Luna. Luna simply just remained in her quiet, solemn chambers undisturbed once more. She hadn’t felt so alone in over a thousand years. Being shunned and hated by everyone she had cared for was far worse than being imprisoned in the moon itself. Luna continued to sob and wail as she watched the moon set…

Nightmare Knights: Wax

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Luna remained alone in her room. After the incident at the Gala, the solitude had been comforting to her. The only pony who ever came by to check on her was Eventide. Occasionally he’d knock on the door and peak in to check on her or inform her of a request for her presence by Celestia, but not much else. He’d leave her food or ask if she needed anything, but Eventide was far too busy to stay and have casual conversations with Luna. She’d just let him know she was fine or that she wouldn’t be attending her sister’s meetings. Honestly, Luna was even surprised Eventide kept showing up to tell her after how many times she rejected the offer.

Of course, Luna did not shirk on her duties either. Eventide visited regularly at dusk, but once he was off to make his rounds, Luna would begin her work. She’d wearily trot towards her balcony, check the opposing tower for her sister, and using her powers she’d gradually lift the moon and bring about the twilight. Once the moon was set on its course, it pretty much ran itself, so Luna would typically flee to her covers to avoid having her sister spot her. She still couldn’t bring herself to face Celestia after hearing how angry she had sounded that night. As long as she could avoid her, Luna figured she’d be fine.

Late one evening, Luna spied the ponies of Ponyville bustling about their town more so than usual. As she viewed them from the safety of her astrology telescope, she could see them decorating the town with all sorts of unfortunately familiar things. Symbols resembling the shadow of Nightmare Moon and her piercing gaze adorned buildings and rooftops alike. There was a small stage set in the middle of town drowning in cobwebs and little spiders. As the ponies continued to decorate their town in a strikingly macabre manner, Luna’s confusion and curiosity grew. She quickly dismissed it for now though, as it was nearly time for her duty.

Knock, Knock

“P-p-princess L-L-Luna?” whimpered a quiet voice.

“Yes Eventide?” Luna replied, rolling her eyes. “Dost thou never become accustomed to speaking with Us?”

“Ah, well, err, uh, no. Sorry my p-p-princess.” He stuttered, slowly inching the creaky door open to peak in.

“Enter, Eventide. We have a task for thee.”

Eventide timidly entered the chamber with his head hung low to pay respect.

“Rise, Eventide, are We not familiar enough that thou need not act in such a formal manner. We have known each other for quite some time already.”

“Ah, sorry Princess Luna, I guess I’m just not use to that kind of thing.” He replied shyly.

Luna rolled her eyes. “At any rate, dost thou know what Our diminutive equines are causing such a stir over this evening?” she inquired.

“Why yes Princess! Tonight is the hallowed eve of…” Eventide trailed off. “Err, umm, mmm, hmm, how do I say this…”

“I command thee to tell Us already!” she barked.

“Tonight is Nightmare Night!” he squeaked quickly, wincing at her shout.

The princess shot him a puzzled look. “Nightmare… Night? As in, Nightmare Moon, Nightmare Night?”

“Y-yes P-p-princess, but you see the night is about…” Eventide began in the calmest tone he could muster.

W-we do not understand. Why wouldst thou celebrate the evil that is Nightmare Moon? Luna became lost in thought as she pondered the reasons behind the night. Eventide was mumbling about something, but she was far too concerned to listen to him at the time. She was more confused than anything.

They were celebrating Nightmare Moon? And on the night she had been banished to the moon no less. Had the ponies been celebrating her exile this whole time? They must have truly hated her all along. Why else would they make such a commotion over this night? Who could even be behind all of this? Was this her sisters doing? Why would they do such a thing?! As Luna lost herself in her questions, her expression became more and more troubled. She could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes, doing her best to fight them back when she realized Eventide was still present.

“…and that’s why…Princess?” Eventide interrupted himself, staring at Luna with great concern. He realized she hadn’t been listening and now seemed very upset.

“Eventide,” Luna said, almost sniffling, “You will fetch us any information you can find on this event, and report back with it immediately.”

“B-but Princess, are you okay? You seem t-troub…”

“GO NOW EVENTIDE, AND DO NOT RETURN WITHOUT OUR INFORMATION!” The Royal Canterlot voice shook the room, but this time it felt different. It carried more of a somber tone than that of a command. Eventide had noticed too, but was too shocked to say anything at the time.

“Y-y-yes Princess! Right away!” a horrified Eventide replied, jumping in his skin before taking off in a burst of speed.

As Eventide galloped off, Luna wearily approached the balcony. Once again, it was time for her to perform her duties. As she dragged her hooves to the platform, Luna peered out towards her sister’s chamber. Empty as usual she thought to herself with a deep sigh. Luna spent the moment mentally preparing for the task at hand. With yet another deep sigh, she closed her eyes and hung her head down. She waited for just a moment before raising herself. As she stood tall upon the precipice, she slowly began to open her eyes.

Luna’s eyes were glow a brilliant white as she begins to channel her true power. Her horn began to wax and wane until it reached an equally radiant glow of dark blue energy. As true magic slowly coursed through her body, Luna began to rise from the ground. She opened her forehooves as if to command the Moon itself, and surely enough, it begins to peak over the mountaintops. The Moon quickly moves higher before it appears to snap onto a track and begins to move along its natural course, creeping along the night sky, but Luna’s job isn’t done yet.

Luna continued to channel her energy and magic until the sky began to shimmer. Stars glistened and gleamed across the sky, crowding its vast emptiness. One star in particular, however, seemed to shine brighter than all of the rest. As Luna began her descent, she gazed upon the incandescent glow of the star. A single soft tear began its journey down her cheek before dripping onto the floor. Her brief moment of comfort was quickly interrupted by yet another loud knock as the door creaked open. Eventide slowly crept in, his eyes quickly affixing to the alicorn raw with flowing power before him. Luna quickly realizes his approach and releases her grasps on the state and returns to her regular being once more, at the same time attempting to hide her tear.

“P-p-princess, I did not intend to interrupt the Royal Ceremony!” he stutters.

“Not at all, We were just completing our duties.” She replied, attempting to regain her full composure. “Regardless, hast thou completed Our request?”

“Of course Princess, allow me to present you with this book I knew of in the Royal Canterlot Library.” Eventide knelt before the Princess once more, producing a large and rather elaborately decorated book from his saddlebag.

“Fame and Festivals: Celebrating Equestria’s Historical Figures.” Luna read aloud. She let in a deep breath, as she typically did when facing such a momentous occasion.

“Inside, you will find a chapter I am sure you will find very informative, Princess.” Eventide said, passing her a pleasant smile.

“You have done very well Eventide. We thank you sincerely.” Luna replied an equally sincere smile, his kindness calming her. “If there is a way We might make it up to you, please let Us know.”

“Ah, well, actually…” Eventide blushed. “If it isn’t too much trouble, then I’d like the night off.”

Luna was shocked. “W-whatever might you need this night, of all nights, off for?”

“It’s a long story. Please Princess Luna, just one night.” Eventide pleaded, kneeling before her.

Luna eyed him suspiciously. It was highly unlike Eventide to make such a request. She stared into his doeing, seeing glints of hope. “Very well Eventide… you are freed from your duties, tonight, and we shall find a replacement guard.”

“Oh, thank you so much Luna… AH MEAN PRINCESS!” Eventide shouted, horrified of his mistake.

Luna only giggled in response, “It’s quite alright Eventide, but this will not become a regular occurrence. Remember, thou art a Dusk Guard, and your kind has been serving me for many a year. I will make this exception only because you have proven your loyalty, even throughout my absence.” She finished sternly.

“This means so much to mean. Thank you so much… Luna.” Eventide looked up at her as his smile turned into a beam of glee.

Luna, shocked at his reply, quickly shook to regain composure. “It is not an issue Eventide. Please, go out and enjoy yourself this evening.” she smiled back.

Eventide snapped to attention before bowing once and taking his leave. Luna could hear him shouting with glee from the hall as the bat pony raced down toward the armory to remove his gear before taking off into the night. She continued to giggle at his excitement, but couldn’t help but wonder what he had been so wrapped up about. Luna could only pout to herself, as she knew almost nothing about the loyal Dusk Guard. Luna knew that as a bat pony in the Dusk Guard, he wasn’t any normal pony, but she had never stopped and taken the time to ask him anything about himself. She simply commanded him along his days. A bolt of guilt ran through her body. She hadn’t considered how selfish she had been with him before. Perhaps even he dislikes us, and has gone to celebrate with the rest of the ponies in order to leave us alone again.

Luna hung her neck looked back at the book Eventide had presented her and it brought a small smile to her face. This is the second time I have asked him for a personal favor, and it’s the second time he complied without question. Maybe he really does care if he is kind enough to help me every time, despite the danger. Luna approached the book with her spirits slightly raised, blowing the dust off before attempting to open it. The old book lifted from the pedestal it was placed on, as Luna used her magic to slowly begin flipping through the pages.

“N, N, N, ah, here we are! Nightmare Night.” She began slowly. “Nightmare Night began a nearly a thousand years ago. It is a celebration in which we pay homage to the loss of our beloved Princess Luna. Her heart became corrupted with hatred and a jealousy, for the ponies reveled in the days, but did little to enjoy the beautiful nights she had worked so hard to give us. It is because of the ponies of Equestria’s actions that Princess Luna felt great sadness and loneliness. Thus, each year on the night of her banishment, everypony comes out to feast and celebrate, keeping the Princess in the Moon company. They offer her food and show her how much we truly enjoy the beauty of the night in hopes of warming her heart. The children are given candy as a treat and to help them stay up during the night, but are also required to make offerings as well. They even dress as familiars and decorate the town, in hopes that seeing creatures of the night will comfort Luna even more so. The Princess of the Day, Celestia, was crestfallen when she had to banish Luna from Equestria. However, she was greatly pleased with the idea of celebrating the night and paying respects to her exiled sister, so she had a statue of Nightmare Moon erected in the Everfree Forest, Luna’s favorite place to visit in Ponyville. The statue is to show her that even though she had been taken from us by corruption and changed form, we still love her dearly and know deep down our beloved princess is still in there. Until the day when she returns to us, we shall use this day to remind her just how much we truly love and care for her.”

Luna began to feel her eyes glaze over as she closed the book. Softly, tears began flowing down her cheeks. A chill ran down her body as waves of true happiness ran through her, causing her to quiver and fall to her knees. She had been wrong. This event was not a mockery of her exile, but instead it was a heartfelt attempt to restore faith in her ponies to her. In this case, it had worked. Through the words of the book, Luna found the courage to try to make friends with everypony once more.

“I must find Eventide.” Luna whimpered as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I have been too cold with him and if anypony deserves our kindness and friendship, it is him.”

Luna donned her cloak, and charged out her room, making her way to the armory. She rammed the door open only to discover two other Dusk Guards, Vesperus and Noctus, taking an unauthorized break. The two startled bat ponies quickly rose from their creaky chairs at the wooden table and stood at attention, trying to hide the fact that they had been enjoying some salt licks and lounging about.

Luna eyed them angrily, surveying the situation. “Hast thou seen Eventide?”

“Yes Princess Luna, he reported in just moments ago to drop off his armor and lance, and then took off again once more!” The two replied in unison, the younger Vesperus still trying to lick the salt from his muzzle.

Luna thought intently to herself for just a moment before snapping back to them. “Dost thou know where he has gone to?”

“No Princess Luna! He left in quite a hurry, barely mumbling that you had authorized his leave of the night.” they replied in unison once more.

“Then thou hast absolutely no clue where We might find him?” she questioned, losing patience with how unhelpful the two had been.

“We are not sure Princess Luna.”

“…but he did mention a few days ago he’d met a filly...” Vesperus snickered.

“Q-quiet you,” Noctus perked up from the shock, “The Princess has no time for our personal affairs and fraternizations!”

“Oh come on man! She’s a damn dirty Dawn Guard for filly’s sake! You know damn well what they say about us Dusk Guards behind our backs!” Vesperus snapped back.

Noctus shot him an angry look and Luna watched in shock as the two bicker between each other. The argument quickly escalated into violence as the two guards began to rumble in the armory. All the while, Luna was still considering her options. She brushed off the previous statement, and simply didn’t wish to get involved in the guards rivalries at the moment. The sound of fighting, tables and racks shaking, and falling armor, however, slowly annoyed her more and more as she attempted to think.

“ENOUGH! WE CANNOT THINK WITH SUCH A RACKET DSITURBING US!” she shouted. The two guards stopped mid-clash, on their hind legs and forehooves pressed into each other’s faces. They both gave Luna a frightened look.

“W-well, maybe Eventide is in P-P-Ponyville!” Vesperus speculated as he continued to fight off Noctus. “S-surely he has g-gone to celebrate with all the other ponies if he asked for tonight off particularly!” The two broke into fighting again as Noctus threw Vesperus across the room and into a barrel of pickled vegetables. Vesperus crashed inside, causing cabbage and juice to spill out and onto the ground.

“That’s it! He must be there then! We must head to Ponyville at once!” Luna’s mood shot up as her hopes of finding him rose once more. “You two, since you see it fit to be taking a break at a time like this, you will instead be taking this time to escort us to Ponyville on Our Royal Carriage!”

“Awww c’mon! Why can’t you just fly to…”

“SHUT IT, VERSPERUS! WE DO AS THE PRINCESS COMMANDS!” Noctus interrupted him. “You have my sincerest apologies for his insubordination Princess Luna.”

“Very well, I shall forgive both of you, this time. I will not be so kind to you next time, however.” Luna sternly replied, looking down at the two.

“Ugh, fine..” Vesperus continued to whine as he climbed out of the barrel, spilling more onto the floor before falling face first into the puddle himself. “ACK!” He continued to try and himself together grumbling under his breath. “old man always barking orders at me…”

“We shall prepare the Royal Carriage and depart shortly Princess Luna. Until then, please be patient and we shall contact you as soon as it’s ready.”

“Thank you Noctus. Please keep in mind, it has been quite some time since We last used the Carriage. If you would be so kind as to clean it properly as well…” she trailed off with an awkward smile.

“Of course, anything you wish Princess Luna.” Noctus replied quickly.

As Luna left the armory to wait for her departure in her chamber, she could hear the two bat ponies continue to argue from down the hall. She only rolled her eyes and chortle softly as she continued to trot away. Tonight was going to be a big night, and Luna was ready to face Equestria once more.

Lunar Ellipse

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Nightmare Night… Luna thought to herself as they began their approach to Ponyville. If they wished to please us, then surely they will celebrate my coming on this o hallowed of nights.

The chariot flew gracefully through the cool night air while the two Dusk Guards did their best to quell their growing urge to continue fighting. The two were definitely at odds with each other, but Luna counted on them to deliver her safely. Rather, at least Noctus knew that. Vesperus, on the other hand, hardly refrained from taunting him.

“C’mon old man, what’s the matter? You slowin’ down in yer old age?” he smirked at Noctus as he began to pull harder.

“HA, HARDLY!” he retorted. “You’re lucky Princess Luna is with us or I’d show you a thing or two!

“Pffft, as if you senile old foal!” Vesperus continued to mocks as he pulled faster and harder, leaving the cart uneven.

“IDIOT, YOU’LL GET PRINCESS LUNA HURT!” Noctus barked furiously.

“THEN KEEP UP YOU OLD FOAL! HAHAHAHA!”

“DAMNIT, THAT’S IT!” Noctus had snapped under the constant mockery and failure of his subordinate to follow orders. He took off after the bat pony with every ounce of his raging being until he had passed Vesperus. The cart evened out until once again it became crooked by the racing ponies. They continue to struggle for pole position as Luna sat still, only growing more annoyed by the childish acts. She had asked for a nice, smooth ride into town, and instead, received this. Luna rolled her eyes and sighed as they continued.

We must focus, Luna, if we wish to find Eventide in the presence of these two bickering foals. She continued to ponder her approach. How shall we greet them? I suppose We can always rely on the royal greeting. She reminded herself of the procedure by going over a list she had been keeping for just such an occasion. She also delicately lifted some glasses of a fashionably red frame onto her muzzle for reading.

Step 1: Arrive gracefully

Step 2: Allow them to bow in respect

Step 3: Address the subjects and authority of the location

Step 4: Request the Kissing of the Royal Hoof

Step 5: Profit… profit? Who wrote that?

Luna tucked away the list as they came upon the village. “My, it certainly is cloudy tonight, is it not?” she spoke, but the two bat ponies will still too busy arguing and racing. She let out another sigh as she peered over the edge of the cart, allowing one of her hooves to sink into her cheek as it supported her. They were flying over the Everfree Forest. It wouldn’t be much longer until they arrive. Suddenly, something in the clearing caught Luna’s eyes.

“QUICKLY, BRING THE CART DOWN!” Luna shouted with her Royal Voice, startling the two quarreling bat ponies, causing them to wrap up in each other’s harness and tangle the reigns.

Down the two ponies went, into a nose dive. The cart quickly dove to follow, accelerating at an alarming rate. It became clear that they had lost control as the group dove into the swirling cloud bank before them. With their vision already obscured by the dense clouds, lighting began to shoot around them. The two did their best to steer the cart and avoid the bolts while struggling to reclaim control. As cracks and booms of thunder roared all around and the situation grew direr, the land below rapidly grew closer and closer.

“OH SHIT! THIS ISN’T GOOD!” Noctus shouted. “VESP, WE HAVE TO GET UNTANGLED!”

“I’M TRYING NOCT, I’MMMMM TRYINNGGGGGG!” Vesperus screamed, struggling to free himself from his comrade.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck at the cart. Luna quickly deflected it with the swipe of her horn, creating an instant spell shield, but the brute force of the collision caused a bright shockwave to propel them forward at an even greater rate. The gust of wind picked up, blowing various chunks of foliage into their path. It served to aid the chaos and confusion as the two bat ponies continued to work to untangle and fight for control once more. Below them they could see a small crowd of ponies who had gathered around a statue cowering in fear of their approach.

“THIS IS IT VESP, NOW OR NEVER!” Noctus howled at Vesperus, both finally freed from the thicket of reigns they had managed to get wrapped up in.

“LET’S DO THIS NOCTY BAY-BEE!” Vesperus replied with an arrogant smirk. The two bat ponies dove down harder, hastening the approach.

WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME ARE THEY DOING?! Luna’s mind screamed in horror, far too shocked to say anything herself. She simply held onto the rim of the carriage and braced for the bone shattering impact of hitting the earth below.
“THREE. TWO. ONEEEEE!” the two shouted in unison as they dove even steeper than ever before pulling up on the reigns as hard as they could, creating a small pocket of air below it that bounded them back upwards. The chariot violently whipped, slamming into Luna’s chest. She let out a small cry of pain but scrambled to balance and stand once more. We mustn’t let our subjects think Us weak.

She then viewed the effects of the blow back below them. It had almost resembled something like the beginning of a Sonic Rainboom, something Luna had not seen in years. A huge grin came upon her face as she marveled at the beauty of such a skilled technique. She would have greatly admired the two for pulling off such a feat, had they not been so reckless in the first place. The chariot rumbled slightly as it rose and they glided over the small crowd of now fleeing ponies and a cloud let off three last bolts as if cheering their arrival. She searched the clearing for her target, surveying the land, but it had vanished.

It can’t be, no, not after all this time. It couldn’t possibly be…

“PRNNMMMSSS? PRRRNNNMMMSS? ARE YOU OKAY?!”

“Wh- huh?” Luna blurted out, still confused and disoriented from the moment.

“I SAID, ahem, are you okay Princess Luna?” Noctus inquired with great concern. His eyes fixed on Luna, inspecting her for damage.

“Ah quit yer worryin you old foal. She’s fine, ain’t ya Luna.” Vesperus shot back with a smug look.

“HOW DARE YOU ADRESS OUR PRINCESS IN SUCH A WAY AND HOW DARE YOU CONTINUE TO INSULT ME!” Noctus yelled, furious once again.

The two broke out into argument once more as Luna collected herself. She watched as the all the ponies fled back to town. Looking back she saw the frightening visage that was her Nightmare Moon statue, as well as a small pile of confections, but nothing else. She felt her body weakened and her composure fade a little as she gazed upon the statue.

Is that really what became of you Luna? How awful you must have been…

“Noctus. Vesperus.” She addressed the two who were too busy arguing to hear her. Clearing her throat she prepared her Voice once more. “NOCTUS! VESPERUS!”

The two quickly snapped out of their duel and to attention again as Noctus replied. “Yes Princess Luna?”

“We are unharmed and We wish to continue our flight into Ponyville. We trust you can get Us out of the Everfree Forest and do it safely?”

“Of course, Princess. As you wish.” Noctus bowed, despite facing away from her.

Vesperus, however, took off at full speed immediately, tugging harshly on Noctus reign and mercilessly tossing him and the cart about behind him while shouting, “YEEE- HAWWW! LET’S GO TO THE PARRTAAAY!!”

Luna braced herself as the cart thrashed about and they continued their flight into Ponyville. She almost felt as if she had been holding on for dear life as the two struggled to keep even speeds. It wasn’t long before they came upon the village and Luna was secretly grateful for that. That night it was much more alive than she had ever seen on any night. The town square was now rife with celebrating and feasting ponies and foals alike.

Luna observed from above in amazement as the square bathed in the cool moonlight, complimented by a wave or orange cast by lanterns hung around between poles. It was far more beautiful than the pictures in the book. Her eyes shone and glimmered and she viewed the celebration. Several carts had been set up as ponies cheerily shared delicious food and confections. Tables had been completely surrounded by feasting ponies, cheering and laughing in their familiar costumes. So had even been performing strange acts that what could only be what Sister Celestia had described to her as “games” and even more pranced about in front of a stage where a group had been playing music. Luna even recognized the one called “Octavia” cleverly disguised as a scarecrow. She had seen her perform many times at Canterlot gatherings and had even requested private concerts from time to time, much to the discomfort of the cellist pony. All of this had been beautifully covered under the motif of the night. While some might have found it macabre, Luna actually found it comforting, homely even. She felt her heart swell with warmth and joy.

We cannot even believe that all of this is in Our honor…

As the slowly drew closer to the village, Luna and her companions viewed the same foals who had fled from them as the ones they had seen in the forest. Unaware that the screaming and fleeing of the stampeding ponies and foals alerted and concerned the other costumed ponies, they slowly drifted overhead. Thank goodness Vesperus finally settled down. She looked at the exhausted and panting bat pony who had wore himself out from the previous stunts he’d pulled. Now then, on to business.

Luna took a moment to breathe in and out heavily, mentally preparing herself for her first formal arrival in Equestria since her return as Nightmare Moon. It all came down to this. She looked to the brightly shinning lone star for guidance as the clouds quickly came overhead and obscured her view. Isn’t Loyalty supposed to be keeping the skies clear on this night? She pondered, attempting to distract herself to ease her conscious.

Slowly Luna lifted herself off the cart and began to gravitate down to gathering crowd of on-looking ponies. Her landing was as graceful as it was perfect. She flipped the hood of her cloak back as a single lightning bolt cheered, celebrating her arrival.

Remember, smile, as she force a proud and triumphant smile on her face. Her legion bowed before her. Ah, just as planned. She slowly approached the ponies bowing before her and her cloak faded to a flock of bats as she spread her delicate wings. Nice touch Luna, that’s sure to impress them. She proudly congratulated herself. And now for the Royal Address...

Oh my, there are so many ponies watching us. Luna thought as she surveyed her subjects. Her stomach began to churn as her anxiety grew more and more apparent. It’s okay Luna, just close your eyes, and give your speech. Start strong and then soften up. Let them you have good intentions know you care about their feelings. Unify the ponies under yourself and promise them a bright and glorious feast for the celebration. Ah, that wasn’t so bad. Surely it must have been well received, as Our subjects are speechless! Now, eyes open!

Luna had thought out her entire approach and had given a flawless speech. She couldn’t be more proud of herself. As she opened her eyes, however, she did not find what she expected. Her subjects hadn’t been bowing to her. They had been cowering before her…

“Did you hear that everypony? Nightmare Moon says she’s gunna feast on us all! AHHHHH!!!!” Pinkie Pie screamed, terrorizing the foals she had been protecting and sending them off in another stampede.

What is the meaning of this?! We have done nothing to neither harm nor threaten the children and yet Laughter turns them against Us? Why? Why would an element do such a thing? This is not what we wanted at all! Luna stomped her hoof at the pony cowering before her. A sharp feeling of resent ran through her body.

Surely the one they call Mayor Mare, leader of Ponyville will understand Our situation and knows of the Royal Canterlot Greeting. We shall address her. Luna extended her hoof to the mayor, whose only reply was to further cower before her. The princess was shocked and saddened by her lack of procedure. Turning to her secretary, she demanded the same, but she replied by cowering as well.

“What is the matter with you?” she blurted out as she directed her hooves at the other ponies who all replied with the same cower of fear. A mix of disappointment and shame overtook her. “Very well then, be that way! We won’t even bother with traditional Royal Farewell”

Luna would have been greatly angered and frustrated if she wasn’t so crushed by the events. Clearly they hadn’t forgiven her for her mistakes at the Grand Galloping Gala and still hated her. Not only that, but most had still considered her the monster that is Nightmare Moon?

How dare they…

She trotted off, back into the Everfree Forest. The devastated alicorn just wanted to be alone to wallow. She followed the path through the forest they had flown over earlier, recounting the things she had witnessed at the landmark ahead and how she had barely managed to survive the chariot ride into to, just to be feared and resented all over again. It was not long before she came upon the statue of the monster she once was. A lone piece of candy had been left before it, a single offering to her. She lay down in front of the statue, poking and prodding at the single gift and considering what had just happened.

They created this night in hopes of Our return, but now that We have returned, they no longer want Us. In their eyes, We haven’t changed at all. She looked up at the statue, her resolve greatly weakened and her heart broken down. Are we truly still the same monster to them? What shall We do with Ourselves? Nopony wants Us anymore. If only he…

“Don’t give up hope…”

Luna was started by the foreign though that echoed through her mind. The voice it spoke in was so warm, so familiar to her, and yet so distant. Like it had been long gone, but somehow continued to resonate within. She perked up immediately, as she also became aware of another presence nearing the clearing. Someone had followed her. Probably to chase us off she thought, as she continued to play with the small candy. Slowly, the sound of jiggling bells approached her.

“Princess Luna?” It called out to Luna. An annoyed look came upon her face. “Hi, my name is…”

“Star Swirl the Bearded. Commendable costume, thou even got the bells right.” Luna passed the empty compliment along to the small lavender pony. She couldn’t believe what was before her eyes. Someone had actually donned a costume and dared to imitate his likeness. Luna was not amused in the slightest.

“Thank you! Finally, somepony who gets my costume!” The surprised and delighted mare replied to her, looking back at her handiwork. She was so greatly pleased with herself that she had missed Luna’s sarcasm altogether.

Twilight turned back to Luna, who shot back with a deeply sorrowful gaze. Something gravely bothered the alicorn before her, but without any way to truly tell what, Twilight simply kept her mouth shut. A moment of silence passed between the two.

“Uh… I just came to welcome you to our celebration.” The small mare approached her cautiously. “My actual name is…”

“Twilight Sparkle.” she interrupted once more. Seeing Twilight close up had become hard for Luna to bear. Memories began to return as her sadness deepened.

“It was thou who unleashed the powers of Harmony upon us and took away our dark powers!” Luna howled as she rose into the air. Once again clouds had formed behind her presence as gusts of wind violently blew around her. What is with this strange weather?

The miniature mare had been blown back by her Canterlot Voice and was adjusting her disjointed hat. “…and that was a good thing, right?” she spoke sheepishly.

“But of course! We could not be happier.” Luna replied in a further annoyed tone. “Is that not clear” she scowled as she leaned more towards the slightly cowering mare.

“Well, you kind of sound like you’re yelling at me.” Twilight replied with a grimace, slowly trying to back away and put distance between Luna and herself.

We do not have time to fully lecture her on the importance of The Royal Canterlot voice, our use of The Royal ‘We’, nor Our volume when addressing our subjects! We are wasting our time with this frivolous Element. Look as her appearance is so easily ruffled simply by Our voice! She could never live up to his greatness. Magic… hah. What hath magic to do with friendship in the first…

“You know, that might be why your appearance was met with… mixed results” Twilight interrupted Luna’s thoughts after she had already spoken. “I think if you just change your approach a bit, you might be met with a warmer reception” Twilight had approached the Princess and placed her hoof upon her breastplate.

As the hoof made contact, Luna felt something odd. She wasn’t sure how to put her own hoof on it, but it was the same as when she was alone earlier. It was warm and familiar, reaching to her very body despite the cool steel of her royal breastplate. It sent chills running throughout her entire being. It shocked and startled her. The feeling was too familiar and that made her very uneasy. She looked down at the hoof, shocked and surprised, glaring down Twilight as she pulled her hoof away. The smaller mare obviously realized she had overstepped her boundaries.

“Change our approach?” Luna eyed the mare angrily.

“Lower the volume?” she pleaded in return.

“Oh…” Luna started back dumbstruck. “We have been locked away for a thousand years. We are not sure we can…” her tone changing from annoyance and frustration to anxiety and uncertainty. She looked down wearily at the pony before her.

“I’ve got a plan. If you’ll follow me, I’m sure I know just the pony to help you with your problem.” Twilight smiled.

“We are not so sure about this, Magic. We are still not up to speed with today’s society and our… previous situation has already made it difficult to communicate with others. We are not sure anypony will even be willing to help Us after what happened.” Luna spoke wearily, her heart slowly breaking before her. Her courage to face her subjects had all but left her.

“…” Twilight stood silent at first. “…but I AM willing to help you and I AM somepony!” she spoke sternly. “You’ve had your troubles in the past, I’m sure, but tonight is supposed to be all about you. If there was ever a chance to move on, it’d be tonight!”

Twilight’s words shook Luna where she stood, her jaw slack in surprise. As she marveled at the actions of the lavender pony before her, Twilight only gawked back. There was sincerity in Twilight’s eyes, one that Luna had not seen in over a thousand years. They shone beautifully in the light of the full moon, and they conveyed an unspoken intent of kindness and warmth, sending that feeling through Luna once more. She was right though. If Luna was ever going to get another shot at friendship, it would be tonight. Luna quickly composed herself.

“You wish to help Us after all We have put you through? We shall not accept your pity!” she berated, annoyed by the pony's wisdom beyond her age, but at the same time dealing with mixed emotions.

“Well… believe it or not Luna, I was in a situation similar to your own.” Twilight shyly beckoned as Luna leaned closer, listening intently. “You see, when I was just a filly I found it rather silly to see how many other ponies I could meet. I had my books to read and didn’t know that I would ever need other ponies to make my life complete… WHERE IS THAT BONGO COMING FROM?!”

“HEEHEE, SORRY TWILIGHT!” Pinkie Pie shot out from a nearby bush, charging off towards town on her hind hooves and flailing her arms like wings. Her giggling eventually trailed off down the path.

Twilight rolled her eyes and turned back to Luna who was still tapping her hoof to the beat Pinkie had set. “Ahem, as I was saying.”

Luna snapped back to an attentive state, a bit embarrassed by how much she had been enjoying the melody. “Sorry, Magic, but was that not Laughter?” she asked

“Huh? Oh, you mean Pinkie Pie? Yea, that was her.”

“How does she…”

“She’s Pinkie Pie, we try to just leave it at that and accept whatever comes of it.” Twilight interrupted with an forced smile on her face.

“Oh…” Luna reared back slightly in confusion.

“Anyways, as I was saying before I was rudely forced into a solo number by somepony!” she looked around angrily, ensuring the coast was clear. “When I first arrived I, too, had trouble making friends here in Ponyville. It was thanks to the kindness of others warming my heart that I was able to meet other ponies. Those are the same ponies who today I am proud to call my ‘best friends’. Now I want to extend to you the same kindness and show you the magic of friendship!”

Twilight extended her hoof to Luna, tilting her head and lending a soft smile to the distressed princess. The alicorn had been deeply moved by Twilight’s words. She had grown so used to being called a monster and having others fear her judgment that she had forgotten what is was like to have other ponies sincerely care for her. For once, she was being treated as an equal. A pony had made an honest attempt to become friends with her, free of intimidations. Her heart grew warm, but she became equally anxious.

“…very well. We accept your offering of friendship, however, We cannot guarantee the success of your mission. In that regards, We will do our best to change our ways and become acquainted with the customs of today. We humbly thank you, Magic, for your eagerness to assist us in our endeavor. We do request that you withdraw your hoof, as We shall not kiss it when we ourselves have not been properly received.” She replied, brushing the hoof away annoyed.

Twilight withdrew her hoof to her chest, embarrassingly blushing at the misunderstanding. Shying away, she adjusted her ruffled costumed into place again. “R-right... well, that's not what it means anymore, but one step at a time I suppose. Let’s head off shall we?”

“Head off? Where art thou taking Us?”

“Just trust me.” She winked in reply.

With that, the pair took off down the trail, Twilight leading.

Sharing Kindness

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The trot was awkwardly silent as cricket chirps filled the night air once more. The soft beam of fireflies passing between tree lines flirted with the darkness, casting brief beacons of soft, welcoming light on the two. As the light phased in and out, the moonlight path seemed to shimmer with natural lanterns. Twilight’s eyes remained forward and focused, while Luna’s gazed was fixed on the pony leading her. Luna had been admiring the bravery and kindness of the filly before her.

She is so brave, facing Us down in Our most powerful of forms. She stood before us, challenged Us, and saved Us from darkness. Even now she continues to serve, nay help us as a… friend. We cannot believe how fortunate we are to have someone such as her help us…

“Yanno..” Twilight interrupted her thoughts, turning to face the princess, “you can call me Twilight. I know I’m the Element of Magic and all, but I’m not really used to people calling me by that title. I’d much prefer if…”

“Very well Twilight Sparkle.” She rigidly interrupted.

Twilight was startled by the snap and immediately turned around. The night air faded to awkward silence once more.

Smooth move Luna…

The two continued to walk through the Everfree Forest. It had seemed so quiet and calm during the night, when most of the dangerous creatures were resting. Luna had taken the time to fully enjoy their moonlit stroll, appreciating the softness and kindness of the night. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the foliage and parted the manes of the trotting ponies gently. The light of the stars she had raised created soft shapes on the ground as they shone through the thick brush of the trees. The ground was soft and cool, folding beneath their hooves. Fireflies continued to float about the trees, their light blooming around the two. It was almost romantic. Luna continued to admire the beauty of the mare she had been following, failing to realize they had changed direction and were not heading towards town.

“We’re almost there. Her cottage is just up ahead!” Twilight excitedly said.

“Who is it again we are seeking?” Luna spoke with a vexed tone.

“You know her as The Element of Kindness. She should be able to help you with your little… volume problem.” she said giggling a bit.

“Kindness… they are the one called Rainbow Dash, correct?”

“PFFFFT AHAHAHA” Twilight’s abrupt cackle filled the quiet night air.

“Wh-what?! We do not understand! What is so humorous?!” Luna demanded.

“S-sorry Princess*cuckle*, but Kindness is named Fluttershy. I’m sorry, but *pffft* Rainbow Dash*chortle* as Kindness? BWAHAHAHA!” Twilight continued to laugh.

“THOU NEED NOT HUMILIATE US IN SUCH A WAY FOR OUR FEEBLE MISTAKE! WE HAVE BARELY BEGUN OUR ENDEAVOUR FOR FRIENDSHIP AND ALREADY IT APPEARS TO BE A MISTAKE!” Luna scowled in great anger and humiliation.

Twilight immediately ceased her laughter and turned to the Princess, staring deeply into her eyes. “I-I’m so sorry Luna, I didn’t mean to laugh like that! I only meant to share a laugh with you! I would never ever make fun of you for such a thing, I pinkie promise. Please don’t be upset.” Twilight’s ears had folded back and she had looked greatly concerned, even pouting a little.

Luna was surprised by her reaction and reeled a bit at the notion, rearing one hoof to her breastplate. It was not as though the mare before he was cowering, but rather begging forgiveness. “I-it is… okay, Twilight Sparkle. We did not know of your… intentions. Please, forgive Our mistake, as We may have overacted a bit as well. We are still learning such things.”

“Of course I can forgive you” she spoke softly to the alicorn, lifting her head with hope. “That’s what friends are for!” a soft smile slowly came upon her face as she comforted Luna and she immediately perked up.

Friends…

“Now then, Fluttershy was it? You are sure she can help Us with Our volume problem?”

“Don’t worry Princess, Fluttershy can give you some great pointers! She’s delicate and demure with the sweetest little voice…”

*knock knock*

“GO AWAY! NO CANDY HERE! VISITORS NOT WELCOME ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!!!” a brash voice bellowed from inside the house.

Luna passed an agitate look towards Twilight.

“Eh-heheh.” Twilight forced a laugh.

Art thou serious?! Somepony like that is supposed to help us? They clearly have a problem worse than our own! Just listen to their howls! It is as though Nightmare Night were conducting her as well! I can’t believe I put so much faith in this pony. I knew this was a foolish idea... Just what is Magic trying to do now, summon that demon spawn that is supposed to be Kindness? Dear sister, we can hardly bare to watch this unfold before our very eyes.

Luna was lost in her thoughts, silently observing Twilight approach the door and speak through it to somepony inside while listing off the possibilities of how horribly she knew this night would end. Slowly, the wooden door before them crept open and a small Pegasus pony with a soft pink mane peeked her head out.

“It is you… ah, and Nightmare Moon. *GASP* NIGHTMARE MOON?! GAAAAAAH!”

*SLAM*

Luna gazed angrily at Twilight once more.

“Ahahah, eh-, wait right here.” Twilight requested of the obviously annoyed princess, to which Luna rolled her eyes.

Strange noises and rustling could be heard coming from within the small cottage on the outskirt of Ponyville. Luna simply stood there with a dulled expression on her face, boringly awaiting the return of her so called friend. Was that a goat… and a horse? What could she possibly be doing in ther… oh my. How crude!

“F-fluttershy!” Twilight emerged pushing the yellow Pegasus pony in front of her as the door swung open once more. “You remember Princess Luna.”

“Charmed.” Luna spoke, offering her hoof to be greeted.

The frightened yellow mare instantly fled back into the cottage, returning Luna’s dull look to her face one more. It was slowly becoming apparent to Luna that Kindness was not so kind at all and would be no help in their quest. Twilight, on the other hand, angrily cast her levitation magic on the poor mare to lift her outside once more.

Fluttershy appeared before the Princess again, attempting to flee. It was of no use though, as Twilight’s aura had left her defenseless. She tried to hide he face under her hooves, but Twilight used the aura to spin her around and face Luna.

“likewise” Fluttershy whimpered with an expression of fear and anxiety, but mostly fear.

Luna sternly gazed upon the mare, sizing her up. She had a noticeable expression of fear and anguish as Luna looked upon her. The sheer volume of the pony’s voluptuous mane had also surprise Luna. Nonetheless, Luna was not pleased with what she saw. From the looks of things, this little filly would be of no use to her.

She is so meek and frail, failing to even greet us properly! How could she ever hold the power to wield an Element, let alone be Kindness? From what we have seen so far this pony is anything but. I suppose We should at least be willing to try and cooperate since Magic is so intent on aiding us…

“TWILIGHT SPAKLE HAS SPOKEN OF THE SWEETNESS OF THY VOICE. WE ASK THOU TEACHETH US TO SPEAK AS THOU SPEAKETH!” Luna howled with a conflicted expression.

“okay…” the mare on her back whimpered softly

Look at her cower before us. How pathetic. She lacks even the strength to muster a proper response. Hah, We think We shall have a bit of fun with this one...

“HOW IS THIS?!” Luna continued to howl at the terrified mare, secretly enjoying tormenting the poor soul. She grinned as she came closer and closer to her, employing an intimidating glare.

“Perfect, lesson’s over.” The mare caved, saying anything to save herself from the horrifying clutches of the dark alicorn towering over her. Speeding toward her home just as quickly as before, she immediately slammed face first into the door Twilight had closed.

Honestly! We have accomplished nothing! This pathetic excuse for an element has just continued to cower before us. We have made no progress in controlling our voice and she even refuses to aid us. Such a waste of time this night is turning out to be! We knew We should have just stayed home and kept to Ourself! Magic, you will pay for such insol…

“A little quieter, Princess.” Twilight spoke, doing her best to cover for the friend.

Luna flinched in surprise. Was Magic really still trying to help her? Could she not tell that she had been intentionally afflicting her friend and fellow Element? Honestly, how dense is this mare?

“How is… THIS?” Luna rolled her eyes, only continuing to humor the situation. She had grown slightly concerned over how dark her thoughts had gradually become and, truth be told, toning her voice was the last thing on her mind.

“Better, right Fluttershy?” Twilight inquired, turning back to the mare stuck to the door.

“Huhuhu, Yes.” The mare fearfully replied, attempting to regain her sense and peel herself from her own door.

“HOW…ABOUT…NOW?” Luna spoke, craning her neck and straining her throat while emphasizing each word. Clearly this is more difficult than We previously imagined.

“Now you’re getting it!” Twilight grew more excited, her eyes lighting up.

“…and how about now?” Luna apprehensively lifted her hoof toward the lavender unicorn, gazing longingly into her deep violet eyes.

“Yes, well done!” Twilight triumphantly congratulated the Princess.

Luna’s mood had changed quicker than she could realize, replacing itself with a glow joy and happiness as a huge smile came upon her face. She sat on her haunches and pressed her hooves to her cheeks, congratulating herself on her monumental accomplishment. This was her first step towards winning the kingdom over once more and she had finally taken a step in the right direction.

She had never been so happily congratulated for her accomplishments in her life! She had always heard phrases like “good job” and “nice work”, but they never carried any meaning to her, only that they confirmed the she was able to do what was expected of her. Other times it was ponies complimenting her out of fear. It was as though she was finally receiving the heartfelt praise she had been longing for. She was overcome with emotion. She took a moment to smile back at the two ponies who had just helped her accomplish the feat, nearing the brink of tears. Fluttershy was still lying on the ground, dazed and confused, while Twilight was beaming back at her. For the first time in a long time, Luna felt as though she had actually friends. The poor alicorn simply didn’t know what to do with herself, so she did the first thing she could imagine friends do to each other.

“I thank thee dear Fluttershy!” She shouted, levitating Kindness over to herself and embraced her over each shoulder. “Our normal speaking voice shall surely win us the hearts of thy fellow villagers!”

Luna continued to hug the shocked mare, enjoying the warmth of her limp body as she pressed against her tighter with each hug. She had become so preoccupied with thanking Fluttershy that she had thrown her royal composure completely out the window. At the same time, a familiar group of ponies was approaching the cottage. They were off seeking refuge from a devious monster that had been stalking the night for ages, always hunting for its next meal.

“Fluttershy you’ve gotta hide us! Nightmare Moon is here and… *bakawk*” Pinkie Pie interrupted herself. “AH, SHE’S STOLEN FLUTTERSHY’S VOICE SO SHE CAN’T SCREAM WHEN SHE GOBBLES HER UP”

Pinkie Pie took off screaming for town, frightening the group of foals she had been leading once more into blindly fleeing from the princess.

“NAY, CHILDREN, WAIT!” Luna barked, a pulse of angst rippling within, only to regain composure at the horror of realizing the mistake of the lesson she had just learned. “…I mean. Nay, children, wait!” she longingly beckoned once more, her plea only to fall upon deaf ears. She pressed her hooves to head chest and hung her head in shame.

Twilight watched the events unfold, shocked at first at Luna’s relapse, but quickly cheering upon seeing her honest second attempt. “C’mon Princess, time for Plan B!” she confidently spoke to the down-trodden alicorn.

Luna looked back at Twilight, her heart crushed once more. This time she really felt like crying, but for the wrong reasons. Twilight’s face turned to concern once more.

“Please Princess Luna, I know it’s hard now, but I promise I’ll help you.”

“Y-you promise?” the alicorn sniveled back.

“Of course, after all, that’s what friends are for!”

Friends…

The word echoed through Luna’s body and soul, breathing life once more into the downtrodden mare. Luna simply got up and smiled at Twilight as the smaller mare approached her. Luna’s body shook as she was surprised with an embrace from the little pony. She could feel herself calming as a soothing rush came over her. It quickly turned to strange feeling she was no longer accustomed to. It sent shivers down her spine, like ones she had felt before. She shut her eyes as the embrace deepened. Luna wanted to cherish the moment and what I reminded her of.

Is this what it’s like to have ‘friends’? Magic continues to throw the term about as though it is nothing to her, and yet, We feel as though it does mean something special. It has been so long since then that We can hardly remember anymore. It has been so long since We last saw him…

“I care about you Luna.” She whispered into the princess’ mane, the mumbling of her muzzle setting tingles down Luna’s neck. “You are, after all, kind of the reason I met all my friends in the first place. I want to help you now too. Now c’mon, let’s head into town. I know who we should see next.”

“Very well, Twilight, we place ourselves in your clearly capable hooves.” She said as Twilight broke the hug and stared back up at her with a smile.

The two spent just a moment smiling at each other before Luna realized she was beginning to glow from blushing at the caring mare. She quickly averted her stare, hiding her face in her mane to Twilight’s surprise. Slowly, they started their way across the path back to Ponyville. Luna had felt quite a bit better from the comforting moment.

“wait”

It was quite different from anything she had experienced in a long time, and it brought great warmth to her heart.

“waaaaait”

Luna felt the courage slowly return to her body as she smiled gently at the mare trotting next to her.

“WAAAAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTT!” the voice boomed from behind them causing them both to fly muzzle first into the cold night soil.

The two ponies dug up their faces from the ground, soil and foliage still covering their muzzles, and spun around to see sweet little Fluttershy embarrassingly circling the ground with her hoof. The meek yellow mare gracefully lofted toward Luna once she had their attention. As she drew close, she began brushing the dirt off Luna’s muzzle. Fluttershy cradled her muzzle, lifting the Princess’ eyes to meet her own.

“I… I’m sorry Princess Luna. I don’t know what came over me. Since Twilight came to me, saying you were looking for help… I should have trusted her more.” She winced away in shame. “Twilight explained some things to me and… It must be very hard for you. Trust me, I know what it’s like trying to fit in. I had so much trouble as a filly, and it made me so sad… I should have been kinder… I should have lived up to the Element I don’t deserve and…” the mare stopped herself, bangs hiding a trailing tear, as her face scrunched to fight back the bawling. Twilight stepped forward to comfort the softly sobbing filly, placing her hoof on her and looking back at Luna with worry.

“It is understandable, Kindness. We certainly have a rather checkered past as well.” Luna said in weakening tone, bending under the guilt of seeing the Pegasus crying before her. “Since Our return, we have not received so much as a friendly hello from our subjects and the crudeness of it all certainly hasn’t helped with Our recovery from Our condition…” she trailed off.

“Condition?” the two mares shot back in unison, eyeing Luna with worry.

Luna described to them the events preceding her return. How she had struggle to feel welcome at home once more. How her side of the castle had felt so cold and empty. How poorly the other ponies had treated her and how none dared to visit save Royal messengers. How every day she faced physical therapy and still felt very weak despite several months of “progress”. How she would likely never return to her full state, and flying may never come to her naturally again. The ponies looked away, facing the ground, unsure of how they could even begin to comfort the troubled princess. Luna had difficulty facing them herself.

Fluttershy lifted her head, pushing back the tears with her hooves. She stared at the tormented alicorn before her who wearily lifted her own head to look back. Without saying a word, Fluttershy burst off at full speed for the princess, attempting to tackle her down, but only causing her to violently shake as she held her ground. The small pony began crying hysterically into Luna’s mane. Luna was hardly shaken from the moment, but immediately became paralyzed at the clinging pony’s reaction.

“Oh, you poor dear! Thing’s must have really been awful for you, and without friends to be there for you either! I know exactly how you feel. It’s so hard to face the world sometimes. It seems like it just doesn’t want to cut you a break. You honestly try your dear little heart and you get nothing it return. It must have been so terrible without anypony to stand by you!” the mare cried like crazy into the now damp mane.

“It has…” she replied solemnly.

“Well don’t you worry any longer,” Fluttershy said, looking up at Luna with tears running down her muzzle. “I’ll be there to help you from now on. You just needed somepony to listen to you is all. Well you can count on me! I’ll do everything I can for you. I can even help you with your condition too… I mean… if that’s okay.” Fluttershy let go of Luna abruptly, landing gently beside her. She immediately hid her face once again, embarrassed by her outburst.

“R-really? Thou art willing to aid us as well?” Luna leaned in closer, anticipating her reply.

“Of course. Why, I’m quite the skilled massage therapist. I typically work with just the animals of the forest, but Rainbow Dash says my technique with her wings massage is quite ama… eep!”

Luna and Twilight looked at each other, shocked, and then turned to the beet red Pegasus filly.

“Oh please, please, please, please, please don’t tell her I told you girls! If she found out I accidentally let her secret about loving wing massages, she’d be absolutely furious! Her reputation would be ruined and it’d be entirely my fault!” Fluttershy begged, nearly sobbing again.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy, we won’t tell anypony, Pinkie promise.” Twilight replied calmly, going through all the motions. Luna only nodded in agreement, examining her own hoof before accidentally sticking it into her own eye as an attempt to mimic Twilight.

Ouch!

“Oh thank you so much girls. I really want things to work between us and… EEP!” the mare burst out again, shoving her hoof in her mouth.

“It’s okay Fluttershy, your secret’s safe with Luna too.” Twilight spoke, rolling her eyes at the repeated mistakes of the filly. “You can tell the other girls when you’re ready, just don’t keep them waiting forever.”

Fluttershy smiled as she shied away, her bangs once again hiding her blushing face. She turned to Luna. “Feel free to drop by any time… you know… if you’d like… and I’d be glad to see how much my massage’s could help... if that’s okay. Or… you know… if you’d just like somepony to talk to. Not that you need to or anything. I mean…”

“Thank you Kindne… We mean Fluttershy,” Luna interrupted the stammering pony before she could further embarrass herself. “We are extremely grateful. We gladly accept your offer and will return on the morrow in hopes of speeding our recovery. We are not sure how we can properly thank you, but we must apologize.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“We were previously having fun at your expense during our lessons, and failed to take them seriously. We took you to be a jest, and that one so meek such as yourself would never be able to help us. Clearly we misjudged you and you should not have received such a treatment when you have made your intent to help clear…”

The goldenrod Pegasus sunk to her haunches, attempting to recount the event. She appeared upset and sat there until she hesitantly spoke again. “It’s okay, Luna, it was just a little joke, right? I mean… there’s no way you could be sure I even truly was an Element, so it’s only fair you be hard on me to be sure... I’m not even all that great either…”

“Fluttershy, We are truly sorry. We meant not to harm you so. It has become clear that We were the fool in this jest.” Luna turned away in shame.

“Luna… I think I can forgive you… I mean… If you can be willing to give me another shot to prove I am worthy of my Element. You know… if that’s okay…” the filly reluctantly spoke, kicking around some dirt.

“Of course We can Fluttershy, but thou hast already proven thine self in Our eyes. Thou hast shown us kindness in the face of unrelenting opposition. We require no further demonstration of your worth and wholeheartedly believe you truly are capable of harnessing your element. We only hope you can truly forgive Us as well”

“Oh, of course I could. I mean… I could never stay mad at someone like you. That’s what friends are for!” the filly hugged her.

Friends…

The words shook Luna once more. As soon as the fluttering mare let go of the princess, she began to drift away as the two ponies cleaned themselves off. Luna had sufficiently dried the tears from her mane as they bid Fluttershy farewell. Fluttershy gently floated back to her cottage, quietly closing the door behind her. The two ponies turned to each other, Twilight smiling with joy for her friend and Luna beaming with triumph, and then they began their long trot back into town. The night was still young, after all, and there was work to be done.

Honestly Promising

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The night went on as Twilight Sparkle continued to work hard to teach Luna the ways of friendship. Restoring honor to Luna's name would clearly not be easy, as the dark princess had encountered many obstacles already. However, thanks to her lavender companion and her fellow Element, Fluttershy, Luna was finally taking a step in the right direction. Kindness and Magic had shared with her their wisdom on pony etiquette and use of speechcraft. Luna was quite proud of the fact that she had learned so quickly. It had given her the lift she so dearly needed since that terrible night she had experienced at the Gala. She was so thrilled, in fact, that the alicorn was nearly skipping into town. The unwavering desire to help from her newly found friends had restored her hopes once more.

“My, you seem quite energetic tonight Princess,” Twilight cheerfully spoke.

“We seem to be unable to contain ourselves, Twilight Sparkle. We are eager to try our recently acquired skills upon the residents of Ponyville!” Luna cheered back.

“Well, that’s great Princess Luna. I knew we’d be able to cheer you up!”

“Yes! Oh, look, We near town once more!” Luna nearly burst into a run when she saw the lights through the tree-line.

The celebration was in full swing once more, despite the Princess’s previous disruption. It seemed the ponies of Ponyville were determined not to let a single mishap derail their entire Festival of the Night. The sounds of pumpkins smashing could be heard in the distance and the music of the band and cheering of the crowd grew louder and louder as they began their approach. The town was alive with festivity once more, and it was just as beautiful as when Luna had seen it earlier.

Luna was once again taking in the sights as they approached the town. It never ceased to amaze her how beautiful the small village looked under the moonlight, but when it glowed with life it was far better than she could have ever imagine. The soft orange lights from the lanterns bathed her in a welcoming splendor. The costumes and decorations, despite their dark and sinister natures, also brought her comfort. What was most important to her, however, were the ponies celebrating.

“We have never seen such a thing in our time. It pleases Us greatly!” Luna spoke to Twilight, gawking at the décor.

“Oh, that’s right, they didn’t begin celebrating Nightmare Night until after…” Twilight stopped mid-sentence, swallowing her words.

Luna looked over at her, seeing her fearful expression. The scrunch on the unicorn’s face had somewhat upset her. She knew Twilight meant no harm, but hearing about her banishment still brought up painful memories. Luna’s own expression faded to distress as she began to reflect on her past. Twilight could only anxiously look away, realizing the mistake she had made.

“Princess Luna, I…”

“No, Twilight, it is okay. We are just… pleased We can enjoy this night as it was meant to be now.” Yes, that’s it… I mean, they throw this celebration in honor of me right? We should be happy. Yes, happy. Now if only I can win over all the other pon…

*SLAM*

Colliding with an unknown object, Luna flinched and shook as something crashed before her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The pony spoke, dusting her witch costume off as she rose to her feet.

“Oh no, We are unharmed and…” Luna started.

“EUUUWAAAAHUHUHU!” the pony cried out as it jumped to the side and cowered in fear before the towering princess.

The music and cheering ground to a halt as the horrified onlookers of Ponyville gawked in disturbing silence at the scene unfolding before them. As Luna and Twilight continued their trot into town, more and more ponies screamed in terror and cowered before the princess in the same manner, not even so much as giving her a chance to speak, while the rest stood paralyzed with fear. Luna was doing her best to remain strong as Kindness had before her, but her will was faltering with each falling pony.

“It is of no use Twilight Sparkle. They have never liked us, and they never shall…” Luna spoke as her emotions tore between disappointment and frustration. She felt a cringe in her chest as an uneasy feeling rippled through her veins.

“My friend Applejack is one of the most likable ponies around. I’m sure she’ll have some ideas,” Twilight spoke, remaining so optimistic that it, too, annoyed the princess.

Ahead, Luna viewed a brilliant orange pony with a long blonde mane. She was dressed similarly to Octavia, a scarecrow. However, this mare’s costume seemed much more… simple. It was clearly a torn and patched potato sack thrown over her with some bits of hay in her outfit and mane to add to the effect. Not much effort, yet yielding a similar effect. For some odd reason, it amused Luna slightly.

So this must be Honesty… If We remember what sister has told Us correctly, she lives in Sweet Apple Acres tending her farm as well as her family. It must be hard for her to care for so many ponies at once and find time for herself as well. It’s such a shame for a filly to lose her parents at such a young age. Surely she must be strong and courageous from her tribulations. Perhaps she understands what Our hardships are like and does have some useful advice for Us. We must be kinder to this Element if we wish for everything to go smoothly.

“GUUUWAAAAH!” the mare shouted as she spun around to come face to face with the Princess of the Night. Applejack, too, fell to her hooves, cowering.

So much for being strong and courageous. Luna thought as she gave Twilight another unamused glare, urging her to speak to her cowering friend.

“Uhhh…” Twilight spoke, clearing her throat. “Applejack! The Princess is looking for a little advice on how to fit in around here.”

“Fit in? Really?” AJ shot back at her as though it were a foolish request she couldn’t believe herself. Her tone quickly changed when Twilight angrily growled at her. “Ah mean.. uhuh, that’s easy. All you gotta do is have tha right attitude…”

This mare is so quick to change face! How could she possibly be Honesty? Luna thought as the Mare-Crow approached her with an unrelenting barrage of advice, spastically appearing around her from all angles. Loosen what? Be who? Play? What is this play? Have what?! Ugh, this mare is speaking so quickly and is using so many unfamiliar terms that We cannot understand half of the words she says! How is it she is appearing everywhere around Us too! We thought only Laughter was capable of such feats. Grrrr… calm yourself Luna. Start with the last thing she said, since it was all We caught.

“Fun? What is this ‘fun’ thou speakest of?” Luna asked, doing her best to remain calm and keep up with the pacing of the speeding mare.

The two mares did not speak, but instead, pointed their hooves in the direction of a table. Luna approached the stand to discover imitation arachnids and other decorations populating festive bowls resembling pumpkins. The table only further confused Luna. These decorations are quite nice, but We still do not have any further understanding of this ‘fun’.

“Pray tell, what purpose do these serve?” She asked openly, expecting either Element to reply with an explanation. Instead, she heard a soft, cowering voice speak. It was a small mare trembling next to the table. She was dressed as a bee and covered her eyes as she shivered and spoke. The speaker’s unannounced reply somewhat annoyed the Princess, causing her to give the pon-bee an angered look.

We were not addressing you, you insolent bumblebee. Why, your very costume offends the tradition of our celebration! She thought angrily as the mare explained herself.

“Try… to land… the sp-sp-spiders on the web,” the mare spoke, directing her attention to a large net arranged to look like a spider web.

Luna smiled a bit inside, reveling in how playfully entertaining the decoration was. It resembled a spider’s nest a great deal, and this pleased her. The large, obviously false, black widow at the top of the net was also a nice touch. With as much grace and poise as she could muster, Luna picked up a plush spider and gently lobbed it towards the net. It fell several hooves short, bouncing only slightly closer due to its momentum.

Oh no, we have failed… Surely the Elements, nay, all of Ponyville will mock our shortcoming. We shall no longer be feared, but instead, become a laughing stock! Luna anxiously looked back to the two Elements for their reactions, but they hadn’t been ready to taunt nor tease her. It seemed much the opposite instead.

“You can do it, Princess!” Applejack shouted as the two ponies approvingly supervised her.

Luna turned and faced her trial once more, this time undaunted by her failure and determined to claim victory over the impudent foal toy. With the desire for revenge on her mind, she collected a spider once more. She drew herself inward, cradling the offending plush, and with a boastful grin, hurled the offender at the net. It landed smack-dab in the middle of the faux web, sticking soundly as the net bounced back and forth. Luna reared in surprise at her triumph, eyes widened and mouth agape.

“Ha! Your Princess enjoys this… fun.” She became aware of her expression and quickly dulled herself to regain a regal composure. “In what other ways may we experience it?” She asked, arrogantly lifting her head above the rest while trying to contain her excitement. The two Elements before her just smiled at each other.

“I’ve got the perfect idea Princess,” Twilight remarked with a growing smirk.

“Oh?” Luna questioned.

“I have some crossword puzzles back at the library which are simply a blast!” she replied, throwing her hooves open in excitement.

“…what?” both Luna and Apple Jack shot back together, lowering their heads and staring at twilight stupidly. Twilight pouted in disappointment and lowered herself in embarrassment.

“Yer idea’s all well n good Twi’, but ah think we can find somethin’ more, err… suitable fer the Princess’ tastes here at the festival.” AJ replied with a big grin, attempting to restore her dear friend’s spirits.

“Yeah… I suppose you’re right.” Twilight said, biting her lip.

“It is okay Twilight Sparkle. We can visit your library another time.” Luna reassured the upset mare, her expression quickly changing back to the pleased smile she usually carried.

Twilight’s spirits rose once more as they continued on their way towards Town Square. The streets were lined with vending booths of all shapes and sizes. The alley was bright with trinkets, lighting the displays as though the stars had come from the night sky itself to join in the festivities. Barely lit by lanterns and candles, the trinkets and bobbles were glinting and glowing all around, each new stand catching Luna’s inquisitive gaze. She had never seen so many curious objects on display so before. Luna couldn’t help but gawk at every passing stand. Each store was like a window into another world, drawing her attention to each dazzling individual piece. Their glows shimmered and bounced off their surfaces, trailing countless brilliant sheens on both the objects and the alicorn’s glimmering blue eyes. Twilight couldn’t help but notice Luna’s eyes light up with each passing tent.

“Would you like something to commemorate this night Luna?” Twilight asked, smiling.

“Hmm… we are not sure what many of these things are. Making a selection would be quite…” the princess stopped mid sentence, halting her pace as a particular stand caught her eye.

The two Elements quickly turned when they realized they had lost the alicorn. Turning back they came upon Luna being drawn to a small shack covered adorned with countless crystals and gemstones. Each surface reflected a brilliant light, making even the faintest flicker of a firefly seem like an explosion of light. The three ponies stood there, gawking with their mouths agape in disbelief. Never before had any of them ever seen such a sight. It was breathtaking to say the least.

“Hehe, ah bet if Rare was here, she’d dang near keel over.” AJ chuckled at the thought.

The two mares followed Luna as she was drawn closer to the radiant aura. The light seemed to warm her, its passing sending shivers down her spine. Still, the dancing light was enough to draw anypony’s attention. Both Twilight and Luna had felt, deep down, something far more inspiring about the stones than Applejack could ever hope to realize. The precious jewels were obviously no ordinary gemstones. They had to be much, much more. The group continued to awe at the wares behind the counter, only to slowly become aware of the cloaked merchant grinning at their expressions.

“Greetings my fellow celebrants of the night. My gems seem to have caught your attention, no?” the shadowy pony spoke, hardly visible under its thick, black cloak.

“Indeed…” Luna replied, still overwhelmed by the sight.

“What… are these?” Twilight questioned softly, her eyes also taken by the beauty of the stand.

“You must have an eye for magic. This collection is of very rare substance known as crystalline leystone.” The figure smirked.

“H-how… where did you get all of these?” Twilight asked again, dumbfounded by the sheer number of stones.

“They come from a far away land which I myself am very… accustomed to. It was no small feat to make the trip, but perhaps you lot will make it worth my while.” It spoke in a suggestive tone.

“Ah’m sorry, but am ah missin’ somethin’ here?” AJ uttered bluntly. “Ah mean, sure they’re nice an all, but they just look like regular ol’ gemstones to me.”

“Crystalline leystones are extremely rare and powerful.” Twilight began. “They are almost never found around here, since they can only be mined in territory near the Crystal Empire. They’re said to be used to contain and channel magic far beyond any kind known to Equestria! I’ve read about these, but I’ve never seen one in person before. Only the true elite of mages can harness their power!”

“So y’all mean ta tell me that these here stones have more power than sweet Celestia on the sunrise of the Summer Solstice?” Applejack questioned, challenging her friend’s claim.

“That would technically be right... if the wielder could draw such power from them,” Twilight confirmed her suspicions.

“Land Sakes...” Applejack gasped in awe.

“My, someone must be quite well read to have knowledge of such things.” The figure complimented, causing Twilight to blush. “That is correct. These are from the Crystal Empire itself and they do, in fact, contain quite a bit of power for those who can correctly wield them.”

“Then that would make you... a Crystal Pony, wouldn’t it?” Applejack said to the merchant, in a slightly suspicious and accusatory tone.

“I may be... but that’s not of importance this moment is it?” the merchant spoke elusively, their tone becoming noticeably concerned.

“Well ain’t you shadier than a green snake in tall grass under a big ol’ oak tree in the middle of the day...” Applejack shot angrily at the evasive figure.

“AJ please! You don’t need to be so rude to this... err, pony?” Twilight stopped her friend, even though she was questioning the merchant’s origins herself.

“It is quite alright. You see, it’s true: I am indeed a crystal pony.” It responded, much to the surprise of the group of window shoppers. “However, our reception has been... less than welcoming. So, if it’s all the same, I’d like to keep the cloak on.”

“Why I should say so! Y’all disappear off the face a’ Equestria without so much as a word an...” Applejack continued to argue.

Meanwhile, Luna was too busy ogling the brilliant stones to hear them bicker. The crystal merchant quickly broke away from the fight. Noticing her enticed gaze, the figure pushed a box before her. She reared in surprise when the dealer motioned her to open the small box, but obliged nonetheless. Carefully, Luna lifted the latch off the ornate chest and brought the lid up. Within lay a pendant with a trilliant cut crystal nestled comfortably on its velvet cushion. Its obvious power resonated with the two magic wielders, causing them to stare in wonder.

“I present to you the most precious stone in my possession. While the things you can see in my stand are mere shards and slivers, here you have a thick, solid crystal fashioned into this lovely pendant. Its size and quality can only guarantee greatness from any who can harness it’s potential. Only the best for the Princess of the Night.” It informed them.

Twilight gasped as she leaned closer to the object, eyeing it intently. Her eyes widened at the sight, beautifully shining as they reflected the equally brilliant light of the pendant. Luna had never seen anypony so infatuated with such a thing. She could see the longing and desire for the item in the young unicorn’s eyes. Nothing had tempted Twilight like the glimmer of possibility in that which was considered ancient and powerful, a rare chance to learn about something new.

‘Tis your chance Luna! She bit her lip in apprehension.

“We would like to procure this item.” Luna spoke as softly and politely as she could, maintaining a regal composure. “Name thy price and We shall gladly pay it.”

“Please, take it. Consider this one on the house.” it spoke. “It would do this night in particular a great injustice to charge the very reason we are all here celebrating, would it not?”

The group was taken aback by the generous offer. However, Luna quickly shrugged it off, accepting the gift as nobly as possible.

“Very well then, We thank thee, but this item is not for us.” She spoke, the group staring at her in disbelief.

“Then whom, may I ask, is it intended for?” The shrouded vendor asked for the sake of curiosity.

“Twilight Sparkle…” Luna began, turning to face the stunned Element. “We bestow upon you this pendant of crystalline leystone as a token of our appreciation for the service thou hast provided unto Us on this night. May it also serve you as… a token of our friendship.” Luna spoke with a surprisingly apprehensive and weakened tone, levitating the precious necklace over the shocked unicorn and gently resting it around her neck.

“Princess Luna… I… I can’t accept something like this…” Twilight stuttered in utter disbelief at the insurmountably precious gift she had just been given.

“It’s okay Twilight. Please, We wish to thank thee for thine endeavors.” Luna smiled lovingly at her. The emotionally moved mare only returned the smile.

“…Luna.” Twilight sniffed, suddenly becoming stern and locking eyes with the princess. “I accept this on one term.”

Luna blinked in surprise as she spoke, “That term being…?”

“That you never give up on the friendships you make from here on out, starting with all of us Elements.” Twilight recited confidently.

“Very well, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna replied, smiling with conviction. “We shall never forget the bonds We have forged henceforth.”

“Then I promise to never give up on our friendship as well.” Twilight spoke once more, smiling at the generous alicorn.

The two stood in silence, gazing into each other’s eyes. Luna admired the honesty and sincerity in Twilight’s voice. It sent that feeling coursing through her body once again; A warm sensation that grew more and more familiar as the night wore on. She was beginning to like it, in fact. It no longer caused flashbacks of days long gone, but instead, invoked hopes for a brighter future with her newfound companions. It was the heart and courage Luna needed. It was something to lift her up and give her a new perspective on her return to Equestria. It only warmed Luna now, but she knew she longed for more. Luna could only settle for the comfort of the warmth for the time being, as the cold reality of what was lost could not completely be forgotten.

“Eheheh, Ah don’t mean to interrupt the tender moment b’tween y’all er nothin’,” AJ interjected coarsely, “but we’d best git movin’ if we wanna catch the rest of the festival!”

The two quickly snapped out of their stare, Luna laughing awkwardly and turning to hide the fact that she had been blushing. Behind her waving mane she could spot Twilight reacting similarly. Her heart raced, if only for a moment, begging the alicorn to question the true relationship between them. Luna faced her again, this time with a beaming grin on her face. Twilight shot her a smirk back as they continued their journey into the heart of the town.

Applejack rolled her eyes and turned to the merchant. “Ah guess you ain’t all bad, bein’ all generous an the like. Ah shouldn’t have been so quick bark at ya. Jus’ some bad memories with that ‘n all..” she apologized as best as she could.

“It is understandable, as the crystal ponies did not make a graceful exit either. At any rate, farewell Princess Luna. Please, enjoy the night with your company,” the obscured figure remarked from within its stall.

It wasn’t long before they came upon a mass of carnival style games, each one unique in design, but matching in theme, and the ponies lit up with wonder as they cantered through the lined streets. To Luna’s dismay, though, many of the residents still screamed and fled from her. Open signs were flipped closed upon her arrival and the area cleared out quickly. She let out a deep sigh as they continued to trek past the recently vacated tents.

“Hey y’all, check it out! No lines, eheheh…” Applejack laughed weakly in an attempt to raise Luna’s spirits.

“I suppose that is one way to look at this positively,” Twilight said.

“Yea? Ah mean, yea! Why don’t y’all give a few games a go?” Applejack suggested.

“We suppose it is not entirely out of the question…” Luna spoke hesitantly.

“Don’t you worry yerself Princess, we’ll have more fun than Rainbow Dash at a Wonderbolts show!” Applejack assured her.

The booths had long been deserted by their owners, so the trio were free to try any attraction they pleased. Applejack led the group up to an area that held a pair of horizontally suspended rope ladders. They swung and swayed in the gentle night wind, as if cradling and rocking to sleep an invisible foal; the ladders creaked as they wound and twisted in the cool breeze. Beneath them, there was ample padding to cushion anypony should they fall off. The curious set-up managed to fascinate Luna.

“What exactly are these, Honesty?” Luna asked.

“Well, ya see, us earth ponies can’t exactly fly er do any of that fancy magic stuff, so we gotta rely on good ol’ fashioned hoof strength to climb these here ladders ta reach higher places,” Applejack explained.

“Oooh… We are not familiar with such objects, since our possession of wings would seem to render them rather pointless,” Luna replied. But when she checked her weakly flapping wings, she realized she might as well give these curious contraptions a chance. “But is it not counter-productive to lay them out sideways as such?”

“Well, yea, but these here are only fer fun races. Yanno: see who’s the fastest and has the best balance,” Applejack continued to explain.

So fun can be derived from physical competition as well? How odd… Luna thought, only to have her concentration broken a moment later.

“C’mon Twi!” Applejack invited loudly as she climbed onto a ladder, giving Luna no time to further contemplate this strange new means of attaining ‘fun.’

Twilight joined her, clambering cautiously onto the adjacent ladder. The pair of ponies assumed their positions at the first rungs, each attempting to steady the ladder before they would begin their climbing race. As they readied themselves, the two locked eyes and both began to grin with excitement.

“Ready…” Applejack began.

“Set…” Twilight continued.

“GO!!!” they both shouted in unison.

Applejack took off, her hooves hooking easily onto each rung, her ladder barely swaying at all. She moved so quickly and gracefully across the ladder, it was as though she were a pegasus strutting leisurely across a cloud. It was a quite a sight, seeing such a strong, sturdy mare moving so daintily, although it was really more impressive than comical. As she crossed the final rung, she climbed onto a platform and turned back to check on her opponent’s progress.

Twilight had fared far worse, barely making it to the first step before wildly flailing and flipping her rope ladder over. She had been left hanging upside down, tangled in the mess. Applejack, victorious, laughed heartily at her predicament. Twilight struggled to undo herself, only to fall back-first onto the mats below, with a loud thud. She rolled over and glared up at the pony mocking her, silently replying with a frustrated look.

There was a sudden cough.

The two turned to look at a shy-looking and lonely Luna, coughing at the dust she had stirred up whilst idly drawing a circle in the dirt with her hoof.

“AJ…” Twi urged her friend in a whisper, while wearing a small frown.

“Gosh, ah’m awful sorry we excluded ya Princess Luna. Why don’t you n Twi give it a go?” Applejack said placatingly, quickly hopping from her perch.

“It is okay Honesty. Hehe. We would not fit on such a small ladder anyways,” Luna joked, trying to hide her disappointment at being briefly forgotten.

A short, awkward silence passed, before Twilight raised a suggestion.

“Why don’t we, erm, move on then?” Twilight faked a unconvincing smile. “There’s still plenty more games we can try!”

“Yer right Twi! Let’s go an’ try another game!” Applejack agreed.

The group moved on to the nearest tent. Inside, the abandoned attraction consisted of a trio of barrels set several feet from the counter, each with a small pyramid of stacked bottles on top them. On the counter-top, a small bucket of softballs had been left as well.

“I believe the objective here is to level those precariously placed, triangular constructs of beverage-containers by hurling these spherical projectiles at them,” Twilight said astutely, smiling to congratulate herself for her keen insight.

Luna turned to Applejack, smiling politely but shooting her a confused, almost pleading look. Luckily, Applejack picked up on this immediately.

“*Sigh* She means ya throw this here ball at that stack of bottles an try to knock em down,” Applejack repeated dully.

“Ah,” Luna replied curtly.

Applejack picked up a ball and began to adjust herself on her hind hooves. She shut one eye, sticking out her tongue while she calibrated her aim. Once she was confident in herself, Applejack began to wind up, swinging her foreleg in a circular motion until she let the ball go. It flew directly into the pyramid, sending the bottles flying in all directions. None had been left standing. Applejack proudly stood, hooves on her hips, in a victorious stance. Twilight and Luna both stood in awe and stomped their hooves to applaud Applejack’s feat.

Next up, Twilight assumed the same position as Applejack, although she was making infinitely more calculations in her mind. It was a sure-fire bet that she would be just as successful.

My… she looks so determined. So confident. So… strong. She can be quite the sight to behold.

The lavender unicorn began to wind up, continuing to mimic Applejack’s motions. As she continued to gain momentum, her muscles tensed in anticipation. Twilight patiently anticipated the right moment and… off it went. The ball soared through the air, flying directly towards the target. It flew for what seemed like quite a while, before dropping sharply toward the ground, landing just short of the barrel. All three ponies stood dumbstruck by what they had just witnessed.

Oh my…

“Yeesh Twi, you throw worse than Applebloom!” Applejack joked.

Twilight turned around to see her two friends staring stupidly at her. Her face was flushed with embarrassment and disappointment. Twilight’s lip trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She impulsively galloped to Luna and hid her face in Luna’s flowing mane. Applejack was rather shocked by her reaction.

Oh... ohh... she…

“Aaaahh! I’m so sorry Princess Luna! I didn’t mean to…” Twilight stammered, realizing how she had reacted.

Luna only looked down at her, however, and smiled.

“N-now c’mon you two…” Applejack started, looking rather uncomfortable and stuttering slightly, ”…we can check out some of the other games y’all might be good at.”

Applejack took off without waiting for an answer, leading them in search of their next game. They quickly came to a halt when Applejack stopped suddenly, a beaming smile on her face.

“Hooo Weee! This one here’s one of ma favorites!” Applejack suddenly exclaimed, trotting towards a small fenced area.

The area contained a large bell strapped to a towering plank. Height markers littered the vertical timber with a large block at the top. Presumably, it designed to stop the bell adorned with a crude painting of a large spider from flying clean off.

“What might this contraption be?” Luna curiously examined the attraction.

“It’s a buckin’ bell!” Applejack shouted with glee. “Ya buck this here bell as hard as you can, an a little doohickey goes shootin’ up outta it sos you can measure how hard ya can buck. Why, me an ma brother, Big Mac, used to compete in this when we were foals all the time. That was, until he grew way bigger than me and ah couldn’t beat him anymore. That don’t mean I can’t buck with the best of ‘em mind ya!”

“How curious...” Luna continued to examine it.

“Why dontcha give it a shot Princess Luna, seein’ as this here unicorn ain’t one fer this sorta thing.” Applejack playfully joked at Twilight, who replied with an annoyed glare.

“Just because I’m a unicorn who grew up in a castle with servants doesn’t mean I’m not fit enough to hold my own!” she shot.

“Whoa there sugarcube, ah I was just jokin’. Sorry fer makin’ ya sore though.” Applejack apologized honestly.

“At any rate, Luna can’t be doing this kind of thing.” Twilight continued.

“Well, why not?” Applejack challenged.

Twilight turned to Luna as the princess’ eyes averted in shame. She frowned a little, seeing Luna avoid the question. With a deep sigh, she took the situation into her own hands.

“Luna has been through a lot AJ.” She started, Luna glancing back up at her in surprise. “After the Beam of Harmony struck her, she lost much of her power. Even now she isn’t fully recovered. She cannot gallop or fly well anymore because of the atrophy caused to her body. Physicians and trainers have been of no help to her because of her… past. Fluttershy agreed to help her through massages, but for now there’s not much we can do…” the mare trailed off, biting her lip hard when she realized how helpless she felt.

Luna looked back at Applejack, who narrowly glared at the floor as she kicked up dust. The marecrow appeared to be equally upset and concerned about the situation. Applejack looked up to meet the feeble princess’s eyes, a certain determination on her face. She still carried an upset frown, but her eyes seemed to say so much more.

“Well shoot, ain’t that a shame. Ah’m sorry, Princess Luna. Ah didn’t know, honest.” Applejack said, appearing to be disappointed in herself.

“It is okay, Honesty. We did not expect you to know. We wish for you to keep this a secret, however. Should it be revealed that the Lunar Princess was in such a state… who knows what could happen…” Luna responded in a fearful tone.

“Well of course ah ain’t gunna tell a soul, unless ya want me to Princess...” Applejack spoke with a smile, “but how else are ya workin’ yer way through this? Ah mean, massages can be helpful. They relax muscles, break down the tension... but you gotta rebuild and strengthen them a lil’ too.”

“We are not sure what is meant by all this.” Luna tilted her head in confusion.

“Ah work on a farm Princess. It’s tough, back-breakin’ work, yanno? But it’s also made me one of the best athletes in Equestria. Ah work day-in an day-out, all the while trainin’ fer rodeo shows,” Applejack said in a much more serious tone.

Luna only nodded to show she was listening.

“Why, if you don’t mind stoppin’ in once in a while in your spare time, and ah’m free, ah’d love to help you by becomin’ yer personal trainer!” Applejack cheerfully exclaimed.

“Personal trainer?” Luna tilted in further confusion, feeling her balance slip before correcting herself.

“She means she’ll help you through your recovery by giving you physical tasks to perform. Work around the farm no doubt.” Twilight eyed Applejack suspiciously.

“Ehehehe, well yea, but I ain’t tryin’ to get free labor ‘er nothin’!” AJ blushed.

“But We are sure thou faceth an overbearing load of work regularly. Wouldst thou have the time between training, the orchard, and thine own family?” Luna questioned.

“Nah, if anythin’ you’d be helpin’ us out.” AJ happily replied. “Ah mean, if yer highness doesn’t mind getting a lil’ dirty, then ah’m sure the work around the farm would help ya get back on yer feet!”

“Well… We suppose we do not mind so long as We are not a bother.” Luna questioned her own decision.

“Yee haw! I’m sure it’ll be a hoot, just you watch Princess!” AJ cheered

“…and you’re sure this will help us recover?” Luna questioned the overexcited mare.

“Of course, yer Highness. We’ll start you off on little stuff with Apple Bloom and then have ya work yer way up. The best way to train is by gradually increasin’ yer workload over time after all. Trust me, you’ll enjoy yourself too. Why, me n Apple Bloom er always makin’ games outta everything! I wouldn’t mind gettin’ to know ya better myself either, seein’ as how we never get to spend time together.”

Luna’s smile rose, as did her spirits. Dealing with countless ponies hating and fearing her had become exhausting. It was refreshing to see somepony so excited to spend time with her. Somepony who was eager to have fun with her and at the same time cared for her. Applejack’s enthusiasm shone through most in her personality, but deep down, the honest wish to help others made the mare the Element she was. Luna appreciated both qualities equally. It made her feel appreciated too.

“Let me be honest with ya Princess,” Applejack began, slowly moving closer to Luna. “Ah didn’t think ah could trust ya at the start of this lil’ adventure. Ah was just humorin’ ya for Twi’s sake. But after seein’ the way you carry yourself and how ya treat Twi, well, ah can’t help but feel sorry for ya.”

“Thou thought Us a threat but now thou pitieth Us?” Luna questioned, thoroughly surprised by her words.

“Well yea. I mean, it can’t be easy to clear yer name after somethin’ like Nightmare Moon. And to find out about yer injury like this? I can’t even begin to imagine how ya feel.” Applejack hung her head.

“Mmm…” Luna grumbled, realizing again how bad her situation was.

“When ah was little ah had the ponypox fer a spell. I just had to lay in bed all day. Everypony avoided me and ah couldn’t do a thing for ma-self. Havin’ to rely on Granny Smith to care for me, an’ Big Mac to do all the work on the farm. I ain’t never felt more helpless. Ah imagine yer in the same boat,” Applejack said, reminiscing about her childhood.

“What about thy paren-?” Luna began to ask, not realizing what a sensitive subject she was broaching.

“Ah! Why don’t we head on to the next game!” Twilight rushed to change the subject. It was too late though, as Applejack had already sunk into further sadness.

“It’s okay Twi, ah’ve learned to move on,” Applejack reminded her, bringing her head up to meet Luna’s eyes. “They died when ah was young, Luna. Ah hardly got any memory of em, only ma pa’s hat.” She took off the hat and held it to her chest, taking a moment of silence in respect.

“Oh my… We are terribly sorry, Applejack. We had momentarily forgotten. We did not mean to stir up such painful memories for you,” Luna attempted to apologize.

“It’s okay.” Applejack smiled weakly. “Like ah said, ah’ve moved on. Now I just want to do em proud, yanno? They wouldn’t take too kindly to their kin stiffin’ a Princess in her time of need.”

Applejacks words hardly matched her troubled expression. It was clear she was still hurting inside, although she was doing her best to face the loss. Applejack just stood there, continuing to fidget with her hat. Twilight began to move forward toward her, but was quickly cut off by Luna.

“Dearest Applejack, it is most difficult to deal with such losses. We, too, have little memory of Our parents - and of many others besides. For thousands of years of life tends to only further blur the faces of our loved ones. It is an issue my sister and I must constantly face,” Luna spoke solemnly.

“Goddess, Ah hadn’t considered…” Applejack gasped, finding herself horrified by the thought.

“It is indeed a difficult journey, but we must press on. We stand tall, proud, and we do them all the honor of carrying what they taught us on to future generations. As We teach our subjects love and tolerance, you too must teach your kin and those to follow of the Apple Family legacy. We will both face many obstacles which we must overcome, but should we falter, we must remember what we have learned and pick ourselves up. If we do not, we only do our ancestors a disservice. You are clearly better than that,” Luna lectured Applejack as her eyes starting shimmering and filling with new resolve.

“Y-you’re right Princess. Thank you,” Applejack said, before hugging the alicorn.

She has faced many hurdles, just as We have. Honesty understands the pain of loss and the strength required to carry on. We have spoken with Sister at times about such subjects, but she has grown much more distant to these concepts. So much so that it seems to no longer even phase her... It is relieving to share such sentiments with Honesty. We have earned her trust and her help. We are truly lucky to count such an amazing mare on Our side.

Twilight’s heart swelled with joy as she watched the scene between the two unfold. Few things brought her more happiness than seeing two of her friends becoming closer. She didn’t speak, but only stood there, clasping her forehooves and smiling happily.

“Princess Luna?” somepony asked from afar. “Princess Luna, where have you been?”

Applejack broke from the hug as the trio turned to see who had called out to Luna. They met eyes with a unicorn sporting a breastplate with the seal of the Dawn Guard. She had a beautiful white coat with a golden mane and brilliantly orange eyes, though she seemed more upset at the moment than anything.

“I’m sorry, but just who are you exactly?” Twilight asked, as though the words had been put in her mouth.

“I am a Royal Dawn Guard,” the armored unicorn began, kneeling before the Princess. “My name is Aurora Shine. We have been searching for the Princess, although we did not expect to find her trotting about with two mares who clearly have no respect for the Royal Family! What gives you the right to act so casually around Princess Luna!”

Twilight shied away, frightened by the Dawn Guard’s accusations.

“Now wait here just a second, Miss Aurora!” Applejack stepped forward, nearly butting heads with the unicorn in an attempt to protect her friend. “Just because yer some fancy pants guard don’t mean y’all can just push us common folk around!”

“Well! You may think so, but in all seriousness, the Princess has been missing for ages now!” Aurora shot back.

“You were missing?” Twilight and Applejack asked in unison.

“Well no, not exactly, I-” Luna tried to object, only to be cut off.

“Aurora? Luna!” another voice shouted, drawing the group’s attention. Eventide appeared, quickly trotting up behind Aurora. “What are you doing here, Princess?”

“We were here looking for you, Eventide. We imagined We would encounter you in this place, but our original reception was less than welcoming. Perhaps it was the entrance we made with Noctus and Vesperus…” Luna mused, raising a hoof to her chin.

“Well it’s great to see you here and-“ Eventide started.

“Eventide, mind your manners! Bow before the Princess!” Aurora scolded, interrupting him mid-sentence.

“Such formalities are not necessary; at least not at the moment,” Luna said forgivingly. “As for you, however, Aurora: We will not tolerate such rudeness towards personal guests of the Royal Family!”

“I… they… I am sorry for my insolence Princess. I did not know. Please, forgive me,” Aurora quickly apologized, bowing once more before her sovereign.

“Rise! But do not make the same mistake twice,” Luna commanded.

Aurora Shine stood and turned to Eventide, who was standing beside her. “Even, have you known where Princess Luna was this entire time?” she questioned him.

“Well, not exactly, but for the most part... yes.” He lowered himself a little during this shameful admission.

“Haven’t you been keeping to the castle this whole time, before today?” Twilight asked Luna.

“Well, yes, but we have not been making our Royal Appearances since the Gala…” Luna trailed off. It pained her to remember that horrible night.

“Nopony has seen her or heard from her in months!” Aurora said. “We had no clue she was still there, because the Dusk Guards…” She stopped and looked reproachfully at Eventide again.

“Eventide has been a faithful Dusk Guard for ages. This is not his doing, it is my own!” Luna said firmly, stepping forth to defend him. “We asked for privacy, demanded to be left alone, and Eventide has respected those wishes - yet he continued to visit Us and bring Us food on a daily basis, before his duties began. In truth, We have grown fond of him and consider him a… friend.”

All eyes turned to Luna. Everypony stood in shocked silence; none of them had ever heard her openly admit to considering somepony her friend. Only Eventide wore a huge smile and began to tear up. He immediately ran up to hug the princess, which startled her at first. After the initial shock, however, she returned his hug.

This feeling... it is so nice. So warm and welcoming. It has truly been too long, but he would want this for me. He would want me to move on. He would want me to make new friends.

“Thank you, Luna,” Eventide said, pulling away from the princess. He continued to smile at her.

“Aurora... is she the reason why you were here tonight, Even?” Luna asked suggestively.

Eventide grew bright red. “Wh- How did you…” His eyes widened. ”Noctus and Vesperus!” he exclaimed while stomping his hoof.

“You know, Aurora, he was quite excited when I let him have this night off to see you.” Luna smiled at the Dusk Guard.

“Awww, that’s sweet.” Aurora Shine walked up to Eventide and began nuzzling him. “This is our first date, after he spent months just sending me letters!”

“Eheheh…” Eventide chuckled, growing even more embarrassed.

“Well ain’t you two sweeter than a sugar cupcake dipped in honey,” Applejack complimented them.

“I apologize for earlier. I acted rather rudely, without considering the possibility of you two being her friends,” Aurora Shine guiltily admitted.

“Ah shoot, think nothin’ of it. After all, y’all were just concerned for Princess Luna anyways,” Applejack said, accepting the apology.

“I am especially sorry for what I said to you, Miss…?” Aurora Shine urged herself towards Twilight, who had slunk away and still hid behind Luna.

“She is Twilight Sparkle - my Sister’s personal apprentice,” Luna replied for the intimidated unicorn.

Aurora Shine’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh Goddess, please do not let Celestia know I was so rude to you. She would never forgive me. Oh, the things she does to ponies as punishment…” Aurora Shine cringed, covering her hindquarters.

“It’s okay… I was a bit rude myself,” Twilight spoke as she stepped out from behind the alicorn. “Let’s try a fresh start: it’s nice to meet you, Miss Aurora Shine,” she spoke shyly.

Ohhh, she is simply the cutest thing when she is acting so shy! I can hardly bear it!

“And ah’m Applejack. Nice to meet ya Aurora Shine!” Applejack greeted her.

“Please, call me Aurora.” She smiled at the two.

“And who’s yer cute date, if ya don’t mind me askin’?” Applejack said teasingly.

“Ah! I’m Eventide,” he introduced himself. “Pleased to meet you both.”

“Sorry ta ask, Eventide, but what exactly are ya?” Applejack said, examining his wings and the tips of his ears.”

“Eheheh, well, you see, I’m a bat pony. We live under Equestria, in caves, and never come out during the day. Most of us having been serving under Luna for generations,” Eventide explained.

“Generations? Luna just came back a few years ago, though…” Twilight trailed off into thought as usual.

“Wouldn’t that make ya over a thousand years old?” Applejack asked bluntly.

“Eheheh, well…” Eventide began.

*GURRGLE GURRGLE* Luna’s stomach rumbled loudly, interrupting Eventide. She felt her face flush slightly. “I suppose I am a bit hungry,” she admitted.

“Well then, let’s go get you something to eat, Princess,” Twilight suggested to the famished alicorn.

“Yea, it was nice meetin’ y’all. Hope you two have a good night and enjoy yer date!” Applejack spoke in a cheery tone.

“You two as well,” Aurora agreed. “Have a good evening! Oh, and do take care of Princess Luna. We all worry about her...”

Everypony waved to each other and parted ways. It was a pleasant surprise to Luna just how well they all got along after such a recent conflict. Aurora Shine had come off rather harshly, but quickly seemed to befriend both Elements. And Eventide... well, he was just being his typical self.

If they can make friends so quickly after such a bad start, perhaps there is still hope for me, too.

The trio could still hear Eventide and Aurora playfully bickering as they trotted away.

“You big goof, running up and hugging the Princess like that!” she joked, punching his shoulder. “You’re lucky she goes easy on you!”

“Ouch! Hahaha, hey!” Eventide laughed.

The three ponies all smiled at each other and giggled at the sound of the couple playing around, off in the distance. It was clear to them that somepony would be having a good night...

“Ah’m sure they’ll get along fine. Now let’s git us some eats!” Applejack said loudly.

Twilight and Luna both looked to one another and nodded in agreement. With that, they were off. As the group continued their trot towards the food stands, Luna’s attention was diverted to a line of siege catapults. She observed the other townsfolk as they loaded the catapult with a pumpkin from a pile nearby and flung them at targets off in the distance. The targets were smeared with the juice of the projectiles, but more pumpkins seemed to be smashed on the ground nearby than the targets themselves. A pony landed a direct hit on a target, and the pumpkin exploded into pieces in an awe-inspiring visual display, causing the audience to give off a loud cheer.

“Tell us Twilight Sparkle. Why is it that your people cheer for such violence? Do they not know of the conflicts in which such instruments have been employed?” Luna questioned.

“It’s not that Princess Luna. It has been eons since Equestria has seen a war or even a minor conflict. We have forgotten what those kinds of things were like. Nowadays, this kind of thing is more for entertainment than anything.” Twilight replied.

“We see… perhaps We shall attempt this feat then! If it is ‘fun’ as thou claimeth then We are sure to enjoy ourselves!” Luna spoke with an enthusiastic tone.

“Sounds great Princess! How’s about we git in line then?” AJ spoke.

“Yes, We shall.”

As the Princess of the Night approached the line, the gathering of ponies turned to see who was coming. Shocked, many jumped up and fled the line, while others cowered away with a shy smile on their faces. They slowly crept away, allowing Luna to head to the front. A bit displeased, she continued her approach. Without her realizing, however, a small crowd was forming behind her.

Well, We suppose that is one way to get ahead. However, We must remain optimistic. This time, only a FEW ponies fled from our presence! That is progress! Luna attempted to convince herself as she continued her approach.

“How do We arm this contraption, Twilight Sparkle? Though We have seen it used many a time, we have no experience in using it Ourselves.” Luna asked the mare next to her.

“Well Princess, first you…” she trailed off, speaking some frightening and unintelligible language Luna failed to understand. Only bits seemed to actually even be English. “…and then you account for wind velocity, pulley strength, adjust your calculations, confirm your trajectory, and you’re good to go!” the lavender mare smiled contently at the Princess.

“She means you aim at that here target over yonder, stick the pumpkin in this here bowl, pull it down, and let ‘er go.” AJ spoke dully, rolling her eyes at Twilight’s overly complex explanation.

“Oh…” Luna replied blankly, looking back at the mare pouting about how blunt and simple her friend’s instructions were. We suppose those explanations would suffice.

Luna leaned over the contraption with her forehooves, depressing the holder until it locked in its downward position. It made a clicking noise, confirming the alicorn’s suspicion that it had reached its designed location. Carefully, she checked the pile of pumpkins before selecting the candidate that she felt was just right. Without much other thought, see placed it in the holder.

“Fire away Princess!” She heard Twilight encouragingly shout from behind her.

Luna leaned on the bowl harder, causing it to fall further down, but the surprise resistance from the launching mechanism caused her to launch off the catapult unexpectedly. Regardless, the Princess stood in awe as she watched her pumpkin soar through the air before smashing into a mess directly on the bulls eye of her target.

“Haha! The fun has been doubled!” She cheered, raising her own hoof in joy.

“Wahoo!” “Hooray!” “Yay!” “Wahaaa!” “Yipeee!” the crowd of ponies cheered behind her.

Luna felt herself swell with pride and joy. For once, the residents of Ponyville were cheering for her rather than screaming and running. She felt a huge smile come upon her face as she savored the moment, enjoying every last cheer of glee. The alicorn felt her heart soften as her eyes began to water. This moment in time had meant the world to her. For once, things were going her way. Nothing could bring the proud mare down now.

This must be how sister feels. We have triumphed and conquered yet another challenge and earned the respect and admiration of Our subjects! She thought to herself as she turned to her speaking companion.

“Why don’t ya try bobbin’ fer apples? We got the best apples here in Equestria Princess.” The orange marecrow gleefully boasted.

“I ask that thou calleth us… me… Luna, fair Apple Jack.” She replied, carefully judging and considering each word she spoke, lest she make any more mistakes. “Hear me villagers…” Luna began to proclaim. “… all of you, call me Luna.” She flung her hoof open in a welcoming gesture. The crowd before her roared and cheered in joy as they confirmed and agreed with each other that the Princess of the Night had changed and was not the same monster they had thought she was.

This is it. I have made it! Everyone in Ponyville is beginning to accept me! Oh glorious splendor, thy name is Luna! Never again shall I be feared. Nay, they shall revel and bask in the glory of my beautiful nights. It certainly has been a long night coming, but I am finally getting places! She continued to cheer for herself in her mind, heart racing with adrenaline from the rousing move she had just made to win the hearts of the others.

“Show me to these… bobbing apples…” Luna began to speak, only to cut herself off in a gasp of horror.

The one they call ‘Pip’ is nearly going to fall into that large tub of water and apples! No time to think Luna, you have their attention. Now, win their hearts by becoming… a hero! She thought as she took off as fast as her hooves would carry her.

Nearly becoming an unstoppable stampede on the way, she quickly had to force all of her efforts into stopping before she too would collide with the tub and tumble over into it. As Luna stood near the edge of the tub, she craned her neck over, eyes frantically searching for signs of the small colt. Her eyes quickly spotted the pirate flailing as his body sank beneath the water’s splashing surface. Without thinking, Luna dunked her face beneath the water, snapping on the hind piece of cloth attached to the colt’s pirate costume and pulling him above the surface once again. Her nostrils flared for air as she turned her attention to an alarmingly loud chicken call.

Is that Laughter? She thought to herself, still clenching the colt in her teeth.

“GAAAAAHHHHH! NIGHTMARE MOON IS GOBBLING PIPSQUEAK!!! EVERYPONY RUNNNNNNNN!!!” Pinkie Pie shouted in utter horror at the scene, the group of foals that she had been leading on a massive Trick-or-Treating spree throughout the night panicking and taking off behind her.

“AHHHHH! MY BACKSIDE HAS BEEN GOBBLED!” Pip shouted and screamed, flailing his little hooves as Luna set him down gently. Just as his hooves hit the ground, he took off hollering after his foal friends, leaving Luna horrified and confused behind him.

“Tis a lie! Thou backside is whole and ungobbled thy ungrateful whelp!” Luna shouted in anger as he fled, stomping her forehoof in protest. Lighting struck violently behind her in unison, as though she had commanded the clouds in the sky themselves, and a huge menacing expression had made its way upon her face.

A pulse of hatred and anger ran through her, darkness flaring.

Wh-what is this…?

The angered visage of the Princess caused the crowd of ponies to slowly cower away in fear once more. The villagers either stared, wide-eyed in horror or shut their eyes as they shivered and slunk away. Regardless of the reaction, it was clear that each and everypony feared for their lives. Luna quickly realized the mistake she had made.

“Fair villagers, please do not back away. Let us join together in… fun!” She appealed to the already alarmed townsfolk. Everypony was too horrified to listen, or care for that matter. She had turned from a possibly kind princess into Nightmare Moon in their eyes.

Think Luna, think! We must recover from our outburst, lest Our situation turn dire. She thought to herself, spotting a plush spider on the ground. This is fun, is it not? Surely it will appeal to them and they will realize we mean no harm!

Luna picked up the spider with her teeth, and gently lobbed it at the terrified crowd before her, which only caused them to dodge the toy and stare back at the alicorn in horror.

Guh! What is wrong with these ponies! Do they not recognize that we simply wish for friendship?!

They do not want Our friendship!

“Not enough fun for you?” she scowled, a corrupt darkness and loathing rising inside her. “What say you to… this!!!”

With that, she fired her glowing horn at the toy spider lying before the villagers, animating the monster. The villagers screamed and fled as she continued to animate the entire bowl of spiders, the wretched creatures skittering about the ground with a menacing glare. They swarmed a bumble ponbee in their path, causing the poor soul to faint. As they pushed on, they collected in the middle of the falsely made web-net.

“Huzzah! How many points do I receive?” Luna questioned with delirious look on her face.

Behold, We have mastered your silly games! Are we not fun?!

NO! They hate Us - just as they have ALWAYS hated us.

A vampony continued to scream as a spider had made its way into her hair, causing the rest of the crowd to flee and panic. The screaming and trampling crowd seemed to run in every imaginable direction as the ponies did anything they could to escape the vicinity of the dark princess. Carts were toppled, food and treats were crushed, decorations collapsed all around, and several frightened and confused ponies collided roughly with each other, leaving them in a disheveled and dazed state. The world around Luna was falling to pieces.

No… no, it can’t be! It can’t be returning! It’s okay Luna, just... remain...calm....

“Do not run away.” Luna appealed to the deaf ears once more. “As your Princess, we command you!” her fear and grimace only growing larger by the moment. She winced and cringed as destruction reigned in her surroundings. Her heart sank as her stomach turned and her thoughts began to fade from hope to anger... despair... a darkness she thought she had locked away long ago...

No… No, it can’t be true! Just now we… they are Our friends! We were all enjoying ourselves!

T’was all a lie! There is no friendship here, only fear and hatred. They will never come to like nor respect Us! We will always be a monster to them!

SILENCE! You are no longer a part of me!

You know it to be true! They hate Us just as they did a thousand years ago! None shall ever love the night as they do the day, nor respect Us as a true princess! You know this to be true, deep down in your heart, but still you try to tuck me away, try to subdue me, believing in silly little foals’ tales about happiness, equality, and friendship. Deep down, you crave the power and the darkness! You desire to inspire fear, and to command others. You wish to rule Equestria with an iron hoof! This is why I still exist!!! They hate Us! The never wished to welcome Us back! This whole event IS a mockery of Us! For their insolence, We must make them pay! Since they will not take us in willingly, they shall submit by force!

No… no, you’re lying! I won’t listen. They all genuinely wish to love Us. Magic has spent her whole night trying to help us, with no ulterior motive! She is living proof that somepony cares! We are no longer you! We are now... me! Luna’s mind screamed futilely, and in agony. Her sense had left her. She was no longer in control of her body, becoming a vessel for the darkness once more.

It matters not what you say, Luna. You’ve already lost! He is gone, and she, too, will abandon you after learning the truth. They will only grow to hate you even more!

“BE SILENT!!!” the dark alicorn howled in her echoing and booming Canterlot Voice, causing streaks of lighting and thunder to shoot all around. Every pony in a 5 mile radius fell to their hooves, cowering in fear.

“Princess, remember. Watch the screaming!” Twilight tried to remind her. What turned around to face her would have easily torn anypony’s resolve apart from the inside out. Luna’s mane was violently whipping about, while her eyes were glowing an ethereal white, revealing the raw and devastating magic flowing through her.

“NO, TWILIGHT SPARKLE. WE MUST USE THE TRADITIONAL ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO SAY.” Luna roared in a frighteningly malicious tone at the paralyzed mare before her. “SINCE YOU CHOOSE TO FEAR YOUR PRINCESS RATHER THAN LOVE HER…” Luna began as she rose into the air and dark clouds swarmed around her, “…AND DISHONOR HER WITH THIS INSULTING CELEBRATION WE DECREE THAT NIGHTMARE NIGHT SHALL BE CANCELED, FOREVERRRRRRRR!” Luna continued to howl as lighting struck and wind twisted around her.

The crowd below her could only look on in horror. Even Twilight began to cower before the transformed alicorn. It was as though she had become a being of darkness, consumed by hatred and anger. Almost as if she was…

…Nightmare Moon. Twilight thought in horror, doing her best to dismiss any possibility of that happening.

Stop this immediately! We wish them no harm! They are my friends! I know it to be true! Look how Twilight Sparkle stands before you! She believes in us... in ME! You have upset our dearest Twilight Sparkle and I will not stand for it! This is my body, and you are no longer a part of me!

Silence! Try and take it back, then, if you are so confident in yourself! You will soon realize that you are no longer in control, you pathetic sack of drek!

She believes in Us. We will not give up easily so long as Magic is on our side. RETRUN TO ME MY BODY NOW!

“HHNNNNNNAUUUUUGHHHHHH!!!” Luna howled, violently trashing about in the air. Her body fell, crushing a stand below and destroying many of its goods.

The flailing alicorn continued on a path of destruction as she screamed and cried in agony. Her body was no longer the frail frame it once was. It had, almost instantly, become toned with tense muscles, giving her the strength to lay waste to anything. Carts and tables were destroyed by her violent thrashing outbursts and several street lamps were taken down and smashed as well. Decorations were torn and fell off buildings she crashed into them. The violent screaming and writhing went on as the princess fired reckless bolts of magic, destroying all before it and setting what was left ablaze. The residents of Ponyville looked on in panic and dread, not knowing what to do nor what would become of their small village. Luna was on a rampage.

“What’s going on? What’s happening to her?!” Twilight shouted over the clamouring destruction.

“Ah don’t know, but if we don’t stop her soon, ah reckon she just might destroy tha whole town!” Applejack grimaced back. “C’mon sugarcube, there’s no time to gather up the other gals, so looks like it’s up to us!”

The two took off at full speed after the berserk alicorn, dodging the debris and destruction in her wake. In the short time since chaos and confusion had erupted, Luna had managed to cover a surprisingly sizable amount of distance, and was nearely out of eyesight for the two Elements. The trail of destruction she had left behind had made her considerably easier to track, however. Destroyed structures and torn decorations littered the streets, as well as smashed food and trade-wares. The two mares hadn’t seen things this bad since the return of Discord. Twilight couldn’t help but stare at the rubble in horror as they passed, turning to shoot AJ a scared and surprisingly vulnerable look.

“Wh-what are we going to do AJ? Just look at all this…” she whimpered, her heart crushed by the event.

“Now is not the time Twi. If you really wanna help Luna, then ya gotta pull yerself together.” Applejack spoke, trying to calm herself aswell.

“…y-yeah. You’re right” the sniffling mare replied, fighting back her tears. “So, what’s the plan?”

“We’re comin’ up on her soon! Do yer best to slow her down with yer magic and ah’ll tie her down with ma lasso!”

“Right!” Twilight affirmed.

They finally came into sights of the rampaging princess, chasing her down the streets. Around them, more trembling ponies screamed and cried out in horror and fright. Luna had lost control and nopony could truly understand why. It was as though only Twilight and Applejack knw she had to be stopped and if it didn’t end soon, then it would surely end badly. Luna continued to thrash about and spray random bolts of magic, causing mayhem and destruction. Multiple parts of Ponyville were in shambles, and many pegasi ponies, including the Wonderbolts, had shown up just to help fight the fires caused by the careless magical attacks.

“Ugh, wouldja look’it this? Ah can stand to see the town like this! We can’t just let her wreck our homes. We gotta stop her Twi, and soon!” Applejack

“I know AJ... I just...” Twilight sighed.

As they came closer to the crazed princess, they nearly ran into a stampede ponies fleeing in the opposite direction. The area in which they were about to face Luna had become completely devoid of other ponies as Luna devastated the land.

“Git ready Twi!” AJ shouted as she charged toward Luna, taking point.

“Okay... here we go!” Twilight shouted back at the charging mare. She snapped herself out of her gloom and began focusing her power into her horn.

Luna suddenly stopped her rampage and turned to face the two Elements causing a commotion behind her. They both skidded to a dead stop when they realized what they were truly looking at, eyes wide and mouths agape. The dark alicorn faced the two as a demonic and twisted smile came upon her face. The haunting visage before them could not easily be forgotten.

“H-h-her eyes…” Twilight stuttered in horror.

“Wh-what is this?!” AJ shouted as she too reeled back.

The terror standing before them charged maliciously at the two, whipping Applejack away with a flick of her horn. AJ was sent flying into a crushed cart, smashing through the plank and causing it to further crumble. A muffled cry of pain could be heard from the wreckage.

“Applejack!” Twilight screamed. She could only stand helplessly terrified by the scene unfolding before her. The strongest and toughest pony she knew had just been tossed aside like a rag doll, as though it were nothing. Where did that leave her?

The beast stomped closer and closer to the disheartened mare until it had finally come upon her. Twilight felt her stomach sink as her courage and resolve drained from her body. She stared vulnerably at the monster before her. The dark alicorn towered over her, craning forward to lock eyes with her prey. Her eyes had narrowed into the vertical slits of a hungering predator; They appeared as two infinitely dark abysses to the trembling lavender mare. Twilight felt her body go limp. She felt all light drain from her own body as the demon gazed into her very being.

“HEEEEYAAAA!” a loud shout came from the side of the two.

Suddenly, the psychotic monster’s neck crooked at a distorted and grotesque angle accompanied by a loud snapping noise. Twilight leaned to see a battered and bruised Applejack standing off to the side, strongly holding her bucking position with a triumphant grin on her face. The tenacious mare had risen from the rubble without their knowing and landed a serious buck on the encroaching fiend’s head.

“Applejack, you’re okay!” Twilight excitedly blurted out.

“Ya can’t get rid of me that easy sugarcube.” Applejack smirked. Her expression quickly changed when she realized how seriously injured the princess looked. “Sweet Celestia, maybe ah went too far though...”

“...Luna? Are you... are you okay?” Twilight asked, unsure of whether she truly wanted a response or not.

“BWAHAHAHAHAHA!” The twisted princess’s swiftly broke out into a maniacal laugh.

Much to the ponies’ horror, Luna’s neck began to twist back into place, each crack and crunch warranting a sickened cringe from the pair. The revolting sight left the two stunned as the fiend reared up and fiercely stomped its hooves, sending out a shockwave of energy. The rippling energy sent Applejack and Twilight Sparkle flying, the two grunting in pain as they slammed onto their backs. They looked at each other and as soon as they made eye contact, Applejack lit up. Surrounded by a magical aura, she slowly began to be dragged, on her back, toward the beast.

Applejack turned back to look pleadingly at her friend as she was dragged away. “Twi... help me...” she spoke in a frighteningly desperate tone.

Twilight could only lie there and watch, still stunned from the impact. Applejack continued to skirt across the ground until she was upon the demon herself. Defenseless, she lay numb with fear as the alicorn began to rear up to deliver a powerful stomp once more. It smiled fiendishly as it prepared to deliver the final blow. Applejack merely flinched and cowered, giving up any hope.

“Mmmm... I assumed you’d put up much more of a fight after the last stunt,” it spoke disapprovingly, scowling down at its prey. “Honesty, you are such a disappointment.”

Just as Applejack looked up to face the princess again she was whipped into the air. She felt her body fold in and crush into a hard surface as her body seethed with heat and agony just before she lost conscious. In truth, she had been smashed into the wall of a home nearby, destroying a small section and causing rubble to come off it and bury her as she fell out. Beneath the debris lay her mangled and unconscious body.

Twilight was too scared to even react. She had rolled to her side, but still lay there, back burning from the ache of her impact. The dark alicorn turned away from the fallen Element and faced her. It smiled, licking its lips sickeningly as if it were actually about to devour the poor mare. It began its approach, savoring the fear in Twilight’s eyes. As it came upon Twilight once more, it raised its head, horn pulsing and sparking with energy. The demon prepared to strike the obstacle lying before it down. Twilight was paralyzed with fear, unable to react. The dark alicorn smiled triumphantly down at her in reply to her silence. Twilight covered her eyes as she prepared for the worst.

“THOU HAST THWARTED US ONCE BEFORE! NOW, ELEMENT, PERISH FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!!!” the monster cried out before unleashing a slicing beam from her horn.

“GUAAAAAHHHHH” an ear piercing cry of pain echoed through the night as a bright light enveloped the scene.

Twilight quickly came to her senses as she slammed into the ground on her side. She rose up, attempting checking her body for any damage, only to feel her hind hoof burn in pain. It became clear that her ankle had been sprained badly, as it were also bruised and bloody. Had she really been unharmed by the dark beam as a whole though?

No, she hadn’t been harmed, but somepony else had. Twilight turned to see Eventide barely managing to stand before Luna. He was panting heavily, and his hooves keep buckling, nearly giving way. More importantly though, he was wounded, badly. A large gash had been sliced into his chest, as blood was spilling onto the soil beneath him. His breastplate lay on the ground, severed in two, as it had offered no protection from the unholy magic that had smote him.

“Eventide!” Twilight cried out.

“S-STAY BACK!” he shouted back, barely catching his breath.

“But you’re wounded!” she desperately shouted, attempting to convince him to flee.

“I SAID S-STAY BACK DAMNIT! YOU CAN’T STOP HER NOW! SHE’S BEEN TAKEN BY THE DARKNESS!” he tried to shout, only to cough up blood from his wound.

“Then she really is…Nightmare Moon…” Twilight uttered under her breath.

“BWAHAHAH, FINALLY REALIZING IT, EH?” Nightmare Moon cackled, the terrible laugh echoing throughout the night.

“Why?!” Twilight shouted in anger, desperately limping to Eventide’s side. “Why are you doing this?! What happened to Luna?”

“YOU POOR, INNONCENT LITTLE FOAL, YOU REALLY HAVE NO CLUE. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD RETURN, AND NOW YOU SHALL ALL SUFFER!” Nightmare Moon openly mocked the lone Element.

As Twilight limped over to Eventide, her body burned and throbbed in anguish. Although it was just a sprained ankle, the soft unicorn was not used to such injuries. She did her best to shoulder Eventide though, allowing him to lean on her. She cringed a little at the smell of the blood, seeing shards of steel embedded in his body. It was obvious that her strength wouldn’t be enough, as his weight got heavier as his body went limp. Eventide quickly collapsed off of Twilight, falling to the ground as Aurora Shine came into view galloping towards the pair.

“Even!” Aurora Shine cried in horror as his body fell over.

“I-I’m sorry. He… he was protecting me…” Twilight mournfully whimpered.

Aurora Shine only stared back blankly at Twilight before looking down the fallen warrior. She trotted over and cradled him in her hooves. Aurora Shine placed her hoof gently upon the bloodied and matted fur of his chest. She pulled her hoof away to find blood had gotten on it as well. Aurora Shine didn’t say anything; she just sat there silently, as if everything she knew and loved had been taken from her. Seeing the two in their grave moment, Twilight stepped forward to stand before Nightmare Moon once more.

“Look! See what your madness has caused Nightmare Moon!” Twilight shouted angrily, surprising both Nightmare Moon and Aurora. “All this destruction… all this chaos… this pain, this suffering, this agony. IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!”

“HAHAHAH, BUT OF COURSE MY LITTLE FOAL. DO YOU THINK SOMEONE AS WEAK AS LUNA WOULD BE CAPABLE OF SUCH A FEAT? WE MAY SHARE THIS VESSEL, BUT I AM CLEARLY THE SUPERIOR!”

…share this vessel… Twilight thought to herself. …then that means… “LUNA! I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE!” she cried out.

Nightmare Moon cringed. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE…”

She called out to me…

Silence!

“LUNA, COME BACK TO US. COME BACK TO ME! I WANT TO HELP YOU!” Twilight continued to plead with the monster.

Nightmare Moon cringed harder and began to approach the defiant mare, wearily dragging her body as if it was severely weighed down. “STOP THIS INSTAN…”

She is calling me! I have to go back to her!

You can’t! This body is mine now!

“PLEASE, RETURN TO US LUNA! I WON’T GIVE UP ON YOU!” Twilight continued to shout, revealing her pendant as she levitated it up to the struggling alicorn. “REMEMBER THIS? YOU GAVE THIS TO ME AS A TOKEN OF OUR FRIENDSHIP! I PROMISED I’D NEVER GIVE UP ON US AND NOW I’M KEEPING THAT PROMISE! PLEASE, JUST… come back!”

YOU NO LONGER CONTROL ME!

“GRAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!” the beast howled, the echo sending chills down everypony’s spine.

As soon as Twilight had uttered those words, Nightmare Moon fell to the ground, thrashing and screaming before her. Twilight stared for a moment, dumbstruck by what she had done. It looked like the tormented alicorn was afflicted with some sort of madness, only to be fighting it within herself. If she truly was, then nopony was sure who was winning. She continued to stare in confusion until Aurora Shine shouted at her, bringing her back to her senses.

“Twilight! We have to subdue her!” Aurora snapped.

The two began charging their horns, weaving streams of magic all around the fallen alicorn. They struggled to lash her down as her shaking and writhing became more violent. The two unicorns cringed in pain as they fought harder and harder, sweat dripping down their bodies. No matter what, Nightmare Moon could not be allowed to walk freely. Even if she had just been weakened in this one instant, if they could stop her from destroying the town until Celestia would arrive, they had done their jobs. The magic lashes beamed and sparked in resistance to the defying subject’s violent motions, restraining the mare into the earth beneath them.

It would be several minutes before Luna finally stopped, lying in the crater she had smashed into the ground during her struggles. Once the two unicorns were certain it was safe, they released the telekinetic lashes that bound the princess. The two collapsed onto their haunches, panting and sweating heavily. They took a moment to gather themselves and then Twilight cautiously approached the exhausted captive.

“…Luna?” she began, “…is that you, Luna?”

The exhausted princess continued to lie there panting heavily until, wearily, she opened her eyes. “…T-twilight?”

“Oh Luna, you’ve come back to me!” Twilight cried out with joy, tackling and pinning Luna to the floor. She hugged her tightly until Luna coughed, having the air squeezed from her.

“Twilight… I was… She…It…” Luna stuttered, failing to finish her own sentences. She could only hang her head in shame.

“I know Luna. I know now. It’s okay.” She comforted her distressed companion, stroking her mane.

“I’m sorry, Twilight… I… EVENTIDE!” Luna shot up, her eyes desperately searching for royal companion.

“He is still breathing…” Aurora Shine spoke solemnly, holding the severely injured colt.

“…I couldn’t just up… and leave you… *cough*” Eventide choked weakly as he came to. “You too *cough* princess…”

“Even!” Aurora Shine screamed with glee, hugging the colt closely.

“Ouch!” he whined, “I’m still hurt remember?”

Aurora Shine released her clutch on him and stared into his eyes as she cradled the wounded hero. She smiled softly at the grinning colt, tears of happiness filling her eyes and running down her muzzle. Aurora lunged forward, kissing him, much to his delighted surprise. Eventide simply went limp, embracing his newfound love and savoring the moment. As she pulled away, her horn began to flow with power and his wound slowly began to mended. Eventide groaned and fidgeted in discomfort, only to let out a sigh of relief as the gash magically sealed itself. It left a very serious scar, but Aurora’s abilities had at least been able to stop the bleeding.

“This is just a temporary fix, so you have to take it easy. Don’t go doing stupid things like that again anytime soon, okay?” she joked weakly.

“Heheh, okay.” He smiled back until shifting rubble nearby quickly alerted their attention. A battered and bruised Applejack emerged.

“Ah’m... okay…” she sputtered, staggering out of the pile of wood and stone debris. “Did we… did we win?” The mare was still dazed and confused, but intact nonetheless. She brushed herself off and calmly approached the party, seeing that Luna had returned to a composed state.

Luna could only feebly gaze at the group with tears in her eyes. Lifting her head to survey the devastation she had inflicted on the town, she could hear the screams and cries in the distance, see the destruction and defilement of the night’s festivities, and smell the choking smoke from fire the pegasi shouting in the distance were rallying to put out.

What… what have I done? So much laid to waste, at my own hooves. Even those close to me have been harmed this night. What’s more, that… thing… overcame me. It took control, again! All this time, and it still returns as though nothing happened? I have ruined this night, tainted my name, and have betrayed all before me. This is worse, far worse than I could have ever imagined… This has been an utter catastrophe...

Twilight stared as Luna was overcome with powerful emotions, becoming a visible embodiment of desolation.

“…Luna?” Twilight questioned, approaching the suffering alicorn to comfort her once more. Before she could get a reply, however, Luna took off flying shakily into the night, a trail of tears shimmering under the starry sky behind her.

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Luna continued to flee from the scene of havoc she had wrought upon Ponyville. She had to force her battered body to remain on its unsteady flight path, as her steady stream of tears left a brilliant trail in the night sky. The sounds of chaos and confusion from below filled the air, but Luna was doing her best to keep her eyes forward. She cringed as she fought back the tears. The night was in shambles.

What fresh shame have I brought upon myself? How can I face them, who would previously be so bold as to call me ‘friend’, when my transgressions, this time, have been truly unforgivable? Eventide and Honesty were both badly injured, and a large section of the town lies in ruin; the villagers now surely hate and fear us even more... Twilight must be utterly disappointed with me. I do not think I can bear to even face her... Surely I am the vilest creature in existence. I should have remained on the moon.

Luna struggled to maintain her altitude, but continued to put distance between herself and the village, until it slowly moved out of earshot even for her; the haunting cries of its denizens became ever more faint until, mercifully, they faded away.

A cold numbness began to spread from the tips of Luna’s wings, quickly traversing her entire wingspan and then slowly creeping up her back. All too soon, the princess had forgotten not just the wounds from her recent outburst, but also the original trauma her body had suffered at the hooves of the Elements when she had originally returned in the guise of Nightmare Moon. It seemed the doctors were right: she still wasn’t quite ready to fly, and the recent battle had only worsened her condition. Luna quickly became aware of her dire situation, but stubbornly continued on into the night.

I just don’t have the strength to carry on. I wish to endure this pain no longer. My people, my friends, and my only family - they all hate me. I can no longer face the world as the monster I have become…

Just a little bit longer... and it won’t hurt anymore...

The listless princess’s body continued to plummet towards the earth for which she had longed for a thousand years. Luna could feel it drawing closer, and smiled blissfully, calmly bracing herself for impact.

The alicorn’s fragile frame slammed into the ground, and bounced several more times after the sickeningly loud thud of the initial impact. She flipped and flailed like a ragdoll; it was as though she were a puppet, being made to perform a violent dance by invisible strings. The sheer force would have caused anypony to pass out, but the Luna’s body had already been desensitized, and she could feel nothing more than waves of prickling sensations. Each time she made contact with the ground, her body only grew more numb. Luna continued to smile as every scrape, every gash, and every bone-crunching snap sent her further into a senseless abyss.

Perhaps she had finally found the freedom she had so longingly desired...

Luna’s body eventually came to a grinding halt, plowing through the soft soil and colliding with several trash cans with a loud, metallic, clanging sound. The impact caused their contents to be thrown all about and the princess was showered in litter and discarded goods. Slowly, Luna came to, and started wiping the grime and viscous liquids from her face.

“Right. I’m immortal…” Luna let out a quiet, annoyed sigh.

She dispassionately remained lying in amidst the trash, looking down at her body to take stock of the countless bruises and wounds she had sustained. While still mostly intact, there was no doubt that she was even worse off than before. Sighing again, Luna shut her eyes, wishing that she could just simply dissolve into nothingness. The aches and pains of her sore body slowly grew, throbbing and soaking into her sinews as she continued to lie motionless.

Why can’t I ever have my way? Look at me: I am worse than this pile of refuse. I belong here. I could just simply stay here and wait until the gradual decay of time would mercifully melt me away into harmless waste...

Her thoughts were quickly interrupted when a nearby building lit up with brilliant light. The glare blinded Luna, making her wince while her eyes adjusted. Then Luna rolled over to her side to get a better, less confusingly oriented view of the source of the nighttime beacon. It appeared to be an oddly-shaped, pastel-colored building, rounded on its sides, with several sculpted equines decorating its exterior. Luna had never seen such a fantastical design, but she was far too exhausted and injured to be genuinely interested at this point; she was far more concerned with how difficult it was to see. The door flung open, however, and an even more intense light came pouring out, blinding her once more. She struggled to focus as the shape of a dainty mare stepped out from the doorway, the flood of light behind her casting a long, stretched shadow.

“I-Is somepony there?” the mare called out.

Luna continued to lie still, and remained silent, still covered with rubbish. She attempted to focus on the figure and until proper vision was restored. However, it appeared that the opposite was happening: it was growing more and more difficult for her to see. She tried to reply but, oddly, was unable to utter anything sensible.

The figure drew closer to the fallen alicorn, her face, and even her general shape, growing ever more indistinguishable to Luna’s straining eyes, which were still being drowned out by the glaring light behind the approaching pony. She seemed to be trying to communicate, crying and shrieking in some garbled and unintelligible language. Luna found it impossible to understand what the strange being who had emerged from the cruel light was saying, but was grateful that the unforgiving brightness that was hurting her eyes was dying down a little, at least. Things were becoming quite dark now, in fact...

Before she realized it, Luna had unwillingly slipped away from consciousness.

---

*SPLOOSH*

“GUUWAAAAAH!” Luna gasped as she was shocked awake.

Frantically searching for meaning in the bright and blurry images before her, Luna felt a soothingly warm sensation wash over her body. Drawing a deep breath, she inhaled a beautiful bouquet of soothing herbs and spices. When she felt herself floating weightlessly, Luna came to realize hat she was sitting in a massive tub, partially submerged in a luxurious bubble bath. She no longer seemed to ache as much, and her once tense and bruised muscles had begun relaxing a little. Luna let herself sink slightly deeper and let out a sigh..

My, we have not yet experienced a sensation quite like this before. It’s so relaxing - so soothing. This is exactly what I needed after a night like tonight.

Luna began to inspect the room more closely, as her eyes adjusted and her vision returned once more. The tub she was laying in seemed to be exquisitely carved from marble and matched the room in both beauty and overall lavishness - everything seemed to be tiled in marble and polished to the nth degree. A beautifully ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, bringing the room to life with its light reflecting off every inch of marble and gold lining. A massive mirror hung on the wall above a petite marble sink, in a beautifully carved, golden frame which lent its details to accentuate the angles of the mirror. A neat little table sat next to the tub, bearing several vials and candles, along with a lone book resting atop it. It quickly became clear that the vials were source of the calming scents, when Luna leaned a little closer. She then turned her attention to the book.

“Morrow by Crescent Moon…” she read softly, startled to discover that several pages of the book had been torn out, leaving it incomplete. “Doesn’t sound like anything from the Canterlot library… but surely that must be where I am now?”

“Unfortunately it isn’t, dear, but I’d fancy it my own little piece, if I were so bold,” a lofty voice replied from behind her.

“BWAAAHH!!!” Luna screamed as she shot up from the tub, causing water to splash all about. She turned to see a soaked white mare, furrowing her brow when she parted the recently-drenched mane that clung to her face. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s quite alright,” the mare calmly replied, flipping her bangs from her face. “I must have given you quite a fright - although, to be perfectly honest, you startled me quite a bit, this evening, as well! I mean, there I was: simply enjoying a peaceful evening by the fireplace - ahem, alone, mind you - on one of the most beautiful nights in recent memory, only to be startled by a frightful ruckus outside my very own home. Why, I was certain it was some foals, or that darling (twitch) Rainbow Dash, playing some trick on me, but instead I found you, my dear, unconscious in a pile of trash! Can you imagine? Tonight, of all nights! Why, I was almost certain they’d be throwing you some sort of welcome-back parade, but there you were! So I lifted you up with my magic, brought you in, and prepared a pleasant bath for you. Oh, but where are my manners? I am Rarity,” she spoke swiftly and without interruptions, and bowed gracefully before the alicorn.

“L-Luna,” the startled princess replied, amazed at how quickly the mare before her could speak. “But please, rise, Rarity... I am not one deserving of such formalities,” she said, sulking a little and sinking back into the warm water.

“You poor dear, you must have had a truly dreadful night to be saying such things!” Rarity sounded concerned, and approached Luna.

“It has been so awful, Rarity, that I would not even know where to begin…” Luna’s words turned to bubbling noises from the water of the tub when she let her muzzle dip below the surface.

She turned to watch her host delicately prancing about the bathroom, collecting various bottles from a marble cabinet and placing them gently into a surprisingly luxurious-looking pail. The mare approached her, and pulled at a lever at the base of the tub to reveal a small marble stairway leading to the edge of the bath. Rarity placed the pail down before she began up the two steps; climbing them just barely would have put her at eye level with the sulking princess, had the tall alicorn not lowered herself quite as far into the massive tub already. The unicorn then levitated the pail over to the tap and allowed it to be filled to the brim with warm water, before gesturing towards it, looking to the princess for approval.

“Let’s get you all cleaned up first, dear. We can’t have royalty looking so... uncouth. Remember: a clean body is the first step to a clean mind! I’m certain you’ll feel better after one of my aroma-therapeutic baths.” Rarity nodded at the princess with a wide smile. Luna only nodded back in reply, as Rarity slowly poured the warm water over her.

“I’m not sure if I’ll feel better, but this is certainly helping.” Luna sighed with relief.

Rarity was more preoccupied, however, with the fact that Luna’s mane unyieldingly withstood the previous dousing, and how it proved even more difficult to work in a lather, as she attempted to shampoo it. “H-how do you get your hair to do that, darling? It’s ever so… fascinating,” she spoke as the silky mane danced about beneath her hooves.

“Well, you see, it is part of being an alicorn. Both my sister and I contain so much raw magical power that it is constantly flowing through us; most visibly through our hair. Our mane and tail serve as a sort of conduit for managing the currents, allowing us to channel magic more efficiently,” Luna said.

We don’t believe anypony has tried to shampoo our mane in centuries. How amusing! Luna giggled. Try as she might, I don’t think she’ll be able to get it tooooooooooohhhhh~

The princess sunk back into the water as Rarity finally managed to work up a decent lather atop her head. The mare had given up on washing Luna’s mane from the outside, daunted by its sheer volume, and rather had gone straight to the scalp instead, which proved to be a successful strategy. Luna felt the built-up tension easing further as the - admittedly rather skilled - mare rubbed and massaged her head.

“There we are! Just takes a bit of elbow grease,” Rarity congratulated herself, as the fine white lather grew and began emanating a floral fragrance.

My, these scents are certainly relaxing. They remind me of the flower fields of Canterlot, where I’d play as a foal. Oh, how I miss those times… and him… Luna began slowly disappearing beneath the foamy surface again, her eyes seeming dull and distant.

“Something the matter, dear? Are you not enjoying yourself?” Rarity asked, noting the princess’s expression.

“No, it’s not that. I’m just… being reminded of certain things,” Luna replied.

“Oh? Perhaps you need somepony to talk to?” Rarity questioned, slowing the pace of her massage.

“Mmmm...” Luna grumbled as a tuft of foam landed on her muzzle.

It has been some time since I have confided in anypony, even my own sister. And why is she so interested in my personal li-

"Well, it’s fine if you prefer not to say what’s on your mind, Princess Luna, but they do say that sharing one’s troubles eases the soul,” Rarity spoke, interrupting Luna’s thoughts.

Rarity finished with her royal visitor’s mane, and levitated the pail to the faucet to be filled once more. As before, she notified the princess of her intentions beforehoof.

“GUWAAAH!” Luna shouted, shooting up in the tub as she was doused again, wide-eyed and shivering. “C-c-cold… w-w-w-water…”

“Oopsie, I must have turned on the wrong nozzle.” Rarity blushed. “My sincerest apologies Princess,” she said, while hastily lifting a neatly folded towel over to the shivering alicorn.

Luna caught the towel with her own magic and began to dry herself off, noting how warm and plush the towel felt. As the floating towel wiped across her body she realized that all of her previous wounds had magically disappeared. She pouted at this further reminder of her immortality, which now seemed more like a curse, in her eyes. Luna hung the soaking wet cloth on a nearby rack and looked over to Rarity, who had already finished drying herself off and had thrown on a white mink bathrobe, with a purple trim that matched her own coat and mane. The mare had also done her mane up in a massive bun to keep it from falling in her face.

“This way, Princess, if you would be so kind,” Rarity began, gesturing animatedly and leading her to the nearest door.

Luna followed her through the doorway, stepping into another lavishly decorated room. The most notable feature was the massive and elegant canopy bed; it’s beautifully carved headboard was bore the same mark as the mare who had been taking care of her, and each individual post also sported elegantly carved designs. The beautiful, clean sheets of red silk had a warm and inviting sheen, and seemed to be beckoning to the princess. The room also contained several matching dressers and a particularly large and impressive wardrobe, which immediately caught Luna’s eye. A few equinnequins, dressed in as-yet-unfinished ensembles, were situated next to a desk which had a large sewing machine resting on one corner, and several tools laid out neatly on the other. A shelf, holding multiple bolts of cloth of a wide variety of colors, was fixed to the wall on that end. The checkered wallpaper, all in shades of lavender and whites, was the final testament to the interior designer’s impeccable and lavish tastes, featuring beautiful, frilly decorations along the corners and ceiling.

Rarity pranced past Luna while she was distracted, “I do apologize for the mess. Let’s continue downstairs,” she said, opening another door to reveal a stairway. “Shall we?”

This stairway was clearly not designed for somepony of my stature, Luna thought as she followed the mare and descended down the spiraling staircase, doing her best to avoid driving her horn into the ceiling. And it just seems to go on forever...

“Just a bit further, Princess - again, I apologize for these stairs; they really are a bit… narrow,” Rarity said, as chipper as ever.

When they finally reached the bottom, and trotted through the dimly lit hall, a much more brightly lit room could be seen at the far end. Stepping in, Luna was greeted by the same elegant and lavish design found in the rest of Rarity’s home; however, the walls of this room were simply lined with equinnequins. Each one was wearing a unique and breathtaking dress, which Luna could only assume were made from nothing short of the finest materials in all of Equestria; each garment shimmered with distinct patterns of dazzling jewels and gemstones. They all seemed to be positioned so that they were facing the center of the room, where a fireplace had been installed. The embers of a dying fire could be heard crackling as little sparks danced about the remaining logs, vainly attempting to rekindle the flames. Without warning, the scorched wood and kindling were abruptly set ablaze again, startling Luna.

“Ah, there we are, nice and cozy!” Rarity spoke, seeming rather pleased with herself. “It’s taken quite some time, and copious amounts of instruction and nagging from Twilight, but it seems I can at last cast that ember spell effectively!”

“Nagging?” Luna chuckled.

“Why yes, the dear absolutely insisted I put my magical talents to use; she claimed I could learn far more than mere telekinesis and levitation. It’s been nothing but nonstop training, in what little free time I have to spare. Now, the pursuit of knowledge is all fine and dandy, of course, but some of us are simply not born with a superior command of the power of leylines! And as if that weren’t enough-”

Oh dear here she goes again. Just humor her, Luna! She has been so kind to me - I owe her at least that much.

“Oh, but where are my manners? Please, have a seat while I fetch us some refreshments!” Rarity invitingly petted a spot on the velvet couch in front of the fireplace.

Luna approached the couch and settled down on it, while Rarity pranced away once again. The couch proved soft to the touch, and slightly warm because of the nearby fire. It was far more comfortable than Luna initially expected it to be, so she curled up cozily, folding in her hooves and settling a little deeper into the cushions with a little wiggling. Luna turned to look over the back of the couch, spotting light coming from one of the rooms down the hall, where rustling could be heard.

Shortly afterwards Rarity came trotting back, levitating a tray which held a dark bottle, a small dish of salt, and two wine glasses. She set the tray on the table, flipped the two glasses upright with a thought, and uncorked the bottle. Then she took the glasses and pressed their rims into the dish, lining them with beads of salt before gently pouring a brilliant golden liquid into them. The brew fizzled and foamed as it filled the cup, and Rarity had to stop pouring halfway to allow the foam to settle.

“I hope you will find this cider to your liking. I’m not sure how it compares to what you are served in Canterlot, but this particular vintage is from Applejack’s private collection, so it ought to be quite good!” Rarity smiled politely, offering Luna a glass.

Luna accepted the offering. Taking the glass with her magic and pressing it to her lips, she found that the rim of salt stung a little, but when she took an actual sip the cider washed it away, leaving a tingling feeling in her mouth. Luna felt her body warming up and her cheeks beginning to glow, and couldn’t tell if these sensations were being caused by the fire, the drink, or a little bit of both.

“This is quite delicious!” Luna said, visibly enjoying the beverage.

“Fantastic, isn’t it?” Rarity squealed from a nearby loveseat, where she sat gingerly sipping her own drink. “Do mind the salt though, dear. It’s imported from Appaloosa and is known to be quite strong.”

Luna was too busy enjoying her drink to pay attention.

“So, Princess Luna, I was wondering if you’d be willing to share your tale with me,” Rarity appealed to the princess with a sympathetic smile.

Luna shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, and set her glass down on the table.

“I do believe it would make you feel better if you confided in somepony, Princess. I know it can be difficult, but I want you to know I am here for you.”

“It is difficult, Generosity - my return has been anything but smooth. My body was badly damaged during that first, fateful encounter with you and your friends, and I’m still recovering. I’ve spent the entire night trying to adjust to modern pony society, only to have everypony reject me! I’m quite certain all the other Elements hate me, I’ve badly hurt one of the few ponies I could conceivably call a friend, and I don’t know what my Sister is going to say or do to me, after everything I’ve done!” Luna gasped in an attempt to breathe after such a sudden and lengthy outburst.

“Oh you poor thing! You’ve sure had quite a night, haven’t you?” Rarity spoke with a concerned tone, setting her drink down and sitting up attentively.

“That’s an understatement! TONIGHT HAS BEEN AN ABSO-,“ Luna stopped mid-sentence, realizing, just a little too late, that she had lapsed into her Royal Voice, causing Rarity to be blown back into her seat. “Sorry... It’s been a disaster, is what I meant to say... Instead of gaining everypony’s respect and admiration, as I had hoped, they now fear us more than ever. It’s as if Nightmare Moon has locked me in an impregnable fortress, preventing anypony from coming anywhere near me! Even in defeat, she haunts me… After tonight, I’m sure everypony holds nothing but contempt for me. I cannot face Sister like this. I cannot face Twilight, either. I should have… I should have just stayed on the moon…” Luna sighed deeply, averting her eyes from the other mare.

“Ah! Ah! You mustn’t say such things, Princess!” Rarity huffed. She’d been fidgeting with her mane, attempting to fix the curls blown back by Luna’s recent roar. “I can see that you’ve had some trouble… adjusting, but I insist that you remain resolute!”

Luna lifted her head to meet the mare’s eyes, but her pained expression remained. “I’m just not sure if I can do this anymore. I’ve been letting Twilight down almost all night long, and she has done nothing but try to help me. She... she probably wants nothing more to do with me...”

“My, you certainly value Twilight’s opinion of you quite a bit, don’t you?” Rarity observed, poking playfully at Luna.

Luna felt her face heat up as she fought back a flustered reaction, and she shifted nervously in her seat. “I-it’s not like that!” she tried to argue. “Twilight Sparkle has spent this whole night trying to teach us the ways of friendship. She has shown more kindness and concern for us than anypony else since our return! We.. I simply do not want to disappoint her, when she has put so much effort into aiding me!” She folded her fidgety forehooves and pouted at Rarity.

“Hm...” Rarity said skeptically, clearly not buying that explanation. “Very well Princess, but I do believe you at least owe Twilight Sparkle the courtesy of explaining why you-” She interrupted herself. “Err, I forgot to ask: why were you in my trash again?”

“It… is a long story, Rarity, and I’d rather not talk about it, if it’s all the same to you,” Luna snapped, a bit annoyed by Rarity’s comments.

“Oh alright, dear; whenever you’re ready then.” Rarity hesitated, frowning a bit. “Gettng back to the point, though: I still think you owe Twilight an explanation. I mean, as you said, the poor dear spent the better portion of this special night assisting you with your reintegration, and Twilight rarely devotes so much of her precious time to a cause, unless she truly cares about it… or is studying it.” Rarity couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“I-I hadn’t considered that…” Luna stared into the fire, a frown creeping upon her face. “I’m just not sure what to do anymore. It’s not as though I haven’t been trying to better myself, Rarity, but only rarely did my efforts - or Twilight’s own - seem to have any positive effect at all.”

“But did they have some effect, at least?” Rarity asked, tilting her head.

“W-well yes but…”

“Now see here, Princess Luna,” Rarity interrupted again. “It sounds like Twilight was doing everything she could to help you. Even if it feels like it you weren’t making much progress, which I understand can be very frustrating, the fact of the matter is that things are starting to get better for you. You may have made some mistakes in your past, but all you really have to do is to show others that you truly wish to atone. You can’t expect everypony to simply welcome you back with open forelegs, after all.”

“Atone…”

“Yes, dear, atone. Nothing can change what has happened in the past, and some ponies will continue to judge you for it. But others might come to see you in a different light, based on your actions in the present. That probably won’t happen overnight, but...”

Luna was taken aback by the surprisingly meaningful words that had just been spoken, but she still felt doubtful, her resolve wavering.

“H-how could I ever persuade them that I have changed? All they ever see is Nightmare Moon!” Luna’s eyes began to narrow with frustration. “I count myself extremely lucky if I get so much as a ‘hello’ without them running and screaming in fear. And now they all know that that monster still resides within me... They have seen it with their own eyes! I will never get a chance...”

Rarity stood frozen on the edge of her chair.

“Yes… you heard correctly,” Luna said, returning to a calmer, but colder tone of voice. “It still exists; I still carry it within myself…”

“I-I had no idea…” Rarity sat back, dumbfounded, her previous conviction shattered by this revelation. She swallowed hard, and looked slightly unnerved.

“Yes, well... NOW YOU DO,” Luna shouted with sudden anger, and she rose from her seat, heading towards what she assumed was the door out. “I’LL BE LEAVING NOW.”

Tch, she’s just like the rest of them. She pretends like she wants to help us, but when the truth is revealed, she turns on us! Spouting nonsense about atonement, as if she ever had to overcome hardship akin to ours. The nerve of this Element! She lives in this decadent home; the living embodiment of narcissism! She knows nothing of hardship!

“Luna, wait!” Rarity called out, chasing after her.

“WHAT DID YOU CALL US?” the princess shouted, indignantly turning to face the impudent mare.

“I-I-I mean, Princess Luna.” Rarity stumbled backwards, hastily correcting herself. “I-I’m sorry I reacted that way. I was just… surprised. Well, shocked really. I thought Nightmare Moon had been vanquished.”

“No, it endures - and now you, too, will see in us nothing more than a pale shadow of its horror and tyranny!” Luna’s tone was harsh and bitter. The irate alicorn looked down at the smaller mare, although she looked more desperate than menacing.

“I most certainly do not!” Rarity interrupted, stomping her hoof in protest.

“W-what?” Luna said dumbly, eyeing the strangely unintimidated mare suspiciously.

“You heard what I said: I do not!” Rarity accentuated her words with another, loud clop of her hoof. “You may think that everypony still sees you that way, but as it happens, I just spent some quality time with an alicorn who truly cares for her kingdom and desires nothing more than the love of her subjects! It’s clear to me that you do not wish to become that monstrous tyrant ever again, and I’m sure others could come to see that, too, whatever might have transpired tonight.”

“How can you be so certain? You don’t seem to fully understand what I am! I was overcome with darkness earlier tonight, and I could lose myself again at any moment! I DESTROYED A QUARTER OF THE TOWN AND-… and I assaulted Twilight, gravely wounding one of my Dusk Guards in the process…” Luna trailed off, hanging her head with shame, and hiding the slowly forming tears of regret behind her mane.

Rarity stood in silence, absorbing the second burst of the Royal Canterlot Voice a lot more gracefully than the previous one. It took a while for her to process Luna’s words. “…Well, I’m willing to take my chances, if it means restoring a measure of faith in Equinity back to somepony who clearly needs it!” Rarity answered in a confident tone.

Luna stood frozen in the hallway, rearing up slightly in astonishment at Rarity’s answer.

“Luna, we can never show enough of who we are on the inside, and our outside can never say enough either. They are in constant conflict with each other, as we struggle to maintain harmony between the two. Other ponies will continue to relentlessly judge us and our endeavors, but we must face them with our heads held high, for it is our true selves that matter most, not what they choose to perceive…” Rarity trailed off, lost in thought. “I know it can be difficult when it seems like nopony believes in you, Princess Luna, but you have make them believe. Show them that they have nothing to fear, since you only truly desire their respect and admiration. You must make Nightmare Moon a thing of the past and you must prove that you intend to keep it that way. Things will never get better until you make the effort…”

Luna put her hoof to her chin, and stared at the floor in deep thought. The two mares stood in silence for a while. Rarity could see that the Princess was considering the speech she had just delivered, and knew she had to let the alicorn make her own decision; she patiently awaited her reply.

I have to make the effort? So far all I have been doing is following the instructions of others... But have I truly been trying, myself? Perhaps… perhaps Rarity is right. I haven’t made the effort; how could anypony ever believe me if I haven’t given it my all? Twilight has certainly given me hers. I owe her far more than I have given her credit for. But can I really teach ponies not to fear Nightmare Moon? Can I really get them to overcome such an insurmountable obstacle? …I must try. For my honor. For my Kingdom. For Him, and for Twilight. I must…

“You’re right, Rarity.” Luna broke the silence, standing boldly with renewed resolve shining in her eyes. “If I wish things to improve, then I cannot simply stand idly by, hoping beyond hope and expecting others to solve all of our dilemmas for us. It has been all too easy for me to become frustrated by constant failure and wallow in self-pity, instead of focusing on what progress I have made, and what more needs to be done.”

Rarity approached Luna and gently hugged her. “I’m certain that, in time, they will all come to understand your plight. Just remember that you do have ponies rooting for you - myself and the other girls included, I’m sure.”

“...Thank you, Rarity,” Luna said graciously, appreciating the sentiment. She craned her neck around to bring the unicorn mare in closer. “I owe you much. Our talk has made me reconsider matters, and has greatly eased my mind. Also, please, forgive my previous outburst; calling me Luna is just fine.”

“Of course Luna!” Rarity said happily, “I regret not being able to do more for you, but I highly doubt a new dress or a trip to the spa would help solve your predicament. Should you ever find the time, however, I do offer you these things - along with my friendship.” Rarity beamed, eventually breaking the hug.

“My, how generous of you!” Luna smiled in return.

Rarity was giggling before Luna fully realized what she had just said, and then they both shared a small laugh.

Ah, to laugh again! It felt so good to be genuinely laughing in the company of a friend. It was just what Luna needed, after a night like tonight.

The two mares smiled at each other fondly, cherishing the moment they had shared, and the bonds of friendship they had forged. Luna felt a familiar warmth wash over her once again; the same tingling sensation she experienced every time she thought she’d made a new friend. Every time it welled up within her, the uneasiness that had settled deep down within her faded a little more.

“I’ll have to take up on those offers another time, I’m afraid. For now, I can only thank you for your hospitality, friend Rarity... I fear I really must be going; I need to find Twilight and the others.”

“Are you sure you wish to leave so soon, though, Luna? You don’t need to face the others all by yourself, you know. I could come with you!” Rarity beamed, and clasped her hooves in anticipation.

“I think… I think I’d like that.” Luna smiled at her newfound friend.

“Good, it’s settled then! Now let’s get out there and show them what you’re worth!” Rarity said encouragingly, as they walked to the door together. They stopped just outside her home, with Rarity turning to lock the door behind them.

“Thank you for your company, Rarity. I was wondering, though, if you don’t mind me asking: why aren’t you out already out and about tonight, like all of your friends?”

“Ah, well, you see dear, Nightmare Night is one of my least busy nights of the year! Everypony orders their costumes months in advance, but they’re all fairly simple in design, and, as such, not particularly challenging to make for a talented seamstress such as myself,” Rarity said, in her typical, slightly haughty fashion. “So I usually take the night off, avoiding all the hustle and bustle and just spending some quiet time enjoying life’s little pleasures. A salted glass of malt cider usually does the trick, and Applejack can usually be persuaded to part with a bottle of a particularly fine vintage at least once every year... Well, I suppose tonight hasn’t exactly been what most ponies would consider a typical Nightmare Night, but make no mistake: I would not miss this night for all Equestria!” She smiled widely, nodding her head in agreement with herself.

“Nor would I,” Luna smirked, and she found herself nodding along. “Your generosity has taught me much about myself. Until now I have been far too cynical, thinking I’d have to do this alone, but I was wrong and I can’t. I need help - and there are ponies who may be willing to forgive me, and offer me just that, even now. You alone have shown me this.”

“Oh, think nothing of it, Luna! Us fillies have to look out for each other, after all,” Rarity insisted, still fidgeting with the lock.

“Yes, I believe you are right. But still, I wish to give you something in return…” Luna brought a thoughtful hoof to her chin once more.

What could I possibly have to offer this mare? Somepony this generous must already possess all that they desire. Hmm… If I recall correctly, Sister told me she enjoys fashion and decoration. I believe she even had a hoof in the creation of the decorations used during our very own welcome-back party! As well as those of the recent Gala, I think...

“This…darn…thing…is…so…stubborn!” Rarity grunted and grimaced whilst she kept tugging at the key, which still showed no signs of budging.

“RARITY!” Luna suddenly shouted.

“BUWAHAHAAAH?!” A startled, wide-eyed Rarity spun around, and clutched her chest.

“Were you not responsible for the magnificent decorations at the last Grand Galloping Gala?”

“Err… no,” Rarity replied, with a furrowed brow and a slight cringe of regret.

“Oh…” Luna lowered her head and scrunched up her face. “I must apologize; I mistakenly assumed that-”

“It’s quite alright dear. Though the décor this year was rather splendid, was it not? Celestia has entrusted me with assignments before, such as the decorations for the Summer Sun Celebration, but those were just for here in town. I still hope to one day be granted the honor of being allowed to decorate the Royal Canterlot Castle, and so pay tribute to the esteemed rulers of Equestria. I can hardly imagine anything more glamorous - for anypony in this particular trade - than to be entrusted with such a task! Not to mention the amount of prestige and recognition it would surely garner the privileged pony in question...” Rarity squealed at the thought.

“Ah! Well I suppose this isn’t quite as prestigious, but perhaps... perhaps you would like to assist me with a complete redecoration of my chambers?” Luna smiled weakly, fearing that it wasn’t much in terms of repayment
.

“Your chambers?”

“Yes.”

“As in, your royal chambers?”

“Yes.”

“The very same royal chambers, inside Canterlot Castle, where you sleep?” Rarity leaned closer towards the princess, eagerly anticipating an answer.

“Um... yes?” Luna was still smiling, although her expression had become more and more awkward, with each successive ‘yes’.

“You want me to aba gaha ramanm… décor?” Rarity’s expression twisted and distorted, her eyes twitching and shifting in various, often opposite, directions. “For royal chamber… ah, I, uhh, haaaaaaaa~” Rarity pressed her hoof to her head and dramatically fainted, landing flat on her back.

Luna took a few steps back in alarm. “R-Rarity?” she cautiously approached the mare, inspecting her more closely. “A-are you okay?”

There was no response.

“Rarity? P-please, wake up!” Luna tried again, nudging the unconscious mare with her nose.

Still no response.

“Please Rarity! I-I don’t want to be alone right now!” Luna begged. Her lips were trembling in a sudden fit of anxiety, forcing her to bite down on it to stop herself.

The mare remained motionless.

After a deep breath to regain her composure slightly, Luna quickly encased Rarity in a magical shell and carried her back into her home. Once inside, she laid the limp mare gently down on the couch, and pulled a blanket over her before quietly extinguishing the flame she had relit and heading back toward the door. Luna turned to look back one more time at the knocked-out mare, who had begun mumbling and groaning incoherently, before slowly closing the door to the fantastically beautiful boutique.

Great job, Luna thought with a sigh, she fainted. But why did she faint? What could have upset her so badly that she… was it…? Oh no… It couldn’t be. Was I… Was I insulting her by requesting such a favor of a young friendship? Oh, that must have been it! I was far too demanding of her and she simply could not handle it. I have overstepped my boundaries yet again! And... and of course a pony as renowned and talented as Rarity wouldn’t want to waste her time helping you with your stupid, insignificant little bedroom, anyway... What kind of reward is that? Oh, foolish foal! Why did you have to go and open your big muzzle?

The night trudged on. The cool, crisp nighttime air and glittering, starry sky failed to comfort the princess, who was usually fond of such beautiful scenery. Luna stared up into the shimmering abyss above her, focusing her attention on a familiar, particularly brilliant star. It gleefully danced and swayed above her head, the sight of which often eased her mind and granted her courage. Tonight, however, it wasn’t doing the trick. Luna sighed in frustration.

“What do I do now?” she began soft, addressing the distant star. “I don’t think I can face Twilight - when she finds out what I’ve done to Rarity, on top of everything else, she’ll probably never want to speak to me again. Eventide has likely returned to the castle with Aurora to recover, and you…” she trailed off and hung her head. “I just… I want Nightmare Moon to be gone forever. I want Sister to welcome me back with open hooves, and be sweet and kind to me, like she used to when we were still foals. I want…” she hesitated, looking up at the star once more. “I really want Twilight to like me…”

Luna continued to gaze at the star, as if it would somehow acknowledge her pleas. Unsurprisingly, it did not, however; it just continued to twinkle and slowly traverse the night sky. She frowned, and the bright dot appeared to stop for just an instant. Luna blinked in astonishment, rubbing her eyes with her hooves, but as soon as she did, the star continued its slow waltz through the deep blue expanse.

I’m all alone... again. I don’t want do this alone… I can’t do this alone…

“I wish you were still here for me…” Luna’s eyes grew dark and distant, staring off into space as she broke into a small whimper.

With dampened spirits and a heavy heart, the lonely alicorn eventually picked herself up and wandered aimlessly on the outskirts of town, unaware that she was destined to encounter the lavender mare who had first sought to help her again. The moon was starting to set, but the night was far from over.

Loyalty, Laughter, Here and Thereafter

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A lone alicorn wandered around - aimlessly it seemed - on the outskirts of Ponyville. Her heart was heavy with guilt. With every step she took, it felt as though her hooves bore the weight of not just her listless body, but the hatred and fear of an entire civilization as well. As she trudged on, dragging herself forward, Princess Luna had only her thoughts to keep her company.

I have wrought destruction upon the town, mortally wounded my most trusted ally, knocked one Element unconscious and caused another to faint! There is no doubt in my mind that most inhabitants of Ponyville consider me a public enemy of Equestria once again... I have been nothing but an utter disappointment to the one subject who truly believed in me - even going so far as to aid me in earning a second chance at being a beloved Princess. And all this, I have accomplished before night’s end, at that! Truly, I am a most efficient failure, Luna sardonically reminded herself, heaving a deep sigh.

She was at a complete loss of what to do now. Time and again, those who had offered her some hope at redemption had left her alone again at the most crucial moment.

Alone… Luna thought desperately, I know I cannot face this thing alone. But who would stand by me now, after all that I have done?

Luna lifted her head to gaze at the stars again, focusing her attention on her favorite one while she trotted on. It, too, had continued its path from earlier, casually waltzing across the dark expanse along with its brethren. The sight still offered her but little comfort, but Luna had resolved, for reasons she could not quite fathom herself, to idly follow its guiding light anyway, despite being unsure of where she would end up.

It didn’t really matter.

Luna appreciated the fact that it provided her with some goal, however ill-defined; this allowed her time to just walk, and clear her head, without having to consider her destination.

Eventually, it turned out that the star had been leading Luna to the furthest edge of town, where a small, worn stone bridge crossed the creek and the path continued into the Everfree Forest. It was, she knew, a path that led directly back to her own Memorial.

“Why is it that you have led me here?” Luna eyed the star suspiciously; it seemed to give just the slightest twinkle in reply. Luna glared at it, her ears folded back and her lips pursed in annoyance. Focusing her eyes, she could just make out the shape of the statue in the distance, through the dense tree line.

The memorial… MY memorial. Well, not that I’m gone at present. I suppose it is pleasant, in a way, that they bothered to erect one for me at all, but I do rather wish it didn’t bear the visage of Nightmare Moon... that monster and myself are not one and the same! But then, I’m not sure it was ever truly a tribute to me, honestly. Not since shortly after its original conception… Luna winced, fighting back a painful pang in her chest. She hesitated for a moment and then continued on to the bridge. I suppose that if there’s any place where ponies who dread the mere sight of me wouldn’t want to linger tonight, it’s there. Perhaps I can be alone…

You don’t want to be alone, though…

“What should I do then?!” Luna’s head automatically shot up to the starry sky as she cried out. “I AM alone, and tonight there is nopony I can turn to. Nopony who could possibly help-”

“Princess Luna!” a shrill voice cried out from behind, interrupting her.

It’s as if she were waiting on a cue! Luna scrunched up her nose in frustration, and hung her head, hiding her face in the shadows cast by her flowing mane. Quick, say something! Explain what happened with Generosity and beg for her understanding. Tell her how much you truly want to change, and how deeply you desire her invaluable aid again. Let her know that you truly appreciated her efforts. And tell her that you have missed her… no, no, maybe not that, but say something that shows that you care, at least!

“Leave me be, Twilight Sparkle!”

…Oh, damn me.

“Princess…” Twilight panted out, trying to catch her breath, ”I’m sorry things haven’t worked out how we wanted, but you have to believe me when I tell you that Nightmare Night is one of the most popular celebrations in all of Equestria!” Twilight smiled at her, but Luna’s expression remained unchanged.

“Yes. I can tell by all the adoring shrieks of the children as they run away,” Luna spoke in a sarcastic tone, rolling her eyes.

I wish I could believe you Twilight, but alas! Nightmare Night’s popularity is without a doubt due only to the foals’ love of fanciful costumes and plentiful sweets…

“Princess…” Twilight whimpered, “I know tonight hasn’t been easy, and I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult your return to Equestria has been for you, but please… I really do want to help. I want to fix this...”

Luna’s emotions swirled about inside of her, a curious mixture of what felt like both frustration and sadness coursing through her. Of course she, too, wanted to fix things - but how could she ever hope to accomplish that? The entire night had been completely counterproductive - a total waste - in her eyes, no matter how badly she might wish to deny it. Everything that could go wrong, had gone wrong, it felt like.

Rarity had shared her wisdom with the alicorn, true, and things had looked up a little then. But Luna had great difficulty still believing those well-meaning words, without the unicorn herself by her side. The alicorn had already gone far beyond her limits, and was close to reaching an emotional breaking point.

“And just why is that, Twilight Sparkle?!” Luna turned and approached the mare, lowering her head to Twilight’s level and staring into her eyes. “Why are you so sure that you even can? You have only known me for such a short time; I cannot even begin to describe the entirety of all that I have endured during my long years. You think things have only been bad since my return? This has only been another, minor chapter in my saga! Surely, even you, adorably naive as you are, cannot possibly believe this could all be made right within the span of a single night!”

Without realizing it, Luna had come extremely close to Twilight’s face. She could see the shock in Twilight’s wide eyes. The smaller mare shrunk away, falling onto her back. Twilight quickly propped herself up again with her forehooves, but lay back, muzzle gaping in awe at Luna. Surprised at this, Luna jerked back and mimicked Twilight’s reaction, her mouth gaping in similar fashion. Slowly, she became aware of the fact that her eyes had been tearing up, and that several beads were trailing down her cheeks. Luna felt her face heat up and her lips tremble as she fought back a whimper. She quickly turned away to hide her pain and began to trot toward the forest, refusing to face the mare she had left frozen on the cold ground.

“Luna!” Twilight’s voice cried out from behind her.

Luna flinched momentarily, but continued at a quickened pace.

“Luna, please stop!” Twilight shouted again.

This time, Luna continued without reacting, tears still streaming down her muzzle. Suddenly, a bright flash of violet and white appeared before her, causing her to rear back. The lavender mare appeared from within the flash, rushing at the Princess. Before she could react, Luna felt a pair of small hooves being wrapped tightly around her neck. She tried to pull away, but Twilight’s grasp on her remained firm. On top of that, Luna’s struggle to remove the mare from herself was clearly only a half-hearted affair.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this!” Luna stammered, still feigning attempts at trying to shake the mare off.

“I w-w-won’t just g-g- give up on you!” Twilight muttered into Luna’s chest.

Is she… is she crying?

Luna stood still long enough for the pony latching on to her to stop swaying. She craned her neck back to peer down at the mare gently sobbing against her chest, and noticed her coat already becoming slightly mussed from the tears.

“Twilight, why are you-“

“Because I know how it feels!” Twilight blurted out into Luna’s chestfur, her voice echoing in the still of night. “I know how it feels… to have nothing, to lose everything, to be so far away from home and have nopony to turn to…”

“What do you mean?” Luna asked, lowering her neck so Twilight could let go without a nasty drop.

Twilight fell to her haunches, sitting up in the cool grass. She was still sniffling slightly. “When I left to be Celestia’s apprentice, I was so excited and happy; I thought I’d be having the time of my life. But what I didn’t account for was how badly I would miss my family. Those days, before I could leave the castle on my own, I missed my brother and parents so much... I felt so lost and alone - I’d lose myself in my studies to help distract my mind, but in my heart, it still hurt.

“While I was in school, I couldn’t really make any friends - everypony shunned me for being Celestia’s special student. And when they found out about what happened during my entrance exam, they all started treating me like some sort of unstable monster! They called me hurtful names and avoided me for almost all of grade school. At the same time, I got to see my family less and less, because my big brother went off to the Knight Academy, and my parents were always working on important research. Though I got to spend some of my time by Celestia’s side, I’d find myself alone again whenever she had real work to do - which was frustratingly often. I only had Spike to keep me company, but he was still a youngling, a baby, who couldn’t really understand what I was going through. I was so lonely Luna... If I hadn’t been sent to Ponyville, I’d still be lonely…”

“Twilight… I… I didn’t know…”

Luna now regretted her outburst. She took a step toward the mare, but was unsure of what to do or say. She never had been really good at comforting anypony, even before her banishment. Luna quietly walked up and sat next to Twilight while she settled down a little.

“Life has been cruel to us, hasn’t it, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna spoke sternly, staring up into the night sky.

“No,” Twilight quickly replied, startling Luna. The alicorn turned to her, staring in confusion at the unicorn still wiping tears from her eyes. “It has been hard, but I’ve never forgotten the friends and family I am so blessed to have. When I truly needed somepony, they were always there for me. I want you to know that feeling, too. I want you to know you can face any challenge, because you will always have friends by your side. I want you to know that... that I, for one, will always be there for you…”

Twilight turned to Luna, finding that the Princess’s confusion had turned into a minute smile. She replied with her own, but Luna’s expression seemed more embarrassed than anything, and the alicorn quickly looked away, with a sheepish grin, when Twilight began to realize what she had just said, exactly. The mare began to turn a soft red, her face flushing.

“B-b-because of our promise I mean; I haven’t forgotten, after all,” Twilight stammered. She fidgeted a little, lowering her muzzle to hide her face while peering through her bangs to check Luna’s reaction.

Luna turned back to her, her own cheeks glowing a bit too. She leaned over and wrapped her hooves around the unicorn, feeling her perk up in surprise. “Thank you, Twilight. I would like that very much… The promise, I mean...”

Twilight smiled and brought her hooves up to hold Luna’s own.

So she WILL still stand by me, after all…

The two sat there holding hooves and hugging, with nothing but the sound of the chilling night breeze blowing through the trees to disturb the silence. The time they spent this way hardly seemed awkward at all - in fact, it felt soothing and relaxing to Luna, seeming to ease the tension that had been building up. Being able to hold somepony and simply enjoy their company was a luxury she hadn’t been able to indulge in for quite some time. And she was finally feeling a little more reassured, after seeing how resolved this pony was to stand by her.

The hug brought Luna great warmth, despite the frigid night air around them and the diminutive size of the mare. The feeling of comfort it provided her was even better; it was a feeling Luna had long since forgotten. The pony she was embracing had been to the brink of madness and back, yet still stood firmly at her side, insisting on helping her. The words Twilight had uttered earlier, alone, had healed Luna, offering her some sanctuary from the all cruel obstacles she had faced. As far as she could recall, only one other pony had ever seemed to care as much about her, in her entire lifetime.
“Come on Luna, let’s go.” Twilight sat up, breaking her hold and offering a helping hoof.

Luna took the proffered hoof, and Twilight helped her up. The touch sent a chill up her spine, yet her cheeks warmed up even more as she rose. She couldn’t help but stare at the mare’s sweet expression as they held hooves a little while longer. It made Luna’s smile even broader.

“Where are we going, Twilight?”

“There’s somepony I think we need to talk to. If my suspicions are correct, we may be able to clear up most of what happened tonight...”

Twilight led Luna back toward Ponyville. They seldom spoke during their short walk, but occasionally shared some passing glances. This was okay with Luna though; merely having company to begin with was making her feel a lot better. The two of them ended up stopping just short of the line of buildings that surrounded the heart of the town. Twilight seemed to be surveying her surroundings, clearly searching for something in particular. She placed a hoof against her chin.

“Hmmm…” Twilight grumbled thoughtfully.

Luna was surprised by the fact that the streets were suspiciously free of panicking ponies. The fires had been put out and the accompanying screams of terror had dissipated as well. The little town had settled down again, with a roar of activity to be heard rising only from in its very center, just as it had been before. She wasn’t sure whether this was a good thing or not.

“Twilight, what is it we are looking for?” Luna whispered, “I’m worried the other ponies will find me.” She chewed her lip.

They circled the empty street until they came upon an alleyway between two buildings. By that point, they were still distant enough to be out of earshot from the main festivities, but the glowing orange lights were clearly visible at the far end. Luna followed Twilight through it a little bit longer, but then halted in the shadows of the alley.

“Twilight… I cannot reveal myself.” She stepped back, hiding herself completely in a cloak of darkness. “I… I am not ready.”

Twilight tilted her head in concern, unable to see the anxious expression on Luna’s face, but she quickly perked up. “That’s okay Luna. It might actually be easier this way!”

“Huh?”

“Just wait here. I’ll be back soon!” the lavender mare galloped off.

She’s gone and left me alone again. Ohhh, I hate being alone! What am I doing here, anyway? The Princess of the Night - hiding in a dark and dingy alleyway! So undignified... Still, I can’t help but wonder: what is everypony in the town square doing now? Surely they cannot have simply resumed their celebrations? No… no, I’m certain they are congregating and forming an angry mob, trying to determine what to do with me when they find me…

Twilight came galloping back just as fast, carrying an empty brown bag in her mouth. She spat it out onto the ground, and slowly approached Luna, who cautiously stepped from the darkness.

“There! Now all we have to do is wait!” she said with a smile.

“Twilight, I do not understand. Please explain to me-“

“Shhh! Look.” Twilight pointed her hoof toward the end of the alley.

Luna squinted to see an odd, indistinguishable figure approaching, constantly making motions toward the ground. She realized that Twilight had left a small trail of sweets behind, leading all the way into the alley. Clearly, the line of candy laid down on the ground was part of some sort of trap, but for what purpose?

“Okay…?” she said, still failing to really grasp the situation.

“Luna, I need you to hide.”

“Wh-why?” a tinge of panic was setting in.

“Please? It’s just for a moment, I promise. I’ll let you know when to come out. Trust me.” Twilight pressed her hoof to Luna’s chest. The touch sent a prickling sensation down Luna’s spine.

“Uh-huh, okay…” Luna muttered lamely, before stepping back into the shadows.

As the figure drew closer, it quickly became apparent which pony Twilight had lured here.

Laughter! Luna thought with a sneer. What is she doing here?

Twilight quickly grabbed Pinkie Pie and slammed her into the wall, forcing her hoof over the stunned mare’s muzzle.

OH! OH MY!

“No! No shrieking. No screaming or squealing either. Okay?” Twilight growled.

“Mohkay,” the startled pink mare managed to mumble from beneath the hoof.

She can be quite the brute, can’t she? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her act so forcefully! It’d almost be intimidating, if it weren’t for the fact that she’s considerably smaller than me. Still, there is an intensity to her, at the moment, that I have not seen since our initial encounter! Such ferocity! Such relentlessness! She would make a fine soldier…

Luna remained hidden, admiring Twilight’s assertiveness until the unicorn finally let her friend go. Pacing back, Twilight peered into the darkness, directly at Luna, whom assumed that this was her cue. Slowly, she approached the two ponies.

Take a deep breath; here we go...

“Ah! Ba-bak-bakwammmm!” Pinkie Pie muffled her caw of surprise, covering her muzzle with her own hooves this time.

“Pinkie Pie, you remember Princess Luna, right?”

Tch, I do not wish to deal with her! Luna glared angrily before she spoke, her mind wandering. Now now Luna, be polite. True, she has done nothing but antagonize us this entire night, but turning an enemy into an ally is always a big advantage. You know this.

“Hast thou come to make peace?” Luna offered her hoof apprehensively.

The earth mare before her seemed to take a moment to consider this, but her expression quickly changed to something surprisingly compassionate. She slowly began to approach Luna, both ponies’ smiles growing wider by the second. Neither of them noticed the dark cloud quietly drifting up from behind them.

Is she truly willing to take my hoof? Perhaps I have just judged her too harshly, and too quickly. I suppose I can understand her reactions, given how little she knows...

A bolt of lightning cracked behind Luna, casting an ominous shadow over her. The Princess was unaware of this however, and only saw Pinkie Pie light up, the pink pony’s eyes growing wide with terror. A ball of fear and anxiety began to unravel within her stomach.

“NIGHTMARE MOON!!! BAK-BAK-BAK-BAWK!” Pinkie Pie screamed, running like a chicken toward the safety of the center of the town.

“RAINBOW!” Twilight shouted as a cackling laugh sounded from above.

“BAHAHAHA!” the rainbow mare howled with laughter, rolling back and forth on the small storm cloud she was riding.

“Wh-what’s going on?!” Luna exclaimed in surprise.

Twilight had already magically blinked off, tackling the fleeing chicken-pony to the ground before she could escape the alley. The two of them had ended up just far enough from Luna for her to no longer be able to understand what they were saying; the alicorn could only make out the fact that Twilight had begun yelling at the other mare. That left just her and the pegasus, who was still busy cracking up on her cloud.

“You!” Luna growled, “What have you DONE?!”

“Wha- Who? Me?” Rainbow Dash rolled over and stood up on the cloud.

“Yes, you!” Luna barked. ”And just what do you think you’re wearing?!”

“I’m flying around pranking everypony in the Ponyville, and that includes YOU, Princess,” Rainbow Dash said mockingly, “And this? Well, if I remember right, this was what you tried to tempt me with the first time we met. They were called the Shadowbolts, weren’t they?”

“AH! How dare you mock me!” Luna angrily demanded of the defiant mare. “I’ll have you know they are NO laughing matter!”

“Whoa-whoa, calm down there, Princess! It was just a prank! Besides…” She trailed off, flying the cloud down closer until they were face to face, much to Luna’s displeasure. “You mean to tell me...” She pressed even closer, whispering, “The Shadowbolts are real?”

Luna flashed an annoyed grin that she quickly hid again, under an unamused expression. “Perhaps. What’s it to you?”

“Huh? Uh… nothing, I guess.” She shrugged. “But, I mean, if they are real, what’ve they been up to? How come nopony’s ever heard of them?”

“Have you ever considered, Loyalty, that it may be in everypony’s best interests that they are unaware of what the Shadowbolts are doing?” Luna teased, “That they may have been out on confidential missions, protecting Equestria this entire time?”

“Coooool,” Dash said, sounding awestruck.

“…and perhaps they have you SURROUNDED RIGHT NOW!” Luna roared, blowing Rainbow Dash off of her cloud. She ended up landing on her back with a hard thud.

“Hu- Wah- WHERE?!” Dash flailed on her back, her frightened eyes shooting in every direction in search of hidden assailants.

“BUWAHAHA!” Luna laughed at the panicked pegasus.

Rainbow Dash stared, wide-eyed, before it hit her. “Haha, ya got me!” she said as she stood back up and dusted herself off. “They’re not real… right? Heh.” She wrung her hooves, still looking around anxiously.

“PERHAPS!” Luna loomed over her with a maniacal grin, making the poor mare shiver. “At any rate, you have spoiled our chance at friendship with the pink one!” Luna said with a pout.

“What? Oh, that? Nah, Pinkie’s probably just playing around anyway.” Dash waved it off.

“How can you say such a thing? This is a serious matter! My reintegration into modern society has thus far been mostly unsuccessful. The last thing I need is another antagonist!” Luna stomped her hoof, clearly angered.

“Hmm…” Dash thought aloud. “Well, I can see your problem, Princess, and I’ve got three words for ya.”

Luna huffed. “And just what would those be?”

“Deal with it.” Dash nodded, folding her hooves in triumph.

“Wha- HOW DARE YOU?!” Luna bellowed, a storm rising up behind her. She could feel a burning in the pit of her heart, hatred and anger yearning to burst forth.

“Look, I’m a weather pegasus, right?” Dash asked matter-of-factly.

“Yes, I would assume-“

“Does everypony like the rain?”

“No.”

“Do they all love freezing snow, or giant chunks of hail that break things?”

“Well… no, but-“

“Do they love sweltering heat waves?”

Luna stood in silence, her anger slowly ebbing away.

“Y’see where I’m goin’ with this?” Dash walked over and leaned against the alley wall on her hind hooves. Luna simply stood, anticipating a proper explanation. Dash let out a small sigh as she continued. “We weather pegasi are always changing the weather. We’re also always getting ponies who don’t approve of the changes: ‘It’s too hot!’ or ‘It’s too cold!’ or ‘This rain is frizzing my mane!’” She imitated another voice, in a haughty fashion, whilst repeating these common complaints.

“It’s a real pain, and it’s not like we could ever please everypony! We get our orders from Cloudsdale and we’re expected to follow them, regardless of what everypony else wants!” Dash pounded a hoof with resolve. “I tend to get the most complaints though, because I’m the captain of the Ponyville Weather Squad. It’s like everypony thinks I do it all on purpose, just to tick them off! Well, we do our jobs, gratitude or no gratitude, and in the end they all still benefit from our hard work, whether they realize it or not. In the meantime, though, they’re gonna keep whining, and I just kinda have to deal with it.” Dash shrugged to herself.

“Performing one’s duties even when they go unappreciated…” Luna whispered quietly to herself, “… that is a truly commendable act.”

“Yeah, it’s what I do.” Dash grinned smugly.

“Pinkie Pie, you’re a genius!” Twilight could be heard shouting from the other end of the alley.

“Oh, that sounds like my cue!” Dash shot up, jumping back onto her cloud. “Hey Princess, sorry ‘bout the whole coming-back-to-society thing not goin’ all that smoothly. I mean, I don’t know much about all that ‘soul-crushing’ stuff Twi mentioned, but-“

“SHE TOLD YOU!?” Luna screamed.

“Heheh, yeah, total blabber mouth.” Dash rolled her eyes. “Like that one time… well, that’s getting off-topic. Anyway, I know it’s rough, but just hang in there, kay? Oh, and I heard you might need a flight training buddy. I can show you the ropes!”

“T-thanks?” Luna replied, unsure of whether she found this offer at all reassuring.

“Yeah, no prob. Sorry I’m not really good with all this touchy-feely stuff either, but I gotta go. Ponies to prank!” Dash shouted as she flew off on the cloud.

Even she can act in selfless manner. Her Loyalty truly lies with her kingdom AND her home. Can I really say the same for myself? This whole time, I have been demanding acknowledgement, but have I ever really earned it? One who spends her days merely being jealous of her sister does not deserve such renown...

“Princess Luna!” Twilight came striding back down the alley toward her. “I’ve finally figured out why you’re having so much trouble being liked!”

“Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm...”

I mean, seriously…

“C’mon! I’ll explain everything on the way.” Twilight began to lead her back to the trail.

“Wait! Where are we going?” Luna said doubtfully, stopping after just a few paces.

“Back to the statue in the woods.” Twilight grinned to herself. “If we can scare those kids one more-”

“Scare? How will that help?!” Luna interrupted, becoming ever more worried about the scheme Twilight was dragging her into. “Wasn’t the whole point of tonight to stop ponies from being afraid of me?”

“I know, I know, but Pinkie mentioned some things and-“

“Laughter? The one who has been offending me this entire night? How can you trust the things she says so easily?!” Luna stomped her hoof on the ground and refused to budge, demanding Twilight’s attention.

“Just trust me. I-“

“HOW CAN I?!” Luna roared. “You have done naught but resort to silence and secretive behavior, ever since we reunited earlier. You expect me to follow you blindly?”

Twilight quickly turned around to face Luna fully, her face twisted in anger. “Because WE’RE FRIENDS, AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOUR FRIENDS!”

Luna shrunk back, falling onto her haunches and sitting there in wide-eyed horror. She could feel tears welling up as she clutched her hoof to her chest. It ached and burned there, with a searing pain that throbbed inside of her. It was a sensation she had not been forced to endure in a long, long time; it felt as though her heart was ready to explode. Her world seemed to shatter around her, leaving only her, a frustrated Twilight, and sheer darkness to surround them. She cringed again as another pang of guilt and pain ran through her, the brief moment feeling like an eternity of suffering. Luna began to pant heavily as her mind raced through a million different scenarios that all jumped to the same conclusion:

Sh-she is angry with me…

“L-Luna? Are you okay?” Twilight said, taking a step toward her.

Luna shuffled back and sniffled, hiding her face.

“Luna, I…” Twilight bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“’Tis fine! I have proven myself unworthy of your friendship, Twilight Sparkle...”

“Luna, that’s not what I meant…” Twilight said softly.

“THEN WHAT IS IT YOU DID MEAN?” Luna barked, before sobbing even more.

Twilight sighed heavily, sitting down next to Luna. A moment of silence passed.

“I know tonight has been difficult,” Twilight began, “but I am trying, honest. I guess… the stress just got to me. I’m sorry, okay?”

Luna turned to find a pair of big, violet eyes, and a small pouting muzzle, pleading at her.

Ugh, that face. It is far too adorable for anypony to resist!

“V-very well, T-Twilight. If you insist... then I shall forgive you,” Luna choked out, fighting back to rest of her tears.

“I do insist,” Twilight said with a smile, twiddling the pendant around her neck before Luna’s eyes. “We are friends, after all - aren’t we?”

“I-indeed,” Luna sniffed, wiping away the last traces of her sadness. “Please, forgive me for snapping at you, as well.”

“It’s okay, we both did and said things we now regret, I think,” Twilight said, smiling in that gentle way that always seemed to warm Luna’s heart, “but I’ll have to ask you to trust me once again.”

“O-okay.” Luna smiled in reply. “What should I do?”

Twilight stood up and started moving again. “Just follow me. We need to get there first.”

The two ponies started their brief trek out of town and back into the Everfree. The way back to the clearing wasn’t as long as Luna originally thought; but then, the return trip always did seem shorter, if you asked her. Her banishment had been more or less the same...

As they came up to the statue erected in her honor, thoughts of the past began to surface in Luna’s mind, and an unsettling feeling took hold of her. She shook her head, forcing the unwelcome memories of the event out of her head. Twilight giggled in response.

“What is it you find so amusing?” Luna questioned.

“Oh, nothing,” Twilight teased, “I just didn’t know an immortal alicorn such as yourself could be so bothered by the breeze of her very own night...”

“’Tis not the breeze that has us bothered...” Luna looked off into the night sky.

“Oh…” Twilight looked away shyly as they moved into the clearing. “Well, I’m going to move your statue for a bit, okay?” She looked over at Luna.

“Well, I suppose it’s not a problem, so long as you’re careful. But why?” Luna watched as the unicorn grounded herself.

The massive stone carving quickly became enveloped in a shining pink and purple aura, the magic flowing and pulsing around it as the solitary unicorn attempted to detach it from its pedestal. The statue rumbled and shook, and branches and leaves fell from it. Slowly, it began to rise.

Goddess, she can lift that thing all by herself?

“I’m… (grumble) going to… (grunt) move it, so you can-“

Then again, perhaps she cannot. Luna smiled weakly as she quickly ran up to Twilight’s side.

Luna quickly cast her own layer of magic and covered the statue with it, the two auras intertwining to create a single, magnificent, violet-blue one. The two mares gazed, transfixed, at the mixing auras for a moment, both finding its radiance utterly breathtaking. The statue was effortlessly lifted up at this point, and the two of them quickly relocated it to behind a dense line of trees together, laying it down gently. Luna smiled at Twilight, who presented her with a pair of-

“Vampony teeth?” Luna took them in her hoof, staring at them, and then at Twilight, in confusion.

“Yes, I want you to wear them and stand over there, where the statue was.”

“You want me to pretend to be Nightmare Moon?” Luna eyed her suspiciously.

“Err… yes?” Twilight forced a smile onto her muzzle. “Oh, and if there’s anything else you can do to be more, erm...” she trailed off, trying to think of the right word.

“Nightmare Moonish?” Luna suggested coldly, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, that’d be perfect.” Twilight smiled, oblivious to Luna’s rising ire as usual.

“THIS IS NOT A GAME, TWILIGHT!” Luna roared into the night. “I DO NOT WISH TO BE SEEN AS THAT MONSTER EVER AGAIN!”

It quickly became obvious, even to Twilight, that the notion of even just pretending to be that evil being deeply disturbed Luna, especially after what had transpired earlier that evening.

Has she forgotten what I’ve been through; what I’ve done to the town? Or that I, in fact, AM Nightmare Moon? I want to leave that monstrosity behind me! Luna growled to herself.

“Luna, I’m sorry, but if you can just do it this one time - for me - then I’m certain we can win the favor of all of Ponyville!” Twilight tried to assure her.

Luna stood grinding her teeth.

Of course I don’t want to do this! I can’t just play the part of that monster so easily! This is simply too much to bear!

But what if she’s right?

Luna turned away, considering her options. What madness is this? What is she planning? How could something like this possibly improve our standing with the ponies of Ponyville?! Ugh! Yet, all our previous attempts have failed, and she has requested that I trust her… as a friend. Still...

A moment passed, with Twilight quizzically staring at Luna whilst she debated with herself.

“…fine,” Luna begrudgingly agreed, in a very quiet whisper.

“I’m sorry?” Twilight came a bit closer.

“I said fine. I will trust in you and your plan, Twilight.”

“That’s fantastic, Luna! Just wait here and I’ll be back with the other ponies!” Twilight beamed at her before taking off toward the distant glow of the town.

“Wait, Twilight!” Luna shouted after her, “What am I supposed to do?”

“Just be menacing, Luna!” Twilight shouted back, still galloping away. “Wait for my cue and then reveal yourself!”

As Twilight took off, Luna’s enclosed herself in a deep-blue magical aura. Her body began to shimmer as the energies enveloping her turned a blinding white, quickly losing form and expanding. By the time Luna finished changing shape, her body had doubled in size, and she was bearing the armor of the beast. She smiled widely as she carefully aligned the vampony teeth with her own and then chomped down, fixing them in place. Luna cautiously climbed onto the worn, stone platform and assumed what she thought would be a fearsome pose. Her body glowed with magic one last time, changing her appearance to resemble stone to complete her ruse.

I never thought I’d be using your spell to do this, Luna thought to herself, feeling a measure of remorse. Remember though: evil and menacing. Stay calm and focus… Oh, they are approaching even as we speak!

A small group of ponies and foals indeed slowly approached her shrine, bearing bags overflowing with candy. Each and every foal came and emptied their bag, one at a time, adding to the pile of goodies at the base of the statue. Luna glanced over at Twilight, who looked extremely confused and concerned. She could see Twilight glancing around, as if she were looking for something.

Does she truly not realize that I am right here? And how could such small foals have amassed such a large quantity of candy, I wonder? But wait - stay focused Luna, they’re nearly finished with their offering! Oh, look, ‘tis the youngling I saved earlier…

“Goodbye, Nightmare Night... Forever...” Pipsqueak sighed.

Why does he sound so displeased…? Luna pondered to herself, just as a strong gust of wind picked up and started stirring some of the smaller debris that could be found in the clearing around. ‘Tis my cue! Time to play my part!

“CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! YOU WERE WISE TO BRING THIS CANDY TO ME. I AM PLEASED WITH YOUR OFFERING. SO PLEASED THAT I JUST MAY EAT IT, INSTEAD OF EATING YOU!!!” Luna’s voice boomed through the clearing.
The group reacted in predictable fashion: running around, screaming for their lives, and fleeing from Luna.

“I am not certain that did what you meant for it to do, Twilight Sparkle…”

“Just wait...” Twilight grinned devilishly.

W-was this but a cruel trick all along? Luna’s composure faded, tears forming in her eyes. Thou hast made of foal of us for thine own amusement? I… We trusted thee… As a friend… How… how couldst thou…?

“Um… Princess Luna?” a small voice called out, and Luna felt a slight tug at her mane. “I know there’s not gonna be any more Nightmare Night, but do you suppose maybe you could come back next year and scare us again anyway?” Pipsqueak looked anxiously at her.

Us? What does he mean by- Luna quickly discovered the small group of foals hiding just behind the tiny pony in his pirate costume, while she was scanning the clearing for them.

“Child.” Luna brought her hoof up, suppressing a gasp, “Art thou saying that thou… likest me to scare you?”

“It’s really fun!” Pipsqueak quickly answered, with the sincere smile of a foal. “Scary, but fun!”

“It… ‘tis?” considered this, confused by the foal’s words.

Fun? How could this possibly be fun? I feel miserable, and those poor foals look absolutely terrified. I would be frightened to death, too, if I had just learned that horrors like Nightmare Moon really existed, at their age...

“Yeah!” he shouted, ”Nightmare Night is my favorite night of the year.”

Favorite night of the year? More so than Sister’s Summer Solstice?! Luna chewed her lip, trying to keep her growing excitement in check.

“Well then.. we shall have to bring NIGHTMARE NIGHT... BACK!!!” Luna boomed, blowing back the small foal.

“Whoa! You’re my favorite Princess ever!” Pipsqueak cheered, quickly climbing to his feet to hug the Princess’s hoof before running off to his friends. “She said ‘yes’, guys!”

F-Favorite p-p-Princess?! Luna simply melted.

A chorus of whoops and cheers could be heard from the foals gathered, and even some of the adults. Luna, however, stood silently, basking in the glow of Pipsqueak’s words. It caused such immense warmth to spill forth from within her that she failed to notice the herd of ponies surrounding her, until they started cheering and thanking her for her deed.

Twilight approached from the side. “See? They really do like you, Princess,” she said, congratulating the alicorn.

“Can it be true?” Luna wondered aloud. “OH, MOST WONDERFUL OF- I mean… Oh, most wonderful of nights!” She smiled politely.

“Huhuh!” Applejack approached, chuckling at Luna’s outburst. “Gotta admit, Princess, that was a pretty fancy trick ya pulled back there!”

“It was very impressive,” Twilight remarked. “For a moment there, I thought you might have just put the statue back and ran off again.”

“Shucks Twi, give the girl some credit,” Applejack said, looking at Twilight from beneath the brim of her hat.

“Heh, sorry,” Twilight said sheepishly.

“But Luna,” Applejack said, turning back toward the alicorn, ”wouldya mind tellin’ us how ya managed all that?”

“Yeah, I’d very much like to know, too!” Twilight agreed. “I actually thought you’d used an amniomorphic spell, at first.” She rolled her eyes and waved her hoof.

“Animawhatta?” Applejack blurted out.

“Amniomorphic. Think of it as projecting an invisible layer of light just beyond your skin, so that you may appear as something completely different, while remaining intact and unchanged on the inside,” Twilight tried to explain, as simply as possible.

“So… it’s a disguise spell?” Applejack asked, unsure about the validity of her observation.

“Precisely Applejack! However, this is a really advanced one; you could literally become anypony or anything, and nopony would ever be able to tell the difference. I’ve been unable to even attempt it, myself, however, since the actual spell has been lost to time. It’d be impossible to cast anything that could even come close, without it...”

“Oh, but it isn’t completely lost, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna pointed out, as though it wasn’t anything unusual. ”That was exactly the spell I just used!”

“What?! B-b-but how?!” Twilight gasped.

Suddenly, however, the remaining scattered ponies emerged from their various hiding places and gathered around Luna, cheering and laughing about her convincing act. This cut Twilight off from her, and quickly distracted the Princess from even thinking about replying to the unicorn’s question.

Luna walked back toward town, urged on by the masses, and Twilight followed suit, after coming back to her senses. She looked over at Applejack, hoping for some help in cornering Luna and getting an answer, but Applejack just smiled back and shrugged it off.

The foals danced around Luna, chasing each other and pretending to be Nightmare Moon, occasionally stopping to curiously ask her random questions. On the outside, Luna was merely pleasant to everypony, but deep down, she simply felt like exploding with joy.

Remember, Luna: decorum is everything; you mustn’t lose your composure again. I don’t exactly like the thought of them playing that Nightmare Moon game, but they’re only foals... Be polite, courteous, and kind to everypony, just as sister told you long ago. Oh, but this is ever so thrilling! I mean, look at me! Talking and laughing with ponyfolk, and walking amongst them, as though it were nothing! Well, it may very well be nothing to them, but to me? Oh, to me, this is simply the best!

Luna continued to enjoy all the company while they moved closer to the center of town. Although her heart was still aflutter with jubilation, Luna felt her nerve slipping the moment they reached the final line of homes that stood between them and the radiant center of all the festivities. She parked herself in the street suddenly, as the rest of the group strolled by. Twilight was the only one who ran right into her.

“Gah!” Twilight grunted as she fell to the ground. She looked up at Luna, rubbing her head. “Guess that was a bad time to be looking the other way, ehehe.”

Luna sat silently, staring at the warm orange glow that all the festive lights were emitting ahead.

“Luna, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she dusted herself off.

“Mmm- I am not sure I can do this, Twilight Sparkle…” Luna chewed her lip.

Twilight giggled, resting a hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here, and so are all these other ponies. Didn’t you see how much they like you now?”

“Well yes but-“

“It’s okay,” Twilight assured her once more, smiling gently.

Luna replied with a meek smile of her own. “Okay,” she said as she rose.

The two of them joined the rest of Ponyville in their festivities once more, basking in the bright, orange glow of the many candles and lanterns. Luna couldn’t help but feel overcome with sheer awe; her muzzle hung open slightly while she gazed at the visual feast before her. She failed to notice, however, that the activity in the town square was quickly grinding to a halt, and that many ponies were still cowering before her. A small yelp quickly brought this fact to her attention; she sighed to see so many trembling with fear, still. Just as Luna was about to shut her eyes and hang her head, her small lavender companion stepped out before her, gaining everypony’s attention.

“Everypony listen up!” Twilight began, “Please, do not be afraid any longer!”

Few ponies seemed to listen to her, though, and even fewer actually dared to stop hiding from Luna. However, here and there a curious pony could be seen bringing their head up to see what all the commotion was about.

“Princess Luna has been back for quite a while now, and we have done little to make her feel welcome. Well, tonight is Nightmare Night, and its entire purpose is to remind her just how much we love her, and to reach out to her no matter where she is!”

“But she wrecked the town!” a voice cried out.

“You silly fillies!” Pinkie Pie came bouncing out. “That was the best part of the night!”

A collective ‘what’ rolled through the crowd, and countless colorful eyes were blankly staring at the pink mare in utter disbelief.

“Yeah! I mean, you didn’t think a sweet ol’ Princess like Luna would go around wrecking stuff just to be a meanie, didya?” Pinkie beamed, hanging her hoof over a shocked Luna.

Huzza… hoowa... wha…?

“Of course she didn’t - didya Woona?” Pinkie said in a goo-goo baby voice, taking Luna’s muzzle in her hoof.

“Umm… no?” Luna replied dumbly, staring back into the earth pony’s eyes.

“Of course you didn’t!” Pinkie flung her hooves in the air. “Why, this is the best night ever BECAUSE you made that Nightmare Moon appearance!”

What… is she doing…?

“Yes, that’s right!” Twilight chimed in, “Luna did her very best to make a convincing Nightmare Moon; she just did too good of a job...” She smiled weakly.

What is this?!

The crowd murmured quietly amongst itself, some ponies nodding as though they were actually considering it. Slowly they came forward, gathering before Twilight and the smaller group, together forming a large herd that certainly made up the bulk of the entire town’s population.

“Okay everypony, ”Twilight said, looking very pleased, ”things may have gotten a little out of hoof, but I will personally oversee the repairs to Ponyville, together with with the Princesses-“

“BUT WASN’T SHE AWESOME?!” Pinkie interrupted, jumping in front of Twilight. “I mean, she was all ‘ROOOAR’ and then she flew down ‘WOOSH’ and then she was being all scary and wrecky like ‘GRAAAH’ and stuff was flyin’ everywhere and- OH MAN, IT WAS A BLAST!” Pinkie went through several - seemingly physically impossible - motions before falling down flat on her back, gasping for air.

“Yeah… Yeah, I guess it was pretty cool,” a lone voice grumbled.

“What?! You can’t honestly believe them!” somepony shot back.

“But it’s Princess Celestia’s ward speaking,” another pony tried to argue, ”and the other one is also a bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony!”

“Well I didn’t hear Princess Celestia saying anything about this beforehoof!” a different pony shouted.

Luna winced. Does my word truly mean so little to them?

A dull roar rose among the crowd as various heated arguments broke out. Luna could see it all slowly building up into complete chaos. Somepony had to act fast, or the situation would quickly spiral out of control.

I can’t believe I’m about to do this... Luna sighed to herself.

“Please, my subjects, calm yourselves!” Luna commanded, startling the entire town into sudden silence. As she stepped forward into the crowd, ponies nervously shuffled back, creating room for her, until she found herself surrounded. She shifted nervously, but continued on anyway. “This is the first time since my return that We- that I have been able to experience the celebration you have dubbed ‘Nightmare Night’. It has brought me great joy to see you all revel in the night with such gaiety! I admit, I have been overzealous in my attempts to bring authenticity to the event, but rest assured: order will be restored. I offer everypony my sincere apology, and my word that we shall oversee the necessary reconstruction and full compensation for all damages suffered.”

The herd started muttering again, but this time, many more were breaking into nods and smiles; it was apparent that Luna had won their favor.

“And with that out of the way, I solemnly decree that the celebration of Nightmare Night may now resume!” Luna let her powerful voice boom one last time, easily drowning out the din.

Everypony cheered and applauded with rapid stomps of their forehooves, some even jumping up and down as they squealed with glee. Their ruse had proved successful - numerous ponies circled around Luna, taking their chance to welcome her back personally. Luna quickly became overwhelmed with greeters and well-wishers as they crowded around her. Twilight Sparkle, who sat at the edge of the crowd smiling at the frantic alicorn, suddenly popped up in place, as if struck by an invisible object. She abruptly galloped off, away from Luna and the swiftly resuming festivities. Her actions immediately caught Luna’s eye.

“Twilight! Where are you going?” Luna called out from the swarm of ponies celebrating around her.

“I’ll be right back, Luna!” Twilight replied, as she raced for her library home. “I need to write a letter! Meet me back at the statue in an hour!”

“It takes you that long to write a letter to sister?” Luna shouted after her, finding herself gradually being blocked off by another wave of friendly ponies.

“Proofreading makes perfect!” Twilight shouted back, almost singing the words; her melodic reply quickly trailed off in the distance.

Luna rolled her eyes as the mare faded from sight. “Best not to dwell on her departure, Luna,” she told herself, ”you have friends to make!” She spent a moment smiling to herself, but a sudden, powerful tug at her foreleg drew her attention.

“Oooh, and you will! You’re gonna have the most awesomest, most spectacular night ever tonight, and I’m sure we’ll be the bestest of best new friends!” Pinkie beamed widely as she led Luna away by the hoof. She leaned back and whispered to the startled alicorn: “And hey, great job with the cover-up speech!”

“Whu- you knew?” Luna gasped.

“Well DUH, silly,” Pinkie said with a laugh, “who d’ya think helped set all of that up? Twi’s a super-smart smarty pants, but I could tell you needed more than just smarts to get outta that situation. You needed help from Auntie Pinkie Pie!”

Auntie? I am older than her by at least a thousand years! Wait, no, focus.

Luna trotted along with Pinkie, still a bit baffled. “I do not understand. Why did you help me? You’ve been turning foals against me the entire night.”

“What? Nah, I was just havin’ fun!” Pinkie chuckled.

“Fun? FUN?!” Luna scowled. “I may have only become truly acquainted with this ‘fun’ on this very night, Laughter, but your activities hardly seem to qualify as such! In fact, your behavior toward me, up until this point, have made this evening anything but fun!”

Pinkie Pie immediately stopped and spun around, plopping onto her haunches, and Luna was surprised to discover a softly sobbing, doe-eyed mare before her. Pinkie Pie’s once-luscious cotton candy mane had deflated into dangling strips of thick taffy, and her lips seemed to quiver as she fought back a sudden burst of emotion.

“Gosh, I’m sorry Luna - I didn’t mean to upset you, honest! I was just trying to improve your attitude by bringing the party to you. I wanted to teach you how to laugh at yourself, too, but I guess I went a little overboard too and ended up not helping at all, huh?” Pinkie poked at the dirt.

Well, that’s certainly an unexpected reaction, Luna thought with a frown. I suppose I may have misunderstood her intentions - which puts her into a situation I am all too familiar with. Perhaps it would be best if I learn to make light of my mistakes... Dwelling on them certainly hasn’t worked out for me in the slightest...

“I can tell you don’t wanna be friends though, so I’ll just go…” Pinkie whimpered as she picked herself up and began to trot away.

Because we’re friends, and you’re supposed to trust friends! Twilight’s words seemed to echo in Luna’s mind.

“Pinkie Pie, wait,” Luna called out softly, after a moment, extending a hoof toward the mare. “You are not solely to blame you for this misunderstanding... If you still wish to make peace with me, then I shall gladly accept it. I now believe that you truly had good intentions, but I do wish to note that, in the future, it might be wise to let others know of them before you act at your own discretion. I can forgive you, however, because I trust that you genuinely meant no harm.”

“REALLY?!” Pinkie Pie spun back around, her eyes lighting up in an instant and her mane returning to its former, luscious glory.

“Of course.” Luna smiled as she took Pinkie’s hoof. “I wish to learn to be less critical of others, and to avoid misunderstandings from now on. Forgiveness, I believe, would be a step in the right direction, on that path.”

Pinkie Pie lowered herself to the ground and rumbled ominously, causing Luna to quickly take a few steps away from her. The mare then shot off into the sky, propelled by some tremendous, invisible force.

“Woo-HOOO!” Pinkie shouted as she reached the peak of her ascent. “BEST. NIGHTMARE NIGHT. EVER!”

Just as surprisingly, the mare then lazily drifted back toward the ground, as though she weighed no more than a down feather. Without really thinking about it Luna caught her, cradling her in her hooves.

“How… did you do any of that?” Luna stared in confusion.

“Ooh! You wanna know? ‘Cuz I can sing a song about it if you like!” Pinkie grinned.

“NO- I mean… that’s okay. Maybe some other time?” Luna smiled, hoping to convince her otherwise.

“Fine,” Pinkie said with a pout, folding her hooves after she hopping out of Luna’s forelegs, “but don’t think this means you’re getting out of writing another song for me! I mean it!” She seemed to be gesturing into empty space, not really addressing Luna at all.

“Pinkie Pie, who are you- never mind. Come! As a means of making amends, I commandeth thee to show me around while Twilight is away.”

The two new friends went about the festival, with Pinkie bouncing nearly everywhere and Luna following in stride. It quickly became quite difficult for Luna to keep up with the energetic earth mare; she couldn’t begin to fathom where it was all coming from. Nevertheless, she followed as best she could. They played Spider Toss with a few other ponies, while the crowd that had gathered cheered her on. Luna received even more offerings of candy from the foals, and Pinkie Pie even convinced her to pull a prank on one particular filly, terrifying the poor ponygirl while she was bobbing for apples. To Luna’s delight, everypony seemed to be enjoying her presence. It was something she literally hadn’t experienced in ages, and though she wished to relish every single moment of it, the time of her meeting with Twilight soon drew near.

After bidding farewell to her friends, Luna was all set to begin her lonesome trek back into the Everfree forest - hopefully for the last time tonight. She felt reluctant as she headed toward the outskirts of town, away from the warmth and friendship she had longed for for centuries. Still, the soothing glow of it still resided within her, the mere thought of all those friendly, laughing ponies conjuring a quaint smile onto her muzzle. The cold breeze of the late night brushed by, but Luna was unfazed; nothing could get to her after the joy she had just experienced. She still felt as giddy as a little filly!

Oh, if only he could see me now... He’d be so pleased! I just wish- Wait, is that Rainbow Dash?

As she approached, Luna spotted a dark cloud floating over the clearing where her statue stood. Sitting atop of it was, indeed, Rainbow Dash, clad in her shoddy, makeshift Shadow Bolt outfit and with a look of malicious intent gleaming in her eyes.

Surely, she must have followed Twilight Sparkle here, and now intends to frighten her! I must act quickly! Oh, but what can I do?! Luna trotted anxiously in place.

At that moment, another pegasus came strutting by. She had soft gray coat, and a beautiful golden mane and tail. Her costume completely baffled Luna, however.

I have no idea what she is supposed to be… Luna gazed at the curious costume, which was composed of a variety of paper bags. I assume it must be something far too modern for me to understand... For example, the way she’s walking that thundercloud on a leash; what would be the significance of- Wait, what?

The Luna’s confusion grew with every passing second - but now was not the time to figure out the bizarre habits of modern-day ponies, she realized. She had a fiendish prank to foil!

“Excuse me Miss!” Luna called out.

“Hmm?” The mare turned, meeting Luna’s eyes.

Luna fought to hide her discomfort. “E-Excuse me Miss...?”

“Missus,” the mare replied quickly.

“Oh, sorry, Mrs…?” Luna leaned forward, expecting her to fill in the blank, but the pegasus’s only response was to stare back in silence.

“May I please borrow your thunder cloud?” Luna asked.

“What do you want with Crackle?” the mare replied in a worried tone.

“Crackle…?” Luna straightened up for a moment, staring up at the leashed nimbus cloud. “OH! You mean you- your pet?”

“Yeah, Crackle here’s my bud! What do you want with him?” She eyed Luna suspiciously, tugging the cloud a tad closer to herself.

“Ah, well, you see, my friend is in danger and I need his help in order to save her?” Luna explained.

“Hmm... I dunno,” the mare mused, continuing to glare at her. “You won’t hurt him, will you?”

“Hurt a cloud?” Luna replied blankly. “Uh, I mean… No! No, of course not!”

“Well, okay, I guess you can walk him… but only if I can come along!”

“Uh… okay?” Luna took a step forward and, when the pegasus dropped the leash, hopped onto the cloud, gently flying off in Rainbow Dash’s direction. She looked back to see the gray mare clumsily flying after her, crashing into several branches and tree tops along the way, clearly lacking any sense of direction. Luna was too focused on her goal to slow and assist her though. Instead, she headed straight for Rainbow Dash, stopping only when she was sneakily hovering above the unsuspecting blue pegasus. Luna reared up and stomped down, sending a bolt of lightning to strike Rainbow Dash, making the mare flee for her life. Twilight Sparkle, startled by the loud crack, looked up into the sky only to discover Luna hovering down toward her, laughing. Both she and Spike joined in on the laughter, but they were quickly interrupted by the gray mare from whom Luna had borrowed ‘Crackle’.

“HEY!” she shouted, “YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T HURT CRACKLE!”

The three of them stopped laughing, and looked at each other nervously as the pegasus flew closer. She immediately pushed Luna off the cloud; the Princess landed with a loud thud. The pegasus hugged the cloud as though she had just been reunited with a foalhood friend. Luna quickly rose and dusted herself off, gazing up in shock but refraining from comment, as she felt she might have actually deserved that.

“You okay buddy?” The strange pegasus petted and stroked the cloud. It didn’t really respond, of course - only undulate, as clouds are wont to do.

“Ma’am, I can assure you that your friend, erm, Crackle, is completely unharmed,” Twilight assured her.

“A-are you sure, Star Swirl?” the pegasus replied.

“Y-yes…” Twilight blinked in astonishment.

“Well, if Star Swirl the Bearded says he’s okay, then he must be okay!” She turned to the small group. “Sorry I pushed you; I was just worried about him.” She smiled apologetically.

“Think nothing of it,” Luna said. ”Thank you for allowing him to assist me.”

“Oh, no problem, Princess Luna. Well, I hope you have a fun evening with Star Swirl and Barney!” The mare smiled once more as she turned and headed back to town, trotting alongside her companion. “C’mon Crackle, let’s go back home to your daddy.”

The company stood in silence, watching the odd pegasus trot away.

“Well… that was... unique,” Twilight was first to remark.

“It certainly was,” Luna agreed.

“What’s a ‘Barney’?” Spike asked curiously.

The two mares simultaneously responded with a shrug.

“Well, anyway,” Spike said, stifling a yawn, “it’s getting way late, and I should be getting to bed. Sorry you had such a rough night, Princess Luna, but it sure is nice to have you back...”

“That’s right! It’s waaay past your bedtime, mister!” Twilight scolded him.

Luna giggled, listening to them bickering like sibling foals for a moment, before finally interrupting. “Thank you, Spike. Since you are Twilight’s personal assistant, I will make sure the remainder of this night is peaceful, especially for you, so that you may rest undisturbed.”

“AWESOME!” Spike said happily, before dashing off towards the massive oak that housed the Library he called home.

The two mares shared a laugh as the baby dragon disappeared into the night.

“Why is it you’ve brought me here, again, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked, more curious than irritated this time.

“I visit here often-“ Twilight began, and Luna felt her cheeks heat up immediately in response. “-because it’s such a convenient landmark along the way to another clearing nearby, where I love to go stargazing.”

“Oh…” Luna sighed with slight disappointment.

“It’s only a little trot away - follow me!” Twilight took off deeper into the forest.

The brush grew thicker, and their path became ever darker and more difficult to navigate. Luna would occasionally stumble over a root or wander into a bush, but she continued to follow the sound of the bells on Twilight’s hat, jingling in the darkness. If it hadn’t been for her friend’s noisy costume, the alicorn would have likely gotten lost. As Twilight had said, however, it wasn’t long before they came upon a clearing, where a bright beam of light shone through an opening in the otherwise dense canopy, penetrating the darkness. It was a sight for sore eyes to the weary alicorn, but it was an even greater relief to to finally catch sight of her unicorn companion again.

“Twilight, I thought I’d lost you!” Luna frowned at the starry-eyed unicorn, whose own gaze remained firmly fixed heavenward.

“Ahhh,” was the only utterance to escape the distracted mare’s mouth.

Luna looked up, too, her eyes soon greeted by the endless, dark blue expanse of the sky. It was mostly clear - which Luna assumed was due to the hard work of the Ponyville weather team - with nary a cloud to be seen. The full moon was as brilliant as ever, clearly visible from the clearing, which it bathed in the softest of yellowish rays which dimly shone off the grass. An impossibly large amount of stars twinkled in the sky, undimmed by the glowing lights of the nearby village. It certainly was quite a sight. Luna returned her attention to the spellbound unicorn, noting the stars’ glistening reflection in her beautiful, violet eyes.

“How beautiful…” Luna muttered absentmindedly.

“Isn’t it?” Twilight replied, startling the alicorn and making her face turn a bright red. “You made all of this happen, though, didn’t you?”

“Made wha- oh right, the night! Yes, yes, I do most of that...” Luna sighed with relief on the inside.

“It’s so magnificent, Luna! I never get tired of how amazing it is...”

“Th-thank you Twilight. I take great pride in what I do,” Luna replied, as she continued to surreptitiously admire the star-gazing unicorn.

“And you should! I especially love the constellations - I can name them all you know!” Twilight smiled at her.

“Oh, those are just some old doodles I did back when I was a foal,” Luna said with a shrug. “Never cared much for the names, myself, but he insist-“

“YOU DREW THOSE?!” Twilight interrupted. “Luna, that’s amazing! You mean you can actually move stars?”

“Well, yes, Twilight. While the Moon is technically not at star, both my sister and I have control over our respective celestial bodies, due to ancient form of magic called ‘Astromancy’,” Luna explained, quickly finding herself launching into a lengthy lecture.

Twilight simply sat and listened, every little bit of new information making her eyes glimmer with the delight of newly-gleaned knowledge. It was clear to Luna that the mare’s mind was racing to comprehend everything she cared to expound upon, and was overflowing with boundless curiosity. Twilight’s face was a study in fascination, as she leaned forward with an expression of pure awe.

My word - she listens so intently, leaning on every word I speak, simply enthralled with the knowledge I am imparting to her. I’d wouldn’t be surprised if she would suddenly produces a hidden notebook and began making frantic notes! It is rather pleasant to speak to somepony about such intellectual matters, but she must have a million questions for me at this point. Perhaps I should stop now, before it becomes too much for her - or for me - to bear...

“At any rate, it is I who should be thanking you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said, breaking off her lecture.

“What do you mean?” Twilight said, blinking, her concentration shattered by the sudden change of topic.

“You have shown such immense kindness toward me... Because of your faith in me, and your perseverance, I have managed to make many friends tonight, and learn much about friendship in general. More than I could have by myself in a thousand years - if you’ll excuse the expression. It feels as though the ponies of Equestria are truly willing to accept me this time... and for once, I feel like I am ready to face them. I am certain that it has been your invaluable guidance that has showed me how to be a Princess worth respecting, and allowed me to earn the night the recognition it so richly
deserves. Most importantly, however, Twilight, you gave me hope. You are truly an amazing mare...”

Luna watched in amusement as the lavender unicorn turned a bright shade of pink. She felt her own face heat up as well, realizing that her final words may unintentionally have been a bit forward. The two mares sat together in awkward silence as the night’s cool breeze blew past them, causing Twilight to shiver.

“Chilly, isn’t it?” Luna asked, averting her eyes.

“Yeah, a little...” Twilight smiled, even as her comparatively small frame continued to shake uncontrollably.

Luna looked away, but scooted a little closer. Twilight did the same. They continued to inch closer, hiding the sounds of their nervous shuffling under the cover of each howling gust of wind. Neither dared to look at the other, but it wasn’t long before they bumped into each other, both of them nickering in surprise.

“Eheheh, oops?” they both stammered simultaneously, laughing sheepishly before scooting apart again, which left Twilight still shivering.

I can’t just let her suffer like that…

Luna extended her wing toward Twilight, the tip urging the mare to come closer. Twilight looked up to see her looking away unassumingly, but she recognized an obvious hint when she got one. Twilight scooted closer and snuggled up to Luna; the wing gently draped over her as though it were a blanket. While she sat like this, shielded from the harsh cold by the protective wing, Twilight smiled appreciatively up at Luna, and when the alicorn looked down to check on the mare, she smiled back shyly in return. The warmth generated by the closeness of two mares created a small pocket of comfort in the unforgiving night. It granted Luna not just a moment of ease, but the unfamiliar pleasure of another pony’s close company...

Luna let out a heavy sigh, disrupting the quiet intimacy of the moment.

“W-what’s wrong?” Twilight said, inching back a little.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time with you tonight, Twilight,” Luna said, looking down with clear distress visible in her expression, “but I fear what I shall have to face when I return to Canterlot - and to my sister...”

“What do you mean? I thought we were going to clear up everything that happened tonight with her?” Twilight tilted her head.

“Well, yes, but I am referring to something that occurred not too long ago at the Gala, instead.” Luna pressed her hoof to her head. “I made such an awful scene there. The whole thing erupted into utter chaos because I shouted at a pony! Sister even told me to run away…”

“But I didn’t even see you once the entire night!” Twilight remarked.

“I entered through the back when everpony was quiet, but I accidentally yelled ‘YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE ME’! Why, I even startled myself... I was certain I could control my tone, but honestly it didn’t even sound like me at all, even though it must have been...“

“Wh- BAHAHAHA!” Twilight rolled over laughing.

“What is the meaning of this?” Luna watched her in bewilderment, somewhat disturbed by Twilight’s unexpected reaction.

“I-I’m sorry Luna,” Twilight hiccuped, wiping away the tears that were rolling across her cheeks, “but I’m pretty sure it was my friends’ fighting that silenced everypony, and then Fluttershy came in from the Royal Gardens, bellowing that exact phrase at the top of her lungs. Celestia told me to ‘run’, true, but we all met up later and laughed about the whole thing over doughnuts. I’m afraid you must have been mistaken about what happened at the Gala this whole time...”

“Inconceivable!” Luna shot back.

“I know it sounds crazy, but trust me: I know precisely how things that whole catastrophe unfolded,” Twilight told her, still giggling a little.

Luna stared at the ground, mortified.

“Sorry, but at least it was nowhere near as bad as you thought it was, right?” Twilight got back up onto her hooves, and Luna a reassuring hug.

“I suppose you’re right…” Luna muttered, still shocked by the revelation. She wrapped her hooves and wings around the unicorn once more, holding her a little less awkwardly, this time.

“Right!” Twilight hugged her tight. “For now, let’s just enjoy your beautiful starry night...”

The two ponies sat closely together, enjoying each other’s warmth and staring up at the night’s sky. Somehow, the sight seemed infinitely more beautiful to her than Luna ever remembered it being...

They stayed in the clearing together until the orange glow of dawn began to arrive. Shortly afterward they departed for town, where they found a familiar pony waiting for the Princess to arrive.

“Eventide, you’re okay!” Luna exclaimed, picking him up and squeezing him tightly in a massive hug.

“H-hi Princess!” Eventide choked out. ”Um, ow? S-Still wounded, remember?” He gasped when Luna finally released him.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Luna grimaced at the sight of the scar; it was an unpleasant reminder of her terrible relapse. “I’m just so relieved to see you... And where is Aurora?” she said, checking around for her.

“Oh, well, y-you know... It’s sunrise and all, so she had to leave for duty.”

“Hey, don’t forget about us!” another familiar voice called out.

Luna leaned sideways to look around Eventide. “Vesperus! Noctus! Have you been searching for me this entire time?”

“W-well, err, no. We s-sorta knew where you were,” Eventide replied, scratching the back of his mane. “We just thought you might like some… well… p-p-privacy?”

Both Twilight and Luna blushed and coughed into their hooves, looking in opposite directions.

“WOOOOO!” Vesperus whooped, waving his hoof in the air.

“KNOCK IT OFF, NUMBSKULL!” Noctus kicked Vesperus’s remaining foreleg.

“Hey! You knock it off!” Vesperus began kicking back.

The two instantly began quarrel again, slamming into Luna’s royal chariot before bouncing off and seemingly fusing into a small dust cloud of violence and flying hooves. Luna looked at Eventide with a silly smile, making him laugh.

“H-heh?” Eventide shrugged.

“Indeed!” Luna laughed.

The two bickering bat-ponies’ fighting instantly stopped, and they lay there, entangled together and staring, astonished to hear Luna laugh. They looked at each other with identical looks of surprise.

“Did she just...?” Vesperus mumbled.

“I think she did...” Noctus confirmed.

“I s-s-suppose… we should be going back to Canterlot now, Princess?” Eventide suggested meekly.

“Yes, we should,” Luna agreed with a slight nod. “Are you certain you are well enough to make the trip back, though? Perhaps you should with me ride in the cart...”

“If it wouldn’t be t-too much of a bother to you, Princess,” Eventide stammered, meek as ever, ”then I would certainly a-a-appreciate it...”

“You most certainly aren’t a bother!” Luna replied with a smile.

“Aww man, you mean we gotta haul his sorry flank, too?” Vesperus groaned.

Everypony turned to glare him down.

“You will do as the Princess commands!” Noctus said angrily.

“AWW man,” Vesperus whined.

“I honestly can’t understand how you ever made it through guard school, Vesperus,” Noctus said disapprovingly, shaking his head.
Luna chuckled at their antics some more, before turning her attention to Twilight. “I suppose this is... farewell?”

“Oh… okay,” Twilight quietly spoke, a slight note of disappointment creeping into her voice, which, however subtle, was still clearly discernible.

“It is only for a little while, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said with a smile, bringing Twilight’s face up with the tip of her hoof. ”I suspect I shall be seeing you again very soon...” She stared into Twilight’s eyes, while the unicorn smiled back hopefully.

“NOW KISS!” Vesperus shouted from the sidelines, ruining the moment and causing everypony to glare at him reproachfully.

“YOU DUMB BASTARD!” Noctus growled, before pulling his colleague into another scuffle.

Luna, Twilight, and Eventide all looked at each other briefly, before breaking into hysterical laughter.

The Princess would return to Canterlot a rekindled soul. Twilight would return to the Golden Oaks Library with the knowledge of a job well done. One of the bat-ponies would go to rest before his next rendezvous with his newfound love, and the other two would continue fighting like a married couple.

It was a notably bright sunrise in Equestria that day, and the moon continued to fall.

Addendum: The Night's Sister

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The trip back to Canterlot seemed to be over in an instant, since Luna had spent the entire time musing about her new companion and all of the friendships she had forged. Over the course of a single Nightmare Night, she had rebuilt relations with the townsfolk of Ponyville and gained the favor of the new Elements of Harmony, who had each agreed to help her in their own way. And it was all thanks to Twilight Sparkle; the unicorn had seen her through the night, sticking by her through thick and thin. If anypony had given Luna a new lease on life, it was her.

“There certainly is something Magical about her…” Luna muttered absentmindedly.

“Hmm?” Eventide, who had been riding in the chariot next to Luna, turned to her with a smile.

“N-nothing!” Luna averted her blushing muzzle.

“O-oh.” Eventide quietly turned away. “You know, it’s kind of nice to not have to fly, and instead just be flown somewhere.” He smiled.

“HEY! I heard that!” Vesperus - flying in line with Noctus for once - shouted back at him. “We’re only doin’ this cuz Luna said so, but once you’re all healed up I’m still kickin’ your flank for this!”

“Just shut up and fly straight!” Noctus commanded at a still-sneering Vesperus, as they began their descent toward the landing zone.

Luna and Eventide looked to one another and stifled their giggles under their hooves.

The chariot slowly began to descend, and finally settled gently on the stone landing pad. The sun was still only just rising, but Luna felt exhausted. She sat up weakly and climbed out of the cart, turning to envelop Eventide in an aura and lift him out after her. She gently sat him down on the stone, allowing him to gain his balance before he stood up.

“T-thanks Princess Luna,” Eventide mumbled quietly. ”You d-didn’t have to do t-that though.”

“Think nothing of it, Eventide - and please, just ‘Luna’ is fine. I did not wish to see you come to any further harm. You have already endured enough.” Luna smiled. “Tell me, though: why did you need leave with Aurora? I was quite certain you had already left, until I found you waiting for me in Ponyville...”

“O-oh, well…” he stammered, beginning to blush, “s-she had to go on guard duty, and I guess I s-stayed to do mine...”

“You remained in town to watch over me? Even after what I did to you?!” Luna blinked in astonishment.

Eventide stared down at the ground for a moment, deep in thought. “...That thing wasn’t you,” he finally said, lifting his head and fixing his eyes on Luna’s. “It wasn’t then, a thousand years ago, and it isn’t now... It never will be you, Luna.”

“Eventide...” Luna fell silent, unable to find a suitable response.

“Hey... uh... yeah!” Vesperus interrupted as he removed his harness, drawing their attention. “So... I’m goin’ to bed, folks. Laters!” He trotted off.

“Please excuse us, Princess.” Noctus bowed before chasing after his companion.

“I s-should be going too. I w-wanted to catch Aurora on her p-patrol routine. Good morning Luna.” Eventide also bowed, before heading in the same direction as the other two Duskguards.

Once she was alone, Luna started in the opposite direction, and trotted through the dimly lit hall. The soft orange glow of the rising sun began to cascade through the widows, each individual beam casting its soothing, warm rays on the alicorn and illuminating the hall. Luna paused to peer out of each passing window, smiling at the sun as it began to peak over the horizon. She had almost forgotten how exhausted she was, but the higher the sun rose, the more she felt her energy draining away.

Wearily, she approached the heavy doors to her chambers and nudged them open. She crept into the welcoming darkness of her room - courtesy of its heavy drapes - when the creaking door allowed just enough room to squeeze through, and then turned to slowly nudge it closed. It shut with a soft clack that still managed to echo through the quiet room.

“Hello Sister. Enjoying your evening?” a familiar voice softly called out.

“Sister?!” Luna spun around to find Celestia lounging on her bed. “Wh-what are you doing here?!” She backpedaled in surprise.

“Just came over to say ‘hi’!” She flipped over and hopped off the bed and trotted toward Luna, stopping just short of her. “You’ve been avoiding me for quite some time, after all,” she said, maintaining a smile as regal as ever.

Luna’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Y-yes, well, about that...” She coughed dryly in an attempt to compose herself. “I originally believed I was the source of the disaster at this year’s Grand Galloping Gala, but recent, um, developments have taught me otherwise. Everything has been cleared up, and I’ve even managed to instill a renewed sense of faith into the citizens of Ponyville, as well as regain the favor of the current Elements of Harmony.”

Celestia said nothing for a moment, before trotting further back into the room. She was facing away from Luna as she spoke, looking toward the thick blinds that hid the rising sun and only allowed a thin beam of light to trickle in. “...And what of the damage you have caused to Ponyville?”

“I... I informed the citizens that I shall personally oversee the reconstruction efforts, and I was planning to coordinate all the necessary financial compensations with Twi--” Luna froze, her eyes widening when the realization hit. ”Wait, how do you even know about that?!”

“You have eyes and ears all over Equestria, too, do you not? Just as I have my own. They may have been watching you,” Celestia said, her tone conversational and calm.

Luna stopped glaring for a moment and averted her gaze, her mind going wild with accusations.

Has she been having us followed this whole time? Does she still not trust us? We have done nothing underhooved since our return; what possible excuse could she have for her actions? She still thinks of us as the selfsame foal we once were?

“Then you have still not quite forgiven me, I suspect,” Luna said, staring at her sister, who remained unmoving while she peered out through the thin slit in the blinds.

Celestia finally turned to face Luna, wearing a slight frown on her face. “I have, Luna... I would not have renewed our friendship if I hadn’t. I was only concerned for our kingdom!”

“What do you mean? You still consider me a threat?!” Luna could feel hatred slowly boiling up from within, a certain, horribly familiar darkness pulsing through her being. Her cutiemark burned with anger.

“N-no! It’s not that...” Celestia winced with what seemed like frustration. “Sister, I know that, after your long absence, reintegration has not gone smoothly. And while I thought that restoring your powers would help you regain your original form, it has instead led to further atrophy...” Celestia closed her eyes briefly, and then continued. ”Everypony I’ve sent to help with your recovery, every treatment, every spell... they all turned out ineffective, and I’ve been far too busy myself to-”

“Be there for your sister...” Luna interrupted disappointedly. “The one who always stood by you. Who always loved you, and admired you most of all, in your days of glory. Who only asked you to help her teach appreciation of the night to the denizens of Equestria, when they all began to shun her. Who comforted you when our mother finally faded, and even helped you through your own Rending! And when the time came, when I truly needed you most, during my own Rending... you banished me!” Luna was shouting now, and was left panting by her outburst, yet still stood tall before her sister, fueled by righteous fury.

Celestia stood in shocked silence, unable to reply. Slowly, she hung her head and, with a deeply-heaved sigh, responded quietly: “You’re right. I haven’t really made time for you, since you returned; perhaps I never have... I lacked the power to help you, all those years ago, so I just... sent you away. I spent everyday thereafter wishing for another chance, wishing that I’d done things differently, but now that my wish has been granted, I’m just making all of the same mistakes all over again... It would seem even a thousand-year absence hasn’t taught me anything about caring for the one who matters to me most...”

“Sister...” Luna murmured. She sat down weakly, utterly surprised by that heartfelt response. Her own anger instantly subsided; her cutiemark’s heat cooling just as rapidly.

“I love you, dear Sister,” Celestia said, stepping closer to Luna and gazinginto her eyes. Her little sister was, once again, shocked to find that normally impenetrable regal composure fading. Her eyes, gradually starting to fill with tears, were as soft and innocent as they had been when they were only foals. “But you have already been shown more love and compassion by Twilight Sparkle - a pony you have only just met - than I have given you in, perhaps, all of our long years of existence together... I have failed you... I-I’m sorry...”

Celestia hung her head in shame, obviously disappointed in herself. The tears lamenting her folly were well-hidden beneath her vibrant, pastel-colored mane. She slowly began to trot past Luna, heading towards the door, but stopped when she found her path blocked by a dark blue wing. She looked over at Luna in surprise.

Luna glared at her. “Sister, we have been apart for many years. During that time my anger grew, and Nightmare Moon only became stronger. But we were shown the error of our ways, and as such, we were saved from making the same mistakes again. Tonight I have learned many lessons about love and friendship, but now I must learn another one, it seems, about that which I have sought for most of all: forgiveness.”

With that, Luna smiled, wrapped her forehooves around her big sister and pulled her into a hug. She held her tightly, embracing her crying sibling to the fullest, even wrapping her wings around the other alicorn. It was like they were fillies again...

Celestia sat there, her mouth agape in awe, as a stream of tears steadily trickled down her face and around her muzzle. Her forehooves were simply left dangling, until she willfully fought to bring them up and hold her sister. She slowly broke into a smile, and pressed her face against Luna, softly sobbing into her shoulder.

“I’ve missed you so much, Tia,” Luna whispered, whilst her sister’s ears pricked forward to hear.

“L-L-Lunabelle, y-you haven’t called me that since we were foals!” Celestia whimpered with delight.

“Nor have you called me by that name in ages.” She grinned, petting her sister’s mane. “You know how much I dislike being called by my full name.”

“I-I’m sorry, I just-”

“It’s okay. As they say: old habits die hard,” Luna spoke softly.

The situation was indeed reminiscent of how they used to act when they were small. All those countless times when Celestia would come crying to Luna, wailing about a bruise on her hoof or how she’d lost her doll - and Luna would always be there to comfort her. It was, at times, easy to mistake which one of them was actually the big sister. But Luna didn’t mind; she cared for her sister unconditionally.

“Mother instilled many valuable traits in you, dear sister, but it was I who had to learn courage first... You may be the strong, confident ruler of Equestria now, but deep down inside, you’ll always be my Tia...”

It's About A Quarter After

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“Sooo, how’s the training going?” Eventide asked as Luna poured boiling tea into his cup, his reflection gradually appearing in the settling tea as he watched it.

“Rather well, if I do say so myself,” Luna remarked, pouring her own tea. “In the mornings I help Applejack on the farm and she runs me through a few drills to determine my progress. By the time we’re done, it’s usually noon and Rainbow Dash finally wakes up from her ‘Post-Weather Patrol Duty’ nap. If she actually gets up on time, we go through a few wing stretching exercises and maybe a light hover. I’ve grown much stronger now, though. Have a look!” Luna said as she rose.

It quickly became apparent that Luna had indeed gained quite a physique; her body was much more toned than it had been. Each individual muscle was clearly defined -- although this in no way diminished her sensual curves -- with all of it culminating in the firm, shapely flank that bore her Crescent Moon cutie mark. The princess was in magnificent shape, and truly a sight to behold as she stood there, proudly displaying herself.

Eventide couldn’t help but blush. “V-very impressive, Luna,” he said, shying away. He quickly averted his gaze downward, to hide the (potentially inappropriate) admiration shining within it, yet could still be caught sneaking a few peeks from the corners of his eyes.

Luna sat back down on her cushion, stifling a giggle. “It is, is it not? Thought, sadly, one cannot tell at a glance whether my wings have truly grown any stronger,” she said with a pout, flexing her wings and giving them a good flap. ”I’d like to think they have, at least.” The breeze her wing produced caused the wispy trail of steam rising from their tea to momentarily disperse.

She looked up proudly at Eventide, who smiled weakly.

“Anyway, after Rainbow Dash leaves to take her afternoon nap, I shall meet up with Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. It’s a rather delightful bakery where she lives with her aunt and uncle, the Cakes. We go about town doing deliveries for them, and the citizens of Ponyville grow accustomed to seeing me regularly. The whole town has become quite friendly towards me, actually, and it certainly helps that I come bearing delectable treats!”

“T-that’s great! And you still find time to raise the moon? H-how is it you manage all of this without being completely exhausted all the time?” he asked, blowing on the steaming drink as he stirred it.

“Well, Fluttershy is quite the skilled masseuse, you see. She’s been perfecting her technique and, I swear every time she gives me a massage I feel miraculously rejuvenated. It’s really quite amazing! Between that and the spa dates I go on with her and Rarity, it’s honestly quite hard to say that I feel like I’m working at all.”

“H-heh. Sounds like you’re having a great time.” Eventide smiled.

“Yes, it has been! And have you noticed the new decor? An absolute delight, is it not?” Luna brought her hooves up, gesturing Eventide to take in the room in its entirety.

The room had been spruced up quite a bit, mostly due to Rarity’s help. The Element of Generosity had been working almost non-stop over the last few months. She had helped clean the room and brought in many new pieces of furniture to breathe life back into the once-dusty old chamber she called her ‘pet project’. The walls and ceiling had been repainted a magnificent shade of cobalt blue and adorned with random white dots, reminiscent of the night sky, making the sheer size of the chamber much more apparent. It allowed room for a wardrobe, dressers, vanity mirror, couch, and small tea table, while still feeling spacious. Of course, this was only fitting of royalty.

The each new piece of decor was a unique piece that had been flown in from town, sporting lighter shades of blue to accent the room as a whole, and it matched beautifully. Rarity had even gone so far as to replace Luna’s bed; in its old spot now lay a massive and luxurious bed, adorned by a custom crescent-moon canopy from which thin, blue silk veils draped down around a starry bedsheet.

The part Luna loved the most, however, was the painting that hung over the softly crackling fireplace; the same one that had portrayed the two regal sisters in their earlier years. Rarity had brought it to be touched up by an artist in Canterlot, and it now looked more magnificent than ever. The worn colors had been retouched, brought back to their original beauty once more. Any visible damage or wear had also been smoothed out and repaired through the artist's’ handiwork. The pristine portrait now lay in a brand new frame, hoof-crafted by the very same artist, with an elegantly designed trim of gold. Most importantly, she could once again proudly hang it above the mantle, proof of the bond rekindled between her sister. It was truly a beauty to behold.

“I-It’s magnificent,” Eventide said, taking a sip of his tea. He immediately choked on the scaldingly hot liquid, fanning his tongue with his hoof and eliciting a small giggle from the princess. “Whhat abouth Twilighth?” he tried to speak, still fanning his injured tongue.

“Well, she spends the entire day by my side,” Luna said calmly.

“The entire day? Doing what?” Eventide asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, overseeing things, I suppose.” Luna spoke, pondering Twilight’s intent as she brought her hoof to her chin. “When we finished the reconstruction on Ponyville, she’s spent every day with me making sure therapy has been going well, and when I’m not training with Applejack or Rainbow Dash, she usually has some lesson plan for strengthening my magic prepared.”

“That seems like quite a bit of work! She must really care,” Eventide said, not minding his choice of words much.

“Y-yes, well—" Luna stammered, looking a bit flushed, “—what of you? You are letting your wounds healing properly as well, aren’t you?” she asked, desperate to change the topic. Luna levitated a sugar cube into her cup and attempted to idly stir it.

“I keep telling you, I’m okay now. I’ve had plenty of time to heal already and I can resume my duties. Even Aurora agrees!” He smiled, knowing the princess had been concerned about his health; she had been profusely apologizing ever since the incident.

“You say that, but still, I feel terrible...” Luna stared at herself in the tea, the image’s complexion melting into a haunting black as it grinned maliciously at her.

“It’s okay Luna. I already forgave you long ago.” Eventide smiled at the concerned alicorn across the table. “You’ve come a long way in these past few months since Nightmare Night, you know? Much different from all those years ago. I’m proud to serve you.”

Luna brought her head up to meet his smile, returning a meek one of her own. “I am equally proud of you, Eventide. You are not without change as well. Change for the better, of course. You have grown much in our time together, serving me faithfully beyond this last millennia, and now you have found a love that has instilled such great strength in you. I feel I must note that you nearly speak completely free of affliction now as well! It brings me great pride to see you as you as the fine soldier you are tonight.”

Eventide let out a small chuckle to himself, secretly cherishing the compliment Luna paid him as he sipped some more tea. He knew better than anypony that it was all too rare that a princess would honor their guard, let alone in such an informal manner. He had finally begun to feel that they could speak to each other much more casually, and that meant a whole lot more than some silly plaque or medal. It meant that they truly were friends.

“And Miss Aurora Shine? How fares your relationship?” Luna asked, pouring him more tea.

“O-oh, w-we’re great! Thank you for asking. She has been visiting me every night—"

Luna momentarily choked on her tea.

"—to check on my wounds. You know, make sure it’s healing properly.”

“Y-yes, yes, of course.” Luna wiped a bit of tea from her muzzle. “I trust it is going well then. She is well known for her medical superiority among her peers.”

“Her healing magic really is amazing. I’ve never seen a wound mend so quickly, and a lesser soldier wouldn’t be able to perform so well under such stress. I’ve healed so fast that I can barely feel it anymore!” Eventide pounded on his chest, only coughing a little. He blushed at his failed attempt. “Hehe cough, g-guess it still hurts a bit though.”

Luna wore a pained expression as she watched him fight back another fit of coughs. Eventide continue to fidget, bringing his hoof down from his muzzle after he felt himself settle. He looked back up at Luna with a friendly smile.

“I-I’m okay though, r-really. It’s been nice having her around to take care of me. I’ve been trying my best to spend time with her other than when she’s just checking on me though. I mean, I want to show her she means a lot more to me than just a caretaker. We’ve even been going out around Canterlot lately when she’s not on duty!”

“My! It seems as though you spend all your free time together, does it not?” Luna commented, lightly poking fun at his romantic endeavors. It was something Rarity had taught her in their time together and that the unicorn had emphasised as ‘essential to acquiring information subtly from your marefriends.’

Eventide laughed in reply, stroking the back of his mane anxiously. “Y-yea. I g-guess you’re right. Things have been getting s-s-serious...” he trailed off, idly toying with his teacup. An awkward silence quickly filled the air.

Oh dear. Perhaps I went a bit too far...

“A-a-anyways,” Eventide lifted his head, breaking the quiet. “She knows I’m h-here visiting you before her route begins so I told her I’d meet her—"

The doors to Luna’s chambers creaked open, drawing the attention of the tea-partying ponies, as a familiar Dawnguard stepped in.

“Good morning Princess Luna. The night was beautiful as always.” She bowed before the princess. “I assumed Eventide would be here when I did not see him wandering the halls. I hope you will excuse my intrusion.”

“Come come, Aurora, I’ve told you time and time again that there is no need for such formalities.” Luna motioned the mare in with a wave of her hoof. “The more the merrier!”

“My sincerest apologies Princess.” She rose, trotting over to Eventide’s side, and began to lovingly nuzzle him. “I’ve missed you, my dear.”

“A-Aurora! N-not in front of Luna!” Eventide fidgeted uncomfortably.

Look at those two. Such a lovely couple! It has been too long since I’ve seen such an innocent and pure romance blossom in Equestria. If ever a pony needed a shining example of love, they need look no further than those two. One can only count the nights ‘til they forge the final bond and celebrate with a momentous ceremony. Oh, how the mind tends to wander...

Luna giggled, pouring a cup of tea and placing it on a new saucer next to Eventide’s cup. “‘Tis quite all right. It’s admirable to see such love between two ponies. It does an old heart good. But please, do not act as though I have never experienced such a thing before either.”

“Sorry Princess, I just love him so much that I honestly can’t help myself sometimes,” Aurora Shine giggled. She withdrew from her doting slowly, nudged off by Eventide. “Um, pardon my asking, but have you had a lover before, P

“Why, yes, but... t’was a long time ago. He is gone now...” Luna’s eyes seemed to glaze over in a distant stare.

Love had become a much more relevant topic lately in Luna’s life, and the events of Nightmare Night happened to open the floodgates of memories, sending her forgotten emotions flooding in once more. Seeing the image of her love from days gone by had become nothing but a painful reminder of all she had lost. It had shattered her world then, and its effects could still be felt rippling into the present. The very thought would send a chilling shiver down her spine as the bottom of her being hollowed out.

“My apologies, Princess Luna. I meant no offense!” Aurora apologized, bowing profusely before Luna.

“‘Tis all right. I have moved on since then,” she assured the fussing Dawnguard. “At least, I like to think I have...” she uttered under her breath, nopony seemingly noticing.

“Anyway, how was your route, Dear?” Eventide asked, turning to his love.

“Honey, I’ve barely started,” she replied, taking a sip of her tea. “Mmm, delicious. Thank you Princess Luna.”

“‘Tis my pleasure,” Luna replied.

“I was just about to make the rounds and stopped in when I couldn’t find you. Oh, but you know...” Aurora began, gesturing with her teacup at Luna. “I heard from one of the other guards that Miss Twilight Sparkle was spotted sneaking the yards this morning with a few of her friends.”

“What was she doing sneaking around Canterlot?” Eventide pondered, sipping his tea.

“No clue,” Aurora replied, “but he said they found her in that dusty, old sealed wing of the archives. What’s it called... Oh, I always tend to forget it, but I pass it nearly every day...”

“The Starswirl the Bearded Wing?” Eventide asked.

“That’s the one!” she confirmed, relieved to finally remember its name.

Luna spat out the tea was sipping in a dark mist, much to the surprise of her companions. Her eyes went wide and her aura surrounding the cup dissipated, causing the teacup to fall. The delicate cup shattered into several tiny pieces, spilling its contents across the floor. The two ponies just stared in shock at her.

“L-Luna, a-are you okay?” Eventide asked, holding on to Aurora as though his life depended on it.

“Where has she gone?!” Luna demanded, stomping on the table with her forehooves. The frail table shook violently, throwing the other two teacups from its top and shattering them both in suit. The small pool of lukewarm liquid forming on the marble floor revealed the reflection of two shivering guards, clasping each other for comfort.

“I-If I had to guess, sh-she’s returned to her home in Ponyville, Princess,” Aurora answered fearfully.

“I apologize for cutting our visit short, but I must go see her!” Luna shouted as she raced out the door, leaving the Eventide and Aurora to cluelessly stare at eachother.

I must hurry. If she has found... No, I musn’t assume that to be the case. There’s no way she could have—of course she could have! This is Twilight Sparkle we’re talking about! I have to stop her before she does something dangerous!

Luna began to break into a sweat, galloping down the hall and toward the landing strip. She ground to a halt at the opening, staring into the empty skies she had never dared to tread alone. Not in body’s current condition, at least. Her carriage lay housed in a stable nearby, having seen much more wear in the past few months. Noctus and Vesperus, her dedicated fliers, had been bringing her to Ponyville daily to meet the Elements, but she knew they were likely to be found resting today after she granted them leave.

No time to raise Noctus and Vesperus, Luna. You’ll just have to wing it!

Anxiously, she spread her wings, stretching her hooves and her feather folds. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. She flapped her wings once to check them, took a deep breath, and began galloping full-speed at the edge of the landing. With each strike of her hooves, she began to flap her wings more and more, gaining a rhythmic tempo. The edge grew closer and closer as she desperately attempted to gain proper speed. Stopping now would only mean a painful fall to the Earth below. She had to do this.

With a powerful lunge, she took off into the sky, the gravitational forces churning her stomach. She shut her eyes and spread her wings, flapping with reckless abandon, but the feeling only grew stronger. The wind blew forcefully into her wings, causing her to jolt and tilt violently. She couldn’t manage to remain stable. Her flapping grew more desperate as she attempted to level her body out, but what little strength she had failed her as her wings snapped shut into her sides.

No! It’s not enough! I’m going to fall! her mind screamed, begging her to open her eyes.

As Luna peaked out, her eyes shot open and, with a grimace, she spread her wings one last time. A powerful gust blew beneath her, and she found herself gliding effortlessly over bustling metropolis that was Canterlot. Luna was flying.

“I—oh! Ha! Ha-HA! I’m doing it!” Luna cried in excitement.

She stretched out her hooves, allowing herself to take a more aerodynamic form and adjust her body’s position more easily. As she swooped over Canterlot, she pulled herself up to level out, gliding at a safer height over the city. It was a magnificent sight to see the hustle and bustle of ponies leaving to begin their daily life. The city appeared much more different than the view through her looking glass.

Yes. Yes! I’m doing it, I’m really flying! Oh how magnificent it feels to be so—no, wait, now isn’t really the right time to be celebrating, Luna. You’ve got a mare to save!

It wasn’t long before Luna began to feel like she could handle flying again; everything seemed to become easier and more natural. She soared gracefully through the sky, her wings gradually adjusting to the turbulence caused by gusts of winds, all without too much trouble.

Numerous ponies below watched in excitement from the streets, pointing at and calling to the princess. Some waved, other stared in awe, but not a few actually cheered at the sight of her passing overhead. She would have probably adored all the attention she was receiving from the city-folk, if her mind weren’t so preoccupied with the dire situation at hoof. She had to get to Twilight; now was not the time to get distracted!

Luna quickly headed for Ponyville, as fast as her wings would carry her. From the window of her own chambers in Canterlot Castle, two lovers, holding on to each other tightly, watched Luna soar off into the distance, while another figure stood glaring at the departing alicorn from the chambers opposite hers.

Luna arrived shortly, still giddy over her newfound ability. She gave her appendages one last stretch, relaxing any tension before strutting into a full-steam gallop for the town’s library.

Many ponies stopped in the street to pay respects to the racing princess, but Luna took no time to reply. Far more was at stake, and she had to make every second count. She shot past countless familiar faces, each pony’s expression turning to concern as they failed to receive a greeting themselves. For a moment even Pinkie Pie came upon her, asking a million questions at once, but the pink Earth pony suddenly burst into erratic twitches before breaking from their galloping formation. It wasn’t long before Luna could see the Library. Upon her arrival, she burst into the massive oak building, it’s double-doors swinging open with a loud crack as it seemingly collided with something behind it, accompanied by the sound of several books spilling onto the floor.

“Aaah!” a small voice cried out from behind the door.

Luna peaked around to discover Spike, rubbing a bump on the back of his head, buried up to his neck in a pile of books.

“Geez, I should have kept that hoofball helmet Fluttershy lent me—Princess Luna?!” Spike shot up from the pile immediately, running over to hug one of her hooves.

“Now is not the time for pleasantries, Spike! I must speak with Twilight!” she spoke, panting with exhaustion.

“Oh, well, she’s upstairs sleeping. Y’see, we were out all night with Pinkie Pie and—"

“Yes yes, that’s all very nice, but I need to speak to her now!” she replied, galloping up the stairs to the mare’s bedroom in the upper section of the library.

“Man,” Spike whined, “she usually brings me—"

A sapphire-encrusted cupcake in a small plastic container suddenly came flying toward the young dragon. He caught it immediately, his eyes sparkling in the gems’ reflections. His head shot up to meet Luna passing him a smile just before continuing up the stairs.

“Thanks Princess Luna!” Spike shouted after her. Looking back down at the delicious gift, he licked his lip. “And hellooo beautiful.”

Charging into the room with a power stomp, Luna heard a small yelp followed by a loud thud as a pile of blankets and down collapsed around the figure in the small loft. The small lavender unicorn emerged from the mound, dark circles around her bloodshot eyes and her mane still a frizzy, burnt mess. She looked out from the pile of comforters at the princess in a daze of confusion.

“Hu-wha-?” Twilight rubbed her eyes, trying to focus with the bright light from the bedroom window intruding on her dark sanctuary of slumber. Gradually, they adjusted to reveal Luna, who seemingly fighting a pained expression. “Luna? What’s wro—"

“Your mane...” Luna uttered, furrowing her brow at the unicorn.

“What about it?” Twilight shot back, audibly annoyed at being disturbed from her slumber. She proceeded to climb out of the pile of comforters, lifting them with her magic and folding them neatly before placing them back onto the bed.

“It’s... different? Rather... bold, is it not?” Luna tilted her head, genuine concern kindled in her eyes as she continued to stare at (what she assumed was) simply one of those newfangled, fashionable manestyles Rarity had told her about.

“Oh, eheheh. That.” Twilight gazed up at the jagged, fire-trimmed mess of mane, and her fried-to-a-crisp ends. She immediately turned a crimson purple. “It’s a, uh, long story... Anyway, what are you doing here? Isn’t today supposed to be your day off? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“Well, yes, technically, but I urgently needed to speak with you, Twilight!” Luna said as she approached the mare, curiously examining her disheveled and slightly-scorched mane up-close.

“About what?” Twilight said. It was her turn to tilt her head now, a few burnt strands of her rustling mane falling to the ground. In fact, a small pile of pink and purple hair was collecting at the unicorn’s hooves, a small bald spot starting to reveal itself around her horn.

Luna was aghast with horror at the sight, pulling away and cringing.

Twilight quickly took notice of this, bowing her head in shame, her cheek soon aflush with a rosy hue once more. Just as she attempted to hide the offending spot under her hooves, however, her entire body suddenly began levitating, becoming encased in a dark blue aura, which elicited a small squeak of surprise from the unicorn. A bright light flashed before her eyes, and before she knew it, she was standing on her own four hooves before the princess again, blinking in confusion.

“T-there, now we can talk,” Luna said, nervously adjusting her breastplate.

Twilight examined her own body, checking for any changes; she scanned her back, her hooves, and even her cutie mark, but nothing seemed particularly different from before. She sat down and stared blankly at Luna, who smiled in return and suggested she take a look in the mirror atop her dresser with a slight nod of her head.

“My mane!” Twilight squealed with glee, staring in disbelief at her fully-groomed reflection. “You restored my mane!”

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t stand your new ‘look,’ regardless of how ‘popular’ or ‘trending’ it may be at the moment,” Luna said apologetically, hoping her presumptuousness wouldn’t upset Twilight.

Twilight ran up to give her a big hug, however. “Oh thank you, Luna! This is wonderful!” She smiled, leaning back a little from the alicorn she was still holding onto. “I was planning on looking for just such a spell after I took my nap, but now I won’t have to! Do you know what this means?!”

“That your manecut was an awful decision you deeply regret, and that you’ll never succumb to the inexplicable whims of fashion ever again, because you are already lovely just the way you are?” Luna commented quickly.

“Nooo... This means I won’t have to push back the meeting with the Ponyville Hay Board!” the mare shouted with joy, before what the princess uttered had even fully registered with her. ”Consequently,” she rattled on, ”I won’t have to reschedule my lunch with Pinkie Pie, so if I eat fast enough there I might actually leave myself with just enough time to start writing my list of things to prepare in order to draft a new schedule for next mon—Wait, what?”

“Y-yes, all right, scheduling. That’s all well and good, but I must speak with you about something more urgent Twilight,” Luna spoke with a more serious tone completely disregarding anything the frantic unicorn had just said. She leaned down to allow the unicorn off her. “You see I flew all the way—"

“You flew? I mean, you can’t fly. Rainbow Dash said that with shape your wings were in there’s no way you could fly for at least a few more months. How could you have flown? It’s not scientifically possible. You are not scientifically possible!” Twilight poked Luna in disbelief.

“Twilight, please! The message I have for you is of utmost importance and—"

“You have an important message for me?” Twilight interrupted again, leaning on her forehooves toward Luna.

“That’s right. Now listen—"

“Why did you have to fly here? Oh, something terrible must have happened!” Twilight said with a horrified expression, pacing around the alicorn.

“Please, just let me explain!” Luna pleaded to the unicorn, whose mind was far too busy sorting out possibilities to listen.

“Is Canterlot under attack? Did some sort of beast escape from Tartarus?” The mare continued to fret.

“Actually, everything in Equestria is fine, but that’s not important right now,” Luna deadpanned.

“Oh, I can’t believe you really flew! How did it, I mean you, manage?” Twilight asked, eye’s gleaming with curiosity.

“I simply jumped and spread my wings,” Luna replied, rolling her eyes. She could feel her patience fleeting. “Look, we need to talk about the Canterlot Archives. Now, you have to listen to—"

“The Archives? Really? Why? I’ve been in there dozens of times. Is there something important that I missed?” Twilight continued her spree of interruptions.

“Dozens?! In the Star Swirl the Bearded wing?!” Luna nearly screamed with horror.

“Well, not there... Why? What’s in there? Is is important? Oh, will it help me move on to the next level of studies with Princess Celest—"

Luna shoved her hoof into the unicorns mouth, effectively muffling her incessant chatter.

Goddess! At times she is worse than Pinkie Pie and Rarity combined!

“I have something extremely important to tell you about the Star Swirl the Bearded wing, so please, just sit and listen,” Luna said, her hoof extended to keep her distance from the seemingly volatile unicorn.

Twilight immediately stopped her muttering, removing Luna’s hoof from her muzzle and plopping down onto her haunches. Much to Luna’s pleasant surprise, she sat there completely still and silent, watching Luna with her big, violet eyes. Luna was too surprised by the sudden change in disposition to begin properly, but quickly shook it off.

“Now Twilight, whatever you do, you must never—"

Suddenly, a blinding light flashed before Luna’s eyes. She dizzly stumbled about in a stupor, desperately trying to regain control. It was impossible to see, as everything moving created a repeating image of itself to appear. All the figures, objects, and scenery seemed to all smear and blend together. For a moment, she nearly felt motion sick. Luna eventually gave up on stumbling around and simply sat down, the focus gradually returning to her eyes.

She was back in Canterlot, in the throne room no less, and there before her sat her big sister, Celestia.

“Celestia, what is the meaning of this!” Luna cried out in confusion.

Celestia first looked to the Dawnguards who occupied the room, clearing her throat. They took note of the subtle gesture and bowed to both princesses before excusing themselves, the massive double-doors leading to the throne room slowly closing behind them. With the room clear, Celestia brought her attention back to Luna.

“Dearest Sister, you know why I have brought you here. Do you really intend to tell Twilight everything?”

“I... I’m not sure...” Luna stared at the pearly marble floors, her doubt growing.

Celestia rose from her throne, slowly pacing towards Luna. “It is not yet time for her to discover the truth. She still has much to learn. She’s not ready.”

“But she was... She has seen the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing! There’s no telling what she already knows!” Luna cried, her eyes pleading understanding.

“You are acting too brash, if only to spare your own feelings. I saw her in the Archives this morning myself. Trust me, she has found nothing,” Celestia assured her.

Celestia lay a hoof over her as Luna let out a sigh of relief. Luna lifted her head and smiled back at her smirking sister. She found comfort in her sister’s words.

“It will be all r—"

In that instance, a disturbance echoed throughout the frames of the two alicorns, shaking them to their core. They both braced themselves as if preparing to be shaken by some tremendous invisible force, but only a lurching unease coursed through their body. Their bodies burned and ached, lungs screaming for air, but neither sister could move. The two stood frozen in their stances, breaking the silence with simultaneous, heavy sighs.

Celestia brought her head up to look at her sister. “Luna? Did you—"

Luna stood heavily panting, fighting to catch her breath. “I-I have not felt that since... Since Mi Amore Cadenza—"

“Earned her Cutiemark,” Celestia interrupted. “That can only mean that somepony has established connection with the Cosmic Leylines...”

“Twilight!” Luna shouted, looking to her sister.

“But... but that’s impossible! I saw her! She hadn’t found anything! She was too busy looking for...” Celestia trailed off, her eyes going wide with horror.

Luna took Celestia by her hooves, standing her up on her and meeting her eyes. “What?! Looking for what?!” She cried with panic.

“...Time spells,” Celestia slowly uttered.

“T-time spells?! Sister, how could you not know that was Astromancy?” Luna screamed, dropping Celestia to her haunches.

“I knew, but I never could have imagined Twilight’s power had grown so much since she’d left that she actually be able to cast it...” Celestia sat in a stupor.

“Well?! We have to do something!”

“It is not too late!” Luna roared. A brilliant light replaced her eyes as she focused the raw magic coursing through her. She bent down, aiming her horn at Celestia and causing her to rear.

Celestia shuffled nervously, unaware of Luna’s intent. The horn’s aura grew larger as the focused magic strengthened. Horrified, she tried to cry out, but became enveloped in a bright light before she form a response. Before she knew it, the light faded, and she could feel a pounding headache send waves of pain crashing through her skull. Luna had teleported them back to the Ponyville library, just under the loft where Twilight lay. Celestia turned to confront her sister, who was too busy gawking at something else to pay her any attention.

A shining lavender light reflected in the glaze of Luna’s eyes, constantly growing and fading. Only, it grew brighter and brighter with each pulse. Celestia turned her head to find her favorite student swallowed in a sphere of radiance.

“Hnnnaaaauuuugghhhhh!” Twilight Sparkle howled in a frighteningly distorted voice, thin essences of magic trailing from her lips. She turned to the princesses, her eyes beaming with raw power. “What’s. Happening. To. Me?!”

The unicorn hovered just slightly above her bed in the loft, bobbing gently up and down in the sphere of light. Twilight herself seemed subject to random violent spasms, twitching and curling as she moaned and cried in pain, sending varying pulses of energy forth. The surrounding furniture had been thrown about and various books and decor were shaken from their shelves by the impact of each flowing arcane burst. The room was slowly being torn apart with each concurrent wave.

“We have to stop this!” Celestia shouted, charging forward. “Twilight, you have to stop!”

Celestia rushed towards Twilight. The blinding light had become too much for her to bare, forcing her to avert her eyes just as she came closer to the helpless unicorn. She slowed her approach and trotted calmly toward her, just as she had the first time they had met at Twilight’s entrance exam for her School for Gifted Unicorns. Celestia hoped that the same tactics would prove just as successful the second time around.

“My dearest Twilight Sparkle...” Celestia began as she calmly strode towards her, the glowing figure turning to face her. “You simply must—"

“Hnnaughhh!” Twilight cried, clasping her head and sending a wave of energy pulsing out from the sphere. The burst collided with Celestia, blasting her over the railing and to the floor below, sending her skidding across the ground.

“Sister,” Luna cried out to Celestia, “are you hurt?!”

“I’m fine,” Celestia replied, slowly coming to her hooves. She was a little scuffed here and there, but the blast seemed to do little damage. “But we still need to stop this and I can’t get to her!”

Luna turned to face Twilight once more, the unicorn flailing and spasming about in the radiant sphere of glowing magic. The pleading eyes of the mare met the princess’, begging for a savior, before the mare continued to flail in agony.

I... I have to do something. I have to stop her. I have to disrupt the leyline connection. But how do I do something like that? How do you interrupt the flow of creation itself?! Luna’s heart began to race as her mind searched for an answer. She turned to her sister, who stood grounded, grimacing at the thought of what was to come and how powerless she was to stop it.

Go to her...

Luna shut her eyes and drew a deep breath. She spread her wings and flew up toward Twilight as Celestia watched from the lower floor. The mare turned to meet the princess, sending another wave of energy pulsing forth. Luna absorbed the blow, cringing in pain as she endured and continued her advance. With each step the unicorn let out another piercing cry of agony, sending successively more powerful waves of energy cascading forth. The first few only left Luna feeling numbed, but each felt as though it were enough to blast any unsuspecting victim clear through the oak library’s thick walls. The growing intensity would eventually prove too much for the princess. As Luna drew closer to Twilight, the mare let out a blast so powerful it knocked Luna off her hooves and sent her colliding into a wall. Luna’s body smashed through many shelves, their contents spilling onto the floor in the chaotic debris that were Twilight’s belongings. Amongst the various rubble of personal items before her lay the possibility of salvation. The crystalline leystone pendant.

Luna quickly picked up the pendant, revering its quality. A normal crystal would have dulled, losing its luster after such a long period of time. It’s trilliant cut was still as brilliant as the night she had given it to Twilight, as it was clear the unicorn took extremely good care of it. Maintaining a level of this quality would have meant a rigorous shine and polish almost daily. She couldn’t help but admire its beauty before coming back to reality. Twilight still lay within the glowing sphere of light before her, thin waves of energy pulsing forth as she writhed in pain. If anything physical could possibly hope to channel the ethereal energy, it was a crystal leystone.

Luna clutched the pendant in her hoof, her determination renewed. She took one last look at the pendant, the beautifully clear crystal gleaming a soft reflection of lavender light back at her, before charging forth. While the distance was short, a steady wave of magical pulses pounded away at the princess’ body, forcing her back with each step. The unrestrained energy hammered away at the walls, shaking the tree house and furthering the damage to the surroundings. Various furniture splintered and shattered under the immense pressure of the energy, sending junk and debris along with books and belongings everywhere. Luna’s sister sat, watching concernedly as Luna advanced amidst the chaos, withstanding each blow as best she could before continuing on. Slowly, the alicorn closed the distance.

“Twilight!” Luna screaming through the sonic pounding and noise produced by the sphere of flowing energy. “Twilight, do you remember this? I gave this to you. It signifies the strength of our bond. The infinite potential our friendship holds. Twilight, I know you’re scared, but if you let the strength of our friendship in, I can guide and protect you!”

Twilight Sparkle turned to her, closely watching the gem in the princess’ hoof. A steady stream of tears began to trickle down her face, though her expression remained unchanged. “I’m so scared Luna! I don’t know what to—Hauuugh!” she screamed, the depth and echos of her own voice bellowing through the room. “Help. Me!”

“I want to Twilight! I want to help you like you helped me, but you have to let me!” Luna continued to cry out.

“I. Can’t. Control. It!” Twilight cried, writhing in agony.

“You have to calm down, Twilight! Gather yourself and gain control over your emotions. Then I can come help you!” Luna shouted back.

Twilight clenched her teeth in a desperate attempt to take a deep breathe. “Please, Luna, I need you...” she quietly whimpered.

The pulses slowly died down.

Now was Luna’s chance. She charged at the unicorn, but before she could reach her, Twilight became enveloped in the sphere of energy. It was impossible to see the unicorn within the shining cocoon. Still, the sphere seemed calm, almost docile in the moment. Luna levitated the pendant towards the sphere of light, it’s shape quickly becoming devoured by the blinding light. The field of luminosity seemed to massively before shrinking away. Twilight’s figured was revealed within, donning the pendant as it itself beamed with life. A bright light at the core of the trilliant cut shone forth, drawing the in the visible particles of raw energy. Slowly the sphere dimmed as it’s sized diminished, the stone in the pendant growing brighter and brighter. It was not long before nothing was left of it, and Twilight remained standing on her own hooves again.

“L-Luna?” Twilight uttered, her vision barely making out the two alicorns standing before her. She stood wobbling in place, and as she lifted her hoof to say something, she collapsed onto the floor.

“Will she... be okay?” Luna asked, staring down at Twilight’s unconscious body.

The sisters had placed her back in bed. She now lay gently, tucked in and sleeping as though nothing had ever happened. They had been able to repair damage to the room, reconstructing everything from the impossible amount of shards, splinters, and torn bits strewn about. If anything, they might have not stored the books in the same order Twilight had shelved them, and the obsessive unicorn might notice it amiss, but everything else was perfect.

“She will be just fine, sister,” Celestia assured her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “It appears the pendant was able to channel and absorb a majority of the energy, so the process has been dramatically slowed, but not halted. When she awakens, she will have no memory of these events, but she will command a power slightly greater than before. We must keep the pendant from her reach, so that she may not accidentally unlock its powers again. I’ll have to pace her studies more carefully now as well. There’s no telling how much time we have left. We just have to hope that pendant will be able to store more energy, should the connection reopen again. I will have to monitor her more closely and work fast if she is to be ready in time when the connection fully establishes its link.”

Luna’s eyes remained glued to the gently sleeping unicorn.

“Luna... about that stone,” Celestia spoke softly, pointing to the pendant that once again lay in its original box. Only now a radiant light, no doubt the raw energy from the leyline, shone brightly in its core.

“What of it?” Luna replied.

“Well, it’s a crystal leystone from the Crystal Empire, isn’t it?”

Luna nodded in reply.

“My concern isn’t so much as where it came from, but how you activated it. As you know, dear sister, crystalline leystones from the Crystal Empire can only be activated by deep and powerful emotions,” Celestia spoke, a certain concern hanging in the tone of her words. She stood in the silence for a while, anticipating any sort of reply. She received none. “I see...” she spoke quietly, before blinking away in a bright flash of magic.

Luna stood looking over Twilight, the sheets rising and falling with the normal pace of the mare’s breathing. She looked so innocent. So peaceful. It was impossible to know what the future had in store for the unicorn, but Luna felt deep down that she had a larger role to play than anypony knew. She leaned over to nuzzle the sleeping damsel.

“Twilight, my dear, what is to become of thee?” Luna whispered quietly to the dozing mare, expecting the following silence to be her answer. She picked up the pendant, looked at Twilight one last time, and then, taking care not to make any noise, she slowly trotted out the of the bedroom.

The Stars that Fill the Sky

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Luna lay still in her bed, completely exhausted and yet somehow wide awake. The incessant pounding of marble in her chamber had seen to that. She had tried to ignore it, burying her face beneath a multitude of down pillows and comforters over in a vain attempt to even just dampen the noise, and yet it continued, unyielding. The noise never drew closer, it only continued to pester and nag at her, a light vibration shaking the bed frame with each impact. The rattling had been just enough to disturb her each time she thought she’d finally managed to doze off and it had robbed her of countless hours of sleep. Following a day that had included an extended session of training with both Applejack and Rainbow Dash, she had little energy left to fight against it as her patience grew thin.

“I can’t take it anymore!” Luna cried, exploding from the pile of down comforters and pillows. “Rarity!”

“Bwahahahh!” The small unicorn yelped.

The furniture Rarity had been levitating instantly crashed onto the marble with a loud, wooden clunk, causing both parties to flinch. However, when Rarity trotted over to inspect both the flooring and the furniture, she was relieved to find both relatively unharmed, save a few scuffs. Once she was certain there was no damage to the furniture that would notably affect its condition, she turned to face Luna.

“Good heavens, Luna, you startled me! You know you’re supposed to be getting your rest, dear.” Rarity waved her hoof at Luna, shooing her back to sleep.

“How am I supposed to sleep with all this ruckus in my room?!” Luna’s voice boomed through the room.

“Well—” Rarity began, with a rather drawn out gasp, “pardonne moi if a lady believes she should do her utmost best when aiding her friends, and doubly so if said friend is a princess. Why, when you asked me for help redecorating the interior of your chambers, I decided a princess should settle for nothing less than designing the most elegant, extravagant, and most beautiful boudoir my brilliant mind could possibly conceive. Admittedly, it may not be my best work, yet, I intend to do everything I can to make this a dream come true. I wouldn’t dare leaving this work half done and if I did, why, it just couldn’t bring myself to put the name ‘Rarity’ on it in all good conscious—”

Oh dear. Just what fresh madness have I wrought upon myself... Luna sighed as Rarity continued to ramble on.

“—the glamour, the sophistication! Why, I just couldn’t bear to let you down, and I would never be able to live with myself if the Princess of the Night should decide that a particular vanity that I chose looked absolutely dreary. And another thing—”

“Okay, Rarity, I get it.” Luna interrupted with another long sigh. “If I let you do my bathroom too, will you settle down?”

“Mhmmm,” Rarity nodded, sniffling a little, “and you didn’t have to yell at me.”

“I’m sorry.” Luna gestured her hooves outward towards her.

Rarity trotted towards her, embracing the princess as best a mare of much smaller nature could.

“Good. Now then, you finish that later so I can get some rest, mkay?” Luna smiled, eagerly awaiting the desired response so she could go back to sleep.

“Er, about that...” Rarity cringed as she wrung her hooves anxiously.

“What is the problem now?” Luna asked dully, suspecting the mare couldn’t possibly be expected to leave her job half done anyways.

Rarity trotted towards the massive window leading to the elevated terrace, pulling away the curtains with a grimace, revealing the sun sitting just above the mountains in the distance as it was about to set.

“Right. Of course,” Luna chimed with irritation.

Luna slowly rose, emerging from the tepid cocoon of woven blankets and pillows, as she examined her reflection in the vanity mirror. Sunken, blood-shot eyes stared back, pleading her to return to bed, while her hair had mysteriously managed to stop flowing and now resembled a frizzy mess akin to what she had seen on Twilight once before. How it was even possible for her hair to stop flowing baffled Luna at times, but she’d often brush it off, chalking it up to ‘one of the many mysteries of magic’ Twilight loved to go on about. She slowly stumbled towards the balcony, shooting Rarity a glare of condemnation as she passed her by. The mare laughed nervously in reply.

The sun had already sunk much lower by the time Luna had stepped out onto the terrace, already hiding behind the peaks in the distance. She gazed outward, turning to another platform parallel of hers where Celestia stood. Her sister greeted her with a smile, giving her a slight nod to acknowledge her presence and signal that it was appropriate to raise the moon now. Luna smiled back, noting her sister break into a small chuckle. She immediately realized her disheveled appearance to be the cause and quickly conjured a pulse of magic to course through her mane and return it to it’s usual state. She then smiled back a Celestia, their unspoken exchange harboring a comforting warmth that manifested within herself. Celestia then turned outward to spectate her sister at work.

“Aren’t you going to be needing these?” Rarity appeared behind Luna, presenting to her the cushion where her umbral crown and breastplate lay.

“Why, yes, I am. Thank you Rarity,” Luna spoke softly, her mood lifted by the sight of her sister’s grin.

Luna lifted the breastplate, adjusting it with magic to fit her accordingly, as Rarity gently placed the crown upon her head. The breastplate was little more than decoration, but the crown acted as both a catalyst and a conduit, allowing her to channel magic much more effectively. It had once served as a necessity in her younger years, when she found her powers much more difficult to control, but now it was little more than a symbol to the people. Once they had been position properly on her, Luna stepped back onto the balcony. She gazed at the mountain peaks in the distance, watching the sky turn a cozy orange as the sun continued to set. Lowering her head, that same somber memory filled her mind and consumed her thoughts, just as it had all those years ago. She shut her eyes in quiet contemplation.

“I will always remember us and what we have achieved together...” Luna quietly whispered to herself.

When Luna opened her eyes once more, they had become two radiant orbs, shimmering with energy. An aura slowly emerged and grew around her horn as the ancient power of the cosmic ley lines began to fill her body, and it was not long before the shimmering light encased he whole body. Her tail and mane began to wave and whip more aggressively as she began to channel the raw power, the aura growing ever brighter as the energy caused her to slightly lift from the ground. Slowly, beads of sweat began to form all around her body as she fought to bear the immensity of it all, Rarity watching in awe from afar.

Luna brought her head up in a swift and graceful motion, the likes of which dazzled her observers, and the moon slowly followed in suit, the celestial body creeping into view over the horizon. Darkness slowly crept into the sky as the sun continued to sink behind the mountains, and one by one an impossible number of stars began to populate the sky. They sparkled, twinkled, and shone with beautiful contrast to the night’s sky. A few even shot by, much to the delight of spectators. Constellations took shape and formed revealing the unending universe that lay just beyond their earthly shackles.

Luna took a deep breath and shut her eyes, letting the energy flow back into the leylines with a deeply drawn sigh. Her body gently lowered to the ground once more, and as she landed back on the marbling, the aura of energy dissipated and small swirls of magic tracing away into the floor her hooves made contact with. When she opened her eyes again, they had returned to their normal state as well. She turned to see Celestia still smiling at her, from her own balcony, just before the elder sister stepped back inside. Luna, in turn, made her way back inside her room to meet Rarity once more.

“Goddess Luna, that was truly breathtaking!” Rarity gasped with delight, bowing before the princess. “It is truly an honor to experience the grace you bestow upon the land first hand.”

Luna chuckled softly. “Please, Rarity, rise. I’ve told you ponies time and time again that I demand no such acts of formality. I do appreciate the kind words, however. In my daily toils, I’ve come to understand how it may not be so much of a marvel to the kingdom. Nor will I ever be so concerned as to make it a public statement again. Instead, I’ve come to accept their silence as appreciation. Equestria would be without sound rest were it not for me, and there are those who choose to remain awake in order study my work. Though jealousy once corrupted me before, I’ve grown wiser since then.”

“But I dare say that it is just as majestic as the sunrise itself!” Rarity spoke. “Why, such a stunning feat deserves a celebration akin to the Summer Sun Celebration! One in its own namesake...” She nodded thoughtfully to herself.

“Hmm...” Luna pondered aloud, bringing a hoof to her chin. “I do like the idea of a celebration of sorts, but I am quite content with Nightmare Night for the time being.”

“Oh, nonsense, Luna!” Rarity disagreed. “Nightmare Night is all fun and games, especially now that you’ve returned to Equestria. The very meaning of the holiday has changed I fear, but it is all in good fun, as we all do truly hold you dear to us. No, what you need is...” Rarity trailed off as she pressed a hoof her chin and pouted, deep in thought.

“Eventide!” Luna called out, as she trotted past Rarity. She knew better than to try and draw her attention whenever she was ‘in the zone’, as the mare would say.

“Yes, Princess. How may I serve you?” Eventide answered in a gruff tone, pushing the door open to make himself visibly standing at attention before Luna.

The act cause Luna to giggle softly. “Please, Eventide, enter and stop being so silly.”

“Yes, princess.” Eventide replied before stepping in wearing a big grin.

“I do believe you requested early leave this night, did you not?” Luna asked, still chuckling about Eventide’s little charade.

“W-well yes, that’s right,” he replied.

“Very well. I must rise now, you may take your leave, but I must ask again. Whatever is this for?” Luna approached Eventide, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Ah, y-yes, well...” Eventide trailed off. “I kinda... sorta... had a thing...”

“A thing? What sort of ‘thing’?” Luna continued, her curiosity peaking.

“Well...” Eventide continued in a typical fashion. “It’s sort of a date... with Aurora,” he stated with embarrassment, stroking his mane anxiously.

“But why are you fussing over explaining a date to me? Have you two not been on several dates already?” Luna asked, noting his particularly suspicious attitude.

“I’m sorry Princess, I usually keep try to keep my work and private life separate, and I’ve only begun my guard duty again just last month. I just feel guilty for already requesting time off so soon...” Eventide stared at the floor with a frown. Luna stepped toward him, but his head suddenly shot up to meet her eyes with determination. “But it’s for something important, I promise.”

“Oh,” Luna uttered, surprised by his expression. She quickly regained her composure and continued with a smile. “Well, you have my good faith, Eventide. We’ve known each other long enough to know you’re an honest and hard-working knight who’d never ask for such a thing under any regular circumstances. However, while you have your duty to me as a guard, do not forget we are also friends and that I am always willing to do you a favor.”

“Thank you, Luna.” Eventide smiled back.

Luna came closer, hugging him briefly and considering the warmth of their friendship, before breaking away. “I won’t hold you any longer then. Do take care and have a splendid night,” she said as he moved towards the door. “And please give Aurora my rega—”

“A Winter Moon Celebration!” Rarity suddenly shouted from across the chamber, startling both Luna and Eventide. “It’s not the most original name, I admit, but I’m sure it’d just be magnificent. Can’t you just imagine it?” Her eyes shot to the starrily painted ceiling, twinkling with wonder. “The lights of Ponyville softly shimmering off piles of fresh snow in the night as the town comes alive with celebration. There would be singing and dancing and... That’s it! A winter formal! Why, everypony would be wearing the latest winter fashions and—”

“Fantastic!” Luna interrupted, fearing a Twilight-esq lecture. “I’ll have Eventide meet with you tomorrow so you two can draft a letter to the council for your proposal with my stamp of approval. I’m sure you can come up with something quite comprehensive by then, right?”

“Wha— Me?!” The unicorn and batpony said simultaneously, Rarity wearing a thrilled expression while Eventide, a horrified one.

“Yes, yes. Eventide will aide in writing the proposal, but it will have to wait, as Eventide was just leave. Were you not, Eventide?” Luna turned to him with a devious grin.

Sorry Eventide, I know I’ve complained to you about how Rarity can be notoriously exhaustive with designs and details when it comes to planning these sorts of things, but my swag game too strong. Is that how you you the expression? Hmm... Luna’s expression shifted as she began contemplating the modern day slang Rainbow Dash had been attempting to teach her.

“Uh, y-yea...” Eventide muttered, dumbstriken. He turned to Rarity. “My apologies, Lady Rarity, but I am off duty for the evening and have a date to catch.”

“Not at all! Please, be on your way.” Rarity curtsied as Eventide trotted past her and out the door. As she gently shut it, she turned back to Luna. “Speaking of dates, isn’t there somepony you should be talking to?” She batted her lashes.

Luna blushed furiously. “Hu— what?! Rarity I... I had no idea, honestly! ”

“No! Not me you silly pony.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Twilight.”

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.” Luna turned her head as nonchalantly as possible, unable to hide the scrunch in her muzzle.

“Oh come now, Luna!” Rarity jabbed at her playfully. “I’ve seen the way you look at her with stars in your eyes. The way you speak of her as though she were the most magnificent thing in your world. How you can’t help but admire her—”

“Thou hast made thine point!” Luna scoffed.

“Eheheh, right...” Rarity flinched. “But I do still think you should talk to her. I mean, who is anypony to stand in your way?”

“Rarity, a princess does not simply walk into a home and demand a date.” Luna stared dully.

“I never said date.” Rarity stifled a small laugh as she chewed her lip.

“Oh ha-ha! How very clever of you.” Luna glared at her. “And just what is it you suggest I do then?”

“That, dear, is up to you. I have to get going though. I’ll be helping Pinkie Pie and the girls get the Cake’s err... cake here tomorrow for the National Dessert Competition.“

“Ugh, she still holds those?” Luna droned. “I thought that after the paper released by those foals—”

“That paper was true?” Rarity stared in disbelief, jaw slightly ajar. She quickly shook to regain her composure. “At any rate, I simply must be going. However, before I do, I will suggest you read up on courtship. I’m certain you’ll find it’s changed quite a bit since your time. Farewell, Princess Luna!”

“Courtship...” Luna whispered to herself as Rarity pranced out, the door to her room swinging shut behind her. “Nightshade!”

A shadow slowly poured out from the creeping darkness of the corner of the chamber, rising to take the shape of a pegasus. The mare stepped forward into the thin line of setting sunlight, her coat, a hauntingly pale-blue, was covered by the purple and grey flight suit adorned with lightning streaks that she wore. Her cobalt mane stood up, pushed back in an unruly fashion, and her eyes remained hidden beneath a pair of purple goggles with lenses tinted a pale yellow.

“Yes, M’lady?” Nightshade answered, bowing before Luna.

“Dost thou fancy a reconnaissance mission?”

“M’lady?” Nightshade rose, her surprised expression barely hidden behind a thin, cloth mask.

“Yes, a reconnaissance mission of, admittedly, personal importance in nature. You see, I will need you to follow Eventide on his date and record all the findings about modern courting that you observe.” Luna commanded. “I fear accurate information cannot be so easily acquired from a simple tome, so I am sending you on this task. What say you?”

“M’lady, I must respectfully decline from the assignment. With the recent threats against Canterlot and the upcoming Royal Wedding, the are troops are spread thin as it is trying to keep the calm. We cannot afford to delegate resources to such, err... personal matters, if I may be so bold as to speak,” Nightshade replied, bowing in an attempt to also apologize.

“Mmm...” Luna began, frowning while glaring down at the Shadowbolt, “...so be it. Rejoin your formation and resume patrol over Equestria. You are dismissed.”

“M’lady.” Nightshade rose to bow once more, a tinge of fear and intimidation running through her. As she bowed, her body became incorporeal once more and faded away into the shadows.

“Oh, and do frighten Rainbow Dash once in awhile, given to opportunity,” Luna called out after the shadow as it vanished. “I suppose... I shall have to follow them myself then.”

Perhaps a disguise will aid me, Luna thought as she began to dig through a trunk Pinkie had given her. She threw various streamers and favors to the side, shuffling through a seemingly endless supply of party goods. At the bottom, buried in piles of confetti, she found something she assumed might be useful. Noctus and Vesperus knocked on the chamber door as they entered, causing Luna to suddenly rise from the box of wonders.

“Luna, we heard Eventide got the night off. Are you sure you don’t want us to watch—” Noctus began, but quickly froze as the princess turned around, a pair of bushy-browed glasses with an oddly-shaped snout and a thick moustache sitting on her face.

“Awkward...” Vesperus leaned over and whispered to Noctus.

“F-forgive us, Princess. We did not mean to interrupt, er... whatever it is you’re doing.” Noctus stuttered, as he bowed, forcing Vesperus down as well.

“It’s fine...” Luna began, flicking the glasses off her face with the whip of her head. “I have personal business to attend to as well, so you two are free to enjoy the night. Please, go and enjoy yourselves.”

“As you wish. Thank you, Princess.” Noctus rose to meet Luna’s smile.

“Awww yea! Time to hit the club!” Vesperus cheered.

The two batponies trotted out together, Vesperus giggling with excitement. Noctus let out an exasperated sigh, but the enthusiasm of his partner proved too infectious, and he quickly found himself smiling as well. They turned the corner and disappeared down the hall, muttering amongst themselves.

“Right, so a disguise from Pinkie is definitely out,” Luna said to herself. “Perhaps...”

A spell that can disguise you as anything you could ever imagine! A familiar voice haunted her mind.

“I suppose I could...” Luna trailed off, wishing she hadn’t thought if it or his exact voice and tone when he said it to her.

Luna shut her eyes and focused as a bright cocoon quickly formed around her body and it’s blinding energy pulsed forward. In her place stood a small blue pegasus with a milky blue mane. She shook out her hooves as she examined her much more diminished form, unable to help but giggle at how ‘cute’ her new form was. Her body before was true, majestic, and some may have even considered it intimidating, but now? She appeared as nothing more than a typical little pegasus. Just another one of the populace.

Luna peaked at her cutie mark, finding it disguised as a mere constellation. A small smirk came upon her face. “This will do just fine. Stella Nova, at your service.” She bowed to herself in the mirror, noting her lack of a visible horn. She then flicked out her wings, checking their span. I suppose I can fly into town like this and nopony would be the wiser, but without a horn I shouldn’t let anypony see me use my magic.

The princess of the night dove off her balcony and slowly glided her way into the quiet, sleepy town of Ponyville.

Eventide trotted out of Luna’s chambers and down long hallway towards the barracks. One by one, the candelabras hanging on the wall magically lit as the sun disappeared into the distance and the moon rose, imposing it’s shade over the land. The dim lights flickered, offering a guiding path down the stone passage he had traversed so many times before that it had become muscle memory to navigate it’s twists and turns. He eventually came upon the common room, where a cracked door revealed Noctus and Vesperus arguing.

“Heh, almost like a married couple.” Eventide chuckled to himself quietly as he pushed the heavy wooden door open. “H-hey, guys, what’s up?”

The other two bat-ponies immediately stopped their bickering, clamoring away from each other in an almost cartoony manner. One nervously chewed his lip as the other began drinking a mug of cider as a means of hiding himself. Eventide eyed the two suspiciously as an awkward silence fell upon the room.

“Uhhh... Is everything okay?” Eventide asked, more than wary of their less-than-typical reactions.

“Yea, yea. We— Everything’s just fine. How about you?” Vesperus asked in a surprisingly jittered tone.

Eventide stood shocked by Vesperus’ feigned concern before continuing towards the room which held their armor. He began divesting himself hanging the steel plating back on the rack. “Uh... f-fine I suppose.”

“Mhmm. Okay. Coo—” Vesperus nodded feverishly before Notcus elbowed him. He flinched and groaned as she rubbed his hoof.

“So, Even, we heard you got the night off. Where ya headed?” Noctus leaned onto the table.

“Oh, well, the princess let me off early so that I could head into Ponyvi—”

“Ponyville, eh? What you doing there?” Notcus interrupted, nonchalantly swirling the drink in his mug about.

“Tonight’s a big night guys. I got a date with Aurora Shine and this time I’m gonna knock her off her hooves!” Eventide cheered.

“Oh, her—” Vesperus groaned before Noctus hit him again. He rubbed his sore spot again, sneering at his assailant. “What the hay, man?!”

“Lay off him.” Noctus commanded, which Vesperus seemed to obey, much to the surprise of Eventide.

“You going to the club or anything tonight?” Vesperus asked, watching Eventide intently.

Eventide didn’t notice, far too busy making sure his equipment was stored properly. “What? No. Who goes to the club on a date?” The two batponies stared at each other behind his back. “I was thinking dinner at a fancy restaurant would be fine, followed by some stargazing in the park.”

“Sounds—” Noctus began.

“Boring!” Vesperus chimed in.

“Damnit, I thought I said lay off him!” Noctus snapped.

Vesperus stuck his tongue out and blew raspberries at both ponies before trotting off into another room.

“Well anyways, we were going to ask the princess if we can get tonight off too. Maybe hit the town. You have a good one and good luck on your date.” Noctus tipped his mug to Even.

“Thanks, I will!” Eventide smiled politely at Noctus as he trotted out the door. As he left, he could hear his friends making their way back to Luna’s Quarters to resume their duty, still arguing. Outside, he commented to himself quietly, “Well, those two are acting stranger than usual…”

Eventide then began to make his way towards the dorms at the opposite end of the castle which housed the Dawnguards. The Celestial Quarters were much more different from the Lunar ones. Brilliant, gold banners bearing the insignia of Celestia’s Cutie Mark lined the brightly lit halls above the occasional stand of armor. It was a notable contrast to the gloomy, dimly lit halls, worn banners, and shambling armor lying about that he and the other guards had grown accustomed to. Of course, with Rarity on board, he suspected they’d hardly stay that way much longer, but it never ceased to amaze him how luxurious the halls seemed.

As he drew nearer to Aurora’s room, he also felt himself catch the attention of the faction’s ponies. Some glared while others whispered amongst themselves. It was something he had also grown accustomed to in his months of courting Aurora, and he knew better than to pay it any attention. They could talk all they like. He simply continued on his merry way down the halls draped in tabards of Celestia’s sun until he came upon Aurora’s room.

Eventide attempted to tidy his mane and check his breath before knocking on the door, but it quickly flung open, knocking him on his back and leaving a large red mark on his face.

“Eventide you— Oh my goddess! Are you okay?” Aurora trotted forward, helping him up.

“Ergh... I’m f-fine.” Eventide stumbled to get back on his hooves, rubbing his sore spot. He stared into Aurora’s eyes as she picked him up, her horn lighting a soft pink aura as a tingling feeling swept over his face. He flinched as the mark made by the door instantly vanished. “T-thanks and, uh, sorry for getting in the way.”

Aurora giggled, patting his head in an attempt to comfort him. “Hunny, it was my fault in the first place.”

“H-heh, right. Anyways, we should get going.” Even said.

“Going? Going where?” Aurora stared blankly.

“Oh, well, I sorta got us this reservation at a Le P-petit Cheval in Ponyville,” Even replied, a slight grin accompanying his blush as he watched his marefriend light up with excitement.

“The Le Petit Cheval? The most extravagant restaurant in Ponyville?” Aurora gawked.

“Oh, y-you’ve heard of it?”

“Of course I’ve heard of it! They you say you have to book months in advance just to get a table. I’ve never been and I love fine dining!” Aurora beamed with excitement, proceeding to hug her coltfriend tightly. “Oh thank you so much, Even. I can’t wait!”

“W-well then, shall we?” He offered her a hoof in the most gentlcoltly manner he could manage. Aurora smiled shyly, taking his hoof.

The two trotted out together and, after a short trot through town, caught the next train into Ponyville. They sat together, seldom saying a word, as usual. They seemed to just enjoy each other’s company. Eventide watched Aurora stare out the window from the train, the pale starlight illuminating her features. He couldn’t help but smile as he admired her beauty. He failed to realize he was still staring when her amber orange eyes met his.

“Is… everything okay Even?” She asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Huh?! Yea!” He quickly came to realize he had been staring with an awed expression. “Sorry, just… y-you’re beautiful.”

Aurora smiled and inched closer to hold him, resting her head on his shoulders. Eventide leaned back on her, enjoying the warmth of her affection as the mare slowly dozed off. It wasn’t long before a dull snore could be heard coming from her.

“Heh, guess it’s you’ve had a long day, huh?” Eventide asked her, assuming her soft snoring as an answer. He sat quietly, holding onto her as the train made its way to Ponyville.

As Eventide stared outside at the moon, a figure quickly glinted across his sight. He stared blankly for a moment as his mind wandered back to the events of the night at hand. Staring resolutely at the saddle-bag he had brought along, he tried to comfort himself. A loud screech momentarily startled him, as the train pulled into the station, stirring Aurora from her slumber. Her weary smile met his as she wiped the yawning tears from her glazed eyes, eliciting a short chuckle from the pair as they got up and prepared to depart.

From the station it was a short trot into town and to the restaurant where a small lined had formed just outside the door. Unfortunately for the pair, a small drizzle hovering just overhead had hit his peak, pouring down upon the two. Eventide stretched out his wingspan and Aurora took cover beneath it as the two raced towards the restaurant, stomping through the muddy road along the way. They eventually arrived, Aurora slightly damp while Eventide, having received the brunt of the shower, was utterly drenched.

“I really like your mane.” She chuckled playfully, pushing the dampened bangs aside to reveal his face.

“Heh, yea? I guess it’s not too bad then.” He smiled back.

A waiter pony quickly rushed out with an umbrella to meet the couple. “Monsieur. Madame.” He acknowledged both before offering sanctuary from the storm. His muzzle quickly scrunched in revolt as he stared at Aurora’s hooves. “Madame, you appear to have stepped in something.”

“Oh?” Aurora uttered curiously, examining her hindhoof. A small note had stuck itself to her. She quickly peeled it off and squinted to read it.

“What’s it say?” Eventide leaned over, trying to get a view of the paper.

“I don’t know? It’s mostly washed out and muddy. Something about being assertive and not doing what apples said, whatever that means.” She shrugged and crumpled the note, tossing it into a nearby trash bin.

The fancily dressed pony ushered the couple into the lobby where another pony seemed to be checking the reservations of everypony before allowing them any further. Aurora was too absorbed with the extravagant interior of the restaurant to really pay attention to the ponies ahead of them and Eventide watched her and smiled, as always.

“Reservation for two under Eventide,” Eventide stated to the greeter as he approached the counter.

Aurora leaned forward, past the counter, to get a better look at the inner setting of the restaurant. Her eyes lit up, as it could only be described as the utmost peak of fine dining in Ponyville. Every last detail, from the exquisitely carved marble pillars dividing the room and mahogany panels of the floor polished to the nth degree to the perfectly intimate lighting and hypnotically soothing melody a cellist pony with a treble clef cutie mark, harmoniously complimented each other, forming the perfect environment for fine dining. She squealed quietly with glee.

“Right this way, Madame,” an usher spoke to her, directing them to follow. The usher led them to a small table situated in the center of a few others, where other ponies actively conversed with each other.

As the usher trotted away, Eventide rushed over to Aurora’s side, pulling out her cushion from beneath the low-set table for her. He spoke in a low, dignified tone, joking mimicking their hosts, “Madame?”

Aurora giggled to herself before sitting on the heated cushion. “Gracias,” she replied in a similar tone, causing both ponies to have a little laugh.

“Aren’t you going to pull out my cushion for me?” A bright pink earth mare with an even brighter pink mane asked behind them.

“I thought you were an independent mare,” her pegasus companion replied jokingly.

“That’s no excuse—“

“Just ignore them,” Aurora said under her breath, drawing Eventide’s attention back.

“R-right,” Eventide replied, shifting a little uncomfortably as the couple continued to argue nearby. He then picked up a menu that had been laying on the table before hand, examining its pages. “… It’s in Prench,” he uttered.

Aurora chuckled at him. “Well of course it is silly, this is a Prench restaurant, isn’t it? Now let’s see…” she trailed off contemplatively as Eventide struggled to make heads or tails of the menu, rotating it as though it would help him to understand. “I think I know what I’ll be having. How about you?”

“Mmm…” Eventide mumbled, still unable to discern the elusive manuscript before him. “The poisson au citron et beurre sounds—“

“Oh you don’t want that.” Aurora interrupted, leaning it to whisper, “it’s fish.”

Eventide laughed weakly, not bothering to tell her it wasn’t uncommon of batponies to eat fish in their homeland either. “Mmm, right, I think I’ll just have what you’re having then.”

A new waiter appeared before the two. Bowing to each of them he began. “May I take your order then?” he asked Eventide.

“I’ll have what s-she’s having,” he replied, pointing to Aurora.

“Very well, we shall be having the Marguerite à l'orange sil vous plais,” she spoke with the utmost fluiditiy, much to Eventide’s surprise.

“Bon, deux Marguerites à l'orange. I shall return shortly with your orders,” the waiter said, never so much as opening an eye before jotting down the order and trotting off.

With the waiter gone, Aurora turned back to Eventide, leaning in over the table. “So, you we’re telling me about the history of your homeland last time, right? I’d still like to know more.”

Eventide thought it was hardly dinner conversation, but he shrugged it off as who was he to deny a lady? “Oh… Okay then. So as a batpony, we spend a lot of time underground in caverns. The Crystal Caverns below Canterlot just so happen to be where many of us are from.“

“I’ve never knew such a place existed! And so close by?” Aurora added.

“It’s mostly been forgotten by everypony since the banishment of Princess Luna, much like the Crystal Empire it once connected to, but that’s beside the point.

Our kind was engaged in a tireless war against the Diamond Dogs, foul-smelling beasts with a blood-thirsty appetite for destruction as much as gems. They invaded our land in order to harvest the crystals of our home under threats of conquest. We refused to yield to their demands, and thus began the Crystal Caverns War. In time, we were able to push them out of the Canterlot Region, but we lost a lot of friends and family in the fighting. I, myself, lost my father to the conflict…”

“I’m so sorry.” Aurora whispered.

“It’s okay, time heals all wounds.” Eventide grinned, glancing down in the direction of the scar on his cheek. “Unfortunately, rumors and hearsay have started to get around the guard’s quarters, claiming that the diamond dogs have been resurfacing around Equestria once again, so I’ve gotten worried about my mother back home.”

“So wait… you fought in a war, as a child?” Aurora asked, leaning further over the table.

“Well, it’s something like that. Batponies’ lifespans are much longer than average ponies, so I was already considered mature by that time. It wasn’t uncommon for ponies my age to serve.” Eventide replied, matter-of-factly.

“Are you immortal?” Aurora reeled back a little wide-eyed.

“Hahah, no...” Even scratched at the back of his mane. “We can live for a very long time, but are still just as susceptible to the same things as you are. Things like physical trauma or illness. We really just age very slowly.”

“T-that makes sense then... I suppose. I do I remember you telling me how you’d served under Luna during the Nightmare Moon conflict too...” Aurora trailed off, staring at the mahogany paneled floor.

“Y-yea...” Eventide whimpered.

“It must not have been easy.” Aurora slightly frowned at him.

Eventide tried to make eye contact, but his expression dropped quickly as he heaved a deep sigh. “That small argument turned into a national tragedy, but we really didn’t have a choice. I wish we hadn’t been involved in it, but disobeying Nightmare Moon was out of the question. She made sure of that. Even once the fight was over, we were granted no pardon and exiled back into the seclusion of the Crystal Caverns by decision of the council.”

“How terrible, being forced back beneath the capital and then dealing with how other ponies treat you now…” Aurora said, placing a hoof on her chest as a comforting gesture.

“It’s certainly hasn’t been easy facing the others. Even since Luna’s good name has been restored, we as a race are still widely hated and despised, but... I’d gladly face another exile for you.” Eventide smirked, causing Aurora’s cheeks to turn a cheery red.

“Oh my, Even. You’re so suave.” She swatted at him playfully.

“H-heh, sometimes...” Eventide chimed a melodically with a sarcastic expression. In the corner of his eye, a figure caught his eye. He slowly turned to look, but they had already vanished.

“What’s the matter, Honey?” Aurora asked, noting his unusual behavior.

“N-nothing… I think. I just can’t shake this feeling we’re being watched...” He continued to look back from the corner of his eye.

Another pony happened to be staring back this time too, and as soon as they caught wind of Eventide’s glare, quickly ducked behind a menu. As a waiter passed them, they got up, and began to trot towards the restroom, passing the couple’s table. Eventide continued to eye the character suspiciously, but his attention quickly shifted to Aurora.

“Hello?” Aurora waved from across the table, frowning a bit as he turned back to her. “Hey, yea, still here, remember? Could you, I don’t know… not check out other ponies while we’re together?”

“What?! No! I wasn’t—”

“Deux Marguerite a L’orange. Bon appetit,” the waiter spoke monotonously as he suddenly appeared next to them, starting the pair. He placed two dishes on their table and lifted their lids, revealing two plates of meticulously prepared daisy presentations, drizzled in a sweet smelling orange sauce. The waiter bowed, and then stepped away to serve other patrons.

Eventide eyed the plate, drooling as he wrung his hooves greedily. “Mmm, looks— “

The couple behind them burst out, howling with laughter, drawing the attention of nearly everypony in the restaurant. Even the cellist had stopped playing to watch the pegasus playing with a fish, flapping it’s jaw as to make it appear to be speaking to his marefriend, who had be banging on the table and heaving for air.

Another waiter quickly approached the two, addressing them in an annoyed tone. “Sir, Madam, I’m going to have to ask you to calm yourselves! This establishment requires a certain level of decorum!” The two howled in response, only furthering to aggravate the waiter, before slapping their bits on the table.

“Keep the change, bucko!” the pink mare shouted, throwing her rather elegant dress off and onto the table.

The other pegasus continued to laugh, offering her his arm. “Miss Pie, would you do me the honor of escorting me out of this fine establishment?”

“The pleasure would be all mine, Mister Piano!” She stuck her nose into the air, taking his arm and trotting towards the front of the restaurant. “Not a bad place you got here, bub, but it’s just not our kind of party,” she said in a casual manner, giving the waiter a hearty pat before hastily strolling off with her friend.

The waiter stumbled backwards, aghast at the pompous mare, bumping into the silver maned pegasus behind him and knocking her onto Eventide and Aurora’s table. The pegasus fell onto their table, knocking the plates sky high before splattering all over her. What lay before them, slathered from wing to wing in orange sauce, was the most expensive meal Eventide would ever have to pay for and not eat. She forced an awkward expression and yelped what sounded like an impossibly quiet “sorry” before darting off the table and out of the restaurant, a sticky, orange trail in her wake.

Eventide stared at the ruined mess of pedals and sauce on the floor, tears welling up. “Well… so much for dinner,” he whimpered, dropping his chin to the table and sulking.

“Sorry honey,” Aurora spoke comfortingly. “Why don’t we just go get some hay fries, my treat?”

The two trotted out the restaurant together, down the cold, windy road of Ponyville. Eventide, like a true gentlecolt, had been careful to guide Aurora around the mud puddles that had formed during the drizzle. They passed by countless closed establishments in an endless trail of lightless buildings, the dreadful thought they they might never find another hot meal at such an ungoddessly hour growing by the minute. Even the Golden Hay Arches had closed early, leaving the two staring helplessly into the still lit establishment. Their journey continued, guided by nothing more than the light of streetlamps and their reflections in puddles, as the night grew later and the moon traversed the sky.

“Oooh! How about here?” Aurora cooed with delight.

Eventide’s weary head rose to find meet a building with a massive bright neon sign. “Bridle and A Beat...” he read aloud, turning to Aurora in confusion. “Isn’t this a night club?”

“Yea, I suppose it is, but they’ll definitely have something to eat in there!”

Eventide sighed, hopeless and defeated from hunger. “I guess it couldn’t help to check it ou—”

Aurora took his hoof and immediately dragged him to the entrance before he could even finish his sentence. Inside was a small, undecorated lobby where an enormously muscular white pegasus with a golden mullet and an earing stood before a pair of padded doors, tilting his glasses down to inspect the couple. Eventide approached him cautiously, weary of his glare.

“W-we’d like to go in p-please,” he managed to utter.

“...50 bits,” the bouncer replied after a short pause, eyeing the couple.

“Fifty?!” Eventide shouted.

“40 for you, 10 for the lady.” He pointed at each one individually before folding his hooves, which were shockingly skinny in comparison to the rest of build.

Eventide turned to Aurora with a grimace, shocked to find her giggling as his discontent. She immediately stopped and looked away, pretending to idly whistle a tune. He then turned back to produce a sack of bits from his saddlebag, handling the remainder of his money to the bulky pegasus.

“Yeah!” The bouncer bellowed as he grinned triumphantly, his tiny wings fluttering with joy. He lifted just high enough to hover off the ground and turn to open the double doors leading deeper into the interior.

As soon as the two stepped inside, a beautiful cello piece with a pounding electronic rhythm filled the air, drowning out nearly any intelligible noise. They both stood in awe as they gawked at the bustling nightclub before them. The music continued to blare as several ponies danced with wildly on a level lowered just before a massive stage so as to form a pit. Up on the stage a brightly maned pony with stylish glasses was working at the turntables as her much more darkly colored companion continued to play her piece on an electric cello. She seemed to resemble the same mare who was playing earlier at Le Petit Cheval, treble clef cutie mark and all. Both were equally astonished to find her playing in a nightclub.

To the far side of the room, a crowd of ponies gathered to buy drinks from a single bartender, who was struggling to accommodate for everypony as the crowd continued to build. The remainer of the ponies stood scattered around the room at various tables and bars, lively chatting and drinking or simply sitting and watching the other ponies interact.

“A-are you sure we can find some food here?” Eventide asked nervously.

“Yea! Just find a table and I’ll go check out the bar.” Aurora assured him as she trotted off.

Eventide eventually came upon a small table, a bit further from the pit, and sat down, slouching in his chair to relax. At this distance, he was far enough where the music wasn’t deafeningly loud, so he’d at least be able to hear across the table. He found the knot in his stomach caused by the tense atmosphere slowly untying, unaware of the pair of unicorns approaching him. One, a mare with a milky yellow coat and a curly, teal mane, had a cutie mark of three hearts, and the other, a mare with chestnut brown coat and three-tone hair, had the cutiemark of a pair of cherries. He quickly scrambled to sit up to look presentable as the two stopped before him.

“Hiya, I’m Lemony Hearts and this is my friend Cherry Spice!” she spoke in an oddly high pitch. She leaned over the table and closer to Eventide, batting her eyelashes suggestively. “What’s a cutie like you doing all alone, huuuh?”

“I-I—” Eventide stuttered as he shuffled back into his chair..

“Not much for words, huh? That’s okay. You’re cute, anyways.” Lemony leaned further in as she teased.

“I... am?” Eventide uttered in disbelief. Sure, he had taken care to look good tonight, putting some extra effort into brushing his mane and coat as well as thoroughly flossing, but he never thought too highly of himself. That, and he was certain that he still looked like a mess, as he had finally just dried off from wandering in the rain earlier.

“Yea. I’ve never seen your kind around her either. By the looks of your... exotic ears, you’re a batpony ain’tcha. Well? Am I right?” Lemony leered, eagerly eyeing her prey.

“I... suppose so...” Eventide trailed off, trying not to think too hard about what she had just said. He saw Cherry Spice blush at him and shuffle her hooves idly in the background.

Lemony trotted around the short table and up closer to him. Hovering just behind him, she whispered, “So, whaddya say? Wanna go have some fun?”

“Hey!” Aurora shouted from behind the group, gathering their attention. She stomped up angrily, slamming the small boat of hay fries on the table. She quickly shoved Lemony away from Eventide. “Stay away from my man!”

“Okay, lady, sheesh!” Lemony groaned. She trotted up to her friend, who had been standing there in shock. “C’mon Cheery, there’s plenty of other boy-toys here tonight anyways.”

“I told you Lemony, I don’t want a boy toy,” Cherry finally spoke as they trotted off, “I want me a stallion!”

Eventide watched, still horrified, as the two disappeared into the crowd of dancers, while Aurora panted with self-proclaimed righteous fury.

“What was all that?!” she demanded.

“N-nothing, I swear! They just came out of nowhere and— “

Aurora sat with a huff, glaring at Eventide, who was visibly frightened. She couldn’t help but feel her anger fade as she stared at the hopeless colt, eventually settling to a tension-breaking laugh. “You gotta watch yourself, Even. For someone who’s over a thousand years old, you still kinda helpless, aren’t you?”

“H-hey! I-I was just fine thank you!” Eventide tried to argue back, despite how helpless he’d actually been during pair’s advances.

“Is that so?” Aurora eyed him in disbelief. She got up and trotted over to Eventide’s side, pushing his chair back. She sat up on his lap, wrapping her forehooves over his shoulders. Eventide grew a crimson shade of red as she began to lean closer to his face. She whispered, lips curled and half-lidded eyes seductively locked on his, bringing his chin up slowly with a hoof, “How’s about this then, big boy?”

Eventide unfurled his hooves and reached around her, attempting to shift his focus to the hay fries he began forcibly gorging on. Still, he managed to mutter with a full mouth, “Mhmm, prfffly fnnn!”

Aurora burst into a short, mocking laugh and, getting up to make another trip to the bar, left Eventide alone. She watched from the corner of her eye as he let out a sigh of relief and sank back into his chair before chuckling to herself again. Aurora stood, stopping at the bar. She quickly forced her way through the small crowd, ordering a pair of salted cider mugs and another boat of hay fries. It wasn’t long before the server returned with a tray of her food and drinks, rudely shoving the food towards her before going off to help others. She frowned angrily as she lifted the tray with her magic, failing to notice the pair of batpony sitting across for her on the other side of the bar.

Vesperus groaned as he slammed another emptied mug back on the bar, staring distantly into the bottom of the frothy basin.

“Something on your mind, Vesp?” Noctus asked as he sipped from his mug. The bitter flavor bit at his lips, as it was much stronger in smaller doses, and his face scrunched in reflex. “You’re drinking... well you’re drinking as much as usual, but you don’t seem to be enjoying it as much.”

Vesperus heaved a groan as he flicked his head upward. “I dunno. I guess... I guess I’m just lonely, okay?”

Noctus instantly choked on his brew, coughing up dribble as he tried to compose himself. He sat, staring wide-eyed. “W-what?!”

“It’s just, I get kinda jealous seeing Eventide with Aurora Shine. I mean, how does he find a mare like that? We’ve been back for months now and still, all we get is the damn stink eye!” Vesperus whined. “I can’t get so much as a date, even with our own kind, and he’s got a mare all over him?!”

Noctus pushed his face away as he continued to sip his malt cider. “Didn’t know it bothered you that much.”

“Doesn’t it bother you? I mean, you’re old for Luna’s sakes! What about settling down? Starting a family? That kinda shit.”

“What.” Noctus slammed down his drink and glared at him. “First of all, stop calling me old already. I’m only a few decades older than you, you ass, and you know that means nothing. I might as well be only a regular pony year or two older than you. Secondly, I do want to settle down, but as long as I have a job and I can do it, I’m going to do it. I’ll worry about that stuff later.”

“Pfft,” Vesperus blew raspberries as a stray bang fell across his face. “Whatever dude. You sure as hell don’t act it. And anyways, that’s besides the point. Don’t you want to find a special somepony you can go home to every night too?”

“Hmm, I never really gave it much thought honestly.” Noctus brought a hoof to his chin as he delved into deeper thought.

“Ugh!” Vesperus groaned aloud as he threw himself onto the bar top.

“Hey, what does it matter though? What’s the saying? ‘Life’s too short’? We can always go on awesome adventures together. I’d hate to leave for work all the time knowing somepony was still at home, worrying about me all day like I was some sort of damn foal.” Noctus turned to Vesperus with an impressively massive and cheesy smile. “As long as we’ve got each other, who needs those other ponies?”

Vesperus glanced sideways at Noctus’ forced grin and couldn’t help be smile back. He set back up with an even wider, toothy grin on his face. “Hah! Adventures with your ugly mug? I guess that’s better than nothing!”

“Guess I’ll have to take that as a sort of compliment you runt!” Noctus shoved him playfully. He motioned towards the bartender, drawing their attention. “C’mon, next round’s on me and then we’ll hit the pit!”

“Hell yea!” Vesperus pumped his fist into the air as a fresh, frothy mug of cider slid it’s way across the bartop, stopping just short of his hoof. He just as quickly lifted the mug and drank down every last drop, slamming it to the table with a sigh of refreshment before chomping down a saltlick in one bite. He then turned to his friend who had done the same.

The two hopped off their chairs and trotted towards the bustling part of the club. They arrived one of the several sets of stairs that lead down into the dance floor that was so lovinging dubbed ‘The Pit’ and it was just so, a lowered-level dancefloor right in the center of the club. The two slowly made their way down, slipping between the few ponies who stood chatting while others struggled to clamour back up the stairs, no doubt having had more than their fair share of hard cider and salt licks.

The Pit had been completely packed, ponies even standing on their hind hooves in order to fit more into the crowd as they offered themselves to the bass goddess. The rhythmic pounding of the music grew stronger as they neared the bottom of the steps, pulsing up from the ground and through their bodies. Countless smaller speakers lined the walls as two massive towers at the central pedestal blared away at the crowd. From the bottom of it appeared as though it were a castle of equipment from which the duo of ponies could command the forces of music over its denizens as they flew into a state of fever induced ecstasy.

Vesperus stood in awe before the mechanical monster, failing to notice he’d lost Noctus in the crowd. A small grin crept upon his face. “Okay Vesper, time to strut them your stuff.”

The bass relentlessly pounded away at the masses crowding before the towering speakers, each blast a thump on Vesperus’ chest that echoed throughout his body. Slowly, he began bobbing to the rhythm. He moved in simple, little motions at first, gradually building up to more full-body movements. He found that moving on his hindhooves, something that was explained to him as ‘popular with the kids’, made dancing a lot easier. It wasn’t long before he found himself lost in the rhythm, throwing his hooves in the air and bobbing to the rhythm. He quickly threw himself into the crowd, melding in with all the other ponies dancing just as wildly as he was.

He found it exhilarating, simply giving way to the careless motion of your body. Culture in the past had made dancing so tame and boorish, but today’s dance was so much more wild and instinctual to him. It was sense of freedom he’d never experienced before their return to the upper layers of Equestria and nothing like any of the Galas he’d ever attended. It was something he’d longed for what felt like an eternity. No finesse, no decorum, just dancing. Unruly, animalistic dancing.

Effortlessly, Vesperus made his way behind a pony, dancing on them. His partner hardly seemed to mind, as they were too busy following the rhythm as well. They even leaned forward and arched their back. Vesperus couldn’t help but bite his lip a tiny bit at the display before him. He moved closer, brushing up against them, who continued to dance without paying him any attention. A grin crept up on Vesperus’ face. They continued to dance together for a while until his partner stood up again and turned around to face him.

“Hey cutie, what are you doin’ for the rest a’ tonight?” Vesperus cooed in his best imitation of what he thought would be a sexy, sultry voice.

The pony grinned in reply, sizing up Vesperus until going wide-eyed at the sight of his ears. “Ew, get away from me freak!” the pony replied in a shrill cry, shoving Vesperus.

He stumbled back a few steps, other ponies quick to dodge him, but he’d managed to bump into another, knocking the poor mare to the ground. The crowd shuffled around them forming a clearing, but most seemed to ignore the commotion and instead continued dancing. Vesperus looked around, surprised by the crowds reaction, but quickly turned to aide the fallen mare.

“Sorry ‘bout that, Miss...” he said, offering his hoof to her.

The mare flicked her snowy blue bangs over to reveal the face of one of the most stunning mares Vesperus had ever laid eyes on. He felt his jaw go slightly slack as he gazed into her deep, blue eyes, an innocent pout on her face from the injury she’d just received. She gently took hold of his hoof as Vesperus lifted her to her feet, him taking in her demure yet well-defined features. The mare shied away bashfully, but her glances kept meeting his between her bangs.

“I-I-I—” he uttered mindlessly.

“—gotta go.” She interrupted, quickly pushing her way into the crowd and fading from sight.

A hoof fell upon Vesperus’ shoulder.

“No wonder why you're single, the way you act around everypony!” Noctus laughed behind him.

“Yea, yea, whatever. S’not like you’re exactly mister popular either, yanno!” Vesperus grinned back, smacking the hoof off his shoulder.

The rhythm continued to pulse, ignoring the pairs bickering, as more and more ponies poured into the hole before the wubbing stronghold. It wasn’t long before they, too, found themselves lost among the crowd.

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to dance? Not even for just one song?” Aurora pouted, tugging at Eventide’s hoof.

“Erm, s-sorry, but I don’t dance. At least n-n-not like that.” He squeamishly pointed at the pit of grinding ponies.

“But don’t you think it looks like fun?” she whined.

“Actually, I have something else in mind,” he replied slyly.

“Oh?” she replied, a seductive grin creeping upon her face.

Aurora let go of Eventide’s hoof and the two trotted out of the club. They made their way down the road , but she couldn’t be sure where he was leading them. She just continued to follow, never speaking a word. Occasionally, Eventide would make sure she was still trotting alongside him still, only taking enough time to smile back at her. Still, something about the situation flustered Aurora, causing her cheeks to gradually flush with a red glow. It was unusual of Eventide to act so seriously or determined. Unusual, but very much welcomed.

“We’re here,” Eventide spoke softly, pushing aside the tall grass. “It’s a really popular place for people to come during the day, but it’s much more quiet and beautiful during the night,” he spoke softly.

After just a short trek to the edge of town and through a small portion of the edge of the Everfree Forest, the two found themselves at a clearing just before a lake. Fireflies skittered from the tall grass they shuffled through as they made their way closer. The softly-glowing bugs flittered about, eventually settling back on the grass, while others continued to lazily drift about the sky. A few others even settled down near the water amongst the reeds, casting their warm glow onto the its surface. The lake was aglow with the reflection of countless shimmering stars in the sky playfully bouncing along the ripples of the lake.

Aurora watched as the handsome colt opened his saddlebag and unfurled a small blanket, laying out the checkered cloth evenly. They’d been on a few dates, but it still always surprised her how well toned he was under all his armor. It was obvious that he never skipped on his drills or exercises, he was a hard working soldier, but this night it seemed like he’d been training even more so lately. His features seemed more toned, buff even. It occurred to her momentarily that he might even by trying to show off, possibly flexing at every given opportunity as he lay out a small candle. She chuckled quietly to herself, banishing the thought.

That wouldn’t be like Even at all. No, he’s much more sweet and modest with his well-toned body and chiseled features and gorgeous smile and that sexy mane—

“Aurora?” Eventide called out.

“H-huh?!” Aurora blinked.

“Are you okay? Y-you’re staring.”

“Oh. Oh! No, nothing. I’m fine!” she felt her cheeks heat up.

“Come. Sit next to me.” He patted the spot next to him.

Aurora trotted up and sat down next to him. A cool breeze rippled across the lake, countless dazzling lights flickering across the surface and glinting in his eyes. Eventide had a quiet calmness about him and it was a quality she had always loved. In the moment, he seemed so peaceful, almost serene even, like the gentle smile on his lips alluded to much more than what appeared on the surface. She found herself lost in a daydream before another breeze sent her shivering. Eventide scooted closer to her and the two smiled at each other. Aurora shut her eyes and rested against Eventide.

“You’re right, you know?” she whispered.

“Hmmm?”

“About the night. This place is certainly more beautiful during this time of the evening. There is a quality of beauty to the quiet stillness that could never quite be captured during the day.”

Eventide didn’t reply, only lean back against her. A smile crept upon his face as he noted the beauty of their surroundings, and he shut his eyes with a sigh, only to have a glimmer catch his attention. The pair turned their gaze upward as one by one, stars began to beam across the sky. They gleamed and danced, racing across the infinite expanse that was the depths of the galaxy, their sole light standing in rebellion against the dark. Except, it seemed more as though they complimented each other. Light and dark performing in unison, creating a spectacle that could easily awe and inspire even the most unimpressible ponies. A romantic vision of virtual opposites combining to create true, infallible beauty.

“A star storm…” Eventide noted.

“It’s… beautiful…” Aurora spoke in wonder.

“It certainly is... but it’s nothing compared to your beauty, Aurora.” He smiled softly at Aurora.

Aurora giggled when their eyes met, her cheeks flushing once again.

Eventide brought up her chin with a hoof to ensure he had her complete attention. They sat for a moment, peering into each other’s eyes before he began. “I know… I know we haven’t been together for very long by either pony’s standards, but I’ve already spent what felt like an eternity alone.”

Aurora sat, allured by his gaze.

“I just want you to know how much I love you.”

“Oh, Even. Of course I know. I love you t—”

“S-so I want you to have this.” He shied away, producing a small box.

Aurora instantly froze, a jolt running through her body. Tears began to swell in her eyes as she came to realize what he might reveal to her. Eventide lifted the lid of the small box. Within, a small ring with a rather large gemstone lay gently on a tiny pillow.

“It’s…. I… this…” she uttered.

“It’s a crystalline leystone, extremely rare and valuable. They used to be much more abundant when the Crystal Empire still existed, but since its disappearance, these have become some of the most precious gems in Equestria.”

“I’ve… only read about these. Their ability to amplify magic is unmatched.” Aurora gasped, her eyes glimmering with the reflection of the stone.

“It will symbolize that our love that binds. When you hold this close it you, our love will only serves to make you stronger, and whenever this is with you, I am with you. Both, in heart and spirit. Together, there is no challenge too great that we can’t face. Let our love be a source of respite and inspiration for others.” He removed the ring from its box and presented it to her.

She knelt before him, accepting the ring while quietly sobbing. Eventide placed the ring on her horn, gently sliding it down to a snug fit. After their eyes met again, and they shared a kiss.

“Eventide, I love you so much.” she stared lovingly into his eyes, a smile rising among her tears of joy.

“I love you too, Aurora.” He smiled back, coming closer to hold her. A figure glinted across the light of the moon, drawing his attention for only a moment.

The two sat frozen in each other’s hooves, their eyes locked on one another, before sharing another kiss. Their lips pressed tenderly together before Eventide gently lay Aurora back onto the picnic cloth. Her gaze remained fixed on him as he held her lovingly in the moonlight. They shared another passionate kiss as the night dragged on.

Moonfall

by Mist Twister

The Grand Galloping Gambit

Nightmare Knights: Wax

Lunar Ellipse

Sharing Kindness

Honestly Promising

Generosity's Lens

Loyalty, Laughter, Here and Thereafter

Addendum: The Night's Sister

It's About A Quarter After

The Stars that Fill the Sky