Chapter 1
Guardian of the Night
by Harvan, February 2013
All characters and locations in this story are copyrighted to Hasbro.
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Tonight is a fine evening. The air is warm, the moon shines brightly in the clear sky, and everything is quiet and still. My favorite kind of evening.
Most of Equestria is asleep now. And it is during this time that I am at my most active. For I am Luna, Guardian of the Night, and it is my sacred duty to guard and protect my subjects just as my sister, Princess Celestia, rules the day. It is a responsibility that I take most seriously, as I have for my entire life.
Having finished my routine check of the castle grounds, I spread my wings and take to the air, gliding silently and unseen through the night sky. It is time for my most favorite of duties, for I have the unique privilege of guarding the dreams of all ponies large and small.
The great city of Manehattan is first in my patrol. I fly over the tall buildings, sensing the dreams of the sleeping ponies beneath me. Tonight promises to be a peaceful one. Adults and children, stallions and mares alike, are dreaming pleasant dreams, be they of their businesses, their playgrounds, their favorite games or their favorite foods. Nearly all of them strengthened by the bond of love and friendship, something I have always observed but only recently begun to understand.
I move on to Cloudsdale, the realm of the Pegasi. Here too, most ponies are tucked safely in their beds. I smile as I peek into one colt's dream, watching him race around one of the city's famous tracks, beating out his competition and winning the grand prize. He sees himself being congratulated by his friends and his parents, the new champion of Cloudsdale. Though he is barely old enough to fly, I admire his ambition. Great things are in store for him, I believe.
All throughout the land, I sense dreams filled with ambitions just like his, as well as admiration for the ponies who inspire them. But every once in a while, I sense a darker dream, one filled with fear. A fear of the night, of the moon... of me.
I begin to fly over the Everfree Forest, a place where few ponies dare to venture. It is here that I take time to reflect. A thousand years ago, the dreams of my subjects sparked great jealousy and bitterness in me. Most ponies shunned the night, preferring to dream of the day, of each other, and of Princess Celestia, the alicorn they knew and loved. I was left to rule the night alone, hardly anyone acknowledging my presence. The jealousy within me grew until I had become mad with a lust for power. I began to demand love and adoration from my subjects, but I was met only with fear and anger. The madness slowly grew, gradually transforming me into the creature known as Night Mare Moon and upsetting the delicate balance of harmony throughout Equestria. Eventually, my sister was forced to banish me from the kingdom. And in my prison, separated from my subjects, bitterness and jealousy fed upon one another with nothing to stop them.
When I finally broke free from my prison one thousand years later, there was almost nothing left of the Luna I had once been. I began my rule of eternal night, now reveling in the fear that I caused in my subjects. But Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's cherished student, and her band of friends were successful in gathering the Elements of Harmony, despite my attempts to stop them. The power of their friendship and love overwhelmed me, utterly defeating Night Mare Moon. I began to awake from the haze of my madness, bitterness and jealousy instantly replaced with deep remorse and sorrow for what I had done. But Celestia, my beloved sister, forgave me and took me under her wing once again, and soon I was back at her side, maintaining the balance of harmony once more.
Since then, I have come to regard the citizens of Equestria as more than mere subjects. Indeed, I desire strongly to be a friend to all of them. It has not been an easy transition, but my sister believes that trust and friendship will come in time. For now, however, I am content to once again patrol the night, silently and anonymously, observing from afar the dreams of ponies big and small.
As I approach Ponyville, one fitful dream in particular catches my attention. It is the pegasus child known as Scootaloo - this is the second night in a row where her dreams have been full of fear. But unlike the other nightmares, it is not me that she fears. And so I am empowered to intervene. I land nearby the cave where she sleeps and close my eyes.
The dream opens up around me, and I observe Scootaloo running through a twisted replica of the woodland, pursued by a dark silhouette of a headless horse. I cannot help but smile, remembering when I had such dreams as a filly. It is a simple fear, yet very real to a young child. I fly behind her, merely observing until she trips and falls and the object of her fear confronts her. It is now that I choose to act.
I swoop in majestically, causing the ghostly apparition to evaporate. At first, Scootaloo seems confused, but then deeply comforted by my presence. She is a strong and courageous child, a trait I admire greatly. I explain to her that the thing she fears is not the headless horse, but rather something outside the world of dreams. In turn, she confides in me the source of that fear, of disappointing the one pony she admires the most, Rainbow Dash. I reassure her that everyone must face their fears one way or another, or the nightmares will continue. She seems to understand, and the dream begins to fade.
I open my eyes and return to the physical world once more. I shall need to keep an eye on this one, but for now, I am satisfied that all is well. I depart as silently as the wind, rising up into the air to finish my patrol of the kingdom.
Another night has passed, and I take a small amount of pride in having fulfilled my duty once more. Most of the dreams are now ending, and some ponies are already stirring. As I return to Canterlot, the approaching dawn glimmers on the horizon. Soon it will be time for me to rest.