//------------------------------// // 8 - Confessions in the Moonlight // Story: A Lunar Sunset // by ed-stoneman //------------------------------// Luna was taken aback. “What do you mean?  You left because of my sister?” Sunset gave a harsh laugh. “I may as well tell you the whole story.” Luna looked expectantly as Sunset gathered her thoughts.  It was hard to think back on her life in Equestria, but if Luna could share what she had gone through, Sunset owed it to her to share her story as well. “Before Twilight Sparkle came into the picture, I was Celestia's prized pupil.  Very much like Twilight, I was a bit of a prodigy.  I got my cutie mark early, excelled in magical studies.  The princess took notice, of course, and came personally to offer her mentorship.  My parents were beside themselves with happiness.  And rightfully so.  It had been years since Celestia took someone as her personal student.  They saw it as a chance to climb the social ladder and use my name to better themselves in Canterlot society. “After studying under Celestia for nearly five years, I started to develop my own magical style.  I started to do more research into forgotten spells, look into magical theory that had been forgotten.  I wanted to be the best.  My goal was to become the next Starswirl the Bearded, and write my name across magical history. “To that end, I decided to create a way for a sufficiently powerful unicorn to ascend and become an alicorn.” Luna cocked her head in confusion. “I don’t understand.  Is that forbidden?” “Not exactly.  Before Twilight was granted the power of an Alicorn, there were only five known of in the history of Equestria.  The princesses Luna and Celestia, their parents, and their niece Princess Cadence.  Nobody's quite sure how Cadence became an alicorn, but the fact remains that she is.  To normal ponies, an alicorn is essentially the equivalent of a god.  They are powerful enough that once they make a decision, it is treated as law without a second thought.  I wanted to change that. “I couldn’t imagine a world where ponies were subjects to the same monarch for over a thousand years without a second thought.  It felt wrong to me, like the world was created to be their plaything instead of a functioning society. “When celestia found my research, she was more angry than I have ever heard of her being.  You have to understand that Celestia is famous for being calm, even under pressure.  Nobody has ever seen anything but the cool and collected Princess of the Sun, and if they have, they don’t speak of it.  She accused me of trying to overthrow her, and trying to stir Equestria into revolt against her rule.” Luna looked shocked.  That was not the Celestia that she knew.  Though thinking about it, one could see the parallels. “The princess banished me from Equestria.  I was never allowed to set hoof within it’s borders again.  I spent several years wandering through other nations, studying the magic found there, until I eventually came to the Crystal Empire, and found the mirror that delivered me to Canterlot High.” Luna nonned.  She knew the rest. Sunset became quiet, watching as the sky burst into the orange hues of the setting daystar.  It seemed fitting that this conversation was happening now, between the two of them. As the sky became darker, Sunset spoke up again. “Luna… I…” She sighed.  Thinking through her own feelings.  If Sunset were being honest with herself, she would admit that she had a crush on Luna since her first day at CHS.  Now, with the intimacy of the day, and where they had come from the original intent of the morning, Sunset felt that being honest about everything was the right thing. Another sigh. “Luna, I’m not great at this kind of thing…” Luna’s eyes widened.  This conversation was heading down a dangerous path. “Sunset no.  You are a student.  I know where you are going with this.” “I’m an adult pretending to be a student, Luna.  This isn’t exactly a normal situation here.” ------------------------------- Luna was taken aback.  Sunset was right of course.  This was not a normal situation under any circumstances.  Normal didn’t even come close to the facts. “Luna, you came to my house, passed out in my kitchen, and shared details of your life that your own sister doesn’t even know.  I want to think that there might be something more than the typical teacher/student relationship there.  I want to know more about you, as Luna.  Not the cold vice-principal of Canterlot High, but as a woman.” Luna's heart skipped a beat.  Sunset was an adult.  In equestria, she would have been considered an adult for many years already.  Even by the standards of this world, Sunset had her life more together than most people twice her age.  It didn’t hurt that Luna did find her to be highly intelligent, and attractive. “Sunset, I don’t know.  If I allow my mind to look at it, I do wonder if this could work.  But what would it mean?  What would the school say?  What about my sister?  Your friends?  I want to jump at this chance, but is it right for us to do that?” With the sky darkening, and the moon on the rise, Luna jumped slightly as Sunset took her hand.  The younger woman was warm to the touch. “Damn the consequences Luna.  I have wanted to have this conversation with you for nearly four years now.” The older woman gasped. “I want to be a part of your life Luna.  I don’t know what that truly entails, but I want to be there in the thick of it.” Luna looked up to her namesake.  The sky was a perfect blend of fading oranges, and deepening blues and purples.  She didn’t know much about magic, but the hopeless romantic in her did have a firm grasp of the idea of providence in timing. “I can’t say that everything will be sunshine and roses Sunset.  I don’t even know what my own life or future looks like.  I’m not perfect, not even by a long shot.  And I can’t promise you the world.” Luna tried one last push of reason, before her walls crumbled under the heat of Sunset. “I don’t care about perfection.  I want the mess.  I want the joy, and pain, and everything that goes with it.” Luna squeezed the warm hand clasping hers. “I would… like that very much Sunset Shimmer.”