We Believe In You, Luna

by KayeStar


A Long Time Coming

Cadance merely sat in stunned silence as she watched her aunt continue looking through designs. She was uncertain it was even appropriate to respond after what Celestia just told her. After taking several moments to compose herself, she found words.

"I couldn't have guessed Aunt Luna felt so badly."

Celestia let out a small sigh. "Neither did I. I knew she felt badly, but not to that extent. She really scared me that day."

"But she's doing much better now, right?" Cadance asked, silently praying for the answer she hoped to hear. To her relief, Celestia nodded.

"It's been a very hard road for her. When the guilt made her feel her worst, she created a monster to torment herself with nightmares. A monster called "Tantabus". Twilight and her friends helped Luna defeat it, and we talked about it after I picked her up from Twilight's castle the following morning. After that, she slowly started moving on."

"Did she ever bring it up again?" Cadance asked, looking over a palette of shades of blue.

"Once in a while if she had another nightmare," Celestia answered. "Sometimes, if I could catch her awake before I retired for the night, we'd do something fun together. She told me she always had a nice dream after we did that. She hasn't talked about Nightmare Moon in almost a year, so I think she's getting there."

"And you hope this will help her really see who she is," Cadance concluded. "So, she'll never look at herself as Nightmare Moon again."

"Exactly." Celestia pointed out a particular design and cringed at it. "Luna isn't one for pickiness, but I know she wouldn't like this one."

"Too... regal for her," Cadance agreed with a small laugh. "I think she'll be fine with plain wood. Maybe just the moon crest at the top. Something that resembles yours, but a different color. Luna has no idea of this, does she?"

"I asked her a few questions, but I'm certain I didn't give away the idea."

A few weeks ago

“Sister, pick a palette.”

Luna looked away from where she’d been watching over Equestria through a telescope to see Celestia holding a variety of palettes of various shades of colors for her to choose from.

“What is this for?” Luna had asked as she looked over the palettes.

“Some of the ponies of my day court want to request a renovation.”

“I see. Well…” Luna stared back and forth over them for a short while longer before finally pointing her hoof to her choice. “I choose the shades of blue.”

“Noted.” Celestia then raced off before Luna could ask more questions, leaving her to simply return to her watch and try to think little of it.

The week after that

Celestia stopped Luna before she retired for the morning. “Just one moment before you go to sleep.”

“You’re my sister. I’ll give you two moments,” Luna had joked.

Celestia showed her three pictures of the moon: Its full phase, its half phase, and its crescent phase. “This may be a silly question, but which do you like most?”

“It is not. I do happen to prefer the crescent moon.”

“Perfect!” Again, Celestia raced off before Luna could ask questions. She shrugged and continued her way to bed.

And one more week after that

“Sister, it is a rude question, but a pony from my court asked and I admit I am also curious.”

Luna paused eating her dinner (breakfast) to give Celestia a skeptical look. “What are you and that pony curious about?”

“Why do you wear smaller attire than I do?” Celestia had asked. “I know you are not one for fanciness unless called for, but if you will wear it, why do you decide on smaller attire?”

Luna sighed. “I tried to go without it, but some of the delegates seemed to believe I couldn’t be respected without it. So, I settled on what was small and could fit me. I prefer what fits well to what is oversized and makes a scene. I suppose the consequence of being a small mare myself. I’m accustomed to small things.”

“Understood. But you are a perfect size, Sister.”

“It is not something I feel bad about, but thank you.”

Back to the present

“I kept her answers in mind for when I was ready to order the throne to be installed,” Celestia explained to Cadance. “I was hoping to find something to give it a more personal touch for her, but I suppose you are right. The moon crest is enough.”

“This is for her birthday, isn’t it? What about a party?” Cadance suggested.

“It wouldn’t be unlike me to plan such a thing,” Celestia admitted with a small laugh, “but I want to be certain Luna will accept this. Playful as we may be toward each other, I wouldn’t try to humiliate her.”

“I meant a more personal party,” Cadance clarified. “For family only. Us, Luna, Twilight, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. We could plan an actual birthday party for her later in the day.”

“I only hope she’ll forgive me for overlooking this for so long.”

“Luna would never hold a grudge about something like that,” Cadance assured her aunt. “Like you said, she didn’t think she deserved to have the title she does. It’s no wonder she never brought it up. Just think about how happy she’ll be when she sees it.”

“That’s what I’m most looking forward to.”