Twilight lay on her bed in the cozy inn, and thought about what had transpired that night. The trip to Canterlot happened just as she had expected, and she had been able to make it there not long after moonrise. Once she had landed in the city, she first made her way to the small inn she was now resting in and left her luggage while she went to the castle to find Luna, and ask her favor. It had not gone quite as she expected.
Twilight sighed and rolled over, burying her face in the soft pillow. Her head was so full of new information, she wasn’t sure what to think about first. She found it hard to breathe with her face in the pillow, so she turned back over onto her back and stared at the blank ceiling and sighed again. The ceiling offered no answers, however, so she closed her eyes and sought for sleep. When the sweet surrender was not forthcoming, Twilight silently cursed her brain, even though she couldn’t really blame it for being so awake. Much had happened in the last few hours, and Twilight’s entire view of Luna and Celestia had been shifted. Twilight decided the best way to make sense of it all was to go through all that had happened since she arrived in Canterlot, starting with her arrival.
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Twilight landed gently in front of the small inn she had decided to stay the night at. It was small, but very lavish, and had been in business since Twilight had been a young filly, first coming to Canterlot to study under Princess Celestia. She went inside, and requested a room for the night. After acquiring her room key, Twilight went to her room and left her bags on the bed, barely taking time to look around the room before leaving. Locking the door behind her, Twilight set off and began walking towards the castle. She would have liked to fly, but she didn’t want to attract any undue attention. Although she had been the center of attention for months after her transformation, most ponies in Ponyville had grown accustomed to Twilight’s wings, and had stopped pestering her and gawking for the most part. However, Twilight was unsure how the reception would be in places where she wasn’t seen almost every day, and so she walked.
The darkened streets were peaceful, most ponies having retired to their homes once the moon had risen. Twilight had always enjoyed Canterlot at night. The weather pegasi went around at sundown and lit oil lamps on posts, so the streets were always lit with a romantic glow. As Twilight walked to the castle, she saw several couples strolling in the flickering lamp light, walking close or just standing in embrace. As Twilight walked past the seventh or eighth couple, she suddenly realized she had never had a special somepony, or even been on a date. After she thought of that, every couple she passed seemed to seem happier, and she felt a little more lonely. Twilight decided to simply watch the flagstones in front of her as she walked. It was only a little more than a mile to the castle from the inn, but to the love-afflicted unicorn, it seemed to take forever.
Once Twilight made it to the castle, she approached the front gate to speak to the guards on duty. She was expecting at least a little resistance, or at least some identification, but as soon as she was close enough to the gatehouse for the guard to see her, he immediately began to open the gate. Twilight smiled as she walked through.
Being the Princess's personal friend definitely has it's privileges.
Twilight approached the main doors to the castle to the pair of guards there. As she did, the guard on the left nodded to her. Twilight realized it was one of Luna's guard, Anvil. She had briefly met him and his compatriot, Hammer. They were almost always seen together. They were fairly pleasant stallions, although a bit anti-social.
"Good evening, Miss Sparkle. Princess Celestia is asleep by now, how may we help you?"
"Good evening, Anvil. Well, actually, I would like to see Princess Luna. Is she available?"
"Yes, I believe she is in her sitting room. Do you know the way?"
"Not really. Isn’t it on the western wing?"
"Almost. Go through the main room here, then up the stairs on the left. Go all the way down until it ends. The door will be on your left. Would you like an escort?"
"No thank you. Have a good evening, Anvil, and you as well Hammer."
"And you as well, Miss Sparkle."
"Have a pleasant evening, Twilight."
Twilight walked past the guards and into the main hall beyond. She often come through there at night, going back to her room after a long night in the library, engrossed in some ancient dusty tome or other. However, she never quite got over her fear of it. The high windows and the towering pillars cast long and wide shadows, and even where there was light, it was pale and fleeting. The throne sat at the far end of the room, at the end of the long and narrow carpet. Half of the throne was bathed in the moonlight, and the other half shrouded in darkness. It looked unfinished, inadequate, incomplete without a Princess upon it.
Twilight briskly walked through the hall to the doorway beyond. She went through that, then immediately up the stairs on her left. They went up only one floor, then opened onto the western corridor. This hallway looked even more menacing than the room she had just left. There were few windows, and only three small lamps for the entire fifty yard stretch. Shadows encroached upon most of the hall, except for the far end, where two torches hung, presumably where the door to Princess Luna's receiving room was. Twilight headed towards it. She expected to find an ornate door, much like one to Princess Celestia's room, but decorated with motifs of the night and moon instead of the sun. Instead, she was greeted by a wooden door, very plain, instead of what she expected to be the entrance to a Princess's room. Twilight gently knocked on the inconspicuous door, and was soon rewarded by a quiet voice from the other side.
“Hello? Who is it?”
“It’s Twilight, Princess. I would like to speak to you, if you’re not too busy of course.”
The door swung open to reveal Princess Luna standing behind it smiling.
“Oh, I’m never too busy for you. Please, come in! There’s some pillows by the window, please, make yourself comfortable.”
Twilight returned Luna’s smile, and couldn’t help but admire the way the Princess’s mane flowed elegantly about her, and her smile was simply radiant. As Twilight moved past Luna on her way to the mentioned pillows, she caught a faint whiff of Luna’s perfume, and actually stopped for a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath.
“That is wonderful perfume you’re wearing. What’s it called?”
Luna chuckled lightly, and Twilight thought she could see a minuscule hint of a blush, but against the dark coat, it was impossible to be sure.
“Thank you. I get it from the perfumist in downtown. It’s called ‘Profumo Della Notte.’”
“Oh, ‘Scent Of The Night.’ It’s very fitting for you. I really like it.”
The two had been talking as they moved to the pillows, and as Twilight eased herself onto one of the extraordinarily soft cushions, Luna sat opposite her and fixed her gaze on Twilight. Twilight had never realized how gentle Luna’s teal eyes were, or how clear. But she pushed those thoughts out of her head as Luna spoke again.
“So, Twilight, I have a feeling you didn’t come here at this hour to discuss perfumes, as enjoyable as that would be. What is on your mind?”
Twilight tried to swallow the small knot that had somehow found its way into her throat, and failing that, did her best to speak around it. She managed to say mostly what she wanted, but her voice was just a small amount quieter than she intended.
“Well, you see..... I heard a story... And wanted to know... If you don’t mind me asking, that is... About the..... Um.... Moon Stone.....”
Luna had slowly been leaning forward throughout Twilight’s mumbled words, but when she uttered the words Moon Stone, the Night Princess froze, and she regarded Twilight with a curious expression. After a moment, Luna turned away and stared out the window at the stars beginning to populate the night sky, and was silent for a while. Twilight hadn’t been sure how the Princess would react, but this certainly wasn't expected. After a pause, Luna spoke to Twilight, still looking out the window.
“Where did you hear about that?”
“From.... some old books. There were a few fragments that mentioned the Sun Stone, and provided some very compelling proof that it existed outside of the old tales. I thought if the Sun Stone was real, then maybe the Moon Stone was as well?”
Luna was silent for another long while. Eventually, she turned back to Twilight, a very distant look in her eyes. Twilight was expecting accusations, interrogation, or at least pointed questions as to how she had discovered this, but the response she got was definitely not what she expected. Luna lowered her eyes for a moment that raised them back to meet Twilight’s, and the winged unicorn thought she could see sadness in the teal orbs.
“Yes, it exists. However, whatever used to be true about it is no longer.”
Twilight was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to reply.
“What... What do you mean, no longer?”
Luna stood, and walked to the window, pushing it open. A light breeze drifted through, rustling the Princess’s mane and tail. She closed her eyes as she faced the wind, and through Twilight‘s mind a thought ran for a moment before she could quench it.
She’s so dignified.......
Twilight gazed at Luna as the gentle wind blew in, and they simply paused together, letting the wind do what it wished with their manes. It was relaxing, almost therapeutic, but the entire time, Twilight was very aware of the unanswered question. As the seconds ticked by, she got more and more anxious. After a time, when Twilight felt she could no longer stand the tension, Luna sighed, and turned to Twilight.
“The Stone itself does still exist. However, it has no power left.”
“No power? What do you mean?”
“I mean it has been drained. It is about as useful as any of the stones that make up this castle, or the roads beyond. It is nothing more than a pretty rock now.”
“That’s impossible! It’s an ancient relic of magic, mystical and powerful beyond comprehension! How can it be drained?”
Twilight was pushed into a state of disbelief. Her mind was racing around in circles, trying to find a solution to the problem her mind had just proposed to her.
This isn't happening. That Stone is our best, if not only shot of completing our work! But maybe..... Maybe it’s power isn't what we need..... Maybe we can make do with the structure itself..... But would it work in a drained state?...
However, Twilight’s train of thought was brutally interrupted by the words uttered by Luna.
“Maybe drained was the wrong word. The power is still there in a sense, just locked away by Celestia. She was afraid I would use it to become Nightmare Moon again. She keeps the Sun Stone with her, and the Moon Stone hidden, locked away and secret. The power is hers, and kept away from me.”
Luna had begun talking slowly, and hesitantly, but as she went on she got more confident and louder, until she was almost shouting her admissions to the skies.
“That’s why I’m so small, so weak! She took what had been given to me from fear! She didn't even ask what had really caused Nightmare Moon, she just took it at face value! It wasn't even my fault! I was just weak, and stupid! But I’m smarter now, and stronger in will and in mind. It won’t happen again, I just wish she would see that. But she has grown comfortable on her throne, and doesn't want to share it. Did you know she didn't even want me to move the moon at first? It took me nearly a month after you saved me to convince her I was still good for that!”
Tears were flowing from her beautiful teal eyes, but Luna ignored them. She stared at the stars above with accusation and pain, her voice laden.
“I just don’t know what to do. I can’t ask her for the Stone back, she’d only become suspicious of me, or worse, treat me like an ignorant filly! I just....... I miss........ I want things to be like they were before...... Before I succumbed......But SHE.... Her words..... I could only accept it.....”
Twilight was rendered speechless and paralyzed. She wanted to move, to blink, to shift the slightest amount, but it was impossible. She felt like gasping, like crying, like crying for the injustice and imbalance, but she could not. She wanted to ask what the last part meant, but felt like she would seem ignorant. Surely it was about Celestia, but a doubt had settled on that thought.
Twilight shook her head to clear her thoughts and focus on the matter at hand. Here was Princess Luna, the Dark Princess, Ruler and Maker Of The Night, confiding in her in the lowest and deepest manner, with secrets that would be devastating if ever released. It was enough to make Twilight’s breathing labored. It was very difficult for Twilight to imagine her Princess Celestia acting so, but at the same time, it made sense.
Princess Celestia does only what she must to be absolutely sure that Equestria is as safe as possible. Taking the Moon Stone only made sense..... Right?
A small doubt latched onto the thought before Twilight could dispel it, but she filed it away for examination later. Luna needed her attention now.
"Princess Luna, I'm sure Celestia acted only as she thought was right. I'm sure that if you just talked to her about it..."
"No, Twilight. It wouldn't help. You see her as an all-kind and all-forgiving monarch, but to me, she is my sister. She has flaws, and so do I."
Luna's tears had stopped flowing, but the sadness was still prevalent in her voice and her eyes.
"We are but ponies, Twilight. We have the same faults and weaknesses, and fall prey to the same fears, even if we pretend we don't. Celestia has a right to be afraid of me, but no reason, but I cannot bring myself to tell her. I can only imagine how she would react."
"Princess...."
"Please, Twilight. After these past few years, not to mention you saving me from Nightmare Moon, I think you've earned the right to just call me Luna."
"Yes, Pr... Luna. I just....."
Twilight looked back out the window to the vivid stars, uncountable and scattered. She tried her best to wrestle her unruly thoughts into order, but only marginally succeeded.
"It's been several years since the Elements of Harmony and I saved you from Nightmare moon, and already it has been a few years since I have sent Celestia any Friendship Reports, but it seems like just yesterday. She has always been there for me, caring and teaching, almost like a second mother. I want to believe everything she does is for the good of Equestria, and I want to believe everything you do is as well. I can tell, you are truly sorry for Nightmare Moon, and if you want, I will help you. I could probably talk to Celestia..."
"No, Twilight, please.... If you were to mention it, even confess knowledge of it, she would become suspicious of my motives, and possibly even yours. Let us just.... Drop this whole subject for now."
Twilight nodded and swallowed the knot in her throat that just didn't seem to go away.
Well, this evening certainly hasn't gone as scheduled. But, I've gained some new knowledge, and knowledge is good, right?
“Twilight, have you ever put much study into astronomy or astrology?”
Twilight was very surprised by this question, having been expecting an awkward pause lasting until she could think of an excuse to leave.
“Well, I have studied a little of astronomy, but not astrology. I thought it was all a bunch of hooey?”
Luna turned back to Twilight with a small mischievous smile, and a twinkle in her eye.
“You know, there are ponies who devote their lives to the study and understanding of astrology, and how the position of the stars can influence ponies lives.”
“I.. uh, well it’s... You know it’s just....”
“Oh, Twilight, it’s all okay. It actually is a lot of hooey, as you put it. The idea that the relative position of the planets and stars have a special and deep significance that applies differently depending on when you were born is absolutely ridiculous. I simply cannot fathom where it came from. I simply arrange the stars in forms that are pleasing to me, and I hope that they are as pleasing to others.”
Twilight was amazed at what she had just heard, and spent a second comprehending before she finally said something.
“You arrange the stars? I always thought they were simply.... There!”
“Come to the window. I would like to show you something.”
Twilight rose from the pillow she was on and joined Luna at the window. The stars were beginning to show in full force. There were no clouds to block the light as the stars sat in the inky blackness, ablaze with their own luminescence. As soon as Twilight was next to Luna, the Princess’s horn glowed, and three light purple circles rose from it, situating themselves in the air above the mares so that they were highlighting three stars in particular.
“Do you know this constellation, Twilight?”
“The Latavarius Triangle. It’s the first real constellation able to be seen with the naked eye of the night. It has astrological significance as being the symbol of the early riser, and is said to be the sign of those who are very intuitive”
“All that, what you just said, is all ridiculous. When I created it, I never thought a single thing like that. Would you like to hear the true story behind it?”
“Of course!”
“That was the very first time I attempted creating a constellation. I had played with single stars before, but never had tried anything more. One night, Celestia told me she thought I should try something harder. She said she was certain I could do more than play connect the dots one at a time. So I went to the top of a tall hill the next night, and stared at the sky for hours, trying to force something to happen. After a while, I felt it change. I felt something move, not just in the sky, but inside myself. I found that I had the power to create and move multiple stars at once, so of course I tried it. The first thing I did was arrange these three stars in a triangle, simply because it was the most simple shape I knew. I was so happy. Celestia said she was so proud of me. The next morning, she rose the sun, and we went out on a picnic to celebrate. We had such fun, her and I....”
Luna’s voice got very distant, and her eyes went back to the stars, and it seemed to Twilight there was the beginning of a tear swimming in one of the teal eyes. Looking back to the sky, Twilight saw the three purple circles were fading in brightness and flowing downward, like candle wax left in the sun too long. She began to understand how Luna felt, and felt very sad. Twilight looked back to the Princess, and saw that she was looking down at her. She smiled, and Luna smiled back, with only the barest hint of sadness left. Twilight blushed and dropped her eyes to her hooves, unsure of how she felt suddenly. She looked back up in confusion as she felt a light pressure on her back, and found Luna’s wing draped gently across her back. Twilight thought about how this should feel, but instead decided to see how she felt about it first.
It feels...... Natural.
Twilight stood for another second, not wanting to act hastily, before looking back at Luna, who had turned back to regard the night sky. Twilight studied her eyes, the beautiful cerulean eyes, then the rest of the face, then the neck, and the flowing, graceful mane. It seemed that all that Twilight thought was beautiful was in front of her tonight.
Twilight leaned into the embrace, slowly, carefully, until her shoulder began to contact Luna’s warm side. She felt Luna shift, moving just a bit closer, and so did Twilight, until the two were pressed against each other, sharing the view of the night as well as the embrace. Time passed, and still they stood together. Twilight began to rest her head against Luna’s neck, and Luna leaned over to reciprocate, draping her mane across Twilight’s neck and back. It was a very odd experience, one Twilight thought felt like having warm water slowly flowing down her back and over her wings. It was more comfortable than any blanket, and indeed, Twilight felt herself grow weary. She realized that she had been awake for almost twenty four hours now, and decided she could use some sleep, loathe as she was to leave.
“Luna, I really, really hate to leave, but I just realized I haven’t slept in almost twenty four hours, so I think I should be going.”
Luna removed her wing from Twilight’s back, and turned to look at her with a soft expression.
“You already have a room to stay?”
“Yes, over at the Brass Lantern.”
“Well, I also have things I need to be doing, so I guess farewell for now.”
Both mares stood awkwardly for a few moments before Luna broke the silence.
“Twilight, are you in Canterlot for much longer?”
“I wasn't planning on it, but I don’t exactly have anything else to be doing.”
“Well, I was wondering... If you’d like, you could come visit another time?....”
Twilight smiled back at Luna.
“I’d love to. I can send a letter to Spike telling him I won’t be back for another few days.”
“Would you like to come back here, say, tomorrow night? I can show you more of the night sky.”
“I would love that, Luna. I’ll come at a little after moonrise?”
“That sounds lovely. See you tomorrow night.”
“Yes, tomorrow night. See you then.”
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Twilight smiled into her pillow as the mental replay of the night ended. While she hadn’t really accomplished any of what she set out to do, she felt that the alternative was just as good.
Surely Axion and myself can find some other substitute for our experiment.
Twilight felt herself being drawn into sleep at long last. She hoped that she could sleep most of the day, so she wouldn’t have to wait too long before returning to the castle. She also found herself hoping that her doze would also be accompanied by dreams.
Hopefully ones with a figure on black, with a rippling blue mane........