//------------------------------//
// Full House 
// Story: Once in a New Moon 
// by MagnetBolt 
//------------------------------//

“You need to come along to Day Court tomorrow.”
Luna blanched. “Day Court? Sister, when I keep you up at least it’s for reasons you enjoy. Have I done something to displease you so much you wish to inflict the nobility on me?”
“I don’t like what they’ve been saying about you. I won’t let them hide and slander you behind your back.”
“Slandering me to my face is hardly better.” Luna looked to the window. “It’s nearly sunset. Soon they’ll all be tucking themselves into bed, and it will be my duty to let them sleep restfully.”
Luna paused.
“Sometimes it’s tempting to just let them reap what they sow. If they distrust me, they can manage their own dreams. But then I’d just be proving them right, wouldn’t I?”
“I just… I want them to see you the way I do,” Celestia said, slumping.
Luna laughed harshly. “You may as well wish for Star Swirl to come back and yell at them like the foals they are.”
Celestia smiled. “I can just imagine it. He certainly had a way with ponies.”
“Then he would yell at us for being idiots and letting ponies whom we don’t trust and who don’t trust us have any say in running the country.”
“It’s harder to get rid of them than I’d like.”
“Sister, it’s not hard. It’s just messy. You can put the heads on spikes but what do you do with the rest of the body?”
Celestia laughed and pushed Luna’s shoulder.
“That’s a terrible joke, Luna!”
“Some days it’s barely a joke. Especially when you bring me bad news.”
“That’s… not the only bad news. I had a meeting with General Firefly.”
“I trust Sombra hasn’t somehow reappeared?”
“No. But apparently there’s somepony new.”
Luna perked up, interested. “Really?”
“Have you heard anything about a pony named ‘Nightmare Moon?’ Maybe you’ve seen something in a dream, or heard something from one of your own servants?”
Luna was silent for a long time. “I’ve heard the name,” Luna admitted. “I didn’t think it was a cause for concern.”
Celestia smiled. “I doubt it is.”
Luna yawned. “Even so, I’ll look more closely into it. I’m sure whatever General Firefly told you is just an old warhorse jumping at shadows.”
“You’re probably right. I’d feel better if you were involved.” Something about what Luna had said tugged at her attention, but her train of thought jumped its rails when Luna kissed her cheek.
“I’ll take care of things.” Luna opened the door to the balcony. “Come, sister. Let us set your sun. I have an idea that may serve to improve your mood.”
“What sort of idea?” Celestia stood to follow her sister outside.
“The sort where we’ll need to create a distraction for the guards,” Luna said, the changing light making her smile almost predatory.





Celestia’s heart pounded in her chest. Ponies passed by on the cobblestone streets, and every time one of them glanced at her, she thought she’d be called out. When a pony she didn’t recognize greeted her it almost sent her running back to the castle.
A warm black wing wrapped around her barrel, pulling her close to the taller pony at her side.
“Don’t worry,” Luna whispered. “They’re not going to see through the disguise.”
“It’s an amazing spell, Sister,” Celestia returned, keeping her voice down. “When you said we should sneak out, I thought you meant we’d just be using simple illusions.”
Celestia was disguised as a small unicorn in various shades of pastel pink so pale it was almost white. Luna was almost as tall as her usual self, a pegasus as black as coal. In the dim light of late sunset, she was almost invisible.
Luna smiled. “I picked up a few tricks from an old friend.”
“The Guard is going to panic,” Celestia noted.
“Tia, we’re centuries older than they are and sometimes I think they’re the old fogies who forget how to have fun!” She stuck out her tongue.
Celestia giggled. “Clover used to say you’re only as old as you feel.”
“There’s a reason ponies called her clever.” Luna stopped and pointed. “There. We’ll eat there.”
She trotted towards a small cafe, Celestia having to scramble on her shorter legs to follow.
“I’ve seen this in the dreams of a few ponies,” Luna whispered, as she held the curtain over the doorway open for her sister to enter. “They were always good dreams.”
It was beautiful inside. Unlike the palace, which was stately and austere, decorated to impress with size and grandeur and giving space to a few expensive centerpieces, the cafe was crowded and homey, like walking out of the busy street and into the kitchen of a friendly relative.
“Oh, this is wonderful,” Celestia said, grinning.
“Let’s find a seat.”
“We should find one where ponies can’t see us,” Celestia said. “We-”
“We’re just two anonymous lovers.” Luna arched her neck down to kiss her sister’s ear. “I want them to be jealous that I have such a cute special somepony.”
Celestia blushed and pointed to a table near the entrance to the cafe.
Luna pulled her chair out for her before sitting down herself.
“Such excellent manners,” Celestia giggled.
“Only the best for you.”
A pony came over in an apron, and before Celestia could even open her mouth to greet her, Luna was already ordering.
“Two espressos,” Luna commanded.
The waitress sighed and trotted off.
“Luna, be nice,” Celestia admonished.
“She is just a servant, Sister.”
Celestia sighed.
“Fine, I am sorry,” Luna said. “I will say please next time.”.
“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her.” Celestia paused. “What’s espresso?”
“It is a new Neightalian thing,” Luna said, smiling, her good cheer starting to come back. “A special way of making coffee. This cafe is the only place in the Capital to get it.”
“You know I prefer tea,” Celestia said.
“I know you would never try it unless I pushed you,” Luna said.
Under the table, Celestia felt a hoof touch hers, Luna’s long leg crossing hers.
“You like being pushed,” Luna whispered. “Doing things you would not dare on your own.”
“Sometimes it’s nice.” Celestia shifted in her seat, reciprocating and rubbing her hoof against Luna’s, or at least trying, her shorter stance making it difficult. She had to adjust her stance and stretch and-
“Your espressos,” the waitress said. Celestia jumped and sat properly in her seat.
“Thank you,” Luna said. “I am sorry about being short with you before.”
“That’s alright, Ma’am. Could I get you something to eat with your coffee?”





“Day Court is now in session,” the crier declared. His voice rang more loudly than usual, the echoes resounding in the silence that had taken the place of the usual chatter. The nobility were too busy staring at the throne, where Luna sat with Celestia standing off to the side, to talk amongst themselves.
Luna smiled slightly. It wasn’t the kind of smile that set one at ease.
“Princesses Celestia and Luna presiding,” the crier continued. “Let any whom have business approach the throne.”
“Come now, you are all acting like I am going to bite,” Luna said. “We are aware some rather unkind things were said about me. I am willing to be the bigger pony and grant forgiveness, but first we should clear the air. We want to hear your concerns.”
Her eyes focused on Duke Monde, and the crowd parted around him. He didn’t step forward so much as he was frozen on the spot when everypony else stepped back. It was the kind of reaction that would have gotten his ancestors eaten by predators, and may well have meant the same fate for him if he chose poorly with his next few words.
“Duke Monde, I know you only by reputation,” Luna said. “You’ve never attended Night Court yourself. Most of our subjects have at least made the attempt from time to time.”
Monde spared a glare for the ponies who had distanced themselves from him, leaving him alone and exposed, then turned on Luna with a tight smile.
“All of us are surprised to see you here, Princess Luna,” Monde said. “I, too, only know you by reputation, though I’ve heard quite a lot.”
“How is your wife?” Luna asked, tapping a hoof idly against the marble floor. “Or your children? I am told you have a large family. I’ve always been fond of foals.”
Monde’s eyes narrowed. “They’re well, thank you.”
“When you see them next, pass along my regards. Now, what concerns did you wish to bring before the throne?”
“Oh, there’s nothing serious. I--”
Luna’s tapping climaxed in a single, sharp crack, a tile breaking. She didn’t react to it, just staring into Monde’s eyes like she could see right through him.
“My sister has already told me about what you decided to bring before her,” Luna snapped. “I am asking you as a courtesy so you may beg politely for my help. This is not the time to decide that only my sister is worthy to hear you whine!”
“Duke,” Celestia said, quietly, not wanting to speak over Luna. “If you cannot ask my sister for help, then your concern is not worthy of being brought before me, either.”
Duke Monde frowned, and started down the wisest avenue he saw before him. “Princess Luna, there have been reports of monster attacks in many areas, even ones that should be far from wild regions. There are reports of manticores, chimeras, even hydras.”
“Monster attacks are a serious matter,” Luna agreed. “To whom did the ponies involved report their concerns?”
“Ah, well,” Duke Monde hesitated. “The local lords.”
“All of whom have representatives in this Court,” Luna noted. “So what you mean to say is, the ponies to whom you are responsible for told you, and you have done nothing and are mystified to find that problems do not solve themselves. Do I have this right?”
“It isn’t our duty to fight monsters!”
“You are quite correct. It is, however, your duty to do what is needed to protect your subjects. You have not done so. If you had attended my court, or even spoken to the Night Guard, you could have had this problem dealt with immediately.”
“We can’t be expected-”
“You could have told my Sister. You could have written a letter, if speaking is too difficult,” Luna’s voice became clipped as her anger rose. “Instead you assumed that I would divine that there was a problem on my own, and further that you were unwilling or unable to solve it on your own. You cannot hide things and then complain later that we did not find them!”
Celestia touched her sister’s shoulder, and Luna calmed down, settling in her throne.
“Is there some issue that does not derive from your own inaction?” Luna asked.
“All across Equestria there are ponies going out at night and refusing to discuss what they’re doing!”
“Duke Monde, I was not aware you were so old. It is the summer. Ponies enjoy going out in fair weather, and I suspect that if they are not willing to discuss what they’re doing, it probably involves the same sort of thing stallions and mares do in private when they can get away from overbearing parents and ponies like you who have forgotten the fires of youth.”
“It is most certainly not that,” Monde said, his cheeks red. “There are reports of chanting, strange rituals-”
“Is anypony being hurt?” Luna asked.
“Not yet, but there have been sinister signs.”
Luna sighed. “I am sure they are very sinister indeed. Perhaps We might suggest this is related to the increase in monster attacks? Ponies go outside and enjoy the weather, and naturally, they think they see things in the dark. Perhaps some of them did actually see a beast that otherwise would have left them alone.”
“You can’t dismiss these concerns,” Monde said. “We know you’re behind this!”
Luna’s gaze turned frosty, the astral wind blowing through her mane turning turbulent for a moment, framing her in a storm of blue.
“I am the ruler of Equestria, and you will bend knee and apologize,” Luna hissed.
“You are one ruler. Not the only one.” Duke Monde stood firmly, resolute even in the face of peril that could snatch the life from him in an instant.
“Hold your tongue!” Luna snapped, rising from the throne. The sky darkened, the sunlight coming through the windows dimming.
“Or what?” Monde asked. “Will I vanish like the other ponies who question you?”
Celestia stepped closer to her sister, their wings brushing.
“Calm down,” she whispered. “You won’t win them over by yelling.”
“I shouldn’t need to win them over,” Luna hissed. “I am their sovereign! They have no right to question me!”
“Can you even use the Elements?” Duke Monde asked, loudly enough to make sure everypony in the room could hear. “As Princess Celestia wisely and justly noted, they choose their bearers. Worthy ponies.”
“You have no right to question my worthiness!” Luna snapped.
“I agree,” Duke Monde said. “But the Elements are. If they still call you worthy, I will withdraw all complaints, beg your forgiveness, and give my lands and title to the crown to do with what you will.”
“You are putting a lot on the line simply to try and discredit my sister,” Celestia said. “A hero who has saved Equestria from more threats than you are even aware of.”
“There are always threats that we are not aware of,” Duke Monde said, his throat dry. “Some that we even blind ourselves to.”





The Hall was one of the best-defended parts of the castle. Saying it was one of the best-defended parts of the castle brought to mind a fortress or dungeon, all stone and iron bars and humorless guards standing with weapons ready to challenge anypony who might wander too close.
In truth, while well-defended, it was defended like a bank, not a military bulwark. Like a bank, common ponies were allowed and encouraged to enter. Like a bank, the Hall was designed to impress upon ponies the importance and grandeur of what it contained. And like a bank, it still had stone and iron bars (the latter gilded but no less invulnerable for it), and there were still humorless guards, though these wore ceremonial armor, which was much like the regular guard armor with a fancy cloak over it.
The vault itself was underground, accessible only from above. There was no key - the only way to trigger the door was through very precise use of telekinesis.
“I do not like doing this,” Luna whispered. “The Elements aren’t toys.”
“You’re right,” Celestia agreed.
“But you’re still going to go along with it,” Luna muttered.
“We rule by the will of the ponies under us. If this is what they demand, we have little choice.”
“We should be ruling by our own will, not theirs.”
“Our will doesn’t mean much if they don’t listen to it. Doing this will silence them, Luna.”
Luna huffed and waited, head down. Celestia closed her eyes and reached out, feeling past the stone and to the gold and silver clockwork under it. Among the tangle of springs and sprockets was a single glass gear, terribly fragile, ready to shatter under the forces that it would be put under if asked to turn.
Celestia wrapped it in a shield and spun, the glass gear holding together thanks to her magic, keeping the mechanism from seizing as the doors opened, sliding into recesses and allowing the huge orrery to rise from its resting place, the arms spinning and locking into place.
“Go ahead, sister,” Celestia whispered, stepping back.
Luna glanced back at the small crowd of nobility watching intently.
“So what am I to do?” Luna asked. “Perhaps add a few members of the Court to the statue garden?”
“Luna…”
“It would serve as an excellent reminder not to question Us.”
Luna flicked her tail and lowered her head, horn glowing.. Three of the stone spheres started glowing dimly, shivering before finally releasing their contents, glittering gems rising into the air right through the stone without leaving a trace of their passage.
“There,” Luna said, sweat beading her brow. “Is that enough proof? Loyalty. Honesty. Laughter. Three things sorely lacking from the ponies before me.”
Sparks crackled between the gems, rainbow-colored lightning joining them for a moment, the Elements nearly dropping right out of her aura.
“Luna…” Celestia said, looking at the artifacts.
“It is fine, Sister!” Luna snapped, her aura redoubling as she clenched her grip, trying to keep a hold on the Elements.
“That’s enough proof. Put them down before somepony gets hurt.”
“There’s no need. I feel invigorated.” Luna raised her chin in denial of the sweat dripping down her neck. “How many times have we used the Elements to save Equestria, Sister? Perhaps this is one more time that we should call upon their strength to defeat the enemies of the Crown.”
“They’re just scared, Luna,” Celestia said, quietly. “Let’s put the Elements back and allow them to apologize gracefully.”
“Scared?” Luna hissed. “Why should they be afraid? Am I not Princess Luna, who defeated Discord, who rules Equestria? Have they not pledged themselves to me? The only ones who should be afraid are traitors and the cowards that shield them!”
A keening sound filled the air, the Elements vibrating like a tuning fork. The sparks pouring from them joined into a storm, a crack of prismatic thunder striking Luna’s horn and breaking her grip, the three Elements falling to the floor, the delicate-looking gems hitting the stone hard enough to gouge the marble.
“Sister!” Celestia gasped, as Luna fell to her knees, horn smoking. Her step forward froze at the murmur of the crowd, the hooves pointed at her little sister.
Luna looked at her, eyes wide with fear.
Before Celestia could say anything, Luna vanished, surrounded in the blue bubble of a teleportation spell.
“Do you see now?” Duke Monde said, over the roar of the silence.
“You don’t want to know what I see,” Celestia said, her voice tight. “This gathering is concluded. Guards, escort everypony out and seal the hall.”





When Celestia finally found Luna, her heart lurched.
Luna was slumped against a doorway, weeping. Her hoofprints were visible in the dust on the floor of this long-unused part of the castle.
“Sister,” Celestia said, quietly.
Luna slumped more, like she was melting into the stone.
“The whole test was pointless,” she whispered, sitting next to Luna, putting a hoof on her sister’s withers.
“They rejected me,” Luna whispered.
Celestia wanted to lie to her and tell her it wasn’t true.
“I love you,” Celestia said, instead.
“Why did it happen? Why was I forsaken?”
“You haven’t been forsaken. I’ll always be with you.”
“What about the Court?”
“I don’t care what they think. You were right, Luna. They haven’t been through the same things as we have, together. Nopony else could ever understand us.”
“Sister…” Luna leaned into her, cheek pressed against Celestia’s neck. “What if something happens, and we need the Elements? I’ve never seen them react like that before…”
“Neither have I,” Celestia said. She wrapped her wing around Luna.
“It’s suspicious, isn’t it?” Luna asked.
“Hm?”
“Duke Monde demands a test using the Elements, and something inexplicable happens. He even put everything on the line to force our hooves.”
“What are you suggesting, Luna?”
“Sister, they’ve been slandering me in open court. They’re trying to blame me for monster attacks. They’ve even concocted some fantasy about cults and hidden gatherings in the dark. Is it too much to think they might sabotage the Elements as a masterstroke to challenge the legitimacy of our rule?”
“Sabotaging the Elements?” Celestia whispered.
“The last great threat was before their lifetimes. They don’t understand the true gravity of our responsibility as leaders.” Luna pulled away, walking to a disused window and pulling a dusty curtain aside to reveal ancient, warped panes of glass. They were part of the original castle, the glass itself made during the chaos of Discord’s rule, bending the light from outside unnaturally.
“But would they really go so far?” The setting sun outside came through the glass in a dozen different colors.
“It would be unwise to underestimate the resolve of fanatics,” Luna said.
Celestia nodded slowly. “You’re right. I’ll investigate this at once. Some of Star Swirl’s divination spells might--”
“No,” Luna said, sharply.
“No?”
“If they sabotaged the Elements it could be dangerous for either of us to approach it. I will have Our Guards investigate this matter.”
Reluctantly, Celestia nodded. “I can suggest a few ponies who might be able to help.”
“Thank you, sister. We will get to the bottom of this.”