//------------------------------//
// The Moon Must be Crazy I 
// Story: Lunar Replacement 
// by Pinklestia 
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When I woke up, it was the middle of the night, I felt ashamed of having fainted like that, then again it had not been that long since the Elements purified me. 

I was resting in Luna's... in my very comfortable bed and I wondered who had moved me there when I saw Celestia looking at me in worry. 

"Hi Tia... I overdid it a bit, didn't I?" My smile was so fake that I did it only for two seconds since I hated the fact I had made her worry for me. 

My big sister cried and have me a hug, I hugged her back, also crying for some reason.  

"You made me and a lot of ponies worry about you." That was Celestia speak for saying 'I don't want you to get hurt ever again.'

"I know I was stupid to force myself like that when I am far from recovered, but when I saw fair Applejack in danger... I snapped." 

"Luna, Twilight and her friends could have dealt with the Bugbear themselves!" 

'Oh so that's what that thing was called.' 

"And so I should have done nothing  when my... when OUR LITTLE PONIES ARE IN DANGER? I cannot pretend to ignore danger when is in front of me, even if it's to teach somepony a lesson or is supposed to make things better on the long term. I love my little ponies and I love Applejack and if I get hurt because it was to protect them... then I will.gladly do so, as long as that means my loved ones are not the ones getting hurt."

"And how do you think I feel if I see you getting hurt Lulu?" 

'Yeah, I am an idiot. Wasn't my biggest excuse for my great lie to give Celestia happiness and to keep Equestria safe yet here I am hurting my sister?' 

"... If it had been you there, and I was the one in risk of getting hurt... Don't tell me you would have done nothing. I know you do not want to lose me again...but Tia... sometimes love hurts. You and I know that better than others do. We are so different,  you are the beauty of daylight in summer and I am the starry sky with a full moon in winter. Yet we are sisters, we are family, and we have a big responsibility, and no other shall ever know the price we paid to rule the sun and moon. Is it fair for me to seek love with others if I will not age like they do? Companionship and friendship is one thing, but love... oh how much love can hurt. That's why I won't tell anything to Applejack. To save her the pain."

"Luna... what are we going to do? Is has only been a few days and we already hurting each other feelings again. Will it always be like this?"

'Ouch.'

"Dear big sister of mine, I do not want to give you promises I won't keep. But will stay and rest in Canterlot until I feel strong enough again. Besides it was just a Bugbear, we just had a big scare but nothing happened. And... we are sisters, we cannot help but to fight... lets just try to communicate better so our fights... never get too big."

"Yes, let's do that." 

And then my stomach grumbled and Celestia then served me food herself, it was just vegetarian sandwiches and apple juice but it was really nice to see her pampering me.  

"Tiaaa! I am not a little filly, I can eat myself!" I protested when she tried to feed me. 

"Hush, you are still and will always my baby sister, besides Doctor orders say you can't use magic for a week, not even levitation."

"WHAT?"

"It was going to just be three days but as they say being royalty has it's perks."

"Sister, I am a Princess too, older sister ot not you can't order me around!" 

"I can if you are sick. Just...Just let me have this okay?" 

"Fine!" I sticked my tongue out but still let her feed me like I was a foal, it was humiliating but at least it was just the two of us. 

I wondered if the real Luna would have acted like this, being so playful with Celestia and so Celestia allowing herself to be playful and have fun too. 

And that reminded me I still had to have little Luna meet Celestia. But since Dream magic probably counted as magic I couldn't yet. 

After my meal was finished I finally remember to ask something.

"So what was Ponyville's reaction to my daring rescue?"

"Oh, most of the young ponies think it was cool, while most of the adults think it was violent and scary but of course they don't dare to complain to my face. And Twilight and her friends are impressed while Applejack is grateful."

"Oh... how grateful are we talking here?" I dreaded the answer to that. 

"Very, she thinks she owes you her life." Celestia smile made me want to kick her rump. 

"Sister, a romantic relationship shouldn't be based on an unpaid debt."

"While that's true, maybe this will be good for you."

"And what if I break her heart and we need Twilight and her friends to use the Elements again?"

"I don't think you will break her heart."

"Oh, like you didn't want to break mine?" I regret saying that as soon as it came out my mouth. 

"Luna... I... I will see you later."

"No, wait! I am sorry! My... my head hurts and I am grumpy because I am tired."  And it was actually saying the truth, I had pushed my body a bit too much. No wonder Luna didn't show for the rest of the first season after the Elements purified her. 

"Even so... I do have duties to attend to."

"Oh... right.  Kiss me goodbye in the forehead?"

Celestia smiled and did so "You have been... different since your return. Yo tell me things more and are more playful. And you tell me how you feel. It's a bit strange but I like it. Do you still want to give Twilight Sparkle magic lessons?"

Well of course I was different, I am a fake Moon after all, and no more that a lunar replacement at best. 

"Mmm, yes, I hate to see wasted potential and somepony being afraid of their own magic. And of course is strange... something big happened and changed things forever. Good night Tia."

"Good night Lulu." 

And then after she left I went back to sleep.

Somehow I ended waking up early in the morning. Maybe the thing about being Princess Luna I probably hate the most, is being nocturnal. Breakfast was okay but after that I had to go to sleep yet again.  And due to doctor orders, no Dream Walking for me.

I sleep for a few hours and woke up screaming, thankfully not remembering my nightmares. 

I decided to take a long bath and play with a ruber ducky that somehow was in my tub. 

Maybe my sister idea? 

It was distracting at least. 

After that I asked the guards outside my room to sent me a maid. 

I ended with a nervous looking earth pony mare.

"Is... is something wrong your highness?" The coffee brown pony asked while trembling. 

I took out a brush from under my pillow, doing my very best to not smile as that would have scared her even more. Then have it to her.

"Brush my coat servant."

"What? I mean... yes princess!" 

Having my coat brushed was relaxing, despite how nervous she was, the earth mare did a good show. 

"You did well, what is your name servant?"

"Toffee Sparkle your highness."

I raised an eyebrow "Are you related to a Twilight Sparkle?"

"Not as far as I know Princess." 

'Must be a coincidence then.'





Anyway after my mane was brushed I went for something to eat and decided to try something crazy.

I put my hoof in my mane and tried to pull something from it. 

I got a rubber ducky, so that's were it had ended! Wait... was this magic, Pinkie Pie like weirdness or just the ducky ending there during my bath? I didn't feel tired so it was probably the latest option. 

I went to the castle library and got a few servants to get me books about the last thousand years of history, if I couldn't do magic I might as well study.

I am ashamed to admit it, but I started with the books for young children first.  A dozen children books later, including a pop up one, I decided to give up for the day. 

At least I had learned there had been a few wars while I was gone. More evidence I wasn't in canon Friendship is Magic or just something the show didn't cover up in the episodes I saw before I ended as Luna?

And when I went back to my room there was a pile of letters waiting for me. Either Equestria Royal Mail service was quite fast or Twilight Sparkle had sent those to Celestia using Spike magic fire and she had left them for me. 

I decided to give them a look later, I was tired again. 

So I went to sleep and little Luna meet me again, I have her a hug and told her a fairy tale like version of Equestria war with the Diamond Dogs that I had found out just that day. 

"Long ago in the magical land of Equestria, there lived a princess who controlled the sun..."