//------------------------------// // 25 - One Nostalgic Night // Story: New Moon // by AzuraKeres //------------------------------// “Is she going to be okay, doctor?” Bud asked the lab-coated stallion that peered his otoscope into Nebula’s ear. Her daughter’s body was unusually cold and her consciousness appeared to teeter as she mumbled random words and sounds. Bud held her daughter’s body steady as she anxiously awaited for the doctor’s response. As soon as Bud and Celestia saw Nebula’s condition at the garden, she was immediately sent to the Canterlot hospital via Celestia’s personal royal carriage. The appearance of royal guards at Bud’s side alerted the staff to give her daughter immediate attention as she was swiftly taken to a room to be examined. But along with it was the attraction of a crowd of ponies that awed at the small glimpse of Nebula on the carriage. As Bud held her daughter upon the clinic table, providing as much warmth as she could for her, the doctor opened Nebula’s mouth to peer inside. Bud grabbed a nearby tissue the doctor provided to wipe the excessive snot and slobber exuding from her daughter. Some inevitably fell on her hoof, but Bud could care less about her hygiene at the moment. Once the doctor had finished, he wrote upon a clipboard he floated to him from a desk placed in the corner of the room. “I would like to assume it to be an allergic reaction, however, because I lack experience in thestral biology, I am not confident a simple allergy pill would grant the desired effects.” “Are you saying you can’t help her?” Bud asked. “No ma’am, that’s not what I meant. I am capable of concocting a drug specifically for your daughter, however, it will take time. Two days at least. Studying the spores and your daughter’s cells will help me and associates find the correct combination to improve her resistance. But for now, all I can do is prescribe a pain reliever to ease her body until we have created the drug. We’re also going to have to remove that flower from the Princess’s garden. It’s quite possible that it is a safety hazard to all ponies.” Celestia had mentioned to Bud that she collected the seeds of that flower from the Ahuizotl jungle on the outskirts of Equestria. She was entranced by its large form and brought it to her castle to gaze upon it in her garden. She said that she never expected it to be harmful since it hasn’t aroused any cases before today. Perhaps it is just an allergic reaction, or perhaps no pony had ever got too close to its spores as Nebula. Either way, Celestia intends to remove the flower and send it to a lab of the hospital for testing. “...okay,” Bud sighed as she hoisted her foal between her hoof. Nebula dropped the full weight of her head onto Bud’s shoulder after the constant bobbing she persisted through the doctor’s examination.“I guess I can find a hotel to stay in for a night. I just hope they’re not too expensive here in Canterlot.” “What do you mean,” the doctor questioned. “You and your foals will be resting at the Princess’s castle, right? That is what she told our staff.” “She did?” “I think it’s quite an honor to be a guest of the Princess. There aren’t many ponies that are given that kind of hospitality.” “I don’t know…” Bud averted her gaze to her daughter. “Won’t I be intruding too much on her kindness.” “I frankly believe it is the safest choice in the matter,” the doctor said. “Safest? You say that as if I am endangered?” “Oh no,” the doctor quickly assured. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I only say this because of the attention your daughter has attracted from the residents. If you look outside, you can see the paparazzi of ponies trying to make their way to see Nebula.” “P-paparazzi?” Bud was surprised to hear this. She didn’t think that things could escalate that far from ponies. The last thing she would want is to be on the papers. Her officials from Manehattan were at least understanding enough to block promotions of her and her foals in the story of the incident at the hospital. “The royal guards have been helpful to keep them away from the premise until you and your foals are moved to the castle where you won’t be bothered.” “But what about Pear,” Bud asked. “I was going to leave Artemis with her until Nebula gets better.” “Oh, well I’m sure that the Princess has some trust ponies to--” “It can’t be any other pony but Pear,” Bud stated. “I see,” the doctor conceded. “Well, perhaps the Princess can be understanding of your arrangement.” I could do without the arrangement at all, but I guess I have no choice. After Bud had lied to the Princess, she cannot shake away the guilt for deceiving a pony. It was a new experience that she took no joy in the least. And it’ll only get worse the longer she sticks around the Princess. She would like nothing more but to run back home and forget their conversation. It was certainly one she regretted starting. But what could she do now? With random ponies now keen to bother her sickly foal, she had no choice to rely on the protection of her Princess. The Princess she will be abusing the trust of. With the guidance of the royal guards, Bud was able to gather her foals at Celestia’s castle with minimal interaction with ponies that firmly wanted to see her thestral child. Bud had concealed Nebula in a stroller as Pear Butter stored Artemis in a stroller with Little Mac. But through the uncomfortable ride back, she could hear an overwhelming series of questions about her personal life? It was unbelievably unnerving how well they came to know her origin and tracks in her life. Does every pony in Equestria know about her now? Celestia had canceled any court meetings from ponies for the rest of the day and urged her ponies to not make any attempts to attend the castle grounds. She even increased the number of guards around her walls to stave off bold intruders. Seeing a throng of ponies outside the castle gates from a story above made Bud a bit paranoid. Would Bud now need a calvary to get out of Canterlot at this point? Will those ponies follow her back to Manehattan now that they have confirmed that the stories about her foals were true? Will she now need personal guards from here on out? “Hey Bud,” Pear snapped the attention of Loving Bud, who was starting to breathe raggedly beside the windowsill. “You doin alright?” “No,” Bud admitted. She didn’t have it in her to make anymore lies. Perhaps never again after the big one she made earlier. “I don’t like all this attention from ponies. It’s never gotten this bad.” Bud leaned on a wall as she wrapped her bibbed daughter around her hooves. What she would do now to hear her daughter’s constant threats. It would do wonders to clear all of these troublesome thoughts in her head. “I’m afraid that this was inevitable,” Beryl joined the conversation as Little Mac, Blueblood, and Artemis drift between her hooves. Artemis was quick to befriend the distant colt and get him to play along in one of his games with Little Mac. Bud in some regards envied their blissful ignorance of her predicament. “Ponies of Canterlot have talked of the existence of an unseen species ever since the incident at Manehattan occurred. Words travel fast among ponies, and especially the rich. And now that they know with their eyes, I can’t blame them for being filled with such curiosity.” “But none of this attention is good for the filly,” Pear argued. “Don’t they know when to give a pony their space?” “Yes,” Beryl nodded. “They certainly should. But sadly it would appear their excitement is clouding their etiquette. I’m afraid that we have little choice but to wait for them to tucker themselves out.” Bud peered again through the window to see the group of ponies at the castle gate; most likely newsponies and citizens itching to catch a glimpse of her daughter. She immediately retreated when she felt nervous that one of them might meet her eyes. “Look at the bright side,” Beryl approached Bud as the foals drifted around Pear, who picked up Blueblood who was making a desperate attempt to flee from Little Mac’s tagged hooves. “At least this gives us more time to get acquainted with each other. I simply must tell you about my ventures beyond the lands of Equestria. I know, we can discuss this over dinner. .” “You sure the chefs won’t overreact around Nebula,” Pear asked. Pear raised Blueblood close to her head after her son made fruitless lunges for Blueblood. Artemis then began to mimic Little Mac, trying to jump as high as he could. “Oh please,” Beryl flapped a hoof. “The royal chefs are certainly skilled in the culinary arts, but mine is far more diverse after my travels.” “You cook?” Pear asked in astonishment. “I can’t help but take offense to that,” Beryl admitted. “But yes, though I may be an aristocrat, I have no qualm putting my hooves to work.” “Heh, then I think we may get along better than I thought. Hey, why don’t ya show me what you know? It couldn’t hurt learning new recipes to serve my family back at Ponyville.” As Bud witnessed Beryl and Pear sparking a newfound friendship, Bud noticed her son run to her. Bud raised a hoof to pet her son, but also to push him a good distance away from his ill sister. Artemis rubbed his face across his mother’s hoof, but his eyes remained trailed upon his sickly sister coated in their moon blanket. “You worried too?” Bud asked him. “It’s okay Artemis, I’ll help her through it. You just stay as the good little colt I know and love, alright?” “Luna...Luna…,” Bud heard her daughter utter while warmed in the sheets of the bed. She sat beside her daughter to remove the rag on Nebula’s forehead to replace it with another. Her head felt feverish while the rest of her body felt like it was on the brink of having frostbites. The Princess accommodated Bud's recommendation and sent an extra sheet to shower Nebula in and provided buckets of water with ice cubes. But even with the sheets, cold rags, and even the pain pill that Bud received from the doctor, her daughter appeared to still be suffering. “Luna...please...I don’t want to die,” Bud shivered at her daughter’s words. She remembered this fear from the first time they spoke. She hoped to never hear her utter those words again. “I don’t...want to die.” “It’s okay Nebula,” Bud placed her face upon Nebula’s cheek. “You’re safe with me. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I promise.” Nebula latched her face upon Bud. Her movement appears desperate to grasp upon Bud’s warmth as if she didn’t want to ever let go of it. “Don’t leave me,” Nebula uttered. “Don’t leave me…” “I’m not going anywhere Nebula,” Bud assured her daughter. “I’m always here for you.” “I hate...quiet...it’s scary…” Bud noticed that her daughter was attempting to lid her eyes open. Bud placed a hoof above her eyes and closed them. “Don’t push yourself,” Bud said. “Just listen to the sound of my voice. Mama is here with you.” “Mama…” When Bud blurted that word, she was fairly certain that her daughter was going to lambast her for making that claim. But instead of her usual threats and disgusts, something else spurred from the sickly filly. “I’m sorry…” “Huh,” Bud pulled her head and paused at the words that her daughter uttered. However, she immediately returned when her daughter flailed her head to find warmth in Bud again. “I’m right here. Sorry, you just surprised me. You’re not one to be apologetic.” Perhaps her illness has a role in this development. “I’m sorry,” Nebula continued. “I wasn't strong enough for you...I am weak...and stupid.” “Hey,” Bud said. “Don’t talk about yourself like that. You’re wonderful.” “I couldn’t give you what...you wanted. I’m sorry. Please, don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone in the dark again.” “Nebula…” Bud wondered what sort of life that Nebula had. Where did it begin for her and how much did she experience alongside Luna? How much did she suffer to help Luna find happiness? And how much guilt is she tormented now that she is gone? “Luna…” Nebula uttered again. “Mama…” “I’ll never leave you,” Bud said as she climbed into the sheets with Nebula. She pulled her daughter close to her and Nebula appeared more than obliged to snuggle her body into Bud’s coat. “Mama…Mama…” “Ready or not, here I come,” Pear announced as she turned from the entrance door to the guest room she took shelter in. Her eyes peered across the astonishingly large room. It was certainly bigger than the bedroom that she shares with her husband. Her ears perked at the muffled giggling of foals from underneath the bed. She decided to take a detour to prolong the game to take solace in the joyous sounds of the two colts. “Alright, where did you two run off to?” Pear grinned as she heard the giggling of the foals rise. Pear walked softly to the bed and made steps around it to get another rise out of the foals. However, the giggling stopped and she no longer heard even a shuffle underneath the bed. “Oh, so now they’re playing smart now,” Pear thought. Regardless, they had already revealed themselves and Pear was ready to pounce down beneath the bed to give them a surprise. Her descent was swift and the look of astonishment from the foals was a joy Pear took relish in. Except...Pear could only see Little Mac. “Huh?” Pear raised a brow and then grabbed her happy son from underneath the bed. Before she could rise to check her surroundings for the other colt, she immediately felt a small weight press upon the back of her neck. “Woah!” Pear jolted up to her hooves as she felt two hooves wrap around her neck. She quickly looks behind her and discovers Artemis giggling behind her. “Didn’t figure ya to be sneaky like your sis,” Pear commented. “Guess being part thestral does have its quirks?...Uh, Artemis, don’t nibble on my mane please.” Despite Pear’s request, Artemis continued to nibble happily upon Pear’s curly mane. Pear laid Little Mac on the bed and then grabbed Artemis, who put up a fight to not separate himself from Pear’s mane. Inevitably, Pear managed to detach him, but the slobber left on her mane made her quiver when it oozed through her coat. “Alright, I think we’ve played long enough. Don’t ya think?” Pear laid Artemis on the bed and immediately he went to Little Mac and toppled on top of him. Artemis attempted to bite on Mac’s ear, but the red colt easily reversed Arty’s movements and misdirected him as Little Mac now held upon Arty from behind. “Yall two should stop playing rough like that,” Pear said as she entered the bed and pulled them between her hooves. “I don’t approve of no play fighting.” The two colts shifted about and then laid their body over Pear’s stomach. The two chuckled at the rise and descent of Pear’s breathing. “You two are so silly together,” Pear smiled. “I sure wished Nebula could be more open to having fun.” The mention of the sickly filly robbed the smile looming on Pear. It’s always so difficult to tell if that filly is ever happy, but it’s vividly apparent to Pear when she’s not. And it’s likely to get more difficult the older she becomes… “Artemis,” Pear started. “Your sis is a spicy one, so she’s likely to get herself in a fair bit of trouble. When that happens, I need you and Mac to be there for her, alright? She might act prideful, but don’t let that fool ya.” Artemis and Little Mac looked at each other and voiced a sound. Whether they understood her or not didn’t truly matter, however. Pear was confident they would watch over Nebula either way. She and Bud were set to raise them so. Pear shifted her sights to the window when she noticed the dawning light of the sun beginning to disappear as the moon began to shower its presence upon the land. From across another wing of the castle, Pear can Princess Celestia at the highest balcony of the castle. Her horn illuminated bright as if it became a beacon light to the encroaching darkness. Pear was utterly speechless of what she saw. She knew her Princess to be capable of such a feat, but to witness it so closely was an astonishment of its own kind. The moon now floated bare upon the lands of Equestria as the Princess's light dissipated and returned to her chamber. Artemis's eyes were stuck on that balcony. To that light the Princess illuminated. To that spell, she had cast. That familiar spell from a long long time ago. He felt a weird tingle from his horn that spurred twice, thrice, and onwards as small specks of sparks began to jolt out of it. “Artemis,” Pear perked at the jolt exuding from the colt’s horn. “You alright?” Pear raised a hoof to grab hold of the colt, but upon her contact, a small pulse of light expounded from the colt and then her entire vision went black. Artemis’s eyes illuminated as he gazed at Pear and Little Mac. The two were fast asleep. He felt a rise of energy in himself and prodded his head upon the two of them to get them to wake. His efforts proved fruitless, but they also seemed meaningless when a sound caught his attention. It was a whisper of a voice yet he couldn’t pick the words being made. It sounded anxious, but also excited. Hopeful, yet full of dread. The door to the guest room mysteriously creaked open as Artemis could sense a presence looming from behind the doors. At least he thought he did. Filled with curiosity, he hopped off of the bed and exited the room. Through the dark halls of Canterlot Castle, only lighted by the shining of the moon, Artemis trailed behind a misty presence. Artemis observed its walk through halls, often looking through the window to get a glance of the moon and lands. A sigh escaped the presence as it continued on its walk. It seemed contemplated. As if it was deep with troubled thoughts. Fill with conflicting emotions it always held when walking halls like these. After rising from its bed and on its way to begin a day that went unappreciated, unloved, ignored. As if it didn’t matter. Artemis awed at the ghostly presence as he tried multiple times to get in front of it to catch its attention. Many times he rushed in front of it as it simply phased through him as if he didn’t exist to him. Artemis was taking joy in the strange phenomenon until it stopped once again. It peered through the window. Artemis voiced for its attention, but it gave quiet movements of its mouth. What was it trying to say? Artemis paused when its hollow eyes peered upon him. Its translucent body gazed at him with its dark voided eyes. A heavy mist arose around the two as Artemis took a step back. It took a step towards him. “My prince,” Artemis jumped at the sudden voice that evoked from above. A black figure fell before Artemis and then peered at him with its gold slitted eyes. “Why are you here?” Artemis looked across from the black figure and saw that the ghostly presence was no longer standing beside the window along with mist that followed it. The black figure followed his direction of sight, but simply sighed when he saw nothing as well. “You need to return to your chamber,” the black figure said in a low voice. “It is not safe for the young to be alone.” Artemis squinted his eyes at the black figure and then approached him when he noticed a familiar sharp pair of ears peeking out from the hood of the figure’s cloak. “You seem complacent with me,” the black figure commented as Artemis attempted to climb it. “Let us hope that holds when you come of age.” “Is some pony there,” the black figure widened at the voice and quickly disappeared into the darkness. Artemis stood blankly at the figure’s swift disappearance but then turned his head towards the tall mare that stepped to him. “Artemis?” Princess Celestia questioned. “Why are you alone?” The Princess had garnered herself in red robes that sprawled to the tip of her hind. A slobber escaped the colt as an urge to chew on it aroused in him. Especially the Princess’s flowing mane. “Come now,” Celestia grabbed hold of Artemis. “Let’s return you to your family.” Before Celestia proceeded, a yawn escaped her. “How did you get lost into the other wing of my castle? I feel much too tired for that long of a walk right now.” Artemis simply observed the Princess as she contemplated in her head. Her room was simply a hall away from her. She would certainly save a lot of energy if she did this. Oh, but what would her mother think? “Artemis,” she sighed. “How do you feel about a sleepover?” Artemis blinked at the Princess. “Well, that didn’t seem like a no,” the Princess concluded. Celestia opens the door to her room with her magic as she lays Artemis to ground. “Welcome to my chamber,” she said. “You know, you are the first pony to be invited into this room.” Her words appeared on deaf’s ears as Artemis immediately spurred across the room that held an odd lack of furniture. Celestia chuckled at the colt’s sporadic energy. “My, you must give your mother quite the difficult time at night.” After Artemis’s third lap across the room, Celestia’s eyes shifted to her balcony, where the moon floated bare within her sight. “Artemis,” she called to the colt. The colt stopped before the kindled chimney and then skipped before the Princess. “Would you like to see something nice?” Celestia honed her magic around Artemis and placed him on her back as she exited into her balcony. A vast throng of stars stood as audience around the moon as it shone brightly upon her balcony. Artemis climbed atop Celestia’s head as he awed at how massive and close the moon appeared to be. “I remember a time like this where my sister and I would stand at a balcony just like this,” Celestia said. “The two of us respectively strived to become a sun caster and a moon caster. We never thought that our affinity with the job would ascend us to alicornhood. We made quite the upset when we ended the job for the other casters. But even so, from on dusk and dawn, we would stand on a balcony together and serve our duty.” A smile crept upon the Princess as she recalled the quiet moments, the petty moments, the awkward moments, the happy moments that she shared on a balcony with her sister. But that smile immediately dissipated when she noted the shade on the moon. “I wish I hadn’t gone without it for a thousand years,” Celestia sighed followed by another yawn. “Perhaps it’s the time we get some rest, don’t you agree?” Artemis responded with a yawn. “I guess yawns are contagious,” Celestia chuckled as she returned to her bedroom. Celestia descended Artemis to the cushion on her bed and placed her across to his neck. She resigned herself to a small portion of her sheets as she began to try to drift her thoughts away. Her eyes however widened when she noticed Artemis climbing over him. The colt slid down beneath her barrel and stuffed his face into her coat. The Princess paused at the colt’s advance, but then shrugged and pulled the sheets to cover both of them. “Goodnight Artemis.” Artemis shifted his eyes to the balcony where he saw the ghostly appearance again, gazing at the sky above. Its hollow eyes so sad and nostalgic he could sympathize with, but could not understand why.