16. Weakness
Luna closed the door behind her and immediately sank to the floor. Her muscles felt weak and her whole body hurt down to her bones. She had not rested long enough after her time with Posy and moving around during the day was hard enough already. After a long moment she struggled to her bed, which was still messy and threaded with strands of pink hair. Luna flopped down, trying to stretch away her aches and pains, but all that did was exacerbate them and make her feel even worse.
That blasted Clover the Clever! What was he doing, sticking his nose into things that didn’t concern him? He had given up governing Equestria. He had even recommended to the other founders that Celestia and Luna might make better rulers than them! And yet here he was, getting involved, trying to take over and spoil everything.
She hurt so much. Every night it was a chore to rise, though her power over the moon remained unchanged. In fact, she felt more connected to it than ever, sensing its presence even when it wasn’t in the sky. Her mind sharpened day by day but her body weakened synchronously. It wasn’t fair! She felt uncomfortable in her own skin and sometimes wished she could shuck it like she had seen snakes do. Maybe then she would feel better. Her mane and tail felt heavy and no longer moved like they used to. Her silvery shoes felt so heavy when she walked that she wanted to kick them off and go bare-hoof. Whenever she tried to eat, her stomach rebelled, so she ate little and rarely. She knew she had lost weight but for somepony else to point it out was embarrassing.
Stupid Clover, she thought. Stupid Clover in his stupid threadbare cloak and his stupid muddy hooves. He had his chance to rule and relinquished it. What right hath he to return now?
She closed her eyes, wishing sleep would come. She usually felt better after she had slept. The world seemed clearer and solutions to flaws in her plans became obvious. Misgivings she had held before she slept were swept away on a tide of certainty and she was able to do what needed to be done without worrying whether she was doing the right thing. Of course she was. To think otherwise was absurd.
As she drifted off to sleep, she felt cocooned in a numbing darkness that robbed her of her maladies. Her muscles grew strong, her joints became smooth and painless, her eyelids were no longer heavy and her skull did not pound with a constant headache. Her mane and tail flared around her, studded with stars as they had once been. She revelled in her own beauty, knowing that she was lovelier than ever. The darkness told her so. It stroked her body and her ego, whispering sweet nothings that she would not remember when she woke. In her dreams she flared her wings, larger and more impressive even than Celestia’s, and soared above a land that threw celebrations in her honour and hers alone.
This could all be yours, the darkness whispered. All this and more, should thou be brave enough to take it.
Yes! Luna flew acrobatics she had never been capable of in her life, turning circles around even the most talented pegasi. As they pushed clouds around the sky she whipped them into a tornado, then plucked the unfortunate ponies free and accepted their heartfelt gratitude for saving them. She beat her powerful, gorgeous wings and flew on to the Unicornia Province, where Princess Platinum herself lauded her beauty and organised a parade for her. Luna laughed and preened as ponies throughout Equestria told her how wonderful she was, how they had always preferred her over her sister, how her night was the most wonderful thing they had ever seen and they wished they could see it all the time.
And then, there at the front, was a little yellow earth pony with pink hair. Luna faltered for a moment, memories from the real world filtering through her dream. She remembered taking a trembling hoof in hers, heavy breathing and tiny mewling noises. She remembered looking into that pony’s eyes and being shocked at the expression there.
Could that have been … she started to wonder.
No, interrupted the darkness. Thou art aware of her role. Do not grow attached. Thy bed was just a stage to bring her further under thy power. She is star-struck, nothing more. Thy designs must be fulfilled. Thy night will bring thee far more love than one pony may giveth thee, Queen of All Equestria.
The title echoed through Luna’s mind as the little yellow earth pony was absorbed into the cheering crowd until she couldn’t see her anymore. The ponies stamped their hooves and shouted her name.
“All hail Queen Luna! All hail Queen Luna! All hail the glorious mistress of the night! All hail she who showed us the error of our ways! All hail she who showed us the splendour of her night when we sought to sleep through it like heathens! All hail Queen Luna! All hail Queen Luna.”
My night … she thought, happiness seeping into her. She wasn’t sure whether it was her own or something provided by the darkness, but it was warm and wonderful and she basked in it. I want this. This should be how it is. Yes, I will do what must be done.
As the day went on around her sleeping body, Princess Luna dreamed her dark dreams of queendom.