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// Verse 2 
// Story: The Nightmare Knights Become A Band 
// by SwordTune 
//------------------------------//

For a town that never changes, Luna found that Ponyville had gone through a considerable reformation from Twilight’s time as a princess. Always a friendly place however Twilight's presence had added something else. A reputation was the best way to describe it, perhaps. The castle was the first thing that stood out compared to the one and two-story houses and shops. The same road that cut through a farmer’s market wound its way around town to the Castle of Friendship. 
Luna looked around as she followed the road. Eyes cast curious looks at her wherever she went. She may not have been a ruling princess anymore but that didn't change the reputation that she carried. On any other day, and any other given situation, Luna would have liked to speak with the common ponies. She wanted to ask about their day and share how hers was going.
However, today she had one goal, and she didn't want to get sidetracked from it. With Twilight now living in Canterlot, there was only one pony living in the Castle of Friendship that Luna knew well enough to see.
The last time she had assembled the Nightmare Knights, she had excluded Starlight because of how close she was to Twilight. But this was different, and Luna hoped Starlight Glimmer was still the kind of pony she guessed her to be.
“Who’s going to join your band?” Celestia had asked that morning after Luna gave her the night to think about their conversation. “I don’t think any pony would mind if you borrowed the royal marching troupe.”
“I’m not starting a marching band, sister,” she had to tell her.
Luna sauntered up to the castle steps, the massive crystal branches of its tree-like architecture reflected a lot of sunlight onto the grass around the road. The door, unwieldy and heavy, echoed through the inside of the castle with each knock. Not much more than a moment passed before the sound of hooves unlocking the entrance could be heard.
“Look, if this is another interview-” Starlight short as soon as Luna dropped her hood. “Princess Luna! This is a surprise.”
“Please, it’s just Luna,” she replied. “Apologies if I’m interrupting something, there’s simply a question that I must ask of you. Though, if now is not a good time, we could arrange a meeting.”
“Oh, not at all! You’re always welcome here,” Starlight motioned her to enter the castle. “I’m just swamped with communicating with a few construction contractors and evaluating applicants for three teaching positions next year.”
“Contractors?”
“I know, isn’t it crazy? Creatures from all over the world have been sending applications to the School of Friendship. I want to provide the same quality that Twilight wanted, but there are so many strong potential students that expanding the school might be the best option. I’m just comparing contractor rates to see if there’s any room in the budget for a new dorm hall.” 
“I see,” Luna lowered eyes. “You must be incredibly busy. Then, perhaps my question is best left to some pony else.”
“Oh come on, it’s just a question.” Starlight guided Luna to the famous map table, where a young unicorn was arranging silverware and teacups at every seat.
“Princess Luna?” the young filly gasped, dropping a set of forks on the ground.
“It’s just Luna,” she corrected the child with a smile. 
“Sunny, this is still detention for you,” Starlight frowned, levitating the forks back in their place. “Luna just has something to talk to me about. You can go finish your extra assignments in the library.”
“Yes, Headmare,” the filly said and scurried off, though not before stealing a second peek at Luna.
“I didn’t realize the School of Friendship accepted students at that age,” Luna mused. “She’s even younger than Sweetie Belle or Applebloom.”
“You know Rarity and Applejack’s sisters?” Starlight raised a brow as she poured them both cups of tea.
“Of course,” Luna said, “I get to know a lot of ponies when I help them with their dreams. That filly, however, I don’t think I’ve ever met. Why is she in detention?”
“She’s part of a youth program I’ve been testing at the school, something to help younger creatures from other countries get used to living in Equestria by making friends with ponies here. But Sunny’s been trying to get her cutie mark in magic, and ever since she learned how to blast magic, she’s been getting into fights whenever the young dragons call her names.”
“And the dragons don’t get the same punishment?”
Starlight laughed. “Oh no, they do. But friendship’s about knowing when to give space. I’ll have them work out their differences later. For now, I’m teaching Sunny how to control her emotions so she can control her magic. Tomorrow I’ll be teaching the dragons why teasing other students can be hurtful.”
Again, Luna felt like she lost the right to ask Starlight even before the question was given. Running a school was no small task, and Starlight was as ambitious as ever with the job. Why did she expect a response in the first place?
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Starlight asked. “Something not going well with your sister? Need a cutie mark swap again?”
Quickly, the bad memories snapped Luna back into focus. “No, never again,” she assured Starlight. “I wanted to ask, and well, it might seem like a trifling concern now, but, I had a curious thought that you might be interested in helping me with a project.”
“Well, sure,” Starlight poured two cups of tea out, preparing for a conversation, “whatever it is, I think I’m pretty capable.”
Luna nodded. Setting aside the five alicorns in Equestria, Luna didn’t doubt that Starlight could be ranked among the strongest of ponies, not just magically but emotionally too. Even if she was too busy to help, Luna felt a sense of ease just for being able to express herself to a pony like Starlight, some pony who could look past the princess and see the pony.
“I want to start a power metal band, and I want you to join it.”
The cup of tea shattered on the crystal floor. “S-sorry. I think I misheard you because it sounded to me like you said-”
Luna looked Starlight in the eyes. “I want to start a power metal band.”
“Oh okay, I see.”
Starlight stared at Luna. Luna stared at Starlight.
“So, w-why me?” Starlight’s voice began to tremble.
“Oh, well, I assumed you would enjoy the change of pace. After all, you always sleep well after you dream about listening to those old records your father keeps for you in your hometown. Who was your favourite, Shadow's Sabbath or-”
Starlight raised a hoof to Luna’s mouth, stuffing her words. In all her life, Luna had never had a pony silence her like that. Was this the level of interaction between two common citizens? 
“Look, Luna, dreams are one thing but real life is another,” Starlight whispered. “Shadow's Sabbath might be the best band in Equestria, but I listened to them when I was still… confused about life. I’m glad you found your own goal to follow, but I’m not really into that anymore.”
“Too busy?” Luna asked.
“N-no, Starlight gathered up some napkins for the spilt tea. “I just don’t like them anymore, you know. It was just a phase.”
“Just a phase, but you still say Shadow's Sabbath is the best heavy metal band in Equestria?”
“Well, yeah, even if I don’t listen to them anymore I can’t deny that they’re still at the top of the charts after all these years.”
Luna kicked her hooves around idly. “Is that all it takes to be the best? It was my impression that popularity just meant they appealed to the more casual fans. I’ve always felt that Vanhoover Damned had a true talent of the musical arts.”
“Vanhoover…” Starlight chuckled, “Vanhoover Damned don’t play metal. They’re an okay electronic-dance band that borrows from heavy metal.”
“Mhm, I suppose you’re right,” Luna nodded, “for a casual fan.”
Starlight dropped the napkins to soak up the tea. “Excuse me, Luna?”
“Well, I meant nothing by it,” Luna put on a smug face, “it’s just that I was there the night Shadow's Sabbath debuted with their first concert. I had the pleasure to watch them from the moon. And I have to say, since that night, they’ve been stuck in the past decade while other bands change and improve. They hold onto the charts because they get over-hyped.”
“Over-hyped?” Starlight’s ears jumped up in surprise. “Luna, do you even know what you’re saying? Shadow's Sabbath hasn’t been hyped enough! They defined Equestrian thrash metal back when ponies actively resisted that style. I promise, point me to a Vanhoover Damned album and I just need one single from Shadow's Sabbath to get better riffs.”
“Huzzah!” Luna raised a hoof in victory, “I knew it! You do still have the passion within you!”
“What?”
“You admitted, Starlight Glimmer,” Luna smiled, “you admitted you still like them, which means you still like heavy metal whether you know it or not.”
“No! That’s not what that… I mean, you can’t just jump to conclusions…” Starlight babbled, caught up in retracing her own words. “Okay, fine, you win. Yeah, I do still like metal bands and I wish I could listen to them more often. But even though I like the music, I can’t get back into that headspace.” 
Luna raised a brow. “Why is that?”
“What do you mean? I just don’t feel like it.” Starlight levitated the damp napkins and cracked cup, teleporting them away to the kitchen.
“I don’t understand, you seemed awfully happy in your dreams. Would you not find happiness in the waking world if you let yourself have that music again?”
Starlight sighed. “It’s not about the music, it’s about who I was when I listened to it. Back then, I let a lot of emotions build up into something toxic. I took one thing and let it define me. So, now I just want to put it in the past.”
Luna’s smile receded itself. “I see. That’s good, I suppose,” she kicked her hoof around on the floor. “It’s important to know one’s limits. I may have been overeager, then. For me, embracing the music from my past is not about going back to it. It’s about freedom, I think.”
Now it was Starlight’s brows that knitted inquisitively. “Freedom? From what?”
“Freedom from what every pony says I should be feeling. I want to be free to listen to the music that I have always liked while also moving forward to a better version of myself. My apologies, Starlight, but letting my past stop me from enjoying what I like doesn’t feel like putting it in the past. It makes me feel like it’s affecting me to this day.”
Luna bowed her head low. She held the posture of respect for some time, until it made Starlight a little uncomfortable, before turning around to leave.
“I understand you are busy, so then I’ll leave you to your work.”
“Hold on,” Starlight reached out. “I’ll help you.”
Luna perked up. “Truly, you do not jest?”
“You’re still wrong about Vanhoover Damned, but I guess you make a good point. There are a lot of different kinds of music out there. You want to play power metal, right?”
“Oh yes, most definitely,” Luna nodded.
“Subgenre still counts as something different, I guess,” Starlight conceded. “It’s worth a shot.”