//------------------------------// // That time again. // Story: Battle of the Blanks // by HumanSVD //------------------------------// It was fall in Equestria, which was Princess Celestia's favorite season of the year. The temperature was nice and cool with a slight breeze to it. For most of the day it was sunny, but in the early evening it was starting to become overcast. The weather carried a sense of coldness, and a particularly unwelcome atmosphere that was very unusual for the Equestrian capital, Canterlot. Princess Luna quietly sat near the open window of her tower chamber room. The interior was a nice calming night blue with beautifully decorated stars scattered about on the room walls. The star themselves were actually hoof crafted Sapphires, enchanted to randomly glow. This gave the room an illusion of a clear night sky, something which Luna always loved. To top it off, a collection on diamonds adorned the center of the ceiling forming the shape of a full moon. This too has the same effect as the sapphires, but was by far the center piece of the room and was Luna's favorite decor. This would normally make her feel warm and relaxed but she wasn't feeling it at all. Rather, she was feeling blue which, coincidentally, was her favorite color. It was close to that time of the year again, Nightmare Night. It had been nearly a year since she participated in it for the first time back in Ponyville. Luna was surprised that ponies enjoyed being scarred for fun, and pleased that not everypony was entirely afraid of her. That was a rather nice change for her ever since she returned from being on the moon for millennia. She shuddered at the past memory of being on the damned moon. Her favorite object and personal symbol became her prison, and for a thousand years she wasn't able to talk to anypony. Over the years her heart grew more angry and envious of her sister, always getting attention and respect of the loyal subjects of Equestria. Eventually an entity known as Nightmare Moon had infested herself in Luna, changing her far from the Alicorn she once was. She had grown into a tyrant, and instead of being revered and loved, she became feared and looked down upon by ponies everywhere. A holiday had grown around her not because of the nightly wonders, but because of a false mare's tale made up over the centuries. All Luna really wanted was what her sister had, love and respect. She wanted ponies to equally praise her for her work of the night just as Celestia did for the day. And looking back at how she had handled herself was very foolish, wrong, and totally counterproductive of what her heart truly wanted. If she could go back and change the past, she would have. When the Elements of Harmony bearers defeated Luna's Nightmare Moon form, the vengeful spirit was cast out of her body, and she was once again at the mercy of her sister. But instead of being cast back to moon, her sister had shown her not just mercy, but genuine sisterhood, and a plea for friendship. She thought her sister would take a more punitive approach but was happy that she didn't. She continued to look towards the sky and realized the weather wasn't clearing up. She gave a long sigh and then spoke to herself, "Great. Another overcast night. What a surprise." Then another voice spoke up and said," Good evening dear sister. May I ask you something? What is bothering you?" Luna for split second was startled, but then realized who it was. She turned around to her sister Celestia. "Tia! I did not hear you come in." "Well, you were looking at the sky rather intently so that would explain why you didn't hear me come in. I did knock a couple of times after all." "Sorry Tia." "It's okay. But what is wrong?" with a concerned look on her face. Pointing to the sky with right hoof, "The weather is rather disappointing. It is overcast again and most likely will be the entire night. I was hoping the moon would shine bright tonight." she then returned to look at her sister. "I see. Well, it is fall after all, and Nightmare Night is around the corner. I remember the fun you had last time." smiled Celestia as she remembered the events last year. She particularly enjoyed the Moon Cake that the Cakes had made that year. It was so delicious and real, that it just couldn't be a lie at all! "Yes, after everypony stopped running away from me. I just wish the holiday wasn't based around fear of me." replied Luna with a look of annoyance on her face. "I don't see your point dear sis. Our subjects were having fun on a holiday where you are the main event. And you learned to have fun. Is that not enough?" Raising not only her two front hooves on the air, as well as her infamous royal voice, " Main event? More like cheap candy for foals! I want to be loved by our subjects, not just be a celebrity guest at some Ponyville party that happens once a year!" At this point, Celestia got angry. Luna was not only was acting rather spoiled, but almost completely insulted her by insinuating the Ponyville Nightmare Night party as a joke. They had fun because of her, not because of candy, not because of some games, but because of her. Did she just completely forget everything that happened that night, including what she learned from Twilight Sparkle? "Luna! Get your muzzle out of your flank and look around you! You have more admirers than you think you have. Our ponies had fun because of you! You! You made that night great for everyone. You do have more respect from our subjects than you think. I honestly cannot see what more you want! Besides love and respect is earned not given just because of whom you are. If you want more from your ponies, then earn it by going out make new friends." "Really Tia? What would you know? You were always loved by our subjects even long ago. Have you ever wondered what it is like to be gone for so long and then to come back and find out you have a holiday based on ponies fear of you? No, I thought not. Besides, I am your sister not some little overzealous bookworm protégé to order around." Princess Celestia did not expect to hear Luna say something like that, and had just enough of her little sister's drama. "Time to put the hoof down on this now." thought Celestia. "Luna…..I never would have expected you to say something like that especially towards my close student, Twilight Sparkle. She did not run away from you nor did she fear you last year. She didn't give up on you at all. She….you know what I'm wasting my time. When you've decided to act like a princess instead of a drama queen, let me know. In the meantime, I'm going to my room for now, and don't forget, you WILL be at Ponyville in time for Nightmare Night." "Just…..go….away." said Luna who wasn't even looking at Celestia anymore. Instead, she was once again looking out towards the sky with an uncharacteristically frown. Celestia was about to say something else, but quickly decided against it. She slightly lowered her head and then turned towards the door leading to the one of many great halls in the Castle. She stopped right at the door to take one more look at Luna whose eyes were still fixated towards the gray overcast sky. Luna still had a frown upon her muzzle and even though Celestia was mad at her because of her attitude, she still couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her sister. Immortal or not, a millennia in isolation was not easy for anypony. With her one last observation complete, she walked out of the room and closed the door with her magic. Luna, noticing that her sister had finally left, started to feel a tear form in her right eye. It slowly drizzled down to her muzzle before finally falling on the floor. She then slowly made her way to her queen sized bed, decorated in a color scheme that complemented the rest of her room's no decor. She then collapsed on it burying her head in the pillow and started to cry just like a sad little filly. The fact she was starting cramp up making her feel even worse than before. "She just doesn't understand! No one does! Is there anypony out there who does?!" thought Luna as she continued crying. "Damn, I hate time of the year, and I hate this bucking time of the month!" With that last thought she continued to cry until she fell asleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I kind of had a little trouble finishing this chapter. Only one game reference here as I had a little trouble attempting to bring Luna and the MLP universe into play. I also took the liberty of correcting a few spelling mistakes in the previous chapter. I hope you guys like it. Let me know if you do!