//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - My name is Princess Luna // Story: Broken Dawn // by HIDEMYPAST //------------------------------// Despite her pep talk with her sister, Luna was still a nervous wreck. Even if they couldn't send her to the moon, normal ponies could still could still hate her - and being hated led to mean letters, being verbally abused every time she dared show her face, and in some cases assassination. They may even try to kill her sister for taking care of her! Oh, nonononono. We can't go out there, we can't go out there, I can't go out there... ''Luna, please just go out there..'' Celestia's voice was almost pleading now. ''Trust me, you'll be fine.'' We will not, Celly!. If we're dead next Sunday, we are blaming you! Luna yelled inwardly. ''Lulu. I can read minds, remember? We aren't going to die.'' ''Still blaming you.'' Luna sighed, wondering whether to argue more or just give in. After a moments thought, she decided it would do her more bad than good to stay out here. Even if she did refuse to go out, Celestia would probably just teleport her. Slowly, Luna stepped out from behind the curtains, terrified of what she was about to face - and was addressed with the one thing she never expected. Cheers. They were cheering... Were they really cheering her? ''Princess Luna, I presume?'' A lavender unicorn trotted up the stairs, a smile on her face. ''I'm Twilight Sparkle. I'll be helping you through your speech.'' Luna recognized that name... ''Twilight Sparkle, you were the pony that saved us! We are most grateful!'' Luna almost hugged the unicorn on the spot. Twilight grinned modestly. ''Not really. I couldn't have done it without my friends.'' She turned to the crowds. ''Now, to the matter at hand! I assume you have a speech prepared.'' Luna blinked. ''A...speech? No pony told us about a speech.'' Twilight's smile faded slightly. ''No speech? Oh, this...'' Twilight was cut off by the cheers raising in volume. ''Oh, they won't wait much longer. They want their princess. Can you do this, Luna?'' Twilight asked worriedly. Luna gasped happily. They were cheering her! She turned to Twilight. ''Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle! We shall go without!'' She announced, stepping up to the podium. ''Hello every pony.'' Luna addressed the crowds with a touch of grace. Instantly the cheering seemed to get louder, before dying down. The air was filled with anticipation, and Luna felt the gaze of everypony in Canterlot on her. ''My name...is Princess Luna.'' --------------------------- ''Oh wow Princess, that was amazing!'' Twilight was in total shock - Luna had managed to impress the crowds, as well as reassure them on the matter of Nightmare Moon. ''Are you sure you didn't have a speech hidden under your wing or something?!'' Luna chuckled. ''No, Twilight. We did not have a speech hidden under our wing, we promise. We just...Well, it's hard to explain. We have been planning what we would say in our head for a long time, just in case it made it's way into our nightmares and stopped them.'' Twilight frowned in confusion. ''Nightmares?'' Luna sighed, ears drooping. ''Yes, Twilight Sparkle. We have been having terrible nightmares of the citizens of Equestria hating us.'' Suddenly, she perked up. ''Today was hopefully the cure of those.'' Twilight nodded in understanding. ''I sort of get what you're saying. As a filly, I was terrified of failing my entrance exam to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and I had nightmare after nightmare of failing. Then when I passed - becoming Princess Celestia's personal student - they stopped.'' Luna stopped in her tracks. ''Our sister's what?!'' Twilight blinked. ''School for gifted unicorns...?'' ''The next one!'' ''Oh.'' Twilight blushed. ''I'm Princess Celestia's student.'' Luna's gaze fell to the ground. ''Twilight, We...I'm sorry.'' ''Hm? What do you mean?'' Twilight asked, worry clear on her face. But Luna was gone. Don't follow the hoofprints, Twilight. Twilight scolded herself. But her curiosity was piqued - and she began to follow the trail left by Luna only moments ago. --------------------------- Luna ran faster than she ever had, using her wings to push her forward. She had to get to her sister, and fast. She saw her sister faster than she could stop, and ending up crashing into her at an alarmingly fast rate. ''Luna, what are-'' Celestia was cut short by her sister's harsh voice. ''You. Us. Locked room. Now.'' Luna snarled. She got up and brushed herself down. ''Come on, Celly. We have to talk about something regarding your personal student.'' Celestia's face transformed from worry, to anger, to understanding fear in less than a second. She pushed herself to her hooves, and followed her sister into her bedroom. --------------------------- ''How could you Celly?! You've practically damned her!'' Luna screeched, glad for the sound-proofing spell surrounding the room. She didn't have to hide her emotions for fear of the castle staff hearing her. ''Luna, calm down. You don't know the facts-'' ''We don't care! You taking on Twilight means making Twilight powerful - and being powerful means it, Celly! We don't want to have to deal with it again so soon!'' ''Neither do I, Lulu. I went through steps to prevent it from happening.'' Luna snorted, her anger far from gone. ''You did it for us, didn't you?'' Celestia didn't reply. ''You took her on so you could guide her to save us, putting her at risk! How could you?!'' ''What else could I do?! I missed you, Lulu! Everything was so bleak - I've lost so many these past two thousand years, without a shoulder to cry on!'' Celestia' s patience finally snapped. ''But what about everypony else, Celestia?!'' Luna yelled, stamping her hoof for emphasis. ''I've devoted everything to them, Luna! Aren't I allowed to be selfish just this once?'' Celestia's voice faltered. ''No!'' The next few moments where filled with an angry silence. Luna stared down her sister, fury in her gaze. ''Look, Lulu. She might not even be cursed...'' Celestia started. Luna growled. ''And if she is? What then?'' Celestia shook her head. ''I...I couldn't do what I did with you. Maybe we could reason with it? Ask it to leave Twilight alone?'' Luna sighed. ''Remember how well that went last time? It's still mad at us.'' She turned to the moon. ''We do not blame it...'' ''Her.'' Celestia corrected. Luna turned her gaze to the floor. ''What went wrong, Celly?'' ''I...I don't know, Lulu. I really don't.'' --------------------------- ''Princess Luna? Princess Celestia?'' Twilight called out, knocking on the bedroom door. The castle staff had told her Princess Luna had run in, in a blind rage, and the two had been in her bedroom ever since. After a long wait, the door finally opened. A purple hoof reached out and quickly yanked her inside. The room was pitch black. Twilight was about to ask what the hay was going on, but a bright yellow flash formed a gag in her mouth. ''Mmff!'' Twilight attempted to yell for help, but the gag made anything coming out of her mouth an incoherent mess. Suddenly, the lights turned on. ''Prinfffmm?'' Twilight's initial fear had manage to calm itself and double at the same time. ''Yes, Twilight Sparkle. We apologize for assaulting you like this, but we fear it is the only way to keep everypony safe.'' Luna's voice was level, showing no emotion. Deep inside Twilight, something stirred. Keep everypony safe...? You're a danger. Twilight kicked out in shock. She hadn't seen the princess' mouths move - had she? No, Twilight Sparkle. I am talking to you from somewhere else - and you need to get out of there. Why? Twilight answered back cautiously. Even if the voice was real, and not just her panic, that didn't make it trust worthy. You're a danger, a threat - and threats must be destroyed. The voice took on a mocking tone towards the end of her sentence, and Twilight felt a chill trickle down her spine. ''Twilight? You look like you've a seen ghost.'' Her mentor's voice broke her out of her trance, and for a moment Twilight considered telling her about the voice in her head. NO! That will make them even more suspicious. You need to escape! But why am I a threat? I haven't done anything! Twilight was starting to become really scared now. Oh, Twilight. The voice was almost humorous - was it's owner laughing at her fear? You haven't done anything wrong. They're scared of what's inside of you - me. I'm the Nightmare.