Chapter Twenty Nine: Remembrance of the First Year
Spike walked through the halls towards his room, it was the night before the day that marked their one year since they had to flee Equestria. One year since… ‘Since Twilight was killed.’ he thought, his claws digging into the fabric of the robes that Rarity had made for him. His mind was getting more and more distracted, he had tried everything. From meditating to talking to everyone, Anakin had tried to help but he did also try to slip in a lesson on being a Jedi. Spike sighed wondering if he should talk to the Princesses about it or not.
"I can sense that something is troubling you. Want to talk about it?" Anakin asked, turning the corner. Spike looked up at Anakin before looking away saying. “It’s almost been a year, just one more day, I keep waking up each day and it’s getting harder.”
Anakin smiled as he knelt down patting Spike on the head. "You have a lot of heart Spike, and that isn't a bad thing. It's just how you choose to handle your emotions that can lead you to the Dark Side."
“You know, you never told me how you dealt with things like this.” Spike pointed out, he knew that Anakin had a point but he was going into Jedi Master mode again. That was when a throat cleared behind him and Luna’s voice spoke up. “There you two are. My sister and I would like to have a word with you two.”
"We'll talk later." Anakin responded to Spike as he got up to look at Luna. "Something happen?"
“We want to discuss with you our plan for tomorrow.” Luna said, as she began to lead the way to the council room. It was one of the new additions added on within the last year. After one of the attacks led by Grievous. It was so Celestia and Luna could plan missions among their chosen council. Anakin was often in the room giving his advice. When they entered the room there was fabric and sheets of paper with designs upon them everywhere. Celestia was glancing at blueprints almost not looking up.
“She’s been planning this ever since she found out I was storing up magic.” Luna explained before deciding to add one thing. “For a reason.”
“I know Luna, but with a solar eclipse happening on the world your power will increase tenfold giving our people a chance.” Celestia said finally looking up, she saw Anakin and Spike giving them a smile.
"Princess." Anakin said with a respectable bow. "So what's the plan?"
“I am planning a festival for the day that we were forced to escape our own lands.” Celestia said as she looked at them. “A day not only to remember those that we lost but to honor their memory. With the Solar Eclipse, something I can make less dangerous and can keep everyone from going blind, Luna’s powers will actually gain in strength. She was planning on doing something for the both of you but it wouldn’t have been fair for everyone.”
Anakin turned his gaze to Spike wondering what he thought of all this seeing how the day served as a reminder of when he lost Twilight. "Spike?"
Spike was lost in thought, just what was Luna storing all that extra magic for? He couldn’t figure it out, unless she had a way to communicate with the dead. He realized that Anakin was talking to him and all that he could muster was a. “Huh?”
"What do you think of all this? Considering how you have been feeling lately." Anakin asked, showing a deep concern for his Padawan. Spike thought about it for a moment, it dawned on him, Twilight would have loved a festival like that. She had always been a fan of history, but once she had started opening her heart she loved things like this. He nodded his head saying. “I like the idea.”
“Oh good, then perhaps you can help me choose a color scheme. I don’t want everything to be black and gloomy, no offense Luna but we are trying to go with night not eternal mourning.” Celestia said looking at Luna who just chuckled as she rolled her eyes. “We’ve narrowed it down to a wide range of blues or purples.”
Once again Anakin was eyeing Spike, almost as if not listening to the conversation. 'Is Spike really okay with this? I understand that it's something Twilight would want...but I still worry about him.' Luna moved swiftly next to Anakin observing him carefully. She reached out a hoof before setting in on the ground glancing away saying. “My sister lost her best student, a pony she thought of as her daughter, that day. It isn’t just you or Spike who are feeling the loss. Yet being around others, talking and sharing stories, it could help him.”
Anakin smiled as he looked at Luna saying. "I know that it's not just him, he's just been struck with the loss for so long that I wasn't sure how it would affect him. As his teacher I simply worry how his emotions might lead him astray."
“If not treated carefully even keeping emotions under control can lead to more disastrous consequences.” Luna told Anakin as she watched Spike. “You can fight wars, lose soldiers, spend your nights alone watching over others and push all those negative feelings away until something makes you snap. It could be a comment or seeing the utmost adorations given to another, another who doesn’t seem to work as hard as you do but gains praise more frequently.”
"I don't want him to just bury them away, I just didn't know if something like this was too soon for him." Anakin responded, taking another long look at his Padawan. Luna raised an eyebrow. “He will tell you if it becomes too much, you can help him work through this."
"I know that." Anakin responded with a laugh. "I will be there for him."
“We decided to go with both.” Celestia announced proudly as Luna gave a chuckle and an eye roll telling Anakin. “Welcome to our family.”
The planet, it wasn’t one that was known or populated, Rex and Hunter had gone down to make sure. They didn’t want to disrupt any locals with the festival. Taking the night the ponies who knew of the festival set up tents, booths, and a stage. No one was sure if this was going to be a yearly thing or not, even Celestia. As the dawn approached the ponies finished up waiting for Twilight’s Vigil to land. Luminous Song took that time to get a feel for the area, her eyes taking in the landscape.
“It’s beautiful.” she whispered her blue eyes taking in the landscape before smiling. “Reminds me of that place.”
"May I ask what that place is?" Anakin asked, walking up next to her. Luminous looked up at Anakin before staring out at the rising sun. “When I traveled with my sisters, we ended up somewhere more magical than Equestria. It was day and night, depending on where you were, the natives were a bit… wild. Hallow Glow wouldn’t leave until she had studied them, well there were two different types of natives. Yet I always remember the valley, I’m still not a hundred percent sure we were still within the confines of our own world, but I will never know. Hallow Glow and Frumpy Pumpkin do not remember the journey and sometimes I wonder if it was just my imagination.”
"Speaking of Hallow Glow, I do hope that she's alive and well after all this time. You two must be really close." Anakin said as he sat down on the ground looking at the sky. Luminous Song looked at Anakin before sitting down saying. “We must be, I kind of miss her late nights of staying up and keeping everyone else up due to her research. Frumpy doesn’t, but I guess that is because she’s more of a morning person. Me? I can stay up for days.”
Luminous studied Anakin carefully as she asked. “Is there anyone you are hoping to talk to?”
Anakin smiled for a brief moment as his expression turned sad. "If there's anyone I would give anything to talk to again…" Anakin took a few seconds pause before saying quietly. "Padme."
Luminous closed her eyes as she sang a soft melody.
“In the Valley of the Shadowmoon
Lay the spirits of those gone too soon
When night falls, we shall see them again.
Here in the Valley of the Shadowmoon.”
Anakin's face turned to look at Luminous before looking at the sky again. He couldn't find any words to say, the song rendered him speechless as he kept thinking about his wife. Luminous Song placed a hoof on his shoulder saying. “You hold a wound in your heart, don’t you?”
Anakin knew the answer deep down but he didn't want to admit it, he wanted to be strong for everyone. Still, a simple reply escaped his lips unable to keep it in. "Yeah."
“You need this just as much as Little Spike does.” Luminous told him, using her magic to weave Anakin’s hair into a few braids binding them back.
"Maybe you're right." Anakin replied with a smile. Luminous smiled as she clipped the braids into place before working on her own hair saying. “Now, will you be joining in with the festivities or stay on the hill?”
"I will join it. I wouldn't miss it for anything." Anakin answered, getting back to his feet. Luminous smiled before her ear twitched as Rarity called out. “There you are, we have to get you ready for your performance!”
Luminous got to her hooves and followed after Rarity. Anakin took one last look at the sky as he turned around and followed them.
Back at the festival grounds, Celestia and Luna were being adorned with regal clothing and jewelry. Each reflecting their respective celestial bodies but Celestia’s clothing reflected more of a sunset appearance.
“How long will you be able to keep the eclipse and barrier going?” Luna asked looking up at Celestia who took a deep breath and replied. “As long as I have to.”
“Even until night comes?” Luna questioned and Celestia nodded her head. “Sister…”
“They deserve this Luna, they need this, you need as much power as possible. I will do what I can to aid you little sister.” Celestia told Luna placing a hoof under her chin tilting it up to look at her. “Like I should have done all those years ago.”
"Princesses." A voice called out revealing to be Rex. "After all this time your people still amaze me."
“How so?” Celestia asked as she gave Rex a mischievous grin and approached him.
"I've been to many worlds and have seen many incredible things, especially when it came to the Jedi. Your magic is, well, even more remarkable." Rex replied as he warily backed away because of the grin. Celestia draped her wing around Rex’s shoulder saying. “In some ways, you keep on amazing me.”
"Me amaze you? Not sure how I even compare to you." Rex replied with a smile, tilting his head away. Celestia looked away sadly saying. “Our abilities may be seen as amazing, godlike, ultimate power, it is why Twilight had us escape as well….”
Celestia looked at Rex with a smile. “Yet you, you keep us grounded, my people have lived with little to no fear, of course the occasional monster would come along. Yet in the unknown you have been a strength for us, teaching my people how to rely on their own strength as well as teach them from your own experience. Of course some may complain and dislike you, yet they cannot deny that you have been by our side since the battle. That you have protected us time and time again. As well as the fact that you seem to not like the leadership position you are in. I have felt that myself on occasion.”
"I just prefer to get things done myself rather than rely on others to do it for me. I thank you for the kind words." Rex looked up at the sky seemingly lost in thought as he spoke. Celestia glanced at the sky as well feeling the power of the sun beginning to wane. She closed her eyes as she spoke. “It is time.”
“It is.” Luna said as she walked forward as well. “Celestia, do not drain yourself for this one day.”
“Do not worry, little sister, this will be easier on me than you. After all, I can absorb the excess rays of the sun.” Celestia told her just as the curtains began to open. Rarity stood next to Rex before eying his armor asking. “Is that what you are planning on wearing to the festival?”
"This armor is more to me than protection ma'am." Rex responded with a nod. Rarity paused before whispering. “At least let me do something with your hair.”
"Uh, hair ma'am? I don't really have much on me…" Rex asked confused, almost backing away. Rarity lifted up a few jewels and a comb saying. “There is enough for what I have planned.”
“I think you should save that for after the speech.” Luminous said as she walked up her eyes glued to the princesses. Rarity realized that the speech was about to start.
“My people, one year from this day we were forced to leave our home, our loved ones behind. Some had lost much more on this journey. However on this day, we shall remember those who had passed on. With the eclipse soon upon us my sister, Princess Luna, will be able to provide you with some comfort. A chance to see your loved ones again, may they be alive or no longer with us. For as the sun gives me strength, the moon and the eclipse shall give her magic strength. I give you the Festival of the Shadowmoon!” Celestia announced as the eclipse totalled out, her magic shooting up into the air providing a barrier as well as entangling around the moon. The ponies gaped in awe as Celestia forced herself to keep upright. She took a few steps back as Luna walked up her own horn aglow with her magical aura. Small balls of light glowed near each pony, near each clone, all of them. They took shape, the one by Luna taking the form of a human male with long brown hair wearing Jedi robes.
"You are Princess Luna." The man spoke to her. Luna lowered her head as she said. “I am, it is an honor to finally meet you Master Qui-Gon.”
The ghostly blue figure of Qui-Gon bowed respectfully as he said. "What is it that you want from me?"
“I need your help and advice, it is about Anakin.” Luna answered, not sure on how to explain it just yet. “I worry about him.”
"You are not the first to. When he was a child the Jedi Council did not want him to be trained, due to the fear he held onto for his mother. He has a good heart, he cares deeply for those he loves and would do anything for them...sometimes leading to some extremes." Qui-Gon answered almost motionless.
“It is not that….” Luna looked at the ground, hearing the voices of her people talk happily with their loved ones as Luminous Song sang her song in the distance. “I can tell that he is holding back, emulating his master, a fear that lays within his heart that if he goes back to his old ways that Spike will fall to the Dark Side. I know such a fear.”
"His heart fears the repeat of Ahsoka. He fears himself. By choosing to be my old apprentice, he thinks that he will avoid such a fate. However...as a being of the Force I transcend space and time. In another world, it was he that fell to the Dark Side, not Ahsoka. That darkness stemmed from an unending desire to save his wife from death. As I stated before he has a good heart, but he must learn to accept who he is and that there are some things we cannot control. Failure is our greatest teacher of all. We are what they grow beyond, that is the true burden of all masters." A smile appeared on Qui-Gon's face as he spoke to the distraught princess. Luna looked at Qui-Gon saying. “Perhaps you can help me convince him of that. I have a feeling that Anakin and I are too similar. I had almost brought disaster to my people if it wasn’t for the help of my closest friends.”
"Do you doubt yourself?" The old Jedi Master questioned. Luna looked up at him saying. “I do, however it is for a different reason. When words are spoken from those we are not close with, we tune it out, we can do that with family and friends. However, I believe Anakin respects you and holds you in high regard, you are a Jedi Master.”
"I will not help him." Qui-Gon said suddenly, coming off rather bluntly. Luna was quiet, she had not expected the response and did feel a little hurt by it. She sighed, shaking her head. “That… it is fine. You have the freedom to do what you want.”
"You appear as if you carry a heavy burden. I also can sense that you feel hurt by my words. It is not that I do not wish to help my old friend, I wish to help you more." Qui-Gon replied, the warm smile still visible. "By helping you, it will help him indirectly."