//------------------------------// // 3 Luna's Tower // Story: On a Blood Red Moon // by Bronyxy //------------------------------// Luna approached her guest with stiff formality, adding to the trepidation that was already gnawing a hole in Twilight’s stomach. “Twilight Sparkle” the Princess greeted, “We … er … I am pleased you have chosen to come to meet with me tonight.” “Thanks for inviting me” replied Twilight, adding with a nervous giggle, “Your invite kinda made it hard to say no …” “In what way, pray?” asked Luna, sounding a little defensive. “Well, it sounded like you used to before you started to speak like the rest of us do” she proposed tactfully. “But one still has to write with due formality in such things, does one not?” “Er … not really, Princess” said Twilight, “We’re a lot more laid back these days than it seems you all were back then.” “Oh” said the Princess, taken aback, “In that case, I apologise for implying an urgency which was not intended.” “Don’t worry about it Princess, I’m here now anyway” Twilight smiled reassuringly, feeling a lot more relieved herself, “What is it you wanted me for?” “I should like to share with you some of the mysteries of the night sky from my observatory. It is atop the highest tower, so we could either ascend the stairs or I could fly you, should you prefer.” Twilight gulped; flying was the most practical option, but it would entail climbing up onto the back of royalty, and although she would have done so in an instant if Celestia had asked, she wasn’t sure she was ready for that kind of intimacy with Luna. On the other hoof, there were a lot of steps, and the Princess would be sure to feel affronted by rejection … “OK, Princess” she resolved, “Flying sounds a great idea, if that’s alright with you?” “But of course” Luna confirmed, lowering onto her haunches for her guest to climb on. Twilight swallowed her trepidation and gingerly climbed up despite the wobbly feeling in her legs, coming to rest in a comfortable position near to Luna’s centre of mass. “Hold on tight” commanded the Princess, and once she felt her passenger take a firm hold round her neck, she pounced into the air and beat her large wings, transitioning effortlessly into flight. As they pulled away from the ground, Twilight felt Luna’s powerful flight muscles ripple underneath her, and sensed a corresponding ripple of anticipation shudder through her own body. So soon after having arrived, she was already completely at the mercy of the Princess of the Night, and it scared her just how easily she had allowed it to happen. Luna was as good as her word, and alighted on the precipitously overhanging balcony of the tall white painted tower, squatting on her haunches once more to let her passenger clamber down. Twilight was now arguably less apprehensive of how she felt about being with the Princess, and more acutely concerned about the architectural forces that kept this unfeasibly large balcony in place without collapse. Twilight climbed down and gasped in wide-eyed wonderment as she took in the stunning night time vista that brought everything so close, it may her feel as if she could simply reach out and touch the individual stars. Luna noticed the filly’s breathless excitement and smiled inwardly, closing to stand just near enough beside her so as not to invade her personal space. “It … it’s amazing!” Twilight gasped, turning her head slowly to scan the expanse of bejewelled tapestry that stretched out before her, as if she was stood at the absolute focus of the entire night sky. “One of my better ones, I think” Luna concurred softly. Twilight’s head continued its slow arc around, and before she knew it, ended up staring directly into the soft teal eyes of the one mare responsible for the fabulous display. “You do all this by yourself?” Twilight marvelled. “Yes” Luna replied modestly, “Once upon a time I thought that nopony saw the beauty I wove across the heavens …” “I remember …” stumbled Twilight awkwardly, recalling the whole Nightmare Moon story. “But I was wrong” Luna interrupted, “You see, my Sister and I had been brought up in the Royal Court, and we knew little of what lay beyond. At that time, the three tribes had developed their first bonds of friendship, and care had to be taken to ensure that petty rivalries were not allowed to fester as the Equestria we know today was forged. I admit that jealousy did get the better of me, but it was only upon my return that I learned I was not correct in my assumption, for I had been unaware of the populations of bat ponies and thestrals who dwell in the night, and who shied away from the fledgling Royal Court.” “Were those bat ponies who pulled your chariot?” Twilight enquired. “Precisely” Luna confirmed, “There are large settlements over in Hollow Shades and across the Badlands, whose interests I have been championing with my Sister in the hopes of integrating them into Equestrian society.” “I had no idea …” Twilight began. “Nor should you” Luna explained, “Other than for a brief appearance at Nightmare Night, nopony is really aware of their existence. They are, however, just like other ponies, except they come out at night and sleep during the day.” “Just like other ponies?” asked Twilight, “I’ve read stories about fearsome nocturnal vamponies that eat meat and drink blood …” “Vamponies are fictional creatures” said Luna with a dismissive shake of her head, “But, based on such stories, you can imagine the reaction of ponies if we were to rush attempts to integrate the two societies.” Twilight suddenly realised she had been staring into Luna’s eyes, and felt a rush of blood to her cheeks, turning her head quickly away to focus her attention back to the night sky again. She coughed discretely to clear something in her throat that she hadn’t realised until that moment was caught in it. The Princess picked up on her embarrassment and found the naïve display rather disarming, but pretended to ignore it and instead changed the subject. “You are familiar with the night sky already, I believe?” she enquired. “Yes, I’ve got a telescope on my balcony” the student replied proudly. “Have you ever heard of the moon changing colour?” “Well, there’s a blue moon, but it doesn’t mean that the moon actually changes colour” Twilight added with a giggle and an adorable little snort. “Have you ever heard of a blood red moon?” “Er ... no, actually. Did I miss something?” “It is a very rare phenomenon and it is scheduled for tonight” Luna explained earnestly, “If you are ready, then please pay attention to the colour of the moon.” Twilight speechlessly nodded her ascent, and watched as a stream of light blue energy emanated from Luna’s horn, reaching out far into the distance. Turning her attention back to the moon, she stared incredulous as it began to lose its bright silvery sheen and develop a slightly darker hue, gradually turning to red. “What … what’s going on? Is it going to stay like this?” asked the student, feeling apprehension rising in her chest and asking quietly, “Is night time going to last forever?” “Nothing so dramatic, Twilight Sparkle” Luna reassured, not allowing her aura to drift from the moon for an instant, “It will only last a few minutes, then I shall return it to normal once more.” At this, Twilight untensed just enough for the inquisitive scientist side of her personality to take over, and she began to make mental notes about the spectacular display she was seeing.