//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: Touching the Moon // by Lucky Break //------------------------------// Luna knew almost exactly how the creatures felt about losing their world, she had gone through the exact same experience herself after all. Unlike herself though, it didn’t seem that these beings had the senses to feel their world beyond the dimensional veil it was hidden behind. Equestria had appeared as usual, but her visitors were on the far side of the moon from it, therefore they couldn’t see her home, so as near as she could tell, the creatures must’ve felt extremely lost and confused at the moment. The imprisoned princess watched the two beings point and gesture in what could only be understood as panic, fear, and anger. It seemed that they had some way to communicate among themselves and Luna wasn’t privy to it. At the thought of being left out, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. The first beings to communicate on her moon in ages, and she couldn’t even hear them. Suddenly, one of the creatures’ frustration seemed to hit its peak, and with a shove sent the other creature flying onto the surface. The shoved creature floated across the moon’s surface in an almost comically slow motion fall before landing gently on the grey surface of the moon. It just laid there as the aggressor reentered their craft and closed the hatch once more. Was the fallen one injured? Luna watched with hesitation as the being just laid there. After a moment though, it awkwardly rolled and kicked onto its belly and got to its feet after a few tries. The motions made it seem like a strange bipedal turtle, or was it tortoise? It stood there, facing the empty space where its world used to be and Luna could see it’s shoulders slump and its head fall in defeat. They were stuck on the moon, just like her. That common factor, that shared feeling, drove Luna to her decision at last. Not only did she have someone else here on her moon, but they were in the same situation. They could relate, they had common ground. For the first time in almost 1000 years, Luna reached out to someone. Well, reaching out was probably the wrong term to use in this situation. It was more of a surprise attack and ambush. Luna sent tendrils of magic throughout the moon and made a path from her prison to the surface, and with an inaudible pop created a tunnel to her chamber. Another tendril of magic snaked out and hooked the creature around one of its thick legs, and with a quick jerk, pulled it under the surface of the moon. The creature was obviously distressed, as it was being pulled through the tunnels it tried to grab hold of the smooth tunnel walls. It could find nothing to keep a hold of so it continued it slow descent into the moon. Eventually it was brought to Luna’s chamber, although chamber was probably too strong a word for a mere grey cave inside the moon. The creature landed with a soft thud upon the cavern floor and Luna released her magical hold on it. She took a moment to close up the tunnel she had created and then regarded the creature in her presence. And realized she had no idea what to do next. It had been a moment of sympathy that prompted Luna to bring the creature here, but now that it was here, she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t even know if they could communicate on any level. Worry started to grip Luna as she thought frantically about her next step. All this time on the moon had really taken a number on her problem solving abilities, it seemed. While she thought, the creature seemed regain it senses after its capture. It took it a few tries to get back to its feet, and stood with its back to Luna. It didn’t stay turned for long as it moved in a slow circle, clearly confused and bewildered as it looked around. As it turned to face her, Luna saw it stop suddenly. Luna then found out something interesting, the creatures face was reflective, and she could see herself in its reflection. As she looked at herself, she imagined the creature saw what she saw. She laid on a small outcropping of rock, her legs tucked up under herself and her head and tail nestled against her side. Her coat has a was shade of blue that reminded her of blueberries, and her mane and tail were the color of a clear sky. Things she hadn’t seen in ages. The thoughts brought tears to her eyes. Did that creature see her as lonely and pathetic as she saw herself right now? She squeezed the tears from her eyes, and turned her head to regard the being. It hadn’t moved from the position it had taken when it had seen her. If Luna had the strength, maybe she would have stood up, or waved. At the moment though it would seem that even managing a smile was beyond her. So they just stood there, regarding each other. The creature made the first move. It took one slow step towards her, then another, and then another. Luna was quite sure that if she needed to breath she would be hyperventilating right now. Why didn’t she think this through? She didn’t know what this being was capable of, and she had brought it here on a emotional whim. Of course, she could use some of her magic and blast it back, but that could weaken her beyond recovery and as lonely as she was, disappearing into the void was not on her list of options. So Luna did the only thing she could think of; she screwed her eyes closed and awaited whatever the creature was going to do to her. Closing her eyes didn’t really do much good as her magical senses still allowed her to see what was happening. The creature kept advancing on her and as it drew closer, raised it’s arm slightly forward. Was it going to strike her? Luna couldn’t take it anymore, and closed her other senses as well. She was effectively blind as she awaited the consequences of her actions. Those consequences came as a soft touch against her mane. A slow stroking motion that could only be described as gentle. Luna open one eye to look at what had happened. The creature was standing beside her now, with one hand on her mane, petting it softly. It was nice, it was comforting, it was physical contact. It was too much. Luna felt the tears before they actually fell and yet could do nothing as she burst out crying. She felt a rush of emotions, mostly relief, happiness, and longing. She didn’t know how much she had missed the company of anybody else until that moment, and it was glorious and painful at the same time. She wasn’t sure how long she cried, but the creature had taken a step back then just stood there, most likely shocked at her sudden outburst. It stood there frozen while she bawled, it was somewhat comical actually, like a foal with no idea what to do about a crying baby. It brought a small smile to her muzzle, and she managed to wipe her eyes and looked to the creature again. That seemed to undo whatever paralysis had overcome it and it reached out its hand again. This time, Luna met the hand halfway, leaning forward slightly and bumping her head against it. The creature stroked her mane and neck a few times and did something odd. Luna watched it lift its other hand to its face and with a slow but deft motion, proceed to slide its face up and straight back! Luna mouth dropped slightly at that and leaned back in shock. The irony that their roles had just been reversed was not lost on her though. It was then that several things occurred to her. The creatures new face was transparent, and she could see inside of it. Was that another face inside of it? Yes, it was a hairless, contorted face but a face nonetheless. What did that make those first faces? Another look revealed that answer, what she had thought was the face at first was actually some glasslike material. The gears inside Luna’s head whirled as she grasped the implications of that. If that was the actual face then what was the rest of the body? It only took a moment before it hit her, and she would have smacked herself upside the head if she could. Regular ponies couldn’t travel to the moon cause they couldn’t breath, why shouldn't it be the same for others? That wasn’t a skin it was wearing. It was a suit that allowed it to breath here. It reminded Luna much of the awkward diving suits that were being made before her banishment. That was why they couldn’t talk, and that why they always looked so clumsy! Luna felt a moment of pride for figuring it out, and looked to the face once more. It seemed masculine but soft, its eyes intelligent and focused. If she could get him to take off his headgear, they could finally talk. Luna wanted to talk to this being, it was a matter of the higher priority. Drawing upon her low magic reserves, her horn lit up with magic. The creature’s eyes widened a bit and took a step back at the display. Luna dismissed it, concentrating on the task at hoof. Creating an atmosphere wasn’t difficult, but she was out of practice and had to be careful with her magic. It only took a moment longer before the magic went off with an audible pop, and a rush of air and heat filled the cave. Luna sighed with pleasure as the heat set in, slowly driving away the ingrained cold she had put up with for the better part of a millenium. At first during her imprisonment, she had kept herself warm for a while, but as her magic had faded she had used the spell less and less until cold vacuum was her only companion. Luna took a deep breath, savoring the use of her lungs again and abruptly started coughing. Apparently her body had forgotten what it was like to breath as well. She regained control of herself and looked to the creature in the really awkward diving suit, he was looking at her in what she took as confusion. His facial expressions didn’t seem that different from a ponies, just stranger with a flat muzzle. Now she had to get him to take off the headgear, and then they would finally communicate. Luna tried the simplest approach first, and merely told him to take it off. Her voice was quiet and weak though from the centuries of disuse. To her ears, it sounded nothing more than a squeak, Luna didn’t want to even guess if the creature could hear it. She tried to speak again, this time using her hooves to pantomime taking off the headgear. This time it came out a croak, which was an improvement considering her previous attempt. It wasn’t enough though, the creature seemed to get an inkling of what she wanted, and he shook his head saying something that she couldn’t quite make out. Luna made an educated guess that he was saying he couldn’t because he was in a cold vacuum devoid of air. How to prove that there was air? It had that infuriating quality of being invisible, which made proven it was there difficult. Usually ponies just accepted it because the wind was there. Wait a moment. That was it, wind. Air currents to be more exact. Struck by her genius, Luna grabbed a loose stone with her magic and crushed it into a ball of dust, bringing it to her hooves. Making sure that the creature’s eyes were on her and the dust in her hooves, she blew on her hooves and watched the moondust fly off into the air. She did the motion of taking of the helmet and finally was able to say in a quiet voice, “Take it off, you will be safe.” Her voice was both a stranger and old friend to her, another thing she had come to miss and didn’t realize. The dust trick had apparently done its job though, Luna could see the comprehension dawning on the creature’s face, followed by a look of confusion and worry. Luna tried smiling, considering the possibility of taking the helmet off herself if this didn’t work. Fortunately, that wasn’t needed. The worry and confusion was replaced with resignation, resolve, and above all trust as the creature reached up and gripped the headgear in both hands. It’s face was scrunched up, most likely as the being was letting Luna deal his fate right there, but unbeknownst to him, he had nothing to worry about. With a firm twist and yank, the headpiece moved to one direction with a sharp hiss of air, and finally came off. The creature inside still had its face screwed up in expectation, but as moments passed and nothing happened, he opened one eye and the the other, looking at Luna with eyes of wonder and curiosity. Luna spoke first, “Greetings, I am Princess Luna. And you are?” The creature’s face broke into a small grin as a laugh escaped his lips. “Well I’ll be...I’m Neil. Neil Armstrong, pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am.”