“Sister, where in equestria are you taking us?” Luna was glad she got away without the blindfold at least. Celestia practically pushed her by the hindquaters to a building nearby. “I told you it’s a surprise!” Wow. How helpful. They arrived at the location, and the doors swung open nervously to.. a party? Canterlot residents where strewn about, and a banner stated ‘Welcome back, Luna!’ The guest of honor sat in the doorway confused.
“Well go on, this is your party!” and Luna was gently pushed the rest of the way through. Someone took notice. One of the socalites greeted her nigh imediately. She didn’t know their name yet, having just gotten back to canterlot. “Ah the mare of the hour!” They did a short bow before her “I must say, it was incredible news to see you’re back! Canterlot is brighter for it.” Luna sat in stunned silence for a second before bowing her head slightly “We are glad to be back. We hope to be the light in the darkest of nights for our dear people.” Some more akward words exchanged and she shuffled away with her sister. In a harsh tone she whispered into her ear “What are you playing at sister.” Celestia smirked in that slightly annoying way she tended to do so “Well, you said you didn’t feel apreciated. And I just happened to have a bunch of ponys hanging around who were both looking for a chance to party, and glad to see you back.”
“Well played.” She grumbled out her response. “But this proves nothing”
“Come now Luna this isn’t about winning points. Go and enjoy yourself. I’m sure most ponies have something to say to you here.” Luna sighed like a grouchy child and moved up to where the refreshments were, awkwardly sipping on a glass. Once again someone else aproached her out of the blue “Hey um..wow...it’s an honor princess.” They looked like they wanted to bow. She made a gesture with her hoof, glass still raised to her face “None of that for tonight. Rise. Have you something you wish to tell us?” Their excited nods told quite the story. “Yeah it’s just like, wow. You’re such an inspiration. The way you like got banished to the moon but like, you’re here again and like...sometimes we all feel like we have a monster inside you know? Anyways like wow. You’re so cool. Love your mane.” Luna blinked. Was this how ponies spoke now? “We are uh...like totally grateful. Hmm. Yes.” That seemed to satisfy them and she walked away. Luna sighed. Well, at the least she was well liked by the..hip and cool folks of the kingdom.
And it went on. Many folks of many walks of canterlot life. But as something grew like a dark heavy stone in her heart. Her replies grew increasingly forced. She wasn’t even taking in the compliments after a point. There was a breaking point when she was called on stage by her sister to give a speech following her return. And so she began in.
“Good people of canterlot, the gernosity you have shown us today in our return to these lands is trully heartwarming.” That pit grew deeper. “We are even gladder still to be back here with our sister.” Her sister. No she couldn’t keep this up. “But every one of you who is an student of history has been told a lie!” Celestia’s ear rocketed up and she looked shocked. The crowd of party goers murmured beneath her
“Luna..?” She ignored her sister’s unfinished question.
“Our dear sister, nearly 1000 year ago today, told her only lie, intended to protect me. You have been informed the nature of our banishment is caused by some horrid monster who took control of us. But there is no horrid monster, besides the one who sits here before you now!”
They murmured louder. Dissent. Did she mean herself our her sister? Surely not herself right?
“Nightmare moon was the manifestation of our rage and our jealousy!” she stopped to rub an eye “The scourge you feared was none other then us!”
The noises grew louder but she wasn’t paying attention to what they said. Her mind had filled in the gaps already. They were learning the truth and would soon reject her outright. But not before she finished the story.
“We were so sick of being in the shadow of the sun that we put my good sister in an impossible situation. Choose her country or us. She choose all of you, the objectively correct choice, and had the grace to only imprission us.” Celestia looked horrified “Luna no..” she barely managed to get out. “Now you know the truth!” her words interupted her sister, loud and angry “Each an every one of you celebrates us as a hero which we never wer. We invite you now, spare us not your barbs, for all who have something to say should speak! We will deserve every word of it!”
The mic fell with a horrible noise and the crowd was silent. Luna collapsed partly to the ground. She did not cry, not quite. Tears fell down here cheek as she waited for the worst.
“uhh...do we like...have to say bad things?”
“W-we ask..you to be honest..spare not our feelings..” Luna choked out
“ok it’s just like wow. that’s like, super tragic. Like i feel really bad for you? I can relate to you both like...so much.”
“I concur!” another voice shot up “What pain our great princesses went through. We’re sorry you went through such strife. Truly that must have been hard.”
Luna was absolutely flabbergasted. She dragged herself up partly “We beg that you only speak truth! Spare not our feelings!”
“We are speaking the truth!” someone else added angrily. “We still like you! You’re still our princess!” The room filled with general agreement. Celestia finally spoke up. “You want the truth sister? I think I speak for all when I say that while what you did was bad, I am no saint either. These people are willing to forgive but not forget the tragedy of these two sisters.” And again the room filled with agreement, various people called out “Ay!” heads were nodded. Encouraging words said. Luna looked onward stunned. She must have looked like a dog caught in the rain. “All of you..trully welcome me..even knowing now the truth?”
“Some of us accept you even more!” A few laughs and a few cheers.
“Come now sister. You’ve punished yourself enough.” Tia wrapped her best friend up in a tight hug again. The party goers errupted into cheers whilst tears errupted from Luna. She sat their dranking in the noise and the warm embrace. She had never felt closer to her sun in a long time.
The party eventually dispersed. Luna and Her sister traveled home in high spirits, gentle teasing and ribbing from each of them as they made the scenic flight home. The pit and her stomach was gone and replaced with a bright spark.
As the two got tucked in for a night’s sleep, Luna had made up her mind on something else as well. This would be her last good night’s rest. The ponies of this land, her sister, all loved and supported her despite her past, maybe even because of it. She owed them so much for this second chance, and she would not squander it. In the morning, she would make sure she could never forget their love
And never forget what she did.