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// The Story Begins 
// Story: Can She be Trusted? 
// by Slender Dash 
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One night, I was working on the tedious affairs of this country, sighing as I sifted through reports from the armed forces. The sun was on its descent in the sky, and I was just finishing up. You walked into my room, your innocent smile on your face. I smiled, because the sight of you after such a long day just filled me with joy. I set down the papers and we started talking about your day and my day. We talked for hours, and soon it was time to raise the moon.


Luna butts into the story. "Was this when I still had a mentor?"

"Yes, but you we're almost done with him by then. You learned very quickly. Now, let us continue."


We stepped out onto the balcony, well, in your case, bouncing, and I stood off to the right of the pedestal. You stepped onto the polished rock, carved with the insignia of the sun. You looked down at it, and frowned, for half a second, maybe less. I simply pushed it away in my mind.

You planted your feet down surrounding the center of the stone, and lowered your head. Your flow of indigo magic soon started, and I watched in awe as your moon slid over the horizon into the sky, its beauty taking my breath away. Then you pulled out the stars, and splashed them across the sky in what can only be known as art.


"You always were more creative than me, Luna," Celestia said with a grin.

"I know," Luna said back, not smiling but giving a warm glance.


As I admired your beautiful display, you came over to me and stared off the balcony. You watched sadly as people turned to look at your precious moon, then scuttle away to quickly get home instead of being trapped in the night. You shook your head as someone literally screamed as the moon rose, obviously terrified that she hadn't gotten home before nightfall.

"Celestia," you whimpered, "Why does everyone hate my nighttime? Do I make it too ugly? Or do they hate me?" You looked up, almost tearful, and I smoothed your mane with my hoof. "Hush, everyone loves nighttime. They're just afraid to admit it."
You giggled in return, shaking away the tears that had threatened to overcome you. Then you stopped and said quite seriously, "I hope they come to their senses soon. They're hurting my feelings."

That sounds exactly like someone as young as you would say. It was cute, I gave a light laugh, and we both stepped inside. We had some fun the rest of the night- you wanting to play dress up-


"I did no such thing," Luna snorted

Celestia laughed in return. "Of course you did!" And she laughed again as Luna blushed.


Well, every night we would go and raise the moon. you seemed happy until you went to watch the ponies rushing home each night. At first I could tell you were confused, but as the long days dragged by I saw your confusion turn to hurt, then sorrow, then sadness. And finally, the anger came. It was very subtle at first. No one really noticed it. But every time you watched those terrified ponies, the scowl on your face hardened and so did your heart.


Celestia raised an eyebrow as she saw Luna scrunch up her face in anger and regret. Celestia waited for it to go back down before continuing.


One night, when I was going through official matters, like always, you pushed open the door to my room and came sulking in. You flopped down on my bed, shoved your face in a pillow, and screamed in desperation. I had set down my quill and had walked over to you, now sitting limply under the pillow. I lifted it with a wave of magic, and came upon my little sister with tears streaming from her face.

"Why? Why, Celestia? Why does everyone adore your day, but curse my night? What's wrong with it? What's wrong with me?" You had started wailing out your troubles, and wanting no pony to overhear, I clicked the door shut and cast a "no-eavesdropping" spell on the room.

"Luna, what's wrong? Is it the ponies going back home after the day?" I asked you sympathetically, but you cried a minute more before you could finally squeak out, "Yes!"

"Oh, Luna," I sighed, and I tried to think of something to tell you. The problem was- it was true. The ponies in Equestria feared the night, and did not trust it. They did not trust the Princess of the Night either. So I came up with an idea. "Luna, how about I gather everyone in Canterlot next Sunday, at sundown, so you can raise the moon for them? Maybe it will show them that the night is something of beauty and not be scared of."

You sniffled, and looked up at me through teary eyes. "You would really do that for me?"

"Of course," I replied with a smile. Then you leapt up and encased me in the tightest hug I've ever felt. You were crying again, but this time mostly from happiness and relief. I finally got your iron arms off me and we laughed and played and danced the rest of the night. Everything was okay.

It was Friday when we started making the plans. The ceremony would be held in the Canterlot Gardens, close to the edge of the cliff facing where both the sun and moon rise. There would be hors d'oeuvres and music starting at five o' clock in the afternoon, where I make the sun begin to set. We would tell the guests, which would be most of Canterlot, that we have a show especially from me, Princess Celestia, to see. Of course they would stay. Then they would realize the beauty of the night when my sister raises the moon for them.

Preparations began early Saturday. The garden was ladened with tables, with coverings that were a deep rich blue tinged with gold. There were a couple of chairs with the same color scheme. A wide, grassy area was kept open in the center, as most of the ponies would be standing. 

The chefs prepared lovely treats, like a grand chocolate fondue to put out with little tidbits to dip in-strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, brownies too, which I found ironic. They prepared small, light hay sandwiches to be set out, some sort of wrap made of veggies and grass. They made some cinnamon apple pies, dozens actually, and they were cut in small triangles.

The morning of the ceremony, the hors d'oeuvres were layer out fashionably on the tables, arranged nicely on silver platters. Banners had been hung up for both the sun and the moon, and some are swaying slightly in the cool breeze. It was a beautiful day, and we had no trouble getting loads of people to come after we sent our telegram ponies to every door.

All of the ponies had arrived by four thirty, and we started playing some soothing music. I greeted ponies cheerfully, being flooded with smiles and hoof-shakes. I glanced over to you trying to do the same, but only to get awkward nods from everyone you tried to talk to. You seemed distraught, and I caught you sighing in desperation.

Soon the music stopped and it was time to set the sun. I walked up to the makeshift stage, and turned to gaze at my little ponies gathered before me. I explained to them all to stay after the sun had set to see a special show. Some ponies seemed nervous at the offer, but most excepted it, thinking I would light up the stage afterward.

I placed my hoofs down after turning one hundred-eighty degrees, and slowly lowered the sun past the horizon. then I walked off stage, and ponies waited eagerly for the lights to turn on. They started shifting uncomfortably when you appeared sheepishly on the stage, and started murmuring as you took your place.

You pointed your horn toward the ground, and unfolded your indigo wings. You concentrated as the moon started sliding over the horizon. You lifted into the air with a downbeat of your wings, and rose higher with the moon. Then it reached the first position in the sky, and you dropped back down having completed the job of getting it up.

The ponies gathered stared in silence as you started painting the dark blue sky with drops of starlight. Stars flickered and shined brightly, all designed perfectly in our canvas of a sky. Then you put on a show for them. Making the stars dance around each other, switching them around to make constellations, even adding some meteor showers to the mix. It was dazzling. But in the end, I was the only one clapping.

The ponies realized that this was the show, this beautiful thing you had just shared with them. But all they saw was a dark and scary night just playing more tricks on them. They were instantly afraid. People started screaming as they rushed to leave, and go home. A couple fainted. And I watched the tears fall from your eyes as what you had thought would make everything better turned out to be so much worse.

"Stop!" You called. It was hopeless, really, but you cried out none the less. "Don't leave! I just thought I could show you..." Your body started shaking violently, from the horrible wails that racked your body. Those tears soon stopped, and you shook out of pure anger. I quickly got up to fly over, and what I found filled my eyes with horror.