//------------------------------// // Chapter II: The Castle // Story: Inspiration // by Creative //------------------------------// Chapter II: I was only in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns for a mere week before I was being moved into the Canterlot Castle. I didn’t even have the time to learn anything from the school, but I will be learning from the Princess. Today is my first day in the castle and instead of getting right to the artwork I need to learn a little of the environment I will be living in so today will be tour day. I was waiting inside my room at the castle and decided to look at what my view is like from my bedroom window. I walked up to the window, moved the star pattern drapes to the side, and unlocked the latch on the window. I opened the window and took a long look at the scenery around me. I stood waiting for the sun to go down. I waited for a few hours and watched the moon to start to rise and the blue sky go from blue, to orange, to a dark violet. The moment the moon made it completely past the horizon I heard a knock on my door and the voice of my mentor. “It is I Luna, are you ready for a tour of the castle young one?” I walked up to the door and slowly opened it and replied’ “Yes ma’am, I am ready to go.” Luna yawned and said, “I hope you will be alright with staying up really late to adjust to my sleep schedule. Luckily I wake up early enough at night to be able to see my sister before she goes asleep for the night.” “I will be just fine I am already used to staying up really late at night to stare at the night sky.” “You really do enjoy my night sky don’t you little one?” Luna asked with a smile. “Yes I love your moon.” We continued down the hall to begin touring the castle in its entirety. The first stop was of course the throne room known by most of canterlot. Sitting on the throne was Princess Celestia who raised herself off the throne and walked over to me. She opened her mouth to begin to speak, “Well might you be Inspiration?” I gently bow my head and raised it back up to respond, “Yes Princess.” “I am pretty sure you know who I am of course so introductions won’t be nearly as necessary. You know I am in charge of raising the sun and I share rule of equestria, but what is your talent young one? I have not had nearly enough time to spend with my sister to learn what happens in her life.” “I have learned that my destiny is to be creative and make pieces of art.” I said with a gentle smile. “So Inspiration would you mind talking with me privately for a moment?” Princess Luna made an outburst. “Just wait a second what do you want with my student?” “Relax dear sister it has nothing against you or your friend here.” I looked at Princess Luna then back at Princess Celestia and nodded a simple yes. We walked out the throne room into the Canterlot gardens. I looked around at the scenery feeling another idea for a painting fill my spirit. I looked at the fireflies fly by and make small illuminations against the plant life. Princess Celestia stopped walking through the gardens and I stopped right behind her. She turned toward me with a slightly serious and concerned face. “Young one, do you understand where my sister was for the past one thousand years?” I gulped and responded, “Yes it’s the tale of the Mare in the Moon right? My mama told me the story over and over again when I spent hours watching the moon in the sky. I also know she was freed from the moon. I noticed when the moon changed and I obtained my cutie mark that night when I created my first painting. Then I met Princess Luna in your school and from there she took my under her wing.” Princess Celestia stared at me in slight shock either by how well I could speak or the fact that I had a much closer connection to Princess Luna’s return than she thought, maybe even both. “Well little filly she is still adjusting to modern equestria. So I ask you to do a simple favor, please watch after her and help her adjust.” I looked straight into her eyes with a serious look and responded, “Yes ma’am.” We started our way back to the throne room and I looked back at the gardens to get an image for a later painting. Once we made it back to the throne room Princess Luna looked annoyed for having to wait on me to continue our time together. Princess Celestia and I made our goodbyes and I continued the tour with Princess Luna. We started down a hallway and I noticed stained glass in the wall. “Princess Luna, what are these in the wall?” Princess Luna stopped and looked over at the stained glass. “Those are stained glass memorials that represent historical events.” “So what sort of events do they represent? I notice that a lot of them have the same ponies in them.” “Well the heroines in all of the memorials are the current elements of harmony. They represent the magic of friendship and each one of them represents an element. They are alive today and one of them is Celestia’s current student.” My eyes widened in amazement. “I never knew Celestia had a student or that she was a heroin.” “You’re a young filly so I assume you haven’t had a chance to learn about events such as this. Don’t worry you will catch up eventually. You may even meet Celestia’s student a few times since she visits every so often. Her name is Twilight Sparkle if you ever meet her.” “Princess Luna, I have one more question is that pony they defeated…you?” It took Princess Luna a couple of seconds to respond. “Yes that was me in my old state. I guess it’s time for a story. Long ago Celestia and I ruled in harmony, but I grew jealous of nopony not admiring my night, so I became Nightmare Moon in order to defeat my sister and make it night time forever. Celestia used the elements of harmony to seal me in my moon until I was able to free myself the same night you obtained your cutie mark. That night I set out to find the elements of harmony so nopony could use them against me, but my efforts failed when six ponies showed how strong their friendship was. They claimed the elements and purified my soul and thus I returned to becoming Princess Luna and here I am today reunited with my sister.” A unicorn colt walked up to us in a nice manner. “Hello Princess, the night guards are all at their posts.” He turned his head and looked at me. “So Princess who is this?” “This is my new student, Inspiration. Little one, this is Shining Armor and he is captain of the guard here at the castle.” “So Princess Luna managed to get a student to look after, that’s pretty neat. So Inspiration, have you learned about Celestia’s student?” I glanced over at the stained glass. “I just learned that she is one of the heroines that helped Princess Luna become her old self again.” “Well I may be captain, but I am also Twilight’s older brother. Anyway I got captain duties to attend to, nice meeting you Inspiration.” Shining Armor walked off towards the throne room. Princess Luna and I continued down the hallway to tour the rest of Canterlot Castle. I got to see places like the dining hall, observation room, and the Princess’ bedrooms. We then came to the door of one more room. Princess Luna stopped not wanting to go in. “There is a third princess among us by the name of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza who is the niece of both Celestia and I. Now she is asleep at the moment so we can handle introductions tomorrow night.” Light started to peak into the windows and Princess Luna spoke again. “Night is ending I think we should both rest for tomorrow night.” I nodded and said, “Good night Princess Luna.” I went to my room, crawled into bed, and watched the sun make it all the way past the horizon before completely falling asleep. May inspiration find me at dusk.