//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: A Normal Family // Story: Moon Rising // by kibamudkip2 //------------------------------// Luna walked just behind Falling Star. She had spent the better part of the day getting a castle wide tour from the colt. Sure she knew of every place they had gone, but it seemed so much better seeing it with another pony. They had just finished a very sneaky tour of the kitchens to avoid being seen by the chief. On their pass through they had swiped a couple pieces of cake that Luna now levitated before them. Falling star looked up at the sun and smiled widely. He gobbled down the rest of his cake and took off at a run. “Falling Star?” Luna finished her cake and ran after him “Falling Star, where are we going?” she called. She didn’t recognize this part of the castle. It seemed in a state of disrepair. When she caught up to Falling Star he was standing in front a door bouncing from hoof to hoof. “Hurry up Daydream! There is only a short time to see it” he said excitedly. Luna smiled softly “Alright, what do you want to show me?” she asked. Falling Star flew up to the handle that was just out of the two foals reach and pulled it open slowly. The afternoon sun shone through the door, temporarily blinding the filly. “May I present to you, The Queens private garden” Falling Star announced as he landed next Luna. “Well? Are you coming in Daydream?” Luna only stared dumbly into the gardens. Falling Star chuckled and draped a wing across her back causing her to jump. Smiling, Falling Star led her inside. The Garden was in a large circular courtyard completely open to the sky. Flowers of every kind grew in neat rows and tears. From flowers as common as roses, to flowers as deadly as nightshade, all grew inside of the garden. As the pair walked towards the middle a massive fountain came into view. Luna’s mouth fell open as her eyes fell on the fountain. As the water fell it caught all of the light from the afternoon sun, causing to drops of water to shimmer like the stars of the night sky. “How did you ever find this place Falling Star?” Luna asked as she wandered around the fountain “This place is amazing!” Falling Star smiled and walked next to her. He pointed to the sky with one of his wings and raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes, wings, right, aheh” Luna muttered a bit embarrassed while scuffing her hoof in the dirt. Falling Star smiled and patted the filly on her back with a wing “No need to be embarrassed Daydream. You’re a Unicorn! What reason would you have to think about flying over a rundown part of the castle? Let alone think about flying at all? You have no wings you silly filly” he laughed lightly and Luna forced a small laugh of her own. “Yes, yes that’s right, no wings” she said in relief, at least the disguise of flour was for sure working. The pair set by the fountain watching the sun set. “ Aren't the Queens sunsets just beautiful Daydream?” Falling Star asked softly. Luna nodded “Yea, hers sunsets. Sunset……” her smile faded and her eyes snapped wide open “oh no!” she leaped leapt to her hooves and ran to the door. Falling Star spun around and watched her leave. “Daydream what’s wrong!?” he called after her. Luna shouted over her shoulder and called back. “I need to get back, my Mother will worry about me!” she called. Falling Star nodded “See you tomorrow?” Luna stopped as she opened the door. A smile spread across her face “Tomorrow” she agreed as she left. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Luna galloped into the castle as fast as she could. Clean, she had to get clean! She skidded to a halt in front of one of the bathing rooms. She tip-hooved in and scanned the room for what she hoped would be prepared. Her eyes fell upon a pale of water and leapt into the tub. Firing up her horn she levitated the bucket over her head and shut her eyes tightly. She flipped the bucket and allowed the cold water to rain down on her. Hoping from hoof to hoof she shook the water and flour paste from her coat and mane. Feeling better now that she was clean she hopped out and trotted towards the dining hall. She paused in front of the massive double doors that led to the royal dining hall. She ran her hooves quickly through her mane and tail, making sure that they looked presentable for dinner. With deep breathe she fired up her horn and opened the doors. She smiled at her luck, her mother and father weren't there yet, but Celestia was there. The older sister looked over to Luna and smiled “Glad to see you made it.” Luna climbed onto her chair next to her sister. She tilted when she heard Celestia giggle. “Tia? What is it?” she asked. Through her giggles she managed to reply “Sister, you have flour on your nose!” before rolling into another fit of giggles. Luna frantically rubbed the offending flour from her nose as the doors by the head of the table were opened by a pair of maid ponies. In walked two of the most majestic ponies ever to grace Equestria, the king and queen, Luna and Celestia’s parents. Both were regal alicorns, and both were as different and the young princesses they had brought into the world. The queen was tall and radiated, light and warmth seemed to shine from within her. From wings flowed from her back like a cape and clouds in the sunrise, and her tail and mane encompassed all the beauty of the dawn sky. She smiled sweetly at her children and took her seat, her face showed only love for her daughters and her subjects. The king on the other hoof was a stoic pony with a body formed to defend those around him. The lines between his coat, tail and mane were non-existent as it looked as if the mighty ruler were cut from the very fabric of the night’s sky. His hard gaze passed over the young ones as he took his seat next to his wife. In perfect unison the two rulers removed their crowns and set them gently on the table. It was a daily ritual that signaled that the two passed from rulers to parents. The king’s face softened slightly and he clapped a hoof on the table to signal the servants to begin to bring out their dinner. The queen smiled at Luna as a soup was laid out for the four royals. As they ate the queen spoke to the filly. “So Luna dear? How was your day?” Luna finished her soup and shrugged. “I uh, I wandered the castle and did umm…. Stuff?” she didn't want to say that she had gotten into trouble with the chief, again, nor did she want them knowing she had been spending time with a middle class foal. Dinner in the royal dining hall passed quieter than usual. Things were often quiet when Celestia got to go to the courts. She was the more talkative of the two sisters. Luna kept happy in knowing that Tia would tell her all about it later. The doors was opened by the two maid ponies and one of the chiefs assistant’s rolled in a cart with a lovely cake on top. Luna gulped, she remembered the cake. It was the one that her and Falling Star had snatched pieces from earlier. The cake was sliced and served; all the while the king stared at it. “Cook?” he asked. The assistant looked up “Yes your Majesty?” He motioned to the cake “Are my eyes deceiving me, is some of this missing?” he asked, raising a brow. The assistant cleared his throat “There was an unfortunate incident with a couple of the servants foals. They stole some” he nodded and left the room. As they ate, the Kings eyes stayed on Luna, his stare was one of mild disappointment. Luna did her best to avoid his gaze. She hated when he looked at her like that. A squeal of joy from Celestia brought the mood back to its normal cheery state. The Queen chuckled “Celestia, what is it dear one?” she asked lightly. Celestia giggled happily “I’m sorry all, I couldn't help myself!” she wiggled a bit in her seat “I just” she a deep breath “I just love CAKE so much!” she cried with glee as she pulled another piece to her and proceeded eating. This brought laughter to all of them, even her father broke into a laugh. Luna smiled as she slowly ate her own piece. Dinner, one of the few times that Luna felt that she was loved. She wished it to last. Luna bounced happily next to Celestia as they walked to her sister’s room. She wanted to hear all about her day, and she wanted to tell her ALL about her own! Celestia opened the door to her room and Luna’s well-practiced smile melted away to be replaced by one of the few real ones that she allowed herself. As envious as she could be of the attention her parents gave her sister, she loved her. Celestia was her best, and till today, only friend. With a cry of joy she leapt onto her sisters’ bed and bounced a few times. Celestia’s bed always seemed so much bouncier then her own. “Come on Tia! Tell me all about it!” she asked, or more demanded. Celestia laughed and caught Luna under her wing and forced her filly sister onto the bed. “Calm down Lulu, allow me to settle myself” The solar princess took a seat next to Luna. She smiled and began. “Well for starters, Mother took me with her to raise the sun!” she hurried “She said that in a after a couple of days of watching I can try to raise it myself!” Celestia smiled at the thought. Luna’s mouth hung open in in disbelief. “Mother took you with her!?” her voice rose slightly in shock. Celestia nodded, pushing her mane out of her face with a hoof. “Father will take you to raise the moon with him someday, just be passant little sister” she wrapped her wings around Luna in a hug as she spoke. Luna smiled “I’m okay Tia; Tell me about the day in the court!” And tell she did. The court consisted of hours of sitting upon a throne listening to the needs of the ponies. Their requests ranged greatly and were widely varied. They ranged from such mundane things as loans for a new building, need for new laws, to things as extraordinary and magical as making dead crops to life and ordering a rainstorm. The weight of every request was weighed between the Rulers and a judgement was made to grant or not to grant the request. “The last pony of the day had the most… unnerving request Lulu” she said in a hushed whisper “It was this sorrowful Stallion, he looked a mess. He waited till the room had cleared. He then demanded that mother and father bring his new born back to life” Luna’s jaw dropped “What?” she whispered in disbelief. Celestia nodded “Mother simply said no. This only angered the stallion and he demanded again that they bring her back. Then Father stood up, his mane seemed to grow darker and he said-“ Celestia story was cut off by a deep voice from the doorway “That it was impossible to bring any pony back from the grave, no matter how strong their magic” The two princesses leapt off the bed and stood straight “Father!” they said in unison. The large starry stallion smiled at his daughters “relax girls. To the masses I am King, to you I will only be your father” his smile faded “Tis time for bed young ones” This drew a groan from the princesses. “Good night Tia” “Goodnight Lulu” They shared a hug before Luna trotted out of the room. “Luna” The King said softly “Walk with me, I wish to speak to you” Luna’s ears pinned back as her father’s wing draped over her and he led her towards her room. “Luna, you are a Princess.” He began sternly. “And tis time you began acting like one” Luna’s mouth dropped “Whatever do you mean?” she asked. “Chef, you were messing around in his kitchen again weren't you?” he questioned. She looked away “I only wanted to keep myself busy, to have a little fun for once… to be around somepony” They stopped in front of her bedroom door and the King opened it with his magic “There is more to life then attention and having fun Luna! You are a Princess, and if you wish the respect and love of your subjects, then you had best start acting like one!” Luna shook and ran into her room “Maybe I could if you and Mother treated me like one!” she yelled before slamming the door with her magic. Sniffling she jumped onto her bed and hid beneath the safety of the covers. There, her sniffles turned to quiet sobs. She had never raised her voice towards her father, and she regretted doing so. He was sure to be furious with her. Then a thought rose in her mind accompanied by the happy face of her new friend. With him she didn't have to be a princess. With him she could be Daydream, the maid’s daughter. She smiled “Guess I’ll be seeing chef more often” with her mind now filled with happy thoughts and plans, the lunar princess drifted off into sleep.