//------------------------------// // Luna's Return by Prince Solstice // Story: False Starts // by wille179 //------------------------------// Luna's Return by Prince Solstice Preface by wille179: This story was submitted to me by Prince Solstice as one of his abandoned stories. He asked if I would post it, to which I agreed. I gave this a quick once over to polish it up, but otherwise this is his original work. Description: Luna disappearing from the moon, and some final goodbyes as the brave Princess goes to sacrifice herself to save Equestria. Tags: Random Characters: Mane 6, Luna, Celestia Rating: Everyone “Please sister you must understand…” Celestia was practically begging by this point “No, I know what returning from the moon would bring. It has been so long since I’ve gotten to be loved for my magic. You can’t send me back, especially with it still lurking in the shadows above.” Luna stared up at the moon, it had begun to form a giant crack splitting it vertically. The aura of it was strangely dark, and the space around quivered. “Look,” Celestia sighed “I know what evil lurks on the moon, but you must understand. The fate of Equestria rests in your hooves. Even upon your return to good the sun was still getting harder and harder to raise. I wish I had never banished you to the moon in the first place, and I should have known better…” Luna interrupted “Yes, you should have known better! I knew it even back then in all of jealous rage. The moon is an evil thing, and spending an eternity alone with it has made it grow more powerful because of my magic. I can’t leave now, otherwise the night mares will return to your subjects, and cause them to be disloyal. You will still lose power and faith only weakening your abilities. Even worse, the evil on the moon is restless, I can feel it. There is another way, there has to be!” Luna had begun to cry, her mane had lost its flare and size. “I know Luna. I understand that the powers of evil will shift no matter what destiny we choose the fate of all pony kind rest in your hooves. Either you return to the moon, and the nightmares return, or the moon will shatter and release the true evil I imprisoned there in the first place.” Celestia kept her composure, and gave Luna a look of desperation and seriousness. Celestia knew Luna would choose to be banished again, at least she hoped. “What if…” Luna paused for a moment to recollect herself, “what if we destroy the true evil on the moon?” Luna returned the look of seriousness back at Celestia. “What? You really think it’s possible?” Celestia was shocked to hear this. “Not even I in my most powerful state was able to defeat that type of evil, Nightmare Moon was not even close to the evil’s true power.” Celestia looked up at the moon, the crack loomed certain death, and caused Celestia to shutter at the thought. “Well, the only way to defeat any darkness, is with light. He elements return was not just a fluke. They had to return for some reason. You were not able to defeat me as Nightmare Moon, but they were. Do you think maybe it’s time to train them, to maybe allow them to unlock their true potentials?” Luna moved closer to Celestia with concerned look in her eyes. “I know having something more powerful than you would put Equestria in danger of internal conflict, but it may be the only way.” “Sister, I have faith in all of the elements, they would not use their power to turn on me. Not like last time. Twilight Sparkle has shown devotion, loyalty, and faith. She has reunited the elements in a time we needed them the most. She was able to face her fears to make friends, then she faced those friends when they had no trust or faith in her, and she managed to best the evils attempts every time it tried to reign chaos upon Equestria. She is ready and so are the other elements.” Celestia looked over at Ponyville, sighed, and looked at Luna. “I do not want to lose my sister again, as selfish as that sounds, but if Twilight cannot properly unite the elements promise me you will make the sacrifice to stop it.” Celestia gave Luna a grim look. “You have my word, just promise me everything will be okay. I know that my return would be unavoidable in another thousand years, and I will return as Nightmare Moon again. Promise me you will be able to stop me a second time, and that you will still be here.” Luna’s look was one of grief and desperation. Celestia nodded, and looked Luna in the eyes. “We must try to release the Elements. They are again the final hope for your destiny along with my own and every pony else.” Celestia looked away from Luna and at the moon again. “I just hope Twilight is ready.” Miles away in Ponyville, Twilight was sleepless in observation of the moon. She awaited a message from the Princess as to what the buck was going on. Spike had fallen asleep on the floor next to her, but she remained up studying her telescope. Twilight thought ‘what is going on? The moon formed a horrendous crack, and it looks like black mist is seeping through it. I hope Celestia contacts me soon.’ Her eyes were set on observing the moon, and taking notes every ten minutes. The scientist in her couldn’t help it. She took a moment to get another cup of green tea from her third pot. Her thoughts buzzed as she sipped the warm beverage when a knock came at the door. Twilight put the cup down, and trotted downstairs to open it. She could hear some argumentative whispering behind the door. She opened it to find all of her friends huddled around the entryway. “Oh, uh, Hey Twilight! We were, uh, just stopping by.” Applejack gave a weak grin, Twilight could tell they were all concerned. “Look, don’t freak out. The crack hasn’t gotten any worse since it opened. Just don’t let your feelings get the best of you. I am sure the Princess will contact me soon, so just come in and keep quiet. Spike is asleep, and he is going to need it.” One by one the ponies shuffled in, each of their faces had a look of concern. Fluttershy’s, however, was the worse, she looked like she was on the brink of downright panic. She already had tears in her eyes. Even Pinkie’s usual smile had faded away, them coming over was not going to make anything better for any of them. Twilight even knew that she herself was on the brink of downright panic. She shut the door behind them and turned around to face them. They looked at her expectantly. “So, Twi, what’s going on with the moon?” Rainbow Dash was the first to break the silence. Twilight looked at each of them, and gave a sigh. “I don’t know, like I said, I am waiting on a letter from the Princess. I know it has to do with Luna’s return to Equestria. I also know that it isn’t good…” Fluttershy cowered and let out a fearful whimper. “but don’t worry, I’m sure Celestia knows what to do.” Above there was a burp and Spike came running downstairs with a sealed letter in his hand. “Twilight! A letter from the Princess arrived.” Spike handed Twilight the letter, and the room was silent in anticipation. 'My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle, As you are probably aware, the moon has split down the middle. This is not an accident. We, Luna and I, were aware of what was going to happen, and knew it was only a matter of time. This is why I had to take drastic measures and force you to find the Elements of Harmony. This is the reason; the moon is actually a giant prison that contains an ultimate evil. Nightmare Moon was only part of the evil released. Now, without a vessel to harness that evil, the prison is tearing apart. It is only a matter of time before the moon opens its core and all of pony kind will be destroyed. There are only two options. First, I send Luna back to the moon, and she is banished for another thousand years in order to keep the evil at bay with her magic, or we destroy it. The Elements of Harmony hold more than just the power of friendship; they hold the powers of all ponykind, and have the potential to protect us all from this evil. You will become even more powerful than me, but first you must combine with your elements.'