"And that, Luna, is why we don't use the Royal Canterlot Voice. It scares the ponies." Cooed Celestia.
"But everypony's already scared of me." Sighed Luna. Luna scraped the polished wood floor of her chambers with a shoed hoof, then sighed deeply.
"Nonsense, Luna. Everypony loves you." Luna just hung her head in response. Then, a white Pegasus with a dappled brown mane and tail trotted in.
"Princess Celestia." Said the pony, bowing. She got to her hooves shakily and turned toward the Moon Princess. "And P-P-Princess L-Luna." She bowed hastily, almost slipping due to the cinnamon-spattered cream colored socks she was wearing. Luna lifted her head and groaned. Even a servant was scared by her very presence.
"Hello, my dear Cinnabon. Whatever is the matter?" Celestia bowed her head slightly.
"Oh, um, I just came to inform you that dinner will be at seven o'clock today." Cinnabon shifted nervously, then casted a worried glance at Luna, who rolled her eyes.
"Thank you Cinnabon. You may go."
"Thank you, P-Princess Celestia." Cinnabon bowed quickly, then tore off screaming. Luna groaned, then laid her head on her desk.
"Luna, it's not so bad…" Luna started to bang her head against her desk, groaning all the while. "Luna, stop it. You know you have friends. Also, Cinnabon was always a shy one, so it's alright. You're not alone." Luna banged her head a few more times, then whipped around to face Celestia.
"Yeah, like who?" Luna growled.
"Well, what about Twilight?"
"I've lost touch with her."
"Lost touch? Hmm…oh! I forgot! Twilight's in the castle right now, actually." Luna jumped up.
"REALLY!? Since when!? W-where is she?" Luna almost squashed Celestia's cheeks with her strong hooves.
"She came to see Cadance, but I'm sure you two can visit. I think she's in the throne room. Go check." Celestia managed to speak through her squashed lips.
"Really!? Wow!" Luna released her iron grip and charged down the castle corridors as fast as she could, pumping her wings to boost her speed.
"Luna, wait! Don't forget, dinner at seven!" Celestia called after her, but she was long gone.
Luna raced down yet another long hallway, blowing over rare vases and moving the lavish tapestries. What Luna didn't see was Princess Cadance trotting down the same hall, in the other direction. Before she knew what hit her, Cadance was flung across the hall, due to Luna's immense speed. Luna trotted over to Cadance and helped her to her hooves.
"Um, excuse me? Oh, it's just you." Cadance pushed Luna away and dusted her pink coat. "What are you in a rush for."
"Sorry, Cadance. I'm looking for Twilight, she was supposed to be here. Have you seen her?"
"Oh yes. She came to talk to me, actually, you see, we're such close friends..."
"Yes, whatever, but where is she?"
"On her way home right now. You better hurry if you want to talk to her, she's about to take off." Cadance whipped Luna with her tail as she shoved her aside and strolled past.
"Oh sh*t, I better hurry!" Luna flapped her wings and flew down several more halls at top speed.
..................
"Thank you for visiting, Twiley." Shining Armor hugged Twilight.
"No problem. You're my B.B.B.F.F., and I love you."
"Bye, Twilight."
"WAIT!! Twilight, I'm so glad to see you!" Luna practically tackled Twilight, causing her to stumble into Shining.
"AHHH!! Oh, Luna, it's you." Twilight pushed Luna off and stepped back. Spike took one look at Luna and shrank back behind Twilight.
"I apologize, my dear Twilight Sparkle. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's fine, really. I see your voice has improved. Hehe…" Beads of sweat started to form on Twilight's brow.
"Yes. Celestia has been giving me lessons. I doubt they go to your standards, Twilight. You've helped me alot." Luna smiled, her voice soft.
"Well, that's great Lunaa, hahaha." Twilight smiled nervously.
"Is something wrong, Twilight?"
"Oh no, nothing's wrong, nothing's wrong!" Twilight took another step back.
Luna's smile faded. "Oh. I've lost touch with you, so I haven't heard from you in awhile. Did something happen?"
"I've been busy studying! And, you know, saving the world and all." Twilight made a circular gesture with her hoof.
"Oh, I see. So you don't want to be friends anymore?" Luna's tone darkened, her face a disappointed scowl.
"Luna, I never said that!"
"You didn't have to. It's like I'm some kind of freak!" Luna's eyes pooled up with tears. She turned around and tore off bawling.
"Luna, wait!" Twilight started to move forward.
"Twilight, don't go!" Spike grappled onto Twilight's hind leg, preventing her from going after Luna. Shining Armor sighed. With one last look at the castle, Twilight and Spike boarded the awaiting chariot.
...........
Luna jumped onto her bed and cried into her navy blue comforter. She lifted up her head and gazed at the picture of her and the Mane 6 together on Nightmare Night. Luna's eyes grew white with rage and sadness, and she swatted the picture off her nightstand. Only when she heard the shattering of glass did she once again stuff her head into her now damp blanket. Luna rolled over and stared at her mirror. It was one of those stand-up mirrors seen in old horror films. Slowly Luna dragged herself out of bed and stood in front of it, studying herself. "I'm such a wimp." Luna shut her eyes and wished she could be loved instead of feared, like Tia. When she opened them again, the reflection she saw wasn't her own, yet it was.
"You bet you are, crying over her. Pathetic." It spoke in a glassy, cold, voice that made Luna shiver.
"What in Equestria…?" Luna stepped cautiously forward. Then there was a knock on the door.
"Luna?"
"Yes- um, come in." Luna looked back at the mirror to find her normal reflection inside.
"Luna, I told you to come down for dinner. What's wrong?" Celestia noted Luna's strange expression. Luna stared at the mirror, her vision locked on.
"Um, N-nothing…nothing…" Luna was completely entranced. Was her mirror magic? Celestia followed Luna's gaze.
"What are you looking at…did you go see Twilight?" Celestia flapped her white wings.
"Hmm…," Luna snapped back into attention. The wind her sister's wings made was cold. "Oh, yeah, I did." Celestia moved the shattered picture towards Luna.
"It seems you didn't get along…" Tears started to stream from Luna's eyes.
"She's scared of me, Tia! Just like everypony else! Why can't I just be normal?" Luna buried her head in Celestia's shoulder.
"My sweet, darling sister. You are normal. It's just a bit hard for ponies to get used to you, after what happened. They need some time to adjust, that's all." Celestia lovingly stroked Luna's flowing starfield mane.
"Everything's changed, Tia. Nothing's the same, not even you." Luna pushed Celestia away, then turned toward her open window and let the rays of the setting sun soak her in its loving warmth.
"Luna, what do you mean? I'm still me, I haven't changed."
"But you have. I mean, since when did you have a multicolored mane? It was pink before, and- even I've changed. My mane was short, solid blue, and it didn't flow. Even my coat was a lighter blue. What's more is that ponies used to have some degree of mutual respect for me. Now they think I'm a freak. Nothing's the same."
"I-I take it you will not be joining us for dessert." Celestia hurt. Luna's words, they hurt her. Her little sister thought she changed. It was almost too much for her to bear. "Cinnabon!" Cinnabon flew in with a red velvet cake on her back and gently set it in front of Luna. She was terrified. Luna walked to where the cake sat, and where Cinnabon was bowing.
"Thank you, Cinnabon." Said Luna. Cinnabon looked up at Luna, then rose to her hooves, quaking uncontrollably.
"I'll do whatever you wish, Your Majesty!" Cinnabon stared at Luna, her pale brown eyes filled with terror.
"For the love of- DO NOT FEAR ME!!" Luna yelled, in the Royal Canterlot Voice. She was fed up with ponies fearing her. She wanted some love and respect, couldn't ponies see that? As for Cinnabon, she once again bolted. Luna pounded her hooves into her chamber floor, almost cracking it.
"This is what I mean Luna. You could change too."
"What!?" Luna once gain pounded a hoof into the floor.
"You could change. I've changed, everypony else has changed, maybe you can too. Try being different. Try to fit in…oh well. Eat, sister. You're hungry. I'll see you in the morning." Celestia kissed Luna's head, then left, gently closing the doors behind her.
"Red velvet, my favorite!" Luna knelt down and started to eat her cake, when her living reflection started talking again.
"Yes, she shall change. She'll change for good." It whispered. It giggled, then vanished, leaving Luna's usual reflection in its place. Then, no other than Shining Armor strolled in to find Luna with a face full of cake.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you we're busy."
"Hmm?" Luna looked up, then immediately stood, pushed the cake to the side, and wiped all traces of cake off her face with a hint of magic. "Oh my god, I must look like a total pig. Um, sorry Shining Armor."
"No, it's fine. A girl should eat." Shining shrugged.
"Right. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I came to talk to you. Twilight's still your friend, it's just that she's trying to get used to you."
"But she was so nice on Nightmare Night…what changed her mind?"
"Rumors keep going around about you. Cadance told me one."
"Oh did she? What did she say?" Luna scowled.
"I don't know if I should be saying this, but she kept going on about how you plan to rule all of Equesrtia with eternal night, the whole package. And, how you plot to kill Celestia…"
"WHAT!? Is THAT why nopony's talking to me!?" Luna's face was the picture of pure rage.
"I don't know, she only told me! Anyways, I didn't believe it because its just a dumb rumor." Luna calmed down, but she was still a little tense.
"She's gone too far. And, Shining, why aren't you wearing your wedding ring?"
"Yeah, about that...Cadance and I are having a "marriage vacation". But- Luna, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Luna turned toward her mirror.
"I think…I have."
Hehehe…