//------------------------------//
// The Dawn of Dusk 
// Story: The Memories of Star Light: The Untold Origin of Nightmare Moon 
// by NeonGlow 
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	Estella stood at the window looking out at the twilight. It seemed to last an unusually long time today, but perhaps it was her perception of time was flawed. She could stare off into space for hours and only believe a few minutes had pasted. Bearing this in mind she went back to work. When she was a filly Estella imagined she would do something amazing like build an observatory or discover a new star. She never would have guessed that she would end up shelving books for an archive. Like her talent Estella’s cutie mark was a shooting star. Her passion was mapping out stars, but unfortunately Canterlot didn’t have any such position. When she was young some pony told her the princesses planned to build an observatory, but one was never commissioned. With little money to travel Estella had to settle for shelving books until she had enough to find some place she could really shine.

Levitating the books up on to the shelf the bluish-gray unicorn worked tediously to finish her task. When a book on comets caught her eye Estella immediately brought it down to read. Out of nowhere a blue stallion jumped out from behind one of the bookcase causing Estella to jump and the book to fly across the room. The stallion merely laughed at her.

“Watch it Space Case or you are going to break a window.” He chuckled.

“Do you not have anything better to do other than tease me Lex?” Estella snapped rhetorically. 

Lexile was a very literate pony, not to mention a good book keeper, however he was nonetheless a bully. Ever since they were little he had found every reason to make Estella feel horrible about herself along with anyone else smaller than him. Rather than a quill his cutie mark should have been a set of boxing gloves  with the way he bullied every pony.

“No, now get out.” He returned harshly. “I have to lock up for the night.”

“But I have to finish…” Estella argued. 

“Too bad, take it up with Bottom Dollar when he takes it out of your salary.”

Too terrified to fight back Estella hung her head and slunk away defeated. Loading up her saddle bags she wandered out only to have the door slammed on her back side. Estella trotted to the edge of the city and out into the forest. At the very least she could sketch the stars before she had to go home and prepare for another dreary day.

Estella walked for a long time to reach a grove and when she could finally see the sky the sight was very disenchanting. There were very few stars shining and the moon was barely hanging on to the sky.  She pondered if it was even worth taking out her journal to draw, but then the stars got a bit brighter. The princess must have not been finished constructing her vision yet. Thus Estella laid in the grass and waited patiently. When she was certain that the sky was at its’ peak Estella would take out her book and map it. Her eyes did not close until a single star streaked across the sky before fading into space. Estella lowered her head and made a wish.

“I wish I had some pony to watch the stars with me.”

Though it was true that Estella enjoyed the solitude she was only pony in Canterlot that liked to sit out and watch the stars. Once the sun went down few ponies stayed up and none of them spent the entire night beneath the stars as she did. For most of the day Estella slept, never being very social as she prepared for her evening job, and there for she didn’t really have anyone who she considered to be her friend. She always assumed she could make friends as easily as she did when she was younger. One day a pony would simply pop out of a bush and they would talk before things fell into motion. Nothing was so easy though. 

Before Estella pulled out her journal she heard a rustling that caused her to turn her head. She called out to the bushes, but there was no answer. Standing Estella called out again. The wind died down to silence.

“Please come out.” Estella said trying to peer into the dark. “I will not do you any harm.”

Estella realized she would not have to worry about hurting any pony when a manticore leapt from the woods and roared at her. Estella shrieked and ducked as the creature pounced at her. This did little to help her. The beast picked her up off the ground by the strap of her saddle bag and pulled her up into the air. Looking down Estella became terrified at the trees became smaller and smaller and started to blend together. Covering her eyes she focused as hard as she could her horn glowed as magic coursed through her. In a burst of grey light the unicorn disappeared leaving behind only her saddle bag in the manticore’s grip. Roaring angrily the creature flung the bag scattering the contents to the wind. It then dove back down to search for its’ prey. 

Down below Estella ran for her life as she was unsure if she could focus long enough to teleport herself again. The tips of her snow white mane and tail were already singed as magic had never been her strong suit. The manticore lost her along the way, but that didn’t stop Estella from running as if the ground was crumbling. After the sound of the beast was gone Estella turned her head to see if it was still chasing her. The creature was gone, but she should have been more concerned with what was in front of her. A loose root catch the mare’s foot and sent her tumbling to the ground. Estella’s luck sank even lower when she landed in a partially dried mud puddle. Picking herself up from the ground Estella leaned on her left side. Falling had caused immense pain to her right hoof and she could barely stand to put it on the ground. With her day now completely ruined Estella limped home fearing the manticore would return if she went to look for her journal. Estella couldn’t help crying all the way home.

*

Luna flew about Canterlot expecting ponies to look up in awe as they did with her sister. However all she heard was the sound of snoring. Made bitter by the sight Luna swooped down and wandered until she came to Apple Lane. Upon arriving at the door she looked up to see all the windows were dark. Growling hatefully the princess slammed the book down on the mat and turned to leave in a huff. The muffled sound of crying entered her ears and Luna paused listening for it. As the sound came closer Luna jumped up on the roof and watched from the shadows. A dark bluish-grey unicorn came down the street, limping as her leg was clearly causing her pain. Her coat was matted and long white hair was soaked in mud. Leaves and branches from the Ever Free Forest clung to her making it even more difficult to walk, despite the trail that had been cast off behind her. Luna felt bad for her as her golden eyes were stained red with tears. She remained hidden as the mare approached the house. To Luna’s surprise the mare’s eyes lit up when they fell upon the book that had been left on her door mat. 

“My book!” Estella shouted joyfully. 

The unicorn immediately dropped her voice fearing she might wake some pony up. She looked up at the sky and frowned she saw dense clouds slowly covering the sky. The weather team must have pushed them out last minute. Luna felt a bit of pain in her chest when she feared the pony might start to cry again. Estella only sighed and opened the door.

“I will never be able to map all the stars now.” She whimpered. “Every pony was right, I am just a space case. No wonder Princess Luna refuses returns my letters.”

The unicorn went inside and began to draw a hot bath. Luna sat in the shadows for a time thinking about what she had just seen. Some pony was literally hurt because she didn’t bring the night for her. Luna felt an anger swell in her chest. She was crazy for even listening to Celestia much less following her advice. Pointing her horn up at the sky her eyes and horn began to glow. A strong wind came barreling over the hills and pushed away the clouds. The moon grew to a full crescent as she focused her magic and the stars grew in both numbers and brightness. Looking up at it Luna smiled before leaning down to the tap on the window. 

Hearing a sound from the bathroom Estella got out of the bath and toweled herself off. She thought it was the door at first, but drying her ears she realized it was the sound of something tapping against the glass. Just before she came to the window the tapping stopped. Curious as to what the sound could have been Estella pushed the windows open wide. Her jaw dropped at sight of the stars and how the sky was finally at its peak. Taking out her journal Estella sat at her balcony sketching out the scene until the sun began to rise over the hills. She had forgotten the sound, the pain in her leg and even the headache that had blossomed. Luna sat on the roof silently watching her from above until Estella disappeared within the house. Nothing made her happier to see the unicorn look at the sunrise and yawn as if it were insignificant. Luna lowered the moon gently before coming to her feet. She had never felt such joy before, Luna’s glory and pride made her radiate with a new strength. She now stood just a little taller and kept her head high as she flew back to her castle. However her smile faded to a puzzled look as a thought entered her mind. The princess whispered to herself silently.

“Letters?”