The months passed by in bliss for Luna. Her knowledge of magic had advanced greatly thanks to Star Swirls teachings and her wings had grown stronger thanks to Falling Stars flying lessons. They had become the foundations of her two selves. With Star Swirl she was a regal princess learning how she would one day do her part in ruling over all of Equestria. While with Falling Star she was able to be a fun loving filly, who had the best friend in any pony could ask for.
A few weeks after he had found out that she was a Princess, Luna had taken Falling Star into the castle proper. She showed him all she could. The great doors to the court room to the royal dining hall. The servants quarters to the tower in which Star Swirl lived. It was getting late in the day and Luna had been trying to sneak Falling Star out of the castle. She couldn’t imagine how furious her parents would be if they found out that she mingled with commoners, let alone brought one into the castle.
They had almost made it out when she heard a voice behind her. “Is this the friend you told me about Lulu?” She turned slowly to see Celestia trotting happily towards her and behind her their parents. Falling Star saluted the Royals before bowing, drawing a small laugh from the Queen, the King looked much less amused. Celestia had smiled introduced herself. Laughs were shared and Falling Star had been granted permission from the Queen to be friends with her daughter and was welcomed into the castle.
“Every Pony needs friends Luna, even Princesses”. This had launched Luna into months of glee and joyous study. She thought it would never end.
It was the morning of Celestia’s thirteenth birthday, the day the she would raise the sun and become a fully accepted as the Princess of the Sun. It should have made Luna happy, she should have felt overwhelming pride for her big sister, but instead she left only loneliness. Would this mean that she would get to see Tia even less? She would have duties and responsibilities; would this tear her sister from her? She shook her head to banish the thoughts that plagued her mind and returned her attention to her Father who was lecturing to them while the mares in waiting groomed their manes and tails.
“Moving the heavenly orbs is a mighty responsibility and must be done with great care. Always be punctual.” He turned to look at the Queen. She looked so very tired, raising the sun for so long must have drained her, Luna thought to herself. Would it drain Celestia to?
Her thoughts were shattered into one of peace and calm as her mother’s gentle voice filled the room. “Take care my little one for this is not only a passing of duty, it is a ritual that upon its completion will make you a true Alicorn”. The sisters looked at each in confusion.
“Aren’t we already Alicorns?” Celestia asked.
The Queen smiled “Only in form my little ones. You see there are different types Alicorns. Celestial Alicorns, like your Father and myself are born of the energies of Equestria. But you are my special little girls; you are true Alicorns, born to serve all the pony races. The unicorns, the pegisi, and the earth ponies. You two are all of them, and yet none of them. You possess the sturdy bodies of an earth pony, the wings and power of flight of a Pegasus, and you are gifted with the most powerful magics. Or at least you will. Your power and potential is locked away” she tapped each princess above the heart “inside of you, and once it is unlocked, and only then, will you be true Alicorns” she finished with a flare of her wings. She smiled warmly. “It is time” she took Celestia under her wing and lead the way out of the castle.
~ ~ ~
The crowd that had gathered around the event plaza was enormous! More ponies crammed into one space then Luna had seen in her whole life! On the highest point in the square stood Star Swirl, the master of ceremonies. He beckoned for Celestia to stand beside him before slamming the end of his staff onto the ground, sending a burst of magic through the air, silencing the cheering ponies. “TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE CORRONATION OF PRINCESS CELESTIA, REGENT OF THE SUN!” He bellowed using the fabled royal shout. “Do you, Princess Celestia share to diligently and dutifully raise and lower the sun without fail, and to be the guardian of the day?” he asked.
Without hesitation Celestia nodded “I do so solemnly swear” she replied.
Star Swirl nodded and pointed his staff to the horizon “This day is to be yours, bring it to the ponies”
Luna watched as Celestia fired up her horn and flew slowly into the sky. It looked as if she was trying to lift a great weight and that she would fall at any minute. She could feel her mother’s anxiety and worry and glanced at her. She was ready to swoop in should anything go wrong. Then, a most amazing thing began to happen, the horizon glowed a fiery red, and then a rainbow of colours erupted as the sun began to rise. Luna stared in fascination and awe at what she was seeing. The most beautiful sunrise she, maybe anypony, had ever seen, and it was being made by her Sister! As it and Celestia rose ever so slowly, Star Swirl began to chant and ancient spell unlocking her true potential. There was a flash of light from her sisters flank as she became silhouetted against the sun, she had done it! Cheers erupted from the gathered ponies and Celestia landed gracefully next to Star Swirl. Her flowed out behind her as if blown wind and it shimmered with magic.
Star Swirl levitated a crown from a box onto Celestia’s head. He turned to the crowd “PONIES OF EQUESTIA, I GIVE YOU PRINCESS CELESTIA, RULER OF THE SUN AND I DECREE THIS DAY TO BE THE SUMMER SUN CELEBRATION, IN RECOGNITION OF HER GLORY!” The ponies cheered.
Luna watched, a seed of thought growing in the back of her mind. If so much beauty could come from light and a bit of colour, just imagine what she could do with the night! She paint pictures across the sky that all would adore. Everypony would wait in anticipation as she rose the moon and bathed the world in its cooling light. They would adore her, they would adore only her. She was snapped back to reality by her Fathers stern voice
“we are heading back now Luna, hurry along” he said before he walked past her to catch up with Celestia and her Mother. Luna stood alone on the square as the crowd began to disperse and her Family walked away. Any warmth that the sun had to offer her was blocked by the cold claws of loneliness that suddenly gripped her.
Did nopony care for her? “Luna!” a voice called to her. She half expected it to be her Father yelling for her to catch up, but she did not see him. Instead the saw the messy gray mane of Falling Star fighting it way through the crowd towards her. The one pony that she knew cared for her, Falling Star, he would stay by her side. She rushed to her friend but the claws lingered. Would she ever feel truly loved?