//------------------------------// // Magic Deprivation // Story: Fading Moonlight // by JumpingShinyFrogs //------------------------------// Princess Celestia lay by the bed cradling her sister. Tears pricked her eyes as she hugged the burning hot body of Princess Luna. Luna herself was drifting in and out of consciousness. Her mane no longer flowed, she was as much a filly as she had been when she was cleansed of Nightmare Moon by the Elements of Harmony. Luna stirred, her breathing shallow, and barely present. She had been diagnosed with an illness, known as Magic Deprivation. Magic Deprivation occurred when a pony's magic began to drain slowly out of them. For most most ponies, it would just leave them tired and unable to use their magic abilities, for instance, a pegasus would fall through clouds. But they would recover eventually. The cause was unknown, as was the cure. However, an alicorn's life force was represented by their magic. The less of it they had, the weaker they were, and the shorter their lifespans would be. At the height of its power, an alicorn is immortal. In most cases, a disease that would kill a normal pony would barely harm an alicorn, but in the case of Magic Deprivation, the opposite was true. As the condition progressed, Luna would lose power, and therefore would revert to the form of a filly, as her body's natural response and attempt to prolong the inevitable. Celestia hadn't eaten or slept in weeks. The citizens of Equestria were beginning to worry; Celestia had forgotten to raise the sun on multiple occasions, and had also done the same with the moon, which Luna was now too weak to raise. "Lulu, what have you done to deserve this?" she whispered tearfully, caressing her sister's mane. Luna's eyes flickered open. For a brief moment, the Royal Pony Sisters locked eyes, Luna's feverish gaze meeting Celestia's. "In this world there is no wrong or right, sister. Things are the way they are. None of us can stop the circle of life from going on its way," a hoarse voice whispered. Celestia however, noticed no movement of the once again sleeping Luna's mouth. She shook her head, wondering if she was losing her mind. Eventually, for the first time since Luna had fallen sick, Celestia surrendered to sleep. ~~~ "Let's play by the water, Sis!" the purple filly suggested. "Alright. Let's go already!" agreed the white filly. "Be home before dark, little ones," the gray mare asserted. The sisters ran to the lake. The cool water soothed their sore hooves and splashed their wings with its refreshing power. The duo played until the sun began to set, and the gray mare ushered them home. ~~~ Celestia woke up laughing. Memories of her fillyhood in the valleys deep within the Everfree Forest filled her with joy. She could still feel the fresh water, taste the sweet flowers and fruits the trees bore. She could still feel the warmth of their mother's embrace, hear the snores of her family as they slept. She could remember the morning the sun forgot to rise, the morning she got her cutie mark. She could remember the night when the moon deviated from its cycle, a new moon where time decreed a full moon should be. The night Luna received her cutie mark. She recalled the day when Luna's mane began to flow, the day the ponies of Equestria coronated them as rulers. All too soon, the harsh reality of life and death sunk in. Laughter soon turned to tears as Celestia recalled days long past, days she would never be able to relive. Days when things were simpler, when the sisters weren't running a kingdom, when Luna wasn't driven by jealousy and malice. She longed for the caring touch of a mother's love, to hear the shouts of delight from the other fillies and colts in the valley. Yearned to listen to the zebra storytellers recount tales of heroes who, even then were ancient. However, the dream had struck Celestia with inspiration. She would take a trip to the Everfree Forest, and meet with a certain zebra. ~~~ Zecora gazed at the tearful princess and listened respectfully as Celestia recounted her tale. She didn't interrupt once, politely told Applebloom to leave when the little filly had barged in asking why she had seen the princess flying into the forest unguarded, and even shooed a wild animal away when it had come looking for a healing brew, telling it to come back later. "Please Zecora, can you devise a cure for Luna's ailment? If she leaves this realm I'm positive my grief will cause me to follow her..." "Dearest mare, I feel your pain, but life cannot exist without strain." "Can't you at least try?" Celestia cried, her voice growing more and more desperate with each word. "I would love to help, but for you, I fear I lack the proper brew," Zecora answered flatly, and immediately wished she hadn't. The princess broke down into tears. For a while she lay sobbing, shuddering every few seconds, until eventually she was still. Upon closer examination, Zecora realised that the poor mare had passed out. Laying her on the bed, Zecora set about researching alicorns and their behaviours. She read as many books on healing plants as she could, and even took advantage of Applebloom still hanging around outside to get some delivered from Ponyville. She got a few results. Princess Celestia woke eventually, and Zecora relayed her findings. "I have read up on herbs, few sources match the written word," she said with a wink. "Please Zecora, tell me what you found," begged Celestia. "There is a flower which can cure, with brilliant colours of strong allure. It is found I'm sure somewhere, but alas, the bloom you seek is quite rare. The plant in question is called Night Rose, but I lack the knowledge as to where it grows. A certain mare may be of help, however, she dislikes whelps. Treat her with the utmost respect, perhaps to the flower she can direct. This mare is called Yin Yang, she dwells in the valley of the Harmony Clan. Search far and wide and seek her out, perhaps you can show her what true care is about," Zecora explained. "Yin Yang? She knows where the Night Rose is? There's a chance this will be easier than I thought!" Celestia said, her face lighting up as she spoke. "I'm afraid I do not understand. Do you already know Yin Yang?" asked Zecora, puzzled. Celestia never answered. She was too busy flying away, deep into the Everfree Forest, on a mission to save her sister from an untimely demise.