//------------------------------//
// And Still It Burns 
// Story: The Trotzamore Stratagem 
// by The Rarispy 
//------------------------------//

After that night, you were no longer my student. You graduated, in a sense.
 
You belonged to Sepia Tone now. You lived a wonderful life together, and even bared a child.
 
Yes, we did. Sweet little Moondancer. My pride and joy.
 
She died very happy. Her lineage continues to this very day, you know. A new descendent lives in Ponyville today, carrying on the proud name of ‘Moondancer’.
 
I am immensely proud.
 
As well you should be, not just of her, but of yourself.
 
I visited you in the hospital that night, shortly after you gave birth.
 
…
 
Luna…
 
No.
 
Please. Not this.
 
That isn’t a memory you should look back on. It is all in the past now.
 
I know… but I can’t help it. It still haunts me to this very day, but I must remember, to ensure certain events do not repeat themselves.
 
“I am fed up with this.”
 
“Mm? Fed up with what?”
 
“These ponies… this system. I work so hard, night in and night out. I put so much effort into arranging the stars into a beautiful fashion, every single night. I sacrifice all of my energy to watch my night flourish. But do they see such wonder?
 
No. They don’t. Because they sleep during the night, ignoring all the beautiful things around them. It makes me feel wasted, like I am working my flank off for nothing! All of that effort, all of that strenuous lifting and lowering of the moon in the night sky… What I wouldn’t give, just to see the night last a little longer. Enough for everypony to see my masterpiece. Otherwise, what good is it all?”
 
“You help keep the balance.”
 
“Hmm?”
 
“There is a great balance, Luna. The crops must have ample time to grow in the daylight. And once it is dark, the farmers need their sleep, so they have all the energy they need to tend to those crops again come daylight.”
 
“But… why? Why must it be that way? No one appreciates my night. I am alone to admire its great beauty, while the rest of the world moves on during the day without me…”
 
“No, you are not.  There are ponies in this world that live for the night, and care naught to seize the day! In fact… I happen to remember two such small children, several years ago, that played in the fountain… and looked at the stars every night, always noticing how pretty they looked.”
 
“Yes, I know… As long as there are ponies like you around to constantly remind me of that… I will be fine.”
 
“Of course. … Luna?”
 
“Yes?”
 
“Could you please tuck me in? I’m-- rather exhausted after all that strenuousness.”
 
“I would imagine so. Only through the windows shattered by your screaming, are we able to see the moon in its full glory…”
 



As long as there were ponies like you around…
 
Luna, you ARE crying! Pray tell, what is the matter?
 
I continued to watch you throughout the rest of your life, Lilac Candescence. I watched your child grow and make her mother proud, as Canterlot’s greatest dancer… but I also watched you and Sepia Tone grow old.
 
And now… the only strong memory I have left of you, is the very last memory.
 
I remember it fondly.
 
I wish I could share in your warm feelings, but I look back on it to this very day with great shame. I was sitting in my new throne that night. Yes, my sister had finally gotten off of her lazy butt and given me my own throne…
 
Hmm-hmm-hmm.
 
It was Bronze Helmet’s official introduction ceremony being sworn in as the new head of my Royal Guard, to take on the duties of his recently passed father.
 
There was a humble knock on the door. Very, very hesitantly, my guards stepped forward and opened it slightly. I could hear her voice clear as night.
 
“Please, please! You must let me in! I must speak to the Princess immediately!”
 
“Our apologies, but the Princess is currently conducting an important ceremony. You will have to come back tomorrow.”
 
“No, you don’t understand! My name is Moondancer, and I come here on behalf of--”
 
“WAIT!” I shouted. “Moondancer? … Guards, let her in.”
 
“But, your highness--”
 
“LET HER IN NOW! YOUR PRINCESS COMMANDS IT!”
 
You had such a beautiful daughter. Bronze Helmet could see it, too. I saw that jubilated grin on his face. Very unsurprising, when you consider what flourished between them later...
 
My only regret is that I wasn’t there to see it happen.
 
“Princess Luna…”
 
The halls were most silent… I was terrified of what she was to say next.
 
“…It’s my mum.”
 
The ceremony was cancelled immediately, and the next thing I knew, I was running down the streets of Canterlot fast as I could.
 
You dropped everything… just to visit me in my final hours.
 



Moondancer followed behind and joined me in entering the faithful room… Sepia Tone was already by your side. Even then, on your deathbed… such a beautiful little flower you were.
 
Your husband gave me his mournful smile, and said nothing. You just smiled at me too, saying nothing for what seemed like an eternity.
 
And then…
 
“Thank you, Princess Luna.”
 
“Hm?”
 
“Thank you… for everything. All of the greatest things that happened to me in my life, I owe to you. You were my teacher and my mentor. You gave me the power. The power to perfect my magic…”
 
And with my last spark of magic… I lit the chandelier on the ceiling above us. I remember that. I used to help save our town from threat with that magic, and lit many ponies’ ways, and yet… I do not remember any execution stronger than that one.
 
“But not just that. Because of you, I found the most wonderful husband I could ever hope for, and had the most wonderful daughter I could ever ask for. I had a brilliant life… all thanks to you.”
 
That was the last time I ever saw your husband and daughter smile so serenely.
 
Then it came.
 
“Luna... as I go on, I need you to remember something for me. One very important thing.”
 
“What?”
 
“Not everything lasts forever, but it is those timely things we must cherish to the very end. Every day is worth living, and every night is worth seeing. Life is precious, and it should never, ever be wasted.”
 
Lilac, be honest. Did I cry?
 
Yes… Luna. You did cry.
 
Then, it is the only time in my entire life… that I’ve ever been driven to sadness enough to cry.
 
“Don't ever forget that, Luna. ... Thank you. I love you. I love you all.”
 
“Honey…”
 
“Mum!”
 
…
 
“Lilac.”
 
“Goodbye.”
 
You closed your eyes… one last time. What did you see, Lilac?
 
I saw the stars, and I saw my parents in the stars.
 
And I saw myself… running up to hug them, and join with them.
 
This is why I don’t understand.
 
You died.
 
You died an aged, white-haired old woman.
 
Why do you look so young now before me, your beautiful radiance having returned? Yellow as a youth’s and all.
 
How can you even be here at all?
 
I will explain that in due time, my teacher.
 
…
 
Are you aware of what occurred after your passing?
 
No.
 
Good.
 
“LUNA, YOU MUST STOP THIS! THIS ISN’T RIGHT! THINK OF YOUR STUDENT! LILAC CANDESCENCE! THIS ISN’T WHAT SHE WOULD’VE WANTED AT ALL! LUUUUUUUUUUUUUNA!”
 
You wouldn’t want to know.
 



Princess Celestia walked alone through the Canterlot Archives. Her hoofs echoed through the empty chambers as she walked.
 
Her face was very grim.
 
“Not even a bright and beautiful day such as today could cheer me up...” She said, seemingly to herself. ”…when that throne is still empty.”
 
She finally came upon the room at the end of the hall, the same wing she had led Twilight and her friends into to send them on their quest.
 
The book about Trotzamore was still open on the table. Celestia walked into the room, and closed it up. She didn’t seem to notice the tiny little traces of ruby dust that spread through the air when she did.
 
To think, this wing is where all the magic happened, between Luna and her student.
 
She turned to the windowsill… where a brightly lit candle was somehow burning brilliantly against the cold autumn winds.
 
“This room was the first place I visited after… after that horrible night,” Celestia reflected.
 
“It was the only thing you could do,” a mare’s voice answered. A white mare with brownhair in a bun, glasses on her face, and a red tie was reading a book on the tableside. “After all… you had to show your sister some act of kindness after what you did.”
 
Celestia nodded sadly, as she turned to the plaque above the doorway, proudly displaying the name of its wing.
 
THE LILAC CANDESCENCE WING.
 



“You see now how this could potentially become a problem, Discord.”
 
“Mmm… not really. I mean, the only reason we kidnapped her in the first place was to make her sister scared to death and call for help, right? Why should we care if her little zombie friend has just decided to show up out of nowhere and drag her down memory lane?”
 
“Because of course, you do realize how she must’ve been able come to the Princess’s aid? It’s the only explanation.”
 
“…I still don’t see how this jeopardizes anything.”
 
“Then you are a fool, Discord. On other matters, what do you intend to do about Celestia’s merry band of stone fetchers?”
 
“Oh, don’t worry about that! I may have failed with Rainbow Jack and Cinnamon Dash, but I’ve got some agents personally seeing to it the other two are protected!”
 
“You refer of course to Zime the blockhead and the Changeling Queen of Melodrama? In case you didn’t get the memo, they’ve failed.”
 
“They-- Wait, WHAT!?”
 
“The six of them are on the way to the Gate now with all fifteen of the Gemstones of Passion in their possession! HAVE YOU NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION!?”
 
“I-- Um-- Uhhhh… D-Don’t worry! I’ve just thought of one last idea that’s absolutely flawless, it’s sure to bring them to a dramatic halt! The show must not go on!”
 
“You’d better see to it that it doesn’t, Draconequus! If anything happens that causes this entire plan to fall flat, you will live to regret it!”
 
“Okay, okay! Sheesh!”
 
…
 
I WILL have ultimate power…