//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: Return to Canterlot 
// Story: Before the Dawn 
// by SilverMuse 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 9: Return to Canterlot 

Luna packed the last of her belongings and stared longingly out the window. The sun was high, and all she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep. No, that wasn’t right. She didn’t want to sleep; she wanted to be with Sombra rather than leave for Canterlot. He had left brusquely this morning after bidding her a bitter farewell, and she feared that the Nightmist had tempted him even more than it had affected her.
“Luna? Are you ready?” Celestia’s voice dragged her from her worries.
Luna jumped then gave a tiny nod. “Yes, but there is something I must do first before I depart.”
“You wish to see him,” Celestia said bluntly.
Luna stiffened, preparing for the fight that was no doubt about to come. “I know you do not approve of him, but—”
“It’s not that,” Celestia interjected quickly. “I just don’t...I don’t want you to be hurt, and I do not want you to falter as a Princess.”
“I know, I know,” Luna sighed, exasperated. “Please, Celestia. Just a moment?”
Celestia’s gaze softened. She nodded and stepped forward to retrieve Luna’s bags. “Go. But meet me at the chariot shortly.”
“I will!” Luna exclaimed and fled from the room. She ran down the stairs, her hooves clinking brightly on the crystal. She had barely made it out the front door when she found, to her surprise, Sombra standing near a crowd of ponies that had gathered to bid their Princesses goodbye. Ambersong stood just behind him with Blue Belle fluttering awkwardly in the air. 
Luna smiled to herself and approached them. “Sombra,” she said quietly.
Sombra looked up, and Luna felt a jolt pass through her stomach. He looked terrible, as if he had not slept for a month. His eyes were dark and exhausted, his coat a little lackluster compared to the other ponies. How could such a change have come over him in just a few hours? 
Luna stepped forward quickly and lifted his chin. “Sombra? What is it?”
“I’m...I’m just tired, Luna,” he told her in a whisper. “What happened last night...You felt it too?”
“Of course I felt it,” Luna said, assuming he meant the Nightmist. “So long as you stay in the Crystal Empire, you should be safe, as will I back at Canterlot.”
Or so she hoped.
Sombra closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. “I don’t want you to go.”
The words both elated and saddened her. She didn’t want to leave either, but she knew it was necessary for the good of Prince Agate Shield, the Crystal Empire, and Equestria.
Luna sighed and gave him a tiny nuzzle, ignoring the gasps and stares of the onlookers. “I don’t want to leave either,” she told him. “But I must. We will not be truly apart, though.”
Sombra looked up at her in confusion, causing her to smile even more.
“I will be with you in your dreams,” she promised. “Sleep tonight...you shall see.”
The weariness and worry faded from his eyes, and his entire body heaved a sigh of relief. He pressed his muzzle to her neck and drew her head towards his. “I had been worried that you would leave and forget me.”
“Forget you?” Luna laughed. “How could I ever forget you? Now, you need to take good care of yourself, at least until I return.” Luna reluctantly drew back and kissed his cheek lightly. “Sleep, and you will find me. This is not goodbye, I promise.” She looked over his shoulder to Blue Belle and Ambersong. “Take care of him?”
“What, is he sick?” Blue Belle asked.
Ambersong rolled his eyes and tugged on Blue Belle’s tail. “We will, Princess,” he promised. 
Luna tipped her head. “Thank you.” 
“Luna!” Celestia called.
Luna glanced at her sister as she finished securing their belongings. Agate Shield and Nebula were already in their chariot, prepared for the journey. Nebula leaned against her husband, a long cloak draped over her pregnant body to keep her warm. They would have to go by land, unfortunately, since only four pegasus guards had brought the Princesses to the Empire. Crystal earth ponies would have to pull Agate Shield’s chariot. Hopefully Luna’s and Celestia’s shields would be enough to protect them from both weather and an attack. 
Luna turned back to Sombra and lifted a wing to brush it along his cheek. “Until tonight.”
“Before the dawn,” he said with a smile.
With a one final lingering look at Sombra, Luna turned to hurry back to the chariot. She paused, her stomach twisting with nerves and sorrow. On impulse, she spun on her hoof and planted her muzzle firmly against Sombra’s, surprising him as well as the onlookers. He was hesitant at first, but he kissed her back firmly. In that kiss, she promised she would return, and that nothing, not even the Nightmist, would part them. 
When Luna finally pulled back, her heart fluttered, and a deep blush rushed across her cheeks. Sombra’s eyes held a little more light, and the weariness fled for a moment as he smiled both embarrassedly and happily.
Luna just grinned then dashed over to her sister to join her in the chariot. Luna settled in beside Celestia and raised her hoof to wave to all of the ponies, though her eyes remained fixed on Sombra and Sombra alone.
Gemfyre approached them slowly and gave them one of her tired, warm smiles. “Safe journey to all of you.”
Celestia nodded and touched her horn lightly to Gemfyre’s. “We will protect them, Gemfyre, I promise.”
“I know, Celestia,” Gemfyre replied. The Queen looked at her son and daughter-in-law, and for the first time, Luna saw tears in the alicorn’s eyes. Gemfyre nuzzled her family and nudged Nebula’s nose. “Keep that grandfoal of mine safe. I look forward to meeting him or her when the time comes.”
“I will, Mother,” Nebula replied as she pressed a hoof to her belly.
Agate Shield shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
Gemfyre laughed. “I’m hardly alone when I am surrounded by our crystal ponies.” She sighed and pressed her head to her son’s. “You will lead the Crystal Empire one day, I swear it. I will find a way to bring peace back to this land so that you, your wife, and your foal can live happily, especially when I am gone.”
Agate Shield swallowed. “I love you, Mother.”
“And I love you.” Gemfyre drew back and looked at Celestia. “I will send word if I have need of you. For now, best get underway.” 
The stallions harnessed to the chariot started to run, and Luna had to turn back around and steady herself so that she wouldn’t fall. She glanced over at Nebula and Agate Shield and offered them a tender smile. Nebula returned it, but Agate Shield could only stare longingly at his mother. 
Luna could sympathize. 
Agate Shield wasn’t the only one leaving someone dear behind.


~*~


The journey back to Canterlot was quiet and uneventful. At one point, with the sun gleaming so bright and warm, Luna settled down against her sister and fell into a comfortable sleep. She didn’t stir until Celestia nuzzled her awake once they had arrived back at Canterlot. The many beautiful white, purple, and golden spirals emerged from the side of a great mountain. Banners filled the sky, displaying an image of Luna and Celestia circling each other with the sun and moon behind them. Booths and tents were set up in the central market where many ponies of Equestria came to sell their trade. 
The drawbridge was lowered to welcome the Princesses home, and Luna was not surprised to find ponies lining the dirt roads to welcome them as the chariots carried them inside.
Luna yawned to herself and followed Celestia’s example by waving to a few of the onlookers. Their presence was less magnificent to the ponies of Canterlot since they were used to seeing their Princesses. However, wide-eyed stares did go to Nebula and Agate Shield as their crystal coats sparkled in the fading sunlight. 
The chariots brought them to the section of the castle that would host their guests and also held the sleeping quarters of the Princesses. Luna hopped down and walked up the pristine white stairs that never seemed to dirty. She glanced back as Agate Shield helped his pregnant wife from the chariot and followed Luna. 
The guards would fetch their belongings. 
“Come this way,” Luna told them as she went inside the castle. 
While Luna guided them, Celestia began to give them an historical tour of their home. She spoke of the stained glass hall that displayed Equestria’s history and the great events that had occurred, such as Discord’s defeat. That same hall held the Elements of Harmony to be called on whenever the Princesses had need of them. There were several Great Halls in the castle, one that always hosted the Grand Galloping Gala. That room was just off of the grand staircase where Luna and Celestia always made their entrances. There was an observatory where Luna spent much time; it was the highest spiral in all of Canterlot.
The castle was much larger than the one Luna and Celestia had grown up in in the Everfree Forest. Back then, the forest hadn’t been so terrifying or threatening. Their home had been humble and comfortable for many years, at least until their parents had disappeared. After that, well, she and Celestia did not return their often except to make certain the castle was still in standing condition.
Luna did not pay very much attention to the stories since her mind had already turned to Sombra and the meeting they would have that night. In fact, the sky had started to grow dim, and she knew it would not be long before she would raise the moon. 
“Here we are,” Luna said as she stopped before a pair of double doors. She pushed them open and held out her hoof to an ornate room filled with a large bed, wash basin, shelves of books, table, chest, and gilded mirror. The windows were open, letting a cool breeze flow through the sheer curtains. 
Nebula gasped and stepped in first. “This is beautiful.”
“We hope that you will find it to your liking,” Celestia said politely. “I will have dinner brought to your quarters if you like. It was a long journey today.”
Agate Shield nodded. “Thank you, Celestia. I think Nebula and I are both ready to rest.”
Celestia smiled. “If you have need of anything, Luna and I are just up the stairwell.”
Agate Shield gave his thanks and shut the door lightly. Luna smiled a little and started to walk up the stairs with Celestia at her side.
“At least nothing happened on our way to Canterlot. Perhaps my magic wounded those unicorns.”
“Perhaps,” Celestia said dubiously and opened the door. 
The top of the tower was circular, though it had been partitioned off long ago so that both Celestia and Luna would have their own room. The one they stepped into now was more of a visiting area where they could spend time together before they went to bed or where they could entertain guests. Curtains fluttered over a vast entrance to a wide balcony that looked out over Canterlot. Celestia made her way to it, and Luna quickly followed, assuming her sister was about to lower the sun.
When Luna emerged, however, she found Celestia sitting stiffly on the balcony, her back to Equestria, and her eyes fixed on Luna. 
A knot formed in the pit of Luna’s stomach. She knew that look; Celestia had prepared some sort of lecture. Luna decided she did not have the patience to wait for Celestia to get to the point.
“What is it?” Luna asked. “It’s about Sombra, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Celestia replied in a quiet, reasonable voice. “But not for the reason you think.”
“Are you going to tell me you disapprove of me spending time with him?” Luna grumbled.
Celestia did not respond.
Luna dropped her head and started to turn away. “I knew it.”
“It’s not what you think, Luna,” Celestia tried to reassure her. “I am happy that you have found such a deep friendship with Sombra, perhaps even more, but…there are things about him that I think you should know before you decide to give your heart to him.”
And what if I already have? Luna wanted to say, but she wisely kept her mouth shut, forcing her sister to go on.
Celestia glanced to the side and closed her eyes. “How did he tell you that he broke his horn?”
The question was unexpected for certain. Luna blinked a few times and thought back to the first night she and Sombra had spent together. “He said that someone was making fun of his friend Blue Belle, and he tried to defend her.”
“How?”
Luna frowned. “He...chased them, I believe. He said a pony moved out of his way, and he snapped his horn when he struck a crystal tree. Why is that important?”
“He lied,” Celestia replied.
Luna laughed. “Truly, Celestia? Are you going to tell me that everything he feels and has told me is a lie as well?”
“No,” Celestia said and opened her lovely eyes again. “I spoke with Gemfyre about Sombra once you showed interest. I asked her why she would allow a young unicorn like him to go untrained. If Gemfyre was the only one who could cast magic, then why not teach Sombra as well? She did him a great disservice by shunning him.”
Luna remained quiet. That was a good point; why hadn’t Gemfyre taught him?
“When I asked her what happened to his horn,” Celestia went on and rose to her hooves, “she said that the way he broke it was what deterred her from instructing him.” She started to pace the balcony slowly. “Sombra did indeed try to protect his friend, but he did it through magic. He tapped into his powers and tried to attack the other foals with that magic.”
Luna shifted uncomfortably. “He was just trying to save his friend. Other young unicorns have let their untrained magic run rampant.”
“This wasn’t normal magic, Luna,” Celestia said in a hush. “The magic he used was powerful…bordering on dark. His anger over what was happening to his friend fueled his power, and he launched an attack that could have severely hurt, or even killed, the other pony. The magic rebounded on one of the crystals and struck his horn, breaking it.” She paused near Luna and looked down at her. “He went to Gemfyre, begging her to fix his horn, but she told him her powers were too weak. It was a lie; she feared that, should he regain his horn, his power would become too great…too corrupted.”
“She couldn’t know that!” Luna protested angrily. “She lied to a colt who only wanted to help his friend, Celestia! If she was so afraid he would bring about a dark, evil power, then why did she not teach him the good of becoming a unicorn? He took to my lessons like a fish to water. The magic he possesses...it’s powerful and beautiful, not dark and hideous as you and Gemfyre would have me believe.” She scoffed and shook her head. “I can’t believe either of you. He was just a colt...and Gemfyre nearly ruined his life. Do you know what he told me? He said the other crystal ponies treated him like a misfit because of his disability. He hid himself away because he was afraid of how the other ponies would judge him. If there is any darkness in his heart, it is because Gemfyre, and even you, would not give him a second glance because of what he might have become.”
Luna brushed past Celestia roughly. “You often tell me never to judge a pony by his looks, but rather by his actions. Perhaps Sombra acted with his heart more than his head, but he did it to defend someone. You cannot fault him for that.” She pointed at Celestia. “You tell me that Equestria can only thrive when we are all in harmony…when we treat each other as we want to be treated. You’re a hypocrite. You preach equality and yet you shun someone who only wants to belong.”
“Luna.” Celestia sighed. “That is not what I meant. I just thought it was important that you knew the truth. He lied to you for a reason.”
“Maybe because he was afraid I would turn against him too!” Luna cried. “He’s been treated so kindly by alicorns after all. I can see him for who he really is even if you and Gemfyre cannot.” She shook her head, disgusted. “And we wonder why unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies may loathe us because of our magic.”
“This is not the same thing,” Celestia argued.
“Is it not?” Luna asked. “Gemfyre, the only alicorn who could have helped him, deemed him unworthy of her aid and thus refused to fix his horn. She made that decision, Sister, and now Sombra has to pay for it.” She flicked her tail and stalked back towards their shared room. “Lower your sun so that I might call upon my moon, unless you think my temper is far too dangerous as well and that I am unworthy of my position.”
Celestia gave no reply, but Luna heard her utter a sad sigh. Luna did not turn to face her, nor did she apologize for her harsh words. She stalked through their conjoined living area and went to her quarters. She shut the door loudly behind her and stomped to the wide open window that would allow her moonlight to spill into her room.
She wanted to shake with rage at Gemfyre’s deception and Celestia’s foolishness. Was Luna the only one, save for Ambersong and Blue Belle, who could see the good in Sombra? Yes, he was able to use his magic better by focusing on his anger and fear, but that did not make him evil, nor did it mean that he would become a corrupted unicorn. So why then could her sister and Gemfyre not give him a second chance? It wasn’t fair, and her heart ached for him even more.
Luna sat down and watched the sun disappear. She had intended to visit other ponies’ dreams first, but after Celestia’s revelation, she decided they could wait since Sombra had waited far too long to find someone who would trust and aid him.
And love him, Luna thought.
She let her magic pour into the moon and slowly raised it into the sky. As the silver rays struck her coat, she felt a trickle of magic flow back into her, strengthening rather than draining her. It took a lot of energy to lift the astral body, but it always filled her with the lost magic, and even more, as if thanking her for her brief sacrifice. 
Luna gazed into its silvery depths and lifted her head. In a whisper, her ethereal form left her body, and she flew through the plane of dreams to find Sombra.