//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten: It Will Work Out // Story: Moon Rising // by kibamudkip2 //------------------------------// "Of cake?!" Celestia snapped lightly at her sister, who was still laughing joyously after telling her of her cake filled dreams. Their mother held a hoof to her lips to soften her quiet laughter while their father seemed not to notice any of them as he looked over a few scrolls. Celestia blushes with embarrassment "I do not dream of cake!" She huffed and she took a bite of her biscuit. Luna grinned madly and swept a hoof through the air, motioning to things only she could see and in her best impression of her sister she quoted "Cakes! Cakes everywhere!" Celestia couldn't contain her own laughter and swatted playfully at her sister’s hoof, trying to get her to stop "Luna stop it, you're going to make me choke" she managed through her giggles. Luna giggled a little longer before returning her attention to her own breakfast. "So," came the king’s voice as he gazed towards Luna as she finished her breakfast. "You have managed to understand and master the magics of dream walking in a single night?" he asked in a calm and almost flat tone. He slowly rolled up the scroll he had been reading and set his gaze firmly on the young princess, who did her best to shrink down in her seat. Her mother tilted her head and looked over at the king “Dreamwalking? You’ve been teaching her night magic, love?” she asked as a loving smile spread across her face “I didn’t know you had been teaching her” “I haven’t taught her a thing, dearest. Our little moon princess has been teaching herself from one of my old books.” He replied, still speaking in his dry even tone. “Now Luna, you have yet to answer me.” He began again “Have you mastered the night art of dreamwalking?” Luna sat up in her chair, trying to build up her courage and build up pride for what she had accomplished. “I have Father. Last night I wandered through the dream world and passed through the dreams of other ponies. I changed nightmares to dreams and helped many a young foal rest at ease” she allowed herself to smile “And I felt so free, Father! It was amazing and I can’t wait till tonight to help even more ponies and” her father raised a hoof to silence her. “That is enough, Luna. I believe you young one, and I have made my decision.” He rose slowly and gathered the scrolls up in his magic “Today is your final day. No longer will you frolic like a foal in the sun’s rays. You will live in the night, for the night, and with the night. Take today to say goodbye to your friend. The Night is not for him” he turned to leave “Meet with me atop the moon tower tonight and we shall begin your training.” With that said the King of Equestria made his leave of the room, quickly followed by the queen. While Luna sat awestruck, Celestia clapped her hooves together and cheered “Oh Lulu, this is wonderful!” she smiled at her little sister “Just think of it! Soon we will rule the skies together, isn’t that great?” she asked as she hugged the younger princess “We can be together like we were meant to be. Luna?” the sun princess tilted her head to get a better look at her face “Luna what is wrong?” her smile faded slightly “Falling Star” she said quietly. Luna nodded slowly “Yeah, Falling Star. He’s my best friend Tia. You have friends to, I know, but they live in the day with you. My friend does not.” Celestias smile returned and she clapped her sister on the back “Cheer up Lulu. I am sure that everything will work itself out.” She stood and trotted out the door that their parents had left through only to yell back “Go spend the day with him Lulu! Let your laughter fill the castle!” Her voice faded and Luna was alone. She placed her hooves on the table and pushed herself up. Laughter. That was something that nopony could ever take from her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe “Everything will work itself out” she repeated her sister words several times before she bolted through the door to go to meet with Falling Star. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Falling Star had training every morning in the west courtyard. It was a rare thing for Luna to be able to watch her friend prepare for his life’s work, but when she did get to see, she would watch in amazement. She took up her favourite spot on the battlements around the courtyard. Military maneuvers, offence, defence, swordplay, sparing, evasive moves, anything and everything the instructor, a grizzled old stallion whose pelt was a flaming orange colour that complimented his golden mane, was able to teach, Falling Star excelled at. Today’s lesson, as far as Luna could tell, was hoof to hoof combat. Luna leaned over the wall to get a better look at the action below. Falling Star was facing off against a colt twice his size. The pair tussled and looked almost like they were dancing. Luna smiled and watched as her friend easily dodged his opponent’s every attack and giggled as his taunts reached her ears. “What’s wrong Thunder Shock? You had an easy time pounding on the smaller colts in the class, can’t hit me?” he laughed as he leapt over him, using his wings to get a boost and bucking the colt named Thunder Shock in the head as he passed. Blind rage now fueled the colt as he bucked wildly only to get tripped up as Falling Star dashed under him. Before he could even think of moving, Falling Star placed a hoof against his throat “Yield, Thunder Shock.” He said calmly, he wasn’t even breathing hard. Applause sounded from the gather students, some even cheered at the defeat of the class bully. “Alright Falling Star, you’ve proved you’re point, let him up now” the instructor said as he stepped forward. “Well done all, class is dismissed” he announced and the colts left the courtyard, but Falling Star stayed behind. He smiled and looked up “Did you enjoy the show, Luna?” he called up to her before she glided down to his side with a small giggle. He playfully pushed her “Don’t think I didn’t know you were watching me. I can sense when you’re near me, like some kind of pony sense!” Luna laughed and pushed him back before scurrying off “You are such a terrible liar, Star. You saw me land and decided to show off, you wanted to prove what a strong colt you are, right?” she burst out laughing as she took off. Falling Star blushed brightly before taking off after her, something seemed forced about her cheer, and he was going to find out what. Luna came to a panting halt just inside of the door that led into the queen’s private garden. The morning sun glistened across the waters of the fountain and scattered tiny rainbows over the flowers. Falling Star stopped just behind her, his eyes narrowed. “Luna, what was that all about back there?” he demanded. “Nothing, Star. I was simply making jest. You know how I enjoy jesting. To make others laugh.” Her shoulders shook as she spoke “I’m very good at it.” She sniffled once and gestured to the garden with a wing “You brought me here the day we met. That was the greatest day ever.” She sniffled again. Falling Star moved closer “Luna? Luna what going on? This isn’t like you? This isn’t your normal cheery greeting. This sounds” he began with his eyes widening “Like a goodbye” he breathed the words out in a whisper. She nodded “Father says it is time I train to rule the night, control the moon.” “Really!? That’s great Luna, that wonderful!” “I don’t get to live in the sunlight anymore Star” she said as she turned to face him. Falling Stars wings drooped “What?” “I am the night, the sun was never meant for me. It was meant for you and every pony else in this world” she cried as a few tears fell from her eyes. She shut them tightly “so this is our final day, our goodbye” Without another word, Falling Star wrapped his wings around Luna just as Celestia would have done and held her close. “Not goodbye. Never goodbye, Luna. Everything will work itself out, you’ll see. And no matter what I’ll be there for you every step of the way. That’s what best friends are for” Luna laughed lightly and smiled “You sound just like Tia” she said as she nuzzled her face into his feathers. Realizing what she had done, Luna pushed herself away and blushed brightly, Falling Star was also blushing. After a rather awkward silence, Falling Star spoke “So,” he cleared his throat and spread his wings “How about one last day in the city?” Luna nodded and spread her own wings “I would love that, Star” she said, and on her word the two flew off towards the city for their last fun day in the sun. Pranking and laughing, telling stories to little foals in the park, the two young ponies did their best to cram years’ worth of fun in the sun into a single day. Luna’s sadness slowly ebbed away until only her joyous smile remained. When the sun slowly began to set, Falling Star escorted the young princess to the base of the moon tower in the northern most part of the castle ground. It was a massive stone tower that reached up to the moon with two guards protecting its doorless entryway. Her friend patted her back and nodded “Remember, everything will work itself out, don’t you worry. This isn’t goodbye, not by a long shot” he repeated as he smiled and flew up “Good luck Luna!” With her friend’s encouraging words held fast in her heart and in her mind, Luna bravely walked into the tower, ready to face whatever lessons awaited her at the top.