//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven: Dark Nights of Waiting // Story: Moon Rising // by kibamudkip2 //------------------------------// The stairs to the top of the moon tower seemed to stretch on and on in an endless spiral, and as Luna climbed them by hoof she began to wonder if she would ever make it to the top. She looked down and all she could see were stairs, and when she looked up the view was the same. A few more steps brought her to a window, which she gazed out. She only had a moment to enjoy the beauty of the view before she noticed that the sun was almost set. The king would be raising the moon soon and she would be late! Finding strength and energy that she didn’t know she still had, Luna took off running. “Don’t be late, don’t be late, don’t be late!” she chanted to herself and she bolted headlong up the stairs. The rapidly passing stairs began to make her dizzy and she closed her eyes. A bad idea, she soon learned as she burst onto the roof and nearly ran off the edge of the tower. She back up panting and looked about. The moon tower was one of the two highest points in the whole kingdom, matching its twin tower of the sun, and the view was spectacular. Luna turned in a slow circle taking in the view and marveling at it. She could see on forever and she couldn’t stop the joyous giggle that erupted from her when she realized that one day this tower and view would be hers alone to enjoy. As she turned her gaze fell upon the pony that she had climbed all the way up here to see. Without turning to look at his daughter, the King motioned for Luna to sit and once she had he fired up his horn and began to draw the moon up into the sky. The dark sky slowly lightened as the bright moon took dominance in the sky. Once the moon was in place, the King slowly raised his wings and released his magic into the air. He beckoned with his wings and sent his magic to the sky, calling out the stars as if they were old friends. Luna had never been so close to her father when he summoned the stars. She could feel his magic wash over her in a flood as it spread out and up into the sky. Her eyes shimmered with wonder as she gazed about. At this height the young princess felt as she was in the night sky, like she could reach out a hoof and touch the stars, which she tried. Slowly she extended her hooves towards a star, and to her surprise she felt warmth. She closed her hooves around the star and pulled her hooves back slowly. She opened her hooves and gasped, she was holding a star! A star was sitting in her hooves and it was pulsing and twinkling with light and warmth. Her father turned to her and for the first time in her life she saw him do something that she never thought she would see, he smiled. “Atop this tower Luna, we ponies of the night and moon become one with the night sky. We can feel it, sense it, and even touch it” he said as he gently took the star from his daughter and placed it back in the sky. “But we have to give ourselves to the sky, allow it to accept us, and accept it into ourselves. We may rule the moon but only then can we rule the stars.” Luna nodded as she listened. A thought struck her “But I was able to touch that star, I pulled it out of the sky! Does that mean that the sky accepts me?” she asked as she looked at her father. He nodded slowly “They would not allow you to even get near them if they did not accept you. This is a good sign. Mayhaps I was wrong to think that you could not rule the night. Forgive me young one, I am old, as old as our world, change does not come easy to me” he said softly as he placed a hoof on her head. The King smiled again and looked out to the sky. He was about to speak when the panting form of Starswirl burst from the stairs “Your Majesty!” he panted “It is as we feared!” he looked more panicked than Luna had ever seen him. “What has happened? Answer me Starswirl!” He King demanded as he turned to the stallion. “That’s just it, your majesty! Nothing has happened! The aurora did not grace the skies, the power was not reflected!” Starswirl blurted out in a panicked voice. The Kings face was grave as he spread his wings “Gather my personal guards and my Queen in the throne room!” He paused “And wake Celestia she needs to know” he turned to Luna “There is no time to explain to you alone, come quickly!” he ordered as he dove off the tower and soared back around towards the castle. Starswirl took off down the stairs and Luna was left alone. She turned her head about as she spread her wings “What in the world is going on?” she breathed quietly as she followed her father’s example and dove off of the tower. Her free fall was frightening, but her wings soon took hold of the wind and caught her, bringing her into a gentle glide towards the castle. By the time she had landed the whole castle was in an uproar. Fighting her way through the crowds of busy ponies, Luna made her way to the throne room. Once inside she made her way to Celestia and her Father began speaking. “There has been an incident in the most Northern part of our Kingdom” he addressed the gathered knights and advisors. “It is a matter of utmost importance that the Queen and I see to it immediately. So we shall leave here tonight with ten knights” he quickly pointed out ten pegasi knights “You will accompany us.” He turned to Celestia “Celestia, dear Celestia it pains me to burden you with the weight of the Kingdom when you are still so young, but it must be done. While we are away you are to rule over Equestria.” Celestia’s jaw dropped as she stared at her father “Me? But I’m only-“ “The only choice we have in this desperate time. Make me proud” he turned his attention back to the knights “We leave now. You will accompany us, gather your supplies and meet at the gates. You have five minutes. Dismissed!” The knights saluted their King and hurried off to prepare. As the King was leaving Luna came out of her shock “But Father!” she cried as she and Celestia hurried after their parents, with Starswirl trailing behind them “What about my training? How am I to learn if you are gone?” “Your training will have to wait Luna, this is more important.” He looked to her “This should not take long your Mother and I should return in one weeks’ time. We shall begin your training then.” By the time they reached the gates the knights had assembled and were awaiting the order to take flight. “One week Luna, it isn’t that long” he said as he and the Queen walked out of the gates followed by the knights, who were wearing the crimson armour of the royal company. “Wings out!” the King cried and wings were spread “To the Sky!” Came the Kings voice and the twelve ponies galloped into the sky leaving the two princesses and their tutor standing alone in the moonlight. As they watched the silhouettes grow ever smaller, Celestia wrapped a comforting wing around her sister “they’ll be back, Lulu” the white alicorn said, silent tears rolling down her face “This happened once before, before you were born. They came back then and they’ll come back this time” she said as she buried her face in Luna’s mane to release and hidden and muffled sob. “Of course, Tia. They’ll be back” Luna whispered “One week, I’ll be counting father. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The days came and went as normal, well almost as normal. By the third day Luna rarely saw her sister, partially from how busy she had gotten and partially from Luna’s will not to disappoint her Father. She had given up the sun almost completely and was awake all through the night, watching as the moon rose into the sky and knowing that her parents were safe because of it. It brought her only cold comfort as she wandered the dark halls alone. No busy maid ponies, no smiling sister, and no goofy best friend to keep her company in the cold night. It was lonely, so very lonely, but maybe that’s how it was meant to be. The fourth night brought the lunar princess terrible worry. She awoke from her day of slumber and Celestia set the sun, but the sky stayed dark as no moon rose to take its place, no stars twinkled into view, nothing but inking black night could be seen. Cold fear gripped hold of Luna and threatened to drag her down, but she fought against it, hoping against hope. They were fine, they were safe, and he was just unable to raise it tonight was all. Her hope lasted through the second moonless night, and third. The week was drawing to an end as was the young princesses hope that everything was alright. She sat by the gate as the sun set, bring the seventh day to an end. No figures of ponies returning filled the sky, nor did the moon. Luna’s hope shattered and she curled up tightly crying her sorrows away. The first week was done and gone, and the second week passed by with just as much news about the whereabouts and status of the royals and their knights. Two weeks turned into one month, one month turned into two, each night moonless and dark. On the dawn of the third month Starswirl approached the young princess as she was readying for sleep. “Princess Luna, this darkness had gone on long enough. The citizens are fearful of it” he paused and composed himself “I have met with the royal advisors and they agree with what I have decided” Luna tilted her head “Decided? Starswirl what’s going on?” “Tonight is your coronation, you will raise the moon” he said with an air of finality. “Tonight!? But Starswirl my training hasn’t even begun! How am I supposed to raise the moon!?” “I cannot over turn their vote, nor can you. Princess or not you are still young and bound to their, and more importantly, my decision” “But what if I can’t? What then!? What if I’m not strong enough!?” “Believe in yourself Lulu” said Celestia as she walked up behind her sister “Believe in yourself as I believe in you” “Tia” Luna looked back at her sister who was smiling. The happy moment was shattered as a guard skidded to a halt before them “Arch mage, your highnesses. A knight from the north has returned. In the throne room!” Hope surged through the three ponies as they charged to the throne room, but as they opened the doors all hope faded, snuffed out by the sight before them. The knight could barely stand in his shattered armour, cuts and gashes covered his body and he was missing an ear and an eye with a large slash connecting the two wounds. He turned his one golden eyes on the princesses as he emptied the contents of the sack that he held in his mouth onto the ground. Luna’s breath caught in her throats as two bloodied crowns clattered onto the tiled floor. “No” she breathed “No!” “The King and Queen are dead” the knight wailed as tears flowed from his remaining eye “Slain while fight side by side with nine of my fellow knight against a daemon in the north. Gone all gone! So much darkness, so much pain!” he wailed as Starswirl motioned for him to be removed from the room. “No” Luna said again as she covered her ears and shut her eyes tight “Tis a lie! It must be a lie! A Terrible horrible lie!” she cried. Celestia pulled her sister close, the two princesses embraced and cried as one, mourning the loss of their parents. “I shall announce the news to the kingdom” Starswirl said after she allowed the young ones time to display their grief. Celestia stood “No Starswirl” she said as she stood, helping Luna up as she went “I am ruler of Equestria now, it is my duty” she said, forcing strength into her voice “You prepare what is needed for Luna’s coronation. We cannot wait, the night needs light as much as the day, and Luna is the only one who can bring it.” She draped a wing over Luna and led her from the room, leaving the bloodied crowns on their own. Luna leaned weakly against her sister. If Tia can be so strong, why can’t I? She thought.