//------------------------------// // Chapter Five- The Everfree Forest // Story: Celestia's Reign // by AnonymousHooves //------------------------------// Days passed by and I grew. My sister and I had grown apart so much in this time. Celestia, now a responsible leader, was less aware of the things around her and more focused on her duties. I always kept mother’s words close to me and my father’s too. I knew there was always more than what meets the eye. The day finally came when father decided that I was old enough to go with him into the Everfree forest to search for new fruits to plant in the fields that surrounded the village. We would camp in the forest for three nights and even Celestia would be coming. I would have been happy a year ago, but now things just felt uncomfortable. I didn’t know a thing about my sister anymore. She barely even looked at me now. Of course I knew why… I still didn’t have my cutie mark and I could tell she was embarrassed and even angry. We packed our things, said goodbye to mother and took to the sky, heading toward the forest. The view was beautiful. I could see many apple trees in the fields, flowers and long grass rippling in the wind. The village below seemed less fascinating now that I had been around it many times. Celestia soared past me. Her wings had grown so big and strong now; her mane was a spectrum of pastel colours that flowed endlessly behind her and her coat shone brilliantly in the sunlight. If only I were as beautiful as my sister. Ponies would perhaps be a little more forgiving if I were more like her. We flew into a haze of white cloud. Everything seemed muffled and I could hear my Celestia’s voice in my head. “You’re just not trying!” I quickly pushed the negative thoughts to the back of my mind and focused on the wise words of my mother. “You are a princess,” she had told me calmly, “you do not have the time to wallow.” As we burst out of the clouds a sea of trees came into sight; miles upon miles of dark evergreen. I felt a rush of excitement course through me at the sight of this. I had been told that the Everfree forest was different than the rest of Equestria. It was apparently a forest full of magic. My father had told us that everything functioned by itself there. The weather changed all on its own and rivers flowed without any help from the pegasi. A long time ago there were wars concerning the Everfree forest. The earth ponies were certain that the pegasi were playing tricks on them and the pegasi believed that the unicorns were using their magic to create the illusion of life. The unicorns, being unable to explain it, believed that the earth ponies must have planted a divine plant that was keeping the forest alive. It was soon realised that no pony was responsible for the Everfree forest’s strange behaviour and it has never been explain or understood. ‘Here we are,’ father announced as we landed safely amongst the trees. I paused for just a moment to think. ‘Uh, it’s not too dangerous here, is it?’ ‘Of course it is!’ Celestia answered abruptly. ‘If you’re scared then father did warn you! The Everfree forest isn’t for scaredy ponies!’ ‘I’m fine!’ I retorted. ‘Celestia,’ father warned. Celestia, having little patience turned away. ‘There is always some risk, but that is part of being a princess, Luna,’ father said. ‘As a leader you must take risks to discover and share new things with your subjects. It’s how things progress.’ I nodded firmly. ‘I’m not a little filly anymore. I’m ready.’ ‘I know,’ he replied with a gentle smile. As we set up camp I began to wonder just how far the Everfree forest actually stretched. It was seemingly endless. Once we reached our camp site father sent Celestia and I to fetch some fire wood. Celestia, I could tell, was irked. Of all the ponies in Equestria I was probably the last pony she wished to spend time with. Then again, I felt so awkward I too could think of better company. ‘Come on, stop dawdling!’ Celestia said sharply. ‘It’s almost dark. If you don’t hurry father will have to send you home.’ I seethed inside. It wasn’t I who was dawdling, I was simply keeping the pace that had been set by her. In which case, perhaps it was she who was dragging her hooves! ‘Sorry,’ was the only way I could think to reply. Celestia didn’t respond. I decided that now would be the time to confront her even if it wasn’t the right time. ‘Why are we like this?’ Celestia looked mildly confused. ‘Like what?’ ‘We used to be so close!’ I blurted. ‘What happened?’ Celestia sighed heavily, her eyes shifting from mine. ‘I know,’ I muttered. ‘I don’t have a cutie mark. Why does that matter so much?’ ‘But that’s just it,’ she snapped. ‘Haven’t you seen the way ponies stare at us? I know what they’re all thinking and they’re right! Cutie marks are a sign of respect and trust. Even your young friend has his mark.’ ‘It’s all just pony myth!’ I argued. ‘Mother told me’- ‘Mother is just trying to make you feel better!’ Celestia said. ‘Everypony knows the legend and believes in it. So do I.’ ‘Well… you shouldn’t!’ I spat angrily, tears threatening to overflow. ‘Mother and father’- ‘They believe too! How can they not?! You should see the state they’re in every time they’re reminded of your existence.’ I stood frozen, fighting back the bitterness and tears with all I had. ‘This is why I wish you would just… leave!’ Celestia said scornfully. ‘How can I ever become a great ruler when you’re around? You’re a disgrace to us all!’ Before I could feel anything I found myself galloping through the darkening forest. My legs took on a life of their own and I didn’t know how to stop them. I ran and ran, tears streaming down my face. I hated being different! Mother had always said that I was special and that I would bloom. She lied! When I finally stopped running my legs were tired and my hooves throbbed. I collapsed in a clearing beside the river my heart pounding hard against my chest. I sobbed and didn’t stop to compose myself. What was the point anyway? I would never be a good princess. Without another thought I flung my tiara into the water, watching it plunge into the murkiness causing ripples. I gazed bitterly at my reflection in the darkness. My horn still seemed to be glowing even after the magic had left it. It was no real surprise as when a pony becomes upset his or her magic is far less controlled. I dropped my head and breathed deeply, seeking some relief. It was then that I noticed that the orb of light in the stream wasn’t my horn… I looked around me and realised that the night was bathed in a strange silvery light. I looked up and found the source of the strange light. There, huddled amongst stars, was a large white orb that glowed soothingly in the sky. I gazed up at it in awe. What in all of Equestria was this? Suddenly I began to feel all the anger and sadness melt away, leaving my body calm and relieved. I felt a warmth in my chest that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It spread quickly through my body and left me feeling calm. I sighed deeply. I understood. Then, through the trees, came Celestia. She looked sort of… sad, I realised. I could tell that she was really sorry about the things she’d said. She walked towards me slowly, father appearing at her side. I got to my feet calmly, readily accepting my sister’s unspoken apology. ‘Luna!’ father said. ‘Thank goodness you’re alright.’ ‘Sister, I’- Celestia began, but stopped and stared at me. ‘What? What is it?’ I asked a little scared a first. Had they seen a ferocious beast that was just waiting to attack? A Manticore perhaps?! ‘Luna!’ Father exclaimed suddenly, a smile spread across his face. ‘You have your cutie mark!’ I nearly leapt out of my skin. ‘I do?!’ I craned my neck to see and there, sure enough was a... Well, I wasn’t entirely sure. ‘What is it?’ Celestia asked. ‘Why, I think it’s the moon,’ father replied. ‘The glowing orb in the sky that appears at night here in place of your sun.’ I had temporarily lost the ability to speak. All those years of heartache and it was finally here! My happiness was soon clouded by doubt however. What did it even mean? What was a moon anyway? ‘What could it mean?’ I asked my father. His wisdom never ceased to astound me. ‘I don’t know,’ he replied disappointingly. ‘It’s most peculiar.’ ‘Maybe you can draw some kind of power from this moon?’ Celestia suggested, all bitterness vanished from her voice. I nodded. There did seem to be some aura that it omitted. It would explain the warmth I had felt. I felt stronger in its silvery blanket of light. ‘Well,’ father said finally. ‘Time will tell what your powers might bring, if you do indeed have and learn how to wield them.’ Excitement shot through me when I heard this. I could have powers that no other pony had seen before! I had new found hope and I would hold on to it with everything I had. ‘It’s getting late so we ought to get back to the camp now,’ father finished. ‘It’s been quite an eventful evening.’ Celestia did not speak as we walked back to our campfire, but I understood why. The awkwardness would subside, but for now I didn’t feel like I wanted to worry about that. I had my cutie mark and I would now be accepted as an honest, trustworthy princess. That was all I had wished for for such a long time.