The sun had just disappeared beyond the horizon, the ascent of the moon marking the start of another night in Canterlot. As most of the citizens retired to their beds, one in particular gazed out of a window at the city below. She watched lights go out in homes for a moment before she let out a contented sigh and began trotting down the corridor, servants and guards alike bowing to her.
"Good evening, Princess Twilight," one guard said. "Is there anything we can do for you this evening?"
"Not at the moment, thank you," Twilight replied. "I was just on my way to see Princess Celestia before she went to bed."
"Good luck with that," the guard chortled. "Because if there's one thing you can count on, then it's got to be Sunbutt going to bed the instant the sun is down."
Twilight narrowed her eyes at him as he laughed. "I beg your pardon?" she demanded. "What did you just call her?"
The guard stopped laughing and stood instinctively to attention, bullets of sweat already forming on his brow. "I... I, er, well..." he stammered, Twilight's unwavering glare testing his resolve. "It's not as bad as you think!"
Twilight snorted. "Oh really?" she asked. "Then please, enlighten me. What else could it possibly be?"
The guard looked around nervously. "It's her cutie mark, you see," he whimpered. "A picture of the sun, on her flank... please tell me that you can see the connection."
Twilight thought for a moment before she raised an eyebrow. "I can see it," she replied. "But I can tell that you weren't the one who came up with this so-called 'nickname'."
"N-no, Your Highness," the guard shook his head. "It is a rather common name amongst the guards. Rumour has it that Princess Luna was the one who coined the term, so perhaps you would be better off speaking to her?"
Twilight nodded. "You know what?" she said determinedly. "I think I will. Thank you for your time, guard, you may return to... whatever it was you were doing."
The guard saluted and watched Twilight trot down the corridor. As she disappeared around a corner he sighed and picked up a mop and bucket. "Me and my big mouth," he groaned. "It never fails to get me into a heap of bother..."
***
"Hello, Twilight. How are you faring on this wonderful evening, and what brings you to my chambers?"
"Hello, Luna," Twilight replied. "I've been hearing some things about Princess Celestia, and I just got curious."
Luna raised an expectant eyebrow at the other alicorn and stepped aside to allow her access to the room. Twilight walked in elegantly and stopped in the middle, ruffling her wings in response to the cold draft seeping in through an open window.
"So what have you been hearing about my sister, Twilight?" Luna asked. "I certainly hope that it is nothing troubling."
Twilight shifted uncomfortably on her hooves while she tried to think of an answer. Luna sat down on her haunches and watched as Twilight nervously chewed her lower lip, while counting the beads of sweat rolling down her brow.
"I was talking to one of the guards earlier," Twilight eventually broke the silence. "We were talking about Princess Celestia, but then he started referring to her as 'Sunbutt'. When I questioned him about it he said that he only called her that because of her cutie mark. He also told me that there is a rumour going around the guards that it was you who originally came up with the term."
Luna's once straight face was now on the verge of cracking as she fought valiantly to contain the laughter begging to be released. The battle was unfortunately lost and she chucked heartily, much to Twilight's bewilderment.
"What's so funny?" Twilight demanded. "Princess Celestia's own guards are using what could very well be a private nickname for her! Something needs to be done to stop them!"
Luna stopped laughing and raised a forehoof. Choking back giggles she spoke as calmly as she could. "It's true," she replied. "They only call her that because they overheard me using the nickname once. However, the reason they gave you for using it is one I came up with to hide the truth."
Twilight looked at Luna blankly. The elder alicorn sighed and turned away, looking through the window at her night sky above.
"As her student, and a fellow Princess, I feel you deserve to know the truth," she said. "But I must ask – nay, demand – that you keep what I'm about to tell you to yourself."
Twilight nodded, her curiosity piqued. She lay down where she stood and watched Luna closely.
"It all started when we were your age – give or take a hundred years – and our parents, Queen Galaxia and King Hyperion, were the rulers of Equestria..."
***
"You have both learned so much in the last few weeks, girls," King Hyperion said. "Your mother and I are proud of you."
"Yes, we are," Queen Galaxia added. "But the time has come for you to put what you have learned into practice. You see, your father and I are going to Gryphus for a week as honoured guests of their High Thane, to mark the hundredth anniversary of the treaty which ended so many years of conflict between our nations."
Hyperion nodded. "That said, we both agree that this would be the ideal opportunity for the two of you to use what you have learned. Therefore, you will both be in charge of Equestria while we're away. Do you believe that you can do this?"
The other two alicorn nodded, one of them stepping forward with a look of determination on her face. "Yes, father," she replied. "Luna and I have every faith in your teachings, and in each other."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Luna grinned. "You can count on us, dear parents, that we will make you proud." She puffed her chest out and stood proudly by her sister. "We will not let you down, you have our word."
Galaxia chuckled and ruffled Luna's mane. "I know you won't, girls," she said. "Much like you have faith in our teachings, your father and I also have faith in both of you. We know that we are leaving Equestria in capable hooves."
Celestia and Luna hugged their parents tightly as a chariot landed nearby, the guards pulling it bowing to the royals and trying their utmost to hide the small smiles creeping onto their faces. After a moment the hug ended, King and Queen both glancing at the chariot wistfully.
"I guess that's our cue," Hyperion sighed. "Goodbye, girls, we'll see you in a week. Take care of our little ponies for us."
"We will, father," Luna replied. "Now go, and please give the High Thane our regards."
Hyperion and Galaxia nodded briefly before settling into the chariot, a single nod to the guards sending them into the sky and on their way. Both Princesses watched the chariot leave, waving at it until it was naught but a blot on the horizon.
"Are we really ready for this, Tia?" Luna asked. "I mean, we haven't even got our cutie marks yet and already we're being given this level of responsibility."
Celestia turned to look at her. "I think we are ready for this, Lulu," she replied, nuzzling her. "But I guess the only way to know for sure is to actually do it."
Luna smiled at that, and both Princesses made their way back into the halls of Canterlot Castle.
***
"I don't want to offend, but..." Twilight trailed off for a brief moment. "What does this have to with Celestia's nickname?"
Luna rolled her eyes. "I was getting to that," she replied. "Anyway, as I was saying, our parents had embarked on their journey to Gryphus. Celestia and I had been left in charge of Equestria, our first true test of our abilities as Princesses. And chief amongst those abilities was, of course, the raising of the sun and moon..."
***
Luna whistled contentedly to herself as she trotted down the hall towards Celestia's chambers. She smiled at the servants and nodded at the guards who bowed and saluted her, before finally reaching her destination. Raising a forehoof she knocked gently on the door a couple of times — and then pounded on it relentlessly. The door was quickly opened, and a disgruntled Celestia stood in front of her sister with a raised eyebrow.
"Lulu," she groaned. "What was that for?"
Luna grinned impishly. "Well normally mother or father gets you up, but since they're not here I decided to do it."
"Well neither of our parents certainly gets me up like that," Celestia replied, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "But thank you nonetheless, Luna. Now if you'll allow me a moment to freshen up, we can get the day started."
"Of course, Tia," Luna said. "I'll be waiting."
***
"I was waiting outside her bedroom for nearly twenty minutes," Luna grumbled. "She doesn't seem to understand the fact that a shower should not take that long."
Twilight could only giggle in response as Luna continued her story.
***
The two sisters stood side by side on a balcony under the glow of the moon, the sky above ablaze with the light of a thousand stars. They exchanged a brief glance before Celestia let out a small sigh.
"This will be our first time doing this without our parents to help us," she said. "My mind is racing with the many ways in which this could possibly go wrong."
Luna draped a wing across Celestia's back, pulling her closer so that the two were touching cheeks. "I believe in you, Tia," she said. "So the least you can do is believe in yourself."
Celestia grinned and nodded, Luna returning the gestures and moving away from her sister. She stood in the middle of the balcony and began focusing magic into her horn. She raised her head to the sky above, her eyes becoming shimmering orbs of pure white light as the moon slowly complied with her wishes and began its descent, paving the way for a new day to begin.
All the while, Celestia watched her sister with her mouth agape. Luna's eyes returned to normal and she turned around, the smile on her lips threatening to consume her entire face. "I did it! I did it!" she squealed gleefully. "I lowered the moon all by myself!"
"I knew you could do it, Lulu!" Celestia replied with just as much eagerness, as a small flash of light caught her attention. She looked at the source and gasped. "Luna, look! You got your cutie mark!"
Luna craned her head towards her flank and got a look at the crescent moon now taking pride of place upon it. She paused for a moment before taking in a deep intake of breath.
***
"I then squealed so loud, I actually managed to set off a security alert," Luna admitted sheepishly. "The guards thought I was being attacked, so they came running." She giggled. "It was rather exciting, if not a little embarrassing."
Twilight smiled politely. "I always wondered how you got your cutie marks," she replied. "I guess Celestia got hers when she raised the sun?" Luna nodded. "And I'm also guessing that this has something to do with her nickname as well?"
"I know you are keen to learn, Twilight," Luna said. "But please, be patient and all will be revealed momentarily."
***
Luna giggled nervously and scuffed a forehoof along the ground as she addressed the platoon of guards in front of her. "Sorry about that," she said sheepishly. "But I was just so happy about finally getting my cutie mark, I went a bit overboard. If it's any consolation, though, your response time was excellent."
"No apologies necessary, Princess," one of the guards replied with a grin. "We were about due for another drill anyway. We'll take our leave now, and our congratulations to you on getting your cutie mark." He turned around and left the balcony, the other guards following close behind. Luna let out a long sigh and turned to her sister, who had her forehooves clamped over her muzzle.
"It wasn't that funny, Tia," Luna pouted, ignoring Celestia as she finally gave up trying to restrain herself and bellowed with laughter. "Laugh all you want, sister, but need I remind you that you are yet to raise the sun? We don't want everypony panicking now, do we?"
Celestia stopped laughing in an instant as she turned her head to the sky. She swallowed a lump in her throat and took her position, Luna watching her with concern. After a moment, she sighed wistfully. "I can do this," she said sternly. "I just have to believe in myself, and I will fulfil my destiny."
She took a few deep breaths to steady herself and charged her horn with magic. As her eyes began to glow with the same light her sister's had, Luna looked up to the sky in eager anticipation of what was to come.
"Why is nothing happening?" she said to herself. She looked back to Celestia. "Tia, what is going—"
"The sun is resisting my attempts to control it," Celestia replied through gritted teeth. "It won't comply with my wishes, no matter what I try!" She let out a small growl, her horn still sparking with magic. "You will do... as... I... command!" She bellowed.
Luna could only watch in silent awe as the sun slowly, and with some reluctance, began to make its ascent into the sky. Celestia continued to struggle as sweat gathered on her forehead, but she showed no signs of giving up the fight.
The battle was long, but the result was the sun finally casting its glow across all of Equestria. Celestia grinned as her magic faded, before she finally gave in and collapsed. Luna rushed to her sisters side, catching her before she hit the ground.
"I... I did it," Celestia said weakly. "I just had to show the sun that I was not to be trifled with, and it eventually gave in. You were right, Lulu, I just had to believe in myself."
"I'm so proud of you, Tia," Luna replied, nuzzling her cheek. "You gave it your all, and now you have done something you can be truly proud— wait a minute... Tia, you didn't get your cutie mark!"
Celestia looked at her flank, a crestfallen look forming on her face at the realisation that it was still bare. Suppressing a growl, she got up and pointed a forehoof at the sky angrily. "This was supposed to be my destiny, you stupid sun!" she shouted. "Like it or not, I will be the pony who controls you one day! So you had better get used to the idea, or else I'll—"
She was cut off by a sudden flash of light from the sun, which struck her on the flank. She yelped in agony as the beam singed her fur before finally fading away. Luna looked at the shocked expression on her sisters face, which soon gave way to anger as Celestia let out the growl she was holding and prepared to let loose another volley of angry words. But another flash of light stopped her, and she looked to her flank — and the image of the sun now taking pride of place upon it.
"I... I got my cutie mark?" she asked, confused. "But why did I get it now, and not when I raised the sun?"
Luna giggled. "Perhaps your destiny was to show the sun who's boss?" she mused. "But bearing in mind what just happened, I think that a change of name is in order. So, with that said... how do you like the idea of 'Sunbutt?'"
Celestia glared at her sister for a moment before the two mares fell over laughing.
***
"And now you know the truth," Luna smiled. "Celestia got her cutie mark after the sun zapped her. She may control it now, but there was a time when things were the other way around."
Twilight's eyes were wide with wonder. "That was an amazing story, Luna," she said. "Thank you for sharing it with me."
Luna waved a forehoof dismissively. "It was my pleasure," she replied. "It feels good to share the tale with somepony after all these years of keeping it to myself. And before you ask, the guards only learned of the name after I completely forgot that they were there and used it while talking to her one day."
"That was going to be my next question," Twilight grinned. She yawned and stood up, stretching her legs and wings. "Thank you for your time, Luna, but I think I shall go to bed now."
"Very well, Twilight," Luna nodded. "Thank you for your company, it has been most enjoyable. But remember what I said, and tell nopony of what you have just learned."
Twilight did a zipping motion with her forehoof and, after saying her farewells, left the room. Luna waited for the sound of hoofsteps echoing down the corridor to fade before she sighed.
"Well that was awkward," she grumbled. "I can only pray that she never finds out about the existence of 'Moonbutt'. That is one particular tale that Celestia would be all too eager to tell."
She opened her bedroom door and stepped out, snuffing out the candles and closing it before she trotted down the corridor, her own hoofsteps soon fading into silence.
*** THE END ***