//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Letters from the Moon // by Flutters Glasses //------------------------------// Dear Oblivion, I hath decided to give thee a name. Oblivion. Rather fitting We find, but that is not the point of importance. We hath learned the reason for mine sister’s –and mine own citizens’ seemingly relentless abhor and fear, or so is our belief. The lesson hast came from the most unforeseeable of sources: our own sister's student, the young Twilight Sparkle. This day marks the anniversary of our… Lunar rebellion against the land of Equestria. It hast become a tradition of sorts among the ponies of our kingdom. A day to serve as a reminder of what We had become; a day to retell why the citizens should fear the memory of us so. A number of hours ago, We hath traveled to the local stead of Ponyville carrying the hopes the We might change the wretched traditions of Nightmare Night to something far more favorable of our newer status as, not a villain, but a beloved princess. Though, We hath found the term beloved to be pressing a matter of desire a bit far for so early in this renewed reign. The Equestria of the past has all but gone, drearily to say; if pressed for explanation, We must say that society has grown more youthful. 'Tis as if with not even a paltry sign of non-physical growth, the immature foals found in our previous reign have become the mares and stallions of the future. Formalities are all but a wisp of the past, their speech grates upon our ears with such a bounty of informal slander and all that seems to be given care by these– these adolescent foals is happiness and well-being. And... We feel alienated by this. Before our banishment; before jealousy consumed our being and created a monster, We hath always been an outcast, but We had at least the capacity to try and meld with society. For it was a time when ponies lived day to day, as if each passing moment could be their last; it was quaint, it was simple and it fit. The monarchical chain was strong, the king and queen rightfully on their the princesses rightfully receiving the inherited roles as the sole leaders and to an extent the proverbial capstone of the societal pyramid. Nobles, as next in command, being the tools of rule in the further reaches in which even the strongest leader have no way of word. Finally, the commoners, living under the rule of the higher levels of this social hierarchy producing goods and contributing what they do to the empire’s economy. It is as if this system –the past has become, not a history, but a fairytale. As if...We have become a fairytale. Perhaps I, myself am being foalish to pity us in such a way, but… the pain is there and it sears us within. When We were in rule, the commoners comparatively evaded us and overlooked our care given to illuminate their night sky, but at least We existed. After our banishment, it seems that life moved on without us –as if we truly never did exist, but the ignorance grew. It grew twisted and deformed, into something entirely disparate. We truly did become a fairytale. The myth of The Nightmare –of The Lunar Princess became a symbol to be scorned and ridiculed. We hath seen this, ever the more prominent in the Nightmare Night festivities. The gobbling of foals, the offering of the night’s spoils, the…fear We hath seen in the townsponies’ eyes on our arrival. We do not know if mine own dear sister Celestia hath orchestrated its creation, nor if she had condoned the practice –We can see the motivation behind it if so, but it does not lessen what we feel. We hath gone out of our way to enjoy the festivities to the best of our abilities, and for the first time in centuries; from years spent sealed away in the moon… We truly enjoyed ourself. But now We are again alone in our palace room, the ponies that made us truly feel accepted and worthy of love are long away and asleep. Their existence dulled our pain, their company almost made us forget the reason for our abysmal thoughts, a lone foal…Pip made me feel an emotion I had all but forgotten, but now without them here with us, our mind has returned to its recesses. As if a shroud has encompassed us once again. The world had forgotten about us. The history of everything We were, everything We became, it served to be nothing but an idea –a concept to be laughed at one night every year since our banishment and one day every year into the future. What We had feared the most hast become a sick truth of our existence: We were not missed; we never were. And We I fear if we ever would be. “Shining? Have you seen my sister this morning?” Celestia sat nearly alone in the throne room of Canterlot castle, her only company being Shining Armor: a capable, blue-maned, white unicorn stallion and the captain of her own royal guard. “No your highness, last I’ve seen her was at the meeting with the Cervidae.” Celestia scoffed at the idea of the Deer in her halls just the night before. The Cervine were a proud race with a despot ruler; one that despite what so many of her little ponies believed, was not to be trifled with. Their dealings of course were still never easy –their murky, narcissistic presence still exuded outwardly even more than that of her own nobles in Canterlot. In their gazes lay a judgment, an almost racism against her little ponies that admittedly evoked a feeling of resentment within her. “Spare me the formalities Captain,” The princess’ grimace turned into a thin smirk as she looked at the straight-backed pony to her left. “We’re alone for the time being.” “Yes your high-“ The white alicorn gave him a playful, yet withering glance. “Celestia.” The unicorn relaxed a bit, taking a moment to popping a kink in his neck. “Oof..that’s been there all morning.” He turned to face his princess. “Sorry, I just get into character you know?” Celestia gazed warmly down at the captain. “You’re married to my niece, the princess of the crystal kingdom; you have no need to get into character.” The alicorn’s thoughts returned to her sister and she frowned. “Luna didn’t lower the moon this morning.” Shining Armor froze, his small moment of respite from his stiffened stance all too soon meeting its end. “Sh-she what?” “Oh please Shining, you’re already making too much of this, I’ve taken care of it. I was just letting you know.” “But what if she’s trying to-“ A stern gaze from Celestia silenced the unicorn. “She is not trying to cast eternal darkness over Equestria, Luna is my sister, not the Nightmare my ponies once knew. You’d be wise to remember that Captain.” “I was just saying that-“ “And I’m telling you otherwise. If Luna were to try and cast eternal night, both you and I would know it.” Shining Armor didn’t respond, but pursed his lips and looked away from the princess. Celestia looked on the captain with a bit of regret. “I’m sorry Shining…I just…” She shut her eyes and lowered her head with a sigh. “Things haven’t been setting right with my sister since her return, but she would never…never let her mind devolve again like that. I’m sure of it.” Shining kept his gaze forward. “I just wanted you to go up and see if she’s alright, or even awake.” “With due respect your highness, she already has.” Celestia recoiled a bit at his words. “I beg your pardon?” Shining looked up at the princess, an equally stern gaze on his muzzle. “Your sister, the princess. She’s already-“ “Captain.” Celestia started, a held-back snarl evidently threatening to show on her features. “I know she’s eccentric, but you would be too if-“ “Where was she when the changelings invaded?” “Well, she-“ “In fact, where was she during the entire wedding? How come she didn’t attend the ceremony? She was there for the reception, What was she doing before then?” “Captain, Luna protects the night, you can’t expect her to-“ “Don’t protect her!” Shining armor narrowed his eyes at the princess. “You’re just as curious as I am to see what she does behind that door, not a single pony in Canterlot knows.” The princess was taken aback by both the sudden change in stature by her loyal captain. “Bu- You-“ Celestia steeled herself and glared at the unicorn. “You forget your place Captain.” Shining Armor sighed and closed his eyes. “Yes your highness, I shouldn’t question-“ Celestia held up a hoof to silence the unicorn and looked to the doorway of the throne room. Save for the breathing of the two, the room was desolate of noise. “You’re right you know…” “What your highness?” “It’s Celest-“ The alicorn let out a sigh. “You’re right about Luna. I don’t know what she does behind that door.” She allowed the room to return to an unperturbed silence. “She scares me sometimes, with the way she carries herself… as if the gazes of a million ponies are weighing her down.” Shining armor was silent for a time. “Are they?” Celestia didn’t answer, reserving herself to simply shut her eyes as she felt morning sun make its way into the sky.