Once upon a time, two sisters ruled the magical land of Equestria in unity. Celestia the eldest, raised the sun at dawn, while Luna the youngest, brought the moon to begin the night. After the events that caused the younger sister to become Nightmaremoon, the eldest had no other choice but to banish her sister to the moon using the powers of the Elements of Harmony, for a thousand years. Upon her return, Nightmaremoon was defeated in an instant, with the help of the new users of the Elements of Harmony. Their magic had returned the young sister back to her former self.
Luna returned to rule Equestria with her sister once again, yet the darkness that had once consumed her heart were not fully destroyed. For many days and nights Luna has fought her nightmares in order to keep her sanity intact, little did any pony know, her strength was beginning to dwindle away.
~~*~~
"Luna….Lunaaaaaaaaa" spoke a hoarse voice that echoed through the many corridors of the castle, searching for the princess of the night. "Lunnaaaaaaaaaa…..where are you?"
~~*~~
Princess Luna was overlooking the nightfall she had placed over her beautiful land, as she had just raised the moon to its full glory. She could not have believed that it had been just a few weeks since she had returned from being banished. Many things had changed over a thousand years, and this brought much heart ache to the young princess.
Sighing with grief, the young princess began to feel the warm tears creasing her cheek. All of her friends she had known had long since passed. She regretted the mistake she had made that faithful night, which resulted in her banishment.
“A thousand years…..” Luna began, “a thousand years of lost time…”
~~*~~
Princess Celestia had been resting in her chambers, exhausted from the normal day’s tasks of being lead ruler of Equestira. It was a joy, to finally have her sister back within the kingdom. For a thousand years Celestia was unable to rest peacefully, her nightmares would constantly play the horrendous day she had to banish her sister. This day was the first in many years she was able to sleep peacefully.
~~*~~
Princess Luna sat herself upon the balcony of the tallest tower, admiring her most beautiful night sky. The tears had dried and caked over her face, the pain had dulled, and her mind was once again clear.
“Luuuuuunaaaaaa…”spoke the hoarse voice that was echoing around.
Luna’s ears twitched at the sound of the voice, a horrible chill ran down her spine, as she began to look over her shoulder.
“Luuuuunnaaaa….did you think that you could escape?” said the hoarse voice, as it began to grow closer.
Luna immediately stood up, fear coursing through her veins; she knew the voice that was echoing in front of her.
A dark figure walked silently towards the young princess, its mane was a dark black void of emptiness, and its skin was similar. The sharp teeth shown through its vicious smile, as it continued to speak.
“Did you think you could run away from your own personal Nightmare!” it spoke, as it stood in front of her.
Luna couldn't believe her eyes; the figure which stood in front of her couldn't be real.
“Dos thou not believe what is in front of thy eyes?” exclaimed the nightmare Luna knew only as Nightmare moon.
The shadow remnants of Nightmare moon began to wrap its self around the young princess, constricting around her neck, wrapping around her wings, and then finally the darkness began to consume her.
“You’re mine now Luna!” shouted Nightmare moon, as the darkness wrapped itself around Luna’s eyes.
~~*~~
Luna gasped as she awoke from the breathtaking nightmare; a cool wind had blown in through the slightly opened window.
The young princess walked over to close the window, it was then she noticed the strange night sky.
“Dear Celestia” Luna exclaimed as she covered her mouth, the sight that lay in front of her burned with in her mind.
The moon was cracked, the sky was red and the stars had gone missing.
“How could this have happened?” asked Luna, as she rubbed her eyes, hoping this was nothing but a dream.
Luna could see a fire burning in the distance; she peered through the spy glass and was greeted with what was once the beautiful town of Ponyville. Everypony lay dead on the cold ground, the buildings were burning among themselves, and everything was in ruins.
“Luna is something the matter?” Celestia asked, her sudden voice made Luna jump.
“Yes sister look, something has caused destruction to Equestria and the Heavens” Luna says as she is turning to look at her sister.
“Well…Luna it sounds to me like you have caused it again!” Shouted Celestia, her face was covered in deep scratches, part of her jaw was missing, and both of her eyes were red and oozing black blood.
Luna couldn’t scream, her lungs tighten at the horrific sight of her once beautiful sister. She began to back up against the ledge, as the bloodied Celestia moves closer to Luna.
“Why are you running?” asked Celestia, her face had gotten close enough for Luna to smell the rotting, puss filled stench that was emitting from her sister.
Luna immediately vomited, as Celestia continued to press herself against her sister.
“This was all your doing!” shouted Celestia
Luna lost her footing and began to fall from the ledge, her wings were unable to open, as she was falling she looked up at what was once their beautiful castle for the very last time.
Luna fell to the ground with a sharp wet thud.
~~*~~
Luna’s eyes opened up and she noticed that she was in her room once again. This time there were no windows open, the sky was neither dark nor red, but sunny and bright, it was morning.
A knock on her door caused the young princess to jump slightly.
“Princess, princess…” a voice from one of her royal guards came through the thick wooden door. “Princess Luna, Princess Celestia was wondering if you wanted to join her for breakfast?”
Luna groaned slightly, her head was throbbing and her stomach was growling with hunger.
“Please tell my sister that I will be there shortly” spoke Luna with her voice slightly dried.
“As you wish your majesty” said the royal guard as he began to depart to inform the eldest sister.
~~*~~
As Princess Luna approached the royal dining room, she was greeted with the warm smell of delicious sweets and a glorious feast fit for two.
“Dearest sister what is all this for?” asked Luna, her mouth watered at the various foods, that they had once shared back in the old times.
“Today is your birthday don’t you remember Luna?” Celestia asked, a puzzled look spread across both of their faces.
“Luna, you do remember your birthday, don’t you?”
Luna felt a warm feeling she had not felt in so many years, the feeling of being loved and remembered.
“I know it is not like it was back then, but do not worry I have a special surprise for you this afternoon” spoke Celestia with a cheery expression on her face. “Come now dear sister and eat till your heart’s content”
Luna’s stomach answered for her as she began to walk towards the chair across from her sister, it was then she stopped.
“Is something wrong Luna?” asked Celestia with a worried expression on her face.
“Yes I…I want to sit with you if that is alright?” asked Luna.
“Of course it’s alright” said Celestia, as she used her magic to clear a spot for Luna to sit comfortably.
Luna sat down and began to eat as if she had not eaten in years.
In Celestia’s eyes she could still see that little filly that would laugh at the pranks they would perform together.
“Luna we should have a sister’s day out, maybe visit the local town and go sightseeing?” asked Princess Celestia.
“Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Luna looked up at her sister, with an expression of joy then of sadness, she then looked down at her plate.
“Sister I believe it would be unwise for me to set foot out of the castle” said Luna with a sad tone in her voice, “Many ponies are still afraid of us and we do not want to cause any more chaos, than what was already created when I had returned from my banishment.”
Luna never lifted her gaze away from her plate; her words were filled with regret. Celestia moved away from the table and placed her wings around her sister.
“Luna, I understand, we will reschedule this some other time” Celestia said with a smile, “and when that time comes all will be well.”
Celestia gave her sister a warm embrace, before she began to walk towards the door.
“Happy Birthday Luna” spoke Celestia as she turned to her sister “don't burden yourself with what had happened in the past.”
~~*~~
“The past…” Luna said under her breath, “how can I forget”
Deep within the shadows, a presence watched silently at the young princess, waiting for the right moment to claim her once again.