Exposition: (The only change from the normal storyline is going to be that Owlowiscious is already residing with Twilight, because I need him desperately!) This story starts days after Night Mare Moon is defeated. Luna is visiting the ruins of the castle where that battle happened. It is the same castle where she and Celestia lived a thousand years ago. Many of Luna's memories are clouded, so she came to this place to try to remember more of her past. Please, Enjoy the story!
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The sounds of the birds are hushed in the serene languish of the everfree deadwoods. Mystery and danger makes its home in this part of the forest. Seen in the eyes of every creature, but unknown to all outsiders, darkness still haunts these grounds.
A visitor finds the entrance to this secret place. She drifts through the overgrowth of a stone archway. The thickets of trees give only glimpses of the structure. Solace fleeting with each of her hoofsteps, she walks the path throughout the ancient citadel. Was it here, on these degraded stones... the place she used to call her home?
Solomn eyes gaze across the moss overlain timber. These trees are growing through a small stone bridge. It lies dismembered by thick roots and branches. Such rich crisp waters of the mountainlands used to sparkle and stream below. Now it is no more than a ditch, choked with deadwood and bush.
Luna, though deftly walking through the ruins, seems lost. Her mind seems to strain itself. Trying so deeply with remembrance to find something precious of her past. Wincing, she scrys her mind for the source.
Darkness erupts in a whirl around, licking at her insecurities.
Luna resumes her searching, unable to see the magical smoke all around her.
"Ahh~" the malevolence speaks dryly. "So you delve for me again Luna?".
The nightmarish wraith strangles around the filly's neck, flowing through her mane. "Oh? Can you not see me my darling?" It supposes with a coldness like ice. "Little difference it makes in the end... you'll see."
Luna shudders as a cold chill excites down her spine. So much so that she looses her breath for a moment. Her wings strap against her sides from the sudden shock. Wanting to continue, she looks around momentarily; oblivious to the omen and the haunting specter.
"Here it is.", Luna's steps echoing on the thick stone, "The chamber that held the Elements of Harmony."
Blinking visions of the polished white chamber of a thousand years ago fill her mind like a fantasy. She sighs sweetly at the comforting memory. Softly walking to one of the empty windows, she looks out over a small pool that half fills the swampy courtyard. Her head lying against the window sill, she closes her eyes. Trying to accept all that has changed...her reality,"...my home."
---
White wings whoosh in the air smoothly, as the celestial princess floats down to her sister's side. "Luna", Celestia says with great thought. "How very long ago it was I left this place."
Celestia smiles,"Being here with you again Luna, it is like a story from a lifetime ago."
"several", Luna says under hushed breaths. Luna has her eyes downcast, welling up with tears.
Celestia closes her eyes gently,"Did you come here to remember?". "Do you remember us?", her smile softening.
Luna's pause causes concern to splash across Celestia's expression.
"My past is nothing but dreams.", Luna says almost heartbroken,"I lost my way."
She fights back a few tears,"When I was one with the luminance of the moon, I knew things weren't right."
"As I slept in its soft glow for so long, my memories became nothing more than wisps in the fog.", Luna trails off. "One of the last real memories I have is of dawning the nightmare armor. I just..."
Celestia stops her,"Something like that, I..." But before she can finish
Luna rises up to her, speaking confidently,"I just wanted to put my whole heart into making the night sky beautiful for, f-for everypony.". She shifts to the side, hiding her face and her guilt.
"You still can Luna.". Her sister comforts,"If there's one thing I know my own dear sister can do, it is making the thousands of stars sparkle in the night sky."
Luna looks down at her own glimmering slippers,"It has been so long since I've felt your gaze. Tia you've changed so much.". She pauses for a moment,"But, you're still the same though, and so are the stars. The stars and your eyes, they have always sent me their love."
Luna grows nearly silent,"The only one, who has changed...", quietly mouthing these last three words,"would be me."
Celestia finds herself lost in the silence of the moment. Not a single comforting word comes to her mind. Though wise for so many years she is struck by how troubled things have become for her sister. Even under her best guidance, was this really the way things were to be. Her worries take light in the forlorn eyes of her sister Luna.
Wondering, Celestia inquires her sister,"Would it help you to accept the past, if I were to restore this castle?"
With silent resign in her heart Luna cries out,"No! No more dreams!". She steps back from Celestia,"Please, let me see the world for what it really is."
Celestia looks on with momentary surprise. Instantly feeling the separation between them grow as if a mountain of unfathomable height has erupted before her into the heavens.
---
Though here they stand only a few steps apart, Luna's heart begins to feel more distant than the dark side of the moon.
"Will you", Celestia pauses,"...be coming back to Canterlot castle?"
Luna becomes visibly passive, as if thinking it would be too much to refuse. She opens her mouth about to speak, but takes pause to consider another trouble.
Luna begins,"The moon, will you continue to raise the moon Tia?"
"I was hoping you might raise it tonight Luna." Celestia responds.
Luna turns away,"Can't I have some time? I'm not at all ready for this."
"If that's the way you want it to be Luna. I'll keep guiding the night until then." With more than a worried step Celestia leans down to lovingly caress her sister. As she says goodbye, Luna looks up with just a bit of sparkling tears in her eyes. It tugs Celestia's heartstrings, strumming at her emotional harp.
She leans down and kisses Luna's horn,"Time heals all wounds sister. In peace you will always find comfort." Celestia walks away with hope in her worried eyes; hope that little Luna will find her way.
Luna loses herself in the distance again... and says quietly,"goodbye" to Celestia. "Tonight, I'll be looking to the stars."
and with that, she stands alone.
The dark wraith cackles over its prey with delight,"Soon Celestia! Soon she will be mine again!"
---
A few days later at the Ponyville library,
"Spiiiiike!", a flustered Twilight yells. "Where is the friendship report I was writing to Celestia?"
Spike leans back into Fluttershy's lap putting his hands behind his head,"I dunno where you put it Twilight. You probably left it on your desk where you write them."
Twilight growls throwing books this way and that, looking for the paper frantically. One of the thrown books knocks over the small podium. The letter flies off and slaps her in the face. She makes a big act of peeling it off. Then with a spring in her step bounds around looking for her ink and quill.
Spike looks across the room with disgust,"It's like living with a whirlwind some days.". Spike quips,"Celestia's star student is never going to learn if I keep cleaning up these messes.".
"Oh, but Spike, that just means you're doing a really good job helping.", Fluttershy notes, rubbing the little dragon's belly lovingly.
Spike rolls his eyes at that, as if it were nonsense. "Yeah if you say so Fluttershy."
She smiles at his feigned agreeableness. Twilight then begins the letter telling the princess about their exciting day helping Fluttershy befreind an angry wolverine who had taken great pleasure tearing up her flower beds.
Done with that task, she hands the letter to Spike to send it on its way.
Spike hops up excitedly,"This is my faviorite part!". He clears his throat and blows a few fire rings to warm up. And with a smile to Twilight's bemused expression, his bright green *fwooosh!* flashes through the room as the magical fire sends the letter on its way.
---
A bit later, Twilight enters the room with tea and snacks for the trio. "So who's ready for lunch and a story?", she exclaims raising a book into the air.
Spike groans,"As long as it isn't another manual on nominalization. The last one you tried to read nearly ended me."
"Nope, not this time Spike!", she says grinning with excitement. "Today I've got a story with a bit more action to it.", she winks, though no one gets her pun... forever.
"I'll be reading 'The Three Maresketeers'!"
A good part into the reading during a short break, Spike begins gagging on his snack. With a tap or two on his chest he releases a mighty belch. He hacks and coughs a bit before handing Twilight the magically transported scroll.
Twilight's face contorts in minor disgust. "Oh Spike. We really need to find a better way to get our mail.", as she brushes off some of his sticky snack crumbs from the paper.
"Eh, its a living.", Spike replys plopping back into his seat.
Twilight's eyes read through the letter quickly. "It seems that princess Celestia is really concerned about her sister Luna. Apparently Princess Luna has been really distraught ever since we fought Night Mare Moon, and Celestia has been unable to convince her to return to Canterlot. Celestia is asking me if I might be able to help somehow."
"Wow!", Spike says in shock. "Its not often you get a task like this from the princess herself. What are you going to do?"
Twilight raises the letter high in the air,"Well of course I'm going to go help out any way I can!"
"I dunno Twilight, this sorta thing isn't something you're very good at.", Spike points out.
"Dont be silly Spike.", Twilight says as she begins filling her saddlebags with books. "The princess needs me! I'll show her the magic of freindship and everything will work out wonderfully. Celestia will be so happy with me! Oh, I just can't wait!", she giggles.
Twilight begins to write an acceptance letter to Celestia. "I'm not sure exactly what the problem is, but if Luna becomes freinds with me, I'm sure she would become happier."
"Yeah, the only problem with that is, the letter we received says Luna is in the Everfree forest.", Spike says unamused.
"The Everfree forest!", Fluttershy squeaks. "You're going in there alone Twilight?"
Spike stands up infront of the two ladies,"Nah, I'll be there to protect her."
Twilight *pat pats* him, "No, you're staying right here Spike. I've already decided who to take along."
Fluttershy lets out a meep as she hides behind Spike. "y-you, mmmmmm", she tries to speak stuttering.
Twilight turns to the corner of the room, "Yes that's right! I'll be taking Owlowiscious along. He will easily be able to guide me safely through the forest. Besides it is quite a ways away. You'd nearly be asleep by the time we got there Spike."
Spike chimes in, "Thats all fine I guess, but how are you going to find Owlowiscious at this hour?"
"Huh? He is right here Spike.", Twilight pokes a brown hat on the hat rack teasingly.
The hat crrreaks its head around giving one blood curdling,"HOOT" with eyes staring through their souls!
Spike jumps back!,"Whoa! How long has that owl been here!?"
Fluttershy is frightened, frightened beyond words and hides behind Spike. Her knees knocking together softly as she shys from the spooky owl.
Spike glares back menacingly at the bird,"You don't have to be afraid of that featherbrain. See Fluttershy, I'm not.". He gulps.
Twilight gives a little laugh,"Oh you two. Fluttershy can you watch Spike for me so he doesn't try to sneak along?"
Fluttershy peeking over Spike's shoulder at her freind,"Y-yes I don't mind at all."
"Great", Twilight replys. "I'll be back in a few hours with the princess in tow with any good luck. See you later!", she says with eyes full of hope as she closes the door behind herself.
---
They both release a pent up sigh as the creepy owl's presence leaves the room. "I sure won't be missing that owl any time soon." Spike stammers.
"How about we play a game while she's gone Fluttershy?" Spike asks.
"What kind of game?" Fluttershy inquires.
"We could try role playing. I read about it in one of Twilight's books.", he says anxiously. "I will be the evildoer, baron von Spike!", said with pride, "And Fluttershy, you can be the damsel in distress."
Fluttershy nods agreeably,"Oh, I think I can play that role.".
Spike walks over to the couch. "And this pillow can play the role of the sheriff."
He then dashes into a closet returning, of course, decked out in the full cape, top hat and mustache ensemble. With him, he brings out some rope grinning,"Mwyaaah ha ha HA! Now to begin my evil plan!". He moves to begin to tie up Fluttershy to imaginary railroad tracks.
Fluttershy yelps a bit,"s-Spike wait! I'm really getting afraid."
"I'm just acting... come on Fluttershy...",he groans.
Fluttershy lightens her expression,"Oh, you're really good at acting.". She nods several times,"The best I've ever seen!"
Spike facepalms practically dragging his hand down his cheek.
"You should try acting some too. Try using an accent like Rarity's.", Spike suggests as he gets back into character.
"Blahhahaha!" he lifts his hands maniacally towards her.
She lets out a sappy "ohuhuuhoooo~" raising her hoof to her chest; pretending to faint as Rarity would, much to Spike's enjoyment!
With Twilight heading out towards the dangerous Everfree forest, and her two friends engaged in their equally risky game, what could possibly go wrong?