//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Sun and Moon // by BurnedPigeon //------------------------------// Thought to Reality ________________________________________ Throughout the magical land of Equestria, countless mythical creatures thrive as ponies, griffons, dragons, and many other species live side by side in harmony underneath the vigilant gaze of the Sun and Moon. At the heart of this land lies the city of Canterlot, filled with buildings of white and covered with beautiful rooftops of purple as spiraling towers of gold stretches far within the sky.  Tonight, as the city of Canterlot slumbers under the white glow of the Moon, a blue mare watches from atop a balcony, sitting on the side of a spiraling tower built upon a castle that reflects the moonlight from its silvery walls. "And yet another boring night as I watch over this place…" says the blue mare, letting out a sigh. "At least you don't have to deal with the problems that ponies have when they come to the castle every morning, Luna…" says a voice. Luna rolls her eyes before turning and facing a white mare with a flowing rainbow mane. "Oh, sure. Try watching over thousands of dreams and making sure there's not a single pony having a nightmare, Tia…" she says, frowning. "Fair enough," says Celestia with a small laugh. "I guess dealing with ponies every morning is tiring," says Luna, laughing with a hoof over her mouth. "A-anyway, is everything okay?" asks Celestia, blinking. "I guess so. The scenery is beautiful, no matter how many times I look at it," says Luna, turning her head as her eyes reflect the stars in the night sky. "Oh, Luna," says Celestia, giggling.  "And what are you laughing about?" asks Luna, lifting a brow. "It's just how you're speaking so casually. I remember when you used to speak more… formal," says Celestia, chuckling with a hoof over her mouth. "Ugh, you just had to bring that up…" says Luna, rolling her eyes. "I'll admit I was behind the times of how ponies talk nowadays, but thanks to you, Twilight, and her friends, I wouldn't be talking like this without you all there for me…" she says, frowning. "Luna…" says Celestia, furrowing her brows. "Well, enough of that…" says Luna, sighing. She then faces Celestia, blinking.  "So, why are you here, Tia? You usually visit at this time when there's something important."   "Is it wrong that I want to spend some time with my beloved sister under this beautiful night?" asks Celestia, raising a brow. "Pfft! When you put it like that, I-I guess I can't say no," says Luna, chuckling with a hoof over her mouth. "But I have to say, you truly have outdone yourself once again, Luna," says Celestia, lifting her head and gazing up at the night sky.  "Enough with the flattery," says Luna, smiling and rolling her eyes. Celestia joins Luna on her side as they sit on their haunches, looking above as light shoots through the night sky while the Moon's glow reflects in their eyes. They then close their eyes, breathing in before letting out a long sigh. "So, Tia, how are Twilight and her friends?" asks Luna, opening an eye. Celestia opens an eye. "Twilight has been doing fairly well since her coronation. But after becoming a princess, she seems to be overworking herself with her studies. Not to mention the injuries she gets from using her new wings…" "I bet that didn't go well. I still remember her flying straight into the castle wall when she wanted to visit us by flying…" says Luna, huffing.  "I-I should probably tell Twilight to take a break. Knowing her, she'll probably push herself until she collapses…" says Celestia, letting out a sigh. "You should. I know Twilight's friends warn her and all, but you're probably the only pony that she'll listen to, Tia," says Luna, rolling her eyes. "I guess you're right…" says Celestia, putting a hoof to her face. "What about her friends?" asks Luna, lifting a brow. "They're doing well, I guess. Honestly, I'm just glad Twilight has such good friends," says Celestia, smiling. "Speaking of friends, Tia, what is Discord doing now?" asks Luna, frowning. "You just had to ask about him…" says Celestia, letting out a sigh. "Well, it's always a good idea to know what he's up to…" says Luna, huffing.  "I guess he's fine for now, thanks to Fluttershy. But he still likes to play pranks on Twilight and her friends, especially the residents of Ponyville and other places…" says Celestia, dragging a hoof down her face. Ugh, just talking about him is making me remember the time he came to Canterlot and made pies come to life and throw themselves on ponies' faces… "You shouldn't be too worried about him. I mean, it's what he does for a living…" says Luna, rolling her eyes. "That's true, I suppose…" says Celestia, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "Oh, Tia, what about Cadance and Shining Armor? I haven't heard from them in a while," says Luna, blinking. "Hmm…" says Celestia, tapping her chin with a hoof. "Cadance is doing well with the Crystal Empire. As for Shining Armor, he's doing whatever he can to help Cadance and maintain his duties as the captain of the Royal Guard." "That's it?" asks Luna, raising a brow. "Well, there was this time that Cadance came to the castle and asked me to tell Shining Armor to take some time off," says Celestia, blinking. "Why?" asks Luna, frowning. "Cadance was worried that Shining Armor might work himself to death. She even told me how he wouldn't listen to her. To be honest, it's amazing how he's similar to Twilight…" says Celestia, sighing. "Like brother, like sister," says Luna, snickering with a hoof over her mouth. "You're right," says Celestia with a chuckle. "Um, sorry, Tia, but talking about Cadance and Shining Armor is making me worried about somepony…" says Luna, rubbing the side of her neck with a hoof. "Who?" asks Celestia, blinking. "It's, well, Chrysalis…" says Luna, biting her bottom lip. "O-oh…" says Celestia, frowning. "Sorry, Luna, but I don't know anything about her and the rest of the changelings. But don't worry, I already prepared spells and tighter security around Canterlot after Cadance and Shining Armor's wedding…" "I see…" says Luna, furrowing her brows. "Ugh, that's right! I forgot to tell you that Shining Armor has trained the Royal Guard on using a spell to see if there are any ponies disguised as changelings…" says Celestia, placing a hoof over her face. "Then I guess you're prepared if Chrysalis and the rest of the changelings ever come back…" says Luna, rubbing an arm with a hoof. "Luna, you should already know that I will do anything to keep everypony safe…" says Celestia, wrinkling her brows. "I know, I know…" says Luna, sighing. "By the way, Luna, where were you when the changelings were here?" asks Celestia, lifting a brow. "O-oh, um, I-I was taking care of… some problems!" says Luna with a sheepish grin. "Luna, are you lying to me?" asks Celestia, glaring. "I-I…" says Luna, her eyes darting about as sweat runs down her face. Celestia closes her eyes and breathes in before letting out a sigh. She opens her eyes and faces Luna with an unwavering gaze. "Luna, you were eating donuts again, weren't you?" "Y-yes…" says Luna, hanging her head. "Luna, you should always let me know if you're planning to go somewhere. Especially for emergencies…" says Celestia, furrowing her brows. "I-I'm sorry…" says Luna with tears welling up in her eyes. "You know, you could at least get a box of donuts for me," says Celestia, smiling. "Well, I guess that's something I could do to make it up to you…" says Luna, lifting her head with a small smile.  "I hope so," says Celestia with a small laugh. "But a lot has happened since then, right?" asks Luna, smiling. "You're right," says Celestia, nodding her head. "A lot of things happened in our fair land of Equestria, and I must say it's quite a tale." "I guess so…" says Luna, turning and gazing up at the Moon. "Tia, I've been wondering, but when did it all change?" "Change?" asks Celestia, blinking. "I mean, when did we become so distant from everything?" asks Luna, furrowing her brows.      "Wh-what do you mean?" asks Celestia, frowning.          "You know, this, the castle! It slowly changed us! There was a time when we could just talk with other ponies without them barely batting an eye! Now, everypony is afraid of the slightest mistake they make, they fear we'll do something outrageous to them! Even a maid in the castle today dropped a teacup when I was there and begged me not to send her to the Moon!" says Luna, stomping a hoof. "Luna, I-I'm sorry, but where are you going with this?" asks Celestia, her brows drawing together. "Tia, be honest with me. When was the last time you were able to carry a conversation like this with somepony other than me?" asks Luna with a watery gaze. "I-I don't know…" says Celestia, placing a hoof on her head. Luna's right. There was a time when I corrected a small mistake within the budget we should use for a new library within the city. How could I forget the ponies' faces who looked at me like it was the end of the world…  "T-Tia, are you okay?" asks Luna, placing a hoof on Celestia's shoulder. "Y-you're right, Luna. I've always noticed, but I can't remember if we had a normal talk with anypony besides the ones close to us…" Luna slowly moves next to Celestia and wraps her hooves around her. Letting their heads rest upon each other's wings, the two stays locked in an embrace as the night air quietly flows around them.  "Tia, do you think they ever get lonely?" asks Luna, her eyes reflecting the Moon above. "Who?" asks Celestia, putting her hooves on Luna's shoulders and slowly pushing herself away. "The Moon and Sun, I mean…" says Luna, pointing a hoof to the night sky. She then shakes her head and waves a hoof. "Ugh, just forget about it-" "Maybe…" says Celestia, lifting her head and gazing at the Moon.      "Really?" asks Luna, raising a brow. "Well, when I raise the Sun, I've always felt like… something was there when I grasp it with my magic. The same feeling was there when I first started raising the Moon, even though it was slightly different. Have you ever noticed something?" asks Celestia, blinking. "I guess so. But I've never thought about it…" says Luna, gazing at the Moon above with a small smile. Maybe we're more alike than I thought… "Oh? Does my little sister have a crush?" asks Celestia, giggling with a hoof over her mouth. "Wh-what? No!" says Luna, shaking her head with a bright red face.      "But that's not what your face is telling me," says Celestia, smirking. "Ugh! I don't have a crush on the Moon!" says Luna, stomping a hoof. "All right. I promise I won't say anything about my little sister's love life," says Celestia with a small smile. "I'm not little…" says Luna, pouting. "I know, but to me, you will always be my little sister," says Celestia, nuzzling Luna's cheek. "Ugh! Don't do that!" says Luna, pushing Celestia with a hoof. "You always treat me like this when we're alone!" "But you're so adorable," says Celestia with a small laugh. She then jerks, blinking. "Oh, speaking of the Sun and Moon, I think it's about time to begin the new day." "Oh, it's that time already?" asks Luna, rubbing her head with a hoof. "I suppose it is," says Celestia, turning and walking to the door in front. "I guess I'll be leaving. I don't want to keep Twilight and her friends waiting."      "Wait, Twilight and her friends are here?" asks Luna with a wide smile.      "Well, not yet. But I invited them over for tea this morning, so they should be arriving soon. I don't suppose I could interest you in attending?" asks Celestia, tilting her head. "Don't look at me like that! Of course, I'll join!" says Luna, pouting. ________________________________________ Far beyond the reaches of Equestria, the Sun and Moon float along a path traveled since time immemorial. To the naked eye, all seems well with the two orbiting spheres. However, a closer look shows the two bodies giving off a faint, translucent glow. They continue to pulse until a yellow and blue tendrils of light start to leak out, returning them to their former state soon after. The tendrils of light slowly make their way across space as almost if they were dancing around each other towards Equestria. As the two streaks plunge downwards through the atmosphere, their glow subsides, making them nearly opaque. As the ground grows closer, the landing point becomes clear, an immense tree located deep within the bowels of the mysterious Everfree Forest. The tendrils of energy weave around the branches of the tree, slowly making their way down the base before branching off of it, hovering just a bit over the patches of grass and flowers. Suddenly, they start to intertwine with each other, forming a small dome of bright colors. The dome of light continues to swirl, growing brighter and brighter as each second passes by, kicking up a strong gust as it blows off patches of grass and flowers in the process. Slowly, the dome of light begins to slow down and dispersing throughout the night sky, revealing two figures under the huge tree. Upon a closer look, the two figures appear to be in a slumbering state, slowly rising and falling in a breathing motion.  The first of the two appears to be larger than the other with a pure white coat, but with a mane and tail of yellow, blending its way to a darker orange and giving it an image of a sunset. The second figure had a midnight blue coat, an ice blue color for its transparent mane and tail, giving it an image of a night sky. However, what are almost immediately noticeable are not their sleek physique and beautiful coats and mane, it was the pair of majestic wings and spiraling horn each possessed. Although these features were not the only things that would catch the eye, for if one were to look upon the symbols that adorned their flanks, they would see a brilliant Sun on the white alicorn and a vibrant crescent Moon on the blue alicorn. As the night went on, many animals of birds, squirrels, rabbits, and many more have gathered to see the spectacle of events that have played out in front of them. The sudden dome of light had drawn the group of animals to gather at its location, witnessing the birth of two miracles with wide eyes and an open mouth.  As the animals stare at the alicorns, they start to feel a familiar presence of two certain celestial bodies until a canary suddenly flies over to the white alicorn, perching on its back. The canary then starts to walk in a circular motion before finally settling down, resting on the alicorn.  Other animals follow as birds begin to settle on the alicorns' back. Squirrels and deer, even a bear, settles next to them, all snuggling against the two as if they were a huge plush doll. The animals finally begin to slumber next to the alicorns, basking in the familiar presences they felt since the time they were born into the land of Equestria, a warm and comfortable sensation of the Sun, and the cold soothing glow of the Moon. To be continued…