Public scrutiny has never been generally favorable to us.
As a positive, we only have to deal with a select group of ponies: The town of Ponyville. It consists of mostly farm-ponies or likewise simple folk, a hoofful of their number being somewhat more well-to-do than the others.
As the overwhelming negative, we are unsure of ourselves, sensitive to many new feelings we have not felt in an entire millennium. We can still hear my voice, but it sounds very young, innocent, and unfit for ruling a kingdom. We are barely more than a filly now, and they hail me as a princess nonetheless.
My sister’s influence is stronger than we believed.
A wreath of flowers is placed around my neck by several excited birds, the gathered ponies hailing the return of their princess. We expected none to be overjoyed at this occasion, and would have much preferred a subdued affair with much less merrymaking—but this is what my sister is rewarded with. Perhaps we should enjoy this as much as we can.
So, we speak little and observe much. The smeared pastels of vibrant coats and manes make rivers of multi-hued rainbows down the streets of the quaint town, the hubbub of a sorely needed party raising the spirits and morale of folk whose concerns lie with the weather and family well-being. It is a far better crowd to stomach than those we anticipate in Canterlot, as these ponies have very real and rational goals; it is not right to judge the nobles, but their obsession with money has always been a matter of irritation for us.
A young earth pony colt approaches me. He cannot be more than two years old, but already he gazes up at us with untold knowledge of the ground upon which we walk. His entire body appears covered in grime, as if he had been tunneling or digging just prior to the beginning of the merrymaking.
We smile at him eagerly, expecting the typical welcome we have been given by so many already. It is not every day that a princess returns to her subjects, and many want to claim that they spoke with Princess Luna when she first returned.
The colt bows deeply, as expected, but his words shock us far more. “Princess, thank you for changing my life.”
We have not been in Equestria more than a handful of hours, and already we are being thanked by a colt for changing his life. We cannot have done anything to deserve this. “Young colt, we have yet to change the lives of any. We hope this may change soon, but until then, thou need give no thanks.”
The colt shakes his head eagerly, never rising from his bow. “No, no, I remember you. Our farm was all dried up and we couldn’t get any crops to grow. You came and told me that my family was skilled and this would never happen. You made me happy. Thank you.”
A dream? He recalls us in a dream? “It is our duty, young colt. While it is heartening to hear that we helped our subject, we deserve no praise for it. We only did what was expected of us as Princess of the Night.”
Another shake of the colt’s head. “I don’t care if you had to or not. You still changed my life.”
Unbidden, a blush rises. We are not used to such praise. “Thank you, young colt, but please, no more of this.”
As the colt makes a hasty retreat back to the surging mass of ponies, an elderly green mare nearby sidles up to speak with me. “Forgive me, princess, but I couldn’t help but overhear that conversation with young Diggig over there.” She gestures to the colt retreating into the crowd. “There’s something I’m tryin’ to remember... can you help me?”
“We are unsure what thou expect us to recall, but we shall do all we can to aid in this.”
“There was a dream I had a month or two ago.” Her eyes glaze over as she withdraws memories she tried hard to forget. “It was more of a nightmare, now that I think about it. Anyway, it was one of those dreams I had often, ever since my husband disappeared about, oh, two or three years ago.” The pain of loss is evident in her wise eyes as she continues her tale. “It was of my own funeral, one where I was stuck in one of those coffins and the lid was open. And my family was all there cryin’, even the ones no longer with us.”
There is a pause while she waits for me to say something. “Well... yes, we recall this dream. Why wouldst thou relive old memories for our sake, though?”
The green pony smiles. “Well, like I said, there’s something I was tryin’ to remember. You told me somethin’, and I can’t remember it, but it put me at ease. I’ve never had the dream again. What did you tell me?”
My eyes close as we attempt to recall the words we said. “Even if death were to claim thou tomorrow, thou hath still lived a worthwhile life. Rather than worry about the end, let us relish all that leads up to this moment, starting at the beginning, for thou hast a story to tell.” We pause before saying again the next words we told her not long ago. “Perhaps we will be fortunate enough to hear it one day.” We smile at the pleasant, heartfelt words, opening our eyes to look once more at the elderly earth pony. “We assume that thou wish to tell us this story.”
The pony nods her head. “Maybe sometime real soon. You look a might busy right now. I’ll just, uh, wait for you to come find me one of these days.” She gives us a wink and canters away, her arthritic legs forcing her to move slowly.
This town is miniscule in comparison to most of the cities of Equestria, and already we have found two touched by our actions in their dreams. Perhaps if we were to ask, we would find more.
Before we raise our weak voice requesting this information, we counsel ourselves on humility and proper acceptance of actions. Even when we know we have performed positive acts, it is not our place to gloat and expect praise for our good deeds. The ponies affected positively are reward enough without recognition.
We think these things, but they turn to ash in our mind. We sorely wish for that recognition, even when we know it is wrong to want it.
Nightmare Moon is not gone yet. We know she is not. We may have won the last battle, but the war will not end for some time. We can feel her influence even now, and it fills us with dread.
We will overcome her. Luna shall not fail her nation or her sister again.
My eyes cast over the assembled ponies, we are filled with eagerness to help my nation alongside my sister. However, the influence of Nightmare Moon will not let us.
We must destroy her once and for all.