Natural Order
Princess Celestia awoke with a gasp. The sheets that surrounded her were damp with perspiration, and her heart was pounding in her chest. It took her a moment to realize she had been dreaming. She sighed and untangled the sheets from her body with a flick of her horn. She shivered in the cool night air, her damp coat chilling her as she trotted out onto the balcony attached to her Royal chamber. The Palace always felt so empty at night. For a thousand years she had missed the warmth that Luna’s night would spread over Equestria. The moon had offered her comfort in the times before Nightmare Moon had corrupted her little sister. In those days, she had always felt safe and comforted at night. It had always seemed to her that Luna watched over her as she slept, guiding and guarding her dreams.
Unfortunately, things had changed since then. For a thousand years all that she had felt in the moonlight was guilt and sadness. Regret for what Luna had become, and for what she had done to stop her. For centuries she had tried to think of something she could have done, should have done. Could she have freed Luna from the moon earlier? Maybe she could have separated her from Nightmare Moon instead of banishing them both to the moon. Maybe she could have even done something to head off the resentment that led to Luna’s fall in the first place. But she had done nothing then, and she had continued her inaction as Luna suffered alone for so long. She had hoped her feelings of guilt would pass when Luna returned, that they could reconcile their past dispute and return to the relationship they had before, but if anything she felt worse.
Celestia blinked away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. Luna was supposed to come back, and they were supposed to forgive each other and go back to the way things were before. But nothing was the same anymore. She could see the effect the centuries of isolation had had on her sister. Her eyes were far older than her childlike appearance let on. That was another thing that had bothered Celestia. She had been initially surprised to see that Luna had returned to such a youthful appearance. She had assumed, and hoped, that it was symbolic of Luna’s return to innocence, but now it only served as a reminder to them both of the years they had spent apart, of the mistakes that had been made.
Celestia gazed at the moon, shining brightly in the sky. Luna’s moon, her canvas.
‘And her prison,’ a sinister voice said from the back of her mind.
Princess Celestia’s eyes narrowed, her gaze locked on the moon. She knew that voice all too well. For centuries she had tried to forget it, and now it was back, haunting her dreams.
‘Surely you didn’t think things would be so simple did you?’ The smug, cold voice of Nightmare Moon gloated in her head. ‘Both of you, both of US know it isn’t that easy. You might have forgiven her for what happened, but how could she ever forgive you? All she wanted was to be loved, to know that somepony appreciated her work, her heart and soul, and you ignored her pain. You are the reason I exist in the first place, not her. But she was the one who was punished for it. How could she ever forgive your selfishness?’
Celestia tore her gaze away from the moon, shutting them tightly and turning away, willing the voice to be silent. ‘All I wanted was for everypony to be safe.’ She thought as she headed back inside and closed the curtains. ‘I never wanted to hurt her, but I had no choice. She had lost herself to Nightmare Moon. I had to do it!’ The argument had been playing itself out inside her head ever since Luna had returned. The relief she had felt at the defeat of Nightmare Moon by her student, Twilight Sparkle and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and during the Summer Sun Celebration had given way to guilt and unease as Canterlot settled back into its routine. She had even handed the night back to Luna after she had readjusted to life in Equestria, but something still felt wrong.
‘Ah but you know what the problem is don’t you?’ Nightmare Moon’s voice whispered in her mind. ‘You have tried so hard to pretend that nothing happened. Maybe it’s easy for you, but she spent so long alone and isolated with only me for company. You really have no idea what that felt like, what it did to her. And then to come back to her perfect elder sister acting as if everything was going to be the same as it used to be.’ Celestia could hear the dark mare’s chuckling echoing inside her head, and the sound set her teeth on edge. ‘You really have no idea at all do you Princess?’
“Enough!” she shouted, tears streaming from her eyes. “I will not tolerate your presence any longer. Luna doesn’t need you anymore and I refuse to hear anything you have to say! Now begone!” Her horn flashed brightly, bathing the room in blinding light. She panted, startling herself with her outburst. Her heavy breathing was the only sound in the silent bed chamber. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This was the second time this month she had found herself shouting at the voice of Nightmare Moon that plagued her sleep. It was foalish, she knew. Nightmare Moon was gone, for good this time; there was no way the evil night spirit could be speaking to her. No, more likely it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Her guilt over Luna’s imprisonment was getting worse, and she didn’t know how to fix it. Every time she attempted to speak with Luna about it her voice would leave her, or Luna would shy away from her, making some excuse to avoid Celestia’s company. But those were just excuses. She would have to try harder if she wanted to mend things between them.
She was startled out of her reverie by a sudden knock on her door.
“I beg your pardon your Highness, but it is nearly time to raise the sun. Princess Luna will be lowering the moon shortly,” a voice Celestia recognized as that of her chief assistant, a unicorn stallion by the name of Leary Skychaser. Celestia turned to look back out of the window, noticing the fading moonlight. Was it really that time already? How long had she been wrapped up in her thoughts of Luna and Nightmare Moon? It was disturbing to think that this phantom of Nightmare Moon could rattle her enough that she would lose track of time, especially when she needed to raise the sun.
“Thank you Leary,” she said, summoning her crown and other accessories from their resting place on the nightstand. “I will be on the eastern balcony to raise the sun momentarily.”
“As you say Your Highness. I will prepare an itinerary for the day for you while you raise the sun. There are several matters that require your immediate attention,” Leary said before taking his leave. Celestia listened as the sound of his hooves on the marble floor of the corridor grew fainter and fainter before disappearing. She let out a breath, settling her crown into place. It was going to be a long day.
***************
The moon dipped below the horizon and the sky took on a grey-blue hue as the first rays of sunshine filled the sky. Princess Luna could feel the threads of her sister’s magic weaving through what had moments ago been her night sky. She had faint memories of what this time of day used to be like, before she had succumbed to the poison of Nightmare Moon. There was a brief moment, between day and night, when the sky did not belong to only her or Celestia, but to them both. The threads of their magic would interweave and they could feel each other’s very essence. One thousand years ago the transitions had been her favorite parts of governing the lunar cycle. She felt closer to Celestia at those times than at any other, and she could feel her sister’s love filling her. Now though, she shied away from such intimacy. She wasn’t deserving of that kind of affection anymore.
Her horn shimmered, a dark glow in the cool morning air. Finally, Luna felt the last threads of her own magic leave the sky, the day fully under Celestia’s guiding hand. She couldn’t help but smile a little. It seemed that in the thousand years she had spent on the moon, her sister had learned a thing or two about the subtle art that governed the night, and it showed in the peace the morning still held. Luna could remember what it was like when Celestia had first learned how to guide the sun all those centuries ago. Each morning the sun would rise over the horizon in a blaze of glory, heralding the beginning of another new day. It was funny in a way, and very much a reflection of Celestia’s personality. Always bright and eager, ready to face any challenge.
‘Not like me,’ Luna thought, her eyes downcast as she left the castle’s west balcony and walked down the corridors of the castle, the newly risen ponies ignoring her as they attended to their duties. ‘Sister was always the bright one, so eager to guide and nurture the other ponies. All I ever wanted was their attention, but I never really tried to help them.’
She wanted so badly to be more like Celestia, to be looked up to and loved. She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts that were swirling in her head. Dwelling on that would do no good. The last time she had allowed herself to be consumed by jealousy she had turned into a monster, and the end result had been her betrayal of her beloved sister and subsequent banishment to the moon. And even after all that Celestia had proven herself the better sibling and taken her back, forgiving her and loving her as if she had never done wrong. Luna couldn’t understand how she could do such a thing.
The events surrounding her return were still vivid in her memory, even so many months after the fact. She had done exactly as she had set out to do one thousand years ago and imprisoned her sister and brought eternal night to Equestria. If it hadn’t been for Twilight Sparkle and her friends, she would have succeeded. Even after that Celestia had forgiven her. Not only that, but the ponies she had attacked had forgiven her as well, even welcomed her home.
‘It doesn’t make sense! Everypony but me is able to forgive and accept others! Why am I so selfish? I’m supposed to be the Princess of the Moon, so why is it that I’m consumed by such pettiness?’ Luna thought as tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them away, navigating the corridors back to her room. She needed to sleep. Governing the night sky was no easy task, particularly when she was still weak after being stripped of Nightmare Moon’s powers. But lately she had come to fear sleep. Nightmare Moon’s voice would taunt her, scream at her, threaten her. Even in the warmth of Celestia’s days she would wake up freezing, the chill of the moon still penetrating her to her bones.
She rounded a bend and froze. Celestia was walking towards her, talking with one of her advisors, a pony Luna didn’t recognize. Luna was tempted to run, or hide, do something to avoid talking to her sister, but the thought of doing so filled her with shame. After a moment, Celestia stopped, having noticed Luna standing awkwardly in the hall.
“My darling sister!” Celestia said, trotting up to Luna and nuzzling against her. “It’s good to see you doing well. I was up early this morning and was admiring your night sky. I must say you really are an artist when it comes to the night. You certainly handle it much more brilliantly than I was ever able to.” she gave a warm chuckle, smiling down at Luna. “But I suppose that’s only to be expected.”
“Thank you…sister,” Luna said softly, cringing at her sister’s warmth and praise. How could Celestia care so much about her after everything she had done? ‘I’m not worth I,.’ She thought, her eyes glued to Celestia’s hooves.
‘That’s right. You’re not. Not at all,’ A voice sneered at her from inside her head. Luna trembled at the voice of Nightmare Moon. Recently, it didn’t matter if she was asleep or not. Nightmare Moon could invade her mind awake or asleep.
‘Look at the way she looks at you. Her gaze is so full of love and forgiveness. Such a wonderful and glorious leader isn’t she?’ Luna could feel the hate in the voice, the cold malice that had twisted her foalish jealousy into rage and hatred. ‘But what have you ever done to deserve her love Luna? What have you ever done to deserve any love or adoration at all? We became what we were because of your pettiness. You never did anything to deserve what you sought. You answered her unconditional love with anger and violence. And even after we were beaten by those miserable little children she took you back. You’re nothing compared to her. That’s why you need me, and that’s why soon enough you’ll become me again.’
Luna gasped and stumbled, looking up into the concerned eyes of Celestia.
“Luna? Are you alright sister?” she asked, taking a step towards her.
“I’m fine!” Luna said as she steadied herself, tears returning to her eyes. “I just…I’m so sorry!” she cried, and dashed away from Celestia.
“Luna wait! Please!” Celestia shouted, but Luna had disappeared around the corner and down the hall.
Celestia let out a sigh. This had been happening more and more often, and it was starting to wear on her. She just wanted Luna to be happy again.
“Your Highness I beg your pardon but these matters really must be attended to,” the pony beside her spoke up.
“Yes…yes of course,” she sighed and turned back down the hall, the pony next to her babbling about border treaties with the new dragon leadership. Once again, Luna would have to wait.
***************
“Breathe in.”
The young unicorn mare took a deep breath, careful to keep her body still as the frigid air filled her lungs. She could feel the moisture on her snow-white coat and pale blue mane condense and freeze, covering her in a bright sheen of frost. A six-pronged snowflake glittered on her flank and her horn glowed with a pale light, shimmering in the poorly lit chamber.
“Breathe out.”
She exhaled and felt the snow around her hooves swirl, dancing into the air and encircling her. She opened her eyes and marveled as it floated around her, glittering in the pale light of her horn.
“Good. You are progressing much faster than I had hoped you would.”
The unicorn stood and smiled at the taller pony next to her. Her mane and tail flowed as if they were made of snow, contrasting with the cold blue hue of her coat. Her flank was adorned with geometric patterns of spreading frost, and her horn and wings glimmered as though they were made of ice. Frigid air seemed to radiate from her body. The unicorn grinned and knelt before the alicorn, the frost falling from her body as she did.
“Thank you, Lady Winter Chill. I am honored to receive your i-instruction,” she said, a chatter betraying the chill that had spread through her body.
Winter Chill chuckled and beckoned the unicorn to rise. “Come now Snow Drift, my most loyal student. There is no need to be so formal with your teacher. You have performed well, far better than I would have imagined when I first found you lost in the forest outside my castle.” Her horn began to glow and the snow in the chamber settled, drifts parting to reveal a door coated in ice.
“Your control is impeccable, but as always you are still submitting to the cold. Remember my student, that although you are not an alicorn as I am, this is still your element. Winter is harsh and unforgiving. It will not allow itself to be guided like many other forms of magic will. You must dominate it with your will. It must truly become yours if you are to master it. You may not be able to guide its cycle but you must be able to command the elements that compose it.”
Snow Drift nodded as she followed her teacher. “I understand, and I am trying, but it’s hard. I mean I’ve lived here with you for as long as I can remember and it doesn’t bother me. But when I channel the magic I can feel the cold seeping into me, as if it’s freezing me from the inside out. The cold flows through me and it’s all I can do to control it without freezing my hooves off.”
“That is your next step my student,” Winter Chill said, “You have a firm grasp on the technical aspects of the magic you wield, but you still lack the necessary instinct for harnessing the true potential of our element.”
“Yes teacher,” Snow sighed, her eyes downcast. She had heard this all before, but she had no idea how she was supposed to develop the instinct her teacher spoke of. The technical aspect of magic had always come easily to her. She could dissect a spell and find all of its core elements as easily as pegasus ponies could fly, but she had never had a natural knack for the application of magic if she wasn’t able to understand it.
“Cheer up my student,” Winter Chill chuckled, “I know you have always struggled with the aspects of magic that rely on faith, but I’ve watched you grow these many years. I know that once you grasp this concept you will be a wielder of my element both wise and powerful. But that is a lesson for another day. For now, I must meet with one of my advisors. You may accompany me to the throne if you wish.”
The ice covering the door cracked and Snow Drift followed her teacher out into a grand hallway with high ceilings supported by ornate pillars, statues of ice lining the corridor. Even though she had lived in the castle since she was a filly, Snow always marveled at the castle’s Grand Hall. Each statue held its own story, holding the image of some great pony. She had learned all of them long before she had even earned her cutie mark, but her favorite was still the sculpture of her mentor, Lady Winter. Sometimes she would simply sit before it and marvel at the incredible likeness, at the grace and power hidden in her frozen gaze.
They reached the end of the hall, a great throne of ice set atop a large staircase was surrounded by four alicorn sculptures, one being that of her teacher. Snow always loved looking at them. They looked so...regal, powerful, with the pale light glinting off their frozen visages. Her gaze wandered to the foot of the stairs, where two pedestals sat empty save for the hooves of whatever likenesses had stood there before.
“Snow Drift? Are you listening to me?”
Snow blinked and almost walked into the back of her teacher, a pink blush standing out against the white of her coat.
“Oh, I’m sorry teacher! I was just thinking about the Grand Hall again. When are you going to tell me why these two are broken?” she questioned, gesturing at the broken sculptures.
Winter Chill’s face darkened and she glared at Snow Drift. Snow cringed under her teacher’s glare. She really should have known better than to ask again. Whoever they were, it was clear that there was a good reason they no longer stood in the company of her mentor.
After a moment Winter Chill let out a sigh. “Perhaps the time will soon come when it is necessary for me to tell you that tale, but for now, leave it be my student. Now, as I was saying, I have an important meeting to see to, and I need you to attend to your own affairs for awhile as I take care of this.”
“Of course teacher,” Snow said, smiling and bowing her head, “I’m going to go practice what I learned today. Thank you for the lesson.”
Snow Drift knelt briefly before her teacher, rising and stepping forward to nuzzle her briefly before trotting off down the hall and out of sight. Lady Winter Chill let out a breath and turned back to her throne.
“You can come out now. My student has left for the moment.”
A dusty brown earth pony trotted out from behind the throne and gave Winter Chill a leering smile. His mane was grey and dirty, and on his flank was an image of a pile of decaying leaves.
“Such a remarkable young unicorn you have there My Lady,” he chuckled, his voice raspy and dry, “I can see why you chose her as your student. She has a very similar aura to yourself doesn’t she?”
Winter Chill glared at the earth pony. “I am forced to tolerate your presence at the request of my ailing sister Dead Leaves, but that does not mean I will allow your lack of respect or permit you to get anywhere near my student. You said you had news for me and I will hear it. If this is all you came here for then I suggest you leave while I still allow you to.”
“Of course, of course!” Dead Leaves laughed. “I merely wanted to see your protégé for myself. You understand. I wanted to know if she would be useful in the days to come.”
Winter Chill’s eyes narrowed, examining Dead Leaves carefully. “Then things are moving along as Autumn Gale said they would?”
“Oh yes. My Lady may not have all of her mental faculties intact anymore, but she is more than capable of handling a task such as this,” Dead Leaves said, grinning, “Your sister has always had a talent for getting others to do what she wants, and even the most powerful of ponies can be deceived when blinded by their own guilt and regret.”
A small smile crept onto Winter Chill’s face. “Good. Tell my sister I will be ready to act when the time comes. How much longer do you expect it will take?”
“It shouldn’t be long now. A matter of weeks perhaps. My Lady has expressed the belief that with a little more tension and one final push, the connection between the sisters of the sun and moon can be broken for good,” Dead Leaves bowed before Winter Chill before turning to take his leave.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing,” he said, turning back, “It seems Celestia has taken a student of her own. A unicorn of similar age to your own Snow Drift. From what I’ve been told, her talents truly are remarkable. She’s living in a small village not far from Canterlot, but far enough that she is outside of the watchful gaze of her teacher.”
Winter Chill’s eyes gleamed fiercely and her mouth turned upward in a wicked smile.
“Well. That is interesting.”