Well, this was getting interesting. The show, as far as I'd been able to make out, was very different from what was happening here. I couldn't remember ever hearing of a character being killed. Especially a character such as Big McIntosh.
As my brain fought to remember what little I knew of ponyland – was it 'Equestiria'? - the more I noticed differences. The main one, of course, was the dark. I'm not sure how everything kept growing or living as most plants don't grow well in the dark, but here, things still seemed to be thriving, although some things did seem a little 'off' in ways I can't really describe.
I'd noticed the ponies' 'cutie marks' as I think – hope – they're called and one difference, at least, had stood out. It might just be because I'd seen more of her than other ponies but when I saw Rainbow Dash's 'cutie mark' I saw that, while it was in the shape of a rainbow, it was extremely pale; almost white. Then it twigged a memory. It was a moonbow. A night rainbow. Strange, but rather pretty and not as garish as the full rainbow version I'd seen in the show.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this situation. I mean, I didn't know what had brought me here or why. Was I supposed to do something? Was I supposed to help someone? Was Luna evil or was... was... dammit, whatshername. I mentally cursed my memory for names. I kept thinking 'Equestria' but I knew – or thought – that was the name of the place. The story, or so I thought, went that Luna had rebelled – turned to the 'dark side'or some such – against her sister... Hell, I'd remembered it earlier... Celestia, that was it. Celestia was in charge of the day, Luna in charge of the night. Part of me chuckled at the thought 'Luna, creature of the night' and wondered if she were a vampire. Meh. If I kept this up I'd be as loopy as any of those ponies.
.The party had broken up by now and the others were trying to either comfort Applejack or go about their other duties. It was rather obvious, though, that I'd really spoiled the mood of the party. Which was a shame. Rather to my surprise, I realised that I'd been enjoying myself quite a bit.
Other ponies came and looked at me but I think my size drove them away. Then I noticed them looking at a point behind me before moving off. I looked around. "Hello, Princess." I said, politely.
"Hello, Mister Geraldson.” I blinked at that, I'd told no one my surname. Funnily enough no one had asked. "Could we talk for a while?"
"Sure." I looked down at her. She was the very image of regality. I had to say that. I wasn't lying before when I'd said she looked like a princess. I couldn't really tell you how, she just did. We moved away to a quiet area, away from the other ponies.
"We don't mention Celestia here. Technically, she doesn't exist, nor has she ever existed. That's my fault."
"Do you mind if I ask?"
She sighed. "It's sad, really. She became bitter. Resentful that the moon should even spend some time in the sky. You see, she really shone in the sunlight and the rainbow of her mane was brightest when the sun shone upon it. She wanted the days to stay the same and, to her, that meant the longest summer day. I knew. I knew that this would scorch the earth. I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen. She grew bitter when the days grew shorter. Then it came to a day when we could rule in harmony no longer. She had different powers than I. She could control both the moon and the sun. Whereas I could only control the moon. One day we fought." She snorted and tossed her head. "I say 'one day', but the fight went on for over several days. First one would start to prevail, then the other. The battle swayed back and forth, and both the sun and the moon watched over us. I was desperate. I knew that if she won, she would banish both myself and winter forever. She told me this. She made no secret of the fact. It would be summer forever in Equestria.
"I was desperate. I knew that the everlasting summer would destroy Equestria and kill us all. I was exhausted. I was losing the battle. I tried, again, to make her see that her plans would turn Equestria into ash, but she would not listen."
The emotion in her voice betrayed her distress. I felt that this must have been a terrible time for her. Of course my somewhat minor knowledge of the show told me that it was the opposite. That Princess Luna had been the one that had turned bitter. But wouldn't the victor always want to portray themselves as the good ones? The thought occurred to me that this could be the case here, too. But listening to Luna speak suddenly threw doubts on what I'd believed to be true. "What happened?" I asked.
"I was losing. I got desperate. I..." she hung her head. "I made a mistake." she admitted. "I struck out at her with all I had left, all that was within me surged against her, in a spell I only half remembered. I had nothing left, nothing. Not even consciousness, for that was my last blow. If that had not succeeded, I would be gone and Equestria would be bathed in summer forever." She was panting and gasping for breath just telling me this. Her knees trembled and I could see her shaking.
"I woke with some surprise." she went on after a moment. "Celestia was gone. The sun was gone. Only the moon remained. That, I hadn't expected. I went to the library and looked for a remedy, but only I was mentioned in the books. And there was only the moon. There was no sun. It was like there had never been one. Ever."
She shook her head, tossing her long mane from side to side. "I loved her. She was my sister. I did not mean to destroy her." she cried out in anguish. "I meant to defeat her, yes. I had to save Equestria. I thought I had destroyed her and the sun forever."
"You thought?"
She looked at me and shook her head. "I did not realise it at the time, but no, I hadn't. Ponies began to speak of a strange spectre in the woods. A ghost. A beautiful white mare with a long, flowing mane and tail. It was said that, if one looked carefully, one could see a moonbow in the mane. But ponies became frightened. The spectre was as beautiful, but evil seems to ride it. The dragons and the hydra grow more active now. Or so it is said. As you've heard, Big McIntosh was killed protecting his sister, Applejack. I don't know whether Celestia is behind it or not. But I know they are more active than they were before.
"When I mentioned her name you gave me such a look of anger I thought I would turn to stone." I said quietly. "Why?"
She sighed. "As much as I would love to see her again. I am still frightened. If what they say about the spectre and the beasts is true then she is still angry with me. I do not know what would happen if we were to meet, and I doubt I could defeat her again." She shook her head slowly. "I am scared, Gerald. Scared, not only for me, but for all of Equestria."
She looked up at me with a wry smile. "So. Now you know my secret. I do not hate my sister. I never did. But I know I could not face her again and win. I cannot take the risk of her coming back."
"What about the 'Elements of Harmony'?" I asked, "I will admit to not knowing much about them, but can't they be harnessed to help stop her?"
"The Elements are useless against her. She saw to that. She created them."
"Ah. I see." And I could. If Celestia had created the Elements of Harmony (I'd apparently gotten the name right) it stood to reason that she would be proof against them.
"Why tell me all this?" I asked
"Since you came I've been wondering why." she replied. "What brought you or sent you? Why here? Why now? I can only wonder if you have come to save Equestria from Celestia."
"But what can I do?" I asked. "You could turn me to dust. I know that. If she is stronger then you...."
"That's just it." Luna replied, shaking her head. "At first I thought you might be a powerful one, like the alicorns. In fact when you mentioned Celestia, I did wonder whether you and she were on the same side. But you're not a magic user. I can tell. You don't have it within you."
"You thought I might have come to fight you? To wrest Equestria from your grip and restore it to Celestia?" I will admit, I had been thinking that.
She blew out a breath. "Yes. I did. It was that, also, which was behind the look I gave you."
"I see."
"You have your doubts, don't you?" she told me. "That is understandable. I could be lying."
"And Celestia could be the rightful one?"
"She could."
"But she's not. Is she. At least not according to you."
She looked up at me. "I cannot convince you. I can only tell you what I have. Since you have come; since I have been talking to you, here, I feel a growing sense that it is up to you, somehow, to decide the fate of Equestria, and I can only wonder if you will side with Celestia. She, as I said, can control both the sun and the moon."
“Wait! Did you say that it will be up to me to decide the fate of Equestria?” My thoughts roiled at the very idea.
“Yes.” she nodded.
Oh, great. I tried, rather desperately, not to run away in panic. I did wonder, however, whether it was just part of a lure. An attempt to get me to her side. 'You willl save Equestria! You will be the hero!', yeah. It was a nice lure, too.
"So, what will you offer me if I help you?" I asked her.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing but my thanks." she told me. "All I have belongs to Equestria. I rule, yes, but my ponies own me more than I own them. I cannot, in truth, offer you anything that might affect your judgment."
"No 'riches beyond measure'? No 'half the kingdom'? No 'the hand of the king's daughter in marriage'? The last I asked with a grin.
She looked up at me. "No. Nothing."
I squatted down as far as I could so she wouldn't have to look up to me again. "Luna. You say you do not wish Celestia to return because you fear what she might do. Correct?"
She nodded. "Correct. I fear that she will be as she was. Fighting for supremacy. Fighting for the summer sun to shine forever."
"But it is not good for the moon to shine forever, is it?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. It is not. It takes a great deal from me to keep Equestria alive. I have said that I did not wish to eliminate Celestia completely, only stop her from what she wished to do."
I thought for a moment. "Luna. What if I said I would not help you defeat Celestia again?"
She looked me in the eyes. "If she comes back, and is like she was before, I will do what I can to save Equestria. Even if it means my end."
I was slightly startled. "Your death? But I thought you were immortal?"
"Oh, I will not die." she told me. "Even Celestia's power cannot kill me. But she can destroy me."
"Ah." I'd work on that one, later.
She looked at me again with a stare that seemed to go into my soul. "I will not mention this again. I just hope you choose wisely." she told me. "Whether you believe me, or not. Equestria's fate lies in your hands."
'Ah, crap.' I nodded. "And if I help neither of you except to restore harmony?"
She smiled a smile that seemed to light up her face from within. "So that she and I can rule again, together? That would be the best result of all."
She sobered a little and bowed her head. "I cannot force you to believe me. I cannot force you to help. I do not know whether you will believe me or not. I can only hope that, whichever choice you make will be the best for Equestria."
"Thank you. I think." Great. Now, according to Luna, I had the fate of a world in my hands. The fate of a world that, in all honesty, I didn't even like. I'd watched a total of what, about six episodes. Two of those had been the introduction and that had just been so I could say that I had actually watched some. The others were from where, after talking to someone about it, I'd been told, 'Well, you should watch this episode, it's more representative of the show.' Yeah, after about four of those I'd given up. I didn't like the show. It was too sacchirine sweet. Too 'fingernails on chalkboard', too.... yeah, let's just say it wasn't my cup of tea. And now? Now? If Luna was right and I was the one that would decide the fate of Equestria...? Biiig Sigh.
"You have a lot to think on." I shook myself at the words and looked up. Luna was just looking at me. "I will leave you, now. I have said what I needed to say."
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"You may not, soon enough." her voice was quiet. "I think it will be hard for you."
"I just hope that the decision I make is the right one."
"So do I. Whichever decision you make."
We stood there. Well, she stood, I squatted, "Princess, there is one thing of yours that does not belong to Equestria, but something I would never ask, nor is it anything I would ever take."
She looked at me quizzically. I don't really blame her. I was thinking a 'What the hell?' too. But...
"May I" I asked, reaching out to touch her.
She merely nodded.
"This." and I ran my hand through that long mane of hers. Just once. Then, without a further word, I raised myself to my feet, turned and walked off. I didn't even look back.