//------------------------------// // Seize the Day // Story: The Devil in Me // by Sleep Sonata //------------------------------// “Well, that went over better than I had anticipated.” Celestia said slumping in her bed, exhausted after the days events. “I didn't suspect ponies to go back to their lives so quickly. You’d think losing an entire portion of Equestria would cause more of a commotion.” I stood, slumped against the frame at the entrance to my sister’s chambers. “They surprised me as well, but I suppose it’s understandable. Few of our subjects, have ever seen any of the Crystal Empire ponies; or their exports, let alone been to the empire itself.” “I suppose. Still, we need to find them. Come morning we shall dispatch search parties to the north.” I was ready to agree and depart, but then an idea occurred to me. “Sister, why not begin the search now?” Celestia turned to face me, looking quizzical. “Luna, you've just begun the night. How can expect our guards to search in the darkness?” “I had planned on sending my thestrals out for a preliminary search. Maybe we could…” With a wave of her hoof, she cut me off. Mid sentence, without warning. “Sister, I appreciate your offer, but I can not send your thestrals as our search.” Where would I have begun? Denying me, her own sister, the right to utilize her night for the sake of the Crystal Empire?! I would snapped back had she not resumed. “Given their history, I would not trust them to leave Equestria unsupervised. I do not wish a repeat of Nocturna.” Deep breaths. If I was to convince her to allow my thestrals to act on her behalf, I needed to collect myself. I donned a calmer complexion. “You can have my word that they will remain obedient. Besides, if we rotate the search parties between night and day, we will maximize their effectiveness.” “I’m still concerned. How can you be sure they will remain obedient?” Can I be sure they will remain obedient. Does she really not trust me? “Tia, they are groomed from birth to be soldiers. Every filly and colt.” “I’m still reserved on using them. We will defer this until tomorrow.” “Celestia please. Can you not trust me this one time? I have always trusted you….why do you insist on...” “I said no, Luna. Good Night.” Again she cuts me off, and she has resigned to her slumber. I decide to depart, before my temper gets the better of me. Atop the castle turrets, one can observe much of Equestria. The vistas are especially beautiful during my night. The rivers that merely flow during the day, now sparkle and glisten in my moonlight. The lanterns that dot the landscape are mirrored by the stars embedded in the sky. I take great care in the constellations, seeing as they are what seem to attract the ponies that do stay awake to enjoy the cool night air. Still, I can not get the day’s events out of my head. I was the one who defeated Sombra, and it was I who saved Celestia was hindered with dark magic, and yet….yet, she still refuses my help in the search. Why does Celestia distrust me so? Why does she not want my help? Had it not been for the breeze bringing cool air, my blood would have boiled. I had expressed anger before, even towards my sister, but it was fleeting. But this was different. She refused to let me use my night for a great good, for no other reason than she distrusted my soldiers. Why, because they thestrals? Because they were nocturnal? Try as I might, I could not make sense of my sister’s logic. She simply had none. “Poor thing. How do you live with yourself knowing you’re always under her hoof.” The voice appeared as if out of nowhere. I searched frantically, whipping my head in a vain attempt to discover my tormentor. “Show thyself! Your princess commands you!” The voice only cackled and I whipped my head around, becoming more and more frantic with each second. A twinge of pain strikes through my head, making me flinch and stumble to my knees. I brace myself on the birdbath by the railing, but when I saw my reflection in the pool, it the face I saw was not my own. “Luna, if that is how you feel towards your own kin….Then I do understand why Celestia detests you, she must feel the hatred you have for her deep in your bones.” The face was speaking to me, revealing her fangs as she did so. “But I know you better than that. You obviously care more about everyone than she does.” It takes more than these simple ‘jump scares’ to terrify the princess of the night, but I was shaking at the sight of this mare. She bore armor, cat like eyes, and fangs which seemed more fit for a bat. And this was my reflection. Could she be…? “Oh don’t be scared of me, my dear. I don’t bite.” Her sarcasm did nothing to ease my fear. I could not let her control me. “W-Who are you? Explain thyself, fiend!” The voice laughed again and I snapped my head back towards the sky. I tried very hard not to show any fear,but it was very difficult. My outburst elicited only a tsk tsk.. “No need to be so formal. We are very familiar with each other.” “I know no mare who seems so grotesque as yourself.” “Oh Luna, why so rude? Is it because of what Celestia said to you?” She could not have possibly known about our conversation. We were alone. “What are you talking about?” I must have had a pained expression on my face, because the voice laughed again; this time the laughter sent chills down my spine. “I was there dear. I felt everything you did, every pulse of hatred, every jolt as she told you how she distrusted your soldiers.” She was there! But how? If anypony else had entered Celestia’s chambers, one of us would have noticed. “How do know of our dealings!? Where did you hide?!” She let out a genuine laugh, which only added to my frustration. “Oh I wasn't hiding. Celestia could see me plain and clear.” I raised a brow. She would not speak plainly. “I am you, Luna. And you are me. We are closer than any mistrusting, non-loving, sister.” That was enough. in a fit, I swung my hoof, and toppled the bird bath onto the floor. My heart was racing, and I couldn't see. I did not realize that this was the magic that the voice seemed to posses. One of the thestral guards came into my room, weapon at the ready. “Princess, we heard a crash. Are you alright?” I was as startled by them as I was by the reflection. I composed myself, so as not to arouse their fears. “Yes, your princess is fine. There is nothing in here to investigate.” With that, they departed for the door. She is me, and I am her. Closer than any sister. These words are poisonous. I need to rest to dispel them from my mind. I could afford to miss this one night. In the midst of my slumber, I was blinded through the cracks in my eyes by sister’s sun. It was startling at best, painful at it’s worst. I fought the urge to cover my eyes, but instead threw the blanket over to shield myself. Is this how normal ponies greet the day? What a horrible way to begin every single day. Eventually, I gathered enough courage to slip out of bed, and continue my efforts from the previous night. Celestia was tired yesterday, and just wanted to retreat to her sleep, rather than deal with the empire. Now, after a full night’s rest, she’ll be much more reasonable. I made my way to the bath, about to make myself presentable to world. As I was about to open the door, I froze, dead in my tracks. I had every intention of going in that room, but my body was stiff, steadfastly refusing to obey my will. Why? Why couldn't I bring myself to enter the bath? I remembered that night, and the awful nightmare I’d had. Was I too scared to see my reflection, lest it show that horrible hag again? No, that was foolish. That was but a delusion in my exhaustion. She wasn't real, and I had nothing to fear. I threw the door open, and was immediately confronted with the mirror. I still stood still, not taking another step while locked in gaze with myself. And that was all. It was my normal face. Same eyes, ears, and mane that I was born with. Nothing unusual or evil about me. Such a silly thing to have fretted about. As I exited my own room, I could see Celestia leaving hers at the same time, though she look much less prepared to take on the day. Her mane was less and mane than a collection of colors flowing whichever way they pleased, and her eyes stared straight ahead, fixated on nothing in particular. In front of her floated a cup of what I assumed was tea. I would have recommended coffee for her condition. “Good morning, sister! A busy day awaits us!” “Mph.” At least, that’s what I thought she said. I doubt she could fully know what she was saying. She kept sipping her tea, erstwhile I snuck off to take on the day. How odd I should be the one so eager to put sunlight to use. In the throne room, I found myself in the company in the company of Celestia’s military advisers, all of whom look somewhat puzzled by my arrival. “A good morning to you, your majesty. Do you the whereabouts of Princess Celestia?” General Firefly spoke up. His question was valid. “My sister is still recovering from the events of yesterday. She will be with us when she is willing and able.” They understood. I myself didn’t know for certain when Celestia would be coming to the throne room. She looked quite fatigued, so I thought it safe to take on her duties in the meantime. As I took my place on my throne, the general presented me with a map of Equestria, now complete with a barren northern border. The area where the Crystal Empire had been was covered up with several pieces of parchment. It would have to do until the cartographers could update the maps. “Princess, we have readied scouts to search the northern tundra for any signs of the empire. They've been given orders to scour for any signs, magic or not, day and night, as to the whereabouts of the empire. We need only your word to send them on their way.” The general’s plan did meet with my approval. However… “Send them on their way. However, inform them that they need not trouble themselves with nighttime searches. I will send my thestrals to take on that task.” My remarks were received with puzzled looks from the officers. It reminded me of the unpleasant talk I’d had with my sister. “Princess, I mean no disrespect, but are you sure they can be trusted in such a remote part of Equestria? They will be many days communications away.” “You needn't trouble yourself with those thoughts, general. You have my assurances that the Thestrals will be diligent and thorough in their search.” The look I received was not one of assuaged concerns. “I do not doubt their abilities. But I cannot help but wonder what would happen if they were to start another nation. If our history has taught us anything, it’s that their ventures always result in suffering.” These fools too? How dare they! Oh well. They can not disobey a princess. “I understand where fears come from, but I am here to tell you that they are unfounded. You may send your scouts out at once, and inform them of the thestral’s involvement.” “How does Celestia feel about this plan?” “Must my sister approve of every action that occurs in our nation? Send them.” With a bow, they departed on their mission, and I was left to congratulate myself for taking initiative on such an important. Celestia will see, she’ll understand. With her ponies working the day, and mine the night, the Crystal Empire will return by Hearth’s Warming.