Tuesday morning 3:30 am
Luna trotted through the Canterlot library, searching for a book on leadership, ruling, forms of government, or anything that could help her with the Moon Cult. Yet wherever there should have been a helpful book, there was just an empty spot. Eventually in one of the spots where a book should have been, there was a note that said: **Books too dangerous for public consumption. Moved to Celestia's chambers.** Luna smiled as she decided to go retrieve the book herself, plan forming in her mind as she looked out the window to see Celestia sitting on her courtyard throne, as she watched the army do their daily drills. Luna knew her sister would be out there at least another thirty minutes.
***
It had been easy to get the book from Celestia's chamber. It had been easy to smuggle the book to her chambers. It had not been easy, however, to figure out why Equestria had been changed from this 'Republic' to the diarchy. A republic seemed much more fair than Celestia and Luna (or just Luna) ruling by themselves. Luna spent several minutes reading the book before she looked up at the clock on the wall. 3:55. Luna shot up from her seat and quickly hid the book. Then she took a running start towards the balcony, and burst through the doors. She kept running until she was about to hit the banister, then opened her midnight blue wings and gave a tremendous flap. As she soared over her home city, she began to notice something: it wasn't as colorful or beautiful as it used to be. She made a mental note when if she had the power, to abolish all the anti -creative acts, first thing. Eventually she reached North Ray Street, and found an old rundown shop with a large sign above the door that read "Sun Stiles" in big golden letters. Luna knocked on the door
"Password," said a grumbly voice.
"Eclipse," Luna answered.
The door swung open to show a dingy store filled with bland regulation clothes. Luna did not spend a lot of time in the top half of the building, though, because she was ushered quickly through to the basement. The basement had a lot of differences, the first of which was that this room was packed full of ponies. Mares and stallions and even one or two colts and fillies were all facing forward, towards a large chair adorned with moon cutouts and a large podium. A tall stallion motioned for her to sit next to the podium. She did as she was told, and the proceedings began.
"All bow to the honorable Princess Luna," said the stallion. Everyone in the crowd bowed. Everything about the meeting was uniform and almost military. They went over several reasons why Luna was better than Celestia in the most unmoving way possible, while constantly bowing to Luna. Soon Luna had had enough. She stood up from her chair and walked to the podium.
"Look," Luna said, "I love that you all want to help me make a stand, but it won't work if we treat this like a military takeover." The crowd looked confused and unsure, but Luna didn't stutter. "Instead of one ruler versus one ruler, let's foment an uprising, and convince the people of Equestria that Celestia is wrong, and that creativity and color are good." The people of the crowd were beginning to perk up, and for the first time all morning they seemed excited. Luna's posture straightened as her confidence grew, and her words got stronger. "If we overthrow my sister I will not take lone power. I refuse to take full power. I propose a Republic, where each city will vote on a representative to be on the council that will make the choices." The room erupted into applause as cries and hoots filled the room. "Let's start campaigning," Luna said. "Now, is anypony here an artist?"
A purple unicorn stood up and began talking. "I'm Melody, and I am a musician. I have been keeping it secret for a while, but now in the promise of a new future, I'm ready to tell the world." There was a pause, everyone staring, before the room bust out with yelling.
"I'm a racer," one blue pegasus mare said.
"I'm an artist and I'm proud!" an older stallion yelled.
The room was full of people shouting, screaming their secrets-turned-strengths to the heavens. Luna waited for the crowd to quiet down before she spoke. "All right, everypony, let's get organized. Artists in the far corner," Luna pointed to the left back corner before continuing, "Musicians other far corner." She pointed with her hoof and continued talking. "Elite flyers and racers in the middle. Magicians in the left corner, designers in the right corner, writers by me." Luna finished talking and everypony obeyed. Soon the room was separated into six groups. Luna smiled.
"Now, everypony decide who should be the representative of your group. Take a few minutes of trying to convince everypony why you are the best to represent your group," Luna said.
The princess of the night watched as her own little republic was formed. Eventually six ponies made their way toward her. The first was Melody, who was sent up within the first minute of the elections from the musician group. She walked up to Luna and took her place next to her. Then a pink pegasus mare with a wind-blown blue mane and a bashful attitude came up and introduced herself as Firefly from the elite flyers group. Next came Nexus, an orange unicorn from the magic group, Bella, a gold earth pony from the designers group, and and an older earthpony stallion with a brown coat came forward from the artists. Finally a white pegasus colt no older than thirteen stepped forward from the writer's group, with a pen behind his ear. He said his name was Ink Velum. Finally the team had been formed.
"So," Luna said, "let's make a plan. We need to plan some act to convince people that freedom is worth fighting for."
Melody spoke first, eager to put her idea out. "We could compose a song about rebellion."
"Good!" Luna exclaimed. "How long will it take?"
Melody scrunched up her face in an expression of thought. "Two weeks," she said.
"Maybe we should hold another shorter meeting to decide what to do with the song," Nexus suggested.
"All in favor, raise a hoof," Luna said, and everypony in the circle raised their hoof.
Bella was next to speak. "We could make some type of clothing to signify unity, so that we can identify each other on the street."
"I think that's a great idea," Firefly said, "as long as it doesn't mess with my wings!"
"Ok," Luna said, "if there are no objections, let's do that." No pony made an objection, so Luna went on, "Now we need a name, because The Moon Cult doesn't exactly fit the message we are sending."
"Moon Rise," Melody suggested.
"How about Star Wing?" Firefly said.
"Shining Stars," Bella added.
"Shining Stars!?!" Firefly scoffed. "Sounds like some silly kid's play."
"Well, it's better than Star Wing!" Bella challenged.
Through all of the chaos came one voice that had not been heard all meeting. "What about The New Luna Republic?" asked Ink Vellum. Everyone stopped to look at the little colt.
"All in favor of The New Luna Republic, say aye," Luna said.
And everyone in the room, circle or no, said "Aye!"