“Oh… hello Luna” Twilight began.
“Hello Twilight Sparkle, we are pleased to be in your company” Sniffled Luna, her head facing away, hiding the tears in her eyes.
“Luna, Celes-” Began Twilight
“Oh yes, sister sent you, you did not come because you were worried, or because you wanted to see me, it was sister who brought you here.” Luna spat turning around. “This is all her fault, why did she have to assign Blueblood as my advisor! Leave me alone Twilight Sparkle, you do not come because of me, you come because of Tia.” Luna began to charge her horn.
“Luna wait! Please Luna, yes Celestia told me to come, but I came for you, not because she told me to.”
Luna hesitated, before teleporting Twilight out of the room. Then collapsed on the bed, fresh tears of regret staining the sheets.
Twilight appeared outside the door to Luna’s room with a sharp pop. Listening to the door all Twilight could hear were more sobs. “That is it!” thought Twilight. “Luna I am going to help you whether you like or not.” Twilight began to charge her magic, and began unweaving the spells that were holding the door in place. Twilight gritted her teeth as Luna’s magic fought back. Resistance however was futile, and the spells broke like glass as Twilight stepped forward and opened the door.
“Twilight! How did you! Get out of our room I want to be alone!” Luna shouted tears running down her face.
“No Luna I am not going to leave. You are very upset, and I want to help.” Twilight took a step closer.
“LEAVE US ALONE TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”
“No Luna.” Twilight took another step, she was right in front of Luna now, and could see no hostility, only regret in her eyes.”
“Ple-” Luna was cut off as Twilight wrapped her into a big hug, and a blush spread across her face.
“Luna, you didn’t show up for stargazing tonight, I mean we planned it out weeks in advance, and I thought that you didn’t want to hang out with me anymore, or that you were hurt, or something happend..” Spoke Twilight her tone hurt and scared. “I want a good explanation as to what was so bad that it could make you lock yourself in your room, rather than coming to see me.”
Realization crossed Luna’s face and she gasped. “Oh no Twilight, I forgot, I just-at dinner-I was about to leave-Blueblood.”
“It’s okay Luna, now explain to me slower and with more details this time.”
Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “It was just before I was about to leave, Tia was seeing me off. However Blueblood decided to show up... and delay me…. He started shouting, a-and, the-then, he started making mean remarks about me, and then-n he started making mean remarks about you-u. I-I lo-lost it an-and thr-threw him into a wall. Twilight, h-he, call-called me a Nightmare, and I proved him right. I'm so stupi-stupid, wh-why did I-I do th-that.” Sobbed Luna into Twilight's mane.
“Shh-shh. It’s okay Luna I’m here, you just reacted, that’s all.”
“No Twilight, I could have just yelled but instead I threw him against a wall really hard, as well as yelled.”
“Luna, please stop beating yourself up. You’re Luna you’re not Nightmare Moon. You’re the Luna, the princess of Equestria who takes time out of her busy schedule, to come see me. You are not Nightmare Moon. That part of you is gone, I watched it leave you, I felt it leave you. You are a beautiful mare, who is a great friend, and always makes time for her friends, you are loyal, and brave. No matter what anypony says you will always be that way to me. ”
“Twilight, I-I don’t want you to hate me.”
“Luna why would I ever-” Luna’s lips pressed against Twilight’s. Time froze, and Twilight's eyes went wide, but she did not pull away, rather she leaned into the kiss, a desperate attempt to elongate the feeling of the soft lips of the night princess against her own. Luna pulled away far too soon, and had disappeared into the night, leaving behind only a note in her place.”
Dear Twilight,
I need to be alone right now, the only place that I truly can. Please let me have just an hour. If you do not hate me, I am sure that you will find a way to where I am.
Love,
Luna
***
Celestia entered her bedroom (which doubled as her study), and she slowly approached her body pillow, where she normally wrote letters and reports. Placing herself in a comfortable position Celestia turned toward the doors of her room and magically sealed them. She knew of course that if Luna or Twilight truly wanted to get in, her magic wouldn’t stop them. However it was enough to keep out any guards or servants. Celestia had some things that she needed to do.
“I need to do this. I need to write this down.” Celestia said to the empty room. Reaching out with her magic Celestia grabbed some scrolls, as well as a quill and bottle of ink. Gathering her thoughts Celestia composed a letter to Bluebloods parents, Bluebloods deceased parents.
My dear friends,
I have failed you both…I could not protect him… tartarus knows I tried, but he was just too full of himself… I suppose, however, that is my fault. I always gave him everything. This is all my fault if I had just taught him to be a good colt, then none of this would have happened. I was never there for him, just as I was never there for Luna. I have to send him to a guard training program, maybe there he will learn how to be respectful. I know that you did not want him to be a soldier, but I must do this. I must for the sake of both Luna and Blueblood. Please forgive me... you both were like the brother and sister I needed. If not for you I don’t know what I would have done… I am so sorry that it has to be this way.
Forgive me,
Celestia
Celestia looked the letter over, tears forming in her old eyes. Pulling herself up onto her hooves Celestia walked over to a small dresser in the corner of her room. Rolling up the scroll Celestia pulled out a small wooden box, a box she had not looked inside for 500 years. Slowly she opened the top with her magic, and placed the scroll inside. Before she could close the lid, another scroll caught her eye. A scroll, that she had never looked at, and could not remember writing. Slowly she pulled it out, memories and emotions of a time forcefully forgotten pushed at the surface. Cautiously Celestia unrolled the seemingly ancient scroll.
Dear sister where art thou…
I have lost thee
I have lost thee
The cold nightmare stole you from my embrace
Forgive me dear sister
For I am sorry, I left thee alone in thy time of need…
What do I do Luna?
I am lost without thee,
Lost in this world… I miss thee so much,
I could not save thee
Forgive me please
It has been but an hour since I was forced to use the elements against thee,
Tomorrow I will have to rise and rebuild
But sister, how can I… how can I without you by my side…
I know I must be brave…
Yet I am terrified.
Will and when wilt thou return Luna
Thou must hurry home
Thou must…
I miss thee so, I am so sorry sister
I was left no choice…
I had to use the elements against thee
Had I known…
Had I known…
That they would take thee, and punish me so
I would have never
Oh sister,
Dearest,
My dearest Luna,
I have failed thee…
Failed thee again…
BUT NEVER SHALL I AGAIN!
I swear sister…
Never again will I fail thou
Please
Return home to me soon
So I can make good this promise
I am so sorry
Celestia collapsed onto the ground sobs wracking her body.
“Lu-Luna! I-I a-am so sor-sorry! I br-broke m-my, prom-promise! Oh sister!” Celestia cried out feeling the room staring at her crumpled figure, as she apologized to the empty night.
Minutes ticked past and Celestia could feel naught but sadness, and regret. Slowly she charged her horn, building the spell that would make her remember, make her understand. The spell built, and built… then it was ready, and in a flash of gold Celestia lost herself.
Celestia felt her mind swirl as the spell brought her back into her mind. She found herself staring down at a Celestia of the past writing the very letter she had just read, her tears staining the fresh parchment. Then she was pulled back to the moment of her creation: all was chaos, and born from magical residue she rose, a filly from the fires of the sun… a light in the eternal dark, but so alone. Five hundred years alone guiding ponies of all races to harmony… yet so alone. In the never ending light she wished, wished for a friend; a sister, wished for one who would stand at her side. Then from the dark rose a figure, a beautiful midnight filly. With her came the stars, and the night, a time of dreams and rejuvenation. Together the two sisters toppled chaos, and brought harmony to the land. For one thousand years they ruled, but the young one felt she was unimportant. She felt alone, and in her loneliness the nightmare came, at first it was friendly; nice, but soon it grew bitter and forceful. It possessed the young one, and she destroyed so much of what both her and the older one had achieved. The older one was forced to use the fabled Elements of Harmony against the nightmare in the hopes that her sister would be freed from the nightmare. On that day a lesson was learned, if the Elements were used with selfish intentions they punished the user. The elder sister, wanted the sister that she failed to protect back, the sister harmony had given her, the sister that abandoned harmony and deserved justice. So harmony made the decision, the elder one would be punished for her use of the elements, and she would be stripped of the power to use them. Her sister would be banished to the night, to the moon, where she would be unlearned, to be retaught. Then harmony passed; the old gods had run out of time, it was now the time of the embodiments. The elder sister forged on and rebuilt the kingdom, a kingdom that condemned her sister. As years passed the elder sister watched her friends die, and she became once again alone. Broken she began to fix herself, she repressed the anger and sadness. She forgot about her regret, and she became the giver of wisdom and knowledge. She took on pupils of magic and trained them, they became her friends. Soon the prophecy came, and she learned when her sister would be released. And the elder sister schemed and planned… selfish… yet selfless… a paradox, and still the elder sister waited.
Celestia awoke mere minutes having passed. The cold dampness of her sins washed over her… and she pulled herself into her bed. Staring up at the moon. Feeling the wave of hurt wash over her, Celestia’s eyes shut as sparkling tears trickled onto the sheets. The letter to the guard training facility could wait until tomorrow.
***
Twilight paced around Luna’s room trying to think where she may have gone. It definitely wasn’t in the castle Twilight had been everywhere but Celestia’s room. Then it occurred to her “The moon! Luna probably is on the moon!” The smile left Twilight’s face as she realized she had no idea how to get to the moon. “Luna! How in the hay do I get to the moon.” Twilight shouted out, before realizing that Luna could not hear her…. But suddenly Twilight felt a strange pressure, and then in a flash of darkness she appeared on the surface of the moon. Face to face with Luna.
“Hello again Twilight” Greeted Luna
“Hi Luna, am I where I think I am?” Asked Twilight barely able to contain her excitement.
“Yes Twilight you are.”
“I’m on the moon!” Twilight shouted jumping around like a filly.
“Yes Twilight you are.” Deadpanned Luna
“How can I breathe up here.” Twilight paused taking in a deep breath. “Should that not be impossible.”
“Regularly, yes, but my magic is allowing us to do this.” Stated Luna matter of factly.
“But! The amount of magic that it would take!” Twilight looked at Luna in awe, wondering how she could possibly be able to maintain a spell that complex.
“This magic is within my domain, it is in fact the easiest to cast.” Luna shrugged.
“Oh. So… um… why… are we here.”
“I wanted to talk with you” Started Luna. “You see… well… I have been feeling really silly lately…. Twilight as you must already know I am more than 2000 years old. The thing is, is that I don’t feel those years, I only remember them. Everyday I have vicious mood swings, I behave like a foal. It doesnt make sense.” Luna exhaled. “I thought that maybe you could provide some insight for me.”
“Oh… ok.” Twilight said, the awkward air tense with uncertainty. “Well, I suppose I could try to help.” Twilight cleared her throat to steel her nerves. “So Luna when did you start feeling this way?”
Luna paused to think for several second before replying. “It was when I returned from the moon. I felt like a new pony with old memories. Like I was no longer me.”
“Hmm” said Twilight. “I have a theory, however it is only a theory.” Twilight paused.
“Well go on then, tell me.” Luna exclaimed
“Okay, so what if when you were on the moon, that you sort of were taken over by the nightmare. From what I have read you were possessed. Now you were on the moon for one thousand years. So what if during that time the nightmare extinguished years of your life. Which would have killed you but you returned just in time. Then when my friends and I purged you of the nightmare you lost all of the experience. Like how you can read a book, and remember the words… but you have never actually experienced it.”
Luna sat with her mouth open, looking at Twilight, shock and realization on her face. “You are right… that is exactly what I feel. The words are there but the action is missing. What do I do? I don't know how to do anything.”
“Luna that is just a theory… we don’t know if it is true or not.” Said Twilight. “I just was thinking that, maybe that was what happened.”
“I know Twilight.” Luna sighed. “I am just so confused… it's like growing up all over again.”
Twilight walked over and hugged Luna. The midnight mare blushed. “Luna now you have to tell me why you kissed me.” Twilights whispered quietly, pulling back and looking Luna in the eyes.
Luna blushed. “Well… I-I” Luna’s blush deepened. “I really like you Twilight. In ways that are more than just friendly.”
“Oh.” Twilight began to blush. “Um… well I-”
“It is okay Twilight Sparkle I understand you do not feel the same way.” Spoke Luna trying to keep her voice steady.
“No! Luna! I like you, I really do. I just don’t understand romance beyond what I read… but… maybe you could show me?”
“Twilight, does that mean that we are trying out a relationship?” Luna started nervously. “I-um. Are we?”
“I suppose so. Um-what now…”
“Well in the books the two usually kiss right?” Luna asked tentatively.
“Ya.” Twilight licked her lips.
“Well maybe we could try that.”
“Okay.”
Luna inched towards Twilight getting closer and closer… their lips were almost touching. Then they collided, and this time with nothing holding her back Luna enveloped Twilight in her wings bringing the two back into her room. Twilight wrapped her wings around Luna and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Luna let out an involuntary moan. Twilight broke the kiss and nuzzled into Luna’s neck.
“That was amazing Luna.” Exclaimed Twilight “I don’t even remember why I came here, thats how amazing that was.”
“Well Twilight, I think we can make this relationship work.” Luna blushed. “I really like you.”
“Okay well it is late now… I really should head home. But maybe I could sleepover here. I will send a letter to Spike in the morning.” Twilight looked up at Luna. “Would that be alright?”
“I suppose you can stay here. Do you need anything or do you just want to go to bed. I will show you to one of the spare rooms.”
“Luna. When I said stay here, I ment stay “here” with you.” Twilight blushed heavily. “We could cuddle, and you are really warm, and I don’t want to be alone.”
“Oh.” Luna blushed. “Um okay, thats fine, here just jump in.” Luna climbed into her big bed. With Twilight following suit.
“Luna what is this bed made of, it is super soft.”
“It is a mixture of cloud and feathers from my wings that I have preened off. It is something Tia and I did back when we were kids… it's one of the things I still know how to do.” Luna paused. “Goodnight Twilight… sleep well my dear.” Luna scooped Twilight close to her spooning her, and closing her eyes.
“You as well Luna… you as well.” Slumber overtook Twilight.
***
Somewhere in Equestria under the cover of darkness.
“Is it done?” A cold dark voice asked. From behind a dark desk… upon which the only visible thing was a scrap of paper.
“N-no sir they managed to avoid all our attempts.” A scared stallions voice replied.
“How!?” Demanded the dark voice.
“Magic was untouchable. Honesty saved Generosity. And Laughter managed to save both Loyalty and Kindness. The circumstances were unfavourable sir.” Wimpered the stallion.
“Shut up you fool! You and your blasted marefriend have failed me!” Shouted the cold voice. “But it matters not. They will all die sooner or later.” The dark figure behind the desks paced back and forth, before pausing. “Our allies are all ready, we will be ready sooner than I thought… the changelings helping us was an unexpected surprise. How is our propaganda campaign going?”
“We-we have several new members, and rumours are starting to spread.” Said the stallion regaining a bit of his composer with the good news.
“Good, good… If there is one thing you can do right it is spread rumours.”
“Thank you sir.”
“Tomorrow, Celestia will have to answer to many, many nations, the propaganda shall fuel their anger. Then Equestria will be at war… and our propaganda will turn them against each other. Equestria will tear itself to pieces, and the other nations shall burn it to the ground… then I shall rise from the ashes.”
“...”
“Do you have nothing to say? Well then get out of my sight, get your marefriend and start your next job… but if you fail me again.”
“Yes sir.” The stallion scampered off his tail between his legs.
“Soon Celestia, I will have my revenge… darkness shall rise again.” The leader paced around his desk grabbing the paper in his dark magic and began to read.
I am Frozen in Hate
I am King of Suffering
I am pain
I am darkness
I will bring love to its knees
I will rule them all!
I will rule them all!
They shall not escape my wrath
None shall stand in my way
Today I plan
Tomorrow the gods will beg for mercy
Beg for forgiveness
But I shall give them none!
I will be the King of ALL!
Soon…
***
Before time, and before space there was nothing. But then came the wind and with the wind came the old gods. The creation winds they were called, and in the swirling winds of creation there were three old gods… harmony… chaos… and darkness. Each gave its gifts to the world, harmony created six elements to be used to restore the balance. Chaos gave reality, fate, and curiosity. Darkness was cunning… it broke its power into hate, jealousy, and greed. Each obtainable by the mortal races. The three old gods created the world, and pony races. Then they faded into eternity… gone… naught but an echo left in the new world. Darkness though will rise again… though he may never be a god. He will rise again, a parasite on the world… when hate, greed, and jealousy run rampant. Darkness shall rise… rise only to fall upon the bright world…