//------------------------------// // Coltfriend - The Princess Rarity // Story: Dark Paradise: the TwiLuna Group Collab // by Habanc //------------------------------// Written by: The Princess Rarity ***** Luna was furious. No, she was livid. Positively rage-filled. This wasn’t possible. Most importantly, it didn’t make any sense. She was pacing back and forth in the main hall of Canterlot Castle, thinking hard to try and figure out how all of this was possible. It just didn’t add up. She was trying to make heads or tails of anything that was occurring in the other room down the hall, but her result was always confusion. Her anger was dissolving into perplexion. All she wanted was an answer… and it was one that she didn’t want to realize. Laughter was heard in the dining room, and Luna hesitantly stepped forward, pushing the door open ever-so-slightly. She was spying in on the dinner she should have been attending, but she couldn’t sit at a table where everything was so strange to her. Time didn’t simply fly by - it was as if somepony had pressed the fast forward button and now it was stuck. For a moment, Luna felt herself freeze as she met Twilight’s gaze. With a silent head-shake, as if to keep her whereabouts hidden, Luna disappeared back into the hall. She let out uneasy breaths and screwed her eyes shut. This was a bad dream. It had to have been. She would wake up, and instead, it would be exactly like it was before… ...years ago, when their daughter was still a young, innocent child. Now, in that dining hall, Princess Astra Selene was twenty-three years old and engaged to a sergeant in the Royal Guard who was a part-time librarian. Luna’s constant question, was how? It seemed like it wasn’t that long ago Twilight was fainting in the delivery room on the day Astra was born. Luna smirked at the memory. And so many other recollections of their daughter -- full of joy, pain and bittersweetness. From the time they found out Astra had dyslexia to the day she showed how generous she really was, by opening up shelters for homeless ponies. Their little Princess really did grow up to do great things: just as Luna had always hoped and predicted. But now? Inside that dining hall, they were planning a Royal Wedding. While Luna was happy for her daughter, she was still in shock and disbelief at the news. By all standards, Astra was definitely not stupid. She knew how to judge ponies easily, even if she had a golden heart that could be vulnerable from time to time. Besides, she had been dating this Solar Flare colt for a little over five years. He was no stranger, and seemed very proper, with a good soul. Before, Luna was happy. Her daughter was content and in love. Then, suddenly, the tables were turned and the world flipped upside down. “What are you doing out here?” Luna froze as she heard her wife’s voice. A sigh escaped her, and she looked over her shoulder. “Just thinking,” she admitted. Twilight closed the door behind her, and looked back to her wife, raising an eyebrow as she did so. Her expression clearly gave away the fact that she wasn’t buying it. With a wave of her hoof, she encouraged Luna to continue speaking her thoughts. “It’s nothing important,” Luna grumbled. “Luna,” Twilight said, in a stern yet heartfelt tone. “Talk to me.” “I --” Luna felt herself getting defensive and she scowled. “It doesn’t feel right. I can’t sit there, and face the truth.” She swallowed. “Whatever happened to the little filly who would tear apart your library and disorganize everything? The one who woke me up at the crack of dawn?” A breathless laugh escaped her. “Our little star isn’t so little anymore. She used to run through these halls, screaming because that pesky owl of yours scared the living daylights out of her. We taught her how to fly here, and I remember how she would beg and plead every night to help me raise the moon.” She threatened to cry, but wiped away the single tear that almost slid down her cheek. “I feel like such a silly sentimental old fool.” Twilight now had a bittersweet smile on her expression as she leaned in and affectionately nuzzled her wife in a comforting manner. “I know,” she murmured, as she placed a kiss on Luna’s forehead. “I miss all of that too.” She chuckled. “I’m still upset that her first word wasn’t Book.” The slight joke made Luna cough out a laugh. “It’s just… now, she’s getting married. For heaven’s sake, at her age, I was co-ruling an Empire, not worrying about a wedding,” Luna muttered. She glanced back to the door and released an uneasy breath. “I’m happy for her, I really am, but I can’t help but wonder.” “Astra is going to make an amazing ruler when she gets older,” Twilight assured. “Right now, she’s still growing up. And we did promise we wanted a normal life for her, right? Luna nodded. “But if only we could turn back time, just for one day,” she mused. Twilight sighed. “I know,” she whispered. The two of them were suddenly surprised as the door to the dining room swung open, and there stood their daughter -- Astra, all grown-up. Memories of the rambunctious, intelligent and talkative filly that they raised flashed in Luna’s mind as she spoke up. “Forgive us, Astra, we were simply taking a break,” she said. “How are the plans going?” “They’re going well,” Astra assured to her mothers. She looked between the two of them for a moment, and cleared her throat. “Mom, can I talk to you for a little while? Alone?” Luna’s confusion temporarily returned, but she nodded. “Of course.” Astra smiled, and waved a wing. “This won’t take long,” she said. With the slightest bit of reluctance, Luna eventually started following her daughter through the halls of the Castle. An odd moment of silence passed, when Astra broke it -- speaking up in her chipper and sweet, yet solid and stern tone of voice. “I wanted to ask you a favor.” “Anything you want,” Luna replied, with a warm smile. Anything your heart desires, little star. All of that and more, it’s yours. was the promise she used to tell Astra every night before bedtime. And throughout the years, Luna could proudly say that she had done very good on her promise. “Would you be the one to lead the ceremony?” Astra inquired. “I… I would really appreciated it if you did. It would mean a lot to me.” Luna nodded. “I’d be honored,” she murmured. Astra smiled wide. “Thanks, Mommy.” she beamed as she wrapped her forelegs around her mother in a tight hug. “You… haven’t called me that in a long time,” Luna observed. “I know,” Astra said. “Sorry.” As mother and daughter pulled away from the hug, Luna genuinely smiled. “No need to apologize, little star,” she assured. “I understand.” “Thank you,” Astra repeated. Seeing the joy and happiness sparkling in the identical pair of stardust-colored eyes that matched her own, Luna couldn’t wipe the grin off of her face. While having the younger version of her daughter might have been more preferable… this moment was fine, right here, right now. Children grow old while their minds and souls mature. That was a rule in life, but Luna realized that growing up was a flexible thing. Astra still had that sweet spirit… ...so no matter what, Luna would always have her little girl.