//------------------------------// // 5: Raising the Moon // Story: Doctor Whooves Adventures with Luna: A Sister's Reunion // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// Luna sat right next to the Doctor; he still had his eyes on the road before him and the steering stick in his hooves. For a moment, neither said anything until the Doctor spoke: “Answer me this, if you had the chance to see what your future is going to be and what will happen to you, would you want to know?” Luna raised an eyebrow, “What kind of a question is that?” “It’s a question over a fixed point in time, to be more specific, yours.” “A fixed point?” “Luna, in all my years of time travel, I find that there those that you can indeed change with little to no consequence whatsoever. For example, would it have made any difference if your sister threw a streetlamp instead of a sign at the guard who said that you’re under arrest? Of course, it wouldn’t. But then there are times I’ve come across where no matter what is happening or who does what, it has to happen. For if it happened in any other way, there’s no telling what may happen. Luna, listen to me, you’re right, we do know something you don’t know and you shouldn’t know yet. But you knowing exactly what happens may bring about total chaos, the likes of which not even the one you called Discord could ever dream of.” He sighed and then added: “Try to imagine what it is like, not only for me but for your sister as well. She does want to tell you. But at the same time, she knows that she can’t, nor can I tell you what is in your future. And trust me, it’s hard. It’s very hard not telling you. But what needs to happen must happen.” “But Doctor, can’t you give me a hint as to what happens to me? Can you not tell me if I would be alright in the end?” “That I can tell you. Yes Luna, in the end, you will be alright. One day, ponies will no longer see you as a kind of criminal.” “Then what will they see me as then?” The Doctor looked at Luna in the eye with a half-smile on his face, “Spoilers.” He said. _*_ By the time Celestia came out of the TARDIS, the sun was on the horizon. The Doctor pulled over the steam care a while ago from running out of steam. Luna was watching the sunset and turned towards Celestia when the doors opened. But the younger sister turned back to the sun as Celestia went up and sat next to her. “I’m sorry that I yelled,” Luna said softly. Celestia put a wing over and nuzzled her. “You’re forgiven. It’s just that what you said brought some… bitter memories for me.” Luna still looked at the horizon. “Don’t you think it’s time you lower the sun Cel?” After giving a nod, Celestia focused on the sun. Having her wings stretched out and her front hooves in the air, her horn glowed brightly and she gently lowered the sun. When the sun was out of sight, she turned to Luna asking, “Would you please raise the moon? It’s been a while since I last saw you do it.” Luna nodded, having her forelegs ready to rise; she opened her wings, closed her eyes, and focused on her magic on the moon. As soon as her horn glowed, her eyes shot wide open and jumped back in fright. As if something unpleasant unexpectedly appeared right in front of her. “Luna?” Celestia asked in concern. Her sister’s breathing became uneasy as she looked at her older sister. “Uh, you know what? How about you raise the moon this time.” Before Celestia could ask her what was wrong, Luna quickly entered the TARDIS. Both the Doctor and Celestia went inside to find under the console, sitting on her haunches with both of her front hooves to her head rocking back and forth. Trying to slow down her breathing. “Luna? Are you alright?” The Doctor asked. “Give me a moment.” She said, a while later, she responded. “Celestia, it’s the moon. I don’t know how to explain this, but there’s something… wrong. Something unsettling it.” Both the Doctor and Celestia looked to each other before turning back to Luna. “Did it feel familiar, by chance?” Celestia asked. She shook her head. “I don’t even know. It’s like… It’s like there’s something on the moon and I can feel its cold rage just by trying to take hold of it. There’s nothing familiar about it. Whatever it is, I hope we don’t encounter it.” The ship was silent for a moment; Celestia excused herself to raise the moon. Luna grabbed hold of the Doctor and said: “I saw something.” “What?” “I don’t want to scare Cel but, when I try to lift the moon, for a second… I saw a face. It was black with jagged teeth and eyes of a serpent. Doctor, I think there’s something on the moon. And you know what, whatever you do, don’t land on the moon. I don’t even want to know what’s on it.” Celestia came back into the ship. “So Doctor, what do we do now?” “”First tell me everything you know about this General Cunning.” Celestia told him that she came across him out in a moment of desperation. After Neighpoleon was crowned emperor of Prance, he led his armies to conquer the world, and Equestria was one of his targets. She sent general after general to fight off Neighpoleon, but each time they failed to his genius. One day, a pony came to Canterlot claiming that if she made him general, he can outfox the power-hungry emperor and keep her kingdom safe. She agreed. And the general delivered what he promised at a place called Waterhoof. Where he outsmarted and captured the emperor, leading towards Neighpoleon’s banishment and the end of the Neighpoleon wars. Ever since then, Celestia gave the general great honor and trust over the years. When the Doctor asked what he said to convince her to be general, Celestia’s mind went blank. She tried to think back what exactly he said, but as she did, unknowingly to her, one of her hooves started tapping four times over and over. “I know exactly who it is.” The Doctor said. Celestia stopped tapping. “You do?” “Oh, I know him alright. Celestia, we’re dealing with one of the most dangerous beings in existence, one who is so clever, so mad, that not even the Daleks dare go near him.” “But who is he?” Luna asked. “He calls himself the Master. And Celestia, it looks like you just gave him an army.”