It had been 3 years to the night since Celestia had been forced to banish her sister, 3 years of raising both sun and moon alone. The crown and regalia had never before felt so heavy. The empty throne by her side seemed to taunt her. The last traces of rebellion had long since been routed, much as Celestia hated to do that she had no choice. The Night Pegasi had fallen back to Hollow Shades , Celestia decided that she would not pursue any further. They had foals there, and all the guard who had defended her and her sister so loyally retired to that place.
As she stared up at the night sky and her sisters image branded on the moon she realised that she was no longer alone. A strange looking pegasus with a gleaming Silver mane and tail was in the room with her. She turned to her old friend and smiled limply. “So Lady Polaris , What brings you here, it is rare to see your kind here, and I do not believe this is an informal visit”
Polaris smiled back at Celestia, “We bring news of your sister, I fear the outlook is bleak, until the mightmares hold is loosened upon her heart those chains will hold her tight, it seems right now the monster won't release her, the nightmares that serve her will never let us approach, they would sooner destroy us. Freeing her will take centuries.”
Deep down Celestia knew this was likely the case, but the news still cut her to the quick. “I see, so there is nothing can be gone to aid her?”
“I'm afraid not Celestia, we will guard her for her sake as much as yours for as long as it takes, but there is no way we can get through to her, the nightmares are just too powerful, especially right now, they've been feeding on the impact of the Nightmare Moon incident , we cannot risk losing stars in a pitched battle, not until Luna is able to start fighting the control at least.”
“I see” *sighed Celestia, “well I thank you and your stars for trying , I only hope that in time she will see sense” *she turned once more to look at her friend once more but Polaris was already gone.
Looking around her Celestia realised something, this castle was not home to her, it was a home to her and her sister. Without Luna no matter how well she repaired it it was just a hollow shell. It was time to move on. With a weary sigh she gathered h a quill and ink, the pen scraped the paper delicately as it spelled out one word, CANTERLOT.
Ain, Keid, Kuma, Lucida, and Mira were young Stars, barely Proto Stars when Luna had been banished. Though less than a century old they wished to help, if only they knew how. Mira had a plan but it was one the elders would never approve. The 3 waited until the Stars attempted their nightly raid and then they slipped out.
Nightmare Moon pulled and tugged at her chains harshly, they dug into her flesh but she ignored that, her face twisted in anger and hatred as she twisted at her bonds. The nightmares who were supposed to guard her had slipped away, they needed to feed , and without fear they could not. So the queen of Nightmares was left to her own devices. Since that had happened she had heard noises of battle several times as the Stars did what they could to guard the dreams of innocent ponies from the onslaught the bnightmares would unleash on Equestria.
Suddenly the noise was not from outside anymore, she found herself surrounded by 5 fillies. Each one glowing the delicate silver white of the Stars, they looked exhausted, yet each one stepped forward placed something around her then without a single word fled. Nightmare moon tried to dismiss them as nothing but idiot fillies taunting her, but deep inside her Princess Luna knew what they were. The greatest gift a star could give, wishes. Deep inside beneath the monstrous facade Luna stirred, these wishes were for her, they were gifts, even after all she did, somepony still wanted to be friends.