//------------------------------// // Princess of the Night // Story: War for Equestria-Prelude 1 // by CeresBane //------------------------------// The day had made way for the night. For the whole day Celestia had let Equestria run itself. She had been trying to slowly lessen the importance of the alicorn royalty so that someday ponykind would live in harmony. She had tried to emulate her mother, to be of at least a fraction of the greatness she had brought to Equestria. From the founding to the renewal, the Queen mother had been the all-loving, all-powerful goddess in all positive interpretations of the word. In the face of such perfection, Celestia's efforts were pathetic. She had always thought so. So over the years, she had assigned power to the ponies. Founding the creation of the noble class, government and politics, slowly shaping Equestria for a time when she herself would be gone too and her kingdom, her children, every single one with in her domain would be in capable hooves within each other's. And then this bombshell comes. One of the sister must rise to their station in earnest and become the next queen of Equestria. Talking with Ceres was painful. On one hoof, it felt so good to have such a familiar, comfortable face to meet once more, a pony's face who she knew as way back as a filly, as somepony to look up, to have always looked up to and later even admire and then love. But on the other hoof he served as a shadow of all things she regrets, her sins and her countless torturous what ifs. And her duty that she tried to escape and for Luna to be spared from. In the dwindling twilight Celestia stood upon the palace balcony looking out into the horizon awaiting the return of her sister. She had readied Luna's favourite telescope if she so wished to star gaze that night. Anything to ease the impact. Ceres was there standing by the door knowing full well how his presence made her feel. The pressure of his eyes staring into her back, waiting to see a promised kept. “Are you sure you’re able to do this?” Ceres spoke mere moments ago. A simple nod was her reply, fearing to speak and reveal her weakness. If he wasn’t staring so relentlessly her legs would quake to the weight she felt on her shoulders. Suddenly the weight on her brow felt especially heavy as well. I had almost forgotten the weight of this crown over the millennia. It had been so long since he’d seen her, dreams in the night as well as the day his thoughts consumed often times of only her. In waking dreams and horrid frustrating nightmares he would see his life of a someday that wouldn’t come. He had dared to hope that a mere few millennia would not change her feelings but the weight of the crown had hardened her. For that he was thankful, as he could return home watching on high his homeland in such utopian harmony. His lady had made a good ruler, an ideal “princess.” But with that what purpose did he himself have? The thought hanging on his mind he watched the dream in front of his eyes, refusing to turn from it. All he could really do was wait. She was confused and unsteady, things would have to settle before he truly knew if there was indeed any hope to grab on to. Who knew how long that would take? A few weeks? Days? Or mayhaps yet another millennia? Forcing a silver lining to form in his clouded mind, he could at least be happy waiting by her side. Her a queen? That was impossible! Only mother could ever truly fit that role. She had always been so as far as the princess's vast memory could recall. True the rulership of Equestria was now hers but she’d only agreed with it as a stewardship. Never once did she even think that the all powerful goddess of the land could merely die, she was everlasting and eternal, much like the Equestria they believed in. How could things go so horribly wrong? How can ages of waiting for her freedom seal her fate? She shouldn’t have been so kind, so pure and affectionate. She shouldn’t have let her mother go out into the world and promised to rule in her stead. She shouldn’t have promised to take the queen’s crown should the everlasting and eternal mother of Equestria impossibly die. “You should rest. I will handle this.” Sensing his lady’s distress Ceres held out a helping hoof and nuzzled her close. He felt her shaking as his body touched hers, a slight quaking that felt like a flood gate beginning to buckle. Her soft mane blew in the wind and tingled as they brushed against his sensitive scars on occasion. Betwixt the sublime feeling of his own joy and the empathy of her lady's sorrow he knew his own powerlessness. This was something only she could deal with, at best he could lessen her load. Celestia shoved him away, leaving him only to frown at himself and look downwards. He sighed deeply and came towards her once more. “No! I must do this. She needs to know from-” A hoof covered her mouth and instinctively she obeyed the command for silence. It was a strange experience tinged with nostalgia and frustration and just a small measure of bewilderment. “She needs to know from me. I am the queen’s herald. It is my final duty to her. I admit, it was wrong of me to think it best to give you the burden. I...” He gave a small nudge away from the edge of the balcony. At first Celestia resisted to move at the coaxing but he kept trying with more and more insistence and eventually she gave in. As she looked out at the last of the daylight vanishing into the night something inside told her, that deep down she would truly be unable to go through with it. Ceres leading her to the door Celestia began to sob uncontrollably just as the doors closed off, letting the day completely make way for the night. The castle at night was an alien world. Where the castle of white and gold during the day, it was cloaked with the midnight blue of darkness and the silver of moonlight. Along the corridor the place phased back and forth in light and darkness as the light of the night filtered through the windows. As he walked through the hallways beside Celestia Ceres's thoughts were of Celestia, constantly of Celestia. Walking that slow and painful trudge he plotted the route to Celestia's chambers. She would lead her there and watch her slowly go to sleep. Whether he would stay or go forth to give his message would depend entirely on his lady's condition. But a problem presented itself in his mind. He remembered he was a fugitive. She had ordered every stallion in Canterlot to be searching for him so that she could empty the throne room, for a chance to talk in private with him. At the time it was a clever move. Now however the consequences were becoming more of a nuisance than anything else. Thinking deeply between the ideal, the possible and the real, he made a snap decision and made a trot to the front. In hindsight, he could have just asked Celestia to order them to cancel the search but then again Celestia was in no condition to be taking any kind of burden. “Strength Celestia... strength. I cannot lead you any further or your guards will find me.” He pawed her gently as you would to any crying mare. Their walk slowed to a halt for a moment as Ceres looked her deep in the eyes, bringing himself before her. “I need you to smile for me. Just until you reach your chambers. We will deal with this whole mess in the morning, okay?” As soon as he suggested it he knew he was being an idiot. It was his own desire to see her smiling face. If the guards see her grinning like a fool, they would be certain something was amiss. He’d made the move now and couldn’t back down. One thing he learned from royalty was that if you made a mistake, you follow it through. The consequences of not doing so will lead to treason. A scenario that would be far worse than looking like a leader that made an honest mistake. “Come on...” Celestia lifted her head up high proudly and controlled the flowing tears. Her breathing was deep and slow as she walked forwards. She turned back and gave Ceres a wide grin and it stayed that way, as if her face had been made of stone. Ceres mentally grimaced inside but returned the smile to the princess. Suddenly the original plan was sounding good again but it was too late to back down, things would be fine, probably. He turned and galloped back to the balcony, to then think nothing of it. Nearing the door he slowed to a canter, arriving just in time to hear hoofs clopping on the stone floor of the balcony outside. “Sister?” Princess Luna had just arrived home after a good day’s sleeping. Today she had chosen to try camping in the Everfree forest and played with the Ursas. She wanted to tell Celestia all about it but... she was nowhere to be found. Ceres peaked through a crack in the door and watched as Luna's mane blew in the wind. Her hoofs shuffling and pacing about nervously, a real worried face on her features. As Celestia told him, it was a regular thing for them to meet in the palace balcony so that every pony could see the shifting of the sun and moon with their very own eyes in pony form. It was a ceremonial thing at best and had no other purpose but to exhibit themselves to all of Canterlot. A symbol of their unity Celestia had said. But no pony really looked anymore. It was as mundane as... well the rising of the sun and the moon. A red colt walked out to meet her. The first thing she noticed was the sword on his shoulder and immediately she took up a low defensive stance, horn ready to act. To her surprised he walked straight past her. From his flank other features were given light to the princess. How his back wore a horrid scabby black scar, his flank hidden away as he wore black trousers that covered all of his lower half, and how his front legs were covered in a white cloth tied in a series of red ribbons. There were a series of text wrapping around it. From what she could read, they were passages from the story of creation and prophecy of the fall of Equestria. The red colt casually lent his forelegs over the railings to look out into the world. And then he stared upwards at the shining silver moon. “Nightmare moon I presume.” said the colt reciting the abridged history Celestia had told him. “That... that’s what some call me, yes.” Luna turned around her stance relaxed but ready. Something about him made him seem important. The way he wore his clothes, the holy text on his body and that mark... she felt an all too far off nostalgia about it. As if noticing her staring the colt turned his head and stared at her eyes. Those eyes were not of any pony she had seen in centuries. They had the eyes that had lost their innocence. “How are you handling Equestria? A thousand years exile is a long time to be... out of touch.” He smiled to look amused but the jab was mostly at himself than to Luna. His stare seemed to peek into her soul as if this pony was testing her mettle. Gathering her dwindling courage she attempted a retort. “I’m adapting just fine. Why... awhile ago on nightmare night-” Ceres burst out laughing, he'd heard of that holiday during his travels towards Canterlot. Knowing the full extent of a vexed monarch, he could just imagine the rage Luna would feel upon discovering such an occasion in her honour. Ceres had no doubt the transition involving Luna's return to the people will be a long process. It was just so sad and pathetic that you just couldn't make up how ridiculously unfortunate it was. Somehow it was simply hilarious to him. In annoyance Luna stomped her hoofs into the stone causing a hoof-sized crater to form. He stopped laughing only to form a smile. Much, better princess. A ruler should not know doubt. His eyes looking the part of a serious message giver he turned his back from staring into nothing. His full attention was had. “Does that make you mad Luna?” Ceres walked up to her and closing his face to hers, the amusement on his face clear to the princess. She could daresay that he was antagonising her! And she could feel it working. But she just didn't know whether to rage or cry. Unfortunately for her he was not going to let up, continuing to walk closer and closer. “A thousand years of legends and stories and myths of just how evil you are. How your night made everypony quake in fear. How your jealousy turned you to rage and destruction and death incarnate.” She began to take steps back while her eyes wondered everywhere as if looking to escape. Suddenly the open space of the balcony felt so small and compact. “I...” she began but her mind was empty. He was right, it did make her mad. Things may be at peace now but the reasons she hated ponies were still there. Even now they shunned the night and to this day they shunned her. Nothing had changed. Cornered she slumped down, tears beginning to form. Ceres walked to the door and through Luna's watering eyes she swore she spotted tiny puddles beside him. But it was probably a trick of the light, it was her tears she was seeing. “Walk with me Luna.” The red colt walked past her once more and opened the door, beckoning her to follow her through. She looked up to him and his hoof that was reaching out to her. Compelled by something about this colt she reached out her own hoof to receive the aid to rise. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she wanted to. In the hallway they walked the quiet corridors. Luna felt nervous. She had never been in such a situation before, alone with a colt like him. He was walking in the front leading the way, but then he stopped. Luna lost in her thoughts as she calmed her tears her face bumped straight into his rump. It was only the slightest of taps, but the contact made her blush and jump back in a panic. Her focus grew as she heard the tone of his voice. “Before we advance further, your highness, I would like to inform you that I’m currently a fugitive right now.” Luna regarded the pony as he turned his head to look at her. At the mention of himself she felt her heart stop. Her eyes went wide and her steps began to pace back. He was a fugitive, a criminal! If she was seen with him she’d be marked as an accomplice! At any moment she would turn around and begin screaming bloody murder. “Guards!” It was Ceres that screamed. Luna looked around suddenly feeling the need to hide. Pacing in circles she began to calm and realised that she wasn't the one needing to hide. She looked about her but the colt had gone.“Wa-” She stopped herself, realising what she was doing. Why did she want to wait for him? In fact why did he scream for the guards? She bit her lip and began hoofing the ground in indecision. With an assured nod she galloped to catch him, surmising that he could only have gone ahead to advance whatever plan he had. “Who goes there? Show yourself immediately.” The guards saw a silhouette hiding in the shadows. Holding their halberds out towards the shadow they prepared for any mishaps. “Hi, my name is Ceres. I’m the one your queen has ordered to capture. I would like to be taken to the dungeons please.” The two guards looked at each other at the mention of their queen and gave puzzlement as their replies to each other’s enquiring eye. Ceres walked out of the shadows slowly as he continued to talk. “Now I know you were ordered to take me to queen Celestia so that I could talk to her... but she is probably asleep right now so-“ “WE HOLD JURISDICTION OF THE NIGHT. IF THOU WISHETH TO SAY SOMETHING TO HER HIGHNESS THEN THOU SHALT LOOK NO FURTHER THAN WE, HER HIGHNESS!” Walking into the moonlight princess Luna spoke out in her traditional Canterlot voice. The sound of it made Ceres feel the nostalgia wash over him as the breeze of Luna’s mighty breath blew him away. After his first words to Celestia she replied in such a way too. He went deaf the rest of the night and had to communicate through other means. A wide grin marked his features, the guards reacted as if he'd planned this whole thing. Not missing a beat he went with the flow. “You heard the lady, you two. Celestia probably wanted you to find me like a criminal so that you could find me faster.” Ceres walked to Luna’s side and wore a smugness that just rubbed the guards the wrong way. And the guards were definite in their conclusion that he was spinning a yarn. They weren't biting, he thought as his smile turned upside down. After sighing dramatically and rolling his eyes he pointed princess Luna. “Look, princess Luna here is as powerful as twenty of you guards. I will be under her jurisdiction. She will take me to the dungeons or let me relay my message and then go to the dungeons.” The guards lookrf to Luna as she began to inhale deeply. “Luna before you talk, remember that your sister is trying to sleep.” Ceres gave her three strong nudges as he spoke the last three words. “You may leave now soldiers, I will make sure this one does not do anything criminal. Now go forth and guard Canterlot from real dangers.” They eyed Luna sceptically but eventually they agreed. No matter how hard they thought of a a way around the royal obstacle, Nightmare Moon is indeed the ruler of Equestria at night. To disobey was treason. The criminal had to be let go, things should be clearer in the morning. "Follow me, colt." Luna walked past him with regal grace, but a feeling of sudden nervousness came she felt his eyes swim over her as she passed. "Of course... My lady. My name is Ceres by the way. I'm sorry I forgot to say so before." Luna made no reply and continued to lead the way. For a good while they moved back and forth corridors and hallways. The whole time they hazarded nervous glances at each other but turned away so that neither would notice, or dared hoped the other didn't as they made undeniable eye contact. Unlike Luna, he was wise to the game and played along, with little accidents here and there. Their mood lightened ever so slowly and they walked and talked as they stared deeply into each other's eyes, smiles and giggles galore. Soon enough they were barred by two giant double doors. “Not going to the dungeon?” Ceres said. “The night is young.” Luna spoke simply as she commanded the doors to open with magic and they walked out into the night. "You are obviously not some mere criminal and I can tell you aren't the type to be held by bars or chains." Luna walked side by side with the colt, a mixture of caution, inquisitive suspicion and pure curiosity battling her. But from what she could tell, she knew he was no mere Equestrian citizen. His sword and clothes, hinted at some long extinct station she couldn't quite place. His scars and eyes spoke of eons of painful knowledge and suffering of their heavy weight on his shoulders. He presented himself with a pride of spirit that could only speak of purity of heart and soul. This stallion was a living question. Whoever this stranger is, he has answers that I've been searching for.