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// Unforgotten, but maybe forgiven? 
// Story: Stained Crown: The Elements of Disharmony 
// by EbonyDanger 
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The room was large and filled with sunlight. It was drowned by the carpets, which hang in front of the windows. Blue walls. Silvery ornaments, showing the moon and stars. Two carpets hang at the portal. They looked like maps of constellations. A chandelier made of silvery crystals swang back and forth from the celling. Books stood in shelves of darkbrown wood. A telescope stood by a window, waiting patiently for the night to begin.
All in all the room looked wonderful as if its owner had everything. But in the center of this chamber laid a blue filly, which had burried her face in her hooves. Her wings were folded thight and her body shivered. Blue strands of mane danced over her sobbing face. Princess Luna was crying. The high-pitched sounds trailed through the air like a symphony. Tears floated out of the sapphireblue eyes, which were shut thight.
It is just not fair. Luna was a Princess of Equestria and therefore she had a certain task to fullfill. Her duty was to bring the night over the country. A wonderful spectacle of black velvet, full of silvery-white dots and the moon with its pale light in it. The night turned everything grey and cool. Soft shadows, the sun could never form.
But nopony saw that. They never came out of their homes, when shadows fell and the day died. Instead Luna saw them going into their homes and their windows turned dull as they extinguished the light of their lamps and candles. They slept during the night and shunned the moon away.
They only wait for Celestia's sun to come out! Was that all these ponies wanted? The sun and day with all its colours. Green, blue, yellow, red, orange, violet. All colours of life. Luna had heard the ponies cheerish and play by the day. And moreover they celebrated the mare, who brought it to them.
„Luna?“ The voice came from behind her. It was soft spoken, quiet and kind. 
That she dares to come! Hasn't she got any of her royal duties to perform? „What do you want here?“, shrieked Luna and whirled around. Tears trembled on her lids and with a hoof she pointed at the mare, who stood in the doorway. „Shouldn't you be by your oh so important subjects?“
The mare was taller then her and looked like a swan. Her white coat gleemed in the dull light. A pink mane floated around her shoulders and neck. Her dawncoloured eyes, first friendly, now widened in shock. Princess Celestia, Luna's older sister, had lifted a hoof as if she was about to enter the room. Now she placed it down on the ground with a low thud.
Firm Celestia replied: „My subjects are also yours as well, Luna. And I actually came to ask you, if you want to accompaign me at the Day of Harmony parade. It is important that we are present.“ 
What a blasphemie! Luna felt, she could choke on her anger. The mare stood up. She snarled: „No, it is important, that you are present. It does not matter, if I show up or not. Because nopony will notice.“
Her wings shot open in her anger and tears rained down her cheek as Luna shouted: „Those ponies, they only want you, they only see you, they only love you! They don't want to see me. They don't care about my night! You took them all for yourselves. It is not fair! Why do you get all the praise?“ Her rage pumped through her veins and she stared at the other mare, waiting for a response.
Celestia seemed to be taken aback by the sudden rage. She responded it with the same fury: „Luna, what nonsense are you spouting this time? This is ridicolous. Our subjects love us both. And I did not do anything. I just did my duties as Princess of Equestria. Maybe you should do the same. And you must learn to tempt your anger. That is not very ladylike.“
Not very ladylike! Are you kidding me?! Despair and anger shook the Princess of the Night and she had the urge to vomit. Luna rose to her hindlegs and her horn started to flare blue. „Just get out!“, she roared, „Your subjects have not seen you far too long. Be a good ruler!“ Her magic snatched the doors and they slammed in front of Celestia's shocked face.
Luna landed on the ground with her hooves. Tiny cracks appeared on the marble from the pressure. Her eyes, closed thight, went open just a slit to reveal glowing blue of anger. Tears still streamed down her face and she bared her teeth, crunching them together. Her ears were pulled back.
Can you hear my heart, Tia? Can you hear this breaking sound? Her anger and sadness run through her, boiled inside her and made shiver. Luna feared, she could go back from this black rage. Hopes and dreams. They all shattered apart and crashed on the ground in front of her. I cannot believe my eyes, how the world is filled with filth and lies.
Deep down inside her mind something black rose up. Luna could not really tell what it was. She had just named it darkness, because it had no silhouette, no form. Luna had never felt anything like it. Perhabs it was only a product of her imagination. But the youngest Princess felt the darkness everywhere. It creeped through her flesh and bones and she slowly drowned in it, got swallowed and embraced by it.
Finally a sharp cry echoed through the chamber. Luna screamed all her anger, sadness, hate, jealousy out of her longues. All those feelings, bottled up in side her, they just exploded and broke free in dark and violent ways. Luna felt as if she was reborn. And as the mare lowered her head and looked at the mirror, she stared at the face of a stranger.
Her coat was pitchblack like midnight. Her mane was now a dark symbol of the nightsky, swirlig and dancing around her. But the worst were the eyes. A toxic turqouise had replaced the beautiful sapphirre and her pupils, usually round like those of any other filly, were small and slitlike. She had cat-eyes or snake-eyes. Luna opened her maw to reveal sharp fangs and......

***

„Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!“ The cry of the Princess cut through the sleepy palast. In a fast movement her head shot upwards and she viciously kicked parts of her blanket backwards. Her chest went up and down as she breathed in fast and hasty wheezes. Sweat ran down her face and neck. Luna stared at a window.
Outside it had started to rain. Lightnings cut like scissors through the grey clouds and the thunder rumbled. And in their light for the glimpsle of seconds Luna thought she saw the face from her dream. No! No, no, no! As the blue Alicorn looked at the window again, she only saw her own face, scared and eyes widened.
Luna gulped. Her fear had made her root to the spot. It has been a dream, Luna. Nothing more then a dream. Calm down! Angrily the mare pressed her hoof against her forehead and showed her teeth as she pulled back the corner of her mouth. Calm down! The Princess remembered a special technique Cadence was using, when stress was getting the best of her.
Luna took a deep breath, closed her eyes and placed her hoof on her hearth. With a swift sound she breathed out. While doing so the mare moved her hoof away and pictured all her troubles disappearing. It worked. Well, partly. Enough for her to did not break out into tears.
Going back to sleep was no option. Sighting Luna climbed out of her bed. She shook her wings and folded them back neatly on her shoulders. The Princess walked towards the window. She rose to her hindlegs and pushed back a part of the carpet. Outside the sky was still dark and cloudy from the thunderstorm, but her inner clock told Luna, that it must be the middle of the day.
The Princess of the Night now lived in Canterlot, in another West Wing. Her room was different from the one, where the small filly had laid, crying her eyes out. The walls were silvery-white and darkblue carpets hang in front of the window. Her large, blue bed had the finest wood and soft pillows and a large, comfortable blancet. A bookshelf stood behind it. Near the window was a table with paper and ink. There also was a large box for private stuffs of the Princess.
The whole castle was new for Luna, but it sadly could not hold the dream away from her. Or moreover the thoughts, that came with it. What have I done? That arguement with Celestia had been decades ago, but it had marked an important part in her life. The very first moment, where she came in contact with her. With the mare, that would turn the Princess into a monster.
Nightmare Moon. Already the name made Luna shiver in fear and disgust. But greater then this was the shame. I betrayed them all. Her subjects, who had put their fate in her hooves. Her sister, to whom she had been the closest. She had turned her back on all of them as the darkness had swallowed her and Nightmare Moon had been born. She had started a rebellion against her sister. Sure, she had paid for her crime by an exile, which had been hell on earth for her, but still there was the nagging fear.
They look at me and they see Nightmare Moon. What else could be there? Could her subjects ever see her as the Princess or herself again? She still remembered her deeds and the others must as well. Luna sighted low and let go of the carpet. It softly swang back in its position and hide the thunderstorm in front of her window.  She turned her face away from the window.
Luna closed her eyes. Her ears pearked up and her mane waved in front of her, following the movement of her long, swan-like neck as she lowered her head. Why can't she leave me alone? This had not even been her first bad dream. It seemed, that the dark mare, her greatest sin, kept coming back to her, when she least suspected it. What, if that being, which had made her a monster, was still out there?
Luna slowly picked up the crown, which laid next to her bed. She hold it in her hoof and lifted it. Can I even be called a Princess after my past? Her sin. It was like dirt, which stuck on her royal sign and no matter how hard she cleaned the crown, it would not let go. Guilt. A heavy stone on her heart. It dragged her down. How could she believe, that the purification had earsed all her mistakes? Sometimes Luna wished herself the dark coat back. And she hated herself for that. This easy, disgusting way to numb her pain.
The mare placed the crown on her head. She could stay in her chamber forever, bothering to herself. But suspections won't help her in any way. The urge to talk with Celestia had come to Luna so fast it actually hurt. But whom else could she trust with this? Her sister could give her some advice and comfort, she needed so much.

***

At that time of the day Celestia was still in the throne room. It laid in the middle of the castle. Luna slowly walked through the corridors. They were not as dark and blue as her chambers in the West Wing. White marble, darkbrown wooden grounds and mosaics everywhere. They were made out of coloured stones, sanded precisley. The images showed events of Equestria's history. And everywhere were the symbols of the two Royal Sisters. The sun and the moon. The West Wing represented Luna more, while the East Wing celebrated Celestia. Only the corridors, which leaded to the throne room and the throne room itself showed them as equals.
Several servants and guards passed Luna. They all walked through the castle, busy like a pack of ants. Everyone was lured in his own world, focussed on his task, but whenever the Moon Princess walked passed them, they shortly bowed in respect. Luna stopped one of them „Do you know, where my sister is?“, she asked. 
The servant bowed and mumbled: „The throne room, your Highness.“ 
„Thanks.“
Luna folded her wings and started to trott. Her head was lifted and her legs swang back and forth as she made her way to the corridors. Sunlight enlighted everything and turned the fine dust into flying, golden clouds. The throne room had three entrances. Two on the side for the Princesses and the main entrance for the guests.
Luna had walked in a way, which would make her pass through the main entrance. She was taken by surprise as the mare spotted two guards, who blocked the gate with their spears. Luna's eyes widened, before she declared angrily: „I need to talk with my sister. Open the door.“
„Her royal Highness, Princess Celestia, is very busy at the moment. She has to discuss the schedule system of her School for Gifted Unicorns with the head teacher for any new changes“, responded one of the guards. 
It was an unicorn, which was rather tall for its kind. The golden armor looked different from the ordinary. It had red lines at the edges of the metall pieces and a black star in the crest of the chest piece. He even wore a saddle. His coat had a metallic fair blue and Luna even spotted parts of his Cutie Mark. A circle, which was divided in a black and a white half. His cleaned mane was so bright it almost seemed white.
Luna rolled her eyes. What a ridicolous reason to not let me in! „I appreciate her action, but I am sure, she can spare some time“, the blue mare replied, „I really must talk with her. It is important. So let me in.“ 
The guard narrowed his eyes. They were golden like amber. The unicorn responded: „I doubt that. Princess Celestia gave me constructions to let nopony in.“
The Moon Princess gasped. That arrogant snob! Luna shook her head to calm herself down. Her tail twitched at its tip. She said coldly: „As thy Princess we command thou to open the gate and let us in!“ Having Luna caught in her hot temper could be dangerous, but the guard did not even flinched.
He stretched his shoulders, lifted his head and responded, while smirking slightly: „I have sworn loyality to Princess Celestia. She is the only one, who can give me any order and I will obey to it. But I won't follow you, shadowy Princess of the Night. So I think, you will just have to...“
Luna was about to just force her way in by showing this ruffian away, when a calm, strict voice could be heard behind them: „What is going on here?“ The guard turned pale as he whirled around. Standing in the doorway, majestic and beautiful, stood Princess Celestia herself. Her rainbow-coloured mane floated around as she lowered her head to stare down at the guard with one dawnpink eye. „Sharp Sword? I demand an explanation!“
Sharp Sword looked at Luna, then back at the Solar Princess. He saluted and reported: „Your younger sibling was about to interrupt your meeting with the Headteacher. Therefore I simply reminded her, that you wished not to be disturbed in any way.“ Luna put back her ears and narrowed her eyes. Liar! What a blasphemie! He clearly had insulted her. But why?
Princess Celestia snorted. „My sister is always welcomed to come to me, Sharp Sword. As my lieutenant I ask you to have more respect towards her. She is your Princess as well.“ Haha! You deserve that! Luna curled her noistrils to hide her satisfied smile.
Celestia now turned her attention to the younger sibling. She sounded rather surprised, when she asked: „Luna, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep during that time of day?“ 
Luna lowered her head. She scratched her ancle. „I...had a bad dream“, she confessed sadly and gave her sister a weird look. Celestia's face eclipsed with worry. The mare smiled symphatetically.
The Solar Princess slowly walked towards Luna. She turned her head backwards and called after her scheduler: „Kibitz, do you mind cancelling the next two meetings from my day's routine?“ The brown unicorn with his bushy beard grunted „Not at all“ as he used a pen to cross two points on his clipboard. Celestia softly gave Luna a cue with her wing. „Follow me“, the Solar Princess said.

***

Celestia's private chambers were clad in white, perfectly glooming marble. Carpets hang from the walls, showing landscapes or important events of Canterlot. A fire burned in a chimney. Unlike Luna Celestia had three bookshelves. On a golden bar sat her pet phoenix Philomena, who greeted them with a soft chirp. A tableset stood on a small, brown table.
Luna felt the soft carpet under her hooves. The fabric was as red as dawn itself. Celestia slowly walked to the table. There were no chairs but comfortable, fluffy pillows to sit down. The Solar Princess nestled in one of them. With a nod of her head she invited Luna to do the same. The blue mare slowly walked to her sister and sat down. With a sad sigh the Moon Princess folded her wings.
One of Celestia's kleinsmaids had brought a tea can and a cup for refreshment. Celestia's horn glowed golden and she made another cub appear. The mare softly poured some tea into the cups and handed one Luna. „Thanks“, whispered the Princess.
Celestia levitated her cup with ease and took a swip. Her dawncoloured eyes rested on Luna's worried face. „What is it, little sister?“, she asked, „I am worried about you. What troubles you?“ Luna opened her maw to reply, but her mouth was as dry as a dessert. She gulped. „Take your time“, encouraged Celestia her. Luna levitated the cup to her lips and sipped at it. The mint tea burned in her throat and eased her breath.
Luna sighted and slowly placed the cup back on the table. The porcellan made a fair cling. The blue Alicorn looked at her older sister. Her words first sounded bumpy, but soon her voice became better: „I had another night....bad dream. It was more off a memory. I dreamed about the one argument we had on the Harmony Day Parade. The day, where I transformed into Nightmare Moon for a couple of seconds.“
Tears dripped down her snout and she tried to whip them away with her wing, but Celestia was faster. She levitated a napkin and dried her younger sister's eyes. Luna shivered as she continued: „I did not suspected it to be so hard, Tia. She does not want to leave me alone. I feel so bad and ashamed. I cannot even dare to really say her name. I fear, what the ponies think of me. I cannot deny this one thought: They look at me and they see Nightmare Moon. I am not asking for much: Just love and respect. But how can they respect a monster? How can they ever see the Princess in me? What, if I am no longer good enough to play this part.“
Celestia sighted. „You are a great Princess, Lu“, the white mare said. She stood up and walked to her sister. Swan-like wings embraced Luna and she leaned herself against her sister's chest. Celestia whispered: „Our little ponies adore you just as much as they adore me. Think about, what you have done. You helped countless ponies in their dreams. Scootaloo for example. You helped her conquer her fear and now she absolutely loves you. And the other Cutiemark Cursaders love you as well. I feel, that many children are more bond to you then they are to me. Or think about Nightmare Night. The citizens of Ponyville enjoy it so much, when you visit their town during this night.“
„But...but my sin“, Luna whispered, „It is not gone. Can these ponies really see me without my past?“ She gazed up Celestia and shivered. 
The white mare responded: „Do not let your past define you, Luna. You are a wonderful ruler and I am really glad to have you by my side. I will never leave you alone. And you may forgotten something. Sure, the ponies are still sleeping during your night, but they ackonowledge, what you are doing for them. Not just in the Dream Realm, but also in reality. During the night, it is you and your guards, who protect an entire nation. And our little ponies trust you. Otherwise they would never deposit their alertness to go to sleep.“
Luna looked the other way. „You are right, Tia“, she mumbled and a thine smile caressed her lips. 
Celestia took a step back. „Are you feeling better, Luna?“, she asked caringly. 
„Yes.“ Her ears twitched and her smile grew sheepish. „I think so.“ 
But then her face eclipsed once more. Luna stood up. She slowly walked to the window and gazed through it. In the distance the Everfree Forest rustled in the wind.
Luna whispered: „Do you think, she is still out there? And might return? What, if she is not dead? What if she searches for me?“ 
Celestia trotted by her side and responded: „Let's hope, Nightmare Moon is really gone. But don't worry, sister.“ She lifted an hoof and turned Luna's chin towards her.   „You will never have to face Nightmare Moon again.“ 
„Promise?“, asked the Moon Princess. 
Celestia pulled Luna into another hug. Her head laid on her neck. „I promise.“