//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 (Revised) // Story: The Eternal Night // by unicorn724 //------------------------------// Over a thousand years ago there were two princesses, one ruling the sun the other ruling the moon. The ponies under their care lived peacefully, enjoying the elder princess's day but sleeping through the younger one's night. Princess Luna understood why ponies slept during her night. It was easier for them to work in the day's bright light and slept during the night, through the gentle light of the moon and stars. This went on for years upon years. Princess Luna worked hard to get the ponies to understand her night. She put together festivals and parties held at night and taught ponies about the stars and how they could use them to travel or see prophecies of the future. Unfortunately, it did not last. Her guards, the thestrals, a lunar pegasus, were seen as monsters after the deaths of many ponies were blamed on them. Soon the nobility started the rumors that Princess Luna was behind these attacks and that she protected the killers of their land, since many of ponies were killed at night. The number of petitioners for her night court quickly dwindled leaving the occasional noble that came to harass her and demand her sister be given control over the night. Princess Celestia never noticed her sister's sadness. Too caught up in her growing amount of duties and being worshiped by her ponies. One night just before the moon princess ended night court she was surprised to find that a pony wished to see her, she expected some request of letting her sister handle both sun and moon or her guard to be disbanded and banished from the kingdom as she had heard many times before. "What do you want." snapped the princess. "Are you here to tell me how my guards do not deserve to live or how unfit I am to rule because I defend the innocent under my care." The unicorn mare approached slowly afraid to set her princess off. It had taken a lot of courage to work up the nerve to see the princess since every other time she tried to come by the princess was yelling at the current petitioner causing the mare to run away to try another night. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty. I have come to ask a favor of you." the mare spoke shyly. "Please ask away, my little pony." Princess Luna said curious to see what the mare wanted. "If you could spare the time and do not mind, I would love for you to teach me about the stars." the mare asked excitedly. "You want to learn about my stars." the Princess was shocked. "Why?" "Well, Princess allow me to introduce myself properly my name is Shooting Star, my special talent is the stars. However, there are no ponies willing to teach me more about them." "Well, Miss Shooting Star I am done with night court for today and would be happy to tell you about the stars. Please follow me." On that night the princess had found her silver lining. The two continued to meet every night after. To talk about what they did or for the princess to teach the pony about different stars. Sometimes they would wander the castle just enjoying each others company. One night, nearly a year after they meet, the princess offered her a gift. "Star." Started the princess. "I have a question for you. Would you like to join my guard." Startled Shooting Star stopped walking to look at the princess. "Luna are you sure. I thought only thestral were in your guard besides I don't know how to fight." "Star I thought about this for quite some time now. and yes there are only thestrals in my guard, however, I have created spells that allow me to turn others into thestrals. Allowing me to expand the race from pegasi to unicorns and earth ponies as well. And I know you don't know how to fight but I could teach you. Please." "Alright, Princess. I accept." Over the next several months Luna trained Shooting Star. And she quickly rose the rank of Captain. She was the princess's second in command, her right hoof. Luna gave her a special job other than being her captain. As Luna's second she had unrestricted access to everything, even things the nobles and higher-ups in Celestia's guard didn't have access to. A few days after the two year anniversary of the night they met the princess had changed, angry and sad that the ponies did not love her or pay attention to her, she wished for the night to last forever. In a field away from the castle was Shooting Star, she had the night off and always meet with the princess here, but instead of Luna a different alicorn came towards her. Even with the different looks she knew it was Luna so she simply waited for the black alicorn to reach her. "Evening Princess," the guard said looking at the pony before her. "To you as well my friend," the alicorn replied. "I wish I could stay longer to explain everything but first I must deal with my sister. Please wait here till I return." "Of course Princess." With that said the alicorn left. After an hour of waiting, Star started to pace, the princess had never taken this long to do anything she was always quick and efficient with her tasks. She did not have to wait long for an answer, but the answer she was given was not what she expected. Before Star had been a unicorn thestral but now she was an alicorn.