//------------------------------//
// Prompt #159: Forging A New Life 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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Princess Luna stalked through the corridors of Canterlot Castle. Every pony that she met immediately stepped to the side. Not just because she was a Princess, and the Princess had right of way (excepting cakes taller than the average pony), but because the castle staff were still wary of Princess Luna. No pony wanted to risk accidentally offending the sister of Princess Celestia. A sister, who a few short months ago, had still wanted to rule Equestria alone and plunge it into eternal darkness.

Luna, however, did not take notice of the staff as she prowled the corridors. She was restless, and not from lack of sleep. Upon her return and very brief re-education on what Equestria was like, Luna felt more and more out of place. She did not want to fall back into the pattern she had before. That way laid madness and rainbows. But it was clear to Luna, if not Celestia, that she was a living relic.

She looked out upon the expanse of Canterlot and saw not a thriving metropolis, or a symbol of peace. She saw a city that was defensible, though not against anything with wings. She looked at the Royal guards, and saw a commendable amount of training and dedication, but no combat experience.

She saw things that had no bearing on what Equestria was now. When Luna had been banished, the world was still in much disarray from Discord’s reign, and there were still many dangerous beasts to be fought and slain. Attacks from both mindless beasts and other races had been common. The Equestria that Luna knew was only two steps away from if not war, then battle. And Luna knew that the instincts that she had cultivated, back when Celestia and her had been very much warrior princesses, would not go away so easily.

A sound brought Luna back out of her thoughts. She had wandered out of the main, public face of the castle, and ended up near the guard quarters. Polished marble had given way to hard granite, and the change in the sound of her steel-shod hooves had caught her attentions. And if Luna believed in fate or destiny, she might have claimed that her arrival here was preordained.

She was standing outside of the castle’s forge. It was not often used, only to maintain the guard’s armour. Luna had memories of a forge such as this, spending hours with nothing but the heat of the coals and the song of hammering metal to keep her company as she forged the armour and weapons that would carry both sister and many of their allies thought countless battles with Discord, Sombra, and later, herself.

But if there was one way that Luna knew she could begin to work out some of the bigger impulses, perhaps the solace of the forge would be a perfect place to do it. A spell breathed life back into the coals, and Luna flicked through the various pieces of metal available.

******

And that was how Celestia found her sister, many hours later, when it came time to lower the sun and change over for the night. The younger alicorn was covered in sweat, soot and several brand new spears were lining the walls of the smithy. The actual blacksmith employed by the castle was standing by with what could have been an impressed look, but the stallion was just as stoic as the guards he forged for.

“Luna?” asked Celestia, “I would not have expected to find you here.”

“’Tis where we felt most comfortable, sister. We are not used to a peaceful Equestria. This shall help us adapt. ‘Tis what we feel we need to do, while we come to terms with this new Equestria that you have made.”

“Ah,” said Celestia, as she realised what Luna was saying. “Well, I’m sure that Steel Mould will be of assistance to you. Take as long as you wish, though I do need you to raise the moon.”

Princess Luna nodded. “Of course, sister. Lead on.”