Tomorrow is Celestia’s Sun Celebration. She and her helpers made sure everything is perfect and then rushed off to bed to be well-rested for the big day.
I’m sitting on a cloud high above the castle. The Everfree Forest is spread out below me, and looking straight down I can see the castle courtyard all decorated. I hate it. I hate that festival they’re holding. I wish it would all just go away.
I don’t know whether I feel more like crying or like breaking something. I’m sad and jealous and angry all at the same time. One minute I wish the ponies would love and admire me like they do Celestia. The next minute I almost feel like I hate them all... Celestia included.
“Hail Luna, Princess of the Night, Sovereign of Equestria!”
I whip around at the sound of a thin, whispery voice behind me. For a moment it seems like no one’s there, but then I spot something like a tiny purple cloud hovering at chest height. It speaks again.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Who art thou? We have ever seen thy like before.”
It has neither form nor features that I can make out, but it bobs like it’s making a bow.
“My name is Amphilogia, Your Highness. I am here because I felt your sorrow and unhappiness. My nature is such that I am drawn to those who feel such misery, and I do what I can to help them.”
It’s a strange speech from a strange creature, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
“Help how? What is it thee does, and what dost thou wish of me?”
“I wish to be your companion, Highness. I wish to join you and help you to stop feeling sad.”
I’m not sure if I trust this thing, whatever it is. “Help me how?”
“Well, why don’t you tell me why you are so unhappy?”
I’ve never talked about this with anyone before. I don’t know how to begin, but Amphilogia starts asking me questions, coaxing out details, and encouraging me to go on about all the things that have been bothering me. We end up talking all through the night. I tell it about all the slights, all the times I’ve been ignored and unappreciated, how Celestia wasn’t there when I needed someone to talk to, and how now the entire country is gathering to celebrate NOT having nighttime. Every time I falter or don’t know what to say Amphilogia asks a question or prompts me to keep going.
As the night draws on I feel better. It’s a relief to spill out all these things I’ve been keeping bottled up. Then Amphilogia speaks.
“Your Highness, why do you let them disregard you so? You are truly a great and noble leader. You deserve their respect and adulation!”
“They all love Celestia. The ponies only come out in the daytime, so they never even see me.”
“But what if they came out at night? Then they would see you and bask in the glory of your gorgeous night. They would see that you are just as magnificent as your sister. Nay, they would see that you are even more magnificent than she!”
I feel a strange mix of pleasure and incredulity at its words. It’s nice to hear such praise, but I’ve never thought of myself as surpassing my sister. I try to put those troubling thoughts out of my head.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. They don’t come out at night. They only come out after the moon has set and the sun has risen.”
“Well then, there is an easy answer to your problem: Don’t set the moon.”
Amphilogia’s words seem so bizarre I can’t quite process them. The sun and moon both need to be risen and set at morning and evening. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
“I don’t understand what you mean. I can’t just not set the moon. Things aren’t meant to be that way.”
“Why not? If you don’t set the moon in the morning then the ponies will awaken and come outside, and they will see the glory of your night. Nothing could be simpler.”
Amphilogia’s suggestion is unsettling. What’s more unsettling is how appealing I find it.
Abruptly, I notice movement down below. Ponies are coming to gather in the courtyard. It’s almost time for me and Celestia to go to the stage.
“I need to go now. They’ll be expecting me down there.”
“May I accompany you, Highness? I would stay very close to you where none would see me if it suits you.”
I hesitate for a moment before agreeing, “Yes, you may come, but let nopony see you.”