//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - Dark Princess (Edited by JBL 03.10.2017) // Story: The Last Descendant // by Cup of Coffee //------------------------------// Celestia and I spent at least a couple of hours in the small garden, discussing a variety of topics. I was concerned about what I read in the newspaper, or rather what I didn’t read. I asked about the newspaper and wondered where all the bad news was. Somehow, I also found the courage to ask if she or Luna controlled the papers, to which she explained that the press wrote whatever they wanted, and asked for an explanation regarding my strange question. I told her about what counted as news back home and the usual dreary crap that was on print there. Celestia was appalled, explaining that if such things happened in Equestria every day, then she and Luna had failed their ponies in the most horrible of ways. I was surprised when she told me that the last war between two countries on Equus had been over four centuries ago, and the last time Equestria had been at war was over seven hundred years ago. I didn’t believe it until Celestia teleported a history book to our table so that I could read it myself. Then again, she had been alive for long enough to write history herself, so I bought that story with a pinch of salt. Celestia explained that war was uncommon due to the many nations having cordial relations with one another in this age, and disputes were resolved in meeting rooms rather than battlefields. Problems did occur, though, as this world wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows. She mentioned in passing a species called changelings that had tried to invade Canterlot some time ago, but they had been utterly beaten by the power of love courtesy of Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Maybe there was something to this ‘princess of various things and concepts’? Maybe Princess Cadenza loved kicking ass? Murder, she said, was all but unheard of. There had not been such a case in hundreds of years. Accidents did happen, but rarely did they result in a fatal conclusion. The medical care in Equestria and other countries was rather efficient. The reason was that because Equus had so many different races, the doctors in each nation had developed medicines and treatments separately. Thus, medical information was freely shared between nations as a sign of goodwill. Now I wish Earth had other intelligent races as well. Perhaps we would have found a cure for HIV or cancer long ago. Drug abuse was unheard of. Almost all cases were accidental, such as those who had ingested plants that had a drug-like effect. Often it turned out to be one plant mistaken for another. I swore I saw a tiny tear form in Celestia’s eyes when she said that. When asked, she confessed that she didn’t like seeing her ponies get hurt. The more I thought about it, the more I saw her as a parent figure to her people. I guess since she had been the ruler for so long, maybe she considered ponies as her children. I hadn’t heard her mention any children of her own yet, so maybe she didn’t have any. I never mentioned it to her and Luna, but I had initially assumed that Twilight was her daughter. After chatting about the news, we spoke of other things. One subject was my current state of health. I informed Celestia about the two doctors’ visit earlier. She was delighted to hear I was recovering so quickly, as was I. Intense boredom and sleeping got old after a few days. We also spoke about some of the things I had been wondering about, such as Star Swirl’s appearance despite being dead. He was not a ghost, rather a creation of magic in the image of the original that had been imbued with a copy of Star Swirl’s mind. Constructs could carry out simple orders, such as delivering messages. What Star Swirl had done also puzzled Celestia. He had somehow imbued a copy of his mind into the construct, allowing him to ‘live’ for fifteen-hundred years in order to bring me to this world. According to Celestia, such a process was usually impossible, but somehow Star Swirl had figured it out. Creepy old bastard. Remembering the two injured ponies I had earlier encountered, I asked Celestia if Star Swirl had been famous, which she confirmed. Star Swirl held legendary status as the inventor of numerous spells and author of a litany of magical books. He was considered to be one of the two most powerful unicorns in pony history, the other being Twilight Sparkle. I asked Celestia how Twilight became an alicorn, which led to a rather convoluted answer. Twilight had managed to change the cutie marks of her friends. For managing such a feat and saving the destinies of her friends, she ascended to alicornhood and became a princess. I was relieved to hear that Twilight Sparkle was so skilled with magic, as it meant that she was my best bet in finding a way home. On the outside, I just nodded. Internally, I raged at the sheer ridiculousness of the notion. In the end, I simply accepted it. Their normality, not mine. Still, wings did sound cooler than a horn. Continuing with the theme of magic, I tried focusing my magic several times in a row. It was not as easy as it initially seemed, and I quickly grew exhausted, feeling a small headache approaching. I asked Celestia if it was normal, and sure enough, it was. Continued use would tire a unicorn, especially someone like me, whose magic was weak and undeveloped. Celestia seemed somewhat impressed that I had managed to focus my magic in the first place, seeing as I had never done so before. She explained that my magic was on par with a very young pony, saying that with continued use, I would find focusing to be easier. She also gave me the red pebble to train with. Soon, it was time for Celestia to return to her duties. Together, we walked back to my room. My mood hadn’t improved much; neither had my state of mind. My thoughts revolved around my coming encounter with Princess Luna. My body did feel better at least. Maybe it was the fresh air and sunlight, perhaps it was the chance to have a long and meaningful conversation, or the fact that I would soon be out of the infirmary. Whatever the case, I was content to sit in my chair, resting my cheek on the back of my hand as I thought. “What is on your mind?” Celestia asked, breaking the silence. “You were rather chatty a few minutes ago. Is something wrong?” “Nah, just thinking,” I answered with a wave of my hand. “About what, if you would indulge my curiosity?” “Well, in a couple of days, I’m out of the infirmary, if Doctor Mgangah is right. Healthy for the first time in God knows how long. No more headaches and no more pills, which is a big deal for me. Plus, I’m certain Princess Twilight can figure out a way for me to get back home.” “Perhaps she will find a way,” Celestia replied, although she didn’t sound confident. “However, if she is unable to do so, what will you do then?” I had given that particular option some thought. Sadly, it all ended the same way. I just couldn’t give up home. I had too much to simply forget about it all. I had plans and dreams to fulfil. I sighed heavily. “I don’t know. It’s been bouncing around in my head for a while. I do know one thing.” I glanced at Celestia. “I know part of me is a pony—I’m still trying to accept that fact—but most of me is human. I belong on Earth.” “I understand, but disagree with your statement. You belong here as well.” Celestia nodded, looking down the corridor. “However, the chances of you returning back to Earth are slim. In fact, I believe you will not return to Earth at all.” “Well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine,” I scoffed at her. “At least one of us has to stay positive.” Celestia's serious demeanor broke for a second, letting out a ladylike giggle. It was only after I said it that I understood the pun. “Damn it!” I huffed and smiled despite myself. “I know, I’ve thought about it. Still, I can’t give up my home. I may not return to my era, I may end up in the future or the past, and most likely I’d have to swim to reach land. If I’m lucky enough to get back home in one piece, I’ll still have a couple of things to explain.” I tapped my horn with my index finger. Celestia’s smile faded as she understood my meaning. “Do you fear that your people will ostracize you because of your physical changes?” I heard the underlying tone of worry in her voice. “This horn, these hooves, the fur. I’ll never have a moment of peace again. Doctors and scientists will want to examine and beg me to donate specimens of all sorts so that they can study me. Some unscrupulous individuals will probably kidnap me for the same reasons. I’ll be living in a laboratory for the rest of my natural life. If the military found out I have magic, they’ll lock me up for sure and take my brain apart in order to figure it out and weaponize magic.” I noticed that I was ranting, but I just wanted to get it off my chest. “The religious part of humanity will most likely want to kill me just because I have a faint resemblance to a bad guy in one of their religions. Some of them might worship me. Some people will probably want my horn because they think it will give them magical powers. But that’s not the worst of it!” Celestia gave me a confused look, possibly wondering how it could possibly become worse. “Some Asian millionaire that’s been eating rhino horns because he’s got a freakin’ dead dick will see me as the perfect remedy. Then he’ll send poachers after me so that he can eat my horn, hoping that his cock will live again!” I yelled and threw my hands in the air. It was only then I noticed that the wheelchair hadn’t moved for a while and that the hallway was filled with nurses, doctors, and patients. The hallway was so silent that if a pin dropped, the sound would be equal to the Tsar nuclear bomb exploding. They all stared at me, incredulity evident on their faces. Guess nobody swore like that around the princesses. ‘Did I shout that last part? Yes. Yes, I did.’ “Oh… damn…” I turned to Celestia, expecting to receive a warning about my foul language. Instead, she simply stared at me. “Sorry about that.” “Is this true?” she exclaimed loudly, almost sounding angry. “Your own kind would do that to you?” Oh, she was worried about that and not my colourful language. “Yeah, people are capable of many things, both very good and very, very bad things. I’m just thinking about worst possible scenarios.” Slowly, the wheelchair began moving again, Celestia walking next to me. “Still, this might happen if I get home at all. If not, then I don’t know what to do. I just don’t belong here.” “That is not true.” Though a kind expression was on her face, her voice held a note of sternness. “You do belong here. You may be more human than pony, but you are amongst your people, your kind now. I accept you as you are. Luna accepts you as you are; Twilight accepts you as you are, and I know that Equestria will accept you.” Her words held a ring of sincerity in them that I could not ignore. Out of all the ponies I had met here so far, I trusted Celestia the most, which was odd since I also had a healthy amount of fear regarding her. It was something about her that… was hard to pinpoint. Her voice, her demeanour, the aura of peace and safety I felt around her. I was still on my toes, but somehow it was like a part of myself didn’t want to be afraid of her. Was this what it meant to be in the presence of a goddess? “I’m sorry for swearing back there,” I said apologetically. “I usually frown upon foul language in my presence, but your situation and frustration is understandable.” “Still...” "Do not think about it so much. I have already forgiven you." "…Thank you." We soon arrived at my room. Two guards waited at the door while my four usual guards took up positions in the hallway. Another pony stood there as well, a stallion wearing a maroon vest with gold borders that blended nicely with his yellowish-orange fur and red mane and tail, all of which seemed to have been immaculately groomed. The stallion merely glanced at me for a brief second before bowing to the princess. She nodded to him and opened the door. The unknown pony followed us inside. “Magnus, I would like for you to meet Creative Stitch.” Celestia motioned to the earth pony. He reached out a hoof to me and I leaned down to shake it, but he just bro-fisted me. For some reason, the pony didn’t stare at me as much as the others. “Nice to meet you,” I replied politely, wondering why he was here. Casually, I glanced towards his flank, wondering what his cutie mark represented. It was a mannequin with a sewing needle and thread coiled around it. “Seeing as you have a limited and somewhat tarnished set of clothes, I called Mr Stitch here to provide more for you. Your ancestor told us of your need for clothing.” Oh, that was right! None of the ponies had asked me why I wore clothes. I had wondered if they would, seeing as they all walked around in their birthday suits most of the time. That wasn’t to say the concept was totally alien to them since some ponies had worn them, such as the uniforms of the maids, nurses, and doctors, along with the guards’ armour. The vest this stallion wore was one of the few garments I had seen that wasn’t work-related. “Okay, that’s great and all but… I don’t suppose you take Visa? I don’t have any money to pay him for it.” I doubted US dollars was legal tender here. “Nonsense, Creative here has already been paid by Luna and myself. He is also a rarity in Canterlot, as he specializes in creating clothing for non-equine races.” “That is correct, Your Highness,” Creative chimed in a rather fabulous voice, which was quite nasal. “Griffons, minotaurs, and diamond dogs are my regular customers. A wide array of body shapes allows me greater creative freedom when it comes to the process of fashioning art for bodies!” He brought out a measuring tape and a notebook from a pocket on his vest. “So, if you can tell me what clothes you would like. I can take your measurements and begin…” He paused and dramatically whipped his hair to the side, his long red mane flowing in slow motion to the other side. Fancy. And weird. “Creating!” “Uh, okay…” I wheeled my chair over to a dresser on the far wall that contained all my clothes. I picked one of each type and handed them over to the pony. Creative immediately sat down on his haunches and began investigating the garments. He seemed particularly interested in my boxer shorts for some reason. and for a second I was afraid he was going to sniff them. He did not, which I was grateful for. “Peculiar.” He held one of my boxers in his hooves, stretching them out and letting them contract. “Elastics. I can make something like this. Out of curiosity, where do you wear these?” “They go underneath my pants. It’s underwear, covers my stuff, and prevents chafing,” I explained. “Ah, I see. And what colours do you prefer?” “The same as that one. Green, blue, red, black—it doesn’t matter. I may need a different size though.” I pulled up my shirt and looked at the clothes I was currently wearing. My boxers were a bit wide, as were my jeans. It had been some time since I last went shopping for clothes, and my jeans were at least a year and half old. I had also lost some weight during the last couple of years, making my pants sag a bit. “I think some of my current clothes are a bit wide, so they can’t be the same size.” “Not to worry then, my good sir. We’ll just have to take some measurements.” He smiled and held up his measuring tape. That wasn’t exactly fun, mainly because Celestia held me upright as if I was a puppet and she the puppeteer. I bet she could make me dance with her magic the way she held me in the air. While I was dangling there, Creative went to work. Initially, he wanted me to take off all my clothes so that he could get better measurements, but I refused. Celestia intervened and smoothly explained that I always wore clothes and that it was part of my culture. I relented after a while, understanding the need for proper measurements, and stripped down to just my boxers. That, at least, wasn’t a big of a deal, which made Creative quite happy with the outcome. I regretted that he wasn’t a unicorn, as he had to measure the inside of my thighs twice, and having his hooves around my crotch was awkward. I suspected the second time was purely for his own enjoyment, and a murderous glare made him back off and finish the rest of the measurements quickly. I also showed him some of my other clothes so that he could get a better understanding of how they were made. Apparently, human clothing was quite intricate, what with how the fabric was woven and the strength of the denim. After it was over and I was told how much clothes I would receive, I tried to persuade Celestia that the amount was too much. She declined, saying that it was the least she could do and that I was still her guest. I had to admit, her generosity was almost too much, but I was still grateful. In short, I was about to receive seven T-shirts, ten boxer shorts, and six pants in varying colours. Creative suggested light green for me, saying that it would match my copper fur. A few shirts in black, grey, green, and white were also included, along with a couple of thicker hoodies for colder weather. I also asked for a few shorts that ended around my knees. This was due to how warm the fur on my legs and arms was, and I ended up sweating easily while wearing my normal jeans. I declined his offer to include any decorative patterns, explaining that I had no need for fancy clothes and preferred them to be plain and non-restrictive. Shortly after, Creative Stitch left with a ton of clothes to make, or to quote him: “Create fabulous art!” He even winked at me when he shut the door, only heightening my suspicions. “Finally, that’s over.” I released a relieved sigh and wheeled my chair over to the bed. I attempted to stand, but my muscles remained weak and soft. Celestia watched me struggling to get out and walked over to me. “Would you like me to help you?” “No, I’ll manage,” I replied, trying to hold onto the frame of the bed and pull myself onto it. “...Someday.” Before I knew it, I was floating over the bed and was gently placed down, my back on the mattress and head on the pillow. “I have very good ears,” Celestia giggled, “and you are very stubborn.” “Am not!” “Are too. You needed a little help. Remember, there is no shame in asking for it.” I shot her an annoyed glare, hoping my displeasure was conveyed. Celestia only snickered at my attempt. It was nice of her to help and all, but just using magic on me like that got annoying after a while. Still, I suppose I couldn’t fault her for that. Glancing out the windows, Celestia sighed. “I must return to my duties now. I have postponed them for longer than I anticipated, and I have several meetings to attend and documents to approve and sign. I will return in the morning.” I nodded to her, and Celestia turned to walk towards the door. Suddenly, she paused and turned back to me. “Before I go,” she hesitated, the silence stretching into the realm of awkwardness, “prepare yourself. If no way home is found, you will remain in Equestria forever. Should it come to it, I want you to at least be mentally prepared.” I pursed my lips and sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. Again with this talk about not returning home. Did she know something I don’t? The portals were complex, I know that much, but surely there must be a way, somehow. “I’ll try,” I replied curtly. Celestia nodded. “Good. I will return in the morning. Goodbye, Magnus.” “Bye, Princess.” She walked outside and closed the door behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts. ‘Celestia is right; I’ve barely thought about this at all. As it stands, the chances for me to return home are close to zero; to the correct timeline, even less. I have to take this seriously and prepare myself for the worst possible news. But how do people do it? How do they prepare themselves for something like that? How do people with terminal cancer prepare themselves for death? How do parents prepare themselves knowing that their child has a fatal illness? How do people prepare themselves for the worst? How can I prepare for something like not seeing Earth or my friends again? How?’ For hours, I weighed the options back and forth. Earth or Equus. America or Equestria. Home to my normal life or preparing myself for the unknown. Each bout of pros and cons concluded with the same outcome: Earth, America, and home. I had a life back home, had friends, a job, and a house I wanted to fix. My hometown, my usual hangouts, my favourite spots to go fishing, camping, and everything else I used to do either alone or with friends. In short, everything I knew. My life. Equus and Equestria. Ponies, griffons, minotaurs, zebras, diamond dogs, dragons, and other unknown creatures. This world seemed so… so fresh, so new. In a way, it was untainted by modern technology. It was a peaceful, beautiful world, as far as I knew. There was magic and untold wonders I had yet to see. Even time seemed to pass by at a slow pace here. This world was new for me to see and explore, and deep down I wanted to experience more. Those thoughts were pushed aside in favour of what I already knew. Was it fear of the unknown, how I would be treated and regarded by the ponies, or perhaps a combination of several things? On the flip side, what future awaited me on Earth? The hooves, the horn, the fur… This was me now, something that was not completely human. How would people treat me? My friends had always stood by my side, and they would be the last ones to abandon me. However, their kindness was but a drop in the bucket that was humanity. ‘Freak! Monster! Devil!’ ‘He can levitate things? Quick, capture him so we can study his brain!’ People feared the unknown, and if they believed the unknown was a threat, they would react accordingly, no matter if the unknown was benign or an actual threat. Perhaps I was overthinking things. Would they do that? Perhaps not, but what else would they do? Leave me alone? Hardly. These were all just theories that assumed that I could get home, and I didn’t even know if it was possible yet. My thoughts were interrupted by Doctor Mgangah with my potion and a nurse who changed my bandages. I got some good news as he told me that my bandages and stitches would be removed tomorrow, as my wounds had healed. I barely reacted, deep in thought as I was. After a healthy meal, I drank the potion and fell asleep for a couple of hours. My train of thoughts continued when I regained consciousness. Preparing. So simple a concept until you had to prepare to lose everything you had. Who could honestly do it? I lost my grandfather and for weeks I refused to face the truth that he was gone. Still, I had had people who I could rely on, those who had pulled me from the abyss of despair. Lisa. The kindest girl I had ever met. The girl I first fell in love with. Her love for animals and their wellbeing was astonishing. Nickolas. Tech geek. Computers and video games was his life. He was the one to introduce me to the Super Nintendo back in the day. We played Street Fighter 2 every day when we were kids and continued on Tekken and various other games when we grew older. Renee, the artist in our little circle of friends. Whether it was pencil, digital art, or oil painting, she could create something beautiful out of it. Sammy, an avid reader and writer. He liked the fantasy genre and began writing short stories that took place in that setting where technology and magic ruled side by side. His stories had garnered a small fan base on the Internet. He wasn’t famous or rich, but he didn’t mind. Jesse. Grease monkey. Metalworker. Welder. Tomboy. If it had an engine, she could fix it. If something needed to be made out of steel and iron, she could fabricate it. Max. A giant and body builder. A big man with a big heart. He wanted to be the world's strongest man one day, and I had no doubt that he would succeed. Adam. My first best friend. Short of stature, but with a sense of humour larger than life. We had similar interests, such as a fondness for the outdoors. He always had a joke ready for any occasion, with absolutely no restraints. If he had the chance, he would tell dirty jokes to the pope. He wanted to be a comedian and performed regularly at a few bars. He had a reputation for delivering a good performance, leaving the audience in tears. I couldn’t leave them. I didn’t want to. *** Sleep. So peaceful was the absence of thought. No sound, no light, no dark, just a nothingness that allowed my mind to rest and process the events of the day. It was supposed to be that way until I woke up. I stirred from my light slumber, allowing consciousness to gradually emerge. Cracking open my eyes, I noticed the room was almost completely in shadows except from the faint silver illumination that came from outside the window. The moon was in ascendancy. Something bumped into my arm, startling me slightly. “Mister Powell?” a gravelly voice asked. I slowly turned around to face whoever it was. The figure slowly came into focus. A pony, but not one I had seen before. Its grey coat blended in with the darkness of the room as its yellow, slitted eyes regarded me. Leathery wings were tucked to its sides, its ears reminiscent of a pony’s aside from the tufts of hair at the ends. He wore a helmet that resembled the ones worn by the normal guards, except this one had the crest of a bat’s wing and his armour was different in style and colour. It certainly looked more intimidating. “I don’t know where Rachel is,” my mouth blurted before my brain was able to catch up. Seconds of silence passed by as body and mind came to an agreement concerning the situation and the pony guard. The bat pony did not seem amused, or if he was, he chose not to show it. If anything, a slight frown briefly flickered across his face. “Her Highness, Princess Luna, wishes to speak with you.” Whatever drowsiness that had still existed was instantly vanquished. I had nearly forgotten that Celestia wanted me to explain to Luna why I didn’t want her in my dreams. With my heart pounding, I sat up in bed, slipping on my T-shirt and reaching for my pants when the bat pony held up a hoof. “Her Royal Highness is outside. Are you ready?” I nodded weakly. In response, the pony walked to the door and exited the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. How would she react to what I was about to tell her? No, she already knew that I didn’t want her in my dreams—I just had to explain her why. I hope she understood… and didn’t smite me. Smiting was bad. Seconds later, the door opened silently, revealing the Princess of the Night herself. I swallowed the lump in my throat and took a steadying breath. Her demeanour was what immediately stuck out to me. From what I had seen of her earlier, she came across as rather proud and dignified, though not in a particularly snobbish way. Now, her head was slightly lowered and the smile she flashed me was brittle. “May We come in?” she asked almost hesitantly. “Uh… sure, come in,” I replied, taken aback by her appearance. Was this the Princess of the Night? Where was her commanding voice, her royal posture, her confidence? She murmured her thanks, walked over to the table near the far wall, and sat down on a cushion just a few meters away from me. When our eyes briefly met, she quickly averted her gaze. I was so puzzled over the change in demeanour that it took a few moments before I realized that I was staring at her. “My sister told Us of thine… your fears,” she began. “That thou fear my abilities…” she sighed and slowly lifted her gaze until it met mine, “... and thou fear me.” I nodded slowly, wary of the direction she could be headed. It certainly didn’t seem to be one that included a smiting. “I... Uh, yes, it’s true, Luna.” I remembered to call her by name instead of title. She slowly nodded. “Thou… You do not want me to watch over your dreams.” A glimmer of hurt danced across her eyes. I chose my words cautiously. I wasn’t sure how she would react, but I hoped that she would understand. “Humans dream as well, Luna. Good dreams, bad dreams, even nightmares. When we have nightmares, we are usually frightened, and when we wake up, we know that it was a bad dream and nothing more.” She nodded slowly. So far, so good. “However, there is no one, or nopony, to watch over our dreams. There never was. And we’re used to that.” “Star Swirl told us of thy sun and moon moving on their own, but we did not know that thine dreams were unguarded as well.” Luna shook her head morosely “Yes, and that is why I’m afraid,” I finally admitted. “I understand that you and Celestia are much more powerful that anyone else around here. When I heard that you two could raise the sun and the moon, I was terrified. Now, I think I can handle that information.” I stopped for a moment to gather my thoughts. I leaned back on the headboard and sighed, staring at the window and the soft light that illuminated the room. “Then Celestia told me that you can… can enter dreams and see what they are, and that got me thinking. If you came into my dreams, then you would be in my head. You’d have access to my memories. You would know everything about me.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna flinch before she directed her eyes at the floor. In that short glimpse, I could tell how deeply my words had wounded her, and guilt began to flood my conscience. “De... Despite everything you and Celestia have done for me, I'm still suspicious, even wary of the two of you. What you have said, what you have done… I… I’ve been on my toes for days, just waiting for something to happen, but nothing has. When I learned of you and dreams, I thought that that was it.” I sat up and looked at Luna. I'd expected her to defend her dream watching, but she didn’t interrupt me. “Then I began to wonder if you could… if you can destroy my memories and create new ones in their place, and that you could control me. I would be a hollow shell of flesh, and who I am would be destroyed forever.” I looked at her, expecting to elicit a reaction. However, she continued to stare at the floor, an expression of hurt still etched onto her face. “That is why I’m afraid of you. That’s why I don’t want you in my dreams.” I leaned back onto the headboard and exhaled. That was it, the reason why, and now she knew. Seconds crawled by at a snail’s pace, my nervousness increasing with each moment. She poked her cushion with her hoof, her wings sagging slightly. “It has been many centuries since I heard such accusations.” Her voice was merely a whisper, still carrying a note of pain. “It was shortly after our coronation. Our subjects feared me when I visited their dreams, despite my only intention being to keep them safe from the dangers that lurk within nightmares.” She looked up at me. The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing moist eyes. “I toiled for many years to gain their trust, banishing their nightmares and offering counsel to those in need. I was so happy that I began to change the night sky for them. I established constellations for them to enjoy, I conceived meteor showers for their eyes, and I harnessed the light from my sister's sun to paint the skies with a special creation of my own: the aurora. I did my utmost to make the night beautiful for my subjects sake. I… I wanted them to see that the night can be as beautiful as the day.” She paused for a moment, wiping away tears from her eyes with the tip of her wings. “But they slept through my night. They enjoyed the light of my sister’s day, but slept through all of my hard work. Nopony was awake to see the hard work I did for them, but every day they would praise the beautiful day, the sun and its light, and never caring about the night. With each word, my hatred grew. I…” Luna hesitated, her jaw tightening, “I became jealous of Celestia.” Now I was the one whose attention had been captured by her riveting tale. I almost got the sense that, beyond the initial layer of hurt, it was almost cathartic for her to speak freely, to release these emotions bottled within her. “I planned to overthrow my sister and make the night last forever. My anger grew until it was hatred for the sun and my sister, and my hatred transformed me into a mare of darkness.” Luna clenched her eyes, forcing tears to flow from them. “I-I became a wicked shadow of myself. I called myself Nightmare Moon, and in my hatred, I attacked my sister in an attempt to destroy her.” Luna's voice nearly cracked at the last part. “Luna…” She held up a hoof, silencing me. I didn’t even realize I had spoken. “I attacked my sister in our old castle, intent on destroying her. For hours the battle raged, my hatred fuelling my magic, until I struck down Celestia. I still remember her scream as she fell from the skies…” A sob came from Luna, her tears flowing freely. With a sharp intake of breath, she continued. “She survived and used six magical gems called the Elements of Harmony in order to banish me to the moon so that I could do no harm to our world. On the moon, I was imprisoned for a thousand years, my anger and jealousy undimmed by the passage of time. Only on occasion was I able to clear the haze that had engulfed my being before I was consumed once again.” ‘The sadness in her voice, the regret in her words… She’s hurt, and that’s just by telling me her story. She… They are enormously powerful. But… she… Did I remind her of this by fearing her?’ My blood ran cold, images of the hate-filled alicorn rampaging, destroying everything in her path as the night became eternal. My hands trembled with fear, and I quickly hid them under the blanket. “A little more than a year ago, I was released from my banishment and returned to Equestria, intent on achieving what I had once failed to accomplish. However, there was an unexpected development that I had not foreseen: Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Through their friendship, they discovered that they were the Bearers of Harmony, each of them representing one of the six elements.” A fond smile appeared on her face, momentarily vanquishing the gloom that had entrapped her. “Laughter, Honesty, Generosity, Loyalty, Kindness, Magic. Together, the six Elements of Harmony cleansed my very essence. My hatred was washed away, my dark form vanquished, with all that remained a regretful mare fully aware of the wrongs she had wrought. At that moment, my sister appeared before me. I was so happy to see her again, but I was also ashamed for all I had done. I begged her to forgive me for my actions, and she asked me to forgive her for not supporting me enough. In the end, we reconciled with each other, and I was happier than I had ever been before.” Luna wiped away her tears and smiled at me. “Celestia brought me to Canterlot to recover, and in time, I began my work anew as Princess of the Night. Amongst my other duties, I returned to watch over the dreams of my little ponies.” I remained silent as her story ended. What could one say after hearing such a story? I didn’t doubt her powers—raising the moon made everything else pale in comparison. The story itself was both sad and terrifying. I couldn’t imagine what Luna had gone through all those years, alone on the moon. It was a wonder she was still sane. Raising her head, a small tear trailed down her cheek as her eyes fixed on me. “I was a villain, a monster, a terrifying story for a thousand years, and to this day there are ponies who have nightmares of who I once was. When I walk the dream realm, I often encounter the twisted image of myself tormenting the dreams of ponies and robbing them of peaceful slumber. I act swiftly to destroy the perverted image of myself and restore peace to the dreamer.” “...I…” I began, but found myself unable to continue. What if I said something wrong? In her unstable mood, any reaction was possible. “My crimes are great,” Luna said quietly. She looked up at me, the disquiet that had gripped her being replaced by sombreness. “However, not once have I committed the atrocities you accuse me of. Not once. If I would not perform such acts when I was one of the greatest threats to our world, why should I do so now?” Though I tried to poke holes in her logic, I was unable to. This must be what Celestia had meant when she said that Luna was recovering. That her sister had been banished for a thousand years, that she had to banish her, and was only recently reunited with her. A millennium of imprisonment, her only company her own anger and hatred. Once a villain, a monster, now she was… reformed? Benign? Kind again? It was difficult to choose the correct words to currently describe her. So much of her work had gone appreciated by her subjects. Had the ponies ever looked up at a clear night sky and seen how wonderful it looked? From the sound of it, they didn’t back then, but perhaps their attitudes had changed with the passage of time. It was no wonder she had been hurt and angry. All artists loved to hear their work praised, just like Renee and her art. I guess pony goddesses were the same. Despite everything, I could empathise with her. A thousand years was a long time, and she was trying to fit in with this age. It also explained why her speech had sounded so old-fashioned when we spoke the first time. Her words also highlighted the extent of the damage my words had wrought, no matter how sincerely they were. A stranger, an alien, came here and immediately judged her for her past actions. I was a stark reminder of the prejudices she had faced in the past, even though I was not of this world. “The… The first time we spoke,” I began quietly, breaking the silence that had stretched on for a few minutes, “I interrupted you because it looked like you were about to talk about something that you didn’t want to talk about.” From the corner of my eyes, I saw Luna staring at her pillow, poking it with a silver-clad hoof. “What you just told me; is that what you were about to say the first time?” She simply nodded. I could understand now why she hadn’t wanted to talk about it, and yet, in order for me to understand her, she had chosen to reveal in detail the darkest moment of her life, something she had no desire to be reminded of. She chose to tell me, an alien, a stranger, just so she could alleviate my fears of her, when she was fully in her right not to tell me a goddamn thing. She chose to tell me… Normality, their normality. What was routine for them was anything but for me. I had told myself that fact already, yet it seemed it was a lesson that needed to continually be reaffirmed. The fear of the unknown was not new to me. The bullying at school, the teachers who turned a blind eye and berated me for my bad grades. There were plenty of things I was afraid of, which in time I had learned to deal with. Now, my greatest fear was Princess Luna and the inhabitants of this world, yet I was grasping in the darkness for a way to handle them. It was at times like these, when uncertainty threatened to overwhelm me, that the words of my grandfather surfaced. “Fear profits man nothing, Magnus. If you are afraid of everything, then you will lose yourself to fear in the end, cowering and jumping like a jackrabbit. Instead, investigate what scares you, understand why it is as it is, and you will understand and no longer have fear.” My second best friend, Nickolas, had been a bully in school, administering daily beatings to me on a daily basis. I had been so scared of him that I used to fake being sick so I could stay home. Grandfather found out, and instead of speaking to Nickolas’ parents, told me to put into practice his advice. It took weeks and many bruises later before I found out. Nick had moved to Montana from New York to get away from his bullies. He was short and overweight, a prime target for bullies, and had decided to become one himself instead of once again playing the role of the victim. In trying to understand him, I gained a lifelong friend. I was only ten at the time but I understood that Nick needed a friend back then, and he became my second friend, frequently playing wizards with Adam and me through school, playing video games as teenagers, and as adults we went to parties together. Inseparable, really. As I grew older, I incorporated this lesson into my life, refusing to fear anything, fearing it would change me. It wasn’t perfect and wasn’t able to address everything life threw at me, but it had made a noticeable difference. Too many things had occurred recently that had left me uneasy in a short space of time, and I hadn’t enough to process it properly. I had to understand them, had to start somewhere, and I knew just where to start: the alicorn in the room. I moved the duvet aside and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my hooves meeting the floor with a loud clop. As I reached for my jeans, Luna stood up. “Wait,” I told her. She halted, cautiously observing my movements, shimmering unshed tears still pooled in her eyes. I leaned over and got a hand on my jeans, and began wiggling into them. It took a while, but I was successful in getting them on. ‘Now… I am no jackrabbit! Stand up!’ I sat on the edge of the bed for a second, contemplating if my legs had the strength to support my weight. I decided they had and began the process of standing up by supporting myself on the headboard. Each leg felt like it weighed a ton, the muscles in my thighs and lower legs aching and protesting the sudden use after days of inactivity. Carefully, I took the first step towards Luna, who still stood on her cushion, watching my first shaky step, her horn glowing, ready to catch me if I fell. ‘I have feared them when they have showed me so much care and kindness.’ The next step I nearly fell, managing to regain my balance just in time. ‘I can blame withdrawal, paranoia and fear.’ My muscles screamed as they lacked the necessary energy to perform the task, but I no longer wanted to hear the complaints of my body. I had listened to it for too long. ‘But the one to truly blame is myself. I am the master of my body and mind, not my fears!’ My legs nearly buckled, yet I persevered. My goal became clearer with each step. ‘I can fear them all for eternity, but if I’m stuck here for the rest of my life, then I’ll be trapped by fear. Fear serves me no purpose; it only wants to keep me down.’ Now I stood in front of Luna, who bore a confused look. I began kneeling carefully, my legs almost completely failing. My hands reached the floor, giving me something extra to support myself. ‘I have feared many things, but it never lasted. Bullies, drunkards, teachers, doctors, mad dogs—none of them succeeded because I refuse to let fear change me.’ I slowly reached towards Luna, who took a step back as my hands came closer to her, watching my movements, seemingly unsure of my intent. “What art thou doing?” she asked warily. “Princess Luna, please, let me do this,” I answered, hoping that she would allow me to. She didn’t respond, instead halting her movements. Slowly I placed my hands on her withers, a small shiver running through her as I touched her fur. ‘I refuse to bow or kneel to fear. Now I kneel, but I kneel because I want to understand.’ “Princess Luna.” I made sure to use her title instead of her name. I focused on maintaining eye contact with her and keeping a steady and calm voice. “I have seen this world and you ponies from the wrong perspective, namely mine. What I’m used to, I have tried to apply here, and failed in doing so because it doesn’t fit in with my normality. I have allowed my fear of the unknown to control me… and I hurt you doing so. I didn’t know about your past, didn’t know about your abilities, and in the end I became afraid of you.” Luna shook her head and closed her eyes. She sniffed once balefully before she spoke, “Magnus, you do not have to—” “Yes I do!” I cut her off, her eyes widening in surprise. Guess not too many people interrupted her when she spoke. “Yes… I do,” I whispered. “If not, then I’ll fear forever. You are a princess, trying to perform your duty even towards me when I’m not one of your subjects, but I didn’t want you to. Yes, I’m afraid because what you can do is intimidating, and I can’t understand it. I’ve been afraid ever since I came here.” I sighed, hoping that she could understand. “Luna, what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry for what I’ve said. I fear your abilities, but I don’t want to fear them. I want to understand them so that I won’t have to fear them anymore.” A look of understanding dawned upon her face. “You… You can come into my dreams,” I paused, hearing the words echo within my mind. “But please, explain it all to me first.” A small smile formed on Luna’s face. She spread her wings and reached behind me. I felt the sudden, but very soft pressure of her wings on my back and neck as she pulled me into a hug, her chin squeezing against my own. “I forgive you,” she whispered. “Thank you.” I returned the gesture, one hand on her back, the other on her neck. I haven’t had physical contact with another human in what felt like weeks. Lisa always used to give me a hug when we met. Whether it was once or ten times a day, she always hugged me. I’ve missed the feeling of physical contact from my friends: a pat on the back, a handshake, high-five, a playful punch to the gut from Adam or Nick. Somehow, I imagined ponies would feel the same. I brushed my hands over her velvety fur, her feathers like silk and her mane billowing in the non-existing wind, sending some of her thin ethereal hairs into my mouth. “I think I want to stay awake one night so that I can see what the night sky looks like here,” I said after a few moments. Luna giggled softly. “I can arrange that for you.” Breaking the hug, she took a step back and so did I, although it was taxing on my weak body. She smiled at me, a rather pretty one in fact. Her tears were gone, causing me to smile as well. After a few moments of neither of us saying anything, I looked over my shoulder towards the bed. Although it was only a few meters away, it might as well have been a mile. The short steps I took had exhausted me. “Luna, could you help me back to the bed?