//------------------------------//
// Servant of the Moon (NMM's kingdom) 
// Story: The Season Five Finale Series 
// by chief maximus 
//------------------------------//






The stars will aid in her escape, and her shadow will cover the world.


The fates had a plan for me all along, it seems. In a way, I suppose this is what I've always wanted. Before our Empress' return, I was simply a purveyor of fine fashions for a small hamlet outside the former capital. I was struggling to break into the big time. But, the fates had a plan for me. I was destined for greatness, just as I'd always suspected. 

I remember that day, what my mistress called her 'rebirth'. Truly, we were all reborn. Reborn as the rightful heirs to all our kind surveyed. 

Unfortunately, after the visit from that strange purple alicorn and that filthy dragon of hers, my mistress was quite enraged. I must admit, I was curious as to how another alicorn could exist. Mistress Nightmare banished Celestia to the moon for her crimes. It took quite a long time for my mistress to... persuade the rest of the ponies to see her glorious vision for our race. She promised to lift our race to dominance over the lesser beings, and to that extent, she has succeeded. 

My, that crazy purple pony had some muddy hooves! I knew they were trouble the moment they walked in. Being the keeper and chief interior decorator of the Lunar Palace has certainly done nothing to ease my stress. I'll have to have the servants clean this carpet before my mistress wakes up. As I mentioned before, she was simply furious at being tricked by that purple mare. Trust me when I tell you there were many slammed doors and many an unfortunate statue and royal guard thrown about. Luckily for the entire castle, I know exactly what my mistress needs to calm down. 

In fact, I believe I just heard the service bell from the kitchen. 

Ah, chamomile tea. A perfect pot for a less than perfect evening. Thankfully, the thrashing seems to have stopped, so I believe it's safe to approach. It's a bit of a walk to her chambers, but it gives me time to clear my head. 

"Mistress?" I said, knocking gently. "I have something I feel you may enjoy."

When you've been working for Empress Moon for as long as I have, you learn her habits. I cast a shield over myself and the tea tray. Her chamber door exploded outwards, showering the hallway with splinters. This was by far my least favorite of her tendencies. Doors can get expensive. 

She was face to face with me, a snarl etched onto her snout. To anypony else, it would have been intimidating. But to me, it was Thursday. 

"I don't mean to intrude, but I felt as though you may need to relax after today's events." 

She held her scowl, but it soon relented. In a way, it was nice to know our Empress in this way. Sure, she was a much harsher ruler than the previous regime, but, was she as cruel as the legends said? 

No. She was harsh, but fair. Once the population grew to accept her as their leader, things began to turn around for Equestria. Before my Empress, the griffons didn't respect us, the changelings constantly harassed our border towns, and the threat of those monsters imprisoned in Tartarus breaking free loomed large. 

However, once my Empress seized power, things began to change. The army expanded, her batponies owned the shadows, expanding our influence beyond our borders. She even banished the beasts in Tartarus to only she knew where. Soon, all nations, tribes and races bent the knee before the shadowy throne. 

I followed her into her chambers after she ordered her honor guard to find her a new door. I sat the tea tray on the table and waited. The Empress paced for a moment, and then, finally, sat next to me, removing her armor with a sigh. I poured her a cup of tea and levitated it next to her. One does not speak before the Empress. They tell me this was Celestia's old chamber. If it was, there was no way to tell anymore. It was dark marble, inlaid with black pearl accents and her sigil adorning various tiles and columns. Out of the window, her eternal presence, the glory of her moon and stars shown outside.  

"We should have thrown that damned purple creature in the dungeon the moment We set eyes on her," she growled. 

"There was no way you could have known her intentions, your Majesty," I replied. I poured myself a cup of tea and sipped. 

"All that talk of friendship, and that wretched dragon fawning over you! I've had ponies thrown into the sun for less!"

I nodded. Indeed she had. There were a few factions still loyal to the old ways. It took some... unpleasantness, but eventually, they were dealt with. 

After a moment's silence, I noticed something I'd not seen on her face since the day she returned. It was hard to place, but it seemed like... sadness?

"Is something on your mind, my Empress?"

She huffed, glancing toward her nearby window. "They still fear me. I'm still spoken of in whispers, still used to frighten bad foals." 

It wasn't sadness. It was lament. "Your Grace, you've given them everything you possibly could. You've given them security, food, jobs, housed the homeless and feed the hungry, all you asked was their loyalty. Any who still harbor suspicion of you deserve nothing but the dungeons."

It didn't seem to help. Nor did the fact that she was actually right. Distrust was still high among the subjects. A third of the royal military had to be drafted, as Nightmare Moon's batponies were few in number after her return. 

"Did you know We had a name?" 

I looked to her, curiously. "Of course, you have many titles."

She sighed. "Not a title. A name, before Nightmare Moon."

The world had known that Celestia had a sister, and that she was Nightmare Moon. But in Celestia's anger, she erased all traces of her sister from history, other than her status as a monster. I was at a loss for words. I simply couldn't ask her what it was! A good assistant never presumes in such a manner. 

"Luna. Our name is... was... Luna."

I paused for a moment. After all, how does one respond to something such as this?

"It's a beautiful name, my Empress." 

She rose from her chair, and started toward her balcony. I followed her, chasing the unusual look on her face as she gazed at the prison she had sent her sister. 

"That mare, the one that came from parts unknown... as we walked through the forest, she tried to explain her world, one in which I had been defeated." 

"Perish the thought!" I replied swiftly. 

"But... she went on to say that after Our defeat, we were not punished. We were not imprisoned on the moon for another millennia, We were... forgiven." 

She turned from the moon and looked at me. Now, it seemed she was less Nightmare Moon, Empress of shadows, and more of this Luna, I was wholly unfamiliar with.

"How long has it been since I've united the world beneath ponykind's banner?" she asked.

"By my recollection, just over ten years, Your Grace." 

"In that time, I've defeated threats, held festivals, thrown parades, lavished gifts on my subjects, and yet..." She paused. This was certainly uncharted territory for both of us. 

"We have no spontaneous celebrations of our rule, no monuments erected in our honor in towns across Equestria. Not like Our sister had."

I simply had to interject. "My Empress, you must stop comparing yourself to Celestia. You are two different ponies and your rule has been much more beneficial to ponykind, the production numbers and unemployment rates prove—"

"We do not care about figures!" she roared. I shrank back. I must admit, that I was her fourth assistant in as many years. The others, well... let's just say they weren't quite fast enough. "We care about love! The only reason We mounted this campaign in the first place was to show our subjects that We were worthy of love! We deserved love! But what have they done? They cower in Our presence, even now!"  

She turned away. I remained still, quite unsure how to solve this dilemma. Then I heard her sob. Quietly, only once, but it was a sob nonetheless. 

"Are We not worthy of love?" she nearly whispered. 

I didn't hesitate. "Of course you are." I stepped behind her, coming next to her as she did something quite unexpected. She nuzzled herself against me. I felt her tears, something I never even believed possible for mortals to feel. Thinking quickly, I put a hoof across her mane, gently stroking it. 

"Your Grace, you may not be loved by all your subjects, but I can speak for one who certainly does."

She simply continued to stand there, allowing herself comfort, something I doubt she'd experienced in over a millennia. I looked at the moon, to where Princess Celestia had been sent. Then I had a peculiar thought, about that purple alicorn. She came from a world where my mistress had been defeated, and yet... forgiven, even welcomed back into civilized society. 

Could such a world be possible? Instead of a nation built on strength and unwavering obedience, one could remain intact by the tenants of friendship and harmony? 

I found myself wondering what such a place would be like. She said that she and I were friends, and that I designed wonderful fashions for Ponyville and beyond! 

And, she mentioned something else. She told me that I was one of the most generous ponies she'd ever met, and that she would fix this. I have no idea what she meant by 'fixing this' but she seemed insistent on us knowing each other in some way. Although I would never dream of betraying my Queen, I couldn't help but wonder... was this the only future for me?