//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 - Lunar Insight // Story: Night Reigns // by tursi //------------------------------// The cave was still and Celestia still rested as Sunset settled down to read Luna's diary. She smiled to herself as she turned to the first page and eagerly started reading. Dear Diary, My name is Luna. I am a landed Alicorn in the land of Equestria. With the help of my sister Celestia and the Elements of Harmony we were able to defeat the spirit of Chaos, Discord, and free the ponies of this land. In return they have asked us to rule. As it's an honorary title, I guess that makes me Princess Luna. Since this is such a major turning point in our lives, Celestia and I have decided to write diaries. We also have a shared journal that we contribute to, but there are always things that I don't want to tell my big sister - and that is what this book will be for. Besides, that other book is going to be public record someday. If I want to talk about a cute colt or complain about some administrator, it would not do to have that available for all to see! So far, things have gone remarkably well, considering how bad things were. Discord was the literal embodiment of chaos... a strange creature of nearly limitless power. It seemed that his only interest was harassing the ponies of this land. Everything is disrupted – even the sun and the moon themselves. Celestia and I have taken responsibility for restoring order where our power allows it and that begins with the sun and the moon. Celestia raises the sun each morning to begin the day, and every night I raise the moon and bring out the night sky. This ability was always within my reach, I suppose, but before coming here I would never have dreamt it necessary. I cannot explain the joy I feel in creating a night sky – to bring out the stars in their delicate patterns and to crown it with the gleaming silver of the moon. As the softer light falls across the fields they take on the most beautiful shades, and subtle details are revealed that are all but drowned out in the light of day. Equestria is beautiful and I will never leave these lands again... I am home. Sunset flipped a few pages ahead, skimming descriptions of a generally busy but peaceful time, and descriptions of a very early Everfree Forest. Then she caught Celestia's name again. Dear Diary, Today we had a meeting with a leader from the Griffin Kingdom. Celestia is SO serious about these things, she insisted that everything had to be 'just so'. She even made us speak with such a formal form of speech, all 'thou's and 'thee's. Forsooth, I must takest it upon myself to be more formal in public, she sayeth. Oh well, I guess it's kind of fun in its own way. I can learn to use it when I need to appear more 'regal'. Celestia and I have taken on a ritual of sorts every morning and every evening - sort of a 'changing of the guard', if you will. She lowers the sun, and then I raise the moon. In the morning, I lower the moon so that she may raise the sun. Sometimes I think she wants to turn it into some kind of formal ceremony, as if ponies would come and watch. I tease her about how formal she is becoming, and call her 'your highness'. It usually takes a few tries but I still manage to break her stoic demeanor and make her laugh. The palace is nearly completed and I have to say that the ponies did a wonderful job constructing it. They even managed to dig out an intricate series of catacombs for me, as I requested. I can't wait to get down there and make them suitably creepy – if only to watch Celestia's reactions! One of the fun little perks to being Princess! It also gives us discreet access to the Tree of Harmony if we should ever need to reach it. Sunset mused over that for a little bit. "I would not have minded seeing what she built... it's too bad it's all gone now." She flipped ahead a few dozen pages, and leaned down to read another entry. Dear Diary, Another beautiful night spent alone. I understand that Celestia must be awake for the daytime, but I do not understand why ALL the ponies must sleep. Surely there is call for some to stay up? But no, they lock themselves away and hide from the darkness, not venturing out again until dawn breaks. I am sure they just need the opportunity to see the night's beauty, and they will love it rather than fear it. I attempted to prove this... I flew over a small village when night was at its deepest and used the Royal Canterlot Voice to call the ponies out to me. But when they came out, rather than being honored and pleased that I chose to visit them, they were confused and annoyed. Celestia suggested that rather than being a surprise like that, that I should plan an event so that ponies could prepare for it and get enough sleep before it starts. I think this is a wonderful idea and I have already sent out announcements. Next week I shall raise the moon ceremoniously before all the ponies of Equestria in the first Lunar Celebration! I am so excited that I can hardly wait! (And to think I was teasing Celestia about our 'changing of the guard' ceremony only a few weeks ago - now I can't wait to actually do it!) The next page had only a single line of text, printed in block letters rather than written. ONLY TWELVE PONIES CAME. Sunset looked over at where Celestia continued to sleep and wondered about waking her now. Certainly, she was getting to the part of interest. But she was comfortable and curious to read more. She flipped a few pages ahead. Dear Diary, I'm so frustrated, and I don't know where to turn anymore. The Lunar Celebration was such a disaster and nopony seems to even care. Not only did so few show up, and that hurt, we actually received complaints about the moon rising late! Or rather, CELESTIA received complaints. They didn't even bother to address me! Celestia has turned so cold since the Crystal Empire... she even told me today to 'stop whining' about the moon. She said that I didn't give proper notice for the Celebration. She also said that I should have started the ceremony earlier and that if I was really so concerned, I could just do it again. Hah! As if I would set myself up like that again. No, they've had their chance. I've done everything for them! Do they really think they could have done this without me? Even the Elements of Harmony required BOTH of us to wield, and yet when ponies come it's always Celestia that they ask to see. It's not even about sharing the beauty of the night anymore... they are too sun-blind to see it anyway! They treat me as a lesser pony, like I was merely Celestia's pet rather than her equal. And Celestia just eats it up, sitting tall and proud on her throne and calling those who come to visit her 'my little ponies'. Her crown must barely fit at this point! I won't be pushed aside. I may be the younger sister, but I am NOT a lesser light!! Sunset frowned. After reading that, she now felt awkward about the concept of waking Celestia. She did not want to share the thoughts that she had just read. She turned a few pages ahead, more slowly. She stopped on a page that was written more shakily than the others. Dear Diary, I can't stop crying... I can barely hold the quill. She's done it, she has finally done it. She's told me the truth about how she feels at last. I was taking a break from the catacombs and I went upstairs to find her advisers were setting the Grand Dining Hall for a formal dinner. I knew nothing about this! So, I went to find out what was going on. She was evasive at first, like she didn't want to answer, but at last she told me that representatives from Saddle Arabia were coming this very day! I was outraged! Why wasn't I informed? She tried to say it was no big deal, but I pointed out we don't set the Grand Dining Hall for every two-bit little mayor who drops by for tea! Saddle Arabia! That was no hop across the stream! As a regent of Equestria, I told her, I NEEDED to be there. I couldn't believe they tried to slip it past me! Celestia then told me that they'd only asked for her and to keep things simple, they had just gone with it. She thought I'd be asleep anyway, and then she accused me of spending too much time in the dark, hidden away. Suddenly it was MY fault!? I exploded on her, I admit it. The Royal Canterlot Voice was a whisper compared to the shouted outrage that followed. And she was shouting right back at me, we were horn to horn and I barely even remember the words, until all at once she stopped, and she looked me in the eyes. "If you're going to throw a tantrum like a baby filly, Luna, then you don't need to attend formal events. This is for royalty." She said it so calmly and clearly that I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. I was still staring at her when she turned and walked away, not another word, not a glance back. I'm done. That's all I can do. She thinks I'm a baby? Dignitaries don't want me at their events? I'm not royal enough for them? Fine. I'll stay down here. If they don't need me, I don't need them. I don't care if I ever see any of them ever again! Sunset frowned and turned the page. Dear Diary, I've been avoiding Celestia for about a week now, and she hasn't even bothered to come looking for me. It just proves what I suspected all along. All she cares about is leading "her" little ponies. No, it's not fair. Why should I have to be hidden away? I did nothing wrong. I'm every bit as regal as Celestia is and I've never tried to force my way before. But now I see that forcing your own way is what being a Princess is all about. They love Celestia and the sun so very much, don't they? And Celestia loves their admiration. I have the power to take all that away from them. All I ever wanted was their respect and maybe a little gratitude. Now they will see that I am not just some child to be pushed aside. I, too, am alicorn! I need to do some research, and then everypony is going to see a tantrum like they've never seen before. If there is only room for one Princess in Equestria, then I am going to take back what is rightfully mine. That Princess shall be ME! The words sent a chill down Sunset's spine. "This is it," she thought. "This is when Luna decided." She turned the page. I've started to explore Celestia's dreams. Discreetly, so that she doesn't recognize that I'm there. I've planted images and ideas to see what affects her most. We grew up together, so I had a pretty good idea where to start. She will always overpower me, but if I can keep her on edge then I should have the advantage. I need to work some concept of dragon into it, but it seems like simpler is better. I am thinking about a dark coat to remain hidden, a hint of armor to glint reflections from the shadows where nopony should be, and a reminder that the moon will not be forgotten. This is going to work. Sunset gasped as she turned the page again. Rather than another entry, the diary took on the look of a notebook. Lists of various species of plant and animal alike were checked off, and a crude drawing of Nightmare Moon's distinctive armor was featured at the bottom of the next page. Numerous words had been written and then scratched out, the page seemingly covered at random. Sunset turned the page again. More notes, scribbled at random angles, were interspersed with various arcane symbols - a record of magical concepts. Some took Sunset a little time to recognize, but she got most of them. Her eyes widened at the next two pages. Written across the pages, as if they formed a single larger sheet, were spell notes. These were much more neatly written than the previous pages of notes, and in a tighter script that densely filled the pages. Sunset nearly pressed her nose against the pages as her eyes scanned across the spell again and again, her mind slowly putting the pieces together as she made sense of it. "By Celestia's light," she whispered. "This is it! I can do this. This will fix everything!" There was a rustling noise as Celestia began to stir, and she raised her head slowly, blinking a few times as her eyes adjusted. "Oh... Sunset Shimmer? I seem to have fallen asleep. You're back... did you have any problems?" Sunset closed the diary and stood abruptly, and smiled back to Celestia. "Sorry to wake you, Princess. You… you looked like you needed the sleep, so I was just... working on the diary." Celestia smiled, "Ah, and have you made any headway?" Sunset paused and bit her lip, and then shook her head. "Nothing I can share yet," she replied. "But I'm sure I will solve everything very soon." "I would like some water, if you don't mind?" asked Celestia. Sunset nodded and fetched a jug of water, levitating it towards Celestia. "Princess, I think I'd like to go after the first Element of Harmony, the one that I mentioned I might know where it was? I think we might be able to use its power to... um, to help you." Celestia tilted her head, "I don't think the Elements will work independently, dear. But if it is not too risky, we will need it anyway. Where is it located?" "Nearby, in Neighagra Falls. I... well, I sold it to a pawn shop when I needed money and I knew a busy tourist town would be hard pressed to remember me. I convinced them that it was magical even though they couldn't prove it, and so they priced it high enough that most ponies just ignored it. I'm sure it's still there." Celestia's eyes widened. "You sold an Element of Harmony?" Sunset folded her ears and looked down. "It was a hard time, Princess, and I didn't think it worked anyway. But I can get it back. I'll just take the overnight train and be back by tomorrow." "If it's priced so highly, how will you get it back?" asked Celestia. Sunset grimaced and turned her head to the side. "Princess, in these times there are some questions you don't ask. But we'll make it right when this is all over."