//------------------------------//
// The Storyteller 
// Story: The story book villain 
// by CtrlAltElite 
//------------------------------//

	Three days I waited, scared to death. I would learn later that she was just as scared as me, but I didn't know that at the time. All I knew was that I had invited this monster in willingly, and for three days it had yet to say a word. I could feel it though. In the back of my mind, I could feel it watching me. Looking back it was probably a good thing. It helped distract me from the sight of the military marching through the streets of the only home I'd ever known, or at least what was left of it, acting as if they'd saved us. As if we should be thankful. Seeing the streets that had turned to rubble I didn't understand how they could call this a victory. Even three days later they're still digging out bodies, and the only one I have left from my old life is this thing I found crawling out of the corpse of one of my cousins. I know what it is. They call them nightmares. Magical parasites that get inside you and take over.  Push you to the background to scream silently as they wear your body like an old suit. I knew this then too, but it was dying. Nightmares don't live long without a host, and this one was too young to take one by force. Still, it called me Lulu just like all my cousins did, like we were family. At that moment I felt more Discordian than ever. I would not let them take my culture along with my country. We believe that family has nothing to do with blood. Parisite or no, this was the last of mine, and it... she, was dying.  So I let her in. Did not fight as she drifted like smoke into me. Three days later I can't help thinking I may have made a mistake.

The gentle knocking shattered the silencing spell as it was meant to. Luna moaned, and pulled a pillow over her face. I am going to take the counterspell off that door. I swear I'll do it. Go see who needs you.  Luna let out another moan and threw her pillow instead of getting up. In theory, it left her less awake, and in a better state to go right back to sleep. The problem was, with her silencing spell down, and without the defense of her pillow the horrible sounds of birds chirping, and trees rustling overwhelmed her. Make them go away Crescent. Luna pleaded, her grasp on that wonderful sleep slipping farther and farther away.
"Luna? Can we talk hun?" And there it goes. Taking the pillow throw as an invitation her sister had waltzed right in.
Luna cracked one eye experimentally. There was light coming in from the door, but the blinds were still closed. Small mercies. "You know old folk like me need our sleep."
Celestia smiled,"I'm still older than you are."
"Details" Luna mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "What was it that couldn't wait?"
"What do you want to do? You're a ruler of a country now."
"I'm not a good ruler," Luna mumbled. "I've never done this before."
Celestia broke into a grin that changed her whole face. It made her look carefree like she did years ago when Luna first saw her. "You don't have to be a good ruler. That's what I'm here for. You just have to look pretty."
This brought on a round of giggles from Crescent. You can't even manage that. Why am I friends with you? Because you love me. Luna felt herself smiling at both of them. For a moment it was just like the old days, Luna and her family. 
"I guess I'll try this looking pretty thing then and see what it leads to."



When Luna got out of the bath she found her sister still lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "I think I like your room more than mine."
Luna simply walked past. "That's because I have better taste."
"No." She said smiling. "That can't be it." Then she laughed like the very idea was preposterous. "You know I've been sitting here for nearly an hour, and no one has so much as knocked on the door. It's peaceful."
"Sure would be if there wasn't so much noise." Luna had started to hate all the constant background noise, it made it hard to think. How had she ever lived like this and not gone mad?
Celestia looked confused. "Noise?"
Luna's horn glowed, and all the ambient sound faded, till the was nothing, but a silence, perfect and peaceful. She smiled at her sister and went back to drying her mane. I give her twenty seconds. I'll take that bet. I say she lasts at least a minute. Do you not remember when we were first sent up there? Twenty seconds max.
Not ten seconds later there was a pop as Celestia's magic tore the spell apart. Told ya. Celestia shutters. "That is quite unnerving. You like that?"
Luna shrugged. "Only way I can sleep. Anyway, I'm going to the forest to pay my respects. Would you like to come? I was a bit busy last time I was there."
Celestia shook her head. "I'll take a pass, there's a lot to do around here."
Luna had expected that answer. Her sister never had any faith. But that was fine. The Queen would not judge her for that. "You know one day we are going to walk the long road together, and I'm going to laugh at you the whole way."
Celestia simply smiled and got out of Luna's bed. "That would be nice." But at the door, she stopped. "If you're going out there anyway you should bring my student with you." Her face split into that playful smile again. "You two should get to know each other, and she has always loved fairy tales." Before Luna could reply her sister was gone, teleporting away, and Crescent had started a fresh round of giggles.



They arrived in Ponyville not long after. Crescent wanted to arrive in a cloud of smoke with a blood red moon eclipsing the sun, but Luna opted for a simple teleport. They did not need the attention as they were trying to find a library in a tree. Crescent had not shut up about it since. Look all I'm saying is if we show up the right way, no one will ever question us as a leader. Celestia will when she hears we are actively causing panic in the streets. Now make yourself useful, and find me this tree. You just don't understand the importance of an entrance. It sets the scene for how you will be looked at from then on. What kind of a scene are you trying to set with a red moon? You know, spooky, mysterious. Deranged? You just walked by the tree we're looking for. Luna stopped. The tree was huge. Impressive. Exactly! There's nothing more impressive than a red moon. Luna just sighed and walked into the library.
Inside there were books lining every wall, and a whelp of a dragon trying to organize  the piles that were sitting around on every available surface. You know I was wrong. This tree is going to look a lot more impressive as it burns to the ground. Who has a baby dragon working at a library built in a tree? It's insane. 
For a while, they just stood In the doorway and watched, until he finally turned around noticing them. His face ran through the normal list of emotions that Luna was starting to get used to seeing. Recognition always came first, followed closely by uncertainty, or fear. They were only ever there for the barest moment before being replaced by that polite smile. Luna had only been back for three days, and already she had grown to hate that smile. It was the eyes. She could always see it plain as day. There was distrust there. Still, Luna understood that trust could not be forced, and she had places to go today so she plastered on the kindest smile she could manage. “I’m here to see Ms. Sparkle.” she said, “Is she in?” Her smile was no less fake, but she was a much better actress.
The little whelp only hesitated a moment before shaking his head. “She went out with Rarity about a half an hour ago. I don’t know when they’ll be back.”
Luna paused at this.  “Do you know where they went?” Truth be told she had been somewhat looking forward to telling the young mare a bit about The Mother. It had been so long since she had talked to anyone but Crescent about it. And though she had never taught, for only priests could teach, and she was no priest, Luna could still tell stories, and answer any questions asked of her. The mare just had to ask the right questions.
“She’s probably still at Rarity's getting fitted for her dress. Your banquet is all Rarity had been talking about for the last two days.”
Luna Raised an eyebrow. “She’s making a dress?”
The dragon only shrugged. “Six. That’s what she does”
Impressive. Quite.
The dragon gave them directions to a strange looking building a few blocks away. The sign in the window read ‘OPEN’ so Luna simply walked in. Inside Twilight stood in a half finished dress, surrounded by dozens of needles, spools of thread, scissors, and bolts of cloth all Lazily floating in a blue glow around her. The seamstress did not so much as look up at the sound of the bell  above the door. “I’ll be right with you” She called. ”Take a look around, anything you like can be easily resized.
Luna smiled and leaned casually in the doorway. “I’m sure they can, but I’ve never been one for dressing up. I’ll probably just wear a scarf.” At the sound of her voice, both mares looked up quickly.
“Your highness.” Rarity curtseyed low. Twilight looked like she wanted to as well, but was scared the dress would fall apart if she moved. Crescent kind of wanted to see her try.
“None of that now,” Luna  said, waving the formalities away. “I’m on my way to the Everfree to pay my respects. Celestia mentioned that her student lived nearby, and that I should get to know her.”
"The Everfree?" Twilight asked, before her face lit up. "You're religious? I didn’t think any ponies were religious anymore. I’ve certainly never met one.”
“I was raised in a different place and a different time. There are so few that believe anymore that most information is terribly twisted, and skewed.” Luna smiled a sad smile. “Would you like to hear the stories the way my mother  taught them to me before The Discordian Empire fell?”
Luna could see the only thing keeping the mare from bouncing was the fragile  dress she was in. “Oh my goodness, yes! We have almost no records from before the Discordian wars. I would love to hear the stories.”
“You're of course welcome to come as well Ms. Rarity.”
Rarity looked torn. “I, I would love to, but I have so much left to do. I still have to finish this dress, and I haven’t even started on my own.”
Crescent grin widely at the seamstress. “Finish this dress tomorrow, and forget the other. You can simply wear a scarf with me. I’ll give you one of mine, I think I still have a few left from back when this country was being formed. The simplicity will make you stand out far more than any dress.”
“I couldn’t possibly take one of your scarves.”
“You would deny my gift?” Crescent asked, fake hurt lacing her words.
“Well no,” the young mare stammered, “but Isn’t something that old too precious?”
“Of course it’s precious,” Crescent said. “That’s what makes it a gift worth giving. Now I’m heading off to the Everfree while the sun’s still up.” With a quick spell, she teleported the dress off Twilight and onto one of the mannequins. “You can come along, or stay here it’s your choice. Just remember I’m going to give you a scarf when you arrive at the banquet. It would be terribly rude not to wear it.” Turning Crescent's grin grew even wider. “Would be a shame if it didn’t match the dress you made.” And with that, she walked out the door.