Clashes of Destiny

by Silver Tail

Departure

Disclaimer: I do no own My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, that honor goes to Hasbro.

CHAPTER ONE: DEPARTURE

Princess Luna stood on the balcony of her tower as the moon slowly glided across the sky. The silvery light washed over her, the feeling one of the few comforts she still enjoyed. The Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters was silent at this hour; the only sounds were Luna’s hooves as she paced the balcony. Below, the trees of the Everlight Forest swayed gently in a breeze which brought the scent of wildflowers to Luna’s nose. She frowned and went back inside her chamber, magically closing the windows behind her. Ponies were always bringing flowers to her sister as gifts, but she was usually asleep for most of it. She had only become the Princess of the Moon a few short decades ago, and the strain of moving it across the sky still left her magic drained when the dawn came. Replenishing her magical energy usually left her asleep for most of the day, only waking as her sister’s sun was setting. The two royal Ponies would talk for a short while, Celestia telling Luna of all the appointments and other assorted business which took up most of her day. The elder princess confessed the found most of it profoundly boring.

“She doesn’t understand,” Luna said as she left her chamber and made her way out into the main castle. The moonlight cast everything in shades of grey and white, reflecting off mirrors and other decorations. Luna’s hooves clicked loudly on the stone floor, the sound echoing through the empty corridors. So many times she had walked this path, and each time the loneliness filled her a bit more. She had walked here in daylight before, and the sounds of conversing ponies and happy banter still echoed in her ears. Why did she have to be the ruler of an empty night? Her sister may have disliked the busy schedule the day forced upon her, but at least she was always surrounded by her adoring subjects. Luna had flown over Equestria many times, and each time found nothing but sleeping ponies and a moonlight land devoid of activity and laughter. It wasn’t fair! “She doesn’t feel the emptiness of the night.”

Making her way down a set of stairs, Luna passed through the main hall of the castle and entered her favorite area, the display chamber of objects from the Colonies. The moon shown in through a series of high, narrow windows, the light glittering off the displays of gifts and traded items received from the naïve tribes who lived there. The two-legged talking creatures were very different from the ponies; they fought and even killed members of other tribes and they ate the flesh of other creatures, yet at the same time they existed in harmony with nature just as the ponies did. The translation spell invented by Midnight Gleam had been a turning point in the settlement of the mainland. Establishing relations had been hard, with both sides having so many differences, but after many years the efforts had paid off. Now towns and farms were scattered over the eastern coast of the mainland, and many ponies were making the journey to the new land. Each knew the dangers, that they might not come back, but the lure of a new land awoke a spirit of adventure in many ponies.
Luna stopped in front of the newest display, set up only a few days ago. Inside was a collection of wooden carvings of animals Luna had never seen before. The craftsmanship on each was exquisite; indeed the bird and the one which looked like the dogs used for herding cattle seemed almost alive. Luna stood there for a long time, thinking of the land all the things around her came from. The explorers told the court that the mainland was dangerous for the unwary, home to poisonous reptiles and hostile native tribes, but the opportunity to be the first pony to chart a piece of the new land was hard to resist. She had heard of the rise in map related cutie marks among young ponies, and the ships being built in the new town of Manehatten to carry ponies across the Great Ocean were true marvels of pony engineering.

For most of the night Luna stayed in the chamber, trying to imagine what it would be like to see the new lands Equestria had settled. The idea of seeing things no pony had seen before excited her, and from what she had heard, ponies in the Colonies were often active both at night and during the day. If that was true, perhaps she could find a place where there were other ponies like her, who loved the night as much as she did. Her imagination went to work, creating a village where ponies watched the moon gliding across the sky, their happy voices joining with hers…

With a start Luna snapped back to reality as a distant clock chimed. It was nearly time for her sister to raise the sun! Racing back to her tower, she stepped out onto the balcony and focused her magic. The moon slowly began sinking down below the horizon as the sky lit from the opposite direction. The sun rose into the sky, bathing the land in color and warmth. Once her part was completed in the dawn light, Luna made her way past the bed which called to her tired body and entered the main castle. Many ponies in the castle rose with the sun, and their voices filled the halls. Everypony bowed to Luna as she passed, but she paid them little mind. Her destination was close, and several minutes later the Princess of the Moon entered the throne room, where Celestia was speaking with several unicorns at the base of her throne. “Luna,” the Sun Princess smiled, “a perfect moonset as always. What bring you here at this hour? Aren’t you tired?”

“Yes sister, but there’s something I need to talk to you about. It’s important,” Luna replied.

“Of course Luna,” Celestia nodded, dismissing the unicorns she had been conversing with. “Is something the matter?”

“I want to visit the Colonies,” Luna said. She could see the surprise on her sister’s face, though she hid it quickly. “I’ve read and heard so much about the new lands there, I want to see them for myself.”

“Are you certain Luna? You must have heard of the dangers our explorers have found.”

“I can handle a few poisonous snakes,” Luna smirked. “Sister, I’m going. Last night I felt the spirit of adventure which so many of our subjects have felt in recent years. The nights here are quiet, still. I want to experience the nights I’ve heard of in the new lands.” Luna was silent for a long moment as she tried to keep the sadness from her voice. “I need to do this for myself Celestia.”

Celestia was taken aback by the emotion in her sister’s eyes. Luna seldom spoke about her nights, but Celestia had told her sister that her door was always open if she needed to talk about anything. What had she been keeping to herself? She could see that Luna was determined, and short of confining her to the castle she doubted she could stop her from going. “All right Luna, I’ll get you passage on one of the ships heading to the Colonies. I’ll send two of my Royal Guards with you to make sure you’re safe.”

Luna was about to object, but the look on her sister’s face told her this was one condition she wouldn’t be swayed from. “All right, you can send your watchers with me,” she nodded, stepping closer to her sister. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“When you return Luna, promise me you’ll tell me what’s been bothering you. I’ve said my door is always open to you, and I meant that.”

“I promise,” Luna said, a smile growing on her face. It was the first true smile to cross her face in so long. Things would get better soon, somehow she knew it.

…

Two days later Luna’s chariot came in to land at the edge of Manehatten, nearby ponies looking up in awe as the two rulers of Equestria came into view. A second chariot holding the two Royal Guard ponies landed a few feet away. “Good luck Luna,” Celestia said as her sister stepped down.

“I’ll be fine,” Luna smiled, her excitement plain on her face. “Don’t worry, I’ll send you letters every day.” Levitating her saddlebags onto her back, Luna neck hugged her sister. A part of her still hesitated at the action, but seeing the ships in the harbor sent a thrill through her as the promise of nights in the Colonies filled her mind.

“I’ll be waiting,” Celestia smiled as her sister walked away toward the ships bobbing on the water. “Stay safe little sister,” she whispered to herself.

…

Luna entered Manehatten’s harbor, the numerous docks and construction yards rising before her like a forest. The sun was still high in the sky, the bright light glinting off the gold armor of the two Royal Guard unicorns accompanying her. The sounds of construction filled the air as various ponies worked on constructing more sailing ships for Equestria’s growing fleet. Hammers, saws and shouted voices all merged together to create an atmosphere of excitement that kept a bright smile on Luna’s face despite the hour. She didn’t even frown as everypony she passed took a moment to bow to her.
She eventually arrived in front of a dark hulled ship with two large white sails. A team of unicorns were moving boxes of supplies aboard, but they stopped and bowed when they caught sight of Luna and her guards. “Princess Luna, welcome,” a light green stallion with a deep blue mane smiled. “I am White Cap, the leader of the crew for the Sea Breeze. We received the message to expect you. I must say, it’s quite the honor to provide passage to one of the Princesses of Equestria.”

“Thank you,” Luna replied. “I’ve heard a great deal about the Colonies and look forward to seeing them myself. How soon until we depart?”

“The supplies should be loaded within the hour. Your cabin is ready if you’d like to get on board now. I apologize if it’s not as grand as you’re used to.”

“That’s quite all right, I’m sure it will be fine,” Luna said.

“Thank you Princess, Cloud Rider will show you to your cabin.”

A bright yellow pegasus with a pale orange mane came up to Luna. Giving a deep bow, he smiled up at the princess. “If you’ll follow me your highness. May I take your bags?”

“It’s all right, I can manage,” Luna replied. She followed the stallion up the ramp and to across the deck to a small hatch which led to a set of rooms.

“These will be your quarters aboard ship,” Cloud Rider said as he opened the door with a hoof. Luna stepped inside and looked around the small room. A bed with midnight blue sheets took up most of the room, leaving just enough space for a small bookcase in one corner. The banner of Equestria had been attached to the ceiling, and daylight streamed in through a small circular window in the wall. “I hope they’re to your liking.”

“This will be perfect,” Luna smiled as she levitated her saddlebags onto her bed. A yawn escaped her mouth as she looked out the window. “I’ve been up for quite some time, please wake me when she ship leaves the dock. I’d like to watch.”
“Of course Princess,” Cloud Rider smiled as the door closed behind him.

Luna lay down on the bed, her eyelids already heavy due to being up this late in the day. The pillow and sheets must have been sent from Canterlot as they instantly molded themselves to her body. In seconds she could feel sleep claiming her, the light coming in through the window the last thing she saw.

...

Seemingly only seconds after falling asleep, Luna awoke to a heavy knock on her door. “Enter,” she called. Cloud Rider entered, bowing as he stood before her bed. “Has it been an hour already?” She asked.

“It has Your Majesty. The ship is preparing to leave the harbor, and you asked to be awake for that.”

“Yes, thank you,” Luna yawned as she got to her hooves. She followed the pegasus back up onto the deck, where the sounds of hundreds of cheering ponies filled the air. They were all gathered near the docks, and their cheering increased in volume as Luna became visible. “Is every ship seen off by this many ponies?”

“Not nearly Your Highness, I would guess they’re here to see you off.”

“They’re here for me?” Luna said to herself. The last time anywhere near this number of ponies had cheered for her had been the day she and Celestia had assumed their mantles as rulers of Equestria. She waved back at the crowd and smiled as she felt their happiness.

“Cast off the robes and unfurl the sails!” White Cap called out as the crew went to work getting the Sea Breeze moving. The large white sails unfurled and caught the wind blowing from the north. Luna watched as each pony managed their own section of the many robes and lines which controlled where the ship moved. She trotted up to where White Cap managed a wheel near the back of the ship.

“It should take us a few weeks to reach the southern Colonies,” the crew leader said. “I hope you enjoy the trip; there are several interesting types of fish we may see on the way.”

“I’m sure I will,” Luna smiled, looking out at the immense ocean ahead. The shore was quickly shrinking behind the ship. “But for now I need to rest. I’m not accustomed to being awake at this time of day. I’ll rejoin you up here when it’s time for me to raise the moon.”

“Of course Your Highness,” White Cap smiled.

Luna mad her way back to her room and levitated the sheets over her. Sleep quickly overcame her, the last thoughts in her head the ponies who had cheered for her and what would happen once she got to the Colonies.

Comments

[Silver Tail]

My first MLP story I've ever tried writing. I'm really hoping it'll be the start of building more, better stories in the future. Looking forward to any and all opinions.

Looks pretty interesting so far.

[Silver Tail]

Thanks, I just hope people will still be able to find it now that it's no longer on the recent stories bar.

[Changeling]

looks interesting looking forward to the rest