The heart of the moon

by keithsterling

chapter 3

As the tears continue to run down Luna’s cheeks, a small amount of her magic becomes trapped in her tears. Each teardrop that splashes on the grave releases her magic until the carved name on the stone marker Prince Justice Silverlight starts to glow. It splash on the embedded Crystal heart medal that was given to Justice by his niece, Princess Cadance. This was a way to remember the sacrifice he and his Solar Guard Squad One performed to save Her, Prince Shining Armor and Crystal Heart when the Crystal city fell back into rebellion under the influence of the king Sombra Shadow after the death of the Tree of Harmony. As the last teardrop splashes on the Crystal Heart medal, it flashes once, opening a spirit gate to the spirit realm.

A grief-stricken Princess Luna notices a figure stepping out of the gate she sees the spirit of a handsome dark blue unicorn stallion with crimson red mane, tail and a pink band. Set of transparent silver bird-like wings folded on his side. As a reward for all the good he did in his life, Prince Justice Silverlight was granted, by the ruler of Spirit realm, the power of the Guardian Pony Spirit. For his first assignment as guardian spirit Justice is sent back to Equestria not knowing that the grief was coming from his sister-in-law Princess Luna.

I am home?….back in Equestria? Guardian Justice thought when he recognized the Canterlot Royal Palace in the distance where he lived with his beloved wife Princess Celestia and their three children.

Guardian Justice trotted around the area trying to figure out where in Equestria the spirit gate put him. Before he could figure it out, the sound of crying attracted his attention. He followed the sound to a very familiar looking dark blue alicorn. She sat in front of a grave site, her face pale as tears continued to fall onto the grave.

“Why do you cry my Princess?” Guardian Spirit Justice inquired. Since his death, he has missed talking to his sister-in-law Princess Luna,

“….I failed….I failed Celestia….I failed Somnus…I failed Justice…. he entrusted me with the safety of his only son Somnus….and I couldn’t even protect him from the darkness that I know so well.” Luna feeling guilty slam hoofs hard on the ground in front of her,

“My poor princess…you have not failed, you just hit the end of trying to help my son on your own….Even a goddess like you needs the help of another goddess, the goddess that gave birth my son….to succeeded….the goddess I speak of is Celestia….I know how you can save my son,….but before I tell you….you must hear my story….a story that even my wife doesn’t know….Will you listen to my story, dear Luna?” Guardian Spirit Justice speaks with encouraging a grin,

“I’ll listen…” Luna responds nodding her head as she dried her tears with her hoof,

“When I was Somnus’s age, I didn’t have anyone to turn to that understood the dark magic power inside of me, the power that wanted to twist my dreams into nightmares…the power that wanted me to do things that no colt should do. I was alone to fight this dark magic that wanted to take over my very soul…Day in and day out I fought this dark magic till I was finely able to take control of it….But now, my son must fight this dark magic, but he not alone he has Princess Luna (point his hoof at Luna) the Princess of Night….his Angel of Darkness…the princess who has faced the darkness and beat it….In order to save Somnus and bring him back you must have no doubt in your heart Princess.” Guardian spirit Justice said with an encouraging look at Luna with hope in his eyes,

“My dear princess Luna…Can you be that guide for my son and your nephew….that guide that will keep him on the right path?…if you say “yes” you will be forever bonded to Somnus in both heart and soul…..the only pony that can keep his dark magic under control….If not, then there is nothing I can do for my son, he is lost….it must be your heart’s choice to do this, Dear Princess.” Guardian Spirit Justice said hopefully.

Slowly a memory begins to form in Luna’s mind. This time it was of Somnus as colt of 5 seasons, at the old canterlot kindergarten not too far from Canterlot Royal palace. During the long days of summer, the school would host a weekly family picnic in the Canterlot city park. Other families could meet and talk to each other. Normally either Somnus’s mother Celestia or his father Justice would attend the family picnic which drove the royal guard’s nuts. But during this particular family picnic, both his father and his mother were away on royal business. So his aunt Luna attended the family picnic in the place of his parents. After bathing, Luna went to the Palace kitchen and picked up the picnic basket that the chef made for her.

At the park, it was not too hard for Princess Luna to find the blanket that Somnus was occupying because it was the only blanket that had a royal guard nearby. Luna trotted over holding the handles of the basket in her mouth and joining Somnus. For the rest of afternoon, Luna enjoyed spending time with Somnus. As the picnic was coming to an end, the Parents and child kick ball game was going to start, So Somnus brought Luna to the field.

One of the parents made up a stupid excuse not to allow Luna to play, but Luna knew the real reason behind it. At the time Somnus didn’t understand why they wouldn’t let his Aunt Luna play when they would always let his mother Celestia play. Not wanting to spoil the wonderful day she had at the picnic with Somnus, Luna left the field and sat in the bleachers to watch the game and cheer him on. During the game, Somnus got hurt and the teacher brought him over to Luna and gave her the first aid box, so she could treat him. She discovered the injury was not that bad.

Even as colt Somnus always saw me as his aunt Princess Luna….why every pony else saw me as Nightmare Moon….the alicorn of nightmares…the bringer of never ending night…the mare on the moon Luna thought as she could hear her heart beat getting stronger and stronger,

“I want to…I want to save him….I want to save the pony I loved like a silent son…he never saw me as nightmare moon….I will always be his angel of darkness and his Auntie Luna…So yes, I can be that guide to him….if it means being forever bonded to him, heart and soul, so be it.” Luna said with a determined look at the Guardian spirit Justice and swallowing down the rest of her tears,

“What must this princess do, my faithful knight Justice? To save my little Somnus and your son?” Luna inquires ready to do whatever Justice tells her to do to save him.

“Thank you my Princess….you truly do love my son….just as much as his own mother does.” Guardian spirit Justice said, his face brightening.

“In order to save Somnus you must rebalance his dark and light magic….but you can’t do it in his dream world, that world doesn’t exist anymore….You must do it, in the awaking world…but that’s just one thing you must do, you can’t do it alone Luna.” Guardian spirit Justice says seriously,

“You are just one part of the balance, the dark magic or night magic part….the other part the light magic or day magic part must be done by his mother…..the hardest part of this is going to be trying to convince Celestia to help you…..In my wife’s current state of mind she has lost all hope that Somnus is alive,…..She’s lost everything that means something to her….Her spirit is shattered and her heart is broken, because for the third time she failed to save someone she loves so much….But you must convince her to help you Luna,…It’s the only way.” Guardian spirit Justice said very seriously,

With that in mind, Luna runs at full speed back to the Canterlot royal palace. The sound of a ticking clock echoes loudly in her mind, knowing the longer it takes to convince his mother, Celestia, to help, the deeper Somnus will fall into the darkness. Once back in Somnus’s bed chamber all the family and friends are now gathered around his bed their faces etched with sorrow. Luna quickly asks her oldest niece Aurora where her mother was, even saddened, her soft and gentle voice was beautiful to hear. She tells Luna that her mother went out onto the balcony with Somnus’s family photo that he kept on his nightstand. Luna quickly runs out onto balcony and finds Celestia, her face streaked with tears, but lying on the ground at her hooves was the broken family photo. The glass on the photo was shattered from being slammed on the ground by Celestia magic.

“…Tia?...I…I might know a way to save Somnus…but I need your help for this one….His magic is unbalanced…If we work together, we can rebalance it and bring him back and he will not face the same fate as your husband Justice did…Please Tia,….I don’t want to lose him too.” Luna said gently as a single tear runs down her cheek,

“It’s over sister, my only son is gone. With all the power I was giving, why could I not save those ponies that I loved so much (tears begin run down her cheeks a again)….What’s the use of having all this power if I couldn’t save those ponies that need me the most (forming a yellow ball of magic in her hoof and making it disappear soon after)….First you, missing the signs of you changing….second my husband….trying his best to be me, not knowing a pony of flesh could never be me…now my only son Somnus….a pony born from me, giving life by me, loved by me…is gone….I will never again hear him calling me “mother” or saying I love you, mother. (stomping on the broken glass in front of her, cutting the underside of her hoofs, that quickly heal in a matter of moments)” Princess Celestia said dispirited and heartbroken as Luna glares at Celestia with keep-your-mouth-shut look lifting her hoof up,

(Smack!)

“EVERTHING YOU HAVE SAID HAS NEVER BEEN YOUR FAILT, YOU HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT….ME CHANGING,WAS MY OWN FAULT, MY BITTERNESS TOOK CONTROL OF ME…..JUSTICE TAKING OVER RULE FOR YOU WAS BECASE HE DIDN’T WANT YOUR STRESS TO HURT AURORA BEFORE SHE WAS BORN….HE NEVER TRIED TO BE YOU…..HE TOLD ME HE COULD NEVER BE YOU BECAUSE HE WAS A UNICORN AND NOT AN ALL POWERFUL ALICORN…..STOP BEING A CRY FILLY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FOR BUCKING SAKE!! JUSTICE SPOKE TO ME THROUGH HIS SPIRIT!! YOUR ONLY SON NEEDS HIS MOTHER TO HELP SAVE HIM!! NOW WAKE UP AND STOP FELLING SORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING!” Luna frustrated yelling at Celestia,

“HOW DARE YOU, LUNA!....STRIKE ME!.....I am your oldest sister or did you FORGET THAT!.....Little sister!” Princess Celestia said bitterly as her eyes sharpening,

(Rubbing the side of her cheek with her hoof)

“DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND LITTLE SISTER!.....IT’S OVER!.....MY SON IS GONE!...MY FUTURE IS GONE FOREVER!.....I CAN’T HAVE ANYMORE FOALS!.....SOMNUS WAS MY LAST CHANCE TO HAVE A FUTURE!” Princess Celestia irately still rubbing the side of her cheek,

“Even if Justice did speak to you in spirit!.....why did he not speak to me?!......his beloved wife Celestia!......Why did he only speak to you little sister?!” Princess Celestia said hurt as she begins to sob thinking her husband Justice didn’t speak to her because he was disappointed in her for not saving their son,

The sound of metallic horseshoes echoed onto the balcony from inside of Somnus bed chamber. Walking out onto the balcony, was a pale light grayish cerise Alicorn mare with lavender colored wing tips. Her purple eyes had a mysterious ethereal glow to them.

“Cadence dear?….please go back inside….this is between me and Luna….this has nothing to do with you….please return to the family.” Princess Celestia friendly trying to usher Princess Cadence back into the bed chamber,

“Yes, Cadence dear…do as Celestia asks…please return to the family….we will be finished soon…..this has nothing to do with you.” Princess Luna friendly watching Celestia lead Cadence back inside the opening, till suddenly Celestia is pushed gently back onto the balcony by a wave of magic energy from Cadence,

“What?” Celestia puzzled as she has never felt that kind of power coming off Cadence’s before,

“How can you say it has nothing to do with me…It has everything to do with me.” Cadence said a bit annoyed as Luna moves closer to her and takes a closer look. She gasps when she realizes that some pony else is in control of Cadence’s body,

“Justice! Are you the one in control of poor Cadence’s body? I hope you didn’t force her to allow you to possess her.” Princess Luna a bit annoyed as Celestia’s breathe catches in her throat upon hearing Luna say Justice’s name,

“He didn’t force me, I allowed him to possess me….I felt so helpless, unable to help cousin Somnus…..No matter why cousin Somnus came to my aid when I needed it….so when uncle told me they had a way to bring Somnus back….all he needs was the use of my body and voice….I gave my body and voice over to him….yawn.” Princess Cadence said through her yawns as her eyes begin to close, Soon her eyes reopened with the same strange glow that Luna noticed before,

“Sleep well my dear niece Cadence…once I finish, you may have your body and voice back….” Princess Cadence said in Justice’s deep voice temper with her female voice,

“As for you, Celestia….what kind of mother gives up on her only son that way?…well, not the pony I married…..Luna say she might have a way to bring him back….but you didn’t even listen to her.” Princess Cadence said gruffly as Celestia looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary lying on the floor of the balcony. Cadence catches Luna shaking her head with a smirk on her snout, she whirls around quickly and points her hoof at Luna,

“Do not think Luna that you are getting off the hook that easily……I told you that Celestia lost all hope that she could save Somnus and to convince her….but no you slapped her!….If it was no other pony than even tempered Celestia….you would’ve doomed Somnus to the darkness because of your frustration!” Princess Cadence said testily as Luna a had pitiful look of appeal on her face.

Both sisters felt bad about how they were acting, because when Justice was alive he never once raised his voice at his wife or his sister-in-law even though a few times they deserved to be yelled at when they put Justice between them.

“Justice?” Celestia exclaimed,

“What!” Cadence snaps as Celestia lifts her wing up to protect herself with it,

“I am sorry….you are right, a mother should never give up on her son…even though it seem that the whole world is against her…..I didn’t become a mother because it was easy…I became a mother because I believed I could make a difference in my own foals life….and right now, Somnus needs his mother to save him and not this mare that everything has collapsed around her.” Princess Celestia said with a renewed sense of why she became a mother in the first place,

“Now that the mare I marred…..the mare that will do what it takes to save the one she loves…No matter how hard it is.” Cadence said proudly as both Luna and Celestia run back into Somnus’s bed chamber leaving Cadence on the balcony.

A moment later a white cloud is expelled from Cadence’s mouth forming back into Guardian Justice Spirit. After shaking her head a few times and testing if she is in total control of her body, Cadence feels a cold fist close over her heart and become downcast.

“Will they punish you uncle? For interfering with the living? Like you told me?” Cadence inquiry, her chest heavy,

“Yes, dear Cadence they will” Guardian Justice answer,

“That’s not fair to you or any pony…..what purpose does it server to let someone so young like Somnus die? He has his whole life ahead of him to become the great unicorn knight like his father and bring the blessing of both the sun and the moon to every pony…..I would think is that what the spirit realm would want for living realm.” Cadence annoyed a bit,

“I am not going to debate with you, dear Cadence….You of all ponies should know what I am thinking…..,and after all, the time we spend together during the wars in Equestria.” Guardian Justice comments looking into the sky waiting for the spirit gate to open and to be taken away,

“Unfortunately, I do, uncle….but I don’t like it…..You were thinking it was a means to an end…but you still broke the rules and must be punish for it….Your loyalty and honor were set aside to give Luna some pony to care about and, in turn, care about her….That burns me up!… what you did was a selfless act and you are going to be punished for it.” Cadence said bitterly as two dark shadows came through the spirit gate, seizing the spirit of her uncle and taking him back through the gate for punishment.

Later that same day, sitting by Somnus’s bedside, doing her work for Equestria on a small traveling desk was Princess Luna. She took over the care for the still weakened Somnus from her niece Blueberry who was needed in the palace hospital. As Princess Luna continued to read and sign her name to all the royal documents that she had on the desk, she got a sudden urge to break into laugher. She looks over her shoulder, down towards her side. Moving up and down was a feather being held in a dark blue magic aura.

She used her own magic to break the aura around the feather and it gently fell to the ground. She turned her whole body towards Somnus’s bed and saw him looking straight at her.

“Is there something you want me to get for you, Somnus?” Luna inquired placing one of her hoofs on the bed,

“No Auntie….I just wanted you to smile for me.” Somnus said in a weak voice as Luna gave a look of surprise,

“All right Somnus, I’ll smile for you….here we go.” Luna said caring as a smile slowly formed on her snout. Seeing his aunt smile for him, gave him a bit more strength, till he rolled over,

“I am sorry Auntie….I am one of your worst students…I will completely understand if you don’t want to teach me anymore.” Somnus said depressed with tears in his eyes as he curled up into a ball with blankets,

“What?” Luna exclaimed recoiled in shock as she ran around to the other side of Somnus bed, where she found a tear soaked blanket, clutch in his front hooves

“Somnus? why would you say you are my worst student?…..I am very proud of my little Somnus….you showed this Alicorn that you can stand with me against the darkness and not flinch.” Luna said encouragingly but didn’t help Somnus overcome his doubts,

“Stop it auntie, how can you say you are proud of me…..If I was a better student Dream Eater would have never been able to steal my dark magic and force you and mother to save me…I failed.” Somnus said dishearten clutching his blanket tighter in his front hoof as tears continued to soak his bed.

“Now you stop that nephew! (point her hoof at Somnus) It doesn’t matter if you were a good, magnificent or great student of mine….Dream Eater picked the perfect time to steal your magic from you….Because you are so young you don’t have the knowledge like I do to protect it from being taken by any power hunger pony…..but if you continue your studies with me….I promise I will never abandon you, my little Somnus….I will protect you like your mother does and guide you like your father would……all I ask, in return, is that you help me protect the Dream World from the monsters like Dream Eater and the rest.” Luna said caring as she embraced Somnus very loving.

Watching through a crack in Somnus’ bed chamber door was his mother Celestia. A grin spread across her snout because, for the first time, her sister Luna has a very valuable ally in her only son Prince Somnus Silverlight. As quietly as she could wear golden horseshoes on her hooves, Celestia sneaked away from the bed chamber door and headed down the hallway to a small study in the Royal Palace. Glistening on top of the windowsill in the study with spirit energy was Celestia’s gold heart shaped locket, it was open.

Looking out the window in the study was a dark blue unicorn stallion spirit with a crimson red mane and tail; a pink streak ran through his mane to the end of his tail. He was wearing the white dress uniform jacket of the commander of the Solar Guard, the princess’s elite guard unit. A moment later, the door to the study was opened by Celestia’s magic and closed by her after entering the study. Before addressing the unicorn spirit that she could see in the study, Celestia’s horn starts to glow with a yellow magic aura that formed around the locket sitting on the windowsill. She floated the locket back around her neck.

“Are you still thinking about what you did for Luna, My beloved?” Princess Celestia asks standing next to the unicorn spirit,

“(sigh) I could have helped so many ponies being a guardian spirit pony, Tia….But I was stripped of my wings as punishment for interfering with the living.” The unicorn spirit voice was a lifeless monotone looking longing at his wife’s wings folded on her side,

“A pair of wings doesn’t make the pony (unfolding her wings from her side) it’s what’s inside that makes the pony and what you have inside is what I fell in love with my beloved (refolding her wings back onto her side) What you did for Luna and Somnus was a selfless act…An act I know Prince Justice Silverlight would do again…because he is a selfless unicorn knight and the best husband that this mare every had.” Princess Celestia said loving blowing a kiss to her husband,

“Thank you Princess Celestia Silverlight….My beloved wife and mother to our children” Prince Justice said loving.

Comments

[Garlic ghost]

Loving it!

[Blaze the draconic mage]

Amazing

[keithsterling]

7819605 thank you

[keithsterling]

6565037 thank you