Camp Orion

by Meemie7

Chapter 23: One-on-One Luna

Snowheart: Luna, you look exhausted.

Luna: My apologies. It was a long night last night.

Snowheart: Couldn’t sleep? I can get you something to help with that.

Luna: No, no. I just… was thinking a lot.

Snowheart: About what?

Luna: Do I have to answer?

Snowheart: No. But, you’re only going to get out of this what you put in. I know it’s hard, but it would help.

Luna: I know.

Snowheart: Take a deep breath if you need to.

Luna: Hf… Guilt, I suppose.

Snowheart: Why?

Luna: …I guess because…it’s all I’ve known for so long…

Snowheart: …Alright. Then, let me ask this again. Why did you create the Tantibus?

Luna: …Because I thought it was the right thing to do.

Snowheart: Is it still the right thing to do?

Luna: …I don’t know anymore…maybe it is. And that’s what scares me.

Snowheart: Luna… everyone in Equestria has forgiven you. They adore you as their Princess. They respect you. You are the only one that has not forgiven yourself.

Luna: I know I am! And I hate myself for it!

Snowheart: Stop it! Just stop it! You need to listen to me!

Luna: …

Snowheart: A thousand years of exiled isolation. Isn’t that enough? Aren’t you tired of prolonging your punishment? Don’t you want it to stop?

Luna: I…I’m sorry…

Snowheart: Apology accepted, but you don’t need to say that you’re sorry. Here, take a tissue.

Luna: I just…want it all to stop.

Snowheart: I know. And you know what’s the good part about this?

Luna: What?

Snowheart: It can be over. Right now.

Luna: How?

Snowheart: Knowing what you do now, would you become Nightmare Moon?

Luna: Of course, not.

Snowheart: Do you see? Nopony is perfect, Luna. Often our mistakes come from not knowing all the facts. Knowing what we know at the time, we don’t see other options and that leads to the mistake. But, we learn from those mistakes so we know what to do once that time arrives. It’s called being a pony.

Luna:…

Snowheart: You kept thinking 'What can I do to prevent myself from becoming Nightmare Moon? What can I do to punish myself?' But, you need to realize something. It is done. It is all done. For once, please, let yourself relax with that fact.

Luna:…sniff

Snowheart: It’s okay. Let it out, Luna.

Comments

[TheZouave]

You know, this is actually a really good fic, giving great insight into the mental states of Luna and Discord. Two main questions though, that maybe someone can answer. What is the Tantibus, and what is the relationship between Discord and Star Swirl?
Did Star Swirl create Discord?
What are all of the effects of Luna using the Tantibus on herself?

[Meemie7]

6688930 Thank you so much! I tried my best!

As for the Tantibus, I'm assuming this means you have not watched all the recent episodes yet. The series introduces the Tantibus in "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep" (spoiler warning, btw) as a punishment mechanism that Luna used to give herself horrible nightmares to make sure she would never turn into Nightmare Moon again.

As for Discord, Star Swirled did not create Discord. While looking at Equestrian lore, I found that the reign of Discord seemed to be immediately following Star Swirled's life. We know that Star Swirled studied a lot of magic and made numerous discoveries in the subject. I didn't think it would be too out of a left field for Star Swirled to find Discord and want to learn more about chaos magic.

[TheZouave]

6689653
Ahh, you are correct, I have not watched any recent episodes.

About this equestrian lore, where is it and it it completely canon?

[Meemie7]

6689959 No, not fully. It is canon that Celestia and Luna came into power right after Discord was defeated. I kind of picked up the timeline of who was alive when from BronyNotion's theory that Star Swirl is Discord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnzjmqTgIZg

Though I was considering making Discord Star Swirl, I decided against it.

EDIT: Star Swirl was, indeed, alive before the reign of Celestia, Luna, and Discord, as specified in Twilight's Kingdom part 1. So, yes, this is based off of canon information, yet, the part of Discord being captured by Star Swirl is my own headcanon.