Leaves- An Anthology

by FrostTheWolf

Leaf 06- Moonstuck

If you woke up to find yourself on the surface of the moon, how would you react?

Obviously, for most creatures, many questions would suddenly flood your mind. Why am I here? What did I do? How in the world am I breathing up here? Am I going to die?

However, at this moment, there is only one creature here that we’re focusing on. A new arrival, so to speak. When she woke to find herself here, it wasn’t questions that lingered, but pain and regret. She was the victim of circumstance, letting her emotions cloud her judgment and darkness take hold of her. In the end, when the darkness was forced out of her by somepony close to her, she was exiled here.

To Luna, even though there were times where she and her sister would disagree, she never wanted for this to happen… and yet, it did.

But something about this was unfamiliar to the one the storybooks call the Mare in the Moon. Despite being the Princess of the Night, this moon was not the same as the one that she could move with her own magic.

In fact, this isn’t Luna’s moon. It’s not even a moon at all.

It’s a prison. A prison for a powerful entity beyond her comprehension and the comprehension of all the mortal souls in the world below it. But such things aren’t exactly important for the time being.

What is important is that she's not alone. There are others here, some of which she hasn't realized and would prefer to not deal with like it's creeping under her fur. And it's too late to try and hide from them.

Whatever else is here has already noticed her. Because it's rare for this moon to have visitors.

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As the princess trotted across the surface of the moon, Luna was trying to make sense of the things she was seeing. Floating rocks and stones orbited in an asteroid belt around the surface, creatures that she hadn’t seen before drifted along the floor and strange buildings that were not of Equestrian make had been placed here. All while the world below and everything on it looked very small.

It was a sight that was beyond understanding, and yet, it still intrigued her.

Though, what caught her attention the most was the giant gaping crater in the dead center of it. Surrounded by six different pillars on its sides, each one humming with a strange and unfamiliar form of power that she could feel.

As she tried to process everything in front of her, there was only one question that crossed her mind. Luna could tell that this was a moon, but from everything she was seeing, the alicorn was beginning to realize that this wasn’t Equestria’s moon.

It couldn’t be. All the nights that she spent looking through the telescope in her room, the moon was supposed to be barren and empty. Nothing like this should be here if it was.

And so, she voiced the question into the vast emptiness that's probably the same question on all of our minds, “W-where am I?”

Unbeknownst to her, someone was actually there to answer.

Well, aren’t you a strange one? Unfamiliar, yet curious all the same.

The moment Luna turned around, she found herself staring at a spectral looking figure that was much taller than her. They were clad in ghostly white robes with a mask that covered their face and a hood covered over their head. At first glance, such a figure would seem very intimidating to a confused pony such as her.

As the pony tried to register this, she realized that the figure was speaking. Not sure if it was her or not, she looked around for a moment, before pointing a hoof to herself, “A-are you talking to me?”

Why, of course, little one. It is rather rare to receive visitors here on Mare Lamentorum.

Mare Lamentorum? Was that the moon’s name? Back in Equestria, the moon did not have such names. It was just ‘the moon’ and nothing else.

Still, none of that mattered. The only thing that she cared about was the identity of this stranger that just, for all she knew, appeared behind her. “W-who are you?”

At first, it was silent. But it didn’t last long as it moved its arm upwards. I’m afraid I don’t quite have a name to share with you, little one. I am just simply referred to by the title of my station, The Watcher.

The Watcher? The Watcher of what exactly? The moon? The gaping hole? Something in the hole?

The answer for such a question is something that Luna lacks… and is probably not going to have the answer for. In fact, outside of what we said in the beginning, it’s probably a few thousand years too early before anyone here learns about it.

Do you have a name, little one?

The Watcher’s question, while well intended, was initially met with silence and hesitation. Being here was one thing, but the simplest of questions asked by a stranger left her at a loss for words. Still, it didn’t stop her from trying at least.

“L-Luna. My name is Luna.”

She wanted to say more to this stranger. Ask about this place or who they were. Yet, before she could, an odd presence approached her. It was unknown, and yet it felt warm and friendly.

For as Luna turned to her left, she couldn’t help but notice a dog approaching her. Not just any dog though. It was a canine whose fur was golden and shining with each step. It eyed her with curiosity, before approaching closer.

It sniffed her for a bit, before rubbing its head against her foreleg.

My, this is a surprise. Hello there, Argos.

“Argos?” she asked, her puzzled expression from before replaced with that of curiosity as the alicorn looked back to The Watcher, “Is he your pet?”

Not quite. He’s a familiar, left in my care by a close… colleague of mine, you might say. The Watcher replies, looking down at the dog as it circled around Luna. Normally, he keeps to himself. But it seems he’s taken a liking to you.

It’s a bit of a strange feeling, for sure. One moment, you find yourself on a moon that isn’t even your own. Next, you’re talking to a giant ghost figure and comforted by a glowing doggo. If you do ask though, Argos is best boy, hands down.

Despite the comfort though, that was when a different sort of question was asked by The Watcher. Pardon my abruptness, but I must ask. Where are you from, Ms. Luna?

“I’m… from a place called Equestria.”

Huh, curious. Is that the name of another star?

“A-another star? What do you mean by-”

At that moment, a flash of pain erupted in Luna’s head. Her mind began to ache as she felt something crawling in the back of her mind. A creeping sensation that wouldn’t let go and was starting to surface in her thoughts.

They’re hiding something from you. Keeping it to themselves.

Now of course, the moment this started happening, she tried to push it back. But her own fear in that moment made such a thought impossible. She thought that nightmare was gone. Severed off from her the moment that Celestia struck her with the power of the Elements of Harmony.

Yet, against all odds, it was somehow still here. Lingering in the dark corners of her mind.

Did you really think your sister could get rid of me so easily? I’m a part of you and she would never dream of harming you-

Miss Luna, are you okay?

The words from The Watcher were enough to have the presence dissipate and her focus shift back to present company. Yet, the feelings of dread and realization left her at a loss for words.

“I-I’m fine. Just a momentary lapse, that’s all.”

A momentary lapse? Are you sure that’s all? Because for a moment, there was a sudden and abrupt spike in your aether.

Now, Luna doesn’t quite know what this meant. To her, she thinks this ‘aether’ is just simply magic and nothing more to it.

But, there’s a lot more to it than just ‘simply magic’. Aether represents life in all things in this world. A very delicate balance between the elemental forces that make up the planet named Etheirys. Or what many called Eorzea

However, since that balance is very delicate, there could be drastic consequences if said balance was tilted in any particular way. There are reflections of a sort akin to this one that were either drowned in light or swallowed in darkness because of such things.

It is also worth noting that The Watcher can see the aether of living creatures. So bearing witness to such a drastic change in such a short amount of time would leave anyone in their position rightfully worried.

The moon being a prison for that entity we mentioned at the beginning also doesn’t quite help with this either. Just throwing that out there.

“W-what’s Aether?”

If you could see The Watcher’s eyes, then you would’ve seen them blink in surprise. For almost every living being in this star and on the moon knew about aether to a particular degree. Some more than others.

However, for a creature like Luna here to have a high concentration of volatile aether and know nothing about it? That could spell disaster if left unchecked.

But it did not seem that she had any ill intentions. If anything, she just looked very confused. Perhaps what she needed was guidance.

Tell me, Miss Luna. Do you have any knowledge of the arcane arts?

She tilted her head, a little puzzled by that, “Do you mean magic? I-if so, then yes, I do have some knowledge of magic. Is it similar to this ‘Aether’ you mentioned?”

At this point, The Watcher started to turn around and walk back towards the giant observatory behind them. Motioning for Luna to follow, it started to provide an answer in greater detail. Aether is not just simply Magicks, I’m afraid. It is a phenomenon that represents magic as well as life, for it is in almost every living soul on the star. Some creatures can even harness their aether to perform magics of various kinds.

As it continued, the pair entered through the gigantically tall doors of The Watcher’s observatory. Numerous crystals of various colors lined the walls heading upwards with a giant chair and globe shaped contraption in the center. Upon approaching it, The Watcher simply moved a hand before the instrument began to glow and move.

Aether is also represented not just in those that live on the Star, but the star itself. However, not everything is so simple.

That puzzled the princess. If anything, what The Watcher was telling sounded almost one for one with what Equestria was like. How could this be any different-

It is a delicate balancing act between numerous elements. If the flow of aether in Etheirys is to be disrupted, the ramifications of such an event would bring untold destruction to the star. And it is not the first time that it has happened either.

Any sense of curiosity that Luna had… now started to morph into a sense of fear. “H-how many-?”

Too many.

As it was speaking, the globe projected several images in succession. Each one more disturbing than the last. A raging tempest, a storm of lightning that sent the people underground, fires that burned away lush greenery and life, an earthquake that brought low an empire on the verge of conquest, an age of endless frost that froze the seas, a flood that ended a war amongst magi, and lastly, the descent of a red moon and the horrifying creature that was caged within its shell.

Seven times that the star had faced hardship on the brink of a calamity and almost fell to ruin.

Aether is both a source of creation and also destruction. Which is why when I saw your aether, it was different in comparison. Now that I answered your question though, I’d like for you to answer one of mine.

That was something Luna sort of expected, but wasn’t quite entirely prepared for. For most of this conversation, she had been just listening to The Watcher as it answered her questions and helped her get an understanding of where the hell she was. Now, the tables have turned and this time, she was providing answers to this… entity. But what was it going to ask?

It’s going to loop back around to something she said earlier. I just know it.

You mentioned the name of where you’re from and it sounds like the name of another star. Yet, it is extremely rare for such visitors to come here. So, can you share with me how you found yourself here on Mare Lamentorum.

Much like before, there is another flux and the other voice speaks. Yes, why don’t you tell them. Give them a better understanding of us.

Unlike before, Luna has a better grip on this and isn’t taken aback as much. But, as much as she hates to admit it, the nightmarish voice that is somehow a part of her has a point. Maybe by telling her story, The Watcher could help her find her way back.

Back to Equestria. To her star. Her home.

Trying to steel herself, she lets in a deep breath… exhales… and starts to share her story. One that all of us that are reading this are all too familiar.

What we know as the story of the Mare in the Moon.

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Author's Note:

We all know the classic tale of the mare on the moon. Though, the original story never specified which moon Luna was sent to. So, imagine her surprise when she finds herself on the lunar surface of a moon that doesn’t belong to Equestria… and catching the attention of its caretakers.

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A crossover prompt based on one of the major locations in Final Fantasy XIV. Specifically, the Endwalker expansion. This one was difficult to come up with for a few reasons, outside of what could be considered spoiler territory for those who haven't played or haven't gotten that far in the game.

The initial idea was to have Luna be on the moon and meet some of its more cheerful caretakers. However, due to inconsistencies with lore, I thought a more serious approach was necessary. So, this idea is centered around Luna trying to come to grips with her being on a completely separate moon, trying to come to terms with what's on said moon and dealing with a pest that hasn't quite been 'fixed' when Celestia hit her with the Elements of Harmony.

So, with that in mind, here are the tags

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[Alternate Universe][Crossover][Final Fantasy][Luna][Nightmare Moon]

As a bonus, for context, The Watcher looks like this in size compared to a normal person:

(Credits to the artist known amaurot moyu shimin. I found their piece on Google Images while finding proper references for The Watcher)

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