The tale of Princess Luna from filly to nightmare.
Ever since she was a filly, Luna has felt unloved by all save her dear sister. As she grows these feeling fester and boil till she can stand it no longer. She rises up and searches for a power to crush the sun, hurting everypony in her way. The moon will rise, the moon will rule.
Luna, princess of night, paced her room grumbling angrily to herself. Her parents had taken her sister with them to the royal courts to see their subjects and she had been left alone in her room, again. The little filly sniffled back a few tears as she continued her pacing. Her mother had only just beckoned the sun to begin its rise and already she could hear the happy chatter of the merchants out in the markets of the royal city. They annoyed her. Did they not know that their youngest princess felt unhappy? Did they not care?
Without a second thought, Luna leapt onto a pillow that lay on the floor by her bed. Her mild annoyance boiled into anger as she reared up and stomped down on the pillow with her small dark blue hooves. “Tia, Tia, TIA!” the filly princesses cries were punctuated by another stomp to the pillow. “Always Tia!” she cried as the seams began to rip. “Why do they pay me no mind? No thought? Why do they spare me hardly a glance!?” the stuffing was falling out of the abused pillow. “WHY!?” with one final stomp the pillows stuffing exploded from its casing.
She looked down on it as if expecting it to answer her. Getting none she kicked it aside and walked over to her window. She lifted herself up into the window seat and gazed out longingly. Why did nopony care for her? Small tears began to well up in her eyes as she ruffled her small wings, still to small to grant her any true flight. “Mother… Father…. Do I not please you as sister does? Have I wronged you?” she closed her eyes tightly to stop the tears from falling.
She leapt from the window seat, spreading her wings so that she glided to the floor to land with grace. She walked slowly to the other side of the room to where her mirror stood. She stood before it in the most regal way her small body would allow and looked herself over. Her coat, the colour of the sky at dusk, that wondrous shade of blue, gleamed ever so slightly. She walked in a slow circle, looking herself over. She looked every bit as a princess should, and acted just as so. So why was her existence so over looked. She stomped a hoof loudly before sighing.
The little filly sighed again. She was barely seven years of age and was prone to such hissy fits, often when her parents would take Celestia with them on royal duties. Celestia was twelve and was being trained in the royal ways. Learning a great many things that would, in time, help her be a great ruler. But they were sister, destined from birth to rule Equestia together. In time that same training that same alone time with her mother and father would be granted to Luna. But she was impatient.
She stood up and shook out her light blue mane and tail. “Right Luna! You are a princess and should not sulk so!” she turned and walked back to the pillow. She scrunched up her face in concentration and fired up her horn. Slowly the pillow floated up before her, wrapped and a starry glow. The stuffing soon joined it in the air before the filly and was re-stuffed into the casing. She smiled and let the pillow drop. She clapped her hooves at her success. Celestia had been trying to teach her levitation magic’s for weeks and this was the first real thing she had down with it. She made a mental note to tell her sister later. Her sister, no matter how angry she got, she could never bring herself to be upset with her. She did her best to be there for her and support her and Luna loved every minute of time they got to spend together.
Feeling a bit better the filly walked to the door “No sense moping all day. Tia will be back with lots to tell you, you must be sure to return the favour! Tis only polite of a princess to do that much!” she said rather matter of factly, as if such a thing should have occurred to her from the beginning. There had to be something for her to do around the castle. She wasn’t about to be too picky either “Beggars can’t be choosers” she said imitating the voice of her sister. “That’s what she would tell me. Alright, I’ll make the best of my day”. With a deep breath she put on her well-practiced smile and used her magic to open the door and out into the hallway she walked.
She was greeted by two maid ponies that were passing by. The pair bowed lowly “Morning Princess Luna” they said in well-practiced unison. Luna hated when they did that. It always made her think that they needed to practice being civil with her. Making sure her smile was still firmly in place she nodded to them
“Tis a good morning is it not? Mothers sun seems to shine especially bright today no?” she tilted her head cutely as she spoke drawing a small ‘aww’ from the two mares.
They nodded “Yes, the queens sun is most wonderful today young princess” the younger of the two said cheerily. Luna’s eye twitched at this mare pointing out her age. The nerve of her! She would let it slide, for the sheer fact that there was nothing she could do. She inclined her head slightly to the mares and trotted past them. She would not find the good day she was looking for with them.
Luna galloped away from the kitchen as fast as she could. She had thought she could find some enjoyment there but she had forgotten one small fact. The head chief was the only pony in the staff that didn’t care the two royal sisters were well, royal. To him they were just annoying little fillies that got under hoof. Getting under hoof was exactly what Luna had done. He had been making lunch, presumably for her mother, father and sister in the court and she had only wanted to help, only wanted to be able to proudly tell Celestia that she had helped. It didn’t go quite as she had planned it to. Somehow she had managed start a fire, in the soup. That had been the end of that. “You dumb Foal!” the chief had raged as he tried to save the soup “Out, Out, OUT!” he shouted. She happily obliged, but not before knocking into a bag of flour, covering her in the white powder.
She came to rest in the eastern courtyard and sat sneezing the rest of the flour out her nose. Happy to be done with the sneezing she looked herself over and groaned. Her coat had been turned pure white by the horrid powder and she could not for the life of her think of any easy, dry, way to be rid of it. She stood suddenly and kicked a rock across the courtyard. Tears of pain welled in her eyes as she cradled her hoof. “Mayhaps I hit the rock too hard” she whimpered as she sat back down.
She stared out across the yard, glaring at the rock “stupid rock” she grumbled “how dare thee hurt a royal hoof?” she demanded quietly. Her glare softened and she sighed. “What am I doing? I talking to a rock that’s what” she sighed again and lay down. “Hurry back Sister… I’m lonely without you” she mumbled. Sniffling once she closed her eyes. Maybe a nap would do her good, it would sure make the time go by.
Her eyes hadn’t been closed long before she heard the clatter of a rock skipping across the courtyard. She lifted her head and blinked. Sitting a little bit before her rock was a second rock. She tilted her head in confusion. How had it gotten there? She was sure she was alone, at least she hadn’t heard anypony. “The trick is to hit the rock with the side of your hoof, not the front, hurts less that way” said a voice from behind her causing her to leap to her hooves in shock. The young princess spun around ready to ream out the one who had startled her so, only to meet the eyes of a young Pegasus.
She blinked as she looked the colt over. He had to be the least colourful pony she had ever met, looking like he had bathed in dust with his light grey coat and mane of a darker grey. His wings seemed to big for his small size and folded awkwardly by his sides, unlike hers folded tight that they were invisible with her flour covering. She momentary glanced at his blank flank and judged him to be about her age but her eyes were almost immediately drawn back to his. They were a fresh green colour that shimmered like dew. Realizing that she had been staring she looked down.
The colt chuckled and rubbed a hoof against the side of his head. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Guess I landed a bit softer than I thought” He smiled and explained “I was flying by when I noticed you and thought you might have needed some help.” Luna didn’t reply. Why was this colt acting so calmly around? All of the castle servants, the chief being the exception, and their foals had always treated the royal sister with the utmost respect, or more rather fear that if they did something the princesses would run to the King or Queen. A foolish notion, but an understandable one. But this colt was different; he was talking to her as if she was nought but a regular filly. Luna didn't understand why so she held her tongue and allowed the foal to speak.
He laughed awkwardly, obviously ready to try something different, “So, you must be new to the castle.” He said with a smile “I mean, I haven’t seen you around and I know all the staff and their foals, Father makes sure of it. He’s the captain of the guards and all and he wants me to follow his hoof steps. So it’s important that I get familiar with all the castle ponies to and well I haven’t met you so-“he stopped his rant when he saw Luna take and an uneasy step back. He cleared his throat “aheheh sorry, I do that sometimes. Allow me to try again” he extended a hoof “My name is Falling Star, and you are?”
That was it! This colt was treating her like an everyday pony because he didn't recognize her! It took all of her self control not to giggle with delight. She no longer saw the flour as filth she needed to be rid of. It was a disguise, and from the looks of things a very good one. She didn’t have to worry about responsibilities or her feelings of loneliness. She could be anypony she wanted! Anypony, and this colt, this Falling Star would talk to her without kissing her plot, without knowing who or what she was! She could be a regular unicorn and the thought made her oddly joyous. Sure she loved being a princess, and she loved being an alicorn even more. It made her different, made her special. But it didn’t leave room for true companions, for friends. At least she hadn’t been able to make any. This would be the perfect thing for her, the perfect distraction from her life. All she needed was a name.
“Um, hello?” Falling Star’s voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
She smiled and tapped her hoof to his “It’s nice to meet a friendly foal” her smile widened “My name it Daydream” Luna said with a light giggle, this would be too much fun!
Falling Star smiled “Daydream eh? What a sweet name, come on, I’ll show you around” he said before trotting off. Luna giggled and hurried after him.
Luna walked just behind Falling Star. She had spent the better part of the day getting a castle wide tour from the colt. Sure she knew of every place they had gone, but it seemed so much better seeing it with another pony. They had just finished a very sneaky tour of the kitchens to avoid being seen by the chief. On their pass through they had swiped a couple pieces of cake that Luna now levitated before them.
Falling star looked up at the sun and smiled widely. He gobbled down the rest of his cake and took off at a run. “Falling Star?” Luna finished her cake and ran after him “Falling Star, where are we going?” she called. She didn’t recognize this part of the castle. It seemed in a state of disrepair. When she caught up to Falling Star he was standing in front a door bouncing from hoof to hoof.
“Hurry up Daydream! There is only a short time to see it” he said excitedly.
Luna smiled softly “Alright, what do you want to show me?” she asked.
Falling Star flew up to the handle that was just out of the two foals reach and pulled it open slowly. The afternoon sun shone through the door, temporarily blinding the filly. “May I present to you, The Queens private garden” Falling Star announced as he landed next Luna. “Well? Are you coming in Daydream?” Luna only stared dumbly into the gardens. Falling Star chuckled and draped a wing across her back causing her to jump. Smiling, Falling Star led her inside.
The Garden was in a large circular courtyard completely open to the sky. Flowers of every kind grew in neat rows and tears. From flowers as common as roses, to flowers as deadly as nightshade, all grew inside of the garden. As the pair walked towards the middle a massive fountain came into view. Luna’s mouth fell open as her eyes fell on the fountain. As the water fell it caught all of the light from the afternoon sun, causing to drops of water to shimmer like the stars of the night sky.
“How did you ever find this place Falling Star?” Luna asked as she wandered around the fountain “This place is amazing!” Falling Star smiled and walked next to her. He pointed to the sky with one of his wings and raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes, wings, right, aheh” Luna muttered a bit embarrassed while scuffing her hoof in the dirt.
Falling Star smiled and patted the filly on her back with a wing “No need to be embarrassed Daydream. You’re a Unicorn! What reason would you have to think about flying over a rundown part of the castle? Let alone think about flying at all? You have no wings you silly filly” he laughed lightly and Luna forced a small laugh of her own.
“Yes, yes that’s right, no wings” she said in relief, at least the disguise of flour was for sure working.
The pair set by the fountain watching the sun set. “ Aren't the Queens sunsets just beautiful Daydream?” Falling Star asked softly.
Luna nodded “Yea, hers sunsets. Sunset……” her smile faded and her eyes snapped wide open “oh no!” she leaped leapt to her hooves and ran to the door. Falling Star spun around and watched her leave.
“Daydream what’s wrong!?” he called after her. Luna shouted over her shoulder and called back. “I need to get back, my Mother will worry about me!” she called.
Falling Star nodded “See you tomorrow?” Luna stopped as she opened the door.
A smile spread across her face “Tomorrow” she agreed as she left. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Luna galloped into the castle as fast as she could. Clean, she had to get clean! She skidded to a halt in front of one of the bathing rooms. She tip-hooved in and scanned the room for what she hoped would be prepared. Her eyes fell upon a pale of water and leapt into the tub. Firing up her horn she levitated the bucket over her head and shut her eyes tightly. She flipped the bucket and allowed the cold water to rain down on her. Hoping from hoof to hoof she shook the water and flour paste from her coat and mane. Feeling better now that she was clean she hopped out and trotted towards the dining hall.
She paused in front of the massive double doors that led to the royal dining hall. She ran her hooves quickly through her mane and tail, making sure that they looked presentable for dinner. With deep breathe she fired up her horn and opened the doors. She smiled at her luck, her mother and father weren't there yet, but Celestia was there. The older sister looked over to Luna and smiled “Glad to see you made it.” Luna climbed onto her chair next to her sister. She tilted when she heard Celestia giggle.
“Tia? What is it?” she asked.
Through her giggles she managed to reply “Sister, you have flour on your nose!” before rolling into another fit of giggles. Luna frantically rubbed the offending flour from her nose as the doors by the head of the table were opened by a pair of maid ponies.
In walked two of the most majestic ponies ever to grace Equestria, the king and queen, Luna and Celestia’s parents. Both were regal alicorns, and both were as different and the young princesses they had brought into the world. The queen was tall and radiated, light and warmth seemed to shine from within her. From wings flowed from her back like a cape and clouds in the sunrise, and her tail and mane encompassed all the beauty of the dawn sky. She smiled sweetly at her children and took her seat, her face showed only love for her daughters and her subjects. The king on the other hoof was a stoic pony with a body formed to defend those around him. The lines between his coat, tail and mane were non-existent as it looked as if the mighty ruler were cut from the very fabric of the night’s sky. His hard gaze passed over the young ones as he took his seat next to his wife.
In perfect unison the two rulers removed their crowns and set them gently on the table. It was a daily ritual that signaled that the two passed from rulers to parents. The king’s face softened slightly and he clapped a hoof on the table to signal the servants to begin to bring out their dinner. The queen smiled at Luna as a soup was laid out for the four royals.
As they ate the queen spoke to the filly. “So Luna dear? How was your day?”
Luna finished her soup and shrugged. “I uh, I wandered the castle and did umm…. Stuff?” she didn't want to say that she had gotten into trouble with the chief, again, nor did she want them knowing she had been spending time with a middle class foal.
Dinner in the royal dining hall passed quieter than usual. Things were often quiet when Celestia got to go to the courts. She was the more talkative of the two sisters. Luna kept happy in knowing that Tia would tell her all about it later. The doors was opened by the two maid ponies and one of the chiefs assistant’s rolled in a cart with a lovely cake on top. Luna gulped, she remembered the cake. It was the one that her and Falling Star had snatched pieces from earlier. The cake was sliced and served; all the while the king stared at it. “Cook?” he asked.
The assistant looked up “Yes your Majesty?”
He motioned to the cake “Are my eyes deceiving me, is some of this missing?” he asked, raising a brow.
The assistant cleared his throat “There was an unfortunate incident with a couple of the servants foals. They stole some” he nodded and left the room.
As they ate, the Kings eyes stayed on Luna, his stare was one of mild disappointment. Luna did her best to avoid his gaze. She hated when he looked at her like that. A squeal of joy from Celestia brought the mood back to its normal cheery state. The Queen chuckled “Celestia, what is it dear one?” she asked lightly.
Celestia giggled happily “I’m sorry all, I couldn't help myself!” she wiggled a bit in her seat “I just” she a deep breath “I just love CAKE so much!” she cried with glee as she pulled another piece to her and proceeded eating. This brought laughter to all of them, even her father broke into a laugh. Luna smiled as she slowly ate her own piece. Dinner, one of the few times that Luna felt that she was loved. She wished it to last.
Luna bounced happily next to Celestia as they walked to her sister’s room. She wanted to hear all about her day, and she wanted to tell her ALL about her own! Celestia opened the door to her room and Luna’s well-practiced smile melted away to be replaced by one of the few real ones that she allowed herself. As envious as she could be of the attention her parents gave her sister, she loved her. Celestia was her best, and till today, only friend. With a cry of joy she leapt onto her sisters’ bed and bounced a few times. Celestia’s bed always seemed so much bouncier then her own. “Come on Tia! Tell me all about it!” she asked, or more demanded.
Celestia laughed and caught Luna under her wing and forced her filly sister onto the bed. “Calm down Lulu, allow me to settle myself” The solar princess took a seat next to Luna. She smiled and began. “Well for starters, Mother took me with her to raise the sun!” she hurried “She said that in a after a couple of days of watching I can try to raise it myself!” Celestia smiled at the thought.
Luna’s mouth hung open in in disbelief. “Mother took you with her!?” her voice rose slightly in shock.
Celestia nodded, pushing her mane out of her face with a hoof. “Father will take you to raise the moon with him someday, just be passant little sister” she wrapped her wings around Luna in a hug as she spoke.
Luna smiled “I’m okay Tia; Tell me about the day in the court!”
And tell she did. The court consisted of hours of sitting upon a throne listening to the needs of the ponies. Their requests ranged greatly and were widely varied. They ranged from such mundane things as loans for a new building, need for new laws, to things as extraordinary and magical as making dead crops to life and ordering a rainstorm. The weight of every request was weighed between the Rulers and a judgement was made to grant or not to grant the request. “The last pony of the day had the most… unnerving request Lulu” she said in a hushed whisper “It was this sorrowful Stallion, he looked a mess. He waited till the room had cleared. He then demanded that mother and father bring his new born back to life”
Luna’s jaw dropped “What?” she whispered in disbelief.
Celestia nodded “Mother simply said no. This only angered the stallion and he demanded again that they bring her back. Then Father stood up, his mane seemed to grow darker and he said-“
Celestia story was cut off by a deep voice from the doorway “That it was impossible to bring any pony back from the grave, no matter how strong their magic”
The two princesses leapt off the bed and stood straight “Father!” they said in unison.
The large starry stallion smiled at his daughters “relax girls. To the masses I am King, to you I will only be your father” his smile faded “Tis time for bed young ones” This drew a groan from the princesses.
“Good night Tia”
“Goodnight Lulu” They shared a hug before Luna trotted out of the room.
“Luna” The King said softly “Walk with me, I wish to speak to you” Luna’s ears pinned back as her father’s wing draped over her and he led her towards her room. “Luna, you are a Princess.” He began sternly. “And tis time you began acting like one”
Luna’s mouth dropped “Whatever do you mean?” she asked.
“Chef, you were messing around in his kitchen again weren't you?” he questioned.
She looked away “I only wanted to keep myself busy, to have a little fun for once… to be around somepony” They stopped in front of her bedroom door and the King opened it with his magic
“There is more to life then attention and having fun Luna! You are a Princess, and if you wish the respect and love of your subjects, then you had best start acting like one!”
Luna shook and ran into her room “Maybe I could if you and Mother treated me like one!” she yelled before slamming the door with her magic.
Sniffling she jumped onto her bed and hid beneath the safety of the covers. There, her sniffles turned to quiet sobs. She had never raised her voice towards her father, and she regretted doing so. He was sure to be furious with her. Then a thought rose in her mind accompanied by the happy face of her new friend. With him she didn't have to be a princess. With him she could be Daydream, the maid’s daughter. She smiled “Guess I’ll be seeing chef more often” with her mind now filled with happy thoughts and plans, the lunar princess drifted off into sleep.
For weeks Luna continued her little charade, and frequently reapplied her powdery disguise. Most mornings Celestia would go off to learn the ins and outs of ruling Equestia with their parents and Luna would sneak off, break into the pantry to roll in flour, and scurry off to meet with Falling Star. Once together the pair was an inseparable duo of tricks and pranks. Harmless though they were, they still managed to get on everyponies nerves. No pony in the guard or on the staff was safe from their own brand of hilarity. Every day she spent with Falling Star was the best of her young life, but alas she could not spend every day with him.
Being a princess made her privileged, and one of her many privileges was being taught alongside her sister in the art of magic by one of the wisest, most powerful unicorns of their time. Their teacher was the grand unicorn of the council of magic, the arch mage Star Swirl the Bearded master conjurer. Luna had met many ponies, but Star Swirl was by far the strangest. He was a pale blue unicorn with a dark blue graying mane and tail. A very strange thing adorned his face that not many ponies had; the beard for which he was named grew for about three inches from his chin. It too was graying and only made the middle aged unicorn look all the more wizened. The beard was not the strangest thing about him. No by far the strangest thing about Star Swirl was his attire. He wore a cloak and hat patterned to look like the nights sky, the edges of both were ringed with bells with a single larger bell on the tip of the hat, causing it to bow forward. In his magic he always carried with him a staff with a shimmering blue gem on its top.
Yes he was a very strange pony to be sure, and Luna had just made the mistake of falling asleep during one of his lectures. Celestia had done her best to wake her sister before their teacher could notice. But her efforts were in vain. Star Swirl spun to face the princesses, his bells jingling. He slammed his staff down on the table just inches in front of her sleeping face. If that hadn’t of woken her up his furious shout would have. “Princess Luna! How dare you sleep during one of my lecture, AGAIN?” Luna stared up at him shaking. “You may be a Princess but his majesty has intrusted me with teaching you the magic’s you will need if you are to rule this kingdom!” he snapped.
“What’s the point!? I can’t even get a grasp on levitation magic!” she snapped back.
“Well maybe you would if you ever paid attention! You fool of a foal!” Celestia made to defend her sister only to have Star Swirl round on her “You will NOT make excuses for her Celestia I will hear none of it!”
Celestia stared at her table “sorry sir”
Star Swirl took a moment to calm himself before he spoke again “I am no longer in any state to teach you anymore at this time. You are dismissed.” The princesses rose to leave. Celestia was out the door and heading down the stair of Star Swirls tower but Luna moved slower, sensing that Star Swirl was not yet done with her. “Luna” he said in a softer tone and she turned to look at him “This must stop. What I have to teach is fascinating Luna if you only listened to me!” He sighed “So you will be partaking in extra lessons during the nights.”
Luna’s jaw dropped “Extra lessons! Star Swirl tis not fair!” she protested, stomping a hoof.
“No Luna, what is unfair is how you treat me. And it is unwise to teach me as you do young one. For your future is in my hooves.” the bearded pony growled at the princess.
Luna took a step closer “What are you saying?” she questioned.
He pointed his staff at her “I am saying that until you are able to master even the basic of magic you will learn nothing of your duties of the night!” The tip of his staff slammed onto the floor, punctuating his final words that echoed in the silence “I will see you after your dinner” _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dinner had been terrible. Her father had lectured her almost without end about the importance of magic to the royal family and how if she ever wanted to rule she would have to start acting like it. She had hoped, no she had expected her mother to come to her aid, or her beloved sister to say something in her defence but they remained silent. It took all of Luna’s willpower not to break down in tears. She refused to knowing full well that crying as she would have would only draw another lecture from her father about how a princess was strong.
The moment she was done eating she excused herself and trotted off towards the tower the housed the arch mage and his lab. She grumbled to herself and she climbed the star case. “Why do they not care? Just because I do not excel as Tia does, that makes me not fit to rule? Because I struggle I am weak!? Tis not fair!” she grumbled as she ruffled her wings. She might as well make the most of her assent to the towers top. She spread her wings and began to flap them. Eyes closed tight she jumped and hovered. She blinked and cheered quietly at her success. She climbed the remainder of the stairs in this manner. Jumping to hover up a few steps only to land and jump again.
When she reached the landing she raised a hoof and knocked on the door. “Enter” Came Star Swirls voice as the door opened by his magic. Luna entered the room slowly, nervously. It looked so much different in the gloom of evening. Candles were set everywhere and shadows flickered in their dull light. Star Swirl was standing out on his balcony. He beckoned to Luna without turning. She moved and stood next to him. He pointed a hoof out at the sky and she watched. She saw her father fly up, his body a glow. The moon rose slowly into the sky and stars began to speckle the blackness. Together the provided a dull light. Her eyes shimmered in amazement; it had been ages since she had watched her father raise the moon.
“Wonderful, is it not?” Star Swirls words dragged Luna from her wonderment and she nodded. “Yes, a truly amazing feat of magic” he continued. “It takes more magic to make the night sky then it does the day, did you know this Luna?” the princess shook her head. “With the day’s sky, your mother, and in time your sister must only raise the sun into the sky and then set it when its time is done. No more” he began slowly “But the night sky it littered with magic. The moon must be raised, and its glow set, and the stars must be summoned”
Luna looked at the unicorn “Summoned? I thought they were just there?” came her confused question.
Star Swirl chuckled “No, the stars in themselves are an amazing thing. If it weren’t for your father, they wouldn’t be there at all. And someday they will be your stars, young night princess, pulled out by your magic. That is why everyone expects so much of you, because you will do great things”
He turned and walked into the room, without his usual belled cloak and hat the stallion walked with eerily quick hoofsteps. Luna followed him slowly “S-So what first Star Swirl?” she asked. Knowing how important her magic was to be she found herself very willing and ready to learn what Star Swirl had to teach. Perhaps this is how I will get them to be proud of me, to notice me, to care for me. I will learn all that I can! Luna thought to herself. Star Swirl put an array of items on his desk “We start with the basic Princess, levitation. I feel you will make me proud”
Luna nodded and with a determined look she fired up her horn. “I will not let you down again Star Swirl!”
~ ~ ~
It had only been a hoofful of hours, three to be exact, but in those mere hour Luna had surged through her lessons in levitation and had even managed to catch up to Celestia who was a few years ahead of her in their lessons. Currently Luna sat in the center of the room with objects of various shapes and sizes floating around her in a lazy circle while Star Swirl paced about her “Concentration is the key to magic and without it we unicorns, or even you royal alicorns, could not cast even the simplest spells like lighting our horns so that we may see in the darkness.” He stopped behind her and gently shoved her with a hoof. Her concentration broke momentarily and the object began to fall. With a grunt she recast the spell and stopped them from hitting the ground. This continued until Star Swirl was able to push and shove her without her concentration breaking.
“You are doing very well young princess, you may place them down now.” He instructed with a soft voice. Luna sighed in relief and placed the objects down in their proper places. Magic takes a lot out of a pony. Her breathing was fast, as if she had just run a race and she looked to the stallion that stood before her, seeking his approval. He smiled and gave her a hoof up “You see now what you can achieve when you apply yourself young princess? You possess more talent than you give yourself credit for” at the mere mention of talent she arched her neck to look to her flank as all blank flanked foals did hoping for her cutie mark. Star Swirl chuckled “Neigh neigh young princess, your special talent will be as predestined as your sisters will be. Your special talent lies in the sky”
A light blush of embarrassment rose to Luna’s face at how silly she must of looked “I know, just a foolish hope”
Smiling kindly, Star Swirl shook his head “No princess, it is natural for a filly your age to get excited by the thought of their cutie mark, royalty is no exception” he placed a hoof on Luna’s shoulder “Give it time” he turned and looked out at the night sky “I do believe I have kept you longer then I intended to. You are young yet, sleep is important” Luna let out a small yawn that she didn't know she was holding in and nodded her understanding. It was time for her to go.
She walked to the door and paused “Star Swirl?” she turned to face him.
“Yes princess?” he replied as he tidied up a few things on his desk.
She smiled “thank you, for believing in me. I’m sorry I was so foolish” Luna said, bowing her head to the older pony.
He smiled broadly “You will make a fine ruler someday young princess, a fine ruler indeed. Same time tomorrow night?”
Luna leaped up flapping her wings excitedly “I would be honored Star Swirl!” she chimed joyously before dashing down the stairs.
She raced as fast as she could to her bedroom. Magic was a wondrous and fascinating thing! She couldn't understand why it had taken her this long to realize that. She slowed as she approached her room. She opened the door and stepped into the darkness. She had made Star Swirl proud this night. The thought made her giddy as she closed her bedroom door. Star Swirl the bearded, grand unicorn of the magic council, the arch mage, the master conjurer was proud of her! She rearranged all the pillows on her bed with levitation and made her blanket rise into the hair. Tomorrow she had the day to herself; she could show Falling Star all she had learned! That would make two ponies proud of her. And Tia was sure to be proud. But what of mother and father? Would they be proud of her? Would they even care? She pushed the thought from her mind as she used her magic to tuck herself in, something that used to fill her with comfort. But on this night her mind was filled with troubles and doubts. Were her parents any other ponies in the world they would have the time to wish her goodnight and she wouldn’t have to tuck herself in. How long had they treated Tia like a daughter and not a princess? Had it been longer then her? The joy she had felt only moments before slowly faded away and she felt, empty. She closed her eyes tightly and willed for sleep to take her. They would love her. She would push herself until they loved her. Her thoughts shifted slowly to Star Swirls praise and she allowed herself a small smile before sleep took her.
It was the day after Luna’s first night lesson with Star Swirl, and she was eagerly showing off her near mastery of levitation to Falling Star. With a soft thud, the stone bench that had been floating moments before made its gentle landing. The glow around Luna’s horn faded and she panted lightly. The bench had been the heaviest thing she had ever lifted and it had taken a lot out of her. Falling Star cheered as he jumped off. “That was amazing Daydream! Your magic must be really strong if you could lift the bench with me on it!”
Luna blushed lightly “Oh come on you barely changed the weight of it” she said with a playful sneer.
Falling Star shot her a hurt look and puffed out his chest “Liar, I’m the biggest colt in my class! Teacher says I have the build of a captain in the making!” he said proudly.
Luna burst out laughing, a high pitched hysterical laugh. “What’s so funny?” he asked.
Through her laughter she managed to reply “Then all the other colts must be tiny!”
“Hey! Take that back!” the young colt shot back, and with that, the chase was on.
Luna took off out the gardens door with Falling Star fast on her hooves. There laughter echoed loud about the courtyards as they ran. Using her magic Luna toppled small things into Falling Stars path in hopes of stopping him. Thinking it had worked Luna slowed to a stop to check on him. He wasn’t there! She looked around and craned her neck but still she couldn’t spot him. She remembered to late that her dear friend Falling Star was a Pegasus. Her eyes shot skyward as she heard a small battle cry. Falling Star had folded his wings and shot at Luna like an arrow. Him aim was true and he collided with her, sending them both tumbling across the ground giggling like tiny foals.
The two stood still giggling and Luna looked around “Good aim” she stated before noticing where they were. “These are the castle gates!” she whispered in surprise.
Falling Star nodded “Yeah, what’s wrong? You seem nervous.” Luna nodded “I’ve never been outside of the castle on my own. Mother says it isn’t safe for me to leave the protection of the castle walls” she looked down.
“Well then” Falling Star said as he walked behind Luna “We’ll have to change that now wont we?” he spun around and with a gentle buck he pushed Luna through the wide barred gates. She let out a small shriek of terror and curled up, hiding beneath her hooves. It wasn’t long before Falling Star was at her side He placed a comforting hoof on Luna’s shoulder “Don’t worry Daydream; you have me here to keep you safe. I would never let anything happen to my best friend.”
Luna looked up at Falling Star as he smiled and gave a hoof up. “Best friend?” she questioned.
He nodded “Well yeah, would I spend this much time with a pony who wasn’t my best friend?” seeing the broad smile on Luna’s face he motioned to the city with a hoof “My I present to you, the royal city of Galloponaus!”
It didn’t take long for Luna to grow accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city. It was something that fascinated the young princess to no end. “What’s that over there Falling Star?” it amazed her even more then how Falling Star wasn’t annoyed by all her questions. To the contrary he was more than happy to answer them.
“That? That’s a hat shop” he said with a small smile as they stopped to look in the window. “It’s where the hatter ponies make the most interesting hats you could ever see”
Luna quickly glanced at the various hats. “Interesting” they moved on but only got a few shops down before it was Falling Star who had them stop.
“My Uncle Sweet Roll owns this shop.” He hopped from hoof to hoof “Wait here Daydream! I’ll be right back!” he said before rushing into the shop.
To Luna it seemed like ages, but she sat outside of the shop patiently waiting for her friend to return. “Come back and visit again Star!” Sweet Roll called as Falling Star left the shop. He kept his wings spread as flat as he could and atop each wing he balanced a sweet roll. The princess stared; her mouth watering at the sight of what was the most delectable looking treat she had ever seen.
Falling Star smiled “Want to give a hoof here, oh magical one?” his playful plea pulled Luna to her senses and she fired up her horn floating the rolls before their mouths.
“To friendship!” Luna smiled as she made the rolls tap together.
Falling Star laughed “To best friendship” the two laughed and continued on the tour enjoying the tasty rolls.
Her first day out of the castle had been a wonderful one. Luna and Falling Star had made their way to a quiet park where they sat and talked. They talked about everything, although on Luna’s end her telling’s of her goings on were altered to hide her royal identity. “Even though I’m not going to be a weather pony, I still have to learn about how the Pegasus care for all of Equestias weather, ‘cause it’s part of my heritage or something like that. But it’s so boring; I usually just tune it all out” Falling Star groaned.
Luna nodded “I know what you mean. I get the same thing in my magic lessons.” She stood and scowled pulling out her best Star Swirl impression. “Magic is the essence of all of this land. To use magic is to channel Equestias very power, and the moon and the sun radiate the strongest magical energies because” she paused “Well I’m not really sure why, that’s about when I fall asleep."
Falling Star laughed as Luna sat next to him again “Your teacher sounds like a windbag” he grinned.
Luna nodded “He is a bit of a windbag, but he does know magic that’s for sure” The two lay there and watched as the clouds moved across the sky. Their friendship had grown a lot in the short time that they had known each other. At times Luna couldn’t help but wonder if this would have happened differently if the pony Falling Star had met was her, and not the flour white Daydream that she pretended to be. Would he have talked to her knowing she was a Princess? She would have loved to think that he would have treated her the same way as he did now. That she could be just a regular pony. But it couldn’t be that simple. Nothing ever could be.
Falling Star got up suddenly “Come on Daydream. Let’s get going, weather ponies are bringing a storm” Luna leapt up and turned to see a herd of great black clouds rolling towards them, blocking out the afternoon sun. She could hear the rain already pouring from them and it filled her with dread. She didn’t want to go back to being Luna the royal alicorn yet. She wanted to keep her flour coating and stay as Daydream, the regular old unicorn!
“I hate getting wet” she said quickly as she hopped from hoof to hoof.
Falling Star nodded in agreement “Me to” he said backing away from the clouds with Luna “And those are some mean looking clouds.”
Luna jumped as a bolt of lightning leapt from the cloud. “Run?” she asked.
“Run!” he agreed nervously.
The two turned and began to gallop back towards the main part of town. A glimmer of hope! If they could make it back to town then they could run from shop to shop, using the over hangs to keep dry. This it going to work! Luna thought as she pulled ahead of Falling Star. But her hopes were shattered, as fate had other plans for the filly. The clouds rolled above them and the rain poured down on the young ponies. They reached the cobbles of the city to late as above the sound of the rain Luna heard Falling Star ask “Daydream? Daydream what’s wrong with your coat?”
Luna turned her head and watched as the flour was washed from her body. She looked at her friend and saw him standing there, his mouth open in shock. The rain was now coming down so hard that all other sound was drowned out by the sound of the drops pounding onto the cobbles. But Luna didn’t need to be able to hear the sound of Falling Stars voice to know what he said. She could read his expression, thought she saw the slightest hint of a need to bow to her, and she could read his lips. “Princess Luna!” he mouthed.
It was more then she could handle. Turning her back on the colt she spread her wings. She wasn’t the greatest flier, but she trusted that her wings would carry her away. She broke into a gallop, flapping her wings before she leapt into the air. She wobbled and wavered, buffeted by the wind and rain, but her wings soon balanced her out and she was flying. This was something that should have filled her with great joy, her first real flight, but she felt only sadness. Surely he wouldn’t see her as a normal pony anymore. She was sure that their friendship, at least as it had been, would be over. As she flew tears welled in her eyes and were all at once washed into the rain. Over the gates she flew, sobbing quietly as she glided down to land in front of the great castle door. She sat down in front of the door and stared up at the clouds. Was this the worlds way of saying that she and Falling Star couldn’t be friends? She shook her head “Don’t be ridiculous Luna, the world doesn’t talk to any pony” standing she opened the door and walked inside.
The rain was silenced behind the heavy doors, and that silence echoed in the main hall. Late afternoon, Celestia and their parents would be finished soon. With a heavy sigh she walked past the doors of the court room and headed towards her room. What started as a walk turned to a trot, which folded into a gallop towards her room, tears streaming down her face and leaving a trail of rain water in her wake. She had never felt so alone. The doors of her room opened and slammed shut as she ran in and slammed the door behind her. Her bedroom door seemed to be getting a lot of abuse lately; she would have to make a note of that. She didn’t get very far before her sorrow got the better of her and she collapsed to the floor crying.
She had no idea how long she lay there, wallowing in sadness and self-pity before a pony knocked lightly on her door. She curled up tighter “Go away! I wish not to see anypony!” she snapped before hiding in her hooves. The door opened slowly and a pony slipped inside. Sorrow gave way to anger that her order had been ignored and Luna leapt up. Without looking to see who was there and lifted a pillow in her magic and sent it hurtling towards the intruder “Did you not hear me!? I wish to see no pony!” She shouted as she opened her eyes, only to see the pillow floating in the warm magic of her sister.
“Forgive me Luna, You weren’t at dinner, so I came looking for you” she put the pillow back to the bed and grabbed a towel from her back “I followed the water”
Luna sat down as Celestia walked over to her with a kind smile. She sat behind her and gently began to dry her little sister off. “Did something happen today little sister?” Celestia asked in her kind voice. Luna didn’t answer, only stared at the floor. The sun princess tried again “something today with a certain colt and the rain?” she tilted her head. Ears back Luna nodded slowly. “Tell me little sister, what happened? From what you have told me the two of you are great friends.”
Luna nodded “We are Tia” she started “or at least we were when he thought I was a regular unicorn” she leaned back against her sister as Celestia’s wings wrapped around her in a comforting hug.
“You got caught out in this storm didn’t you?” she asked softly.
Luna nodded “It washed away the flour and he….. He just stared at me Tia! Just stood there and stared!” she cried and turned to hide her face against her sister.
Celestia smiled softly “Seems like a rather reasonable reaction if you ask me Lulu” she began “Put yourself in his place dear sister, he just found out that the filly he has been playing with, becoming good friends with, was secretly a Princess” she wiped a tear from Luna’s face with a caring hoof “Wouldn’t you be surprised?” she asked.
Luna thought this over for a moment. Was that really all it was? Shock that his friend was really another pony? Luna nodded “I guess that makes sense Tia…. I just don’t want him to treat me any differently.”
Celestia smiled again “I am sure that things will work out little sister. A true friend does not judge a friend by what or who they are on the outside, but on the inside, in their heart. Give him time, and time will tell your level of friendship.”
Luna allowed herself to smile and hugged her sister “Thank you Tia, you always know what to say.”
Time, Celestia said that Falling Star would need time. Luna hated waiting though. She hated not knowing if they could still be friends. It had been two days since the rain and she begun to doubt that Falling Star wanted to see her. She was sitting in the courtyard where they had met. She wasn’t paying attention to her surrounding when suddenly a hard push sent her tumbling across the ground. She got to her hooves quickly, ready to berate whoever dared attack a Princess, only to come face to face with Falling Star.
“That, Luna, is for leaving me in the rain without so much as a goodbye!” he snapped. Luna ears pinned back and she looked down. Her ears perked up when she heard him laughing “Oh who am I kidding, I can’t stay mad at my best friend!” he said with a smile.
She looked up “Best friend?” She asked.
Falling Star nodded “The best, now what do you say we get you better on those wings?” he asked as he began trotting to the garden.
Luna nodded and hurried after him “I would love nothing more”
The months passed by in bliss for Luna. Her knowledge of magic had advanced greatly thanks to Star Swirls teachings and her wings had grown stronger thanks to Falling Stars flying lessons. They had become the foundations of her two selves. With Star Swirl she was a regal princess learning how she would one day do her part in ruling over all of Equestria. While with Falling Star she was able to be a fun loving filly, who had the best friend in any pony could ask for.
A few weeks after he had found out that she was a Princess, Luna had taken Falling Star into the castle proper. She showed him all she could. The great doors to the court room to the royal dining hall. The servants quarters to the tower in which Star Swirl lived. It was getting late in the day and Luna had been trying to sneak Falling Star out of the castle. She couldn’t imagine how furious her parents would be if they found out that she mingled with commoners, let alone brought one into the castle.
They had almost made it out when she heard a voice behind her. “Is this the friend you told me about Lulu?” She turned slowly to see Celestia trotting happily towards her and behind her their parents. Falling Star saluted the Royals before bowing, drawing a small laugh from the Queen, the King looked much less amused. Celestia had smiled introduced herself. Laughs were shared and Falling Star had been granted permission from the Queen to be friends with her daughter and was welcomed into the castle.
“Every Pony needs friends Luna, even Princesses”. This had launched Luna into months of glee and joyous study. She thought it would never end.
It was the morning of Celestia’s thirteenth birthday, the day the she would raise the sun and become a fully accepted as the Princess of the Sun. It should have made Luna happy, she should have felt overwhelming pride for her big sister, but instead she left only loneliness. Would this mean that she would get to see Tia even less? She would have duties and responsibilities; would this tear her sister from her? She shook her head to banish the thoughts that plagued her mind and returned her attention to her Father who was lecturing to them while the mares in waiting groomed their manes and tails.
“Moving the heavenly orbs is a mighty responsibility and must be done with great care. Always be punctual.” He turned to look at the Queen. She looked so very tired, raising the sun for so long must have drained her, Luna thought to herself. Would it drain Celestia to?
Her thoughts were shattered into one of peace and calm as her mother’s gentle voice filled the room. “Take care my little one for this is not only a passing of duty, it is a ritual that upon its completion will make you a true Alicorn”. The sisters looked at each in confusion.
“Aren’t we already Alicorns?” Celestia asked.
The Queen smiled “Only in form my little ones. You see there are different types Alicorns. Celestial Alicorns, like your Father and myself are born of the energies of Equestria. But you are my special little girls; you are true Alicorns, born to serve all the pony races. The unicorns, the pegisi, and the earth ponies. You two are all of them, and yet none of them. You possess the sturdy bodies of an earth pony, the wings and power of flight of a Pegasus, and you are gifted with the most powerful magics. Or at least you will. Your power and potential is locked away” she tapped each princess above the heart “inside of you, and once it is unlocked, and only then, will you be true Alicorns” she finished with a flare of her wings. She smiled warmly. “It is time” she took Celestia under her wing and lead the way out of the castle.
~ ~ ~
The crowd that had gathered around the event plaza was enormous! More ponies crammed into one space then Luna had seen in her whole life! On the highest point in the square stood Star Swirl, the master of ceremonies. He beckoned for Celestia to stand beside him before slamming the end of his staff onto the ground, sending a burst of magic through the air, silencing the cheering ponies. “TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE CORRONATION OF PRINCESS CELESTIA, REGENT OF THE SUN!” He bellowed using the fabled royal shout. “Do you, Princess Celestia share to diligently and dutifully raise and lower the sun without fail, and to be the guardian of the day?” he asked.
Without hesitation Celestia nodded “I do so solemnly swear” she replied.
Star Swirl nodded and pointed his staff to the horizon “This day is to be yours, bring it to the ponies”
Luna watched as Celestia fired up her horn and flew slowly into the sky. It looked as if she was trying to lift a great weight and that she would fall at any minute. She could feel her mother’s anxiety and worry and glanced at her. She was ready to swoop in should anything go wrong. Then, a most amazing thing began to happen, the horizon glowed a fiery red, and then a rainbow of colours erupted as the sun began to rise. Luna stared in fascination and awe at what she was seeing. The most beautiful sunrise she, maybe anypony, had ever seen, and it was being made by her Sister! As it and Celestia rose ever so slowly, Star Swirl began to chant and ancient spell unlocking her true potential. There was a flash of light from her sisters flank as she became silhouetted against the sun, she had done it! Cheers erupted from the gathered ponies and Celestia landed gracefully next to Star Swirl. Her flowed out behind her as if blown wind and it shimmered with magic.
Star Swirl levitated a crown from a box onto Celestia’s head. He turned to the crowd “PONIES OF EQUESTIA, I GIVE YOU PRINCESS CELESTIA, RULER OF THE SUN AND I DECREE THIS DAY TO BE THE SUMMER SUN CELEBRATION, IN RECOGNITION OF HER GLORY!” The ponies cheered.
Luna watched, a seed of thought growing in the back of her mind. If so much beauty could come from light and a bit of colour, just imagine what she could do with the night! She paint pictures across the sky that all would adore. Everypony would wait in anticipation as she rose the moon and bathed the world in its cooling light. They would adore her, they would adore only her. She was snapped back to reality by her Fathers stern voice
“we are heading back now Luna, hurry along” he said before he walked past her to catch up with Celestia and her Mother. Luna stood alone on the square as the crowd began to disperse and her Family walked away. Any warmth that the sun had to offer her was blocked by the cold claws of loneliness that suddenly gripped her.
Did nopony care for her? “Luna!” a voice called to her. She half expected it to be her Father yelling for her to catch up, but she did not see him. Instead the saw the messy gray mane of Falling Star fighting it way through the crowd towards her. The one pony that she knew cared for her, Falling Star, he would stay by her side. She rushed to her friend but the claws lingered. Would she ever feel truly loved?
Luna and Falling Star walked side by side on their way back to the castle. After her sisters coronation, she didn't really want to return, she did not wish to be surrounded by ponies singing praise to her sister who had never in her life wanted for a single little thing, when she had to struggle to get even a glance from their parents! She blinked in shock at that thought as it drifted through her mind. It scared her, it made her fearful of herself. Falling Star, ever the observant one, took notice of the subtle pause of Luna's walk as she collected her thoughts and shoved them aside. He leaned his head close to hers. "Luna?" He spoke softly so that no other pony would hear "Luna, are you alright? Is something the matter?" He asked his friend.
Luna's forced a smile and shook her head "no, no I'm alright Falling Star. Everything's fine." She answered as her left ear twitches as she spoke.
The colts gentle face turned stern "why are you lying to me Luna? I'm your friend, don't you trust me?" The hurt tone in her friend’s voice pained her.
Her wings drooped slightly as she answered "I do trust you Star, almost as much as I trust Tia but" she looked to the clear bright sky Celestia had made "I don't want to worry anypony, so please Star, just let it go. I'll be fine like I always have been." She looked back to her dear friend "I just do not wish to be around all the celebrations right now"
Falling Star smiled and playfully ruffled Luna's mane with a hoof "then try not to be so uptight Luna" he said with a smile. “As future captain of the royal guard, I order you to cheer up!” he barked out the order.
Luna burst out laughing and trotted past him “Captain!?” she laughed as she turned to face him “I am Luna, Princess of the Night! You have no place to order me around Star” she smiled softly “But, you have cheered me up so I am thankful that” Luna looked up in thought “hmm so I suppose I could allow you to order me, just this once” she smiled again.
Falling Star joyously hopped from hoof to hoof and spread his wings “Then we fly my Princess! Fly out and find adventure!” Luna laughed and followed him as he ran down the street and took flight after him. With whoops of glee they soared steadily towards the city walls. As they neared them they flew up into the clouds to hide from the guards that kept watch from the battlements.
Once they were far from the wall they dove down. Surrounding Galloponaus for miles on all sides was a lush and healthy forest that shielded the city and the ponies that called it home. Luna had always been fascinated by the forest, but her parents had always kept her curiosity at bay. But where were they now? Basking in the light of their precious first born. There were those thoughts again. She shut her eyes tightly ‘Silence brain! I love them all! Let me be happy!’ she thought as they walked along side by side through the summer forest. Soon the trees opened up into a sun warmed clearing. In the centre of the clearing was a crystal clear pond full of lilies. The trees around the clearing seemed to glow with other worldly light and filled with song from that same world. Luna walked forward and gazed about the clearing. “Never in my life did I ever think I would see one, let alone a whole flock” Luna whispered softly.
Falling Star moved up next to the star struck moon princess “Luna, what are these, birds?” he asked as he ruffled his feathers.
Luna shook her head “Not just birds, anything but.” She gestured to the birds around them with her wings. “These are the guardians of Equestias fire. Phoenix’s, Falling Star, we are in the company of Phoenix’s!”
The phoenix’s seemed to take notice of the two ponies as one of them; the one who seemed to be their leader flew towards them in a blaze of fire. Falling Star panicked and dove to the ground, hiding under his wings and forehooves. Luna was about to do the same when one of Starswirls lessons came rushing back to her.
‘Phoenix’s, my young princesses are great and noble birds, and fiercely loyal. They are liable to set any and all whom are foolish enough to threaten their flock to the torch. But one can earn their favour, through respect and civility’
Luna gritted her teeth and bowed low before the mighty fire bird. The phoenix slowed to a stop before the Princess and let out a soft cry. “My name is Luna, Princess of Equestria, regent of the Moon” she glanced about and noted how the remaining phoenixes were gazing almost lovingly up at the sun. She smiled “My sister was the one who raised the sun that you are all so enjoying” this seemed to quell the remaining rage in the phoenix and Luna rose to great its fiery eyes. “Star” Luna said through gritted teeth “Get up, you insult him” Falling Star scrambled to him feet and bowed. “Great Master of Fire, it would do me a great honour if in Celestia’s name, you allowed me and my friend the honour of flying with you” the phoenix took a moment to consider this before sang out. At its call the flock took flight, their leader looked to the two ponies and nodded before flying up.
“Come on Falling Star! This is a once in a life time opportunity!” the princess cheered as she took flight after the flock, soon after her friend joined her and the two fly hard to catch up. The sun was setting and the birds seemed to be wishing it off. They flew slow rings around the great orb leaving wispy trails of fire behind them. As they flew their leader sang out a soft song. “Praise for the Sun Princess” Luna said softly as they flew. As the sun set and the moon took its place the Phoenix’s flew slowly to the clearing followed by the ponies. Luna landed softly at first but stumbled a few feet. She winced as she folded her wings uncomfortably at her side. Falling Star rushed to her side but she brushed him off “I’m fine Star, just tired” she said as she watched the leader swooped through a tree before landing in front of her.
He cawed softly as he placed a small bundle of orange and red feathers at her hooves. “A gift?” Luna asked. The phoenix cawed again, “For the Sun.” she bowed “I understand” at her words the bird took flight, followed swiftly by his flock and they vanished into the night.
Falling Star was awed “That was the single most amazing thing I have ever done!” he exclaimed with glee as he soared up “Come on Luna we must be returning now” he looked down and saw that she was tucking the now chirping bundle under a wing “Luna, what in the Kings name are you doing? We should be flying back now right?” he asked as she started walking into the forest.
“I can’t Star” she replied “my wings are too sore, I would never make it back.” She sounded bitter but Falling Star didn’t seem to notice. “Hey Star, since I have to walk, be my eyes. I can’t see the city walls through these tree so please, lead me home now.” She asked.
Her friend nodded “As you wish”
It was hours before the city gates came into view and when they did panicked shouts called from them “It’s the Princess! Alert the Queen, we’ve found the Princess!” she heard guard calls as the gates were opened for her. She entered alone having sent Falling Star, unwilling, away knowing the trouble that would fall on him if it were known that he had been with her. A carriage was called and soon she was being whisked back to the castle.
When she arrived she saw her family waiting. Her Mother was in tears, more then likely caused by worry over her youngest daughter. Celestia stood next to their mother with a confused look on her face, and behind them both stood her father, looking disappointed as ever. That was what bothered her most, her father glaring at her. She looked down as she approached her family Celestia and her mother rush to her and wrapped her in a hug. “Luna, I was so worried about you! Where did you run off to!? And Why!?” he mother demanded through her tears.
Luna squirmed away from them and backed up, looking down “I’m sorry Mother.” From under her wing came a soft chirping.
Celestia tilted her head “Sister? What’s that under your wing dear sister?” she asked as she circled her sister.
“Oh… She is actually the reason that I was gone so long. I wanted to get you a gift Tia, so” she moved her wing to reveal the tiny, chirping baby phoenix she carried.
The queens jaw dropped as she starred at the bird “Luna, how in the world did you manage to obtain that?” she asked in shock.
Luna raised her chin proudly “HER name is Philomena, and I gained the favour of her Father, the leader of a phoenix flock.” She explained as she turned to her sister “For the glory of the sun, that is why he grants you his daughter Tia.”
Celestia hugged her sister tightly and took Philomena from her. “Thank you Lulu, thank you so very much.”
The moment the two parted the King stepped forward “LUNA!” his voice boomed out.
Luna leaped in fright “Yes father?” she asked nervously.
“Come with me, now!” he said as he turned and walked inside.
Luna’s ears pinned back as she followed her father slowly “Yes father.” The two walked slowly towards a part of the castle that Luna had never seen.
The passage through which Luna and her Father walked was long and filled with shadows. Luna did her very best to put on a brave face, but she couldn’t stop herself from jumping at every out of place sound. Her fear drew nothing from her Father save for subtle ear twitches, movements that Luna was sure were more out of irritation then out of concern for his daughter. This caused Luna more distress and to distract herself she took to studying the walls and the floor. Even in the dark she could make out small yet very intricate designs that she guessed had been carved by either Starswirl, or her Father himself. The designs did not seem at all random, and they seemed to progress in certain patterns, like the writings upon a scroll. One design in particular caught her eye. Her stopped and moved closer to examine it. Squinting against the darkness she was able to make out what looked to be fire surrounding another carving that was so covered with dirt and dust that she couldn’t make it out. She was about to brush the dust away with a hoof when her father’s booming voice called back to her. “Luna, a Princess does not dawdle! Hurry up now!” he called. Luna bit her lip as she turned away. She didn’t want to leave the strange carving unsolved, but she did not want to face her father’s wrath even more.
“Coming Father!” she called back as she hurried to catch up.
As they walked her father took a deep breath. “Certain events have come to pass that have forced my hoof to allow you knowledge of things that I know you not to be ready to understand, Luna” he began “You are Princess of the Night and moon, this is true, but that is not all that falls under your domain. Many of the things that you will need to know you can learn from your tutor, for I have not the time to do so myself. But some parts of your rule, he has rebels against. He believes them no longer necessary in our world. Right as he may be, some pony needs to know these secrets, and that pony may as well be the one destined to live in the shadows of the night.”
He stopped suddenly and Luna noted how their final hoofsteps echoed louder off the wall. The pair had entered a vast circular chamber that seemed, to Luna’s ears, to be empty. With a stomp of his hoof the chamber began to light up, as if by the stars. He walked a few paces away. “You are the one who will take over my duties. Of them all, you know only a few. You embody the moon, and you will rule the stars, these things you must do in the eyes of those you will rule.” He turned to face her once more and in his eyes, Luna saw the blazing light of a comet. It scared her. She watched as her father seemed to melt away and his starry pelt clung to the walls. She heard his voice from all around “You are Luna, Princess of the Moon in the light of your ponies, but in their shadows you are the watcher, the observer. You are a princess of the dark, of the cold. You will be the guardian of magic’s most foul. The tome that keeps their secrets safe in your heart. You will know more of the world, and at the same time less of it, just as I” The stars began to swirl rapidly around her, they frightened her. She curled up and covered her head wishing for it to be over.
And as soon as it had begun, it was over. The swirling mass of night was gone and before her stood her father once more, stars twinkling across her pelt. “But you are weak.” He said the words slow and each one pierced the young princess’s heart like a knife. Her father thought that she was weak. She looked up at him slowly, willing herself not to cry. She wanted to slink away from him but he was not yet finished.
“You cannot rule over the night if you fear it. The night is wild, but you must tame it. I fear for Equstrias night in your hooves” he spat as he stepped over her. As her walked he dropped what looked to be an ancient tome “Within those pages are the secrets of the night, as well as this world’s dark magic’s. Learn it, master it, lest it master you. Now get up, and get out of my sight.” He said as he turned his back to his daughter. “You are not to speak of what I have said nor of the tome to anyone.”
Luna slowly picked herself up off of the floor. She was shaking terrible but soon was able to stand solidly. Weak and a coward. Was that really what her Father thought of her? She thought the world of him, looked up to him, adored him, how could he scorn her so? She closed her eyes tightly. Because no other pony could hear his words here, that was why. A King couldn’t be known for being cruel to one of his daughters; he would lose the love of his people and Queen. She gritted her teeth, picked up the tome and began to leave. But something stopped her, a thought, one that in any other situation she would keep to herself. But no other pony could hear, there would be no backlash.
“Father” she started as she looked over her shoulder.
He let out an aggravated sigh “I told you to leave Luna, what is it?” he asked.
“You love Tia, don’t you?” Luna asked as calmly as she could.
“I love Celestia almost as much as I love your mother, what of it?” he nearly snapped back.
Luna nodded to herself “And me, Father? Do you love me as well?” her question echoed around the room and it seemed ages before he replied.
“You were born simply to be Celestia’s other half, she has not the magic in her to control both of the heavenly orbs, so you were needed to rule over the Moon and its night.” He answered slowly, but this answer angered Luna
“That doesn’t answer my question! You merely danced around it like a tribes pony around a fire! I demand that you answer me!” the moon princess shouted.
A ripple of anger passed through her father starry pelt. “You demand me? You demand your King and Father!? NO! No I do not love you Luna, Princess of MY night.”
No, the answer she had feared but expected. She had been sure of it for a long time but to hear it was an entirely different thing. What hurt her most was how after learning the truth, she couldn’t bring herself to hate him. She choked back the beginnings of a sob. “I see, does Mother know? That you hate me so?” she asked.
“No, nor will she.” his voice was cold.
Luna nodded “And does she feel the same?” Silence followed once more before he replied
“That is not my place to say, Luna. Leave me.” Not once did he even turn to look at her. With her questioned answered she returned to the dark passage that lead back to the castle, leaving her father’s starry light behind her. She expected her heart and mind to feel lighter, but heaviness filled her whole body, weighing her down. She picked up her pace to a steady trot to hurry her out of the passage and back to the light of the castle.
She closed her eyes and took off at a gallop. Tears leaked from her eyes as she ran and she barely registered that she was back in the castle proper. She kept running and didn’t stop until she ran into something, or somepony. She collided with a very sleepy Celestia who had been returning to her chambers and the two went tumbling across the floor. Celestia stood up first and gazed about sleepily, when her eyes fell on Luna, they shot open and she rushed to her sisters side
“Lulu, whatever is wrong dear sister? What set you charging through the castle at this hour?” she helped her sister to her hooves and took note of her tears. She furrowed her brow, suddenly very awake “Lulu, what happened?” Luna just shook her head. Celestia frowned “You can tell me anything, I’m your sister. I’m here for you always” she said as she smiled sweetly.
That smile, the smile of the sun that warmed the heart of all who saw it shattered what little was left of Luna’s self-control and she flung her hooves around the older ponies neck and cried like a little foal. Tia was here for her, Tia was always here for here and that thought, that little ball of hope became a beacon to Luna. No matter what happened, Celestia would be there for her. As Luna cried, Celestia wrapped her wings around her
“There, there little sister. Everything is going to be fine.” She stepped back and gently wiped a tear from Lunas eye with a feather. “I’m here, Lulu. Hey, I know, something has given you a terrible fright and I can’t keep you safe in your room. Why don’t you sleep with me tonight? Would you like that?” she asked softly. Luna sniffled and nodded. With a wing draped over her sister, Celestia lead the way to her room.
Once safe in the protective embrace of her sister, with a warm blanket as their shield, Luna’s eyes grew heavy. Yes, Celestia would protect you from the darkness. She was the Sun and that is what she did, she scared away the shadows with her light. She nuzzled closer “Thank you Tia, thank you for everything” Luna muttered as the Sandpony pulled the Princesses off to sleep.
Luna sat in her room at a large writing desk. Scrolls, books, and ancient parchments littered its surface as Luna sifted through them, reading and rereading them all, committing them forever to her memory. Ever since the talk she had with her Father, Luna had gone above and beyond what she was expected to learn in order to impress him, to prove herself to him, to gain his love. Between her studies and Celestia’s new duties as an active Princess, the two sisters had seen less and less of each other. Luna did her best to hide how much this bothered her, but she knew that Celestia caught the glance she often passed her way and wished that she felt the same.
Luna knew though, that if she wished to grow closer to her beloved sister once more, she had to gain the same responsibilities. Falling Star thought that she had gone mad after she disobeyed her father and told her friend what had happened in the Star Chamber. He had begged her not to push herself to hard, and that she was still a filly, she should be enjoying her life as best she could. She made him promise her that he could keep her a filly at heart. True to his word, Falling Star would approach the castle gates daily to call on her so that they may run and play. It kept her heart light and made her studies all the easier, and more enjoyable.
His company became like a special treat to Luna, her source of true joy and laughter. But today his Father, the captain of the royal guard, had taken him off to a combat training camp, so today Luna was alone. Or, at least she thought she would be alone all day.
A gentle knock on her bedroom door shattered the silence of her room, and with it her concentration on the spell she had been practicing. With an irritated groan she pushed her chair from her desk and stood up. Elegantly she walked towards the door.
“Who dares disturb my study?” she demanded as she opened the door, only to be greeted by the smiling face of Celestia. She stumbled back into her room, embarrassed by how she had spoken to her sister. “Tia! If I had known twas you I would never have-” she stammered before Celestia cut her off with a light hearted chuckle
“Luna its okay, I see you have been practicing how to carry yourself, Mother must be proud” she said as she entered the room.
Luna looked up at her sister from within her mane where she hid her embarrassment. It still shocked her to no end to see how much her dear sister had changed in the month since her coronation. She hadn’t grown, which Luna was thankful for, but she carried herself with a much more regal air. No longer did she did walk about with the joy and carelessness of the young pony that she was, she instead walked slowly, and with purpose. Sunlight seemed to shine from within her and she left everywhere with the gentle warmth of the sun. But most noticeable was her mane and tail. A full month of raising and lowering the sun had strengthened Celestia’s magic into a visible from, as her once pink mane had become a flowing rainbow of magic that moved of its own will, it made her look like a true Goddess of the Sun.
It made Luna fearful of how different they had become, yet at the same time very excited about what she could look forward to. Luna shook herself to regain some composer and she gave her sister a curious look. “Tia, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be tending to your royal duties?” she asked.
Celestia nodded “I should, but I explained to Mother who distant you seemed and that I wanted to cheer you up. So she is taking care of them today so that I may spend the whole day with my baby sister” she replied as she ruffled Luna’s mane.
Luna giggled and scurried away “Really Tia!? The whole day!” she was bouncing from hoof to hoof with excitement, she couldn’t remember the last time they had spent the day together.
Celestia playfully booped her sister on the nose and smiled “but first thing is first Lulu, close your eyes for I have a surprise for you” she said. Luna nodded and closed her eyes tightly.
She could hear Celestia moving behind her, then she felt a cool metal rope around her neck, the rope held weight. Celestia lead her across the room, keeping her steady. When they were still, Celestia whispered softly “Open your eyes Lulu.” Luna’s eyes shot open as she searched for her sister’s gift. She was standing in front of a mirror and her gaze lowered to the pendent that now hung around her neck.
It was shaped like the small blazing sun and its centre held a ruby. Celestia stood next to her and raised a hoof to a pendent around her own neck. Hers was a gleaming silver moon with a sapphire in its centre. She smiled nervously “Do you like them? I had Starswirl make them for us. They connect us so that no matter how far apart we are, we’re still together, still connected.”
Luna flung her hooves around her sister and hugged her “Oh Tia I love them! Thank you so very much!” The two fell into fits of joyous laughter as they hurried out of the room to begin their day.
Celestia was on curled up on a bench in one of the courtyards as very unladylike laughter escaped her. Luna was pacing back and forth waving a stick about doing her very best impersonation of their tutor, Starswirl the Bearded. “Oh wait! I can do better Tia” she plucked some leaves from a bush and held them with magic like a mock beard. “I don’t understand fouls these days or fun at all because I’m old and spend all my time with book, books and more books, bawwwww” she wheezed in an elderly voice.
The Sun Princess sat up still laughing, waving a hoof wildly for her sister to stop “No more Lulu! No more!” she pleaded.
Luna laughed and bowed, letting the leaves fall from her face “Thank you, thank you you’re a wonderful audience!” she said as she sat down next to Celestia. She smiled as she nudged her sister “We haven’t done this in ages” she said.
Her sister looked up to the sky “done what Sister?” she asked.
Luna gestured around them with her hooves “This, just been sisters. Enjoy each other’s company.” She looked down “not have to worry about being princesses”.
Celestia rubbed her sisters back “Is that what has been bothering you Luna?” she asked.
She nodded “It isn’t fair Tia. Every other Pony get to grow up with their parents loving them for them, getting in trouble for like, I don’t know stealing cookies before dinner. They get to grow up with all of their parents love and attention on them, and sister can just be sister. We never asked for this Tia! We never asked” she opened her heart and let out her troubles.
“Lulu” Celestia wrapped a wing around her sister “There are many things in life that aren’t fair, maybe more so for us, but we get so much more than other Ponies. We get all of their love, all of their admiration. They need us Lulu, whither we want it or not”
She stood and turned to face Luna “It’s getting late but this is still your day” she said as she booped Luna on the nose again, drawing giggle from the younger princess. “That’s my sister. So what else would you like to do? We can do anything you want.”
Luna thought hard before replying “Remember when we were younger, and Mother would take us to that hill, the one where the grass was soft as down?”
Tia nodded “I remember it, we would always roll down it” she said happily. “Is that what you want Luna?”
Luna nodded “More then anything! Please Tia?”
Celestia nodded and spread her wings “Shall we?” she asked. Luna nodded and the pair galloped into the sky and flew towards the hill.
The laughter of Luna and Celestia echoed through the air as they rolled down the hill. They came to rest side by said in a field of young wheat. “That was wonderful! What was that Lulu, the seventh time?” Celestia asked, still laughing.
The moon princess shook her head “That was nine Tia” she replied.
Celestia clapped her hooves together in glee and let out a joyous and incredibly unlady like squeal of joy “Oh I feel like a child again!”
Luna scoffed “You still are Tia, you need to remember that” she said she rolled over and cuddled close to her sister “It’ almost time for your sunset, isn’t it Tia?” she asked. Celestia nodded. “So our days at an end, isn’t it Tia?” again Celestia nodded
“I’m afraid so. Thank you Lulu. Thank you for making me laugh again, please never stop being you, you are such a sweet little filly, and you bring such joy to others” she said as she fired up her horn and gently nudged the sun away as their Fathers moon rose high.
‘Tia needs me as much as I need her. I understand now… I’ve been selfish, that’s not like me. That would make Tia sad…’ Luna thought to herself “I promise Tia, I’ll always be me.”
Celestia smiled and stood up “Come along Little Sister, we should be off or we will miss dinner”
Luna got to her hooves and spread her wings “Race you home, Tia?” Luna asked.
Celestia’s wings snapped open “Oh it is on Lulu!” with whoops of joy and pure laughter the two alicorn sisters flew up into the sky, silhouetted against the moon they returned home with promises in their hearts.
That night, Luna found that sleep would not come to her. She paced about her room, the ancient tome her Father had given her floating inches from her face. She had stumbled across a page written in some kind of code. Try as she might she could not decipher all of the text. She had been able to translate enough to know that it was about her, or rather a pony of the night, but she could make nothing more of it.
Angered she tossed the tome to the ground causing it to slide into a moon beam. “Oh this is hopeless!” she cried as she pounded a hoof onto the ground. “How Father!? How am I supposed to learn from this blasted book if you refuse to teach me its secrets!?” she raged.
She stormed towards the book, ready to send it soaring into a wall when she noticed that the pages had changed. Though she did not understand what the words meant she could read them. Filled with sudden hope she scooped the book up out of the light and tried to read, but as soon as the pages were removed from the light of the moon, they returned to their coded form.
“What magic is this?” Luna whispered. Curious, she held part of the tome back in the light of the moon and to her surprise she could read that part once more. “Moon is the key to the cipher!” she exclaimed “No codes no riddles, just revealed by its light!”
She rushed back into the moon light and blew a small piece of her mane out of her eyes. She scanned over the pages and her heart sank. “To those whose hooves are destined to walk in the light of the night, may be granted passage into the light of another’s mind.” She groaned loudly “it is a riddle” she sighed a read on. “In ones heart as well as one’s horn they will find the key. When touched by moons light, they may follow the path into the images of the night. None can teach what is already known, but one must open the mind, for it to be shown” she read these words aloud over and over until they were committed to her memory.
Then with a slam, Luna closed the book and set it aside. She moved so that she bathed fully in the moons light and closed her eyes. Unsure of what it was she was trying to do, the princess fired up her horn and opened her mind to the night. She felt as if she had been bucked in the horn as she collapsed to the ground in a painful heap.
When she again opened her eyes, she found herself floating in darkness above her body. She panicked and screamed for help but no pony came. She flung her head around “Am I dead!?” she breathed out the question as she looked down at her body. Breathing, she was still breathing. She sighed in relief and gazed about “But if I’m not dead, then where am I?” she asked.
As if on cue, thousands upon thousands of mirrors with shimmering silver frames appeared before her. “Mirrors?” the night princess softly flew between them. She gazed into one, expecting to see herself looking back, but instead saw a pony she recognized to be one of the maids, sitting on a throne being fed grapes. Luna backed up, were these portals to other worlds? She looked about “I’ll check another.” She muttered as she drifted to one closer to her body.
She gazed in and this time was greeted by the image of Celestia sitting on the very top of a giant cake grazing happily on the frosting. Luna tilted her head “Tia? On a giant cake?” she snorted. “In her dreams” she laughed, stopping mid laugh “Dreams….. Dreams! What if these mirrors are looking glasses into the dreams of ponies!” she looked back into the mirror that held Celestia, who was now frolicking in a never ending field of cakes. Luna’s face became rather stolid “Yep, she’s dreaming alright.” She muttered as she flew away from it.
She drifted about the different mirrors looking in on all the happy dreams. “Help! Somepony Help meeeeee!” came a distant cry. Luna’s gaze shot in the direction of the cry. She flew fast, expecting to see another pony in this strange dream world; she instead came face to face with another mirror. It looked far different than any of the other mirrors she had seen. The floating mirrors frame was tarnished and the glass had cracks running through it.
She looked into the mirror to see a light pink filly being chased by what looked to be a skeletal pony. The fillies’ distress saddened Luna and she placed a hoof on the glass “I have to help her… but how!?” she looked over at her hoof and saw that it was sinking into the glass. She leaped back causing the mirror to ripple. She looked from her hoof to the mirror then back to her hoof. “I wonder… Can I enter these dreams?”
She walked back to the mirror, placed her hooves upon its surface and pressed. To her surprise she stumbled through the mirror and into the fillies dream. She looked back to see the mirror and sighed happily “Good, I can leave as well.” She turned her attention back to the dream world. The once open field was shifting and warping into a bleak forest of dead trees. She weaved in and out of the trees searching for the pink filly.
The little ones scream of terror put her on the right track and she galloped through the trees. She breathed deep and stepped slightly out of the shadows. The filly sniffled and looked at Luna quizzically “Pwincess?” she mumbled.
Luna nodded and spoke softly “Why do you run little one?” she asked softly. The filly little sniffed back more tears and pointed toward the skeleton that was shambling towards them. “A skeleton, little one?” she stood taller and smiled softly. “It can do you no harm, tis just bones animated by your fear. If you can fear it not, then it cannot harm you” she said softly as she backed into the shadows to watch.
The filly turned to the skeletal pony, her little legs shaking. “I-I’m not afraid of you!” she stammered over and over. Each time more of the skeleton fell apart, till just the skull scurried at her on the legs of a rabbit. Her giggles slowly changed the nightmarish world into a field of cute little bunnies.
Before she was seen again, Luna flew back to the mirror and left the dream. Once she was back among the mirrors she turned back to look at the one she had just left. It made her happy to see the little filly hopping about with the bunnies.
She examined the mirror is self and saw the glass renewed and the frame once again shining. “So that’s what a nightmare looks like” she made a mental not and flew up to examine more mirrors.
Many dreams did she watch, but all too soon, the mirrors began to disappear. She spun around as she tried to figure out why. “The mirrors are dreams, so the ponies they are linked to must be asleep. No mirror…. No sleeping pony… no sleeping ponies means….” She gasped in alarm as she hurried back to her body. “Means that they are waking up! I have no idea how long it’s been!” she panicked “What if I missed breakfast? Or somepony needed me?” she gently lowered herself back to her body and closed her eyes once more.
Luna leapt to her feet and spun about. She was still on the floor, so nopony had come to check on her. She walked over towards her window and allowed herself a small smile. She could see Celestia flying up in the blaze of the morning sun as she raised it into the sky. She still wished that she could join her sister as a keeper of the sky, but she could wait now. She had something all her own that she doubted even her father could do. She could walk in the dreams of other ponies, she bring them joy in their darkest moments of sleep.
“Should I tell Tia?” she asked herself before giggling and walking to the door “Of course I will! She will be ever so jealous” with that happy thought, Luna left her room and skipped off to the dining hall giggling to herself.
"Of cake?!" Celestia snapped lightly at her sister, who was still laughing joyously after telling her of her cake filled dreams. Their mother held a hoof to her lips to soften her quiet laughter while their father seemed not to notice any of them as he looked over a few scrolls. Celestia blushes with embarrassment "I do not dream of cake!" She huffed and she took a bite of her biscuit.
Luna grinned madly and swept a hoof through the air, motioning to things only she could see and in her best impression of her sister she quoted "Cakes! Cakes everywhere!"
Celestia couldn't contain her own laughter and swatted playfully at her sister’s hoof, trying to get her to stop "Luna stop it, you're going to make me choke" she managed through her giggles.
Luna giggled a little longer before returning her attention to her own breakfast.
"So," came the king’s voice as he gazed towards Luna as she finished her breakfast. "You have managed to understand and master the magics of dream walking in a single night?" he asked in a calm and almost flat tone. He slowly rolled up the scroll he had been reading and set his gaze firmly on the young princess, who did her best to shrink down in her seat.
Her mother tilted her head and looked over at the king “Dreamwalking? You’ve been teaching her night magic, love?” she asked as a loving smile spread across her face “I didn’t know you had been teaching her” “I haven’t taught her a thing, dearest. Our little moon princess has been teaching herself from one of my old books.” He replied, still speaking in his dry even tone. “Now Luna, you have yet to answer me.” He began again “Have you mastered the night art of dreamwalking?”
Luna sat up in her chair, trying to build up her courage and build up pride for what she had accomplished. “I have Father. Last night I wandered through the dream world and passed through the dreams of other ponies. I changed nightmares to dreams and helped many a young foal rest at ease” she allowed herself to smile “And I felt so free, Father! It was amazing and I can’t wait till tonight to help even more ponies and” her father raised a hoof to silence her.
“That is enough, Luna. I believe you young one, and I have made my decision.” He rose slowly and gathered the scrolls up in his magic “Today is your final day. No longer will you frolic like a foal in the sun’s rays. You will live in the night, for the night, and with the night. Take today to say goodbye to your friend. The Night is not for him” he turned to leave “Meet with me atop the moon tower tonight and we shall begin your training.” With that said the King of Equestria made his leave of the room, quickly followed by the queen.
While Luna sat awestruck, Celestia clapped her hooves together and cheered “Oh Lulu, this is wonderful!” she smiled at her little sister “Just think of it! Soon we will rule the skies together, isn’t that great?” she asked as she hugged the younger princess “We can be together like we were meant to be. Luna?” the sun princess tilted her head to get a better look at her face “Luna what is wrong?” her smile faded slightly “Falling Star” she said quietly.
Luna nodded slowly “Yeah, Falling Star. He’s my best friend Tia. You have friends to, I know, but they live in the day with you. My friend does not.”
Celestias smile returned and she clapped her sister on the back “Cheer up Lulu. I am sure that everything will work itself out.” She stood and trotted out the door that their parents had left through only to yell back “Go spend the day with him Lulu! Let your laughter fill the castle!”
Her voice faded and Luna was alone. She placed her hooves on the table and pushed herself up. Laughter. That was something that nopony could ever take from her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe “Everything will work itself out” she repeated her sister words several times before she bolted through the door to go to meet with Falling Star.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Falling Star had training every morning in the west courtyard. It was a rare thing for Luna to be able to watch her friend prepare for his life’s work, but when she did get to see, she would watch in amazement. She took up her favourite spot on the battlements around the courtyard.
Military maneuvers, offence, defence, swordplay, sparing, evasive moves, anything and everything the instructor, a grizzled old stallion whose pelt was a flaming orange colour that complimented his golden mane, was able to teach, Falling Star excelled at. Today’s lesson, as far as Luna could tell, was hoof to hoof combat. Luna leaned over the wall to get a better look at the action below.
Falling Star was facing off against a colt twice his size. The pair tussled and looked almost like they were dancing. Luna smiled and watched as her friend easily dodged his opponent’s every attack and giggled as his taunts reached her ears. “What’s wrong Thunder Shock? You had an easy time pounding on the smaller colts in the class, can’t hit me?” he laughed as he leapt over him, using his wings to get a boost and bucking the colt named Thunder Shock in the head as he passed. Blind rage now fueled the colt as he bucked wildly only to get tripped up as Falling Star dashed under him. Before he could even think of moving, Falling Star placed a hoof against his throat “Yield, Thunder Shock.” He said calmly, he wasn’t even breathing hard.
Applause sounded from the gather students, some even cheered at the defeat of the class bully. “Alright Falling Star, you’ve proved you’re point, let him up now” the instructor said as he stepped forward. “Well done all, class is dismissed” he announced and the colts left the courtyard, but Falling Star stayed behind. He smiled and looked up “Did you enjoy the show, Luna?” he called up to her before she glided down to his side with a small giggle. He playfully pushed her “Don’t think I didn’t know you were watching me. I can sense when you’re near me, like some kind of pony sense!”
Luna laughed and pushed him back before scurrying off “You are such a terrible liar, Star. You saw me land and decided to show off, you wanted to prove what a strong colt you are, right?” she burst out laughing as she took off. Falling Star blushed brightly before taking off after her, something seemed forced about her cheer, and he was going to find out what.
Luna came to a panting halt just inside of the door that led into the queen’s private garden. The morning sun glistened across the waters of the fountain and scattered tiny rainbows over the flowers. Falling Star stopped just behind her, his eyes narrowed.
“Luna, what was that all about back there?” he demanded.
“Nothing, Star. I was simply making jest. You know how I enjoy jesting. To make others laugh.” Her shoulders shook as she spoke “I’m very good at it.” She sniffled once and gestured to the garden with a wing “You brought me here the day we met. That was the greatest day ever.” She sniffled again.
Falling Star moved closer “Luna? Luna what going on? This isn’t like you? This isn’t your normal cheery greeting. This sounds” he began with his eyes widening “Like a goodbye” he breathed the words out in a whisper.
She nodded “Father says it is time I train to rule the night, control the moon.”
“Really!? That’s great Luna, that wonderful!”
“I don’t get to live in the sunlight anymore Star” she said as she turned to face him.
Falling Stars wings drooped “What?”
“I am the night, the sun was never meant for me. It was meant for you and every pony else in this world” she cried as a few tears fell from her eyes. She shut them tightly “so this is our final day, our goodbye”
Without another word, Falling Star wrapped his wings around Luna just as Celestia would have done and held her close. “Not goodbye. Never goodbye, Luna. Everything will work itself out, you’ll see. And no matter what I’ll be there for you every step of the way. That’s what best friends are for”
Luna laughed lightly and smiled “You sound just like Tia” she said as she nuzzled her face into his feathers. Realizing what she had done, Luna pushed herself away and blushed brightly, Falling Star was also blushing. After a rather awkward silence, Falling Star spoke “So,” he cleared his throat and spread his wings “How about one last day in the city?”
Luna nodded and spread her own wings “I would love that, Star” she said, and on her word the two flew off towards the city for their last fun day in the sun.
Pranking and laughing, telling stories to little foals in the park, the two young ponies did their best to cram years’ worth of fun in the sun into a single day. Luna’s sadness slowly ebbed away until only her joyous smile remained. When the sun slowly began to set, Falling Star escorted the young princess to the base of the moon tower in the northern most part of the castle ground. It was a massive stone tower that reached up to the moon with two guards protecting its doorless entryway. Her friend patted her back and nodded “Remember, everything will work itself out, don’t you worry. This isn’t goodbye, not by a long shot” he repeated as he smiled and flew up “Good luck Luna!”
With her friend’s encouraging words held fast in her heart and in her mind, Luna bravely walked into the tower, ready to face whatever lessons awaited her at the top.
The stairs to the top of the moon tower seemed to stretch on and on in an endless spiral, and as Luna climbed them by hoof she began to wonder if she would ever make it to the top. She looked down and all she could see were stairs, and when she looked up the view was the same. A few more steps brought her to a window, which she gazed out. She only had a moment to enjoy the beauty of the view before she noticed that the sun was almost set. The king would be raising the moon soon and she would be late! Finding strength and energy that she didn’t know she still had, Luna took off running. “Don’t be late, don’t be late, don’t be late!” she chanted to herself and she bolted headlong up the stairs. The rapidly passing stairs began to make her dizzy and she closed her eyes. A bad idea, she soon learned as she burst onto the roof and nearly ran off the edge of the tower.
She back up panting and looked about. The moon tower was one of the two highest points in the whole kingdom, matching its twin tower of the sun, and the view was spectacular. Luna turned in a slow circle taking in the view and marveling at it. She could see on forever and she couldn’t stop the joyous giggle that erupted from her when she realized that one day this tower and view would be hers alone to enjoy.
As she turned her gaze fell upon the pony that she had climbed all the way up here to see. Without turning to look at his daughter, the King motioned for Luna to sit and once she had he fired up his horn and began to draw the moon up into the sky. The dark sky slowly lightened as the bright moon took dominance in the sky. Once the moon was in place, the King slowly raised his wings and released his magic into the air. He beckoned with his wings and sent his magic to the sky, calling out the stars as if they were old friends.
Luna had never been so close to her father when he summoned the stars. She could feel his magic wash over her in a flood as it spread out and up into the sky. Her eyes shimmered with wonder as she gazed about. At this height the young princess felt as she was in the night sky, like she could reach out a hoof and touch the stars, which she tried. Slowly she extended her hooves towards a star, and to her surprise she felt warmth. She closed her hooves around the star and pulled her hooves back slowly. She opened her hooves and gasped, she was holding a star! A star was sitting in her hooves and it was pulsing and twinkling with light and warmth.
Her father turned to her and for the first time in her life she saw him do something that she never thought she would see, he smiled. “Atop this tower Luna, we ponies of the night and moon become one with the night sky. We can feel it, sense it, and even touch it” he said as he gently took the star from his daughter and placed it back in the sky. “But we have to give ourselves to the sky, allow it to accept us, and accept it into ourselves. We may rule the moon but only then can we rule the stars.”
Luna nodded as she listened. A thought struck her “But I was able to touch that star, I pulled it out of the sky! Does that mean that the sky accepts me?” she asked as she looked at her father.
He nodded slowly “They would not allow you to even get near them if they did not accept you. This is a good sign. Mayhaps I was wrong to think that you could not rule the night. Forgive me young one, I am old, as old as our world, change does not come easy to me” he said softly as he placed a hoof on her head. The King smiled again and looked out to the sky.
He was about to speak when the panting form of Starswirl burst from the stairs “Your Majesty!” he panted “It is as we feared!” he looked more panicked than Luna had ever seen him.
“What has happened? Answer me Starswirl!” He King demanded as he turned to the stallion. “That’s just it, your majesty! Nothing has happened! The aurora did not grace the skies, the power was not reflected!” Starswirl blurted out in a panicked voice.
The Kings face was grave as he spread his wings “Gather my personal guards and my Queen in the throne room!” He paused “And wake Celestia she needs to know” he turned to Luna “There is no time to explain to you alone, come quickly!” he ordered as he dove off the tower and soared back around towards the castle.
Starswirl took off down the stairs and Luna was left alone. She turned her head about as she spread her wings “What in the world is going on?” she breathed quietly as she followed her father’s example and dove off of the tower. Her free fall was frightening, but her wings soon took hold of the wind and caught her, bringing her into a gentle glide towards the castle.
By the time she had landed the whole castle was in an uproar. Fighting her way through the crowds of busy ponies, Luna made her way to the throne room. Once inside she made her way to Celestia and her Father began speaking.
“There has been an incident in the most Northern part of our Kingdom” he addressed the gathered knights and advisors. “It is a matter of utmost importance that the Queen and I see to it immediately. So we shall leave here tonight with ten knights” he quickly pointed out ten pegasi knights “You will accompany us.” He turned to Celestia “Celestia, dear Celestia it pains me to burden you with the weight of the Kingdom when you are still so young, but it must be done. While we are away you are to rule over Equestria.”
Celestia’s jaw dropped as she stared at her father “Me? But I’m only-“
“The only choice we have in this desperate time. Make me proud” he turned his attention back to the knights “We leave now. You will accompany us, gather your supplies and meet at the gates. You have five minutes. Dismissed!” The knights saluted their King and hurried off to prepare.
As the King was leaving Luna came out of her shock “But Father!” she cried as she and Celestia hurried after their parents, with Starswirl trailing behind them “What about my training? How am I to learn if you are gone?” “Your training will have to wait Luna, this is more important.” He looked to her “This should not take long your Mother and I should return in one weeks’ time. We shall begin your training then.”
By the time they reached the gates the knights had assembled and were awaiting the order to take flight. “One week Luna, it isn’t that long” he said as he and the Queen walked out of the gates followed by the knights, who were wearing the crimson armour of the royal company. “Wings out!” the King cried and wings were spread “To the Sky!” Came the Kings voice and the twelve ponies galloped into the sky leaving the two princesses and their tutor standing alone in the moonlight.
As they watched the silhouettes grow ever smaller, Celestia wrapped a comforting wing around her sister “they’ll be back, Lulu” the white alicorn said, silent tears rolling down her face “This happened once before, before you were born. They came back then and they’ll come back this time” she said as she buried her face in Luna’s mane to release and hidden and muffled sob.
“Of course, Tia. They’ll be back” Luna whispered “One week, I’ll be counting father.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The days came and went as normal, well almost as normal. By the third day Luna rarely saw her sister, partially from how busy she had gotten and partially from Luna’s will not to disappoint her Father. She had given up the sun almost completely and was awake all through the night, watching as the moon rose into the sky and knowing that her parents were safe because of it. It brought her only cold comfort as she wandered the dark halls alone. No busy maid ponies, no smiling sister, and no goofy best friend to keep her company in the cold night. It was lonely, so very lonely, but maybe that’s how it was meant to be.
The fourth night brought the lunar princess terrible worry. She awoke from her day of slumber and Celestia set the sun, but the sky stayed dark as no moon rose to take its place, no stars twinkled into view, nothing but inking black night could be seen. Cold fear gripped hold of Luna and threatened to drag her down, but she fought against it, hoping against hope. They were fine, they were safe, and he was just unable to raise it tonight was all.
Her hope lasted through the second moonless night, and third. The week was drawing to an end as was the young princesses hope that everything was alright. She sat by the gate as the sun set, bring the seventh day to an end. No figures of ponies returning filled the sky, nor did the moon. Luna’s hope shattered and she curled up tightly crying her sorrows away.
The first week was done and gone, and the second week passed by with just as much news about the whereabouts and status of the royals and their knights. Two weeks turned into one month, one month turned into two, each night moonless and dark.
On the dawn of the third month Starswirl approached the young princess as she was readying for sleep. “Princess Luna, this darkness had gone on long enough. The citizens are fearful of it” he paused and composed himself “I have met with the royal advisors and they agree with what I have decided” Luna tilted her head “Decided? Starswirl what’s going on?”
“Tonight is your coronation, you will raise the moon” he said with an air of finality.
“Tonight!? But Starswirl my training hasn’t even begun! How am I supposed to raise the moon!?”
“I cannot over turn their vote, nor can you. Princess or not you are still young and bound to their, and more importantly, my decision”
“But what if I can’t? What then!? What if I’m not strong enough!?”
“Believe in yourself Lulu” said Celestia as she walked up behind her sister “Believe in yourself as I believe in you”
“Tia” Luna looked back at her sister who was smiling.
The happy moment was shattered as a guard skidded to a halt before them “Arch mage, your highnesses. A knight from the north has returned. In the throne room!”
Hope surged through the three ponies as they charged to the throne room, but as they opened the doors all hope faded, snuffed out by the sight before them. The knight could barely stand in his shattered armour, cuts and gashes covered his body and he was missing an ear and an eye with a large slash connecting the two wounds. He turned his one golden eyes on the princesses as he emptied the contents of the sack that he held in his mouth onto the ground.
Luna’s breath caught in her throats as two bloodied crowns clattered onto the tiled floor. “No” she breathed “No!”
“The King and Queen are dead” the knight wailed as tears flowed from his remaining eye “Slain while fight side by side with nine of my fellow knight against a daemon in the north. Gone all gone! So much darkness, so much pain!” he wailed as Starswirl motioned for him to be removed from the room. “No” Luna said again as she covered her ears and shut her eyes tight “Tis a lie! It must be a lie! A Terrible horrible lie!” she cried.
Celestia pulled her sister close, the two princesses embraced and cried as one, mourning the loss of their parents. “I shall announce the news to the kingdom” Starswirl said after she allowed the young ones time to display their grief.
Celestia stood “No Starswirl” she said as she stood, helping Luna up as she went “I am ruler of Equestria now, it is my duty” she said, forcing strength into her voice “You prepare what is needed for Luna’s coronation. We cannot wait, the night needs light as much as the day, and Luna is the only one who can bring it.” She draped a wing over Luna and led her from the room, leaving the bloodied crowns on their own.
Luna leaned weakly against her sister. If Tia can be so strong, why can’t I? She thought.
"THE KING AND QUEEN ARE DEAD!" Celestica’s voice echoed out loudly over the kingdom as messenger ponies soared out to the corners of Equestria to deliver the terrible news. "THEIR LIVES ENDED IN THE PROTECTION OF ALL THE PONIES OF EQUESTRIA." She stood taller "BUT THOUGH THIS IS TRULY A DAY OF SORROW, IT IS ALSO A DAY OF CELEBRATION! FOR FROM THIS DAY TILL THE DAY THAT MY DEAR SISTER COMES OF AGE TO JOIN ME ON THE THRONE I SHALL RULE ON MY OWN. I DO HOPE THAT I DO RIGHT BY ALL OF YOU." She spread her wings and basked in the cheering of the ponies gathered below the castle.
Luna stood behind her sister feeling very small. 'How quickly she had earned their love. They never cheered as such for the news that father ever brought then. Will they adore me? Why shouldn't they? I'm as much a noble princess as Tia, of course they will.' She was pulled from her thoughts by Celesta’s voice calling her to her side.
"AND ONE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF CELEBRATION! TONIGHT WILL BE THE FINAL NIGHT OF MOONLESS DARKNESS, AS PRINCESS LUNA TAKES ON HER ROLE AS REGENT OF THE MOON!" She called but unlike the news of her taking the throne, the gathered ponies did not cheer with unbridled joy, but merely looked about and clapped their hooves with apprehension in their eyes.
Luna made ready to address the gathered ponies but before she could so much as open her mouth to speak Celestia draped a wing over her and ushered her back into the castle. "Rest while you can, dear sister. You'll will need all if your strength for tonight." She ruffled Luna's mane with a hoof before heading towards the throne room, where she planned to hold the day court, leaving Luna standing alone, her mouth a gap.
"Why didn't you allow me to speak to them?" She called her question out long after her sister was out of ear shot. She scuffed a hoof on the ground and wandered towards her room. She stopped at a large painting of her late parents and frowned. "Why? Why did you have to go and die on us?" She asked the painting. "Why did you have to take me away from everypony I cared about and then just drop me into the night?!" Tears began to roll down her face "why?" She sat and sniffles to herself.
"Princess Luna?" A maid said as he came across the crying princess "princess are you alright? You're crying" she said with a kind voice "here let me help you" she extended a hoof which Luna swatted away and she got to her feet and reeled on the maid.
"LEAVE US BE! WE DO NOT NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF A MAID!" She snapped at the poor maid. Magic swirled around the young princess in a dark haze that slowly faded as she look in the maid’s frightened look. She clasped a hoof to her mouth in shock and backed up slowly stammering out apologizes but by the time she managed to form words the maid was gone, taken off down the hall leaving Luna alone in her shock. Luna quickly checked the hall to see if there was anypony else who had bared witness to her sudden outburst. Seeing nopony she quickly bolted off to her room, locking the door behind herself.
Her hooves were shaking as walked across her room towards her vanity. Nervously she gazed at her reflection and let out a sigh of relief. The strange dark magic was gone. She paced to the middle of her room and sat down to collect her thoughts. "What was that feeling?" She asked herself and shuddered "rage. Pure, hate fuelled rage" she curled up tightly suddenly feeling exhausted and fell asleep.
Luna's mind swam like a raging sea. She was drowning in her thoughts, calling out to her sister to save her bit no help came. Just as she felt she was about to be swallowed, the sea vanished. She gently floated down and landed on her hooves. Turning in nervous circles, she examined where she was. Dark shadows swirled all around her, limiting her vision to all but two hooves in front of her face. She walked forward slowly, double testing each and every step she took. “Hello?” Luna called out as she peered into the darkness. She ruffled her feathers and tried to stand a bit taller.
“Hello!?” she called again only to have her voice echo back at her, but it didn’t sound like her own voice. It sounded warped and distorted. It scared her more than the blackest of nights or the biggest of monsters.
“Hello~” her warped voice called back to her with a giggle of glee. The shadows began to swirl ever faster and clung at her pelt. “I am so glad that you can finally hear my voice, your voice, OUR voice” the words echoed through the shadows “With the auroras interference finally gone, we can stop being You and I, and start being US!” the shadows wrapped around the moon princess tightly and a laugh echoed through the darkness.
Luna woke with a start as a hoof knocked on her door “Princess Luna? The archmage as asked me to prepare you for your coronation before night falls” came a gentle voice from the hall followed by another knock.
Luna slowly rose to her feet and shook the tiredness from her limbs “The doors open” Luna said as she used her magic to unlock it and light the torches to bring light to her room. She trotted to her vanity and sat down waiting.
The door opened and a small older mare walked in pushing a cart “Tis your big day Little Princess” she said, obviously trying her best to sound cheery. She stopped the cart behind Luna and began to organize its contents. Luna took this time to examine the mare. She was a plain mare with light brown fur and a greying chestnut mane. Her face was lined with soft wrinkles that only added to her gentile appearance, as did her soft orange eyes. Luna tried to see what her cutie mark was, but it was covered by the dress and apron she wore. She closed her eyes and smiled as the mare began to brush the tangles from her mane.
“Tis going to be a wonderful night, Little Princess. What with you raising the moon and all.” She put the brush down and draped a chest piece and notched it in place. She hummed and set a pair of glittering shoes out for her and smiled as she applied a light amount of eye shadow before heading out the door “The archmage is waiting at the gates” she turned and looked back “Good luck, Little Princess” she said before hurrying off.
Luna put the shoes on before looking herself over in the mirror. She smiled slowly and turned about. She looked ravishing, everypony that had gathered to see her would surely love and adore her just from the sight of her. Her bad dream almost forgotten, she clapped her hooves together and trotted out of her room and down the hall and out the castle doors and to the gates.
She shivered as she walked outside, it was so cold. She had been so consumed with her worry and her grief that she hadn’t noticed the onset of winter, or the chill that it brought. She cast a simple warming spell and hurried on her way.
Starswirl stood before the gates, which lay open behind him, flanked by two knights “We must wait a little longer. Celestia will be joining us soon.” He said as the sun began to set. Seeming to fly out of the sun, Celestia landed next to her sister and draped a wing over her and darkness fell. With a tap of his staff, Starswirl made a ball of magical light to lead them on their way through town. “We shall be off now” he said as he turned and lead them into town.
Luna watched silently as they walked. Ponies in their homes were closing their windows to the dark and candles flickered into life. ‘Even with the news of my moon raising tonight, they still hide away and shut themselves away from the dark?’ she gritted her teeth as she walked. ‘Relax Luna. Mayhaps they just preparing to join us at the square’ she smiled again and walked a little taller. Tonight would be a night to remember.
The bells of the archmages robes and hat jiggled softly with each step he took, announcing their steady procession towards the square. As they arrived in the square Starswirl waved his staff, lighting the lanterns the surrounded the square, revealing only a hoofful of ponies who had gathered. Luna suspected that most of them, if not all of them, were castle staff. Suddenly feeling very small and alone she hid herself beneath her sister’s wing. “Tia, I can’t do this. I can’t Tia”
“TONIGHT WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE CORRENATION OF PRINCESS LUNA, REGENT OF THE MOON!” Starswirl began the ceremony.
“Believe in yourself my dear sister. Believe in yourself like I believe in you.” Celestia said as she moved her wing and used it to nudge her sister forward “no matter what this is your night Lulu, own it” she smiled and stepped back “good luck”
Luna barely registered that Starswirl was speaking again “Do you, Princess Luna swear to diligently and dutifully raise and lower the sun and summon the stars without fail, and to be the guardian of the night?” he asked the moon princess.
Luna gulped and looked get to Celestia nervously. Her sister smiled and gave her a nod and mouthed “you can do it”. Luna nodded back and looked back to her mentor “I do so solemnly swear” she answered him.
He nodded to her and as he did for Celestia he pointed his staff to the sky, showing her the way. “The night has been dark for too long, give your ponies light”
Luna fired up his horn and spread her wings. This night, no all-night would be hers. She pawed the stones and charged off into the sky. As she closed her eyes tightly from the strain of the spell and worked her hooves in the air to try and give herself more lift. Slowly, very slowly, the pale orb began to inch into the sky, but just before it reached its full height, Luna felt as if something had grabbed her flank and flying became much harder.
The inky night clung to her pelt, fighting against the light she was brings to Equestria. Just as she was about to be pulled from the sky, she felt a gentle hoof pushing her up and away from the dark. She looked down as the hoof stopped assisting her and her eyes widened, as did her smile. “Star!?”
The colt grinned as he flew lower “You have a job to finish Luna! Make me proud!” he called as he flew back to the ground.
Her strength and determination renewed, Luna found the strength to break free of the inky night and fly on, leaving an inky smear on her flank. The little princess herself slowly began to stand out from the night as the moon rose to its full height and she became silhouetted against it. The moon lit the night, chasing the shadows away and drawing smile cheers from the gathered ponies. As she flew back to the square, the smear on her flank bubbled and boiled off leaving behind her cutie mark.
Luna landed with a stumble and looked to Starswirl. The bearded pony nodded and addressed the small crowd of ponies as he levitated Luna’s crown onto her “PONIES OF EQUESTRIA, I GIVE YOU PRINCESS LUNA, RULER OF THE MOON, AND I DECREETHIS NIGHT TO BE THE WINTER MOON CELEBRATION, IN RECOGNITION OF THE END OF DARKNESS!” as he finished there was but a small cheer from the gathered ponies, now too cold to just stand there cheering in the fresh light.
Luna’s jumped as Celestia draped a wing over her sister and Falling Star playfully ruffled her mane. “You did awesome Luna!” Star cheered.
“But where are the stars?” Celestia asked as she scanned the skies.
“I have to call on them” Luna answered as she spread her wings “Come on, we must make for the Moon Tower” she said before stumbling over.
Celestia caught her and smiled sweetly “Let’s just walk to the tower” Being held up by her sister on her left side of her, her best friend on her right the three ponies, with Starswirl following behind them, walked towards the tower.
A top the tower Luna gazed across the sky. Summoning stars couldn’t be half as exhausting as raising the moon, she figured. She breathed deeply and ran through what she had seen her father do through her mind. Slowly raising her wings she looked to the sky and began releasing magic into the air. “Please, I know I’m not my father but, please, accept me as your new master. Please” she whispered as she closed her eyes.
Her eyes shot open as she heard a small voice “We’ve always accepted you Little One, we have been waiting a long time for you” smiled as stars began to speckle themselves across the sky. She had done it! She had passed all the tests the night had to throw at her. She was now the nights master, she would now be adored by all ponies. They would love her, they had to.
Luna stood alone atop the Moon Tower and watched as the sun slowly set. She took a deep breath and fired up her horn and pulled the moon up into its rightful place in the night sky, shrouding the land in its pale light as the ponies of the land shuttered the candlelit windows and bolted their doors to keep out the night. The night Princess did her best to ignore the hurt this caused her. Did they not care for her gleaming moon, or how lovely it made the world? She couldn't help but wonder if her father had felt this, this feeling of rejection of those she ruled?
She swiftly banished these thoughts from her mind as she rose her wings and allowed her magic to seep out into the inky sky, calling out to the stars that answered her summons and blinked into the sky, adding their own shimmering light, twinkling out a joyous greeting that only the moon princess could hear. She smiled up at the sky.
"Hello little ones" she called out the star as had become routine to her now. Greeting the stars at the start of each night. Yes the stars were glad to have Luna to call them into the sky, but they were not her own. they kept their random scattering, appearing where ever they wanted to in the sky. The stars were wild, and there was no order in them to be seen.
She tapped her chin with a hoof as the wheels of thought started turning. She had been the moon regent for a week, raising and lowering the moon without fail and still she was treated like a foal, but maybe she could earn their respect, she looked to the stars as her plan formed, if she could tame the stars!
She ruffled her feathers and raised her hoof, she would need the help of a star to bring them to order, and she remembered her first night a top the tower when one came to her side. she didn’t have to wait long before a star spiraled down onto her hoof.
The little star that had come to her was small and its light dull, but Luna could sense emotion within the little star. She sensed a desire to be needed and it caused a small smile to cross her face.
"I know not what you are little one, or where you come from, but I know that you and your kin need me, just like I need you" she allowed her magic to seep into the little star, causing it to grow ever brighter. When it was almost as bright as her sisters sun she let it soar back to the sky with a joyous laugh "You shall be a beacon little star, you will be a nightly compass guiding ponies home safely" she called as the star took its place in the north.
The stars flashed briefly brighter and Luna smiled "Thank you" she said happily as she swirled a hoof through the sky.
The sky became her canvas and the stars her paint as she shaped and formed them into creatures of shimmering light, and tributes to stories and myths her mother would lull her to sleep with. She placed their images in subtle nests of their brethren.
She stepped back and drew a hoof across her forehead as she marveled at her own work. If you were not looking for them her images were almost hidden, but she planned to have her mentor, Starswirl, draw up charts and maps of the stars, not her stars, so that all could find them.
She was about to leave to watch over the dreams of the ponies and a small noise caught her attention. It sounded like a young animal, or more rather a bear, but that couldn’t be right, she was a top of one of the tallest structures in all of Equestria, no bear could get here.
As she turned, the sight she saw caused her jaw to drop. Sitting in the center of the tower were two tiny bear cubs the looked to be made of stars. Luna looked about wildly to see that they were not alone. Tiny wolves, lions, scorpions, and all sorts of other little animals covered the tower, and all made of stars.
She turned in she circles looking closely at each of the tiny animals and then up to her stars, then back to the animals. Slowly it clicked that each pair of starry critters matched one of her star paintings.
Her jaw dropped as it finally hit her "I didn’t notice that I had let so much magic flow out, I didn't even notice. I" she paused to gather her thoughts and confirm what she knew to be true "I must have pulled stars from the sky and, and made all of you" she whispered. "I made life from stars." she said slowly "I MADE LIFE FROM STARS!"
~ ~ ~
"STARSWIRL!" Luna called as she raced up the stairs of the bearded mages tower with her starry zoo in hoof "Starswirl!" she bucked open the door and let her zoo into his lab.
"Luna what is the meaning of-" the mages stern words evaporated as he saw the Moon Princess surrounded by the little star creatures. "What have you done?"
"I made them... but I'm not quite sure how. What are they Starswirl, do you know?"
"Aye Lune, I know what you have brought into this world, but I did not think that I would ever see them agai-" he stopped himself and changed his wording "In my lifetime"
Luna tilted her head "Ooookay, but what are they?"
"Star Beasts"
"Star Beasts?"
The mage nodded "Yes, in ancient times they were the guardians of the night, revered and praised by all." "So I summoned, guardians?" she asked.
Again the mage nodded "Yes, it is written that they kept the beasts of the night at bay"
Luna's face lit up "You means ponies wouldn’t have to be afraid of my night?" her excitement lit up the room.
"Perhaps, but we must act quickly, if the sunlight touches their pelts they will vanish. I shall gather the guards deliver them to their ancient home of old" Starswirl said as he tossed on his cloak and hat "bring them to the gates"
~ ~ ~
Luna watched the pairs of Star Beasts were placed into carriages and rushed off to all corners of the land to deliver their starry cargo. The last to leave were the two starry bears. Before the door closed the two little bears waved at Luna and she waved back, and just like that it was over and they were being whisked away to the forest.
Luna looked up to the bearded pony next to her "Will they be alright Starswirl?" she asked. He nodded "Of course they will, soon they will grow and take fully to their homes. And they will always be connected to your stars, to you. Try not to worry yourself to much. Go tend to your dreams, the night is still young and you still have duties."
Luna turned and walked away from her mentor to do as she was told. 'After what we were able to do this night, they still treat us as a foal. But we shall soon show they them the moon! Wont we?' Luna shook her head to silence the voice and galloped off to her room. Starswirl had been proud of her and for now, that was all she needed to push on.
The moon hung above Equestria at the height of its rise, basking the land in its cool glow. At ths late hour ponies across the great country lay tucked away in their beds in sound sleep, hidden from the moons lovely glow. In forests and mountains the Star Beasts played their role as to their mistresses desires and kept the land safe from the creatures and monsters that would take advantage of the slumbering ponies and tear their lives asunder.
But atop the moon tower one pony was not asleep. Princess Luna stood atop the moon tower with stars slowly swirling around her. Her eyes were closed as if she were asleep, in her magic she held a piece of parchment on which she slowly wrote the words of the stars. Her magic and her powers had grown stronger with each night she raised the moon and she no longer needed to sleep to enter the dream realm. Not only that, each night as ponies went to sleep they would often wish upon the stars. The stars would then tell these wish to Luna, she would record them upon a scroll and have them delivered to the Sun Princess. This was the night court.
“A lovely night as always, Princess Luna. I do believe you have outdone yourself.” Came the deep voice of a stallion.
Luna turned slowly to the stallion and smiled “I told you not to call me that” she said as leaned closer to the stallion and mockingly continued “SIR Falling Star” She giggled and leaped back to avoid the playful sweep of her friend hoof.
He adjusted his helmet and looked away with slight embarrassment “I’m barely a Knight, Luna” he lifted a hoof to look at the extendable sword cuff that had been grafted to his leg “I only granted my sword last week”
“And it looks great on you my friend” she said as she turned and walked to the edge of the tower.
Falling Star followed and stood next to her “What troubles you my friend?”
She gestured to the city with her hoof “Took below star and tell me what you see”
He peered down into the streets and shook his head “Nothing but the guard patrols and the street lamps”
“Exactly. Not a single one of MY subjects are awake. Not one of them are out to enjoy my stars, my sky, our moon! NOT ONE!” she snapped “They hide themselves away in their homes while the light of Our moon graces the land! While Our Ursas keep them safe they gather round fires with warm cider” she ground her teeth “and only when the sun chases away Our night do they emerge ad praise the light!”
“Our?” Star questioned, snapping her out of her rant “Only you control the night, and there is only one of you, so why did you say Our?” he pulled his friend into a hug “Tell me what is wrong?”
Luna clung to her friend “oh Star. Help me I-“she paused as her inner voice spoke up.
‘What will we tell him? That there is the voice of another mare in our head? That she tells us the truths of the matter? That we are getting closer to being one? What will he say? Will he leave us alone in our cold night? We need him, YOU need him’
Luna closed her eyes “I’m just so tired Star. This was forced on me with no preparations.” She stepped away from him and began to pace about the tower “I mean, I’m only a couple of ears older then Tia was when she began raising the Sun. Maybe the stress of it all is finally falling down on me.” She looked back to her friend “I feel like I’m losing myself, Star”
The knighted stallion tapped his chin in thought “what you need is to get away from it all.” He grinned “And I know just the place!” He hopped from hoof to hoof like an excited foal “hurry and send that list off to Celestia!”
Luna blinked as her magic surrounded the roll of parchment, sending it to her sister “where are we going Star?”
“Beyond the forest” he said as he dashed off the tower and flew into the sky “Hurry up Luna!”
Luna grinned and flew after he dear friend.
As the duo soared out above the city Luna couldn’t help but admire how the moon glimmered off of Falling Stars armour, it made him look noble and valiant. She blushed and looked away as they left the city limits, all on their own now.
Below them the forest stretched out for what seemed like forever. Falling Star smiled and flew closer to Luna “I found something beyond the forest that I think you’ll like. But it has to be a surprise, close your eyes”
“Close my eyes!?” the moon princess exclaimed “But Star, how am I supposed to fly, let alone land if I can’t see?” the dark blue alicorn looked to her friend with nervous eyes.
Falling Star extended a hoof to his dear friend “Put your trust in my, my friend.” He smiled “I’ll guide you down safely” Luna glanced away and took hold oh her friends hoof and closed her eyes tightly “I trust you” The blind flight was one of the most terrifying things the princess had ever done. All was dark and the wind blew wildly through her mane. Though her mind’s eye she saw the swirling mist that haunted her dreams. She wished for the flight to end, for sight, and for sweet land.
Soon enough they were slowing down and Falling Star was giving landing prep instructions to his friend “Back flap now and slow down, extend your legs” they stumbled a few feet as their hooves met land “And thank you for flying air falling star” he laughed lightly.
“You can open your eyes now” Falling Star whispered into his friend’s ear.
Luna smiled and began to open her eyes “Finally, it was getting hard to keep them shut” the sight that met her eyes caused the young princess to gasp.
They were in the middle of a field of nightshade that stretched out for as far as their eyes could see. The flowers of the plants bloomed wide and reached up towards the moon. Wind whistled through the field, causing the flowers to sway gently. Moon beams dazzled off the blossoms and the beauty of it all was reflected in the eyes of the Princess. “Nightshade” she breathed slowly “But I thought my father had them banished after those cult ponies took to forcing new members to eat the berries?” she looked to her friend “how?”
“Banished from all of the towns and cities, yes, but these are wild land Luna, no pony can control these wild plants. They grow wild and free here”
Luna frowned “Wild, free, and deadly.” She said coldly.
“Only to those fool hardy enough to eat them. But to any others privileged enough to see them, they are beautiful, like the night.” The stallion said as he cast his gaze about “They are a most special flower that blooms not with your sisters’ sun, but with your moon. They follow its light like sunflowers do to the sun. They are the flower of the night” he plucked one and placed it gently behind Luna’s ear “And they look lovely on you” he smiled softly as his oldest friend blushed.
She trotted a little ways away from her friend and ran a hoof over the flow and smiled. “This is nice. I’ve never seen nightshade before, its lovely.” She turned back to her friend and smiled “thank you Falling Star, thank you so much for this” slowly a cruel grin slipped onto her face “course now that we are out here, past the forest, all alone, I don’t have to act my role of a princess, nor you a knight, we can be foals.” She crouched down like a sprinter “and foals, play, tag! Get running Star, I’m coming at you!”
The pair dashed bout the field of deadly flowers, laughing and cheering more than they had in years. Luna’s foal hood had been taken from her so she could be the princess of the moon, but Falling Star had willingly given his up so that his friend would not be alone. He had entered the guards academy and passed with the highest honours and had been granted his knighthood.
Now the two of them frolicked and played like foals. The pair of them, teen ponies forced into adult lives before their times acting like foals in teen bodies.
“HA!” Luna cheered as she pinned her friend to the ground “That’s three of three, Star. You sure youre a knight?” she asked mockingly. Looking down at her friend she saw how the stars dazzled in her closest friends eyes. She blushed softly
“You look rather handsome in your armour” she stammered and looked away.
Her friend smiled up at her “and you look lovely in your regal wears”
Luna flopped onto her back beside her friend trying to rub the blush from her cheeks.
The pair lay there staring out at the sky for what seemed like ages before Falling Star sat up looking around “Something’s wrong. Luna we have to go” he said helping his friend to her hooves. The pair turned slowly. A strange mist had filled the field and the nightshade flowers were closing and turning away from the moon. “Very wrong”
Luna nodded in agreement.
The gentle sound of hoofsteps echoed through the mist as the mystery pony grew nearer.
As the pony became a silhouette in the mist Luna stood tall and stepped forward and called out in her royal voice “WHO DARES APPROACH THE PRINCESS OF THE MOON!?” she called to the pony.
When no answer came she called out again “IF YOU WILL NOT ANSWER ME THEN WE DEMAND THAT THOU SHOW THY SELF!” she instantly regretted her words as the pony approached.
It was the one eyed Pegasus who had returned the crowns of her parents. His once colourful pelt and mane were a dull grey and his golden eye was wide and crazed. He wore his shattered armour and limped as he dragged his sword at his side, carving a line in the soil. He walked as if he was moved by strings.
Luna took a step back and shook her head as the pony began to move faster. “You can’t be here, you can’t! Tia had you locked in the institution to get better, you can’t be out”
The pony tilted his head to an almost impossible angle and a grin slowly spread across his face “Praise the sun for it brings life, praise the sun for it brings warmth, praise the sun for it brings joy” he paused and turned his gaze to the princess and laughed “and bring death to the moon as it bring not but death to us!” he cried.
The pair were frozen in shock with Luna a few feet ahead of her friend “Wh-what did you say?” she stammered, she was willing her wings or legs to carry her away but she was frozen in place, as if icy vines held her down.
The stallion began to chant again “praise the sun for it brings life, praise the sun for it brings warmth, praise the sun for it brings joy, and bring death to the moon as it brings not but death to us.” Over and over the pony chanted the words like a spell as he moved closer and closer to the princess. He managed to get right up to the princess, allowing her to stare into the gaping hole where once was an eye that was given up in his attempts to save the king and queen. Slowly he raised the sword above him, the moonlight glinted cruelly off of the blade that he planned to bring down upon the princess “Bring death to the moon as it brings not but death to us.” With those words the sword fell.
Falling Star snapped out of his daze a moment to late as by the time he regained himself the damage had been done. The blade fell down and slashed deep into the princesses’ shoulder. Luna let out a cry of pain as the sword imbedded itself halfway through a bone.
The crazed pony scowled and whipped his hoof wildly to the side, sending the wounded princess crashing to the ground and she slid a few feet, leaving a trail of blood. She gazed up as the pony approached her with half closed eyes filled with terror. She tried to speak but no words come. Was this it? She thought as the sword was gently drawn across her throat, leaving a thin line of blood, the tip was left poking at her throat. “Death to the Moon”
Just as Luna was about to except her fate, Falling Star tackled the crazed one the ground. The pony slashed out at her protector carving gashes through his chest and sides. Blood began to coat the ground from the pair.
As Luna began to lose consciousness she saw that Falling Star had the murderous pony pinned to the ground as he pounded he hoof into the ponies face as it slashed wildly at him. The last thing she saw was the crazed pony stabbed her friend. All three ponies were still as darkness filled her vision and all was black.
Luna phased in and out of consciousness, never remaining awake for more than a moment. In one such moment she registered that she was in a small bed. So somepony had found her and taken her from the field, but where was she now? Before she could figure that out darkness took her again. Awake again, she could hear ponies scurrying about fussing over her. She felt something be being pulled tightly around the joint of her wing, a bandage? Another tug confirmed that it was indeed a bandage, so these were medical ponies. Darkness once again took her.
She with each round of consciousness she found, much to her growing frustration, that she was too weak to open her eyes and that she could only catch small snippets of conversation around her.
"She's is stable condition now, I'm going to go check on the other patient" came a female voice.
Darkness.
"Is she awake yet?" Celestias worried voice asked, she sounded as if she had been crying.
"I am afraid not your Highness"
Darkness.
"The townsponies are starting to suspect that something is wrong, it is still pitch black out there"
Darkness.
"They're crowding the gates. Princess you should make a statement, quell their fears" "I will not leave her side!" The sun princess snapped.
Darkness.
"Celestia this is foalishness! You are the eldest, your magic is far more advanced, and you must lower the moon in her stead!" Starswirl the Bearded ordered the sun god.
"The moon is for Luna to control and no Pony else, I have no power over it" Celestia said with an air of defeat in her voice.
Darkness.
"Lulu, Lulu please wake up" Celestia pleaded.
Luna could feel her sisters hoof running through her mane.
"I need you Lulu"
Darkness.
Luna could hear her sisters gentle weeping. Her ear moved slowly to find where she was. Was she near the door? She must be for the sound was slowly getting fainter. She was leaving the room. She could sense an air of desperation and knew that she had to get up.
She opened her eyes halfway and the torch lit medical room met her eyes. The walls were plain and barren, but she had no time to focus on walls! She needed to find strength to move, move something! Try as she might she could not move a muscle.
With her sister’s hoofsteps growing ever quieter, Luna did the only thing she could think of. Her eyes fell on a vase and she focused hard to wrap it in her magic and fling it against the wall. The vase hit its mark, shattering with a loud clash. Ponies were rushing to her side, Tia was among them. Good.
Luna winced as she shifted her uninjured leg under herself and pushed up so that she was sitting. A burning pain scorched through her left shoulder.
“Lulu!” Celestia exclaimed as she hurried to her sister’s side and tried to gently push her back onto the bed “You’ll strain your injuries! Lay back down!”
The moon princess battered her hoof away “No! My ponies need me!” she pleaded as she struggled out of the bed.
The gathered ponies cleared a space for her as she stood shakily of three legs. She winced as she began to hobble towards the window “I need to see it, my moon”
She was about to collapse, when Tia rushed to her side to stabilize her “We’ll do this together dear sister.” They pushed open the window and leaned out. Below in the city they could hear the sounds of panicking ponies. With horns crossed they cast their spells that would move the great orbs in the sky. The moon was almost pushed from the sky as the sun rushed up to its rightful place. Cheers rose from the city as the balance was restored.
“How wondrous is it that on the one night they come out to see my sky, they panic and cheer when it replaced by your sky” Luna muttered with venom in her voice.
“What was that Luna?” the older mare asked.
“Nothing Tia, tis nothing” replied the younger as they sat down. She leaned against her sister and allowed herself a moment’s peace, but that was quickly shattered as a certain stallion came to mind. “Falling Star”
“What was that Lulu?”
Luna forced herself to her hooves “Falling Star, where is he? He was with me in the field, he” Luna fell silent when she saw that her sister would not meet her gaze “Tia? Tia what happened to him?” when she was met with silence she began to panic “Tia he saved my life! Where is he!?”
Celestia stood slowly and wrapped her wings around her little sister to try and keep her calm “Luna, he kept the mad ponies attention and kept his blade away from you, but he was just a Pegasus and he couldn’t keep going. The pair fought for quite some time and his wounds were terrible.”
“No! Oh Tia please don’t tell that he-“
“He hasn’t woken up yet” Celestia finished with a small smile “your friend is tough as a manticore, he’ll make it”
“Can I see him?” Luna asked quietly.
Without replying Celestia moved to her sister’s side to help support her weight and the two shuffled out of the room.
~ ~ ~
Luna’s eyes widened and her wings fell limp at her side as she gazed upon the beaten form of her dearest friend. Tears welled up in her eyes and threated to fall but she managed to will them away. She was the moon princess, the guardian of the night, she could not show weakness in open view of the ponies she ruled over.
She watched as the few medical ponies in the room stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the princess.
They bowed a moment before the pony in charge, a pale yellow earth pony stallion with a chestnut mane and a bundle of herbs for a cutie mark, turned to Luna “You shouldn’t be up and about yet princess, your wound was quite sever and I fear you may have hit your head” he advised.
The princess paid him no mind “How is his condition?” she asked.
“What?”
“The Stallion who saved my life, how is his condition?” she asked again, sounding more demanding.
The pony clued in and cleared his throat “The good knight is in stable condition. He hasn’t woken up yet, though from the severity of his wounds and the amount of blood he lost that isn’t all that surprising” he said in a low even tone “his wings are of current concern to us, mainly the right one. Deep gashes, broken bones, many feathers were ripped out and as for the left one it had been pulled from the socket and will not be usable for quite some time.”
As the stallion went on the urge to scream and cry grew ever stronger. “Leave us” she commanded, cutting off the medical pony as he went on about broken ribs.
He blinked “What was that Princess?”
“I said, leave us!” this time her command was punctuated with a small burst of magic causing lightning to flash outside and a loud stomp of her hoof.
The medical ponies, thoroughly startled, if not a little frightened, rushed from the room.
“Do you not think that that was a bit much Luna?” Celestia scolded as she looked down at her younger sister.
Luna ignored her scolding’s “You as well dear Sister, Leave us” she whimpered hoarsely.
The sun god’s eyes narrowed “What? Did you just order me to leave, little sister? You have no right to order me to do anything! I should be dragging you back to your bed and ordering YOU to stay there and rest!” anger flashed through her voice.
Luna turned and gazed into Celestias eye’s as tears slowly began to trickle down her cheeks “Tia, please. Leave us a moment” she pleaded.
Celestias anger melted away at the sight of her sister’s tears. Her dearest little sister who since her coronation had done her best to seem so strong, so stoic, so like their father, was breaking down. The white mare bowed her head and backed out of the room. Luna wanted to remain strong in her eyes, and Celestia would grant her that wish. The door closed with a small push and Luna and Falling Star were alone.
Slowly and with quivering hooves, Luna approached the bed and gave her friend and saviour a closer look. His sides barely moved with each breath he took, pressing against the bandages that covers his chest and sides. His right wing was bandaged up as well and bound tightly to his side while the other was held in a sling. A sheet was draped over his flank and hind legs to keep him warm so Luna examined his forelegs. The leg that his blade was grafted to was also wound in bandages while the other leg was bruised but otherwise fine. Bandages covered the left side of his face and Luna dreaded what sort of damage could lie beneath them. A few stray strands of his pitch black mane hung loosely over his closed eye and with a gentle hoof she brushed it aside.
Without thinking Luna buried her face in her friends mane and sobbed “Why!? Why did you have to do that!? Why couldn’t you have run! You could have been killed!?” she cried as her tears soaked his mane. She took a few deeps breaths “What would I do if you were taken from me, Star? You’re the only friend I’ve ever had! If I lost you then, I’d lose myself to!” she dissolved once again into quiet sobs.
Luna flinched as a wing weakly draped over her shoulders. Her head snapped up and she gasped to see her friend smiling at her, his uncovered eye half open.
“Hey there, Daydream.” His eye scanned over her “You look horrible” he said as he moved his wing slowly and wiped the tears from her face.
“Star” she said quietly “You’re-”
“I’m alright Luna, what about you? Did that mad pony hurt you anymore?” he cut in softly.
Luna sat back on the floor and rubbed her shoulder with her hoof “No, you kept him distracted long enough for the guards to get a head start”
The stallion nodded his approval “That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re safe, but still, I acted too late, you are injured. Please forgive me”
She shook her head “There is nothing to forgive, you saved my life, Star” she replied as she laid down on the stone floor. It was cold, and rather undignified, but she didn’t care.
They lay there in silence for what seemed like ages. No more words needed to be shared, both knew the others thoughts, relief and joy that the other was alive. It was so peaceful, lying in the quite room with not but the sound of the ponies in the city drifting into the room, carried on the wind.
But it was not to last.
The sound of several hoofsteps grew rapidly loudly, and with them, the rage filled voice of the archmage Starswirld the Bearded “Why did not a soul think it wise to tell me that she had awoken!?” he bellowed.
“Sir, we thought it need not to be said, what with the moon lowering and the sun rising”
“Of course it need be said! I assumed that some foalhardy Princess had listened to me and taken matters into her own hooves!” the bearded pony snapped.
“Starswirl, please! Leave them be!” Celestia pleaded “The knight may not even be awake yet! Allow him to rest, I beg of you! He has earned that much!”
“A knight!? What sort of knight leaps to the defence of his ruler only after she has be struck down!? No, not a knight, mark my words Celestia if I have my way he will not be a knight by days end!”
Luna stumbled to her feet just as the door burst open and Starswirl stormed into the room.
“Princess Luna! What in your father’s name do you think you are doing out of bed!?”
Luna shrank back “I only wanted to visit the Stallion who saved me!” Luna said as she stood taller. She had to stand her ground.
“Save you? Save you!? Young princess I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole thing happened because of that useless Stallion you allow to tag along behind you!” The mage raged.
At this Falling Star lifted his head “Archmage, if I may. I regret that I was unable to defend her from the first strike, but this was because-“
“I was on my own” Luna butted in. She would not allow her friend to be punished for this “I was stressed and upset so I flew off on my own. When that pony attacked I thought that I was done for, I am not learned in the arts of offensive, nor defensive magics” she shot a glare to her tutor, laying the blame for this fact on him “that ‘Useless Stallion’ as you so called him, came to find me” There was a flash beyond Luna’s eyes as her anger grew “He put himself in harms way to save Us and nearly DIED doing so, and you would do well to remember that lest you incur Our wrath!” she spat. All through this she had been moving ever closer to the mage and was now almost nose to nose with him.
“Luna that is enough!” Celestia snapped.
The moon princess blinked as if she had just woken up and slowly back up “Forgive me dear sister”
Celestia nodded softly “Now, let’s calm down everypony and take a moment to clear our heads” Celestias words washed over them all like a calming blanket.
“May I speak, Princess?” Falling Star’s voice seemed loud in the sudden silence.
“You may” she replied.
“I would like to request a transfer of guard.” He said calmly.
Celestia moved closer and tilted her head “A transfer? But you requested to be a night guard”
“Situations have changed, Princess” the knight began “I wish to be transfers from the night guard, and in fact all guard duties”
Luna looked to her friend, her eyes filling with despair. He wished to leave her?
Celestia stood taller “All guard duties? Then pray tell Falling Star, where is it that you wish to be transferred?” she asked with a small smile, her mind already working out his reply.
“I wish to be the personal guard of Princess Luna, if you would allow me”
Luna made to speak but the sun princess rose a hoof to silence her “And why should I allow this?”
The grey stallion winced as he shifted on the bed and moved the blanket to show his cutie mark. It had appeared when he had passed the entrance exam to the knights academy. A blue shield with two crossed swords behind it. The centre of the shield had been blank. Had been was indeed the word to use as the centre of the shield now depicted a crescent moon.
Starswirls eyes were wide “It changed” the mage was stunned “In all my long years I have never seen such a thing happen”
Falling Star nodded “cutie marks show all of Equestria our special talents, they also in their own cryptic way depict our destinies. Destinies change Princess.” His eye narrowed with the determination of his next words “and my destiny has changed. The fates no long say that I should defend any old mare or colt. It is my destiny to protect the life and honour of the moon! So please, Princess. Allow me to follow my destiny”
There was a long silence before Celestia replied “Do you vow to defend her with your life and honour?” she asked “do you vow to stand by her side, no matter the cost to your life, or the fate of the land?”
“I vow to defend the Moon Princess Luna with my Life and my honour. No matter the fate of the land, or if my duties should cost me my life, this is my vow”
Luna stared at her friend in awe as her sister swore him in as her shield. The thought scared her a little, he could die because of her carelessness, but that didn’t seem to faze him at all. In a matter of moments he went from the colt she had played with as a filly, to the stallion that would defend her in her marehood.
Silence fell heavily on Luna’s ears. She could see lips moving but she could hear no words.
“He will be Our guardian?” the voice in the mist echoed around her “Good strong stallion. Let us see just how well he can keep Us rooted in the light of the sun”
Sound rushed in on her again, causing the young princess to sway. What did she mean rooted in the sun?
Celestia moved next to her sister “Come Little Sister.” She said softly “Lets get you back to bed so that you can rest up.”
Luna looked up at her sister with a dumbfounded gaze. She suddenly felt very sleepy. She leaned against Celestia and waved lazily at Falling Star with her wing as she was ushered out of the room
~ ~ ~
It didn’t take long to reach Luna’s bedroom “You seem well enough to stay in your own bed now” she said as she helped the moon princess into bed “get some sleep, Lulu”
“Sleep sounds good, Tia” Luna replied as she slowly drifted off.
The sun princess smiled “You can sleep all you want, I’ll come to wake you when the moon needs raising and lowing. Till the night, dear Sister”
The last thing Luna heard before sleep pulled her away the latch of the door softly clicking into place.
Lunas ears twitched as she heard her door unlock. For the past three days her sister had been locking her in her room with some advanced magic that she assumed she wasn’t supposed to know about. With every visit she played dumb, laying in her bed thinking quietly to herself about the attack in the field of nightshade. She couldn’t defend herself, she didn’t know how. With every waking hour that night replayed through her mind, haunting her, taunting her. She had been powerless to stop the attack. She had almost lost her only friend, and that thought alone threatened to crush her.
Her sister was approaching her bedside. She allowed herself to lay limp as she heard gentle hoofsteps approaching her bed.
She feigned sleep as a hoof brushed through her mane “Good evening Luna, tis time for the moon raising.” Celestias informed her with her sweet voice.
With a grunt Luna rolled over and sat up slowly, wincing as she folded her wings against her body. Her wound ached. With eyes still closed the princess of the night fired up her horn and cast the spell that would raise the moon and summon the stars.
“Yet another beautiful night, Dear sister” Celestia said cheerfully.
“Yes, another night for your subjects fear” Luna grumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing Tia, twas nothing”
Celestia nodded and turned to leave, but Luna’s hoof caught her shoulder “Yes Luna?” She turned to look back at her sister, her calm smile faded when she saw the pained look in her sister’s eyes. She hadn’t noticed until now, her little sister looked exhausted, and scared. How had she not noticed this? What else could be eluding her sight that she should know? She pushed the thought away. ‘What would Luna ever hide from me?’ she thought as she returned to her sister’s side “What’s wrong, dear sister?”
“I can’t get it out of my head Celestia. It just keeps playing over and over. It never stops!” she was shaking “I haven’t slept for I find no solace in my own dreams, my nightmares are ones I cannot control. I see him returning to finish us, I see him taking everything from me. I feel my helplessness grow and all I wish for is relief and to not be alone”
She blinked as she felt the older Alicorn’s wings gently wrap around her and she buried her face in her sister soft coat. ‘So soft, so warm, so like mother’ she closed her eyes and allowed her sister to hold her there “I miss this” she whimpered softly, but her sister didn’t seem to hear.
All too soon the comforting wings were gone and Celestia was leaving the room. The remaineder of her royal duties needed to be finished up before she got some rest herself.
“I’ll have Starswirl prepare a sleeping drought for you” she said with kind smile “At least maybe you can get some rest” she called as her white form slipped through the door and into the hall.
The sound of the doors lock latching home echoed around the room and Luna was left alone once more while she waited Starswirl and potions. ____________________________________________________________________________________
It wasn’t long before the lock was released and the bearded stallion entered her room, pulling a small cart in his magic behind him.
Luna watched as he pulled the cart to her bedside and opened the top revealing numerous corked vials and jars filled with strange liquids, clumps of fur, and she was sure that one was filled with eyeballs. She shuddered as the image of the one-eyed stallion filled her mind.
“Celestia tells me you need a sleeping drought” the old pony said as we rooted through the cart and pulled out several of the vials “and I couldn’t agree more. You will never get better if you do not rest” he snorted and tapped his staff. The vials floated several inches above the surface of the cart. “Yes never get better, and never learn”
“Learn?”
“Yes learn you foal, there is much that we can learn from dreams. I myself have spent ages studying them. But the dreams of an alicorn in turmoil? Who knows what they could teach them”
Luna wasn’t quite sure she understand or believed her old mentor but held her tongue as she watched with growing curiosity.
Potions, the magic and the strange race known as Zebras. Starswirl had talked about it before with great respect. Neither she nor her sister had been able to understand why he, the most powerful unicorn in Equestrian history, had dabbled in potions. He never went into details about his reasons and on several occasions snapped at the girls for asking too much. When they had worn him down and had simply answered “There are somethings that a unicorn’s magic cannot do that the magic Zebras have mastered can” after that they never asked again.
Now Luna was witnessing his mastery of potions firsthoof and she could only sit there and watch in awe.
Dim lights had begun to glow from the bowl that changed ever so slightly with each new ingredient that was added. She wasn’t so sure yet about the power of potions, but they sure were beautiful.
From within his beard the old pony pulled out one final vial. Inside seemed too been a small golden mist that was gently swirling around inside of its glass container.
Luna stared at it with growing curiosity “Starswirl, what is that?”
“This? Tis nothing. Just something to help you learn.” Came his reply as the cork was pulled.
The mist slowly seeped up out of the vial and grew to nearly triple its size. It floated about the rooms lazily for only a moment before rushing into the vial the contained the nearly finished potion. A flash of yellow light filled the room and it was over.
Spots were still dancing in Luna’s eyes when Starswirl handed the vial out to her. “Drink” she commanded.
Luna took the vial gently between her hooves and stared at the liquid inside. She sniffed at it and blinked “Why does it smell like chocolate?”
The old stallion sighed “I just mixed a copious amount hard to get ingredient together and a flurry of magic, and you want to know why it smells like chocolate? Just drink it Luna”
With one last look at the vial Luna shrugged and downed its contents. “So how long before it starts to” she began before the vial slipped from her hooves as she swayed and collapsed back onto the bed, fast asleep.
“Sleep well, little Princess” Starswirl whispered as he left the room, locking the door behind him “May you forgive me one day”
Luna’s eyes blinked open as she gazed around. She was in the room of swirling shadows. The room where she had heard the voice that was hers and yet not hers so long ago. But something was different about the shadows that swirled around her, all through it were streaks of shimmering gold.
She turned in a slow circle “Back to the depths of my mind. Is this where I will learn from my dreams?” she asked the darkness.
“Our dreams” came the reply of her twisted voice in the dark. “But We will not learn from Ourselves. There is another”
“Another? A new voice to add to the growing clutter of my mind?” she spat.
She leapt back in fright as a haunting laugh echoed and the streaks of gold rushed together to form a large mass “Clutter?” came a new voice. The voice was soothing, calming “I would call it more of a crowd, but I don’t plan on staying long. You are far too stuffy for my taste, far to brooding. But you like to laugh, I’ll give you that much and I do so love laughter” the voice laughed.
“What are you?” the Princess demanded.
“What am I? Why I am your teacher of course. I am merely here to give you a little nudge at realizing your full potential”
“Why yes. You are far more powerful then you could possibly imagine.” As it spoke the shadows swirls faster and began to condense “You simply need to be shown the first step”
“The first step?”
“Yes, for example do you know what this shadow is or more rather who it is?”
The princess shook her head “Should I?”
“Should you!? My dear of course you should, this shadow is you, or half of you” As the voice spoke the form of a pony stepped from the mass of shadows and stood across from Luna. It was featureless but identical to the moon princess in form.
Luna tilted her head and the shadow did the same. She made several moves and gestures that the shadow mimicked instantly as if she were looking in a mirror. Slowly the pieces clinked into place. “My voice, Your voice, Our voice.” Her voice echoed as the shadow spoke with her as she held up a hoof and touched the shadows “We can stop being You and I, and start being Us” Her eyes widened with understanding. “This shadow, this voice I’ve tried so hard to force away. It’s me”
“You are the moon princess touched and nourished by the light of the sun, able to use your magiks that have been touched by the light of the sun. This shadow can allow you to do so much more. Be so much stronger and far more powerful, do things you never imagined possible. If you only let it. Stop separating it from you and embrace it! Embrace you!” the golden voice, sweet as honey echoed around her “It has been locked inside of you, how cruel. Release it, release it and know its dark secrets. Let it whisper to you in the light of day, let its thoughts be your thoughts. With it you will be the mare your father wanted you to be. You will be the night and all it holds”
The words of the golden voice swam through Luna’s mind her eyes dulled and she smiled slightly “Of course, everything makes sense. If I stop denying it, Tia will have to respect me for who I am and what I can do. I will be everything I was meant to be” she said with monotone voice as she wrapped her hooves around the shadow and began to pull it into herself.
Luna felt a surge of energy flood through her, like a bolt of lightning, as she pulled in the remainder of the shadow. She felt strong, powerful, and she felt whole. It was as if a piece of her had been put back into place only she had never known it was gone. Gone were the swirling shadows of her mind, she could see clearly, feel the power of the night in her every bone. Far away she heard a knocking. A door?
“It must be time to wake up” she said quietly.
“And it is time for me to take my leave. There is nothing more I can do for you. So I bid you ado. Arrivederci” the golden voice said as it vanished from her mind.
The waking world swam to her senses as she awoke, a small grin crossed her face and she slowly lowered the moon.
Luna stumbled from her bed and hurried to the door. She could sense her sister on the other side of the door. She could feel her knew found magic coursing through her veins, she felt for powerful than ever before and wanted nothing more than to share this joy she felt with her sister. She winced momentarily and leaned against the door, she had stressed her wound and new magic or not her body was still weak and recovering slowly.
She smiled when she heard the door begin to unlock, but something was wrong. She could hear hooves galloping towards her room.
“Your majesty!” panted a deep voice.
Luna scowled, she had grown to hate that term.
“Yes, what is it?” came Celestia’s kind voice.
The guard gasped in air “There is a mare here to see you, your majesty” he said with urgency “She claims to be from the north” he paused “From the city where the King and Queen-“
Luna heard a flutter of feathers and guessed that the sun goddess had silenced him with a wave of her wings. “From the North?” she asked in a hushed voice.
Was she trying to hide their conversation from Luna’s ears?
“Yes, she says she knows what happened. That the situation has become dire”
“Take me to her” she commanded with a tone to her voice that Luna had never before heard her use. It sounded like a fixture of suppressed anger and fear overlaid with the regality that she held. It made Luna feel small and distant. She was about to try and open the door to follow them when the lock clicked back into place and the pair galloped down the hall.
Luna staggered back. She was in a state of shock. Why was Celestia not involving her in this matter? They were her parents to. Was it not her right to know what had happened? Didn’t she deserve that much? The guard had said something about a dire situation? What in Tartarus was going on out there? She had to know, she had to find what was going on. But even with her knew power she knew she couldn’t break the lock spell without first knowing what it was.
Looking around in desperation her eyes fell on the tome her father had given her so many years ago. It had been ages since she had given it a second thought, but there it was, gathering dust on her shelf, practically calling her name. Her hooves seemed to move on their own, daring her closer and closer to the shelf. She had read everything she could in the book, but she had given up on it when she could not read through the haze that filled her mind when her eyes caught certain pages. She had never been able to read them before, why should now be any different? But something inside of her kept calling to the book, and the book called back. Maybe she could read them now?
She pulled the book down and set it on the floor before her. She lay down next to it and began to flip through its pages with urgency.
She grumbled loudly “I need a spell to get me out of this room!” she snapped at the book. When it didn’t respond she flung it away.
It hit the wall with a dull thump and fell to the floor, pages flipping down. When she didn’t hear the cover close she turned her attention back to the book. Whatever anger had been bubbling away inside her melted away when she saw that the book was open to a page she had never seen before. Slowly, she approached the book and tilted head to see the image on the page. It depicted a pony turning into a mist. She blinked as she read the title “Shadow Mist” she whispered. A chill ran through her spine. This was dark magic. She shuddered as she read on, though whether it was from fear or joy she would never know. She could do it. She knew she could.
She slammed the book shut lest anypony see the pages she had uncovered in her father’s tome of magic.
The lunar princess hobbled back to the door and looked at the key hole, she could smell the fresh air that came through it into her stagnant room. Air could pass through it, why not a mist? She braced her hooves on the floor and, pushing her fears from her mind, fired up her horn. She imagined herself being engulfed by her ethereal mane, and then that she was melting into a mist.
She felt cold, like nothing was right anymore. This was wrong, and Luna could feel in in her soul. It had worked, but she found herself wishing it hadn’t, she felt as if you had opened a window to her soul and the cold and dark to flooding in. She floated up and slowly began to feed her body of mist through the key hole.
Once she was free she rose to the ceiling and tried to let out a cry of joy, but no sound came. Mist makes no sound. She had to remind herself to quell that fear that suddenly rose within her. She moved swiftly through the castle, heading towards the throne room.
It didn’t take her long to reach her destination. Her misty form slipped under the door and moved from shadow to shadow as she got closer and closer to Celestia who was sitting on her throne, a hoof held to the side of her head in frustration. The pony from the north was nowhere to be seen, but all of the royal advisors had been gathered to meet with the ruling princess.
“Your majesty” one of them, an old pale purple earth pony stallion with grey blue wig of a mane and a quill on his flank, began
“Should you not take more time to think about this?” he questioned.
“There is no time to think about this, we have wasted enough time with Starswirl explaining to me that there was a secondary minor kingdom in my own that I had been kept in the dark about” she snapped as she glared over to the bearded unicorn in question “And now hearing that these citizen are in grave danger.” She paused to take a deep breath “No, I must act immediately”
“But, your majesty” a dusty brown stallion with lance for a cutiemark spoke this time whom Luna recognized as Falling Stars father
“At least consider taking a detachment of knights with you!” he insisted.
“I will do no such thing!” the princess was on her hooves now “The last time your knights accompanied a Ruler to the north nopony returned save a stallion whose mind was so shattered by the ordeal that he almost slaughtered my baby sister!” Celestia’s booming voice filled the room and echoed. She took a shuddering breath and her voice softened when her next words came “I refuse to risk the lives of my ponies again”
“But how will we know if anything were to happen to you, what would we do? Who would lead us then?” came the timid voice of a small blue mare.
The sun princess smiled kindly towards her “If any horrors befall me, Philomena will return here posthaste with the news, and Luna would succeed me on the throne.
The gathered ponies burst into heated debated and arguments over this last detail. It was only when Starswirl stepped forward and banged the tip of his staff on the stone tiles did they fall silent. He nodded and turned to the princess “And what of Luna, your majesty” she began “What are we to tell her? Surely she will notice your absence, and what of the sun?”
The great alicorn closed her eyes “Luna is not to know of this, she is to be kept into her room until either Philomena or myself return. And as for the sun, I leave that to the council of mages. It will be controlled as it was in the days of old, by a collective of powerful unicorns” her decree left the room in a hush and she slowly walked past them “General, I require my armor and a traveling cloak. I leave with the midday sun”
Luna stayed in the shadows until the room was clear. Her sister was leaving to face the daemon that had killed her parents, alone, and she had no intention of telling her? No, this was not going to happen! Not this way, not is she could help it. She lifted off the ground and hurried off to the door where Falling star had been staying.
When she reached his door she allowed her mist form to leave the shadows and lay on the ground. For the first time since with became the mist a terrifying thought struck her? No! She pushed the though away. Of course she could. She knew she could. “Just form your body again” she told herself silently. Slowly she could feel herself solidify and sighed in relief.
“Star?” she called “Star open up!”
She heard the clop of hoofsteps and the door opened “Luna?”
Luna frowned at the sight of her dear friend. Sure he was able to walk again but he still looked like he had been to Tartarus and back. She suddenly felt bad for coming to ask for his help, he was only in this state because of her.
“Luna what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
He had always been to kind to her “Tia is leaving for the North” she stated but pressed on when she saw the look of horror on his face “”I need your help retrieving my armor. Im going with her” she stated.
Her friend furrowed his brow “Does Celestia know this?”
Luna shook her head “She wasn’t even going to tell me she was going. She was just going to take off and leave me here in the dark”
Falling Star sighed “And how did you find out?”
“I snuck out of my room and into the throne room and listened in” she replied maybe a little too proudly.
“I can’t talk you out of this can I?”
“Not in a thousand years”
He sighed “Well I did swear my life to you, I suppose I don’t have much of a choice” he smiled “How long do we have?”
“Till midday. That’s when she’s leaving”
“Then I suppose we had better hurry” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Celestia stood in the center of the training yard. Her shimmering gold armor glittered from beneath the snow white cloak she wore, her phoenix Philomena was perched on a post to her side, ready to fly with her master. She sorted through everything in her mind and stuffed away her sorrow oh abandoning her sister so that she could stand tall. It was almost time. She took a steadying breath and stretched out her porcelain wing, ready to take flight when a gasp broke through the assembled knights and advisors.
“Princess Luna” came the hushed whisper.
Celestia turned slowly as her eyes fell on her little sister.
Luna wore her own armor of silver and a cloak of black fluttered out behind her as she walked towards her sister with a confidence that she had never seen before.
“What are you doing here Luna?” she demanded as she remembered who was in charge “You should be in your room resting.”
“I’m going with you” came her firm reply.
“Going with me? How did” her eyes narrowed “And where is it that I’m going?”
“You’re going North are you not? To avenge mother and father? To bring peace to the land again?” Luna asked.
“How did you know that?”
“I snuck out and overheard everything, Tia. I’m going with you”
“Snuck out, how did you manage that?” she asked before changing her mind “Never mind, we can deal with that when I return. Go back to your room Luna, you are not coming with me”
This only poked at the anger that had been growing in the younger princess “What right have you to refuse this to me?” she snapped
“Why can I not go with you to avenge them!?”
“I am the ruler of Equestira and my word is law! It is by that right that I refuse you!” she was losing her temper.
“They were my parents to, Celestia! Bust as you are surely you haven’t forgotten that fact!” the dark blue princess shouted “You may have the right to refuse me as my ruler” she spat the words “But I have every right to avenge my parents!”
Celestia’s anger dried up at this statement. Her eyes softened as she looked over her sister. She looked so small in her armor, yet so strong. She had to find another way to convince her to stay “What about your wing, it isn’t healed yet. I must fly, and you cannot in your condition.”
Luna smirked at this, as if the mere thought that a wounded wing would stop her was amusing. She allowed her magic to flood into her wing, causing it to glow and she flapped it “I’m stronger then I look, Tia. Please” The ruling princess let out an exasperated sigh “Very well dear sister. You may come” she paused and pointed a hoof towards the door way “But your guardian cannot.”
Luna turned to see Falling Star slowly hobbling towards them and she rushed to his side “Star, I said I had to do this on my own”
“But what kind of guardian would I be if I allowed you to get hurt again, or worse? I swore I wouldn’t let that happen”
Luna bit her lip, so kind “I can’t depend on you forever” her eyes grew oddly cold. She had been grateful to him for offering to give his life to her service, but she knew he couldn’t, seeing his so frail reminded her of that. It pained her but she had to crush him “I am an immortal Alicorn, Star” her voice was a harsh whisper in his ear “And you are but a mortal, it is impossible for you to always be there. So don’t force yourself to. Move on” she kept the coldness in her eyes to hide her going sorrow “If it were possible for you to live forever, to always be by my side, believe me it would make me the happiest mare. But you can’t, so I have to learn to do things for myself. Thank you” she finished and turned away, unable to bare the hurt that was plain in his expression. She hurried to her sister’s side and spread her wings.
Celestia’s voice echoed through the training yard “We will return in one week’s time. Until our return I leave my kingdom in Starswirl’s capable hooves” she told them all before the two sisters galloped off into the sky.
The gather ponies stood and watched them until they out of sight “May the Spirit of Equestria guide you” Starswirl mumbled. What ever happened next he knew, nothing would ever be the same.
The two sisters flew fast and hard, wings beating through the air. It was hard tiring work as their bones were not made for extended flight like those of a Pegasus, but they flew on, covering as much ground as possible.
Celestia looked back over her shoulder to see the Luna was falling behind, her wings struggling to work. She knew that her sister wouldn’t last much longer and that they had to land, and soon. She chewed at her lip and thought about how to go about getting her sister to agree to stopping. Luna was a stubborn, proud mare, she would not take kindly to her older sister pointing out her weaknesses. If anything that approach would only serve to anger the lunar princess and cause her to fly harder, and that wouldn’t do.
Thinking of a plan, Celestia slowed her wings and fell back subtly, dropping lower in the sky. This caught Luna’s attention and she looked back to her sister. “Tia? Are you okay?” she asked, trying not to gasp for breath.
The sun princess nodded once before shaking her head “No, I grow tired, dear sister.” She looked to the sun “And I don’t think I would be able to lower it and fly at the same time” this much was true. Raising the sun midflight was one thing but setting it while flying was something that, even after years of ruling the sun, Celestia had not been able to master.
Luna frowned as she stared at her sister “You are a terrible liar, Tia.” She stated matter-of-factly before sighing. “But I must agree, landing would be for the best” she turned her gaze to the ground and searched for a resting spot. Her eyes came to rest on an old oak tree at the edge of the field they had been flying over and banked down towards it, her sister close behind her.
The pair landed and walked the rest of the way to the tree, sudden weariness making their legs feel like lead. Once under the tree, the two sisters raised their horns, simultaneously casting the magic that they used to move the great orbs in the sky. The sun set and the moon rose, bringing the stars with it, in what was almost an elegant dance.
Luna released the magic that had kept strength in her injured wing and allowed it to droop back to her side and shuffled to join her sister amongst the trees roots. Celestia had already made herself quite comfortable in a crook and smiled at Luna as she approached.
The older mare lifted her wing in a silent invitation for the younger to snuggle close. Luna was quick to lay down and press herself against her sister side. Enough through her armour, Celestia gave off a pleasant warmth that was comparable to that of the midday sun.
Celestia draped her wing over her sister and held her close “Sleep well little sister” she whispers as the two fell into a deep sleep. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was a rarity for Luna to be the first to awaken out of the two sisters, but one the second morning of their journey North she was. With a great deal of effort she managed to dislodge herself from the protective embrace of her sister’s wings and stumbled to her feet. Her breath puffed out in a cloud before her and she blinked in surprise. She didn’t remember it being this cold when they had laid down to rest. It was strange, yes, but a good sign. They must have been further North than they had thought.
She winced as she stretched out her wings and shook the stiffness from her body. The hard flying from the previous day had been painful, but it had done wonders for her injured wing. She flapped her wings slowly and smiled when the movement only hurt a little. Now they could fly faster! They could finish what needed to be done and be home faster.
Turning her gaze up, Luna studied the sky intently. She made not of every twinkle of a star, every subtle cloud movement, and most importantly the location of the moon. It was slowly making its way to the horizon, but it was not close enough to need Luna to give it its final nudge. And that meant that there was still time for her dear sister to sleep, if only for a little long, before she had to raise the sun.
The plates of her armour made whimpering clinks as she ventured away from the cluster of bushes that had concealed them for the night. They were in a vast expanse of tundra and had been lucky enough to find any shelter at all and they both knew it. Things would get harder from here on out.
“What are going to do?” she asked herself quietly as she sat down in the frost. “When we get there, what can we do to this Daemon that was able to slay our parents?” the young princess voiced her fears to the night sky “They were far more powerful than us, and still” she shook “it took them from us”
Anger bubbled up inside of her “revenge” she muttered “A life for a life” she all but snarled, unaware that her sister had already awoken and had come in search of her, until she heard her voice.
“Luna, we are not killers” Celestias calm voice stomped out the younger princesses anger “We are alicorns, we will not stoop to the level of a daemon”
Luna looked back over her shoulder “Then what, Tia? If not killed then what fate awaits it? What justice shall we wreak?” she asked quietly as she stood “what price will it pay for its crimes?”
Celestia let out a small sigh “I know not, but I do not wish to take a life. Life is not something to be taken by anypony, not even us” she motioned to the sky “Tis time”
The moon had reached the horizon and Luna gentle nudged it down while the white alicorn called up the sun.
“Let us be off. We still have a ways to go yet.” Celestia ordered as she charged back into the sky.
“Yes sister” Luna sounded defeated as she followed close behind. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Everything was black. Luna was used to the darkness, it haunted her dreams often. But this darkness, was different, hollower. She peered through the blackness looking for something, anything. Nothing, there was nothing. Shaking her head, she moved her wing to her mouth. The blackness came in her dreams, she just had to wake up. She took her feathers between her teeth and yanked them out as roughly as she could, squeaking with pain. When she didn’t wake up she yanked again and again, her feathers littering the ground around her. “Not a dream” she muttered “I’m awake. This isn’t a dream… but then why is it so dark?”
She began to wander through the darkness “Tia!” she called “Celestia where are you!” she was running now, growing more and more frantic with every step she took “Celestia!” she cried as she spotted the flash of white in the distance, moving away from her. She took off after it as fast as she could. “Celestia wait!” the white was vanishing “Don’t leave me!” she practically screamed “I don’t want to be alone!”
Luna slowed to a stop, her breathing heavy from the running. “I don’t want to be alone” she was shaking “Please Tia. Don’t leave me alone in the darkness” she whimpered as she curled up on the ground.
She knew not how long she lay there shivering in the dark alone. Why was she always alone?
“Never alone” she whispered to herself. She stood slowly, her form shimmering, her eyes briefly shifting from those of a pony to those of a beast, a monster of the night “We are never alone. We have nothing to fear. We are united now. Now and forever” She stood stronger now “I can dispel the darkness. I am the light in the night!” She stamped her hooves onto the ground and the darkness vanished in a blast of swirling green smoke, leaving the lunar princess standing on the cliff side that she and her sister had chosen to rest in.
Luna rubbed a hoof over her eyes and looked about. She could see her sister in the distance and began to make her way back to her. She must have been walking in her sleep, and yet she wasn’t dreaming.
She shuffled her hooves through the snow as she made her way back to her sister. She froze when her eyes fell upon the sun god. Green mist was swirling around her, seeping from her eyes with her tears. Luna rushed to her side and began shaking her “Tia! Celestia wake up!” she shook her more franticly.
The larger alicorn was shaking and muttering ‘stop’
“CELESTIA!” Luna yelled before a hoof smashed into the side of her head, sending her tumbling to the ground.
The mist around Celestia faded slowly and she opened her eyes “Luna, you’re alright”
Luna rubbed her face and nodded “Oh yes, Tia. Aside from my headache I’m fine” She grumbled before being pulled into a tight hug. “I saw them dead, Luna” she whispered “Every pony in our kingdom. Suffocating in eternal darkness. Suffering.” She grit her teeth and stood tall “We have to end this Luna.” She said as she moved swiftly to the edge of the cliff, the sun rising with her hoofsteps. The most beautiful sight in all of Equestria met the eyes of the two sisters as they stood on the edge of the cliff. Great crystal spires rose from the snow in the valley, they went on for miles. On the horizon was a great wall of red crystals and rising above that a great castle.
“It’s in there, isn’t it Celestia?” Luna asked.
Her sister nodded “The Daemon”
“We made it?”
“Yes dear sister. Somehow we made it.”
“And we are going to deal with it, right sister?”
“Yes Luna, we are going to deal with it. My, our, kingdom shall be safe”
“Right, let’s go”
“Yes, let’s go”
The early morning sun gleamed off of there armor of silver and gold and their gilded capes as they spread their wings wide and took off into sky, sailing towards the crystal walls of the Empire.
