> Once in a blue moon
>  by Feefers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prelude
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia stood atop the tallest tower in Canterlot Castle, watching the last rays of the sun starting to fade into inky blackness.
She had a rather pleasant day so far; no invasions, no threats and no unexpected disturbances.
Now she had to tell somepony some bad news, she could feel a little knot of discomfort forming.

She started to walk down the castle steps; deliberately taking as long as possible to get to the bottom where her sister, Princess Luna, was waiting.
“Sister, something is wrong?” Luna asked picking up on Celestia’s sadness right away.
“I’m afraid it is,” Celestia replied, before giving Luna a little nuzzle.
“It must be serious,” Luna said, placing a reassuring wing on her sister’s shoulder.
A tear rolled down Celestia’s cheek as she spoke, “It is, it is tonight Sister.”
Princess Luna took a half step back, her face started to whiten.
Both Luna and Celestia stood not saying anything, just cuddling and embracing each other firmly.

“I’ve made arrangements, my most faithful student Twilight will help you,” Celestia snuffled slightly, trying to keep the tears back now.
“Thank you sister, I only wish...” Luna said looking to her older sister, before deciding not to ask any more.
“I know, I wish I could be with you for this as well.  A blue moon is so rare the last time one occurred...” Princess Celestia looked directly at her sister, shame and embarrassment filling her.
“You were not able to make a difference sister, it had to be done.” Luna interrupted, “I would do it again.”
Celestia stomped her foot angrily, the stone shattering from the impact of her hoof as she cried;  “NO!  You must not sister, I only have you back, I do not want to lose you again.”
Luna nuzzled against Celestia softly, “If I must.  I will consume the element of Darkness once again.”
Celestia glared slightly, holding herself back, sighing deeply as she looked to Luna.
“I … would do the same, “Celestia said frowning, trying desperately to think of another way.
Luna stepped forwards and nuzzled lightly into her sister, “Your student will ensure that does not come to pass.”
“Twilight Sparkle, of course!” Celestia exclaimed happily, “Trust  in her sister, learn to trust her magic of friendship.”
Luna nodded, for the first time since seeing her sister tonight, she allowed a small smile to come across her face.
“Of course sister.” Luna said happily, “I trust in your friendship.”
Celestia sighed, her eyes fluttering softly with sleep, “I must go, please; Luna.  Be careful.”

Princess Luna nodded, Celestia starting to leave as an armored pegasus guard approached bowing to both princesses, before approaching princess Luna directly.
“Your highness, “ The guard bowed directly to her, “Miss Twilight Sparkle is here to see you.”
Luna nodded and trotted with the guard, peering as Celestia turned off into her bedroom.
“Thank you Mister Kale, lead on,” Luna commanded, following the royal guard to the entrance way where Twilight Sparkle was waiting.

Twilight Sparkle bowed asking, “Princess Luna, Princess Celestia said you wanted to see me?”
Princess Luna nodded, “Twilight Sparkle, my sister says you are her more faithful and brightest student.”
Twilight blushed deeply at the praise but said nothing, continuing to listen to Princess Luna.
“Tonight is a very special night my little pony, tonight is the night of the blue moon,” Princess Luna explained, “This happens once every thousand years or so.”
Twilight nodded, stalling for time as she racked her brain for information on the night of a blue moon as her eyes widened.
“Princess, The last time there was a blue moon...” Twilight quietly said, looking to Princess Luna slightly fearfully, “Was the night you became nightmare moon!”



My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahh ahh ahh ahhh…

[Twilight Sparkle]
(My Little Pony)
I used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Little Pony)
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness,

[Twilight Sparkle]
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete

You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?



Princess Luna nodded, “That is correct, the last blue moon was not such a good night for me.”
Twilight gasped and nodded, “Yuh.  It was a bad night for all of Equestria!”
Princess Luna fidgeted trotting up to beside Twilight, “That was then.  Besides you will be with me, reminding me of the friendship of my sister.”
“That is quite a lot to ask, but I will do my best for you Princess,” Twilight said, keeping in step with Luna.
Luna smiled softly towards Twilight, “I can’t ask for anything more my little pony.  Now we must prepare.”
Twilight looked hopefully to Princess Luna, “I hope it is enough.”
> A night on the town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


“So where to first Princess?” Twilight asked, trying to at least be excited about her new, if somewhat ominous task.
“First, we must go to ponyville.” Princess Luna said, starting to make a list of what they would need to do, “Then the castle of the royal pony sisters.  Finally, we must visit the garden of statues.”
Twilight nodded, “Okay, so to ponyville first?”
Princess Luna smiled and nodded back, “Hmm it will be a long night and you will need all your strength.  Mister Kale?”
The armored pegasus stood to attention, trotting slowly towards Princess Luna.
“Your majesty?” he asked.
“Mister Kale, please arrange with mister Drake over there for a carriage, we will need to leave at once.”
The pegasus nodded, “Of course your majesty.” He galloped across heading outside as fast as he could.

Twilight trotted beside Princess Luna, heading outside where the armored pegasus had been joined by another, both were connected to a small functional single pony carriage.
Princess Luna spread her wings, arching slightly back as she flapped a single beat, the ground of Canterlot leaving her behind.
“Mister Kale, do try to keep up.” She said, her wings beating again as she soared high up above Canterlot castle.
Kale the armored pegasus looked to Drake the other pegasus and sighed, “Come on Miss Sparkle, don’t want to keep the princess waiting now.”
Twilight climbed into the carriage holding on tightly, the two guards starting to flap rapidly, desperately trying to keep up with Princess Luna.

After several minutes of flying the exhausted guards touched down, followed moments later by Princess Luna.
“Thank you both, Gentlemen, we will be in need of you later so rest well.” Princess Luna said, Twilight climbing out of the carriage.
“Thank you both.” Twilight echoed, helping the pegasus guard remove the harness.
Drake the armored pegasus nodded, helping Kale across to a water trough to recover.

“So what are we here for Princess, everything looks normal,” Twilight said; looking around the quiet and dark Ponyville, it was a warm night and everypony was already sleeping.
“That is indeed a good question,” Luna replied also looking around, her eye catching something in the sky.
“There!” She pointed with her hoof to a patch of the sky, Twilight peered at it confused looking for, anything actually.  There was nothing moving there, she thought at first until she realised that the entire sky was slowly bending.
“What on Equestria is that?” Twilight asked, moving closer to Princess Luna.
“It’s a memory, something that happened here, something with one of those.” Princess Luna said, she concentrated for a second her horn glowing a pale blue, the mysterious outline from the sky was projected at Twilight’s hooves as she recognised instantly what it was.
“An Ursa Major!” Twilight exclaimed, looking in growing apprehension at the creature.
“That is correct Twilight, I believe you have faced one in the past.”
Twilight shook her head, taking a step back beside Princess Luna, “No.  The one we fought against was an Ursa Minor!  That’s massive!!”
Princess Luna looked at the animated picture on the ground, “What do you think we should do?”

Twilight stood there, partially paralysed with fear as she looked up, the entire night sky was filled with the massive creature just sitting there.
“We can’t let it stay, in the morning some pony will panic.” Twilight said aloud looking to Princess Luna.
“So we must move it on?” Luna asked, sizing up the creature, “I do not look forward to such a task.”
“Wait,” Twilight thought back, her friend Fluttershy coming to mind.
“What would Fluttershy do, she has such a connection to animals of all kinds.” Twilight said looking down, “The one we dealt with before was a Ursa Minor.”
“You said this already, “ Princess Luna noted.
“Yes, but if that’s the major, maybe it’s just looking for the minor?” Twilight suggested.
“Where does one hide a large bear made of starlight however?” Princess Luna pondered, searching the sky for other movements.
“Last time a pony caused the minor to appear, “Twilight said, “Maybe we can do the same.”
Princess Luna nodded, “That I can manage, we should probably head out of town, just in case.”

Twilight and Luna trotted quietly a little out of town away from any houses, with Twilight carefully keeping an eye on the large bear filling the sky.
“Here should suffice!” Princess Luna said, checking the surroundings, ensuring as little destruction would be caused.
Twilight quickly backed off, hiding slightly in the bushes and waiting for Princess Luna to join her.
“Ready?” Princess Luna said quietly, starting to focus magical energy into the night sky.
Twilight concentrated firmly, her own magical energy starting to pour from her horn, suddenly the peace of the night was shattered!  A loud bellowing roar filled the sky, the stars themselves weaving into a new form.
From Ponyville there was a wave of noise, a vibration that shook the very ground all around, bounding from town came the larger Ursa Major.
Twilight and Luna remained hidden very well in the bushes, waiting, watching as the small Ursa Minor cried again.
Moments later the Ursa Major was there, lumbering across the landscape with ease, scooping the Ursa Minor up in its maw, continuing to lumber into the distance.

Twilight adjusted her mane, using her magical energies to groom some of the sticks and dirt the bellow from the Ursa Major had caused.
“Well I think we woke everypony in town, but that went much better then I was fearing.” Twilight said letting out a little sigh of relief.
Princess Luna nodded before replying, “That however, was just the first of many test.”
> Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Have you two recovered?” Princess Luna asked as she looked towards Kale and Drake the armored pegasus.
Kale stepped forwards sliding into the harness, “Yes your majesty, we are ready.”
“Good, don’t push yourself too hard.” Princess Luna said, she looked back to Twilight who was nervously walking towards the carriage, her gaze fixed on the ground as various ponies peered out of windows at what the commotion outside was.
“Sorry... I am very sorry...” She mumbled, quickly trotting now as the two pegasus ponies started to flap their wings with unease.
“I will lead the way,” Princess Luna commanded, “I am going to go slower, do not deviate from my path it could be dangerous as we fly over Everfree.”

Kale glanced to his flying partner Drake and nodded standing up to attention, “Of course your majesty, “ He said looking back as Twilight climbed into the carriage.
“You will need to hold on tight, this will be a bit of a ride,” Drake said spreading his wings starting to fly from the ground desperately trying to keep up with Princess Luna.

Twilight did as she was told holding on tight, she was very glad to have paid attention, the ride over Everfree was as terrifying as a trip into it, sudden eddies of air currents rocking the carriage tossing it from one side to another.
“Hold gentlecolts, let me deal with this!” Princess Luna commanded as she stretched her wings, hovering in the air and lowering her horn, a nimbus of dark purple energy flowing from it separating the trees and revealing a dusty, ruined castle.
“The castle of the royal pony sisters, I’m not sure you recognise it from this angle!” Luna said starting to circle to land.
Twilight had to agree, from up here it was significantly more regal looking, less damaged, more intact.

Kale and Drake flew close to the ground not actually landing, enabling Twilight to hop off easily.
“We’ll be back to collect you, best not hang around this place, “ Said Kale.
Twilight gulped and looked to Princess Luna as she landed right beside her.
“It is safe here princess?” Twilight felt foolish asking, but she wanted the reassurance.
“No we are not safe here, you are quite likely in danger again, “ Replied Princess Luna much to Twilight’s distress.
“Danger, but … there’s nothing here anymore!  We took the elements of harmony to Canterlot,” Twilight said.

Princess Luna nodded softly, “What remains is an echo, a fragment of your greatest challenge.”
Twilight approached the door, magically using her horn to swing it open, trotting inside.
She looked around carefully her horn suddenly flaring with power, lighting up the room.
“My name is Twilight Sparkle!” A voice suddenly boomed around the room, “Wielder of the element of Magic!  Who seeks to steal the elements of harmony?”
Twilight looked to princess Luna, “Does my voice really sound like that?”
Princess Luna giggled softly and nodded, “Well it’s the part of you which is magic.”
“Hello … me? “ Twilight offered trotting into the room, “I’m not here to steal anything!”
A unfocused shadow moved across the room, leaving inky blotches in the moonlight as it approached.
Twilight gasped slightly, staring in disbelief at the shadowy figure across from her, standing there was a mirror reflection of Twilight, but made from Shadow rather than light.
“You already stole everything worth taking.” The shadow Twilight spat, it had hollow empty eyes just staring out at her.
“I stole? No we needed the elements of Harmony to defeat nightmare moon.” Twilight protested standing her ground.
“NO!” Twilight shadow screamed, “Not the silly elements, your future, your destiny as Princess Celestia’s most faithful and intelligent student.”
“Say what?” Twilight backed off a little confused.
“Admit it, you allowed your friendship of these other ponies to unduly influence you, to change you!”
“But … they are my friends now.” Twilight mumbled, he hoof sheepishly grinding against the ground.
“NOW!  See you do admit it!  What future would you have beside princess Celestia instead of your so called friends! How grand it could have been!”
Twilight shook her head from the corner of her eye catching Princess Luna.
“N..no it.. wait it’s really not true!” Twilight retorted.
“Yes it is...” The shadow twilight said sounding unconvinced now.
“No!  It would not be, Princess Celestia still thinks I am her most faithful student and would probably have less dealings with me if I was there in Canterlot!”
“No that’s not true, you could have been amazing... you could have been a queen...” The shadow Twilight started to shrink back edging towards the corner of the room, “Now look at you.”

Twilight took a step forwards thinking of her friend Rainbow Dash, “As a team we took the elements of harmony and defeated nightmare moon, with friends, I am stronger then I am alone.”
The shadow twilight opened its mouth screaming without any noise coming out before vanishing into nothingness.

Princess Luna trotted across smiling, “I’m very proud of you Twilight, saying no to your dreams can be very hard.”
Twilight shook her head, “But that’s never been my dream princess, not now I have so many very good friends.”
“We should be getting on, the next place we must visit will not be so easy.” Princess Luna frowned trotting outside the ruins with Twilight.
The armored pegasus ponies over head swept down suddenly as Twilight hopped into the carriage.
“Where are we going to next Princess?” Twilight asked as Princess Luna started to fly off.
“To the Canterlot gardens.” Princess Luna replied stretching her wings and starting to fly ahead.
“Couldn’t we have just started there?” Twilight asked clinging on as the pegasus gained speed, getting no answer from Princess Luna as they flew into the night.