A simple question... A tale... An answer.
Everything was going to plan. Starry night? Check! Tea and snacks? Check! Classical music playing around the corner? Check! "Everything is perfect!" Twilight said gleefully, clopping her hooves together in delight.
"You seriously need all this just to answer a question, Twilight?" Spike asked as he rubbed his bleary eyes. "Why couldn't you just write Princess Luna and ask her?"
"It isn't just one question. It's... I mean... well, she and I haven't really had a moment like this to discuss things. The first time she was just trying to fit in to Ponyville. All the other times, either she's been busy or I've been busy and... well... we've never had a chance to really bond! And I think we might have things in common." She thrust her hooves to the left, then the right, as she made comparisons. "She's a Princess. I'm a Princess. She likes the stars and the night. I like the stars and the night. She's smart, beautiful and-"
"Thank you, Twilight Sparkle," a voice said calmly from the darkness. Twilight silenced herself instantly, covering her mouth with her hooves as Luna descended from the starry night to land on Twilight's balcony. "It's refreshing to hear somepony compliment my intellect before my appearance."
Oh twinklefarts, why'd she pick just then to arrive? "Princess Luna! I... didn't expect you to arrive so soon! The exact moment when I was... ah..." Twilight went redder as Luna eyed her coolly, arching a brow. "How was the flight? Run into much turbulence? I know that sometimes the flight from Canterlot can get pretty intense... cause I fly... and... stuff..." Her grin strained her jaw, trying to think some way to recover from this mess.
Luna frowned at her, then said formally. "Your letter said that you had an urgent matter to discuss at my earliest convenience," the Princess stated as she gestured to the repass that Twilight had set out. "This does not suggest a great import." .
"Well. I wasn't sure you'd just agree to come and talk," she said as she averted her eyes, rubbing one foreleg awkwardly. "I mean, you're probably busy after sunset and... well... I wanted to... talk."
Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then let it out in a sigh. She smiled to the smaller Alicorn. "Very well. Tea would be lovely."
"Well, I'm out of here," Spike said with a yawn, heading into the castle as Princess Luna took a seat at the table. Twilight immediately poured two cups. Sugar was offered and accepted; the same with honey and declined. The snacks went untouched as Twilight hemmed at hawed. "Well, it's a lovely night," Twilight murmured, glancing up at the stars above.
"Indeed. The moon is at perigee, allowing for quite lovely view of the Pleiades," Luna replied placidly, sipping her tea.
"Yes. The Pleiades are lovely this time of year," Twilight gushed, looking up at the seven stars. "Do you have a favorite one? Mine is the North Star. Always constant and guiding," Twilight said with a warm smile.
"Sirius," Princess Luna stated calmly.
"Ah the 'dog star'," Twilight said with a knowledgeable nod before becoming aware that Princess Luna was staring at her. "You know, because it's... it's in Canis Major.... so... dog star?" The awkward extended into eternity.
Princess Luna set down her cup and then stood, breaking the horrible moment. "I'm sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle, but we can not do this."
Twilight blinked, her ears folding down. "Oh? I thought... I mean, we were talking..."
"Do you sincerely believe that I could not see through this pretense? Did you believe I would accept that you wished to speak to me in private simply to discuss amateur astronomy triva?" Princess Luna demanded with a frown.
"No... no I guess not," Twilight replied, deflating and staring at her hooves.
"You should know that Princess Celestia would never, ever approve of this courtship! I'm flattered by your interest, Twilight, but we simply can not become lovers," Luna said as she reached out with a wing to cup Twilight's chin, preventing it from falling open in shock. "It can not be, Twilight."
"What?!" Twilight asked, her cheeks blazing red as she jumped away. "Princess Luna! I would never... I don't... I mean..."
"Never?" Princess Luna asked flatly, then gestured at the stars with a hoof. "Then why the romantic venue? The sweet yet hardly filling snacks?" Her magic drew the gramophone into view from around the corner. "The classical ambiance? You sending your servant away? What are all these things if not an effort to woo me?"
Who? Woo? Woo who?! "I just wanted to ask you a question!" Twilight blurted, her cheeks blazing red. "Not... you know... do that!"
Luna stared into her eyes a moment, her on cheeks flushing slightly. "Ah," Luna said, and then smiled, then laughed. Twilight, though still flushed, relaxed and joined her.
When they calmed, Luna said with a much warmer smile. "You know, you could have simply asked in your letter and saved yourself a great deal of trouble."
Twilight's brows knit a little as her smile faltered. "Well, I wasn't one hundred percent sure you'd answer me. Or if you did, that I'd get the whole answer." The smile evaporated like night before dawn. "I wanted to talk about how you became corrupted into Nightmare Moon." Instantly, the mirth left Princess Luna's face, and Twilight rushed on. "I know what the stories say... that you became resentful because ponies slept during the night. I saw what happened on the moment of transformation but... But I wanted to hear what happened in your own words. So that I can understand it if it happens to somepony else I care about!"
Luna didn't answer for a moment. She simply gazed into her teacup, then took a sip. Her eyes closed, she replied, "This is not a conversation you wish to have with me."
Twilight slumped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend-"
"Twilight, I am not offended," Luna interrupted, smiling at the mare, though her eyes were soft. "You are the first pony to seriously ask me that question. Even my sister has not deigned to discuss it with me." Her gaze was almost pitying... "I said that this is not a conversation you wish to have with me... because having it will upset you. Perhaps even traumatize you." Her smile disappeared as she stared at the moon. "I suspect that if I tell you, you will think me a liar, or monster. We most likely will never be friends."
Twilight stared at her for several moments, but curiosity gnawed at her. What could she tell Twilight that would upset her so? "I... I still want to know."
Luna was silent as she pensively stared at the stars. "If we have this conversation, you must accept three conditions. If we get stuck arguing these points, we'll never get done, and I'd prefer an old mare's tale to a mangled recounting." She waited until Twilight nodded before continuing, "First, that what I tell you is true. I will not gloss over with euphemisms nor am I attempting to make myself seem better or my sister worse. I still simply recount the events as honestly as I can."
Twilight gaped at her. "Well, I would never accuse you of lying!" How could she ever think it?
"Second, that you keep in mind that neither I, nor my sister, are the same now as we were then," she said as she closed her eyes. "At least, I hope not."
The dark princess still gazed at the moon as Twilight stared at her in bafflement. "Well... of course I know that. That just makes sense, right?"
"Thirdly, you must accept, for this discussion, that my sister is not a good pony," Luna said gravely.
Twilight stared at the calm mare for a long moment. "Luna, what are you talking about? How can you say that about-" she was interrupted by Luna raising a pinion.
"I fully recognize my sister has many admirable qualities and that you care for her greatly, Twilight. If I am to tell you why I became Nightmare Moon, you must be willing to concede that she has un-admirable qualities too. Perhaps even terrible qualities." She held her tea cup between her hooves, her eyes closed and composed, but in the liquid, Twilight could see her trembling. "If you do not wish to discuss this, then so be it. You would not be the first, and I do not want to spoil my relationship with you... or... or her." Luna's voice cracked and she set the cup down.
Twilight considered. Celestia was... Celestia! She was the embodiment of good. Heck, she might as well be a synonym for it! But here was her sister saying she wasn't. Was she still jealous? After all this time?
Was there anyway Twilight would find out if she didn't try?
"I agree. I'll try and keep an open mind." And perhaps help Luna with whatever would make her think such a terrible thing!
Luna sighed and pointed her horn at the moon. The silvery white orb seemed to swell larger and larger till it was the size of a movie screen. Then Luna's horn glowed, projecting an image on the screen of a white unicorn mare and a dark blue pegasus stallion. "Our parents were Princess Platinum and Commander Hurricane. Even after Equestria was founded, such interracial unions were rare and frowned upon. Still, their love and courage managed to forge Equestria into a nation for all ponies, and they found relief and comfort in each other's embrace." Like a home movie, the two silently hugged and kissed each other. "They stepped down to start a family together. It was quite the scandal."
"So... who was in charge of Equestria?" Twilight asked. Her horn glowed as she summoned a quill, ink and scroll and started taking notes.
"Chancellor Puddinghead. More accurately, her secretary. No matter how it rankled the pegasi and unicorns, both were content to be ruled so long as the other wasn't doing the ruling." Luna said, as the image showed a pink stallion giving an energetic speech with much hoofwaving, while the orange mare behind him nodded at certain statements and shook her head at others. "They eventually got married, but he was quite an effective ruler."
"Equestria ruled by an earth pony..." Twilight marvelled at the idea. A ruler without flight or magic? It just seemed so... alien. "So what happened?"
"Puddinghead retired, and Princess Platinum's cousin, Princess Pandora, took the throne. By this time her sister and Hurricane were living far from the capitol, loving each other and having their children."
"You and your sister," Twilight nodded.
"My sisters and I," Luna amended gently, her eyes distant.
"Sisters?" Twilight gaped and Luna projected an image of a large gray mare. "You have other sisters?"
"One. Terra, the eldest, was an earth pony. She is all but forgotten to history." She shook her head, sighing, "Mother endured such scandal following her birth. The accusations of an affair were constant," Luna said with a small shake of her head. "Celestia was the middle child, and a unicorn. So eager to prove her worth and intelligence. I was the youngest, a pegasus. The flightiest. And, I admit, a bit of a brat." She said as the image on the projection changed. A young Princess Celestia with books stacked up around her while Luna hovered above her, dripping ink in her pink and blue mane. Images of Terra, plain gray with a gray mane, pushing around huge bouilders and Luna flying over with a wooden pail of water. The three sisters sharing a bed, with Luna slumbering piecefully between her elder sisters. "It was a good time," she said as she choked up, tears in her eyes.
"Three sisters, of three pony races..." Twilight could see the implications in that. Twilight put a wing around Luna's shoulders. "So what happened?"
"Princess Pandora, mother's replacement, went to Tartarus. She'd been tempted by thoughts of power there, and so she cracked the deepest seal and unleashed horror upon the world." The image changed to the three sisters, Terra in heavy, hammered iron plate, Celestia in glowing gold, and Luna in splendid silver armor, standing before the gates of Tartarus. Twilight had only gone that far in returning Cerberus. She'd never actually traveled deeper into the underworld. The image showed a montage of the three fighting skeletons, ghosts, and monsters, and the three sisters overcoming them with Terra smashing skeletons with her hooves, Celestia banishing the ghosts with radiant magic, and Luna flying circles around the bat winged monstrosity. "Together, we finally reached Pandora. She'd been changed by the dark magic she'd heedlessly unlocked," the image changed to an amorphous blob of dark magic with a mad, laughing mare's head, the eyes glowing red with hate. Together, the three fought her... to no avail. They were crushed, blasted, and swept from the air.
"How did you defeat her?" Twilight asked, conjouring quill, ink, and paper to start taking notes.
"By standing together. You, of all ponies, should know the power of friendship, and love. We were sisters. We refused to give up or turn on each other. And in doing so, we were touched by the same power as that which empowers the elements of Harmony, the Crystal Heart, and creates alicorns. Back then, we called it the rainbow of light." And in the image, two colors erupted from each of the three sisters, merging and blending together into a familiar, brilliant ribbon of light. It surrounded all three mares, growing brighter and brighter, before detonating in a flash that left behind three alicorn princesses, one of whom sat right beside her. Celestia she knew. Terra's mane was more crystalline, sparkling like diamond and amethyst strands.
"Together, with each other and our new power, we forced her back into the very prison she'd opened, and sealed it up with her within. But then what to do? Celestia wished us to return. Terra refused. Someone else would come for that dark power. She remained behind." Twilight stared at the sight of Princess Celestia, weeping, bearing a distraught Princess Luna across her shoulders, extending a hoof towards the stoic gray alicorn remaining before the black gates." Luna wiped away a tear as the image faded. "I'm sorry. That was a difficult time for me."
"Is she still there?" Twilight asked, and she nodded. "What's she like? I didn't see her when I returned Cerberus."
"Stoic, but she still loves and cares in her own hard way. I miss her. I think she'd be happier if she came and visited, but she remains secreted away, guarding horrors such that not even Tirek attempted to take her power. There are things she guards that have no limit." She sighed and wiped away her tears. "Forgive me, Twilight."
"It's okay, Princess, but why are you telling me this? What does she have to do with Princess Celestia and your... change?"
Princess Luna sighed and considered Twilight soberly for several seconds before answering, "To understand why something happens, you have to understand the causes. Terra was the eldest sister. Strongest. Most responsible. Most willing to do what needed to be done. It changed Celestia, I think. As middle child, Celestia was used to her studies and being alone. Now she was elder, and that responsibility fell upon her shoulders heavily." Luna took a deep breath. "As for what happened next... well, you know as well as anyone. Princess Pandora's foolish gambit for power released terrible horrors, but the most insidious, elusive, and tenacious was Discord."
"Discord was trapped in Tartarus once?" Twilight asked, scribbling down some more notes.
"You'd have to ask him for certain, if you could trust his answers," Luna said with a frown. "Whether he originated from there, or was summoned by the strife that followed, is irrelevant." The image changed in a slide show showing the two alicorns battling strange monsters and creatures. "We spent decades tracking down and capturing the monsters Pandora had unleashed, returning them to Tartarus and Terra's custody. At the time, Discord seemed an annoying threat compared to the Midnight King, the Keening Bleeder, and Grendel, and thus we gave him an opportunity to spread his mischief as we dealt with 'greater' dangers.
"Discord found much amusement in manipulating and aggravating the pony tribes, even to the brink of civil war. For a time, Celestia sought a diplomatic solution. She believed that, properly motivated, Discord could be tempered." Luna closed her eyes. "And Discord seduced her."
The tip of Twilight's quill broke. "He... what?" The moon screen showed a younger, if that were possible, Celestia being given bouquets of flowers tugged from the draconeqqus's ears, which transformed into rainbow butterflies.
"Seduced her utterly." Luna said, and the image turned to one of Celestia and Discord and... Twilight averted her eyes, blushing furiously, wishing she could scour that image form her memory. "Celestia had never had a paramour, and Discord can manipulate the heart as easily as anything else. He seduced her, and almost turned her against me when I challenged him alone." The image showed Celestia in her respendant golden armor facing a stricken, weeping Luna, while Discord lounged on a four poster bed, laughing. The image faded and Luna smiled sadly. "We were, however, sisters. Our love for each other brought her back. I think it was the first time anyone actually surprised him, and he left us to resume his strife. Celestia was resolved to see him cast down."
"You sought out the Tree of Harmony," Twilight said with a little smile. "And found it. And turned him into stone."
"Indeed," she smiled, her eyes soft. "Though it was a little more complicated than that." And on the screen was an image of the pair fighting through a ruin choked with webbing and giant spiders with gnashing maws. Or travelling through a rimefrost coated library with icy pony sillouettes hidden within. Or facing down a fierce black scaled dragon that blasted the pair with magic purple flame. "But yes. Eventually we were successful." Luna closed her eyes. "And then everything went wrong."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, putting a hoof on Luna's shoulder.
"I wanted to continue adventuring once Discord was banished. Or perhaps see if we could convince Terra to return to the surface. Or simply to see the world. But Discord had been banished and the ponies of Equestria cried for us to stay and protect them. Discord's manipulation of various leaders had made the populace distrustful. They saw both of us as free from corruption. As their salvation." She sighed and shook her head. "I didn't want it, but Celestia promised me that if we ruled, we would rule together. We would take care of all ponies from our thrones. So, I agreed. I believed in her."
"So what happened?" Twilight asked. The image changed to two abstract felt images of Celestia and Luna, while around them crowded dozens of various felt ponies.
"For a time, it was as she said. We ruled together in all things. It was... nice," she said absently as she stared at the image in the moon. The little felt ponies nudged the two sisters apart. "Over time, however, there were so many demands on our time that we saw each other less and less. It was finally agreed that Celestia would rule during the day, and I would rule during the night." The image on the moon split into a golden half and a purple half. "You can probably guess what happened next?"
"More ponies dealt with Celestia?" Twilight guessed, and watched as the ponies drifted from Luna to surround Celestia as Luna nodded.
"Celestia was revered by the masses. She was the one that banished the darkness of night to bring the warmth and light of the day. She was the princess of labor and industry. Business. All day she was directing and advising and guiding and shaping and receiving the admiration of the masses."
"While you were left all alone. No wonder you became resentful."
"Twilight, I was quite content with the status quo." Luna corrected.
"What? But the books all say..." Twilight began before she gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I guess that's why I asked you here in the first place."
Luna stared at the moon projection. "I am the Princess of the Night. I do... poorly... with crowds. You saw me on Nightmare Night. I was that way a thousand years ago. I had no idea how to deal with crowds of ponies. Even today, I don't know how Celestia manages it." She shook her head and looked at the few ponies that surrounded her. "I was not alone either. There were always ponies who preferred the night for their schemes. I admit, I enjoyed their intrigues. Their games and plots and rather than stop them outright, I manipulated them as they sought to manipulate me, to protect and better the kingdom." Her smile turned fond and wistful. "There's quite a few scoundrels and scofflaws I rather miss."
"So... what happened next?" Twilight asked.
"For a time, all was good. Celestia ruled during the day. I played during the night. We'd go years, even decades barely speaking to each other. I grew up, and we grew apart." Her eyes closed and on the moon, Luna was pushed completely out of the picture. "Even our bond, which had saved me from my sister and defeated Discord, faded." The image faded from the moon. "She was not pleased when she learned that I could walk the dreams of our subjects, influencing them. Such power was alien to Celestia, and to her, smacked of Discord's manipulation. She retaliated subtly. She started to crack down on the various rogues that I managed."
"Well, they were criminals, right?" Twilight said in weak defense of Celestia.
"I admit, some of the ponies I worked with were criminals, but criminals for good reasons. They were poor, and my sister's taxes were sometimes more than they could bear. Or they provided me critical information about schemes in exchange for me overlooking them smuggling rare wines and potions from the zebra lands. Regardless, their crimes were commited at night. By our agreement, they were supposed to be under my judgement and jurisdiction. Increasingly, I found myself marginalized. Isolated. Alone." She closed her eyes. "Ponies... do not do well alone."
Twilight thought of Moondancer and understood. "Still," Luna continued, "Celestia could not keep me from the world of dreams. Even as my official duties were curtailed, I sought solace in the dreams of others." Then Luna's smile returned, even turned sly. "And thus, I discovered sex."
Instantly blushing, Twilight's eyes popped in shock. "Discovered... but Discord... Celestia... that image."
"I had no idea what they were doing at the time, Twilight. I was fairly innocent and naive,then. But one thing ponies did when the sun went down was to breed the next generation of ponies... and many of them dreamed of sex. In sex, I saw the passion, joy, and intimacy that comes with taking a lover. I was intrigued, to say the least. Thus, I took a lover." Luna's projection then showed a pair of white pegasus stallions in respendant golden armor. "My bodyguards Apogee and Perigee. While Celestia had given them orders, I was their Princess, and I hope I do not flatter myself when I say that I was becoming as desirable as my sister."
Twilight stared at the image as it went on for many minutes, her blush burning itself in on her cheeks as Luna watched with a reminscent smile, her wings stiffening just a bit. "Ah... princess...?" Twilight prompted.
Luna snapped out of her revere, blushed, and ended the rather graphic display. "Ah, my apologies. You're still a virgin, after all." Twilight frowned at her, but Luna resumed. "I rediscovered joy that night, and many nights after. I took many lovers and we shared bliss while my sister was asleep. It gave me confidence." She sat and rubbed her belly. "I also believe I deeply desired a child and family of my own, but alicorn reproduction is notoriously fickle. I'm glad your sister-in-law conceived so quickly. Perhaps there is a biological..." she trailed off as she gazed at Twilight, still furiously red. "Oh. Is this topic making you uncomfortable?"
"No!" Twilight began, then wilted a little under Luna's steady gaze. "Okay. Yes. A little. I never, ever dated as Celestia's student. I... no colt or filly... it just... I'm not good with it!" she blurted, averting her head with shame.
Luna gently cupped her chin and turned her face to gaze into her eyes. "Never be ashamed of being a virgin, Twilight. It doesn't mean you are undesirable. It simply means it wasn't your time yet." She stroked Twilight's cheek. "If you wish, I can give you a slightly... sanitized... accounting of events."
"No. No, a good scholar accepts first hoof accounts. I can... I can handle it," Twilight assured the princess.
The projection changed slowly, from one lewd scene after the next. "I experimented and grew sexually beyond that first encounter. What naughty joys ponies dreamed, I indulged in. More and more, ponies found themselves drawn to the palace at night. Not simply for sex with myself, but for sex with others." The image in the moon became more and more graphic as more and more ponies joined in, some with the Princess, others with each other while the Princess looked on. Did those ponies even know each other? "Eventually, our excesses drew the attention of Celestia."
"I can't imagine why," Twilight muttered, keeping her tail tight between her hindquarters and watching the display from the corner of her eye, unable to fully look away. "She wasn't happy, was she?" The image changed to that of Celestia standing in a doorway, staring out as a full orgy of ponies copulated before her, with Luna sprawled on a throne of pillows. To say the look on Celestia's face was priceless would be hard to dispute.
"She was furious," Luna said with a smile, and a look of satisfaction. "She ordered the guards not present at the revel to arrest everypony present for 'corrupting me'." Then her smile faded, her eyes narrowed. "And that... Twilight... I resented."
"She was just worried about you," Twilight suggested.
"I have no doubt, but I wasn't a child anymore. I hadn't been for quite some time. And so, I committed the direst sin: I countermanded her. I told the guard my sister had no authority while the moon was in the sky, and that they were free to join the festivities if they wished." Luna's hard smile returned. "And to my sister's shock, they obeyed me. I think that was the first time, ever, that a command of hers was overridden."
Twilight couldn't imagine that. The thought of outright defying Celestia... it was unthinkable. Even as she saw it on the moon before her. "That... that's..."
"I know. But unknown to both of us, things had changed forever. I continued my bacchanals, festivals, and parties. Many of them no longer had sex center place, but it was always present. An excuse for ponies to slip off after dark and make passionate love. And as word spread, more and more ponies began to complain about the day's labors. More and more looked forward to the enjoyments of the night. Some even slept during the day, wasting away precious hours of industrious sunlight to enjoy the indulgences of the night."
Luna threw back her head, as if she were in the midst of one of those orgiastic moments. "I reveled in it. I freely confess, I was out of control. But for a time I was my sister's equal." Then her face turned solemn again. "It wasn't to last."
"What happened?" Twilight asked.
"My sister moved against me. She used her influence to speak about morality and virtue and self restraint. That abandoning the day would doom us to starvation. That unbridled sex would lead to massive population explosions. That the youth would be corrupted and spend their whole lives wasted away in randy decadence. That my passions would undermine the entire realm." Luna shook her head. "To be fair, others aided her argument. Prince Amora created a love potion so powerful it nearly wrecked their kingdom. I had not gone so far as that, but there were plenty who wondered if I would craft a mindless lust potion."
"So... I guess 'resentful of ponies sleeping during the night' is a little more foal friendly than 'argued over sexual revolution'." Twilight said before looking away and biting her lip. "I guess it is an odd thing to become a nightmare over-"
"Don't be silly, Twilight. I didn't become Nightmare Moon because of that," Luna said with a flush. "I pushed back just as hard, calling her tyrant, prude, and puritanical. Flaunted my own sexuality, and insulted her lack of sexual success." She closed her eyes shut. "I even threw Discord in her face." She sniffed and shook her head. "You see? Becoming a nightmare is so much more than simply 'evil thoughts.' So much more insidious."
"You lost respect for each other." Twilight said as she gazed at the monarch.
"We did. Contempt ruled with ponies torn down the middle. The extreme fringes were loudest in their outrage and insults. We may have had two thrones, but only one was ever occupied at any time. When threats arose, we dealt with them often without a word to the other. Otherwise, we made excuses to avoid each other." She grit her teeth as a tear ran down her cheek. "If only..."
Twilight reached out and hugged her. "I'm sorry."
"No, Twilight. It is I who is the sorry one. I was too proud and stubborn to realize Celestia spoke her words out of envy. She was the boring authoritarian, and I the capricious and carnal sibling. Celestia pined for a lover like I had every night, even several times a night. Celestia was even less approachable then, while I had my pick of paramours. Celestia had the pain of Discord's betrayal, where as I had never suffered such heart break. I could have helped my sister!" she grit her teeth, looking towards the stars as tears ran down her cheeks. "I should have helped her!"
Twilight shed a few tears of sympathy as she held the other mare, waiting for her to recover. "So, Celestia and you were separated by your resentment. What happened next?"
"Things went on as so for some time. Public sentiment turned against me by inches, but I wasn't aware at the time. I didn't realize that my bacchanals had grown tiresome; that arousal and titillation of dreams appeal only because they are fresh. Some ponies adored me, but most simply wanted me to rein in my excesses.
She wept as she gazed at the projection, "Then something wonderful happened..." And Twilight stared at the sight of Luna in the projection... her belly distended. Luna rubbed her own midriff as she gazed at her younger self. Twilight's tongue was tied into a knot as she watched Luna give birth; she'd read about the details but actually seeing it. She'd have sown her marehood shut then and there if it wasn't for the clear longing on both mare's faces. Then the baby was born, cleaned off... and tufted ears and slitted eyes came to view. Leathery bat wings worked on the foal's back as they were wrapped in a blanket and placed to nurse as both Lunas wept.
"You had a baby," Twilight muttered.
"Babies," she corrected with a smile. "I was having sex every night, so that was not surprising. By this point, I doubt Celestia was even aware. We were living on entirely different sides of the castle and did not talk to each other, and I had no interest in sharing my bliss. Perhaps in being an aunt, Celestia and I could have rebonded... but... it was not to be..."
"Still... you're a mother..." Twilight had no idea how to take that.
"Was. I... I have no idea how the transformation occurred, but my little Penumbra..." she trailled off and shook her head. "A few years later, one of of my unicorn devotees revealed a wonder to me... the ability to transform a pony into a pony of the night, just like my child! Here was finally the ability to have my own people. Ponies who would work and play under my moon and stars."
She closed her eyes. "I did not appreciate how others would take their transformation."
Twilight couldn't speak as she listened in rapt horror. Finally, she whispered, "What happened?"
"The introduction of a fourth pony race tore Equestria apart. Nevermind that these had been unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies before. After they were transformed, they were pariahs. Ponies feared that I meant to transform all the population into my ponies of the night. Violence broke out. We approached the chaos and division that had defined Discord's reign." She shivered as fresh tears ran down her cheeks. "They were my dearest friends and lovers. And Celestia..." she trembled. "Celestia..." she whimpered.
"What?"
"She banished them." Luna whispered, trembling as she fought to get the words out. "All of them... in one day... as I slept... my followers... my friends... my lovers... my... my babies..."
"No," Twilight said in horror. "Your children? How?"
"I'm not sure she even knew. She may have thought I was transforming foals. Perhaps that was it." She shook her head. "In one day, the royal guard seized every pony of the night and sealed them away in a magical prison! When I woke, I was alone. Utterly alone... And Celestia told me that I would never alter a pony so again. And then she did the worst thing she possibly could have. The most vile... most treasonous..." Luna sputtered.
"What... what did she do?" Twilight asked, desperate.
Luna didn't answer. The projection did, this time emanating a thin and reedy sound, as if it was coming from a thousand years ago. Celestia flanked by dozens of royal guards encircling a mare every bit as distraught as Luna now. "It's over, Luna. You will never corrupt another pony. Ever. We will not suffer another Discord."
"But... why..." Luna sobbed as Celestia turned her back on her sister. "My children... my babies..."
"I'm doing this because I love you, Luna." The image faded away.
"She did it out of love?" Twilight muttered, horrified. "But... she'd just banished your friends! She..." Twilight trailed off. "That's why."
Luna nodded slowly. "By telling me she loved me, she poisoned the emotion utterly. Becoming a nightmare isn't about power. There are plenty of ponies who are warped and corrupted by that without becoming a nightmare." She wiped her eyes and gazed into Twilight's. "You know there's deep power in love and friendship. To be a nightmare, that love and friendship must be corrupted. Inverted. That is what makes a pony into a nightmare: when their friends and loved ones betray them. One can not willingly, deliberately become a nightmare."
"So you became Nightmare Moon," Twilight muttered.
"And stopped being Princess Luna. At the time, I wanted to be anything but related to Celestia," she said. "I believe you've experienced the rest."
"How was she able to use the Elements against you?" Twilight asked. "I never understood that."
Luna smiled mirthlessly. "Because she did still love me. She still cared. She still wanted to help me, in spite of everything. And as hurt and angry as I was, I still loved her. It wouldn't have hurt as much if I hadn't." She banished the projection. "I think we both wanted it to end. That let her tap the elements, and banish me rather than simply kill me."
Still, that Celestia had done that... "What happened to the ponies of the night? She didn't-- She wouldn't..."
"No. They were not slain, though the enchantment could not be broken. They were entrusted to Terra, living below in endless night, helping her in Tartarus, until they could safely fly free. In my banishment, I think my sister realized her mistake. I hope she did." Luna said softly.
"Is she still..." Twilight tapped her hooves. "I mean... does she still not like..."
"Sex?" Luna asked with a sad smile. Twilight nodded. "It's just a word and an act, Twilight. And no. It took her five hundred years before she finally trusted another with her body. Sporadically she would allow lovers for a time, never too long so she'd watch them wither and die while she remained eternal. The children she's borne are... less easily dismissed. My sister adores being a mother, but as I said, our reproduction is notoriously fickle, and we do not pass our immortality to our offspring. It may simply be related to want; I wanted desperately to be a mother, as I suspect Cadence did."
"Yeah, well, I don't..." Twilight muttered.
"If that is your wish," Luna murmured. "I doubt I will myself. I still remember my dear Penumbra... Noclucent... Solace..." She shook her head. "They lived their whole lives under ground, never knowing what had become of their mother. Many ponies of the night don't know either."
"Well... that's a lot to take in," Twilight murmured as she sat back on her haunches. Celestia banishing Luna's people... her children... "Did she apologize?"
"Twilight, we've not spoken of it. How could we, without risking reopening old wounds? For me, the time on the moon passed in a dark and angry dream, but she lived year after year, century after century, to realize her mistake. We can't talk about it, because there is no way to talk about something like that," Luna said as she wiped her eyes with a wing. "She has not broached the subject. I will not dare to."
"You wouldn't dare?" Twilight frowned, finding the phrasing odd to say the least.
"Twilight, how would you describe my sister's actions prior to my transformation?"
"Um... well..." Twilight considered, her mind warring with the need to defend the image of Celestia she cherished. "I guess it was a little... mean? Maybe a bit... um... excessive? Even... ah..." Twilight swallowed, but saying the word felt almost like throwing up, "...cruel." Then she stiffened, her voice softening in horror. "Like... like a nightmare."
"In my callousness and excess, I pushed my sister to the brink of becoming the monster I became. Had I not fallen, she would have. And I do not know if I would have been able to best her as she had me," Luna said gravely.
"Well, at least she's not that way now!" Twilight said, giving a little smile and shaky laugh she didn't feel in the slightest. To her supreme discomfort, Luna's face remained composed and serious. "She isn't, Luna. You know she isn't!" Luna didn't reply. She just... stared, her eyes sad. Even pitying. "She's a good princess, Luna!"
"She is the sun," Luna said simply. "You have never crossed her, Twilight. Can you think of any who challenged her and yet remain? Crystalis did, but when her glut of emotion was spent, I shudder to think what my sister would have done to her. Has done to her." Luna said as she leaned in towards Twilight. "Have you ever defied her? Even once?"
"Well... no! I've disappointed her a few times, but... she's Princess Celestia, Luna! Why would anyone defy her?" Twilight asked as she swallowed.
"Who would dare?" Luna replied calmly. "My sister is an effective monarch. There are four princesses in Equestria now, yet only one wields true power."
"That's not true. Cadence rules the Crystal Empire," Twilight countered with a smile.
"Does she? I suppose Celestia must have spent years tutoring her in affairs of statecraft, managing resources, allocating power, and the other functions of government," Luna said.
Twilight inhaled, then balked. "Well, I don't think so. I mean... she was my foal sitter."
Luna's face remained utterly deadpan. "Ah. I see. Foal sitting. While more applicable than some realize, it makes me wonder who really rules the Crystal Empire. Your brother's marriage to Cadence was a wonderful means of securing both greater loyalty from you, the most magically talented unicorn in ages, and to secure Equestria's northern border from a hostile enemy." Luna considered Twilight flatly. "Does Cadence consult you when she has questions of governorship?"
Twilight swallowed. "No. I guess she talks to Celestia." Luna didn't answer and Twilight frowned at her. "Are you saying Cadence is a bad princess?"
Luna sniffed and shook her head. "She is a fine princess. She is also a fine figurehead. With time, she will be an effective ruler, if allowed to take responsibility for the Empire's successes and failures. She cares deeply for the happiness of her people, and hasn't yet succumbed to the cruel arithmetic of governance." Luna just gazed at Twilight. "Do you think that Celestia would have fussed over an over serious bureaucrat like Ms. Harshwinny to secure the Equestrian Games in Equestria?"
No. No, she didn't. That was just... beneath Celestia. "She's a good princesss, Luna," Twilight insisted. "She loves and cares for all of Equestria."
"Of course. But what would happen if Equestria didn't love and care for her back?" Luna asked and Twilight swallowed. It was unthinkable. Celestia was... no one would ever go things to cross Celestia! You just didn't do it! Luna gazed at her in pity. "If my sister is so good and kind, why were you upset that Fluttershy had taken her pet without permission? Why not simply explain to Celestia the circumstances, if you are so certain nothing would come of it?"
Twilight couldn't answer for a moment. She'd been so scared when she'd learned what Fluttershy had done... but why? She knew Celestia better than anyone! Why didn't she just explain? "I... I didn't know any better..." Twilight said as she felt tears burning in her eyes. "I thought... I mean..."
"You thought that my sister would throw a pony like Fluttershy in prison for taking her pet. And later, when you failed to write your lesson... why were you so scared and anxious to meet her expectations? Why not simply ask for an extention?" Luna asked, implacably.
"Because you don't disappoint Celestia!" Twilight shouted in Luna's face, her whole body trembling, as if it were obvious. "She's... she's good and... and kind... and... you just don't!" Twilight clenched her eyes closed, feeling the tears creep. "I was foolish and stupid for freaking out. I was a moron for getting so upset over something so trivial!"
Luna didn't reply for a moment, then asked, "Twilight, why are you a virgin?"
Twilight's eyes popped. "W...w...what? What does that have to do with anything?"
"You're too well read to be completely ignorant of sex. A pony such as you must have read the classics, which are replete with romance, desire, and sex. Did you never want a special somepony as your own?" Luna asked, implacably.
Twilight clenched her nethers. "I... I had my studies! And my... studies! I had to study hard! I was Celestia's most faithful student! I couldn't let her down."
"Why not? Plenty of ponies your age have sex, or experiment with sex. Twilight... have you even masturbated before?" Luna asked.
Twilight was bright red as her mouth worked. She knew precisely what she was talking about. Although never explicit, the classics were full of stories of desire and love. While she'd never have Rarity's appetite for romances, she'd read plenty of tales involving sex and passion. But she hadn't ever pursued it... not with a stallion... not even with a mare. Not even with herself... "No..."
"Why?"
"Because... I didn't!" She said lamely, feeling like a filly again, in trouble and trying to talk her way out of it. "Because... I didn't want to... because... because..." She grit her teeth and spat, "Because I didn't think Celestia would have liked it! I wanted to be a good filly! I wanted her to approve of me. I didn't want to do... do things... things that fillies shouldn't do!" But why? Where had she gotten it in her head that she should abstain from sex? Was it in the subtle implication and encouragement that her studies should take priority over her romantic life? Shining armor had sex! Shining armor had a special somepony and he was even going to have a kid of his own soon! But she always had to be the good mare. No dating for Twilight. Celestia hadn't had to say a word. She'd allowed Twilight to repressed herself completely.
"It doesn't matter. I'm a princess now! I can do whatever I want!" Twilight said, as defiant as a foal.
"Can you? What are you princess of? A castle, certainly. Anything else? What exactly do you hold dominion over?" Luna demanded as she stood over Twilight. Twilight's mouth moved as she tried to think of something. "What do you have control over?"
Nothing. Not her life. Not her friends. She allowed herself to be told what to do by everything. By her friends. Celestia. By a magical map. Her friends, at least, asked! "I don't want control over anything."
"A pity. Because being a princess is about authority. You have exactly as much authority as please and thank you. How much authority does my sister have?"
All of it. She ruled the entire land of Equestria. "You're a princess too!"
"Twilight, I have a little chair next to my sister. I learned what she could do if crossed. I have no desire to press that again." Luna stared at the moon. "I have my dreams. I have foals I can help when they're lonely. That's enough for me now." Luna just gazed at her, so much pity. "Twilight... did my sister ever apologize for not listening to you about Cadence being evil? For being wrong?"
Twilight gaped at her. "What? No!" She blinked and backed away. "I mean there was the wedding and the reception and... and things got busy! None of my friends appologized either." But none of her friends were Celestia. Tears dripped to her balcony. "Why are you doing this, Luna? Why are you saying these things?"
"A mare becomes a nightmare when she is betrayed. When our love is used against us. Our trust, turned on us. And nothing is more dangerous, Twilight, than blind trust." She said as she gazed at her with those horrible, horrible eyes. Twilight wanted her to transform into Nightmare Moon so that all this could be explained. "And a Princess is a terrible nightmare indeed."
Twilight stared, then a calm passed over her. "Me. You're talking about me. Becoming a nightmare."
"In part," she said with a small nod of her head. "Twilight, have you ever done anything... dared to do anything... that Celestia would not approve of? Have you ever attempted to rebel in the slightest? To do something, some small little thing, in spite of my sister's disapproval?" Twilight stared out at the night, her eyes twitching as she searched for something... anything. "Have you ever told my sister 'no'? Refused even the most trivial request? Have you ever dared to disobey her?"
Twilight sat hard as Luna approached. "I can't," Twilight murmured. "She's Princess Celestia..."
"She's Princess Celestia," Luna echoed as she sat in front of her.
"How much of my life have I... have I not done because I always wanted to please her? To make her proud of me?" Twilight said as she stared up at Luna, feeling stricken. "I wanted to learn magic and... when I was her most faithful student... I never thought... never..." She rose and started to pace. "My whole life was her student. Doing what I was told. What was expected of me. What... what she wanted me to do. To be the pony she wanted me to be." She turned to Luna. "Is that so wrong?"
"Only you can answer that, but now you can ask the question, Twilight," Luna said soberly.
"She's not an evil pony, Luna! She isn't that," Twilight said as Luna regarded her. "I've fought evil before and... and she isn't it."
"No," Luna agreed softly, her smile returning. "But not being evil isn't being good. I have challenged my sister. Pushed her. Insulted her. I know what she is capable of. I know what it's like to be a monster, and I know what my sister can become."
And with that, it clicked together. "You're not just afraid of me becoming a nightmare. You're afraid of Celestia becoming a nightmare too!"
"And Cadence, though I suspect that would require a betrayal I do not believe your brother is capable of." Luna said gently. "There is terrifying power in love. It changes the tide of battle, allows terrible odds to be overcome, and gives us the inspiration to do wonderful things. It can also lead to the darkest and most bitter of impulses. I do not wish to see you... any of you... become what I became... nor live with the shame that follows."
Then she turned and started to walk away. "Wait!" Twilight called after her, halting the princess. "What... what am I supposed to do now, Luna?" she asked, sniffing and shaking. Her entire world had shifted sideways, and now nothing seemed stable or familiar. "How can you just tell me these things... make me think things... what should I do?"
Luna faced her solemnly. "I told you that you would not like having this conversation, though I love you and admire your strength to see it through. But as to your question... I don't know. I love my sister deeply... and I fear her just as deeply. I only warn you, Twilight, whatever you decide, be careful where Celestia is concerned. We never truly know how our words may be taken by another." Then she bowed her head formally to Twilight, lifted her head and smiled through her tears. Then she took wing and disappeared into the starry sky.
Twilight walked into her castle... was it really hers, or was Celestia just letting her stay here? Could Twilight do anything to stop her if Celestia tried to throw her out? Her tail dragged on the polished floor as she wandered, aimlessly. What could she do? She thought Luna would have settled one question... and had instead opened a thousand more.
A bang and crash from the kitchen, and Twilight investigated as her mind whirled and churned with thought.
Inside, Spike lay sprawled on his back, a tin can half full of ruby and vanilla icecream next to him. "Oh, hey, Twilight!" He said as he rose and picked up the tub. "Sorry. Just wanted a little snack. Hope you're not too mad," he said as she approached, and he paused, his smile fading. "Is your talk with Luna over? Did you get the answer you were looking for?" Twilight knelt down before him. "Twilight?"
She reached out and pulled him into an embrace of both hooves and wings, clutching him as she trembled and wept against his spines. The little dragon anchored her where everything else had become doubt. "Yeah Spike... I did..." she whispered against his scales. "I did."