One Dark Night
The streets of Canterlot enjoyed the silence that the night brought. Without haughty ponies trampling upon them every minute, without heavy carts being dragged across them at a moment’s notice, the critters in the dirt roads could be at peace and go about their businesses undisturbed. Usually, they were allowed complete quiet until the crack of dawn.
That was only an available option when the princesses were not in the middle of an argument.
“Sister, you will still have the Day Court. I do not see why I cannot restart the Night Court - do you not remember how much easier you slept, knowing that I could deal with those most arrogant aristocrats?”
“Yes, I do, Luna, but that was a long time ago. You don’t yet know how to deal with the aristocrats of today, nor do you yet have a complete understanding of our new laws and rules. I am merely asking you to postpone your idea, as you are not yet ready.” Celestia looked out over the balcony to the largest house in Canterlot. The ornate design was appreciated for her lofty ideals, but it was impractical at best, being a terrifying maze of cut-off staircases and extra rooms. Luna snorted. Her sister never had been good at saying things outright.
“I have been back for a year and three months now, Celestia. Thanks to a certain faithful student of yours, I discovered how I am to interact with ponies of today. I have been studying your law books, and have a few ideas of what to do with some of the more, shall we say, archaic laws. Surely, if I think something is archaic, it must be out of date.”
The attempt at levity went right over the elder’s head. “Luna, this is not up for debate. If you know the laws so well, then you certainly remember that any action taken by either of us must be approved by the other before taking effect, excepting emergencies concerning the safety of Equestria. I veto your request for a Night Court. There is nothing else I have to say.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed as she shouted, “Thou art stubborn as a mule, and selfish as a dragon! Those art the solitary reasons thou hast for denying me!” She flew off, more or less late for her dream rounds.
**************
The lunar princess soared over the spires of Canterlot, horn alight, seeking out any disturbances in the dream realm. However, her horn did not pulse like it did when there were overwhelming nightmares to be banished. When it became apparent that there was no need for Luna to delve into the dreams and memories of the rest of her little ponies right then, her attention turned to the array of stars she had crafted for that night. Twinkling little lights shone upon her in all their glory, and to the untrained eye, it was perfect chaos. Even those with a rudimentary knowledge of constellations would declare the rest of the entire sky a randomized splatter. It was untrue, of course; Luna had spent a few years in her youth coming up with the most beautiful of designs for her night sky. Even in those nights where she felt particularly creative, there were certain patterns that she stuck to - the Hydra, for example, was her biggest and most impressive constellation, while Cassiopeia was her first ever. Though she had to admit that a W shape was not really representative of a queen, she could not bring herself to change it.
Luna brought her head down and found herself circling the southeast tower of Canterlot Castle, where Celestia had forbidden her from going for the first few months of her return because of “reasons relating to your quick and painless re-entry into Equestrian society. Believe me, Luna, I am merely looking out for your wellbeing.” Technically, she could enter it now, but something in her mind had kept telling her not to meddle with Celestia’s orders. She took a deep breath.
“I am allowed in the tower now. Surely Celestia would not mind my exploring,” Luna stated with gritted teeth. She alighted on a golden ledge and peered in through the bars on the window. The room was not very full. Luna teleported inside and turned on the lights. She did not find anything that could justify why Celestia had forbidden the tower, only some old plastic bags and an antique desk that looked like it could crumble into dust at any moment. With nothing else to go on, she walked over and opened the roll top. Inside lay a small, lavender colored book, and a quill that certainly had seen better days. Luna disregarded the quill and studied the book, being careful not to breathe too hard on it. The hue was comforting, like a lullaby in color form. Gently, the night princess put one silver hoof on the cover. It felt grainy underhoof, and very cool. Luna opened the book to the first page, hoping to uncover why it seemed so familiar.
It was blank.
Immediately Luna began casting spells at the book, certain that it held that particular something that Celestia had not wanted her to find, but nothing worked. The book remained as empty as when she found it. Luna growled in frustration. Her teal eyes bored into the page, trying to get it to reveal its secrets under heavy interrogation. A small thud came from outside the room, breaking the nighttime’s silence. Luna quickly shut off the lights.
“Who is out there?” Luna called. Celestia would be asleep now. She could not imagine how thieves could get this high in the Castle (let alone the Castle itself) without setting off the alarm that even Twilight Sparkle could not break, so she cast the idea out of her head. That left a guard. But why would a guard be patrolling the southeast tower? There was nothing of value; at least, as far as Luna knew...
The silence that had once been calming now attacked Luna from every direction. She grabbed the book in her aura and opened the door, ready for battle with whatever had disturbed her. She found nothing but darkness.
The navy alicorn sighed and bowed her head. “You have overreacted, Luna. It was probably just a stone falling from this old tower’s wall, nothing more.” She slumped down in front of the doorway and brought the book to her hooves. Luna then noticed a paradox with the book in front of her. It looked even more magical without her magic surrounding it.
Luna gave the book a tentative push open. A small glow emulated from the page.
Dearest Diary,
Under orders from my elder sister, I am to keep a written record of my thoughts and feelings for the next... however long I desire. Tia can be rather strange sometimes, but I solemnly swear to write as often as I can.
A lump formed in Luna’s throat. How had she not realized it before? The diary that she had kept - or more appropriately, tried to keep - while growing up in the Castle of the Two Sisters was now in her hooves once more. Another few pages turned.
Dearest Diary,
Tia threw me out of the castle again today. I wish she would put our prank war on hold while I am speaking with the Night Court. I am not to be seen as a fool in front of them! They already hold me in the highest regard due to my craftsmareship with the night. Celestia has no right to take my power away from me.
Dearest Diary,
I have managed to perfect walking in the dream realm! Unfortunately, I think I have a while to go before I am a full master of the place... I was defeated, rather easily, by a giant squid keeping a filly from entering the water. Fighting monsters in dreams is not as simple as blasting them with magic, apparently.
Dearest Diary,
I wonder that Discord has not been rereleased. Celestia rebuked me today for putting a whoopee cushion on her throne earlier - was this any different than her throwing me out of my own Court meeting? She hath no reasons to dishonor me without remorse and expect me to show some when I dishonor her.
Dearest Diary,
I have had yet another dream. Although I deal with noiseless nights often enough, in my dream, it was overwhelming. The ponies still did not pay attention to my glorious night. I did not go up to them for fear of angering them...
She remembered the dream mentioned on the page, though it was foggy. In fact, she realized, the hallway was filled with dark fog thick enough to cut. It made her lightheaded, causing her to close her eyes and hold her head. Despite having battled Discord and Sombra over 1000 years before, she had never been good with daring aerials that would make her head spin. This feeling was no different, and it was a good minute before Luna was able to raise her head up and open her eyes. Was it just her, or had the hallway become more smokey than foggy, now? Perhaps she should get a repair team out here in the morning.
The princess gave a regal cough, then a more sickly cough, before teleporting outside and flying off down towards the Canterlot streets again, less sure in her flight than before. Her hooves clacked against the cobblestone streets as she landed. Clouds covered her beloved moon and street lights now shone upon the quiet houses, though it was just as foggy in the streets as it had been in the Castle. Luna stopped next to a dim street light and conjured a hooded cape to try and keep herself warm - the fog was unusually crisp. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of a bright light near the city square. Curiosity piqued, the princess trotted over to see what ponies were doing up so late.
“Citizens of Equestria! What art you all doing at this time of night? May your princess join in?” she shouted, hoping to be heard over the commotion, despite the fact that there were no other noises to mask her speech. Nopony looked up from their respective tasks. Luna walked closer to the giant, hazy purple lamp in the center of the crowd - which she assumed had been the source of the light explosion earlier - at the same time taking careful note of what her little ponies were doing.
Luna had expected some sort of party. Although those sorts of things normally happened during the daytime, she could not fault anypony for wishing to celebrate beneath moonlight instead of sunlight. However, she could not have imagined what was unfolding before her eyes.
There were probably tens of thousands of ponies in the middle of Canterlot. Each one walked around in a zombie like state, not registering any other pony that passed them by. The few that did appear to be talking to one another were only doing so as a charade; Luna did not hear a single word spoken. It seemed as though everypony was only looking out for his or herself.
Luna then focused in on a cream pony sitting alone at a table. She appeared to be writing something with great care. The alicorn peeked over the pony’s yellow curls, only to find a blank page.
The ink-soaked quill did not even scratch against the parchment as the pony continued to write. Luna pulled the paper out from under her hoof. The earth pony did not cease her busy scribbles, nor did she acknowledge her princess.
The parchment held no answers; it was not even enchanted as far as Luna could tell. She let the parchment flutter to the ground and listened to the crowd. There was nothing to hear but silence. Assuming a different approach, Luna set herself down in the seat next to the writing cream pony. “What are you writing, my little pony?” she whispered.
The earth pony’s head turned away. Luna followed her gaze: the purple haze upon the giant glowing ball in the middle of the square had lifted, and the ball began to pulse a golden light. Everypony stopped whatever it was they were doing, turning their eyes to it. Some started walking closer, and others bowed their heads to the neon presence.
Luna’s sense of royalty became incensed. This ball of light was nothing compared to her, and here were Canterlot ponies, ignoring her as though she were from Ponyville, and prostrating themselves to the inanimate ball of light. How could her subjects betray her like this?
“This is what happens in one thousand years.”
Luna’s ears twitched, unsure of where the mysterious speaker was planted. Nopony’s lips had appeared to move. “What do you mean?”
“See for yourself.”
The brightness below her faded, and Luna was now able to squint and make out the shape of the lamp. It bore a startling likeness to her sister.
The navy alicorn leapt into the air and soared towards it, cloak fluttering behind her, landing nary two feet from the statuesque lamp. It was certainly supposed to be Celestia, but the way it carried itself distinguished it from her. This Celestia had a furious look in her eyes, and stood like she meant to eliminate the first pony who questioned her.
Luna looked out at the ponies who were still bowing down in worship to the light. None had raised their heads.
“Much has changed in the thousand years I was gone, but my - our subjects have always been devoted to myself as well as my sister!” she shouted to the bodiless voice. “Were they not twisted in the mouth, I am sure these lovely ponies would tell you that!”
A shrieking laugh pierced through the fog, now illuminated by the Celestial lamp. “Oh, Luna. Do you really believe that nothing has changed in the average pony’s mind over the thousand years you have missed? Why, even Twilight Sparkle and her friends did not realize that you were Celestia’s sister, despite what had been written in the ancient history books Celestia’s student studied. These ponies do not know you, Luna. They know only Celestia.”
Luna felt her wings flare and her cloak spread as the voice spoke. “Your facts are correct, but your implications are wrong!” she stated. “I am an important part of Equestria’s history and its present. Ponies know my name, they talk with me. I am Equestria’s princess once more!”
“Once more?”
Luna blanched.
“Indeed. Once more. Once more you have the adoration of thousands. Once more you have the respect you deserve. Once more you have power...”
Luna noticed that the silence had somehow gotten louder, nearly drowning out the voice as it spoke. The statue of Celestia grew brighter. Purple fog swirled down towards the bowing ponies, hiding them from view.
A picture flitted into Luna’s head of an elaborate prank that Celestia had pulled in their old castle: she had told Luna that the Night Court was waiting in the garden that night, and when Luna paraded into the garden with her royal entrance - announced in the Royal Voice, while managing a small lightning storm above herself - all she found were her and her sister’s stuffed animals waiting for her.
“That is exactly what Celestia is doing to you now. She is merely showing you the dumb toys, and you think you’re getting a chance at being a princess again. Celestia is the one who shows up at events, Celestia is the one they swear by - do you really think she’ll let you steal away the spotlight she has been in for so long?”
Luna closed her eyes. It did nothing to keep the light out, nor help her pinpoint the voice’s origin. It only made her more disoriented. Raindrops started ambushing her, getting under the cloak and in her face. Luna struggled to open her eyes again, pulling her hood down in order to keep her surroundings pitch black and clear.
More memories surged through her now uncontaminated mind - studying the rules of running an empire with her sister, snapping at Sombra’s heels so he’d be unawares of an aerial attack from the other princess, banishing Discord together. Acts she had not thought about since before...
“You are right. Celestia and I are different. I shall never be her.” Luna enunciated loudly over the coming rainstorm. Thunder rumbled in response, sounding like a throaty chuckle.
“But that does not mean that I am not her equal!” Luna threw back her hood and fired bolt after bolt of lightning at the twisted statue of her sister, the first one shorting it out and the subsequent ones destroying any evidence it ever existed.
“Celestia will never allow it. The ponies are hers to control, she will make sure you are always short-changed!” the voice cried. As Luna continued to demolish the lamp, she heard ponies screaming in the background.
“The ponies of Equestria are OUR responsibility. They always have been. If you are so afraid that I will be forgotten as a hoofnote in a book, let me put your mind at ease: I shall continue to interact with our subjects, let them see who I am. And that includes being a Princess of Equestria!”
The purple haze that surrounded the pony audience lifted, and Luna could see that they were taking everything in - including the navy alicorn about to fall over out of exhaustion. A few rushed over.
“Luna! Luna!”
The world spun for a moment. When Luna righted herself, she felt tile underhoof, not cobblestone.
“Luna! Oh, thank goodness.”
Soft, pillowy feathers caressed Luna’s back. Another hoof lay just near her own. Luna looked up into her sister’s face.
“Did you find it?” Celestia whispered.
Luna nodded, still groggy from her ride. She felt around for the book and shoved it over to the other alicorn.
“It... it was to discourage me from finding it, was it not?” Luna asked. Celestia nodded, staring at the offending book in a scarily familiar way.
“I had hoped to dispose of it safely before your return, but I could never find a spell that would destroy it. I had forgotten how skilled you are in anti-destruction charms,” Celestia commented.
Luna grinned. “I am not so bad at the horrors of destruction, either, Sister.”
“Nevertheless, I did want to keep it away from you. I didn’t know how much you remembered from all those years ago... And it was rather obvious that you had locked a bit of the Nightmare in there.”
Luna gently lifted her sister’s wing off her back, and sat up. “Yes. In case I was defeated... Ironically, I did find it after Nightmare Moon’s defeat, but not on purpose. To be honest, Sister, I had rather forgotten about the diary and the Nightmare’s plan. I suppose that is why I did not recognize the dreamer’s enchantment on that particular page.”
She turned to face her sister. “Yes, the Nightmare tried to tempt me into joining forces again. But Tia, I am here. I beat it. Dost thou - do you want to know how?
“I told it that you and I were equals. Neither you nor I am cleverer, fitter, more knowledgeable, or better than the other.”
Celestia remained silent.
“Tia, I do not wish to depose your throne. Not only is that foalish, I tried it once before and took a thousand years’ vacation on the moon. I simply wish to be an equal - in your eyes, in the commonpony’s eyes, in any foal’s eyes. Right now, I only guard the dreams of young fillies and colts. While important, and not something I would give up for the world, it is not readily accessible to the masses. Am I truly a Princess of Equestria - is Equestria truly a diarchy? - if I do nothing about town but smile and wave?”
Celestia did not look Luna in the eye. Silence surrounded the alicorns for ten seconds before the white alicorn allowed herself to face the navy.
"Luna, I never meant to hurt you, just like I never meant to hurt you one thousand years ago. Where last time I allowed us to each take as much freedom as we needed, and it turned out to be too much, this time I did not allow enough. You're right: we're sisters, a team. Just because I have remained where you didn't, it doesn't mean I have the right to manipulate the laws we made or use my power as the older sister to keep you underhoof.
"I've failed you, Lulu. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
Luna ruffled her feathers. "Well... I will. On three conditions."
Celestia's ears pricked up. "Oh?"
"One: The Night Court will be reinstated."
"I thought that was a given. I revoke my veto," Celestia chuckled.
"Two: You will fully support my plans for an annual Winter Solstice Celebration."
"Naturally."
"Three." Luna slowly stood, a smile appearing in place of her stern countenance. "You have to catch me!"
The navy alicorn took off down the hall. Celestia jumped to her hooves, grinning as she shouted after her sister. "Head to the kitchen! I'll catch you there!"
Behind her, the lavender diary silently faded away.