The Solitude of the Night
The Solitude of the Night
Author: RainbowSnow
Princess Luna looks out over the landscape, basked in blacks and purples. 'This existence, is missing something....companionship. That's it! Sure I know Twilight and her friends, as well as my sister, but there still seems to be a companionship that is lacking, ' Luna thinks. She looks to the heavens, and there finds the half-moon as well as the small pinpricks of the stars, amid a dark velvet sky.
' Perhaps it wouldn't be as lonely if all the ponies did not sleep through my wondrous night,' she thinks. She looks down to the streets, and sees a few ponies moving about, walking slowly as though drinking in the night.
' At least some ponies stay through the night. Perhaps they sleep through the day? Which would make them exactly what I wanted, ponies who live in the night. But how many by choice?' she thinks, ' How many stay awake only because they are required to?'
She takes flight, flying through the darkened sky, a shadow among the clouds that hang low with a black and violet light. She flies at a brisk pace, she wishes to be in Ponyville, for at least there she has friends. She may not have known them long, but at least she feels like they are her closest friends.
She thinks back to before she became the Nightmare she did. She was much like her sister, in so many ways. And before the time of Discord, oh how different things were. If only......
She arrives in Ponyville, the moon high in the sky casting a faint glow upon the ground. She lands and begins to look around, it appears nopony is awake nor about. Just as she suspected, alone, even in the town of her friends.
' Why, why must I watch over this time that none truly enjoy? Why must I be burdened with this task, and this loneliness? I talk to nopony, for none are ever awake. Save that night, the Nightmare Night. The ponies are awake then, the frolic and see what a wondrous thing my night is' Luna thinks as she looks about. She walks past SugarCube Corner and hears a baby crying within. She flies to the window and sees the father, whom appears slightly sleep deprived, attempting to calm the young foal. She flies to the next building to find a sleeping pony.
' So....peaceful' she thinks, as the sound of crying subsides. ' Perhaps they DO love my night, for how else would they sleep peacefully?'
She flies back to the ground and starts walking toward the park. The trees are all shades of blue and violet, and the grass is a black and blue. The colors shift as the wind blows, they meld and mesh, all while still being different. It's a beautiful sight. Luna stops and stares at these amazing moving paintings, when she notices something. In the park laying in the grass, is a pony, not a sleeping one either. A pony that is awake just to stare at the night sky and marvel in its elegance. For the sky is more than just a blue, it is a mix of blues purples and blacks. As well as the stars and moon, it is quite a sight.
' Those ponies in their beds know not what they are missing. But this pony, this pony knows of the lonesome night, its elegance, its beauty.' She thinks
“ I wish, I just wish.......that there were somepony else. Just one, that were like me.” The gray pegasus sighs. His white mane glows in the soft moon light.
' He reminds me of somepony I once knew. Somepony I let down.' Luna thinks sadly, ' I led him astray, and his price must have been much heavier than mine.'
Luna turns and decides to go home. She has seen enough, enough to feel appreciated, but not enough to ease her of this loneliness. Perhaps it is time to ask Celestia. Upon arrival at the castle Luna stares at the sky pondering what could have happened, it has been so may years. She waits and ponders till the morn comes. As the sun rises her sister walks up behind her.
' There is a reason, I was picked for the lonely one this time.' She thought. ' For I needed to learn my lesson, as my sister did.'
" Did you find what you searched for? Some of the answers you sought?" Celestia asks, looking at her younger sister.
" Indeed, it helps to know some still enjoy the night, and all love it in yet another way" Luna says, " I wish to ask you something sister."
" I will answer with all of my ability" replies Celestia.
" Your student, Twilight, she is so eager and loves you dearly, like a mother. It makes me think of my student, and how I led him astray. Oh, what became of him, what sort of torment did I cause him to go through after I was banished? What became of that poor unicorn?' Luna asks crying. Tears streaming down her face. The sky a brilliant mix of black, purple, and orange.
" I.... Is this the cause of the loneliness you feel? The loss of time, and those you cared for? For if so, then I am truly sorry." Celestia says, a tear streaking down her face. More threaten to fall, as she tries to contain herself. She must be strong, for her sister.
" I believe so, yes." Luna chokes through her sobs, " also I understand how you felt, back then. Before Discord. You felt as I did, but you did not fall as I did, and for this the roles where reversed after.."
" Enough sister, calm, for I shall tell you what you wish. And do not worry, that is long in the past. And our lives are complicated, this you know. It is alright to feel, it is alright to love." Celestia says, leading her sister into the castle.