> Heir of the Night
>  by Snowliasion
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> One of those days
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I am Nebula.

Queen of the Lunari and daughter of the moon, for years I have watched over my subjects and tried to provide them with the nutrition and care they need.

The Lunari, though a winged pony breed, evolved differently than the pegasi did. Instead of the more feathery birdlike qualities, we developed the traits of bats instead.

As such our dietary needs also evolved in a different manner, making it so that aside from fruits and vegetables, we enjoy insects and small quantities of meat as well.

We once lived in Equestria alongside the other three tribes, but despite their good care of us we simply didn’t feel at home.

So one day I gathered my people and took them with me to the northwest, where the days were short and the shadows almost perpetual.

There we thrived and formed the small country of Cauchemar, naturally there were some conflicts with the surrounding nations, but I took care of that.

And now it is claimed by those very countries that I’m some type of corrupt mare that abuses my power. Isn’t that typical?

Yet what if you use that power for the wellbeing of the ones that you love? Your family, your friends, the very country that is under your rule?

Can it still be called corruption then? Or is that claim of corruption simply an excuse used by your rivals to hide their own lesser behavior?

But still, is it justified to do the things you need to do as a ruler as long as you keep telling yourself that you’re doing it just for the benefit of all your subjects?

This is a question that I had asked myself for many years, since not all decisions as a ruler are easy. Sometimes you had to make decisions that made ponies or other species unhappy.

For example, our country had rather tense relations with the yaks, since let’s face it, yaks are jerks and not all that smart when it comes to it.

So when a Yakyakistan warband led by King Rutherford attacked one of our patrols for breaking some of their absurd traditions. I had traveled to their country and made sure they would never try such insolence again.

This was all fine and dandy were it not that our neighbouring country of Equestria was somehow befriended with the yaks these days and surprise, surprise. A few days later the royal alicorn sisters and their retinue paid me a visit.

They were not happy about my method of revenge, and a third alicorn, since they apparently came out of the woodwork these days. Told me how friendship worked far better than violence, and how I should not have resorted to violence so quickly.

I was about to tell her where she could stuff that friendship of hers when my daughter, Eclipse entered the room.

She looked at the alicorns, then back at me before hurrying to hide in between my legs, yet with her being here I held my remark to myself and merely nodded.

Luna stared at the filly under me, Celestia stared at Luna with an eyebrow raised and Twilight Sparkle was clearly trying to figure out what just happened.

Recovering from their surprise they focused their attention on me again. And after some more proper diplomacy I promised not to attack the yaks so brutally again, while the princesses would make sure that the yaks would stay away from my own lands.

Then they headed outside again, except for Luna, she turned and trotted up to us before nuzzling my cheek.

“You shouldn’t do such things, you’re better than that Nebula.” she mumbled gently.

I sighed and gave a flick of my tail in annoyance. “Yes mom.”

She nodded and picked Eclipse up who just stared at her grandmother in wonder. Not surprising, she had never seen an Alicorn and mom was kind of large. “And when were you going to tell me about this? Little filly?”

Lowering my head I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks heat up. “I was going to tell you mom…”

“You were huh? When dear? In another ten or so years? Twenty?” Nice guilt trip mom, really appreciated.

“Mom, I had a lot on my plate! I’m running a country here that is far less prosperous than Equestria!” I narrowed my eyes, baring my fangs at the alicorn.

Setting Eclipse between her wings, Luna stood up and towered over me, glowering in disdain. “Don’t raise your voice at me Nebula, I was not the young brash mare that decided to leave and strike out on her own!”

“You made no effort to stop me either..” I snarled but soon dropped the challenge however and sat down looking at my hooves.

She sighed and lay down to keep Eclipse balanced on her back, luckily my foal was still far too amazed by her grandmare to pay too much attention to us.

“Because I can’t decide your life for you little one, I thought you would understand that after seventy years.” I did, but I was just stressed and had felt like lashing out, Making mom an easy target.

The guards in my throne room didn’t make a sound, they looked very busy standing near the walls trying to ignore us.

“I know, sorry.” I muttered, “Her name is Eclipse and you eh, can come visit her if you like.” she was her grandfoal after all.

“I would like that very much sweetheart.” she had Eclipse in her forehooves again and smiled nuzzling the filly’s snout. “Her father?”

I snorted bitterly. “Not to be discussed right now mother.”

She nodded, letting the subject drop as she saw it brought me discomfort. Circumstances had given us time together, but politics had torn us apart again. And after eleven months Eclipse was there.

“Alright Nebula, but please write more and visit me with Eclipse sometime?” she pleaded, and I simply couldn’t say no.

“I will mom, have a good journey home.” who could have expected that my conflict with those stupid yaks would have this as a result? Even with my foresight in matters I had not seen this coming.

And then Luna rose to her hooves and followed after the other princesses after passing my foal back to me, heading back to their chariots. Leaving me with Eclipse and my thoughts.