Baby Kakarrot has escaped planet Vegeta as Frieza decimates it. The Spherical pod enters a distortion in space and time as the ship tears through warps and spacial distortions until it’s spit out in another location, passing by a moon.
In Canterlot castle, Princess Celestia is staring up at the moon, reminiscing of her long lost sister and catches a glimpse of something unusual. A shimmer in the sky. Surely it must be but a shooting star because the mare in the moon is clearly still visible and shows no need for concern to the princess.
However, unbeknownst to her, something was racing by at a frightening speed. She whips her head back to see debris hurling towards the castle. Celestia immediately puts up a barrier to deflect the incoming projectile.
The guards rush to her side to aid her but there’s no immediate cause to alarm. The threat had seemingly been contained, though upon examining what fell from the sky, one could easily believe something was amiss.
BOOM!!! CRASH!!!
In the distance, far away from Canterlot, outside of Ponyville, in the Everfree forest there is a stack of smoke and a faint glow as if a fire had been there and suddenly put out.
Celestia is advised by her guard captain and security council to stay in the castle, but she refuses. Something came from the sky and should it have anything to do with her sister, she would be needed to fight off this threat and hopefully reason with her. Fear clouds her judgment as she hopes to see her sister and perhaps regain their long lost bond once again. No matter, the princess marches forward despite all warnings.
The captain pleads once more: “Princess, you must stay here in case the kingdom needs you. We can’t allow your safety to be compromised.”
“If you believe that so strongly you are welcome to stop me captain but if this threat is truly from the moon, I will be there to stop it. Are we clear?” Celestia raises her head.
“Yy..yes your highness.”
The group flies to the forest, spreading into two teams. One team serving as a guard to keep villagers from entering the forest and the other to scout what could be the greatest threat Equestria has ever known.
The captain leads his squad and the princess into the forest, treading lightly so as to not disturb the wildlife.
“RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!”
A pack of timberwolves running away from a group of cockatrices races towards the group.
The guards stand strong, shielding their eyes from the cockatrices' gaze they begin to fight off the wild animals. Timberwolves reconstructing themselves (one getting stuck midway as a knocked down cockatrice stares at it giving the beast an awkward position to land in.)
Hmm..... that reminds me, I should probably check on that trickster when this is all done Celestia thinks to herself.
Enough was enough. Celestia would see to it none of her guards would be harmed while she was here. The princess raises her head and readies a spell to cast the creatures away. Her horn glows but something rustles in the brush. The guards are too preoccupied with the beasts to regroup but it doesn’t seem to matter.
One by one, the wildlife of the Everfree forest disappears, as if they were never there in the first place. A sudden faint noise as if a pop sounds off. Trees start to break and fall, crashing into one another. The magic of the forest quickly repairs the damage and attempts to retaliate against this threat to itself.
The dense forest suddenly turns into a clearing. The atmosphere almost seems scared.
The guards rush to surround Princess Celestia, the captain readying his troops, when out from the shadows comes forth a creature unlike anything anypony had ever seen.
It was small sure but it’s coat was bare. It’s mane wild and unruly. It’s tail was like that of some kind of animal. Perhaps a pet? No no, maybe something from this very forest? No that couldn’t be it either. And that thing? What was that between its- Oh. Celestia thought to herself, quickly shaking her head, returning to the situation at hoof.
In any case, the creature grits its teeth, lets out a... roar? Well not so much a roar so much as... I suppose one could think of it as if a child was pretending to be a ferocious lion. It was almost adorable.
The creature stumbles and stands it’s ground.
The captain steadies his troops but one recent recruit decides to go in alone, firing a beam of magic at the creature. This catches the captain’s full attention as he yells:
“GET BACK HERE NOW SOLDIER! THAT’S AN ORDER! I DID NOT TELL YOU TO OPEN FIRE!”
The soldier winces and shakes but as he turns back, the creature takes the blast head on and comes out nearly completely unscathed save for some dirt and smoke covering its body.
The creature lunges forward to attack but Celestia unleashes her spell she had prepared earlier. It was a blinding light that catches the creature off guard.
The creature stumbles, backing into some blinded guards, while the trigger happy newbie gets scared and fires another blast knocking the creature straight into the princess.
Neither he, nor more importantly the captain noticed that fact.
As the creature hurls towards the princess, one of the guards who was slightly less hindered attempts to block it from hitting the princess. This guard flings her way between them and knocks it square and the head, hurling it into a nearby tree.
It tries to get up but stops dead in it’s tracks as the timberwolf statue from earlier which was knocked away earlier comes crashing down on its head completely intact, knocking the creature out cold and leaving the entire group completely at a loss for words.
The sun shining in the bright sky signals the dawn of a new day as Princess Celestia lowers the moon and raises the sun.
Within a chamber on a small cushion lays the creature the princess and her guards had encountered last night. He was not restrained as per Celestia’s orders.
Celestia sits upon her throne in Canterlot Castle, around her stand the royal guards who escorted her through the Everfree Forest just hours ago.
“Princess, with all due respect, this creature is a wild beast that was able to best this forest’s most deadly of predators in mere seconds. That’s not even mentioning what it could have done to all of us had you…” Captain Goldshield gulps as Celestia carries herself with her regal demeanor towards the small creature.
“If I hadn’t intervened captain, this creature as you put it would have likely escaped after making short work of your soldiers after it’s display of strength.”
The captain looks down and says nothing.
“Do not fret, you served me and your soldiers admirably this night and for all your efforts you should be proud as I assure you I am.” Celestia smiles warmly.
The captain raises his head and gives a small smile in thanks.
“If this creature... We will have to categorize it soon so as to address it with better conversation.” Celestia began.
“Pardon my abruptness princess but it sounds as if you are treating this thing as if it was a thinking, intelligent pony?” One of the guards spoke up.
Celestia turned her gaze toward him. “We do not know that it is not. If this creature can indeed think and talk, we owe it at least the chance to defend itself in it’s own way. In addition, if it had escaped, not only the villagers but also all our guards would have likely been caught in the flurry of its passing through the town."
“But your highness, what shall we do with it in the meantime? Shall we confine it to Tartarus?”
“I believe a different course of action will be far more enlightening." She said before gesturing toward the doors. "Bring me the soldier that attacked without prompt earlier.”
The guard in question went pale as a ghost and trembled forward.
“Please, your name if you would.”
The guard shivers with fear.
“Answer the Princess when spoken to private!” The captain raised his voice.
“Please Captain, you are making him more nervous." She said shifting her gaze upon the subordinate. "If you would state your name, we can continue this conversation.”
“L-L-L-Leafy… y-y-your highn-n-n-ness. Leafy... B-B-B-Breeze.” Leafy responds. His voice shaking.
“Well then Leafy, to make up for your brash behavior earlier, I would like you to prove yourself to your captain and take care of our guest. It may even be no older than a foal. Will you take this charge Leafy?” Celestia spreads her wings.
Leafy gasps and looks to his captain who smiles and nods his head. He takes a deep breath and exhales.
“Yes princess! You can count on me!”
The new day’s sun beams on the creature. It’s tail twitches and it bolts awake as it opens it’s eyes.
It growls and looks around. The wind blows the curtains gently.
The creature pounces upon the curtains and wraps itself around them until they tear. He wears them as if they were his trophy for defeating a monster.
“Well you seem energetic today little gUUYYYY!! WOAH!” Leafy opens the door and greets the creature when it rams through both him and the door, knocking it down on top of Leafy.
“Mmmornning to you too.” Leafy's muffled voice mumbles from under the door.
The creature looks around and smells something. Beside the broken door was a plate. It had oats, bread, and other vegetables.
It smells them, looks away to Leafy under the door and touches the food to its tongue.
In almost an instant, the food is gone.
“Guess you were hungry huh?”Leafy groans.
A loud growl comes from the creature’s stomach. He jumps off the door to lick the plate clean, allowing Leafy to get up.
“Well now, if you’re still hungry, why don’t we take a trip down to the cafeteria? I’m sure we can rustle you up something there?” Leafy smiles.
The creature growls but follows.
“This…… may have been a mistake.” Leafy looks on wide eyed at was once the kitchen, cafeteria and an unconscious cook who lay on the floor.
Fruit cores, pastries, vegetables, grains. All of it gone in an instant.
“Sweet Celestia what am I going to do! How do I explain this?! We have to clean this up!” Leafy frantically tries to clean up and gasps.
He notices the creature is gone.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Leafy curses and cries.
The creature climbs the pillars of the castle but stops to rub it’s head. Something was hurting it. It felt really bad. It jumps down and rushes back to the cafeteria to see Leafy being scolded by the captain.
“And where exactly is he now private!”
Leafy backs away, stumbling his words.
The creature rubs his head , grits it’s teeth and runs between the captain and Leafy. It lets out that roar akin to a child pretending to be a lion (it was rather cute in all honesty), and the captain backs away.
“Well then, at the very least it’s here. Clean this up before lunch and we’ll forget this happened private. I came by to let you know the Princess wanted to speak with you privately tonight after sunset. I expect you to not keep her waiting. Dismissed!” Goldshield says before walking away.
Leafy sighs and begins picking up food and grabbing a broom using his horn.
“Hopefully this won’t take too long.” Leafy begins sweeping.
Leafy shakes his head and sighs. "I don’t suppose you’d consider helping a colt out would'ya?”
The creature looks at Leafy’s sad face and to the broom moving back and forth, pushing everything in a pile.
It looks at the broom with a determined expression and grabs it from Leafy's telekinesis. In seconds, the entire room including the kitchen is clean. The creature returns to where Leafy was and snorts, standing the broom up like a flag, as if to declare victory in battle.
Leafy’s mouth drops. He couldn’t believe it. Everything was spotless, save for the huge pile of now manageable garbage that did in fact tip over being too tall, but it was easier than gathering everything until sunset.
After throwing out all the garbage, which the creature took upon itself to lift the entire pile barehooved. Does what he have even qualify as hooves? The guard thought to himself. Questions for later as the hardest challenge yet presents itself.
Leafy attempts to clean the creature off so it will be ready for their meeting with Princess Celestia tonight.
This among many things presents an extremely difficult challenge throughout the day.
Luckily, Leafy makes it out of the ordeal alive and kicking. Well, the creature was the one doing most of the kicking.
Sunset approaches as Leafy guides the creature to the throne room on his back. While difficult, he managed to do so after getting it another curtain to “defeat” and wear. It seemed to comfort him and keep him warm with no apparent coat to do so.
The doors open, the creature scoots back.
“It’s okay, the princess is in that room. I’ll make sure she knows you’re a really good whatever you are. Call it even for helping me out earlier.” Leafy winks and pats the creature on it’s leg.
Leafy puts his head up and marches. The creature sticks its long brown tail in the air and rubs its head again. The tail goes down, the creature hops off and follows Leafy.
“You may approach, Leafy Breeze. I thank you for attending.” Celestia motions to the guards to let them pass.
“Thank you your highness.” Leafy replies.
“I see you’ve had quite the day with our guest. Have you had any difficulties in managing through the day?”
“Difficulties? With this little guy? Naw, I mean, no ma'am- Princess! I mean your highness! It has been no trouble at all!” Leafy composes himself.
The creature then does something most peculiar. Celestia notices it mimicking Leafy’s stance, then snickers as if to play.
She smiles warmly. “Well that is certainly a relief. It seems as though we can also assume to be correct that it is nothing more than a child. Perhaps even an infant in it’s species.”
“I suppose so, Though he’s certainly a very good creature your highness. Wanted to make sure I noted that. Hasn’t threatened me once today.”
Celestia raises her brow as the creature pulls strongly on Leafy’s tail.
“YEEEOOOWWWW! Gggrrr- I mean, that’s a good fella… Eep!” Leafy winces.
“It seems the two of you have gotten along quite well Leafy. I trust you will take care of it going forward?” Celestia says, covering a giggle with her hoof.
“Yes, of course your highness. If I may, I believe it’s a he. He certainly seems like it to me anyway. Strong as any colt I’ve ever seen.”
“Ahem.” A female guard coughs and glares at Leafy.
“Not that mares aren’t of course. I mean look at you- I mean oh sweet ce- sorry your highness.” Leafy said,shifting his gaze nervously between the princess and the guard. A bead of sweat running down the back of his neck.
Celestia's eyes narrowed as her smile grew wider. “It’s quite alright private Leafy. I’ve been most curious about his taking to his new surroundings and would like to be informed as best as you can. Will you do this for me?”
“Yes your highness! You can count on me.” The guard said, giving a sharp salute.
“Excellent. Now one more thing, I do believe a name is in order.”
“It would make keeping track of him a bit easier. Not that I had trouble with that of course. What did you have in mind your highness?”
“Hmm….” Celestia looks at the boy. A hoof on her chin.
He walks around towards the stained glass windows until he approaches one with Luna, Celestia’s sister. The moonlight shimmering through, coating the boy in it’s glow. He stares up at the window, almost hypnotized by both the art and the light behind it.
“Lunar.” Celestia smiles.
“Pardon, your highness?” Leafy asks.
“Lunar Radiance.”
“Well then Lunar, looks like we got ourselves quite the time ahead of us. Starting tomorrow I’ll show you around the castle, maybe even get you in to see some of the other guards and they can show you some cool tricks. How’s that sound?”
Lunar yawns, stumbles around and falls to the ground sleeping.
Lunar had grown taller, not much but taller since he arrived. Since he would often tear down curtains for warmth and for fun, Leafy thought it best to ask around to see if anypony could stitch him together some garb he would find suitable.
It was doable. A challenge to say the least for even the best in Canterlot. Leafy found and was happy to pay a prestigious boutique to craft something the boy would be comfortable in.
The end result was slightly baggy as nopony had ever seen anything quite like the patterns Leafy described to them. They all scoffed at first saying this must be for some kind of play. Perhaps something for a school or something. Surely such a creature couldn't actually exist.
The most shocking part came when Leafy had brought Lunar in to be fitted.
Every single pony had dropped what they were doing, customers ceased to look at the latest trends and all eyes were fixated on Lunar.
Of course, Lunar didn't mind the attention too much but he was… less than tactful in any given social situation despite numerous lectures from Leafy, captain Goldshield, the kitchen staff, the janitorial crews, literally anything that breathed. Ya know, the standard fare.
Lunar tugged on tails, shook hooves without being prompted, and, to be fair, he did think he was being polite in his own naïve way. The ponies in the boutique found him exotic yet adorably charming.
After the fitting, the clothes were a bit more comfortable, though not even the best seamstresses in the boutique could meet such a dramatic challenge.
Lunar now wore a purple shirt with blue pants. A black belt was added to keep said pants up and to add flair, a white lining was stitched along the edges of the belt.
Both Lunar and Leafy thanked the boutique staff and were on their way back to the castle.
In the years Lunar had spent at the castle under Leafy Breeze's care, he had made… "friends" with the guards at Canterlot castle.
By "friends", of course he was having his daily exercise routine that Leafy instilled. Of which was completed as always, a literal hundred times over in minutes followed by playing a few mischievous pranks on some unsuspecting guards.
His favorite to prank was of course Captain Goldshield. He was the trickiest to catch, for lack of better term, off guard.
Surprisingly, the captain had no qualms about these pranks despite how he would treat Lunar after he performed them. He saw it as his own way of contributing to the boy's education that he must always look for creative and unexpected ways to clear a path to victory. At least that's what he always tells him in not so many words.
Leafy had settled into his role as a commanding officer in the royal guard after many accomplished missions for the princess. Not all of which could be fully attributed to him but Lunar found it fun to tag along and not tell Leafy he was really there. When Leafy did find out, Lunar did get a scolding but he was nonetheless grateful for his aid and asked if he would one day want to join the guard himself.
Lunar declined every time. He had way too much fun exploring, running and the one thing he loved most, which was the reason Leafy always asked him, fighting.
He didn't fight to hurt anyone. Lunar was far too kind for that. A far cry from the wild and feral beast of the Everfree forest found so many moons ago would have led you to believe. No no, Lunar would get this look in his eyes whenever he saw one of three things.
A challenge, a fight, and of course his favorite time of the day:
"Lunar…" Captain Goldshield spoke with a knowing tone that simply made Lunar that much more excited to take his target on.
Lunar pounces from the shadows with a loud roar. The captain steps aside, horn aglow and grabs him midair with his magic.
"Lunar what did I tell you?" Captain Goldshield asks as he holds Lunar upside down, looking him squarely in the eyes.
Lunar flails about trying to regain his footing but to no avail.
The Captain smiles and shakes his head, setting Lunar down gently. Of course, he is still swinging around and slips right on his bottom.
"You can't just scream like that when you're attacking. You'll give yourself away. Try better next time okay?" Goldshield smiles and winks at the boy.
"Aw but I almost had ya that time. I bet if I could do magic like you, I'd get ya good." Lunar grins.
"Well lad, you can't expect to just learn magic. It's something Unicorns like Leafy and I are born with. Just like Pegasi are gifted with wings to fly through the skies and Earth Ponies are gifted with the strength to tend our lands.
"I know… I'm still faster though right?" Lunar asks excited.
"Not fast enough, haha." Goldshield grabs Lunar and rubs his head playfully.
If only you knew just how fast you really are though. I really think you're holding back sometimes kiddo. Goldshield ponders to himself.
"Well I gotta go check on these new recruits we got coming in today. Hear there's one of 'em that could give me a run for my money. Maybe you wanna come take a look? Could end up being my replacement one day. Unless of course you wanna come for the job instead, eh Lunar?" The Captain nudges him.
"No way! I don't wanna stand and do boring walks all day." Lunar sticks his tongue out.
"Hey now, no disrespect Lunar."
"Sorry Captain Goldshield."
"I'll forgive it this time. Dismissed!"
Lunar hops a few feet in the air and starts to dart away getting a good distance before Goldshield calls out to him.
"Oh, and Lunar?"
"Yeah Goldy?!"
"That's Captain son! Anyway, if you're looking for something to do, Leafy will be guarding the Princess's entrance test to the school for gifted unicorns today. Go and check that out if you get bored instead of breaking the training grounds again will ya?"
"Will do Goldy… I mean Captain Goldy!" And with that, Lunar vanishes as if he sped faster than any Wonderbolt.
Goldshield shakes his head and walks away.
"I swear that kid gets more terrifying by the day. Gets stronger and faster every time. I bet he could give the new bolts a run for their money if he could fly. Especially that one the Captain's groomin' to take her place. Fire somethin'…"
Lunar was zipping along the corridors of Canterlot Castle, challenging himself to go faster and faster with each push of his feet. The true challenge he always tried his best to do was to control his stopping as best and as fast he could to the best of his abilities.
As he passes by the guarded room where Princess Celestia's entrance test was being held, Lunar's senses almost go into slow motion as a sound in the far distance, a very brief yet powerful shockwave, is felt under his feet and to Lunar, the air as he moves. A loud noise comes from behind the doors but stops a few moments later.
Lunar thought nothing of it as the Princess was behind those doors and from what he could tell, there'd be nothing to worry about so long as she was there. But his curiosity does get the better of him.
While Lunar could easily just ask to go through the door to see what was happening, he instead tries to see just how fast he can get outside and to the window on the other side.
The answer of course, was extremely quickly. In fact, it seemed as if Lunar was feeling even faster than before. He'd never felt this excited to see something he didn't know but something drew him to it so he felt extra motivated.
Fortunately, Lunar was able to just barely catch a glimpse of the ponies inside the room before the filly taking the test had left with her family.
He quickly darts back, trying to make it back before the door opens as a challenge to himself. However…
"YES YES YES YES! YES YES YES YES! I DID IT! I… WAHHHHHH!!!" a purple unicorn filly hops excitedly out the door before meeting with a very fast and uncontrolled Lunar dashing full speed towards her.
CRASH!
The filly hits Lunar right in the gut and both roll, twist and slingshot straight into a them-sized hole in a nearby wall.
"Hey there! I'm Lunar, what's your name? I thought I felt and heard something really cool back there? Was that big shake you? What'd you do to do that?"
The filly's eyes were spinning but she shakes her head and tries to regain her senses. She sees about four Lunars before her eyes stop swirling.
"W…What… WHAT ARE YOU!!!! GAHHH!!!!" The purple filly unicorn screams as she falls to the floor and backs away.
Lunar pops himself out of the wall and circles the filly curiously.
“Like I said, I’m Lunar. What’s your name?” Lunar asks as he sneaks up quickly behind her and pulls on her tail.
The purple unicorn filly shivers at this invasion of personal space.
“GAH! STOP DOING THAT!” She grabs her tail and curls up holding it.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a purple unicorn yet. You are purple right? Leafy keeps telling me I get some colors mixed up during lessons.” Lunar grins as if he’s proud even if he gets it wrong.
“Sweet Celestia! Lunar what are you doing!”
“Twilight are you ok!?”
A group of voices rush over to the two who were much much farther away than they had realized.
Leafy and two Unicorns, a blue one and a gray one rushed beside him.
“Oh my gosh I am so sorry! Are you ok? Please accept our deepest apologies! Lunar! What do you have to say to these nice folks?” Leafy takes his guards helmet off and bows profusely.
“Sorry.” Lunar states bluntly and quickly.
“LUNAR!”
“It’s... it’s quite alright. It looks like Twilight’s just a little surprised is all.” The blue male unicorn says as he brushes the filly off.
“Oh believe me, her and her brother have had WAYYYY worse back at home.” The gray female unicorn rolls her eyes and laughs.
“Still, he acted irresponsibly and we’d like to apologize sincerely," Leafy stresses the last word, glaring at Lunar. "for the trouble we’ve caused you. Perhaps we can make it up to you with a tour of the castle or to see the guards entrance exams?”
The filly’s eyes brighten and a slow but wide smile forms on her face.
“OH MY GOSH CAN WE GO PLEASE!” Twilight pleads.
“I suppose it’d be ok, but don’t think I don't see right through you.” The blue unicorn, her father Nightlight rubbed her head.
“If we go with them, you’ll promise to behave and not disturb your brother’s exam?” The gray unicorn, her mother Velvet asks with a firm tone.
Twilight sits up straight and puts a hoof to her chest and a hoof in the air and takes a deep breath.
“I promise.” She opens one eye.
“Can we go now! PLEASE!!!???” Twilight shakes her mother and father’s legs.
“Alright then, I guess we’ll take you up on that offer. Besides, it’ll be good for Twilight to spend a little more time with some... I’m sorry and don’t mean to be rude, but what exactly are you? Some kind of scaleless dragon? I’ve never seen one with a mane before.” Nightlight asks as he examines Lunar.
Lunar shrugs nonchalantly. “I dunno, but Goldy calls me 'kiddo', the kitchen staff calls me 'get back you', the Princess calls me-”
“THE PRINCESS?!” They all drop their jaws. Leafy face-hoofs and shakes his head.
“Yeah, she’s really nice and tells really good stories.” Lunar smiles
“Well that’s enough small talk, isn’t it Lunar? Haha. Why don’t we just head on over to those exams and you can tell us more about your son?” Leafy laughs nervously as he tries shooing Lunar to move.
The day goes by quick. Lunar continues to try to befriend Twilight but to no avail. He’s not even sure if that’s her full name as she barely says a word to him the entire day. She spends most of her time looking at brochures, books and basically any form of literature she can find as if to completely avoid speaking to anypony, let alone Lunar.
After all was said and done, everypony said their goodbyes and headed home for the evening.
Lunar got changed into his night time clothes and wrapped himself up for bed before Leafy comes in to check on him.
“You up, Lunar?”
No response.
“Hey, sorry about yelling earlier. I know it’s hard talking to other ponies when you’re so different. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sure you didn’t mean any harm. Come find me if you need anything, ok buddy?”
“Ok Leafy.” Lunar peeks his head out from under the sheets.
After leaving, Lunar hops out of bed and leans on the windowsill, staring up at the brightness of the moon.
“I really wanted to talk with that filly today. I don’t get to see that many around here. They’re always at school or something. I can’t do magic, or do things like the other ponies do so they had to take me out 'cause I kept breaking things in the classrooms.” Lunar sighs.
Lunar’s tail wags slowly back and forth as he focuses his attention further on the moon.
“Wow, the moon sure is bright tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so...”
BUP-PUMP.
BUP-PUMP.
BUP-PUMP.
“Hey Lunar, about that chat? How about you and I go take a walk down to the kitch......en?”
Leafy Breeze stands in the threshold of Lunar’s bedroom with his eyes fixed on the small child he’d been raising for so many moons he had lost count.
However, his eyes showed a deep and unsettling fear as the small frame of the child started to grow. What was once bare skin now grew a thick brown coat of fur. Lunar’s tail stiffens and grows with his body as it gains mass and slams to the floor with a mighty and furious thump.
“Ssssweet Celestia... Lunar... is that you?
The ever-growing body doesn’t answer. It simply growls as it continues to stare at the moon.
Leafy hesitantly approaches him and rounds the corner of the room.
Red.
That is the color of this thing’s eyes. No, not thing. Leafy thinks to himself. This is Lunar, it has to be. The tail, the hair, the torn clothes on the ground, there was no mistaking that this creature was the little one Leafy had been caring for for so long.
A small mixed wave of white, black and blue color began to swirl in the creature’s eyes before isolating themselves into pupils. The creature stops growing but lets out a mighty roar that shakes the very foundation of the castle.
Lunar grips the frame of the window and breaks the solid stone into bits and chunks as he leaps out of the room, a gust of backlashed wind pushing Leafy back.
Leafy has no time to even process what just happened. He has to do something.
“SOUND THE ALARMS! SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO LUNAR! HE IS NOT HIMSELF! PLEASE! HELP ME SAVE HIM!”
Leafy gallops frantically through the halls of Canterlot, grabbing the attention of any who could follow.
Captain Goldshield catches up to Leafy and the two make haste to the outer rim of the castle where loud thumps and the sound of stone breaking and crumbling could be heard falling to the ground.
“You two, to the throne room immediately! Ensure nothing gets to the princess!” Goldshield orders two guards the group passes on their way out of the gate.
The guards comply and make haste for the throne room.
Meanwhile, Lunar is flailing about in the garden outside the ballroom. The animals flee their homes as the large furry creature thrashes about, reducing trees to splinters with the sheer force of his limbs.
Lunar lets out a mighty roar that shakes the very foundation of all of Canterlot. The citizens trotting about the night streets look around in fear, wondering what that horrid noise could possibly be.
Lunar’s eyes glow redder with that swirling white, black and blue pattern in the center as his body trembles, as if to resist growing any further. A dim aura of the same color as the center of his eyes surrounds his beastly form.
As this is happening, the Captain, Leafy and a sizable entourage of guards rush towards the garden.
Lunar beats his fists against his chest and stomps about, causing further damage to the surrounding area of the garden. The trees were all but gone, the flowers all stomped out and the surrounding stone walls but mere rubble now.
“Lunar... is that you?” Captain Goldshield approaches the beast hesitantly.
Lunar’s now larger eyes twitch and lets out a mighty roar that pushes the squad of guards back. The pegasi among them try to circle back and around the sky but then...
The aura around Lunar’s body begins to glow again. The colored pattern in the center of his eyes envelops the redness until they swirl, as if to mimic the stardust in the sky.
The aura extends from Lunar’s body and like a wave, forces them back like a gust of wind.
Lunar roars and the aura grows more intense.
Leafy shakes, steps forward and adjusts his helmet.
“Lunar... It’s me son. I don’t know what’s going on and to be honest you know how scared I can get sometimes... But I’m here for you Lunar. Just calm down and we can...
Leafy was far too focused on trying to get through to the boy so he couldn’t have noticed. How could he. The aura envelops Lunar’s tail and like swift unforgiving lightning striking the ground...
“LEAFY! LOOK OUT!” Captain Goldshield shouts.
SLAM!!!!!!!
In between Leafy and Lunar, Captain Goldshield teleports himself to take the full brunt of the tail’s attack.
This sends the Captain hurling quickly through the threshold of the ballroom and into a sizable hole in the center staircase.
“CAPTAIN!” Leafy shouts.
One of the pegasi that was flung away earlier rushes into the ballroom to check on him.
“He’s okay! He’s not getting up any time soon but it looks like a barrier he put up to cushion the blow is fading!” The guard yells to her squad.
Leafy shakes his head but firms his resolve. This was the boy he’d been caring for for years. He'd fed him, taught him how to read (not well but he could do so well enough), they played together, laughed together and more often than not got into a bit of trouble together with Lunar being blunt in his lack of manners but genuinely apologetic to Leafy in true sincerity.
“Lunar... please son... just calm down. We can... I can help you. We can figure out what’s happening to you together. I’m sure the princess has the wisdom to...”
Lunar’s body pulsates as the aura does. He starts to grow larger, the brown fur now overtaking his hair, now flat atop his head. His chest and legs now becoming more and more engulfed by the fur. The beastly form was now at least twice as large as before, and that’s saying something, as he was already twice the height of Princess Celestia.
Without warning, Leafy jumps in to hold Lunar. To try and further reason with him, throwing all caution to the wind.
The guards all stand at the ready. They know they can’t do much against the beast, knowing who he is but beyond that they aren’t sure if they can do anything against him at all given what he did to the strongest among them. The one leading them. All they could do was hope he would recover to give them the order to do something, but for now, trusting Leafy and being at the ready in case he could escape and hurt the denizens of Canterlot was the best they could do.
Lunar’s body continues to grow. Now easily overtaking the height of the tallest trees, the aura subsides and refocuses around the center of his eyes.
Leafy can’t hold on any longer. He falls as the beast turns. Lunar's tail slamming him mid air into the garden below.
Before he could do anything, Lunar’s gigantic foot raises itself as he begins to walk. Leafy stares in horror, unable to move, unable to speak and only one thing races through his mind in this moment.
I’m sorry... I guess I messed up just like when we first met, son... Leafy passes out.
The guards look on in horror, the pegasi try dashing to his rescue but in their hearts they know not one of them would be fast enough. Even the unicorns among them couldn’t clear him in time with a teleport spell. The foot was moving too fast for the exit to allow enough time to focus.
Just then, a figure appears in sphere of brilliant light. The beast reels back, stumbling and closing it’s eyes.
It was Princess Celestia.
“This has gone on long enough.” Celestia says as she readies her spell, the bright light behind her glowing more intense.
She fires a beam of magic straight at Lunar’s beastly form, but despite it’s impressive size...
It misses...
But how? Celestia pondered.
She looks at the ground and notices the ground at Lunar’s feet showed the imprint in the dirt grew larger around his feet. As if his feet were no longer the size they were when he planted them there.
Celestia flaps her large wings and flies closer slowly to Lunar. The closer she gets, the smaller he becomes. She looks carefully at him, his eyes losing the swirling pattern until they were simply red.
Lunar lets out a roar and something shines bright in the gaping mouth. He fires a yellow beam surrounded by the same stardust pattern in his eyes. It is unlike any magic Celestia had ever seen, and she is forced to teleport away. Lunar fixates his gaze to the sky and begins growing rapidly to his prior size, the pattern of stardust returning to his eyes.
“Of course! That must be it!” Celestia looks up to the moon.
The princess spreads her forehooves as her horn glows with the bright intensity of the sun from which it shares.
Lunar is blinded but remains in his current state. His form only shrinking slightly like before.
Before Celestia can think, Lunar swings his arm trying to swat her away. Celestia holds his arm in place with a large beam of magic. However, she is unable to hold off the incoming second arm from behind her.
With no time to react, Celestia puts up as strong a barrier as she can and teleports to the ground to where Leafy lays.
“Princess... I’m so sorry... please don’t... Lunar isn’t well...” Leafy pleads with tears in his eyes.
“I fear that him not being well may not be enough for me to consider holding back an order to the guards... unless you have any ideas, we may have to restrain him in the deepest pits of Tartarus.” Celestia pants, trying to catch her breath.
Leafy turns his head in silence. He can’t move, let alone think of any way to revert Lunar to his original form and size.
“Then... by sunrise... we will have to say goodbye to him?” Leafy whispers.
Celestia snaps her attention once more and darts to the sky again, leaving Leafy Breeze to his fears of saying goodbye to the little one he has cared for for so many moons.
Without a moments hesitation, Celestia zooms through the skies, dodging the one two punches from Lunar as she flies higher and higher until she takes a familiar stance that everypony around her knows well.
Her horn glows again, the moon begins to lower and sun starts to rise.
Lunar stops in his tracks, his body pulsating and the stardust pattern in his eyes fading. His body begins to shrink much more rapidly this time the less the moon is in sight. His fur rescinds to his body until his flesh is bare and the hair on his head regains it’s original pointy shape.
Celestia floats down towards Lunar, the light of the morning sun behind her bathing her body in it’s glow as she lands before him and the guards that approach.
“Princess... we...” A pegasus guard tries to apologize.
“What happened here tonight, you all acted with courage and bravery the likes of which history’s greatest legends couldn’t imagine. I have seen many things in my time as the ruler of Equestria, but none quite like what Lunar had become. Not a single one of you should feel any less than proud of your actions tonight, no matter what part you played. Not many could expect any more than what was done, but I for one am most proud of you all. How is Captain Goldshield? And please, do help Leafy Breeze up so we may tend to his wounds.” Celestia looks to her guards with a warm and kind smile that fills each of them with pride and inspiration.
“The Captain is alright Princess! He says he’s a little shaky, but says he will recover!” A white male unicorn guard salutes her.
“Excellent, then please escort him and Leafy to be treated.”
A guard on each side use their magic to slowly lift Leafy Breeze onto a stretcher and begin to take him away.
“And Leafy?” Celestia calls out to him.
“Yes Princess?” Leafy winces.
“You more than any should be very proud of the bravery you’ve displayed tonight.” Celestia smiles.
“With all due respect princess, if Lunar is safe and healthy, that’s all that matters to me.” Leafy looks over to the unconscious Lunar and smiles as he sees the guards tending to him.
Celestia nods and smiles once more.
“I assure you Leafy, Lunar will be safe and well taken care of. Which reminds me, if I could have everypony's attention please!” Celestia raises a hoof to gesture to all guards present to gather around her.
The pegasi fly down, the unicorns and earth ponies approach with pride in their step with captain Goldshield being helped over, and all bow their heads before the princess.
“While this is quite a mess, I do believe it was a rather unfortunate accident during a routine exercise, wouldn’t you agree captain?” Celestia gives him a knowing look.
Goldshield almost chuckles but remains steadfast.
“Yes princess, it most certainly was. As a token of our appreciation for your understanding, we’ll have this all cleaned up before breakfast. Hop to everypony!” Captain Goldshield commands and steadies himself up so those helping him can join the efforts.
Not a single guard pony there questioned what was said and all accepted their orders with a smile and carried on.
A pair of guards began hesitantly placing Lunar on a stretcher to take him inside. Leafy throughout all of this couldn’t contain his tears and salutes the princess as he and Lunar are carried off to the castle.
Goldshield coughs nonchalantly and approaches Celestia.
“Princess, if I may. Thank you, for being so generous to Lunar and especially to Leafy. It’s been quite a challenge raising the lad, especially given how little we know about what he really is. For me... if I may be so bold as to speak Princess...”
“Please Captain, you may speak as freely as you wish.” Celestia looks down at his flustered face, trying to hide his feelings.
“Thank you for protecting my family. I know I’ve been hard on Leafy ever since he joined the guard, but it’s because I can’t show any signs of favoritism among the ranks. My son should be no exception. However, his acts of responsibility in taking care of Lunar all this time have surprised me and made me prouder than I could ever imagine. After all that... after tonight... I believe I can...” Goldshield pauses.
“It’s alright Captain, I’ve suspected for some time you’ve been ready to tell me something very important.”
Goldshield breathes in deeply and sighs.
“I believe I’m ready to scout out a suitable replacement and hang up my helmet. If tonight was any indication that I’ve been doing this for far too long, it’s become... painfully clear now.” He grunts and rubs his joints.
“While I will miss your presence leading my guard greatly, your services as my Captain have been more than appreciated and I could not have been more happy than to have you for all this time you have given. If you truly believe the time for you to find a replacement and step down has come, then I will absolutely support you.”
“Thank you, princess.” Captain Goldshield removes his helmet and with a grunting pain, bows his head to her.
“You needn’t strain yourself any further Captain. Let’s get inside and have you patched up, shall we? Also, if I may have a moment of your time afterwards, I have a thought I wish to discuss with you and would ask for your perspective on the matter.” Celestia requests.
“Of course, I will do my best to offer whatever you require Princess.”
“I know you will, please take care Captain.”
And with that, the guards are left to clean the debris of Lunar’s rampage, Goldshield is escorted to be tended to, and Celestia is left in the ball room looking up at the new dawn with a look of pondering in her eyes.
The sun shines down from the bright sky which usually signals the dawn of a new day as Princess Celestia lowers the moon and raises the sun. However, something feels off as Lunar stirs from his sleep. It felt..... later. Much later than he usually wakes up. He also feels sluggish. Not tired but his usual peppy energy is noticeably absent this morning. Instead of energetically getting ready, Lunar drags his feet and tail along the floor, rubbing his eyes and begins to get dressed as he yawns to get the remainder of this feeling out of his system.
Nothing was different though. His room looked exactly as it always did. Not a thing was out of place, but he couldn’t put his finger on why he felt this way. Something just felt different. His eyes start to close but then a brief light waves across them. Lunar blinks and rubs his eyes. He feels better. Not a hundred percent but he feels ready to take on the day and maybe finally catch Goldshield by surprise today.
With a grin, Lunar finishes getting his purple shirt on and tightens the black belt around his blue pants. He kicks his feet and dashes off through the door. Literally through the door. Not letting the door open. Lunar gently kicked the bottom of his foot and ended up halfway through the hallway without a scratch to himself but the door left in splinters.
“Woah...” Lunar looks around himself and back down the hall.
“That felt great! I can’t wait to show Leafy and Goldshield!” Lunar grins and winds up to head off.
Before he does so, a big, bearded earth pony guard approaches him.
“Hey Lunar, what’s shakin'? I was sent by the Princess to ask if you could help welcome her new student over at the library tower. We spruced it up all nice and stuff but I’m sure she would love some help gettin' everything in order.”
“Oh? Well yeah sure. I’d love to help. Tell Goldshield I’ll be right back and finally get that sneak attack on him!” Lunar grins and dashes off just as fast as before, leaving the guard jaw dropped at the gust of wind he leaves behind him.
In mere seconds, after dashing through the halls of Canterlot castle annnnnd maybe grabbing a doughnut or several bakers dozens, some apples, pears and a few oat bars as well as sandwiches from the kitchen. After getting his food ready, Lunar darts off again and ends up in front of the library tower.
Lunar uses his tail to open the door while he stuffs his face with food. He walks up the winding staircase and hears the sound of talking mixed with boxes being moved around.
“Now should the star charts go over with the c’s for constellations or a’s for astronomy?” A small purple filly levitates a stack of books around with her magic.
A burp could be heard mixed with the sound of fire flaring up, coupled by an adorable giggle.
“You’re right spike, astronomy would give me more room for the historical accuracies and inaccuracies chronicling the life and times of Clover the Clever. Thanks for the pep talk.” The filly smiles and puts the books on the shelf.
Twilight, the purple unicorn he’d met yesterday, was the pony he was supposed to be helping? This is fantastic he thought to himself.
Before he and especially Twilight knew it, he’d moved fast enough to catch her completely by surprise behind her.
“Yo!” Lunar moves his hand slightly from his pile of pastries and assorted food.
“GAH!!!!” Twilight yelps and leaps in the air, swinging and holding onto a telescope for dear life as her heart races a mile a minute.
“Oh thank you astronomy! You saved me again!” Twilight kisses the telescope after she’s done shaking of course.
“These are a lot more yummy than that thing I bet. You want some?” Lunar waves his hand, offering an oat bar.
“What are you doing here! Why are you even...” Twilight sighs and climbs down off the telescope and down a nearby ladder she barely is able to reach with her magic.
“Why don’t you just zap zap down here?” Lunar asks, stuffing his face again.
Twilight groans and sighs again.
“I can’t just 'zap zap' like all the grownups can do. I’m just a filly, I don’t know spells like that yet.” Twilight replies with over exaggerated air quotations and a irritated scrunched up facial expression as she moves back, knowing the last time they met, she flew into a wall.
“One of the guards told me to come here to help you. Anything I can do?” Lunar asks not even acknowledging or even realizing Twilight’s extremely reserved mannerisms.
Spike, the tiny purple baby dragon that was casually rocking back and forth on a red cushion looks fixated on Lunar’s tail waving back and forth like it was a toy. And just like a toy, he playfully tries to swat at it.
“I don’t need any help, thank you very much. I’m quite capable of handling myself. Especially in a library.” Twilight declares as she holds her tail and rubs it as she curls in the corner trying to keep her distance.
“Really? Cause the guard told me the princ-EEEHHHH!!!!!” Lunar grits his teeth and drops all the food to the ground, writhing in pain as the sound of laughter and giggling can be heard behind him.
Spike was behind Lunar, grabbing his tail and waving it around like a toy.
“Spike! Let him go please! Oh my gosh I’m so sorry! Wait? What were you about to say? Were you going to say princess? Did the princess send you here!? And I’ve.... I was so.....” Twilight begins frantically pacing, shaking her front hooves up and down sweating.
Lunar rubs his head and sits up.
“Wow..... never had anypony do that to me since Leafy tried to get me to take baths when I was littler.” Lunar recoils his tail to his front to brush it.
Twilight pauses from her pacing and frantically anxious breathing.
“When I was younger. Though I suppose technically you aren’t grammatically incorrect but it doesn’t sound right. Anyway...” As quickly as she stopped, Twilight goes back to pacing and breathing heavily.
“Wow, she sure likes exercising huh?” Lunar looks at baby Spike, passing the baby dragon a doughnut which he puts in his mouth to suck on like a toy.
“So I’m gonna pick all this up and head out if ya don’t need me. Have fun with your exercise.” Lunar stands up and starts gathering the dropped food.
Walking down the stairs, Lunar grins and leaves a couple oat and lettuce sandwiches.
He then bends his knees and dashes off in the direction of the castle.
The guards at the front gate feel a strong gust as Lunar passes them by.
“Woah....” One of the guards covers his eyes to keep the dirt and dust from kicking up into them.
“I didn’t know we were due for a windy day today?” The other said also trying to cover his eyes.
Lunar hops happily along the halls of the castle with his food pile now less than half its original size. He looks around curiously for any signs of Leafy or the Captain.
A routine guard patrol pair rounds the corner as Lunar continues searching.
“Oh hey Lunar, what’s up?” One of the guards asks with a smile.
“Have you guys seen Leafy or Goldy- I mean the Captain- around anywhere?” Lunar looks behind them and around.
The guards’ expressions change to nervousness and they cough a bit but then the other speaks as he takes off his golden helmet to kneel in front of Lunar.
“Lunar...” He pauses.
“They’re in pretty bad shape. They’ve been resting all day in the medical war...d?” The first guard started to say but as he was speaking, Lunar’s eyes shook and the food he had was left on the floor as he vanished.
“Where-?” The guards are dumbstruck as they look under the food.
Suddenly, a gust of wind backlash kicks back stronger than any other Lunar had given off all day, forcing the food to fly through the hall and rolls the guards into the wall behind them.
Before getting to his destination, Lunar stops on a dime to allow himself to catch up with his surroundings. Also because he had become somewhat more aware of the strangely strong gusts that have been coming and going with his movements today and didn’t want to allow them to reach his family.
Lunar rushes as fast as he can to the door of the medical ward, a white pony with a pink mane and nurse’s cap exits and Lunar grabs ahold of her with his head down.
“Oh my! Excuse me... Are you-” The nurse asks as she looks down at the young child.
“Leafy... Goldy.. Are they... ok?” Lunar can feel his grip shaking with intense anxiety.
“Oh dear... I’m sorry. Are you Lunar?” The Nurse asks.
“Yes, I am! Please! Tell me where they are! I wanna see them now!” Lunar demands, screaming as his body begins shaking.
“Of course dear, right this way. They’re perfectly fine but they are resting. We need to make sure to be extra quiet so we don’t disturb them.
Lunar releases his grip.
“I....Sorry about that.” Lunar bows his head.
The nurse pony smiles.
“Not at all dear, now follow me.”
Lunar follows the nurse down the brightly lit and cheerful hallway. Some fillies were drawing on a coloring wall in a waiting area and a couple older ponies were playing chess in the corner. Lunar wasn’t focused on any of this, although he couldn’t explain it. He was aware of every stroke of a marker, every small sound the caps made, and even the quiet motions of the chess pieces. None of this bothered or unsettled him though. It was more a subconscious curiosity of picking apart his surroundings as he moved despite his emotional distress.
After rounding a few corners, the pair come to a special door with the Canterlot royal guard crest on it. The Nurse pony holds her hoof up to her face, gesturing for them to be quiet as they enter. Lunar obliges and begins tiptoeing, using his tail to counterbalance his weight as he moved. The brown fur on it standing on edge, his black spikey hair beginning to sweat but his heart remained completely and utterly calm. As if his body and mind were reacting differently than what he believed the situation was calling for. It was almost as if his body was treating the silent movements as a challenge but he had to push those thoughts aside as he focused.
After what in Lunar’s mind seemed like an eternity when in actuality was a few seconds, they arrived at the feet of two hospital beds in a dimly lit but beautifully decorated room. Flowers were on the bedside tables, their helmets beside them and a stack of cards from the local school had a bunch of crayon drawings saying “get well soon” and “thank you for being super brave” written on them.
In the beds laid Leafy and Goldshield. They had a few bandages wrapped around them but physically they looked much better than one could have ever expected given the ordeal they’d been through.
“Goldy? Leafy? Are you two okay? Lunar whispers calmly.
Goldshield stirs a bit and opens his eyes.
“L...Lunar? Heya kiddo. How are you? You’re- uurrggg... not getting into any trouble while Leafy and I are taking a nap are you?” Goldshield grunts as he tries moving himself up.
“Now now Captain we talked about this. Your back isn’t ready to go moving around all willy-nilly. Just relax.”
“Hey, I don’t tell you how to say hi to your grandkid now do I? Now what’s going on Lunar? You look- uhhgg... a bit off.” Goldshield props himself up higher on his pillow giving off the best smile he can muster.
“Are you okay? Is Leafy gonna be ok? What happened to you both!? Did you win? Did whoever did this get away? I can go teach em a good lesson!” Lunar starts bouncing excitedly and snorts with a prideful stern face.
“Lunar! OWwwww... oooo, Now Lunar, you know you can’t just go picking fights just because you feel like it. What would happen if my knights just went off without my command?” Goldshield winces in pain and lets out a deep breath.
“We don’t go pickin' fights... we protect.” Lunar pouts.
“That’s right kiddo. Now I think I’ve bugged this nice nurse too much for one day so I’ll talk to you later okay?”
“Ok.... Oh, Leafy!” Lunar exclaims.
“He needs a good rest Lunar. He’ll be up in no time right Miss?” Goldshield looks to the nurse pony.
“Of course, but in order for them to get better as quick as possible, we need to make sure we keep to their schedule in taking care of them. I’m sorry Lunar but would you mind it if we left so the doctors can do their checkups?” The nurse asks gently.
“Yeah, I can do that. Make sure Leafy and Goldy are ok please. Thank you!” Lunar bows his head.
“That’s Gold... hehe, ya know what never mind. Good manners Lunar. I’m proud of you. I’m sure Leafy is too. Now go get going. We’ll be out before you know it.”
Lunar nods and waves to Leafy before walking out with the nurse. He says his thanks and goodbyes, then darts off to a faraway cliff side on the far reaches of Canterlot.
Lunar sits and stares off into the setting sun.
Has it been a whole day already? he thought.
“I bet whoever did that got their butt kicked. Goldy would never lose.” Lunar looks on with a determined look on his face.
The sun sets with Lunar not budging an inch but as it does, a brilliant flash of white light appears before the young child.
Lunar starts swinging his fists wildly, his eyes closed as he tries to sniff out where the one who blinded him was.
“Oh my, haha! Aren’t you full of energy tonight Lunar Radiance?” A gentle kind voice asks from above him.
“Huh? Princess Celestia? Is that you? Why’d you go and blind me huh? Oops. Sorry, I think that wasn’t how I’m supposed to say stuff to you right?”
Lunar opens his eyes to look upon the princess as her brilliant blue, purple and pink mane flows in the wind and her majestic wings fan out before folding in as her hooves touch the grass below her.
“Hi Princess, how ya doin?” Lunar asks nonchalantly but still somewhat distracted by his thoughts. He clearly means no disrespect which Celestia can tell regardless of his choice of words.
“Lunar?” Celestia asks with her usual warm tone.
“Yes Princess?” Lunar responds plainly.
“I heard you saw Captain Goldshield and Leafy Breeze earlier. I saw them this morning but unfortunately had to cut my visit short. How are they?”
Lunar’s tail twitches and he starts to look down but steadies his resolve in his mind to not succumb to the anxiety plaguing his thoughts and body.
“They looked real beat up. I didn’t like seeing them that way. Leafy was asleep and Goldy- I mean Goldshield was awake and didn’t sound so good. Princess, do you know what happened?” Lunar asks seriously as he looks up to the princess' warm pink eyes.
“I do.” She nods but her smile and tone conveying a more worrisome feeling to them.
“Please! Tell me who or what did that to them! I know I’m not a guard but I can protect them from anything. I know I can.” Lunar proudly declares standing tall.
“Lunar, if I tell you what happened, you may not like what you hear. In fact, you will not be able to unhear it. Do you understand and accept this responsibility of the knowledge I give you?”
Lunar straightens his brown furry tail and puts his arms to his side.
“Yes Princess, I understand!” Lunar proclaims.
Princess Celestia sighs.
“Very well, I have been pondering in my head this whole day how best to describe the situation to you and how events would be shaping your understanding of them. I suppose though there is no use in hiding the truth from you as that in and of itself would be the greatest disservice to you. Know that the only ones who know what I am about to tell you are your family, the guards on duty last night and the two of us. What happens next is your choice as I have done all I can to allow you to have one.”
Lunar gulps.
“Lunar Radiance, the one who is responsible for what happened to Leafy and Captain Goldshield was a ferocious monster larger than the castle itself when fully grown. It outclassed the entire guard and may have been even more powerful than anything I could ever imagine.”
“Why didn’t I hear anything or see anything? I betcha I would'a gotten a look at something like that if it was that big.” Lunar states calmly.
“You see Lunar, it’s because the monster was you, though you yourself I believe were not in control of your actions.”
Lunar’s eyes widen.
“Lunar, it is important that you know that whatever you became, I and everyone who witnessed what had happened does not believe that you would ever willingly do what that monster had done. In fact, it is because of the guards who were there last night that had asked to speak with me regarding the situation that there is no doubt in my mind. Short of your rambunctious nature when you were a baby, you have been nothing but kind and playful as you’ve grown up in Canterlot under the care of the Captain and Leafy. With that in mind, I would like you to tell me your thoughts on what I’ve told you.” Celestia asks.
Lunar pauses, absorbing the information as clearly as he could. Thoughts and feelings race through his head not taking a moment to slow down. His curious nature racing a mile a minute trying to figure out how and why this happened and what he would do next. His heart didn’t race with anxiety anymore but something else. It would scare anypony else but it almost felt like the curiosity gave way to an innocent excitement, though not in the same way one would be happy about something they received as a gift or anticipating a long awaited event, no. Lunar was excited to think about all the questions he could ask to stop this from ever happening again. He now knew what he had to do to stop the thing that did what he saw to his family and he was going to do whatever it took to do so.
“Princess Celestia?” Lunar asks clenching his fists.
“Yes Lunar?” Celestia responds.
“How’d I turn into that monster?”
Celestia looks up to the night sky to the waning moon.
“You looked up at the moon and-” Celestia looks back to Lunar only to see he’s quickly bowed his face into the ground, leaving a small hole.
“Oh my, Lunar you have nothing to fear. We’ve been standing here this whole time and with the moon behind me and me paying attention closely to you, you’ve exhibited no signs of transforming into the beast you were last night. Please, rise.” Celestia asks as always with a kind tone and gentle smile, placing her hoof next to Lunar’s head.
As quickly as he’d bowed his head, Lunar snaps back up, causing the dirt to fling several feet back and leaving Lunar rather dirty. He looked rather silly with the serious look on his face and blades of grass hanging off his cheeks, but he was doing anything but joking around.
“I believe that you not changing has something to do with the moon last night. The only difference is that last night, the moon was full, whereas tonight, it is not.”
“What would happen if I did change?”
“I would have blinded you with the magic of sunlight as I did before and made sure to get you out of sight from the moon should that happen. I do not wish any harm come of you as with any of my subjects, Lunar. If it is within my power to help you, I will do so without hesitation.”
Lunar wipes his face and grins.
“Okie dokie then! Thank you so much Princess! I’m gonna make sure I never look at the full moon ever again.”
Celestia laughs.
“Oh Lunar, you are such a wonderful soul. I am happy you are in good spirits. Please though, if ever you feel uneasy, your family is there for you. It is a message the Captain was most insistent on me telling you before I had to leave this morning.”
“Thanks... Thank you Princess. I’ll be sure to give them a biiiiiiig hug when they get out.” Lunar smiles widely.
“Now Lunar, there is something else I wish to discuss with you.” Celestia steadies herself, returning to her serious tone.
“What is it?” Lunar asks curiously.
“Please, would you accompany me back to the castle?”
“Of course, I’ll be sure to keep ya protected from any monsters hiding in the dark!” Lunar laughs with a wide grin.
Celestia is unphased this time by the child’s playful nature.
“Lunar... I wish to ask you, to speak with you about Nightmare Moon.” Celestia closes her eyes and moves forward with a solemn step.