When Luna feels like nopony loves her, there is but one subject who will always care for her.
This story is actually loosely based on something I discussed with an ai bot of all things. I told it some ideas for a a story and had it pick a random one. So here you all go, The Alicorn Prince.
I sat watching as Princess Celestia raised the sun. The majestic ball of fire rose into the sky and bathed Equestria in its light.
My focus however, was not on the sun. It wasn't even on Princess Celestia. It was on the vision of beauty standing next to her. Standing farther into the shadows, a pony of dark blue stood watching her sister. It had been twenty moons since Nightmare Moon's attack on the kingdom. How would humans describe it? Two years? Now, I sat at the summer sun celebration, watching, not the sun, but the Princess of the night.
Hi! My name is Emerald Shine. I'm a green pegasus with a red mane. You see, I always loved the nighttime. It was a time when all ponies were quiet and asleep. I was always the outcast of the town because of my "Weird behaviors." I would go outside at night and watch the stars. For two years now, I had wondered if Princess Luna was somehow watching me from up there. Seeing me and enjoying how happy and content I was in the moonlight.
Of course she's not, I always told myself. She's probably way too busy watching over everpony else's dreams to worry about a strange pegasus who for some reason couldn't get enough of the stars. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw that beautiful princess walking through the shadows of Ponyville one night with a sad look in her eyes.
That my pony friends, is where the story begins.
**********
"Princess Luna?"
The mare jumped as she heard the words. As she turned around, I saw her beautiful blueish-green eyes flutter and widen with shock. I began to stutter over my words as I searched for an apology. "I-I-I'm so sorry, your highness. I didn't mean to frighten you."
A smile crept along the mare's face. "You didn't frighten me young one. Tell me, what brings you out this time of night?"
An embarrassed look goes across my face as I say, "I'm always out here princess. The nighttime is my favorite time to be out and about."
"Oh? And why is that?" The princess asked, looking curious.
"This time is so beautiful. There are no other ponies running through the streets attempting to get somewhere. The moonlight is the most beautiful thing ever. What more could anypony want?"
"I agree, young one. I too love this time. It is a quiet time where I can assist ponies with their nightmares."
I looked down and sighed. "Unfortunately, all the ponies in this town think that I'm weird for being out this late at night. They think it's unnatural and that I am crazy."
Luna tilted her head a bit to the left. "Why would they say that," She asked. "The nighttime is a fantastic time of the cycle. I often feel overshadowed by my sister. Ponies bask and play in her sunlight while they shun the moon and retire to their homes."
I nod. "I understand what you mean princess. Not many ponies would bother to take time out of their sleep schedules to come and watch the natural beauty of the stars."
Princess Luna wrapped her wing around me and moved me towards the pond. "Come. Walk with me please," She said with a kind smile on her face.
**********
"May I be so honored as to ask you a question princess?" I asked her. I was still so overwhelmed by her beauty.
"Please Young one, call me Luna."
"Right." I said. embarrassed once again. "May I ask you a question Luna?"
"By all means young one, go ahead."
"Why is it you walk the streets of Ponyville tonight? Shouldn't you be helping ponies in their dreams?"
"Alas, not" Luna said with a sigh, looking downwards towards the ground as we continued walking. "I have been back for twenty moons now but ponies still do not trust me when I appear in their dreams. They believe I am bad omen or another creature of nightmares."
I felt a beat of sadness form in my heart. How could anypony be so horrified by such a beauty in front of them.
"So, I usually walk the streets of Canterlot at night. But something was telling me to come here tonight. I see why now."
"Really?" I asked interested in the story she is telling. "What caused you to come here tonight?"
"I believe that fate has led me to you young one."
I stare at the princess confused. "I don't understand Luna. Why would fate bring you to me?"
"I don't know, but I think maybe we were meant to be friends."
**********
Me and Luna talked all night. We talked about the moon and all of its beauty. When I felt like I had established a connection with her, I asked her what it was like living on the moon for a thousand moons. She told me she couldn't remember. She had said that all of those memories belonged to Nightmare Moon and that they were better left forgotten by her. After a while, the conversation began to shift over to my side. She began asking questions about me. I told her about my line of work.
"I am a jeweler. I make jewelry and sell it to ponies. Or at least I did." I told her.
"What do you mean you did young one?"
"Well, once ponies began noticing my tendency to walk around at night, they stopped coming to buy my jewelry. They thought that I was placing curses on the jewelry in the middle of the night or something along those lines."
"What has become of your jewels?"
"I had to close down the shop eventually. If nopony would buy anything, then I couldn't afford to keep it going without making any money. I actually live in a small cottage on the edge of the town."
"Why live out there when there are so many friends to be made here?"
"It's all a pony can afford when they work as a simple waiter."
That's where the conversation ended. We continued to talk all night. Princess Luna eventually began preparing to leave as she had to lower the moon to make way for the sun. "The last thing I want is my sister thinking I'm trying to take over again," She said with a laugh. I laughed back.
She crouched down ready to take off and I yelled after her. "Princess Luna! Will you go on a date with me?"
I regretted the words the second they left my mouth.
Luna blinked and looked back at me, surprised. "What?"
I swallowed hard. There was no going back now. "Will you go out with me?" I waited for her response for what felt like eternity. I wanted her to say something maybe even yell at me for having the audacity to ask a princess such a question. But she just stood there silent.
"I... um... I have to go." Luna said. She kicked off the ground flapping her beautiful majestic wings as fast as they could carry her.
**********
(Princess Luna)
Thoughts were racing in my head as I flew away from the green pegasus watching me from the ground. I couldn't believe it! Even after twenty two moons, nopony really trusted me enough to get close to me. But this pony. He wanted to know me. He wanted to get close to me.
I shouldn't have ran. That was the one thought constantly going through my head every five or so seconds. I shouldn't have ran.
**********
(Emerald shine)
I began sulking away. My head was low. Such an amazing beauty. But I probably scared her away from ponyville for good. I sighed as I started to walk back down the path we had walked together, when I suddenly heard the sound of a landing behind me.
I turned around and the princess of the night was still there looking down at me. "Young one. I'm truly sorry. I should not have ran. I was just very surprised by your request."
I bowed my head to the princess. "It was wrong of me to ask your highness."
Luna chuckled. "I told you to call me Luna." A smile crept its way across her face as she approached me. "Yes young one. I would like to go out with you. I think I shall get to know you better."
My heart stopped. It skipped about forty beats. I rose to my feet and looked her in the eye. "Thank you Luna." I couldn't think of anything else to say. I was in utter awe of what had just occurred.
Luna prepared to take off again when she looked back. "Meet me here tomorrow night. We can then decide where we wish to go." I nodded. A look of confusion was now on Luna's face. "I never asked though, what is your name, young one?"
I smiled at her. "You can call me Emerald shine." She nodded and took off towards the castle in Canterlot.
**********
I didn't sleep that night. There was far too much excitement racing around in my head for me to even dream of sleeping.
The next day, I walked around the town with my head held high. I was usually in my house or in the restaurant during the day so nopony was really used to seeing me outside. I practically hopped on my way to my job. I waved over to Bon Bon and Lyra, who were on their way to open their sweets shop for the day. They gave me a weird look and walked off. I didn't even care though.
To be honest, most ponies gave me a weird look whenever I interacted with them. Most ponies didn't expect me to. I really didn't have many friends in the town. Not even Princess Twilight so much as glanced my way. It always made me think of a play I saw in Manehattan once.
The play was called "Dear Evan Hansen." It was a story about a high school foal who felt as though he was completely invisible. He rose to popularity after the death of another pony who ponies believed to be his friend. I always relate to that kid because I'm never noticed by anypony. I walked into the diner where I was surprised to see Cheerilee.
She was the only pony in town I ever really bothered to try to talk to. I walked up behind her and said, "Hey Cheerilee! What are you doing here?"
Cheerilee turned around in shock and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, it's just you Emerald." She laughed. "The school system took some budget cuts and had to reduce the salaries of the teachers. Now I have to work here on the weekends to keep myself going." She sighed. She looked up at me and put on a clearly fake smile. "How have things been going for you Emerald?"
"Oh, nothing much really." I decided there was no point in telling anypony that I was going out with the princess tonight. Knowing my track record with social events, I'm probably just going to screw up and she's going to leave me before even an hour has passed.
**********
After what felt like an eternity, I finally left my house and went to the place me and Luna had agreed upon the night before. An hour passed and my heart sank a little bit lower with every minute. Another hour. Is she even going to show up? I wondered this to myself when I suddenly saw a bright flash of light in front of me.
Luna ran a hoof over her wings and dusted herself off. "Sorry, I know I'm late. Somepony actually wanted me to help them in their dream and I couldn't say no. It is my job as princess of the night of course."
I nodded. "I'm glad somepony is finally accepting you." Luna looked down in disappointment.
"Not really," She said sighing. "The pony got mad with me because I couldn't help her. All I could truly do was give her advice. It helps ponies to gather their courage and face their fears and nightmares by themselves. The pony yelled at me and I left her dream."
"Oh," I said looking down. "Well, on a more cheerful note, I have a great idea on where to go for our first date."
Luna looked up with a smile. She clapped her hooves as she said, "Ooh, where?"
"The castle of the two sisters."
Luna's face went from cheerful to confused. "Me and my sister's old castle? Why there?"
"Because, I thought it would be fun. All the history there is to see there. All of the amazing room and tapestries. It would be amazing. The only problem is that I never have anypony to go with. And everypony knows how dangerous it is to go into the everfree forest alone."
Luna nodded and smile. "Very well then, let's be off."
***********
(At the castle)
Me and Luna sat on the balcony watching the stars. "You know Luna, I've been wishing I could talk to you for a while now."
Luna looked down at me as our eyes met. "Really?"
I nodded up at her. "Do you remember the Summer Sun Celebration two moons ago?" Luna nodded and I continued. "Everypony else was watching as your sister held all of the glory. They were watching the sunrise. Not me though. I was instead watching the shadows where you were hiding."
"What would be the point in me going out?" She asked me. "Ponies would have booed and hated me."
"I understand how you felt Luna. Ponies hate me wherever I go. The only pony who has ever made an effort to talk to me is Cheerilee." I sighed and looked down. A small tear began to roll down my cheek.
I felt a hoof on my shoulder as I heard princess Luna say, "I know how you feel. I feel it too. It's like you go from place to place without ever being talked to. Nopony ever notices you and you just feel..."
"Invisble." I finished for her. We looked at each other and she nodded. I noticed a tear rolling down her cheek as well. I tried my best to lighten the mood. "At least there is one thing that will always stay the same."
"What is that?"
"The beauty of the night."
Luna looked out to the horizon. "Yes. The night is a wonderful thing. I wish more ponies would take a chance to experience it instead of hiding away in their homes, afraid of what might be living in the dark."
I look up at her and say, "I think I found something living in the dark. And I'm glad about it." I smiled at her and looked back out towards the horizon.
I suddenly feel my heart skip what felt like a thousand beats. A pair of warm lips touches my cheek. Princess Luna leaned back quickly as she saw the expression on my face. I looked at her, my face going redder than my mane. "Princess Luna...I-I" I couldn't articulate a single sentence. "I can't believe..."
I'm cut short as I feel her lips press to mine. I returned the kiss beginning to feel my confidence grow with each second we are connected.
When we both pulled back, Luna said, "You know Emerald, I always hear ponies say that they felt a connection with their special somepony the second their lips touched."
"Yeah?" I ask, my head still a little fuzzy after the experience that had just occurred.
"Yes. I believe I felt that connection with you."
I nodded. "I felt a connection as well. You're the only pony who's ever bothered to engage in a conversation with me that lasted more than five minutes."
Luna smiled. "I think I want to be with you forever Emerald. Will you be my special somepony?"
I look up at her and nod. We both press together in a passionate kiss.
When we finish, I look back out towards the horizon. "How is it already midnight?"
"Time flies I guess." Luna responds looking down at me and smiling.
I decide to gather all of my confidence and ask the big question. I look up at her with a mildly mischievous grin. "You know Luna.."
Me and Luna sat by the stream that runs through. I washed my hooves in the river by continuously running them through the water.
"So, it's official now?"
Luna turns towards me. "Yeah, I guess." she looked at the sky. The moon was going to need to be set soon. I continued to play with the frigid cold water until Luna spoke again. "You know,"
"Yeah?"
"You're the first pony I've ever done that with."
I don't know what it was but something about that shocked me. "You've lived for thousands of years and you've never had sex before?"
Luna shook her head. "I've never been close enough to a pony to want to. I'm always cautious about not getting attached to somepony."
"Why's that?"
"Well, when you're an alicorn and the pony you want to be with isn't that tends to cause some problems. They aren't even just royalty standards, sooner or later, that pony will die. I'm going to outlive everypony I ever get close to."
My heart sinks. "If I may ask, what makes me different?"
Luna slightly shook her head. "I don't know. When I kissed you, I felt a connection. It was stronger than anything I'd ever felt before."
I smiled up at her. "I felt the same thing. It was like a rush going through my body. It was the feeling that I wanted to be by your side forever."
Luna nodded and then stood up. "I best be off. The sun must rise soon."
I sighed deeply. "Don't remind me." I suddenly had a weird idea. "Hey Luna I have a question..."
Luna looked back at me. "What is it Emerald?"
"Can I stay here tonight?"
Luna looked a little confused. "I guess. Why?"
I gestured towards the castle. "This place is exactly what I need. A place where I can be alone and not be bothered by anypony. Not be judged. Besides, you have to go set the moon and get some rest. It's dangerous to walk through the forest alone at night. At least in the morning, it will be safer to go."
Luna nodded slowly. "I.. Guess that makes sense? I'll meet you back in ponyville tomorrow. Sound good?"
"Perfect." I said smiling. With that, Luna kicked off and left for Canterlot. I retreated into the ruins of the castle. Sure there were some holes in the roof, but it was enough to keep out the timberwolves. I went to the same bedroom me and Luna were in an hour before and laid down in the bed.
My mind was flooded with thoughts from tonight. You kissed a princess! That was the big thing my brain was screaming at me. Then it began screaming a warning. You had sex with a princess. What will her sister think? I dismissed the thought and prayed that Luna wouldn't tell Celestia about our night out.
Instead I decided to focus on tomorrow night.
**********
Things continued like this for about a moon. Although, with the thought of Celestia's reaction in my mind, I was a lot more cautious with what I was willing to do with the princess. We never had sex after the first night. Whenever it was brought up, I made some dumb excuse.
Luna never told Celestia about our late night meetings, which I was thankful for. We both knew that Celestia would not take kindly to Luna dating somepony who wasn't an alicorn. It wasn't like there was a good reason for it either. She believed that ponies who weren't alicorns were not worthy to be connected with royalty. It was a very old ideal that was always passed down to the next generation.
I continued to sleep in the castle every night. One day though, I was called out on it...
"Where were you last night?"
I recognized the voice from the purplish-pinkish mare behind me. I turned around with an awkward look on my face. "Oh! H-Hey Cheerilee! What's new." She looked unamused.
"I saw you last night! You went into the forest and never came back! Where did you go?"
"Nowhere! Just going for a walk!"
"Really?" Her voice was skeptical. "In the forest? You walk the town all the time but you suddenly decide to walk in the most dangerous place within ten miles of here? Why?"
"Why not?" I asked. I know it's a stupid answer but I don't have anything better at this point.
"There was another thing..." Cheerilee said putting a hoof to her chin.
"R-Really? What?" I asked, my voice shaking. I was hoping she didn't see the princess.
"There was somepony with you wasn't there?"
"N-N-No..." My voice was shaking and I was stuttering. That's not a good mix for trying to convice somepony that you're telling the truth.
"Who was it Emerald?" She looked at me with a serious look on her face. "I didn't see any colors. All I saw was a shadow."
I ran out of the diner and back to my house. I locked the door and pushed a bookshelf in front of it, just in case Cheerilee decided to try to follow me. Nopony can find out I'm dating Luna. She'll be so embarrassed.
I only exited my house that night. I knew Luna would be waiting for me.
"Hello Emerald!" She said enthusiastically. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah." I breathed a sigh of relief. "I gotta warn you. I had a little bit of trouble today with-"
"I KNEW IT!!!"
Me and Luna both jumped and turned around. Cheerilee was standing there, holding an accusatory hoof in my direction. "Nice try Emerald, gaslighting me into thinking that there was nopony with you. All along it was..." She turned at this time and bowed down to the ground. "Forgive me Princess. I was just exposing a liar!
When she said liar, She shot a glare at me. "Luna we should go now." I whispered over to her." She nodded and turned to Cheerilee. "Miss Cheerilee. You are forgiven. Please return to your house and do not speak of this interaction to anypony."
Cheerilee nodded and left, shooting one more glare my way as she walked away. Luna turned to me as we began to walk towards the forest. "That is... problematic to say the least."
I nodded. "She's too smart for her own good. I should have seen it coming."
"I hope this doesn't become a problem."
**********
For the first time in a moon, me and princess Luna decided to have sex again. I was still pretty hesitant but we figured it would take our minds off things.
Afterwards, we were laying in bed. Luna was snuggling up to me, on the verge of falling asleep. I closed my eyes, taking the moment in. I remembered three moons ago when I wished this moment would happen. For the first time ever, fate has favored me. I thought as I hugged Luna just a little tighter.
"I think we should tell you sister that we're together."
"No no no no. That's a really bad idea Emerald. She will skin you alive and never let me leave the castle again." Luna began panicking just contemplating the thought of telling Celestia.
I Took Luna's hooves in mine and said, "Luna, we promised each other that we would stick together. We said we wanted to be together forever. Sooner or later we will have to tell her. Let's just get it out of the way. We'll stick together. Remember that."
Luna looked down and closed her eyes to think. After a couple of minutes, she looked back up and said, "Okay let's do this."
**********
Seeing as we had been out for a while, it didn't take long for Luna to have to leave. except this time, I was with her. We both took the journey to Canterlot by wing as Luna always did. She suggested traveling using the moonlight like she had the first night we went out but I said that the flash of white light would attract too much attention.
We landed on Luna's balcony. "Wait here." She told me. "I'll go set the moon and when Celestia is in a good mood, we'll talk to her. nodded and Luna left. Eventually, the sunlight began spilling into the room as I walked around looking at all of Luna's possessions.
One particularly interesting one was a glass container holding a creature of blue smoke. The container had a glowing aura around it and I could tell it was magically sealed. I read the golden label on the case. I recognized the word as being of Latin origin. "Tantabus."
"Nightmare."
I eventually heard Luna coming up the stairs. She opened the door and walked over to me. "Ah yes. The tantabus. Probably one of my more infamous magical mishaps.
"What's it for?"
Luna sunk her head. "It's kind of personal. Come, it's time."
I began walking towards the door but Luna pulled me back. "No. Through the window. We'll land in front of the doors and walk you inside. We don't want to know what will happen if Celestia sees you coming from the direction of my chambers."
I nod and we both fly out through the window and down in front of the shining golden doors. We walk in together and I am greeted with the most incredible sight I have ever seen. Of course, I've seen the throne room in pictures and books but I had never actually been inside it myself.
Celestia looked at us with a warm smile. "Hello Luna. Hello young one. What brings you here?"
Luna stepped forward. "Sister, I have something I must announce."
Celestia looked down from the throne and gave her a look of confusion. "Go on then."
"This pony is named Emerald Shine. He is a resident of Ponyville. We have both decided to be together."
Celestia thought for a moment, processing what she had just heard. "How long have you known this pony?"
"A little more than a moon."
"And how long have you been going out with him?"
Luna's head sank down in guilt. "A l-little m-more than a m-moon."
Celestia slammed her hoof on the arm of her throne. "Luna! How could you think of dating somepony who you have just met! And a lowly pegasus of all things! I told you, you must wait for an alicorn to come around who suits you!"
"But why sister? Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire married a unicorn! Why can't I marry a pegasus?"
"I have no say in what Cadence decides. At least Shining armor is related to royalty."
"He wasn't at the time."
"Not...the...point" Celestia said, her voice growing angrier by the minute. She sighed. "Luna, I don't like controlling your life this way. But I must do what is best for you."
"Sister please, I beg of you, just give him a chance."
Celestia sighed. "Fine! I will allow you two to date. But nothing beyond that, you got it?"
"Yes Sister! Thank you!" Luna said turning to me. We embraced in a hug and left the throne room.
We walked beside each other through the gates of the palace. "That went better than expected." Luna said.
"Yeah I guess." I said looking down at the ground. I sighed.
"What's wrong?" Luna asked. "We got what we wanted."
"Not quite."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing beyond that. That's what she said. No marraige. No building a life together. No being together forever like we said." I sighed again and looked down.
"She probably didn't mean it that seriously."
"I looked up and said. "Yeah you're probably right." I smiled weakly. "Your sister's kind of a buzzkill."
Luna laughed and that made me feel a lot better.
**********
The next night, Luna did not return to Canterlot. Instead, she followed me as I entered the castle that night. She laid down next to me and we stayed the night there. The unfortunate part about the night was that she woke me up at five A.M. when she got up to set the moon.
That day, we walked around Ponyville. I showed her everything that I liked about the town. It didn't take long but it was still fun. We went to Bon Bon's sweets shop. The look of surprise on Bon Bon's face when I walked through the door with Princess Luna was priceless.
In fact, everypony was being more friendly to me. I wonder why? I even think I heard one of them clapping their hooves together when I walked past. It didn't take long for the rumors to begin spreading.
After Luna left, I went to my job. It was a drag as usual but at least I had that night to look forward to. One thing in particular interested me about my job that day though. I heard the sounds of a conversation from the table next to the one I was serving. The conversation amused me to say the least.
It went something like this:
"Did you hear that Emerald is dating Princess Luna?"
"Wait really? Emerald Shine?"
"Yeah Emerald Shine. According to Cheerilee, they've been sneaking off into the woods at night for moons."
"You think they've been... you know.." At this point, the pony made a hoof gesture that actually made me laugh.
"There's no way Princess Celestia is allowing them to do that. You know her rule, Only alicorns are worthy of her sister."
"I guess not anymore. But think about it. Nopony's seen a male alicorn for years. There's been a lot of wonder if there even has ever been a male alicorn."
That's where I walked away. It seems that Cheerilee had been watching me leave town every night for more than just that one night. She had been watching for an entire moon. I can tell that as fast as the rumors are spreading, Cheerilee is confirming them.
So much for keeping your mouth shut. Thanks Cheerilee. As I continued to hang out with Luna in public, more things began to change in my every day life. Ponies were specifically asking me to wait their table. More ponies were willing to talk to me.
Remember the story. That's what I always told myself. The story was Dear Evan Hansen. The pony in that play went from invisible to popular almost as quickly as I had. I tell myself this to remind myself to not let it go to my head. As Evan showed, one slip up and everything begins to crumble until it inevitably collapses. I always keep focus on the one thing that never changes.
My love for Luna, and her love for me.
What I couldn't predict back then, was that my feelings would drive me to forget some very specific things about our conversation with Princess Celestia.
Very bad things were about to take place. I just couldn't see it....
We were walking in the Ponyville park. Me and Luna didn't go out during the day too often. Wherever we went, ponies would stare and point. They were always in search of something big happening between us. I remember about two moons ago, when ponies first found out we were dating, I heard somepony saying, "Give her a week. He's a loser she'll leave him by then."
Nowadays, ponies are all trying to be my friend. It was honestly worse than not having any friends. I knew in the back of my mind that they only wanted to be friends with me because of my connection to the princess. Needless to say, it got old. Quickly.
Now, I must say that by this point, I had more or less forgotten our conversation with Celestia. There were problems to be sparked with that fact but not for a few more minutes.
A few minutes. Looking back, I didn't realize these would be the last few normal minutes of our lives for a very long time.
"You know," Luna started. "I was hesitant to come out today. I feel like we're being watched wherever we go when we go out in the day."
I laugh and say, "That's because we are." I gestured to the entire park. Luna looked around quickly. Ponies tried to avert their gazes but they weren't quite fast enough.
"Yes, well I'm pleasantly surprised at how nice it is out today. Given that it's the beginning of farming season, the pegasi have been making it rain non stop. I should know. Some few stray thunder clouds keep making their way near the castle."
I look up at her. "You know, I bet I can surprise you some more."
Luna tilted her head in confusion. I love it when she does that. It's adorable. "Oh? How so?"
I stopped walking and bowed down in front of her. "Princess Luna," I said looking up. "I know we've known each other for only about four moons. But we promised each other that we would stick together."
"Emerald!" She whispered. "Stop making a scene. Ponies are staring."
"Let them stare," I whispered back. I raised my voice once again. "Princess Luna, I know this is a very cliche line at this point but, will you make me the happiest stallion alive? Will you marry me?" I pulled out a ring that I had on my hoof. I wore things like this a lot so she didn't even notice. It was the perfect plan.
Luna's face was shocked. "I...I..." She couldn't speak. She simply nodded and smiled, with tears running down her cheeks. "Y-Yes! I will!"
My heart stopped and then exploded. I flew up into the sky and yelled, "SHE SAID YES!!!!"
Luna flew up to me and laughed. "Emerald! I said stop making a scene." I laughed and put the ring on her hoof. The ring had a golden band with a giant emerald right in the middle. Luna gasped, "Emerald, where did you find this? It's beautiful."
I smiled. "Just because I've been out of practice for a little while, doesn't mean I don't still know my trade inside and out."
Luna stared at me, "Y-You made this?" I nodded. "This must have taken forever!"
I took her hoof. "Time well spent," I said. She proceeded to kiss me in front of everypony. I'll admit, that part was a little embarrassing. "Oh no!" I felt the color in my face go from green to ghost white. A realization hit me like a truck.
"What's wrong Emerald?"
"We are in so much trouble."
"Come on Emerald it can't be that bad. Nothing can spoil this amazing moment."
Her look of concern grew the more I looked at her. "I know three words that can do just that."
Luna slowly said, "What are those?"
I gulped back a small tear as I quoted,
"Nothing beyond that."
**********
"I can't believe I forgot the one bucking thing your sister told us." We were both at my house. Luna was sitting on my bed and I was pacing back and forth. I grabbed Luna hoof and reached for the ring. "We can take it back!"
Luna pulled her hoof back. "I don't want to take it back."
I pulled back. "We have to take it back."
Luna pulled back and put a hoof on my chest to gently nudge me back. "Emerald!" There was now a very serious tone in her voice. "We're not taking it back!"
"Then what do you expect us to do? I'm half expecting Celestia to barge in through that door right now and kill me on the spot." I begin pacing even faster.
Luna stands up. "We have to go tell her now." Luna continued after seeing my look of shock and confusion. "We should at least be the ones to tell her. All those ponies saw us, somepony's gonna tell her eventually even if we don't."
I nod slightly. When we walk outside however, Cheerilee is standing there. She speaks in a very cheerful voice. Almost too cheerful for my liking. "Congrats your highness. I've known Emerald for a while. He's a... um... great stallion."
My face goes from surprised to completely unamused. "Gee...thanks Cheerilee," I said, very obviously sarcastically. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go."
"Thank you young one. We shall see you soon." Luna was clearly being much more polite to Cheerilee than I had been. But I wasn't in the mood to be criticized right now. There would be plenty of that in a couple hours once we got to Canterlot.
*********
We landed outside of the castle gates. The Luna cast a look down upon the guards and they nodded and opened the gates. We walked up to the giant door in front of us. A familiar feeling was in my stomach. The same one I had about two moons ago when we stood in this very spot.
I took Luna's hoof in mine as I took a deep breath and softly opened the door. As Celestia saw Luna, her face lit up. "Hello Luna! What brings you around at this time of day?" Her joy did not last long however, because she then turned her sights to me. She glared and said, "Oh. I see. Him."
Luna shrank back a little from her sister as Celestia continued to speak, "Have you finally decided you've had enough of him?" A look of disappointment flashed on Celestia's face as Luna shook her head slightly. "I see. Then why have you brought him before me?"
"W-Well sister, you see..I...um..I"
"Spit it out Luna I don't have all day."
Luna shrank back at the sharp tone of Celestia's voice. I stepped forwards and said, "Your highness, Luna has agreed to allow me her hoof in marriage."
Almost immediately after the words left my mouth, I heard the sound of Celestia slamming her hoof down upon the arm of her throne. She stood up and walked over to me with a burning fire in her eyes. "What was the one rule I had for you that day?" She shouted at me.
"Nothing beyond that."
"And what the buck makes you think that my word means nothing? What? Do the rules not apply to you? Is that it?"
Luna stepped up and softly said, "N-No sister, it's not like that. You see I..." Her words were cut short as Celestia's horn glowed a bright white. There was a white aura around Luna's mouth and it could no longer move.
I stomped my hoof on the ground. "Leave her alone!"
"Why should I listen to you?"
I stomped on the ground again. "You know what Celestia? You're completely wrong about the entire situation." There was no going back now. I had begun my rant and now, I had to finish it.
"You're trying to control your sister's life but you forget that, as a princess, she has just as much authority as you do. You sit here, and take advantage of how she doesn't want to disappoint you again, and she is left doing whatever you want. It's emotional manipulation is what it is! And now, thanks to some outdated ideal of yours from thousands of moons ago, you're going to rob her of what she would consider to be the happiest day of her life."
Celestia's shock at my retaliation caused her to lose focus on the spell she was casting over her sister. The spell dissipated and I ran over to Luna. "Are you okay? I asked, kneeling on the ground beside her. he nodded and I said, "How about this? We get married tonight!"
Luna looked up at me in confusion. "Could we do that? I mean weddings don't just happen! They take a lot of preparation."
I nod and say, "Just leave it to me! If Cranky and Matilda could do it, then so can we." Luna chuckled softly as she remembered the fiasco that was Cranky and Matilda's wedding. I stand up and bring Luna towards the door. Before we leave, I shoot another look back at Celestia, who is still fuming with anger. "The time has come to make your choice princess. We are getting married tonight in the Ponyville town square. We would be honored if you would attend. You can choose to be the kind of pony who will support her sister in all endeavors, or you can be the kind of pony who won't even show up at her own sister's wedding." I turn away with Luna and without looking back say, "The choice is yours."
**********
I was running around Ponyville for the rest of the day collecting ponies who could help us put together an entire wedding in just a couple hours. In the end though, we had the entire thing set up right in the middle of town. As I stood up on the altar, I could see that almost everypony was there. Twilight and her friends sat right up in the front row. They were smiling, even at me!
My mind swam with thoughts about the past three moons. I couldn't believe how fast I had gone from invisible to the most popular pony in all of equestria, save the princesses of course. I watched in sadness as Luna continuously scanned the crowd. There was no sign of her sister anywhere. I stepped down from the altar with a scroll in my hoof. I handed the scroll to spike. "Please send this to Princess Celestia." Spike nodded and in a flash of green flame, the scroll had disappeared.
I stepped back up and stared into Luna's beautiful eyes. We then heard the voice of the pastor as he began speaking. I tuned out most of his speech until her got to the good part. "Do you, Princess Luna, take Emerald Shine, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
Luna smiled as a tear of joy ran down her cheek. "I do."
He turned to me. "Emerald Shine, do you take Princess Luna, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health till death do you part?"
"I do."
"By virtue of the authority given to me by the town of Ponyville, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Let's just say, he didn't need to tell us twice. But this time, kissing Luna felt different somehow. I felt a tingling sensation rise up through my hooves. It continued to rise all the way up to the top of my head. I now realized that me and Luna were rising above the ground. As we broke the kiss, I was engulfed in a green light. I could now feel the sensation rising above my head. My head was spinning. I couldn't keep track of everything around me. A blinding flash of light flew through the entire town as I floated downwards.
I landed on my hooves next to Luna. But the faces of the ponies in the crowd were different. That's when I began to hear gasps.
As every eye in the square was focused on me...
Meanwhile at the princess's castle.
Celestia sat in her throne room. She tapped her hoof, bored, on the side of her throne. She suddenly looked up as she heard the familiar sound of a letter materializing in front of her.
She floated the letter up with her magic and opened it. There were only seven words in the letter. But they infuriated her more than ever.
Celestia paced around her throne room for a few minutes. Her mind was swimming with many different thoughts. "That pegasus has some serious balls sending me a letter like that. By now, he's already probably married my sister." Celestia stopped pacing and put a hoof to her chin in thought. "You know what? I'll let him get away with it for now. If I ever see him again though, I'll kill him. Yes! That's what I'll do. But I must make it known that I was provoked."
Celestia's mind flashed to her sister. "There's no way she's actually happy with this stallion. She's probably been flattered by his sweet talk."
Celestia sat back on her throne. "I warn you Emerald," She thought to herself. "Do not dare step a hoof back in my castle."
**********
Meanwhile in Ponyville, the wedding reception was continuing with no signs of stopping. I sat at the head table with Luna, Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, Fulltershy, and Pinkie. Twilight was very interested in what had occurred at the altar.
If you remember, there was a flash of light and a lot of gasps from the audience. I was really woozy after it all until I continued to feel the tingling sensation on top of my head. I reached my hoof up and was surprised to feel something there. For some reason, I had somehow grown a horn. I looked over to my back. My wings were still there. "Does this mean I'm an... Alicorn?" I thought to myself.
Twilight was asking me many different questions. "What was it like to grow an entire horn?" She asked me.
I laughed and said, "I don't know. I'm still feeling a weird tingling sensation."
Twilight practically bounced in her seat. "We must start your magic lessons immediately. This is incredible."
My mind however, was focused on different types of questions. I turned to Twilight. "Do you think this is because I married Luna?" I asked while gently tapping my horn, which I quickly found was quite sensitive.
Twilight however, shook her head. "Alicorns aren't created through marriage. If they were, my brother would be an alicorn because he married Princess Cadence. No. Alicorn wings are earned through some kind of courageous or noble act. Something that proves you worthy of holding the title of alicorn. Did you do anything that could be considered courageous or noble?"
I rubbed the back of my neck with a hoof while looking at Twilight nervously. "I don't really want to talk about it."
Twilight shook her head. "No! Come on! Tell us."
I laughed nervously and said , "Remember that scroll I asked Spike to send to Celestia?" They nodded and I continued. "It said and I quote, "Dear Princess Celestia, buck you." Twilight gasped. I wasn't sure if it was from the profanity or from the fact that I had the audacity to send such a thing to a princess.
"That wasn't courageous. That was just plain stupid." She said shaking her head. "Anything else?"
Now, Luna decided to chime in. "I think his courageous act was actually marrying me."
Twilight tilted her head. "Please elaborate?"
I jumped up. "She's right. Celestia was... let's just say not the happiest that I had proposed to Luna and was threatening us both if we decided to go through with the marriage. I think my courageous act was going through with marriage despite the possible consequences because me and Luna both believed that, that was what was right."
Twilight nodded slowly. Her face still showed a little confusion but I wasn't quite sure why.
A couple hours later, the wedding was finally wrapping up. I looked over at Luna and whispered, "You know, I am feeling particularly horny after tonight. Wanna go back to my house?" We both laughed at my stupid joke and walked up to Twilight. "Hey twilight?" I said. "Is there anything you need help with?"
Twilight shook her head. "No! By all means, you two should enjoy the night."
We both nodded and walked away towards my house. I turned to look at Luna and realized that, now that I too was an alicorn, I no longer needed to look up at her. We were eye level now. "You know we can never step hoof in that castle again right?" Luna asked me.
I sighed. "Yeah. I know. It just feels so wrong that she doesn't want to support you. I think she should have been there tonight."
Luna looked over at me. "You know what though? I don't think I would go back even if I could. Who needs castles and waiters and helicopter siblings anyways? I have you. And that's all that matters to me."
I had nothing to say about that. I could feel a blush growing across my face.
**********
After a particularly *Ahem* fun night, me and Luna laid down next to each other in my bed. A thought was swimming its way around my brain but I wasn't sure if I should let it out. We sat in silence for a couple minutes. I could still hear Luna softly trying to regain her breath. I looked over to her and said, "I have an idea. But I want to know what you think."
She turned over. "What is it, my love?"
I stood up and asked, "Do you want to go again?"
Luna laughed. "I thought you'd never ask."
I looked down and said softly, "There was something else..."
Luna tilted her head in confusion. "What is it?"
"Do you want to try to have a foal?"
I could see the look of shock on Luna's face and I immediately regretted the question. Luna thought for a second and said, "Don't you think it's a little soon?"
I nod slightly. "I'm sorry for even asking. We don't have to do anything you're not ready for and..."
Luna cut me off and said, "No I want to, but..."
"But what?"
"What would Celestia think?"
I took Luna's hooves and said, "Luna. Listen to me. This decision is yours. Not hers. If you don't want to, I'm obviously not going to make you. But if you truly want to, then forget Celestia." Luna looked down for a second. She then looked up, blushing and nodded her head. "Let's do this."
**********
About a moon later, I stood outside the bathroom as I waited for the results of the test. After what felt like moons, Luna finally walked out. It was hard for me to read her expression. I ran up to her. "What is it? What did it say?"
Luna looked up at me, her smile growing. "It said we're going to have a foal." I couldn't think of anything to say. I was going to be a father. "L-Luna, this is the happiest moment of my life."
"Mine too." We both walked towards each other and engaged in a kiss. When we broke apart, Luna said the words I was dreading most to hear.
"I want to tell Celestia..."
**********
For the third time, I found myself standing outside these god forsaken doors. What worried me, is that there weren't even any guards outside the gates. They were wide open. Almost as if Celestia was expecting us. We both opened the doors and walked cautiously inside. Celestia looked down from her throne with an almost joyful smile.
"Emerald." She said with clearly false optimism. "I was awaiting your return."
I walk backwards a step. "Y-You were."
Celestia got down off her throne and started walking slowly towards me. "Yeah. I wanted to see that big BUCKING NERVE YOU HAVE TO SEND ME A LETTER LIKE THIS!!!" A piece of paper enclosed in a white magical aura, was shoved into my face. I saw the words I had written and gulped.
I put on a brave face and walked forwards. "That's funny!" I said laughing. "I wanted to see what kind of big bucking nerve you have not showing up at your sister's wedding."
Celestia stomped her hoof. "Don't think that just because you're an alicorn, you have the right to speak to me this way. Guards!"
The main throne room flooded with guards at her command. Luna leaned over to me and chuckled a little. "Don't worry. It's the royal guards. They're practically useless." I laughed back until I realized that I had been surrounded by guards holding spears up to my chest. Luna flew up into the air.
"Guards! Stand down by order of the princess of the night." The guards had no choice. they had to stand down. Even if Celestia ordered them back, they still held enough respect for Luna to obey her as well. Luna turned to Celestia. "Sister! We come bearing news. We beg that you may receive it with gladness."
"Who's beggi-" I started a snarky remark but Luna put a hoof up to my mouth quickly before I could manage to say another thing I was going to regret later on.
Celestia stood up straight. She was now at full height. "What is it sister. Make it quick."
"Sister, we are having a foal."
Celestia stomped her hoof. And looked at me. "You DARE impregnate my sister! Who the BUCK do you think you are!" Celestia turned her back. "I will give you both one last chance." She turned and pointed a hoof towards the door. "LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK!!!"
I looked over to Luna who had tears streaming down her face. "S-sister, please-" she began whispering. But I stepped forward with a fire in my eyes. "No!"
Celestia looked back at me. "No?" She chuckled. "Fine. Have it your way. Guards! Take mister smart-flank here down to the basement! Room 3b if you know what I mean."
"NO!" Luna shouted.
"What's room 3b?" I asked, the worry becoming audible in my voice.
Celestia looked down at me. "The torture chambers." She grinned as she saw the look of worry that spread itself across my face. I could feel my face going white. But I wouldn't stand down. Guards began to circle me with their spears drawn once more. "As for my sister, take her to her old room. The baby shall be born, as I am not a monster. But when it is, it shall be put up for adoption. All records of its lineage shall be erased and it shall never know from whom it came from."
Luna couldn't say anything. She burst out crying as her legs gave way. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing. She was pleading for her sister's mercy.
The guards however, did not move. "Princess. With all due respect, we do not wish to lay a hoof on Miss Luna."
Celestia looked down at him. "Let me make this easy then. Anypony who does not do what is told of them, shall join him." She pointed over at me.
Guards continued to circle me and Luna as I suddenly felt the same sensation I was feeling at the altar. I began floating up into the air with green light filling the room quickly. There was a deafening *crack* as my power unloaded upon the entire room. As I floated down to the ground, I saw every guard in the room collapse to the floor. Luna ran towards me with tear-stained eyes, as Celestia watched in horror from above.
"That was the last straw princess." I looked at her with fire in my eyes. "You can threaten me..."
"But NOPONY, threatens my family!"
I shot a beam of green magic at her and she collapsed to the ground.
Luna gasped as she looked over to her sister. "Emerald, is she..."
I looked over to Luna. "I'm not sure. I have no idea where that spell even came from. I've obviously never studied magic a day in my life."
"It was probably a magical surge cause by heavy emotions. It happens a lot to young unicorns who haven't learned to control their powers yet."
I look down to the side. Great. I have the magical control of a baby unicorn and the power level of a full grown alicorn. What the buck could go wrong? I walked over to Celestia and put a hoof to her neck. Feeling a pulse, I breathed a sigh of relief. Sure I didn't like the Princess very much but I didn't want to get charged with treason for killing our leader.
I looked over at Luna and said, "Don't worry. She's only knocked out. Or asleep. One of the two."
Luna also breathed a sigh of relief. "Good." She walked over to me. "That could have gone better..."
I nod slightly. "We need to get out of here."
Luna's face was plagued with worry. "And go where? She's going to send search parties to your house or something. We can't go there. It's illegal to harbor a fugitive so I doubt anypony in Ponyville would take us in. Not to mention, we can't let anypony know we're in town. Especially not Twilight Sparkle."
I nod and my face lights up with an idea. "What about the place where it all started?"
"The castle?"
I nod again. "It's a place I don't think Celestia would even think to check."
"You're right," Luna said. "I remember telling her about ten moons ago that I never wanted to see that place again after everything that had happened there. I guess I just decided to give it a chance with you. That turned out to be well worth it though."
I nod and smile. "Then it's settled." I gesture towards the door and we fly towards it. I look towards Luna. "Hey Luna?"
"Yes, my love?"
"There's been something I've been meaning to ask you..."
"Go ahead. I won't stop you." We took off from outside the castle and began flying towards the castle of the two sisters.
"If I'm an alicorn, does that mean I'm a prince now?"
Luna put a hoof to her chin. "I'm not sure. As it stands, everypony who is an alicorn at the current time is royalty. But according to Celestia, that was destiny. I'm not sure if royalty comes with being an alicorn or if it is dictated by destiny. I could always send Twilight a letter. If anypony has enough books to research the subject, then it's definitely her."
I chuckle for a second and say, "I thought we wouldn't be able to have contact with Twilight as long as we're in hiding."
Luna shakes her head. "There is almost no way for her to find us by us sending her a letter. We just need to make sure that she doesn't know we are in proximity to Ponyville." I nod and Luna summons a piece of parchment seemingly out of thin air. She does the same, summoning a quill. She scribbles some equestrian characters down on a piece of parchment and raises it towards her horn. It glows green and sends the letter in green particles, much like the ones that are created when spike does the same with his fire.
**********
Twilight ran around her library frantically, throwing books on the floor everywhere. Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance because he had a sinking feeling that he would be asked to clean everything up. Twilight finally found the book she was looking for and but it up on her table. The book was big with a golden cover. Red text across the cover read, "Royalty In Equestria"
She began flipping through pages while Spike walked up beside her. "what are you doing Twilight?" He asked her.
Twilight spoke while she continued to flip through the pages. "Remember the scroll you gave me a few minutes ago?" Spike nodded and Twilight continued. "It was Princess Luna asking about the royal status of Emerald Shine. She's wondering if he's a prince because he's an alicorn. Or if royalty in equestria is completely bound by destiny."
"That is what Celestia told you right?" Spike asked. "That you were always destined to be a princess?"
Twilight nodded. "From what I heard, she said something along the same lines to Princess Cadence when she was about to be coronated as the princess of the crystal empire. It really does make me wonder if Emerald was really destined to be a prince."
Spike nodded and began picking books up off the floor. "From what Emerald told us at the reception, Celestia probably wouldn't be that willing to talk to him and tell him if he is a prince. I mean, it sounded like they were on some pretty bad terms."
Twilight nodded and looked back at spike. "Yeah. Was it just me, or did you also notice that Celestia wasn't at their wedding?"
Spike shook his head slightly. "No, I noticed that too. Why do you think she decided not to be there?"
Twilight put a hoof to her chin for a few minutes and closed her eyes. Spike knew this was the thing she did when she was trying to think or concentrate so he didn't bother her at all. Suddenly, Twilight jumped up and clapped her hooves together. "I've got it!" She yelled while Spike looked at her.
"What is it?" Spike asked, his voice sounding very interested.
"A while back, I asked if Luna had ever had somepony to love." Spike gave her a weird look and she quickly said, "I don't know why. I was just curious. Celestia said she was waiting for the right type of pony to come along before allowing Luna to go out with anypony."
Spike nodded and said, "Yeah but what does that have to do with the situation?"
Twilight looked at him and said, "I bet you Celestia thought that Emerald was not the type of pony she was looking for. Remember what Luna said at the wedding about Emerald's act of courage being marrying her? I'm willing to bet you bits that she was super against the marriage."
Spike nodded and looked towards the book. "Find anything?"
Twilight nodded. "I actually think I did. It says here, "The alicorn is the symbol of royalty. Alicorns are majestic creatures and all alicorns are destined to rule together over the land of Equestria."
Spike snapped his claws. "So he is a prince then?"
Twilight nodded. "It's written right here in black and white. Spike, please send a letter to princess Luna and let her know the good news." Spike nodded and ran upstairs. Twilight put a hoof to her chin and said, "Emerald Shine, The Alicorn Prince." She chuckled. It has a nice ring to it.
**********
Me and Luna landed at the castle around three in the afternoon. "How is the sun going to go down if Celestia is still knocked out?" I asked Luna.
Luna shook her head. "I don't have a clue. She hasn't been off the job in thousand upon thousands of moons."
I shrugged. "Anyways, what do you wanna do?" I took a stick and drew a 3 by 3 grid in the soft dirt. "Wanna play tic tac toe?" I asked her.
Luna laughed. "You always find a way to make some sort of joke out of any situation."
Eventually, the time for night came and the sun began to go down. I sighed, "I guess she's awake then."
Luna nodded and I sighed again. Luna looked over and noticed a small tear running down my cheek. "What's wrong my love?"
I sighed. "This isn't the life I promised you princess. I told you we would ave a great life together. But instead, we are in hiding from your sister."
Luna laughed. "Emerald, are you still here with me?" I nodded. "Do you still love me?" I nodded again as Luna took my hooves in her own. "Then this is all I could ever want. Besides, I've grown quite fond of this castle." Luna stood up and I saw her as she began to raise the moon.
We sat in silence for a while until a letter materialized in front of us. There was a scroll with Princess Twilight's seal.
"Dear Princess Luna, Through my research, I can guarantee you that Emerald Shine was destined to be a prince all along. I hope this letter reaches you both well. I think I understand that something very wrong is going on right now. While I don'tt know exactly what you both are going through right now, I send my sympathies.
Yours truly, Princess Twilight Sparkle."
Me and Luna smiled as we read the letter. Luna turned to me and said. "I guess you're not just my prince anymore." She chuckled and we embraced in a kiss. We were interrupted, however, by a bright flash of white light in front of us. Hovering there, was Princess Celestia herself. She laughed as she said,
Me and Luna held each other tightly as we looked up in horror. Celestia was gently flapping her wings above us and looking down almost menacingly. "How did you find us?" I managed to say.
"For somepony who's magical level is as high as mine, it's very easy to track the source of a magic spell. Especially one as powerful as raising the moon."
Luna lost her breath. "Now," Celestia continued. "Things will go forward from here as I said earlier. Emerald, you will be taken to the torture chambers for treason against this country. Luna, your baby shall be born and his past shall be erased from history."
I focused on my anger and rage. I tried to cast the same spell I cast back at the palace. but to no avail. Celestia laughed. "You think I haven't learned from our previous encounter, young one? I've put a shield on your magic." I continued to try to shoot even the tiniest spell at her. Celestia just continued to laugh.
"Now then, she said as she clapped her forehooves together. Let's be off." I pull Luna in close to me.
"It's going to be alright," I say while engaging her in a kiss.
Celestia looks back. "Ew! Get a bucking room!"
I look up at her and say, "That's what we were trying to do. But somepony ruined it. Any idea who that could be?"
Celestia's eyes filled up with rage as Luna said, "Emerald! Don't say anything else to antagonize her. She's already angry enough as it is."
I still laughed as I saw the rage in Celestia's eyes. I suddenly felt myself floating above the ground. But this time, there was no powerful magic surge. No blinding green lights. This time, I was in Celestia's grasp. She proceeded to hold me out above the cliff. For those who don't know, there is a big cliff down to where the tree of harmony is. "Do you want to run that by me again?"
I laugh and say, "From the way you look, I'd say you hardly run at all." I looked over and Luna was running a hoof across her neck, clearly telling me to cut it out.
Celestia looked me in the eyes. "I have half a mind to kill you right now. In fact, I think I will." I felt her magical grasp leave me. Luna screamed and ran over to the cliff. Looking down however, she didn't see me. I flapped my wings over head and looked more at Celestia with an amused grin on my face. "Hey dumbass! I'm a pegasus remember. I may not know much about magic, but I know plenty about flying.
Celestia yelled with rage, You're both coming with me. Against some resistance, she took our hooves and I felt the strange sensation of what Luna called "Traveling by the moonlight." When we emerged, we were in the throne room. Celestia spoke, "Guards, do what was asked of you earlier." She pointed a hoof at me. "Make sure that one is shown no mercy."
Luna yelled and ran towards me. She grabbed me in her hooves while I felt tears going down my back. "NO!" Luna shouted at her sister. "If e goes to the torture chamber, I go to the torture chamber."
Celestia laughed. "No dear sister, I could never do such a thing to you." Luna was encased in a white aura as I felt her get magically ripped away from me. She was put back down on the ground about twenty yards from me. "Now, I suggest you comply, or he dies right now." Luna sat still. Her eyes were stained with tears.
I could only think about the things I wanted to do to Celestia right now. I still couldn't believe she could be this cruel to her own sister. Her own flesh and blood. But then i heard the words I dreaded.
"Guards, you know what to do..."
***********
I woke up strapped down to a table in the middle of a dark room. My hooves were strapped down and my neck had a metal band around it. I looked around as best I could. This didn't look like much of a torture chamber. I didn't see any torture instruments. Not even some pair of rusty scissors.
I heard a door slam open and I watched as the white alicorn walked in. It was dark yes, but there was no mistaking that mane for anypony else's.
She walked over to me and chuckled as I struggled against my bonds. "What are you doing Celestia! This is going way too far!" I tried yelling at her but she just stared back at me.
"Tell me, young one," She said while looking down upon me. My mind burned with disgust as she uses the same name Luna called me on our first night. "Have you ever heard the myth of the rainbow factory?"
I scoffed at her. "I grew up in Cloudsdale. Of course I know that story."
Celestia frowned. "Yes, well unfortunately for me, it is but a myth. But trust me, had it been real, I would be the first pony to throw you head first into that machine."
"What did you do to Luna?"
Celestia stomped her hoof on the table. "Do not mention my sister's name again. As far as I'm concerned you are no longer associated with her in any way."
A small tear rolled down my cheek as I realized that I may never see her again. "Tell me, Emerald, By what means can an alicorn die?"
I kept still with my mouth closed. Celestia chuckled a little. "I hoped you would pick the hard way." She walked behind me and I strained in an attempt to see what she was doing. I heard the sound of a flipping switch and quickly felt the shock of hundreds of volts of electricity going through my body.
I screamed in anguish and yelled, "SUICIDE OR MURDER!!!"
Celestia flipped the switch back and the shock stopped. I could still feel my body twitching uncontrollably. "That is absolutely correct Emerald. Suicide or murder. Now, I'm not going to kill you. Do you know what that would look like? The princess killing the newly created prince? But by the time I'm done, you might prefer the first option."
She flipped the switch again. This time not stopping for about two minutes. I could feel my body shutting down. I didn't know how much more of this I could take. I just hoped Luna was okay. I managed to stammer out a few words. "T-Tell me this,"
"Oh?" Celestia asked turning around.
I continued, "You said Luna cannot marry anypony besides an alicorn." Celestia nodded and I continued, "Then why are you still against us? I'm an alicorn now."
Celestia sighed. "You are not a good pony Emerald. Not in my mind at least. You became an alicorn through defiance. That doesn't sit well with me." I felt a weird sensation on my horn. Almost as if pressure had been released. "I have released control of your horn. Your bindings are under my control still. As long as you touch them, any teleportation powers are unusable. There is still one option though..."
I laughed, "Shoot you and knock you out again?"
She laughed back, "Nice try. Not this time. I have a magical protection field around me at this time. Here is your one option."
She levitated a knife over to me and laid it on my chest. "I think even a new unicorn such as yourself sohuld be able to manage a levitation spell. As for the knife, I think you know what to do with that..."
She walked out of the room and left me alone. I looked at the knife and scowled at it with anger. If she thinks I'm going to kill myself, she's crazy. There must be another way out...
**********
Luna sat in her room. She was unsure what to feel. She knew her sister would be back any minute. She was under orders to stay in this room. The windows were locked from Celestia's power and the walls were reinforced. Finally, she heard the door knob jiggling and Celestia walked into the room.
Luna ran over to he and started hitting her with a hoof. "What did you do to him!"
Celestia pushed Luna to the side gently. "I gave him his choice."
"What choice is that?"
"None of your concern." Luna sat back down on her bed, crying. "I hope you know sister, I do this for your own protection."
Luna's head swam with thoughts. Maybe it's finally time for me to stand up for myself... She should not have the right to treat me like this. A thought came to Luna and she looked up at Celestia. "Sister? Why did you send him to the torture chambers?"
Celestia sighed and said, "He is not a good pony. Plus, he attacked royalty. That is considered treason to this country and the law states that everypony who commits treason should be punished severely."
Luna laughed. Celestia had fallen right into her trap. "Celestia, what did you do to him?"
Celestia laughed a little. "Let's just say I gave him a little shock back to reality."
Luna laughed back. "Hah! Then you committed treason as well!"
Celestia's face grew dark. "What?"
"Twilight Sparkle herself said that, as an alicorn, Emerald is a prince. You harmed royalty. That's treason!"
Celestia's face sat still for a second. Processing what she had just heard. She smirked back at her sister. "Well played sister. But you forget who passes the laws in this country. I can make a nice little document restating the rules for treason. Harming royalty would not be included."
"Checkmate, sister." Luna said. "If you pass such a law, then you have nothing to hold Emerald with. Imagine what the public will do when they learn that heir princess is torturing ponies for absolutely no reason."
Celestia's face was shocked. "You make a valid point sister."
Luna smiled. "How about this, a deal."
"What do you propose?"
"Let me and Emerald go. We will have out foal and they will stay in our possession. You will never see us again. That does seem to be what you wanted yesterday."
Celestia's face changed from shock to sadness. "I can never see you again?" Luna nodded. For the first time Luna had seen, Celestia shed a tear. She nodded. "If that is the only way."
Luna nodded. "You did a great job backing yourself into a corner. I pray that this makes you think better about your own life. Whoever you marry doesn't need to be an alicorn sister. Find somepony who will make you happy."
**********
Me and Luna walked out of the castle. "You know," I say, "I think it's very bad luck for us to enter this castle."
Luna laughed and nodded. We flew back to my house. about halfway through the flight, Luna had to pause to raise the moon. I enjoyed flying in the glory of the moonlight. When we landed at my house, we stepped inside hoof in hoof. We laid down in bed and fell asleep next to each other.
But what I didn't know, was that this story was still far from over. In fact, something would happen in a few moons that would change our lives forever.
A few moons passed. (In case it isn't clear, I'm going by the assumption that moons are 36.5 days)
Excitement grew in our household as the time for the birth of the anticipated foal grew closer and closer. The day after we had gotten home, we didn't do much. Luna was still in shock that I was still alive. Tartarus, I was surprised I was still alive.
It didn't take long for a certain purple alicorn to figure out what was going on. She congratulated us. Unfortunately, she also let it slip to her group of friends. This resulted in Pinkie Pie throwing a party. This was fine of course but now the whole town knew about the thing we were kind of trying to keep quiet.
Of course, there was some judgement. As I walked through the town, I caught wind of some whispers of, "So soon?" and, "Completely Irresponsible." I paid them no heed though, as the overall happiness of the event was constantly running through my head.
Eventually, the time finally came and Luna gave birth to a beautiful unicorn filly. It was a blueish green filly with a blue mane. The mane color, however, was not the color of Luna's mane. but instead was the color of a sapphire. "How is that possible? Neither of us have a mane color like that."
I laughed. "You wanna know a secret?" Luna nodded. "My mane isn't really red. It's that same color of blue. You see, a while back, I got into an argument with another pony named Banquo. we argued over whether blue or green was better. He said that he couldn't take my argument seriously since I had a blue mane. So I had Twilight turn my mane red."
Luna laughed. "There is no way that's true!"
I nodded. My eyes widened as I said, "No! That's a true story! Ask Twilight she probably remembers. In fact, I think Banquo still lives in Ponyville. Maybe you could ask him."
Luna laughed. "Well maybe I will. Who won?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. We still argue by sending letters. Nopony has won yet."
Luna laughed and looked back at the filly. "What should we name her?"
I think for a second and then a mischievous grin spread across my face. "Will she be allowed to drink alcohol?"
Luna looked at me. "Not as a filly but I guess maybe when she's older. Emerald I swear if this is the setup for some stupid joke I am going to kill you."
"MOONSHINE!" I yelled laughing.
Luna smacked me gently with a hoof. "There is no way we are naming our child Moonshine." I rolled around on the floor for a few seconds laughing. After a minute, I regained my ability to breathe and walked back over.
"I kind of want the name to end with Shine. I like that name." Luna said.
"I got it!" I said getting a skeptical look from Luna.
"Don't you dare." She said smiling.
"Shining Star."
Luna smiled. "That's perfect."
There was a celebration throughout Ponyville that day. Pinkie, of course, created the biggest celebration imaginable. I walked over to Twilight and asked, "I'm a little curious, what's the royalty status of Shining Star?"
Twilight laughed. "I'm not completely sure. Let's just say that if Flurry Heart is a princess, Shining is too."
I nodded and we continued with the party until past midnight.
However, a very dark thing was about to occur. Not in Ponyville, but in Canterlot.
**********
Princess Celestia sat crying in her room. What do I even have left to live for? She thought. I'm not ever allowed to go see Luna, and I can't meet my new niece. I never should have taken things as far as I did.
Celestia looked over to the knife sitting on her bedside table. It was the same one that she had given to me back in the basement. She walked over to it and picked it up. I'm sorry Emerald. I never should have wronged you. I finally understand. You two were meant for each other.
Celestia materialized a quill and a piece of paper. She wrote down a quick letter. and wrapped it up. She sealed it with her royal seal and set it down on her bed. With her horn, she encased the knife in a white aura.
There was no sound in the room that night.
Except for the sound of a knife cutting into Celestia's wrists.
**********
I woke up to Luna shaking me awake. Shining Star was asleep in her crib next to my bed. I woke up and asked her, "What's wrong Luna?"
She put a hoof to her chin. "I'm not exactly sure. Let's just say, it's 8 in the morning." She gestured outside and that's when I saw what she meant. The moon had been lowered but the sun had not been raised.
It was at this moment, that we saw two pegasus guards flying down to us. "Princess Luna, Prince Emerald, there is something you both must see."
We flew in silence the entire way to Canterlot. As we were leaving Ponyville, I could see ponies pointing at the sky and at us. I saw Luna writing on a piece of paper as we flew. She sent the letter to Twilight. "What was that?" I asked.
"Just a letter telling Twilight to keep everypony calm."
We landed on the balcony outside Celestia's room. The guards turned to Luna and said, "Before we enter, I should think it would be wise of you to raise the sun for Equestria."
"How can you do that?" I asked her.
"I don't know." Luna said. "Maybe just concentrate on it? I really don't know. But if Celestia could raise the sun and the moon, then so can I." Luna concentrated for about five minutes and eventually managed to raise the sun. "Now we let gravity take its course for the day."
The guards looked at us with a solemn face and opened the door to Celestia's room. Luna gasped at what she saw in front of her.
Celstia's dead body.
The knife next to her.
And the pool of her blood.
**********
We walked over to the body and I could see Luna beginning to cry. "There was one more thing!" The guards said. We looked back and they handed us a letter. We opened it. It said:
To my dearest sister and her husband,
I'm sure you both are wondering what would cause me to commit such a horrible act. It would be easy for me to blame the whole thing on Emerald. To say it was all his fault. But the truth is, it isn't. To you Luna, I say, I apologize. I tried to control your life when you should have been finding your own path. I was a horrible sister and I hope you can forgive me. To you Emerald Shine, I say that I am deeply sorry. As you both have had a foal, I am sure you will both be great parents. I hope you will both remember me for the good things I did in life. Not the bad things.
To you, Luna and Emerald, I bid thee goodbye. I am always with you.
P.S. Luna, I know his mind is going to go here, don't let Emerald name the baby Moonshine.
Your dear sister, Princess Celestia.
We both chuckled as we read that last line. I looked at Luna and she was crying. We stayed in that room all day. The body was taken out of it and it was cleaned. When we left, we told everypony that the room was fully off limits in respects to the former princess.
The guards came up to us and offered us each an item. To Luna, they gave a crown with a black star sapphire right in the middle. To me, they gave a crown with an emerald right in the middle. "We need you two to be the leaders of Equestsria now." They told us. Me and Luna looked at one another and smiled. We nodded to the guards.
**********
Later that evening, me and Luna stood up on the balcony of the palace in front of everypony in Canterlot. The guards then said, "Mares and Gentlecolts! King Emerald Shine and Queen Luna!"
I turned to him, "What ever happened to prince and princess?"
He laughed. "I thought it was time for a change."
I knew in my heart that me and Luna would live a happy life. There would definitely be more fun adventures to come as well.
Down in the crowd, Twilight sparkle thought,
Emerald Shine, the Alicorn King. It has a nice ring to it...