Twilight's meets with Luna to discuss a hidden past of Equestria and the princess's
When Princess Luna comes to the library to find a book that she had had placed there a long time before Twilight moved in, she asks Twilight to come to Canterlot to discuss why she came looking for the book.
It was a sunny day in the small town of Ponyville, the sun was out, there was a small breeze blowing through the town and there were many ponies out enjoying the day; all except one pony and one baby dragon.
"Come on Twilight," The baby dragon complained as he carried around a binch of books that his surrogate mother had left laying around. "it's a perfect day and yet, we are probably the only ones who aren't outside."
The young filly shook her head and continued working. "Because Spike, I want this place spotless for the next slumber party I'm throwing. Besides," She paused. We may be able to find something that we may have lost before." She said as her horn started to glow a pink aura, The aura surrounded a stack of books and she started walking for the bookshelf by the door and placed them on the shelf. Just as she let her magic fade, she heard a knock at the door.
"Hey, sugarcube? You home?" A voice from just outside asked.
Twilight opened the door using her magic and saw her closest friends, on the far right was Rainbow Dash, next to her was Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. Everypony carrying their own sleeping bags, pillows, snacks, and flashlights. "Come on in everypony, I'm just finishing cleaning up so we have a place to sleep tonight." Twilight said as she steppted to the side and let the five other fillies inside.
"This is going to be the slumber party of all slumber parties girls. Do you wanna know why?" Rainbow Dash asked fluttering her wings, full of energy.
Fluttershy looked around the room then turned to face Rainbow Dash. "Um... why do you, um... say that, Rainbow?" She asked in her usual quiet manner.
"Because," Rainbow Dash started. "This time, unlike any of the other times we have sqent the night at somepony else's place, this time we are going to stay up all night long!" She finished jumping into the air happily.
"Well, this is going to be a smashing night darlings," Rarity said as she set her stuff down by the staris.
"It will. We always have tons of fun at our sleepovers," Pinkie Pie said.
"Hey Twilight? What do you want to do with this book?" Spike asked holding up a book that was worn out. The cover was old and flaky, the pages were yellow and the title on the book was faded beyond recognition.
"Put it on this shelf," Twilight told Spike. "I'll read it later." She turned and saw that everypony was looking at her. "What? It's not like I'm reading it during the sleepover is it?" Everypony nodded and sat in a circle.
"I'm going to bed so try to keep it down please," Spike said as he started to climb the stairs.
When Fluttershy heard the door close, she started asking a question that was heavy on her mind. "So, um... What are we going to do first?" She asked then started shuffling her hooves as she usually does.
"Well," Rarity began. "I think we should start with the MAKEOVERS!" Rarity finished with an overadbundance of enthusiasm. They all nodded and let Rarity get her bag that held all the supplies for makeovers. She started by putting everyponies hair into curlers so their hair wouldn't get muddy from the next treatment. After finishing up their hair, she reached into her bag and pulled out the containers that had the nutriant-enriched mud and started with Rainbow Dash.
"Why am I always the first when you do this Rarity?" Rainbow Dash complained while Rarity worked.
Rarity only laughed a little. "Because I know that you hate going first." She finished with Rainbow Dash by putting two cucumbers over her eyes then moved on to the next in line who happened to be Applejack, then Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie Pie. After they all had their mud masks done, Rarity put hers on with her magic. "I'm done, so now we wait for 20 minutes then we can take the mud off."
"Thank Celestia." Rainbow Dash said under her breath hoping that nopony heard her. Twilight thought she heard her say something.
"Hey Rainbow, did you say something?"
"What are you kidding? I-I didn't say say anything," Her voice cracking as she tried to cover her comment up.
Twilight knew she had Rainbow right were she wanted her but didn't push her. For the next 20 minutes they all talked about their day. After they finished with that, they cleaned their faces off and ate the cucumbers.
"So what's next everypony?" Applejack asked after she sat back down.
"Well," Twilight started. "it's still light outside, so how about a pillow fight?"
"That seems like a great idea," Pinkie Pie said and had just hit Twilight on her sholder.
Twilight grunted then got Pinkie Pie on the top of her head then ducked the second that Pinkie Pie and she got Applejack on the side of her head. "Oh, now you've gone and done it." Then she swung and instead of getting Pinkie Pie, she hit Rainbow Dash and knocked her on her side.
Rainbow Dash picked herself off of the ground and saw that Applejack was standing next to her concern etched on her face. "Are you alright partner?"
"Yeah, but, come here please." Applejack got closer and leaned in waiting for her to say something while everypony else was attacking each other.
Rainbow Dash whispered in AJ's ear, "Gotchya," and got her in the chest and immediatly took to the air.
"Rainbow Dash, I'm going to get ya for that." Applejack said chasing her around the room. After a few more minutes, everypony was tired and a little sweaty. They all came back to their circle and heard a knock at the door.
"Who can that be? isn't it like nine at night or something like that?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Twilight got up and opened the door using magic and everypony in the room stopped and was surprised by who was at the door.
"Hello Twilight."
"Princess Luna, come in come in. Not that we're not all happy to see you but, um... what are you doing in Ponyville?" Twilight asked as she steped aside as let Luna inside. Princess Luna had her hair down so it was framing her beautiful face. Her eyes shown that she still had regret about letting Nightmare Moon take over, and her eyes also shown that she was still trying to find out if she really belonged at her sisters side. She had a saddle bag on her back and the mark that was sewn into it was a cresent moon, it looked alot like her Cutie Mark.
"Well, I can here tonight because, I believe that there is a book here that I brought here before Nightmare Moon took control, and I wanted to know about it's condition. In addition to that I'll need you to come to Canterlot tomorrow Twilight because there is some very important information that you need to hear." Granted they hadn't seen her since after the wedding between Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. "Where are my manners? Hello young ones," Princess Luna said addressing the other five Elements of Harmony.
Rarity and the others hustled to their feet and bowed toward Luna. They all said the exact same thing at the exact same time, which surprised them. Hello Your Majesty."
Luna laughed a little. "You all know you don't have to call me that all the time right? Princess is just fine."
Once again, they all said the same thing in perfect sync. "Yes Your Maj- Princess Luna."
"Well um, what does it look like Your Majesty?" Twilight asked as she followed Princess Luna looking for the book.
Princess Luna turned to face Twilight. Well Twilight it is about this big," Princess Luna used her magic to pull a book off of on of the shelves. "It looks very worn out and you cna barely ever read the title anymore."
"I think I know what book you're talking about," Twilight said as she started walking toward the bookshelf by the door. "I think Spike put that book over here somewere," Twilight started looking down everyrow that was eyelevel with her and then she saw it. "Here it is Princess."
Princess Luna's horn began to glow and the book became shrouded by a blue aura and floated over to her. The top flap of her saddle bag glowed in the same aura as the one that surrounded the book and opened, the book floated into the bag then the flap closed hiding the book from view.
"Thank you for your time, and once again thank you all for freeing me from Nightmare Moon," Luna said before she opened the door using her magic, walked outside then turned to face them all, bowed then closed the door.
After Luna left Twilight's house, everypony inside looked at Twilight. Many minutes of silence past between them all before Applejack broke it.
"Now just what in the hay was that about?"
"I'm not really sure myself girls," Twilight admitted. "Princess Luna barley talks to anypony, she didn't even attend the Gala of all things. What do you think Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy looked out the window and thought for a minute then started quietly. "I'm not sure girls, but if she came here than it must be important."
"Chill girls, I'm pretty sure it was nothing," Rainbow Dash said feeling very uneasy about Luna's appearence.
"Regardless," Rarity started. "What Twilight said here is true, did any of you see Luna during the Gala?" Everypony shook their heads. "My point exactly. She keeps herself hidden away in Canterlot only appearing when it is needed of her. This visit was she gave us tonight has been important."
Twilight cleared her throat. "Well I think it time that we complete tonight with ghost stories."
Applejack looked at Twilight seriously. "Come on sugarcube, you know as well as any of us that whenever she leave Canterlot, which is rare enough, something rare or valuable is found, it connects us to a part of something greater than any one pony."
"I know Applejack, I know," Twilight said. "It's just that she is also one of my mentorsand she looks at me like a sister. In this, I don't know." Twilight finished by shaking her head and a few tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"We don't mean to push you this far Twi but this is important," Applejack said trying to comfort their friend.
"Thank you Applejack, I just don'e know anymore. Could we please start the ghost stories to help take my mind off of this?"
"Sure thing dear." Rarity said.
"Thank you girls for understanding," Twilight said wiping the tears from her cheeks but, the stains the tears left remained.
Twilight rose from her bed looking amongst her friends. "Well today is the day. I guess I'll find out what was in that book Luna came back for." She got out from underneath the sheets on her sleeping bag and rolled it up quietly. She froze when she heard Rainbow Dash mutter something about the Wonderbolts in her sleep. “Rainbow Dash, you always know how to make us laugh, asleep or awake.” Twilight thought to herself as she tip-hoofed toward the front door. She looked back and thought to herself about leaving a note or something. Her horn glowed lightly and a pen and a piece of paper flew over to her.
“Girls, I left early cause I couldn’t sleep and what Luna said still moves throughout my head. I couldn’t get her words out no matter how hard I’ve tried, you girls have noticed the way I was acting after she left. I’m sorry I didn’t stay but I just couldn’t put it out of my head and this seems really important. I hope you girls understand.”
Sincerely your friend,
Twilight Sparkle
Satisfied with the letter she put it on a table by the stairs to her room and walked quietly to the front door and it seemed to open without her even touching it. In front of the door happened to be the two ponies she wasn’t ever expecting to see for a while.
“Sweetie, it is so great to see you again.”
“Mom, dad? When did you both arrive in Ponyville?”
Her father laughed lightly. “We actually got here a few minutes ago. So we decided that we should visit our daughter.”
Twilight looked between both of her parents, ran toward them and embraced them in a hug. “I really missed you both. I haven’t seen you guys since the Grand Galloping Gala.” She looked back and saw that she hadn’t closed the door. “Dear Celestia.” Twilight’s horn glowed and the door also took up the same glow of her horn then door closed quickly.
“What’s wrong dear?” Mrs. Sparkle asked looking at her daughter questionably.
“Don’t worry about it dear. Do you want to go with us to breakfast at Sugarcube Corner?”
“I’m sorry but, Princess Luna came by last night for a book she left in the library, and she said she wanted me to meet her in Canterlot today.”
“The Princess? Why did she want to see you?”
“I’m not sure myself. But, the way she made it sound, it sounds very important.”
“Alright sweetie, go to Canterlot and find out what Princess Luna wants.”
“Alright mom. I’ll see you guys later.”
“See you later honey,” Her father said as Twilight galloped away toward the train station that would take her to Canterlot.
***Luna’s Room***
“Well here she comes finally,” Luna said to herself sadly as she walked back to her bed. “I wonder how she’ll take the news that I am going to give her. I, myself aren’t sure how I would react to this kind of news.” Suddenly she winced in pain and held a hoof to her head. “Not… you… again, Nightmare Moon.” Then Luna’s horn started glowing and a beam of magic shot at a mirror and an image took shape on its surface. Luna’s horn continued glowing despite her not wanting to cast this spell. “What do you want?!” Luna shouted in fear at the mirror glaring at Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon only laughed and started back into Luna’s eyes. “Is it always going to be the same question little princess? What I want you to tell her? What I would gain from you telling her about my true creation?” Nightmare Moon paused and her emotion changed just like the twitch of a muscle, from being over-confident to angry. ”You know as well as I do what I want you to tell her, you will tell her about Celestia’s and your decision about my creation was by that war, if that war hadn’t happened, than I wouldn’t exist. You will tell her about how I truly came to be as I am,” She threatened glaring down at Luna.
“And if I don’t, what can you possibly do that you haven’t already done? You ruined a thousand years of my life, I had to stand by and watch my life crumble as you slowly took over, I even had to watch my sister’s disappointment at not being able to suppress your power like I should have been able to. Now she thinks that I let you take control on purpose and she doesn’t fully trust me anymore because of you!” Luna yelled at the image of Nightmare Moon on the mirror not caring if anypony heard her or not, her eyes also glowing blue from her anger. Then all of a sudden, she blasted the mirror with a powerful spell shattering it to thousands of pieces. After her horn lost the glow of using the spell, she fell to the floor physically and mentally exhausted and started crying.
After a few minutes of crying on the floor, she heard a knock on her bedroom door. “Luna are you alright sister?” Her older sister asked sounding extremely concerned. Luna got up from the floor and wiped her eyes with the back of her hoof then walked to the door and let her sister see her and the broken remains of the mirror. “I heard the explosion and rushed here as fast as I could. Why is that mirror of yours destroyed?”
Luna looked down at the ground by her front hooves and started sobbing. Celestia used her right wing tip to lift Luna’s head slowly and finally looked into her sister’s eyes. “Sister, I can’t stand having Nightmare Moon inside of me anymore!” She suddenly shouted. “I have to constantly deal with her taunting me and reminding me of the past.” Luna despite her sudden outburst, fell back to the floor in tears.
Celestia lied down beside her little sister and held her with her wings while she cried occasionally muttering words of comfort in her sister’s ear trying to calm her down. After a few minutes of trying to calm down her little sister, she rose and used a levitation spell and led Luna to her bed and lowered her to her bed and lied down beside her. She looked her sister over and saw some shards of glass in her sister’s flowing mane. She used her magic and picked up the glass that was scattered across the room from Luna’s spell and fir each piece of the mirror back into place then used one last piece of magic to fill in the cracks that the mirror had.
Luna didn’t look at the mirror for a few minutes, but when she turned to look at it, she didn’t see Nightmare Moon, she saw herself. She then sighed looked at her sister. Celestia met Luna’s gaze and smiled. “Thank you sister,” Luna said as she got up and wrapped her wings around her sister hugging her. “I really needed that.” She said though it wasn’t as full of emotion as she usually would have said it.
“Is there something wrong little sister? You sound drained, mentally and emotionally. What’s wrong?” Celestia asked looking Luna in her eyes and saw the ever faint presence of Nightmare Moon.
“Sister,” Luna said after a minute of looking at the ground between them. “I have told Twilight Sparkle to come here to tell her about the past, to be specific, over a thousand years ago.”
Celestia looked at her sister and nodded sadly. “I’m glad that you have taken a step that I couldn’t take Luna. I just hope that what you’ll tell her won’t affect how she views us.” Celestia walked over to a window that was covered by dark blue, very thick silk and pulled it aside with her hoof and saw that train pull up to the station. “Well little sister, it looks like it’s now or never.” She said and turned and walked to the door. “Good luck Luna.” Celestia said as she opened the door with magic and walked down the hall back to the throne room and sat on her throne, ‘I hope that Twilight understands why I did what I did as well as what Luna has done too.’
Twilight had boarded the train soon after talking with her parents and sat in the last car by herself, she brought a book that had Equestria’s history in it and thought about what Luna wanted to talk about. “I wonder if it also about Princess Celestia to?” She asked herself aloud as the train started moving. She put her book down after a few minutes and looked out the window and saw the castle looking the same as she had always remembered it. The same waterfall, the same towers and the same walls surrounding the massive city.
Her thoughts then drifted to when she first went to Canterlot to see Princess Celestia rise the sun for the Summer Sun Celebration, then later when she was given the exam to grant her entry to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and from there she had stayed in Canterlot for years until she was sent to Ponyville for preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration that was held in Ponyville that year. But unfortunately that was the same day that Nightmare Moon, or the Mare in the Moon was to be freed from the moon and shroud the world in eternal night.
Soon the train glided to a stop and then the doors across from her. She stood up and walked outside the car and looked up to the palace and started walking toward the entrance. She passed by many high classed ponies, she even thought that she saw Fancy Pants and Fluer De Lis. She nodded to them and they returned her nod and continued on their way.
She continued on her way and soon found herself at the gates that were guarded by the Royal Guard, as she approached they relaxed a little. She walked past them the large doors opened and she was greeted by a cool breeze and Princess Luna. Twilight bowed then stood back up and Luna nodded. “Come with me Twilight.”
Twilight followed Princess Luna as they walked through the palace. When others saw Princess Luna they bowed until she walked by regardless of what they were doing. They walked through the palace for minutes before they arrived at Luna’s room. Luna’s horn started glowing and the door took the same aura and then was opened without as much as a twitch of Luna’s muscles. When the door was opened Luna stepped inside and Twilight followed and once she was inside, the door closed and the aura disappeared. Luna walked to a table that had the book on it and she sat on the far side of the bed while Twilight took the seat across from her.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna began. “This book holds some secrets that have never been seen by the eyes of others for centuries. The book is about a war that happened one millennia before the events that you are aware of. The creation of Nightmare Moon, the war, and Discords rise and fall in that time,” Luna paused letting what she said sink in.
“Wait so, there is a part of history that nopony is even aware of?” Twilight asked looking at the book in fear and awe.
“Well Celestia and I placed a spell, one so powerful that it even affected us. A memory spell that erased the memories of everypony who survived the war and even against the enemies that faced us. It wasn’t until Nightmare Moon very recently started breaking through the spell I had placed to keep her under control, that I remembered the book that a soldier had written during the war.”
“Soldier? What is that?” Twilight asked tempted to start reading the book like she would just about any other book, but she reframed.
“Soldiers are those that fight on the front lines and from behind enemy lines. There were many that wanted to keep Equestria safe for their families and their future family. Mind you Twilight, that this was long before Celestia gave the Apple family the land for their farm. There was a battle on that land but not much blood was shed there. Twilight, please understand that the war that did take place that if Celestia and I hadn’t acted, wouldn’t be as it is today; but under the rule of the griffons and Celestia and I would most likely be either dead or the griffon king’s slave.”
Twilight looked at Princess Luna shocked and then to the book, now afraid to read what the soldier had written down in its pages. “Princess, the griffon kingdom, why did they attack Equestria? What could have caused the war?”
“Well that will be answered in the journal, but Twilight,” Luna paused. “The Equestria of today is because my sister and I were willing to do what had to be done to save this country.” The book and Luna’s horn started glowing a really bright blue and then the book opened to the first page with a date that couldn’t be read. Though Luna knew the date quite well. “Twilight, the soldier who’s journal used to belong to, he was a student of mine and my sisters for a few years, we had him keep a journal to record his studies but soon it became a first-hoof account of the horror of war.” The letters were faded but they could still be read if you looked close enough.
June 23, 400 A.C.
Today had to be the saddest day of my life, my father was in the hospital with something wrong with his legs. My mother was in with him when a pony who was delivering news about what was happening around Equestria, I overheard an attack on Las Pegasus by the gryphons. I sat closer since he was trying to be quiet about it but the news spread like wildfire. Soon the room I was sitting in was filled with ponies trying to get out of the doors to get home however, I sat where I was petrified with fear. I had a friend in Las Pegasus that had gone there for a vacation and now he could be in danger or worse dead. I sprang to my hooves and rushed to the counter, and I had the receptionist let my mother know I was heading to Canterlot to meet with my mentors.
Twilight looked up from the entry and to Princess Luna. “Your old student lived in Ponyville? And what caused them to attack Los Pegasus?”
“That and many questions as to why they attacked there first are still a mystery to my sister and I. But yes my sister and I did have a student that we both taught in fact; he was a lot like you Twilight. Though Celestia didn’t think he could achieve what you can do, I thought differently. I taught him much more advanced magic than you have been taught but, he wasn’t an Element of Harmony like you. Still I had high hopes for him.” Luna explained looking at the pages sadly. “And the griffon attack on Las Pegasus was supposed to catch us while we would least expect an attack, especially since there wasn’t any defense around the city. When it happened; sister and I were young, younger than we are now by far.”
Twilight looked at the journal and then back up to meet Luna’s eyes. “So what happened during your meeting with him?”
Luna looked down and then finally met her eyes. “Well, it took a while for us to meet because of our generals wanting to talk about plans to attack the Griffon kingdom. But when we did talk,” She paused looking down at her hooves. “It didn’t go like he hoped.”
Twilight looked down at the journal again and started reading the next log.
June 23, 400 A.C.
After speaking with Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, I have to think about my next choice carefully because it will affect my life so much; wither I fight with the Royal army and help defeat the griffons or stay out of this and hope for the best. Celestia said that my magical ability with magic would help greatly with the war but Luna says I might not be ready for what war will cause me but I want to think that Celestia is right; that I may just make the difference between victory and defeat. I will speak with Princess Luna and Celestia once more before I make my choice, though I think that no matter what I will fight. I just hope that I have made the right choice.
Twilight lifted a hoof to her cheek and felt a tear slide down and nearly drop onto the page. “So did he ever tell his parents about his choice or did he let them worry?”
Luna looked into Twilight’s eyes and nodded. “He did tell his parents his choice to talk with us once more before making his choice but he made his mind up, thinking that his abilities with magic would help turn the tides, though I wish he would have reconsidered.”
“You mean?”
“Yes Twilight, he spoke with us once more before announcing that he would help us during the war. I once more tried to talk him out of it saying that it would be nothing like he had ever seen or would want to experience in his life. However, he was determined to become part of the war,” Luna said a tear sliding down her cheek. “Twilight, it really pains me that he fought in the war, even though he did turn the tides. Even though that war is a distant memory, I still remember how determined he was to show us he was ready.”
Twilight looked down to the journal and a tear dripped from her eye onto one of the pages. “So,” Twilight started sadly. “Did he have anyone he loved?”
“Well,” Luna began after sitting still for a moment. “He had somepony who was interested but he never took her hints. I guess he thought his studies were more important, though we told him he could still find that special somepony that he could fall for.” She sighed sadly looking at the book. “Twilight, you have to really know about what happened during the war, and the best way is to see it first hand,” Luna said her horn glowing brightly, and the pages of the books starting to glow brightly as well and soon Twilight felt herself being pulled toward the book the air pulling at her lick branches in the night sky.
“Princess…” Twilight tried to speak but her voice was quiet against the gale winds pulling her to the book and soon she was flying to the pages bracing herself expecting to land face first against the book only to slowly see blackness over take her eyes leaving her blind.
Once she opened her eyes she saw that she was transparent and tried to cast a spell only that her horn didn’t even glow. “What’s going on? What did Princess Luna do?”
“I can tell you Twilight,” Luna says walking up behind her slowly wings folded to her sides. “I am letting you see first hoof what he had to go through. Though I must tell you; there will be thing’s here that you cannot un-see once you see them, understood?”
Twilight nodded and saw a unicorn run past her and she started running after him. “Who is he?”
Luna answered from above using her wings to easily keep up with them. “That is our former student, his name; Night Blade.”
“Night Blade?” Twilight asks running behind him noticing that they were in the castle. Then gasps as he pushes open the large doors of the throne room with no visible effort with his magic.
“Princess Luna, Princess Celestia!” He called out rushing up to the two on their thrones speaking with generals about a course of action.
“Night Blade?” Luna asked looking as their student approached them ignoring their generals.
“Princess Luna I need to speak with you now!” He says urgently as one of the generals try and speak with him and push him away.
“Both Princesses need to be present for this Night Blade. I don’t care if you’re their student or not you have to leave now!” The lead general says standing in front of him cutting off his view of the princess’s.
Night Blade stared at the general before his horn flared to life with magic and pushed the general back into his seat and held him firmly to the chair. “You’ll not be telling me what to do General, they are my teachers and I have the right to speak with them when I need to,” He said softly to him still fairly calm before Luna walked up to him and placed a hoof on his chest before her own horn flared to life and blocked his spell letting the general sit in his chair startled, his wings shuffling nervously.
“There’s no need to fight amongst each other now Night Blade, I’ll speak with you in private. Sister I’ll be back soon,” Luna says leading Night Blade out of the throne room to a smaller chamber a couple rooms away from the throne room. “What is it my student?” Luna asks calmly closing the door behind her as they step inside.
“What happened? First thing I’m aware of I’m waiting at the hospital for my dad and then I hear news that Las Pegasus what attacked by gryphons.” Night Blade says still worried about what’s happening.
“We are meeting with the generals to figure out the best options to quell this but nothing they are suggesting is going to end it quickly. It’ll involve lots of blood being shed before it’ll all be over,” Luna says softly trying to calm him down.
“Princess my friend was in Las Pegasus I can’t just sit here while he’s either tortured or killed! I have to do something…” He says suddenly out of energy and sits down before panting slowly. “I can’t just sit idly anymore.”
“Listen to my voice Night Blade, and listen well; consider your options carefully. One you’ll find peace and the other you may only find yourself either dead or completely empty; void of everything that makes you who you are now,” She says in a soft voice to him as his breathing slowed to a calm pace.
“Princess, I need to speak with my parents, then I can make my choice,” He says looking up from the ground to his mentor.
“Then please speak with them. Maybe they have the answers you need,” Luna says before walking up to him and hugs him close with her wings making him coo softly with the hug.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can Princess,” Night Blade says softly hugging her back with his hooves nuzzling into her blue fur before pulling back slowly. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time Night Blade, we’ll see you when you get back,” She says smiling at him hoping to deter his decision.
The Present Princess Luna and Twilight Sparkle watched the scene unfold before suddenly their vision was filled with light then they were back in Luna’s room.
“Princess? How did we-?” Twilight starts before Luna raises a hoof slowly.
“That’s a spell he created; it recorded everything that was around him, who was there and importantly what was said. Though I’ve never managed to find out how he did it,” Luna admits.
“So why did he choose to fight?” She asked still curious about his choice.
“I’ll explain tomorrow, it’s almost time for me to raise the moon and you need sleep,” Luna says trying not to overwhelm her sister’s student.
“But I still have so-“ Twilight stops again as Luna raises her hoof to forestall Twilight.
“I know you have many questions Twilight but you have to do this in bits and pieces otherwise you may lose who you are,” She says softly before placing a marker in the journal and then closes it as some dust flies from the cover and inner pages.
“Alright Princess Luna, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” She asks glancing at the journal.
“Good night Twilight,” Luna says opening her bedroom door with her magic to let Twilight go the her room in the castle.
As Twilight made her way to her old room in the castle she received nods of respect from the guards of Luna’s that patrolled the hallways at night. “What was it that made him go to war? What could it have been?” She asks herself aloud as she walks and nearly bumps into Princess Celestia. “Princess! I… I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention to were I was going,” Twilight says looking up into her teachers eyes.
“It’s alright my faithful student. I was just going to speak with my sister, is there anything you want to ask me?” Celestia asks leaning down to look into her student’s eyes with a motherly smile.
Twilight looks at the ground and shakes her head slowly. “Not yet Princess, I may have a question or two tomorrow but not now,” Twilight replies.
“I’ll see you tomorrow my faithful student, maybe for some breakfast?”
“Of course Princess, I’d love that.”
“Then I’ll see to tomorrow morning my faithful student,” Celestia says as she hugs Twilight gently with a forehoof before stepping around her and continues to her little sister’s room leaving Twilight in the hallway. As Celestia walks slowly down the hallway she receives bows and salutes from the night guard to which she nods back politely to them as she approaches Luna’s door. “Sister, may I come in?”
“Please do Tia,” Luna says from behind her dark blue bedroom door.
Celestia smiles as she hears Luna call her by her nickname since they were little fillies before using her magic to slowly open the door and see her sister sitting alone on the balcony looking up at the moon. “So? How was the first jump into the journal?”
Luna sighs and looks down to the gardens beneath her balcony. “Twilight’s going to really question who we really are once this is over.”
“I know, I just wonder how she’ll take it. I mean she’s looked up to me as a mother figure since she’s become my student; I can’t claim to know how these events will faze her.”
“Do you trust we are doing the right thing?” Luna asks curtly not even turning her head to her sister.
“I do-“
“Do you believe that we are doing the right thing? Yes or no?” Luna asks again; steel in her voice.
“Yes I do, I think she has the right to know what happened centuries ago,” Celestia says confidently.
“Then we’re doing what’s right. I personally don’t like reliving the past but it’s my duty,” Luna says slowly standing up from her seated position and walks into her room. “I just hate reliving why I became Nightmare Moon.”
“I know sister, I can only imagine what it was like,” Tia says walking up to Luna and hugs her gently with her forelegs. “I wish it hadn’t come to that.”
Luna hugs her sister back tightly and then hears her sister give a soft yawn. “You’re tired sister, rest here for the night. I’ll watch over you like I do our subjects,” Luna says with a smile before slowly pulling out of their hug.
“Alright sister, I just need one thing first,” Celestia says before her horn glows gently and a light golden pillow appears on Luna’s bed with a depiction of them both flying back to back with a glow around each of their horns.
“That pillow?” Luna asks seeing in appear in her bed in a flash remembering the day that each had received theirs from their parents.
“Yes, how do you think I survived while I ruled Equestria on my own?” Celestia asks with a smile as she slowly pulls off her regalia and rests them on the table beside Luna’s bed then slowly crawls into the warm and soft bed.
Luna smiles and then lifts a blanket that was lying on the floor up with her magic and lays it gently over her sister’s body. “Rest well Tia.”
Tia snuggles into the bed and lets out another yawn before slowly closing her eyes with a smile on her face.
Luna smiles and then walks out of her room and to the throne room to take the seat before Night court began for the night.
*** Later that night***
While Twilight tossed and turned in her sleep she had horrible nightmares; ponies bleeding to death before her, being cut to ribbons and many other gruesome scene before opening her eyes and sits up quickly panting heavily and feels sweat slide down her forehead making her mane stick to her. “That was just a dream?” Twilight asks gently holding a hoof to her chest feeling her heart racing. “But it felt so real.”
“Miss Sparkle? I heard you screaming, is everything alright?” The maid asks pushing open the door and sees Twilight panting heavily.
“I’m fine, just a nightmare is all,” Twilight replies quickly not wanting to worry her.
“Forgive me Twilight but I don’t think that it was that simple,” Princess Luna says as she steps up behind the maid with a frown on her face. “You may go now.”
“Yes Your Highness,” The maid says and then quickly turns to her and bows before walking off.
“Princess Luna? I do-“
“Please understand Twilight; the nature of what happened changed what we wanted. With the Gryphon War we also had to focus our efforts into stopping a dark king shortly after.”
“A dark king?” Twilight asks looking up at Luna from her bed, cold sweat still wetting her forehead and mane.
“His name isn’t important yet… I promise that I’ll tell you his name but for now you’re not ready.”
“But-“ Twilight started before Luna raised her hoof to stop her from continuing and then gently sets it back down on the cool floor.
“Please understand Twilight that you’re not ready for his name yet. You’ll know when you’re ready, you’ll feel it.”
“I... understand Princess,” Twilight says softly and looks down at the sheets she was lying under.
“Do you wish to talk about your nightmare?” Luna asks stepping further into Twilight’s room and casts a powerful sealing spell on the door so they wouldn’t be interrupted.
“I… I would like that a lot Princess, thank you,” Twilight says with a smile and crawls out of her bed and lies on top of the cool sheets.
“Please Twilight; does thou consider me a friend?” Luna asks her sister’s personal protégé gently as she lies beside Twilight on the cool bed sheets.
“Yes, of course!” Twilight says looking up into Luna’s light green eyes.
“Then may I ask that thou call me ‘Luna?’” The lunar princess asks softly not wanting to wake anypony as late as it was.
“Of course Pr-Luna,” Twilight says with a smile.
“Now… what was that nightmare about?” Luna asks settling down beside Twilight and lifts a glass of water from the sink and fills it with cool water and holds it for Twilight. “Take a drink… it’ll help.”
“Thank you Luna,” Twilight replies and sips at the water while holding the glass with her magic. After a couple long sips she sets the glass down and sighs. “Where do I begin? The first thing I’m aware of is being stuck in place in the middle of a battle. I couldn’t move, like I was literally frozen in place; their faces, th-their weapons, the bl-blood… I don’t kn-know if I can handle this.”
“Trust us Twilight Sparkle… war is a horrible thing to go through, be it yourself, somepony you call friend or student, or through the eyes or writing of another, but what I show you is completely necessary.”
“I believe you Luna, but what is really so important about that war,” Twilight says glancing between Luna and the sheets of her bed. “That war was a large key point in history. The gryphons wanted to expand their territory and we weren’t willing to just bow down and give them our land. On top of that, we were facing opposition from Saddle Arabia due to trade issues.”
“Trade issues with Saddle Arabia? How bad could it have really been? I mean that they have similar needs that we do despite some of the differences of the climates and weather patterns…”
“There are still many things that separate their land from ours,” Luna begins and then lifts her crown off of her head and looks at it closely. “Something else to consider is that we were in a delicate situation. With the looming threat of an old prophecy coming true, I’m sure that we were acting rashly.”
“You two? Acting rashly? I don’t I’d ever see that day,” Twilight replies quietly, meaning for it to have been said in her head.
“Quite, we were young and inexperienced even after our time dealing with the Gryphons and Saddle Arabia all at once. Troublesome duo they were.”
“I have a question, then I’d like to try and go back to sleep… if that’s ok?”
“By all means,” Luna replies and gives her a smile.
Twilight pauses to think of her question and then turns back to Luna. “Did Celestia approve of teaching me this?”
“Going for the heart of the matter hmm?” Luna asks as she raises a hoof and taps her chin as if in thought. “Well… she didn’t approve at first. But that night she had a nightmare about the happenings of that war and then changed her mind. I didn’t cause the nightmare if you were going to ask, but I did nothing to ease it. We both made our mistakes and I made quite a few then.”
“I see. Thank you Luna,” She replies softly and nods her head. “Thank you for answering my questions. I think I’ve got what I need for now.”
“Well if you have any more, do not hesitate to ask either my sister or myself.”
“I will… good night Princess.”
“Good night to you as well Twilight Sparkle,” Luna says and slowly gets to her hooves and walks to the door of Twilight’s room. “Remember, Celestia and I are only ponies and we did what we thought was the best.”
“I understand,” Twilight says as Luna nods and then starts walking away then closes the door once she was out of sight leaving Twilight to fall back into her dreams.