Chapter 1
A young Celestia awoke to stifled cries in the night. Her vibrant, cherry blossom eyes pierced the darkness in a sleepy haze as her dream faded from her memory. She looked around as she heard the panicked noise again, assured it wasn’t a part of her dream.
With the light of the moon, she could make out the tiny, blue ball that was her little sister across the room.
Luna was curled up and trembling, only her frightful, green eyes visible past the blue wisps of her tail she was hiding behind.
With a knowing smirk, Celestia rose from her bed and patiently trotted over to the miniscule filly. She laid down beside Luna and gently reached for her.
Luna gave a terrified squeak at the unknown touch before seeing it was someone she could trust. She quickly unfurled and rushed to Celestia’s side, preferring the more powerful company of her sister over the unwelcoming darkness.
Celestia gently stroked Luna’s short, flowing mane as the young princess slowly calmed down.
“What is wrong, dear little sister?”
Luna quickly looked up to gaze at Celestia’s reassuring smile, but it wasn’t enough. She peered out over the room before attempting to retreat away from the surrounding darkness. Celestia laughed warmly at the futile endeavor as Luna appeared on her other side, hoping for an escape from the night’s presence.
“You have nothing to fear from the night,” Celestia began. “It is only the face that masks the day as we prepare for tomorrow.”
Luna stared at Celestia with large, confused eyes, clearly too young to comprehend the mechanics behind day and night.
Celestia stood up, much to the displeasure of Luna who gripped her older sister’s forearm in her tiny grasp, silently pleading with her not to leave.
“Come with me, I want to show you something.”
Luna approached the side of the bed as Celestia helped her to the floor. The cold tiles of the castle were unable to penetrate Luna’s hooves, but she could still feel the radiating cool rising off them. She shivered before following her sister onto the balcony overlooking the entire city of Canterlot and the eastern realm of what would one day be their kingdom to share.
Luna stuck right to the heels of her larger sister, fearing for her life to let her out of her view.
Celestia stopped just shy of the railing as the moon’s shimmering light danced over the valleys, mountains and castle walls. Celestia’s deep, pink eyes reflected nature’s natural beauty upon the city below. She laid down to allow Luna to get onto her back, something they had done since Luna was born just a few winters ago. With conditioned practice, Luna quickly sat atop her sister and gazed over her head at the beautiful cloudless night.
Celestia viewed Luna closely out the corner of her eye as she softly spoke.
“Do you see that, little sister?” she raised a hoof and pointed at the full moon hanging over all of Equestria. She could see Luna nod as a smile gradually grew across her face.
“That is the eternal light of night which you will one day rule, precious Luna.”
Celestia could feel Luna ease up some, her grip not so tight on her older sister’s opaque mane. She smiled to herself.
“That is the moon. It is one of the many gorgeous elements that make up your beautiful, peaceful night.” She glanced through the small pillars holding up the railing to gaze upon the city below as Luna followed her stare. “The ponies of Equestria will rest during this time, but they surely relish in your majestic powers.”
She sighed and carefully stood up. Luna giggled as she rose, the sprawling city appearing over the balcony before her.
She shifted her powerful gaze to once more lay upon the luminous surface of the moon.
“The moon will always shine brightly in the vast dark sky and allow all who behold its brilliance to feel a sense of peace.” She turned back to Luna and lowered her voice. “It will always be there to look over you, as I will always be beside you to do the same.” She reached her head in and snuggled Luna fondly. “For as long as we are sisters, nothing will ever hurt you and together we will always watch over you.”
Celestia slowly turned and trotted back to Luna’s bed. Luna slid down her side and landed in a pile on the sheets. A wondrous smile spread across her face as the mini-princess relaxed into a sleepy state. She gazed up at her sister as Celestia leaned in close and nudged the young one with untold affection. Luna reached up and wrapped her short arms around Celestia’s snowy snout as she laughed gleefully to herself.
Celestia smiled as Luna embraced her, no longer fearing her wonderful night.
“Alright now, princess. Time to get some rest.”
Luna bobbed her head up and down, her dark starry mane bouncing around in response. She turned and dove under the covers, turned a few times, reappeared at the top, and plopped her head onto her green and white pillow. She held in her tiny grasp a pony doll the same size as her. A precious grey pony with blond hair, yellow eyes, and a bubbly cutie mark.
Celestia reached in and pulled the covers up to the small ones’ ears as Luna began to snuggle down into the fluffy pillow several times larger than herself.
The elder princess smiled down lovingly at her little sister, assured she had taught her something about her own night.
She turned back and walked once more onto the balcony and gazed up at her mother’s moon. With a lone tear staining a path from her commanding eyes, she said a silent moment of thanks. A tiny voice spoke up from behind her, responding to her prayer.
“I love you, Tia.”