As the sun set I knew my lover would soon raise the moon. For the past five years we always had the same plan. It started along time ago when princess Luna searched all of Equestria for anypony who would stay up and admire her beautiful creation, she called night. She became enraged and in every town she visited it was the same when she saw her subjects asleep. Finally five years ago she came to my town and searched the night for a pony. Just as she was going to give into her anger she saw me sitting on a small hill. Everynight I would sit on the hill and look up at the starry night. She snuck up behind me and watched as I drew the night sky. The twinkling stars and midnight blue skies made my senses tingle and my mind run wild with ideas for art. When she finally emerged I turned around to see the princess looking at me.
"Um... May I help you princess?" I stupidly asked.
The princess just tilted her head and stared at me like something was wrong with me. I looked looked down and I didn't see anything wrong with myself.
Suddenly the princess asked me a question I will never forget. "Why are your cheeks red young colt?"
My eyes opened as wide as they could and I dropped my head in shame. It was then when I thought about the question she asked me.
Dose she even know what it means when you blush?
Realizing she wasn't about to get and answer she asked a different question in the same awkward tone "What is in your note?"
I snapped out of my shame and looked up at the princess. She was staring at the booklet in my saddle bag. I used my magic and just levitated it over to her. She took control and looked thought the pages. My heart raced and I could feel sweat running down my fur. The midnight blue mare seemed interested which allowed me to relax a little bit.
She walked forward and put the sketch book into my bag without a word. I tensed up as she looked directly into my eyes.
"Is this really how you see my night? She said in a calm tone.
Wow her voice sounds amazing. She looks beautiful as well.
I remembered that she had asked me a question. I quickly answered yes and the midnight blue mare looked toward the sky. Her starry mane waved in the cool air that surrounded them. When she looked back she was smiling. My heart started racing and I tried to calm myself down.
"Are you here every night?" She asked in a nervous tone. "Because I do get lonely at this time and it would be nice to talk to somepony else."
The princess of the night asking me to hang out?! This must be a dream...
Slowly I realized it wasn't dreaming and answered "No I've slept during the day for the past 4 years now so I could enjoy the night. I liked the quiet of the night more. It's peaceful." I felt pressure come off my chest as I talked about something I knew. "I love the quiet and the peace the night time brings. It's as if the world is resetting for a new day" The cool air running through my mane and the amazing sky and moon are something worth praise.
When I looked back the mare was about two feet away from me. Now that I think back she was much taller back then. She spoke in a soft voice "Then we will meet here every night and...."
"Talk?" I finished her sentence.
She nodded and took to the sky. That was the five years ago and we did the same ever since. -------- It was great to remember all the times we had fun together. Nights were fun and relaxing. The night princess would love to talk about Canterlot and her royal duties. I always wanted to go to the royal city, the way she described it made me want to go ever more. The full moon was finally in the sky and I knew she was coming. I wasn't about to lie to myself, I had started to fall for the princess. Every time I would see her my heart would race and I would try to contain my smiles and blushing.
Today is the day I tell her. I'm going to tell her how I feel.
Just saying the words in my head made me feel the butterflies in my chest. I could see a shadow flying towards me and I tensed up. I looked in awe knowing that what I said here would either change my life, or put an end to staying up all night. The shadow passed in front of the moon and that's when I stopped being nervous. The figure in the moon did not look like my princess. The figure bolted towards me. I stood still waiting to see what this creature was.When it got close I could feel the wind from its wings. It landed and tucked its wings in. The huge pony looked towards me and then I realized who it was.
"Luna is that you?" I asked
"Of course." She replied with a grin on her face
I looked at her confused and bewildered. Her stare struck fear into my heart and her she was wearing blue armor. He eyes were shaped like dragon eyes and they changed color. Her dark blue fur was now black and the feathers on her wings looked like they could cut like razor blades. I wasn't sure why she had changed but I just knew that she had changed.
Without thinking I asked "Princess why have you changed?"
She looked at me with the strange eyes and replied "Because soon everypony will be like us. Staying up during the night to enjoy my power."
Her voice had changed and now I wasn't sure what we should do. Talking was my first thought and I asked my usual question. "How are things in Canterlot?"
She looked away and replied "Things are going good. Everypony seems to enjoy the days at Canterlot."
That was a strange answer. Maybe I should stick to small talk.
"Hey Luna. This night is very nice. I think its one of your best ones." I said with a smile on my face.
She looked back and smiled. "Thank you Lighting. I always try my best to make the sky amazing for your pictures."
I smiled and our night was full of our normal talking and relaxing, looking at the night sky. Just like before. ---------
"Well the sun is coming up. It's time for me to return to my quarters."
I looked to the east and sure enough beams of light broke the night sky. I looked toward the new princess and said "Yeah it seems to be that time again."
"Good bye Lighting. I shall talk to you again in the night." She said while reveling her wings.
With a single flap she had taken off. I looked down to see a present sitting next to me. I looked at it while trying to remember what it was for. Suddenly it clicked.
Oh no! I forgot to tell Luna how I really felt! How could I forget something so important?!
I slapped my hoof on my face and looked up to where I last saw Luna. She was long gone. I felt the warm rays of the sun hit my back. I picked up the present and slowly trotted back to my little cottage in the middle of the town.
I think I know why I forgot. That new form is strange. She looks like a evil villain when she is like that.
She was so different and wasn't sure I could get over that kind of change. I wanted to accept her new form but I just had so many questions. I would have to wait until tonight to ask. On my way down my little hill I saw another stallion heading up the hill. Icy Wind would go run up the hill every morning then down as fast as he could. I never asked why but I assumed that it was because he like being fit. When we were close he just raised a brow and I waved a hoof back. He smiled and continued up the hill. The whole way down the hill I felt un-easy. Even when I got back to my cottage I wanted to stay up and think about what happened last night. I laid in my bed and waited to fall asleep.
-----------
Needless to say I got little to no sleep during the day. I was thinking about Luna the whole time and I just couldn't shake the feeling that she was.... not her. That idea kept me up all day. When the sun started setting I jumped out of my bed and looked out the window. The redish orange sky meant it was time to get ready for tonight. I looked at my present sitting on the brown night stand and my heart skipped a beat. I took a deep breath and walked to the bathroom. As I stepped in the shower ideas started to grow in my head.
What will she say? What would happen if she told me that she didn't feel the same way? Would I be ok? What if she said she felt the same way?"
The warm feeling inside of me made the water seem cold. She would be all mine. She would be my princess and I would love her everyday and night. My love for her would allow me to go to Canterlot and declare my love in front of princess Celestia and the royals that would be in the room. My heart beat jumped and I just let myself enjoy that idea until I looked out the window. The sun was nearly down and I wasn't out of the shower. I quickly jumped out and cleaned up my mane and made sure my coat was dry. I dashed out of my cottage with the present in my bag and a feeling of pride. I arrived to the hill with sometime to spare. I tried to do as little running as possible because I didn't want to get sweat on my coat before meeting the princess. I looked to the sun which was almost set behind the mountain that separated our town from the next town. The last of the suns rays fell behind the mountain and my heart began to beat wildly. I took deep breaths and relaxed as the moon rose. The cool air rushed over my body and I prepared for the arrival of my princess.With the arrival of the moon my heart beat began to rise. With the night complete, I looked to the moon to see her. There was nothing. I was going to wait for her to come. She always did.
----------------
The night was almost over. I had waited up all night fighting sleep, hunger, and thirst and she hadn't shown up. My body was weak and my head felt like going down and not coming up. I had sat in the same spot all night, with hope she was going to show up. My eyelids were heavy and my throat and tongue were dry. When the moon was completely out of view I looked up to the gray sky. I could feel my heart get heavy and my vision was getting blurry. I wasn't sure if it was from the tears of from the lack of energy I had. I looked around and waited for anything but nothing was happening. It was just another morning in this sleepy town. I picked up my gift and made my way down the mountain. My legs shook and I could feel myself tipping over. Finally I dropped the present and raised my head. I could see Icy getting closer, every step he would multiply. I felt my body leaning to the left and right before I hit the ground I asked.
"......ot sure what happened. I just found him on the hill trying to walk down. He just suddenly collapsed" Said somepony. "When I picked him up he just kept saying the name Luna over and over again."
I couldn't feel or see anything. Those voices, along with a beeping sound that repeated every five to seven seconds, were the only things I could hear. There was light breaking through my eyelids and it was making my head hurt. With the pain came the sense of touch. There was something over my whole body and it made me feel warm. I opened my eyes and was greeted with a blinding light that caused me to move. I could hear hooves tapping against some kind of tile floor. I tried to pull myself up, but I felt something against my chest pushing me down gently.
"Sir you can't be moving that much. Please just rest on the bed." A mares voice broke the constant and annoying beeping.
I didn't feel like putting up a fight so I relaxed my body and let the mare push me down. I groaned when I opened my eyes. The light was still bright but I refused to keep my eyes closed.
"Sir you are in a hospital. You were brought here by this stallion." A stallion's voice this time. "You had passed out on the hill north of the town. Do you remember being there?"
I remembered and it was almost impossible to believe. I nodded as the painful memories came shooting back into my head
Where did my princess go?
Just asking that question made me tear up. I wanted to sit up and put my hooves on my face so nopony would see me cry. It was like having somepony come and take your heart and actually breaking it. The mare held me down and I knew it was impossible to fight back in this condition. I was taking deep breathes and slowly letting them out.
I looked over to the doctor and the stallion who saved me. I had a little smile on my face when I spoke in a quiet voice. "Thank you..... Icy Wind. I'm sure if you didn't run into me, I would have died."
"Well I did what I could" He replied with a hoof on the back of his neck.
"Lighting you need your sleep. If you need anything, pull on this string and a nurse will be here to help you asap."
I nodded and the three ponies walked out of the room. I couldn't hold it back anymore, tears started flowing and my heart dropped. I wasn't sure what to feel besides sadness and pain. I wanted to just fall a sleep and stay in my dreams.
Maybe there.... In my dreams we could be together.
I pulled on the string and a mare walked into my room. She smiled and trotted over to my bed. "You called?" I nodded with out looking at her. "Well what would you like?" She asked kindly.
"I need something to help me sleep. I'm in pain." I said coldly.
I'm not sure what her reaction was, but she trotted to the corner of the room and I heard a glass door open. I looked up and saw the mare who was helping me escape this cruel world. She was a normal looking pony with a red cross on her flank. She had a white coat and a blond mane that was tied together into a small ball on the back of her head. She was searching the cabinet for a mixture that would help me sleep. I was staring at the little containers then back at her. I don't know why but it was like I had met her before.
She turned her head and saw me staring aimlessly at her. "Do you have any pain?" That question brang me back.
"Oh um..... Yeah I do." I replied There was no physical pain, but the emotional pain was making me slip off the edge from sadness to depression.
"It's been a long time..... Lighting." The mare said when she turned around.
How does she know my name?
"I still remember the day we met. You had just gotten off the train from Canterlot." She said while grabbing a vile of clear liquid.
I put my hoof on my fore head and tried to remember. I had taken the train to Canterlot many times and met many ponies. The paintings of the night were desired by all the rich and royal ponies so I made so many trips, it was second nature. When I looked up she was standing next to my bed.
"I don't want to be rude... But how did we meet?" I asked.
She stopped checking the equipment and looked into my eyes. I was staring into her orange eyes and started getting memories. I looked away and closed my eyes and she continued checking the equipment.
She let out a small chuckle and looked at me. "Yeah I don't think you would remember how we met."
That made me more confused. "What's that suppose to mean?" I asked.
"You were pretty drunk." She said bluntly. "You couldn't even stand up. I saw you and offered my help to get you to where ever you lived." She smiled.
Getting that drunk after a trip to Canterlot....
My thinking was interrupted when the nurse pony spoke again. "Yeah the whole way home you were saying how much you loved her and you would die for her."
My stomach tensed up and I broke into a cold sweat as the memory shot into my head. Every drunken word and sound flowed into my head and played out.
"Yeah you were drunk. You kept pointing to the night sky and then tipping a bottle back until you got home. Even in your drunken state you never said her name."
"Luna..... I was talking about princess Luna.... How could I do it when I was drunk and she wasn't around. I...." I felt the tears start to form again. "I'm just weak."
I felt a hoof on my shoulder. When I looked up, the mare was smiling at me. "Ruby..... My name is Ruby. You are strong to admit you love a royal. She would talk about you all the time."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well don't tell anypony, but I was a royal servant for princess Luna until a couple weeks ago. She would come to me in the morning and fall asleep talking about you. I haven't seen her this happy in a long time, but for some reason she let go of all her servants. So here I am, meeting the stallion of her dreams."
I felt a smile on my face and I relaxed. Wow I was so scared to tell her that I love her, but the whole time she has loved me.
"Now you are going to feel a warm tingly feeling."
I looked at her and she was looking into my eyes. Her hooves were some where else. When I followed them up, they stopped at the top of the IV bag. The little vile was upside down and plugged into the clear cords. I felt a weird sensation in my right fore leg and then I felt warm. My eyelids started to drop as Ruby whispered into my ear.
"If you love her then do what ever it takes. She is a royal in distress and your her knight in shining arm...o...r......"
Darkness.
-----------
I awaken to a quiet, dark room. I was still in a daze when I looked around. Everything was visible and in a light blue tint. I rolled over and it was there shooting into my room. The moon was shining in my room.
Does Celestia want me to suffer?
Right as I was about to turn over something caught my attention. There was dust or some kind of cloud heading my direction. I couldn't do anything so I just watched it pass right through the glass that separated me from the cool night air. The cloud was sparkling and it came to a rest on the floor. I wasn't sure what was about to happen but I didn't move a muscle. The cloud began to take a form. When it was finished, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had officially thought I was crazy or having a bad reaction to the drugs. She stood before me, and her eyes fell onto me. My heart stopped then quickly jumped into a rapid beat. I tried to sit up, but the pain made me clench and I closed my eyes and grunted in pain. She lifted her hoof and said in a whisper
"Don't move."
"I'm fine princess. It doesn't really hurt." Right as I said that a sharp pain came from my lower stomach. I let out a deep breath and tried to compensate with a weak smile.
Luna slowly walked toward my bed, frowning. "Lighting Bolt, you are a bad liar."
When she came to the edge of my bed I laid my eyes on her. She was still in that evil looking form. She broke my train of thought as she spoke in a hushed voice. "I can not be here long. My sister has trapped me on the moon and I have managed to break it for tonight."
Why would Celestia trap her own sister on the moon?...... I think it's because of that form of hers."
"Why would Celestia do that to you?" I asked without thinking. I could see something change in the way she looked at me. She looked angry and disgusted at the same time. She spoke with a stern tone this time.
"They all sleep through my night. Nopony except you would stay up and enjoy my rule over the land. I refused to lower the moon and my sister did this."
"Luna.... Why would you do something like this?" I asked.
"NOPONY CARED! I WAS NEVER LOVED LIKE MY SISTER!" She was practically yelling this time.
I could feel my stomach flutter and tears invaded my eyes. "Luna....."
She looked at me and was furious at something I said. "It's Nightmare Moon! MY NAME IS NIGHT MARE MOON NOW." she yelled. "Nopony will stop me."
I didn't know what I was thinking when I opened my mouth this time. My stomach clenched and my heart dropped to my flank. the words rolled off my tongue before I really thought about it. "Luna....... I Love you." I said awkwardly.
Luna looked down to meet me in a gaze. Had I really just said that to the princess who was in a fit of rage a couple seconds before those word left my mouth and flew in the air. I could feel my body shutter and I looked down.
I knew it. She doesn't like me back! Why did I say that?! She must want to end my pathetic life right here.
"You.....what?" She asked breaking the silence that haunted the room.
My mouth locked up and my brain was blank. I stopped breathing hoping that if I passed out everything would be okay.
Say something, stupid. There is no point trying to go back and if this happens I want to have no regrets!
I looked up into her blue eyes. I couldn't chicken out now. "Luna I love you. I can't find words to describe how deep my love for you goes. I felt it three years ago and ever since I have loved you." I said with all my courage. I raised my hoof and carefully put it on her face.
"I'm not...... Why now? Why tell me this now?" She asked as something developed at the bottom of her eyes.
"I never had the courage. I just never wanted to hear you say no or never talk to me again." My head dropped along with my hoof. "I loved just talking to you. Just being around you made me crazy. I never wanted to lose those feelings."
The pain started getting worse, but I lifted my head to see my princess. Her outer form started to crack. Piece by piece Nightmare Moon fell apart. Princess Luna was back and I felt so much better. She looked up and there were tears in her beautiful eyes. She closed them and spoke in a depressed tone.
"I'm sorry Lighting..... If... If I had known.... I would have..."
"I know Luna..... I know. Please don't cry. We all have to live with the decisions we make" I said while wiping some of the tears away. "I don't want to see my princess cry. Her eyes are to beautiful and peaceful to have tears in them."
She looked up and had a little smile on her face. When she opened her eyes we found our selves staring deeply at each other. Luna moved closer and closer until I could feel her breath against my face.
"I have never been this close to another pony before." She said in a quiet whisper. "Let alone a stallion."
Our eyes stayed locked, as if we were watching each others souls tell the story of our lives. We were face to face and if I were to be frozen in time or killed here I would be happy. She tilted her head slightly and then blinked.
I had already confessed my love now I needed to know if she felt the same. I rallied my courage and dropped back to see her whole face. "Luna.... Do you feel the same way?" I whispered.
She didn't move. My heart skipped a couple beats as she leaned in. She got close to my ear and whispered into it.
"I have never felt this way before. My heart is jumping beats and I feel..... I don't have words to describe this feeling."
I whispered back. "That's love. It's something you can't describe but you know when you feel it."
She dropped back and nodded quickly. "What is love?" She asked.
Had no one in Canterlot explained love to Luna? She seemed like she wanted to know so I just said it the way I felt. "Love is a feeling deep inside that nopony can live without. Love is feeling safe with somepony. Love is having laughs with somepony. Love is making memories with somepony. Love is...."
"What we've had these last five years?" She asked
I looked at Luna and noticed something. Even though her coat was dark blue, pools or red started getting more and more noticeable. The princess was blushing. "That's love. Being shy around a special somepony."
She cleared her throat and looked up at the ceiling. She was shy around me. How was it that the tables have turned? I was so scared that my shyness would break this amazing moment and make Luna leave me forever, when it turns out we are both shy.
"What do ponies in love...... Do?" She asked.
"Kiss."
Buck me! did I really say that? We just found out we love each other and I'm already saying we should kiss! Wait I bet Luna doesn't know what that is......... I should be fine.
Right as I started to relax Luna said the set of words that shook me to the bones. "The locking of the lips....... I would very much....... Like to try that. Could you.... Teach me?"
The thought of this action made my heart jump out of my chest. I knew I was blushing by this point. Was I supose to teach her what is was like to "lock lips"? I had never done it before, but I relaxed and put my hoof on hers.
I gently smiled and nodded. "First you look your special somepony in the eyes...... Move closer while closing your eyes and perk you lips out a little..... Then wait for the pony you love to gently touch his lips against yours."
The words were like a vodoo spell. They traveled up and then into both of our heads. Luna was looking into my eyes and I was looking into hers. She reached out for my other hoof and started moving closer. Our hooves met and our eyes started to close.
I want this to be my only first kiss. I want to be with Luna forever. I want to make her happy and I want to make her feel like shes the only pony in my world.
Suddenly I noticed something wrong. We hadn't made lip contact yet. Had one of us missed? Did she stop? Did I miss read her emotions? Finally the questions were to great. I slowly opened one of my eyes to see and empty room. Both of my eyes snapped open and my heart began to beat rapidly. It couldn't have been a dream, because I was still sitting up and my hooves were still extended in front of me. I looked to the window and the moon greeted me. I put my hooves on my head and felt pain and sadness envelop me and my will to hold a strong defense.
Where has my princess gone? Where is my lover?
I curled up and rested my head on the pillow. Tears began to fall and I just couldn't think straight. Luna was gone and there was nothing I could do.
My lover has been taken away from me and put somewhere so cold, and lonely. Her rage, anger, sadness, depression,and hate can build up there without her special somepony.
That night I had felt so alone. I was sure she felt the same way. When I finally fell a sleep my dreams were empty. I let out my crying and my sadness. It was the longest night in my life.
I awake to sunlight invading my room. My head hurts and the memories still linger. The pain from knowing that I lost my princess is far more than the physical pain I feel. I knew my door was open because I could hear a pair of ponies trotting by. I tried to relax, but nothing worked. When I closed my eyes it took me back to last night. I would see my blushing princess looking deeply into my eyes. My eyes snapped open. I couldn't think right now. Just as I began to get extremely mad at myself, a light pink mare walked in with a smile on her face. She trotted to the end of my bed and grabbed a clipboard that was hanging off the end. She flipped a page before speaking in a happy tone.
"Okay mister Lighting you are ready for discharge. You were in here because you suffered from massive dehydration, and no energy." She looked at the clipboard closely and cleared her throat. "Well you seem to be fine now."
I stretched my forelegs then threw the blanket off my warm body. I set my rear hooves on the cold tile floor and stretched my back. As soon as I exhaled the nurse walked over and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"No more staying up all night, every night."
I smiled and nodded. "Sure thing doc."
I left the hospital during the morning slow time. My checkout and discharge was quick, but the bill did give me a scare. I was glad the hospital had dropped three hundred and fifty bits off the bill. I smiled to that thought. When I was on my way home it was some time around the ten-ish range. Stores were open and ponies were every where. I didn't mind the ponies right now, because I was trying to think of a way to find Luna. Every idea that came into my head seemed hopeless. Finally my stomach growled to break my train of thought.
Oh great...... I forgot to get something to eat at the hospital. I told myself while looking at the ground.
Suddenly a loud crashing noise caused my head to swoop up. There were two gold plated gaurds stand about twenty feet from my cottage. I realized that the crashing noise had come from inside my cottage. I charged towards the front door but they blocked me from getting inside. One of the guards looked at me and said in a solid tone.
"Hault! No one is allowed inside this home."
I looked at him in disbelief. "This is my home!" I yelled
They pushed me to the ground and picked up their spears.The steel tips were extremely close to my face. I slowly stood up and looked to my cottage. I could hear glass breaking, doors being thrown open, loud bangs, and laughing.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked as my heart dropped from hearing the destruction of my home.
"By order of princess Celestia we have the right and the ability to search this house." He replied.
"Why would she give this order?!" I asked
"We traced Nightmare Moon last night and we detected she had been with you last night after she broke the spell. We are checking to see if you have anything of hers." He exclaimed
"Princess Luna!" I yelled "Her name is princess Luna."
He shot me a look, but I didn't care. My eyes returned to my home. I couldn't see the ponies inside, but from the sound, it seems like they were having fun. I held back tears and suddenly the noise stopped. Two golden ponies emerged from my home with smiles stretching across their faces. I snorted and dug my front hoof into the ground and bit my bottom lip intensely. It made me sick and just when I thought my pain was over I saw the flank of a third pony emerge. He was walking backwards. His whole body came out of the front door and I noticed a horn at the top of his head. The horn was emitting a light blue aura. Suddenly a large object peaked its was through the door. The guard was using his magic to pull out one of my paintings. With a closer examination I realized that it was The painting. My huge painting of the town at night. I worked for a full month perfecting every last piece of that painting. The painting was important because princess Luna brang out the best of her night sky for a full month. The day I finished that painting was the day I first started falling for Luna. The grey unicorn walked out to about half way between me and my cottage when he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"You really love the night this much?"
I snorted and dug my right hoof deeper into the cool ground. The guards laughed and looked at each other. The unicorn spoke again, but with a more serious tone. "That's what I thought."
There was a blue aura around his friends saddle bag, and a box of matches floated out and started for the grey unicorn. My heart sunk and I could feel tears in my eyes. Slowly the box opened and a single match came out. With the guards shoulder in my chest I just felt helpless as the match approached the side of the box. Finally, when the match made contact with the side of the box, I stood on my hind hooves and threw my right hoof at the face of the guard directly under me. I hit him so hard that he was knocked out with one strike. As I fell back onto my front hooves the guard to my left adjusted his position. It didn't matter, because by the time my hooves hit the ground I had a magic bolt charged up. I released it and the pony in front of me went down with a blinding light, and a bit of black smoke.
I ran toward the the guards at full speed. He hadn't struck the match yet. It was probably because he just saw his defense fall in an instant, and was in shock. The two guards charged at me, as the third regained his train of thought. I charged up a magic blast and hit both of them point blank. I stopped when I was about five feet from the last pony. He had an evil grin on his face. I looked at the painting and i saw a small orange flicker next to one of the corners. My body shuttered and my mind raced to come up with a new plan. I teleported directly in front of him on my hind hooves. I dropped my right hoof and hit him in the cheek. He actually flew a couple feet backwards. I turned around, and the painting rested on the ground. I felt a huge amount of stress fly away, but suddenly a red hole appeared in the middle of the painting. The match had fallen under it, and was still burning hot. The red dot engulfed the the part of the painting it had appeared on, and a tiny orange flame took its place. The paint accelerated the process and, soon the whole painting was under the orange intruder.
I felt rage and hate build up inside of me as I looked at the crowd that had formed. A small cough noise from behind me caused me to look back to the cottage and the guard that was still awake. He had all four of his legs under him and was weakly tried to push himself up. Before he got the chance, I trotted over and smacked him to the ground. I sat on top of him throwing my hooves at him. Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right. After a thirty second beating, I stopped to check the damage. There was a trail of crimson blood coming from the unicorns mouth, and snout. He had cuts on his face and a swollen eye. He was laying there trying to breath but stay motionless. I looked at myself and saw the blood on my hooves and scattered across my chest, but I didn't care. I looked to the crowd and saw shocked faces and parents covering their foals eyes with a single hoof. I turned to face my cottage and slowly walked away from the shaking unicorn. I pushed the door open and took a couple steps in to find everything in shambles.
Why would somepony do this?
I walked deeper into my destroyed cottage and I could feel my heart skip beats. The living room was tore to shreds. The couch was wrecked and the paintings were ripped and thrown on the floor. I walked to the kitchen and broken glass greeted me. The pots and pans were scattered across the floor along with food, and other cooking supplies. I walked into the hallway to see pieces of my paintings across the floor. Nothing was spared as I continued down the hallway. I got to the door where my room was located. I almost didn't want to open it, but I took a deep breath and opened the door. There was no words to describe the pain I felt when the door opened to revile my best pieces of art on the floor and on the walls with gaping holes in them. It was from the unicorns magic and I knew it. My art easel, my cloths, and my bed were all wrecked. I closed the door slowly and trotted to the front of my cottage. I went to the stone fire place, the one thing they hadn't touched , and felt across the pipe of the chimney until I hit a lose stone. I pulled out the seemingly sturdy stone and checked inside of the empty rock. My little brass key was still inside. I dropped the rock and looked at the base chimney. There was a hole in one of the rocks. I put the key into the hole with my magic and turned it. There was a light click and the stone popped up. The secret compartment still worked after staying closed for two years. I had it installed so I could store money for a crisis. I pulled open the hatch and looked into the hole. There were four large bags inside the hole. I used my magic and pulled out one bag at a time. Three of the bags were full to the top with bits. The last one was full to the top with gems. Every kind of gem you could think of was inside that bag. I had this much from selling some of my paintings to ponies in Canterlot. The bag of gems came from a rich pony who wanted me to paint a huge mural in one of their rooms. That was the only time Luna had to come and find me. That was one of the longest times I was away from out peaceful little hill top where we would just sit and talk all night.
Luna. I miss you so much. I said to myself as tears formed in my eyes.
I opened the doors and started for the crowd of ponies checking on the guards. I used my magic to bring the heavy bags outside. I set them down and used my magic to pick up the matches that the unicorn had used to set my painting on fire. I looked at the black ashes that remained of the once great painting and took a deep breath. I struck a match and threw it into my house. I turned to face the crowd of ponies watching the smoke rise, and the flames start to appear threw a small window. I used my magic to take the four heavy bags to the train station without saying a word. The crowd of ponies made a clear path as I approached, and said nothing to me. I could hear the crackling and the snapping of my cottage behind me, but I didn't look back because I knew the pain sight of my cottage burning would make me cry.
I'm hitting my limit I said to myself.Once I get on that train, I'm going to sleep for a long time. That thought gave me a little joy.
When I reached the other side of town, my coat had a thin trace of sweat and I could even feel myself breathing hard. These bags were pretty heavy. I set them down and took a deep breath. I trotted to the ticket booth, where a tan pony wearing a blue stripped shirt, sat and smiled.
"May I help you sir?" He asked
I looked at the smile on his face and felt a strange anger build up inside me. I took a deep breath and spoke. "How far does this train run?" I asked trying to sound as casual as possible.
"It goes to Canterlot, and from there you can go any where in Equestria." He said while looking at a map on his desk.
"Where is the next place I could catch a train before Canterlot?" I asked.
"Well there is a double track inland that will take you to the settlement towns on the west coast. That should do ya'." He replied still happy as ever.
"Okay that's where I'm heading." I said as I grabbed thirty bits with my magic.
The pony looked down and pressed a couple of buttons until a loud Ding broke the silence. "One ticket to Dodge City. If you don't mind me asking sir, why ar' you leaving." He said while pushing a piece of paper under a small slot.
I slid ten bits across the table. Without thinking I just blurted out. "Marriage"
"Ah well I hope you enjoy yourself mister..." He looked around as if he was trying to find my name in mid air.
"Lighting Bolt." I said while looking at the ticket to check if it was right.
"Lighting Bolt." He repeated. "My name is Dust Cloud." He smiled and stuck a hoof under the glass cut out.
I shook his hoof and smiled. He seemed pleasant and I'm sure he was a nice pony. I let go of his hoof and looked down the tracks. The train was already here. The metal tires screeched against the tracks as a cloud of steam rolled past the front of the train. I forced my bags into one of the train cars and sat down on a bed looking seat.
"All aboard!" Somepony yelled.
The whistle blew and there was a slight jolt before the train stared moving. I looked out the window to the mid day sun beaming down on the green land of Equestria. I felt my heart slow down and my eyelids began to feel heavy.
It's time for sleep. I thought to myself.
I looked back into my train car, only to see empty seats. I put my head down on my fore legs and closed my eyes. The picture of Luna appeared. Luna's face was the first thing I could see, Her dark blue mane came in next and I couldn't help but reach out to touch it. I only felt emptiness. When I opened my eyes, the memory faded away. I wasn't sure if I wanted to sleep. The idea that Luna is some where so cold and alone, killed me inside. I shook my head and tried to think of good times we had together. Memories came flooding into my mind. One was the time we talked about how much different things would be if Equestria was split in two. My favorite memory came next. The time I wanted to scare Luna with a scary story. I got her at the end because I used my magic to poke her in the back with a stick. She jumped and flew behind me as fast as she could. I was rolling on the floor laughing, but when I opened my eyes I saw looking down on me. She looked serious and I felt really bad. Suddenly she couldn't hold that face and just started laughing with me. To believe the princess of the night was scared of that story just made me think. She really just seemed like any other pony. That memory faded and the picture of Luna blushing appeared. I smiled and with that picture in my head I was fast asleep.
------------------
I began to hear the sound from the outside world, breaking my sleep. The light beaming into my eyes didn't help either and slowly I was brought back to the real world. I stretched my arms and legs, only to stop when I heard a loud crack. I looked out the window to see orange fields as far as the eye could see. The sun was setting and soon the cool calm air of night would take over the land. The train car door opened and a stallion walked into my empty car. He was in a blue jacket with some kind of red shit under it. He smiled as he walked past me. Something made me mad when he did that.
A smile for someone like me? If only he knew. He would look at me with a scowl.
Why was I getting so mad over a honest smile? What was so wrong with me? I shook my head rapidly and just let out a sigh. I looked out the window to the wide open fields of the inland Equestria.
Life must be so simple out here.
The train began to slow down and the fields disappeared. We stopped at a small settlement town.
"One hour fuel break." Somepony called out.
My bags were safely stored away and I didn't feel like being cooped up all day long. I grabbed a hoofful of bits and stepped off the train. I walked down the dusty main street and looked for something to do. Suddenly a fast playing piano caught my attention. I walked into the building simply labeled Saloon. There was a unicorn using her magic to play the piano. There were mares and stallions dancing, drinking, and sleeping from having to much to drink. My eyes fell onto the counter and I mumbled to myself.
"Okay I'm going to have one drink."
That didn't happen.
----------------
I felt so much better, as ponies were cheering me on to drink to my hearts content. Hard cider, shots of cider, and whiskey mixed with other drinks were working their magic on my mind.
"Okay ever *hiccup* everypony. I need to *hiccup*....... get back to the sta..... sta"
"Staion?" somepony finished.
"Yeah that." I managed to say.
One of the ponies offered his help and I took it without thinking twice. When we walked out the cool night air hit my face and the moon shined bright. I started to remember why I wanted to drink and instantly got sad.
"Oh Celestia! Why have you taken *hiccup* her from me!?" I yelled at the sky.
"Oh dear did someone in your family pass away recently?" The random pony asked with a frown on his face.
I looked at him with a sad face and tears. "I lost the love of my life." I covered my face with both of my front hooves in an attempt to stop my crying. I started leaning towards the random pony in a drunken state.
He pushed up against me to support my drunken weight. "Oh no. Did you really love her?"
"More than I can *hiccup* describe in words." I said with my front hooves back on the ground. "She was my inspiration. I loved her so much."
The pony stopped me and spoke in a firm tone. "Then fight for her."
The idea went into my drunken head and actually made sense! She was the love of my life and I wanted to do anything for her. I couldn't believe I was just trying to run away from my problem. The idea caused a spark that became a fire, pushing me to change my course. I started racing toward the train as fast as my drunken body would allow me.
"Thank you sir" I yelled back.
"Go get her stranger. Never stop!" He yelled
"Don't worry Luna! I will get you out of that cold prison...... Or die trying!" I yelled to the night sky.
I felt warmth on my face and a throbbing pain in my head. The train blew its whistle and my head exploded in pain. Every tiny noise the train car made was a trigger to the pain in my head. I tried to open my eyes, only to be stopped and temporaily blindly by the sun.
I'm never.... Ever bucking drinking that much again!
It was to late for regrets. I pushed up onto all fours and looked around the empty car. My eyes adjusted to the light and I looked out the window. There was a dense forest passing by quickly.
I don't remember this kind of terrain. Wait why are we going east? We are going inland!
I tried to remember why I was heading inland, and not ot the little settlement town. I shook my head and just looked down. I heard the door open and I quickly straightened up. A service pony walked in to the empty car. I waved a hoof and he trotted over with a smile on his face.
"How may I be of service sir?" He asked.
I looked up and asked in a quiet tone. "Where is this train going?"
"This is the express train to Canterlot. You boarded this train last night..... Actually this morning." He said while rubbing his chin. "You got on at 1:30 A.M., rather plastered, and said you needed a ticket to Canterlot. All you had was three heavy bags filled with bits. Those are safely stored in the back of this car. You needed help here and we helped you to this car. You passed out in this car and well....... Here you are."
I put my hooves on my face and replied in a groan. "Great. That's just wonderful."
"Oh don't worry you didn't cause any trouble." He said with a grin. "In fact you were quiet the whole time."
"Oh thank Celestia. I didn't want to be a bother." I replied with a small smile on my face.
"Don't worry sir. You were not any trouble. Is there any thing else I could help you with?" He asked.
I smiled and replied. "No, but thank you."
He nodded and trotted to another train car.
Canterlot?! Canterlot?! Why was I going to Canterlot? What was I going to do in Canterlot?
I rubbed my head with my hooves against my temples and tried to think about the night I had. The only thing I could remember was the pony convincing me to get princess Luna back. It was all blur, but piece by piece it was starting to come together. A feeling of anger, sadness, and for some reason a feeling of happiness. I'm not sure what was causing the feelings, but I tried to remember. Suddenly it all came back like a tidal wave washing over my mind. I wanted to over throw Celestia, or at least find some spell to bring back Luna. I would prefer the second option. I would bring her back and show Celestia that Luna has changed. I would declare my love for her right in the courtyard and that would force Celestia to believe she had changed. Nopony ever loved Luna like me. That's why she became Nightmare Moon in the first place. Once she sees Luna happy with me I'm sure she would forgive her sister. Celestia couldn't be to happy about sending her one and only sister to the moon.
Okay now I need a plan before I go to Canterlot. What if I charge in and challenge princess Celestia to a magic duel?
The idea bounced around in my head. I actually believed I could just waltz in and challenge the most powerful being in all of Equestria. I was just some random unicorn. She was the alicorn that raised the sun, and now the moon everyday and night.
Yeah real smart. I think I would make it to the front gate and then get killed by the guards after they had a quick laugh.
I rubbed my head waiting for more ideas to flow. I forced my eyes tighter and scrunched my face waiting for at least one idea. Nothing.
Why can't I think of a bucking thing!
I was angry and hurt. My body was telling me I couldn't do this because I was hung over. My mind didn't want to function. My pride and my heart were telling me I had to do this. I continued thinking and slowly, I could feel the gears in my mind come to life. I rubbed my hooves and smiled as the beginnings of ideas started to pool in my head.
Okay. What if I tried to take over the royal guard?
At this point I wasn't sure I was being smart, or throwing around ideas that would get me killed once I got to Canterlot. The Royal Guard was loyal to the princess and trying to over turn them would be as hard moving a boulder up hill with no magic. I was almost certain that they Royal guard wouldn't change their minds because I was whining about my life. Five more plans came and went and slowly I was losing all hope of getting Luna back. Everything just seemed hopeless. Tears started to form as I came to the realization that Luna might be stuck on the moon for ever.
I slammed my hoof into the wall. If I could get there then at least we could be together. Nopony would bother us and we could live forever on the moon. That wasn't a good plan. I was sure Celestia would just throw me in jail... Or worse, she would have me killed
That cold dark place. I thought to myself. I'm so sorry Luna. I just don't think there is a way out of this. I have failed you. I wanted to protect and love you.
I yelled at the top of my lungs. "I couldn't do that either!"
Tears began to fall and I covered my face with my hooves. and took a deep breath. Please Luna. Give me an idea. Something that could help me get you back into my life.
Suddenly a idea jumped into my head. An idea that could work with proper planning and carefully placed ponies. Everything needed to be perfect and if I could do this right then it would be quick and simple.
Make Luna the new princess in charge of Equestria!
I needed to make Celestia look bad, and find common ponies to revolt against her rule. I had a simple name for this new power.
The New Lunar Republic. I thought.
I grinned at the idea. Something that was so simple yet so hard. If I made one mistake all the ponies following me would die because of one mistake. We would have to be shadow fighters. Workers by day, soldiers by night. I would lead the NLR to the throne and we would make Celestia bring back princess Luna. Then we would force Celestia off the throne and then crown the new leader of Equestria. If she didn't accept the new Luna
"Celestia took my lover, so I will take her empire." I mumbled.
I was a hour from my destination and I was still thinking of a way to start my movement. Every idea had a chance or working, but there needed to be one plan that was full proof. Celestia's empire had to have a weak link some where in the chain.
What if I..... Damn still nothing!
I looked out the train window and saw the mountain top city in the distance. My heart beat quickened as I was tried to come up with a plan to overthrow Celestia.
What if I go in nicely and ask?
I dropped my head and stooped a hoof. There had to be a way to do this without getting myself killed in the process. Eventually I dropped the whole uprising idea out of my plan. There would be to much work to build up a force to rival the royal guard in skill and size. I would embark on this mission alone. There was no need to harm innocent ponies for my lover. If anypony was going to die or be hurt, it would be me and only me. The train was close to its stop and I could feel the brakes being applied. I stood up and used my magic to get the bags in the back of the train car. When the train came to a complete stop I walked out of my car and headed for a information center.
---------------
I couldn't believe what this town looked like. The streets were clean, and ponies actually seemed nice. I thought the ponies in Canterlot were jerks. As I walked through the city I heard somepony yell from behind me.
"You there! Stop!"
When I turned around, a pony smacked right into me. The guards caught up to the mysterious pony who smacked into me and picked him up.
"Terribly sorry sir. Are you okay?" One of the guards asked me.
I got back onto all four hooves and put a hoof on the back of my head. "Yeah I will be fine." I looked at the stallion in the golden armor and blurted out my next question. "Where do ponies go to apply for the royal guard?"
The guard looked at me and smiled. "If you would like to join, just follow us."
We trotted through town with the pony they just captured until we reached the gates of the castle. The huge golden doors were opened and we continued into the court yard as ponies of all kind watched.
One of the guards stopped and tapped me on the back. "There is the recruitment center. It will take a while but when you are done, it will be worth it."
I trotted to the building at and walked inside. There was a mare doing work behind a desk. When she stopped and looked up, she just pointed to a chair. I took a deep breath and relaxed in the chair.
Well I guess some rumors about Canterlot are true. Oh well.
"Okay sir I'm ready to help." The mare called out.
I trotted over to the desk and set a hoof on the back of my neck. "I wanted to apply to be a royal guard."
She smiled and grabbed a paper. "That's great! We are short hoofed right now and we need some new recruits." She said happily. "Just fill this out and you will begin training to become a guard. The training process is 2 months and after that you will be positioned to the station that best fits you."
I smiled and took the paper back to the little chair and started filling out the little blanks.
I have to change my name. I smiled when I thought of a simple name that would keep me hidden.
"Lunar." I said under my breath,
I will become the best guard in Equestria. I will gain their trust then use my time to find a way to revers Celestia's spell. I just hope that I don't get killed before I get her back.
I have been looking for something to help me break Luna out of the prison on the moon. After applying for the royal guard the only thing I have found to help my mission is the Canterlot library. Guards talk about the library all the time. The guards that protect the library say that there are books in that library that nopony should ever read. The spell section in the library contains spells that go back to the time before ponies lived together in harmony. Before princess Celestia and princess Luna ruled the land the three races of ponies fought for power and resources. The unicorns created spells designed for war and logged them in books. About 90% of those books are in the Canterlot royal library.
"Hey Lunar. Your shift over?"
I snapped out of my deep thought and looked to see who was talking to me. "Huh. Oh yeah. I just got off what about you Night Shade?"
The black furred stallion smiled. "Yeah. I was going to go to the library today to see if a guard position opened up."
"Mind if I come with?" I asked.
"No. Come on lets go." He said.
---------------
The double doors opened and reviled the Canterlot library. The marble floor complemented the dark colored wood bookcases. The huge windows gave a view of the entire Canterlot garden and the city of Canterlot. Me and Night weren't used to so much light. We always worked the night shifts so we would be resting while the sun came out. Today was a special request by the Canterlot guard. As we strolled through the library, I noticed the main desk. There was a large statue of Celestia with her wings spread, looking toward the main doors. I went behind the desk and found the guard sheet for the library.
"Night! I found it!" I yelled.
"Okay. Be there in a flash. I'm just looking at something." He yelled back.
I put my name down and trotted toward the place Night's voice came from. The further back I went, the older the books looked. It seemed like these books were from the very begging of Equestria. I found Night starring at a huge book shelf.
"Hey Night. Everything okay?" I asked while trotting towards him.
Night shook his head and looked over to me. "Hey Lunar. Check out these books. They looked like they are the oldest things in here."
I looked across the shelf and saw the books he was talking about. They were worn down and had cracks. I used my magic to remove a book from its place. When it came out there was a thick layer of dust preventing me to read the name. I used my hoof to brush the dust off. There was a picture of a unicorn on it with faded letters above and below him.
Roster
That was the only word I could make out. Night got right next to me when I opened the old book. I could have sworn that the book creaked. The pages were yellow, but still readable. There were names, addresses, age, marital status, offspring, status of combat, and health of the pony. We saw list after list, and came upon a piece of paper stuck into a crease. I carefully set the book down and removed the paper. I opened it and started reading.
To my love
I would like you to not worry about me. My training has kept me alive and safe. The spells that we have learned can far exceed the dull earth ponies. It's the pegasi I'm worried about. They have sent wave after wave of brutal storms at us. We use our magic to slow down and sometimes break the storm, but to many unicorns are losing hope. I only wish I could be home with you and the baby. Thinking of you keeps me alive everyday. I promise to be home soon. Our invisibility spell will put the other ponies in their place.
Forever your love Arch Light.
"I wonder if he made it home?" Night asked as he looked back at the book case.
I looked down the list and found his name. "Lets find out."
I slid my hoof across the page and found his information.
K.I.A. Dec 4
"Oh." Night said as he looked back to the books.
I slipped the note back into the book and set it back into the book case. When I started for the main desk, Night called my name.
"What?" I yelled back.
"Come here. I think I found a war spell book."
This could be it. If I can learn a super spell there would be no way for the princess to stop me. I thought as I trotted to Night.
I looked at the book he set down and sure enough the name of the book gave it away.
War Spells
"The unicorns back then really kept all their records." Night said as he set the book on a table.
I stood over his shoulder as he opened the book. He flipped the pages slowly scanning each one. Each page had weird markings in the corners and in the margins. The spells them selves were weird.There were some for controlling animals. There were some for controlling rocks, trees, and other objects. Finally we got to a torn out page. The page behind it was the scariest one. It was a had written spell for reanimation of ponies. Night shuttered and studied the page. There was writing all over the page that didn't make sense.
They don't listen. Change this. Place a piece of armor on them. Watch out for their teeth! Please forgive me. They know not what they do. Watch for the yellow eyes! Blisters. They refuse to talk. Send the POW's to the Cage. We must study them more. They are not ready for the last test. I'm sorr
The bottom of the page was covered in a brown paste. These phrases were written all over the page. On the next page there was a hoof full of letter that were dated and unsealed. I looked at Night and he turned the page. Neither of us wanted to know what was inside those envelopes. We came across a set of pages from some other book. I took them out and searched through them myself. On the last two pages, I found a couple of spells that could help me achieve my goal. I took them out and gave the rest back to Night.
"Hey I'm going to get going." I said.
Night looked up from his book and turned around. "Yeah. I don't think I can handle this dark stuff anymore."
He put the book back and we headed for the door. I hid the pages in my armor. These spells would be the main component of my new plan.
---------------
That night I took out the pages and studied them. The spells were something that only high level magicians could pull off.
A cloning spell and a shape shifting spell. These will be my weapons to bring Luna back. I will make a clone of myself then use the shape shifting spell to make it look like the evil Luna. It will fly around Canterlot forcing Celestia to go after it. She will have no need to use her spell to keep the real Luna locked up. Once I get close to the throne room, I will have the clone fly as fast as it can away from the castle. Celestia will give chase and that's when I will use the castle's tower to blast a magic beam straight to the moon. I will use all my powers to bring the moon over Canterlot and then I will send a message to Luna. I will be with my love once more. I will hold her in my hooves and we will stand our ground at Canterlot. We will declare our love in front of Celestia. She will see Luna has changed and will not be mad at her only sister any more. I began to question my sanity. This is all based on my ability to control magic and I must pick the perfect day. I really hope I have Celestia figured out. If I'm wrong.......... I don't think she will go easy on me. In fact I think she will kill me on sight.
This thought sent a shiver down my spine. Nopony has this decision. I had to chose between my lover and my life. I wasn't going to let Luna be alone on the moon so this was an easy choice. It was the consequences that came with that choice. If I made one slip up or one miscalculation I would be dead in a heart beat. Everything needed to work exactly as I pictured it. First I needed a place and time to lure Celestia away.
The grand galloping gala. She would be outside and she would have to defend her guests. All the guards would be on duty to help her chase down the clone. It would be the perfect time for me to make my plan work.
I looked out my window and stared at the moon.
Don't worry Luna, I will get you out of that prison. You will be with me soon.
"Come on! The gala is in 4 days!" I yelled as a clone disappeared. "Why can't I keep a stable clone?!"
So much time has passed by. I have studied the spells for so long, but I can't even keep a clone alive for more than 2 minuets. The pain and exhaustion have taken a toll on my magic ability. I was breathing heavily and my legs were wobbling. It was a job to keep my eyes open. When I stood straight up again, the suns rays began breaking the dark morning skies.
"Damn it! Will I fail my task?"
The thought of me failing, and Luna being trapped forced me to my knees. The tears were flowing and I was cursing the sun's arrival. Every piece of me wanted to charge the castle and force the princess to release her. The hate caused a burst of energy. It was just enough to stand on all fours. I was taking deep breaths and every thought lead to killing the guard and the princess. There was no way I could. but the anger, hate, and rage boiled over. I stomped my hooves into the ground and yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Why us?!"
I fell back to the ground, sobbing and trying to pull myself together.
"Having troubles?" Said a voice from behind a tree.
I jumped up and searched my surroundings. There was a figure standing next to the tree in a cloak. It advanced towards me with a slow trot. It kept its face hidden under a hood. The back of the cloak was torn in certain spots.
"Who are you?" I asked while trying to stand.
"You have no power left. Magical or physical. Am I correct?" The creature shouted.
I fell to the ground. He was right. There was no power left in my body. "Yes. I am powerless."
He laughed and keeled down to meet my eyes. "Oh you foolish pony. You have no clue how much power you have."
He stood straight and threw his cloak away. He had a greyish brown coat with a sliver mane. His cutie mark was strange. It looked like yin and yang sign, but it was gray.
"Might I ask your name?" I asked, finally able to stand.
He had a evil smile and he raised his eye brows. "My name is Discord. Master of dis-harmony."
"Okay Discord. Now explain what you meant by how much power I have." I commanded.
He wrapped his hoof under my chin and held my head straight. "You can tap into your magic anytime. When you are happy, or have peace and harmony you get and extra boost of power. I know a way to beat that power 5 times over."
My ears perked up and I sat down. "I'm listening."
"Rage, hate, pain, sadness, and fear all give off power that you can't believe. I have tapped into these emotions and felt their power surge through my body."
My interest was peaked. "How does one use these powers?"
"Simple my little pony, in fact so simple you have done it already." He said while patting my back. "Feel tired?"
No way! I don't feel pain, or drained.
"You see. Your hate and sadness has released to repair your body. Now we need a way to unlock the 2 power sources." He smiled. "Once we activate those you will have more power than the princess."
"Can you teach me?" I asked while using my magic to put my armor on.
"Meet here tonight just as the sun goes down. I shale teach you the power that lies with in hatred." Discord said with and evil laugh
--------------
My walk to the castle was just like any normal day. Ponies opening up their shop and getting ready for a hard days work. As I walked by, ponies would smile and wave. I had a little grin on my face this morning. I went into the castle and began my shift with my friend Night Shade in the Canterlot library.
"This job is to easy. All I do is read books these days." Night said with a annoyed tone.
I started laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
"You are guarding a library. What did you expect? Ponies coming in here and waging war on books?" I asked sarcastically.
Night put a hoof on his chin and started to think. A smile started to form on his face.
"Yeah I guess you are right. Well guess the Canterlot library isn't all that it's cut out to be."
A couple of hours passed by with some jokes and idle chit-chat. The weird thing about the Canterlot library was the fact that nopony would come in here. It was always empty, except for the guards on duty. Sometimes the captain of the guard would come in and check on us, but that was a rare visit. I could hear hoof steps in the hallway outside the library. I shook Night, who was taking a nap at the time, and he sat at attention. Celestia trotted in with a smile on her face.
"Princess." We said in unison while saluting.
"There is no need for such formality guards. At ease. I brought you lunch." She said while 2 bags floated from behind her.
"Yes! I'm so hungry. Thank you Princess." Night said eagerly.
"Thank you Princess." I said trying to show some restraint.
"Night can I have a word with you in private?" The princess asked.
"Sure."
Night and Celestia trotted out of the room. Fear shot into my body as I tried to listen to what they were saying.
Did she find out about the spells I took? Does she know? I asked myself.
"Hey Lunar! Put my food under the desk. I'm going for a walk with the princess." Night yelled.
"Sure."
Their hoof steps grew quite and I was alone. I opened the box of food and looked inside. There was a extremely delicious looking salad. I took a fork with my magic and started eating. The salad was crisp and cool. That was expected from anything that came from the Canterlot kitchen. I had almost finished my salad when I herd hoof steps again. I looked at the door and waited for somepony to come in. They stopped just outside the door, but I herd Night's voice. I went back to eating. Just as I set my food down I herd a giggle. It wasn't a normal giggle, it was more like a cute mares giggle. Night Shade trotted inside with a big smile on his face.
"What's got you to smile like that?" I asked.
He stopped and reverted his face to a simple plain face with little emotion. "Was I smiling? I didn't notice." He said while sitting back into his chair.
I lifted an eyebrow. "What happened? Meet a cute mare while walking with the princess?" I asked, nudging his side.
"Sort of." He replied. "I can't tell anypony, but you have been my friend from boot camp until now, so I will tell you. You can't tell anypony!"
"Okay relax. I won't tell. So who is she?" I asked.
His face was turning bright red. He scanned the room and let the silence remain. He wanted to make sure nopony would hear from the hallway. After a 2 minuet wait he faced me. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I'm in love with Celestia..... And she loves me back." He whispered.
Could this be her plan? Make Night fall in love with her so on the day my plan takes action, she would pit us against each other?
"You don't seemed shocked." Night said while staring into my eyes.
I shook my head and refocused. "Sorry I think my brain shut off. So the princess has told you she loves you?"
"Yeah. I'm so happy." He cheered.
"How did it happen?" I asked, still trying to make out what her plan was.
"Remember when we went to the library for the first time?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Well it happened like this."
------Night Shade------
"Okay Lunar. I'll see you tomorrow." I called out to my friend.
"Sure thing. Same time, same place." He yelled back as his carriage pulled away.
It was great to have a friend like that. Ever since boot camp we have been getting closer. I'm glad we got the same post together. I don't even think of this as work. It's more like hang out time.
On my way back home I had forgotten to grab my saddle bag. The sun was setting on my way back to the castle. The warm day air was replaced with the cool night breeze. I was almost back to the station. When I got there, I couldn't help but take a quick peek around the castle at night. Every floor looked so different compared to the day. As I approached the top floor, I could hear grunting. At the top of the stairs there was a long hallway. In the hallway princess Celestia was leaning against a wall. I ran to her as fast as I could.
"Princess!"
She looked up surprised to see me. I stood right in front her and prepared for an attack.
"What happened princess? Are there enemy's of the throne here?" I asked
"No it's not like that." She huffed out. "I just lost my balance."
I turned around to find Celestia trying her best to stand on her hooves. She was shaking and I could see a faint glint off her coat. It was like she was working to just breath. Suddenly she collapsed. I quickly used my back as a crutch.
"Princess with all due respect you shouldn't be walking the halls in this condition." I said while adjusting myself to help her walk forward.
"I must.... do m-my duty for..... Equ-Equestria." She huffed out.
She must have been close to passing out because she was getting heavier. As we limped to the other side of the castle, she started completely putting her weight on me. I was a little bit smaller than her, so I was able to take the weight and keep her moving forward. When we got to the hall where her room was located, Celestia passed out. I used my magic to surround her in a bubble before she fell off my back.
So much easier.
I opened her door and moved to her large bed. Even as I started hitting my physical limit, I forced my magic to pick up the slack. I un-tucked the covers and set her down in the bed. After a couple deep breaths, I pulled the covers over her and took a seat in the corner of the room. I lowered myself to the ground and slowly started to drift into sleep. The covers shifted and I snapped back to reality. Celestia was fidgeting. I trotted to the side of the bed and pulled the cover up to her neck. A warm smile came out and I had a little smile on my face. I went back to the corner and fell a sleep.
The next morning I had woken up to the sound of hooves coming towards me. I lifted my head and stretched my legs and cracked my neck before remembering where I was. I shot up and gave a salute.
"Did you stay here all night?" She asked.
"Yes. I wanted to be here if you needed me." I replied setting my hoof back on the ground.
"I remember getting to the hallway and that's it. How did I get here?" She asked.
"I used my magic to carry you to your bed."
Her cheeks started changing color. I didn't know why at the time.
"You are addressing me like you would any other pony. No formality, just plain chat." She said almost bewildered.
"Oh... I'm so sor..."
"No please continue." She whispered.
I drew a blank. It only took me a couple seconds to remember that she was the princess and I'm sure she would never have anypony to talk to in a informal manor.
"What is your name?" She asked in a nervous tone.
"I'm Night Shade."
------Lunar------
"And everyday since then she has asked me to stay here at the castle after dark." Night proudly proclaimed. "Its only been recently that she has come to see me during the day."
Oh my.... It is exactly like our love. Luna came to me because she needed somepony to talk to. They wanted to feel normal. We fell in love with them. That caused us to do more and they fell for us. It is pure love. No plan behind it.
"Wow. That's a nice story." I said blankly.
"Yeah. Today we talked about how funny some political view are. Celestia is so amazing and I would really like t-to.... just maybe..... Ask her to.... M-Marry me." He stammered.
"Royalty can't marry civilians you know that." I said a little harshly.
"Well that's the thing. She is going to make me a Alicorn."
"WHAT!?" I yelled. "She can just do that?"
He smiled and looked out to the hallway. "Yeah. She is going to do it the day after the gala."
Some timing.
"I wish nothing but happiness for you." I smiled and extended my hoof.
"Thanks."
We shook hooves and went back to our shift.
---------------
"Discord! I'm here just like you asked." I yelled out.
He appeared from behind a tree and came up to me.
"Good. Let the training begin. I want you to burn all you physical and magical strength trying to keep the clone stable." He reached into his cloak and pulled out 2 scrolls. "When you are at your breaking point, we'll use these."
I took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay. I'm ready!"
------6 hours later------
I fell to the floor as a clone disappeared.
"Discord!? I'm completely out of energy. Can we use the scrolls now?" I asked laying on the floor.
"I suppose. But I'm not sure you want to know what happens when the scrolls are open." He said from up in a tree.
"You said when I hit my limit you would use them. Why are you not using them?" I asked while trying to stand again.
He picked an apple from the tree he was in. "Are you sure you want me to use the scrolls?"
"Yes."
He took a bite and looked down at me. "Are you sure?"
"For Celestia's sake use them! I think I might pass out." I yelled, trying to keep myself stable.
"Okay you asked for it."
He unraveled the 2 scrolls and a cloud of smoke surrounded the tree. I waited for something to make me feel better, but nothing happened. From the smoke came a growl. My eyes were wide open as I searched the smoke for something. Finally, 2 figures were visible. One lifted its head and howled to the moon.
"Timber wolves?! Discord how does this help?!" I yelled.
"To open the power of disharmony your life must be in danger. So enjoy." He waved from his tree and disappeared.
The wolves got closer and started lowering their bodies, ready to pounce on a moments notice.
"Okay Discord..... T-This isn't funny anymore." I called out into the open air.
The wolves were snapping their jaws and extending their claws.
This is real! I am going to die here!
The first wolf jumped and I jumped to my side. Just as my hooves hit the ground the second one lashed out. Its left paw made contact with my face. I was smashed to the ground, and the other wolf was coming at me. He jumped and I rolled away from his claws. I forced my legs to push me up. I was at my limit and there was no help for miles. They started towards me again and I started backing away. I felt blood running down my face from the wolf paw I took to the face. One of the wolves jumped at me again and managed to smash me to the floor. I jumped to my hooves again and sure enough a timber wolf was there to greet me with a claw. It ran all the way down the right side of my body. The blood swept across the grass to make the wolves more sure of their kill. My breath had been reduced to huffs.
I can't die here! I need to complete my mission. I need to see her again.
One of the wolves jumped at me and smacked me to the ground. I slid a couple feet and laid their. The pain surging through my body was intense. Its hit was like a hammer being swung at me full speed. I forced myself up again. The wolves both jumped at the same time. The tackled me to the ground, clawing and biting at me. I managed to kick them off with the last bit of energy I had left. I stood once again and waited for the wolves next move.
"Give into the fear. Give into the pain. There is no escape." A voice said from far away.
A wolf jumped at me again, but this time I couldn't react in time. He bit down on my mid back and clamped his jaw. The more I moved, the deeper the gashes would become. The other wolf moved closer to finish the job.
This is it. I'm so sorry Luna. I love you.
Just as I gave up hope, I felt stronger. There was a super boost of energy. The pain was intensified and the sadness was like a black hole, to which there was no escape.
Rage
A burst of power caused the wolf to release my body.
Fear
The wolves were backing away.
Pain
The leaves in the trees and bushes started to blow in the wind.
Sadness!
The ground under me started cracking. I charged up a beam of magic and blasted the timber wolves. When they disappeared Discord came back and was stomping his hooves in approval. I went back to normal and shook my head. There was blood down my coat, but the place where the wolves broke skin were sealed up.
"Well done my student. You may now tap into the powers of dis-harmony." He said. "Try making the clone now."
I refocused on the 4 emotions and felt the power again. the clone appeared and stayed for a full hour.
"Now try the shape shifting spell."
I focused on the clone and slowly it body started to change. After a 30 second period the clone was now Nightmare Moon.
The sun rose on the day of the Gala. They grey morning sky was replaced with patches of blue. The clouds began to clear out and ponies were getting ready for the day. I awoke to sunlight in my eyes and the sound of ponies mingling in the streets. It was a beautiful Canterlot morning and all was well in the kingdom. I got out of bed and slowly made my way to the shower room. My shift wasn't until the Gala so I got the morning to relax and prepare myself. As the water flowed down my coat I was trying to remember everything we had done together. The countless nights where we would stay up and just talk. The cute tone she would talk in when talking about her sister. The days where she would just rest on my shoulder after a long meeting with the royal court. All of the memories fueled my hate and sadness. She was all alone on the moon. I finished my shower and sat in the living room just focusing my energy and emotions.
There is no room for error and I will not fail my task. I will hold you in my arms again and never let go. I thought to myself.
The memory of the night in the hospital came to me in vivid detail. The sadness and depression came back and ripped away at my mind. The clock struck 12 and began to chime. It was time for me to leave. I wasn't sure if I was coming back, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. The walk to the castle was slow and eye opening. Ponies went about their day not noticing anything different. I wondered if they would change when they see the moon rising or a battle being held at the castle. The doors of the castle never looked so large or scary before. I walked past the front gate and started for the locker room. Inside there were guards getting off shift and some preparing for their shift. Night Shade was putting on his helmet when he noticed me. He waved a hoof and I trotted towards him.
"Hey Lunar. How's your day been so far?" He asked with a smile on his face.
I did my best to put on a smile. "Kind of boring. I did get a lot of sleep." I replied with a weak smile.
"Well that's good. We got a long shift today so hurry up." He called out while head for the door.
I nodded and opened my locker. I looked around and saw nopony in my isle. With a quick blast of magic, a second locker opened under mine. Inside lay a full set of complete black armor that I hoof painted myself. In the center there was a shield with a crescent moon. I slipped into the armor and sealed the locker. After a quick peak down a long empty hall way at the bottom of the castle I trotted down to the end and started unlocking the powers of dis-harmony again. I felt the emotions boil to life and the power began to surge in my body. I created a clone and refocused on the shape shifting spell. The clones form changed and Nightmare Moon was back. If the schedule was correct, Celestia would have just started letting the guests in the royal garden. Now would be the time to strike. The clone busted through a window and flew around castle until it came upon the ponies in the garden.
"Why hello my fair sister! I see you have started with out us?" Nightmare Moon's voice echoed as all the ponies searched the sky for whatever was talking.
Their eyes landed on Nightmare Moon and everypony began screaming. They frantically crowded the door, while Celestia stepped out accompanied by 2 guards.
"How did you get off the moon?" Celestia asked with a slight hint of anger in her voice.
"Oh have we angered our fair sister?" Nightmare asked.
"You are going back there. Even if I have to fly you back myself." Celestia said while extending her wings. "All guards! Lock down the castle!"
I started for the throne room. Guards were running away from the throne room and over to the garden to assist in the capture of my clone. With a flash of my horn, the clone flew away at blinding speed. Celestia went after her and the guards began lock down. I had made it to the throne room with out a hitch. Not a single guard saw my black armor. They were all beginning the lock down. The throne room was the last priority if the princess was off fighting the enemy. The entire royal guard scrambled to finish the lock down procedure as I prepared for the most crazy thing ever done in history. I pushed open the doors to the balcony where Celestia would raise the sun every morning. I stepped out and unlocked my emotions
Hate, Anger, Rage, Sadness, Pain, Fear.
My horn was covered in the magical aura as I extended my grip to the unknown. I searched the sky for the moon and waited to find any trace of Luna. It was like an explosion of energy hit me. I found Luna and I started pulling the moon toward the castle. It only went so far until there was a force stopping it from moving. The force that prevented the moon from moving was the sun. I needed to move both the sun and the moon and that could only be done by Celestia. Slowly I started losing hope and my magic began to falter.
"Why?! I was so close!" I yelled to the open sky.
The door opened behind me and a familiar voice broke my sadness.
"Lunar? What are you doing here?" Night asked while shutting the door.
I quickly got my composure back and answered in a nervous tone. "Oh who me? I was uh Locking down the throne room."
"What's with the black armor?" He asked while slowly advancing.
"Oh this old suit. I wore it to look fancy today." I said while rubbing the back or my neck.
"You are lying." Night said flatly. "I know you when you are lying. What is really going on?"
"What are you talking about? I swear I'm just doing lock down procedure." I said with my back against the wall.
He charged a bolt of magic and shot it towards me. Before I could react a shield formed in front of me. The magic controlling it was black and the aura coming off my horn was solid back.
"What are you?" Night asked as he stood back in fear.
"Leave now!" I yelled.
"Do you have something to do with Nightmare Moon?" He asked
"I mean nopony harm, just please leave and I will explain later." I said returning my attention to the much larger sun and moon problem I had to solve.
"Traitor! How dare you give me orders! Stand down!" Night yelled.
"Please don't make me hurt you. I mean you no harm I swear!" I yelled back.
"Ha! You will never harm a royal guard. The punishment would only be worse on yourself." He replied with a evil smirk.
"Don't make me!" I yelled.
Night took a deep breath and charged toward me. I quickly blasted him with a paralyses spell and he stopped moving in place.
"There. Now I don't have to hurt you. I swear my friend I mean no harm." I said as I turned back to work out the details on how to move the sun and the moon. I heard a crack and next thing I knew something covered me.
"Ha! Thought you could beat me that easily?! Well guess what? That shield is used to capture Usra Majors." He said while wiping his forehead. "No way some second grade guard will break CRACK It..."
The shield turned into dust and I stood in the middle looking him directly in the eyes.
"How?" He asked with his mouth gaping.
"You have no clue what I am capable of." I mumbled.
He started charging for a attack, but I blasted a wave of magic across the whole room. Night was lifted off his hooves and thrown into a marble wall. When he hit the ground I saw how fast he was thrown. The solid white marble had rows of cracks and some of the golden armor was still on the wall. He was slow to get up and I could see he was in pain. It hurt me to see somepony I considered my friend be in this state because of me. He was back on his hooves and I could tell he didn't want to fight,
"Night I didn't want to do that. Just please stop before I make it worse." I said carefully walking toward him.
"If you want me to believe you then you have to tell me what you are doing." He huffed out.
"Fine. I'm here to release my lo-lover." My voice fell to a whisper.
"Then why are you up here? The dungeon is at the bottom of the castle." He said while trying to not show pain. "For that matter there is nopony in the dungeon. Where is you lover? Who is she?"
"Her name is Luna and she is trapped on the moon." I said.
"You mean Nightmare Moon?" He asked.
"No I mean Princess Luna! Her name is princess Luna." I replied with a glare.
"But she was sent to the moon because she was Nightmare Moon. Why do you want to release her?" Night asked standing by my side.
"Because she is Nightmare Moon when she is angry. I was the only pony who could calm her down. I broke the anger in her heart and she turned back into princess Luna. I loved her and that's all she wanted." I said while holding back tears.
Night was going to say something, but he close his mouth and set a hoof on my shoulder. I smiled and saw that I had regained a friend.
"Okay. I believe you. Now how are you going to move the moon?" He asked with a confident smile on his face.
"That's the thing. The moon and the sun have to move at the same pace for it to change." I replied with little hope.
"How could you ever plan on doing that? Celestia has a hard time doing that!" Night looked worried.
"Stand back. I'm going to try to unlock my powers again." I said while try to concentrate.
"Wait how did you get those power?" Night asked after taking a couple steps back.
"I'll explain later."
The powers started to return and I could feel the moon again. I reached out to the sun in an attempt to try and move it. As soon as my magic got to the sun, my body felt like it was on fire. I screamed in pain and dropped to the floor.
"Hey you okay?" Night asked as he stood next to me again.
"The sun is so hot! My magic allows me to feel the cold of the moon and the extreme heat of the sun." I said while trying to regain the temperature my surroundings. "Night I need your help."
He looked shocked. "How can I help? I'm just a normal unicorn."
"The pony who taught me to unlock the powers of dis-harmony also told me magic can be boosted with the power of happiness and love." I said.
"So what? Like feel happy?" He asked.
"No The love you feel for princess Celestia. That happiness and love you feel for her will give you the extra power you need to help me." I said. "Think about how she makes you feel."
Night closed his eyes and a couple seconds later he smiled.
"Now use your magic and reach out to the stars to find the moon." I said while looking out for anypony.
"It's so cold out there. Is this what Luna feels?" He asked.
"Everyday since she has be sent to the moon. That's what makes me sad. I will get her back and she will be with me soon and I wont let go of her." I said with a little smile on my face.
He smiled and looked to the sky. "Okay... Now what?"
"I'm about to do something really stupid." I said.
I focused all my magic and reached for the sun. The heat felt like I was going to melt from the inside out. I stomped my hoof into the ground and started moving the sun from the middle of the sky. I screamed in pain and I started sweating like a work horse. I looked over and Night was struggling to move the moon. I knew it was hard for him to do something so hard the first time he discovered his power. When I looked closer I could see a smile and I couldn't help putting a smile on my face. The sun was slowly falling behind the mountain range to the west and the tip of the bright moon was visible on the east.
"Just a little more!" My voice was strained and I started running out of breath.
The moon was now in the sky and the last step was close. When the moon was in the middle of the sky I tapped Night and he drew back his magic. The moon was high in the sky and now came the easiest part of my whole plan. All I had to do was break the spell that held Luna on the moon.
"Night don't freak out if she returns as Nightmare. All it takes is my words and she will be set free." I huffed out.
Night just nodded as he rolled on his stomach. I looked up at the moon and closed my eyes slowly. I sent a wave of magic up at the moon and waited for it to send me a response. There was a faint response and I knew Luna was coming back. When I opened my eyes I herd the door open. When I turned back guards flooded the room and all of them were facing me and Night.
"Traitors will be executed on sight if the princess is missing. All guards! Take aim!" The captain called out.
The guards charged up their magic and I charged mine.
"Stead fast! Fire on my order!" He yelled.
I was ready for anything and I waited for them to make the first move.
"FIRE!" He yelled
I unleashed my magic. Me and Night were surrounded in a bubble shield. Their magic hit the bubble and was absorbed. Suddenly my shield started to flicker. I was out of magic and my emotions weren't focused. The shield fell and the guards had magic charged and ready. I stood there and accepted what was going to happen next.
"FIRE!"
I closed my eyes and shed a tear. At least you will be free now The magic hit and I was fine. When I opened my eyes Night was curled up in front of me with a blast mark on his armor. The emotions were back and I surrounded us with a shield. I fell to the floor and looked at my best friend who screamed in pain.
"DAMN IT! It burns! Take it off!" He yelled.
His armor must have taken the blunt of the blast. I used my magic to rip it off him and I looked at his burn marks. His body was covered in burn marks and he was getting colder and colder. I cradled his head and put a piece of armor so he could rest his head.
"Why?" I asked while holding back tears.
"I don't know. My body ju-just moved before I thought about it." Night said.
He started coughing and small amounts of blood started coming from his mouth. The force of the blasts caused internal bleeding and he was slowly bleeding out.
"Night I'm going to try something that might speed up your death. It has a 30% percent survival rate and if it works you will be back to perfect health." I said while trying no to panic.
"I'm dead either way. Go for it. I trust you." He said.
I set his head on the piece of armor and focused my normal magic into a tiny ball. I used my hooves to slowly maneuver it over the center of his body.
"Once I put this on your body you will go into a deep sleep. This ball of pure magic will repair you.... Hopefully." I said while looking into the small ball of glowing energy.
He nodded and closed his eyes. I placed the ball of magic on his body and it slowly phased through his body. All I could do is keep the shield up and wait for either of the princesses. Suddenly the guards looked up to the sky. I looked up and saw a shadow coming to the castle at a blinding speed. It crashed through the glass ceiling and touched down between the guards and us. Huge black wings unfolded and Nightmare Moon stood tall and menacing over looking the ponies in front of her.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Why hello guards of my sister." She said with a confident evil smile.
"Nightmare Moon return to the moon at once or face the punishment!" The captain yelled.
"Fool! Do you think I would re.."
"Luna!"
Nightmare's body went stiff and she stopped mid sentence. She slowly turned around and looked at the black bubble shield. She turned to face the shield with her full body and she looked at it with a puzzled face.
"Who dares speak the name of the weak princess?" She loudly asked.
I lowered the shield and stepped out. "Somepony you love." I said while bringing up the shield behind me.
She was shocked and a single tear ran down he right cheek. The body started to crack and pieces of Nightmare Moon started falling off to reveal patches of dark blue fur.
"I thought you forgot." She said as her voice cracked back to the normal Luna voice.
"I never forgot about my love. My princess." I said while trotting up to Luna.
I wrapped my forelegs around her and Nightmare Moon broke up into pieces. Luna was crying and she returned the hug with all of her strength. Just as we broke the hug, the doors flew open and Celestia landed at the entrance.
"Sister! How did you escape the moon? Where is Nightmare Moon?" She asked in a irritated tone.
"Fair sister I mean no harm to the kingdom now. Nightmare Moon is gone forever and she will never return." Luna said while pulling me close. "I have found something better than ponies liking my night."
"What might that be?" Celestia asked.
"I have found a stallion who loves me. Even if he is a normal pony I want him to be with me as long as possible." Luna said with a smile forming on her face.
Celestia drifted of and looked at the shield that covered Night Shade.
"What is this?" Celestia asked.
I gulped and lowered the shield. I could have sworn she jumped. She keeled down and looked at Night's lifeless body.
"What did you do to him?!" She yelled.
"Your guards are the one to blame. They tried to kill me, but Night jumped in the way of their blast." I said while walking to her side.
"Is.. Is this true?"She asked on the verge of full out tears.
One of the guards stepped forward and took a deep breath. "Princess.... IT WAS THOSE TWO!"
Luna looked at me and I looked at Celestia. I couldn't see her face. but the room started getting warmer.
"Tis a lie!" Luna shouted.
I slowly trotted back to Luna's side. "Your guards tried to kill me, but Night jumped in the blast."
The room was definitely getting hotter and Celestia's mane started to change color. When Celestia turned, her eyes were watery and she looked enraged.
"He sacrificed himself to save a traitor like you?!" She yelled.
I started to get angry and my powers started coming back. "NO! HE DID IT TO SAVE A FRIEND!" I yelled back "He was my best friend while Luna was away. He was there to help me get through the worst of my days."
"You shall pay the same price!" Celestia yelled.
Celestia's mane turned bright orange with a stripe of yellow running around the edge of her mane. Her eyes were red and she didn't have a friendly look anymore.
Now is the time to revile the last of the powers. A voice in my head echoed. Death can be sad, but it can fuel the fire.
Celestia charged a magic bolt and looked directly at me. I powered up and waited. I was about to see if the powers could do what Discord said they could do. Celestia let out a bolt of magic and I put up a shield. The blast was massive and the damage was great, but my shield held out and covered me, Luna, and Night. I stepped out of the shield and waited for Celestia to strike again. She didn't disappoint, and soon she had a glow around her horn. She put a shield around me and started closing it. I used my magic to part the shield and I stepped out unharmed.
"That magic seems familiar. Where did you learn it?" She asked.
I was glad she asked, it allowed me to build up some more power. "A pony taught me this magic. His name was Discord and his power is great." I said slowly to try and build up magic.
"I will remember that! I shall punish him for teaching black magic!" She yelled as she let loose a torrent of magic blasts.
I put a shield around me and tried to focus on only Luna and Night's shield. My shield held up and I tried to regain my breath. The blasts continued and I couldn't hold it anymore. I jumped back as the shield fell and the magic impacted the ground where I was standing. I landed on my hooves and took in a deep breath. Just as I exhaled Celestia sent another torrent of magic my way. I used my magic to jump clear across the room and when I landed, I was in striking range of Celestia. I charged up my magic and started fighting back. I fired 3 bolts of magic, all of which were easily blocked by Celestia. I started running as fast as my hooves could take me while dodging and countering Celestia. When I was right in front of her I pulled a quick trick. I cloned myself twice and sent one of the clones to her right side and one to her left. I teleported behind her and started full speed toward her.
"Clones! I have to admit you are strong." She said in a evil happiness.
She sent a wave of magic that destroyed the 2 clones and was coming right toward me. I jumped over it and shot a bolt of magic that was extremely powerful. Celestia turned around, but it was to late. She was hit and she slid across the floor. She ended up next to my bubble shield. She slowly got up and looked at the blast mark. That's when she noticed my shield and she started an evil laugh.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Do you know how to kill and Alicorn?" She asked with a evil smile.
"No, but I will find out today." I said while charging my magic.
"Oh yes you will. The only way to kill and Alicorn is to stab it with another Alicorn horn!" She yelled.
She blasted my shield away and jumped forward. I was so caught up in the fight I forgot about the magic I had set aside to keep the shield up. Celestia was flying toward Luna and I just reacted. The magic that I had charged for an attack, teleported me in front of Luna. The last thing I saw was Luna's surprised face before I closed my eyes and stood on my hind legs. I felt the horn pierce my back and I felt it as it passed through my body. I looked down as it came out of my stomach and the pain kicked it.
"NOOOOOOO!" Luna screamed.
"Luna." I huffed out.
Celestia sent a wave of magic to blow my body off her horn. I fell face first into the hooves of Luna. A shield formed around us and she started crying. The pain was intense and I couldn't stand to see Luna cry. I lifted my right hoof and ran it though her mane.
"Shhhhh don't cry. It makes *light cough* me so sad."
"I'm here. Please don't go! I don't want to be alone again." Luna said.
She pulled my lifeless body closer so she could hug me. I struggled to lift my fore legs to wrap around her.
"Shhhhh. Don't speak about such sad things. Just remember the good times."
Luna rested me on the floor with my head cradled in her fore hooves. I reached up one last time and put my right hoof on the back of her head. I carefully pulled her down and we started getting closer.
"This is long over due and I'm so sorry Luna. I-I really hope you will forgive...... me for being so late." I said while closing my eyes.
She slowly moved in closer and closed her eyes. I closed mine and we finally kissed. After 10 months of waiting we finally got our first kiss. She pulled back and looked in my eyes.
In death comes the strongest of your powers. Use them before it's to late. Discord's voice echoed in my head.
I looked at Night and closed my eyes. I used all the magic death gave me to speed up his recovery. His eyes shot open and he sat up quickly. His breathing was fast and heavy. He placed his hooves on his chest, then his face. He looked aver and saw Luna cradling me. His expression went from shocked to sorrow and he stood up and trotted over to my side. He had tears in his eyes and he just placed his hoof on my head.
"Who?"
"Celestia."
That was all that needed to be said.
"I'm sorry my friend. I could have changed this." Night said.
I could see the tears in his eyes. "No. This is what's meant to happen..... You were recovering so there was nothing you could do." I said while struggling to keep my breath steady.
He was silent. Night knew I was right and he just accepted the fact. I looked back into Luna's eyes and sadness just washed over me. My body was getting cold and my vision was becoming blurry. I pulled Luna in for a kiss for the last time. We held that kiss for a couple seconds and I started getting tired. We broke the kiss and it all hit me. I completed my mission at the cost of my life. I was glad to pay any other time, but now I just wanted to live.
"I do-don't want..... t-t-to.... go"
Your magic will take you somewhere that nopony knows. You will live there for eternity. Discord's voice was clear and calm.
I heard crying and screaming and that was it.....
------Night Shade-------
I watched as Luna cried into the chest of her dead lover. She was screaming for him to come back, but there was not a single response. I stood up and faced Celestia. My mind was full of hate and anger. I stepped out of the shield and yelled.
"WHY?! HE SAVED ME FROM YOUR GUARDS!" I yelled as Celestia returned to herself.
"I didn't know." She said in a whisper with her head down.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Luna had yelled from behind me. "WE TOLD YOU THE TRUTH AND YOU DID NOT BELIEVE US!"
That time she didn't sound like Luna. When I turned around, Nightmare Moon was on her hind legs holding Lunar.
"Prepare yourself sister! We will wage a never ending war on your kingdom for this crime!"
Nightmare Moon disappeared leaving only a cloud of smoke, tears, and the blood of Lunar.
"This terrible deed will follow you forever." I said while putting a hoof on my forehead.
"Please don't leave me!" Celestia yelled.
"I can't leave you right now. You just lost your sister and I think you will need my help to get her back." I said with a sigh. "Some how I feel this will not be a easy time for the kingdom."
A calm breeze pushes something in my face. My eyes shoot open and I jump on to my hooves as quick as I can. I am breathing in quick huffs and I quickly check my body. I stand on my hind legs and look down to see my black armor. There is a hole in the center and it is covered in dried blood. I use my magic and throw the armor off and check myself.
"No hole.... Not even blood?" I say out loud. "This doesn't make any sense. Where am I?"
I return to all fours and look around. There is tall grass as far as the eye can see. The field and the clear blue sky come together far from where I am and there is nothing to reference the distance. The wind is blowing against me and I place my armor back on.
There has to be a something around here. I thought as I place the helmet back on my head. I wonder if I'm still dead.
Your magic will take you somewhere that nopony knows. You will live there for eternity.
The magic! That's how I got here. In the time of death my magic can be at it's maximum. I thought.
I looked to where the sun was going. I knew that there had to be something here so I followed the horizon.
----------Years later--------
It's been so long since I got here and It just doesn't seem possible that I can still exist here. I've been so hungry, but whenever I eat, it does nothing to make my hunger diminish. I've been so thirsty, but whenever I find drinkable water, it does nothing to quench my thirst. I followed the sun for days and found a coast with an ocean the goes on forever. I have counted the days I've been here and left tally's on the beach to remember how long I've been here. I lost count after 100,000 days. The beach is littered with the tally's and I'm not sure why I continue to make them on the beach every time I wake up. The days are the same. I go down the beach and search for anything to give me a clue to where I am. The nights are filled with darkness. There is no moon, or stars. I've lost all hope of making it out of this place. I can not die, nor can I experience life anymore.
---------unknown amount of time has passed--------
I have learned so much about this world. I used my magic to create things to keep me entertained. It seems that life cannot be created in this world, but non living objects can be made. Using my magic, I've created paint, brushes, and canvases. It's the only thing that keeps me sane anymore. At first I just painted the sky, and the grassy fields, I became bored of painting the same thing over and over again, so I thought back to the time when I was alive. I painted the Canterlot castle, sunsets on the mountains, but most importantly I painted Luna. I did it once and became extremely sad. I remembered her, but my memory was slowly fading from the many years I have been here. As of today I only remember what she looks like. I can't remember her voice. It makes me so sad to know I have forgotten her voice. It seems like sadness is the only thing I can feel here.....
----------950 years later----------
I went back and recounted the days I've been here and it has been 950 year. I just don't know how that's even possible, but I haven't aged a day. There is something else in this world as well. Every now and again I see something in the sky. I have no clue what it is. The only thing I can tell for sure is it's blue. I have seen it pass through this land 4 times. There are others flying around, but they only come by once. This blue thing has come and gone more than once. I will try to make contact with it next time it passes. I finally have some hope that I will make it out of here.
----------25 years later----------
It has come lower and I could swear it was calling to me. I used my magic to extend myself to the flying thing 10 years ago. Ever since then it has been getting closer and closer. It makes a strange noise than I have never heard before, but in that noise I can hear something. I can now tell what shape it is. It's a blue rectangular box with a strange light on top. I feel like it is trying to study me. I really hope that this thing will stop for me one of these days. Don't worry Luna. I will be home soon. Please just wait a little longer.
----------The history of the war----------
So long has this war been. I fear nothing will stop it. It has been almost 1,000 years since the war had been started and there has been bloodshed ever since. The NLR (New Lunar Republic) and the Solar Empire have been fighting every year. The ponies of Equestria have been split into 3 factions. The NLR , the Solar Empire, and neutral ponies that just want to live their lives. The NLR fights to put Princess Nightmare Moon on the throne so she can rule Equestria. The Solar Empire fights to keep Princess Celestia in power. In the beginning the wars were not fought on front lines. It is guerrilla warfare and everypony suffers for it. It is said that the war was started when Princess Celestia did something horrible to Princess Nightmare Moon years ago in the past. Back then she was Princess Luna and she was wronged by her sister. Princess Luna traveled all of Equestria telling the story of her lost love and how he changed her world. It was just a roaming story until the fateful day Celestia decided to do something unforgettable. Celestia declared her love for a stallion called Night Shade. He was given Immortality and soon became the husband of Celestia. On the day of the wedding, Nightmare Moon appeared and said the lines that started the war.
"How dare you do this! Grant immortality to the one you love while the one I loved died trying to show you how I changed! This is wrong on every level and you should not have the power to do this! Let it be known that from this day forward you are my enemy and anypony who believes in equality for all should follow me!"
With those words the story of Lunar spread like wild fire. The story of a stallion who gave everything just to see his love again. He saved his friend on his death bed and died while try to protect Luna. Ponies began choosing sides and days after the wedding, the first blood was drawn by the Solar Empire. Guards were watching over a protest of Celestia and one guard lashed out against the protesters. The protesters surrounded the guards, but the guards had weapons. It was only seconds before one guard attacked. 15 NLR supporters were killed and 5 were seriously injured. This caused and explosion of talk across all of Equestria. The NLR was formed and their first attack was 2 weeks after the protesters deaths. In response, Celestia made a public statement to all of her citizens.
"If you would like fair treatment and a great place for you foals to grow up, please join the Solar Empire! There are traitors in our midst and They have formed an alliance to attack all innocent ponies. Please support the Solar Empire!"
In the beginning of the war, there were no neutrals. Everypony was fighting for one side or the other. Over years of war someponies didn't believe in this fighting and they formed neutral sides where they could grow and prosper. It never went that way. Small fights broke out in these towns and they would leave the ponies with nothing but dead bodies. Finally after years of guerrilla warfare, both sides had full fledged armies. The fought all over Equestria, destroying homes and ruining ponies lives. More and more ponies joined the armies making the war never ending. To make things worse, each side took faith and pride in creating propaganda poster slamming their opponent. Generation after generation of ponies were brain washed into having pride in their faction of the war. Only few saw past the propaganda and those ponies would have to leave their families and friends to find a neutral city. Neutral cities became battle grounds and ponies would be taken from their homes and be forced into battle. Neutral cities were made up of young ponies who could see past the brain washing and said they wouldn't fight. These ponies were hit the worst. They would be forced to house soldiers and give up supplies to the faction closest to them. To this day the war is being fought and it seems like a lost cause on both ends. It's close to the 1,000 year of fighting and ponies will continue to do so until one side doesn't exist any more. I pray this will be over soon.
