Mare in the Moon
Luna stood upon the balcony, looking down unto the kingdom she and her sister watched over. Ponies were walking along the streets of the village at the foot of the castle, relishing the sweet sunlight and going about their business. Luna looked up to the sun and frowned, the light was warm, giving her the feeling it was embracing her with its light. Celestia glided down onto the balcony to join her sister.
“Sister, how fare thee today?” Luna said bowing her head slightly.
“Well, and you sweet sister?” Celestia asked as she smiled at Luna.
Luna looked down, she didn’t want to admit that she felt resentment at the sun. She looked up at her sister and smiled, “A little tired but I am well.”
The two sisters walked into the castle, heading for the dining hall to have breakfast together. They sat as a pair of ponies came into the room with covered platters and set them in front of the two princesses. The covers were lifted revealing fruit salad with sweet honey dressing.
“As always it looks very delectable.” Luna said kindly to the pony serving her.
“I will inform the cooks of your enjoyment.” He replied happily.
They ate their meals silently, when they finished the serving ponies took the platters and walked back to the kitchen. As Luna made to get up, Celestia held up her hoof and shook her head. Luna dropped back into her seat and looked at her sister questioningly. Before she could ask what was going on the servers came back out with a small platter for each of them. Upon the platters was a small, dark blue, almost black, cupcake with a single candle in one.
“Oh Tia, thank you sister.” Luna said giving Celestia a large smile and blowing out the candle.
“I would never forget my dear sister’s birthday.” Celestia said returning the smile.
They made quick work of the cupcakes and thanked the servers, asking to take their thanks to the chef as well. Luna and Celestia got up and walked out to the throne room together, Luna embracing her sister as they walked. The throne room was empty save for the guards at the door. Celestia sat upon her throne and Luna in hers which was set a short distance behind her sister’s.
“Let the court commence!” Celestia ordered.
The guards opened the doors and slowly, one by one, ponies came into the room, making their cases to the princesses. They all were directing their attention to Celestia, only one or two had so much as nodded at Luna. Her face began to drop as more and more ponies came and went, making their cases without so much as a glimpse at her. Having nothing to do, she slowly drifted off to sleep in her throne.
“Luna… Sister it’s time for you to awake.” Celestia said, standing over Luna with concern in her eyes. “It’s almost time for you to raise the moon, you must prepare.”
Luna jumped. “I’m sorry sister, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” she said, panicking.
“It’s alright sister, you did say you were tired after all.” Celestia said giving Luna a reassuring smile. “Now come, you need to raise the moon.”
Luna walked out of the hall with her sister out to the balcony they had been standing on that morning, Luna started to concentrate her magic on the moon. They walked out onto the balcony and Luna stepped up to the edge and took off towards the darkening horizon. The moon slowly rose up into the sky until the whole of the brightly glowing globe was visible. Luna glided back down to meet her sister on the balcony, as they walked back into the castle for bed, Luna looked out unto the kingdom again, nopony was walking about, what few that still stirred were closing their windows to keep out the brisk, cool night air. Luna looked down at her hooves and a tear fell from her eye.
“Good night dear sister.” Celestia said as she smiled at Luna and walked into her bedroom.
“Good night Tia.” Luna replied sadly.
Celestia took the tone in her sister’s voice to mean she was tired, she walked over to her bed and flopped down into the soft sheets and quickly drifted to sleep. Luna looked around her room searching for something to do, she was not tired, having spent a good portion of the day sleeping. She walked over to her desk in the corner and pulled out a small leather bound book and a quill from the drawer. She opened the book to the first blank page and started writing,
Dear diary,
Today was by far the worst yet, even fewer ponies are recognizing me for all I do. The servers still
smile at me though and sister Tia still comforts me, she at least remembered my birthday. I still
don’t receive any notice at court, only an old friend of mother’s nodded to me. I worry that
nopony will ever rejoice in the beautiful night I give them, they cherish the sun and sister Tia
still doesn’t stay up to see the stars with me. All I want is some praise and for ponies to
celebrate the moon as they do the sun. My sorrow is growing and I fear that soon there
will be nothing that can console me.
Luna looked over the entry, tears were pouring freely from her eyes, falling to the book. She looked over her past entries, they had gotten progressively sadder as time went by. She looked out of her window at the bright moon, it seemed to smile at her as if trying to tell her that she still had friends. Luna looked away and walked over to her bed and fell onto it. She drifted to a restless sleep.
The sun shone brightly into her room as Luna awoke, she slowly got up and looked out of her window. It had to be almost midday already. Luna ran out of her room and into the court, slowing her pace as she neared the door. She stepped into the room, walked over to her throne and sat down, looking out at the pony now expressing concerns of something to Celestia. ‘Nopony so much as looked up as I walked in late?’ Luna thought to herself, ‘Am I that unloved?’
Throughout the day the thoughts of her entrance filled her mind, eating away at her inside and feeding her sorrow. Tears started to stream from her eyes and she let out a quiet whimper. Celestia looked back at her sister curiously and immediately jumped up and gave Luna a tight hug.
“Lulu, what’s wrong sister?” Celestia asked as she shooed the confused pony standing in front of the throne, “Court is closed for the day.”
Luna didn’t answer her, she just sat there and cried in her sister’s mane. Celestia sat there unsure of what to do.
A guard stepped up to them and bowed to the princesses, “Princess Celestia, your attention is needed in the council chamber, an argument started and they all began fighting each other.”
Celestia looked up at the guard with a disapproving glare. The guard backed away and said, “Princess, they are killing each other in there.”
Celestia sighed and stood up to follow the guard.
“Tia?” Luna asked as more tears fell from her face.
“I’ll be right back after I’ve dealt with the council members, wait here sister.”
Celestia walked off to the council chamber, leaving Luna crying harder than ever. Luna looked up at the sun through the high window behind the throne, it’s light seemingly mocking her. Luna ran out to the balcony and looked out onto the kingdom.
Ponies were running about enjoying their day. Foals were playing in the fields and through the streets, there were ponies eating lunch and happily chatting away with friends, and there were even ponies looking up at the sun and smiling as they walked down the streets. Luna looked at them all with sorrow. ‘If they will not appreciate me or my night then I will have to make them see our beauty, even if it takes forever.’ Luna thought darkly. Her sorrow turned into anger as she looked out at all the happy ponies, ‘I will force them to accept our beauty!’
Celestia found her sister out on the balcony, she walked up behind her and put her hoof on her sister’s shoulder.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong now sister, I want to help you, I want you to be happy, Lulu.” Celestia said as she looked at her sister’s blank expression.
“Nothing is the matter dear sister, I simply had a bad dream last night but it is no problem now, it was just a dream after all.” Luna said with a calm tone.
Luna walked back to her room, Celestia watched her with an expression of disbelief. She followed her sister and knocked on her door. Luna gave no answer, she was at her desk writing out something on a small piece of parchment.
It was time to raise the moon, Luna walked out onto the balcony with her sister, stepped up to the edge and took off for the dark horizon. She brought the moon right up to the center of the sky, Celestia knew something was wrong. Luna donned her new armor and flew down to address the ponies of the kingdom.
“My loyal subjects!” Luna called out with her Royal Canterlot Voice, “You have failed to acknowledge the beauty of my night! As punishment for this unacceptable behavior is UNENDING DARKNESS!”
The ponies that had gathered in the streets at Luna’s call began to run in fear of their vengeful princess. Luna rejoiced on the chaos she had just brought to the ponies running below her.
Celestia looked up at her sister in horror. ‘How could she even think of doing such a thing, where did my sweet, kind sister go?’ she thought. She couldn’t do anything, her sadness at her sister’s behavior caused her to slump in a sobbing heap.
“Princess Celestia, you’ve got to do something!” a guard yelled at her as he ran towards her in the hallway.
Celestia gave him a teary look and he knew that she wasn’t going to do anything. He ran back down the hall towards the throne room where all the other guards were to gather in case of emergency. He burst through the door and shouted, “Princess Celestia can’t do anything, It’s up to us, we have to stop Luna’s madness”
The other guards gave each other disconcerting looks but still formed their companies to go and fight their young princess.
Luna was watching the ponies run around and laughed at their panic. The guards flew out of the castle gates and quickly moved to surround Luna. She turned to look at them all and said, “You all are fools! Now you pay attention to me?! You puny fools, you all can serve ME!”
As Luna shouted the last word, her horn began to glow, her magic’s aura began to surround the guards closest to her. They shouted in pain, the other guards backed away in fear. The guards now encompassed in magical aura were being engulfed by black smoke, still screaming. Luna laughed as the smoke cleared, the guards now had black coats, bat wings and fangs, and their armor had changed from gold to silver with black lining. They laughed with their princess and moved to protect her. The guards still loyal to Celestia attacked, clashing with Luna’s guard.
Their battle ensued, causing guards from both sides to fall from the skies, hitting houses and scattering ponies as they dropped, lifeless. Luna glared around her, Celestia’s guard were too many, she turned as many as she could but they were still overpowering her own guard. Celestia watched as the guards fell and her sorrow grew, she let out a loud cry to the heavens.
Celestia’s guard heard her cry and attacked more fiercely, it needed to end quickly, before she lost herself. Luna’s guard were dwindling, the sheer numbers of her sister’s guard was too much for her, she was beginning to tire from turning the guard. Her last guard was backing towards her slowly, fear showing in his eyes.
“Capture them, we don’t want to lose anymore guards, be careful, there’s no knowing what Luna is capable of now!” the captain of the guard ordered.
They all moved in, overpowering the one guard Luna had left and surrounding Luna. “Princess, please just come with us, Celestia will help you.” One of the guards said.
“I do not require any help! I AM THE BEAUTIFUL NIGHT!” Luna shouted as she cast a spell causing all the guard around her to fall from the sky, she dropped a bit but kept herself stable.
Celestia’s eyes widened and she quickly rose up to face her sister. “LUNA, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!” Celestia called as she leveled with Luna.
“Because, everypony ignored me! They rejoiced in your sun but hid from my moon! I will show everypony our beauty!” Luna shouted back angrily.
“This isn’t like you, you were sweet and kind.” Celestia said shaking her head.
“As if you would have noticed, you ignored me too sister! You’re just as responsible for this.”
“No, I tried to help you, you wouldn’t let me! I’ve always cared for you Lulu.”
“Do not call me that! You do not have the right to speak to me as if you loved me. I am that which you have always feared, I am the beautiful darkness, I am your nightmare.” An idea struck her as she shouted at Celestia, “I am NIGHTMARE MOON!”
“Luna…” Celestia said softly, “How can you say that I do not love you? Have all I’ve done for you, all we’ve done together mean nothing to you?”
“SILENCE, you can do nothing sister, the damage has already been done and I am going to show you all the beauty of the night!”
“Luna don’t make me do this, don’t make me fight you.” Celestia said sadly.
“As if you could match me in battle!” Luna shouted.
Luna attacked, Celestia caught her in the air and gave her one last embrace.
“You forced this on yourself dear sister, I’m sorry, I love you.” Celestia said as tears began to fall from her face.
Celestia’s horn began to glow and Luna was shrouded in its aura. She screamed as the aura began to make a twinkling sound.
“Sister! What are you doing?” Luna screamed in fear.
“I told you that you brought this on yourself, it’s the only thing I can bear to do. I’m sending you to your beloved moon!” Celestia shouted as her eyes began to glow.
“NO!” Luna shouted.
In a flash she was gone. Celestia dropped from the sky, a few guards flew up to catch her. She looked up at the moon which now had the image of Luna plastered on it. She began to cry even harder in the hooves of her guards.
“Goodbye, dear sister, for a thousand years the spell will hold, until then…”
Celestia fainted, the guards took her to her room and laid her down on her bed. They left their princess to her dreams.
Celestia had finally brought herself to investigate Luna's room, it was just as she had left it. She looked over at the bed where sat a blue stuffed unicorn doll from their childhood. A tear formed in Celestia's eye as she picked it up and hugged it. She looked over at the desk and saw a piece of parchment laid out with a dried out ink bottle next to it. She checked the parchment, there was a letter scrawled on it, it was for her.
Dear Tia
I'm sorry for what I'm about to do. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, if I had then I might not do
what I'm about to do but it's too late now, I've already made up my mind. I have grown
resentful of your sun and the joy it brings to the ponies while they hid away from my
beautiful moon. I surely thought that you would have noticed that there is hardly a pony
who even recognizes me as a princess, not even a single friend. This has been a long
time coming now, I cannot express how much this pains me to do but if I don't do
something then I'll never be recognized, I'll never be known, merely a shadow of your
radiance. I wish only for ponies to recognize the beauty of my night and give me praise,
so I will hold the moon in the sky for as long as it takes for them to realize the beauty
and stop hiding from it. I truly wish that it had not come to this dear sister but I cannot
think of another way. I'll always love you Tia,
Sincerely Lulu
Luna awoke with a start. She looked around blearily and realized where she was. She growled to herself, ‘I hate having that dream.’
She got up and walked over to the window which covered the whole wall and looked out of it. Equestria was just the same as it had been for the last nine hundred and ninety nine years. Ponies still wandering about and enjoying the sunlight whilst hiding from the moon every night.
Luna glared down at her old home, all of the ponies who had abandoned her, who had ignored her and drove her to where she is now. Luna turned away from the window and looked around her prison. All that was in there was her bed which she had made from the softest moon rocks she could find, most of which she had transformed to cotton with her magic, a desk sat in the corner facing away from the window, a quill and parchment set on it ready for writing, but she didn’t write anything anymore, it only reminded her of how alone she was.
This prison, bare and glowing white, had been her home for far too long. Luna relished the fact that it would not be her home for much longer, she grew happier as the days to the thousandth year passed. She had maddeningly counted every single day of her thousand year imprisonment, and tonight was the night she would be set free, the stars were already moving towards her window.
Luna could barely hold her excitement, she had anticipated this night for as long as she had been sent to the moon. She had come up with a plan to make sure her sister would not have another chance to stop her.
Her ear perked up, she could hear a song, barely audible, but still clearly there. Celestia was singing her lullaby one last time before Luna’s release. Her soft voice emanated from the room itself, the words of the song seemingly echoed in her ears. She felt a tear fall from her face. She felt a longing for home so strong that she would be willing to forgive her sister. She began to sing her own song back with the same melody.
Celestia heard the song, so distant but clear, ringing through the night sky. Celestia looked up at the moon and smiled, her sister was ready to come home and she knew all would be forgiven. Her horn started to glow and the stars moved towards the moon.
Luna looked at the tear which she caught in her hoof and smiled at it, she was going home. She turned back to the window and placed her hoof on the glass, the single tear ran down the window and vanished at the edge. Somehow, it got outside, it froze into a small crystal and drifted off towards the planet which she overlooked. The place she would once again call home.