Luna Won't You Cry For Me

Blue Star sat against the trunk of a tree in the royal gardens. He was waiting patiently for one of the elements to arrive. He hadn't been told specifically which one, but he was sure they would be agreeable nevertheless. And so he sat and waited, looking at all the various animals who called the gardens home. One of the perks of royalty was that Celestia could ask for pretty much whatever weather she wished and she would get it. Thus, even in the dead of winter, the gardens remained green.

"Um, excuse me," a voice said from nearby. Blue Star only faintly heard it, but he still turned his head in the direction of the voice. There he spotted a mare whom he recognized.

"Hello miss, Fluttershy, was it?"

"Um, yes," the pegasus said in her trademark quiet tone, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced."

"Well, every time Twilight tried, you hid. Are you afraid of me?"

"No, no, it's not that. It's just my natural reaction around ponies I don't know."

"Then how ever do you meet ponies?"

"I usually don't. I try to keep to myself most of the time."

"That sounds lonely."

"It's not that bad. Then again, I have all my animal friends to keep me company."

"Ah yes, Luna told me you took care of animals. I suppose that's why you had me meet you here?"

"Yes. This is my favorite part of the castle. And besides, it's nice and quiet, peaceful."

"I agree with that sentiment. So, tell me, Fluttershy, what do you want to teach me?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Really? I figured Celestia or Twilight would have drawn up some over-arching goals for each of you when it came to these little meetings. Pinkie certainly had everything figured out when we talked."

"That doesn't surprise me. But no, they didn't give us instructions or anything like that. Other than to be your friends, I suppose."

"Well I'm not against that. Which element did you represent again?"

"Kindness."

"That makes sense. It takes a big heart to take care of other living creatures."

"Th-Thank you. But I'm not perfect or anything. There have been a few times when my nature has gotten the better of me."

"Oh really? Do tell."

"Well, for example, the first time I came to the gardens. It was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, and I was so excited to see all the critters that Celestia keeps here. I was so sure that they would all be my friends and we would have a great time."

"Didn't turn out that way?"

"Let's just say I got a little frustrated. It got to the point where I was trying to catch them in nets. In the end, I caused a stampede which ran right through the main ballroom of the palace."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. Rainbow said I had a look of pure anger on my face, yelling at the critters to love me," Fluttershy began chuckling a little at the memory, "For a few weeks, Rainbow made jokes about 'Flutterage'."

Blue Star put a hoof in front of his mouth to keep from laughing, "That's some story. I assume that everything worked out in the end?"

"Oh yes. The next time we came to the castle, Celestia came out here with me and assured the critters that I was a good friend. Things got even better after I took care of Philomena."

"Celestia's phoenix?"

"You know her?"

"That bird is older than me. Yes I know her. Celestia actually let you take care of her, that's a big vote of confidence."

"Well, actually," Fluttershy began, getting a little smaller, "I kind of stole her."

"You stole Philomena," Blue Star exclaimed, "and lived to tell about it?"

"Well I thought she was sick, she was losing her feathers and had gotten all pale. I couldn't stand to see her like that, so I stole her and brought her back to my cottage for healing."

"Oh, I think I know where this is going."

"After a whole day of trying, and Twilight and I avoiding the royal guards who were looking for her, Philomena eventually burnt up into ashes."

"That's what I thought."

"I was devastated. I thought Celestia was going to banish me or throw me in a dungeon or something. I never cried so hard in my life."

"Then Philomena rose from the ashes and everything was alright, right?"

"Exactly. I didn't know she was a phoenix, I had never seen one before. So I thought she had really died, on my watch, no less. Sometimes, its best to just leave well enough alone."

There was a lull in the conversation. Fluttershy said hello to some of the animals which came up to her. Blue Star just sat there in mute contemplation.

"Fluttershy, I have to ask you. Are you afraid of me?"

"Well, I am afraid of a lot of things. And it didn't help when Twilight told us you had returned from being banished. I naturally assumed you were some sort of threat."

"Can't blame you on that one."

"But then she told us how Luna reacted to seeing you and all of that, and we all felt much better."

"I'm no saint," Blue sighed, "I've made a lot of mistakes. Some worked out, just like in your stories, and some didn't. I owe a lot of ponies a lot of apologies. Too bad most of them are gone."

"What about those who are still around?"

"I don't know if they want to hear them. Not to mention that I am terrible at apologies. I'd rather do something to rectify a situation than say something."

"You don't seem to have difficulties with words."

"They say actions speak louder than words, and I follow that mantra. Then again, it was actions that got me into this mess, so I don't suppose they would be very good at getting me out of it."

Again there was silence.

"Celestia would accept your apology," Fluttershy continued, "and so would Luna. They've seen a lot, and a lot of time has passed. I know it's hard, but if you want to make sure your relationships with them are as good as they can be, it must be done."

"You're right, Fluttershy," Blue Star said, getting to his hooves, "thank you."

The ageless stallion began to walk off toward the castle.

"Where are you going," Fluttershy asked.

"To speak with my nephew."

*--*--*--*--*

It took Blue Star an hour's worth of asking various servants and guards to find Blueblood. As it turned out, he was in the royal library. When Blue came across him, his muzzle was deep in a history book.

"Trying to find my name," Blue Star asked, startling the prince.

"No, uncle," he responded, "just brushing up. It's been awhile since I've read this book."

"Well good. As my brother would say, 'Reading is the gateway of intellect'."

"Did grandpa used to say that, or are you making that up?"

"He really did. He was a few years older than me, you know. Sometimes he would help me with my schoolwork."

"That's nice. Were you looking for me, uncle, or just coming to the library."

"As a matter of fact, I was looking for you. I have something I wish to tell you."

"OK," Blueblood said, magically closing the book, "I'm listening."

"Blueblood, this might not make a lot of sense, but I have to say this. I am sorry. I should have been around, I wish I could have been around. Not just to see you grow up, but to see your ancestors before you. By all rights, I should have been an uncle many times over before now, and I am sorry that I missed those experiences."

"I understand."

"There is more. I am sorry to my brother, Blue Shield. I was his only sibling, after all, and he was mine. When I was banished, he lost a brother. And although he obviously had a family of his own to love and take care of, I am sorry for any heartache that I caused him. I know this is a thousand years too late, but it had to be said."

"It's OK, uncle," Blueblood said, coming up and throwing a hoof around in a hug, "What's done is done, I suppose. There's no going back and changing anything. It's like when you read something that happened in a history book. You may wish you could go back and change something, keep something from happening, but the truth is, you can't. You can only live with the consequences of actions."

Blue Star patted his nephew on the back, "You're right, Blueblood, you're right. Now, one more thing, I have two more apologies to make, and I want you to bear witness to them. Tonight, at dinner, don't be late."

*--*--*--*--*

Dinner couldn't come fast enough for Blue Star. He wanted to stave off the temptation of rehearsing what he was going to say, opting instead of speaking straight from the heart. But the more time passed, the tougher this became.

When dinner was finally served, everypony was in attendance. Celestia and Luna were at the ends, Fluttershy was on one side, with Blue Star and Blueblood on the other. As soon as the opening salads were served, Blue Star took up his wine glass in his magic and caused it to ring as if he had struck it with something. This had the effect of getting everypony's attention.

"In lieu of a toast this evening," he began, "I would instead like to issue two apologies and a thank you."

"Really," Luna asked, "to whom?"

"First," Blue turned slightly to his left, "to Princess Celestia. I apologize for everything that led up to my banishment. I apologize for questioning your judgement. I apologize for crossing you, by either sharpness of tongue or sharpness of magic. That was wrong of me, and I deserved worse than what I got. I should consider myself lucky that I am out of Tartarus and still alive, instead of holding onto anger from centuries past."

"I accept your apology," Celestia said with a nod, "Thank you."

"Secondly," Blue now turned to his right, "I apologize to you, Luna. I apologize for not being here waiting for you when you returned from your own exile. I should have been here, but I was not, serving out my just punishment for allowing my emotions to override my better judgement. By my calculations, we lost four years or so of being together and enjoying each other's companionship, and I know I can't get that back."

"You know you didn't need to apologize," Luna sighed, "but thank you just the same."

"And finally," Blue now turned to the pegasus across the table, "thank you, Fluttershy. The Element of Kindness is still strong within you. Thank you for what you told me earlier today in the garden. Thank you for trusting me with those potentially embarrassing stories. And thank you for giving me the confidence to apologize to Celestia, Luna, and Blueblood as well. I am indebted."

"Th-Thank you," Fluttershy said meekly.

"Now that that's out of the way," Blue Star raised his glass slightly higher, "we can eat. Cheers."

"Cheers," said everypony at the table.