Artist Luna

Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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The wind softly blew over the balcony of the canterlot castle. The evening rays washed over the castle as Princess Luna looked over the unfamiliar land scape. A thousand years was so long and so many things changed.

From the members of the guards to her very own Night Guard so many faces were unfamiliar to her. "Sister, is something troubling you?" startled she quickly turn around to face her older sister.

"No, nothing." Luna did her best to keep a straight face to hide her worries.

"Luna." with no success a sigh escaped her lips.

“Sister, it is a bit troubling to adjust to these fresh new faces, is all.”

Celestia seemed to know what to say in this situation. “Give it time Luna. I’m sure they’re just as anxious about making a good impression. I’m sure seeing you at ease will also put their worries at rest.”

"Okay." Luna felt  a bit relieved at her sister’s words.

"Come let us walk for a while."

The halls in the castle were larger than Luna was accustomed to, filled with mares or colts going about their business. Many would greet them as they walk by, the guards would stand at attention.

“How has your spell been coming along?”

“Fine…we have yet to adjust to being able to raise both thy holy body and the stars.”

"In due time sister there is no rush, I’m just happy to have you back. At the very least the Captain will be a familiar face.” Celestia’s words had struck a chord within Luna. Naruto would indeed be there and Luna wanted to make the best impression possible for all of those who would fall under her command.

For the rest of the evening Luna had fallen quiet. Finally it was night time and the moon was raised, but the night’s activities were far from done. Luna couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling the arrangement of stars she witnessed during her first night back. For all her sister’s sophistication it did not transfer to arranging the stars.

Luna was an artist. While Celestia was one that excelled in politics and public relations, Luna was more gifted in other things. She was more than a warrior princess, but a dabber of the many fine arts. The Sky itself was her canvas the stars were her paints, pastels, and pencils.

Luna’s arts were also self-indulged and kept from the public eye, with the exception of the night sky. Her efforts while unappreciated in general by the common eye were observed and praised by the silent voices of the observant.

For so many years the Princess of the moon was proud as her subtle workings were praised by poets. Used by sailors as guides and gazed at by common ponies.

Tonight though it seemed like that the stroke of brilliance attuned to the Princess would not come. “Gah, accursed the foul newborns!” the curse left the Princess’s lips as she tried to adjust to the newborn stars in the sky. To many it would have just been a random arrangement of twinkling dots in a black space, but to Luna it was her gift to the world. While Celestia nurtured their people Luna’s gifts were to the planet itself.

“Maybe a bit of tweak is necessary.” She would show her people beauty. She would bring art to the sky once again. Returning a gift, an apology to the planet for attempting to rob it of the day it thrived on and needed to survive.

It would be worth it.   The arrangements in her mind were differed enough from night sky enough to irritate her.  A few of the constellations had to be scooted together to give her the room needed. Luna dipped her horn in frustration when the arrangement dipped instead of smoothly and sharply coming together.

“Worthless…sloppy.” Luna muttered to herself. “Has the spark that fueled my designs waned in the Millennia passed?“ She closed her eyes and sifted through the centuries. It seemed there was no limit to Luna’s inspiration. Each night the arrangements would come to her with ease. For as the years past the birth of constellations would come to mind and even if few ponies noticed her work the stars was Luna Pride.

As the Princess grew so did her view of her art. Her views matured, from yearning praise to simply doing what she loved.  Suddenly it was as if the spark had returned.  With a wave of her horn stars began blinking into existence as they began to form an array.

A small shape was formed and crafted forming the shape of a gem. Soon multiple shapes began to take form, intricate in design as it filled the night sky. Those shapes were interwoven in a pattern that was then enclosed in a larger shape. The pattern of interwoven and super imposed gems continued as the Princess then sat back and admired her handiwork.

Luna stared at it. An unladylike sneer formed on her face. It was a hastily thrown together monstrosity that lacked any elegance to its shape or meaning. ‘You’ve lost yourself. You’ve lost what made you, you.’

It was that nagging voice, that nagging self-doubt. Her insecurity that was fueled by that Nightmare.

“Princess?”  A voice cut through the self-loathing voice of the ID.

“Sir Naruto? What is thou doing here?” of all people to catch her here in the midst of her breakdown.

“Forgive me princess, but your sister gave me permission to view the gardening. Watering plants and taking care of them is my hobby. I couldn’t with hold my enthusiasm of seeing them and she said you were rearranging the stars and I wanted to see.” The orange stallion blushed bashfully.

“You wish to see the stars?” it wasn’t an impossibility but unlikely. Naruto did not seem to have a lick of astronomy in him.

“Yes, I, you’re whole situation with the Nightmare, I know something so personal about you so I thought it’d be fair to share in return. I, I grew up as an orphan. My parents died because of a madme- mad-pony,” he corrected himself. The Princess for a brief moment noted this, but decided to dismiss it for now. She was sure whatever it was, it was personal business he wasn’t ready to discuss yet. “…and I grew up as an orphan because of it. The circumstances that also followed that day let my community to see me as a bad omen. I was the pariah of my home so I took comfort in any emotional response I could get, even if it was negative. Though when there were times I was by myself I took comfort in nature. I’ve come to love both the plants and stars because of their beauty. I guess I took comfort in the fact they never reject me, but I suppose you think I’m a bit silly huh?”

“We would never think so. Those detestable peasants were in folly to lay blame to a mere child. We are sorry thee had to go through that.” Luna sincerely remarked.

“I eventually proved myself and won them over though. Though circumstances led me here, forgive me princess but I don’t feel up to talking about those circumstances yet. Maybe later down the road once we’ve both fully adjusted to our roles in life.”

“That would be wise.” She remarked as they both turned to the sky. Luna couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.  “Sir Naruto, why did thee find himself so able to be open to me?” she couldn’t help but be curious.

Naruto turned to her and grin. “That’s what friends do, right?”

Luna was stunned silent. Friend? When was the last time she had a genuine friend? There was her sister, but then again Celestia was her sister. She had loyal subjects, attempted suitors and the likes, but Luna couldn’t recall the last pony she would call a friend since she and Celestia defeated Discord. Many of her friends never came back from that battle. There was also the fact this blond was so casual with her. Even with his experiences with Nightmare Moon he treated her like they were not once in the same. Speaking of experiences Luna couldn’t help but blush remembering that particular incident.

“Indeed.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I stay and watch? I love the stars and I’m sure you’ll make something amazing.”

Luna couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride and appreciation at the stallion’s words.

She closed her eyes once more, focusing on the feelings she was feeling. The stars began to feel the sky forming images that illuminated the sky. Though if a very attentive eye would have paid attention to a little gather of stars positioned near the moon they would see an arrangement made in the shape of a heart.

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Chapter end

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And another chapter done. So we’ve have both Luna and Twilight as prime candidates for the romantic option. Who will win? Show your support in the reviews.