Chapters *3rd person POV*
It has been one year since Luna’s return. Since then a lot has happened, but after defeating discord, changlings, and even King Sombra there was peace. And Luna started to get fed up with everyday life in castle. Luna was stuck in the boring castle since the day she returned, except for the Nightmare Night. But that did not help Luna get over her adventurous self. For thousand years she has been in the boring moon and now she was stuck in dull life of castle. She had to go out and get some fresh air or she will go crazy. However Luna did not show any sign of it. She did not want to border her sister, Celestia, for she was a busy mare.
As usual Luna lowered her moon and Celestia raised the sun. It was normal, typical every day and princess of the moon got really board. But she tries not to show it. She checked herself in the mirror and went down to meet her sister in royal cafeteria where they can eat breakfast. She opened the door to cafeteria and greeted the white alicorn mare with flowing colorful mane, then she sat down at chair in front of large table with food on it.
“How was the night Luna?” Celestia asked ever gracefully.
“It was alright I guess… nothing unusual,” Luna replied. She already got used to modern way of speaking. After a brief silence Celestia speak again.
“Um… Luna I was thinking if you would like to rest for a bit,” She said.
“If that’s not trouble for you I can use some rest,” Luna said “Why?”
“Well, first reason is you did not go out since Nightmare Night… and second reason is because I can see clearly that you are getting impatient,”
Luna felt her chick turns red at the statement “Non-sense!” Luna protested.
“HAHAHA,” Celestia laughed “Anyway I would like to give you a long vacation, maybe starting tomorrow?”
“Long vacation? How about raising Moon?” Luna asked
“You can raise moon anywhere my dear sister and I want you to get socialize with many pony. You are way too antisocial,” Celestia said with smile.
“For how long?” Luna asked.
“A month,” Celestia said with smile as Luna hugged Celestia.
“Thank you sister,” Said Luna with large smile on her face.
“But how about my royal duties?” Luna asked worriedly.
“Even Princess needs her month holiday… even I have one on the month of December when day is short,” Celestia said. “you can have June where night is short” Celestia said matter-of-factly.
“I appreciate that. I do need a long holiday,” Luna said chewing her food “thank you tia”
“After this you can pack your things, where do you want to go?” Celestia asked finishing her food.
“Probably Ponyville that place is near and have few faces that I know” Luna said also finishing her food.
Next day, Luna lowered the moon and Celestia raised the sun.
“Tia, I am ready,” Luna said happily
“Good, I have already sent letter to Twilight so you can stay for one month,” Said Celestia. “The carriage is waiting for you out side,”
Luna looked outside to see golden carriage waiting for her.
“Thank you again sister see you in a month,” Luna said.
“Have a nice holiday Luna, remember to write,” Celestia said teasingly.
“I will… well bye sister see you in a month time,” And with the final hug Luna was on the way to her first vacation since her return.
A few hours later Luna was in front of twilight’s tree house/Ponyville library. The lavender unicorn with dark blue mane came out and greeted her happily.
“Hello princess Luna, it’s been quiet long time since we last meet. How is your life in modern world?” Twilight said with huge smile.
“Hello to you too, my life in modern world is ok. I can now speak like modern pony,” Luna said stepping in to the library. “Thank you again for letting me stay Twilight, where is Spike?”
“Anything for princess, as for Spike he went to train to become stronger dragon, he wouldn’t be here for another two months” twilight said.
Following afternoon was uneventful all Luna did was read and talk with Twilight and her friends, the elements of harmony. Luna had to conserve energy for tomorrow to do what she wanted to do in Ponyville: Adventure in Everfree Forest. Luna liked adventures but she couldn’t do much because she was in moon and royal duties. This time nothing will hold her back. Twilight liked the idea too she wanted to go to old archive located at the heart of Everfree Forest. The cyan color Pegasus with rainbow mane call Rainbow Dash wanted to tag along too. Then later every member of elements of harmony agreed to go. Luna was happy because venturing into forest fun but it is more fun when friends were tagging along.
Rarity, a white unicorn with purple mane wanted to collect gems, Applejack, an orange earth pony with lighter orange mane wanted to find rare apple that only grow in Everfree Forest. Pinkie Pie, another earth pony with pink coat and pink messy mane wanted to tag along because she thought it could be fun. Fluttershy, a shy, yellow Pegasus with pink mane wanted to come along too to find berries for her animals.
“This is going to be cool and it’s going to be 20% cooler now that I am coming along,” Said the egoistic Rainbow Dash with high Sprit.
“I believe they say Everfree Forest has rarest gems, with my magic I will be able to find a lot of it,” said Rarity with ton of high class pony.
“Now ah can finally taste the apples of everfree!” exclaimed the orange farmer pony.
“Oh, a…and I… I can find some delicious berries for my animals, if you don’t mine that is…,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Ooo, Ooo, it’s going to be super-duper fun!” shouted Pinkie while jumping around.
“Yes and let’s hope we find everything we want and come back safely,” said Twilight writing down some note. “I wish the old archive has some old books left,”
“Yes, Twilight is correct, let’s hope we find everything we are looking for,” Luna said with the gentle smile. “it is getting late you should go home and have good rest for tomorrow,” She added “Oh, and try to be here at about 7’o clock in the morning,”
“Ok,” the mares said in unison.
After they are gone Luna went to balcony and used her magic to raise the moon. And admire the night sky that she just created for a brief second and went to bad wondering what kind of adventure is waiting tomorrow.
*Luna’s POV*
I waited for the killing blow, instead booming sound echoed the forest. I open my eye to see a blue unicorn with black cape and red mane standing in front of me. He single handedly immobilized Ursa Major with binding spell. Then he turned to look at me.
“What in the hay were you doing?” the unicorn asked slightly annoyed.
“We were just exploring the forest,” I explained.
Mysterious stallion just sighed. Then he went to other 6 who were out cold, examining their state. I tried to stand but failed.
“Minor bone fractures…, and possibility of having minor concussions,” he mumbled then he turned to look at me.
I was trying hard to get up.
“Let me see,” he said coming to me.
He held my left wing and moved it
“OW!” I winced painfully.
“Sorry,” He said. “Can you move your leg?”
I shake my head. He sighed
“I know it is not confortable but I will use this carrier to take you to my house,” Said the blue pony emptying his carrier.
“No, would you mind if you can take us to the nearest town or hospital?” I asked not trusting the new pony.
“The nearest town is 5 hour by walking and there is no hospital near here either,” He said. “I don’t want to go to the town anyway. Look, if you don’t like me helping you, you can stay here, but forest gets dark really fast. If you stay you will be the dinner for the hungry monster. Your choice,” He said turning away.
“Wait! We do need your help, we should go to your house, please help us,” I pleaded.
“That’s more like it,” he said with a smile.
He turned around and levitated the unconscious mare into the carrier one by one, arranging them nicely. 6 of the mares could fit but I couldn’t fit, for I was bigger than normal mare.
“I will have to carry you on my back,” he said turning to me.
“WHAT? Y…you mean like piggyback?” I asked shocked.
“Yes, come on now,” He said lowering his back. “I will help you with my levitation magic,”
“Y…you don’t have to do that!” I said hesitating.
“AW, Come on!” he said annoyed “We don’t have time for this!”
“I…I am heavier than other mare…,” I said blushing heavily with shyness and embarrassment.
“Believe it or not, I have carried twice bigger stallion than you,” he said with small smile. “But if we don’t get out of here soon that Ursa Major will break free and attack us,” He said gesturing at the fallen beast.
I sighed and with the help of the strange unicorn I climb unto his back. It was somewhat comfortable. He would be the first one to carry me, the princess of the night, he should be grateful. The stallion was bigger than me but smaller than Celestia. He stood up and started to walk. Every time he took a step I could feel his firm, hard yet unbelievably comfortable muscle moving, and that made me blush even harder.
‘Come on Luna, grab yourself! You are princess of the night for my sister’s sake!’ I scolded myself inwardly.
After comfortable yet uncomfortable ride, we came to massive ruin of what it seemed to be a small town, which was built with stone, in the heart of Everfree Forest! We went to particularly big, less ruined mansion.
“We are here, this is my home even though it’s a ruin,” He said walking in to the building.
It looked like some sort of library, except it had no books. But the building had book shelves carved out of the stone, some broken, some still standing. The stallion carried us to one big room and laid us there, the room was clean, and it was as big as my room. The room had bed, table and some unknown plants.
“This is one of the usable rooms in this building,” Explained the mysterious stallion.
“Thank you… may I ask your name?” I asked.
“Star, you can call me Star,” He answered. “And you are?”
“I am Luna,” I said waiting to see his surprised face.
“Nice to meet you Luna, if you will excuse me I will bring some medicine and properly treat you and your friends,” Star said casually, going out of room.
“O…ok,” I said surprised that Star did not know who I was, who does not know his princess? But I might like that way… clearly this pony will treat me as normal pony.
Later he came back with bandages, potion, medicine, and some other stuff.
“Let me see…,” Star came to me and starts to treat my wound.
“You are really lucky that you and your friends have such small injury,” He said bandaging my crippled wing. “You should be good to go by next week,”
After he was finished with me he went to other mare and started to treat them. And I raised the moon since it was time or else there will be chose in the Equestria and Tia will worry about me. He brought several mattresses blanket for us to sleep on and rest.
“I will be in next room if you need me,” He said giving us the privacy. I simply nodded then he closed the door.
I laid down in the bed, thinking about what happened today. Today was the most interesting day of my life. Fighting an Ursa Major, getting hurt really bad, almost died, saved by Star… Star was strong, smart, and cute stallion. Wait did I just said that? I was clearly losing my mind. Me, the princess of the night sister of the Celestia herself, was thinking about this stallion who I just met and barely know… yes I have to know more, maybe I could peek his dream. That was everyponys weak point, where they share their deepest thought. Some will be offended but a little peek would not be harmful… anyway that is my job as a night princess. I will just peek through his dream and get to know him better. Yes, just a little peek wouldn’t hurt will it?
Star’s Memory and Luna’s Feeling
*Luna’s POV*
I drift in to sleep. This is how I took care of the night by sleeping. Irony, sleeping in the job… but I don’t just sleep. I use my magic to turn my conscience or some might say my spirit to go out of my sleeping body into other pony’s dream. But since my body is resting, and I am in the state of dreaming, my body will be fully rested so I can live in the day time. In another words when I do work I feel renewed.
As I went into Star’s Dream I found myself in the forest looking at the town made out of stone just like Canterlot but of course in much smaller scale. It took not long for me to know where I was. The town was the ruin I was currently sleeping. But the town looked so lively, ponies were there from young to old even though it was night they were having party, for what? I don’t know. I decide to go nearer the ponies that were in the dream can’t see me, but the owner of the dream can see me. In this case I do not wish to be found. They looked really happy. I went even nearer so I could hear what they were saying.
“Its best birthday party for young master Eclipse,” One pony said.
“Ya, he is becoming 200 years old now,” The other replied.
‘200 YEARS OLD!’ I never knew who could live that much other than me and Tia,’ I thought. But it could be possible since it was dream.
I moved my location so that I can hear other ponies talk.
“Mommy what is this flower?” A little filly asked.
“It’s a Rose-of-Sharon, it signifies eternity, master Eclipse loves them,” Replied the mare who seemed to be the filly’s mother.
‘I would want to see this master Eclipse, must be important…,’ I thought.
“Hello master Eclipse,” I heard, I turned to look at the said master.
The young master who lived for 200 years was younger than what I thought. In fact he was just a little unicorn colt who seemed to be 7 or 8 years old. But I noticed something; he had wings, a bat wings. But how? I thought loyal blood line was the only alicorn, and alicorn with bat wings?
“Impossible,” I said inwardly.
“Where is Joyful?” The young master asked.
“She is over there playing,” said the pony with the smile.
“Thank you,” the alicorn colt said with the cute voice and ran to the direction of the filly.
I smiled at the sight. Until one arrow fly and hit the smiling filly. Filly screamed and died bleeding. The party became a kill zone in matter of seconds, there were arrows flying from everywhere. The colt was gone by the time I looked back. The rain of arrow stopped and ponies with swords charged in. I couldn’t I identify their faces. They started to kill everypony they could see. They light the fire in the house with ponies still in it. They even slit open young filly’s throat and leave the filly die slowly. I couldn’t bear to look at it. I couldn’t even cry at the event. The smell of burning flash and the blood filled the air. It was too much, the scream of the dying pony echoed the forest. In the ground the blood flowed like river, body of the dead filled the ground. The scream got less and less as the number of dead rises. A minute later they dragged two ponies. One was stallion the other was unicorn mare. The stallion had horn and the bat wing which were identical to the colt’s wing. The mare looked like the stallion’s wife. They were the colt’s parents.
“What are you doing here?” a voice came from behind me.
I turned to see Star standing behind me.
“T…this…i…is it…,” I tried to say something and Star cut me off.
“Night mare?” he asked. I nodded. “No, it’s my memory… and those are my parents,”
I turned around to see the two ponies from earlier being hanged, dangling lifelessly.
I couldn’t say anything. Then I saw a pony overlooking the whole event from the cliff and gestured the other pony to leave and the ponies left, leaving behind all the dead body and burning house. Then the rain poured, and the dream ended.
I opened my eye and found myself in the room. I felt tear flowing down my face. I got up and stand with 3 good hooves of mine and got out of the room. When I went out I saw Star staring at me. Then I started crying. He came to me and hugged me, the warmth of his body made me cry even more. A few minute later he carried me outside the building to cool me off.
“This place used to be happy place with laughter, love, care, fun… now it’s just me alone,” Star said with sad tone. “I am Star Eclipse, son of Black Eclipse and Sweet Victory. The dream that you saw was my past, my memory of everypony I knew dying. If you ask how I survived, I was hiding inside that tree, where my parents were hanged,” He gestured the huge tree with small hole on the bottom of the stump.
“Star I… I am so sorry I looked in to your dream, I shouldn’t have…,” I apologized. I felt my eye getting wet again.
“Doesn’t matter, but who are you? How can you look into other pony’s dream?” He asked.
“I am Luna princess of the night…, it’s my job to look into dream of the people and guide them or save them from fear…, which in this case I failed…,” I said with sad tone.
Star chuckled at the statement. “You failed badly,” He said. “We are here,” He said stopping.
It was just outside of the town there was a large field with hundreds of flat stone with words carved on it… It was tomb stones, hundreds of them, all died in this town in that brutal massacre. There was tree tomb stone right at the start of the field.
“The first two are my parents and the other one is… well a close friend of mine,” He said.
Here lies Joyful Heart
My good friend
My comforter
My Love…,
“Was Joyful Heart your very special some pony?” I asked after reading the tomb stone.
“I loved her but she didn’t know… I wanted to tell her I loved her on my birthday… I couldn’t,” I saw a small drop of tear running down his cheek. “Let’s go back,” he said turning around walking toward the mansion with me on his back.
As I looked at him my heart felt heavy, after all that has happened to him, yet I felt warm feeling deep inside my heart, I wasn’t fool, I could see that I was falling for him.
I had a lots of question but it has to wait, for now I wanted to enjoy this ride on his back...
*3rd person POV*
Star Eclipse is an unusual pony. He was member of Eclipse Clan which has extinct long, long time ago. The clan used to have over 500 members. Now Star is only survivor of long forgotten clan. And he too wants to forget about it more than anything. But his dream does not let it happen, he always dreams about that night. The night which all of his clan brutally slaughtered right in front of his vary eyes. The image burned and carved inside his brain. However the faces of murders was not clear. But one thing is sure: they were ponies, or looked like ponies.
Another unusual feature that Star had been the fact that he is an alicorn, furthermore his wings looked like that of dragon’s. He had blue coat with red mane and tail. His iris was purple in color and had scar across his right eye, but he wasn’t blind. He got the scar on the day his clan was attacked . He already had a cutie mark. But that cutie mark was as odd as his wings. His cutie mark was a sun, which resembled Celestia’s cutie mark, was being covered by black circle. What could this mean? Star himself don’t know the answer to that question.
He is now living in Everfree Forest all by himself since the murder of his clan. He never thought of revenge but the murderer would have all died over the time. So he just lives inside the forest untouched by any one.
His day starts normally. Even though he is living alone he had to work to survive. So every morning he goes out to forest to get fruit, barriers and some food. After that he trains his magic, strength, and flying. Everfree is dangerous he needs to be ready for the any monster attacks. Then he goes to grave of his clan including his parents, located just outside of ruin town. After that he does the house work and he eats lunch. Normally he would have nothing to do at afternoon so he draw, write, read, sing, play musical instruments and even sculpturing, Just to kill the time. Therefore he has lots of skills. He was doing this for almost 900 years now. Everything since then was just the same and Star liked it that way.
He opened his eye from the sleep and get ready to go out as usual, he got his black cape on which covered his wings and his cutie mark, a saddle bag, and his carrier and set out to start another day, into the forest.
Luna and the gang were in the forest now. It was still early so the dense forest was dark and wet. But nopony minded even Fluttershy was ok with it. There were lots of berries, and fruit and they had one of the strongest ponies in Equestria, Luna. Rarity was getting dirty but she too did not minded she had already found 5 rare gemstone along the way, she was more than happy.
They have been walking for 4 hours, the mares were getting tired.
“I think this place is good to rest don’t you think?” Luna asked the mares.
“It’s dry, sunny, but has shade to rest. Yes, it is a good place,” Twilight said putting down her saddle bag at the dry spot.
“Where is Apple jack? If you don’t minded me asking,” Fluttershy said shyly.
“Ah am here!” familiar southern accent shouted from not far away inside the forest.
Everypony went to Applejack.
“Applejack you shouldn’t wonder around like tha…, Oh my sweet Celestia!” Twilight gasp in awe when she saw what caused Applejack to wonder around.
“Eeyup! Apple tree of Everfree, the Golden Apple tree!” Applejack said happily “Ah never thought ah would find it this easy, but what the hey I founded it now,”
“Cool!” Rainbow shouted in amazement “What are we waiting for? Let’s eat”
“Darling let Applejack try first,” Rarity said plucking one golden apple from the tree giving it to Applejack.
“Thank you Rarity,” said Applejack with a humongous smile on her face. “This… this is the most delicious apple I have ever tasted!” She said with most dreamy look she had ever made after eating the apple.
“GUYSGUYSGUYSWEGOTTARUN!” Suddenly Pinkie pie came out of nowhere shouting.
“Not now Pinkie can’t you see we are busy?” Rainbow said annoyed biting off the apple in her hoof.
“Ah am ready! I packed many apple in mah saddle bag so I can go back and try to plant them,” said Applejack.
“If it was so easy to find in Everfree Forest why did nopony wanted to get it before?” Luna asked.
“They say it is guarded,” AJ said.
“By Whom?” Rarity asked.
That was when AJ’s face dropped “By…,” but her answer was cut short by a loud thundering roar.
“By Ursa Major…,” AJ finished.
Everypony froze. As the a giant beast was looking at them. Even Luna froze, she have never confronted something like this. There was a time when Ursa Minor went berserk but this was different. If Ursa Minor was a size of barn then Major was the size of the entire town hall in Ponyville. And it looked really pissed.
Twilight knew running was futile but attacking it would be suicide.
“Do not make sudden movments,” Twilight said really silently but loud enough for everypony to hear
“I will distract it from you and you will have to run” Luna whispered eyeing on the beast.
“Princess that is suicide!” Twilight whispered back.
“But that is our only chance,” Luna replied. “When I say run, run as fast as you can to that cave at the end of the cliff,” Everypony nodded.
“RUN!” Luna shouted. With that Luna fly pass the Ursa Major and fly to the opposite direction from the cave.
But instead of following Luna as she hoped the monster went straight for the elements of harmony.
“Oh, Horse feather!” Luna cursed
She tried to helped them but it was too late. The beast swung its large arm at the panic mares. Just before the impact Twilight cast a protecting spell but failed to block the blow. All it did was absorb as much force as it can from the blow. That was just enough to weaken the blow so they would not get killed. Six mares were badly injured from that first blow. Luna had to act fast. Or they will not survive the next blow. Luna fired a magical blast at the beast. To her despair it missed but it got the beast’s attention now beast was charging at her. Despite its size the beast was really fast. She tried to doge the beast but the beast grabbed her within its claw. She could feel the extreme pain on her left wing. In the last attempt she fired another blast hitting the beast in the face. Luna then regretted immediately. instead of releasing her the beast throw her upward in to the midair. As she fell she tried to fly but her disabled left wing refused to listen to her brain. Even though the left wing was disabled she tried very hard to slow down her free-fall. She partially succeeded when she hit the ground she felt extreme pain shooting out from her right front leg, but she was alive, now even more enraged Ursa Major was drawing nearer to the helpless Luna. 5 of mane 6 was out cold the only one that were conscious was Rainbow. Rainbow saw the helpless state of princess of the night she wanted to do something. No, she HAVE to do something she could not fly but she could stand and walk. She walk toward the Ursa Major. Before the beast could reach its target she grabbed a stone and throw at the beast.
“Eat this you over grown monster!” Rainbow shouted.
The beast was again distracted and slowly walked over to Rainbow. Ursa Major knew they can’t run so it had no reason to rush. Rainbow backed away don’t know what to do next. But now it was Luna’s turned to attack again she had to deliver a big enough damage to disable the beast for maybe couple of hour she aimed at the beast and gave everything she had she collected every bit of magic in her at that fire. It was their last hope. She couldn’t aim properly but she had to fire now or she had to risk Rainbow getting caught in the blast. Luna took a deep breath and fired.
BOOM!
It was not a direct hit but it was enough to knock down the large beast. Luna limped toward her fallen friends found out they were thankfully alive just out cold. But she had no way of getting out of here. The beast stood up once more. It now had murderous look on its face and Luna knew this was the end. The beast roared and charged at them. Luna closed her eye shot.
‘Good bye, Tia’ she said inwardly.
meanwhile Star was getting berries from forest. He collected fairly many today, he put the basket full of barriers at his carrier. He turned around to go back to his house. Than he heard a large BOOM, Star immediately knew something was not right he went to the direction.
When he reached to the dusty area where it looked like there was an explosion, he saw some ponies lying down lifelessly and one confronting an angry Ursa Major. They did not looked good and Ursa Major looked mad, really mad. Without thinking he ran to the charging beast and stood in front of the charging beast. Not wasting a second Star delivered a blast big enough to send Ursa Major flying. He used magic again to bind the beast so it could not move again. When he turned around he saw a dark blue alicorn looking at him.