The Second Sister

Chapters

One Thousand years of loneliness.
Of Those Thousand Years
Only one was memorable
In all my days

One Thousand years of loneliness.

In the days of Equestrias youth, when magic was hard to understand and the weather listened to no pony, two princesses were sent from afar with one order: Rule the people and bring them out of the darkness. The irony of those words weren't lost to the younger sister, for it turned out that she was the ruler of the night and darkness called out to her.

While her sister spread light through out the land, the younger princess rose the moon each dusk and despaired as her subject, who had relished the warmth of the sun, turned their backs upon her gift and slept until the sun lifted into the sky once more. Devoid of the love and admiration from the ponies she ruled over, the Moon Princess was left to dwell with an empty heart in a kingdom that shunned her. The elder princess was so exuberant in her task of bringing light to the ponies of Equestria that she failed to see that the only place her light didn't reach was her own sister. How could a mare feel joyful in her duties when she was so alone?

Two hundred years passed in silent work and the Night Princess withdrew to the point of isolation, shunning those who had turned their backs on her and leaving the castle only to lift the moon at her sister bidding. Each new morning it grew more difficult to send her beautiful silvery moon and stars away, for they had become her only true friends in her lonely existence. A star could never turn away the quiet words whispered in the darkness and the moon became the light in which she lived.

There was one night, only one, where the second sister would not be so alone. A night that the scorned mare tried to send on forever.

Princess Luna, second sister of the ruler Celestia, and Princess of the Night, left the confines of her chambers in favor of sitting under her glorious moon above. She was full tonight, Luna noticed, a summer full moon, was there a more beautiful sight to behold?

"Good evening my friends," The blue mare spoke in soft tones, for the night winds carried far on their own. "You're making the night so beautiful."

No reply would ever be given, so Luna did not wait for one and instead sat herself at the edge of the balcony where she could admire the lay of the land in the silvery glow of night. How anypony could turn away from this, she likely would never know, there was hardly a more beautiful sight to behold in all the world. It was a solace that she allowed herself to enjoy nightly, for she had so few pleasures as of recent. Unlike Celestia.

...Celestia. Perfect beloved elder sister. All of Equestia blessed the ground she stood on and they spent each and every day praising her name and the light she brought to them. Why did they not realize that the moons light was just as good, just as bright and even more beautiful. You could look upon the moon at night, whereas if you tried to lay your eyes on the sun your eyes would burn. Why did they not understand? Her sisters perfect sun was anything but! The sun burned their fair subjects and made the working day harsh for the strong Earth ponies, but STILL, STILL they praised the name of Celestia and thanked her for each new dawn.

Where was her thanks? The magic it took to bring the night was just as extensive as it was to lift the sun, why did they spurn her gift of a cool reprieve and silvery beauty? Why did her subjects, HER subjects, ignore all of her daily work.

Why did they ignore her?

Princess Luna clenched her teeth and willed the shine covering her eyes to vanish. She was a royal Princess and crying would do nothing for her now. If the ponies of Equestria chose to ignore her, then that was their choice. After all, who would choose her over the all powerful Celestia. She sneered at the name and tilted her head back to gaze up at the moon. Celestia. Celestia. Perfect wonderful Celestia. She would always be the forefront of the love and the praise, how could the Sun Princess and elder sister possibly come second in anything? Even if her sun burned and scalded the ponies and hid the stars that were perfect to wish upon. But of course she would always be first, she was perfect, even her shining pink mane reflected the dawn glow....the first light of the sun.

As anger bubbled, the second sister pushed back to her hooves with an annoyed burst of air. "Tia Tia, Tia's so perfect." She spoke in quiet tones as she stared across their land... no, Celestia's land. "Tia can do no wrong. Long live Celestia and her perfect sun. ARG!" She stomped her forehoof in rage and narrowed her eyes towards the East where the sun would appear come morning. "Why can't they see what I can do? Why can't they see how perfect everything is after the sun's finally gone? Why do they insist on ignoring me after everything I've done-"

"Your highness?"

The softly spoken inquiry ended the Princess tirade instantly and Luna's head whipped around as she rose to her full height. "WHO INTRUDES UPON OUR SOLITUDE?" She asked using the royal Canterlot voice as she adapted a bored expressing.

Undaunted, a soft golden unicorn mare stepped out of the royal chambers. Her maroon mane was styled in a bun below her ears and her green eyes were cast to the ground, out of fear or respect Luna couldn't tell. Her horn was lit was a soft mint green glow that matched her eyes, and a covered tray floated beside her.

"Forgive me, Princess. I could not help but notice that you were absent for the evening meal. I took the liberty of bringing you a platter." The mare responded, lifting her head ever so slightly. "I know your tastes are varied, so there were a number of delicacies made in accordance." She bent the knee of her right foreleg and bent into a respectful bow. "And a pot of chamomile and dandelion tea as well."

Luna's bored expression faded just slightly as she watched the golden unicorn. This was a member of Celestias staff, how did she know what she preferred to drink? "RISE." She spoke, still using the royal voice. "WE THANK THEE. WE ARE A BIT PARCHED, THOU WILL POUR US A CUP."

Undaunted, the mare rose from her bow and walked the rest of the distance between them, lifting the silver lid from the tray as she did so. A variety of food appeared, and in the center was a silver tea kettle with a crystal goblet beside it. By the time the servant stopped her approach the kettle and glass had lifted and the tea was being poured. "You're Highness." She dipped her head and used her magic to hold the goblet towards the princess.

Luna took the beautifully carved glass with her own magic and turned out to the land once more while she sipped the warm brew. Not many ponies could create the drink just as she liked it, often Luna found herself mixing the flowers herself so it would be just right. This night appeared to be the exception, for the tea had the perfect taste. "Thank thee." Luna spoke again, this time using the less formal speech that her sister was fond of. "It is delicious."

She heard the soft expulsion of relieved breath then the mare spoke, joy apparent in her voice. "I'm so glad you enjoy it, your Grace." There was silence for so long there after that Luna assumed the unicorn had left her to her solitude. The peaceful tone that spoke suddenly almost had her jumping in surprise. "The full moon looks beautiful tonight, Princess. You rose it perfectly."

Astonishment obvious on her face, Luna turned to look at the smaller pony and she set her goblet down upon the still floating tray. "You watched while we lifted the night?" She asked.

"Oh yes," green eyes finally lifted to meet her own and the small mare smiled an openly honest smile. "I watch every dusk. The night is my favorite time you see." She became flustered, as if admitting her joy in something was not an every day activity. "You can see the things that are hidden during the daytime. Forgive me your Grace, I'm carrying on." Her gaze fell to the ground once more.

"Tell us what can only be seen in the dark," Luna spoke too quickly and she cleared her throat in an attempt to compose herself. "We so rarely hear the common ponies praise personally." Very smooth, Luna. She scolded herself.

The unicorn seemed not to notice though. Her smile returned and she lifted her eyes back to the Princesses as she took one earnest step forward. "When night falls, all the notice fades away and nature comes out. You can hear the crickets and the owls. Even the softest of winds can be heard. I once heard of a mare who insisted that the stars twinkled. On the quietest of nights, I think I can hear that too." She sighed softly and looked up at the moon. "The fireflies come out and play all over the fields, night flowers bloom and you can see candles light up all over Canterlot. It's beautiful and cool and quiet. It's the only time I can read my books in peace."

The praise was nearly too much for the second sister. Never before had someone spoken so passionately about her night. Truly....truly there was another pony who understood. At long last. The loneliness that plagued her eased nearly instantly and she knew that if she were to continue with her royal duties, she would need to have this mare nearby often. "Tell us your name, please." She was appalled at how choked her voice sounded.

The golden mare's gaze once more landed on the princess and she smiled. "Of course your Highness. I am called Starsing." She bowed once more and when she rose there was an understanding in her eyes as if ... is if she had known all alone how alone the princess truly was. "I am at your service."

That night was the first that Princess Luna spent entirely with company. She spent the entirety of it on the cusp of tears as the ache of loneliness ebbed inside of her. Surely, this night had to go on forever, she could not bare to part with Starsing now, not even during daylight hours when she was sure the unicorn would need to return to her duties. This kinship between them was startling and frightening but she knew she needed it. She craved it.

"It's nearly time for the sun to rise, Princess." Starsing rose from where she was sitting and offered the royal alicorn and smile. "I need to return to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

"No!" Luna leaped to her hooves, the thought of her new companion leaving was more than she could bare now that she had found her. "Wait. You needn't away to the kitchens so soon. Surely you can leave your duties to another for the day."

Starsongs smile slipped into one of sympathy and Luna found herself hating it. She hated being so transparent, it made her feel weak.

Even if that's what she was.

"Just as you can not leave your duties to another, I am sorely needing in the kitchen to feed the castle ponies." The small mare spoke as she collected the tray of eaten food and empty tea kettle. "No matter how much I love your night, It's the day that requires my full attention. I'm sorry, your Highness. " She dipped into a bow. "Have a good day. I much enjoyed our time together. Honestly." She rose and turned, trotting back into the castle.

Luna stared after her, mouth agape in shock. She snapped it shut and closed her eyes so tightly that tears squeezed free. She could not allow this. There was only a small handful of ponies in her life who had ever understood her night, she would not let another slip away, least of all slip away to the daylight. No, she couldn't let this happen. Celestia would not steal even more from her. For once she felt ... happy and she refused to allow it to collapse in on her like this.

It's the day that requires my full attention.

The day. Her teeth clenched in anger and sorrow and Luna looked towards the vanishing moon, then they closed. Celestias day. She would not be alone now that she'd had a taste of companionship, there was no way she could go back. Not now. If the night were to last, there would be so reason for daily attentions. No need for anypony to leave her alone when the sun rose. If the night were the last forever, she would never want for the love she desired. Ponies would then see the beautiful she brought to the world. They would see everything, they would understand. And Starsing would be hers.

"If my night carried on I wouldn't be alone." Head bowed low to the ground, Luna's horn lit with blue magic and the predawn light stilled it's assent. "If my night carried on I would finally be understood." Her eyes opened slowly, glowing with the blue magic she commanded. "If Tia's day doesn't come I can be the one loved for a change. If it's about me for once then they'll all see. I'll be first for the first time in my life." Her head rose as the moon crept back upwards into the sky and the dawns light began to vanish. "Stay with me, moon. If you stay with me, so will she."

The smile that crept across her face belied the true emotion she carried inside. For as her grin grew, tears fell free from her large eyes. Her sister. Her perfect wonderful sister, had ignored her pain for so long. Now she would see, they would all see.

They would all see.

"Starsing, look." The brown stallion chef of the kitchen called out to her from a window while they were well into the middle of cooking breakfast. She lowered the whisk she was using and bid his car, trotting to the window to peer outside.

"What am I looking at, Beater?" She asked in amusement. "It's too dark to really see anything you know."

"Exactly." The stallion said in an ominous tone. "It's still dark. The sun should already have risen by now, why is it still night time?"

"Oh surely..." Starsing faltered as she looked up. The moon, full in all of her glory, hung in the middle of the night sky surrounded by the stars. The sun, which should be above the horizon, was not even showing it's predawn colors. "But.... buy why?" She and the other chef exchanged frightened glances and her eyes widened in terrified realization. "Luna."

"The princess?" Beater frowned as the small mare turned tail and ran from the kitchen. "Wait, what has she to do with anything? Princess Celestia's the eldest, she isn't even a challenge!"

Princess Luna, Moon Above no. Starsing panted as she ascended the palace stars towards the western wing where the second sister resided. She wouldn't have, there was no way she would throw off the balance in this way. She would not be so naive as to think...

"Lower it, Luna."

The sharp command of Celestia's voice had the kitchen mare gasping in fear and she skidded to the stop in the hall, looking through the open doorway of Luna's chambers. Through the opposite open door, she could see out onto the patio, where Celestia faced off against a mare that looked nothing like her Luna.

"What's the matter, sister?" The unrecognizable alicorn retorted tauntingly. "Are thou afraid that our ponies will turn their love to me for a change?" She pawed at the ground and threw her head back. The moonlight caught her black mane and made it's sleekness shine like the night itself. Where Luna's cutie mark had been blue, had grown into a rich purple and even though the ominous change was foreboding, Starsing found herself transfixed.

"The land needs the sunlight. You're threataning the safety of our subjects with your foolishness. Lower your moon, sister or I will be forced to do it for you." Celestia's tone offered no room for question. Starsing had never seen her while she looked so dangerous. Upon her brow she bore a different crown as well, one adorned with stars instead of her usual golden piece. "I will not repeat myself again." She finished.

"Luna" chuckled and tossed her head again. Her once short and nearly styled mane flew long and wild, now transparent and waving with power. "You can not stand it, can you, Celestia? Your sun will never rise again. The night has long since been pushed aside as unimportant, and I along with it. Your ignorance did this to me, Tia. Do you see me now? Because you have only looked through me before." She stomped her hoof so forcefully that Starsing could feel the vibration through the floor. "You will NOT take this from me. This is my due. This is our due. WE ONLY WANT WHAT IS OURS BE RIGHT AND AS PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT I WILL TAKE IT BY FORCE!"

She reared back and spread her wings wide with an angry roar and Celestia did the same in response. The two sisters seemed evenly matched until the soft glow surrounding the elders horn enveloped the crown she was wearing as well. The light increased by tenfold and her eyes began to glow white with power.

"Hear me now, sister." Celestia spoke in a voice that echoed with strength. "You will not threaten my people again. I sentence you to one thousand years on the very thing you threatened them with. You were afraid of your self imposed isolation, so now you will be isolated for real. By the Elements of Harmony I command it!" She stomped her hooves back down upon the ground and a beam of white light shot forth and surrounded Luna.

"What?" Luna gasped and her pupils sharpened to points at the challenge. "WHAT IS THIS?! NO!" She kicked out and thrashed as the magic lifted her from the ground. "NO THIS CAN NOT BE. I WILL NOT GO, I WILL NOT BE ALONE AGAIN. NOOOOOOOO!"

"Noo!" Starsing ran through Luna's chambers to the balcony as Luna began evaporating. "No, Princess Luna!" She reared, as if she could reach her that way. "Princess please!" She turned to the elder sister instead, tears sliding from her eyes. "PLEASE! Don't send your sister away, reason with her, please she is not evil, THAT is not Luna!"

"No. It's not." Celestia replied in a numb quiet voice as she stared up after her sister. "That was a monster, and I'm doing what must be done for the good of my people."

Frantically, Starsing turned again and her horn lit with magic. "LUNA! Please stop! She's sending you away! Lower the moon!" She rose up into the air and held her hoof out as she lifted towards the black mare.

Luna looked down and her pointed eyes widened in recognition. She tried to shriek out for her help, but her voice was mute to her own ears now. She reached down with her own hoof, mouth agape in a silent scream. Starsing. I was doing this for Starsing. I just wanted to finally not be alone any more. Sister...please...Starsing

Starsing watched in abject horror as the princessed eyes transformed back to normal once more. Surely this meant she was recovering, surely Celestia would see it in time. Surely...

Luna threw her head back, her silent scream still apparent, as her body morphed into a wisp of black smoke and it shot up towards to moon above at such speeds that Starsing was not able to follow. "NOOO!" She cried out as she struggled to lift herself higher. "PRINCESS LUNA!" Her magic puttered and extinguished, sending her plummeting back down towards the earth with both front hooves still lifted towards the silvery orb in the sky. As she watched, the pattered of the mares head took form there, then she could see nothing else through her tears.

Celestia caught the falling unicorn and set her down carefully on the balcony ground while her eyes stayed on the moons new design. "I am sorry my sister." She whispered, her own eyes glistening with flowing tears. "It had to be done. "

"Why?" Starsing wept where she lay, her eyes closed as if she were too tired to open them. "Why did you have to, Princess? A thousand years? I am never going to see her again. I will die long before then." She ceased speaking then as her body shook with sobs.

The princess gazed down at the heart broken mare and she hung her head. "No." She agreed quietly. "You will never see her again. I am so sorry. That was no longer our Princess Luna. That was the result of years of neglect. I've failed my sister so badly, I see that now." She blinked and more tears fell. "I will regret this for the rest of my days." She turned and spread her wings to take to the sky and flew away.

As the moon faded from the sky and the sun rose, the golden unicorn lay still on the second sisters balcony, weeping silent tears for the desperation that Luna had been faced with. To be so alone for so long that she would give everything up to try and hold onto something she already had. And now, she would never see the princess again in her lifetime. One night was all they'd had together, and she knew...they both knew that it hadn't been enough.

For a thousand years, Princess Luna changed and evolved in her prison. Nightmare Moon now reigned there and she watched all each time the moon rose in the sky. She watched a small golden mare grow old alone, and die a hundred years later. She was buried in the Canterlot cemetery and Nightmare Moon wept tears of hate for being separated from the unicorn alone on her death bed. She would make her sister pay for this undue imprisonment and she had a thousand years to think about how she would do it.

Author's Note

This is sort of a prologue for the story. The end of the next chapter (hopefully) will bring in the lead OC for the remainder of the story. I hope you guys enjoy, if not...well tell me.

Of Those Thousand Years

1000 YEARS LATER

"Did you hear what happened?"

"The Princess was alive the whole time?"

"It wasn't just an old mares tale after all! Nightmare Moon was released from the moon, that's what I heard."

"Nightmare Moon escaped and tried to kill everypony in Ponyville!"

All throughout Canterlot Castle the ponies seemed to be talking of nothing else. The Summer Sun Celebration had been cancelled because the infamous Nightmare Moon had escaped to bring darkness upon the land. Apparently a mixed group of ponies had found the long lost elements of harmony and "defeated" her.

What a laugh. How did no one know the actual legend? Didn't anypony read anymore?

Well, no. One pony had known. The purple unicorn from Ponyville has known instantly who she was. Besides that one Mare though, it seemed that her history was lost with the sands of time. The second she had set hoof down in Canterlot she'd begun hearing the whisperes about the evil things she'd done and tried to do. What was almost laughable however, was how few ponies actually knew that it was she who was Nightmare Moon. Oh that would change with time of course, but as of now it seemed that the masses thought Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon to be two different mares entirely.

She would not be surprised if the whole of Equestria knew the similarities before nightfall.

"Sister," The soft spoken voice beside her pulled Princess Lunas thoughts outward again and she looked up at her radiant sister. Gone were the soft locks of predawn pink, and now a flowing rainbow of color shone with her magical power. She looked every bit the powerful ruler that Equestia had longed for.

"I am sorry." Luna lowered her head just so. "I was lost in my thoughts."

Celestia opened one wing and enfolded the younger sister into it. "Yes," she replied, lowering her head as well so it was nearer to her sisters. "I could tell. You looked so anguished. Let's go inside, there's much we need to discuss and you need to rest after." Her other wing rose and the elder princess stood upright and lead the way from their chariot along the path that lead to the castle. She seemed oblivious to the gawking and whispering that exploded around them. Luna wished that she too was blind and deaf to it.

The rugs were all different. And the tapestries too, they were different than they had been. There were now only two stained glass windows out of the entire hall that she could recognize. Where had that vase come from? That throne didn't used to be there, it was in a different room before. None of these guards were the same, even their armor was different. The very air she breathed seemed different than it had been before her banishment, it seemed less crisp. The pillars were different colors on top of it all. It seemed that everything she had knows was now gone and changed, oh what a depressing thought.

"Luna please. I need you to focus on what I'm saying to you."

"Huh? Oh!" Luna snapped to attention as her sister sat before her in the royal throne. Without it's right hand mate to accompany it where she used to sit, Luna found herself standing awkwardly on the stairs. "I am sorry." She apologized. It seemed to be all she was able to do any longer.

"I know things are overwhelming." Celestia soothed as she sat down. "But you need to focus. Things are different and a lot of time has passed. We will both have to work diligently during this growing season so that the harvest in Fall will be a full success but you still need to understand the situation on which it stands. You have been gone for a thousand years my sister, Equestria is no longer as simple as it used to be."

"I -I know Sister." Luna replied haltingly. They had once been on near equal footing, but now she was intimidated by the other alicorn. Celestia had grown in size as her power multiplied. She had with wisdom from over a thousand years of ruling the kingdom to call upon. While she, the younger, was back to her original size, no bigger than an average pony. Her horn had shrunk from the effects of the Elements of Harmony and now, dwarfed by her older, larger, smarter and much, MUCH more beloved sister, she had never felt more insignificant. "I have a lot to learn of this new Equestria... I understand."

Celestia nodded her regal head and her horn lit with a golden glow and for a moment Luna didn't understand why she was using her magic. Then, a small crown lifted out of a gold jewel encrusted case beside her and floated towards the small mare. It was so black that each glint of light had hues of blueish purple skittering across the surface and it was polished like the most precious of stones. "I have been saving this for you, Luna. For when you came back to me. I can only hope that you forgive me for what I've done to you, and that you understand why it had to be done." The crown that she was currently wearing was much cruder. Similar to color and design, it was smaller and the blueish purple was just a different stone that was fitted to curve around the outer edge of it. Her smaller crown was lifted from it's place and the new lovely piece of jewelry touched down behind Luna's horn, lighter than a feather despite it's thick stone appearance. "You will always be a princess, Luna, and my sister. It is far past time that you are treated as such."

Luna lifted a hoof before she could stop herself, feeling the smooth surface of the crown atop her head, and she watched in shocked awe as Celestia stood and a golden glow enveloped two rods on either side of the throne. With a nod of her head, Celestia had unraveled two banners and the younger princess gasped as the blue cloth unrolled down along the length of the wall. One one, a three stood under a rolling sky with a sun at the top. The other held the five different elemental designs, fire, air, earth, and water with what she could only amuse was magic at the bottom. Both banners were only covered in shades of blue, Luna's royal color.

"Oh...sister." Luna whispered as she looked back and forth between their designs. "Thank you."

"Come here Luna." Celestia side stepped once and smiled as she sat on the left side of the wide throne. "Sit with me now. We have much to talk about. As sister."

With an abundance of gratitude, Luna resumed up the stairs and sat beside her sister on the throne, and for the first time in a thousand years, she didn't feel alone any longer. She hadn't known how much she missed her sisters gentle comfort until then, and now that she was receiving it as she was, she knew that she never wanted to give it up for a foolish endeavor again.

Which brought forth the painful memory she had tried to repress. Her last memory before her banishment was completed was of a small golden mare striving to save her from her fate. She had known the crime that Luna had committed and even still, she had risked her own safety to try and rescue her from the Elements magic. The memory was so painful for her that her eyes closed and she burrowed closer to her sisters warmth. "Tia." She inquired in just a whisper.

"What is it, my sister?" Celestia looked down at the smaller alicorn and frowned at the expression on pain on her face. "Luna, what is the matter?" She slid her wing around the younger pony, hoping to offer her more comfort from her thoughts.

"The mare... Starsing. She has died?" She didn't know why she was asking. She herself had seen the pony's death, albeit it had been almost too hazy to watch from her vantage point.

"Oh, Luna." Celestia's sad response was the answer she had feared.

"I knew. Of course I knew... but I had to ask, sister. She was so good to me that night. She was so understanding." Luna shook her head and exhaled a pained breath. "Did she have a happy life? Please Celestia tell me that she had at least that. I need to know that she was not alone the whole of her existence." She opened her eyes and looked up at her sister imploringly.

Celestia hesitated, searching her sisters face. This small mare truly had meant sometime to her, she wasn't sure why, but it was obviously that Luna needed to know this. "She never married." She said honestly. "But she was not alone her entire life. She became chief of the kitchen staff and she made a name for herself as one of the most talented chefs in all of Equestria."

"But what she happy." Luna whispered.

"That, we may never know." Celestia replied apologetically.

Didn't anypony know that a library was not a place for gossiping? It was a place for reading and frankly, she was getting tired of the blatant inconsistencies and lies that they were spewing like it was going out of style. Nightmare Moon killed Princess Luna. Nightmare Moon USED to be Princess Luna and now they were both dead. Princess Luna tried to kill Celestia after turning back from Nightmare Moon and, her personal favorite idiocy, Nightmare Moon was actually Celestia the whole time and Luna was never really banished, she was in hiding.

Shaking her head, the unicorn librarian resumed her duties of re-shelving dozens of books at once from her desk near the front of the large three story room. Didn't anypony read any more... That is, read things BESIDES cheesy vampire pony series and bad romances centered around fillies and colts? Why did nopony read the classics any longer? Moby Dick by Herman Mareville. Buckleberry Finn or even Romeo and Muliet by William Saddlespier. Those were what ponied should be reading these days, not....not ... Fifty Manes of Grey. Ugh.

Alas, it wasn't up to her to save the declining literary tastes of the community. All she had to do was make sure that the written word was here, safe and sound for anypony who came along with the desire to open one up.

She sighed as the last book slid into place and smiled at a job well done. Two hundred books back in place before lunch, what a great start to the day. Well, granted most of those books were only out of place because she'd been reading them (hence the blue half open book as a cutie mark on her flank) but still, they were all back and she was proud of herself.

The Canterlot Royal Librarian used her forest green colored magic to right the crooked papers and name plate that read "Novella Paperback; Librarian" on her desk That done, she then again used it to fix her mane, which had gotten pretty rustled in her mad shelving spree. Her purple and raspberry striped locks fell back into place with some magical prodding and soon the mare was as good as new. She rubbed her hooves together, then began her patrol around the room to make sure everything was in it's place.

Little did the small light golden colored mare know, things would soon be thrown out of order. And one pony wouldn't be able to fix it on her own. It would take at least . . . two.

Author's Note

And the meeting shall happen in chapter three. Promise. ^.^

Only one was memorable

That night, Equestia was anything but silent.

The Canterlot that Luna had known and loved all her life was altered beyond recognition. Ponied were out well after sunset, lights lit the streets, large areas were filled with music and it was almost as if . . . as if ponies in this time enjoyed the night. What a thought. After a thousand years had her subjects finally, at long last, realized what a pure gift the night truly was? It was as if, finally, all of her dreams had come true.

And yet, Princess Luna found herself sitting alone on the same balcony where she had challenged her sister. The view no longer gazed out over a natural landscape, now instead she could see almost every inch of the expanding city with just a hint of the world beyond it. Oddly, the new change didn't enrage her like it once might have. She watched as ponies strolled around the streets and had fun even though the moon was high, and she inwardly rejoiced that she was finally able witness their joy in her world.

Celestia had been right all along. The world had changed, and in her opinion, it had done so for the better. Now matter how fulfilled she felt now, there was still one small thing that kept tugging at her attention, and the only way she would be able to satisfy her curiosity would be at the Library.

"Hoofbare before Hoovesington but before Hoofapple, there it is." Smiling when the found the small open space between covers at least three shelves high, Novella slid the book into it's proper place and swished her tail in accomplishment. Some might say her job wasn't all that important, or that feeling accomplished simply by making sure everything was in the right place was a little silly, but what pony wouldn't feel the same way she did? She was in chage of the largest collection of knowledge in all of Equestria, it was up to her (and a small number of part time fillies and colts) to keep everything perfect so ponies could locate whatever they wanted. Just imagine if some unlucky little pony couldn't find a beginners magic guide when they needed it!

Luckily, such a thing wouldn't happen while she was in charge of things. Novella had yet to even lose a book among the masses and she planned to keep her record spotless.

"I saw her! She was outside with Princess Celestia while she rose the moon!"

"So it IS true then! Princess Luna really is back? I thought I was all rumors."

The hushed whispers drew her to a halt on her way back to her desk in the front of the room. It was true? She sidestepped once and leaned near the bookshelf with an ear perked curiously, listening in to the conversation just on the other side.

"So did I! But I actually saw her. She looks just like she did in the old paintings. She certainly doesn't look evil."

"So she didn't look like," a pause and audible gulp could be heard, "Nightmare Moon?"

"No, she didn't look anything like ... Her. Princess Luna is actually back."

The mares were walking off by then and their voices faded, but Novella was still buzzing with information. It wasn't just a rumor? All this time she'd assumed that the ponies in Canterlot were just reading the Equestrian Enquirer again, that trash magazine was full of rubbish, but if the Princess was actually back... This was history in the making! One thousand years of banishment and finally Celestia's sister was free to rule as well, what were the odds that SHE would get to see such a momentous occasion come to pass? It was so exciting!

Giddy with excitement, Novella practically pranced back to her desk, imagining scenarios when she'd get to see the second princess at last. No... third. She had a hard time remembering that Cadence was a princess as well, since she'd grown up practically alongside the kindhearted alicorn. She still saw her wandering the gardens or out for a stroll in the city every now and then and she was so easy to love that the fact that she was royalty slipped ponies minds a lot of the time.

But Luna... This was different. The mysterious second half of Celestia was back and Equestria could be whole once more, it was mind blowing, so exciting, so exhilarating so...

"WE DESIRE A BOOK OF OUR KINGDOMS HISTORY."

The booming voice that echoed around the domed library drew a shriek from the unicorn just as she reached her desk and she dropped to the floor with her hooves covering her head. What sort of creature made that loud a voice? Hearing perhaps a dragon, Novella's green eyes peeked out to scan the room, but where was no dragon in sight. In fact, the only thing she saw besides books at all was a blue Mare standing beside the large double doors that lead outside. Her lighter colored mane was shorter than most mares wore it, but what caught her attention was the gleaming three pronged crown behind her horn. And when she saw that, she stayed on the floor for an entirely different reason.

"Your Highness." She gasped out as she bowed respectfully. This would explain the yelling, she was using the long since disbanded Royal Canterlot Voice. After being gone for a thousand years she was sure to think it was still proper to use it when addressing her subject. "It is an honor to have your presence here." She glanced up again from her low bow, expecting some sore of reply, but the Princess just watched her with those bottomless eyes, seeming to be frozen in place. "Princess?"

Luna stared at the golden coated unicorn bowing before her, unable to gather any coherent thoughts that she could use to reply. The small mare looked so familiar, the same golden color, the shade of green in her eyes was the same as well, a deep forest green. Her mane was two colors however, purple and maroon striped, but the maroon was a similar shade she remembered as well. If it weren't for the blue book cutie mark adorning her flank, this unicorn could had been Starsing herself after a dye job for her mane. The similarities were so prominent that her knees threatened to give out and she had to shake herself physically from her stupor. "TELL US YOUR NAME, LIBRARIAN." She commanded, hoping her voice didn't sound too shaky.

The other pony didn't seem to notice if it did. She remained bowed and although she shook as if the Royal Voice had frightened her, her voice was much stronger than Luna felt hers was.

"I am Novella Paperback your Highness." Was the reply she was waiting for. Of course. Of course this would not be Starsing. That mare who had spent a full night soothing her aching soul was long since dead. This reminder was like a jab to her very heart.

"RISE," Luna spoke again and this time her voice hardened against her will. She noticed the librarian flinch but she rose as she was told. She considered apologizing for her harshness, but her wound was raw again with the reminder of her would-be saviors death and humbling herself further was not something she wanted to do. "SHOW US WHERE THE ROYAL HISTORY IS. WE WISH TO READ OF THE EONS PASSED WHILE WE WERE ABSENT FROM OUR RULE."

Novella didn't miss a beat, and Luna respected her for that. "Of course your Highness. Please follow me." She turned and began to lead down the large center aisle. There was dozens of smaller aisles splitting off on both sides between rows and tall book shelves. Each case was almost completely filled with pages upon pages of writing, it was a startling difference from what she was used to. The Canterlot Library used to be a much smaller room, with a considerable less abundant book collection. She supposed a thousand years was more than enough time for ponies to fill this large hall.

But her guide didn't turn down any of the smaller routs, instead she lead her through a large archway in the wall that seemed to lead to another section. In this one, the lighting was softer, with fewer candles lit that the main room, and the room itself was round. It seemed as if two long book cases curved along with the wall, but they didn't meet opposite of the archway. Instead, at the far end of the room facing the opening was a mural of miniatures of all of the stained glass windows in the castle, as if it were only a reference guide. There were glass cases spaced around the circular room, most of them protecting a single book on a velvet surface.

"This is the Hall of Equestrian History." The librarian spoke in a soft voice, as if she did not was to disrupt the peace of the room. "The books in these glass cases are the oldest in all of Equestria, and only accessible through magic and must be read through the glass. The others." She gestured to the curved book shelves that circled almost the entire room. "And yours for the choosing. May I ask what in particular you are looking for, Princess?"

Luna studied the room, and when she spoke her voice was softer as well. There was a quiet magic here, one that seemed to resonate a peaceful feeling. She didn't want to disrupt that. "We are looking for any reference on... a chef." She nearly flushed at the look of odd curiosity the mare gave at her request.

"A chef? Your Highness this is not the proper room for a subject like that." Novella explained to her slowly.

"We are not daft!" Luna frowned. "Not any chef, there was a chef who served in the castle one thousand years ago. She began the most revered chef in all of Equestria. We wish to read of her life."

The golden unicorn seemed to think for a moment on that, then her entire face lit in a smile that had Luna's chest tightening to near pain, it was so similar to how Starsing had smiled at her. "Do you mean Starsing?" The unicorn asked and her horn lit and a book slid from the shelf on the left and floated over to them. The book opened onto a picture of the mare in question. "Starsing was the chef for all of Canterlot castle, after...ahem... you're..... after you were gone, it's said that she poured herself into her work, she traveled all over learning different recipes to better herself and became celebrated for her skill. The only family she had was a daughter she had late in life."

Luna almost choked on her tongue. Surely she could not have heard correctly. "A daughter?" She asked, not caring if her voice was frail from her shock.

"Yes." Novella looked up from the book and smiled at her. "Her daughter went on to carry her legacy, but she focused more on documenting how the chemistry of cooking worked And HER daughter carried on the legacy but turned it more towards chemistry in general instead of cooking."

"And you know all of this? This is all in the book?" Luna stepped forward, becomming desperate to get her hooves on that book now.

"Oh, not it's not all in this book, it's in my family history book at my house." Novella replied with a casual smile. "Starsing was my great great great great great great grandma!"

In all my days

Grandma. She'd said grandma. Wait, was that what she'd truly said? Maybe I had misheard. There was no way she could have said grandma.

"I spent a lot of my time when I was younger going over my genealogy and-"

No, I'm almost sure she was wrong. I'd misheard somehow. I didn't see any children during the times I could observe her life. She had died alone. No filly would let her mother die alone. Yes, either I'd misheard, or she had simply misspoken, that's all.

"- Then there was this OTHER uncle of mine -"

But what if I hadn't misheard? Did Starsing really have a young that I didn't know about? Is this mare the descendant of the one unicorn who understood my night?

"Princess?"

If that's the case then I need to investigate further.

"Your Majesty?"

I need to see that book!

"Princess Luna?"

"Huh, what? Yes?" The small Mare's words finally broke through her inner monologue and Luna jumped to attention. "WHAT DOST THOU WISH TO ASK, SUBJECT?" The Royal Voice come without warning ... to either of them. Luna was sure that she much appear as surprised at Novella did. "I am... Sorry." She apologized. "I was thinking. What was it you were saying, Librarian?"

The golden unicorn shuffled from hoof to hoof, appearing a little flustered. "I was saying that if you wanted, I could go and get the book from my house. There's a whole chapter about Starsing near the beginning." She looked around the room, which Luna noticed now had a slight buzzing in the air, probably from how loud she had spoken. "If you wanted it, that is." She finished and turned her forest green gaze back towards the princess.

Luna managed a bit of a smile, appreciating the offer entirely. Not many ponies would be so willing to hand over the history of their family to another, it was too valuable, especially to unicorns. "Thank you, I would very much like you read if if you wouldn't mind. Starsing once gave me a very precious gift, and I would just to just know that she was happy in her life."

Novella's own smile was a little sad. She couldn't imagine having friends from so long ago and knowing that they were gone now, it seemed to upsetting. "I'll go and get it for you right away, Princess." She bent her foreleg and bowed to her.

"Please bring it to to the palace when you do." Luna replied, bowing her head in thanks before turning and leaving the room, and then the library all together.

She watched her go and let out a small sigh, turning to study the room she was in. So many years of history recorded, what were the odds that the only one the Princess was interested in was her own? She scoured the library for any stragglers, then locked the front door on her way out and put up the closed sign before she began to head back to her home.

Novella's mind was racing as she trotted through her neighborhood. How long would the Princess want to keep the book? She would give it back...right? What if something happened to it. She shook her head and smiled to herself. She was being silly, having Princess Luna interested in her simple genealogy was quite an honor. There was nothing she had to fear with the Princess taking a look at it.

With that train of thought her new guide, Novella was much calmer when she arrive to her small two bedroom home on the Southern end of Canterlot. She rather liked her little home, it was painted light blue with a brick type roof, a few bushes around the white front door and a flower painted on the mailbox, thanks to her sister. The main room inside was spacious yet homey, mostly, again, thanks to her sister. Novella was too wrapped up in her job and her books to pay much attention to decorating her home, so nearly every choice about the house had come from Novelette, her twin sister.

Furious clicking in the corner drew her attention and the pony watched in mild amusement as the mare in question typed away at an old type writer, spitting out page after page for, probably, a new story she was writing. Their coloring was a little off, where as Novella had a golden coat, Novelette's was a warm cinnamon color, and her mane and tail were both just the maroon color that was striped in Novella's. Their eyes both retained the green they're gotten from their mother though.

"AH HA!" The excited exclamation had Novella giggling into a hoof. Her sister had often gotten to wrapped up in her writing that she spoke aloud with the characters so the tone of the scene would be perfect. "At last, thought you could run from me? You should know better, as if I'd ever let you go now."

"Oh no, please Sunbeam, please." This voice was higher pitched, coming from the corner of Novelette's lips.

"Don't beg for something you don't want." The regular voice was back and Novella was beginning to wonder if she was listening into something she ought not to be.

"But.. but I... Oh, I can't fight it any more. Kiss me you foal!" The higher pitched voice moaned and Novella finally broak down in laughter. Her cinnamon colored double jumped in her seat and spun around, face flushed and eyes bright with excitement. "What are you doing here?!" She asked.

Grinning, Novella trotted past her to one of the many many bookshelves lining the walls. "I have to drab something. Princess Luna came into the-"

"Princess LUNA?! So it is true, she's really back?! Holy cow, I'd never believe it if you hadn't told me, this is amazing, what did she look like? Was she beautiful? I wish I could have seen her, was her voice like that of the Nightingale? Was her mane flowing like Celestia's does? Oh! Oh, did she smell good?"

Completely flummoxed by the barrage of questions, Novella just gaped, open mouthed, at her sister. "You've got to get out more, sis." She shook her head and pulled the thick book free with her magic."She's really back, she looks like the paintings of her, She's very beautiful, she was...er... loud. No, it didn't flow, it was like Princess Cadence's mane and...um... I guess?" She answered grudgingly, knowing she would never be left alone if she didn't.

Novelette swooned onto the sofa and fanned herself with her hooves. "Her story's always been so romantic. Cast away by the sister she loved because her loneliness had overcome her. How tragic! Don't worry Princess, your loyal subject will love you enough for all of Equestria!"

The unicorn threw her hooves up into the air and hugged onto...presumably an invisible Luna. All Novella could do was stare, and she was pretty sure she felt her eye twitching a few times. "So...uh... yeah... I'll pick up dinner on the way home.. I'll let you get back to...erm... whatever it is that you're doing..."

"TRAGIC!" Her twin ignored her and rolled, holding onto the back of the couch so they were facing each other. "Isn't it JUST tragic? Surely the Princess could use some pony to brighten her lonely nights. A certain mare with a flair for romance. I'd give her some of my work, and she would read them and fall madly in love with my Mare Characters. Then, I would reveal to her that each and every one was molded after yours truly! With her hearts desires now come to light, she would have no choice but to fall madly in love with me!" She melted down the back of the couch with a dreamy sigh. "Luna and Novelette, isn't it beautiful? A love story for the ages."

Novella rose a brow at her sister, contemplating how quickly she could escape before she was roped into some scheme. "I don't think the Princess is looking for love." She told her twin. "She just got back, I'm sure she has a lot of work to do in catching up with the times and all that."

"Who better to help her than a new lover?" Novelette grinned maniacally, somehow now laying on the floor with her head on her hooves. "I would be the best specially somepony she'd ever had."

Well then... obviously her family was insane. "I'll leave you to your planning then." She said and left as her sister sighed and giggled like a little school filly over her new crush.

"Your Highness, a unicorn is requesting your presence about a book."

Luna looked over towards the golden armored guard and she waved a hoof. "Show her in." She decreed. Only a moment had passed as Novella walked into the large reception room, the rather large book floating along at her side surrounded by a sparkling green glow.

"Your Highness." The golden mare bowed to her when she was near enough and with her magic, opened the book to a page near the beginning. "I believe you wanted to see this." Their magic crossed, creating a beautiful mixture of green to blue as the book was passed over, Luna shivered involuntarily.

"Thank you." She dipped her heat graciously and looked down at the book. There, on the first page, was an age word painting of Starsing in her later years, probably done during the height of her culinary career. Her living years were filled with praise in the book, for her talents and her tenaciousness at raising a few filly without the help of.. whatever stallion she had mated with. There was no mention of him, just the comment of a romantic liaison in another country. Luna turned to the daughters biography, reading through it, then the next and the next. Her flipping became near frantic when she didn't receive any of the information that she longed for.

"Luna?"

The word faulted her flipping and Luna's head lowered in defeat, sadness ringing in her eyes. "Thank you." She set the book on the ground infront of Novella. "You may go now."

The mare hesitated, stepping forward. "Princess if there's anything I can do," She started uncertainly.

"LEAVE US TO OUR SOLITUDE!" Luna's voice boomed around the echoing room and Novella picked her family's book up once more. She didn't question her Princess, and so, she turned and indeed, left her to her solitude. Luna's eyes closed the same time the doors did and she laid on her seat, head head on her hooves. She'd been excited for nothing. That book had told her only what it deemed important. She had wanted to know so much more. It did not say if Starsing was happy, if she sang to her little filly or even her favorite thing to eat. It didn't say if... if she'd moaned Luna at all. If she'd even remembered their one night together. And that was a rather depressing thought indeed.

All she had longed to know... what SHE deemed impotent, would never be written down in any book. She would never find out if Starsing had ever thought of her again.

Unimportant. Unremembered. Unloved. Her one chance had failed her, and Luna knew she would never knew what had been lost in the sands of time forever.