The Memories of Star Light: The Untold Origin of Nightmare Moon

No one would have guessed that some pony that was so young would have heart problems. The doctor’s blamed themselves. If they had preformed more tests they would have discovered that a narrow artery was the actual cause of the fainting spells that she had. Her husband blamed himself for never noticing how tired she was, how she could barely walk some days. Luna blamed herself for not knowing. The fact she never saw such a thing humbled her. It was her job to protect her subjects and now she had failed. Long after the funeral ended Luna remained behind. Stratosphere muttered his goodbyes to his wife and turned to Luna who stood there with her head down.

“It was a pleasure knowing you Princess.” He said somberly.

“Of course,” She said sadly. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

The princess tried to force a smile as she looked at looked at little Comet riding on his father’s back. He had slept peacefully through the entire ceremony despite the trumpets and hours of songs. She wondered if he was dreaming of his mother from the peaceful look on his face. Could he even understand that she was gone.

“You should bring him by sometime.”

“I’ll try…” Stratosphere returned looking away. “If I have the time I will, but I‘m just... I not sure there is anything left for us here. Goodbye Princess.”

Stratosphere did not wait for her to reply with an argument or even with a goodbye of her own. Unable to stare at the grave any longer he flew away taking Comet with him. Part of her knew at that moment there was no chance of them remaining in the house Estella built and she would never see either of them again. But it didn’t matter; it was not their love she had prided so. The love that came from true loyalty now lay in the ground, six feet below mounds of cold hard dirt and gold slab marked with her name, dates and her cutie mark. She always loved the observatory, Luna tried to take comfort in knowing that she would be happy to be beneath the monument to her loyalty. Unfortunately the princess could feel nothing. Her sister entered the cold hall, her hooves clapped against the marvel floor as she crossed the floor to join her sister. Celestia stood staring for a time before she spoke.

“We have to raise the sun now.”

“Just a little longer. She will always be my best friend.” She said a tear falling from her eyes. “She gave me all her time, made us laugh when we were sad, showed us the truth in the lies, and she the always so kind… This least I can do is keep the sun away, so she can see the stars wherever she is.”

“Seven years… We were not expecting her to go so soon.” Celestia said in a somber voice. “But we did expect it.”

Luna couldn’t bring herself to look at Celestia. She was too busy drowning in sorrow and holding back the tears that burned her eyes. Celestia continued with her speech.

“She was not like us Luna. We tried to warn her when she became your regent.”

“You told her to run away.” Luna hissed.

“We told her this would hurt you. Our magic allows us to live centuries longer than any pony could ever dream. This ending was inevitable.”

“Just be quiet.” Luna said turning away.

“You know it is true, Luna.” Celestia pushed on. “You must make the night beautiful for all ponies. Focusing on one, it will only break your heart over and over again. We cannot watch you do this to yourself.”

“Stop.” Luna growled only turning further away.

“A new day must rise Luna, and you must move on.” Celestia urged.

“No!” Luna snapped.

Luna turned around. Her coat boiled turning a midnight black. Her mane floated and became a shapeless mass filled with stars. Celestia backed away as Luna stomped her foot down. Her eyes glowed white as magic channeled into them.

“No pony ever understood my night! None of them cared like she did!”

“Luna please… be reasonable.” Celestia said fearfully.

“Be quiet! All you have ever done is talked down to us! You wanted us to feel weak so you could control everything! No more! We are the only one true power and now you will have to live in my shadows!”

Luna took another step towards her sister. The armor that Estella once wore shattered their glass container as they flew across the room. They magically attached themselves to the alicorn and Luna became taller to fit them. Her magic began to radiate off her in a black cloud of pure rage. Luna’s voice became twisted and demonic.

“Luna!”

“No, Princess Luna is gone just like your day! We are your worst nightmare Celestia! Yes… Nightmare Moon! The queen of the night eternal!”

A strong blast of magic blew Celestia across the room into a column. Gasping for breath Celestia stood.

“Luna please, do not do this…”

“This is your last chance Princess. You have been over thrown. Leave Equestria and we will spare your pathetic life.”

“I have no choice then…”

With the last of her strength Celestia jumped from the balcony and flew away. Nightmare Moon watched her retreat, but then turned back to the gave. She put her hoof down on the cold stone.

“Now it can last forever.” Nightmare said softly. “Just like you wanted.”

Nightmare turned her head to the window and the stars began to glow brighter. The moon itself became full and illuminated the land bellow. This would be the ponies new sun and the clouds would never touch her flawless sky. It was perfect now, just like it had been on that day that now seemed as if it were only yesterday.

“They will never appreciate the night as much as you…” Nightmare said strongly. “But they will learn.”

*

Princess Luna returned from her memories and sighed. She didn’t need to think about what happened next as it was history. She was trapped in the moon… yaw de yaw de yaw… a thousand years later the elements of harmony destroyed Nightmare Moon and she was back to her old routine; moping about the castle and bringing night in the evening. No one was mad at her. For some reason the ponies of Equestrian were always so understanding, but she could still she this fear in their eyes. The princess wondered if that was better or worse than simply being forgotten.

Luna looked down at the stone remembering those dark days. She had no more tears left to cry over the matter, but one still found its way out of her dry eyes. Being on the moon for a thousand years had given Luna ample time to think about her actions and now she realized the error in it all. All that rage she kept pent up inside, it had darkened her heart. Even while Estella was alive Luna always felt the urge to turn on her sister. For a single night the purple alicorn had the power she always dreamed of, the recognition she demand. For hundreds of years every pony knew the name Nightmare Moon. And yet there was still an emptiness in her soul that Luna could not fill. Though Nightmare was gone the princess could still feel the void within her. As much as her sister would have liked to believe Luna knew that as long as this void was there Nightmare would live on.

“Excuse me.” A familiar voice said, echoing through the empty hall.

Luna looked up to see a familiar purple unicorn standing not that far off. Luna wondered what else she could want from her. Luna thanked her for setting her free and felt no malice towards the pony, but at the same time she was one of Celestia’s subjects.

“You require something Twilight Sparkle?” Princess Luna asked looking away.

“Well no, but I have something for you.”

Luna looked put as the unicorn levitated a yellow sack out from behind her. It jingled as it moved, but Luna could not summon to mind what it possibly could be or why she would want it. Opening the back Pieces of black armor floated out and placed themselves in an empty case that sat above the tomb.

“I used a fix-it spell to put all a pieces back together… Celestia told me how special the armor was to you.” Twilight said shyly rubbing her leg. “I’m sorry about what happened.”

“You should not be.” Luna replied turning away. “Nightmare Moon would have destroyed the world with her greed. We feel much more… humble now.”

“Not that, about your friend. I know how hard it is to be alone and that sometimes it seems better to be strong… so other ponies can‘t hurt you. Thanks to you I realize that now.”

Luna turned and looked at Twilight, but the unicorn’s eyes had drifted away from her. They instead looked up at the constellations that lined the ceiling.

“The alicorn prince was always my favorite.” Twilight said rambling. “I also like the pegusi twins, Celestia could never form them though. I’ve only seen pictures of them in an old book.”

“Celestia never was one for symmetry.” Luna chuckled.

Luna dropped her head and asked the question she had thought she knew the answer to. Where did the unicorn’s loyalty lie?

“Twilight Sparkle… Which do you like more, night or… day?”

“How can I choose?” Twilight said still admiring the constellations on the ceiling. “Day and night are both so beautiful. The sun is warm, but at night I can dream of being anything. I can study during the day and at night I can take it all in as I examine the stars. It’s a cycle that just continues on and on. The best part is you’ll never know what the next day will bring.”

Luna smiled at her answer. It was well thought out and executed flawlessly just as all things Twilight did. It couldn’t help but remind her of an old friend. Luna felt a bit of shame when she compared the two. If Estella could see her, what would she think.

“Estella’s not disappointed in you.” Twilight said almost reading her mind.

“How do you know?” Luna asked.

“I just do, I can’t explain it yet, but I do. I believe that when ever pony finally does… leave, their never really gone. We just can’t seen them any more. They become part of the earth and the trees, the rivers and clouds, even the stars and planets. They become part of Equestria’s magic and they stay with us.” Twilight walked over the balcony where the sun was setting, awaiting the princess to raise the moon. “I never knew her, not they way you did, but I can still feel her presence here. She could never look down on you, only watch over you.”

Luna joined her at the balcony and looked out over the scene. Part of her wanted to believe Twilight, but the other still required a sign. Closing her eyes she sent a star shooting out across the sky. When she looked another crossed the star’s fading trail and disappeared into the many hues of pinks and reds. It brought a smile to her face.

“We… I believe you may be right.” Luna said happily. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Twilight replied with a smile of her own. “Anything for a friend.”

Luna was somewhat shocked that she used the word with her. After all the things Nightmare Moon had done to her and her friends, to her teacher, Twilight had every reason in the world to hate her. It subsided though as Luna looked into Twilight’s and saw that gleam of truth she was all too familiar with.

“You have her eyes you know.”

“What do you mean? In the paintings Estella’s eyes were gold.”

“Not the color, just the twinkle.”

Before Luna could continue she heard voices whispering from around the corner.

“Eclipse, we’re going to get in trouble.” A girlish voice said.

“Chill out Star Dust. We can’t keep watching stars from your puny telescoped.” A little boy chuckled.

A blue pegasus and white earth pony came trotting around the corner and froze.

“Princess Luna!” They both said in shock.

Luna tilted her head and smiled at them.

“Have you come to watch the stars?” She asked.

“No, well yes, but we’ll leave if you’re busy.” Star Dust quivered.

“Which ones are you going to put out?” Eclipse asked fearlessly.

“Hmm…I am not quite sure.” Luna said pretending to ponder the question. “Why don’t you help me pick them out?”

“We can pick?!” Star Dust said her eyes lighting up. “Can we put out the scorpion? Or the scales?”

“What about the moon? Can it be a quarter?” Eclipse chimed in. “That’s my favorite.”

“I’ll just leave you to it then.” Twilight said with a smile.

Princess Luna watched as the purple unicorn left, carrying with her all the darkness within her heart. She then returned to address the children’s demands and finished the night with a sense of pride in her work that she had not felt in a millennia. At that moment the princess finally came to recognize the world beyond herself and the true beauty of night was returned to Equestria. She needed not fear the return of darkness as she could see the love before her and the friendship that would never leave her heart.