It was the night of the Summer Sun Celebration, and Star Swirl was just about to begin his tutelage under Celestia’s younger sister. It was not what he had wanted, Star Swirl had applied to be Celestia’s personal student this decade. Granted, he was one of hundreds, possibly thousands of unicorn that had applied. This was the first year that there was more than a single slot available. This was the first year princess Luna was going to follow like her sister and take on a personal student for five years.
“It seems once again Star Bowl you fall short to me in every way imaginable.” The voice was that of Oak Sapling, Star Swirl’s hated rival.
“Why don’t you go and do something useful for once? Growing trees is nice and all, but I can move stars.” Star Swirl retorted.
“Move stars? You? Please?” Oak Sapling said snorting “The only thing I can see you move, is somepony’s stomach.”
“GRADUATES OF CANTERLOT ACADEMY FOR GIFTED UNICORN, CALM YOURSELVES.” This booming voice was that of her highness Princess Celestia. “IT IS WITH THE GREATEST HONOR THAT I ANNOUNCE THE CLOSING OF THE FIRST SUMMER SUN CELEBRATION. MAY YOU ALL ENJOY SEEING YOUR PRINCESS WORK.” The last sentence was met with a resonating sound of hoofbeats on the marble floor.
Unlike previous years, where Princess Celestia had been alone, this year she was accompanied by a younger, purple alicorn. This pony was rumored to be her younger sister, who for the first time was in the public eye.
“I would like to-” Princess Luna was cut off by her elder, who bent down to whisper something to her.
“WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE TWO CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.” Her voice echoed, must softer and colder than her sister’s. “FOR THE THIRTY SEVENTH DECADE, A MR. OAK SAPLING WILL TAKE STUDY UNDER OUR SISTER.”
Star Swirl's heart fell, years of hard work, dedication, study, all for nothing. Now all the only thing he had was a degree from the most prestigious Academy in all Equestria, graduating in the top ten of his class, of almost fifteen thousand Unicorn. With the short announcement there was another round of hoof beats on the stone floor. Oak Sapling’s voice once again ran through Star Swirl’s mind. They rang in his mind like a iron bell, a terrible nauseating iron bell, that reminds him with each strike, that he had lost.
Princess Luna looked down at Star Swirl, a look of fear and contempt painted on her face was almost tangible even at this great distance. “AND THIS YEAR WE SHALL TAKE AN APPRENTICE AS WELL. THIS UNICORN IS STAR SWIRL.” Her gaze never changed, or faltered, it was almost sickeningly intense. Princess Luna’s words rang in Star Swirl’s mind. His rival may have been the thirty seventh apprentice to Princess Celestia, but he was the very first apprentice to Princess Luna, ever.
The moon was ever so bright in the sky, and Princess Celestia and Luna were no longer at the focus of the ever judging eyes of the talented graduates of Canterlot University. They had returned from the balcony which earlier in the day had been another annual public showing of Celestia raising the sun. With Princess Luna finally being old enough to be in public she too had publicly raised the moon that night.
“Tia? Why do we have to take on a student?” The night mare said looking up to Celestia.
“Dear Luna, I only thought it would help you to mature and be as equally beloved as I am.” The solar mare replied.
“But Tia, we do not like the public, they all ignore my night. They adore you because you are the day. We are just the night everypony sleeps through.”
“You do not have to use the royal we, when speaking to your sister, dear Luna.” Celestia said tactfully disarming a tough situation.
“We are... I am sorry. It’s so difficult we just don’t know when to say what. All of these intricate customs are so... superflous.” Luna stomped her hoof in exasperation.
“If it helps dear sister, I am casual with my students. No customs or traditions, just honest contact.”
The instant Star Swirl awoke he was excited, all thoughts of Oak Sapling gone from his mind. His small, in comparison to the average house in Canterlot, was mostly empty aside and the new light from Celestia’s sun shined in through the bare window. It was a new day, not just literally, but metaphorically. It was the first day of actually beginning lessons with Princess Luna. They had met previously, but it was with guards, Princess Celestia, and many historians, and it was more formal than Star Swirl was hoping the decade long partnership would be. He left immediately for the Royal Gardens.
“Greetings Princess Luna.” Starswirl said with a bow.
“We are pleased to have you join us. Without delay even.”
“I would not even dream of keeping her highness waiting.”
“Then you will grant us a wish, despite it not holding with tradition?” Luna turned to face Star Swirl for the first time. The sunlight was reflecting through her transparent hair creating a distorted observatory on the grass. Her face was long and tired. “Will you allow us to meet with you in my night?”
The Lunar Princess was more graceful and elegant than Star Swirl would have imagined, even having seen her up close before. He stood there for a while, unaware of the passage of time, until Princess Luna stomped her hoof in agitation. Her mane was becoming more opaque by the second, it was also shrinking.
“Very well we will continue now.” She said no longer looking towards Star Swirl, her voice tinted distinctly in contempt.
“No... No... the night time is fine with me your highness. I was distracted by your...” Star Swirl stopped immediately realizing the grave mistake he was about to make.
“Go on. Distracted by my?” She said levitating an apple from one of the trees nearby. Unknown to Star Swirl they had been walking through the royal gardens from the entrance to deep in the botanical fruit section.
“I was...” Star Swirl was quickly searching for a non offending manner in which to ward his attraction to her beauty. “I was... distracted by your...” It was either a lie and hope the Princess didn’t see through it, or the truth and hope she was as personable after. “beautiful mane.”
“We... are...” Princess Luna turned away from him and with a dark blue flash disappeared, Leaving Star Swirl lost in the royal gardens.