Waiting on the Moon

by ScientistTrixie

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Celestia, Sad, Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Adventure
Length: 6984

Everypony knows the old foals tale of Nightmare Moon. How in a sudden fit of jealousy, Luna tried to overthrow her sister, Celestia. Only one pony knows the true story behind the fable. My name is Luna, and this is my story.

Everypony knows the old foals tale of Nightmare Moon. How in a sudden fit of jealousy Princess Luna tried to overthrow her sister, Celestia? Well, there is only one pony alive who knows the true story behind that fable. This is the story of how I disobeyed my own sister for the benefit of all ponykind, only for those same ponies to turn their back on me, of my fight against Discord, Sombra, and ultimately... my older sister.

My name is Luna, and this is my story.

Edited by The Abyss
Cover art by Graphic-Lee

Published 2013-07-17 04:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-13 01:32:02 UTC

Humble Beginnings

The sun shone brightly as a small blue filly poked her head out of a small cave opening. She glanced around carefully, a large grin spreading across her face as she stealthily emerged from the cave, her steps muffled by the grass below her hooves.

She came to the edge of the small clearing, tilting her head over the side as she looked down the steep mountain. Far below her she could make out the speck of a village, a village she knew contained Earth ponies. She crouched down tight, her tongue sticking out between her lips as she leapt into the air, her stubby wings held out at her sides.

She glided down the mountain, her mane blowing in the wind whipping past her, her face screwed up in concentration. She spotted her destination, a grin on her face as she tilted her wings. She glided toward a large oak tree, her hooves scraping the ground as she drifted into the shade of the leafy tree. She yelped as her hooves caught on the ground, her rear end sailing over her face as she rolled head over hoofs.

She pushed herself onto her haunches, putting her hooves on her head as her eyes spun dizzily. She shook her head, blinking slowly as she huffed, using her hooves to dust the dirt off her coat. She frowned at the ground, her tiny wings buzzing loudly as she lifted herself to her hooves. She turned, her tail flicking irritatedly as she stomped toward the tree she passed a moment before.

She stepped close to the tree, rearing up onto her rear legs as she steadied herself with her forelegs. She groaned quietly as she focused, squeezing her eyes tightly as her horn sparked erratically, before glowing a deep cobalt blue, humming lightly. Her tongue once again wormed it's way out of her mouth as she slowly rose into the air, a cobalt glow appearing around her body.

She lifted herself to the lowest tree limb, scrambling frantically with her forelegs as she sought purchase on the tree's bark. She pulled herself into the tree, a relieved smile on her face as she crouched down, her back leg's pushing off as she jumped to the limb above her.

Before long, the mare had ascended the large tree, until the filly sat on a large branch hidden amongst the leaves at the top of the tree. She relaxed on the large branch, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she rested her head on her hooves, her eyes locked on the village below the small outcropping her tree sat upon.

Below her, the village already showed signs of activity. Smoke curled lazily out of several different cottages, and some of the earlier rising Earth ponies had already gathered their crops for the day. Several ponies were heading to a small stage in the center of the village, small baskets of crops set securely upon their backs.

She stiffened suddenly, her coat standing on end as a soft giggle sounded from above her. She hesitated for a moment, torn between making a break for it and facing the pony above her. She sighed after a moment, slowly lifting her head off her hooves as she looked to the limb above her.

“Luna... I thought we agreed you wouldn't come so close to the ponies anymore?” Celestia smiled down smugly at her younger sister, an eyebrow raised as she stretched her hooves out lazily.

Luna stared at her in shock for a moment, before her expression shifted to a light glare. She turned away from her sister, ignoring the swaying of the limb above her as Celestia giggled once again.

"As you can see, sister, I am nowhere near the ponies," Luna said, emphasizing her point with a wave of her hoof. “We are merely enjoying a lazy day in this comfortable tree.” Luna said, curling up into a comfortable ball as she rolled onto her back. She closed her eyes, ignoring her sister’s presence as she softly hummed to herself.

Celestia shot her an exasperated, yet amused look. A chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head at her younger sister’s antics. Her smile faded as she turned her attention to the Earth pony village in the distance.

“I know you want to help them, Luna,” she spoke softly, her eyes returning to give her sister an understanding smile. “But mother has forbidden us from interfering with them directly. It would be wise of us to listen to her.”

Luna opened her mouth to protest, her words dying in her throat as Celestia shot her a steely gaze. Luna lowered her gaze to the ground below them, sighing quietly.

“I know 'Tia... I just...,” She hesitated, turning her head to the village once more. “Just look at them.” Celestia cocked her head for a moment, before turning her focus to the village. She studied the Earth ponies for a moment, studying the primitive cloaks and tunics they wore as they went about their day.

“They go through their lives, constantly working their fields for food. They live each day not knowing if they're going to be attacked, or if a disaster is going to wipe them out. In the winter, they freeze and starve.” Her voice wavered, before Luna took a deep breath steadying herself once more. Celestia glanced at in Luna in surprise, not expecting her sisters reaction. “In the summer, they beg for rain from the Pegasi, and daytime from the Unicorns.”

Luna turned away from the village, her mane falling in front of her eyes. She moved her hair away with her hoof, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears and a frown set upon her muzzle.

“I want to help them! We could help them with the weather, and together I know we could help them control the sun!” She said, her tail flicking behind her. “We could help them live a better life 'Tia!” She smiled ecstatically at Celestia, her grin fading as Celestia stared at her. She slumped in on her self as Celestia slowly shook her head.

“I'm sorry, Lulu. I know you just want to help them but mother is right. If we did help them, she would be very cross with us when she returned.” Celestia said, her voice tender yet firm.

Luna scoffed. “We both know she will not return...” She mumbled, her ears laid back as Celestia scolded her.

“Luna! Do not say such things,” Celestia said, her voice hardened angrily. “Mother will return! She has to...she promised...” Celestia said, the anger in her voice slowly dissolving into uncertainty. She shook her head as she refocused on Luna.

“It matters not. You have little control of your magic, and I...” She hesitated for a moment. “I am not powerful enough to move the sun by myself.”

Luna scowled at the limb below her, her brow furrowed in anger. She fumed silently, grinding her teeth together angrily.

“Come along Luna. We should return to the cave. It is almost time for lunch.” Celestia said, rubbing her hoof through Luna's mane. Luna shook her hoof off her, sitting down stubbornly, scooting further down the limb and out of her sisters reach.

Celestia opened her mouth to scold the filly when a loud commotion rose from the village below them. They turned away from each other to stare at the village. Celestia gasped at what she saw, while Luna yelled in surprise.

In the heart of the village, Earth ponies had gathered baskets of food and placed them on the stage in the center of the small village. They stood feet from the baskets, exchanging a heated conversation with a pegasi floating above the baskets of food. Behind the lead pegasi hovered five other pegasus, each wearing a sleek helmet that matched the color of their tunics.

The lead pegasi darted forward suddenly, waving a hoof in the face of the largest of the Earth ponies. He poked the stallion in the chest, lowering his head to scream into the pony’s face. The Earth pony took a step back, glancing at the ponies behind him before returning his gaze to the pegasi.

He stared at the pegasus for a moment, shaking his head as he flipped is mane out of his eyes. He darted forward suddenly,his wide hoof wrapping around the pegasus’ neck as he slammed him into the ground with an audible thud.

“Nooo!” Luna screamed, her eyes wide as the pegasus crumbled to the ground. She crouched down, her tail twitching as she jumped out of the tree, her wings fluttering at her side. She screamed as she froze in midair, a golden hue surrounding her suddenly. She twisted in the air, her eyes darting to her sister.

Celestia stood on the branch, her legs tense as she stared at the village. She turned wordlessly, her wings stretching out beside her as she took to the skies, her wings beating as they headed further up the mountain, back toward their cave.

Luna fought, tears streaming down her face as she futilely twisted and struggled against the magic surrounding her. She screamed and yelled, pounding against the field around her with her hooves.

“Luna...calm down. We cannot help them.” Celestia said, her voice low as she landed just outside of the cave. She trotted inside, levitating the struggling filly behind her. Luna stopped fighting as the magic released her, her hooves scrambling as she stood and glared at her sister.

“You do not know that. We could have stopped them... We could have showed them they don't have to fight,” Luna said, stomping her hoof in anger. She darted forward, heading for the opening of the cave.

“No!” Celestia shouted, her horn flaring as a barrier appeared in the doorway, blocking the exit. “You will never go near these ponies again. They are violent, unpredictable creatures. I will not lose you to them!” she screamed, glaring at her sister angrily. “Now go wash up! It’s time for lunch.” She turned away from Luna, glaring at the walls as she stomped out of the room and into the small kitchen.

Luna stared at her sister, her mouth opening and closing as she snorted in anger. She turned, her tail flicking behind her as she trotted, her hooves echoing through the cave. She passed through the hollowed out room that functioned as their living room, ignoring her sister standing in the room they used as their kitchen. Just past the kitchen sat two simple doors, cutting their bedrooms off from the rest of the cave.
She pulled her door open, ignoring the frustrated call from her sister. She stepped into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang. She stared at her room, her eyes sweeping over the crude decorations as she trotted toward her mat they used as beds. A shelf held the few belongings she cared for, and a small globe of magic provided the room’s only illumination.

She threw herself onto her bed, angrily picking at the loose hay with her horn. She glared at the far wall, her eyes seeing through the cave, far into the distance. She knew it would make her sister angry, but soon she would find a way to help the ponies, with or without her sister’s help.

Author's Note

I decided not to go with an High Middle English speech, mainly because I do not think I could write an entire stories worth of speaking like that, but also because I do not want to make my readers have to decipher the speech!

(Thanks to Rustling Leaves for the correction!)

Change in the Weather

The weeks passed quickly, and before Luna knew it, the summer heat gave way to the freezing cold. The trees lost their leaves, their bare limbs weighed down with heavy snow. Snow and ice whipped through the air, the wind roaring loudly outside the entrance of their home.

Luna stood quietly, gazing out of the cave entrance sullenly. Her mane whipped around behind her in the wintry gale, her eyes studying the frozen mountainside. She glanced around her as her sister called out to her, her ears swiveling behind her.

"Luna? Lunch is ready!”

Luna tore her eyes away from the snowbanks outside, her tail flicking behind her as she trotted into the cave. She entered the kitchen, her expression softening as she saw the small meal Celestia had prepared.

She trotted toward the table, her tail sweeping below her as she sat down. She glanced at their lunch, her eyes sweeping over the collected greens and vegetables her sister had gathered. Celestia sat across from her, a smile on her face as she munched away on a juicy carrot.

They ate silently, each lost in their own thoughts. Luna stared at the open seat between them; the place her mother once used to eat with them. She frowned, her mind drifting to the few remaining memories she possessed of her mother. She remembered a beautiful mare, golden hair that sparkled in the morning light, and a smile that never left her face. She remembered a kind pony, a mare that could sing her way into any animal’s heart. She would go out of her way to help any animal in need, albeit rabbit or bear.

She blinked irritatedly, forcing tears away from her eyes as she remembered the day her mother left...

“Luna!”

Luna blinked, her eyes darting to meet Celestia's clearly agitated gaze. She sighed as she finished the last of her food, pushing her bowl away from her with a pearly white hoof.

"Luna... I.. I want to apologize to you." Celestia said, avoiding Luna's shocked gaze. "I feel horrible for screaming at you... and I know we've been... on edge with each other ever since." She turned, her gaze finally shifting to meet Luna's eyes.

"You are my little sister. I just want to see you safe Luna." She said, smiling weakly as Luna stared at her with a hard edge in her eye. "I couldn't live with myself if you were hurt by... them.”

Luna stared at her, fighting the urge to frown. She forced a smile to appear on her face, nodding slowly as she spoke.

“It's alright 'Tia. I understand that you just... you just want to protect me. I'll leave them be...” She said, trailing off as she lowered her head. Celestia stared at her for a moment, before alighting her horn in a golden hue. Their bowls floated into the air, collapsing in a heap in the corner of the makeshift kitchen. Celestia grew silent as she picked up the third bowl, staring at the food forlornly as she sighed.

“I'm going to go practice flying, 'Tia.” Luna said, her tail flicking behind her as she turned to trot out of the room.

“Wait!”

Luna turned, her eyebrow raised as she shot a confused look at Celestia. Celestia opened her mouth, before snapping her muzzle closed as she bit her lip.

“Just... be safe okay? Stay near the cave.” Celestia said, smiling tenderly at her younger sister. Luna stared at her for a minute, her head cocked to side.

“I will 'Tia.” She grinned at Celestia, smiling as she nuzzled her elder sister. “I love you.”

Celestia smiled as Luna trotted out of the room, her tail weaving in the air as it vanished around the corner. “I love you to Luna.”

x-x-x-X-X-X-x-x-x

Luna trotted toward the cave entrance, staring at the snow whipping around in the frigid air. She bit her lip as her horn flared, a sudden wave of warmth passing over her a moment later. She stepped outside the cave slowly, a grin on her face as a soothing warmth spread across her fur. She looked around, the grin slipping from her face as her eyes were met with a wall of white.

She missed the beautiful greens of the summer, the warm air, and the smell of the various flowers drifting through the air. She stepped forward, her hooves sliding over a thin layer of ice that had built up on the ground. She cursed quietly, scrambling for purchase on the slick surface as she made her way to the edge of their small clearing.
She sat back on her haunches, arching her neck to try to get a distant view of the earth pony village. She cocked her head as she stared at the empty village, lacking even the normal smoke from their winter fires. Her eyes went wide as they were drawn to a large column of smoke in the distance. She stood, her wings twitching at her side as she glanced between the empty village and the cave behind her.

She stared at the cave entrance for a moment, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She turned, her wings stretched wide at her side as she leapt from the clearing, soaring through the sky toward the foot of the mountain. She passed the large tree she used to hide in, not even sparing a glance at the barren bark.

She grit her teeth as her wings buzzed at her side, pulling her out of her rapid dive. She glided to a stop near the cottage furthest from the earth pony village, darting behind the building the moment she landed. She hesitated, her eyes darting around her before she slowly peaked around the corner.

She saw no one, not even ponies fetching firewood. She slowly slid around the building, staring curiously at the cottage door swinging slowly on its hinges. She stepped closer, silently craning her neck to peer inside the cottage when a small filly burst out of the cottage, racing past her blindly into the snow.

She was just able to slap a hoof over her mouth, stopping a scream in its tracks. She stared at the filly, her eyes wide in shock as the tiny pony slowed in the snow, before stopping altogether and collapsing in a small heap. Luna turned, her hooves digging into the snow as she raced around the house, intent on winding her way back up the mountain to the safety of her and Celestia’s cave when a sorrowful sound reached her ears.

The filly was crying. Luna froze, fighting against her instincts to run as she turned to face the small pony. She sighed, knowing full well she could not abandon the filly. She crept closer, her ears swiveling to hear the pony talking to herself.

“-ver catch up to ‘em now... Ah’ll never see daddy again...” The filly said, her voice thick with sorrow. Luna stared at the filly, her hooves shuffling uncertainly in the snow. She sighed, her head hanging low as she stepped forward, clearing her throat softly.

“Are you okay?” Luna said, her voice low and soft. The filly screamed, her fur standing on end as she dove into the snow, her hooves flying to cover her eyes.

“I’m sorry!” Luna said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to scare you! I want to help you...” Her voice trailed off as the filly lifted her head, a pair of large green eyes peeking out from her soft orange fur. Her eyes darted to the horn atop Luna’s head, before going wide as they spotted the wings at her side.

“Who are... wha’ are you?” The filly asked, gripping a small object tightly in her hooves. She crouched down, tucking her self into a small ball as she stared at her wearily.

“My name’s Luna.” She said, a gentle smile on her face. “I’m an Alicorn.” She stepped closer to the filly, her smile growing larger as the filly relaxed ever so slightly. “What’s your name?”

The filly stared at her for a minute, before flipping her golden mane out of her eyes. “I’m Appleseed!” She said, her teeth chattering in the freezing wind. She jumped to her hooves as Luna’s horn flared brightly, a blue aura surrounding the small filly.

“It’s okay! I’m just warming you up a little,” Luna said, grinning as the young mare smiled at her.

“Oh... okay.” She said, glancing down at the object in her hooves.

“What’s that you have there?”

Appleseed looked up, tucking the object tightly against her chest for a moment. She relaxed after a moment, her gaze dropping back to her hooves.

“It’s my dolly. My mommy made it for me... a long time ago.” She turned the object around, holding it out to Luna. “Daddy says I’m too old for dolls, but... It’s one of the last things ah have from her. Ah had to come back for it!” She said, an almost pleading tone in her voice.

Luna cocked her head, confusion evident in her eyes. “Wait, come back... where is everyone?”

The filly’s shoulders fell, her head lowered as Luna trotted to sit beside her. “My village has to leave... This danged snow came out of nowhere and killed off all our crops before we could harvest ‘em. Without food, we wouldn’t be able to make it through the winter. We’ve taken what little food we have and we were leaving for a new land. But Ah forgot my dolly...” She trailed off, a frown appearing on her face. She groaned, her hoof flying as she threw the doll away from her, crossing her forelegs in anger.

Luna’s horn flared as she pulled the doll out of the air and brought it to a stop in the air before her. She examined the doll with a smile, before holding it in front of the filly, shaking it in front of her face. Appleseed lifted her head, glaring at the doll as she grabbed at it with her tiny hooves. Luna let go of her grip on the doll as Appleseed snatched it from her magic, a reluctant grin on her face.

“What do you say we get you back to your daddy?” Luna said, bumping her flank against the filly’s. She fluttered her wings, twisting her body so the filly could see them better. “I can fly up and see which direction they went in!” She crouched down, biting the tip of her tongue as her wings buzzed at her sides.

She leapt into the air, her wings stretched out wide at her side. She soared higher into the air, her wings pumping as hard as she could manage. She cleared the rooftops of the houses around her, her eyes squinting as she peered into the blizzard.

Far off in the distance, she could just make out the earth ponies pulling their wagons, their feet stamping over the snow piled on the ground. She grinned, her eyes lowering to Appleseed staring up at her from the ground below, an orange dot on a white landscape. Her smile vanished as a gust of wind sent her spinning, snatching her out the air and throwing her into a steep dive toward the ground.

She screamed, her voice lost in the fierce winds whipping her through the air. She strained, groaning as she tried to tuck her wings in at her side. She plummeted, hurtling toward the ground in a blur of dark blue fur. She slammed into the snow, feet from where she left Appleseed, a dull thud echoing through the air.

“Luna! Luna!” The filly screamed, digging into the mound of snow with her hooves. She slowed as she unearthed Luna’s flank, her hooves gently removing the snow from her upper half. Luna pulled her head out of the snow, shaking her head slowly as she shot Appleseed a goofy smile.

“Let’s do that again!” Luna said, giggling as Appleseed glared at her.

“I saw which way your dad was!” Luna said, giggling as she stood, shaking the snow from her fur. Appleseed launched herself at Luna, tackling her into the snow as she hugged Luna as tightly as possible. Luna pushed Appleseed off her, giggling at the filly’s reaction as she turned, gazing out into the falling snow.

“They were off this way, just over the hill right here!” Luna said, pointing out into the snow with a hoof. She blinked in surprise as Appleseed went rushing past her, her hooves kicking up snow behind her. She smiled, snow flying out behind her as she gave chase, quickly catching up to the young filly.

“So where are you all headed anyways?” Luna said, glancing at the pony beside her.

Appleseed met her eyes, frowning. “We don’ really know. Ah just kno’ that the leader of the village decided we should head to warmer land. We’r gonna jus try to find somewhere warmer and try to get some food planted before we starve...” She sighed, staring at the snow under their hooves. “Daddy won’t say so, but ah kno’ we’re runnin’ low on food.”

“I’m sure your daddy’s just worried about the cold. You’ll be able to grow more crops, you’ll see.” Luna said, bumping Appleseed with her flank.

“Why don’ you come with us?”

Luna stumbled, almost falling flat on her face in shock. She stared at Appleseed as they ran, lost in her thoughts. “I... I want to. But I can’t.” Luna said, frowning as she glanced at the mountain behind her. “I have to stay for... somepony.” She trailed off, her voice fading as they cleared the top of the hill.

Below them, stretched out in a large line, stood dozens of Earth Ponies. Some stood hooked to large wagons, others carried large packs on their backs as they traveled through the clearing outside their village. Luna cocked her head as a stallion broke away from the group, his hooves pounding the dirt as he ran toward them.

“There’s my dad!” Appleseed screamed, pointing at the stallion running toward them, a gleeful tone in her voice. “Ah know you said you can’t come with us, but Ah want you to meet...” She trailed off as she turned, gazing at the empty spot where Luna had stood a moment before.

x-x-x-X-X-X-x-x-x

The days passed quickly, each day blurring together to the small blue filly. She had spent each day since meeting Appleseed staring at the now empty, earth pony village. She missed being able to watch them, even if she had to do it in secret. Now, her days were spent staring at the remains of their village until Celestia finally called her in for dinner.

“Oh, you’re back just in time for dinner!” Celestia said, grinning as Luna entered the cave.

“I’m not very hungry,.” Luna covered her mouth, stifling a loud yawn. “I think I’m going to head to bed early.” She trotted past Celestia, her hooves dragging on the floor tiredly. Celestia stuck her head out of the kitchen, watching her sister enter her bedroom with concern.

Luna entered her bedroom, her hooves aching as she threw herself on her bed, rolling tiredly onto her back.

“Luna?” A voice called out, drawing her eyes to her door. She sat up suddenly, her eyes going wide as she stared at the young orange filly standing in her bedroom.

“Appleseed? How...” Luna closed her eyes, pressing a hoof against her forehead. “How are you in my bedroom?”

Appleseed looked around, shrugging after a moment. “Ah’m not sure. Ah had just laid down to sleep...” Luna stood, her feet clopping against the stone floor as she crossed the room to stand before Appleseed.

"I must be dreaming..." Luna said, reaching out with a hoof, shivering as her hoof pressed against the filly’s fur. "This... this is a very real dream." Luna said, poking Appleseed repeatedly in the side.

“Why did ya’ run away? Ah wanted you to meet my dad.” She frowned, pushing Luna’s hoof away.

Luna looked away, her cheeks heating up as she mumbled.

“Wha’d ya’ say?”

“I’m not supposed to talk to Earth ponies... My sister says their dangerous.” Luna said, avoiding Appleseeds eyes. Her ears perked up as the filly bust out laughing, evidently finding what Luna said funny. Luna glanced to her door worriedly, pressing a hoof against Appleseed’s muzzle.

“Shhhh! We can’t wake up my sister!” Luna said, her voice lowered to a whisper.

“Earth ponies aren’t dangerous. Ah mean did ya’ think ah was dangerous today?” Appleseed whispered back, smiling at Luna.

“Well... no!” Luna said, smiling as she recalled their time together.

“Well if your sis was wrong about me, maybe she was wrong ‘bout us all?”

“Maybe...” Luna said, her voice trailing off.

“Ah wish you could of stayed with us! We left behind the snow and ice, and have discovered a beautiful valley! We’re still heading south for now, but my daddy say’s it’s got some of th’ most fertile soil he’s ever seen!”

“That’s amazing, Appleseed!” Luna said, grinning at her new friend.

“I... I’m worried we won’t have enough time to grow more crops though.” Her smile faded as she stared at the stone beneath their hooves. “We have a lot of ponies with us, and so far we haven’t been able to find much food here. Soon, we’ll have to start growing new crops and buildin’ new houses. Ah just... Ah don’t know how we’ll be able to do it all.”

Luna’s ears fell as she thought of the problems the earth ponies were going to face in the coming weeks. “I’m sorry... I wish I could help you.”

Appleseed cocked her head, giving Luna a strange look. “Thanks Luna, but you’re just one pony... There’s not much ya’ could do to help, ya know?”

Luna stared at Appleseed, a large smile growing on her face.

“Maybe...maybe there is!”

Journey through the Snow

“Where is that filly?” Celestia asked, tapping her hoof impatiently. She gazed longingly at the fresh salad before her, biting her lip as she waited for her younger sister. After a moment, she stood, grumbling to herself as she exited the kitchen, her hooves clacking against the stone floor.

“Luna?” Celestia asked, her hoof tapping against her younger sister’s door. Silence met her ears as she pressed her ear against the door. She bit her lip, knocking on the door once more.

“Luna?”

Celestia pushed the door open, her horn flaring as she illuminated the room in a golden glow. She narrowed her eyes as the lighte from her horn revealed a single piece of parchment, laying haphazardly against the straw mattress.

She crossed the room in a flash, her magic surrounding the letter as she unfolded it. Her eyes went wide as she scanned the letter, her horn sputtering out as she gasped in horror.

“Oh no...”

The snow bit at Luna’s skin, chilling her all the way to the bone. She squinted, a hoof raised in an attempt to ward off the snow and ice whipping through the freezing air.

“I can’t see anything...” Luna muttered to herself, another shiver wracking her body. She trudged through the snow, blindly walking deeper into the blizzard raging around her. Her wings hung limply at her side, her sides aching from her long flight. After hours of keeping herself aloft, she had finally had to resort to walking.

Night had fallen long ago, leaving the young filly alone and lost in an unfamiliar area. She concentrated, her horn sputtering small sparks as she forced what little magic she had left. A small ball of light appeared at the top of her horn, lighting the fierce darkness around her.

Luna stepped forward, straining her horn for as much light as the small filly could push through her horn. She walked through the snow for nearly an hour, resisting the urge to give into the shivers that wracked her body. Just as Luna thought she couldn’t walk any further, she stumbled upon a small cave entrance feet before her.

Luna ran forward, her hooves pounding the snow underhoof as she examined the small cave before her. She pressed forward, squeezing herself into the small entrance. With a grunt, she finally squeezed through the hole, her hoof kicking roughly against a hard rock as she fell.

The filly yelped, rolling onto her back as she pulled her foreleg to her chest, cradling the throbbing hoof tenderly. She rocked back and forth, cursing quietly to herself as her head turned, examining the small cave she found herself in. Luna took a deep breath, refocusing on the magic at the tip of her horn. The small light from her horn tip revealed walls of shiny crystals, their surfaces shimmering in Luna’s magical light. The crystals grew from floor to ceiling, forming the actual walls of the cave in many places.

“Wow...” Luna murmured, her horn flaring as she attempted to illuminate more of the colorful cave. She yelled out in surprise as magic streamed from the tip of her horn, crackling through the air only to be absorbed into the crystals.

She breathed hard, her heart beating wildly against her chest as the magic stopped flowing through her horn. Her jaw dropped as the crystals around her began to glow, casting colorful tints across her fur. To Luna’s surprise, the light revealed a massive cavern, rainbow crystals glowing far into the distance. From her vantage point, she could make out several tunnels branching away from the main cavern, working their way further into the mountainside.

“This is so beautiful...” She stepped forward, walking between two large clear crystals. She reached over, pressing against one of them with her hoof. Warmth pulsed through the crystal, a gentle pulsing that seemed to tune in with her heartbeat. “The crystals seem to be... thriving on my magic. I can feel... myself in them? No... It’s familiar... but I don’t know where I’ve felt this before.”

She leaned against the crystal, her tail flicking behind her as she curled up in a small ball. Luna rested her head on her fore hooves, staring out of the cave entrance into the snow whipping in the wind.

“Is this the right thing to do? ” A tear ran down her cheek, splashing onto the cave floor. “I miss ‘Tia... but I can help the earth ponies. At the very least, I... I can show them how to grow their food faster.”

She stared out into the blizzard, her eyes slowly drifting closed. As her eyes fluttered closed, she almost swore she could see a figure standing before her.

She was in a large field of grass, green spreading in all directions as far as the eye could see. In the distance, she could see the ground sloping up, heading upward to a large hill, framed in the silvery light of a full moon. She could just make out a figure seated at the crest of the hill, a mere silhouette.

She set off at a trot, gazing at the strange field around her. The grass stood perfectly still, not even swaying in an evening wind, only moving when she parted the grass with her hooves. As she got closer to the hill, Luna felt her heart pumping as the pony turned her way, her wings stretching out at her side, her horn casting a long shadow down the hill.

“‘Tia!” Luna screamed, a large smile on her face as she galloped up the hill.

“Luna?” The figure asked, her voice much higher pitched than Luna recalled. Luna slid to a stop, her hooves digging into the ground as she cocked her head at the silhouette, a silhouette which no longer showed a young alicorn, but a filly earth pony.

“Oh... Appleseed.”

“Who else were you expecting?” Appleseed asked, smiling at the filly before her.

“I thought... It doesn’t matter.” Luna said, moving to sit beside the orange filly. “How are you and the rest of the ponies doing?”

Appleseed sighed, her shoulders visibly sagging. “The blizzard followed us... I don’t know how. We were fine at first, but then the unicorns and pegasi arrived. Our tribes... our tribes started fighting over food again and before night had fallen the snow had arrived.”

“What! How is that possible?” Luna said, staring at Appleseed with her ears laid back.

“I don’t know... The elders of our tribe says it isn’t a normal blizzard. It’s caused by something... something called a-”

Luna sat up, her chest heaving. She blinked rapidly, spots appearing in her eyes as she blocked the sunlight with her hooves. The filly shook her head, images of a field of grass already fading into her subconsciousness. She stared at the entrance of the cave, a low sigh escaping her lips. She squeezed herself out into the open, stepping back out into the almost nonexistent blizzard.

Her horn flared as she once again warmed herself, ignoring the freezing wind blowing against her coat. She sighed, snow crunching under her hooves as she set off once again, heading in the direction the earth ponies had headed off in a week earlier. She frowned as her stomach growled loudly, her steps slowing.

As Luna walked, she gazed at the large clouds above her, rolling into and against each other. Snow fell from the clouds, thousands of tiny crystals sparkling in the air. An unearthly neighing came from above the clouds, sending a horrified chill down Luna’s spine that had nothing to do with the ice and snow. Even as Luna watched, the clouds parted, an ethereal hoof appearing in the space between clouds.

“Oh... Oh no.” Luna said, sucking in a deep breath as a large ghostly horse burst out of the clouds, a harsh winter wind following the beast.

“Windigo!” Luna screamed, her voice cracking in fear. She pushed forward, her hooves digging into the snow as she galloped after the elemental beast. Her mother had warned her of the dangerous winter creatures, but she never imagined she would actually see one. From her mothers teaching’s, she knew they never strayed far from their source of food. They fed on the misery of ponies everywhere, which also meant the earth ponies were close by.

She chased the creature for close to an hour, her tiny hooves barely keeping up with the much larger winter horse. She followed the creature up a rocky slope, her eyes darting to the left as the ground fell away. Before long, she was left running on a small winding path around a mountain side with a steep cliff mere feet away.

As she came sprinting around a corner, she dug her hooves into the ground stopping her mere inches from the cliff’s end. Her eyes went wide, not only at the close fall she nearly met, but the strange sight below her. Barely thirty feet below her sat dozens of large tents, ponies moving in and around the small structures, the foundations of houses set further out in the valley.

The surprising part was the fact that the earth, unicorn, and pegasus tribes seemed to be living together, cooperating in the face of the blizzard. earth ponies were pulling logs and other materials necessary for building lasting structures, while unicorns assisted the earth ponies with their magic. Above the group, Pegasi worked diligently, their hooves kicking holes in the cloud layer to try to allow some of the sun’s heat into the valley.

Luna crouched down, watching the tribes work together for the greater good, forgetting the threat above her for the moment. With an unearthly moan, the windigos made their presence known. Luna leapt to her hooves, her eyes darting to the clouds where the few remaining pegasi were trying to stop the windigos from reclosing the clouds.

Luna stepped forward, her mane flying in the freezing wind. Luckily, her mother had taught her the one most important thing: If you couldn’t beat the windigo with happiness, fire was an amazing substitute.

“Ponies, of all tribes! I can save you!” Luna screamed, her horn flaring dramatically.”I know how we can banish these vile creatures!”

She smiled, expecting the ponies below her to be clamoring over each other to hear her wisdom. Instead, they were too busy staring at a large cave entrance at the opposite side of the mountain to even pay her any attention.

A large flaming heart shot out of the top of the cave, rolling waves of magic spreading across the sky in large pulsing rings. Clouds broke apart, bright beams of sunlight flooding the valley. The windigos screamed, their groans of pain echoing into the distance as the magic banished them, along with the freezing snow they had brought with them.

Luna stared in amazement as the windigo fled, retreating as far away from the magical flames as they could run. Below her, the three tribes stood silent, gawking at the now clear sky above them.

“We have defeated the Windigo!” A purple unicorn said, her voice magically carrying throughout the valley. Her fur glistened in the sudden sunlight as she exited the cave the magic had come from, along with five other ponies. The ponies in the valley cheered, their hooves stomping on the sodden ground. The unicorn in the front lifted a hoof, instantly silencing the crowd.

“We did not defeat them with magic, but with a greater power than we ever imagined. Friendship!” The unicorn said, a large cheer rising in the valley once more.

Luna cocked her head at the display, stomping a hoof as set her wings out at her sides. She crouched down, preparing to leap down into the valley when a sharp jerk on her tail pulled her off balance, dragging her into a group of bushes behind her.

“Wha’! HE-” Luna grew silent as a white furred hoof covered her mouth. Her eyes followed the hoof, going wide as they spotted the pony the limb belonged to.

“Ohh Luna... You are in so much trouble.” Celestia said slowly, glaring at the filly below her.