Luna's Lament

Prologue:

The dark-blue alicorn stood on the balcony outside her bedroom and focused her magic on the moon, aiding its ascent into the night sky over Equestria. As her horn glowed, her eyes filled with light as the moon peeked over the horizon. After finishing her nightly duty, she stood on her hind hooves and relaxed the upper part of her body on the railing that overlooked Canterlot. Resting her head on one of her hooves, it being perpendicular to the other lying along the railing, she gazed up at what she used to call home, and prison, for a millennium.

She sighed, recalling how lonely she had felt and how lonely she still did feel. One thousand years had taken its toll on her spirit and how in touch she was with her kingdom. So much had happened since she was imprisoned and it felt to her as if it would take another millennium to catch up. A single tear fell from her eye, descending to the courtyard below where it nestled into the cool grass. She kept her gaze toward the sky, admiring the glistening stars as well as the moon. A shiver ran through her body as a warm breeze blew through the night. The alicorn smiled, silently telling herself it would get better… eventually. She raised her head from the railing and stood on all four hooves again.

Another breeze blew through the air, causing her transparent, midnight blue mane to flow with it, the stars in it glistening from the moonlight. As she walked back into her bedroom, shutting the balcony doors behind her, she looked in the mirror at herself and smiled once more, speaking aloud, "Things will pick up, sooner or later... Just don't worry yourself to death... You're not just anypony after all... You're Luna."

Luna's Lament

Chapter 1: The Exile Within

By: Clue Tzes

As dawn began approaching, she grew tired and climbed into her bed. Luna quickly fell asleep; resting as the sun rose, holding high in the air. Dreams and nightmares alike plagued her, forcing her to toss and turn in her sleep. She remembered how frightened the ponies were on Nightmare Night, then it turned into her as Nightmare Moon, and then she was in solitude, again. She sat there on the moon and closed her eyes, opening them once more and finding herself in the middle of Canterlot. She called out to a few ponies, but none of them responded or even glimpsed her way. She sighed and let another tear fall as she realized she was an exile within society.

“Most ponies have me when a dream goes awry,” she began telling herself, “Who is there to help me though? I just need to wake up I suppose…”

Coming from the hopeless nightmare she looked around her room, finding the blanket she had been using tossed to the other side. Luna used her magic to hover it back over to the bed and got up as she placed it on neatly. She quickly glanced in the mirror, getting her light-blue mane in order and fixing her crown before trotting out into the halls of the castle. She began making her way down to the kitchen, a few of Celestia’s guards nodding and saying hello to her along the way; she knew at this hour her guards would be dead asleep in the lower quarters.

“Hello Ms. Luna!” the young, pegasus, royal chef called when he saw her enter, “Shouldn’t you be asleep right now?”

“I couldn’t sleep too well,” she giggled to herself blushing, “And please, just call me Luna.”

She looked at the chef, admiring his formality, and began thinking to herself. He was new here, hadn’t had much experience with her like the other ponies have, and was desperately nervous. She trotted up next to him unnoticed, looking over his light-yellow coat adorned with a chef’s hat for a Cutie Mark. She watched him cook for a few moments, eventually realizing he was making a poor-looking stew. The color was sickly and the vegetables in it were too chunky, not to mention she thought she saw a few hairs. It was times like this she wished she could choose the royal chef instead of her sister.

“Would you like some help?” she asked him, scaring the unaware pony.

“Wh-what do you mean?” he asked, shivering from the fright.

“Well, nothing. Never mind. Let me do one thing though,” Luna floated a mane-net over, putting it on him with her magic.

He blushed, looking away, embarrassed by his rookie mistake, “Thank you Princess… that won’t happen again… I swear. Do you have any more guidance for me? My name is R-Ravi by the way,” he bowed to her.

“A pleasure to meet you Ravi,” she returned the bow, “and since you asked, I’d recommend scrapping what you have now and starting anew. Cut the ingredients into smaller pieces and try to fix the color of the stew also because well, I don’t think anypony would eat that even if it were the best stew in the world, no offense. Lastly, remember that mane-net especially when fixing my food.”

He looked at the stew, slightly hurt before realizing his mistakes, “Y-you’re absolutely right… I’m really, really sorry; I’ve never had much experience cooking for royalty before and it has me in a very big spot. Also, her food is to be ready in five minutes like the guards said… Won’t she be mad?” His eyes were watery, as if he were about to break down right there.

Luna smiled reassuringly, setting a hoof on his back and gently rubbing over his wings, “Then don’t think of us as royalty… Think of us as friends, or just other regular ponies,” she looked at his face, noticing a slight pick-up in his mood, “and don’t worry, I’ll tell my sister I distracted you and not to be mad at you, ok?” She was cursing herself inside for her kindness, wanting to avoid her sister at the time.

Whenever she was awake during the day, her sister would tease and tell her that she was the Princess of the Night, not day, and needed to get to bed and be awake for bedtime instead of frolicking around in the light. She hated the comments, feeling belittled by them, but would giggle and tease back nonetheless trying to forget what was said. After her night and nightmare, her sister was the last thing she wanted to deal with, but if it would make somepony else happy, she’d deal with it.

“Thank you L-Luna… You’re a real life saver,” he turned away, quickly wiping his eyes on his apron, hoping she wouldn’t notice, “If there’s anything I can do for you, aside from cooking obviously, don’t hesitate to ask.”

She nodded in return, “It’s my pleasure… and actually, there’s one thing. If you feel unwelcomed by society, like an exile of sorts, what would you do?”

He thought for a moment, unaware she was talking about her own situation, “Well, personally, I’d leave without a word and go find acceptance elsewhere. If a pony doesn’t like you for being you, then well, stay yourself and move on… At least you retain a slight sense of self-identity…”

Luna thought for a moment, “Thank you Ravi, for you’ve helped me greatly. Now I need to keep my part of the deal, farewell.” She was gone before he even had a chance to return the farewell. He dumped his stew and began wondering why she asked such an odd question.

She began briskly making her way down the hall to her sister’s throne room, moving past guards with ease. Each turned their head in bewilderment due to the fact Luna was awake and something seemed urgent. As she reached the door she stopped, closed her eyes and sighed, collecting herself; she couldn’t let Celestia see her so frazzled. Slowly opening the door, she reopened her eyes and casually strolled into the throne room.

“Is it nighttime already?” Celestia mused upon seeing her.

“Good afternoon to you as well sister. I distracted your chef a few minutes ago while he was preparing your food so it will be a little late, my apologies,” Luna told her.

“That is perfectly fine,” she replied in an understanding tone, “I’m surprised you’re talking to somepony new really. Ever since your return you’ve been in that little bubble of yours and it’s such a shame to see… It needs popped to be honest.”

“After Nightmare Night, can you really blame me?” Luna gave a soft sigh, “I mean they like me… but for how I can frighten them and that’s not who I am. The first few times were fun scaring them, but after that their screams grew dull and it made me feel like her again. She loved hearing ponies scream in terror and especially if she was the one who caused it… I don’t want any part of that life anymore sister…”

Celestia frowned, approaching the saddened Luna and set a hoof on her back, “Just remember, you didn’t choose the Nightmare life…”

Luna smirked and looked up, “Finish that phrase and I will raise the moon early again…”

Celestia giggled quietly and rolled her eyes, “Please don’t. Don’t you remember what happened last time? Canterlot was running frantic, Ponyville was in chaos… And then Twilight and her friends ran up here thinking Discord was evil again…”

“You’re going to give that mare a heart attack with as much responsibility as you’ve put on her,” Luna looked up at her sister half-frowning.

“She can handle it for now… After all, we have big plans for her and if she can’t handle what has been presented so far, then she most certainly won’t be prepared for this…”

Luna hit her hoof to her face, “Really sister? You still remember her singing that?”

“Well, she most certainly wasn’t quiet about it now was she?” Celestia eyed Luna playfully, a smirk on her face once more.

“You’ve got a point I suppose… Back to earlier though; sometimes I just feel so unwelcomed around here and just plain out of place… I mean, I’ve missed a lot since my banishment to the moon.”

“We agreed that wasn’t a banishment but a grounding, remember?” Celestia smiled, trying to cheer up her sister.

“Who gets grounded for one-thousand years?” Luna gave Celestia a dumbfounded look.

“Well, obviously you did,” she shot back, nuzzling Luna’s neck.

Before anymore could be said, Ravi came in and told Celestia her food was ready, “Sorry for the delay and all, but you’ll find this food to perfection hopefully… and thank you again for the help Luna,” he bowed in an embarrassed fashion, blushing as well before quickly trotting off.

“Being sweet to the chef huh?” Celestia quickly trotted to the dining hall laughing, giving Luna no chance to fire back.

She stamped her hoof, enraged and embarrassed even more. If there was one thing Celestia was good at, it was giving her hell and then some. She looked to the now empty throne where her sister had sat and walked up, sitting on it and smirking to herself.

“Blah, blah, blah, raise the sun, call for Twilight, reform them, find Cadence, do this, do that!” she musingly mocked aloud, waving both her hooves.

She stopped short, looking to her left and right and seeing the guards that stayed by the throne’s sides awkwardly sitting there. They looked embarrassed and were desperately trying to look away from Luna, who now had a red face. She focused her magic and immediately teleported from the throne room, embarrassment at a max. Her stomach growled, hunger setting in, but she wasn’t about to bother that chef again… She sighed and trotted towards the front gate of the castle, trying to forget the whole scenario. She sighed happily, the warm sun shining upon her as she walked through the courtyard. Making her way downtown, she looked around, seeing the rushing ponies going from shop to shop, buying what they could.

“Quite amazing how so many of these ponies aren’t in bankruptcy by day’s end…” she remarked to herself, walking through the crowd.

Most of them moved out of her way, because she was royalty she assumed, and into the shops, nearly cleaning out the streets around her. She made her way to a small café off in the distance, deciding that that was where she’d get her next meal. As Luna sat at one of the tables and waited for somepony to come help, the other ponies who had been seated in the area all tossed down bits for the check and left immediately, whispering to one another.

She frowned, realizing they were talking ill of her. Before her thoughts could descend deeper, the waiter came and snapped her back into reality.

"Wh-what can I-I get you P-p-princess  Luna?" He asked, shaking where he stood.

She hung her head low and tossed the menu aside with her magic as she whispered, "Acceptance..." Then she stood and slowly walked away.

The waiter could feel the sadness irradiating from the princess and looked around, seeing all the empty tables that had ponies only moments prior. He felt bad for her, but he knew there wasn't anything he could do. He watched her walk back to the castle as he stood there, speechless and motionless.

Luna began walking, her mind blank as she made her way up to her room. She crawled into the bed, lying on her side and closing her eyes, attempting to sleep once more. Every time she tried, the thoughts of everything against her since her return kept assaulting what little hope she had that things would be better. She began thinking about what Ravi had said, to find acceptance elsewhere and he didn't seem terrified of her, so that had to mean he didn't know about her Nightmare Moon return a few years back.

Maybe there were others who didn't either... far off...

"I've become something they all run from..." she sighed softly to herself, "They all want me to be gone..."

She stood, climbing off the bed and walked to the window to watch the sun set.

"As the night comes on my final time here

The reality of my situation strikes hard

And finally now I'm forced to face the fear

That for me there may not be a true home

A place where I can begin anew

Where ponies won't judge or avoid me

Where being myself is something I'm free to do

But for now that dream remains just that

Tonight though is where forever is to begin

For me, I will begin my search

And I will not look where a memory of me has been

I am ready to live life over...

If they search though, I will fight

I won't go back to the hell I know!

I will push them away with all of my might," she continued, tears beginning to freely flow down her face, "They will never make me return!

I can escape and I most assuredly will

I need this freedom to continue on living

I won't stay where others think of me ill!" She screamed, stomping her hoof hard, tears shining on her face in the approaching moonlight. She rested her head on the railing of the balcony, sobbing audibly as she finished.

"There's no going back for me... not this time..." She whispered, closing her eyes and going silent.

After a few minutes, Luna got up and walked back into her room. She quickly scribbled a note on the vanity in her room, leaving it so it'd be found easily. She locked her door with a magical seal only breakable by her sister and with that, she stepped onto the balcony railing and leapt, spreading her wings and taking to the skies. She quickly latched onto a cloud and began flying off in the distance, unsure and uncaring of where she was going.

Celestia watched the sun slowly slip away, allowing the night to take over. She sighed to herself, thinking about how her sister seemed to be earlier. Ravi had also told her about the odd question she had posed to him as well, which made her wonder what was going through her younger sister’s mind. After her lunch, she heard rumors passed along throughout the town about the “blue nightmare that was seen earlier” and began worrying more. Luna hadn’t been having the best time since returning and she knew that. She tried her best to help out and get other ponies to give Luna a second, well third, chance and none of them, no matter what the bribe was, would do it.

She looked around, stepping off her throne, bidding the guards goodnight before moving towards her chambers. She stopped in the middle of the hall, turning down the hall towards Luna’s room. She knocked, no sounds coming from the other side in response, and tried the handle. It wasn’t locked, but bound by what she assumed was Luna’s own spell. She focused, finding it easy for her to release, and pushed the door open. The doors to the balcony were open, the wind carelessly blowing in through the night, and there was a note on the mirror, but no sign of the princess.

“Luna…?” Celestia called quietly, looking around for her sister. She trotted over to the note left behind and read it, gaping in horror, “Sh-she didn’t j-jump did she…?”

Celestia quickly moved to the balcony, looking over the edge and seeing nothing below, causing her to sigh in relief. “So, that means she’s gone away… but can still be found…” she sat on Luna’s bed, looking over the note once more.

“Dearest sister and others that may remotely care,

I can’t take the life I’m living here anymore. You, Cadence, Shining, Twilight and her friends may have given me a second chance, but Equestria hasn’t, or at least what I’ve seen of it. So I’m going away for a long time and will never return to this castle. Tell the citizen’s to not fear for their nightmare ends tonight. Please don’t bother looking for me or I will fight to preserve my freedom. You have been warned… and goodbye my dear sister… Near, far, wherever you are, I will never forget you. Thank you for everything you tried to do for me…

Love your little sister, always and forever,

Luna”

Celestia sat there in silence, tears rolling down her cheeks as her mind stayed blank. Finally she got to her hooves and walked from her sister’s room, passing a unicorn guard.

“I-is everything alright princess? You seem to be cr-crying,” he bluntly stated, trying to not show it was obvious and be consoling at the same time.

“Nothing is alright right now… nor will it ever be again unless something is done,” she whispered back.

He barely understood what she had said but that was enough for him, “Whatever must be done I will proudly do for you,” he told her confidently.

“Go retrieve Twilight Sparkle and her friends for me… please…”

He nodded and began to head off but she topped him, “Your name dear guard, what is it?”

“Sliver,” he responded nervously, never having been asked his name before.

“It’s beautiful,” she remarked, smirking some at him, “Maybe there’s a chance after all… I will make sure you are rewarded for reaching out to me.”

He shook his head, his blush noticeable on his brown coat, “The only reward needed is being able to help a princess in need,” and he trotted off before she could speak.

Celestia watched him go, a small amount of hope now deep within her. Maybe these guards aren’t entirely stoic after all; she thought to herself, it seems some do hold more emotion than expected… I should probably get to know some of them a little better instead of just calling each one guard… She giggled aloud, obvious sadness in it still, and turned, walking back to the throne room to await Twilight and her friend’s arrival.

End Chapter 1