I suppose the hardest aspect of reintroducing myself to Equestria was the dreamscape. Raising and setting the moon, and painting the night sky in its ethereal tapestry, these things were trivial in comparison. It was becoming acquainted with this new generation of ponies, most who had never heard of me before just over a year ago.
The actual process in itself was difficult. I was so attached to the ponies I had come to know a thousand years previous, and becoming separated from that collective unconscious was one of the most hurtful and depressing things I could ever imagine. After returning to Equestria, many changes needed to happen to this new world in order to accommodate an old spirit such as myself. Celestia had to change with the times, and now so would I.
Despite my struggle to adapt, and my willingness to do so, there was one thing I would absolute not forsake. I would reconnect myself with the collective unconscious with the present generations. I was still weak, but the chance was now in my grasp, and I would take it regardless of the consequences. Luckily, my sister concurred that it would be the best course of action. Allowing me to reconvene with these dreams, after eons of black silence, would help me reestablish myself as a Princess.
Entering my dreamscape could be compared to revisiting an old cellar. The cobwebs were abundant, and the thick layer of dust was almost suffocating. It took awhile to clean, to reassert my domain, but it was a relatively painless process.
What was difficult was their reaction. Most of Equestria had only heard of me, and not a single one knew of my abilities. They didn't think much of me at first, figuring I was some strange manifestation of their imagination, but once they began to relate their stories of their nightly adventures to one another, the disturbing similarities began to surface.
Everypony was confused and scared, as to whom this strange specter could have possibly been. It was a mess I had created, from my own eagerness. I was so elated to finally reunite with the ponies I had missed, and had neglected to predict their reactions. It took a number of weeks, and a multitude of royal visitations, to help them understand there was nothing to fear. That their Princess of the Night was there to help them, and that she wasn't some strange nightmarish manifestation of the psyche.
Over time, they came to accept me, and all was well. I had my dreams back, and ponies seemed to finally be happy about my presence, even if most of the time I was only a dream. I was once again the guardian of the dream realm, and the nights were much more peaceful since then.
I became much more acquainted with these new ponies. I have bore witness to their hopes and dreams, fears and doubt, and even some of their darkest desires. I had come to know all of Equestria, but there was always one place I had interest in over others.
Ponyville, and its citizens.
After the events of Nightmare Night, I had felt a special bond with those ponies, and was ever grateful for their acceptance. I would watch over their dreams closely, helping them or encouraging them when they needed it most. I came to understand everyone there, including the Elements of Harmony themselves.
One particular mare had caught my curiosity more than the others.
One night, while I wistfully painted my stars, and watched over the dreams that had begun, I passed one that caused me to hesitate. I peered into it, cautiously, and watched the scene unfold in front of me.
It was nothing too extravagant, I suppose. Nothing seemed out of place or abnormal. Considering this was a dream, the more real it felt, the more potent it was. To this mare, that would become to be a bad thing indeed.
I found myself in Ponyville, just outside of the town's school. A bell rang through the air, and cheers erupted from the tiny building. Little fillies and colts dashed away from the prison as fast as their tiny hooves would carry them. I smiled at the smile, their collective happiness was contagious.
At the center of this seen was a pegasus mare. A mane of gold, and a coat of ash. She was in her more early stages of life, but mature nonetheless. She waited patiently until a young unicorn came rushing towards her. She shared the same blonde mane, however her coat was slightly pinkish. The two ponies embraced each other, and I could feel this mare's elation and happiness emanate from her form.
Then the scene had shifted. I now found myself inside a house, the floor littered with toys and drawings and other trinkets that were the obvious results of children. Seated at a table, I saw the young unicorn filly, whisking her pencil across a piece of paper before her. The mare cantered into the room, and it was here that I noticed all was silent.
As the two stood next to one another, I noticed that they were speaking. Yet, no words emerged from their mouths. I could only surmise that the conversation was joyous, as the filly began to hop in place with excitement, before leaping into the mare's hooves once again.
Several more scene played out the same way. The filly boasting about her report card, or a drawing. The mare giving the filly a present, or some kind of good and exciting news. It always ended in that heart warming embrace, and the same sense of satisfying euphoria coming from the mare.
Then it stopped.
Now we were back in the house. She sat still, crying with her head hung low. The sudden change in warmth and emotion troubled me deeply, as I felt the crushing sadness from this mare. I tried to piece together what could have happened, what could have gone wrong. Without a reasonable conclusion, and refusing to see her in such a state, I decided to finally pierce into the vision, and see what malady had befallen her. In her hooves rested a piece of paper. A crude drawing of three ponies. It was obviously done by a foal, that much was sure. One of these three was the mare before me.
And her portrait was crossed out in a large, red 'X'.
I surveyed the room It was still the same as it was earlier, with the toys and drawings covering the carpet. However, besides the two of us, the house was completely devoid of life.
I turned my gaze back towards the weeping mare, resting my hoof upon her shoulder. She reacted in shock, staring at me with wide eyes. Her golden eyes were incredibly bright, and shockingly vivid in this dream. She looked like she was about to lash out her frustrations, as her face contorted into one of anger.
“You... You took her!” She shouted at me, pointing an accusing hoof.
“Calm yourself young mare, I mean you no ill will. Do you know who I am?” I asked, attempting to soothe to the best of my ability.
“Y-you're the Princess. Princess Luna,” She stated, her contempt still seething through.
“Yes, and it's one of my duties to watch over the dreams of my little ponies.”
“D-Dreams? So this... is just a dream?” She asked, mystified.
Then I felt the tug. That special pulling sensation I would feel in a dream, when the dreamer was becoming lucid. “From what I have seen, I would consider this an unhappy one. Tell me, what is wrong?”
“Why should I trust you? Your sister took them from me, so why should I trust YOU?” She barked, her angry tears continuing to flow. The tug was becoming stronger, as she seemed to be forcing me out of existence. It was difficult to stay present, but I persisted.
“My sister, took whom from you? The young filly?”
“Yes, the young filly! She was my daughter! And Celestia took her away from me...” She shouted, before she began to sob.
“Why would my sister do such a thing?” I asked, trying to console her. I draped a cautious wing over the mare, to which she thankfully accepted. “This is only a dream, but it can be hurtful nonetheless. Something must be troubling you to dream scenario. Tell me, what is troubling you so?”
The mare wiped her muzzle, trying to calm herself down. “Wh-What do you care? You're a Princess, you shouldn't care about me.” The words seemed more depressed than spiteful.
“Of course I care, my dear. Millions of ponies are sleeping as we speak. There are countless other dreams I could be traversing, and I have come here,” I reasoned.
“Like you'll remember me anyway. Heck, I bet you're just getting a kick out of all of this.” This mare was surprisingly stubborn.
“Not so. In fact, this was one of the things I missed most.” I finally got her curiosity it seemed, as she raised an eyebrow at me. I continued. “I can feel your sadness, and the fear with not knowing what will happen to her. That anxiety of being left alone, unwanted and deemed unfit. While I'm sure I cannot empathize to the same degree, I too know this feeling.”
“You lost a foal...?” She asked cautiously. Her voice had softened, as she seemed to be a little less hostile. The tug had loosened slightly.
I shook my head, with a gentle smile. “No, nothing that drastic. However, it certainly felt like it.” I sighed, as I watched the room around us fade and blur, the mare much more focused on me. “This connection I share with you, is the most treasured of my abilities. As the Princess of the Night, it's my duty to watch over my subjects and protect them from the dangers that lurk in my beautiful evening. That includes their own dreams.
“I used to travel and traverse these astral plane, watching the tranquil dreams of my ponies, and intercepting their nightmares. I knew ever one of them personally, and never held their flaws against them. I accepted them for who they were, and hoped they accepted me in return. While my painting my night was a most fulfilling activity, I never appreciated it as much I as did this. To me, traversing the collective unconscious was the most exciting and endearing part of my royal duties, and I worked with such fervor.
“When my banishment happened, that was one of the first things I missed. Everything about the circumstances was painful, but nothing hurt as much as losing that connection. I was lost and alone, unable to listen to the sweet dreams my ponies would have. I was unable to help them through their strife, and I was unable to help defeat their nightmares. The thought that somewhere, there was a young filly suffering through a nigh terror, and I couldn't help them.
“I know how heart wrenching it can be, not being there for the ones you love. I've seen in this dream how much you must love your daughter, and how much she loves you back. So why are you worried about her being taken away?”
The mare looked at me with genuine sympathy in her eyes, as she looked towards the blurred floor. “I've gotten a lot of insults about my eyes, and how I'm so clumsy. It's gotten to the point where ponies have threatened to take her away from her, claiming I'm an unfit mother...” Her voice trailed off, as another tear fear down her cheek.
I wasn't about to let her worries overwhelm her. She dreamt of her daughter, and it shouldn't have to be a nightmare. I turned her head, so I could looks her in those golden globes of hers. “What is your name, Miss?” I asked.
“Ditzy Doo...”
“Miss Doo, I will make you this promise. I have seen how you dream of your little filly. I can see how much she means to you, how much you care for her. I have not seen any reason to consider you an unjust measure. If these brutes follow through on their boasts, and your custody is threatened, know that I will personally intervene.”
“You... You mean that?” She asked me, her voice quivering.
“Of course. If you doubt my sincerity, or my existence for that matter, I will send you a letter confirming our time together, and that I mean every word.”
She didn't hesitate to embrace me, with strength I was not expecting. “Thank you, Princess. I'm glad you came back to Equestria.”
Those words resonated in my heart, as I returned her embrace.
I really missed this.
Author's Note
This one kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. I was only on the first paragraph when I figured out where I was going with this and asked a friend of mine who Luna should visit. He said Derpy Hooves, and I flinched. I tried my best to make it work, but time has been wearing on my, and sleep deprivation has been hitting hard with the illness. 
