Nightfall - Luna's Reunion

by Georg

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Sad, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Bat Pony, Other, Nightmare Moon
Length: 6161

The Nocturne have waited for a thousand years to meet their Queen of the Night. Tonight, their wait is over.

They have waited a thousand years in darkness to meet their creator, but tonight, their wait will be over.

And their lives will never be the same again.

Written for the Equestria Daily 2013 Batpony Writeoff

Written as a standalone as part of the Nocturne saga, but can be placed after these stories (most recent on top):

Genealogy (or the Mating Habits of Nocturne Pegasi)
Two Unicorns Walk Into a Village
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Related works:
Diplomatic Security (set 200 years in the past)
Foals Tales from the Book of Tradition : History of the Night Pegasus
The Monster in the Twilight
Diplomacy by Other Means
The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam

I’ve been meaning to get this written ever since I completed Genealogy, but I just haven’t had the time. Thank you to EqD for running a contest to get me off my lazy flank. I hope you all enjoy it.

The excellent artwork is called Nightmare
Credit: Gardelius at Deviantart.com

Editing assistance by : Peter, Tek,
Bad Horse, Mook Massacre and a chicken who prefers to remain anonymous.

Published 2013-10-29 01:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-29 01:30:01 UTC

Luna's Reunion

Luna’s Reunion

She had returned.

For endless years, the Nocturne had followed their Books of Tradition, the instructions and stories left behind by the first clan leaders. From a scant few survivors of the first Nightmare Night, the families had grown through the years, always holding to the traditions of the ones who went before them. Always awaiting her return. Never losing faith.

Centuries passed. The original clans multiplied, the stories in their Books of Tradition twisting in their interpretation from facts to fables, but the core of their belief remained. Luna would return. Their creator would once again see her creations. Every Nocturne felt it deep in their heart, impressed into their bones and sinews with the touch of their fabled Queen of the Night so long ago. The stories may have changed, but their hearts remained the same.

She would return.

Nocturne spread across Equestria, somewhat intermingling with all of the other pony tribes. They still maintained their families, drawn together by their traditions, but barriers of Day and Night kept them separated from other ponies. Well, mostly separated. When one of them was born to a family of the Day due to their interactions, they offered the young pony a life within their own lives, with others of their kind. And so the race of Nocturne continued to grow and change.

Would she return?

The years passed, and still they waited. The Nocturne had an ironclad record of loyalty to the Equestrian Crown that had remained unbroken since their first cadet had taken the oath of office. Every stallion served Equestria in one way or another, by service in the Royal Guard, or the various cities municipal guards. They flew messages and missives, delivered packages or protected others in the darkness of Luna’s Night. They were well aware of the need for patience. The Night was very patient.

Someday, she will return.

Centuries of service to the immortal Princess Celestia brought a deep respect from their fellow Royal Guards, but still their bat-like wings and golden eyes made many ponies nervous, while others viewed them as exotic mating potential. Rare blue and green eyes began to appear in the Nocturne families as well as streaks of color in their deep blue manes. A few deeply traditional Nocturne families shunned these untraditional colts and fillies when they were born into the general population, but the rest of the families accepted them, treasuring their adoptions as much as any of their kind, and loving them without measure. The families grew apart, but they were still united in their wait.

Then it happened.

The Nocturne scattered all across Equestria had looked up into the starry sky during the Summer Sun Festival just a few months ago, their hearts hammering with adrenaline as the Night remained in place far beyond its normal time. Many took the disappearance of the Mare in the Moon as a sign, but of what, they were not certain.

So much time had passed since the first Nightmare Night that their legendary Queen of the Night had become a myth, a fantasy story read to little foals before bedtime. Only the oldest stories in their Books of Tradition had remained the same, and even those records differed between the original families.

Some stories called Luna the mother of their race, some a goddess returned to the stars, others a mortal sister to Celestia, cruelly treated by fate. Stories had become faded or embellished with age, while the reality of Princess Celestia remained, unchanging, keeper of the Night and Day, the one who had stood up to save the helpless Nocturne race so soon after their birth. In return, their loyalty to the Sun Princess had never wavered over the years, and showed in the pledge taken by every living Nocturne.

As long as we live, we bear witness to the power of Luna, the creator of our race.

It was by your actions we were born, made to reflect your immortal glory as the Moon doth reflect the Sun.

It was by your sacrifice that we live, having taken the corruption of our creation and sealed it away to safeguard the lives of all Equestria.

It was by Celestia’s grace that we survived and grew, holding to our Tradition while awaiting your return.

Let our service be our redemption. Let your sky bear witness to our oath. Let us be worthy of your name.

We swear to serve the Crown of Equestria until the last star goes out and the sun gutters into darkness.

We serve the Princesses.

For months after the Long Night, the Nocturne held their anxious peace, awaiting the command of their Princess. Newspapers and magazines proclaimed their stories of Luna’s return and the role the Elements of Harmony had played in her release from Nightmare Moon’s corruption, but the stories seemed weak and feeble when compared against the Nocturne histories held within the Books of Tradition. Luna would reveal the truth to her children in due time. She would rejoice at their loyalty, and reward them for their service.

Still, they chafed at the wait, and stories began to circulate.

Some whispered that the pony whom Celestia claimed as a sister was an imposter, a mere imitation alicorn created to lessen the Sun Princess’ tasks. Other families combed back through their Books of Tradition, looking for guidance in the myths and tales long forgotten. Stories filtered back from the Nocturne serving in the Royal Guard, tales of the new alicorn’s mortal fears and weakness, her habits and flaws, the hooves of clay on the adamantine statue that centuries of legend had created.

The guards even claimed this ‘Princess Luna’ was afraid of them, shying away from their presence and refusing to speak with them. Only one guard had the tenacity to beg an audience with her, and from this small leak in the dam of silence, a weak trickle of Nocturne were permitted within her personal protective unit, but only a few.

Months passed, and their dissatisfaction grew. Some simply said that Luna accepted them wholeheartedly, and to ask for additional praise was unworthy of their loyalty. Others seethed with resentment, for Luna had placed a small touch of her own soul in every Nocturne, and that small corner of every heart felt doubt. They could see the love from their Princess of the Night being bestowed on all of Equestria in the moon and stars at night, but some part of them felt betrayed, much as Luna had so many years ago. The touch of Nightmare stirred across Equestria, in small feathery curls of envy and jealousy against the ponies of the Day. Even the Nocturne guards who had been entrusted with her protection fell suddenly silent, as if they had seen something they would not repeat. Or could not.

Then something changed.

It started when Luna called for each clan’s Book of Tradition to be brought to her representative so that they could be examined. Nervous clans met throughout Equestria, each worried at what hidden crimes or infidelity would be revealed when their Princess of the Night would inspect their precious histories. But they obeyed, for it was her command.

Then came the decree. Each clan was to meet with Luna in small groups, at the place where the race of Nocturne had been born in blood and destruction. The ruins of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters had long ago fallen to rot and decay, reduced to scattered stones among the crumbling walls, but the order was absolute. They would all attend, each foal and elder, and at that meeting, Luna would…

They did not know. Would she judge their clans to be unworthy, and cast them away onto the moon forever? Could she be wishing to take a mate from one of the clans and rule at his side? Would she raise the banner of rebellion against her sister again, and cause the Nocturne to be torn between their creator and the one who saved their race from destruction?

They did not know. But they would obey.

They arrived in Canterlot over several days, gathering with others of their kind in tense anticipation. Every evening brought more of them, their golden eyes peering from every shadow around the castle in hopes of catching a glimpse of their Princess of the Night, while during the day they nestled up with their Canterlot cousins to sleep.

The afternoon of the appointed day arrived as the Night Guards gathered them into ranks and groups despite the sleepy crying of the foals awakened by the brilliant sunlight and the rumbling grumbles of the elders, mares of great age and wisdom who were not ashamed to tell everypony about it. They rose into the air in a great multitude, a cloud of darkness winging southward as their ancestors had done, to meet Luna and do her will.

On the flight, the squabbling among the young slowly began to die out, with choice positions at the edge of the chariots becoming shared as small eyes looked down into the trackless forest. At the time of their creation in the center of that forest, those small eyes had all been golden, but as the centuries progressed, changes crept into the Nocturne. There were even a few glimpses of color among the wave of charcoal-grey that flew in quiet formation, although the number who dyed their coats to match Tradition far outnumbered the few who flaunted hair in tints of gold or blues. Even the rebellious youth with sparkling piercings or tattooed wings shrank closer to their more-Traditional elders as they flew onward. To their birthplace. Where they had begun.

The scattered stones about the ruins lay wrapped in vines and brambles across a low lumpy green carpet that concealed the ancient bones and decayed armor from ponies dead centuries ago. Nocturne gathered uncomfortably across the sun-warmed grass, far too aware of the close proximity of their long-lost ancestors. Nopony spoke any louder than a whisper, the low surge of voices mixed with the wind in a combination of words that seemed to echo through the ancient place while the sun sank lower in the sky.

Closer to the sunset.

A low rustle from the sky heralded the arrival of a dozen guardponies, clad in a mixture of golden Day and purple Night armor as they spread out in a line in front of the gathered Nocturne, but in their center landed two noble alicorns that brought a hiss of recognition to the gathered crowd.

Princess Celestia fairly glowed with the setting sun, illuminated in brilliant yellows and golds as her hooves touched the surface of a large stone platform. Throughout the crowd, the dark ponies dropped to one knee in familiar respect for their monarch, whom they had served with unbreakable respect for all of their lives.

But even as they dropped to one knee to honor their Princess of the Sun, every pony in the crowd could not take their eyes off the dark alicorn who landed to her side. Tales from the clans’ Books of Tradition had spoken of their Princess of the Night in expansive terms, striding through the stars with such power and majesty that she could not be comprehended by mortal eyes.

The alicorn to Celestia’s side was barely as tall as her chin, and with only a trace of stars in her mane.

The wind rose to a gentle breeze, spreading loose leaves in a quiet whispering that matched the sudden tense whispers among the waiting Nocturne. In moments, their unbroken confidence had been shattered, fears and doubts rising in sudden discussions between the dark ponies that became louder and louder until—

“BE STILL!!”

As one, every Nocturne returned to their knees and held their heads low. Silence fell over the ancient battlefield, broken only by echoes of that powerful voice reflecting back from the crumbled buildings and structures. The crunch of leaves beneath her hooves was clearly audible as the dark alicorn strode forward to the edge of the crowd, lowering her wings.

“You have been summoned here to hear the true story of your race’s creation, and of my role in that terrible night. I am not proud of my actions, but I am proud of you, the descendants of my creations. For a thousand years, you have waited for my return, and I am ashamed to say I was afraid to speak with you, not out of any shame I felt about your honor, but mine alone.

“It all began after the defeat of Discord, just after my sister and I entombed him in stone forever, or so we thought. Our ponies celebrated the entire day with feasting and dancing, and there was a parade as the resulting statue was carried to Canterlot and placed in the gardens. Celestia had eaten so much cake she was about to burst, and once she laid the sun down to rest and I raised the moon, she departed for her bedchambers.”

Celestia stepped forward to Luna’s side, and her horn lit up. Without a struggle, the radiant sun sank below the horizon, leaving the collected Nocturne in complete darkness.

For a long moment, there was nothing but the whisper of feathers ascending into the obsidian sky.

Then a soft indigo glow began to illuminate the ancient ruins, cast from above as Luna hovered over the crowd. Ever so slowly, the moon slid above the horizon, followed by a wave of stars that twinkled and flashed into their places in a cascade of silver that lit the descending alicorn in heart-stopping beauty until she placed her hooves at Celestia’s side and once again faced the crowd. She waited patiently as the assembled Nocturne shook themselves away from the view of the brilliant stars, and only resumed once the last set of golden eyes had once again turned to look at her.

“In anticipation of the remaining celebration, I lifted my moon high and spread the stars across the sky in a magnificent display, only to find when I returned to the place of our celebration there was naught but used confetti and trash. Our ponies had exhausted themselves in their praise of my sister and returned to their beds, leaving me alone with only my stars for company.

“It was then I felt the first touch of Nightmare. I had given so much to them, and in return, nothing.

“The feeling grew over the years, a dull ache of jealousy and envy that flared to life whenever my sister was praised while I was ignored, left to sulk in the shadows. Beasts beyond the scope of ponykind were vanquished with our touch upon the Elements of Harmony, and Equestria thrived. Certainly there was credit given to us both, but my eyes could only see that which was bestowed upon Celestia, and the darkness in my soul blossomed.”

Celestia lifted her head to look at her sister, eyes glistening with tears. “I bear the full weight of my own responsibility for your feelings, Luna. I should have seen the anger in your heart, but my own attention was drawn to the praise and glory that was given to us. I was so blind that I could not see the pain of my own sister.”

Luna paused to give Celestia a brief nuzzle. “I forgive you, my sister. I hid my pain far too well instead of confronting you with my fears.”

Turning back to the assembled Nocturne, Luna continued.

“One morning, while watching my beloved sister raise the sun, the idea struck. A horrible, terrible idea forged in the darkness of my soul which was to drag the entire world near the precipice of disaster. If our beloved ponies were not able to appreciate my beautiful Night, I could reform some of my own, shape them as clay into a new form, one who would enjoy my Night and sleep throughout the Day. They would be separate from Celestia’s day-loving kind as my own treasured children, and it would be they who would sing my praises while watching over Celestia’s precious ponies in my beautiful night. I bent to my task with fervent zeal, crafting a spell which would transform any pony—be they unicorn, pegasus or earth pony—into my image.

“It was with great joy that I brought my plans to my sister, for the transformation spell required too much power for me to attempt on my own, but she dismissed my plea. The Nocturne would be separated from other ponies, forced by magic instead of their own desires to choose the Night instead of her Day, and she considered that wrong.

“My attempt to bring joy to my subjects had been crushed by my sister. The darkness grew in my soul.

“Long did I brood upon the injustice of it all while I considered my spell. It was complicated, but I was the bearer of Magic, and had centuries of skill at my disposal. There was no challenge I could not defeat. All that I lacked was power.

“Power such as the Elements of Harmony possessed.

“In secrecy, I laid my plans, for Celestia would certainly object. Using my three Elements of Harmony, I focused my dark emotions, my hatred, my scorn, all of the lies and envy that consumed me into my spell. I would remake myself much as I planned on remaking my followers. I would become as a goddess.

“A fool, more likely.

“Although I thought I had considered every aspect of the spell, it failed before completion. As I fed my power through the Elements, they fought me fiercely, even though I bent them to my will and forced their compliance. My failure was too much for my ego to bear, but even a partial success was enough for me to revel at my newfound power. The Element of Magic vanished during the casting, but I considered its loss to be inconsequential now that I had what seemed to be a greater power.

“A year passed in which I hid my new powers from my sister and gathered my forces. If she would not agree to my plans beforehoof, she would be forced to agree with them after the fact. Where we stand now was once the Winter Castle, a garden palace surrounded by the most peaceful forest in Equestria. Once long ago, when our lives were still filled with harmony, we traveled here together every year. It was a peaceful time to privately grieve over our parent’s graves and to make our plans for the future. They were wonderful days filled with little things that we would do as sisters, away from the cares of rulership and power, just the two of us. Our subjects called it the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters at that time, long ago, but no more.

“It would be here that I would travel, and I would create my new children in the beautiful city we would build on this spot. A city in which no child would experience grief, or sorrow, or want. A city raised to the glory of the Night where all of my Nocturne children would praise my wisdom and power. A city so magnificent that my sister would be envious, looking down from her towers and spires of Canterlot.

“A city of false dreams and deceit.

“When the appointed time came, I gave the order. Thousands of my followers gathered in small groups from every city and town in Equestria, all converging on the Winter Palace. Only then did I begin to suspect the power that dwelt within my own breast was subverting my will, for the orders that were given in my name that night caused many who were not of my followers to be dragged from their families. Blood was shed that night, innocent blood, and it was only the beginning of my betrayal.

“The two remaining Elements of Harmony that I controlled, Laughter and Generosity, no longer resonated to my touch. I raged at them, and their rejection burned at my soul. In a fit of pique, I cast them from me and took the name of Nightmare Moon. I did not need stones for power anymore. There were other sources far easier to use.

“I gathered my followers where you stand now and spoke with them, of glory and power, vain and foolish words that I can see properly now but was so blind to then. The Everfree had the power I needed to complete the transformation spell, and I drew from it in great abundance. Not singularly, but in tens and hundreds I did transform my followers, with eyes and wings and horns more suited for my glorious night. Unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies all reborn to my glory, proud of their newfound powers. Fools as much as myself.

“Their love and exclusive adoration was like a wave, sweeping over me, blinding me to the evils I had done. The Everfree writhed in unspeakable agony, unnoticed in my triumph. The power it yielded flowed like blood through my followers as we set to our task. A city rose up, in foundations and walls created through limitless magic and channeled through the willing bodies of my new children.

“The Everfree raged with madness, the peaceful creatures within turned to fury and insanity at my touch. We cared not.

“My sister appeared in the sky, crying out words to me. Begging me. We mocked her, throwing stones until she retreated. The Night would stand in eternity, and our city would rise, even if the rest of the world burned.

“She returned, and the sky darkened with her forces as they attacked. I was little more than a terrified passenger in my own body by then, watching as my own magic lashed out at her. My sister, who had held me tenderly when I was born and cried when I got my cutie mark. My magical lash laid across her flank in lines of blackened fire, her blood splattered on my face as we fought. She never returned a single blow, never ceased to plead with me, never in anger, only in sorrow. My magic was the world, drawn from the limitless reservoir underneath the Everfree and filtered to me by the bodies of my children. It filled my body with such power that I could have cracked the world and laughed as it crumbled.

“When she left, dragging her defeated ponies with her, we rejoiced. The dead lay scattered around our shattered city, broken stones and broken bones intermixed, and we cheered. The blood of my sister was on my face, and I was filled with joy.

“Then she returned a third time. This time she wore around her neck the Elements of Harmony, but not only the three that she deserved, but my three also. She said nothing, for nothing else needed to be said. I had felt the touch of the Elements before, and knew of their limitless power.

“To fight my sister, I reclaimed the power that I had given to my children. I drew upon the magic that had been used to build the city. Every spark and speck I drew back into myself to fight that touch of rainbows. On some level, I wanted to lose. Somewhere within my soul was a hidden fragment, untouched by the Nightmare. It tempered my reach as I reclaimed the power I had placed within my creations, allowing a scant few to escape my deadly grasp, but only those few lived to bear witness to the horror I visited upon your kind. I could feel my newborn children die as my magic was ripped from them, their bodies falling to the ground in ashes as they burned in the darkness.

“I knew it was not enough. When the rainbow light engulfed me, I knew I was going to die too. I felt no remorse for my actions, for the deaths and pain I had caused, no guilt, no shame. The only thing I felt was sorrow for my sister, for I had loved her beyond words, and I would never be able to tell her of my regret.

“In that infinite moment, magic touched my heart. The Elements of Harmony are more ancient than this world, and are not merely weapons, but tools of creation made by the Titans themselves. Somehow they saw deep within my soul, and revealed that small fragment worthy of being saved, so small that I had not seen it myself.

“The Elements placed my immaterial form within the moon, wrapped in mystic runes and sigils not even an alicorn could break. As time passed much like a dream, the portion of my soul which was consumed by hatred and rage struggled fiercely with our bonds while I retreated to consider my crimes. After centuries had passed, I could feel a difference between us and I realized that not even the Elements of Harmony could have separated me from my hatred until I had done so myself. A thousand times I lost hope in my redemption, and a thousand times I regained it as I felt the touch of my sister upon my celestial orb.”

Luna once again lowered her head as Celestia stepped forward and stroked a wing across her back, taking a deep breath before addressing the crowd.

“Using the Elements of Harmony against my sister had been an act of pure desperation on my part. I had not known if they would work, or even how they would work, but my beloved ponies would all die if I did not take action. After it was over, I stood in this spot and wept. Scattered around in all directions lay the evidence of my failure. The dead. The destruction. My beloved sister, trapped forever in the moon.

“I had forced the Elements of Harmony to my will when confronting Luna, in a complete betrayal of their purpose. So as we both had betrayed them, I knew they would never again rise to the touch of an alicorn. And it was my fault.

“The Elements became simple stones again, falling from my yoke of office once the deed was done. Laughter was the first gem to fall. There would be no more laughter in my life, for I had imprisoned my sister in the moon forever.

“Then Loyalty fell. Luna had always been there for me, sisters forever, through thick and thin. Until now.

“Kindness barely made a noise as it fell, rolling far away from me as if to flee from one who would be so cruel as to imprison their own sister.

“Generosity and Honesty fell at the same time, as if they could not exist without each other. My sister had given so much to our ponies, and we had not been honest to each other about the tensions that divided our lives until it was too late.

“In the end, five dull stones lay on the ground, indistinguishable from the rest of the rubble from our battle. Only Magic still clung to my yoke, as I stood where you see me now.

“All of the meaning had gone from my life; nothing worth my attention any more lay within this mortal sphere. Without my sister, I had no reason for existing. The unicorns could return to their traditional task of raising the sun and moon, and I would pass away into the void from which we came. Unneeded. Unmourned.”

Luna extended a warm wing over her sister, and the two alicorns paused for a moment to lean into each other before the Princess of the Night continued.

“Amidst the death and destruction of my folly, the Royal Guard found a group of young Night Pegasi, as young as these little ones here.” Luna smiled down into the front rows of Nocturne and the glittering wave of golden little eyes hiding behind adult legs as they peeked out in return, seeming to gain strength from the little hesitant smiles glowing back up at her. “Forty two tiny survivors out of the thousands of my followers who trusted me with their lives. You know their names as the founding clans of your race, but I know their names as the ones who saved my sister from despair. She took those small fillies and colts with her to Canterlot, where they were adopted and loved, much the same way your clans today accept into your families any who are born of your kind. But while your ancestors brought comfort to my sister’s heart, there was something else that brought hope.”

Celestia looked up into the sky where the moon shed a brilliant silver across the gathered Nocturne, the moonlight washing out her pastel colors into a ghostly pallor.

“‘On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.’ At the moment the Royal Guard brought your ancestors to me, Magic, the last Element of Harmony, finally fell from my yoke of office. When it struck the ground in a pool of my tears, it did not form into a common stone as the rest, but burst into a wave of magic that echoed around the battlefield with that voice. Whenever I looked into the faces of your ancestors, I heard that voice in my heart, and it gave me the courage to survive through the years. At that moment I knew Luna would return, and I would have one final chance to free her from the madness that had overshadowed her soul.

“For nearly a thousand years, I watched as you guarded Equestria, laying down your lives and families in order to protect the ponies that we love so much. The other ponies rejected you at first, and I feared loneliness and eventual extinction would be the result, but your ancestors found others who loved them for what they were, instead of what they had once been, and your race prospered. While some still fear your kind, and probably always will, the loyalty you represent has gained the respect of not only your fellow ponies, but other races throughout Equestria. Wherever there are disasters, the Nocturne are there to help. When a colt or filly is lost, the sky grows dark with your wings, and even the deepest night is no obstacle to your search. Whenever a hostile power views our ponies with greedy eyes, the respect they have for all of us united in harmony has stayed their assault.

“When my student traveled to Ponyville on the thousandth year of banishment, I wished with every fibre of my being that I could have sent you with her. Your generosity, your loyalty, the honesty with which you face every day would have been of great assistance to her task.”

“Nay, Tia.” Princess Luna wiped away a tear from her sister’s face with one shaking wingtip. “Nightmare Moon would have consumed their power and killed them, as a thousand years ago. You chose wisely, and no amount of second-guessing will change that. As it was, I imprisoned you in your own sun and did toy with your student and her friends like some sort of amused beast before they unleashed the power of the Elements of Harmony against me and cleansed my soul of that dark power. Mine is the greater shame, for that and what came next.”

Luna turned back to the crowd, looking back and forth across a sea of golden eyes interrupted in places with glints of green and blue.

“For the thousand years I was imprisoned in the moon, I was only faintly aware of events on this celestial sphere. When Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony cleansed my soul of Nightmare’s taint, I did not know what to expect in this new world. I am quite familiar with the opinions of ponies about the court and how little they can relate to actual events, but for the first few weeks, I was told nothing but good things about ‘my’ Nocturne. Your honor and your service to Equestria were spoken of in reverent tones, but I dismissed their words as attempts to curry favor with their newest princess. I inquired further, but with every question I asked, I received more fawning praise. Even when I spoke with my Royal Guard, I received nothing but acceptance and respect, not the bitter hatred I expected from my betrayal of your ancestors.

“I was filled with shame. I had done such evil to your ancestors with my betrayal, and yet they had risen above the circumstances of their creation to create their own honor and respect. I murdered nearly all of them in my vanity and jealous rage, and they had repaid that evil with good.

“I had wronged my sister, and yet she held me with no fear. I had betrayed her trust, and yet she extended her faith in me again without a single qualm or hesitation. I had cast aside my throne in exchange for power, and she returned it to me willingly.

“The guilt burned at my soul while I pondered my situation. All around me in the castle were a thousand years of Celestia’s honor, while my crimes had faded into dust. I was not like her, I was my own Princess of the Night, but yet they all treated me like her, as if I were worthy of their trust.

“In my frustration, I traveled. I explored this new world, looking for something to assuage my guilt. I refused to look at my Nocturne, my creations, for the memories were too strong, and all I could see was the faces of faithful ponies long dead.

“Finally, I discovered one thing that brought my search for guilt to a halt. It was a clerical error that sent a letter to each of the Nocturne clans in a request for your Book of Tradition, where the history of your families are kept back to the first Nightmare Night. I had only received a request from Twilight Sparkle to review one of your precious Books of Tradition, but somehow it went to all of you, and every single family obeyed my command.

“I found myself with Twilight in her library, surrounded by your history on all sides, and I could feel the voices of your ancestors, my dead followers, calling for me. I did not want to see, but I could not resist your call.

“From those lifeless pages, I lived through your history. I saw the honor of your lives, and I was ashamed of my own. I read of your ancestors’ loyalty, and felt my betrayal grow heavy in my heart. I read of your determination to be prepared for my return, and I felt my own will crumble.

“I shall never be your Queen of the Night Eternal. That was a false promise made by a fool.

“All I have to offer you is my service as Princess of the Night, if you will accept me.”

Absolute silence hung over the ancient battlefield, the densely packed crowd of Nocturne staring at the platform containing the two alicorns, one light, one dark. Then a single Nocturne at the front of the crowd dropped to one knee. Followed by another. Then as a wave sweeping from the front of the crowd to the back, every Nocturne bowed to their Princess of the Night, and a quiet chorus of voices filled the night air.

As long as we live, we bear witness to the power of Luna, the creator of our race.

It was by your actions we were born, made to reflect your immortal glory as the Moon doth reflect the Sun.

It was by your sacrifice that we live, having taken the corruption of our creation and sealed it away to safeguard the lives of all Equestria.

It was by Celestia’s grace that we survived and grew, holding to our Tradition while awaiting your return.

Let our service be our redemption. Let your sky bear witness to our oath. Let us be worthy of your name.

We swear to serve the Crown of Equestria until the last star goes out and the sun gutters into darkness.

We serve the Princesses.

The Princess of the Night returned the bow of her subjects, and with her sister at her side went forth among them, to touch and feel their loving presence as they pressed close to their beloved princesses. She exchanged words of reassurance with elderly Nocturne, their wings dry and shriveled with age, as well as loving nuzzles with little batwinged foals, their radiant eyes glowing in the darkness. They met in peace and love, and when they finally departed, every pony knew in their heart the one thing that brought contentment despite their troubled history.

Princess Luna had finally returned home.