Chapters The sun is risen, the new day has once again started and Celestia couldn't be happier. She took great pride in rising the sun every morning and the proud expression on her face surely showed it. She stood there on her balcony for a moment, looking at the brightly shinning star that was the sun and sighed. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. "What do you think Luna?" Celestia started. "Doesn't give off a wonderful reminder of your bright and glorious night?" Celestia asked her younger sister. Luna looked up at Celestia, then to the sun... for a moment her face stayed blank. She did not blink, she did not move at all. What was she thinking? "Luna...? Are you alright..?" Celestia asked and lightly tapped Luna.
"Why it's perfect dear sister..." Luna quickly chimed. She shook off the dazed expression on her face and smiled warmly at the tall white alicorn in front of her. "It's completely perfect." Celestia smiled once more. Luna was happy, and so was she. Celestia was indeed proud of her sun, but she far prouder that her beloved sister Luna had returned. "Thank you sister. I cannot wait to see you raise the moon this evening. I'm pretty sure that's the only thing in the world that can match my sun." Celestia patted Luna gently on the back. Luna giggled.
"Why I bet it is..." Luna retorted.
"Princess...?" The two heard from behind them. Both alicorns looked to the doorway leading into the hall. There was a maid standing there with a shy expression. She coughed as if to clear the air. "Excuse me for interrupting, but miss Twilight is here to see you Princess." Celestia smiled kindly at the maid.
"I'll be right there..." The maid bowed then continued out of the room. Celestia nestled Luna, then graceful walked out of the room; leaving Luna there all alone, with only the lone mirror that stood there. Luna giggled quietly to herself. "Oh yes... I love you dearly sister..." Luna whispered. "In fact... I love you to death." She giggled. Then stepped in front of the mirror and flipped her main. It was plain blue and cut short. She hated it. She couldn't how when morning came her beautifully flowing main turned into that of a normal earth pony's. She sighed...
"Just what do you think you're doing!?" Luna's eyes widened. She turned to the mirror to see her own reflection the with sharp expression. She gazed into the mirror, puzzled and almost baffled. "Standing around thinking hateful thoughts about Celestia..." The reflection snapped.
"I don't know what you mean..." Luna answered quietly.
"You know exactly what I mean... I didn't send you back just to continue what you did before. That's what got use banished... I assume you remember." Luna sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Relax... I'm completely aware of what happened centuries ago and I'm determined not to let that happen again." Luna stated. The reflection's face only grow more sour as Luna stood there calmly.
"Listen Luna... I'm not going to let you ruin my chances this time. I promise if I see you mess up again... you're not getting easily. Remember I'm not just a part of you now, I am mostly your entire being." Luna stiffened a bit at the reflection's words. After a moment she nodded.
"I understand." She bowed her head.
"Good... now get back to work. I need you to find out as much information as you can on the elements of harmony, their holders and their origin as you can. Don't mess this up..." Luna nodded, just as she began to hear talking down in the hallway. The reflection blurred for a moment, the returned to it's normal state. Luna waved a hoof in front of the mirror and the reflection did as she did.
"Finally..." She sighed. "She'll stop nagging at me for a moment..." Luna whispered to herself as the door opened wide. Luna looked up to see the two ponies standing there and smiled warmly, trying to cover up any evidence of her previous conversation.
"Princess Luna... who were you talking too?"
Author's Note
This chapter is short and sweet, just like and introduction should be! Please post comments and follow me... this is my first story and I want it to be my best. :3
"Princess Luna... who are you talking too?" Twilight asked, wide eyed and curious. Luna popped her eyes and gave a slightly nervous giggle.
"Why whatever do you mean Twilight? I was simply sitting here enjoying the quiet." Luna chimed with a nervous smile plastered onto her face. She bit her lip as the two stared at her with confused expressions.
"You mean you were here alone... by yourself... in the dark... just standing here?" Twilight asked with her head tilted slightly.
"Yup!" Luna stated quickly. Twilight and Celestia stood there quietly staring at Luna. Both were at a loss for words. Twilight coughed, trying to clear the air then returned her head to it's upright position.
"Well... okay." Twilight started. "Um... I wanted to come and find you to say that the ponies of Ponyville welcome you back with open arms Princess. We all missed you very much..." Twilight said smiling. Luna smiled as well, then walked over to Twilight and bowed her head.
"Thank you Twilight Sparkle. We- I mean I am truly proud that the people of Equastria welcome me back happily. After the whole... nightmare moon attack-" Luna stopped and shivered. She looked away for a quick moment, then back to Twilight with a smile. "We-I was worried that the people might still be a bit fearful of us... me." Luna giggled nervously. Twilight looked at Luna cautiously for a moment, then backed away slightly.
"Um... some of the ponies are a bit suspicious still, but for the most part everypony is just happy to have you back Princess." Twilight tiled her head once more, and so did Luna. "Are you feeling alright Princess?" Twilight asked. Luna nodded and chuckled.
"Why of course! I'm feeling wonderful..." Luna said.
"But you're acting kind of funn-"
"No I'm not.." Luna interrupted. Celestia's smile faded as she looked at her clearly flustered sister. She then walked over to Luna and placed a hoof on Luna's forehead. Luna backed away, that same strained smile still very apparent on her face. "Please both of you I'm perfectly fine. In fact I'm feeling better than I ever have. Now Twilight Sparkle... I know you think I'm acting strangely, but you have to understand. We've... I've been gone for a thousand years. We're... I'm not very accustomed to this time period's culture yet. So... in general... I've got a pretty bad case of culture sock." Luna stated to the both of them. Celestia's smile returned once again, as she patted Luna on the back.
"Don't worry Luna... you'll get used to this age in no time." Celestia said gently to the flushed blue Alicorn next to her. Luna sighed quietly to herself. Maybe they'll finally back of the questions now... I don't need them feeling suspicious. Luna thought to herself. Celestia the looked over to Twilight who was still standing there will a cautious look on her face. "Twilight..." Celestia started. Twilight looked at up at Celestia, then to Luna for a moment, then back to Celestia. "I'd like to speak to you alone for a moment." Twilight looked to Luna for a moment, then to Celestia. She stared into Celestia, popped her eyes then nodded. Celestia waved to her sister, then walked (at a pretty fast pace) out of the room, leaving Luna once again alone.
"Boy was that close..." Luna sighed.
Twilight began to trot around in a circle as Celestia quietly closed the door behind her. He bright smile faded, and she sighed. She held her head down for a moment, then looked up. "Oh Twilight... I'm beginning to..." She had turned fully around then stopped in the middle of her sentence. She stared at Twilight for a moment as she turned around and around and around. The pony was walking in a perfect circle. Her head was held high, and her eyes were toward the ceiling. The pony's tongue was out and her eyes were down. What in Equestria was she doing? Celestia began to cautiously walk over toward Twilight. She stopped right in front of her and tiled her head. " Um... Twilight?" Celestia started. Nothing, she was walking. "Twilight...?" Celestia said once more. Twilight was still deep in her own little world.
Celestia sighed, as her horn began to glow. She lifted the purple pony right off of her feet. Twilight looked down, and then around the the room. She then giggled. "Oh... sorry Princess. I was... deep in thought."
"I could clearly see that Twilight." Celestia lowered Twilight gently to the ground. Twilight then looked up at Celestia will full attention. "Do you think you'll be able to pay attention to me now Twilight?" Celestia asked. Twilight nodded. "Without making odd faces and pacing around the room?" Celestia giggled a bit. Twilight blushed and assured Celestia that she'd be still. "Alright... good." Celestia started. She then sighed and looked Twilight right in the eye. " Twilight... I'm beginning to worry about my sister. I know I told you that I wanted you here to congratulate Luna on her home coming, but I actually wanted you to clarify my assumption. I don't think Luna just suffering from culture shock.... I think it might be something more.
"I do too. She's acting really strange... from what I've read about culture shock and exploring new cultures it doesn't seem like Luna's got it." Twilight stated
"Do you think Luna's depressed... or maybe resenting me for what happened years ago?" Celestia asked the purple unicorn.
"No... it doesn't seem like the depression I've read in books. It actually seems like she's hiding something to me." Celestia fluttered her eyes. She was absolutely baffled. She pursed her lips, then looked away for a moment.
"But..." Celestia stopped. She took a deep breath, then looked Twilight in the eyes. "I don't believe Luna would have any reason to hide anything from me. I can't understand why she'd even think of doing so..." Celestia stated almost breathless. Twilight shrugged and tilted her head. "Hiding..." Celestia said once more as if forcing the air out of her body.
"Well princess..." Twilight started. Celestia turned her attention to Twilight almost desperate for an answer. "That doesn't have to be a bad thing."
"How could it be good?!"
"Well she doesn't have to be keeping secrets from you or anything. She could be planning a party for you. Or she could be working on some type of project to help the people of Equestria. She probably isn't finished with it yet and doesn't want you seeing her finally creation until it's done." Twilight stated to the mortified Alicorn in front of her. Celestia sighed, and a strained smile popped onto her face.
"Always the optimist aren't we Twilight Sparkle?" Celestia said. "You are right, even though I don't believe Luna would be planning a party... maybe if she is hiding something, it's not necessarily bad. I should have more faith in my sister." Celestia giggled. The aura in the room became a little more relaxed. Both ponies were still very tense but, they were more hopeful now. After a moment Celestia walked over to the long pointed windows at the back of the room. Twilight was confused. The princess was smiling wearily and not saying a word, but she followed anyway. Celestia stopped and looked at the bustling city below the castle. "Are you friends with you like I asked?" Celestia chimed.
"Yes..." Twilight said slightly curious. She was tilting in the opposite direction of Celestia. She was trying to see her face, hopeful she could gauge what the princess was thinking.
"Good." Celestia turned around and smiled happily at the purple unicorn in front of her. "After you agreed to stay in Ponyville with the ponies you met before defeating nightmare moon I was delighted. When you are your friends found out how to use the Elements of Harmony, I was completely astounded. I wanted you all to be here to research your elements and what other pony better than you Twilight to help do that?"
"Thank you princess!" Twilight smiled happily. Celestia's strained smile stayed the same. Her face was still weary and eyes still looked a bit off. Twilight's smile faded slight when she realized this. She backed away from Celestia a bit, and became antsy. "Um... princess, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Twilight. Now please... you and friends should go get settled in. I wanted you all to spend a much time learning about your new found Elements as possible."
"You can count on us Princess!" Twilight saluted. She turned and began walking towards the door.
"Oh... one more thing..." Celestia began quietly.
"Yes princess...?"
"Would you mind..." Celestia stopped, then looked down for a moment. She looked up and smiled. "Oh never mind Twilight."
Twilight was a bit suspicious but she didn't ask any questions. She continued out of the room and sighed once the door was closed behind her. The atmosphere in there was murder. Twilight began to walk away, but something stopped her. She cracked the door open a little bit, to see Celestia standing in the same sport staring out the window. Twilight sighed once more and closed the door completely. Great... now both princess were acting strangely.
