Chapter 1, The beginning.
Solar Flare
~One month since Luna’s Return~
Celestia was in her chambers reading a letter from her most faithful student,
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, I learned that sometimes when you are doing something you can forget about your friends feelings and concerns. Today Pinkie was trying to tell us something important about a problem we were having and we were so wrapped up in trying to deal with it that whatever she tried to say we just ignored and wrote off as one of her silly games. So today I learned that when your friend or friends are trying to tell you something you should stop and listen to them even if you may not agree.
Your most faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
Everything was quiet, and her precious sun was dappling over her coat as it poured its warming light through the large glass doors to her balcony. The past month had been hectic as all of Equestria was adjusting to the return of her sister' Princess Luna. Every evening Luna would knock on her chamber door and request some of her time before they set the sun and raised the moon. Luna would express her fears and concerns and would often coax her sister into teaching her about life in modern Equestria. Though life seemed stressful and overwhelming at times, having her sister back was certainly more than she could ever ask for.
As the sun began to sink lower in the sky, a knock sounded at her chamber door.
"Come in Luna."
The large dark door creaked open.
"Sister, how did you know it was me?"
Celestia looked down at an invisible watch and stated, " Simple, Luna, you're right on time." Celestia stuck out her hoof to show Luna the invisible watch.
Luna chuckled, "Tia there is no watch there."
"I know," Celestia sighed.
Luna could tell her sisters thoughts were elsewhere, as her sister would not look at her when they talked.
"Sister are you alright?" Luna asked, concerned.
"Yes, I am fine, I am looking forward to a goods nights rest, it's been a long day and to sleep under stars that my dear sister raised puts me at peace."
Celestia knew that doing anything to make her sister happy made the things she said well worth the effort she put into thinking them up. Often times Luna would nuzzle her but this time was different. This time Luna did not nuzzle her, instead Luna dropped to her haunches and stared at her sister.
"Is that all you like my night for? A good night's sleep?" Luna asked in a hurt tone.
Celestia gasped, “no of course not Luna!” she wailed in frustration.
“Then what do you enjoy my nights for other than that?” Luna replied scornfully.
“Luna...” Celestia’s head dropped.
Luna turned away from her sister.
“Luna please, I have so many different, wonderful things I enjoy your night for that if I tried to tell them all to you we would be sitting here for another thousand years. When you were gone I found at least one reason I loved your night: every single time I raised your moon in hopes that you would hear it when it was your turn to gaze upon the earth…” Celestia moved her head to face Luna.
“I wanted to make up for all the time that I spent ignoring you because I got all the attention. Your banishment was as much your punishment as it was mine. I have missed you more than I could ever tell you in our lifetime. So please sister don’t turn away from me now. I don’t ever want you to leave my side again. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Tears flowed freely from both sisters faces as they hugged each other tightly.
“Do you really mean it sister” Luna asked in a croaky, teary voice.
“Yes, sister, I really mean it” Celestia replied.
“Thank you, sister. Thank you so very much, those words mean so much to me. I will never forget them.” Luna said, their tears clearing up.
“You're welcome Luna.”
They settled themselves on the floor with a couple of cups of tea and chatted quietly about things Celestia had done during the day. After a while a slight, magical tug pulled at their minds and they knew it was time to perform their duties. They stood up, nodded to each other, and walked out to the balcony. Their horns glowed and the two great celestial bodies and the stars shifted into their places. When all was said and done, Luna said goodnight to her sister and left her to sleep.
'The night court will be beginning soon, I had better teleport if I am going to make it on time.' Luna thought as her horn glowed a bright blue. There was a bright flash and she was gone.
~ Two months since Luna’s return ~
“Luna, how is your night court going?” Celestia asked calmly.
They were once again sitting comfortably on the floor with cups of tea.
“Fine, sister.” Luna replied Bluntly.
“What's wrong, Luna?” Celestia asked half concerned and half laughing at the way her sister’s attitude showed that of an annoyed filly.
“well since you seem to think this as funny, some of the nobles of the night dwelling races are quite unhappy with my return.” Luna began shouting. “SOME OF THEM DON’T EVEN SHOW UP! THEY WOULD RATHER LOSE SLEEP TO COME TO YOUR COURT BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO FEEL THAT I AM INADEQUATE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GONE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS!” Luna’s voice trailed away. “They treat me as if the crime I committed so long ago happened yesterday. What have I done? Why must one mistake that I paid a thousand years of solitude for go so noticed.”
By this point Luna was Pouting in the darkest corner of Celestia’s room.
“Luna come over here.” Celestia said calmly as she used her magic to clean up the spill her sister caused when she rose violently from her spot on the floor.
Luna inched her way over, still pouting. Celestia patted the floor next to her and lifted her wing so as Luna sat down she could wrap her up.
“Are you done?” Celestia asked.
“Yes,” Luna mumbled still quite upset.
There was a short but very still silence.
“You know, you keep this up you might just be speaking normally out loud before you know it.” Celestia said with a slight giggle.
“I am only improving because I practice,” Luna replied while giggling slightly as her mood began to lighten.
“That's true, but let's get back to the subject at hand shall we?”
“Yes, we shall,” Luna replied with confidence.
“Now, as for the matter of the courts; from now on at the beginning of all my courts I will be announcing that I will no longer be addressing matters of the night and that they need to go to your court if they want their matters addressed, and this rule will stand until you or I say otherwise.”
The night was passing. As Luna sat in her court the words of her sister echoed in her mind.
“Princess Luna, The tides on our small fishing village are seeming to be quite high lately. Is there any possible way you can shift their height elsewhere? We have already had two unfortunate deaths in the past month. We, the ponies of this village, thank you for the recent calm nights and in turn the calm seas, they have made great harvesting for the seaweed this year, but the safety of our residents are our top priority.”
“Thank you, Sea Breeze, for bringing the problem to my attention. I will see what I can do. As for the time being try to keep them out of the water at high tide, be it day or night, if you can until you see the tide make a change. I will put this matter as close to the top of my list as I can. If you don’t mind, I would like to make an official visit to make sure the tides are behaving.”
“Thank you, princess. You're welcome at our seaside village anytime.”
The blue green pony’s words had ended the court, and princess Luna stepped outside to gaze at her moon.
“Now Moona, I know your excited and all but causing the deaths of ponies is not like you. Can’t you please tone it down?”
There was no reply but a shimmer across the moons face.
Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, the whole village was sleeping peacefully. Soon they would be out of their beds, planning for the joyous nightmare night celebration, as it was only the day after tomorrow. They would have all the traditional games and everypony would dress up for the occasion.
Celestia was woken up with a start. She was dreaming a dream in which every pony around her was scared of her. They would scream and run at the sight of her. When she would turn to look behind her, all she would see was everything burning.
'It's just a dream. Right?' She thought.
Celestia looked around her room and her surroundings; everything seemed fine. She opened her large chamber door with a creak. The guard outside looked at her, but to her relief he did not scream, nor did he run from her.
'So it was just a dream... few!' she thought to herself.
“It must be these pre-Nightmare Night jitters.” She said out loud to herself.
An unexpected knock sounded at her door. She hesitated before allowing whoever it was to enter.
“You may enter,” Celestia said out loud her voice aimed toward the door.
The large dark door once again creaked open. Luna popped her head in the door.
Celestia motioned for her sister to enter further.
“Sister?” Luna asked hesitantly.
“Yes, Luna?” she inquired.
“I walked in your dreams this night and saw the bad dream you had. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I am fine. I woke with a start and at first I had to make sure it really was just a dream, but I am fine, thank you. Now you look really tired, how about we get our duties out of the way so you can sleep?” Celestia replied.
“Sounds good to me!” Luna said happily.
They preformed their duties, like every morning and night the three great celestial bodies moved into their positions.
Luna was just about to leave but Celestia stopped her.
“Luna, tomorrow night is the Nightmare Night celebration across the towns and cities of Equestria, I will be over seeing the festivities here so how about you go enjoy your very first Nightmare Night in Ponyville? I am sure twilight and her friends would be happy to have you along.”
Luna turned to face her, “you know, that sounds good too. I will have all my court sessions and appointments cancelled until after such event. Thank you sister. Good day.”
Celestia's day passed as normal, except for the nagging thought of her dream it seemed to linger in her mind like embers in a dying fire.
The following night Luna fluttered into her carriage and raced away.
“This is my first Nightmare Night. I do not wish to keep my subjects waiting, nor do I wish to miss out on anything that’s going to happen.” She instructed her night guards as they flew her to Ponyville. This in mind they flew even faster to make their princess happy.
Upon her arrival she saw loads of games that she had never seen before. The costumes made her subjects look quite funny, but she would not dare to say that out loud. As per custom she greeted her subjects with her Royal Canterlot voice.
They trembled before her and bowed.
“why must thee be afraid of us?” Luna's voice bellowed.
No one answered her. They were all hiding their faces and trembling away from her.
“If this is how thy subjects greet us, a crown princess of Equestria, then I hereby declare the will no longer be a Nightmare Night!” she bellowed as her body rose to be silhouetted against the large white moon.
Chapter 2, Nightmare Night
~Nightmare Night, Two months after Luna's return~
Celestia stood on her balcony overlooking the castle square. She admired her little ponies as the customs of night mare night changed over the thousand year stretch that Luna was gone. Ponies all around her were dressed in costumes of the nights' creatures. The smells of fair food from the stalls below her drifted into her nose.
“Mmm, what a wonderful smell, candied apples, roasted corn and funnel cakes.” Celestia said with slight mouthwatering delight.”
Through all the joy and sounds the thought of her dream still plagued her. She longed to tell her sister of her troubles but dare not bother her.
I don't want to worry her so soon after her return, that would be selfish of me. Celestia thought to herself.
Back in the darkest shadow of the balcony patio, a small undetectable mass of magical energy watched mentally grinning as its plan to destroy the mare from the inside out smoothly played its course.
Its only a matter of time before she is broken enough inside for that little nightmare I gave her to come to fruition. It thought maliciously.
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Twilight walked with spike in Ponyville stopping at every house and shop so the baby dragon could fill his bags with candy. The bells of her Star Swirl the Bearded costume jingled as they walked along.
“Spike have you seen Pinkie Pie? I have to wonder if she would mind walking around with you I'm quite worried about princess Luna. I want to go check on her.” Twilight said voicing her worry for the baby dragons safety before heading off on her own.
“I'm not sure, I think she is running around in a chicken suit” Spike replied mumbling through a mouthful of candy.
Suddenly out of nowhere as if she knew they were looking for her Pinkie clucked her way into view followed by several young foals.
“you want me to take spike with me!” Pinkie Pie blurted out before Twilight had time to explain to her what she needed.
Stuttering Twilight nodded her head trying and failing to figure out just how pinkie seemed to know everything that happened before it happened. With Spike safely in the pink mares care Twilight set off to find the sulking Princess of the Night.
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Back at Canterlot castle, Celestia walked around the town disguised as a white unicorn filly with a bouncy pink mane, in keeping with the theme she wore a pair of fake card board wings and slathered a haphazardly painted sun cutie mark on her flank. Upon her head was a paper crown resembling that of her own. She pranced around enjoying the collection of candy.
“well now little filly if I didn't know better id say your dressed as our dear princess” Said a pony at one of the food stalls as she stopped to get a cob of roasted corn for herself.
“yes, mister, when I grow up I want to be a princess just like princess Celestia” Celestia said Laughing inwardly for only she knew that she was really the princess he spoke so fondly of.
The old stallion chuckled at her with delight, “how about you tell me your name, if you do ill give you this funnel cake as a gift.” he said smiling brightly at her.
“My name is Sunny Skies” She replied with the delightful eagerness only her inner filly could pull off.
“and, do you have your cutie mark yet miss Sunny Skies?” the stallion said while bagging the treat he promised her.
“oh, no sir, I haven't figured out what my special talent is yet.” Celestia replied.
“well little one, you'll get it some day don't rush it. Here is your sweet treat and you enjoy the rest of your festive filled night.
Celestia quickly thanked the old stallion and trotted off back to the castle. This has been a delightfully fulfilling night. I think I will turn in. Out of sight of the crowd she removed her disguise. Her head spun and a pinching headache took its place nearly bringing her to her hunches. What is wrong with me, disguises never do this too me. Flashes of her dream pierced her mind and dragged her back to the terrifying reality of its possibilities, ruining her night. She staggered back to her chambers. To the passing guard who showed concern she said,
“Have the castle doctor come to my chambers as soon as possible, also send for a pony in Ponyville by the name of Zecora. My student tells me of her unusual abilities in medicine.” Celestia said gritting her teeth. Her headache persisted with vigorous annoyance.
“Yes, your highness. Do you wish me to alert Princess Luna?” the Guard asked.
Celestia momentarily lost her cool and shouted, “APSOLUTELY NOT!” The guard staggered back for a second before regaining his composure and once again asking,
“but your highness, don't you think you should tell her, she would be worried about you.” the guard braced himself for her next reply.
“I'm sorry, no please don't I will tell her in my own time its just a headache. I don't want to worry her on her first nightmare night.” Celestia said visibly earning a relaxed posture from the previously startled guard. The guard walked off and went about the task given to him. Celestia pushed her way into her chambers and slumped down on her bed. The shadow that had been following her all evening undetected sat outside her window watching her unable to enter her magically protected room.
Uh! that stupid sun loving pony, always thinking of everything when it comes to her protection, I could break this spell but if I did then I would risk revealing myself before I want to. I must let her believe she let me in. she must accept me of her own free will. It thought scorning its inability to move the plan faster. I must be patient lest I lose my opportunity. I must first create pain then I shall trick her into thinking it's me that can fix it. We shall see what that so called healer Zecora can do. It laughed inwardly at the fact before fading into the darker hiding space that would soon become Celestia's dream world.
Author's Note
Sorry guys for the long wait, i'm going to be totally honest and say i forgot i had this story on here, it's been so long since i was on here to read. also i'm sorry for the short chapter, i wanted to update asap so i didn't have the time to really write out more than what you see here, promise the next chapter will be longer.
