Hush Now

There are still nights where I regret the things that I did. The choices that I made. I can say absolutely that I'm proud to be who I am - a Princess, a Princess who brings up the beautiful shining moon for all to see. That much I can feel my heart beat faster for. I can feel my chest swell with pride for that, but, no matter how nice it feels, it never lasts long enough for me to cherish the moment. Because right about then the guilt washes over me. The most I can do in these moments is be thankful that I'm alone. My knees buckle and suddenly I'm weeping on the floor, not caring how I look, just caring about what a monster I am. Just caring. Those things, that I did, I feel guilty for, afterwards. Yet no matter how awful and horrid I feel I can't shake it. I can't help the way everypony despises the cold, dark night. I can't help that, no matter how bright my moon and the twinkling stars glow, all they do is shut their eyes and hide away in their houses. I can't help my want to seek out the ones who have nightmares. Not to help them, though. To scold them. As their nightmares are about me, and I forbid anything of that sort. In no way will I let my subjects fear me! It's been too long, far too long, since I've been back from the moon, and I can't go back, there is no way, they must fear my actions, they must fear my choices, but they shall not cower, they shall rejoice... and those sort of outbursts are the reasons why I do what I do. Because no matter whether or not I choose to watch closely, I can see an alternate imagine of myself terrifying them. And that's my excuse. Whoever chooses to believe that I have justice to my reasons I'll let think so. But I know that once one pony learns the truth about my nights, then the fear will grow. Just more excuses for me to carry on with my nightly chores.

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Three light, but stern, knocks echoed down the empty hallway, where the only thing taking up space would be the knights armor positioned like real guards on either side in an even pattern. Other than that, orange sunlight poured through the open windows, accompanying the soft twitters of birds and the brushing of squirrels exploring branches on the outside. On the inside, standing in front of a particularly heavy door, with dark painting's of stars all along the outer fringe, was Princess Celestia. Pursing her lips, the fair Princess knocked on the door again, harder this time. No response. The royal white sighed, eyeing the door curiously. What in the world was her sister doing? The Princess knocked again, waiting afterwards, straining to hear the sound of hooves trotting to the door, or even a faint yawn.

Instead, Celestia was greeted by silence. With another grim expression and a long, tired, sigh, Princess Celestia's horn glowed white, and the royal golden doorknob began to turn. Just as the door was opened and Celestia took a half-step forward, it was flung open by none other than the very pony she had been looking for in the first place.

"Luna!" Celestia's magic failed, and the Solar Princess stepped back in surprise. "Where have you been? I knocked several times, and the sun has almost set." She hesitated again. "Though I didn't wake you, my sister?" The navy blue alicorn stepped into the bright hallway, her unusually large pupils shrinking inside of her dark irises. With a shy smile, the Lunar Princess nuzzled her older sister.

"No, I am alright. I was just.... ah..." Her mind picked up the first excuse that came to mind. "I was just busy." After a short moment passed and her older sister still appeared unconvinced, she added, "With stuff."

Princess Celestia nodded, her eyes narrowed slightly. "...right. Well, sister, I just came to alert you of the time." She teetered over Princess Luna's head, trying to see if any of the windows inside the darkened room were open, but at the precise moment her sister jumped out and slammed the door shut behind her.

"Uh... thank you, sister. I had not known the time. I will be outside to raise the moon.... promptly." With that Princess Luna started off down the hallway, but not before she slyly locked the door from inside. Whether or not Princess Celestia had been supposed to spot the quick moment where her sister's horn had glown blue or not, she had spotted it, and her already suspicious eyes narrowed even further. Surely Princess Luna was okay?

"Your Highness, I..." A husky voice from down the hallway turned the Solar Princess' attention from her peculiar sister back to her royal duties.

"Shining Armor, you know there is no need for any of those pleasantries any longer."  She said with a kind smile, turning to face the white stallion.

"O-of course, Yo- I mean, Celestia." Blushing slightly, he carried on. "Twily - uh, I mean, Princess Twilight, wanted to talk to you about something. She didn't tell me about it or anything, but she did say that it was urgent. Follow me, please, Pr- Celestia." Returning the Princess' warm smile he started down the hallway, Celestia in tow. All thoughts of Princess Luna's odd behavior now vanished from mind, Celestia was now focused on what her past student could need. After all, she had more than enough books to teach herself everything she knew... lost in her thoughts, Princess Celestia hardly noticed when Shining Armor had come to a full stop. It was just pure luck that she didn't accidentally pull him undertow.

"Twilight, what is it you need?" The purple alicorn was standing in front of an old ram-shackle closet, her violet skin pale with whatever emotion was racing through her mind. "Twilight?" The Solar Princess asked once more, clearly concerned for her ex-student.

At that moment Twilight turned to face her older brother and past mentor, shaking slightly.

"P-Princess Celestia. I... I've f-found something..." Her eyes widened in fear, she motioned the two over to the wooden door. As the two came to her side, Twilight pointed a violet, shaking hoof towards the bottom part of the door, where the problem could immediately be spotted.

There was a small pool of blood, splattered on the purple carpets and dried on the bottom of the ramshackle wooden door.