"Tia, Tia, Tia, wake up! Rise, rise!"
The Princess of the Night pounded on her elder sister's back, concealed tightly under the blanket.
"Luna, hush. There's still hours before the sun should rise for dawn," the Princess of the Sun replied drowsily, pulling the blanket over her head.
"No there's not! It's almost seven in the morning, and it's the first day of daylight saving!"
At this, Celestia immediately shot up from her slumber, wide awake. Her eyes shot to her bedside clock. Six fifty-two.
"Ack!" Celestia exclaimed. Only eight minutes to prepare!
She leapt to her hooves, hurriedly rushed to find her crown her traditional royal appurtenances. She galloped around frantically, searching for her crown.
"Luna! Have you seen my crown?!"
The younger sister, who had been leaning against the door frame of Celestia's bedroom in a rather relaxed manner, despite the situation, perked up, suddenly aware of reality.
"Oh, yeah. Have you checked in your drawer? You know, where it usually is?" Luna replied with an amused smirk. Celestia shot her head from under her bed and moved quickly to her drawer and pulled out her crown, placing it onto her head using her magic. She slipped on her last shoe, and after taking a deep breath, nodded to Luna. "Ready," she said.
As the two walked side by side to the balcony overlooking Canterlot, Luna gazed up at the night sky, filled with glimmering stars and the lone moon shining bright against the face of darkness. "Your night sky is indeed beautiful, Luna," Celestia commented. She turned to Luna. "Shall we begin?"
Luna turned back to Celestia, smiling. "Yes."
Celestia returned the smile and they both shifted their gazes back towards the empyrean of night.
The Princess of the Night, eyes closed in concentration, took a deep breath and released the magic in her horn. She connected with the moon, focusing solely onto it. With the moon completely in her grasp, she willed it to lower before her, giving way to the new flame colors of dawn creeping above the horizon. The Princess of the Sun did the same with the sun, only instead of willing it to fall, she willed it to rise, signaling the beginning of a new day.
This was done every morning in Equestria, as the sun and moon were not known to rise and set by itself. At dawn, the moon would be set, ending the night, and the sun would rise into day. At dusk, it was vice versa; the sun would initially be lowered to make way for the moon into night. Once the moon or sun was risen, it would move by itself until it reaches the opposite horizon, where the princess shall lower it.
Around five or so minutes later, the sun rested upon the eastern horizon, ready to proceed the day on its own. "Whew," Luna sighed. "Good job, Tia." Celestia smiled and chuckled. "Yes, and you as well, sister." Luna giggled and flashed a grin. "I'm gonna go and get some shut-eye. I'm so tired," Luna exclaimed. "I was up since two in the morning 'cause I was so excited I couldn't sleep!"
Celestia chuckled again and replied, "Have a good rest, Luna."
After Luna went back inside the castle to her chambers, Celestia sighed and gazed into the red-orange dawn sky. A gentle breeze whipped past, slightly disturbing Celestia's beautiful mane. A faint smile crossed her lips and she sighed once more, leaning into the wind. With a powerful push of her long legs upwards, she unfolded her massive wings and took flight.
The wind was stronger now, propelling her forward and up. Celestia stretched her wings out to its greatest length and drifted along the the breeze. She didn't worry about getting lost, as she could easily navigate back to the castle from anywhere in Equestria. It was her land, after all.
No, not her land; their land. It was Celestia's land as much as Luna's.
As for their parents. . . .they hadn't been found since Luna's birth. They had been brought up by the maids, and Luna had never known her own parents. Celestia had known them, even for a while. She had only memories vague of them.
Her father was the Prince of the Stars; her mother the Princess of the Sky. Their previous powers of the moon and sun were handed down to the heirs of the Equestrian rule. Though, of course, being the eldest among the two Royal Sisters, Celestia was the supreme ruler.
Despite their absence, Celestia knew they were alive, somewhere, if not here (she could feel their presence). For who could bring out the flashing stars at night, and who could taint the sky with the beautiful colors of blue, red, orange, and yellow?
Celestia, aware of the amount of time that had passed, flexed her wings into action and filled them with air. With an extremely powerful surge, the princess pushed down the air with her wings and flew back to the castle. Home.
Luna lay in bed, unable to sleep. She stared blankly at the ceiling, deep in thought.
"I love Tia. She's my elder sister and the most powerful pony in Equestria; I'm not a match for her," she thought. "Well, by my assumptions at least. It's not like I've actually tried to match her before."
Luna shifted uncomfortably in her bed, lying on her side.
"But. . . . I just can't help but feel like I'm living in her shadow. Like I have no power, despite being the second ruler of all of Equestria." Luna's eyes widened for a small second, realizing it.
"Right. . . . the second princess."
A tear rolled down her face and across her upper lip and drop onto the pillow.
Luna quickly blinked her tears away and sat straight up, slapping her hooves onto either side of her face. "No, I shan't. I'm being selfish. Tia loves me, and I love her; nothing can change that."
She dropped her hooves to her sides and flopped back onto the bed, once again staring at the ceiling, her mane sprawled onto the pillow. She rolled off the bed with a sigh, using her wings to lift her off the ground and into the air.
She dragged herself to her bookshelf filled with the stories that she had all read millions of times before and pulled a random book to read on her couch, hoping to clear her mind with her with the words. The book was about a lonely pony, who is neglected by her family and those she thought were friends. Luna sighed and shut the book, throwing it back towards the shelf, resulting in a loud thud and a visible scratch, slashed across the bookshelf's fine finish. This isn't helping. Just then, she heard a faint tap on the door.
"Yes?" Luna called.
The door creaked open and Celestia's head popped in scanning the room, eyes widening when she found Luna's bed abandoned, and returning to its normal size upon finding Luna sprawled on the couch. With a sigh of relief, she said, "Luna! I thought for a moment you had disappeared. Thank goodness. I thought you were to sleep? Anyhow, prepare! We've been asked a favor."
"What favor?" Luna asked curiously.
"Ah, the mayor of Manehattan has kindly requested we accompany them in the opening of a large business that is rumored to be the 'key to revolutionizing society,' so as it is seen to be a fairly important matter, I see no reason why not to attend. That is if you're not busy."
Luna smiled and waved a hoof. "No, no, no. I'm free. I'd be glad to go with you."
Celestia beamed. "Thank you, Luna. I'll leave you to prepare."
As soon as she heard the door shut, her smile faded away. "Even though I say I'd be 'happy' to go. . . . it's only another painful experience of me in the shadows once more."
As soon as she said that, she perked up and determination sparked in her eyes. "But this time, it'll be different! This time, I'll show everyone that I'm worthy of being Tia's sister!"
A triumphant smile crossed her face as she picked up the book from the floor and put it back on the shelf.
The two sisters sat on their chariots, flying a good distance apart, side by side.
Celestia's chariot was massive golden, the interior lined with a beautiful spectrum of colors, shimmering in the sunlight. The Pegasus ponies pulling her chariot were her Sun Soldiers, with shimmering white coats and golden uniform. Luna's chariot, glimmering, reflected the blue sky and clouds. The midnight-blue exterior was scraped clean, with crystal studs; the interior was lined with pure white linen. The Pegasus ponies pulling Luna's chariot were her Night Soldiers, coats as dark as night and dressed in dark uniform.
As the chariots touched down in Manehattan, they were greeted with numerous cheers and whistles. The mayor quickly trotted up to them and bowed in their presences.
"Princesses, I am truly honored of your attendance. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy days to come to such an immense event, and I apologize in advance for the same reason," the mayor said, looking up at Princess Celestia.
"No, I'm sure it is not a problem. We are just as honored to be here," Celestia replied.
"Thank you, Princess," the mayor said, not once addressing Luna.
Luna noticed this, of course, and pushed down her frustration and insult and envy.
"No, I shan't," she mumbled quietly to herself, so quiet that she couldn't be heard amidst the noise. She followed behind her sister, head held high with dignity, hoping to be noticed.
Her efforts were in vain.
The speech was given, the business unveiled, the applause and cheers made. All without the acknowledgement of Luna.
As the sisters rode their chariots back to the castle, Celestia was chirping with excitement.
"Did you see the utmost regality of the building? It was practically glowing with success!"
"Or maybe it was just the reflection of your sun," Luna mumbled gloomily, head down.
"Ah, did you say something, sister? I didn't quite catch that," Celestia replied, leaning slightly towards Luna's chariot.
Luna quickly caught herself and sat up and tuned to her sister, putting on a fake smile to hide her sadness.
"Oh, nothing, I was only commenting on the immensity of the crowd. Well, that could easily be explained: the weather is absolutely grand today," Luna said, giggling.
Celestia nodded. "Ah, yes. The amount of ponies gathered was surely a surprise to all of us," she said with a chuckle.
Luna once again directed her attention to the castle ahead she could now see in the distance.
"Yes, indeed, sister."
The rest of the ride was traveled in silence.
Luna was snuggled up against a pillow, reading yet again.
It had already been three days since, but the she couldn't get the visit to Manehattan out of her head.
Celestia was too busy to play with her, and so were the maids and guards.
The book was of two mares in a race. The first mare was clearly faster than the second, but the second found a way to tie with the first. Even so, attention was only given to the first mare, as she was known to be faster.
Luna laughed. It was a laugh not of happiness, but it was filled with sadness and loneliness. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I think I know how that feels."
Another tear. And another. And another. And another. Sooner or later, Luna was quietly sobbing in her sadness. Thoughts about being inferior to her elder sister began to creep into her mind.
As time passed, more tears fell from her cobalt-blue eyes, and her breathing became erratic. It was already sunset, and when she gazed up at the sun sitting on the west horizon, waiting to be lowered for the moon, her sadness became anger. An anger that was mixed with envy, hate, pain, and stubbornness.
She rose slowly to her hooves, her eyes red and puffy and filled with a rage towards her sister. "I've put this act up for far too long. I can no longer hide in her shadow," she seethed, spitting out the last word. She brought her chin up, and went to the balcony, where they always went to raise and lower the sun and moon. When she arrived at the balcony, her sister was already there waiting for her. At the sight of Celestia, her eyes flared with resentment.
Celestia turned and greeted Luna with a warm smile. "Hello, Luna," she paused, noticing Luna's puffy eyes. "Is everything alright?"
"Quite," Luna replied coldly, as if speaking to a business partner rather than family, not once making eye contact or returning the smile to her sister. Celestia noticed this, but chose to not ask, fearing it was a personal issue. Besides, if something was really the matter, she would of course tell her one and only sister. . . . right?
As usual, Celestia lowered the sun once more, and stepped back to allow Luna to bring up the moon. A Luna stepped forward, she thrust her head upwards, facing the stars, and sparked her magic, the moon rising from the eastern horizon. Though, Celestia noticed, there was something more powerful about her magic being used to raise the moon.
Then, she finally noticed it.
The moon rise higher and higher into the sky, seemingly dilating larger and larger. It stopped at the center of the sky, large and bright.
"Luna! Are you mad? What is the matter with you tonight?" Celestia exclaimed with a heavy concern in her voice. Luna half turned her head to Celestia, so that only one eye was visible.
It was glowing.
Instead of the warm blue color in her iris, it was black. Deep black. It was as black as her rage, jealousy, hatred, resentmentーall towards her sister.
Celestia stepped back, shocked. "L-Luna," she stammered. "Luna."
"Why, Tia? Do you have not any love for me? Do you enjoy allowing me to hide behind you, while you bask in your glory?" Luna was looming over Celestia now. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you! I always have hated you, I now realize! It's not fair! I HATE YOU!"
"Luna!"
The last thing Luna remembered was her sister's voice, raspy and gutted with tears and agony, calling her name in the dawning moonlight.
She woke in a chamber.
At least, she thought it was a chamber; it was dark like one, and it seemed empty and endless. Luna twisted and turned, unsure of where she was looking in the cruel void of darkness, searching for light. She began to panic, forcing herself to recall her last memories.
"Luna!"
Tia. Luna began to gallop, hard and swift. She wouldn't stop. She galloped, tears streaming down her face and into the passing wind; but there was no wind.
There was no wind, no sun, no moon, no light, no air; no beginning nor end; time seemed to have stopped, nonexistent. Only darkness.
She galloped, calling out her sister's name over and over, repetitively, until her voice caught and she coughed, blood spattering into nowhere. She stumbled, screaming, and her hooves throbbing with pain. Even then, she galloped. She galloped. She called her sister's name.
She stumbled again, and this time, she fell hard on her side. The fall caused Luna to gasp with shock and pain, but she cried not for that. Is this death? Is this what I deserve for my jealousy?
She lay still, more tears falling from her eyes, drained of life and emotion.
"Luna!"
Luna bolted upright, and there was an ecstatic pain in her side and chest. Tia. Tia. Tia. Tia. Tia. "Tia!"
She sprinted once more, with more resolve and hope. She found light. Light.
She darted towards it her legs nearly collapsing with tire. She reached the light and threw herself towards it.
She was once again in the real world, where there was wind, sun, moon, light, air; there was beginning and end. It was night, and Luna was in the air. She couldn't remember anything of how she got there, or what had transpired after she had blacked out. She looked around frantically for her sister. Then, she gazed below her.
She was at their castle. In her horror, she saw that it was in ruins. Her home, their home. Gone. Where they had spent so much time together, playing and arguing, gone; where the maids and butlers had often snapped at their pranks, gone; where they had grown, slept, ate, lived, gone.
Amidst the rubble was a single beautiful mare, with a bright white coat that shone dazzlingly in the moonlight, and a long flowing mane colored with glimmering hues. But still she lay, unmoving and bruised with the stains of battle. Still she lay.
Luna stared with horror, and though she wanted to dive to where her sister lay still and hug her and tell her how much she loved her, her body would not move. No. It was not her body.
Out of her body came a maniacal laugh. "How does it feel, Celestia," the body said, wrenching the name out of her mouth with disgust, "to be the one cast down? How does it feel? I've hated it. It's the only thing I've ever hadー loneliness." No. "I've hated it, for it was my life." No. "I've hated it." No. "I've hated you." No. "I still do now, and I always will." No! Tia, rise! Rise!
Celestia lay, frozen. She was alive, she knew, for she saw and felt the cold stone floor she lay, once vibrant with color and decorated with festive rugs. She could smell the abandoned air, once filled with noise and laughter of ponies.
A sing tear ran down her cheek and on to the floor, seeping into the stone. Her eyelids lowered. Luna. I'm sorry. You are what I've made you. I'm so sorry. Please, Luna! don't make me have to do this. I'm so, so, sorry. My blindness has corrupted you.
Tia.
Her eyes sprang open with new hope, Luna's voice echoing loud and clear in her mind. She rose to face her foe, Nightmare Moon.
"Oh, dear sister, I am sorry. You have given me no choice, but to use these."
She released the magic from her horn, targeting a certain spot in the floor. Up rose a stone cylinder sculpture, with five outward branches, each ending with a small platform that held a gem. On the highest platform sat the largest stone orb.
She flew above the sculpture, using her magic to unite the five gems, the sixth and most powerful she drew out of the large stone orb. They spun around her, blending in a ring of color and light. She became a star in the midst of the ruin, glowing bright and illuminated in the darkness.
She flew higher into the night sky to meet her sister in their last battle together for the millennia.
Luna screamed. It was not heard, not by her sister, nor anyone. She saw the Elements of Harmony rise and circulate around her sister. Luna screamed, trying to wrench herself out of the wretched body. Then she stopped.
What have I done up until now? This is what I deserve, is it not? This is my punishment to atone for my sins. I will accept this. I'm sorry, Tia. I'm so, so, sorry, sister.
She stayed still, numb and emotionless as her body emanated powerful magic from her horn. Good-bye, sister. I will always love you. The magic flew from her body, striking Celestia's magic. But it was not strong enough.
Her sister's magic had outdone Luna's. It was too late. She was going to leave. Luna swore, she was sure, that before her vision turned white and she again returned to the chasm of darkness, that she saw, just faintly, a tear on her sister's cheek.
Luna burst out, crying. She sobbed and wept, while her body did nothing but scream in a raspy and disgusting voice that was not her own.
Tia,
Luna,
I
Love
You
Goodnight, sister mine.
Author's Note
Hi, everyone.
Yes, I do understand that the story was rather rushed, and I do understand that I have left out some events, i.e. Discord, but the story took place after that. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Thank you! :D
