Prologue: The Lunar Republic
The Up-Rising of the Moon
TigerSwirl448
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (c) Lauren Faust & Hasbro
Song lyrics used (later) in this story belong to the appropriate musicians and writers.
If you enjoy the songs buy them from ITunes or get the hard copy disc to give them support.
Prologue
The Lunar Republic
The sky over the tiny village of Dúbhshláine was clear and filled with twinkling white stars of Luna's masterpiece. The lamp lighters walk around the village, lighting the lamps to light up the cobble stoned streets. The village had an old style feel to it to a new comer. The houses were built of old giant stones and bricks, the roofs were thatched with wooden shingles or in grass. Compared to most villages on this side of the globe, Dúbhshláine is one of the very few villages that hail to only one goddess: Luna. The Princes of the Night, Princess of the Stars, Princess of the Moon. But to these ponies, she is their savior.
One could see the villager's love for Luna by their statues, paintings, glass windows, and also their music. The Luna Believers always cherished their princess by singing to her every night of a full moon. A party would be held and the ponies would play the great battle that brought them their freedom, they would feast on the harvest of vegetables and fish. After the feast the ponies would play music, sing, and dance. They would dance and sing the night away awaiting for Luna to appear on her moon so she could see that she was still loved by her subjects.
On a full moon night like tonight, ponies of the Dúbhshláine village come out of their homes and head for one place, The Lucky Clover Tavern. A family owned tavern and restaurant by one of the most influential families on the island nation. The Green Family is the largest family on the island, they wrote the songs, they wrote the jigs, and the ballads everypony on the island knew and loved.
One mare dressed with only a plaid scarf and cap on her head turned the corner from an alley on her way to the famous tavern. She stopped to stand in the white moonlight of Luna’s Moon. The moon made her silver gray fur sparkle and her blue eyes twinkle like the stars. The mare looked up with her blue eyes and smiled, seeing Luna’s face watching the village. She felt a bump behind her and turned chuckling, seeing her little filly poke past her black tail. The filly was no more than six years old as she squeezed through her mother’s legs then fell onto the cobbles, rubbing her face. Her mother turned around then used her nose to nudge her daughter onto her hooves again.
The filly was the same color scheme as her mother, a richer French gray color with a darker mane. Her lilac eyes sparkled seeing her mother and nuzzled her mother’s cheek. The little filly turned hearing a cry and a whoop. The filly ran under her mother hiding. The mother looked up to see a group of teenage colts and fillies dancing as one colt was playing a fiddle while his partner played a Kerry styled Bodhrán. The filly peeked from behind her mother’s tail to see the teens dancing and laughing.
Her mother smiled as she sat down watching her daughter move from behind her to under her, peeking between her mother’s gray forelegs. The group were bringing a crowd of ponies as they continued to dance and sing. The mother smiled seeing that the fiddler colt she recognized was a Green. She looked down to see her daughter smile and bob her head to the melody. She smiled nudging her daughter forward.
“Go on now,” She said in a burr of Irish. “Go on and dance, my dear.” The filly smiled, she liked it when her mother spoke in the funny accent. That meant, Mama was going to be fun Mama tonight. The filly nodded then started tapping her hooves on the cobble stones with the beat of the hoof held drum and other hooves as the fiddler and drummer continued to play and the fillies continued to sing.
The filly looked up at her smiling. “Dance Mama!” She called twirling. Her mother chuckled then stood up and started tapping her hooves too, in a more complex dance like the other ponies were doing. The filly tried to copy her mother’s hoof work but the music stopped suddenly. The filly blinked then she fell on her tail with a sad look on her face.
“Aww!” She whined. Her mother looked over too to see an older stallion walk over smiling.
“Great work nephew.” He said ruffling the fiddler’s red mane. The stallion looked around seeing the crowd and smiled. “My friends, our show is about to begin. Please step inside to tavern to get drinks and food. We have a great show for you tonight.”
Everypony started cheering. The filly gasped looking up at her mother with excitement. The mother had to bite on her filly’s tail to keep her from running away. The filly turned to her as she sat back down.
“Now, now, Octavia darling, we must go in carefully. Also, stay close to me.”
The filly Octavia nodded. “Yes Mama.”
“Good, stay close, let’s go in and have some fun hmm?”
Octavia smiled with a gasp. “Yea!” She cheered. Her mother smiled as she nudged her filly forward and followed the crowd to the tavern across the street. Once at the tavern, the two were greeted by a young couple. Octavia looked up at the young mare to see her coat was a white color and her mane was a fiery ginger color. The mares magenta eyes looked down at Octavia and smiled.
“Well hello there little one.” She said cheerfully smiling. Octavia blushed then hid under her mother as the mares laughed. The white mare smiled. “It’s been a long time, Kathleen.” The white mare said hugging the gray mare. They exchanged quick kisses on their cheeks smiling. Octavia was confused. Who was this mare and how does she know Mama? Her mother smiled moving away from the line so she could sit by the white mare. She grabbed Octavia to pull her away from the line.
“How have you been Marie dear?” Kathleen asked smiling.
The white mare Marie chuckled. “Oh things have been going fine here. Clay’s father has finally accepted me. It took me four pregnancies just for him to accept me, the old fart.”
The two mares laughed at that. “Oh speaking of children, I have heard you had a fourth a while ago. I’m sorry to not be around much.” Kathleen said with a worried frown. “With all this stuff going on, my husband has me up in that stuffy mansion longer than necessary.” Kathleen said with a glare toward the large hill. Marie peeked over to see the neighboring village on the hill.
“Oh …” Marie said with a worried look to her friend. “Is everything going alright with you?”
Kathleen shrugged. “It’s fine. I love my husband, I just don’t like his occupation or his association.” She said harshly. Marie gulped then nodded. She looked down to see Octavia looking at her with her large eyes.
“Oh is this the little one you have told me about?” Octavia gasped then hid under her mother. The mares chuckled.
“Why yes,” Kathleen said standing up using her hoof to push Octavia out from under her. “Octavia dear, this is a very dear friend of mine, Mrs. Marie Green. Marie this is my daughter Octavia.” Marie smiled seeing Octavia blush under her gaze.
“Oh dear, she looks just like you.” Marie said chuckling. “Where did that name come from?”
“Her father … he’s part Italian. He named her after his mother.”
“Oh right, I forgot the boy was from Italy.” She looked down at Octavia again and chuckled. “She looks about my daughter’s age. How old are you Octavia?”
Octavia gulped. “Six.”
“Oh my, what a big girl you are!” Marie exclaimed smiling. Octavia nodded her head.
“Yes ma’am! I’m a big girl.” She paused then pointed at her mother. “Tell that to Mama!” The mares laughed at the cute act. Octavia blushed bashfully as she turned see the line of ponies entering the tavern.
Marie chuckled then sighed. “It is great to see you out again Kat. We miss you playing your fiddle around during the Full Moon celebrations.”
Kathleen nodded with a sigh. “I miss doing that too. But for my husband’s sake, I have to stop the Irish music.” Kathleen shook her head. “It’s getting a bit difficult now. So I decided to come here tonight to see everypony again.” She paused then looked down to see her daughter watching the ponies enter the tavern. “But this little shadow won’t stay in bed.” She said ruffling her daughter’s black mane causing her to giggle.
A stallion walked up clearing his throat. Marie jumped then turned to smile as the stallion nuzzled her cheek then kissed her on the head.
“It’s time for the show.” He said in an Irish accent. “Oh and Little Marie is messing with Shamrock again.” He said winking at her. Marie sighed shaking her head, swearing in Gaelic. She turned back to Kathleen.
“I’ll see you inside Kat, I have two little rascals to control.” Marie stopped to look down at Octavia. “Oh it was nice to get to see you, Octavia. I hope you have fun.”
Octavia nodded. Marie hugged her friend before following the stallion into the tavern. Kathleen picked up Octavia and set her on her back.
“Hold on now.” Octavia nodded getting comfortable on her mother’s back as Kathleen walked through to the Tavern. Once through the thick entrance crowd, Kathleen walked straight to a set of stairs and headed up to the second floor. She smiled finding stools and tiny tables for ponies to sit at. Kathleen patted the stool next to her, Octavia nodded leaping off her mother’s back then sat on the stool. She gasped looking down to see a large stage set against the wall by the large bar counter. Octavia smiled recognizing the fiddler colt from earlier as he began playing a happy jig. Suddenly another pony on the stage started playing a penny whistle with the fiddle. Ponies started stomping and cheer as the two continued to play.
Octavia gasped pointing to see Marie step up with a fiddle in her hooves as she began playing a quick and fast reel. The colt bowed to her bowing off the stage. He wouldn’t dare play against Marie Green. Everypony was cheering of her to play more as she started to slow her playing.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts!” She called out as ponies began to cheer. “We have a wonderful show for you tonight. We will start off with the introduction of four new talents in the Green Family!” Ponies cheered and stomped as she continued to play the fun song on the fiddle. "But first, Welcome to the Lucky Clover Tavern. I am your hostess this night of remembrance, Marie Green.” Everypony cheered as one stallion came out playing a Bodhrán and a second stallion with a guitar as they played along with her.
“That’s right ponies, Dance!” Marie yelled out continuing the fun jig.
Octavia turned to her mother to see her smiling letting out whistling and whoops as ponies were dancing below them. Octavia bobbed her head to the beat. She lifted herself up to stand on the stool, holding the rail with her front hooves to watch the performance. Octavia couldn’t help but smile at the happy tune they played. The music then stopped as the three ponies stood still on stage breathing hard from the excitement. Everypony cheered as the three bowed to the audience.
“Give it up to them ponies!” Marie called out as the two ponies bowed then trotted off stage. After a moment Marie smiled seeing a little gray colt peeking out from behind the curtain at her. He nodded with a smile. She winked at him then turned back to the crowd.
“Alright Everypony, we gave you a warm up ride. And now the moment any proud mother would enjoy.” She sat down then used the magic of her horn to pull part of the curtain. “I am happy to introduce to you, the new members of the Green family, Padraig Green.” She called out. The ponies cheered as a young gray unicorn colt with a black mane walk out from backstage. His horn glowing with a guitar floating behind him. Ponies cheered for the young colt as he walked forward to the stage then sat down. Octavia could see form her position that the colt had a cutie mark of a guitar on his flank. He was defiantly older than her. Kathleen rubbed Octavia’s back seeing her daughter smile at her.
“Ocean Green,” Marie said proudly as a younger unicorn filly walked out on stage behind her brother. She’s has a light blue coat with a light ginger mane. She also bore a cutie mark on her flank, this one was of a flute with tiny musical notes. She sat down by the darker colt holding on to the penny whistle in her hooves.
“Shamrock Green,” Marie called out. Then a third unicorn foal popped out from back stage. He looked very shy as his light green cheeks flushed red. He shook his darker green mane as he trotted out levitating a Bodhrán and a small sack of different shaped sticks. Octavia noticed that he had no cutie mark on his flank.
Marie chuckled seeing past the curtain. “And last but not least, the youngest of the group, Marie Green!”
Suddenly a white and red blur ran out from back stage then tumbled into her older sibling knocking them over. Everypony started laughing and cheering for the tiny unicorn. Kathleen started laughing shaking her head. Octavia was surprised seeing this tiny unicorn. She looked about her age and looked like a miniature version of the older Marie Green.
Marie walked over to her daughter and picked her up. The filly was wanting to get out of her mother's hold to go play. She stopped hearing her mother whisper in her ear. The filly looked around seeing ponies looking at her. She waved her hoof at the crowd hearing them laugh at the cute gesture. Marie set down her youngest and levitated a fiddle for her to hold. The filly was ecstatic taking the fiddle form her mother and made a huge grin. Octavia noticed that the youngest unicorn was a blank flank like the third unicorn foal. The tiny unicorn sat down by the green unicorn to see him and the two other siblings glaring at her. She just beamed a smile at them.
Marie chuckled, her horn glowing. “And now Fillies and Gentlecolts, introducing the Green Quartet!”
The audience cheered as Marie walked to the side standing by the stallion, her husband as they smiled with pride as the children prepare to sing their song. The colt with the guitar nodded to his siblings. He tapped his hoof four times then they began by chanting. At first it was silent, but over time the chanting grew louder. A rhythmic start to the song. The colt pointed his hoof at the youngest unicorn to start playing her fiddle with the chanting.
Ponies began to stomp with the beat as the four started to sing an old favorite of the people, Marie’s Wedding. Once ponies started to hear the lyrics, they began to sing along. Octavia blinked hearing her mother singing along with the chorus. Octavia watched the young ponies sing in harmony, two low voices and two high. When the song reached one part, the unicorn filly with the fiddle played a small solo as ponies began to cheer. Octavia blinked hearing talking next to her.
“That little one has Marie’s talent for sure.” The mare said as everypony near her nodded in agreement. Octavia didn’t understand what was said but hearing the chorus again got her to hum the tune, her tail swishing with the music as her mother sang. Soon Octavia started to memorize the chorus and sang along too. Kathleen looked down and smiled hearing her daughter sing the songs of her homeland for the first time.
Octavia was never taught about her homeland since her father wanted her to not be affiliated with the rishi ponies. Kathleen wished that she could teach Octavia the ways of her blood line but as long as her husband is a senator for the outsiders, Octavia won’t be able to laugh, sing, or speak Irish. She looked down hearing her daughter sing the chorus with everypony else and the four young unicorns. She sighed hearing the ponies cheer at the end of the song. Even Octavia as clapping her hooves together cheering.
The father walked up on stage. “The Green Quartet, everypony!” He called out as the white unicorn ran over to him hugging his leg. Everypony cheered as the three young ones bowed to the crowd. “Let’s hear another kids!” He called out as the four began another song together.
Kathleen turned to realized that Octavia was trying to stay awake. She let out a yawn smacking her lips. Kathleen sighed disappointed to have to leave so soon. But she couldn’t let her daughter sleep during a show. She had to take her home. She nuzzled her daughter.
“Come now, it’s time to go home.”
Octavia shook her head. “Why?” She whined.
“Luna’s moon is high in the sky, little one. It’s time to sleep.”
Octavia shook her head before another yawn overtook her. “I’m not tired, Mama.”
“Ah, but Luna begs to differ, my little Octavia. It’s time to sleep.” Octavia pouted at that. Kathleen chuckled as she lowered down. “Get on,” she ordered softly. Octavia feebly did as she was told, crawling on her mother’s back then laid down.
Kathleen moved to the stairs then headed down as ponies were singing along to the young ponies, stomping their hooves to the beat. Marie looked up to see Kathleen wave at her. Marie smiled sadly and waved back. Kathleen walked to the door. Octavia opened her eyes sleepily to see the quartet playing. But during a break in the song the smallest filly turned and the two fillies locked eyes for a long moment. The unicorn filly smiled and waved her hoof to Octavia. Octavia smiled sleepily and waved her hoof in return. The unicorn watched the earth pony mother and filly leave the tavern.
Octavia sighed turning on her mother’s back to lay facing toads her mother’s neck. She looked up to see Luna’s moon.
“Mama?”
“Hmm?”
“Will we come back? I had fun.”
Kathleen smiled. “Maybe someday sweetie.”
After a long moment, Octavia had another thought. “Mama? Why do we call Luna our Goddess?”
Kathleen smirked at that. “You already know that story Octavia.”
Octavia yawned. “I know, but can you tell me the story again?”
Kathleen looked up at the moon then smiled. “Alright, let’s see.” She turned and walked through a skinny alley leading to the back streets of Dúbhshláine.
“Before the Sun Princess banished the Princess of the Stars, Luna herself saved our little island nation from a terrible force of evil. They call themselves the Sun Warriors, a group of ponies that believed that the Sun Princess is the true one to rule the world. But there are two Princesses; two forces. The sun cannot rise without the moon and the day cannot rest without the night. The Sun Warriors came and attacked our island nation and tried to make it a part of their Sun Empire. But our ancestors won’t bow down to these Sun Warriors without a true fight.”
Octavia grinned closing her eyes, imagining her ancestors dressed in plate armor with swords and spears attacking the evil ponies dressed in gold armor with suns on their breasts and shields. She could hear her mother’s soothing voice in her dream as she continued the story.
“Our ancestors fought these stronger, more experience fighters to the death. Our numbers might have been great, but our expertise in weaponry was too little. We failed many fights and lost hundreds of our own. One night, one of our leaders prayed to the moon for help and pleaded for her mercy.”
Octavia imagined the stallion who was praying as her father, a large earth pony, as he prayed to the moon.
“His prayers were answered when the beautiful Night Princess descended down to him from the stars. With her beautiful voice she told the stallion that his prayers have been answered and she, The Princess of the Night, shall protect the island nation from the evil ponies of the sun.”
Octavia watched the dream as Luna approached the stallion/her father. Her dark blue coat shimmered like the stars of her majestic night. Her mane was long and rippled like floating water. Octavia had seen many portraits of Princess Luna everywhere, from quilts on beds, paintings on walls, and mosaics in the great cathedral. She could see Luna as she had seen her in these portraits, dressed in steel blue armor with her crescent moon over her breast. She looked fierce but so beautiful.
“Princess Luna told our ancestors that the Sun Warriors will fight with the sun and as such we shall fight with the moon. During the day, small fights plastered our emerald green fields. But at the time of night we fight head on against the Sun Warriors with the Princess of the Night leading us to victory. The war lasted for fifteen years until finally we killed the last of the evil Sun Warriors and chased the rest off our island. From then on we called our little island,”
“The Lunar Republic,” Octavia whispered sleepily smiling.
Kathleen smiled nuzzling Octavia. “That’s right my little star. From then on to today, we continue to sing and pray to the Goddess of the Night. Thanking her for saving us. Thanking her for her courage and sacrifice of her duties to the night to protect her people. We will always say good night as a good thing here. We praise her for her night sky every single night.” She looked up at the moon and sighed.
“Mama,” Octavia whispered.
“Yes?”
“Why is Luna in the moon?” She asked.
Kathleen made a grimace looking at her reflection in the window of a cheese shop to see her daughter half asleep on her back.
“The Sun Princess banished her to the moon. Believing Princess Luna was evil. This was a hard blow to our island of the Lunar Republic. Even though she had her Sun Warriors guard us well, we still kept our name for her.” She turned and paused, seeing several guards dressed in golden armor walking along the street, eyeing her. One guard tipped his helmet and smiled. She only glared back trotting away.
Once they were gone, she continued her story. “We are always praying to our Moon. Not the Sun. Never forget that Octavia. You are a Daughter of the Moon. Just like all of us, we are all Children to the Moon and Stars. Not to the Sun and Rainbows.”
“I like rainbows.” Octavia said innocently, before falling asleep into her mother’s dark mane. Kathleen could only smile at her innocence. She chuckled softly.
“I like them, too.” She said, smiling sadly. She trotted out of town and headed down the dirt road to the large hill. On top of the large hill was the more luxurious part of Dúbhshláine where the houses are made of marble and stone with emblems of the moon on flags and shields. But one thing frightened her.
As she approached the gate to the walled village, she would usually see on the walls where the ancient carpenters placed lighter stones with dark stones to create a giant version of Luna’s Moon cutie mark emblem. But now there’s a giant golden disk with orange rays spray painted over the moon emblem. At the bottom were black letters that read: Down with the Moon! Up with the Sun! The Solar Empire shall rise again!
Kathleen stopped starring at the painted sun. She turned to her daughter to see her fast asleep. She sighed sadly.
“Oh Octavia... I fear for your future.” She sniffed then trotted to the gates and entered the large mansion village. She quickly trotted back home, praying to Luna that she might return again and protect her ponies from the evil Solar Empire again.
