Dark Side of the Moon

by Chickenscratch

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad, Tragedy
Length: 3952

After the death of Celestia, Luna must learn to cope with her sadness, as well as her falling world.

When Celestia finally passes, the whole of Equestria is thrown into a state of sadness. However, there is nopony taking the loss worse than Luna. When the responsibility of governing the whole kingdom falls to her in her time of greif, Luna can't help but fall short. Slowly, Equestria is beginning to fall apart, and Luna in the middle of it all. One day, she is driven from the safety of her castle and, forced to live in her fallen kingdom's slums, takes on a new identity and a new life. Will she be able to rise back to power and revive Equestria? Or will her kingdom remain broken?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-12 18:09:57 UTC

Chapter 1

Author's Note

I decided to rewrite the old version of this for various reasons, so if you're a previous reader thank you so much for following this, but this is very different from the original so it would probably be best if you read this too. Thank so much and hope you guys like it!

Ever since she had been released from her prison on the moon, Luna had been thankful. Not just because she was once again allowed to live on the earth like any other pony, not because Nightmare Moon had been destroyed. Though she was grateful to Twilight and her friends for this, she was most thankful to see her sister. Though she had been unconscious all those years, she could still dream, and in those dreams came her sister, welcoming and loving in everything she did. All the time they spent together was the best time Luna had ever had, and whenever Celestia left her mind she would mourn until her return. Though it was all in her imagination, Luna was happy.

When she could walk the earth again, she was overjoyed. Every waking moment was spent with Celestia, and everywhere her sister went she would follow. The new world was a frightening place compared to what it had been, and Luna was glad that her sister was to be the one leading her through it every hoofstep of the way. Over the years, Luna became accustomed to the fashions of the new world, and became less and less dependant on her sister. This did not mean she no longer needed and loved Celestia. She was still madly obsessed with her sister, and loved her no matter what she did.

It was a wonderful life. Celestia would rule during the day and wake Luna in the evening, leaving time for them to spend together before she bid the day farewell to make way for the night. They had a special time in the morning, too, where they would eat their meal together before Luna went to bed. Her royal subjects had even come to love and respect her night, and she was overcome with joy. Everything seemed like it was finally coming into place and to Luna it was perfect.

Time passed. Ponies came and went, seasons flying by. Luna still remained shorter than her sister, but had undoubtedly grown older and more mature. Celestia had grown, too, but not in ways she may have wanted. Luna began to notice signs of age in her sister, like slight pains she would have in her back when she woke up, or how she would strain slightly to raise the sun. Luna told herself it was nothing, that Celly was just having an off day. She would feel better tomorrow. The thing was, she never did. Celestia started having off days every day, and over the years it began to get worse and worse. Luna wasn’t sure what to think of it, and she was scared for her sister. It wasn’t like her to be as weak as she was. Maybe it was a part of growing up for alicorns?

Neither of them knew. They were the only alicorns of significant age left on the planet; their mother and father had left long, long ago. Every day was a new step into the unknown, and it seemed that Celestia was going in blindfolded. One day, much to Luna’s surprise, Celly asked for her help setting the sun. She looked extremely tired, and her eyes drooped. Luna could only accept, and as soon as the moon was out Celly was in bed, not even staying up to talk with her sister. It was a troubling matter for the entire castle. All the guards and advisors were ordered not to speak a word about the weakening of Celestia, but naturally somepony spilled the beans, and a rumor began going around Equestria that she was dying. This distressed Luna to no end, because something in the back of her mind was telling her that it was true. She wanted the two of them to be immortal, so that they could be together forever and ever, but she didn’t know that.

It was popular belief among the ponies that the alicorn sisters were indeed immortal, but Luna wasn’t so sure. If their parents had left, so could they. However, she still wouldn’t accept her sister moving on. Her mind had it set in stone that Celestia was absolutely fine. That is, until the accident. It was a normal evening for Luna. She had just woken up for the early summer sunset, and was slipping on her boots when there was a shout from one of the guards. At first she dismissed the disruption, slipping on her neck piece. There was a flurry of hoofsteps in the hallway, and now it seemed the entire castle was in a riot. Luna trotted over to her door as she put on her tiara and opened it. There were ponies everywhere. Night guards, day guards, advisors, everypony. They all seemed to be flocking into her sister’s room. Alarmed, Luna stopped one of Celestia’s guards.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“The princess!” he gasped, wide eyed. “She’s collapsed on her balcony!”

“WHAT?!” Luna pushed the guard out of the way, rushing through the crowd to Celestia’s chambers. “Out of the way, everypony! I need to see my sister!” Most of the ponies scrambled out of the way, and those with nowhere to go were shoved aside. Luna shouldered her way out onto the balcony, where Celestia was sprawled out on the ground, panting. There were a few medical ponies gathered around her worriedly. The head nurse, Doctor Grafco, looked up from the princess.

“Luna, thank goodness you’re here!” he exclaimed, trotting up to her. Beads of sweat were rolling down his face, and his voice wavered. “I need you to finish setting the sun while we get your sister in bed. I’ll tell the guards to clear the room.” He slipped past her, yelling some commands at the guards, who began filing everypony out. Luna paused a moment, looking at her sister. Her sides were heaving as she tried to speak to a nurse, and there was a look of excruciating pain molded into her expression. She looked so helpless, so weak. Her wings were tattered from lack of grooming, as was her coat. Even Celestia’s usually vibrant, flowing mane had stopped moving, and hung loosely around her neck like any normal pony’s would.

Celestia strained her eye to look up at her sister. She tried to get up, but only collapsed back onto the floor.

“Princess, please,” pleaded one of the nurses, “don’t move. Luna will take care of the sun.” The nurse then looked to the princess of the night, as if trying to confirm her statement. Luna only nodded and closed her eyes, concentrating on the sun. Magic began to flow from her horn and into the atmosphere, and slowly but surely the sun began to set. Luna used her horn to direct the giant star, and by the time her head had reached her knees the sun was gone. She rested a moment before releasing a new magic from her horn, and as she took off into the sky the moon raised with her. Soon the celestial body was in its rightful place, and Luna hovered in the air, looking at its glow. When she glanced down, Celestia was gone, and she landed smoothly on the balcony.

Luna trotted inside, closing the doors behind her. The medics were just setting the princess into her bed, propping her head up on a pillow so she could see. Dr. Grafco was taking her pulse with a stethoscope, nodding his head and muttering things now and then. Luna used her magic to pull the covers up over Celestia, standing at her bedside worriedly.

“Will she be alright, Doctor?” she asked, placing a hoof on the sheets.

“I think so,” he replied, magically setting his equipment aside and placing a hoof on her forehead. “The princess is extremely tired, she needs to rest. Nurse,” he paused, turning to a young violet colored mare, “could you please fetch me a glass of water?” The mare nodded and dashed out of the room. He cleared his throat before continuing, looking straight at Luna. “A few days rest would do her good. Do you think you could take over for her in the meantime?”

“Of course, anything for Celly!” she replied as Celestia shifted beneath the covers. “How could I say no? It’s my duty to look after her, little sister or not.” Dr. Grafco nodded.

“If you feel that way, so be it. You can stay here until she falls asleep, but otherwise it would be best to leave her be.” He turned away and began packing up his supplies. The other medics began to clear the room just as the nurse returned with the glass of water.

“Here,” she said softly, using her magic to give the glass to Luna. “If anypony can get her to drink its you.” She did a slight bow and accompanied the Doctor out of the room. With the slam of a door, the two sisters were left alone in. Celestia’s eyes were closed and her breathing was beginning to even out.

“Sister,” Luna said quietly, nudging the princess softly with her muzzle. “Are you awake?” Celestia’s eye slowly flitted open, and she nodded ever so slightly. “I have some water for you,” she continued, levitating the glass for her sister to see. “Do you want some?”

“Uhh,” she tried to speak, bobbing her head.

“Shh ok,” Luna said, placing a hoof on her chest to calm her. She levitated the cup to Celestia’s dry lips and tilted it slightly. The while alicorn drank the water very slowly, her eyes drooping tiredly. When the water was gone, Luna set the glass on the bedside table. Celestia sighed, slowly sinking down onto her mattress. Luna rearranged her pillows so that she could rest comfortably. For a while she just stood there, watching her sister slowly drift off to sleep. She looked so peaceful lying there, and before she left Luna kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight, Celly,” she whispered, shutting of the lights and closing the door behind her as she left. In the hallway stood two of Celestia’s most faithful guards, looking quite worried.

“Is the princess alright?” one asked.

“Mhmm,” Luna replied, looking back at the door. “She’s sleeping now, so be quiet.” The guard only nodded, and a wave of relief seemed to wash over the both of them. They stood on either side of her door, assuming their positions with utmost dignity and importance. Luna smiled and went off to have her breakfast. The kitchen was a bustle of night guards and chefs, who all flocked to her, full of questions about Celestia. Luna reassured them that her sister was fine, and after a few days would be back in business. However, she told them not to say a word about it to their families. If Equestria got a hold of it the rumors of her sister dying would spread like wildfire, even stronger than before.

They all swore it, and eventually they settled in for breakfast. As she ate her Danish, Luna couldn’t stop thinking about her sister. Nothing like this had ever happened, and was cause for great alarm. Perhaps her sister wasn’t alright. She seemed to have been on the decline, but Luna had been too stubborn to admit it. It was time to face the facts. Celestia was getting old. There was no way she could recover fully, but Luna prayed for it anyways. They had some of the best doctors in Equestria here in Canterlot Castle, and if anypony could save her sister it would be them.

The week passed by slowly. Luna checked in on her sister every morning and evening. Celestia could talk now; though her voice was gravelly and sometimes hard to make out, she could talk. The two sisters would sit for hours together, most of the time at Luna’s expense in loss of sleep or work time. The week slowly turned to two, and Celestia wasn’t much better. Now there was always at least one nurse in the sun princess’s room that administered medicine to her and was there in case there was anything she needed. It was a little uncomfortable at first, having somepony in the room every time she came to visit, but Luna soon got used to it. Now a month had passed. Luna had adjusted to her new schedule of working both the sun and moon, but the strain of managing both was beginning to take a toll on her. Her morning sessions with Celestia had to be cut short, so she missed more work time in the evening when she woke up. The Doctor came in once in a while to check the princess during their meetings, which often took up most of their time together.

Luna was more concerned about her sister now that ever before. Doctor Grafco had said before that Celestia would be fine in a few days, but now it was going on two months. Every day he promised a later recovery date, and every day Luna grew more and more worried. Her sister seemed to be slowly declining, if anything. She was getting into a sort of habit to cough after she talked for a while, but it seemed like nothing serious. Dr. Grafco insisted that the illness would pass eventually, and that she would be absolutely fine given the time. Now it was three months. Celestia’s voice rasped and she had to clear her throat constantly. She was tired all the time, and sometimes would fall asleep in the middle of a conversation, even when she herself was the one talking. The medics had practically set up an entire base in her room, and were constantly checking on her.

Luna wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. She didn’t want to believe that the Doctor was lying about her sister, but she had to face it. Everything he had promised had never come true. In fact, just the opposite of it had been happening. It was halfway through the fourth month of her sickness that she took a turn for the worst. She had quite suddenly come down with a very high fever, and moaned and groaned in her sleep. Celestia couldn’t even move to eat. Around this time Dr. Grafco told Luna that it was best if she didn’t see her sister for a while, and that he would do everything he could to help her. Luna worried every day. In the mornings she would stand around outside her sister’s door, trying to hear anything they were saying and pacing nervously. At the end of the month she was finally granted access to her sister, but the sight was not what she had expected.

Celestia was very pale and unresponsive. There were all sorts of machines and medical items strapped to her, and her chamber was filled with the incessant beeping of pulse monitors and the like.  Luna trotted up to her sister, tears filling her eyes.

“Celly..?” she asked, nuzzling her gently. “Are you ok?”

“Lu…my…” Celestia choked, thrown into a coughing fit. Bits of saliva and phlegm splattered across her bed sheets. She opened her eyes slowly, looking at her younger sister. Luna could see they were swollen and red, either from crying or lack of sleep. Maybe both.

“We’ve stabilized her condition,” Dr. Grafco said, trotting over and wiping of the princess’s face with a rag. “However, we can’t guarantee anything at this point.” Luna looked over at him, blinking to try and hold back her tears. He looked genuinely frazzled, and his usually well groomed mane was a mess. Celestia groaned, jerking her head back onto the pillows. “Yes, I know your majesty,” the doctor said, fetching a serum from her bedside table and drawing some of it with a needle. “This won’t hurt a bit,” he said, sticking the long needle into her foreleg. Celestia jerked slightly and made a high pitched squeal. Dr. Grafco withdrew the needle after a few seconds, tossing it in a trash bin. “There, we’re done,” he said, holding a hoof to her forehead. “I’ll crush you a pill for that fever. It should help with any headache you could have either.” Luna stood there for a while, watching them all do their work. Everything rotated around Celestia, and nopony was going to quit anytime soon. Seeing that there was no reason for her to stay, she headed out of the room.

A few days later, she was approached by Dr. Grafco. She had just finished raising the moon, and was ready for the hard work day ahead. However, something told her that she wouldn’t be able to start quite yet. Grafco had a very serious look on his face, and acted very uncomfortable.

“Your highness,” he began, bowing.

“What is it? I haven’t all night. There is an important meeting with a delegate from the griffon kingdom in half an hour.”

“It’s about your sister…” Luna froze up, her heart jumping to her throat.

“Y-yes?” She almost didn’t want to ask. For the first time in a very long while, she felt genuinely scared. Scared for herself, scared for her sister.

Dr. Grafco sighed, stamping a hoof on the ground in frustration. He looked away from Luna, trying to hide his expression.

“Well, uh,” his voice was very choked, and Luna had to strain to hear. “Celestia, she…she may not make it through the night.”

“W-what?” She must not have heard the doctor correctly. Surely he hadn’t meant…

“If you have any last things to say to her you should go now,” he finished, trotting quickly away. He was crying. Luna shook her head, feeling her legs weaken. Tears burned in her eyes, and she let them come. There was no point in keeping them back. It was finally time. There was no waiting for the preemptive any longer. She slowly made her way to her sister’s room.

Upon her entry, all the medic ponies and nurses stopped whatever they were doing and turned to stare at her. One by one, they bowed their heads and left. Luna used her magic to close the door and walked over to her sister. She wiped the tears from her face, trying to look brave. Celestia opened her eyes, a little surprised to see her sister.

“Lu…na….love…” she said, coughing heavily.

“Celly,” Luna replied, laying her head across her sister’s chest. “I’m here.”

“I-I’m…sorry,” Celestia said, tears welling in her eyes. Luna lifted her head, surprised.

“For what? You’re the best sister in the whole universe, you’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I feel…my time here is…ending,” Celestia replied, clearing her throat. Her earlier coughing fit seemed to have done her good, for she could speak more fluently now. “I’m sorry I couldn’t…stay with you.”

“Don’t be sorry Celly,” Luna pleaded, kissing her cheek. “You’re going to be fine. The doc said so.” She didn’t think a little white lie could hurt anything now. She wanted it to be true more than anything, and prayed that perhaps it would give her sister something to hold her out through the night.

“Ha,” Celestia laughed gently. “What does he know of alicorn magic?”

“Don’t say that, sister! There is hope for you yet!”

“That’s what you want to think,” she replied, shaking her head slightly. “I know for a fact I am dying. It is only a matter of time before I leave now…”

“Celly…” Luna said softly, dropping her head back down. She wiped her oncoming tears on the sheets.

“Luna, can you promise me something..?” Celestia asked, slowly reaching a hoof out with great effort and resting it on her sister’s head.

“Anything you want Celly, I’ll do it,” Luna replied, leaning in to her sister’s touch.

“Promise you’ll take care of everything for me?” Luna wasn’t even the slightest bit surprised. Her sister was still fiercely loyal to her kingdom, even in her last days.

“Only if you promise not to leave me tonight.”

“…Promise.” With that Luna drew her sister into a tight hug, trying to fight her tears.

“I love you so much Celly, please don’t go!” Celestia said nothing, but leaned gently into her sister’s embrace. Luna stood there for what seemed like hours, holding her sister close. She could still smell spring flowers in her sister’s mane, but only slightly. The scent was fading away, much like her life. Suddenly, the door creaked open to reveal one of the night guards. She cleared her throat uncomfortably, to get Luna’s attention. The princess of the night looked over at the guard.

“The meeting, I know,” she said. “I’ll be there in a minute.” The guard bowed and hurried off. “Sister, I must go. The griffon kingdom-”

“It’s ok. Go on.” Celestia smiled gently. “I love you, Luna.” Were those tears in her eyes?

“I love you too, Celly.” Luna kissed her sister one last time before pulling away from the hug and reluctantly exiting the room. “I love you more than you could ever imagine…” Luna cleaned her tearstained face in the washroom before heading to the meeting, retaining the most professional posture she could. She would hold up her end of the promise to the end.

The rest of the night passed like a dream. The meeting felt like it only took a few minutes, when in reality hours had passed when they were finally dismissed. Luna tried to keep her mind off of Celestia by doing more work than usual, but her conscience always came wandering back to her sister. Slowly the night came to an end. The guards were retiring to their chambers, and Luna was busy moving the sun and moon. As soon as the sun was in the sky, she found herself heading towards her sister’s room. She turned the knob to find the door open, and trotted in.

“Celly? I’m…back?” To her surprise, the room was empty. The equipment was gone, and not a nurse was in sight. But most importantly, neither was Celestia. Luna approached the bed slowly, and in the gloom she spotted a piece of paper propped up on one of the pillows. She retrieved it with her magic, holding it close to her face. It was hard to make out the words, partially because it was so dark and the terrible penmanship, but she could read it nonetheless. Printed in a mouth written scrawl were the words: ‘I’m sorry.’

That was all she needed to know. Luna let the paper drop to the floor slowly before sinking onto the bed, crying.

“You promised!” she wailed, pounding her hoof into the mattress. The sound of her lament soon brought guards and medics alike to the room. Dr. Grafco was with them, and he reached a hoof out to Luna, who promptly swatted it away.

“I’m so sorry princess,” he said, standing beside her. “There was nothing we could do. We all tried our very best to make her last hours comfortable…”

“And what?” she replied, glaring at him with reddened eyes. “You couldn’t save her, so what does it matter to me?” He looked away guiltily, hiding his expression.

“Her last words,” Dr. Grafco said mournfully, “were ‘Tell Luna I love her.’ We found the note on her bed after we had…removed her from the room.”  Luna buried her face back into the blankets, sobbing.

“I’m so sorry, Celly. I love you too.”