Prologue: An unexpected visit
On a cold night, Luna called Celestia to her chambers to discuss recurring feelings. The day had been long and not once did Celestia lay her eyes on Luna. She was grateful to at least speak to her before she prepared for the next morning.
“You called, Luna?” Celestia asked, breaking the silence of the cold room. The sound of her hoofsteps echoed through shadowed walls and a sudden feeling of sorrow invaded her conscience as she closed the door behind her. The room was dim, for the only visible light came from outside, from Luna’s moon.
“Sister,” Luna said, staring out of her open window towards the beautiful roses planted across the courtyard, and allowing the chilly breeze to flow through her starlit mane. After a long pause, she continued, “I tire of this everlasting life.”
Celestia was shocked, those words came suddenly and unforeseen. “What do you mean, Luna? We’ve lived for thousands of years together and yet, this topic suddenly arises? There must be something wrong, do you not enjoy the company of friends? Do you not love your country?” she asked in a serious tone.
“We did not say any of this.” Luna’s gaze drifted to the full moon high in the twinkling sky, “Our love for our country and our subjects is undying, new and passed; but as we said before, we are tired, sister.”
“I do not fully understand. As alicorns, immortality is a gif-”
“‘Tis no gift, sister!” Luna shouted in return, her eyes locked with Celestia’s. The bags under her eyes acted as a sign she had not slept for quite some time. “We have watched countless of our peers have their lives seized by the cold hands of death because of this ‘gift!’ We should feel naught but sorrow but we only feel jealous, for they receive salvation we cannot have. We have lived like so many others because that is the point: To live and to die. We have lived our life but cannot pass on because of this dreaded curse,” she continued, her voice beginning to tremble. “Dost thou not see or feel this pain? or do my words fall upon deaf ears as they always have?”
Luna walked from her window, moving the canopy that shielded her large rug and covers. She sat down, hiding her face from her sister. The room was quiet enough to hear the chirping of the crickets outside, but something broke the silence, something Celestia had wished she’d never have to hear. Luna began to cry.
Celestia, walked to the window and stared out at the moon as Luna did before. “Your words do not, and they strike true to my heart,” she replied, closing the window.
“Then why dost thou prolong what should be inevitable?” Luna asked through sobs.
“I fear Twilight and Cadence are not yet ready to take our place,” said Celestia. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and thought deeply about the subject.
"Art thou blind!" Luna suddenly erupted. "Cadence has led her own empire for years now, and thy priced student hath handled every challenge thrown at her! Thou hast provided an exemplary mien, and they have not faltered in their professions," continued Luna, growing frantic.
Her sisters voice began tearing at Celestias heart. Her sisters weeping resonated off the walls, etching the sounds deep into her consciousness. She suddenly began to feel weary, not from the days occurrences, but from millennia of tireless work. The Princesses’ heart began beating faster as she thought of the tempting rest death offered.
"Please sister, allow us to have what we deserve," continued Luna's pleas.
Celestia thought about twilight, and Cadence, and her subjects.
"Art thou listening? Say something! If thy decision will deny our plea, then do not keep us waiting!"
"Calm thyself sister!" Celestia shouted, allowing traces of the royal canterlot voice to blend with her sudden rage.
As the walls shook, Luna silenced herself, surprised by her sisters outcry.
"I have thought of these things believe me! But we cannot allow passed triumphs to blind us from possible failures. Or have you forgotten about Queen Chrysalis and her attack, or Sombra. Our nations history is scathed with animosities. We have enemies who might still yearn for blood, waiting for our defenses to fall. Dost thou think Twilight and Cadence can handle a full blown invasion without our help?!"
After a defeating pause Luna flatly said, "Twilight has so far..."
Celestia’s ears perked.
"And if I remember Chrysalis overpowered you."
Celestia flinched at this, remembering the forsaken day.
"Sister, we do not wish to anger thee, but think. Your pupil has defeated every villain, every situation that has arisen, with little or no help from you. She is wise enough to perhaps even lead all of Equestria. Not alone of course, but she has proven various times that she is a capable leader..."
Celestia thought about this. The words rang true, she just hadn't fully realized it. While twilight acted modest and often overreacted; she had handled every threat Equestria had faced. Suddenly, a window of opportunity opened, maybe they were ready. "Sister..." Celestia began, "maybe thou- I mean you are correct. Let me think on it...there is a lot to consider..."
Luna stood up from her resting point and sighed, “What is there left to consider?”
“Nothing, Luna—”
“Then tell us the reason for thy incompetence.”
Celestia met Luna’s gaze, “I am afraid, afraid of the devastation this may cause my student. Think of the pain we may cause her… this is the wrong thing to do—”
“Our means are not for selfish reasons, nor are our decisions, and we do not think this is wrong. Perhaps it is time we put thy student up against the ultimate test. For once allow her to make her own decisions and not make them under fear of disappointing you,” Luna said.
“This does not convince me,” Celestia added.
“It is time for her to grow up and be the leader you have trained her to be, Celestia!” Luna shouted. “She and Cadence are more than ready and yet you deny this fact for a reason that is unknown to us.”
“They are not ready!” Celestia shouted back. “I will not prolong this conversation any further. Your mind is not with you Luna!” With that, she proceeded towards the door, thinking she had ended the pointless argument.
“History repeats itself...” Luna slowly walked to the window and her gaze yet again fell upon the moon. ”‘Tis the argument of our mother and father we continue.”
Celestia stopped dead in her tracks, she had not heard about her mother and father since they disappeared on a night much like this one. Various emotions returned to her, but angst stood out over all. Angst for not knowing where they had gone, and for being abandoned when everything seemed perfect. She tried repressing the thoughts but they were soon replaced with memories of a time when her parents ruled Equestria, when there wasn’t so much weight on her shoulders, back when she was… truly happy.
Celestia turned to face her. “Do not speak of them,” she said in a more sorrowful tone than angry.
Luna’s gaze did not shift. “That is why thou wilt not take our side, isn’t it?”
“Once more, I will ask you to not delve on sorrows passed, lest you wish to suffer consequences Luna!” Celestia pressed, disregarded her sisters words.
“Thou art afraid that if we leave, Twilight and Cadence will fail in leading Equestria. Are we not right?” Luna asked once more.
She stared at Luna from across the room, attempting to hide her sorrows behind a mask of anger but to no avail. Celestia’s mind finally gave way to her sisters words, leaving her speechless and within a short time, she began to cry, finally allowing her pent up sadness to break the silence that had fallen upon the bedroom.
Disappointed, Luna let out a sigh. “To become a successful leader, one cannot depend on somepony else to fix their mistakes if they fail to fix them on their own. This is something father knew and mother disagreed with for the same reason thou art disagreeing with us; because thou thinketh they are not ready.” She took a short pause, allowing her words to sink in and for a breath. “Mother couldn’t bear the thought of leaving us alone to rule an entire country in their stead, but father convinced her that it was alright because Equestria was too powerful and at peace with all the surrounding nations, and he was right.” She turned to Celestia after a short pause. “We do not wish to bring you sadness, sister, and it pains me to see your tears,” Luna began, “but Twilight and Cadence cannot rule under us forever, however long that may be. They are young and their ideas, fresh, that is something Equestria needs, something it has been dying for for the past thousands of years. We know this decision doth not seem right to you, but this is something father knew was right; although it pained him to leave his daughters.” Luna let out a trembling sigh, “But their minds had been made up as well as their decisions… ‘tis the reason we felt it a duty to become the leaders they once were. But know this, those leaders, our mother and father, still live.”
“Where?” Celestia asked.
“The Cosmos.” Luna replied.
“The Cosmos..?”
Luna nodded. “A dreamland that is naught but a fairytale beyond these walls. This is where they reside, watching over us and calling to us in our dreams, hoping to soon embrace their weary children.”
“It is but a fairytale to me as well.” Celestia said, not allowing any more tears to fall. “It’s not possible, they cannot die.”
“‘Tis true,” Luna added. “but dost thou not remember when they told us tales of ponies who had passed on and watched over their children from The Cosmos?”
“I do.”
“We can feel them watching over us.” Luna placed a hoof over her heart.
Celestia looked at the floor. It made sense to her now. “... That is what gave us hope. Why we could not fail them.”
“And we did not! At least, not you,” Luna bellowed suddenly, her voice trailing beyond the sanctuary of her quarters. “Open thy eyes to what this nation has bloomed into! From what we have shaped to from young mares! We are the leaders of one of the most powerful nations the world has ever seen! And under Twilight and Cadence it will only continue to grow more powerful!”
Luna was right, the task of leading Equestria was thrown onto them when they were no older than the infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders, and while they relied heavily on the guidance of their parents advisor’s in the early days; the great burden was still placed on them at an age that robbed them of their childhood. If they were to entrust the task of ruling Equestria to Twilight and Cadence, it would most definitely be in better hooves than it was the first time it was handed down.
Celestia gathered herself, wiping any tears that remained. “...Send word to Twilight and Cadence first thing in the morning, they’ve got a lot of growing up to do tomorrow,” she said, breaking a long pause that seemed to last forever.
Luna looked outside, and at her moon, “Thank you.”
Silence invaded the room, leaving the quiet sound of a breeze to accompany the alicorn. She raised her head and peered around the room to find her sister gone and her door ajar. Her thoughts drifted as to what her real intentions were in shedding light on their mother and father's disappearance, and contemplated if it really was time to give up the throne or if she forced her sister into agreeing with one of her selfish needs; either way, she felt it was too late now. Using her magic, she closed the door and retreated to the warmth of her covers, knowing her night was not yet over. As she lay down on her cloud like rug, her horn began to glow, illuminating the space surrounded by the canopy. A gem that was fixed at the tip of the cloth shield began reacting to the magic and released a moonlight aura that soon enveloped the sleeping area. With time, it began to fade, leaving only the covers unscathed and the princess nowhere to be found.
A breeze flowed in through the open window, carrying a sweet aroma of roses and freshly trimmed bushes. The princess of the night opened her eyes, shocked. Quickly, she got up and took a few deep breaths.
“We cannot leave thou in thy current state, sister.” Luna said, examining her room. It looked the same, save for one or two toys she did not recognize. “Now let us see what thou dreameth of tonight.” She proceeded toward the door.
“Luna?” A mare called.
“Is that Celestia?” She asked quietly.
“Where art thee, Luna?” The voice called out playfully.
“Here I am!” A younger voice yelled.
“What?” Luna whispered. She slowly opened the door and looked for the two voices she had heard. Her heart sank. For in front of her, stood a glamorous figure that demanded veneration and stood as the epitome of beauty. Her mane and wings pirouetted in a dance of constellations and welter. Lowering her head, she nuzzled a small filly that ran to her flawless posture. “There you are my gorgeous moonshine, how art thou finding thy mothers brilliant day?”
“Tis a beautiful morning mother, me and Tia were just outside playing in the garden. We found our fox friend, Sir Whiskers, injured and tended to his wounds.”
“Didst thou now? Thy and thy sister’s kindness is most admirable, hast thou eaten breakfast yet?”
“Not yet, I was looking for Tia. She went back inside before I did.”
“Thy sister ran to your father’s study, where I am sure she is proving to be quite helpful.”
The filly began jumping excitedly, climbing onto her mothers back, “Then let us join them mother! If we help father finish with his work, we will all be able to enjoy breakfast together!”
The mare smiled gleefully, proud of her daughters consideration. “And help them we shall, now let us go.” As the pair walked across the hallway, Luna followed them, enchanted by a spell of deja vu, and a deep sense of longing…
“Thy mane is so beautiful,” cried the excited filly. “It dances as if the summer sky resided inside of it.”
The mare laughed, amused. “And thy mane will do the same some day, my princess. Until then, thou mustn’t stare too much. It will only prolong your wait.”
Reaching a thick wooden door, the mare’s horn radiated golden light, and the door slowly inched forwards. The filly in her back fell quiet, as she often did when entering her father’s study. In case he might be doing something important. The door opened to reveal a room black as the night; light filtering in through open windows and formations of glowing stones were carved into the ceiling; which embodied the constellations Luna’s father willed.
From a table in the middle, a white filly slightly taller than Luna looked up from a book. Her features lightening up into a bright smile as she saw her mother and sister approach. “Good morning mother, Father is in his laboratory if thou were wondering. I’m looking for some old notes on the Andromeda nebula.”
The younger Luna looked puzzled, while their mother smiled at the filly, “Studious as ever my sunshine. Luna, why don’t thou join thy sister at the table, perhaps thou might learn something.
“Yes mother,” responded the filly, sounding disappointed.
Observing her sister sit next to her, Celestia began explaining the various properties of constellations and stars, but when their mother walked past them whispered, “After breakfast, let us return to the garden and check on Sir Whiskers.” The smaller filly immediately beamed at her sibling, feeling motivated to grind through the studies.
Walking to the table, Luna observed as the two sisters read the book containing information she now knew by heart. The sound of the fillies murmurs and giggles filled the chamber. Reviving memories long forgotten, along with sorrows. Tears began to form in her eyes as the tender sight unfolded before her.
“Luna?!” came a voice from behind her. “What are you doi-”
The dusk alicorn ran to her sister, embracing her with such vehemence Celestia nearly fell. Hot tears ran down her face and uncontrolled sobbings escaped her chest. “Sister, I wish to return to this reality. When our family was whole, when sorrows didn’t plague our lives, when father and mother still tucked us in at night, assuring us they would be there forever.”
The avalanche of emotions hit Celestia by surprise, and soon her own sentiments mixed with her sister’s. Her own wishes longed for the memories she still held most dear. She embraced her sister with her forelegs and watched the fillies as they flipped through the pages, quickly scribbling down notes and sketches of the books contents. Their past selves sat, undisturbed by all this, focusing. Celestia continued to watch as her former self release the pencil with her magic, allowing it to fall freely onto the table.
“‘Tis enough for the day, we cannot work on an empty stomach,” she said letting out a breath of relief. “Let us make haste to Sir Whiskers before mother and father return.” The white filly leapt from her stool and trotted to the door.
“One moment, sister,” Filly Luna responded, concentrating on her paper. She jotted down a few more words and laid the pencil down on the desk. “To the garden!” She stepped down from her stool and followed her sister down the halls until they eventually disappeared from sight.
“Dost thou remember Sir Whiskers?” The blue alicorn asked, raising her head.
“I do, and if I remember correctly, this is the day he injured his leg,” Celestia responded.
Luna nodded, wiping the tears from her face. She took a step back and examined the room before walking up to the desk their Filly selves had sat at. She examined a blue notebook with the name “Luna” written in big letters across the top, flipping through the pages, resisting the urge to correct spelling errors and false information. She set her book and couldn’t help laughing a little.
“What is it?” Celestia joined Luna at the desk and examined the journal. “Oh my,” she said with a laugh. “Your spelling was atrocious!” She highlighted the word ‘constulations’ in the journal.
Luna nudged her playfully, “Oh, hush. Thou knoweth we were never good with big words.” They laughed together; a radiance of happiness emanating from the two. It was a feeling neither had felt for quite some time so they enjoyed it. Flipping through pages, pointing out flaws in each others work, the two reawakened bond long faded.
“Again!” Celestia said, pretending to highlight yet another spelling mistake in the journal. “What were you thinking? This word is even easier! Your name is in it!” she said with a laugh, pointing at the journal.
“You jest,” Luna responded looking for her mistake.
“Luna,” Celestia called. She looked up from her notes, about to prove her sister wrong and was greeted by a swift slap from a stool’s pillow. Celestia attempted to hold back a laugh while the pillow fell to the floor.
“Dost thou think this is a game?” Luna asked playfully.
“Oh, absolutely,” Celestia said firmly, barely able to hold back her laugh.
“So be it, shall we keep score?”
“I suppo-” Before Celestia could finish, she was smacked in the face with a lamp, knocking her to the ground. “Luna!” she yelled.
“No need to worry sister. We know thy felt no pain. ‘Tis still thy dream remember?” Luna responded quickly.
Celestia thought about this and began to laugh. It was a dream, meaning they were free to do whatever they wanted without any worry of harming themselves or others.
She got back up and wiped her muzzle. “Alright then,” she said, “This is my dream, which means I have full control of things.” A mischievous smile appeared on her face, and suddenly, a cannon appeared between the sisters. “Let the games begin!” yelled the alicorn as a cannonball made its way to Luna.
Jolting up on her bed, Luna quickly recalled smashing against the wall behind her.
“She literally blasted us back into reality!” she stated aloud with a hint of disbelief. Picturing her sister laughing in triumph, the flustered princess laid down, determined to get revenge. Before she could fall asleep a sound came from outside her window. Though she tried to ignore it, the volume rose until-
“Princess Luna!” Somepony yelled. “I have a message for you, quickly!” it was a mare..
Luna arose, head held high and slowly walked toward the window with care.
“Princess, hurry!” the voice shouted again. This time, she sounded annoyed. “I haven’t much time left!”
Even still, the princess proceeded slowly, growing ever more cautious. She finally made it to the window and peered outside through the glass. There stood a hooded mare in the middle of the Canterlot Royal Garden far below Luna’s window, covered in the cold shadows from the branches of a tree overhead. Her cape was torn, charred, stained; it was hard to believe it was even still in one piece. An obvious sign it was no more than an unfortunate beggar come to ask the princess, yet again, for bits she cannot give.
Luna’s silhouette in her window caused the mystery mare to sigh with relief. “Thank Celestia, this is very urgent,” she said anxiously, loud enough for the princess to hear.
“Who are yo-?”
“That doesn’t matter right now,” the mare interrupted. “What matters is that I have a message for you, a VERY important one.”
The princess was intrigued. “A message? From who, may I ask?”
“From you.”
“From... me?” Luna said flatly.
“Yes, now listen your majesty, you can’t-”
“Halt!” a voice interrupted. Both mares turned toward the garden, setting their eyes on a guard returning from his nightly patrols. The mare backed away toward the door underneath Luna’s window, causing the guard to quicken his pace. When he was close enough he shined his light on her, revealing the stains on the cape to be blood and not what Luna had perceived.
The mare covered her face, “Damn it all!” With haste, she ran inside of the castle.
“Stop! Intruder!” the guard yelled, bursting through the doors after her.
Luna stepped away from her window and listened intently to the shouts and clopping of hooves on the floor beneath her own.
“Seize her! Do not allow her to escape!” the guard yelled..
After a few minutes the sounds came to a stop. “Where did she go?!” another guard asked.
“Right here!” The mare responded, a booming sound followed that made Luna jump.
She quickly approached her window just in time to see one of her guards propelled through the solid doors and slammed into an apple tree. His face was one of sheer pain as he slowly slid to the floor and fell unconscious.
“Captain!” a stallion shouted.
“Heed my words princess!” she shouted, rushing through the now broken doors and keeping a distance away from the guards allies. “Do not succumb to the hate that corrupts your fate, your will is stronger than the rage of the monster inside!”
Luna flapped her wings and dove out of her window. “Stop!” she yelled.
The mare did not turn to look at the princess but instead increased her speed. Luna flapped her wings, gaining speed as she prepared to lunge at her target. Giving one final push, she propelled herself toward the mare and, to her surprise, passed right through her.
Luna caught herself before she landed face first on the stone floor, quickly switching into a combat roll and into a standing position. “What?” she said, dumbfounded.
“Princess!” a guard yelled.
“Time’s up I guess.” The mare said as she examined herself. She was just as surprised as the princess, unable to scratch her head due to the fact she was now becoming transparent. “This is insane.” She said with a laugh.
“What sorcery is this?” a guard asked.
“A spell you can only dream of conjuring.” she said, a small beacon of light beginning to form at her hooves. “Princess, please. Remember what I said and don’t forget it. Write it down or something.”
Luna shook her head in confusion, not understanding what these words meant. “Wait, no. Do not leave yet! What dost thou mean?” She watched as the small beacon slowly rose into a vortex, enveloping the mare and drowning out her voice. The vortex began to slow into a calm and immersed itself with a blinding light. With no trace, the light subsided almost as quick as it came, leaving tiny sparkles in its place that soon faded into the nothingness that was the night sky.
“We’ve never seen anything like that before.” The princess said. She stared intently in the direction of where the light had been, thinking.
“Princess?” Asked a guard. She had not realized she was staring at him.
She blinked. “Sorry, this intrigues me greatly.”
“Me..?” He responded once more,
“The magic. We’re unfamiliar with the spell she used. We will have to do some studying but for now, you are all dismissed.”
“As you wish,” they responded. “You three!” one guard pointed to a few others. “See the Captain to the infirmary and make sure his wounds are tended to immediately.”
They nodded and dashed in the direction of their unconscious leader.
“The rest of you are to give a written report to Princess Celestia in the morning.”
“No,” Luna interrupted. “Do not report the happenings of this night to her. She has more than enough weight on her shoulders.”
The guards did not argue. Noticing the bags under the princesses eyes, they simply nodded and retreated back to their respective patrol routes.
She looked toward her sister’s window, hoping to not have disturbed her sleep. She could not bear having made her sister relive the sudden disappearance of their parents in her own dreams.
Luna returned to her room through her window. Do not succumb to the hate that corrupts your fate, your will is stronger than the rage of the monster inside! The words echoed in her head. She thought hard, What did she mean? Could she be speaking of Nightmare Moon? Preposterous! With a sigh, she immersed herself within the comfort of her covers. The soft feel of the velvet only enhanced her drowsiness and the weight and worry she felt was almost immediately lifted; a blissful feel one only felt while sleeping.
Before she could shut her eyes, a faint light intruded into her vision and floated through her window. “What is this?” She eyed the radiance, not making any attempt to get up from her resting point.
Slowly, the light floated toward her growing fainter and fainter until it finally settled on her muzzle. She watched it intently as it slowly faded into nothing, disappearing completely.
She brushed a hoof over her muzzle and shut her eyes. Her night was over, she could finally get some sleep... that is, until she heard a faint whisper.
"You'll see soon enough."
Author's Note
This is a story I've been thinking about for a VERY long time and it finally makes its debut today. :D I hope it turns out great and would love as much critique as possible. Credit for the artwork goes to Emkay and here's a link to his page: http://emkay-mlp.deviantart.com/ Thanks to my partner as well for some creations and tons of pre reading as well.
-Omega
