On the Moooon

    It was well in the afternoon when Twilight woke up the next day. When she tried to recall what she had actually learned from her late-night research, her mind went blank. With a yawn, she rolled out of bed and immediately fell into a gigantic stack of tomes. Muffled grunts and mutters of indignation could be heard as Twilight slowly punched her way out. Groaning, she fell back against the ground.

    “Oh, Twilight, you're finally awake!” Spike called from the doorway, a few minutes later. “I actually wanted to ask you something. Is today like a holiday or something?"

    "Huh?" Twilight rubbed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

    "Well, I was just wondering, because Pinkie is floating outside the library doing cartwheels in the air," explained Spike. "And I think she covered the ground with moon rock. It looks like one heck of a party!"

    Spike gestured towards the window.

    "Wha—?" Twilight glanced out the window. Sure enough, there was Pinkie Pie, doing exactly as Spike described. "What in the world? Pinkie did mention some kind of party yesterday... but that was just Pinkie being Pinkie. Today's just Sunday, right?"

    "Or uh... Moon Day?" Outside, sat Princess Luna on a comically over-sized throne, watching Pinkie perform her aerial acrobatics.

    Twilight's eyes grew large. Slamming open the window, she stared agape at the scene.

    "Yes, this pleases your princess!" exclaimed Luna, clapping her hooves together.

    Twilight shut her window and slumped against the wall. "What in the world?" Suddenly, her eyes grew wide. "Nightmare's Amulet.... We couldn't find it last night..." she muttered. "Princess Luna couldn't have possibly...." Shaking her head, Twilight stood up. "Spike, I'm going to go check this out. Grab the Elements of Harmony, will you?"

    With that, Twilight grabbed her saddlebag and darted down the stairs and out of the Ponyville library. With the first step she took outside, she was flung 10 feet in the air, only to hit the ground again, hard. "Oof!" Rubbing her forehead, slowly, she stood up. Picking up a rock with her hoof, Twilight eyed it with suspicion. When she threw it, she found it bounced along the streets. "What kind of rock—? Ponyville can't possibly be.... on the moon, can it?"

    "Twilight!" Spike was standing at the doorway of the library with the Elements of Harmony. Twilight sighed and shook her head. She'd sort this out eventually.

    "Thanks, Spike," she said, taking the elements with her magic. She stuffed them into her saddle bag.

    As she made her way through the streets, she found that the trees were chock-full of ribbons, and so was Ponyville in general, for that matter. Ponies were busy all around town. Some were decorating the streets with streamers and balloons. Others were hanging up banners depicting the moon from every building. Twilight eyed the banners with suspicion.

   As Twilight passed by the Sugarcube Corner, a pair of orange hooves reached out from the double doors and grabbed her, pulling her inside.

    "Oh, Twilight, thank Celestia you're here!" said Rarity.

    "Girls, I'm so glad I found you!" said Twilight. "We have a situation on our hooves."

    "Darn tootin'! Have y'all seen what's happened to Sweet Apple Acres?"

    "You mean that— Sweet Apple Acres too?" Twilight rubbed her temples. "It's worse than I thought."

    "I'm just here because Applejack asked me to come," said Rainbow Dash with a shrug. Twilight shot her a glare. "What?"

    Pinkie Pie ran by, an unfrosted cake atop her back.

    "You've got a situation on your hooves?" She scoffed. "I've got cakes to bake, balloons to inflate, banners to create, and a whole town to decorate! And you're telling me you've got a problem!" With that, she disappeared into the kitchen. A second later, she reappeared. "Hey, have you guys heard the one about the party on the moon? It could've been great, but it had no atmosphere!" Guffawing, Pinkie disappeared again.

    Everypony took a moment of silence in an attempt to absorb what Pinkie had just said. Finally giving up, Rarity asked, "Do you think that those moon rocks would make for a good ensemble? I had a dress in mind, but frankly, they seem a little dangerous."

    "Oh, those strange rocks? I don't think that's such a good idea, Rarity. One of my chickens tried to eat one, and he got really sick," said Fluttershy. There was a pause. "Also, I got a really bad splinter."

    "Now wait just a second, Fluttershy, why aren't you home taking care of yer little chicken?" Biting her lip, Fluttershy avoided Applejack's gaze. Her eyes momentarily watered. Applejack didn't probe any further.

    "Girls! Ponyville! On the Moon! Nightmare's Amulet! Let's try to stay focused here!"

    "Oh, right, that. What color do you think goes well with moon rock, dear?"

    Twilight was practically frothing at the mouth. "Rarity!"

    "Did you say somethin' about Nightmare's Amulet, Twi?" Applejack asked. "What in the world does that haveta do with all of this?"

    Twilight sighed and shook her head. "Girls, there's a reason we couldn't find that amulet."

    Rainbow Dash gasped. "You're not suggesting that... that Daring Do stole it, are you? That is. So. Awesome!"

    "No, Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, putting a hoof up to her face. "I wasn't suggesting that at all. Daring Do isn't even real! What I was suggesting is that the amulet was never lost and that Luna had it with her all along!"

    Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanged glances before breaking out into laughter.

    "Twilight, dear, why would Princess Luna still have that musty old amulet?"

    "For the same reason that Ponyville is currently located on the moon! There is no Princess Luna, only a Nightmare!"

    “But Twilight, that's—” Applejack tried to come up with an explanation, but ultimately failed.

    The other ponies grew silent. "I'm glad you all finally understand." Twilight said. "Now let's go. Somepony go get Pinkie."

    Once they had convinced Pinkie that she could make her super special Sugared Strawberry Sherbet Special later, the Elements of Harmony ventured out into the streets. They headed straight for town square, in the middle of which Princess Luna sat. When they found her, she greeted them in the traditional royal Canterlot voice. "Twilight! I was wondering when I would see thee! And we see thou hast brought thy friends!"

    "Princess Luna, what's going on here? Is this some sort of prank?" Twilight demanded. The Elements of Harmony stood behind her in formation.

    "Pranks? What wonderful fun!" Luna clapped her hooves again. "In what brand shall we partake, dear Twilight?"

    Twilight ignored the princess' invitation. "Princess Luna, why is the ground covered with moon rock?"

    "It is only natural, dear Twilight," replied she, "for we are on the moon! Is it not a glorious frivolity?"

    "Princess Luna, why are we on the moon?" was the next question.

    "Have you not noticed? In honor of your glorious princess, Ponyville has shown its hospitality with a celebration!"

    "A celebration?" Twilight repeated.

    "Naturally! And what better place to hold such a festivity than on the moon? We are oh so excited to make many friends tomorrow; in fact, we venture to say that all of Ponyville will be our friend, forever! Oh, we tremble in joy just imagining it! Will it not be glorious?"

    Then came the next question. "Where's Nightmare's Amulet, Princess?"

    Princess Luna blinked. "Nightmare's Amulet? Twilight, what know you of that accursed amulet?" Princess Luna frowned, her voice suddenly dropping. "We haven't seen it for 1000 years, Twilight, and neither has anypony else. It has been forever lost to time. We think it would behoove you not to dredge up the past."

    "You haven't seen it in 1000 years? A likely story," Twilight muttered.

    "Whatever do you mean?" Princess Luna shifted in her throne uncomfortably.

    At this point, a small crowd had formed to see what all the commotion was about.

    "Why are you having this party, Princess? To celebrate your successful takeover of Ponyville?" Twilight shook her head. "To think, all this time.... I really thought that you had changed, Princess. I guess I was wrong."

    "A... takeover of Ponyville? Twilight, we understand not from where your accusations stem! We are guilty of no such act!"

    "But why else?" Twilight demanded. "Why else would you have kidnapped Ponyville like this? Princess, I don’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.”

    “What art thou—”

    Twilight magically removed the Elements from her saddlebag and snapped them on her friends' necks. “Ready, girls?”

    "Oh, oh, one more, Fluttershy!" Pinkie could barely contain her mirth. "What kind of tea can't you drink on the moon? Gravit-tea!" Pinkie fell on the ground, rolling in laughter as her element snapped around her neck. "Hey, what's going on?"

    "Oh, haven't you been listening, Pinkie?" Fluttershy said. "Princess Luna held this celebration as an excuse to take over Ponyville, so we have to use the Elements of Harmony!"

    "Whaaaat?" Pinkie Pie quickly stood herself up. "Twilight, wait!" She exclaimed, tackling her friend. "This party isn't a Happy Day Nightmare Moon Took Over Ponyville Party, it's a Happy Birthday Princess Luna Party!"

    Twilight furrowed her brow. "Pinkie, what are you talking about? Now's not the time for your—"

    "Tomorrow's Princess Luna's birthday, silly!"

    "What? It's... it's your birthday tomorrow?" Twilight reeled in realization, glancing up at the princess. "T-that's what all of this was for?"

    "'T-tis true, I assure thee," Princess Luna said, clearly shaken.

    "Oh!" Twilight pushed Pinkie off of herself, standing up. She backpedaled. "Oh my gosh, I-I'm sorry. I-I swear I didn't know. I am so sorry, princess. I am so sorry." Pushing her way through the crowd, Twilight ran home.

    "Twilight!" Spike called, knocking on the door. "Open up!"

    "Spike, not now!"

    "C'mon, open up, Twilight, someone's here to see you!"

    "We hope our visit is not too intrusive." another voice called.

    Suddenly the door flew open. Twilight forced an unnaturally large smile. "Princess Luna! O-of course not! You're always welcome here! Whatever did you wish to discuss?"

    Then, Twilight's face fell. "Listen, Princess, I just want you to know that I'm really sorry for what I did. And even if you decide to—"

    "We would simply like to let you know that you are forgiven. We did not want to see you holed up in your library on a day of celebration, after all!"

    "...I accept my punishment. Wait, w-what?"

    "Twilight, we do not blame you." Princess Luna said. "We would have done the same." Luna frowned. "If we were you, that is, and we suppose we are not, and therefore we would in fact never do the same. Nonetheless, it would be foolish to trust a mare who had not so long ago threatened to engulf this world in darkness."

    "Y-you really forgive m-me? After what I did?"

    "Yes, Twilight Sparkle, we forgive you. Now if we are not mistaken, have you not a letter to be writing?"

    "O-of course! Spike! Take a letter." Twilight said.

    "One step ahead of you, Twi!" Spike said, already holding a quill and a piece of parchment.

    "I think I'd like you to hear this one too, Princess Luna."

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today, I learned that you should never assume the worst of other ponies. Acting on your suspicions can be disastrous if you turn out to be wrong. When your sister, Princess Luna, was invited to Ponyville for a celebration, I assumed to worst of her motives, and, I'm sorry to say, I turned out to be wrong. Princess Luna has also shown me how important it is to be forgiving of other ponies. Everypony makes mistakes, after all.

Always your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle