Twilight was on the train to Canterlot, a strained look on her face. She tried to keep calm, but the unicorn was having trouble keeping still. She paced restlessly around the train car, impatient to arrive.
It had been a little over a week since Nightmare Night. Through Spike Princess Celestia had sent her a letter, asking for her to come for a matter of great importance. The letter was vague on the details, but Celestia’s writing had been shaky and hardly legible. Twilight had guessed there was some new danger to prepare for. After Nightmare Moon and Discord couldn’t they just have some peace for a change? Twilight sighed, taking a deep breath. There was no point in asking such a thing. If there was some danger to be faced than it was her duty to the princess to fight and defeat it if it was within her power.
As soon as the train arrived and the doors opened Twilight didn’t hesitate. She ran as fast as she could towards the castle. By the time she arrived she was panting heavily. After getting her breath back she approached the guards and greeted them, stating her business. They greeted her back and let her by without any problems. They knew her well enough, having been Celestia’s personal student for several years.
She kept up a quick pace, going as fast as she could without running until she reached the throne room. Celestia wasn’t there, but a few guards were. They told her she was in her bedroom and didn’t want any company.
“She’ll see me!” Twilight responded, taking out the letter. “She wrote to me and asked me to come.”
She knew the way to Celestia’s room, so she traversed the castle until she arrived. The door was slightly open, and she knocked gently before opening the door all the way.
Princess Celestia was sitting on her bed, singing softly to herself. “Lalalu, lalalu, may this song reach your heart. Even now as we drift farther apart.”
Her voice was mournfully beautiful. Twilight hated to interrupt. “Princess?”
Celestia turned towards her, stopping her singing. “Twilight… you’re here.”
Twilight looked worriedly over at her. Celestia looked a wreck. She looked on the verge of tears, her flowing mane was almost still, and a near hopeless look was on her face. “Princess, what happened? Are you okay?”
“Twilight…” She said it like she barely recognized the pony in front of her. She took a shuddering breath and got up off the bed. “I am in a quandary that I do not know how to fix, and my heart is breaking.” Her voice was in stark contrast to her usual confidence and serenity.
“What is it? What can I do? How can I help?” Twilight asked in a rush. She couldn’t stand to see her teacher in such pain.
“I was so happy and joyful when I got your letter last week. It was compounded when Luna came home and spoke of how much fun and entertainment she had had bonding with the ponies of Ponyville. It lightened my heart considerably after her banishment that there were those willing to accept her and give their time to her. She was in high spirits for the next couple of days.
“However, that was simply one time, and it seemed it was not enough. Not a lot of things have changed since back then. Ponies still play during the day, and sleep through the night. Having a night dedicated to her where ponies stay awake through most of the night appeals to her. Though she hides it I can feel resentment that we only have one night where things change. Though she can visit the dreams of ponies and help them sleep soundly she stills longs for the sort of appreciation and reverence other ponies treat me with. If things continue in this way I fear it will lead to a repeat of last time. And that would be unbearable to me.
“Twilight… I’m sure you’ve had fights with your friends before. Especially with the Discord incident where he turned all of you against each other to render the Elements of Harmony useless. For that time you feel empty and hurt, until the feeling passes and you become ready to mend things between each other.
“Now try to imagine that feeling times ten and make it forever. That’s what it felt like to me. Luna’s power as Nightmare Moon was stronger than mine. I had no choice but to use the Elements of Harmony to take her down, for all of Equestria was in danger and she could no longer be reasoned with. It killed me to do it. After she was sealed away a part of me felt lost. I cried for hours, knowing it would be a long, long time before I ever saw her again. And for someone like me, who is ageless, having someone like you who will not pass away from old age is a necessary thing to make it through. I had to think of her every time I raised and lowered the moon, knowing that she was sealed away in there.
" I went through countless students, trying to find someone who could be the new wielder of the most powerful element. They only show their true power with two or more ponies wielding them, so I alone could not bring out their true power, especially when I didn’t want to attack my sister in the first place.
“Then you came along and wielded untold amounts of magic for your age. I knew you were the one, and you did save Luna. I cannot say how grateful and relieved I was when you rid her of the shadows surrounding her and brought my sister back to me. Now I’m starting to wonder if it was all for naught.
“I’d rather die and let her have control of the world if it would sooth her aching soul than to have to lose her again a second time.” Celestia’s eyes faded out, and Twilight felt like Celestia was no longer looking at her. She began singing again like their conversation had never happened. Her song was so full of profound sadness and regret for having to seal away Luna and the happy memories of the past that it brought Twilight to tears. “…All I have is your memory, and a song,” She finished up.
Twilight had seldom seen Celestia’s mood change that much. She always acted in a way befitting her station. There were times she faltered a bit, but she had never seen Celestia so… so vulnerable. Twilight was certain that what she was singing was something she had made up long ago, to soothe her mind when she became overwhelmed by what she did. One thousand years was no small period of time. To be without a dear friend and family member for that long... knowing that you were the reason they were locked away… having to be reminded of that every night as you shifted the moon in the sky… Twilight could see why her teacher suffered so. She knew she had to do something… but WHAT?
Taking a deep breath she shook her head. It was time to take control of the situation. In a determined voice she said, “I promise you, Princess. I will not let this tragedy come to pass a second time. After coming to know the magic of friendship from all my friends I know full well the pain that comes from losing them, thanks to Discord’s corruption of them. I will do all that is within my power to do to make Luna feel loved.”
It took Celestia a while to respond. She had to pull herself out of the past. In her mind she kept seeing the day of Luna’s banishment; seeing her face plastered on the moon and having to look upon it every night. Twilight’s words finally wormed their way through her foggy mind and she said gratefully, “Thank you, Twilight.”
“You’re welcome! I think I’m going to head back to Ponyville and ask my friends for advice.” A thoughtful look came to her face. “My friends... hmmm” She gasped, her face lighting up. “That’s it! I have an idea! An idea that definitely won’t work.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “An idea that “definitely won’t work?””
“Exactly. But I also have a second idea that WILL work. Definitely!”
As she explained her thoughts to Celestia her teachers depressed face began rising up into a cunning smile. “Ah, Twilight. What would I do without you?”
Twilight laughed, glad to see the joy coming back to her mentor.
She took the train back home, and went to the one pony who knew everything about cheering others up.
“Hi, Twilight!” said Pinkie Pie. “How was Canterlot?”
“Pinkie, I require your services.”
She explained to Pinkie about needing something big set up. Her friend became ecstatic, bouncing off the walls. Twilight couldn’t suppress a smile.
A few hours passed as Twilight prepared everything. Finally when she was done she had Spike send the letter to Princess Celestia.
When Celestia got the letter she went to her sister, who was just waking up for her nightly job. When Luna saw Celestia her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
“Princess Luna, my dear sister. There is a situation in Ponyville that requires your immediate attention.”
“We just woke up. Why don’t you go settle it yourself?” she said carelessly. Placing her crown upon her head she continued, “After all, you’re the great hero here, aren’t you? The great bringer of the sun, while I am just your shadow as I always have been.”
“No, sister. This is something I cannot help with. This matter requires you, and you alone.”
“And just what is it?”
“Twilight’s letter didn’t specify, but she did specifically request you to be the one to help.”
Luna’s gruff face softened. Her sister’s prized student was asking HER for help and snubbing her teacher? That was rich. In fact, it gave her a perverse sense of pleasure to hear it. “Very well, then. We shall put in an appearance, and whatever trouble there may be we shall defeat it.”
It was approaching night when Twilight saw a bright light illuminate the area. Out of it came Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, who landed upon the ground.
Luna barely had time for her eyes to readjust from the bright light when she was bowled over by an overwhelming amount of noise. Loud cheers, screams, bangs from magical fireworks, and a large cry of, “SURPRISE!”
Luna looked around in utter shock. What looked like every single pony in Ponyville was out there. A large number of baked goods were on tables around the middle of Ponyville Park. It took her a while before she could mutter a word. “W-what’s this?”
Twilight walked up saying, “This is your…” She stopped, rolling her eyes lightheartedly as she looked at Pinkie, then looked back at Luna smiling. “…your 'week and three days since Nightmare Night where you got a bunch of yummy candy and had fun and now came back to Ponyville' party."
“Huh?” she asked.
Pinkie said brightly, “Hey, there is always an occasion for a party, even if you have to make one up!”
“A… a party? For… for us?” She looked around once again at all the happy ponies. “Are… are they all here for US?”
“That’s right!”
Luna began tearing up. With a bolt of electricity she yelled out in the Royal Canterlot Voice, “OH, MOST JOYOUS OF OCCASIONS!”
The party started out well enough. It felt like a bit of a repeat of Nightmare Night to her, except without the costumes and candy. Pipsqueak was sure happy to see her again. The ball of resentment that had started building up inside her like before began dissipating inside her… at least until she asked the question. “Twilight Sparkle!” Luna said blissfully. “I must thank you for setting up this marvelous party.” She snickered at Twilight. “That hat looks ridiculous.”
Twilight laughed back. “I know. A top hat is more like something Trixie would wear. But… it is a party so why not live it up for now?”
“So you sent a letter to our sister to bring us here? What made you think of it?” In her mind the answer was something like. “Well, after that great time with you during Nightmare Night I was anxious to see you again and show how much we care.”
“Well, Princess Celestia told me that you were having a hard time. So what better way to cheer somepony up than with a gigantic party, right?”
A hurt look crossed Luna’s face. She looked at Twilight as if the purple unicorn in front of her was an affront to her very existence. She turned around and began storming off, mumbling under her breath. “Figures. Noble Celestia. Always has to be the hero. Always has to show off.” Beneath her anger a deep sadness began taking hold. She had hoped so bad that this party meant that others were beginning to like and respect her as they did her sister. After one thousand years of being locked away, the fear and hatred of her festering, and the stories told about her, she had hoped that things had changed, just a little, from the last time she was there. But of course they came, because CELESTIA wanted them too.
Luna was halfway to teleporting away to be alone when the ground began shaking.
“An earthquake?” asked Applejack. The tremor quickly stopped, before rapidly beginning again in a set pattern.
“What IS that?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I think it’s…” Rarity stopped speaking as she saw it off in the distance, a horrified look on her face. “I think it’s… it’s… THAT!”
By the last rays of the sun came a creature walking towards them. It looked like a gigantic skeleton. A tiki mask adorned its face, and in its arms it carried two giant clubs.
Fluttershy looked on the verge of panic. Rapidly shaking Pinkie she said, “P-P-Pinkie, PUH-LEASE tell me that this is just one of your pranks!”
Pinkie Pie shook her head. “Nope, but it does look pretty funny. Maybe it wants to be friends.” Jumping up into the air she yelled out, “Hello! Wanna join the party?” With another hop she said, “We have plenty of snacks left.”
“PINKIE!” yelled out Rainbow, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity, holding her down and covering her mouth.
Pinkie pulled away, saying in a quiet voice, “Oh, right. Skeletons don’t have tongues so they can’t taste things so they can’t enjoy the treats. That was really insensitive of me.”
The skeleton was getting closer and closer. It rotated the clubs in its arms. In a tough voice it said, “Creatures of Ponyville. I have come to enslave you. You will bow to my will and I shall be your new master.”
Screams of terror and fear went out through the townsponies. Several of them went running off, but most of them were frozen in fear. They had never seen such a being before.
Celestia raced over to Luna. “Sister, come. We must fight together.”
“I’m sure you can handle it on your own. I’ll protect the others.” Luna’s mind was racing in two different directions. Despite her anger at Celestia she still had no desire to allow others to get hurt, and had no intention of abandoning them now. However, even if she did help in the battle she was certain her sister would get most, if not all, of the credit. So what was the point? At least if they had two separate jobs her sister couldn’t steal her thunder for that.
Celestia hesitated a moment, then nodded. She went flying off, Luna in the middle of the congregation.
The skeleton came running, raising one of its clubs and swinging it down at a group of frozen ponies. A shield appeared around the ponies as Celestia shot a blast of magic at the club. The impact of the spell sent the sent the creatures arm backwards, and the club missed the shielded ponies entirely. Luna growled quietly. Once again Celestia had to upstage her.
The skeleton laughed. “Not bad, little ponies. But what will you do about this?” He swung at Celestia, who raised a shield on herself. However, the impact of the club still sent her flying over twenty feet. With a bit of space now he took his club and threw it into the throng of ponies who had been watching. Luna and Celestia’s horns both began glowing, the two of them halting the club in mid-air, their magic colors mixing around it.
“Don’t get distracted!” The skeleton said victoriously. Celestia turned to see the club coming towards her. There was a sick crunch as she went flying, slamming into a tree a few hundred feet away. Her flowing mane grew still as she landed on the ground.
“Princess Celestia!” screamed Twilight, panic going through her as tears began pouring down her eyes. “N-no! This… this shouldn’t have happened.”
“Sister!” screamed Luna, her rage at Celestia vanishing instantly as she beheld the spectacle of her sister being hurt. In her distraction the club nearly fell upon those underneath it. She sent the club flying back at the monster. It bounced off his ribcage, but it didn’t seem particularly bothered by it. Celestia hadn’t gotten up yet.
“Luna, help!” yelled Twilight.
“You’re the only one that can win.”
“We need you!”
“Please, Princess Luna!”
Like a domino, Twilight’s cry started everyone else to do the same. Countless ponies begged for her help. Once more she seemed overwhelmed by the outpouring over her. Her sister was incapacitated. It was up to her to save the day. She was the only one who could.
“L-look, y’all,” said Applejack curiously. “It stopped movin’.”
Twilight looked up, wiping away her tears. She was sure that wouldn’t be enough to take down her mentor.
With another laugh the monster said, “Is that all you can do? I will demolish you all, but I think first I’ll start with that princess of yours.”
It turned and picked up its other club before running towards Celestia.
A seething anger went through Luna as the creature charged towards her sister. With a flash of light she teleported in front of Celestia, her horn glowing with an unnaturally strong radiance. Her magic swelled, swirling around her in a sphere of energy. Her eyes turned pure white, shining as well. “THOU SHALT NOT HARM MY SISTER ANYMORE, KNAVE!”
Glowing so strong she became invisible in the bubble of magic she fired all of it towards the creature, enveloping it just as it went to swing down. It let out a scream that quickly became lost in the storm of noise. As the glow faded Luna was panting, having put everything she had into the attack. The only thing that remained of the skeleton was the bottom of its legs and feet, which quickly fell over without proper support.
A stunned silence went over the crowd. The ponies quickly began gathering around her, throwing praise and congratulations her way. She heard none of it though. She turned around to her sister, regret plastered on her face. If she hadn’t been so bitter and just worked with Celestia as her sister had suggested in the first place the two of them could have protected each other and this wouldn’t have happened.
A hush went over the crowd as Luna bent over her sister and began crying, remembering their princess was injured. With a groan Celestia opened her eyes. “L-Luna…,” Celestia murmured.
“Sister!” Luna cried out. “Art thou alright? Do you require assistance?”
“Yeah.”
Laying on the ground she helped her sister back onto her hooves. She wobbled a bit, but stayed standing. Luna examined her side, seeing the start of a big bruise forming. “My sister, this is an ill-timed deed. Is anything broken?”
“I don’t think so, but it did knock the breath out of me and leave me senseless for a little while.” She took a few steps, grimacing at the pain in her side. “I’ll be alright. Don’t worry about me. I was careless. I was most fortunate I had you here with me today. If you hadn’t been here things could have turned out very differently. I would likely have died, and the ponies here would have been under his command.
"I am truly grateful to you, my dear sister. You are today’s hero. I am in your debt for saving my life.” She bowed to Luna, moaning through her teeth as the motion made her side flare with pain.
All the other ponies followed suit, solemnly delivering their own praise.
Luna once again looked around, and then she began crying. Whatever negative feelings she had had were blown away. She was a hero! They would never forget this. She would forever know that she had been useful, both to the entirety of Ponyville and to her older sister. “We…we don’t know what to say,” she said humbly. “We can do naught but express our heartfelt gratitude.”
Pinkie Pie said excitedly, “Hey, you know what this calls for? A “just defeated a giant monster skeleton, saved the day, became a hero, protected my sister, it’s time to get back to the party” party!”
Twilight sighed, stifling her laughter. She didn’t feel she would ever completely comprehend her pink friend. She was beyond study.
Luna accepted the weird party occasion a lot easier this time. “We were already in the middle of a party, and now we shall engage in another one. The party has been doubled! Come, sister. Let us partake of party games.”
Sitting down again Celestia said, “Forgive me, my sister. I need a little time. Do not be concerned. Alicorns are tough and recover quickly. Are you feeling okay?”
“We should ask you the same thing. You look to be in great pain. Perhaps we should postpone the party.”
“No. That is unnecessary. You go enjoy yourself.”
Luna looked uncertainly at her sister, and after several long moments nodded. “We shall go enjoy this party enough for the both of us.” Turning to the assembled ponies she called out, “LET THE PARTY CONTINUE!”
After the disturbance it took some time before things seemed back to normal and they began to let themselves relax enough to get back in the swing of things. Luna whole-heartedly threw herself into the festivities, and her enthusiasm started to become infectious. With both her and Pinkie Pie the party quickly took on the life it had before.
The party lasted for hours afterward, the moon overhead above them, shining its light.
During one of the general lull’s in the festivities Twilight and her friends gathered around each other. “What a wacky day,” said Rainbow Dash. “I wonder what that thing was. I’ve never heard of anything like it."
“Me neither,” said Applejack. “It’s too bad it had ta attack TODAY of all days, when we were throwing a giant party. But… I guess it’s also a good coincidence too. Who knows how today would have turned out if the princesses weren’t here.” A questioning look came to Applejack’s face. “What are you smiling about, Twilight?”
Twilight’s awkward grin quickly became wider. “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Just having a blast.”
A knowing look came to Rarity’s face. “This WASN’T a coincidence, was it, Twilight?”
Twilight gulped. Rarity had hit the nail on the head. She sighed. “Please keep what I’m about to tell you an absolute secret.” After all of them agreed she said, “Princess Celestia told me that Princess Luna was starting to grow jealous again. Nightmare Night is just ONE night of the year. It’s really the only day in which the night is celebrated and all the attention goes to her… or, at least to that thing that took over her, Nightmare Moon. While she may have been extremely happy and grateful for the time she spent here on Nightmare Night, it’s still just one day, and then everything goes back to the way it was. She may have been content with just being back with her sister after all this time, but following Nightmare Night she started getting angry that there weren’t more nights like that, where everyone stays awake.
“Bits of resentment began building up inside her again, and she began being antagonistic towards Celestia, probably the same way it began the last time. That is why Celestia called me to Canterlot. She cannot bear the thought of losing her sister a second time. She was so sad.
“That’s when I got an idea. The initial idea was to throw a party for her to show her our appreciation. However, I felt certain that it would not be enough.”
“Why not?” asked Pinkie. “A party can cheer almost anyone up!”
“Because, again, it’s only a temporary fix. It would still only be a one day thing. Luna felt she wasn’t really necessary, so we had to create a scenario where she was the only one who could save the day. We wanted her to feel like a hero, an essential part of Equestria. So we set up an attack. That skeleton is nothing more than basically a toy with an enlargement spell attached to it. I modeled the mask after the one’s Zecora has, and I was the one controlling it.” She tapped her hat. “Why do you think I refused to take this thing off?”
“Hold on, Twilight,” said Applejack. “That don’t make no sense. If you was in on this then how come when the princess got clobbered you screamed out her name and began cryin’? I don’t think you could fake a reaction like that.”
A guilty look came to Twilight’s face. “Because she lied to me.”
“Lied?” asked Fluttershy.
“Yes. She told me when I had the skeleton attack her from the side I was to go full out. Those clubs were real. Real and really heavy. Just before it made contact she would cast a shield spell. When she hit a tree or whatever she’d let the spell break and act like that had been enough to knock her out for a short while. However, she didn’t cast the shield spell, so it hit her full force. I was terrified that I had just killed my mentor.” Twilight closer her eyes, looking at the ground. “I think she didn’t do it intentionally, not that she just didn’t have time to. It would be more convincing that way. She knew I would hold back if she actually intended for me to hit her that hard. Since I was so certain she would block it I didn’t hold anything back.
“The princess was so distressed and unsettled at the thought of losing Luna again that she told me she’d rather just let herself be killed and let Luna have control of the world if it would save her from her feelings inside her. Of course I didn’t want that to happen, but that may be yet another reason she did things the way she did. She still regrets what happened, even all these years later. So I think she thought she needed to be punished in some way. Hence, she put up no opposition. She’s probably going to be sore for a day or two, but I know she’ll recover.
“Our act seems to have done the trick though, so it’s all good. Luna looks so happy right now. And no matter how badly she may feel that the night isn’t quite as popular as the day, from now on she can always say she was there when things were hopeless and saved the day for everyone.”
The group of them went over to Princess Celestia. “Hello, Princess.”
Celestia looked over at her student. “Hello, Twilight.”
“So it seems our little act worked. I just wish you would have told me you were just going to let yourself get hit. I nearly had a heart attack when you slammed into that tree.”
With a weak laugh the princess replied, “I knew you would hold back if I did. I had to make it look convincing or no one would have believed it.
“I thank you, Twilight. You helped to save Luna from herself a second time. I am in your debt.”
“No… you trained me to be the best I could be and helped me find the best friends around. That more than makes up for it.”
“I suppose so,” she said with a smile. “Go enjoy the party. Even if I was feeling better I think I would still sit it out. After all, this is Luna’s time to shine. Let her soak in her victory.”
“Alright, Princess.”
Luna was laughing and smiling away, then at the request of the children did the Royal Canterlot Voice, sending some of them flying backwards with the force of her voice. The joy she was feeling was clear. Her former feelings had disappeared entirely.
Author's Note
Fanfic inspired by this lovely song.
