Chaos and Corruption, Sun and Moonby LunaToTheMoonChapters1 Luna's Love Note2 The Two Meetings3 The First Confrontation4 Confiding in the Enemy1 Luna's Love NoteLuna stared out her window, watching her sister in the gardens below. Celestia was with her newly acquired (and first) boyfriend, Discord. Celestia's cheeks were as pink as her mane. The dialogue being exchanged was inaudible to Luna. "Oh, Celestia, my dear! You look absolutely spectacular in the light of your beautiful day. Your mane is such a pretty shade of pink! It reminds me of cotton candy, and you know how much I love cotton candy." "Why, Discord," Celestia giggled. "You must be the nicest draconequus I have ever met, and so hansome too!" "Just the nicest draconequus?" Discord asked, pretending to be sad. "The nicest pony, creature of chaos....creature I have ever met," Celestia corrected herself. "I just think it's so sweet you gave up your instinct to be a creature of chaos so that you could be with me." Luna watched them for a while, until she got tired of their continuous nose rubbing and hugs. Each time it made her gag a little. "I can't believe that Celestia is such a little pawn to Discord. I know he has always been a friend, but, ever since a month ago when he asked her out, she has just been unbearable," Luna thought to herself. Tired of watching, Luna opened her diary (which nopony had ever seen), and began to write an entry, like she always did to keep herself entertained. Dear Diary, Once again, I find myself watching Tia spend all of her time with Discord. I don't know if I should be sad or angry; after all, my sister and my best friend (the only friends I have in my life) are now ignoring me and just spending time together. I miss when we were all friends. In some ways, I feel like such a fool, helping Discord win Celestia over the way I did. I know the thoughts I write are cruel, as it makes both of them happier to be together. Love is about sacrifice for the ponies you care about, isn't it? This all really comes back to me being lonely, I guess. After all, if they weren't my only friends it probably wouldn't matter. I'm the princess of Equestria, yet nopony loves, respects, likes, or even appreciates me. Instead, they just fear me. Because the night is dark, they think my heart and soul are dark as well, dark as the sky without the moon or stars, but, that's just it. I raise the moon and stas, so the night can be beautiful. Aren't I removing all the fear? Not that this question hasn't been asked before.... Enough about that, it seems my night is all I ever write about anymore, but, then again, it's all I have. Watching Tia and Discord has made me wonder if...just maybe...if I'll ever find love. I don't want anything in particular; he wouldn't have to be handsome or royal, I just want somepony to love me for me. Maybe that'll happen someday, or....maybe it's just impossible... Maybe love doesn't exist like I dream it does. Maybe nopony will ever want just me and nothing else in their lives or....maybe it's my fault in some way Luna put down her quill for a second and sighed as a wet tear dripped down onto the diary, smearing the ink. This wasn't unusual; most of her entries made her cry because they were all sad to her. Her greatest fear was being rejected and facing the world alone, and, now, it seemed like both of those were coming true. It seemed that she was facing her own nightmare that no one could free her from. She took a deep breath, trying to stop herself from gasping out her sobs, and picked up the quill again. Why can't life go back to when I was a filly? I wasn't desperate to find anypony else because I had Tia, and that was all that mattered. What really saddens me is that my imagination used to help me escape the fear that surrounded me. Even when I was scared (of silly things, not anything serious like what I'm experiencing now) I could close my eyes and imagine I was flying, safe and comfortable. Up above the clouds I would soar, my coat glowing in the silver light cast by the moon. Maybe one day I will feel that dream again.... I suppose I should stop writing for now, as admitting to all of these thoughts only makes me want to cry more. I can't tell if this diary is helping me, or just hurting me more. I suppose it is nice to tell someone, since I can't tell anyone who will actually listen. I hope to record these thoughts and go back to read this one day when things are better. I guess that's all for now. Love Sincerely, Princess Luna Luna sighed once more and used her magic to move the diary back to where she kept it: inside of a little lockable box painted with the moon and stars on it. She took one more look out the window to see Celestia and Discord lying next to each other, watching the clouds, and then pulled open the doors to her bedroom terrace. It was time for the sun to set and for the night to begin. "Tia," She called down to her sister from the terrace, but the white pony didn't notice. She was too busy giggling about something; Luna didn't care what it was. "It's time for the sun to set!" Still, Celestia didn't hear, so Luna decided to just do it herself. Using her magic, she slipped the sun down behind the hills to the West, and then raised up the gorgeous full moon and stars. "Celestia, Discord, if you want romance, I'll give you romance. The sun may like to get things done, but the moon is a sucker for romance," Luna whispered softly, mostly to herself. Celestia didn't call up to her sister, still too absorbed, but she did notice the change in lighting. "Brrr," She shivered. "It's cold tonight." "Perhaps we should go inside, my dear?" Discord offered. Celestia nodded. From above, Luna watched the couple escape back into the castle. "Figures," She muttered, before sulking back into her room. The good news was, now she at least had something to do. Night time was her time to work. Usually, she helped ponies in their dreams, but she wasn't sensing any nightmares right now. "Even if I do try to help them, they are still afraid of me. They would think I was part of their nightmare and run away," She thought the truth to herself sadly. She was about to go down for a cup of tea when there was a knock at her door. "Yes, come in!" She called. She held her breath, hoping it was Celestia coming up to apologize. Unfortunately, it was just a mailmare. "This came for you," The pegasus said. She looked exhausted, like she had just flown it to the castle. "Why didn't you just leave it in my mail box? I would have checked it tonight, you know?" Luna asked her. "Yes, I know, but the pony who sent this here really wanted you to get it. He said that it was urgent, and he had me rush it here right away." "Oh," Luna said, surprised, taking the letter. "Thank you!" The pegasus smiled and flew away. Luna looked at the letter's return address, It read: Prince Sombra Crystal Castle The Crystal Empire "A prince, how peculiar! Usually all royal matters go directly to my sister," Luna thought to herself. Still, she opened up the letter and read: Dear Princess Luna, I am Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire. I'm not sure how much you know about my empire, but it is way up in the rugged and cold North. However, we do not feel the cold because there is a huge abundance of love all throughout the empire. Not only does it keep the empire warm, it also gives everpony who lives there coats like shining crystal. Now, you may be wondering why I'm writing to you, and I hope you don't think I'm being too blunt when I say this. Ever since I was a colt, and even now, I look up at the night sky and marvel at its beauty and the complexity of all of its delicate decorations. Night is a time for joy and peace. The animals understand that, and that's why many of them are nocturnal. Ponies are just fools. When I used to stare at the night sky, I would ask ponies, "Where does the night come from?" They would answer me, "Princess Luna raises the moon and stars." "She must be amazing," I would respond with a twinkle in my eyes. Luna stopped reading for a second and blushed from all the praise this letter and mysterious prince was offering her. Then, she continued reading. "Her magic is," The would tell me. "Be careful though; there's something just not right about her. She's dangerous, and so is the night. Stay away from them both if you want to be safe." Luna went back to frowning again, as she usually did, but continued reading the letter, captivated by what the pony was trying to say. So now, Princess Luna, I want to meet you for myself. Surely if the night is so sweet, the pony who creates it is sweet as well. Please, anytime, if you feel so inclined, come and visit my empire and me. I would be the happiest stallion in the world if I could meet my hero. I suppose that's all I have to say. Love, Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire Luna put down the letter and allowed herself to comfortably flop onto her bed. She let out a little squeal of excitement and kicked the air. "Is this....a love letter?" She wondered to herself. "Are my questions, my dreams, perhaps all being answered by this sweet stallion. He seems so sincere; what a letter! He adores the night and seems to love (or at least like) me too! He even signed his letter with 'love' even though I've never met him before. This is amazing!" She squealed again, closed her eyes, and sighed. She sighed often, but this was a happy sigh. In fact, she was crying too, but her tears were tears of joy. Somepony out there still understood her! "When should I go see him?" She wondered to herself. "I want to go tonight, but that might not be just right. Plus, by the time I get there, it would be daybreak, and this definitely has to take place at night. I know! I'll leave tomorrow in the early evening and raise the moon from his empire. I think he would like that, and so would I!" Luna didn't do much more that night, but, whatever it was, she was always happy and skipping around as she did it. She had missed her filly-like personality, but now, this one mysterious stallion, had helped bring it back to her. 2 The Two Meetings"But I'll miss you! You can't go," Celestia cooed the words sweetly. "Please stay." "I have to go, but I promise I'll be back tomorrow. I'll miss you, my love," Discord replied, before flying out Celestia's window. He didn't know why he was leaving her; it was just a note. It couldn't mean anything; he didn't even know who it was from. It would be dangerous to just follow it, but still.... Earlier that day, Discord had revieced a note from a mysterious pony. He didn't know who it was from or why he had it, but it rubbed him the wrong way. He felt like he needed to follow the note's strange instructions, like it was somehow linked to his destiny. He stopped flying for a second and pulled out the note to read it's strange writings. They were written in black ink, as most things were, but there was something strange about it. Discord could feel it, but he didn't understand his strange ability to sense powerful magic, at least, not then. The note was written in enchanted ink which was, perhaps, the reason he wanted to follow it in the first place. Nopony had dropped it off or anything; it had just found it's way to him. It read: Destiny and fate They'll pay the price Creature of chaos Does not realize The power he has Is bound in crystal Still yet to be freed By a corrupted missile. The bonds will break The family turn For each other's love They will no longer yearn. The night is sad The day is strong Let us strike now And break the bond. A new power born All hopes are shattered All of the harmony Left broken and tattered. The note did not tell him where to go, but Discord found his own wings carrying him further and further until he was completely lost. Still, he kept going until he landed and sat for a second before he heard a raspy voice behind him. "Discord," It growled and hissed. The words that came out of its mouth were rough and abrasive. Still, they pulled him in somehow..... "I see you've come. A wise creature you are." "What?"Discord asked, turning around. "Who's there?" All he could see was a large pungent cloud of black smoke, with wisps of green magic flowing through. "Important opportunities are here, for both a creature of chaos and a pony of darkness." The cloud solidified until the shape of the creature was distinguishable, and then the face was recognizable. Discord gasped. *** Luna hummed lightheartedly and giggled to herself. She couldn't believe that she was going to meet a prince! It was all so exciting! She had watched Discord and Celesta all day, and they were still outside now, as it was only late afternoon. Luna was prepping to fly to the Crystal Empire. She considered taking a chariot, but then, it was too formal. She had never been one for formality, perhaps the reason she was hated by everypony around her, but, tonight was not the time to think about that. She looked at herself in the mirror one more time before opening her window and flying out. The late afternoon breeze hit her face, and she sighed contentedly. "This will be the best night of my life!" She cried out, not caring if anypony heard her. After flying for a while, Luna ended at the entrance to the Empire. She was instantly impressed. The streets were grand and sparkled in the most beautiful and grandiose fashion she had ever seen. The coats of the ponies sparkled like there were thousands of diamonds laced through their them, and they, in some ways, seemed to appear transparent. She trotted down the street, holding her head high, expecting somepony to scream and run away from the princess of the night, but nopony did. Instead, she heard some excited whispers from ponies around her. "Is that Princess Luna?" "How amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a more lovely pony." "I heard that Prince Sombra invited her here." "Really? That's so adorable!" Luna blushed, but still followed the streets all the way to the Crystal Castle. There, she knocked on the large doors, which were opened by a crystal guard. He smiled when he saw her and beckoned her inside. By the time she reached the main throne room, Luna was trembling with excitement. "Your highness, Princess Luna has come to visit you," The guard told the prince, bowing before him. "Thank you, Stone Grind, you are dismissed." The guard nodded and left. Luna looked at the stallion before her. His coat was dark gray, and sparkled with the same magic that all of the other ponies' coats did. He had a black mane which flowed majestically behind him. He stood up and walked toward her. He was very tall, actually, just slightly taller than she was, which was something she didn't find very often. He was a unicorn, with a beautiful horn that started the dark gray color of his coat and progressed up his horn to be a beautiful red color. His eyes were also this red color, and they seemed to sparkle with compassion. "Princess, what an honor it is to meet you," He said, bowing before her. His voice was low and almost scratchy, but also very charming. Luna tried to figure out what to say. "You know, I've wanted to write a letter to you for a while, and I finally got the courage to do so. You see, I have always respected you just for what you do, but I feel bad for you as well." Luna was charmed but also somewhat insulted. "What do you mean, you feel bad for me? I am perfectly fine as I am." She knew that was a lie. "Oh...I apologize if that came off incorrectly. You see, the thing is, I have tried to marvel at your night with other ponies, but they all reject it. I think it's beautiful when they only see evil and darkness. I feel like that must be painful, as I have gone through a situation very close to yours.....but maybe you are just much stronger than I am...." "You have? What are you talking about? You're so....wonderful. How could you possibly know what I feel inside? I'm sure you're much more respected now than I ever will be." "I'll tell you my story in a little while, but do you mind if we get out of this stuffy castle. I know of a beautiful hilltop just perfect for viewing the stars." *** The hilltop Sombra was talking about was covered in snow. Once the moon had been raised, the soft powder sparkled in the glow of the moon. Luna and Sombra sat comfortably next to each other, and, finally, Sombra began to explain his story. "You see," He began, "Growing up in the Crystal Empire, there are expectations on you. I, like you, was a younger brother. My older brother, Crystalia, was my mother and father's pride and joy. He had my mother's stunning white coat, which absolutely sparkled when crystallized, and he had my father's blue and light gray mane. The little family of three was content until news of another came along. My parents didn't want another foal. They thought a younger foal was just a weakness; he wasn't meant to do anything. After all, if a younger isn't meant to rule, he is just a financial burden to his kingdom. But, of course, I came anyway, and my parents thought my dark coat and mane colors and strangely colored horn were terrifying. They named me Sombra, meaning "shadow" because they thought I was a dark shadow compared to the rest of my family. I grew up as the outcast in my family who didn't belong anywhere. I was awkward too. I didn't care about being a royal, but I also didn't fit in with the ponies around me. I was just stuck in the middle somewhere.... Every night, the stars gave me hope. It let me know there was beauty in darkness, and for that, Princess, I will always be grateful to you." Sombra nodded at Luna and she smiled. Then, he continued on, "For a while, the family just worked that way. I was sad but decided it was best to just deal with the pain and hope that something good would come to me eventually. Sadly, I was due for more tragedy in my life. A terrible group of draconequui raided the Crystal Empire when I was still rather young. They attacked and killed my mother first, who tried to fight back but had never been very strong. My father, who was all the way across the castle, couldn't get there in time to fight for her. Once my father reached the room in the castle the draconequui were in, he leaped into action, attacking the draconequui with my brother at his side. The problem is, they didn't understand combat magic, at least, not like I did. I had been studying all sorts of magic in my spare time, and I was pretty good at it. I ran in and shot a blow at one of the draconequui, who was taken by surprise. He fell backwards and I continued to fight him, but, there were just too many of them. My brother went down next, getting hit into a wall and being unable to get back up again. I ran to him, but he was dead before he could even give me his last words. This angered me entirely. Sure, my family didn't like me very much, but I still loved them. I did the best I could to fight, and, together, my father and I fought them all off. The last one to run, however, still wanted us dead, and he flicked his tail at a chandelier hanging overhead. It fell to the ground and shattered. Many pieces fell onto my father, piecing him. Right before he bled to death completely, he managed to choke out, 'Son, take care of the empire. Don't let us down.'" Luna wrapped her wing around Sombra, trying to comfort him as he sniffed. "I can't believe they died without you ever knowing if they loved you." Sombra looked into her eyes. "I want you to feel loved, Luna. I don't want you to go through what I had to go through. I want to be there for you, even if others aren't." Luna smiled and nestled up against him. "I....feel loved. I've been waiting for this and...it's finally happening. I feel loved." *** Discord knew very well who the pony was. "Sombra, it's been a while. I most certainly miss my parents and species. Thanks for destroying the only ones left and then covering the whole place in ice," He spat bitterly. "Oh, Discord, I was doing you such a favor. It looks like it paid off. You're dating the princess of Equestria. I wish I had thought of that first. It's absolutely genius!" "I'm with Celestia because I love her. I don't want whatever foolish thing you are going to offer me." "Oh really," Sombra asked slickly. "I'm offering a creature of chaos the opportunity to cause chaos all over Equestria, but, if that doesn't appeal to you, I suppose that's fine too...." "I....can't...." Discord tried to choke out. He tried to do the right thing and say no, but it was just too tempting. He loved chaos, and, honestly, he missed it. "No! I can't. I promised Celestia I wouldn't practice chaos anymore." "Ha!" Sombra laughed. "You fool! She is trying to destroy your true nature." "If I'm chaotic, we can't be together," Discord reasoned. "What does that matter?!" Sombra reasoned. "Look at your future with her. Look at Equestria!" All of a sudden, Discord's nightmare was reflected before his eyes. His entire life was without chaos. Everything was orderly and neat, nothing was home to him. He was stuck inside of a castle. Celestia sat on a throne, making sure everything around them stayed perfectly organized. He sat beside her with a bored and glazed over look on his face. "Doesn't that sound nice, dear?" Celestia asked him. "We finally found a spell to turn you into a pony; you'll be just like the rest of us." "Yes," Discord nodded, seemingly hypnotized. The vision terrified Discord, but he couldn't pull away. After a little while, the vision faded, and he was back to his conversation with Sombra. "Do you promise that all of Equestria could be covered in chaos?" Discord asked. "Of course," Sombra replied. "Then what do I have to do?" "Equestria's royal sisters are only strong together and the are built on harmony. If we can break the bonds, we can defeat them. You must spend as much time with Celestia as you can, slowly and subtly turning her against her sister. I'll do the same with Luna. Once they crack, we'll destroy them!" "Alright," Discord replied. "I'll do it." 3 The First ConfrontationLuna ungracefully flopped onto her bed, letting her emotions spill out in one of her all-to-common sighs. Once again, it was a happy sigh. She felt like she could fly....well, she already could fly, but she felt like all of the weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "He understands me! He cares!" The thought was so exciting. She had to write this in her diary. She brought over the book; its cover sparkled in the new morning sun. Dear Diary, What a night I've had. Prince Sombra took me onto the hill and we watched the stars together. We talked and laughed and just had a good time. I was so sad to leave Sombra last night, but I had to sleep eventually. Upon parting, I hugged him and he sweetly kissed my cheek. I don't think I've stopped blushing since. My coat is such an ugly color when I blush. Dark blue mixed with pink really doesn't work.... I can't think of much else to write....I guess misery makes me write, but happiness does not. Maybe it's good I'm not an author by any means. None of my fans would ever get to read the ends of my stories. I have Sombra to thank for that.... Haha! Love, Blushing Pink Princess Luna P.S. I'm going to see Sombra again tonight! Yay! Luna put down the book just as there was a loud and impatient sounding knocking at the door. "It must be the mailpony again." Luna figured to herself. "Why ever would she be so impatient?" She went over to open the door and found herself looking up at the tall figure of her sister. "Tia! I.....uh...." She talked with her sister so little anymore she was at a total loss of what to say. "It's nice to....see you..." Her voice trailed off. Celestia didn't look happy. Luna shrunk a little under her gaze. "Where were you last night? You can't just leave!" Celestia said with a slightly louder voice than she usually used. "I was...out...." Luna replied awkwardly. "Out?! As in, with somepony?! Who?!" "Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire, Prince of the North," Luna answered her. She tried to make her voice sound more assertive. She stood up tall and pushed out her chest. "Prince of the North, huh?" Celestia asked, a little softer now, but Luna could tell she was still angry. "Be careful with him; his parents ruled over a ruthless empire that conquered all. The Crystal Empire attacked Discord's family's kingdom. They left the entire kingdom and all of its people destroyed, except for Discord's mother and father, who were able to survive. In the process, Sombra's parents were killed, and Sombra was left with a slowly deteriorating empire. As for Discord, he came home one day to find both of his parents were somehow dead. That's when he found us....you know the rest of the story." "Lies! All lies, Celestia!" Luna cried out, angered by her sister's story. It wasn't true; Sombra had told her differently. Why would Celestia lie to her like this? "I'm just telling you what Discord told me." Celestia told her sister flatly. "I think our fillyhood friend is more trustworthy than this mysterious stallion you met yesterday." "You just don't want me to be happy, Celestia! You made it clear you didn't care when you cast me aside to be with Discord, but this is despicable. Why do you want to destroy me?! WHY?!" Tears were flowing down Luna's face as she screamed at the top of her lungs. She slammed the door in her sister's face, turned, and collapsed onto her bed, crying noisily. Celestia considered knocking again, but, instead, she turned away, figuring she would let her sister cool down before she tried to talk to her again. "This is bad news," Celestia thought to herself. "Luna is in denial; I can't tell her the truth without her turning against me. Sombra can't be good, can he? I hope that he is, but if he isn't, I hope she sees that. Luna is being foolish to fall for a pony so fast. After one night she's convinced she's in love! Maybe I shouldn't feel bad about this...she's the one making the mistake. It's not my fault she is so stupid." These were exactly the thoughts Sombra wanted her to have. *** Late yesterday afternoon, Celestia was out in the gardens with Discord, talking as usual, when she saw Luna flying away overhead. "Discord, look," Celestia pointed out. "Luna is taking off on a little flight. Good for her; she could use the fresh air." "Where is she going?" Discord asked. "I have no idea, but I hope she enjoys herself." "Is it really a good idea....she is just....leaving?" Discord asked in a strange and slow voice, which sounded almost like it was laced with a bit of remorse. "I don't think it's an issue," Celestia replied, turning and looking him in the eye. Her eyes showed so much love, so much sincerity. Discord gulped. "Well.....she is a princess. She can't just leave. What if she's going off to do something bad? She should have at least run it by you first. In fact...y...you should be....angry." "Oh, I don't think so," Celestia said softly. "Is something wrong?" "No....no nothing," Discord said rather quickly. "You sound a little weird," Celestia pointed out. Discord slowly raised a shaky claw and began to run it along Celestia's head. "I think we should just focus on your anger." "You're right," Celestia said, her voice slow and lacking any emotion. "I am quite angry." 4 Confiding in the EnemyLuna landed at Sombra's castle and barged through the door, not caring to take time to talk to any of the Crystal Ponies first. She just wanted to confide in him. Maybe the Prince of the Crystal Empire, the empire of love, would understand Luna's issues with feeling unloved. The guards let Luna in upon seeing her, announcing her entrance. Luna walked up to the throne, where Sombra sat, regally as always. "Hello, my dear!" He said in his gruff, but ever-so-sweet voice. It was like a welcoming song to Luna's ears. "Sombra, can I speak to you in private?" Luna asked, walking up to the throne and whispering quietly into his ear. "Well, yes, is there a problem?" He showed genuine concern. "No....well.....yes, but not with you or anything. I just need to discuss some....royal matters," Luna struggled over her words. She didn't want it to get out that her and Celestia were fighting. Equestria was a land of harmony. If the rulers of the harmonious land were fighting and the ponies were to find out, there was no telling what would happen. "Yes, that's fine. We can talk in my private suite," Sombra said, motioning toward one of the large crystal palace doors. Luna began to walk toward them. "Your highness," One of the guards asked Sombra, as he stepped off of his thrown and followed the Equestrian princess. "Yes?" Sombra asked, turning to him. "Do you want one of the guards to stand outside the door?" The guard suggested faithfully. "No, I'm sure we'll be fine. Thank you." Sombra dismissed him. Once Luna and Sombra were in the suite and the door had shut behind them, Luna began to confide in the stallion. "Celestia....hasn't been the same. We seem to be having....issues with one another." "Issues?" Sombra asked. "How so?" "Well....she's....confrontational. It's like she doesn't want me to make my own decisions....like she doesn't trust me," Luna's voice got softer as she confided her thoughts. Sombra sighed. "It's hard, isn't it?" "What?" Luna tilted her head to the side, surprised that Sombra understood so well. "It's hard to try to work with someone who you know is so unlike you. My brother and I were the same way. Everyone understood him. It made sense to them, what he was, because he was amazing, and he could shine brighter than the sun...and then there was me. Just a shadow. The younger one who was there, but who nopony understood." Sombra hung his head sadly. "So what do I do about it?" Luna asked. "No matter how hard I try, she just doesn't understand. It's not about understanding my night; it's just about not understanding me. I so desperately want her to understand," Luna sobbed into a pillow on one of Sombra's plush chairs for a while, and then wondered if what she was about to say next was appropriate. Sombra was already aware that her and Celestia had trouble getting along, but he wasn't aware of what she was about to admit to him. "And....she says you are a bad influence." She decided to add softly after a while. "Oh...." Sombra replied gravely. He thought about it for a time before beginning to speak again. "It's not true what they say. You do know that, right, Princes?" "I know, Sombra. You're such a good prince. I don't know why she doesn't trust you." Luna placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Well, it's not just that. Maybe I am a bit of a tyrant, but it takes one to know one. She's a bit of a tyrant herself, but she chooses not to admit it. Look at her, Luna. She just sits there on her throne, the ruler of a harmonious empire, and she refuses to have harmony with anyone or anything other than her own country. There are other countries around her. How can she even think she represents harmony when she can't even be diplomatic to them?! If only I were a ruler of Equestria. Then, things would be different," Sombra growled softly and his eyes lit up. "How would they be different? What would you change?" Luna asked. "I would change her little empire into one of great power, but there's only one way to do it." A haze of purple smoke began to emerge from Sombra's eyes. Luna shivered as she helplessly watched what happened next. * * * Celestia trotted heavily through the hallways of the Canterlot castle. "Discord!" She called. "Discord, where are you?" She yelled out. "You called, my love?" Discord prompted, appearing out of nowhere like he always did. Celestia had given up on asking where he hid when she didn't need him. "Where's Luna? Have you seen her?" Celestia continued to trot. "I'm afraid the answer to that is no," Discord admitted. "Ugh! She's in the Crystal Empire again, isn't she?" Celestia growled. "Well....probably. She's been there a lot lately. That's not an issue though, is it?" Discord asked. "Yes! It is an issue! I told her not to go there, but of course she doesn't listen to me. You know, as princess of Equestria, I deserve a little bit more respect! She has duties as a princess as well! She can't just go off and flaunt with some stallion who she doesn't know!" Celestia yelled a little louder than she meant to, turning the heads of some of the palace guard. "Oh, I guess that is an issue. How dare she." Discord stroked his beard and agreed, knowing it would please his pony princess. "What is it she had to do anyway?" "Meet with the captain of the royal guard. He has some very important questions about whether or not to send a few more guards to Fillydelphia. It seems some of the ponies over there are getting into little tiffs here and there." Celestia paused. "I would do it myself, but I have a meeting with the delegates from Saddle Arabia. You know, I have to do everything myself. If she wants more ponies to respect her as a princess, maybe she should think about doing her duties for a change!" "Wow. Meeting with the royal guards. How riveting!" Discord thought to himself sarcastically, but instead he chose to, once again, agree with Celestia. "How dare she miss such a thing!" "Thank you for agreeing, Discord." Celestia stopped at the door to one of the palace meeting rooms and kissed the draconequus on the cheek. "Maybe you should be made a princess of Equestria. You would be a better ruler than she is." Discord smiled. "Oh, I'm honored!" He said in an over-enthusiastic way. When she had left, an evil grin passed over his face as he thought to himself "The harmony is breaking. It's only a matter of time now.
1 Luna's Love NoteLuna stared out her window, watching her sister in the gardens below. Celestia was with her newly acquired (and first) boyfriend, Discord. Celestia's cheeks were as pink as her mane. The dialogue being exchanged was inaudible to Luna. "Oh, Celestia, my dear! You look absolutely spectacular in the light of your beautiful day. Your mane is such a pretty shade of pink! It reminds me of cotton candy, and you know how much I love cotton candy." "Why, Discord," Celestia giggled. "You must be the nicest draconequus I have ever met, and so hansome too!" "Just the nicest draconequus?" Discord asked, pretending to be sad. "The nicest pony, creature of chaos....creature I have ever met," Celestia corrected herself. "I just think it's so sweet you gave up your instinct to be a creature of chaos so that you could be with me." Luna watched them for a while, until she got tired of their continuous nose rubbing and hugs. Each time it made her gag a little. "I can't believe that Celestia is such a little pawn to Discord. I know he has always been a friend, but, ever since a month ago when he asked her out, she has just been unbearable," Luna thought to herself. Tired of watching, Luna opened her diary (which nopony had ever seen), and began to write an entry, like she always did to keep herself entertained. Dear Diary, Once again, I find myself watching Tia spend all of her time with Discord. I don't know if I should be sad or angry; after all, my sister and my best friend (the only friends I have in my life) are now ignoring me and just spending time together. I miss when we were all friends. In some ways, I feel like such a fool, helping Discord win Celestia over the way I did. I know the thoughts I write are cruel, as it makes both of them happier to be together. Love is about sacrifice for the ponies you care about, isn't it? This all really comes back to me being lonely, I guess. After all, if they weren't my only friends it probably wouldn't matter. I'm the princess of Equestria, yet nopony loves, respects, likes, or even appreciates me. Instead, they just fear me. Because the night is dark, they think my heart and soul are dark as well, dark as the sky without the moon or stars, but, that's just it. I raise the moon and stas, so the night can be beautiful. Aren't I removing all the fear? Not that this question hasn't been asked before.... Enough about that, it seems my night is all I ever write about anymore, but, then again, it's all I have. Watching Tia and Discord has made me wonder if...just maybe...if I'll ever find love. I don't want anything in particular; he wouldn't have to be handsome or royal, I just want somepony to love me for me. Maybe that'll happen someday, or....maybe it's just impossible... Maybe love doesn't exist like I dream it does. Maybe nopony will ever want just me and nothing else in their lives or....maybe it's my fault in some way Luna put down her quill for a second and sighed as a wet tear dripped down onto the diary, smearing the ink. This wasn't unusual; most of her entries made her cry because they were all sad to her. Her greatest fear was being rejected and facing the world alone, and, now, it seemed like both of those were coming true. It seemed that she was facing her own nightmare that no one could free her from. She took a deep breath, trying to stop herself from gasping out her sobs, and picked up the quill again. Why can't life go back to when I was a filly? I wasn't desperate to find anypony else because I had Tia, and that was all that mattered. What really saddens me is that my imagination used to help me escape the fear that surrounded me. Even when I was scared (of silly things, not anything serious like what I'm experiencing now) I could close my eyes and imagine I was flying, safe and comfortable. Up above the clouds I would soar, my coat glowing in the silver light cast by the moon. Maybe one day I will feel that dream again.... I suppose I should stop writing for now, as admitting to all of these thoughts only makes me want to cry more. I can't tell if this diary is helping me, or just hurting me more. I suppose it is nice to tell someone, since I can't tell anyone who will actually listen. I hope to record these thoughts and go back to read this one day when things are better. I guess that's all for now. Love Sincerely, Princess Luna Luna sighed once more and used her magic to move the diary back to where she kept it: inside of a little lockable box painted with the moon and stars on it. She took one more look out the window to see Celestia and Discord lying next to each other, watching the clouds, and then pulled open the doors to her bedroom terrace. It was time for the sun to set and for the night to begin. "Tia," She called down to her sister from the terrace, but the white pony didn't notice. She was too busy giggling about something; Luna didn't care what it was. "It's time for the sun to set!" Still, Celestia didn't hear, so Luna decided to just do it herself. Using her magic, she slipped the sun down behind the hills to the West, and then raised up the gorgeous full moon and stars. "Celestia, Discord, if you want romance, I'll give you romance. The sun may like to get things done, but the moon is a sucker for romance," Luna whispered softly, mostly to herself. Celestia didn't call up to her sister, still too absorbed, but she did notice the change in lighting. "Brrr," She shivered. "It's cold tonight." "Perhaps we should go inside, my dear?" Discord offered. Celestia nodded. From above, Luna watched the couple escape back into the castle. "Figures," She muttered, before sulking back into her room. The good news was, now she at least had something to do. Night time was her time to work. Usually, she helped ponies in their dreams, but she wasn't sensing any nightmares right now. "Even if I do try to help them, they are still afraid of me. They would think I was part of their nightmare and run away," She thought the truth to herself sadly. She was about to go down for a cup of tea when there was a knock at her door. "Yes, come in!" She called. She held her breath, hoping it was Celestia coming up to apologize. Unfortunately, it was just a mailmare. "This came for you," The pegasus said. She looked exhausted, like she had just flown it to the castle. "Why didn't you just leave it in my mail box? I would have checked it tonight, you know?" Luna asked her. "Yes, I know, but the pony who sent this here really wanted you to get it. He said that it was urgent, and he had me rush it here right away." "Oh," Luna said, surprised, taking the letter. "Thank you!" The pegasus smiled and flew away. Luna looked at the letter's return address, It read: Prince Sombra Crystal Castle The Crystal Empire "A prince, how peculiar! Usually all royal matters go directly to my sister," Luna thought to herself. Still, she opened up the letter and read: Dear Princess Luna, I am Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire. I'm not sure how much you know about my empire, but it is way up in the rugged and cold North. However, we do not feel the cold because there is a huge abundance of love all throughout the empire. Not only does it keep the empire warm, it also gives everpony who lives there coats like shining crystal. Now, you may be wondering why I'm writing to you, and I hope you don't think I'm being too blunt when I say this. Ever since I was a colt, and even now, I look up at the night sky and marvel at its beauty and the complexity of all of its delicate decorations. Night is a time for joy and peace. The animals understand that, and that's why many of them are nocturnal. Ponies are just fools. When I used to stare at the night sky, I would ask ponies, "Where does the night come from?" They would answer me, "Princess Luna raises the moon and stars." "She must be amazing," I would respond with a twinkle in my eyes. Luna stopped reading for a second and blushed from all the praise this letter and mysterious prince was offering her. Then, she continued reading. "Her magic is," The would tell me. "Be careful though; there's something just not right about her. She's dangerous, and so is the night. Stay away from them both if you want to be safe." Luna went back to frowning again, as she usually did, but continued reading the letter, captivated by what the pony was trying to say. So now, Princess Luna, I want to meet you for myself. Surely if the night is so sweet, the pony who creates it is sweet as well. Please, anytime, if you feel so inclined, come and visit my empire and me. I would be the happiest stallion in the world if I could meet my hero. I suppose that's all I have to say. Love, Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire Luna put down the letter and allowed herself to comfortably flop onto her bed. She let out a little squeal of excitement and kicked the air. "Is this....a love letter?" She wondered to herself. "Are my questions, my dreams, perhaps all being answered by this sweet stallion. He seems so sincere; what a letter! He adores the night and seems to love (or at least like) me too! He even signed his letter with 'love' even though I've never met him before. This is amazing!" She squealed again, closed her eyes, and sighed. She sighed often, but this was a happy sigh. In fact, she was crying too, but her tears were tears of joy. Somepony out there still understood her! "When should I go see him?" She wondered to herself. "I want to go tonight, but that might not be just right. Plus, by the time I get there, it would be daybreak, and this definitely has to take place at night. I know! I'll leave tomorrow in the early evening and raise the moon from his empire. I think he would like that, and so would I!" Luna didn't do much more that night, but, whatever it was, she was always happy and skipping around as she did it. She had missed her filly-like personality, but now, this one mysterious stallion, had helped bring it back to her.
2 The Two Meetings"But I'll miss you! You can't go," Celestia cooed the words sweetly. "Please stay." "I have to go, but I promise I'll be back tomorrow. I'll miss you, my love," Discord replied, before flying out Celestia's window. He didn't know why he was leaving her; it was just a note. It couldn't mean anything; he didn't even know who it was from. It would be dangerous to just follow it, but still.... Earlier that day, Discord had revieced a note from a mysterious pony. He didn't know who it was from or why he had it, but it rubbed him the wrong way. He felt like he needed to follow the note's strange instructions, like it was somehow linked to his destiny. He stopped flying for a second and pulled out the note to read it's strange writings. They were written in black ink, as most things were, but there was something strange about it. Discord could feel it, but he didn't understand his strange ability to sense powerful magic, at least, not then. The note was written in enchanted ink which was, perhaps, the reason he wanted to follow it in the first place. Nopony had dropped it off or anything; it had just found it's way to him. It read: Destiny and fate They'll pay the price Creature of chaos Does not realize The power he has Is bound in crystal Still yet to be freed By a corrupted missile. The bonds will break The family turn For each other's love They will no longer yearn. The night is sad The day is strong Let us strike now And break the bond. A new power born All hopes are shattered All of the harmony Left broken and tattered. The note did not tell him where to go, but Discord found his own wings carrying him further and further until he was completely lost. Still, he kept going until he landed and sat for a second before he heard a raspy voice behind him. "Discord," It growled and hissed. The words that came out of its mouth were rough and abrasive. Still, they pulled him in somehow..... "I see you've come. A wise creature you are." "What?"Discord asked, turning around. "Who's there?" All he could see was a large pungent cloud of black smoke, with wisps of green magic flowing through. "Important opportunities are here, for both a creature of chaos and a pony of darkness." The cloud solidified until the shape of the creature was distinguishable, and then the face was recognizable. Discord gasped. *** Luna hummed lightheartedly and giggled to herself. She couldn't believe that she was going to meet a prince! It was all so exciting! She had watched Discord and Celesta all day, and they were still outside now, as it was only late afternoon. Luna was prepping to fly to the Crystal Empire. She considered taking a chariot, but then, it was too formal. She had never been one for formality, perhaps the reason she was hated by everypony around her, but, tonight was not the time to think about that. She looked at herself in the mirror one more time before opening her window and flying out. The late afternoon breeze hit her face, and she sighed contentedly. "This will be the best night of my life!" She cried out, not caring if anypony heard her. After flying for a while, Luna ended at the entrance to the Empire. She was instantly impressed. The streets were grand and sparkled in the most beautiful and grandiose fashion she had ever seen. The coats of the ponies sparkled like there were thousands of diamonds laced through their them, and they, in some ways, seemed to appear transparent. She trotted down the street, holding her head high, expecting somepony to scream and run away from the princess of the night, but nopony did. Instead, she heard some excited whispers from ponies around her. "Is that Princess Luna?" "How amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a more lovely pony." "I heard that Prince Sombra invited her here." "Really? That's so adorable!" Luna blushed, but still followed the streets all the way to the Crystal Castle. There, she knocked on the large doors, which were opened by a crystal guard. He smiled when he saw her and beckoned her inside. By the time she reached the main throne room, Luna was trembling with excitement. "Your highness, Princess Luna has come to visit you," The guard told the prince, bowing before him. "Thank you, Stone Grind, you are dismissed." The guard nodded and left. Luna looked at the stallion before her. His coat was dark gray, and sparkled with the same magic that all of the other ponies' coats did. He had a black mane which flowed majestically behind him. He stood up and walked toward her. He was very tall, actually, just slightly taller than she was, which was something she didn't find very often. He was a unicorn, with a beautiful horn that started the dark gray color of his coat and progressed up his horn to be a beautiful red color. His eyes were also this red color, and they seemed to sparkle with compassion. "Princess, what an honor it is to meet you," He said, bowing before her. His voice was low and almost scratchy, but also very charming. Luna tried to figure out what to say. "You know, I've wanted to write a letter to you for a while, and I finally got the courage to do so. You see, I have always respected you just for what you do, but I feel bad for you as well." Luna was charmed but also somewhat insulted. "What do you mean, you feel bad for me? I am perfectly fine as I am." She knew that was a lie. "Oh...I apologize if that came off incorrectly. You see, the thing is, I have tried to marvel at your night with other ponies, but they all reject it. I think it's beautiful when they only see evil and darkness. I feel like that must be painful, as I have gone through a situation very close to yours.....but maybe you are just much stronger than I am...." "You have? What are you talking about? You're so....wonderful. How could you possibly know what I feel inside? I'm sure you're much more respected now than I ever will be." "I'll tell you my story in a little while, but do you mind if we get out of this stuffy castle. I know of a beautiful hilltop just perfect for viewing the stars." *** The hilltop Sombra was talking about was covered in snow. Once the moon had been raised, the soft powder sparkled in the glow of the moon. Luna and Sombra sat comfortably next to each other, and, finally, Sombra began to explain his story. "You see," He began, "Growing up in the Crystal Empire, there are expectations on you. I, like you, was a younger brother. My older brother, Crystalia, was my mother and father's pride and joy. He had my mother's stunning white coat, which absolutely sparkled when crystallized, and he had my father's blue and light gray mane. The little family of three was content until news of another came along. My parents didn't want another foal. They thought a younger foal was just a weakness; he wasn't meant to do anything. After all, if a younger isn't meant to rule, he is just a financial burden to his kingdom. But, of course, I came anyway, and my parents thought my dark coat and mane colors and strangely colored horn were terrifying. They named me Sombra, meaning "shadow" because they thought I was a dark shadow compared to the rest of my family. I grew up as the outcast in my family who didn't belong anywhere. I was awkward too. I didn't care about being a royal, but I also didn't fit in with the ponies around me. I was just stuck in the middle somewhere.... Every night, the stars gave me hope. It let me know there was beauty in darkness, and for that, Princess, I will always be grateful to you." Sombra nodded at Luna and she smiled. Then, he continued on, "For a while, the family just worked that way. I was sad but decided it was best to just deal with the pain and hope that something good would come to me eventually. Sadly, I was due for more tragedy in my life. A terrible group of draconequui raided the Crystal Empire when I was still rather young. They attacked and killed my mother first, who tried to fight back but had never been very strong. My father, who was all the way across the castle, couldn't get there in time to fight for her. Once my father reached the room in the castle the draconequui were in, he leaped into action, attacking the draconequui with my brother at his side. The problem is, they didn't understand combat magic, at least, not like I did. I had been studying all sorts of magic in my spare time, and I was pretty good at it. I ran in and shot a blow at one of the draconequui, who was taken by surprise. He fell backwards and I continued to fight him, but, there were just too many of them. My brother went down next, getting hit into a wall and being unable to get back up again. I ran to him, but he was dead before he could even give me his last words. This angered me entirely. Sure, my family didn't like me very much, but I still loved them. I did the best I could to fight, and, together, my father and I fought them all off. The last one to run, however, still wanted us dead, and he flicked his tail at a chandelier hanging overhead. It fell to the ground and shattered. Many pieces fell onto my father, piecing him. Right before he bled to death completely, he managed to choke out, 'Son, take care of the empire. Don't let us down.'" Luna wrapped her wing around Sombra, trying to comfort him as he sniffed. "I can't believe they died without you ever knowing if they loved you." Sombra looked into her eyes. "I want you to feel loved, Luna. I don't want you to go through what I had to go through. I want to be there for you, even if others aren't." Luna smiled and nestled up against him. "I....feel loved. I've been waiting for this and...it's finally happening. I feel loved." *** Discord knew very well who the pony was. "Sombra, it's been a while. I most certainly miss my parents and species. Thanks for destroying the only ones left and then covering the whole place in ice," He spat bitterly. "Oh, Discord, I was doing you such a favor. It looks like it paid off. You're dating the princess of Equestria. I wish I had thought of that first. It's absolutely genius!" "I'm with Celestia because I love her. I don't want whatever foolish thing you are going to offer me." "Oh really," Sombra asked slickly. "I'm offering a creature of chaos the opportunity to cause chaos all over Equestria, but, if that doesn't appeal to you, I suppose that's fine too...." "I....can't...." Discord tried to choke out. He tried to do the right thing and say no, but it was just too tempting. He loved chaos, and, honestly, he missed it. "No! I can't. I promised Celestia I wouldn't practice chaos anymore." "Ha!" Sombra laughed. "You fool! She is trying to destroy your true nature." "If I'm chaotic, we can't be together," Discord reasoned. "What does that matter?!" Sombra reasoned. "Look at your future with her. Look at Equestria!" All of a sudden, Discord's nightmare was reflected before his eyes. His entire life was without chaos. Everything was orderly and neat, nothing was home to him. He was stuck inside of a castle. Celestia sat on a throne, making sure everything around them stayed perfectly organized. He sat beside her with a bored and glazed over look on his face. "Doesn't that sound nice, dear?" Celestia asked him. "We finally found a spell to turn you into a pony; you'll be just like the rest of us." "Yes," Discord nodded, seemingly hypnotized. The vision terrified Discord, but he couldn't pull away. After a little while, the vision faded, and he was back to his conversation with Sombra. "Do you promise that all of Equestria could be covered in chaos?" Discord asked. "Of course," Sombra replied. "Then what do I have to do?" "Equestria's royal sisters are only strong together and the are built on harmony. If we can break the bonds, we can defeat them. You must spend as much time with Celestia as you can, slowly and subtly turning her against her sister. I'll do the same with Luna. Once they crack, we'll destroy them!" "Alright," Discord replied. "I'll do it."
3 The First ConfrontationLuna ungracefully flopped onto her bed, letting her emotions spill out in one of her all-to-common sighs. Once again, it was a happy sigh. She felt like she could fly....well, she already could fly, but she felt like all of the weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "He understands me! He cares!" The thought was so exciting. She had to write this in her diary. She brought over the book; its cover sparkled in the new morning sun. Dear Diary, What a night I've had. Prince Sombra took me onto the hill and we watched the stars together. We talked and laughed and just had a good time. I was so sad to leave Sombra last night, but I had to sleep eventually. Upon parting, I hugged him and he sweetly kissed my cheek. I don't think I've stopped blushing since. My coat is such an ugly color when I blush. Dark blue mixed with pink really doesn't work.... I can't think of much else to write....I guess misery makes me write, but happiness does not. Maybe it's good I'm not an author by any means. None of my fans would ever get to read the ends of my stories. I have Sombra to thank for that.... Haha! Love, Blushing Pink Princess Luna P.S. I'm going to see Sombra again tonight! Yay! Luna put down the book just as there was a loud and impatient sounding knocking at the door. "It must be the mailpony again." Luna figured to herself. "Why ever would she be so impatient?" She went over to open the door and found herself looking up at the tall figure of her sister. "Tia! I.....uh...." She talked with her sister so little anymore she was at a total loss of what to say. "It's nice to....see you..." Her voice trailed off. Celestia didn't look happy. Luna shrunk a little under her gaze. "Where were you last night? You can't just leave!" Celestia said with a slightly louder voice than she usually used. "I was...out...." Luna replied awkwardly. "Out?! As in, with somepony?! Who?!" "Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire, Prince of the North," Luna answered her. She tried to make her voice sound more assertive. She stood up tall and pushed out her chest. "Prince of the North, huh?" Celestia asked, a little softer now, but Luna could tell she was still angry. "Be careful with him; his parents ruled over a ruthless empire that conquered all. The Crystal Empire attacked Discord's family's kingdom. They left the entire kingdom and all of its people destroyed, except for Discord's mother and father, who were able to survive. In the process, Sombra's parents were killed, and Sombra was left with a slowly deteriorating empire. As for Discord, he came home one day to find both of his parents were somehow dead. That's when he found us....you know the rest of the story." "Lies! All lies, Celestia!" Luna cried out, angered by her sister's story. It wasn't true; Sombra had told her differently. Why would Celestia lie to her like this? "I'm just telling you what Discord told me." Celestia told her sister flatly. "I think our fillyhood friend is more trustworthy than this mysterious stallion you met yesterday." "You just don't want me to be happy, Celestia! You made it clear you didn't care when you cast me aside to be with Discord, but this is despicable. Why do you want to destroy me?! WHY?!" Tears were flowing down Luna's face as she screamed at the top of her lungs. She slammed the door in her sister's face, turned, and collapsed onto her bed, crying noisily. Celestia considered knocking again, but, instead, she turned away, figuring she would let her sister cool down before she tried to talk to her again. "This is bad news," Celestia thought to herself. "Luna is in denial; I can't tell her the truth without her turning against me. Sombra can't be good, can he? I hope that he is, but if he isn't, I hope she sees that. Luna is being foolish to fall for a pony so fast. After one night she's convinced she's in love! Maybe I shouldn't feel bad about this...she's the one making the mistake. It's not my fault she is so stupid." These were exactly the thoughts Sombra wanted her to have. *** Late yesterday afternoon, Celestia was out in the gardens with Discord, talking as usual, when she saw Luna flying away overhead. "Discord, look," Celestia pointed out. "Luna is taking off on a little flight. Good for her; she could use the fresh air." "Where is she going?" Discord asked. "I have no idea, but I hope she enjoys herself." "Is it really a good idea....she is just....leaving?" Discord asked in a strange and slow voice, which sounded almost like it was laced with a bit of remorse. "I don't think it's an issue," Celestia replied, turning and looking him in the eye. Her eyes showed so much love, so much sincerity. Discord gulped. "Well.....she is a princess. She can't just leave. What if she's going off to do something bad? She should have at least run it by you first. In fact...y...you should be....angry." "Oh, I don't think so," Celestia said softly. "Is something wrong?" "No....no nothing," Discord said rather quickly. "You sound a little weird," Celestia pointed out. Discord slowly raised a shaky claw and began to run it along Celestia's head. "I think we should just focus on your anger." "You're right," Celestia said, her voice slow and lacking any emotion. "I am quite angry."
4 Confiding in the EnemyLuna landed at Sombra's castle and barged through the door, not caring to take time to talk to any of the Crystal Ponies first. She just wanted to confide in him. Maybe the Prince of the Crystal Empire, the empire of love, would understand Luna's issues with feeling unloved. The guards let Luna in upon seeing her, announcing her entrance. Luna walked up to the throne, where Sombra sat, regally as always. "Hello, my dear!" He said in his gruff, but ever-so-sweet voice. It was like a welcoming song to Luna's ears. "Sombra, can I speak to you in private?" Luna asked, walking up to the throne and whispering quietly into his ear. "Well, yes, is there a problem?" He showed genuine concern. "No....well.....yes, but not with you or anything. I just need to discuss some....royal matters," Luna struggled over her words. She didn't want it to get out that her and Celestia were fighting. Equestria was a land of harmony. If the rulers of the harmonious land were fighting and the ponies were to find out, there was no telling what would happen. "Yes, that's fine. We can talk in my private suite," Sombra said, motioning toward one of the large crystal palace doors. Luna began to walk toward them. "Your highness," One of the guards asked Sombra, as he stepped off of his thrown and followed the Equestrian princess. "Yes?" Sombra asked, turning to him. "Do you want one of the guards to stand outside the door?" The guard suggested faithfully. "No, I'm sure we'll be fine. Thank you." Sombra dismissed him. Once Luna and Sombra were in the suite and the door had shut behind them, Luna began to confide in the stallion. "Celestia....hasn't been the same. We seem to be having....issues with one another." "Issues?" Sombra asked. "How so?" "Well....she's....confrontational. It's like she doesn't want me to make my own decisions....like she doesn't trust me," Luna's voice got softer as she confided her thoughts. Sombra sighed. "It's hard, isn't it?" "What?" Luna tilted her head to the side, surprised that Sombra understood so well. "It's hard to try to work with someone who you know is so unlike you. My brother and I were the same way. Everyone understood him. It made sense to them, what he was, because he was amazing, and he could shine brighter than the sun...and then there was me. Just a shadow. The younger one who was there, but who nopony understood." Sombra hung his head sadly. "So what do I do about it?" Luna asked. "No matter how hard I try, she just doesn't understand. It's not about understanding my night; it's just about not understanding me. I so desperately want her to understand," Luna sobbed into a pillow on one of Sombra's plush chairs for a while, and then wondered if what she was about to say next was appropriate. Sombra was already aware that her and Celestia had trouble getting along, but he wasn't aware of what she was about to admit to him. "And....she says you are a bad influence." She decided to add softly after a while. "Oh...." Sombra replied gravely. He thought about it for a time before beginning to speak again. "It's not true what they say. You do know that, right, Princes?" "I know, Sombra. You're such a good prince. I don't know why she doesn't trust you." Luna placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Well, it's not just that. Maybe I am a bit of a tyrant, but it takes one to know one. She's a bit of a tyrant herself, but she chooses not to admit it. Look at her, Luna. She just sits there on her throne, the ruler of a harmonious empire, and she refuses to have harmony with anyone or anything other than her own country. There are other countries around her. How can she even think she represents harmony when she can't even be diplomatic to them?! If only I were a ruler of Equestria. Then, things would be different," Sombra growled softly and his eyes lit up. "How would they be different? What would you change?" Luna asked. "I would change her little empire into one of great power, but there's only one way to do it." A haze of purple smoke began to emerge from Sombra's eyes. Luna shivered as she helplessly watched what happened next. * * * Celestia trotted heavily through the hallways of the Canterlot castle. "Discord!" She called. "Discord, where are you?" She yelled out. "You called, my love?" Discord prompted, appearing out of nowhere like he always did. Celestia had given up on asking where he hid when she didn't need him. "Where's Luna? Have you seen her?" Celestia continued to trot. "I'm afraid the answer to that is no," Discord admitted. "Ugh! She's in the Crystal Empire again, isn't she?" Celestia growled. "Well....probably. She's been there a lot lately. That's not an issue though, is it?" Discord asked. "Yes! It is an issue! I told her not to go there, but of course she doesn't listen to me. You know, as princess of Equestria, I deserve a little bit more respect! She has duties as a princess as well! She can't just go off and flaunt with some stallion who she doesn't know!" Celestia yelled a little louder than she meant to, turning the heads of some of the palace guard. "Oh, I guess that is an issue. How dare she." Discord stroked his beard and agreed, knowing it would please his pony princess. "What is it she had to do anyway?" "Meet with the captain of the royal guard. He has some very important questions about whether or not to send a few more guards to Fillydelphia. It seems some of the ponies over there are getting into little tiffs here and there." Celestia paused. "I would do it myself, but I have a meeting with the delegates from Saddle Arabia. You know, I have to do everything myself. If she wants more ponies to respect her as a princess, maybe she should think about doing her duties for a change!" "Wow. Meeting with the royal guards. How riveting!" Discord thought to himself sarcastically, but instead he chose to, once again, agree with Celestia. "How dare she miss such a thing!" "Thank you for agreeing, Discord." Celestia stopped at the door to one of the palace meeting rooms and kissed the draconequus on the cheek. "Maybe you should be made a princess of Equestria. You would be a better ruler than she is." Discord smiled. "Oh, I'm honored!" He said in an over-enthusiastic way. When she had left, an evil grin passed over his face as he thought to himself "The harmony is breaking. It's only a matter of time now.
