Love by the Moonlight

by Stale_Coffee

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance
Length: 2960

Two members of the royal family. Two rulers of the night. One, a mare. The other, a stallion. Two different worlds that are exactly the same, but entirely different. And yet, from other sides of the universe, they find each other.

"Love has its own instinct, finding the way to the heart, as the feeblest insect finds the way to its flower, with a will which nothing can dismay nor turn aside." -Honoré De Balzac -

Hearts and Hooves Day, a day for love in Equestria, has finally arrived. And it seems that everypony is having the best of luck, except for a certain stallion.

Hearts and Hooves Day, a day for love in Equestria, has finally arrived. And it seems that everypony is having the best of luck, except for a certain mare.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-11 14:20:47 UTC

Chapter One

“Oh Artemis, I told you it was never going to work out. Why’d you go through with it after having heard my warnings?”

Artemis’ sobs were heard all throughout the castle. For once, he thought that he had gotten it right. For once, he thought he’d be happy.

“I don’t know why Solaris,” Artemis said between sobs. “I honestly thought she was the one. I honestly did.”

Sighing, Solaris did the only thing he could do. He attempted at comforting his younger brother, something he had not done since they were colts.

“Look, Artemis, there’s always next year, right?”

His only response was a small nod. That approach didn’t work as Solaris had planned.

It was so much easier when we were colts. What happened to those days?

“Solaris?”

“Yes Artemis?”

“Why doesn’t anypony love me?”

Solaris sat there for a moment, taken aback. This wasn’t the first time that Artemis had imposed such a question, and he wasn’t too sure how to respond.

“I… Uh…”

“Just as I thought. Not even you know why… if you need me, you know where I’ll be.” With that, Artemis stood up and walked towards the palace doors. Pausing, he pressed a hoof against the door, as if preparing to say something. He only shook his head and left, the palace doors closing silently behind him.

“Oh Luna, I told you that it was never going to work out. Why’d you go through with it after having heard my warnings?”

Luna’s sobs were heard all throughout the castle. For once, she thought that she had gotten it right. For once, she thought she’d be happy.

“I don’t know why Celestia,” Luna said through tears. “I honestly thought he was the one. I honestly did.”

Sighing, Celestia did the only thing she could do. She attempted to comfort her sister, something she hadn’t done since they were fillies.

“Look, Luna, there’s always next year right?”

Her only response was a solemn nod from her sister. That approach didn’t work as Celestia had planned.

It was so much easier when we were fillies. What happened to those days?

“Celestia?”

“Yes Luna?”

“Why doesn’t anypony love me?”

Celestia sat there for a moment, taken aback. This wasn’t the first time that Luna had imposed such a question, but she still had no idea how to properly respond.

“I… Uh…”

“Just as I thought… Not even you know why… if you need me, you know where to find me.” With that, Luna stood up, brushing her sister’s wing away. She then walked towards the palace doors, putting her hoof upon the door and pausing as if to say something. She only shook her head and left, the palace doors closing silently behind her.

The tears streamed behind him. He was flying at this point and his vision was blurred. Quickly, he swiped a hoof across his eyes, brushing away the tears as he did so.

“I’m nothing but a failure,” he muttered. “I’ll never be as great or as successful as Solaris is. Everypony loves him… why can’t they just love me?”

He went quiet, realizing that he had been talking with himself. He hadn’t spoken to himself since not long after the Nightmare within him was banished, being sent back to its own dimension for good.

He then flew in silence. He knew where he was going, so did Solaris. He was flying to the only place of solitude he knew existed in Equestria, an emerald hill.

There was something about this hill that brought him peace. When he was there, he felt as if there was another sitting beside him. He couldn’t see them, but he could sense their presence as if they were with him at that exact moment in time.

As the hill came into view, he circled around it, preparing himself for a steady landing.

Once his hooves touched the ground, he looked towards the sun and lowered it, beckoning forth the moon. He then sat upon the soft grass and looked towards the moon and began to sing. He wasn’t sure why he was singing, all he knew was that it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

Where the wind stands still,

There’s and emerald hill

And I’m standing here alone.

Where the dark trees bow

To the higher ground,

Where the grass has never grown.

Where it’s dark, and cold

And the scattered stars are the only light that I know,

But they tell me that I’m home.

And so I’m standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

I’ll follow you

It’s been a long, long time

Since the stars aligned

And they sent me back again.

And every day I dream

Maybe things could be

Like they used to be back then.

‘Cause it’s dark, and cold

And the scattered stars are the only friends I know

But they tell me that there’s hope.

That’s why I’m standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Follow you.

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

I’m out in the moonlight,

And you know I’ll always follow you

Follow you.

As he finished the song, he lowered his head, a single tear falling to the floor. That’s when he saw it, the mystic figure of somepony sitting beside him.

The tears streamed behind her. She was flying at this point and her vision was blurred. Quickly, she swiped a hoof across her eyes, brushing away the tears as she did so.

“I’m nothing but a failure,” she muttered. “I’ll never be as great or as successful as Celestia is. Everypony loves her… why can’t they just love me?”

She went quiet, realizing that she had been talking with himself. She hadn’t spoken to herself since not long after the Nightmare within her was banished, being sent back to its own dimension for good.

She then flew in silence. She knew where she was going, as did Celestia. She was flying to the only place of solitude she knew existed in Equestria, an emerald hill.

There was something about this hill that brought her peace. When she was there, she felt as if there was another sitting beside her. She couldn’t see them, but she could sense their presence as if they were with her at that exact moment in time.

As the hill came into view, she circled around it, preparing herself for a steady landing.

Once her hooves touched the ground, she looked towards the sun and lowered it, beckoning forth the moon. She then sat upon the soft grass and looked towards the moon and began to sing. She wasn’t sure why she was singing, all she knew was that it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

Where the wind stands still,

There’s and emerald hill

And I’m standing here alone.

Where the dark trees bow

To the higher ground,

Where the grass has never grown.

Where it’s dark, and cold

And the scattered stars are the only light that I know,

But they tell me that I’m home.

And so I’m standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

I’ll follow you

It’s been a long, long time

Since the stars aligned

And they sent me back again.

And every day I dream

Maybe things could be

Like they used to be back then.

‘Cause it’s dark, and cold

And the scattered stars are the only friends I know

But they tell me that there’s hope.

That’s why I’m standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Follow you.

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Standing out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

Shouting out in the moonlight,

And if you follow me I’ll follow you

I’m out in the moonlight,

And you know I’ll always follow you

Follow you.

As she finished the song, she lowered her head, a single tear falling to the floor. That’s when she saw it, the mystic figure of somepony sitting beside her.

Chapter Two

Artemis stared at the figure beside him. Of course, it wasn’t there for he could stick his hoof out and wave it about, feeling nothing but cold air. But, he could most definitely see it.

“It’s like staring into your reflection in a pool of water,” he whispered. The figure beside him was copying his every move for the most part, surprising him beyond every level of surprise he knew.

Just as suddenly as the figure was there, it vanished, its form dissipating into the starlit sky.

“Amazing,” he croaked. “Absolutely amazing.”

Luna stared at the figure beside her. Of course, it wasn’t there for she was able to stick her hoof out and wave it, feeling nothing but cold air. But, she could most definitely see it.

“It’s like staring into a pool of water,” she whispered. The figure beside her copied her every move, which surprised her far beyond the levels of surprise that she had come to know of.

Then, just as suddenly as the figure was there, it vanished, its form dissipating into the starlit sky.

She sat there, blinking multiple times before croaking, “Absolutely amazing.”

The palace doors flew open, Artemis blasting into Solaris’ room within seconds.

“Solaris, wake up! There’s something I have to tell you about!”

Solaris only grumbled in his sleep. He wished not to be bothered while he slumbered, for a lord needed his sleep.

“C’mon Solaris… It’s important. You have to listen to me, please.”

Frustrated, Solaris stepped out of his bed, his gaze meeting Artemis’.

“What is it that you had to wake me up for Artemis?”

“Well, let me try to put this into simple terms. I was out in my usual spot right?”

“The emerald hill? Yes, I believe that’s where you went after leaving the castle. Anyways, continue.”

“Well, as I was sitting there, I took notice of a mystical figure sitting beside me. It was as if for a second, I was looking into another universe or something of the sorts. The figure I saw looked exactly like me except for the fact that they had longer hair and they looked more… feminine. It was like staring into a pool of water, but instead of seeing yourself, it was like your reflection’s gender was swapped. Solaris, what do you think about this?”

“What do I think? I think that those… video games… have gotten to your head. You must’ve been dreaming or something for there has never been a report of seeing mystical beings. Now, if you do not mind, I’m going to go back to sleep. I suggest that you get back to your Night Court. There are far too many ponies out there that have been waiting for you for hours. Run along Artemis.”

“Bu-”

“No buts Artemis. Now go.”

Solemnly, Artemis walked out of the room and headed towards the courtyards. There, he sat upon a throne, speaking to every last pony that approached him about whatever it was that they wished to speak about.

As the night drew to a close, he prepared himself for sleep.

Walking towards his bedroom, he passed by Solaris who was heading towards the balcony so he could beckon forth the sun.

“I see that you are headed off to bed Artemis. That’s good, you need the sleep.”

He continued towards the bedroom and once there, walked in and carefully got into bed. He lay awake for a few moments before shrugging the sleep off and going to stand at his window.

“It’s a beautiful day… the sun is rising, the foals are coming out to play and the ponies of Equestria are going about their usual activities. Yes, it truly is a beautiful day. And I’m going to miss it just so I can sleep.”

He looked towards his bed and sighed. Climbing onto the bed again, he closed his eyes, letting sleep take control of his body.

As he drifted off, a single thought came to his mind.

I must find her.

The palace doors flew open, Luna bursting into Celestia’s room within seconds.

“Celestia, wake up! There’s something I have to tell you about!”

Celestia only grumbled in her sleep. She wished not to be bothered while she slumbered, for a princess needed her sleep.

“Please Sister… It’s important. You have to listen to me.”

Frustrated, Celestia stepped out of his bed, her gaze meeting Luna’s.

“What is it that you had to wake me up for Luna?”

“Well, let me try to put this into simple terms. I was out in my usual spot right?”

“The emerald hill? Yes, I believe that’s where you went after leaving the castle. Anyways, continue.”

“Well, as I was sitting there, I took notice of a mystical figure sitting beside me. It was as if for a second, I was looking into another universe or something of the sorts. The figure I saw looked exactly like me except for the fact that they had shorter hair and they looked more… masculine. It was like staring into a pool of water, but instead of seeing yourself, it was like your reflection’s gender was swapped. Sister, what do you think about this?”

“What do I think? I think that those… video games… have gotten to your head. You must’ve been dreaming or something for there has never been a report of seeing mystical beings. Now, if you do not mind, I’m going to go back to sleep. I suggest that you get back to your Night Court. There are far too many ponies out there that have been waiting for you for hours. Run along Luna.”

“Bu-”

“No buts Luna. Now go.”

Solemnly, Luna walked out of the room and headed towards the courtyards. There, she sat upon a throne, speaking to every last pony that approached her about whatever it was that they wished to speak about.

As the night drew to a close, she prepared himself for sleep.

Walking towards her bedroom, she passed by Celestia who was heading towards the balcony so she could beckon forth the sun.

“I see that you are headed off to bed Luna. That’s good, you need the sleep.”

She continued towards the bedroom and once there, walked in and carefully got into bed. She lay awake for a few moments before shrugging the sleep off and going to stand at her window.

“It’s a beautiful day… the sun is rising, the foals are coming out to play and the ponies of Equestria are going about their usual activities. Yes, it truly is a beautiful day. And I’m going to miss it just so I can sleep.”

She looked towards her bed and sighed. Climbing onto the bed again, she closed her eyes, letting sleep take control of her body.

As she drifted off, a single thought came to her mind.

I must find him.

Prologue

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The sound of worried hooves upon the castle floors was all that broke the silence of the place. It was an unsettling day with it being Hearts and Hooves Day and all.

For a prince, it was no easy task asking a mare he found highly attractive to be his special somepony, especially when they weren’t born of royal blood.

What if she says no? What if she has already found another?

Questions of negativity flowed through his mind. He wasn’t too sure how he would ask her or how she would respond.

“But I have to do it either way,” he muttered to himself. Finally, he stopped his pacing and stood up tall, trying to look as confident as possible. He then walked out of the palace doors, a smirk of determination residing upon his face.

“What’s the worst that can happen,” he asked himself after a slight chuckle. Today, he’d get it right. Today, he’d finally have that special somepony.

The sound of worried hooves upon the castle floors was all that broke the silence of the place. It was an unsettling day with it being Hearts and Hooves Day and all.

For a princess, it was no easy task asking a stallion whom she found highly attractive to be her special somepony, especially when they weren’t born of royal blood.

What if he says no? What if he has already found another?

Questions of negativity and doubt flooded her mind. She wasn’t sure how she would ask him or how he would respond.

“But I have to do it either way,” she muttered to herself. Finally coming to a decision, she stopped pacing and stood up tall, managing to look as confident as ever. She then walked out of the palace doors, a look of determination upon her face.

“What’s the worst that can happen,” she asked herself. Today, she’d get it right. Today, she’d finally have that special somepony she’d always wanted.