We Were Only Fillies

“Mummy... can I ask you something?"

“What is it, My Little Star?”

“I heard that a long time ago, you banished Auntie Luna to the moon because she was lonely… Is it true?”

Celestia felt a cold shock engulf her.

Her little filly with had such an innocent look on her little face…

“Where did you hear that?”

Astra winced at the sharp tone her mother spoke with. “I found a story book and after I read it, I asked the librarian if it was true and she said it was and then she told me a few other things about the story…”

Celestia was at loss for words, she had thought all those books gone, the last one was published over almost two thousand years ago and she had thought they had simply perished with age… well, unless…

“Which library was it?”

“The one in Ponyville's castle, during the Summer Sun Celebration… I kinda got bored during the ceremony, so I snuck off to the library.” Astra looked at the floor sheepishly, awaiting the scolding that was sure to come.

But it didn't. She looked up to her mother staring out of the window with a sad look on her face.

“Mummy, are you okay?”

“Yes… um, yes. Yes I am, dear. What was the librarian’s name? Did she look well?”

“I dunno. I think so but she did seem a bit sad.” She cocked her head, “Why?”

“No reason,” Celestia lied. She really didn't want to tell her nine year old daughter all the horrors and sorrows of her life. Not any time soon.

Astra’s brows furrowed. She could clearly tell her mother was hiding something. “Why won’t you tell me?”

The princess sighed and chuckled, a small smirk on her face. “Forgive me for saying this but you’re too young.”

“I am not!” the filly cried, the frustration clear in her voice.

“I’ll tell you when you’re older, alright?”

“How much older?”

Celestia pondered a moment. Another moment and yet another, all the while Astra slowly grew angrier and angrier and was about to ask her mother to hurry up when she said, “Around ten years? Maybe a few more…”

“What?!”

Celestia chuckled.

Astra huffed.

~~~

Astra strode into the throne room where her aunt sat upon her throne.

Luna smiled at her niece and said, “And what does my niece request of me in my Night Court?”

The filly looked slightly uncomfortable.

“Did Mummy banish you to the moon?”

The princess looked very uncomfortable. “Y-yes, a long time ago…”

“How come?” The little alicorn asked, her head cocked to the side.

“It’s a very long and complicated story, Little Star.”

“Won’t you tell me?”

“It is not something you should have to hear just yet. Enjoy your ignorance whilst you still have it.”

“But I want to hear!”

The moon goddess sighed as she weighed her options. She could see so much of her younger spirit in the filly. A spirit that wished not to be restrained. The girl’s curiosity would not go away, she knew that. Perhaps telling her would be the best course of action.

“Very well. The issue started quite some time ago, when the rule of your mother and I began. But to fully understand what happened you would need to know how we came to be who we were then.”

Luna’s face began to look sad, nostalgic.

“We were born just before the conflict between the three tribes turned to war.”

“War?” Astra asked, surprised.

“The history lessons nowadays do not include the specifics. It is extremely watered down, the truth of what happened is much more than some squabbles and quests to find some new lands away from some magical spirit ponies,” Her aunt replied with a hint of bitterness in her tone.

“Oh,” The filly’s eyes started to sparkle as she realized that she was about to learn something few ponies new of.

“Your grandmother was an earth pony, your grandfather a pegasus. Back then, such close relationships between different races were unheard of and so their relationship and children were kept secret.

“Your grandmother’s name was Golden Harvest. She-“

“What about Grandfather’s?”

“… Hurricane Storm.”

“I think I’ve heard that name before.”

“You might have. But regardless, we had lived in a tiny village earning a living through farming. At that time your mother and myself plus our brother, your uncle-“

“I have an uncle?! Where?”

“He died a long time ago, Astra. His name was Klay.”

“But wasn’t he e…immotal… mortal… something. Like you and Mummy?”

“Immortal, yes but there are ways we can be killed and somepony murdered him using one of these methods.”

“Why would they do something so horrible?”

“There was nothing but war in those days, Star.

“When Grandmother had Mummy in her tummy, she had to run away and hide in the Everfree Forest. Back in those days it was much, much larger, stretching out beyond Equestria. It was a cruller place, also. However, that was where we grew up, at least until I was old enough to control my disguise spell without a fault.

“After that we moved to the earth pony village I told you about earlier. We were happy enough back then but one night-“

Luna was interrupted by a guard bursting in through the door.

“Your Highness! There is a problem in the courtyard, your help is needed.”

“Alright, I’ll be down immediately.” Luna replied in her calmest voice she had. One does not let others read fear in oneself, after all.

Then turning to her Astra, “Go to your Mummy’s room and stay there, alright?”

“Yes, Auntie,” she replied glumly, “but you’ll tell me the rest later, right?”

“Very well, Astra.”

The girl brightened up visibly.

She beamed and trotted out of the throne room then spread her wings and flew up to her mother’s bedchambers.

~~~

The next night Astra visited her aunt again.

“So what’s the rest?” She asked, jumping up and down eagerly.

“That cursed, fateful night…”