In Umbra Luna Est

[In Umbra Luna Est]

[By AppleGothic]

    Luna stood on the balcony of a tall spire. Canterlot, the collection of ponies in their houses all snug in bed for the night. They worked well into the setting sun, and then needed a rest during the peaceful hours of the day. But as the moon touches the mountains to in the West, she knew the night was coming to the close.

    She hears hoof-steps coming close, "Luna," it was her Sun-bering sister, Celestia, "How go'eth the night?"

    She nods to her, "We 'ought to use'eth this time to use'eth the stars in e'rr sky to align imaginary constructs to add life to e'rr night."

    "Every thoughtful thou art, Sister Luna." she smiles and heads to the opposite side of the tower, and proceeds to raise the sun on the water horizon to the East. As the Moon started to slip from sight, the first of the early rising ponies came out to begin the day. The sun had blurred out the images Luna had made, but those who had gotten up at the right time saw the last of the outlined sky ponies in all the dark splendor that the night had to offer.

    Luna yawned, and slinked off to her parts of the castle. She passed the Alicorns that guarded her areas, and she moved off to her sleeping quarters. Waiting near the door was a certain Green Alicorn with a bow and Arrow as his cutiemark. He was Luna's advisor to most things, "Luna, the night was magnificent, I stayed up all night watching the images you created!"

    "Orion, thou art a flatterer indeed..." She smiles at him.

    "I'm sorry if I offended thee, Princess Luna." He adds his own smile, "Are you headed for bed? I have some things to discuss with you..."

    "Proceed with us, thou may speak freely in our room. We have much to talk about, we take it?"

    "Of course, Princess..." he turns to the guards, "I'll now take my leave, get Cancer to fill in, he should be up by now." they nod at his request.

    They walk into the room, and the guards shut the door behind them. The second they were alone, Luna walks over to Orion, removes his helmet, and kisses him passionately on the lips. He immediately returned the favor, by picking her up, and spinning her around, "Luna, you are just as beautiful as your night, Mea Nocturna Angelus!"

    She giggles at his use of old Equestrian, "And to you, Unum Nos Diligitis, We find your company most appreciated." they return to the kissing, and Orion lays back, resting on the bed, with the Princess above him.

)--( )--( )--( )--( )--(

    Nearing sunset, Luna wakes up to her body pressed up against the body of the green stallion in her bed, "Orion, moonrise is almost called for." Orion sighs, kisses Luna on the cheek, and slides out of the bed. He opens the door, and looks at the two guards.

    "Cancer...Libra...Can you two go get the rest of the guards, and prepare for moonrise tonight?" they both salute him, and they walk off. Orion shuts the door, and turns around to Luna, and started to put his clothes back on, "My Constellations are getting ready...Princess?" he notices that she was crying, "Princess, what is the matter?"

    She turns to him, tears in her eyes, "Why is our night needed, no pony cares about the night, and the amount of work put into the nocturnal sky!" she slinks, and the tears stream down her face. She felt Orion hold her into a hug, "Captain Orion, do not try to comfort us, for we do not deserve it."

     They stood there for another few more minutes before they were all sorted out.

)--( )--( )--( )--( )--(

     A few nights later, Orion was walking past the main hall when he hears a commotion come from a room, "No YOU cannot banish them, Celestia!"

     "Explain to me why you demand the release of The Cult of Nocte" Celestia was stern, and dominating.

     Luna yells back, "Because they are the only ponies that stay up through the night to watch the beautiful skies that I make. Why is it that you can EVERYTHING AND I CAN'T!!!"

     Orion watches as a teary eyed Luna runs from the hall, and down to her room. Orion peeks into the room, and watches as Celestia lowers the moon herself, and raises the sun. The act leaves her tired and exhausted from the feat.

)--( )--( )--( )--( )--(

     Orion walks into Luna's room, and she was sprawled out on the bed. Orion approached, but as he did, she turn her anger towards him, yelling incoherently in his direction. As she settled down, he was in her arms, he head resting on his shoulder, and several bruised on Orion's Body, "Luna…my dear Night princess…How far must you strain yourself…"

     "My sister treats me like I'm unfit to be a ruler, and she takes all the credit for what she does!" Luna continues to sob, "Why is it that when the world is the most beautiful, only a hooffull of ponies care to see it. AND when they do, Celestia finds a reason to banish them…IT. IS. NOT. FAIR!!!" she sobs into his shoulder.

     It was 23 hours until the beginning of the longest night and history, and the rise of Nightmare Moon.

)--( )--( )--( )--( )--(

     Darkness fills the heart.

     In that darkness she reigns supreme.

     All her friends are gone.

     All of her allies are banished into the night skies.

     All of the fame as the "Night Bringer" is over.

     But then a voice comes from the distance, "Mea Nocturna Angelus…"

     She looks around, the chains that keep her latched to the dark side of the moon.

     "Mea Nocturna Angelus…"

     "Orion…are you there?"

     Then a ring of stars  seem to get closer, "Princess…are you there…it's been…so…long…"

     Nightmare Moon looks at the ring, and a green shape starts to permeate through the blackness, his ghostly hoof reaching out, "It's been so long…"

     Nightmare Moon reaches out, and the chains stop her, "Let u get that for you, princess…" all twelve of her royal guard seep out as the constellations come to life. To any pony that was watching the moon at that moment, the stars seemed to converge at the back of the moon, and disappear from the night sky.

)--( )--( )--( )--( )--(

     Just over a year later, Luna was sitting at a darkly colored table, and Twilight Sparkle come to her, "Princess…what's wrong?"

     She looks to the costumed Mare, and she sighs, "We…er…I miss him, Twilight Sparkle…"

     "Who? Somepony back from 1000 years ago?"

     "My Constellations, Twilight…they were once a member of my royal guard…"

     Twilight looks down at her own dress, "Really?" then she thought, "You miss a certain one of them?"

     "His name was Orion…he was my Lover once…he…took my place on the moon when Nightmare Moon escaped…"

     "I…I'm sorry about that, Princess…" She looks away from the moon in shame.

     "I am sure that you are, Twilight Sparkle…" she gets up, "but I still see him form time to time…" she smiles sadly at the moon, "Every beautiful night, he is always there…"

[Finem]