Luna's Rose

The Return

Dear MoonButt

Sorry just trying to be cheerful, by the time you’ve read i’ll have been dead for close to a millennium. Upon finding this note you'll find a rose, the rose itself resembles many things I found similar to you. Its petals shall never wilt, much due to your appearance that shall never age. It will bloom when midnight passes, as dawn approaches it’ll close once more shielding its beauty from the sunlight. The rose itself holds much more than the eye can observe, upon the day of your return I wish that you visit the gardens. Take the rose with you and remember. Remember the times you cried, remember the times you laughed, finally remember me, the sacrifices I made and the love I gave you. I love you luna never let me go.

“When my time comes forget the wrong that I've done help me leave behind some reasons to be missed and don't resent me and when you're feeling empty keep me in your memory leave out all the rest”

Sincerely,

Steven

The lunar deity read the note with a blank stare. Something about the note seemed familiar to her. Whether it was the name signed, the thought of her quote unquote past lover, or her nickname. Maybe it was all three. The other thing that confused her was to who exactly Steven was. She had a good reason to remember him if he was her lover. Its also not like she would have preferred to remember anything from the moon over her lover. Just moon rocks, moon dust, and the lack of air. She shuddered from the horrid memories of her banishment. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, he left her a rose. Turning her head away from the paper her eyes locked onto the rose that stood in a small vase on her bedside table.

It would require a high amount of magic and experience only for some of the best uni...Tia.

If her assumptions were correct, she would know about Steven if she also hadn’t forgotten him, but for a reason unknown to her she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the rose. The instincts inside her seemed foreign, but told her told her to touch the dark red petals of the rose. Reaching her hoof out slowly she made contact, and just like that her world went dark.

______________________________________________________________________________

“What is your name?”

Luna's ears perked up at the feminine voice, upon noticing the voice she noticed that her surroundings had changed. She was in a new room, by the looks of it an interrogation room. A table accompanied by two figures were all that were placed in the room. She squinted, hoping to identify both of the figures. Once her eyes had adjusted, she finally recognized the first figure. A younger version of her sister sat next to another figure she couldn’t make out. Right now he was completely black, engulfed in darkness.

“Tia?”

“I dont remember my name, and for that matter much of anything at all. Please I don’t mean harm im just confused right now.”

Luna frowned neither of them paid her any mind, she moved to the table cautiously unsure of the current situation she was in, she paused suddenly she recognized the other figures voice, yet she couldn't put her hood on it. She decided to speak again a little louder.

“Tia, where am I?”

I understand your concern before I tell you where you are i wish to ask you a few questions, does that sound fair?”

Luna watched the figure of darkness nod, in a desperate attempt of attention she spoke one last time silently hoping that she would catch her sister's attention. She inhaled, and opened her mouth and let out her frustration all out at once.

“TIA!”

“What kinds of food do you consume on a daily basis?”

Luna looked at her sister in disbelief, even her loudest of shouts hadn't even phased her sister, she knew for a fact that celestia hated her canterlot voice, how in equestria was she not even both-

“Its a memory dear sister.”

Luna jumped, the voice hadn’t come the celestia from in front so that meant-

Wondering how we can communicate? Did you honestly believe that you were the only one with that power Lulu?

“Dear sister, when was this, and who is thou talking to?”

You really don’t remember him?

“No.”

Its best you find out for yourself then, good luck.

“Goodbye sister, and thank you.”

Bye now the figures of the room had continued their conversation almost as if time itself, more likely the memory.

“Personally, seeing that we are a different species, I understand your concern. My race are omnivores but specifically i'm a vegetarian. So really salads fruits and vegetables.”

Luna watched celestia nod, but for some reason Luna couldn’t shake the voice. It sounded so familiar, so welcoming, she hated herself for not remembering. Lunas attention snapped back to her sister as she spoke again.

“Are you a hostile person?”

She watched the dark figure shake his head, she noticed at the top of his body, at his head the darkness that surrounded him had slowly started to erode away. She stared as she saw a few pieces of what looked like black fur reveal themselves.

“I'm only hostile towards another individual if all other means have failed and I am in danger's path. More along the lines of self defense.

Luna watched her jaw agape as the darkness surrounding his head was finally dispelled revealing white skin and short black hair. She had seen this being before, she was certain. She just couldn't remember when.

“Final question, if we could return you to your home world would you wish to return?”

Luna's eyes watched him with intent, she saw his blue eyes lower to the floor and his head followed. She couldn’t help but feel bad for him he was clearly saddened by thinking of his home but why?

“N-no, there's no place for me in my home.”

She had noticed his voice had lowered itself greatly speaking at almost as whisper. She felt guilt cascade across her body but she couldn’t pick out why.

“We found these next to you when you first arrived.”

Luna's eyes followed the yellow glow that Celestia’s horn created holding something mid air. She placed the object in front of him, two oval pieces of metal held together by a chain was placed in front of him. She had seen these before as well, she was sure of it.

“M-my names, Steven?”

Luna heard a choking noise, her eyes stared into Steven...that name It sounded so familiar. Everything she had heard thus far was so familiar in her head it cause her to grow irritated with herself. She watched helplessly as she heard him elicit a few sobs. She felt terrible.

“Steven?” Celestia's tone was gentle and comforting. “Would you like to stay in Equestria? We could let you live in the castle and we could provide you with other necessities.”

“I wouldn’t want to bother or get in the way…”

Luna stood patiently listening to the conversation unfold, different thoughts occurred in her head. This was the person that had loved her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had loved him back.

“I promise you steven, that housing you in the castle would be of no bother to me or my sister, even equestria for that matter. Please, I insist.”

“If you insist miss…?”

“Princess Celestia, but please call me Celestia, we are no more higher class than you, now if you’d please repeat after me and raise your right hoo- hand.”

Luna watched as he nodded and raised his right hand. She recognized the action as her sister prepared to make him an equestrian citizen.

“I Steven, swear to treat the other ponies in this land with the utmost respect, I swear to obey the laws and law enforcement, and finally I swear to respect the beliefs religions ideas and history behind equestria itself.”

Luna observed his shaking hand as he repeated after Celestia, she couldn’t help but notice a single tear slide down his face when he finished.

“Welcome to Equestria Steven.”

__________________________________________________________________________

Luna blinked she found herself in new surroundings, she this time recognized her surroundings. She stood in the castle's dining hall. Her eyes wavered over towards the table where miraculously she sat.

Just a dream

“So Steven this is my dearest sister Luna, guardian of the night. You met her when you were first in the hospital. Remember?”

“I do remember Celestia. Its a pleasure to meet you on better terms Princess.”

“Please just call me Luna.”

“Sure thing L-Luna.”

Lunas, well the real luna's ears perked up. Her accent was non existent how was that possible as far as she remembered she had the accent. Where could she have-

Nightmare moon changed her, and not for the better

The accent wasn’t even real an illusion in her head because by that...by that monster she had once trusted.

__________________________________________________________________________

She blinked and again found herself surrounded by plantlife, stonewalls and a few statues. Her eyes found a figure in front of her sitting on a bench peacefully. Staring upwards she heard him let out a sigh. Luna’ instincts told her to reach out to him she was about to when a voice startled her from behind.

“Admiring the scenery?”

Recognizing the voice as her own she backed out the path of herself. She watched as she moved to Stevens side quietly without another word.

“More or less, the gardens isn’t what capture my attention though. Though it is beautiful nonetheless.”

Luna watched herself sit next to Steven and turned to him, Luna was unsure of her past selves antics, more or less because she had no recollection of this event at all.

“Then what is it that captures your attention?”

“The night sky, its calming and relaxing. It helps to just de-stress sometimes.”

“You know Steven that you shouldn’t be stressed, it is no harm to my sister or I that you live with us, and if you’d ever require support canterlot houses some of the greatest minds throughout the country.”

“Thanks for the offer, it's not myself that i'm having a few issues with though, this country, this culture, this world is new to me. It’ll take me a year to adjust.”

“I could help you if you’d like.”

Luna watched herself unsure of her antics. She had offered to help him a friendly thing to do but there was something else there. An emotion of some sorts, unsure of what precisely it was, she tuned back in on the conversation.

“I’d like that, do you think we could do that sometime soon?’

“That sounds wonderful”

______________________________________________________________________________

The memory around her reformed revealing Luna to her bed chambers. Unsure if it was still a memory or real life she waited patiently, sure enough her past self trotted out from her bathroom back to the bedroom. She continued over to her dresser when a knock at the door directed her path. She watched herself open the door.

“May I help-Oh Steven would you like to come in?”

“Thank you, Luna I wondering if we could talk about equestria and other formalities today. If you don't have plans that is.”

She watched herself shake her head vigorously, apparently eager to spend time with the human. Luna looked at her past self and her eyes widened in recognition of her own expression. She had a crush on a human, a completely different species, alien to her world entirely.

“P-please come in! Make yourself comfortable. I’ll see if some of the maids could make us something to drink, what would you like?”

“Just a waters fine.”

“Ok, so what would you like to talk about?”

“Specifically the culture of this world, I honestly don’t mind learning anything that would benefit me.”

She watched her horn began to glow its aura of blue as she summoned a servant to her bed chambers. She saw her past self turn to the bed, only to see Steven still standing up unsure of what he should do. Luna motioned for the bed.

“Please sit down, a servant will be here momentarily.”

“Ok…”

She watched Steven reluctantly sit on the bed, still nervous either about the world around him or goddess before him. As soon as he sit he began to fiddle with his fingers to most likely de stress.

“There is no need to worry Steven, I wish you no harm. The culture in this world is not very much different from your world, except a few small differences. Religion has no existence in this world, everyone is well aware of the goddesses in the palace and does not question their existence. You could have probably figured that one out.”

A knock from the bedroom startled him, both Luna’s giggled at him, he joined in after a few seconds into a small chuckle. Luna arose and trotted over to the door to receive the drinks from the servant. She returned after a few moments with the drinks wrapped around in her blue aura.

“Your water, Steven.”

“Thank you Princess.”

“Just Luna, were friends here, just call me Luna.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

Luna rolled her eyes. She was always like that. Luna didn’t like being treated as royalty, she frowned upon it highly. But she tried her best to be treated equally to her friends and loved ones. She watched herself after she pulled out his water and gave it to him, she pulled out a bottle of pure AppleJack Daniels Hard Cider. She visibly face hoofed. She was always the one for that beverage, for ANY occasion. With that she pulled down to small glasses with it and placed it on her bedside.

“In case you don’t want just a water, and this stuff is pure heaven on equestria or earth as you would put it.”

“Could you pour me a small glass, it wouldn't hurt to try it. Would it?”

She watched him smile sheepishly, she couldn’t help but think one thought. But honestly the thought terrified her.

Cute

“Here, I promise you you’ll love it.”

She watched steven down the small drink. She smiled as his eyes went wide in either shock or realization.

“Sweet mother of god you weren't lying Luna!”

“So lets continue on the culture shall we.”

______________________________________________________________________________

The surroundings around her changed again. She found herself back in the gardens. The bench in front of her held the pair. They sat next to each other. On the ground beside the the bottle of cider lay, knocked over. She heard a few giggles and brought her attention to the pair in front of her again.

“Thanks again *hic* luna for teaching me the *hic* culture and stuff.”

“That’s what *hic* friends are for!”

“N-No *hic* I gotta pay you back some how. Im gonna *hic* get you a present or something!”

“Th-There's no need to repay *hic* me.”

“No, H-here take these it's a *hic* phone It has music and stuff on it. You'd like it. Watch”

Luna watched as the MP3’s screen turned on. Curios she approached, the pair. Close enough to see now she read the screen. Linkin Park, Leave Out All the Rest. She heard a piece of music begin to play. Her ears perked up as the lyrics started.

I dreamed I was missing

You were so scared

But no one would listen

'Cause no one else cared

She watched her past self wrap one of her blue wings around Steven, he visibly tensed. He relaxed soon after and let himself be pulled into her.

After my dreaming

I woke with this fear

What am I leaving

When I'm done here?

Steven, with a slow approach reached his arm around her. She watched as her head went onto his shoulder completing their embrace.

So if you're asking me

I want you to know

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

And don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

She watched herself turn to steven she tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to her confused.

“Steven, I have a confession to make.”

Don't be afraid

I've taken my beating

I've shared what I've made

I'm strong on the surface

Not all the way through

I've never been perfect

But neither have you

“What is it luna? You can tell me anything. Were *hic* friends.”

So if you're asking me

I want you to know

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

“Well you've been in Equestria for over a week and well, we’ve spent a few days together and being around you just makes me happy.”

Forgetting all the hurt inside

You've learned to hide so well

Pretending someone else can come

And save me from myself

I can't be who you are

“I like being with you too Luna it makes me feel incredible.”

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

“ Steven I like you, alot”

“I like you too Luna”

Forgetting all the hurt inside

You've learned to hide so well

Pretending someone else can come

And save me from myself

I can't be who you are

“No you stubborn human! I love you!”

Luna watched in shock as her past self pushed forward bringing her muzzle to his lips and pressed into them in an act of passion. She noticed the shocked steven tense up, but quickly relax into the kiss. He brought his hand to her cheek and softly caressed it. Her past self pulled away and smiled at him.

“Thank you.”

“For what Luna?”

“For being the only human to stumble into this land.”

“Well no problem.”

“It’s late we should go to bed. Speaking of bed… would you care to join me?”

Steven had a face of disbelief either of shock or disgust. Luna and past Luna were scared if they had pushed too far.

“You mean...sleep together?”

“If that's too much to ask you don’t have t-”

He silenced her with another kiss, and Luna visibly melted into him loving every moment of being together.

“I’d love to.”

__________________________________________________________________________

Luna found the surroundings around her changed once more as she found herself in her bedchambers once more. The sun shone brightly through her balcony entrance. Her eyes wandered to her bed. The duo lay there in each others embrace, surprisingly enough her

horn left the man undisturbed. Beside the bed stood her sister a face of shock, disgust, or anger. Perhaps all three.

This ought to be good.

Her eyes wandered back to the bed as Steven awoke and stretched his arms upwards, his eyes moved to Celestia and an audible gulp was heard throughout the room. Her past self still lay undisturbed.

“Good morning Steven!”

Her eyes stared daggers into his skull, and silently he arose into the air held tightly by a golden aura. The sheets fell to his side, as she picked him up and held him above her. Her voice turned into a harsh whisper as she spoke.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing in bed with my little sister. You’ll be lucky if you ever see the light of day when i’m through with you!’

Luna’s eyes widened as the golden aura compacted growing smaller with each second. an ear splitting scream arose from his mouth and a sickening crunching sound was created. The aura enlarged again causing Steven to twitch involuntarily. As the golden aura began to compact once more a new blue one wrapped itself around the original, cancelling it. The blue one held Steven, and gently it lowered him to the bed once more. Luna’s eyes drifted to her past self, she saw anger and rage boil within her, far greater than her sisters had been.

“Tia what the actual fuck!”

She watched her sister take a step back, clearly shocked with the volume of her new found voice. Even her past self stood in mock disbelief. However she simply stood there unsure of why the pure shock had taken over. She had had her canterlot voice from birth. Hadn’t she?

“Tia do you honestly think that I was unaware of what I was doing last night?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe that I can look out for my own well being?”

“Y-yes.”

“Do you think that it may be possible that I have affections for this man?”

“Yes”

“Do you trust me Tia?”

Celestia breathed in the air getting caught within her throat. She looked uneasy, clearly guilty of her jump to action. She lowered her head and answered.

“Yes.”

“Please, in the future do not make such hasty decisions.”

A muffled grunt caught the attention of the three of them. Their heads turned to the man lying on the bed. He lay there, several drops of blood dripping down his face and arms, his eyes closed, and a single bone was protruding out of right arm. The sheets below him were bloodstained and if Luna’s ears served her correctly, tearstained as well.

“Steven!”

Though inches away she moved with lightning speed to the man, he horn began to glow the same blue it had only seconds ago. Leaning downwards she touched it to his forehead. The aura engulfed him rapidly running down his body. Once across his body, the auras overall darkness grew to a dark blue.

“This may be painful steven.”

Another blood curdling scream echoed throughout the room once more. Man eyes opened again and widened as pure pain ripped through his body. The effects to the spell however were immediate. The bone that once had extruded from his arm began to return to its original position. The blood that had run down his body climbed back into the holes from where the bone had pierced, and the skin that was ripped rehealed itself and was left without scars. The screaming left him and the aura left him as luna fell to the floor out of pure exhaustion. The man's breathing was calm and his eyes were closed.

“It is done.”

Her eyes flickered closed and her breathing slowed.

______________________________________________________________________________

The room around her changed once more. The figures that once stood before her vanished. She was back in her bed chambers, alone this time. Upon her entrance she felt...her. The nightmare inside her that controlled her, that forced her into suffering for a millennium had vanished. Her eyes moved to her bedside, the drawer below the note rang a familiar bell. Moving to it she pulled it open with her magic. Inside was the phone from her memories. The memories that she had been given by Steven. Almost by instinct she clicked the home button, a picture appeared. Upon closer inspection she recognized the two figures. It was a picture of her and Steven, her wing wrapped around him, her head on his shoulder. At the bottom of the screen were four words that made her chest and face burn.

I Love You Forever

Again by instinct she swiped to the left and opened the phone. She found another picture that she assumed represented her.

Keep Calm

and

Admire The

Moon

She chuckled, her eyes wandered to a single small icon at the bottom of the screen, Music. Upon seeing the app, she opened it. She scanned the screen and read aloud. “Now playing: Leave Out All the Rest, Linkin Park.” She clicked resume, and set the phone back down. Turning to her bed she climbed onto it and laid down. Her eyes closed as the familiar music put her in a trance. She could remember everything now, so why not remember the beginning. As the rest of her memories came flooding back to her a single tear left her eyes. The first tear she had shed since her banishment, all those thousand years ago.