Chapters Author's Note
Note's just the normal disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony or Harry Potter. I'm posting it here by suggestion of my Beta Reader, Void Runner
Luna's Awakening
Prologue: Luna's Awakening
A ray of sunshine came through a small gap in the curtains of a room at the Leaky Cauldron, disturbing the sleep of a young girl. Her ears moved with the sound of a hooting owl. Blue ears on her head, like some animal.
The girl opened her cyan eyes slowly, using one hand to protect them from the sunshine. She noticed the wooden roof that covered the place where she was. Confused, she finally sat up and allowed herself a look around.
She was sitting on a bed, covered with white sheets; the room was small, with furniture made of oak and a fireplace.
On the nightstand beside the bed was perched a brown owl, but the girl ignored the animal. Where was she?
Then she slowly remembered. Her name was Luna and she was a princess pony, co-ruler of Equestria alongside with her older sister, Celestia. She was the princess of the night, with the duty of raising the moon to bring the night.
But then there was that spirit, Nightmare, who, seeing how jealous she was over her sister and taking advantage of this, harnessed her black feelings in a moment of weakness to turn her into Nightmare Moon, taking control and trying to destroy Celestia who, without choice, used the Elements of Harmony to imprison her on the moon.
The scene around her made Luna think that there were two possibilities: either her sister misjudged the power of the elements, which got rid of Nightmare and sent herself to who knew where; Or someone interfered, causing the same effect.
The first was possible, but unlikely, because they had already used the Elements of Harmony before and knew well what they were dealing with. The second was also possible but unlikely, because she, Celestia and Nightmare were alone during the whole battle.
The owl hooted impatiently, but Luna ignored it again, her attention focused on a mirror in the room.
Moving a little further to the edge of the bed, Luna could view her reflection and had to make a great effort not to scream. She wasn't a pony anymore. The new creature she had become seemed a hybrid between pony and... Human! Yeah, this was it. It was exactly what it seemed. She had read about it in one of the records of ancient portal spells created in Dragonia, although no transition between worlds had been made successfully; until that moment.
She seemed a young human girl, but kept some pony features; like ears, wings, her tail and her horn. Her hair was short and light blue, like her mane in its natural form. The stranger in the mirror... she still looked like herself, and it wasn't by the pony signs.
Then she was in another world, not in Equestria? What would she do now? How to get home?
Her attention finally turned to the owl, and Luna realized that it was carrying two letters. One was thick and had a wax seal, seeming important. It was addressed to Luna Stars, in a place called The Leaky Cauldron, and according to the address, room thirteen. She assumed that was where she was right now.
The letter stated that she was summoned to a school of magic, for which she certainly would not attend. She needed a way to return to Equestria. But if she couldn't before September 1... Schools usually had libraries, and one would certainly be helpful.
The owl was still there, so she took the opportunity to send a reply, and also to test if her magic still worked here. She was happy to be able to open the drawer in the table and take parchment, pen and ink from within. She could feel her magic was weak, but still worked.
Of course, if she didn't get out of here she would have to learn to do things without alicorn magic, but for certain things she would need someone who could teach her. Someone she could trust. And she first wanted to try some spells that could maybe take her home.
When the owl had gone, Luna heard a knock at the door.
"I'm coming!" She cried.
Using a quick illusion spell she got rid of most her pony features, although she left the ears. Now the hard part. She reached for support to get up, but fell back on the bed a few times until she could balance well enough to remain standing on her new legs and go, a bit wobbly, to the door and open it, too with some difficulty.
It was a busy day. Getting used to human ways was complicated. Luckily she was left alone most of the time and spent most of this time in her room, trying some things and waiting for the night to try to get back.
Now it was late and the sun was setting. It was strange not having to raise the moon, it was as if part of her was missing. A goal, a reason to be there.
Sitting in the window, now back to the way in which she had come, she thought of all that had happened. She had been discovered out on a street and someone who remained anonymous had had her brought here and paid for the room. But who could it be? No one knew her; it was as if everyone had mysteriously forgotten.
Then she remembered that there was another letter that she still had not opened. It was there where the owl had left it; a dark blue envelope decorated with golden stars on the edges and written in silver ink. There was no address.
Dear Princess Luna
I hope you have come through this trip safely. You must be wondering how you got here and what happened to Nightmare. I am afraid, about Night; her spirit is still inside you, again asleep. As for this world... The release of the power of the Elements of Harmony in Equestria, coincided with a rare stellar event in another world, creating a dimensional vortex. With a little help from me, you were brought here. 1000 years trapped on the moon seemed a little boring, and I don't know if Nightmare would still be in control or not. I don't know how long you will have to wait in this world until you will be allowed to return to Equestria, but I fear that by the time difference, there will be 1000 years past. I'll be providing you with a way to communicate with me in my next letter. Until then, I hope you enjoy your stay.
Your mysterious friend
Star Gate
Luna looked confused at the letter. Who was Star Gate? Well, she understood why she was there now and understood that she couldn't return, thanks to her sister, and that the owner of the letter only wanted to help bring her there. But how did this mysterious person know what was going on in Equestria to be able to interfere?
Well, she had much to be grateful for. She expected to only be able to keep tabs on Nightmare, and that her sister could forgive her for Nightmare Moon and all that she had said earlier. The two had always been so close, so she started getting jealous, which aroused Nightmare, who obviously had not helped at all.
But the problems would continue when she returned. What if she lost control again? What if Celestia couldn't stop her this time?
Luna didn't want to worry about that. She just wanted to go home, but it would have to wait. Meanwhile, she would learn what she could about this new world.
The next day was better for Luna. She sat at a table in the pub, which was located downstairs and was just watching the humans coming and going; how they behaved, how they did things, listening to conversations, learning things by watching.
She found out that this world was divided between magical and non-magical humans. Those who did magic used a kind of wooden stick. It should not work very different from her horn. Basic magic.
A not very welcome piece of news was that here she was a normal girl, not a princess. She discovered this the hard way. The hardest would be to avoid using her real voice and adapt to the way of speaking of the natives. Luckily the majority spoke the same language as her, and the strangest thing was that everypony seemed to pay for everything while she seemed to receive everything for free.
When she came back to her room, she found a black owl with feathers flecked with white resting on the cabinet.
The owl flew to her shoulder, bringing another black letter in its beak. Luna opened it and read:
Dear Princess Luna
How are you adapting?
This is Night Wing. She is your owl now. She is able to find me wherever I am, if a letter is marked with a star stamp. There is a card inside the envelope with some, let me know when you're running out of them and I'll send more. Likewise your letters come with a seal of the moon. If the seal is different, send it back.
The truth is that I am sending this letter to tell you that you will be getting a visit tomorrow to purchase your school supplies. I have paid for your stay in this place. Inside the envelope is also the key to your safe deposit box; it's time you learn to do it by yourself. And don't worry about where the money came from, or needing to return it, I am giving it to you.
Your mysterious friend
Star Gate
1: Diagon Alley - Part 1
Harry Potter felt dizzy as he followed Hagrid to the second floor at the Leaky Cauldron. He thought about everything that had happened to him.
Just yesterday he was a normal boy. Today he was pretty much the most famous wizard in the world. Not that it was bad, in fact, it was wonderful! Although he hadn't got used to all the commotion around him. That everyone in the bar downstairs had made an effort to shake his hand and talk to him, was somehow scary. Hagrid almost had to drag him out from the crowd in order to get here.
"Hagrid, what we're doing up here?" He finally asked, looking curious to the two sides of the hallway full of doors.
"Well, yer not the only student that I'm in charge of helpin' with shoppin'. Luna Stars came to town two days ago. Her parents were killed in an attack by Voldemort. Her sister managed ter hide her and her aunt took her ter live in Romania. She sent her back in time fer the school year, but she don't know much o' our world. She's a bit differen', but don't be alarmed. And be careful with questions."
Harry nodded, wondering what "different" meant in this case. Hagrid stopped in front of a door and knocked.
"I'm coming!" Luna shouted, hearing the beat. She checked herself in the mirror, having found some clothes in the room that morning, probably a gift from Star Gate. The dark blue shirt and the sides of her jeans had the symbol of a crescent moon, just like her Cutie Mark, which led her to that conclusion. Satisfied she went to the door and opened it.
Harry looked surprised at the girl standing in the doorway. Should was roughly the same age as him and was a little taller. Her short blue hair was probably dyed, though he didn't understand why such a young girl would dye her hair. What really startled the boy was the pair of ears that sprouted on top of her head.
Luna watched the boy in front of her for a few seconds, not expecting his presence. His clothes were too big for him and he had a scar on his forehead in the form of lightning. Then her attention turned to Hagrid. He was bigger than she expected, different from any human she had ever seen. He should be the visit Star Gate mentioned in her last letter.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Luna Stars?" Hagrid asked.
"Exactly. And who are you?"
"I'm Hagrid."
"And I'm Harry Potter." Harry replied, somewhat insecure.
He expected her to be like the people in the bar, but she only answered politely:
"Enchanted!"
Harry noticed that her voice sounded somewhat deep, in a solemn way and a bit louder than he was used to, but also noted that she seemed insecure, confused, lost. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and looked at him a few seconds when he extended his hand before shaking it. She didn't just seem to be unfamiliar with the world of magic, like him; she seemed to be unfamiliar with the world in general.
But remembering Hagrid's warning, he held in his curiosity to ask about the ears and the confusion, and just smiled.
A heavy silence fell over them for a few seconds until Hagrid broke it.
"Well, we'd best be goin'. Want ter finish shoppin' before night, no?" Hagrid called, laughing.
The two just laughed and followed Hagrid until the courtyard, with some difficulty because of the crowd that had formed again when they tried to pass through the bar.
The two younger exchanged a confused look. There wasn't anything there; it was a simple small, walled courtyard, with nothing more than a rubbish bin. Why were they there?
Then Hagrid picked up his umbrella and started hitting some bricks, muttering to himself, too low for the two to understand.
Then, like magic, and there was no doubt that it was exactly that, an arch opened, revealing a crowed street lined with shops.
Luna laughed at Harry's amazement when crossing the arch. She herself was delighted with the place, but not so impressed. The place reminded her of Canterlot's Fair, with building shops instead of tents. The items were a bit exotic, ranging from cauldrons, feathers, animals, brooms and herbs, among many other things.
Harry could barely keep up with everything, completely fascinated. He had never seen anything like this before.
"Well, here we are. Gringotts, the wizard's bank!" Hagrid announced.
They were standing in front of a large white building with bronze doors. In front of these doors was...
"What is that?" Luna asked, surprised.
It was shorter than Harry and Luna and had long hands and feet. She had never seen anything like it, and judging by the look on Harry, neither had he, though he seemed to see it more like a story creature than something totally new.
The truth was that Harry knew what it was, he just couldn't believe it. So it was a goblin? They seemed unfriendly, although quite intelligent.
"It's a goblin." Hagrid whispered in answer to Luna. "They're very intelligent, but not so friendly."
The goblin bowed to them as they passed, Luna decided to consider Hagrid's note.
Up ahead there was a new pair of doors, silver this time, with unfriendly words.
"I told you? Only a fool would try to rob the bank." Harry remembered what Hagrid had said.
"It doesn't look so dangerous." Luna protested. "It never looks." She muttered to herself, watching the goblins working. There was magic in the air. A different but very strong magic. "The goblins are very different where I come from."
"Really?" Hagrid asked, concerned.
"They are small and made of ice, harmless but very messy."
The three approached the counter and Luna was silent.
"Good morning." said Hagrid to a vacated goblin. "We have come to withdraw some money from Mr. Harry Potter and Miss. Luna Stars' vaults."
"You have the keys?"
"I have Harry's somewhere." Hagrid said and began to empty his pockets. "Found it!" He finally exclaimed, showing a little gold key. "Luna d' yeh have yer key?"
Luna remembered the key that came with Star Gate's last letter, took it from her pocket and handed it to Hagrid, who handed the two keys to the goblin, who examined them carefully.
"They seem to be in order."
"And also I have a letter here from Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid said with important air, taking it out of his coat pocket. "It's about You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."
The goblin read the letter carefully.
"Very well! I'll have someone take you to the two vaults. Griphook!"
The new goblin accompanied them to one of the gates that were in the lobby.
"What's You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Harry asked.
Luna was also curious, but she knew better than to meddle in others' private affairs.
"Can't tell yeh." Hagrid replied. "Top secret. Hogwarts businesses. Dumbledore entrusted it ter me. My job's worth more'n the desire ta' tell yeh."
The door led into a narrow stone passage, lit by flaming torches, where rails fell off a steep descent. They boarded a trolley, Hagrid with some difficulty, and departed.
The place was a maze of tunnels, full of curves. Harry tried to memorize the way but it was impossible. Luna was more interested in the strange vehicle that carried them. Was it driven by magic? It wasn't pulled by anything, apparently, and despite being easy to push down the slope, they had to climb up somehow, right? Harry also wondered if the trolley knew the way by itself. Griphook didn't seem to be driving.
When they finally stopped, Hagrid was the first to jump off, rushed, followed by Harry and Griphook. Luna leaned on the edge of the vehicle to try to see the bottom, but Hagrid pulled her out quickly.
Griphook unlocked the door to Harry's vault and green smoke escaped from within. Magic. Luna noted. The place was full of tricks. She decided it was best to be aware.
Inside were mounds of gold coins, columns of silver and heaps of bronze. Harry was breathless. He never had anything at the Dursleys and now...
"It's all yours." Hagrid smiled.
All his! If his relatives knew that they would go crazy.
Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into a bag.
"The gold coins are galleons." He explained to the two. "Seventeen silver Sickles to make a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts make a sickle, is pretty simple." Luna didn't think so. He turned to Harry. "Okay, tha' should be enough fer a couple semesters. We'll keep the rest safe fer yeh."
The journey to Luna's, or rather, Star Gate's vault, was short. It was, if possible, more full than Harry's. Star should be someone very rich, very powerful indeed, to have brought Luna there, and possibly dangerous. Luna wasn't too sure about trusting her, but so far, she had no choice.
Hagrid also helped pile a little money into a bag for her, then turned to Griphook.
"The vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, an' can we go more slowly?"
"There's only one speed" Griphook replied, which didn't leave Hagrid very satisfied.
The vault seven hundred thirteen had no lock but Griphook ran a finger through the door and it just dissolved.
"If someone who wasn't a Gringotts goblin tried the same, they would be swallowed up by the door and would be trapped inside." Griphook explained when Luna approached, curious.
"How often do you come to see if anyone is there?" Harry asked.
"Once every ten years." Griphook replied with a smirk.
The vault had only one small round package. Luna felt the energy emanating from it, renewing her own energy, undoing her illusion spell, her eyes twinkled, then Hagrid put the package in his pocket and everything returned to normal. Luckily nobody noticed. Or had they? Luna had the impression that Griphook had given her an odd look, but it could have been just her imagination, because he said nothing.
Harry wanted to know what was in the package, but felt it was best not to ask.
The trip back didn't take too long and soon they were back in the sunlight. Luna never imagined being so happy about it. She preferred the darkness of night, but there was a great difference between the illuminated night sky and a dark and closed cave.
"Go buy yer uniforms." Hagrid nodded to a store: Madame Malkin's - Robes for All Occasions. "I'll make a run to the Leaky Cauldron fer a pick me up. Hate them Gringotts' carts."
Harry was a bit nervous entering the store without Hagrid, but Luna was anxious and pulled him toward the store.
Madam Malkin was a short, fat and smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Hogwarts, dear?" She asked when Harry started to speak. "I have everything here. Actually, there's another boy now being fitted."
Behind in the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch shortened his long black robes. Madame Malkin put Harry on a stool next to the other boy, put a robe over his head and began to mark the hem at the right length, while another witch came to help Luna.
"Hello." greeted the boy. "Hogwarts, too?"
"Yes." Both confirmed.
"My father's in the store next door buying my books and my mother is further along looking at wands." said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'll drag both of them to take a look at racing brooms. I don't see why the first year's can't have their own brooms. I guess I'll bully father into buying me one and I'll smuggle it to school on the sly." The boy reminded Harry very much of Dudley. "You have brooms?" the boy asked.
"No." The two responded.
"You play Quidditch at all?"
"No." they replied again, both wondering what would be this Quidditch.
"I do. My father said it's a crime if they don't choose me to play for my house, and I have to say that I agree. Already know what house you'll be in?"
"House?" Luna asked confused.
"You don't know?" The boy asked in a tone of superiority.
"She arrived from Romania two days ago." Harry defended her, the pale boy shrugged.
"Well nobody really knows until you get there, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family was there, imagine staying in Hufflepuff, I think I'd quit school, don't you?"
"Uh-huh." said Harry, wishing he could answer with something a little more interesting.
"I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding toward the window. Hagrid was standing before it, grinning at Harry and Luna and pointing to three large ice creams to explain that he couldn't enter.
"That's Hagrid." said Harry, pleased to know something the boy didn't. "He works at Hogwarts."
"Ah, heard of him. He's a kind of servant, isn't it?"
"He's the gamekeeper." Harry explained, every second liking the boy even less. Luna's look told him, she thought the same.
"Yeah, right. I've heard he's kind of wild. Lives in a shack on the school grounds and occasionally gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up torching his bed."
"I think he's brilliant." Harry replied coldly.
"Do you?" the boy said with a slight sneer. "Why is he with you two? Where are your parents?"
"They're dead." The two responded dryly. They didn't feel much like going into the matter with this boy.
"Oh, sorry," said the other, not sounding sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"
"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean."
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine." He talked to Harry and threw a dirty look at Luna. "I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"
But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said:
"That's it, you're done, my dear."
And Harry, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down from the footstool.
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose." said the drawling boy.
Luna had to stand still, the witch who took care of her clothes was having trouble pinching a hat to fit with her ears that she insisted on keeping.
"And what's that on your head?" The boy seemed to have finally noticed that little detail on the girl.
Luna struggled to ignore him, but all she wanted was to throw a spell to shut him up. He seemed to her like a cocky Unicorn, who felt superior to the other ponies.
"What is your name?" He insisted.
But the witch was finally done and she left the store running.
2: Diagon Alley - Part 2
Harry was very quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid had brought and waited for Luna.
"What?" Hagrid asked, worried with the silence of the boy.
"Nothing." He lied, distracted.
Then Luna came out, picked up her ice cream with curiosity - Harry couldn't help but notice that she seemed to have never seen an ice cream - and soon the three were in a shop buying quills and scrolls - finally something that Luna felt familiar with, although the inks that changed color were new - when they left the store she decided to ask:
"What is Quidditch?" To her surprise, Harry asked same question, at the same time.
"Damn, I keep forgettin' that yeh two know almost nothing."
"Don't make me feel worse." Harry protested and Luna decided to tell about the boy in the clothes' shop, with the help of Harry, of course. "... And he said they shouldn't allow people who belong to families of Muggles..." Harry continued.
"But yeh don't come from a family of Muggles. If he'd known who yeh are..."
If he knew who I am and what I can do. Luna thought. Although I will teach a lesson to that naughty boy.
"He grew up knowin' yer name, if his parents are wizards. Did yeh see the people at the Leaky Cauldron? Anyway, what does he know about it? Some o' the best wizards I ever met came from a long line o' Muggles. See your mother! Look who's her sister!"
"So what is Quidditch?" Luna insisted. She didn't want to get into a discussion about Harry's life.
"It's our sport. Wizardin' sport. It's like Football in the Muggle world." As if Luna knew what Football was. "Played in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls. Sorta hard ter explain the rules."
"And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?" Harry asked.
"School Houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but..."
"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff." said Harry, depressed.
"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin." said Hagrid, darkly. "There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one."
You-Know-Who, You-Know-What, why did no one ever bothered to name things? What a wacky world full of mysteries was this? Luna thought, confused.
"Vol... Sorry... You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Many, many years ago."
They bought the textbooks for Harry and Luna in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were crammed to the rafters with books the size of paving stones bound in leather, books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk, books covered in curious symbols and a few books with nothing in them.
Luna thought about going back to try to find something to help her return home. She wasn't sure if she should trust Star Gate and believe everything she said.
She remembered package in Gringotts. Why did she have the impression that it was more important than it seemed?
They finished shopping in a calmer atmosphere.
"Well, wands now." Hagrid finally announced. "Oh yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday gift, Harry."
Harry felt his face flush.
"You don't need..."
"I know I don't need to. I'll tell yeh what, I'll buy an animal fer yeh. Not a toad, toads went out o' fashion years ago, everyone'd laugh at yeh, an' I don't like cats, they make me sneeze.' I'll buy yeh an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, deliver letters and everythin' else. As for you, Luna..."
"I have an owl. I received her from my aunt when I came here." She replied, not all true, but they seemed to think Star Gate was her aunt.
Twenty minutes later they were on their way to shop for wands. Luna was a little nervous about that part. She wasn't sure how she would react with the typical magic of this world. And if what happened in the bank would be repeated, or if something worse would happen?
The shop was narrow and shabby. The peeling gold letters over the door said "Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC" There was a single wand on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A bell rang somewhere in the back of the store when they entered. Space was minimal; an empty storefront except for a single spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait.
"Good afternoon." said a soft voice. Harry started. Hagrid must have jumped too because he heard a loud creak and he rose rapidly from the chair, Luna didn't become too scared, but stepped back nervously. The place emanated magic in a way she had never sensed before.
There was an old man standing in front of them, large and very clear eyes shining like two moons in the gloom of the shop.
"Hello." said Harry awkwardly.
"Oh, yes." said the man. "Yes, yes. Thought I'd see you soon. Harry Potter." He noted Luna. "And what have we here?"
She had the horrible feeling that when he looked at her, he could see much more than she seemed at the time. He studied her for a moment and then exhibited a smile that only served to make her more nervous.
Mr. Ollivander turned back to Harry, coming so close they were almost touching noses. Harry saw himself reflected in those eyes.
"And that's where..." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a white, long finger. "I regret to say I sold the wand that did it." he said softly. "Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful, very powerful wand in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out there to do.."
He shook his head and then, to Harry's relief, he saw Hagrid.
"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! Good to see you again... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"
"It was, sir, yes."
"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it when you were expelled." said Mr. Ollivander suddenly serious.
"Um... They did, yes." said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "But I still got the pieces." He added brightly.
"But you don't use them?" Mr. Ollivander asked sharply.
"Oh, no sir." Hagrid replied quickly. Harry noticed he gripped the pink umbrella tightly at the answer, Luna had the impression that it was also more than it appeared.
"Hmmm..." muttered Mr. Ollivander, casting a glare Hagrid. "Well now, let's see Mr. Potter." He took a long tape measure with silver numbers out of his pocket. "What is your wand arm?"
"Er... Well, I'm right-handed." Harry replied.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. While measuring he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core made of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and dragon heartstrings." Luna didn't like that, but chose not to say anything as not to destroy her cover. "No two Ollivander wands are the same, as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are equal. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Harry suddenly realized that the tape, which was measuring between his nostrils, was measuring by itself. Mr. Ollivander walked briskly around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"Enough." spoke Mr. Ollivander, and the tape crumpled and fell, forming a pile on the floor. "Alright then, Mr. Potter. Try this. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and, feeling silly, made some movements with it, but Mr. Ollivander took it from his hand almost immediately.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Eighteen inches. Quite whippy. Try-"
Harry tried, but barely raised the wand when, once again, Mr. Ollivander took it from his hand.
"No, no. Here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, flexible. Come on, try it."
Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was growing up on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to get.
"Tough customer, eh? Don't worry, we will find the perfect wand for you somewhere, I wonder now... Yes, why not? An unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, lowered it by cutting the dusty air with a buzz, and a stream of red and gold sparks came out of the tip like a firework, throwing bright sparks that danced on the walls. Hagrid shouted enthusiastically and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried:
"Oh Bravo, ah, very good. Well, well, well... curious... very curious..." He replaced Harry's wand in the box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious..."
"I'm sorry Sir," said Harry, "but what's curious?"
Mr. Ollivander stared at Harry with those clear eyes.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose feather is in your wand gave another feather, just one more. It's very curious that you have been destined for this wand because its brother, now it's brother gave you that scar."
Harry gulped.
"Yes, Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we can expect great things from you, Mr. Potter. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named performed great deeds, terrible, yes, but great."
Harry winced. He wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander. He paid seven Galleons for his wand, and Mr. Ollivander turned to Luna.
"Now you, my dear. Which is your wand arm?"
He repeated the measurements with Luna, then handed a wand to her.
"Try this. Oak and Phoenix Feather, fifteen inches," He offered her a wand.
Luna barely caught it, an empty box nearby caught fire, causing her to immediately drop the wand over the counter.
"Absolutely not." Mr. Ollivander put out the fire by throwing water from his own wand.
Luna tried a number of wands, each causing a minor accident, it seemed impossible to find a wand for her.
"Hmm... Interesting." Mr. Ollivander said, after another failed attempt. "Another tough customer. What will I do with you..." He thought for a minute, studying her, then seemed to make a decision. "Could you follow me for a moment?"
Luna hesitated, but followed him to the back of the store. She wasn't afraid. Even if it was a trap, without other people around, to see her or with the possibility of getting hurt, she could easily face him, even if her magic wasn't at the peak of its strength.
"You must have heard my explanation about magic cores to young Mr. Potter." It was just a comment, but Luna nodded in response. "It seems they don't react well with your natural magic"
She stopped. He knew! How?
"I've worked in the field of wands for many years. I've seen many things. You have the same brightness in the eyes as a unicorn. Actually, a stronger version of this brightness. I know you are hiding something. A Transfiguration accident, I suppose. Am I right?"
Luna decided there was no point in lying. But no need to tell everything.
"No, I am like this." She undid her illusion spell, allowing him to see her how she had arrived.
"What are you?" He asked curiously.
"An alicorn, in its closest form to you, humans. But what does all this have to do with my wand?"
"One of the common cores to my magic wands come from unicorns..."
"You believe that would work with mine, do you not?" She completed.
"Normally the wand chooses the wizard, miss, but I think none of them was ready for so special a witch as you."
"Only a thread from my tail." Luna replied, firmly. "And I cut it."
"As you wish." Mr. Ollivander nodded, leading her to a small workshop in the back.
Luna carefully cut a strand from her tail and handed it to the old man. She imagined he couldn't do anything wrong with that.
"Can you come tomorrow to pick up your wand, miss?"
Luna nodded. If she was going to stay at the tavern until the start of the school year, it was okay to return the next day.
"Just don't expect me to arrive too early." She added. She wanted to rest a bit and she usually slept during the day.
"Don't worry. I'll be right here when you come."
Luna was returning to Harry and Hagrid when he called.
"One last thing! What is your name?"
"It's Luna. Luna Stars."
"Well, good night Miss. Stars. And good luck."
The last part he hadn't spoken loud enough for the Princess to hear, as the three were already out the door.
The sun wasn't far from setting when Luna said goodbye to Harry and Hagrid in the Leaky Cauldron. She had a quick snack before going to her room.
To her surprise, when she arrived there, Night Wing had brought her another letter from Star Gate.
Dear Princess Luna
How was shopping? I hope everything has gone well and that Harry hasn't given you a lot of work with questions. I forgot that he was going today with Hagrid.
I forgot something important: If someone asks, you're my niece, your family was killed in an attack by Voldemort when you were little but your sister saved you. You lived with me in Romania and are coming to study in your parents' old school, Hogwarts. If you encounter difficulties with your appearance, it was the result of a transfiguration gone wrong, with which your sister accidentally hit you.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation.
P.S.: don't be walking around Muggle London
Luna put the letter along with all the others and was taking care of a last detail on her purchases; adjusting her uniform to fit her complete hybrid form, if there was an emergency.
Don't go to the Muggle London? It was the first thing she planned for the next day, after going to see Mr. Ollivander for her wand. Star Gate had no right to tell her what to do, and frankly, what's the worst that could happen?
3: An Alien in London
Luna went to sleep as soon as the sun rose, and woke up around two in the afternoon, ready to explore. But first she had to get her wand, at least she hoped. It was a day of bright sunshine, nothing too welcome for a walk, especially to the Princess of the Night, but the sooner she recognized the place the sooner the better she would learn how to live there.
A visit to Mr. Ollivander's shop was quick. He was waiting, a box on the counter. As soon as she arrived he smiled warmly and handed her the wand.
No sooner had she touched it than she felt an energy flowing away, a link chain, something like the strange feeling of the first time she had used magic.
"Maple and alicorn core. A single wand, to a single witch. Try it."
Luna shifted her wand in the air, producing a shower of silver stars.
Five minutes later she was back to the Leaky Cauldron. She put the wand with her other school things and picked up the jacket that she had received from Star Gate. She thought for a moment to decide whether to use it with the hood to hide her ears. Putting the jacket on she decided it was too hot and kept it down. She had no difficulties in Diagon Alley. Some looks, the boy in the store, but otherwise had no problems at all.
She left the bar and stopped barely out the door, noticing how the place was different from Diagon Alley. She found herself in a sea of people passing hastily to both sides of the street, a few stopped to observe the stores, some came, some went, Luna barely had time to notice that no one seemed to even notice the Leaky Cauldron there before she was caught in the midst of a strong uncontrolled jostling, away from the site.
When she finally managed to get herself free, all she heard was a loud sound and a cry of "Look out!" before someone threw her to the ground.
"What do you think you are you doing?" She shouted, furious, to whoever had tackled her. She couldn't turn to see, but still felt the weight of someone holding her in place.
"I'm sorry." A male voice answered, irritated and Luna felt that whoever it was had moved enough to allow her to stand up. "But what do you think you're doing? Going out on the street like that. You could have been run over if I didn't reach you in time."
Luna stood up and turned to face the owner of the voice. A tall young man with blond hair and hazel eyes.
He stared back at her, as if he'd just notice something that he hadn't noticed before. Before Luna understood what was happening when he pulled one of her ears.
"Ouch! Don't do it!" She shouted angrily. But he probably wasn't even paying attention.
"It's real?!" He asked startled, before rushing out, screaming that aliens had invaded London.
Luna stood there, confused. She had no idea what aliens were. But, through the door of the bar seemed like crossing a portal to another world, where everything looked the same and different at the same time. The clothes, the shops, the behavior of the crowd, everything was different. Had those things that ran through the streets, as carriages that moved by their own...
She didn't notice the crowd bustling around, screams and running; it was as if nothing came to her in her moment of distraction. So she got back to reality with a voice shouting:
"There she is!"
She looked back at the exact time to see a pair of men advancing towards her.
"Be careful, we don't want to scare her." One of them whispered.
"You sure it's not just a kid playing a prank? We've had other false alarms like this before." The other whispered back.
"A witness said it was real, after having saved her from being run over. She disguises herself as one of us, but we don't know what she really is."
They didn't seem to have realized that Luna was watching them; approaching with caution, carrying something that Luna assumed to be a weapon from this world. She was ready to stand and fight, canceling out the rest of her spell if necessary, when she saw, in a flash, something had been fired at her, her reflexes were quick and she ran across the street.
With full awareness that they followed her, she kept running. She wasn't sure why they were chasing her, but she would take them to a place away from other people, erasing their memories and return to the Leaky Cauldron.
But plans changed when she got pulled into some bushes in the garden of a house.
"What..." She started to ask, but someone hurriedly shushed her quietly. At that moment Luna heard hurried footsteps and raised voices.
"Where'd she go?"
"Teleported to her space ship, I imagine. Such aliens are very smart."
Footsteps running away, then someone called.
"Come on, this way! Before they come back."
She was pulled to the light. Her savior was no more than a little girl, around the same age she seemed to be on this world, maybe younger, with long black hair and golden eyes.
"Come on!" The girl called again. "Before my parents see you."
Luna followed the girl to the back of the house. She peered through the door, seemed to become satisfied because she pulled Luna inside, climbed a flight of stairs and running to the only open door in a hallway, locking both inside and quickly shutting the windows.
"You're really an alien?" She finally asked, staring at Luna with a cheerful smile.
"What is an alien?" The Princess decided to ask, since the little girl was the first person who talked to her since leaving the Leaky Cauldron.
"They come from outside the Earth, from other planets, to be exact."
"I didn't come from another planet." Luna replied.
"I thought not. Martians are green, jupterians seem to be made of gelatin, The ones from Neptune look like amphibians and the ones from Pluto are small and gray, none of them seems human and have ears like yours. And none certainly speaks our language." She said. "My name is Jacklyn Williams, what is yours?"
"Luna."
"Luna means moon in Latin. Did you come from the moon? Is the center of the moon inhabited?"
"No, I didn't come from the moon." Luna replied, a bit more forcefully. "Although I wasn't very far from that." She muttered softly, as if just realizing the words of Star Gate in her first letter.
"Another dimension perhaps?" Jacklyn suggested, running to her desk, picking up a book that was on the subject and started flipping through it, looking for something. "The people here aren't very friendly to visitors." She commented. "No matter if they came from another planet, another galaxy or dimension. It's said that the government holds all them in Area 51. I think half of it is a lie." Luna had no idea what the girl was talking about, but let her continue. "If you aren't an alien then what are you?"
"I'm human, like you... This here was just an... accident." She chose her words carefully. She would try to be as honest as possible without telling her exactly.
"Your family lives around here?" Jacklyn asked. Luna shook her head in the negative "So how did you get here?"
"A friend sent me here. I lived with my sister after our parents died, but we had a fight and this friend thought it better for me to spend some time in London."
"Alone?"
"Well, I'll go to school in a few weeks, but until then, yes, I'm alone."
"Well, you can't return to the streets or so someone will warn those guys again. They are crazy. Because I've known them since they came here at home, a neighbor thought one of my cousin's inventions was a UFO and called them." Jacklyn opened a chest and returned with a cap. "Here. This will help. But we need a disguise for you now that they've seen you." She unlocked the door and pulled Luna with her. "Why did you and your sister fight?"
Now that Luna thought about it, why had everything happened?
"I think that I was jealous of her. I let the darkness take the best of me, instead of realizing what really mattered."
She then remembered the prophecy of Sapphire Sky:
The forgotten nightmare is what you should most fear,
Nightmare should be the forgotten nightmare. Dormant, forgotten, locked in the deepest darkness of her own spirit.
Sun and moon completing a cycle,
That part didn't make sense for Luna.
Dark feelings feed the darkness,
Dark feelings, jealousy, anger, sadness, were exactly what released Nightmare.
And the light that lit you will become your prison,
Because of Nightmare she was transformed into Nightmare Moon and Celestia tried to imprison her in the moon.
At least the stars change the course of destiny,
Those lines also didn't make sense, but Luna imagined that they referred to her being here in this world at that moment.
But be careful with the one who shines closer
The star that shines closer? Luna didn't know what those last lines referred to, but they were a warning and that worried her.
During this brief analysis, Jacklyn had taken her to another room and turned over a chest, now returning with some clothes.
"I understand. I also have an older sister who always shines more than me with the story theater. The secret, as you pointed out and clearly didn't, is don't forget what really matters, the love you feel for each other."
Luna nodded. She should never have forgotten it, never should have allowed Nightmare to take control. Would she still be able to fix what she had done?
"Better to use it. Your hair draws so much attention."
Five minutes after Luna was disguised with a blond wig and a pink-neon cap, which were opposed to her clothes, which mixed white, silver, light and dark shades of blue and black, but also drew attention from any of her clothes.
"Will it be enough?" Jacklyn asked, more to herself than to Luna. "Well, if I didn't know it's you, I wouldn't recognize you, except for the symbol on your shirt, but we can give an excuse for it. Well, I was on my way to meet my sister at the cine, met you on my way. My parents will be furious if they find out of course, because I'm only ten and it's not old enough to go around London alone, but worth it to help a friend."
But Luna hadn't even heard the last part, divided between her little internal conflict and a little of curiosity.
"What is a cine?" She finally decided to ask.
"Bullshit you don't know what's a cine!" Jacklyn looked as if seeing her for the first time. As the man had looked when he noticed her ears. "Cinema is the best invention of humanity! And safer too. You must come with me!"
Luna still tried to protest, but Jacklyn had already pulled her back to the street. The Princess then decided it wouldn't hurt go with her. It would probably be an opportunity to learn more about this strange new world, and would be able to fend for herself without any accidents.
Particularly when crossing a busy street, Luna decided that more questions wouldn't hurt anyone.
"What are these strange carriages?"
"Carriages! Where'd you come from? From the Stone Age?" Jacklyn laughed and rolled her eyes. "These are cars."
Luna understood nothing that the girl spoke.
"How does it move? Magic?" She asked.
"Magic doesn't exist. Or at least that's what humans say. But I believe it's real. But no. Cars don't move with magic. I don't know how the cars move, is subject to mechanics." She shrugged. "I can't believe you've never seen a car too. What else haven't you seen? I need to show you everything! First go to the cine, then I will convince my sister to let us go shopping, there are some very good games. You've played video games?" Luna replied in the negative. "Second best thing after the cine. And for dinner, we'll have pizza. Four cheeses and olives, if you don't mind, don't rely eat heavily on meat. I see no need to kill animals to eat."
Luna suddenly got sick with the comment and had to stop for a minute, silently thanking the information and that she had just eaten salad those two days, it was the closest she had at home.
"And we'll have ice cream for dessert!" Jacklyn continued without noticing. "Isn't it wonderful? There is all day I got a friend to take on a walk."
Luna was impressed with the cine. It was like a theater, but with images and not real people. The movie they watched was a gaggle of curious creatures called Pokémon, with powers and fought among themselves, created and controlled by humans, others were wild and some Pokémon were even able to talk!
A legend, a prophecy, myth or reality, to guide a destiny. A human boy, chosen against his will, for a mission that would decide the fate of the world; gather three jewels able to placate three of the most powerful Pokémon in the world.
This climate of legends and destiny made Luna feel heavy and confused, making her think of how her own destiny seemed to be controlled. The movie, as she discovered this kind of presentation to be called, cine was just the name of the place, was really fun and she was feeling better after leaving.
Jacklyn's sister, Rebecca, then took them shopping where Jacklyn insisted that her sister buy a new hat for Luna and then dragged her to the playground, where she taught a new friend to play some of her favorite games.
If Luna had been delighted with the movie, it was nothing compared to that. The game required the better of her reflexes and even some of her intelligence and she felt a strange energy inside. It wasn't like the energy of magic, she loved that.
Nevertheless, Jacklyn said those games were very simple compared to the games she had at home and promised that if Luna stayed in the city, any day she would show her one of her favorite games: Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, meanwhile challenging her to a duel over the dance mat.
Luna didn't want to stop playing, but then she reminded herself that she was there on a mission to learn more about this world. They had time before they had to find the girls' parents for dinner, so they decided to take a walk around town and check the shop windows. Every new thing, Luna asked questions, leaving Jacklyn glad she could help, most of the time, and Rebecca intrigued by her lack of knowledge, but luckily chose not to ask.
It was late when Luna walked back alone, the city now a little calmer. It had been a fun day, but she would change everything if she could reverse what had happened in Equestria, why she was here. Outside her own selfishness, she now realized. Celestia tried to be rational and she refused to listen.
"Wish you were here, Tia." She muttered, sitting on top of the big clock that seemed to guard the city. She had passed a place where no one could see her to undo her spell, and used the clouds as a cover to fly up there, as close to heaven as she could reach at that moment, hoping no one saw her there. "I'm sorry."
A single tear ran down her face and Luna didn't even bother to stop it. How much longer would repentance haunt her? Three days seemed too much. How much more would she have to wait?Luna went to sleep as soon as the sun rose, and woke up around two in the afternoon, ready to explore. But first she had to get her wand, at least she hoped. It was a day of bright sunshine, nothing too welcome for a walk, especially to the Princess of the Night, but the sooner she recognized the place the sooner the better she would learn how to live there.
A visit to Mr. Ollivander's shop was quick. He was waiting, a box on the counter. As soon as she arrived he smiled warmly and handed her the wand.
No sooner had she touched it than she felt an energy flowing away, a link chain, something like the strange feeling of the first time she had used magic.
"Maple and alicorn core. A single wand, to a single witch. Try it."
Luna shifted her wand in the air, producing a shower of silver stars.
Five minutes later she was back to the Leaky Cauldron. She put the wand with her other school things and picked up the jacket that she had received from Star Gate. She thought for a moment to decide whether to use it with the hood to hide her ears. Putting the jacket on she decided it was too hot and kept it down. She had no difficulties in Diagon Alley. Some looks, the boy in the store, but otherwise had no problems at all.
She left the bar and stopped barely out the door, noticing how the place was different from Diagon Alley. She found herself in a sea of people passing hastily to both sides of the street, a few stopped to observe the stores, some came, some went, Luna barely had time to notice that no one seemed to even notice the Leaky Cauldron there before she was caught in the midst of a strong uncontrolled jostling, away from the site.
When she finally managed to get herself free, all she heard was a loud sound and a cry of "Look out!" before someone threw her to the ground.
"What do you think you are you doing?" She shouted, furious, to whoever had tackled her. She couldn't turn to see, but still felt the weight of someone holding her in place.
"I'm sorry." A male voice answered, irritated and Luna felt that whoever it was had moved enough to allow her to stand up. "But what do you think you're doing? Going out on the street like that. You could have been run over if I didn't reach you in time."
Luna stood up and turned to face the owner of the voice. A tall young man with blond hair and hazel eyes.
He stared back at her, as if he'd just notice something that he hadn't noticed before. Before Luna understood what was happening when he pulled one of her ears.
"Ouch! Don't do it!" She shouted angrily. But he probably wasn't even paying attention.
"It's real?!" He asked startled, before rushing out, screaming that aliens had invaded London.
Luna stood there, confused. She had no idea what aliens were. But, through the door of the bar seemed like crossing a portal to another world, where everything looked the same and different at the same time. The clothes, the shops, the behavior of the crowd, everything was different. Had those things that ran through the streets, as carriages that moved by their own...
She didn't notice the crowd bustling around, screams and running; it was as if nothing came to her in her moment of distraction. So she got back to reality with a voice shouting:
"There she is!"
She looked back at the exact time to see a pair of men advancing towards her.
"Be careful, we don't want to scare her." One of them whispered.
"You sure it's not just a kid playing a prank? We've had other false alarms like this before." The other whispered back.
"A witness said it was real, after having saved her from being run over. She disguises herself as one of us, but we don't know what she really is."
They didn't seem to have realized that Luna was watching them; approaching with caution, carrying something that Luna assumed to be a weapon from this world. She was ready to stand and fight, canceling out the rest of her spell if necessary, when she saw, in a flash, something had been fired at her, her reflexes were quick and she ran across the street.
With full awareness that they followed her, she kept running. She wasn't sure why they were chasing her, but she would take them to a place away from other people, erasing their memories and return to the Leaky Cauldron.
But plans changed when she got pulled into some bushes in the garden of a house.
"What..." She started to ask, but someone hurriedly shushed her quietly. At that moment Luna heard hurried footsteps and raised voices.
"Where'd she go?"
"Teleported to her space ship, I imagine. Such aliens are very smart."
Footsteps running away, then someone called.
"Come on, this way! Before they come back."
She was pulled to the light. Her savior was no more than a little girl, around the same age she seemed to be on this world, maybe younger, with long black hair and golden eyes.
"Come on!" The girl called again. "Before my parents see you."
Luna followed the girl to the back of the house. She peered through the door, seemed to become satisfied because she pulled Luna inside, climbed a flight of stairs and running to the only open door in a hallway, locking both inside and quickly shutting the windows.
"You're really an alien?" She finally asked, staring at Luna with a cheerful smile.
"What is an alien?" The Princess decided to ask, since the little girl was the first person who talked to her since leaving the Leaky Cauldron.
"They come from outside the Earth, from other planets, to be exact."
"I didn't come from another planet." Luna replied.
"I thought not. Martians are green, jupterians seem to be made of gelatin, The ones from Neptune look like amphibians and the ones from Pluto are small and gray, none of them seems human and have ears like yours. And none certainly speaks our language." She said. "My name is Jacklyn Williams, what is yours?"
"Luna."
"Luna means moon in Latin. Did you come from the moon? Is the center of the moon inhabited?"
"No, I didn't come from the moon." Luna replied, a bit more forcefully. "Although I wasn't very far from that." She muttered softly, as if just realizing the words of Star Gate in her first letter.
"Another dimension perhaps?" Jacklyn suggested, running to her desk, picking up a book that was on the subject and started flipping through it, looking for something. "The people here aren't very friendly to visitors." She commented. "No matter if they came from another planet, another galaxy or dimension. It's said that the government holds all them in Area 51. I think half of it is a lie." Luna had no idea what the girl was talking about, but let her continue. "If you aren't an alien then what are you?"
"I'm human, like you... This here was just an... accident." She chose her words carefully. She would try to be as honest as possible without telling her exactly.
"Your family lives around here?" Jacklyn asked. Luna shook her head in the negative "So how did you get here?"
"A friend sent me here. I lived with my sister after our parents died, but we had a fight and this friend thought it better for me to spend some time in London."
"Alone?"
"Well, I'll go to school in a few weeks, but until then, yes, I'm alone."
"Well, you can't return to the streets or so someone will warn those guys again. They are crazy. Because I've known them since they came here at home, a neighbor thought one of my cousin's inventions was a UFO and called them." Jacklyn opened a chest and returned with a cap. "Here. This will help. But we need a disguise for you now that they've seen you." She unlocked the door and pulled Luna with her. "Why did you and your sister fight?"
Now that Luna thought about it, why had everything happened?
"I think that I was jealous of her. I let the darkness take the best of me, instead of realizing what really mattered."
She then remembered the prophecy of Sapphire Sky:
The forgotten nightmare is what you should most fear,
Nightmare should be the forgotten nightmare. Dormant, forgotten, locked in the deepest darkness of her own spirit.
Sun and moon completing a cycle,
That part didn't make sense for Luna.
Dark feelings feed the darkness,
Dark feelings, jealousy, anger, sadness, were exactly what released Nightmare.
And the light that lit you will become your prison,
Because of Nightmare she was transformed into Nightmare Moon and Celestia tried to imprison her in the moon.
At least the stars change the course of destiny,
Those lines also didn't make sense, but Luna imagined that they referred to her being here in this world at that moment.
But be careful with the one who shines closer
The star that shines closer? Luna didn't know what those last lines referred to, but they were a warning and that worried her.
During this brief analysis, Jacklyn had taken her to another room and turned over a chest, now returning with some clothes.
"I understand. I also have an older sister who always shines more than me with the story theater. The secret, as you pointed out and clearly didn't, is don't forget what really matters, the love you feel for each other."
Luna nodded. She should never have forgotten it, never should have allowed Nightmare to take control. Would she still be able to fix what she had done?
"Better to use it. Your hair draws so much attention."
Five minutes after Luna was disguised with a blond wig and a pink-neon cap, which were opposed to her clothes, which mixed white, silver, light and dark shades of blue and black, but also drew attention from any of her clothes.
"Will it be enough?" Jacklyn asked, more to herself than to Luna. "Well, if I didn't know it's you, I wouldn't recognize you, except for the symbol on your shirt, but we can give an excuse for it. Well, I was on my way to meet my sister at the cine, met you on my way. My parents will be furious if they find out of course, because I'm only ten and it's not old enough to go around London alone, but worth it to help a friend."
But Luna hadn't even heard the last part, divided between her little internal conflict and a little of curiosity.
"What is a cine?" She finally decided to ask.
"Bullshit you don't know what's a cine!" Jacklyn looked as if seeing her for the first time. As the man had looked when he noticed her ears. "Cinema is the best invention of humanity! And safer too. You must come with me!"
Luna still tried to protest, but Jacklyn had already pulled her back to the street. The Princess then decided it wouldn't hurt go with her. It would probably be an opportunity to learn more about this strange new world, and would be able to fend for herself without any accidents.
Particularly when crossing a busy street, Luna decided that more questions wouldn't hurt anyone.
"What are these strange carriages?"
"Carriages! Where'd you come from? From the Stone Age?" Jacklyn laughed and rolled her eyes. "These are cars."
Luna understood nothing that the girl spoke.
"How does it move? Magic?" She asked.
"Magic doesn't exist. Or at least that's what humans say. But I believe it's real. But no. Cars don't move with magic. I don't know how the cars move, is subject to mechanics." She shrugged. "I can't believe you've never seen a car too. What else haven't you seen? I need to show you everything! First go to the cine, then I will convince my sister to let us go shopping, there are some very good games. You've played video games?" Luna replied in the negative. "Second best thing after the cine. And for dinner, we'll have pizza. Four cheeses and olives, if you don't mind, don't rely eat heavily on meat. I see no need to kill animals to eat."
Luna suddenly got sick with the comment and had to stop for a minute, silently thanking the information and that she had just eaten salad those two days, it was the closest she had at home.
"And we'll have ice cream for dessert!" Jacklyn continued without noticing. "Isn't it wonderful? There is all day I got a friend to take on a walk."
Luna was impressed with the cine. It was like a theater, but with images and not real people. The movie they watched was a gaggle of curious creatures called Pokémon, with powers and fought among themselves, created and controlled by humans, others were wild and some Pokémon were even able to talk!
A legend, a prophecy, myth or reality, to guide a destiny. A human boy, chosen against his will, for a mission that would decide the fate of the world; gather three jewels able to placate three of the most powerful Pokémon in the world.
This climate of legends and destiny made Luna feel heavy and confused, making her think of how her own destiny seemed to be controlled. The movie, as she discovered this kind of presentation to be called, cine was just the name of the place, was really fun and she was feeling better after leaving.
Jacklyn's sister, Rebecca, then took them shopping where Jacklyn insisted that her sister buy a new hat for Luna and then dragged her to the playground, where she taught a new friend to play some of her favorite games.
If Luna had been delighted with the movie, it was nothing compared to that. The game required the better of her reflexes and even some of her intelligence and she felt a strange energy inside. It wasn't like the energy of magic, she loved that.
Nevertheless, Jacklyn said those games were very simple compared to the games she had at home and promised that if Luna stayed in the city, any day she would show her one of her favorite games: Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, meanwhile challenging her to a duel over the dance mat.
Luna didn't want to stop playing, but then she reminded herself that she was there on a mission to learn more about this world. They had time before they had to find the girls' parents for dinner, so they decided to take a walk around town and check the shop windows. Every new thing, Luna asked questions, leaving Jacklyn glad she could help, most of the time, and Rebecca intrigued by her lack of knowledge, but luckily chose not to ask.
It was late when Luna walked back alone, the city now a little calmer. It had been a fun day, but she would change everything if she could reverse what had happened in Equestria, why she was here. Outside her own selfishness, she now realized. Celestia tried to be rational and she refused to listen.
"Wish you were here, Tia." She muttered, sitting on top of the big clock that seemed to guard the city. She had passed a place where no one could see her to undo her spell, and used the clouds as a cover to fly up there, as close to heaven as she could reach at that moment, hoping no one saw her there. "I'm sorry."
A single tear ran down her face and Luna didn't even bother to stop it. How much longer would repentance haunt her? Three days seemed too much. How much more would she have to wait?
4: The Shadow
Unlike what Luna expected, the last month of vacation passed quickly. She still couldn't help but miss her sister and her world every day, but she had adapted quickly to her new life here.
Without any guide who could teach her about the magical world, she devoted some time to read her school books or even go to the bookstore. Moreover, Jacklyn and Rebecca were even willing to teach her everything, not only about the Muggle world, as wizards referred to the non-magical world - although there was technology and, to Luna, it was just a different form of magic, because Luna didn't see another way for humans to create and control lightning to make all those strange devices operate - as they also taught her about things common to both worlds. Luna was devoted mainly to learn how to do things without magic, with the justification for her friends where she was from others always did things for her, which for certain things wasn't anything from the truth, while for others, not so much.
Rebecca was acting much like Celestia in the role of "big sister", although the two were very different, which didn't help much that Luna felt the absence from home, so she avoided her older friend as much as possible, which wasn't easy since Rebecca accompanied Jacklyn almost everywhere outside their home.
Finally the morning of September 1 arrived and Luna felt ready to face the new adventure that would be the school.
Luna looked in the mirror. She wore her white shirt, dark blue jeans and jacket, all with the moon symbol, which Star Gate had sent her, a black cap that Rebecca had bought her, embroidered in the same way and black boots with silver details, also a present from Rebecca.
But how would she carry her trunk to the station? Magic was out of the question and there were so many things in there...
She went down to the floor below and got help to carry the trunk to the outside of the bar, then she had an idea. She searched in her pockets for the rest of her Muggle money left from her last visit to the arcade. It seemed her lucky day, which was news to her. There were four coins. She picked one and ran to the nearest pay phone. Luckily Rebecca taught her how to use them. They were faster than using letters, but more expensive and less safe.
In ten minutes there she was on the way to the station, in the back seat of the car that Rebecca had borrowed from her parents.
Luna found a letter from Star Gate next to her stuff. Now, in the car, she opened and read it.
Just writing to wish you good luck, Princess. I hope you have a good trip.
P.S: One thing I forgot to tell you; passage onto the platform. The wall between platforms 9 and 10 is nothing but a spell of illusion. Just don't let the Muggles see you.
P.P.S: The Headmaster knows about you, don't trust this secret to anyone else.
May the stars light up your way, Princess of the Night!
Letters from Star Gate were getting weirder. Luna folded it and put it in her pocket.
Rebecca was still a novice driver. Luckily they had left early and managed to get to the station a little before time. Luna said goodbye, while Rebecca helped her put the trunk in a cart. Then she ran to the platform, trying to pass as unnoticed as possible and crossed the barrier hoping nobody would notice.
She was still not sure about trusting Star Gate, but at least she was being useful. If something bad were to happen, it was at Hogwarts where she would have to be careful.
She walked down the train looking for an empty compartment but all seemed to be already occupied. Maybe she should just hit one and try to make some friends, when she found the door of one compartment open and a boy smiling at her: Harry Potter.
"I saw you coming." He commented. "I thought you'd want a quieter place to stay."
"Away from people asking questions that I might not want to answer?" She asked, laughing. "It's a great idea. Thank you."
Harry didn't move from the compartment door, giving her a brief look, then finally went in and sat down.
"You've changed." He said in explanation to his look. "Sounds more like if you belonged here than an alien planet. Wish I could say the same of me." He muttered.
"Come on, you belong here. You're a normal kid."
But at that moment they heard a voice from outside the train.
"Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?"
Harry sank into the seat, but Luna approached the window to see three boys and a girl with their mother at the station. The speaker was one of the twins.
"You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"
"Who?" The mother asked.
"Harry Potter!" The twins answered.
"Okay, I take that back." Luna replied.
"Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, please…" The girl asked.
"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"
"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there — like lightning."
"Getting attention wherever you go..." Luna said, sitting in front of Harry.
"And who spoke is the girl with the..." He hesitated for a moment.
"... Pony ears." Luna added. "Yeah, right, you got me."
"About the ears..." Harry began, not knowing if he should ask.
"My sister accidentally bewitched me. Nobody ever managed to undo it." She replied, removing her cap.
"What was she trying to do? Transform you in a pony? Is that possible?"
"Something like it. I think. Nor do I know if this is possible, but I think so."
Then the compartment door opened, revealing the younger redhead.
"Is anyone sitting here?" He asked, pointing to the seat next to Luna. "The rest of the train is full."
Harry shook his head and he sat down. He looked at Harry, then at Luna, then turned to the door, pretending he hadn't looked.
"Hi Ron!" Said three voices and the twins and a redheaded girl. She wore her hair slightly longer than Luna and wore a hairpiece done in the colors of the rainbow It looked so natural on her Luna would swear her hair was stained that color if she couldn't see it was attached to a cloud-shaped hairclip.
"So the boys told the truth. Are you Harry Potter?" She smiled. "I'm Roxanne Dare. Those are Fred and George. And it seems that you have met their youngest brother, Ron." She looked at Luna. "And you are?"
"Luna Stars."
"So, anyone out there brave enough to come with us?" She asked. "We go to the middle of the train. Lee Jordan brought a giant tarantula."
"I will!" Luna offered, full of curiosity. "See you later, boys."
And waving, she walked out with the triplets into the hallway.
"So where are you from, Luna?" Roxanne asked.
"Far away. I'm not sure."
"Cool. Liked the clothes. Quite style-"
"Fred, George, Roxy!" A boy called, diverting their attention from Luna, before Roxanne could say whatever she was about to say. "There you are!"
The boy had to be Lee Jordan. Luna thought. He carried a large box and several other children followed him. He was headed for them next.
"Anyone brave enough to open the box?" He asked.
"I am!" Luna offered, but another girl had said it at the same time.
She was slightly older than Luna, but younger than Roxanne. She wore a black tank top with the drawing of a silver wolf howling at the moon, blue jeans and white sneakers. Her hair was red, short and rebellious and she had a white scar over her right eye.
"Two courageous girls!" Lee analyzed Luna. "And a first year. What a surprise!"
"Have you ever seen a giant tarantula, Luna?" Fred, or maybe it was George, Luna couldn't recognize them, asked.
"No. But I've seen much scarier things." She thought she had no problem admitting.
"Well, one more for Carla's club." The other twin laughed.
"What kind of things?" The girl, who Luna supposed to be Carla, asked.
"Trolls and Goblins of ice, Snow Spirits, a Manticore; specters of Nightmares..." She shrugged.
"Giant tarantulas should be a breeze for you then." Carla opened the box and a black, large and hairy spider came out. Most students shouted and ran off, others climbed the seats, frightened.
Luna was calm and didn't move when the spider moved toward her. Then it was as if everything froze and darkened, the spider seemed to grow the height of the car, glowing red eyes and fangs menacingly gleaming silver.
She smells the darkness in you. It's not real, but a false step and it can be. Said a voice in the air.
In a flash everything was back to normal and Luna found herself lying on the ground, the spider moving up to her, but Carla jumped in front of her and... growled at the spider?
The spider returned to the box, which Lee Jordan quickly closed while Carla left the car. She looked strange.
"What happened?" Luna asked. Only she, the twins, Roxanne and Lee remained.
"I don't know." said the four in unison.
"One moment everything was normal, the next Carla was stopping the spider from biting you." One of the twins said.
"Everything was strange and I heard a voice..." Luna said.
"I don't know, but it's better you return to your car." Roxanne replied.