Always and Forever

Before dawn was scheduled to arrive, Luna awoke, snuggled against Artemis’ warm stomach fur. He was still sleeping. She settled down on the ground a little ways off, watching him sleep, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. ‘He looks so cute when he sleeps!’ she admitted silently.

Artemis looked so peaceful, Luna almost regretted the fact that morning had to come. But she knew her job, and lowered the moon to usher in a new day. From her place in Canterlot, Celestia raised the sun in its place.

A little while later, Artemis awoke. He yawned and stretched, noticing Luna looking at him. He blushed slightly, then asked, “Did you sleep well, Luna?”

She nodded. “Better than I have in a long time.” She confessed.

Artemis smiled at this. “I’m glad.” After a pause, he spoke again. “Um, Luna, if it’s not too much to ask, may I ask why you were crying last night? If I can help in any way, I would be more than willing…” he looked at Luna nervously, hoping that his question wasn’t too overwhelming. He was starting to regret bringing up the topic when Luna answered.

“I-It’s a long story… I just have felt so lonely lately… it’s been that way for more years than I can count…” Luna’s ears drooped, and she sighed. “Of course you know about Nightmare Moon, and my banishment… and my return… everypony is afraid of me, and many hate me for what I did. When other ponies look at me, they see a monster. Even though I am no longer Nightmare Moon, that’s all they ever remember. I try to talk to them, make friends with them… all they do is run away… and even though she knows I have changed, my own sister Celestia still pays no attention to me… All I want is someone to be there for me. To comfort me. To listen to me. Even if they never ever truly understand me or my night. I just need… a friend. But… that’ll never happen. Who wants to be friends with a monster? Who could love Nightmare Moon? I don’t deserve love… or anything. I’m forever doomed to be a monster, hideous and evil. I’ll never be loved…” Luna choked on the last few words, turning away from Artemis in shame and grief, tears streaming down her face. She cried out in anguish, sobbing uncontrollably. “Never…” Luna collapsed on the ground, sobs racking her body.

“Oh, Luna…” Artemis did not know what to do. He felt obligated to help Luna, but he felt hopeless as to how. He walked over to where she lay. He gently lay a hoof on her shoulder.

Wrenching out of his grip, she quickly scooted back. “Get away! I don’t want to hurt you!” she half whimpered, half screamed. “Stay away from me! I’m a monster!”

Artemis pulled back, stunned. “Luna…” he whispered, eyes wide with astonishment. “Luna… you’re no monster! I’ve seen the real you… gentle, peaceful…”

Luna growled. “That’s not what everypony else thinks. I am a monster! Nopony will ever think otherwise! Believe me! I know!”

“Luna…” Artemis’ ears drooped dejectedly. “Please… this isn’t you… I know that deep inside the real you is waiting to come out. I saw it last night. You’re no monster. You’re just as scarred and broken as everypony else. You’re a real pony, with real feelings and emotions.”

“So you’re saying I’m weak?!” Luna snarled.

“No! No! That’s not at all what I meant! You’re the strongest pony I know! You have endured more hardship, more rejection, more loneliness, and more pain than I could ever dream of! And still, here you are. I could never handle that weight as well as you do. Luna, you are strong. You have heart. I admire that.” As Artemis said these words, he knew every single one of them were true.

Luna paused as she heard these words. She knew that Artemis meant what he said. This in itself overwhelmed her. She began to cry again, tears flooding down her already tear-stained face. Luna completely broke down. “I am in no way strong. I am so lonely, it’s all I can do to keep myself from going crazy. I am so depressed, I can barely hold back the endless flow of tears. I have suffered so much rejection, it would be a miracle for me to approach somepony without them running away in terror. I am so broken, I don’t know if I will ever be whole again. I’m so desperate… so helpless… so alone… so broken… I’m beyond hope now. Love and hope are but a mysterious fantasy… I’ll never know what love is like… I’m shattered… my heart is broken in a million pieces… impossible to be put together again… forever alone and unloved… I’ll be forgotten… nopony will even notice, let alone care when I’m gone… Life will go on without me… I’ll just be but a whisper, gone like the wind…” after she finished speaking, Luna whimpered weakly, stretched out on the ground, still crying out in pain and despair.

“Luna…” Artemis longed to sweep Luna into his arms, to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her everything would be alright… but he knew that now would not be the right time for that. Right now he felt utterly powerless to help the broken princess. “Oh, Luna…” he sighed. Artemis felt tears welling up in his eyes. He let them fall. “Luna… Luna… I wish there was something I could do…” Feeling hopeless, he lay down on the ground, crying softly.

Luna finally lay still, her eyes red from crying. Whimpering quietly, she finally closed her eyes. Luna felt a dim sense of peace as she let sleep claim her tired and exhausted body.

Artemis looked over at her, noticing she had stopped crying and had gone still. He cautiously walked over to her, gazing at her sleeping form. She looked oddly peaceful, lying there. Artemis did not want to disturb her, so he settled down on the ground a little ways off.

As he watched Luna’s chest slowly rise and fall in calm breaths, he thought about what she had said to him earlier. ‘Wow. She really is desperate right now. I had no idea the full extent of what she goes through on a regular basis. I would never last a day in her shoes. All the rejection, all the loneliness; it’s all too real for her. She longs to be loved. I hope that somehow, some way, I can be there for her… she seemed so grateful for my company yesterday. I think she really did feel at peace. It’s been who knows how long since she felt like that last! I’m glad that I could be here for her. I really do love Luna. I never fully grasped that until last night. I would do anything for her. I’m starting to get a feeling that Luna loves me back, she’s just too scared to really admit it. But I know now what I must do.’ He looked over at Luna with an intense love in his eyes. He knew his duty. Artemis would do whatever was necessary to help Luna.

Luna was dreaming, her mind swirling like a hurricane. It was cold, and the windswept, barren landscape seemed to spread on forever. Luna looked around her, seeing nothing but cold grey rock in every direction. Turning her eyes to the sky, she saw Equestria. Luna gasped. She was back on the moon! The harsh reality of this cut her like a knife. She collapsed on the cold, hard ground, sobbing. There was no life, nothing out here. She was truly alone again. She cried out, her anguished voice echoing into the silent air. In a last desperate attempt to escape the void, she took a flying leap, beating her wings furiously, teeth gritted as she sailed into the air. But it was no use. She was stopped abruptly by a force she could not see. She crashed into it headfirst, then plummeted down to the surface of the moon. She landed hard on her shoulder, her hooves scraping the ground. Whimpering, she rose shakily to her feet. There was no way out. She was yet again trapped on the moon. She cried out, her voice echoing through the void, then fading away like a vapor, dissolving into nothingness. She cried out again and again, even though she knew there would never be an answer to her desperate calls. She finally collapsed on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Her tears blurred her vision, clouded her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if she could squeeze the pain, loneliness, and desperation out along with the tears. Then she heard a voice, calling her name. She heard it quietly at first, but steadily growing louder. She rose her head, calling back. ‘I’m here! I’m here! Help me!’ she tried to scream, but no sound came out. She heard the voice again, louder this time. Suddenly a bright light blinded her. Everything around her was dazzlingly white. She was ripped out of her nightmare and spinning back into reality.

“Luna. Luna. Wake up!” Artemis was calling her name, bringing her back to reality. Luna’s eyes shot open. She was shaking uncontrollably, fresh tears streaming down her face. She let out a strangled cry, her eyes wide with fright. Artemis looked at her, concern and compassion in his eyes. Luna looked up at him, her sad, frightened eyes searching his.

“A-Artemis?” she whimpered.

Artemis pulled her to himself, wrapping his wings around her protectively. She leaned into his embrace, burying her face in his warm fur, still crying. “Luna… it’s alright… I’m here… it was just a dream… everything is alright… you’re safe…” he whispered these words to Luna, trying to console her and calm her down. He stroked her mane lovingly. Luna whimpered, looking up at him with searching eyes. Artemis just about melted. Her face was so innocent, so sweet, yet so unbearably sad. He gently lifted her face so it was directly in front of his. Gently he pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. Luna’s eyes closed peacefully. Luna leaned in and kissed Artemis again, whimpering softly. Artemis’ cheeks flushed dark red as he met her embrace with equal passion. Artemis absentmindedly stroked Luna’s mane, pulling them even closer together with his other hoof. Luna finally pulled away from the kiss, breathless. She was blushing madly, a shy smile gracing her pretty face. As Artemis looked into her sparkling blue eyes, he knew with all his heart that he loved Luna with every fiber of his being. He gently brushed her mane back from her face, smiling shyly. “I love you, Luna. Forever and always.” He vowed.

It was then that Luna knew in her heart that she truly did too.