Author's Note

Back again, guys. Sorry for the long wait, work and moving into my new place was kinda kicking my ass, but that’s all been taken care of. Enjoy.

”There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”

-Alfred Hitchcock.

Night Of Tears

Duncan and Princess Luna walked down the the dirt road with Twilight in tow. The conversation that the pair had certainly sparked emotions on both sides, and it took a flurry of emotions from both Luna and Duncan to meet on common ground.

Duncan, much like Luna from what he could tell, as well as her depiction in lore often made her as the villain, which seemed convenient to fit the narrative of good and evil.

But a part of him knew better. While she may not have been completely innocent of the events that transpired over a milllenia ago in Equestria, Duncan’s personal philosophy of good and bad were often tipped to one side or another based on logic and reason versus the facts of any one particular event.

“So, Princess, while I don’t mean to be rude when I say this, I have to know; why come to Ponyville on this night of nights?” Twilight asked as she cantered beside Luna who still took to wearing Duncan’s cloak as she contemplated the question for a moment. Twilight hoped she wasn’t being disrespectful. “It’s just. . .I thought you have taken a bit more time to-“

“-Acclimate to New Equestria, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked with her accent of Old Equestrian, as she had a habit of staying in that headspace with those she did not know as well. Nightmare Night; something to essentially, from her perspective, demonize her and what she stood for as one of the princesses of the land. It should make her furious her own subjects would be so quick to turn the other cheek to the plight of the one they had resolved to trust and confide in.

Subjects to understand they are the same of those beneath them, never higher.

“Yes, that,” Twilight nervously chuckled, noting the mild look of her insanity being questioned by Duncan who gazed at her with slitted eyes and a small shake of his head. “What happened in the town square was not planned, I can assure you.”

Luna hmmped, continuing on the path, noting the stillness of the air and the subtle chirp of crickets in the distance. One thing she was able to tell from the brief encounter with Twilight Sparkle was that she essentially lacked direction. Studious and determined in the ways of learning for the sake of, Twilight was also being prepared for something, though she could not tell what it would be. “Spare me your false care, Twilight Sparkle, the town is certainly determined in their innate hatred of me, so I find no reason to contest that which cannot be changed so easily.”

“It’s not hatred, they just misunderstand, Luna.” Duncan said, attempting to cheer Luna up a bit, if any. He still was a bit wary of Luna as per the relationship to Celestia, but he ventured to gain insider knowledge about whatever screw was loose or whatever stick remained in Celestia’s flank to get her to see reason and not want to kill him. “Being gone for so long, along with the whole Nightmare Moon thing just gave them-“

“-Essentially a free opportunity to validate their hatred by using the thought of it being something that was bound to happen for the sake of the natural balance, or something more hypocritical.”

Duncan frowned, hearing her reason and trying to chalk it up to just blind ignorance of what she knew was not all the way true, but also like their reasons for hating Luna was also a reason to not try and change the status quo.

Whether fear or lack of resources to do so.

“But, we can help you, Princess Luna. We can try and show everypony that you’re no longer Nightmare Moon and that they shouldn’t be afraid anymore or treat you any different than Princess Celestia,” Twilight offered her wits and connections to help and try fix this unfortunate chapter in Equestrian history. “It can help your image.”

“She has a point; especially if we want to find the truth out another your sister. It’ll help build your image so when we make that stand, it won’t backfire on us.” Duncan said, agreeing with Twilight. Building a rapport with the town would also possibly help his own image so he would be more likely to be accepted.

“Time will only tell if me agreeing to investigate my own sister on the suspicious claim that she may or not be involved with the idea that the Equestrian Humans were indeed exiled by her. In addition, everything that has ever been said or done from that point has been a lie to paint herself in the best of light every single time remains to be seen.” Luna said, shaking her head in mild disagreement.

Duncan chuckled, laying a hand on Luna’s back as she glanced at him out of her peripheral, casting her gaze back forward a moment later. “You could still say no, but I know there’s a part of you that wants to know the same, but looking into it by yourself could be a bad move if you’re wrong, so you essentially need me,” Duncan flashed a grin, knowing that Luna had little room to argue.

“I do not ‘need’ you, but I will say. . .your assistance would be appreciated in this matter. With you being Human, should we need any form of agility or dexterity, you would be well-suited to that role; nothing more,” Luna huffed, gazing back at Duncan as he coughed, though he did not meet her view as his eyes closed for only a moment before she straightened herself as Twilight looked on, curious.

“I wonder; it looks like Princess Luna. . .no. She couldn’t; maybe she’s just worried about being too open,” Twilight thought to herself.

“However, a better question for the moment, Duncan is how you came to be in Equestria when you were not born here? Is it possible for you to return to your world?” Luna asked, curious about the home that a few of the Humans she did know before her banishment talked about extensively. From the great sights to the many machines that made their lives all the more easier.

And especially the food. How she yearned to go there, if only one time.

“From what Twilight and her friends told me when I got here; through The Mirror Pond, and even if I could go back, I’d rather take my chances here.”

“But why? Do you not have the wonderful sights to behold; the food that is to die for, and the freedom to whatever you please?” Duncan’s answer failed to make her understand anything other than how he came into Equestria.

“Yes, definitely, and the last one really depends on the place and time you were born, and even some of what color skin you have. But Earth is really a shit shit show, at least it was for me; I pretty much had a death threat on my head, as well as pissing off the mafia, and just all around kinda shitty luck; so no.” Duncan folded his arms as the trio begun to see Fluttershy’s cottage appear over the hill. “I would recommend not going there, if you want me to be honest.”

Luna pondered that little nugget of information in her mind as Duncan told her of what exactly led to him being in Equestria to the best of his ability. Granted, there had been some tales and myths passed down through the generations of Equestrian Humans who gradually came to be, but Luna figured the entirety of Earth was not as terrible. Human experiences were also far more varied then that of a pony, given that there were not restricted in quite the way that she often viewed being a pony, and even an Alicorn at that.

“Well, we will have to add that our list of questions to answer on this journey of us to uncover the truth. I would like for us to be one in the same on these matters to help speed along the process,” Luna nodded to herself, all but fully accepting the ‘arrangement’ she and Duncan made.

Twilight’s offer for aid also seemed to call out to her in the decision making process.

“Sure, just one thing. Twi?” Duncan asked, looking to her as they stopped in front of Fluttershy’s door. “What are we doing here?”

Smiling and knocking on the door with a firm fee taps, Twilight chose to hold off on what she more or less thought about on the way back towards Ponyville. “Helping Princess Luna; if we want to help her not been seen as Nightmare Moon to everypony, then we need to help her adjust to these times.”

“And how do you propose that, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked, casting a bland look to the unicorn who merely hummed in acceptance of Luna not refusing the aid, versus being more curious of what said aid was.

“Fluttershy is one my good friends; she’s delicate and demure with the sweetest voice ever. I think a good a place as any would be to change the way you speak to lessen the chance of ponies running away when you try and talk to them.”

Luna backpedaled for a moment, only to come back with a complaint of sorts. “Do you mean to say that you are unhappy with the way my voice is?!” Luna roared for a moment, a small sound wave blasting Twilight’s hat off her head as she barely managed to catch it with her magic.

“Ok, ow,” Duncan commented, lightly rubbing his ears for the moment, noting how quickly Luna flipped from relatively chill to high-strung when confronted with something that possibly upset her to some degree of her past or possibly something she herself did not like and chose to retaliate for fear of being too harshly judged.

“No, Princess. I just think. . .it would be better for you to be more socially acclimated to the new world around you so everypony you meet from here on out won’t think you may be stuck in the Old Equestrian ways,” Twilight attempted to draw some line of comparison so Luna would more open to least changing her speech pattern around certain individuals as to not stand out too much. “And maybe lower the tone is all.”

“But the old ways work!” Luna shouted back, though not quite as loud as before.

“Ok, this is getting nowhere,” Duncan said to himself, not wanting to endure another second possible eardrum rupture, along with mildly awkward yelling out of nowhere. Tapping her on the shoulder, Luna turned around as Duncan raised a finger in order to say something without being yelled at, which Luna understood, “Think about like this-“ Duncan cleared his throat, then crouched down a tad, to eye level with Luna. Cupping one hand on one side of his mouth, he spoke. “If I spoke like this all the time, would you understand me?

“Yes, but it would be sure to be annoying or, even inconvenient at times,” Luna said, tilting her head at what Duncan said, seemingly not understanding until Duncan frowned and gestured to her.

Oh.

“Glad you understand it; that’s what Twilight was saying; yelling at ponies you don’t know will seem out of character for you, when we’re trying to change bits and pieces of your personality to make you seem more appealing to the masses,” Duncan laid a hand on his hip, smiling a bit at Luna who threw him a deadpan look before sighing in defeat.

“Very well,” a huff of her breath left out her mouth, the small chill of the night sky beginning to make itself known in more ways than one. “Then you should be qualified to assist me in this process since you feel so strongly about wanting me to change, as well as-“

“- Not change, just elevate.” Duncan interrupted, waving his hand back and forth. “Just help you adjust until everypony accepts you.”

“Which could take time, Princess Luna. So it would be best to start now,” Twilight adjusted her hat, knocking on the door once again when Fluttershy did not answer right away. “Hello! Fluttershy; open up! It’s Twilight and-“

“GO AWAY! NO CANDY HERE! VISITORS NOT WELCOME HERE ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT!”

“And this is the demure, kind Fluttershy of which you spoke earlier?” Luna asked Twilight, who ignored the look of judgment as she cleared her throat once again and tried to knock again, only for nothing to sway here.

“Yep, Scoots was right; girl’s not coming out anytime soon, and probably even less so since Luna was yelling for a minute straight.” Duncan said, chalking the entire trip over here as a foolish errand. “Come on, we’ll have to do this a different way,”

Luna watched Duncan walk off the beaten path, heading for Ponyville as Twilight stayed behind for a moment, wanting to knock again but ultimately deciding to follow Duncan as well. Taking flight, she hovered over to Duncan’s right side as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, attempting to think of something else to do to possibly help Luna seem less indifferent to the town. “And what are we doing now?”

“Hmm. . .winging it, I guess. Maybe if we ease you into some of the small games and stuff with the ponies we do know, that could help. Pipsqueak and his little gang of troublemakers could be a good a place as any to start.” Duncan said, snapping his fingers as another thought came to him. “Or Rainbow and Aj; they were there when you were freed from being Nightmare Moon, so maybe they can help too.”

Twilight also silently agreed with that idea, trying her best to go over any possible scenarios in her head that she could with everything that was happening. Luna and her voice could be ironed out later, Twilight had the better idea that getting Luna accustomed to the games and traditional things done on Nightmare Night would be a bit easier if approached at the right angle.

“What acts are there to do that may help?” Luna asked, being a a bit out of sorts with any kind of ‘recreational’ activity. Did the ponies of today still throw flaming axes and collect snake venom?

Luna was. . .different as a young filly.

“We can see, but no matter what it is, it should be just the edge we need to help. Tonight we should try and enjoy this night and make it something different than what the masses made it out to be; a positive night for the rest of days. And then afterwards-“ Duncan clenched his fist and felt a bit of phantom pain from Celelstia hitting him and headbutting him.

“-We begin the investigation of any possible illicit activities that my sister may be involved in,” Luna finished for Duncan. “Correct?”

“Yep. What about you Twilight? Are you still on the fence about your teacher?” Duncan looked to herself hold an inner conflict with herself as she held her head down a tad and her ears flattened. “We could either be right or wrong, but you would have no connection to any of this. You, or the girls and Spike.”

Twilight shook her head. “You don’t know that. Princess Celestia could-“ Luna laid a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, temporarily calming her down when it looked like she was about to go on a rant.

“Worry not, Twilight Sparkle. Though I may have been. . .weak when it pertained to my sister during my fall from grace, I can however assure you that you and your friends will not be a part of this internal quarrel, this I promise.” Luna said, the tears that almost came pouring out of Twilight’s eyes halting for the moment. “I know Celestia has been a great many things to you over your time knowing, and she may even do more when the future is concerned, but even you cannot deny that there is. . .something going on that must be looked into.”

Pushing Luna off of her and taking a few steps forward, Twilight exhaled a shaky breath. She herself, was not certain of many things anymore. She tried to be strong; this night begun as nearly any other, but hearing Luna and Duncan essentially badmouth Celestia without any real evidence lit a fire within her.

A fire of conflict.

“What if you’re SNIFF! wrong? What if all of this is just in your imagination? Can you imagine the fallout of this if you are indeed wrong? It could be worse that being banished to the moon! Duncan could be in actual danger! And what about him? He’s our friend, too but he’s getting roped into this.”

“First off; I would consider myself in danger after the second she laid eyes on me; there’s no actual danger because it’s already been established.” Duncan said, raising a finger, as he did another. “And two; Luna told you herself she held doubts, but she wasn’t sure. I have my own doubts, definitely just based off our our encounter that day, which you essentially made happen because of that damn letter!” Duncan growled at Twilight, who stood back in shock.

“It was a mistake! I didn’t mean to, but you had to meet Princess Celelstia!” Twilight argued.

“Yes, but we’re any of us ready? No! I’m not so much so as mad as I am just wanting to get this shit solved so I can start to enjoy my new life in this world. But if it comes to light that your teacher, Luna’s sister, and the ruler of this land has a screw loose or has been hiding something that can change everything; that’s worth investing some time to see if it’s true or not.”

Twilight cried her eyes out, trying to hold back her tears, only to fail. Duncan’s look of no nonsense could have seen as a lack of caring, but it was quite the opposite. Just like the last time he and Twilight argued, she became emotional, just as she was now, but Duncan would not let that stop what essentially had to be done for the sake of the truth; be it good or bad.

“He is correct, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said, nodding as Duncan pointed to himself in confirmation. The truth often hurted those who it would have the worst impact on. “There is not denying that things have certainly changed in my sister, be it small or large. However, I do find it to be a bit questionable that her explanation of The Equestrian Humans of the past truly succumbed to this virus of which she spoke when I returned.”

“Twilight, I know how you feel, and believe you me; I know how heart wrenching it can be to see and hear things about the ones you place the most trust and support in to possibly be not who you were led to believe them as; I get it. But we can’t sit around and do nothing.”

Twilight could not stand to hear another word of this; not now anyways. Tonight was meant to be special. Seeing Princess Luna once again since she was released from her shackles was something to take note of. They had a mission; to help Luna fit in. The duo’s quest for answers could come tomorrow.

But Twilight. . .was not so sure she would join in the search.

“We should find a better place to talk about this; tonight is a night I have to get right; if I am to walk amongst my subjects, they will need to form a new bond with me; even stronger than before,” Luna said, as she wiped Twilight’s tears and Duncan slowly began the walk back to Ponyville. Hopefully Aj and Rainbow Dash would be the first of many answers to the questions she had of this new world.

And possibly a solution to the deeper problems she held within.