Luna's Absence

The changeling looked at Luna suspiciously, before turning to the others  and clicking to them. When they clicked back, Luna realized that it was how they communicated. The changeling that spoke to her earlier turned and commanded her to follow. After walking through many twisting tunnels and passing hordes of changeling drones, she was led into a throne room to rival even her and Celestia's. Luna heard more clicking, and found that it came from the noticeably larger changeling sitting atop the throne. The changeling stopped when she saw Luna being led in and slowly walked down from her seat as she stared at Luna. When she was a few feet in front of her, Antumbra stopped to command all of the changelings leave. After a minute, it was just Luna and Antumbra as they stared at each other, neither not knowing what to do. Finally, it was Antumbra that broke the tension and leapt forward to tackle Luna in a hug.

"Shh, it's alright my daughter. Mother is here now" Luna comforted her now sobbing daughter, even as she felt a few tears slip down her own cheeks.

"I, I mi-missed you so m-much moth-er! I n-never forgot a-about you" Antumbra sobbed, overcome with many emotions.

"I missed you very much as well, I thought about you everyday" Luna said, her own voice thick with emotions as well.

"I..I almost thought you had forgotten about me Mother.." She said after calming down a little.

"How could I ever forgot about my beautiful daughter! Oh, how you have grown my sweet little Antumbra."

After the two mares had stopped their tears, Antumbra started to tell Luna about what happened when Celestia banished her.

"-So I did find the oasis, but there was only a few days worth of food. I was able to fashion a few make-shift saddlebags from the leaves surrounding it. I filled them up with water and the slight food that was there, before heading out to try and find some form of civilization. After a few days, I happened upon a few traveling diamond dogs. I followed them closely, and soon we were going through a forest. One night, the smallest of them left to go forage some food at a nearby river. They fell in, and I guess they couldn't swim because they were flailing about and howling for a few minutes before they went under and didn't come back up. I figured if I could hide the body, I would be able to disguise myself and finally get some substantial food. Unfortunately for me, the others had heard the howling and I knew I had very little time. I was able to just barely transform and acted as though I was getting out of the water. I was very thankful for being so observant, and I was able to fool them into thinking I was their friend."

A pause, "Would you like some tea?"

Luna nodded and Antumbra closed her eyes and clicked softly, about a minute later a changeling came in with two cups of steaming tea. She nodded her head to the drone, and continued her story.

"I was with them for about 6 months or so, but it seemed like years. By that time, I was actually about a teenager."

"How were you able to grow so fast?"

"I've no idea, I have a theory though that since I had 3 sources of very strong love, it allowed me to grow much quicker than when I was with you. Anyways, it was usually my job to forage, and one day I found a decrepit castle. After walking around a bit and reading a few books from the library, I learned it was The Castle of the Two Sisters. I also found some of your journals...Although you had been prominent in my thoughts all those years, it brought up emotions I had long suppressed. I dropped the diamond dog disguise, and I do not know what became of the rest of them. I stayed in the castle for a few more months, occasionally going into the nearby town and...feeding"

Antumbra slightly winced when she said this, considering she had nearly killed her mother through the same way. Luna smiled comfortingly and put a hoof over hers. She smiled as well and went on.

"I spent my time reading and exploring. While reading one day, I found a self fertilizing spell, and, realizing that I might be able to make you proud by not letting what you created go to waste, I cast it on myself. Whilst I was pregnant, I moved to what is now this magnificent hive. It took a year or so to help make it to its present glory, but it is all worth it."

As Antumbra concluded her story, Luna was indeed filled with overwhelming pride. She looked at her daughter, her grown up queen, and wiped away a few tears of happiness.

"You have no idea how proud I am of you, and while you may be queen here, you will always be my little Antumbra"

They embraced once again, and while there were less tears, a few were still shed.

"OH! Let me show you the best part!"

Luna looked at her with a little confusion, but still followed nonetheless. They walked through more tunnels, until they finally came to what looked like a bed chamber. Luna looked around the room, again amazed at the luxury of it, until Antumbra lifted her head to see there was a large sun-light in the middle of the ceiling.

"I had it made so that the light of the moon will completely bathe my bed. I cannot fall asleep unless I can see your beautiful night. It is was has kept me close to you, all these years. Knowing that no matter what, no one can take away my sight of the night, of your night."

Luna felt herself getting choked up again, and walked to the middle of the sun-light. She turned and embraced her daughter once more, before realizing that she had been gone much longer than she had anticipated.

"Would you like to see me raise the moon?"

Antumbra  was overjoyed, "Yes! I would love to!"

Luna smiled, before stepping out to the balcony and lighting her horn. After the moon was risen, and the stars arranged, Luna turned somberly to her daughter.

"I'm afraid I must go now...Don't worry though, I promise I will be back." Luna paused and cast a quick spell, "Now I can teleport directly here. I love you, and I am very proud of you. I shall be back again very soon."

"I love you too, I shall await your visit again. I will also make sure my our changelings treat you as you deserve"

Luna smiled, gave her one last hug, then teleported back to outside of Canterlot. She flew in through the shield, to see Celestia in the tower looking in a telescope.

"Rest my sister, as always I will guard the night"