Princess Celestia heard it herself. She heard the ponies. She heard everything.
“Boy, am I glad Nightmare Moon is gone."
Celestia heard that statement every year. She knew it was good for them but not herself. Celestia wished they knew what she was feeling right now. Celestia galloped to her chambers, her eyes squeezed shut together as she slammed the door behind her like she did every year on that day.
She did not want to remember that day she banished her sister, but she would never forget that day. Celestia walked to her bed, her head held down. She was so ashamed of what she had done, but she knew that 'what is done, is done'. Her room was always tidy, clean, and bright. She had everything she need, except her sister.
She laid her crown on her study table and slipped off her royal horseshoes. She did not hesitate letting her tears roll down on her cheeks as soon as she reached her comfy bed. She buried herself in her soft pillow, wetting the pillow instantly with her tears.
"Oh, Luna," Celestia sobbed, "Why? Why you?"
Celestia gazed at the stars and the mark on the moon from her window that her Luna is still there.
"I-if...if only...just only I would have more time with you. No, to never banish you."
Celestia have had many memories with Luna, but this one is something she'll always regret and never forget.
"CELESTIA!”
“Yes, Lulu?” Asked Celestia, entering Luna’s room. Luna’s room was dark blue, but that’s not an odd thing. The odd thing is that she had a T.V.! Luna loved playing games with her controller and sometimes, Celestia joined her.
"Let's play!" Luna proclaimed, with her little blue dress on. Her blue sparkling dress was a gift from Celestia during her birthday. Luna would wear it whenever there's a special event going on. She was young at that time and so was Celestia.
Celestia smiled. They loved playing with each other, but one will cut deeply into the Princess' heart.
"I, Celestia Sun, will hereby declare you banished in the moon!" Celestia giggled, her mother's huge crown on her nuzzle. Celestia pushed it back up as Luna laughed.
"NOOOO!" Luna faked yelled dramatically, placing a hoof on her forehead. They both burst out laughing as they tackled each other. Eventually, Celestia pinned Luna down on the soft carpet.
"Tia?" Asked Luna, after calming down from the fun game.
"Yes, Lulu?" Celestia replied.
"You will not banish me Princess to the moon, right?"
"Of course not, Luna. I love you and I will protect you no matter what."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Celestia stifled a sob, "A-and I broke i-it Luna. I'm...I'm so sorry!"
Chokes and soft pleads were heard in her room. Celestia slowly rose to the balcony. "I'm so sorry," she closed her eyes. "I...Lulu, please...just don't say I didn't...love you."
She bowed her head down in sadness, "I...feel so alone, Luna. Without you, I wondered who am I going to sing the lullaby to. But then, I realized, it was only for you."
She let her tears stream out. "Just you."
She sang in a whispered voice,
“Fate had been cruel
And order unkind
How can I sent you away?”
Celestia remembered her singing the song to Luna for a lullaby after she was banished,
"I HATE YOU!"
Celestia’s ears immediately drooped as she pawed the ground with sadness.
“The blame was my own
And punishment yours
The harmony's silent today
But into the stillness, I'll bring you a song
And I will your company keep
Till your tired eyes and my lullabies
Have carried you softly to sleep”
Celestia closed her eyes as she felt a cold gaze of the moon. She heard the ponies from below singing and laughing together. She heard them saying ‘Goodbye’ and ‘Goodnight’. Memories rushed back to her of the time when she carelessly ignored her sister.
“Once did a pony who shone like the sun
Look out on her kingdom and sight
She smiled and said, ‘Surely, there is no pony
So lovely and so well beloved as I’
So great was her reign and so brilliant her glory
That long was the shadow she cast
Which fell dark upon the young sister she loved
And grew only darker as days and nights passed
Lullaby moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space"
Celestia dropped on her knees. "I...I hope you can forgive me!" Celestia cried. Celestia bowed her head, "I'm sorry...I failed you."
Thoughts of how Luna will respond instantly came rushing to her.
"And I never will!"
“It’s all your fault!”
“You and your silly reign ruined me!”
"Please," Celestia pleaded, eyes closed.
“Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Luna, you're loved so much more than you know
Forgive me for being so blind
Soon did that pony take notice that others
Did not give her sister her due
And neither had she loved her as she deserved
She watched as her sister's unhappiness grew”
Celestia opened her eyes which was brimmed in tears. Her mighty wings spread out as she launched to the sky. Her horn glowed bright, and stars were cast upon the clear night skies, resembling Luna.
“But such is the way of the limelight, it sweetly
Takes hold of the mind of its host
And that foolish pony did nothing to stop
The destruction of one who had needed her most
Lullaby moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space
Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Luna, you're loved so much more than you know
May troubles be far from your mind
And forgive me for being so blind”
Celestia gracefully dropped on the marble floor and look up to see her work. Her horn glowed once more, casting a spell. The stars danced around the moon, and three stars were placed on each side of the moon.
“I hope you will come back to me,” she whispered, thinking of Luna’s sweet face.
“The years now before us
Fearful and unknown
I never imagined
I'd face them on my own
May these thousand winters
Swiftly pass, I pray”
Celestia looked away from the sky as she flew to Luna’s room, placing Luna’s favorite dress on her bed.
“I love you; I miss you
All these miles away”
Celestia flew out, her heart heavy, and begun lowering the moon. The sun began to rise.
“May all your dreams be sweet tonight
Safe upon your bed of moonlight
And know not of sadness, pain, or care
And when I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there
Sleep...”
The sun arose slowly as the moon descended. Tears streamed down her face, ears were reared back in guilt, her eyelids forced closed as she gave out a scream, “Luna! C-come back!"
And maybe, just maybe, Luna will come back.
Luna stood up, her hooves planted firmly on the cold moon.
"Where...W-where am I?" Luna whispered, looking around. The moon was bright, and some dark spots are seen. Luna shivered at the feeling of the coldness and loneliness.
"The moon!" Nightmare Moon cackled darkly.
"Who...are you?" Luna asked, turning around to find Nightmare Moon staring at her with victory.
"Nightmare Moon, of course! Honestly, child, you do not know what happened?" Nightmare Moon gave a dark laugh, taking a step forward.
Suddenly, it hit her. How she tried to capture the kingdom and Equestria!
"She banished you to the moon!" Nightmare continued, smirking.
"Wha-? No no no," Luna protested, her hooves trembling with fear beneath her. "You are wrong! She...She would never do such a thing! Please tell me this is a joke!"
"Speak for yourself, child," Nightmare Moon sneered, "You know it's happening."
"No it's not!" Luna yelled, her hooves carrying her away from Nightmare Moon. She stared helplessly at her home, Earth. Equestria. Canterlot. "Tia! Please! Tell me you're making a joke! If it's a dream, wake me up!"
Nightmare Moon snorted, "Tia won't wake you up. It's not a dream either. She hates you."
"No, she doesn't!" Luna cried as she stomped the ground in anger. "This is not true! Please, Tia, I'm sorry! If I did anything wrong, please, I'm really sorry!"
"Nothing can bring you back, child," Nightmare Moon said mockingly, "You're not Luna anymore. You're Nightmare Moon!"
Luna gasped at the color she was changing in. Her coat was slowly changing. Slower than a tortoise.
"No, no no," Luna whispered frantically. "NO!"
Nightmare Moon's dark chuckle made her shiver as she engulfed her with darkness.
"Please! WAKE ME UP!" Luna pleaded, dropping to her knees in a desperate way.
Luna collapsed on the cold surface of the moon and wept. "No, Tia, don't do this to me!"
Her eyes watered as she thought of how Celestia do this to her. She sniffed, crying out for help.
"How could I turn into Nightmare Moon?" Luna desperately asked to herself. "It's all my fault...I shouldn't have let my jealousy control me..."
Luna created an art Celestia out of the dust of the moon. "I...I missed you, Tia..."
Luna formed a blue helmet with nothing but her hooves. "I...how?"
"My magic gave you the ability to do anything," Nightmare Moon's voice rang in her head.
She transformed into Nightmare Moon with a flash of light. "No....no! Don't do this to me, please!"
Luna made a moon castle as she stomp on the ground hard with her two forelegs.
"Wait...I didn't do anything!"
"I am the one controlling you, fool!"
Luna's body was completely dark and covered with a royal plate. "No...ugh, noooo!"
The moon castle grew higher and higher until it was completely done. Luna trotted across the gates in amazement. The walls have been decorated by smooth surfaces of the moon, and the ceiling was made out of stars. Her hooves stopped as she saw a throne, waiting for her to sit on.
"I...I can't do this!" She mumbled.
"But this is what you wanted, right?"
"I-I know! B-but this doesn't belong to me," she lowered her head down in shame.
"But you also worked so hard to be over Celestia, darling! Come, sit and rule the throne. I'll be by your side."
Luna stared at it helplessly before slowly reaching out to her throne. She gave out a gasp as the ground trembled below her. And before her eyes was servants made out of the dirt of the moon. They bowed to her as she sat there in amazement.
"This is your dream, Luna."
Luna closed her eyes in defeat. Nightmare Moon immediately captured her glorious mind as Luna's eyes turned bloodshot.
Luna/Nightmare Moon gave out a dark chuckle as she destroyed her art of Celestia, "And it's all your fault, Celestia!"
"Sister! Come, we do not want to be late for the Summer Sun Celebration!" Luna called as she trotted inside Celestia's chambers where she was combing her mane.
Celestia sighed, putting down her brush, "Of course, sister. We do not want to be late."
They headed slowly outside the castle. It was not long before Luna noticed something was bothering Celestia. "Sister, is there something wrong?"
"I...No, Luna, it's fine," Celestia choked out, holding back the tears as she looked down.
"Sister, something is wrong," Luna observed, "Please tell me!"
"Luna...I failed you..."
"Failed me?" Asked Luna, obviously confused. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I...banished you to the moon," Celestia sobbed, dropping to the ground. "I promised you to never banish you...I-...I had nothing else to do..."
"Sister!" Luna exclaimed as she pull out a wing over her sister. "Do not blame yourself for it!"
"But it's been one thousand years, Luna," Celestia sighed, "How could you just get over it?"
"Sister, I wasn't present at that time. You did what was right," Luna smiled, sitting on the ground beside her. "If you didn't banish me, then chaos would be corrupted everywhere. You don't want that to happen, do you?"
"Luna," Celestia choked out, "One thousand years, Luna! One thousand! I should've brought you back! I'm so sorry!"
They both embraced into a hug, tears sliding down their cheeks. Celestia held on tightly to her, never letting go as she kissed her forehead.
"I love you, dear sister," Luna smiled.
"I love you too," Celestia smiled back as they hugged like there was no tomorrow. For those guards who were doing their jobs (obviously by just standing by the walls) were trying not to cry at the beautiful moment.
"You good man?" Whispered a guard to the other.
"Y-yes," The other whispered back, sniffing.
Two sisters were meant to be together, and when they're apart they will always be in each other's hearts.
The End
Fin
...Or is it?...