~Luna’s point of view~
I sigh as I look out of the window. It’s nearly time to lower the moon and hand the day to Celestia again. I turn to the guards at the door. “I hereby declare Night Court to be closed.” They bow and close the doors to the throne room. I get up from the throne and leave it through a side door. As I made my way to my quarters, I mostly stare at my hooves.
“Good morning, Lulu.” I look up and see my sister standing there, smiling at me. “How was Night Court?”
“Morning, Tia. It was empty as always. I don’t understand why you keep asking me every day. Regardless, I will be lowering the moon soon. Have a nice day.” I quickly start walking towards my room again.
Once I get to my room I take off my regalia and start brushing my mane. The bags beneath my eyes reveal that I have not had much sleep during the last weeks. I sigh once more. Tonight the nightmares are sure to return. Before climbing into bed, I light up my horn for a moment and lower the moon. Before my eyes close, I can see the first light of my sister’s sun on the horizon.
I open my eyes, only to see all ponies turning away from me. Some can be heard cursing the night loudly. They all turn towards my sister, who shines bright as the sun she controls, and they start cheering for what they call ‘the true Princess of Equestria’. As she grows brighter, everything around me darkens to the point where only my Thestrals and I would be able to see anything.
Is this truly what you wish Luna?
I swivel my ears, trying to hear where the voices come from, but I cannot find their source. I look at my sister again, tears starting to form in my eyes.
You can change this girl, you can make them love your night. Make them adore it over the light of that accursed sun.
I turn away from the view, but the sight of our little ponies choosing my sister over me, of them shunning my beautiful night is all around me. This is not what I want! I just want them to appreciate my night!
Yes, that would be perfect, wouldn’t it? If they all just learnt to love what you give them. You can have all that…
The images change. Now I am the one being adored by all the ponies, whereas Celestia is nowhere to be seen.
… and more. We can give you the power, if you let us in, dearest Luna. We can make it so that they will forever love you and your night.
My ears perk up at the idea of being loved like Tia is. I have ignored the voices for so long, followed her example all this time, but it does not work! Maybe they can help. I nod, and the voices begin to laugh.
The next evening I wake just as it is time to raise the moon. I brush my mane again and don my regalia. Tomorrow morning I will finally receive the respect I deserve. But first, I make my way to the dining room for a bit of breakfast.
After eating a bit, I make my way to the throne room, where the twin thrones of sun and moon stand side by side. Celestia is still sitting on hers. “Ah, Luna, here to take over for the night?”
“Yes, Tia, as every evening.”
She stands up from her throne and walks towards me. She gives me a quick nuzzle, while I try not to back away from her. “Have a good night, Lulu.”
“Have a good night, Tia. I shall see you in the morning.” I then move away from her and make my way to my throne. I shall see her in the morning indeed.
Night court is boring as ever, with every pony preferring my sister. However, right before I know my sister will make her way into the throne room, I get up and hide behind my throne. I lower the moon for the very last time, and wait until I hear her footsteps.
Soon, I hear the sound of her gold-clad hooves upon the throne room, and I come back into view. “Not. Another. Step.” My sister freezes where she stands when she hears my tone.
“Luna? What is wrong?”
“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all bask in your precious light?”
“Lulu? What are you talking about?”
I make my way to the bridge connecting our thrones. “There can only be one Princess in Equestria! And that Princess… will be me!” My front hooves connect with the ground as I raise the moon again, eclipsing her sun. The castle wall behind me breaks as I feel the magic the voices have given me come out. It surrounds me, and I can feel myself growing more powerful. I can hear the voices laughing as the magic surrounds me. It starts to constrict me and my eyes grow wide. I can feel myself being pushed to the back of my mind as something else takes over my mind.
~Celestia’s point of view~
“Will be me!” I can only watch as magic from the moon surrounds my little sister, changing her in ways I would never have imagined. Her eyes turn slitted like a dragon’s, her fur grows black as night and her teeth grow pointy. As the magic disappears she laughs in a voice that has never been hers. The moment she stops laughing she fires up her horn and destroys a part of the throne room. I move forward and look at my sister. Debris is stopping me from reaching her, so I fly up. The moment I do so, another one of her spells is coming right at me. I avoid it and it hits the roof of the throne room, basking us both in moonlight.
I land and address my sister. “Luna, I will not fight you! You must lower the moon! It is your duty!”
Luna simply looks bored at my remark. “Luna? I am... Nightmare Moon! I have but one royal duty now: to destroy you!” She fires another energy beam at me, I dodge it and fly up through the newly created hole in the roof. “And where do you think you're going?” She flies after me, and keeps attacking. I keep to my word and do not fire back, allowing her to destroy the castle.
“AAAAAAAAAAAH” She hits me in the chest, making me fall down to the ground. As I lie there, I can hear her laugh in the distance and I realise I should stop her before she makes any more victims. I force myself back to my feet. I look up to where her shadow can be seen before the moon, and make my decision. “Oh, dear sister. I am sorry, but you have given me no choice but to use these.” I use my magic to open the secret door in the throne room, and a large grey statue with several coloured jewels on its arms comes out. I take all of the Elements of Harmony for myself and activate their magic. I fly up to where my sister still is and take position opposite her. As I charge the Elements, she charges an attack of her own. Our spells hit each other, and for a few seconds we struggle for domination. Eventually, the Elements manage to overpower her spell and I can hear my sister screaming as they work their magic, imprisoning her in the moon.
It is only when I land that I notice the tears on my face. The guards run towards me, asking if I am alright. I tell them I am, and rush to my chambers. There, I allow myself to cry freely as I lower the moon in Luna’s place. As I mourn the loss of my little sister, a voice can be heard on the wind.
On the longest day of the thousandth year,
the stars will aid in her escape.
