Chapters It took Luna almost fifttheen minutes to get into the outfit of her counterpart. She had to use her maw to pull each boot over her hoof. They felt silky and smooth on her coat and Luna wondered if she lost her mobility, because the boot went until her knees.
She used her magic to get the helmet on her head. It was a bit difficult, because of the weird sea-snake like fins, that hit her ear painfully. Luna cursed. She added the horn ring. The cresent moon dangled between her eyes. The necklace was easy to get on as well. Luna levitated the cloak with her magic and eyed it. It was so large. What if her wings got entangled in it? Sighting Luna wrapped it around her and closed the broosh.
The Princess was not sure what the other, smaller rings were for. She decided to not wear them. She also did not want to wear the eye shadow. Luna slowly walked through the castle. It reminded her of the Castle of the Royal Sisters, decades ago, when they still had been young.
The corridors were long and small. Wooden doors with golden handles. Luna found carpets and banners, hanging from the walls. They were rethorn as if somebody had not found the need to repair them. Luna caught glimpsles of ponies, she did not knew. One of them was a stallion with grey fur and a black mane. He looked like a king. Luna thought, she spotted a crown on his head.
Another rethorn carpet showed some blue mare, wearing a small silvery crown. Of course Luna also saw carpets – less rethorn this time – which showed her and her sister's counterpart. Their looks made her shiver. It does not look like we are benovlent rulers in this world. It seems more like it's best not to tangle with us.
The castle itself seemed to be rather dark. Only fires in torches, which hang on iron chains from the celling enlightened the place just a bit. Their light threw shadows on the grey stones. Windows cut through the walls like shimmering eyes. Luna felt her fear, quivering over her back. This place was so creepy. Because it was familiar. A twisted version of her old home.
It took Luna quite some time to find the throne room. One could only tell, that it was the throne room, because a gothic looking pair of chairs stood at the end of the hall. They were made out of darkbrown wood. One of them had a silver line and a crimson pillow, the other one had a golden line and a violet pillow.
Fire burned in a chimney. Its light danced uneasy over an organ, which stood in a corner. Two guards flanked the throne. They had dull, tired faces and wore an agyptian-like helmet on their heads. In their hooves, they hold a spear.
„You are late.“ The Alicorn, who spoke the words in a harsh tone, could only be the reflected Celestia of this world. She had a white coat and her long, multicoloured mane was sticked up, forming several, small locks around her face. The Cutiemark was shaped like a sun but its center was pitchblack. She had dark pink eye shadow and her crown was shaped like two dragon horns behind her head. The golden necklade had a violet collar with it. Her violet boots were as high as Luna's and had a golden line at their end. There were golden rings in her tail: One at the tail's root and one close to the end of the tail. There was also a weird, golden harpoon tip at the end of it.
„I am sorry, sister“, said Luna and lowered her head, „I should have cut the whine short last night. I had a little hangover and needed more time.“
The reflected Celestia finally looked at her and blinked. „What happened with your mane?“, she demanded to know. Luna realized, that her mane still floated around her without being held back by something.
„Is it bad?“, asked Luna and posed carefully.
Her sister from the other side called: „It looks horrible! You have a reputation to keep up, Lunar. Moreover we will have guests. And you do not want to look like that in front of Queen Cadence and King Shining Armor, do you?“
Queen Cadence and King Shining Armor? What? , Luna thought baffled, Okay. This world is even more weird then I thought. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Just try to act normal. Show your confusion later. I still need more information.
Luna responded: „You are right, Tia. I really should look better for our guests. Sorry, because of my chaotic looking mane.“
Celestiar seemed to flinch at the word Tia, but maybe it was only a trick of the light. She levitated a small bell. While shaking it wildly, the Alicorn called: „Maids!“
Two small unicorns entered the throne room. Luna was reminded of the two Spa Twins, Aloe and Lotus. They probably were it even. But their coats was darker and they wore black outfits with frills. The two maids bowed. As soon as they laid eyes on Luna's normal mane, they called: „Oh, dear!“
Faster then Luna knew it, Aloe and Lotus had forced her into a chair and were combing her mane and tail. They levitated the rings, which the mare had not used. „Ouch“, grumbled Luna as they pulled on her mane and made several, small praits, pushing the rings over them.
Celestiar laid herself lazily on the throne and mumbled: „If you had been doing it yourself, you would not have to ensuffer this now.“
Luna leaned back her head and grumbled: „Yeah, I got it.“ Blimley, I think, my counterpart's sister is as ennerving as Celestia. She needed to close her eyes when Aloe (or Lotus, Luna could never tell who was who) painted the eye shadow on her lids. The maids bowed and left the room.
Luna now had several locks in her mane, together with a long praits. Her tail had a long ring at its root and she had another ring near the tail's end. Only the harpoon tip of Celestiar was missing. Luna nervously looked down and thought: If I now look in a mirror, I could not tell, who I am. Celestiar stood up. She softly lifted Luna's chin and eyed her. A weird smile spread her lips. „That looks much better, Shining Star.“
Luna had to force her brows from not going upwards. Shining Star? Celestia had never called her like that. Always little sister, Luna, Lulu or now that she was older Lu. But somehow Luna liked this new nickname. Shining Star. It had a nice ring to it.
At that moment one of the guards called: „Announcing Queen Cadence and King Shining Armor.“ Both Royal Sisters – the one from the world of the mirror and the one behind it – looked up. O...kay! Luna had to bite her tongue to prevent her jaw from hanging down. Next to her Celestiar returned to her throne.
The reflected Cadance had a pale pink coat and a grim expression on her face. Her mane in shades of violet, pink and yellow hang straight around her small face. Blackish shadows laid at the end of her strands. Cadence's Cutiemark resembled a shattered crystal hearth, split in two. Her shoes, necklace and crown were made out of grey iron and Luna could tell, that she was walking slowly because of this weight.
Shining Armor trotted behind her, head hung. His coat was pale white and his cobaltblue mane had shades of grey in it. Luna blinked in pity and surprise. Despite wearing a cloak and a crown, which was too big, his hole body language seemed to speak one word: Coward. Weakling.
Cadence turned her head back. She clicked her tongue. „Shining, do not make such a face“, she shouted, „We want to make a good impression on the Princesses.“
Shining Armor sighted and forced himself to stood taller. „Yes, Mistress“, he mumbled.
Luna leaned towards Celestiar and whispered: „Guess, who wears the hore shoe in this house.“ The evil Princess chuckled.
Celestiar looked at Cadence and said: „I am glad, you could come so soon.“ A wave of her hoof towards a table. „Make yourself at home.“ While Queen and King took their seats, the Alicorn waved the bell again. „Servants!“, she called. Immediatley a group of Unicorns showed up. They brought plates, filled with breath, cheese, milk, cake, fresh salad and chocolate. Then they left.
Luna blinked. That looks nice. But something was weird. She could not tell, what it was, but the smirk Celestiar had on her lips, while taking small pieces from everything, darkened her mind with worry. Carefully Luna filled her plate with cheese and bread and poured some milk in her glass.
„No coffee, Lunar?“, asked Celestiar and held a bottle with an inkblack liquid in it.
Luna had to avoid jumping backwards. Coffee? What the hay is coffee? Does she want to poison me? The mare laughed weakly and shook her head. She made a defensivley movement with her hoof. „No, thanks, sis. Milk will be just fine.“
They ate in silence. Luna found that the bread tasted rather dull and boring, almost dry like capboard, but the cheese was creamy and soft in her maw. The milk too had a cool and refreshing taste. But still this was a rather small meal for a Princess. Maybe they had nothing better in this world.
„So?“, Celestiar asked after they finished breakfast together. With a swing of her horn she made a map appear, which showed Equestria. Luna found it looked rather much like her own Equestria, but her counterpart's sister had made many small Xs on the map. „Have you succeeded in taking over the Crystal Empire?“
Cadence let out a snort. „No“, she barked and slammed an hoof on the table, „Princess Trixie's guard have taken our guards out in single combat. Not to mention that one certain mister“ – she glared at Shining Armor, who ducked down and whimpered – „seems to have proven once again that he is a complete idiot and useless.“
She put her forehead in her hoof and shook her head with a sigh. „We really need your guards, Celestiar“, she grumbled, „You have promised us help if we keep King Sombra busy for you.“ Luna looked at Celestiar and then at Shining Armor, who kept nibbling at his hooves like a foal. They are plotting something. Something big. That is not good. And who is King Sombra? She knew her world's King Sombra, but it was sure, that they did not mean the mad King with his reddish horn. And did Cadence mentioned a Princess Trixie? What kind of world was this?
Celestiar rolled her eyes. She moved several small figures on the map, forming a circle around the figure of a heart. „I told you, I will get you your soldiers“, she responded, „Besides, when I said keep Sombra busy, I meant keep his guards busy.“ She moved a few guard figures over the map. „I do need Sombra.“
Shining Armor asked with a feeble shout: „Then why don't you send your guards? If we attack the Crystal Empire together, Sombra will send his guards there in no time! Cadence could have the Crystal Throne and Hearth and you have the throne of Canterlot. Wasn't that our deal?“
Under Celestia's ruthless glance, the white stallion ducked down and even backed away from the table. The Alicorn snorted dangerously, before she said: „Yes, this has been our deal. But I have helpt you and your wife more then once. Cadence, if your pathetic husband can not manage to lead my faithful soldiers, then maybe I should cut them off completley.“
Shining shouted: „But Captain Good Guy and his magical tricks….“ He was knocked off by his wife.
Cadence hissed: „How often must I tell you: I speak, when we are negotating with the Princesses.“
Luna shivered. They only pretend to have a deal. But in fact this is a fight for power. She looked at Celestiar, who stayed rather calm. Nopony dares to fight against her, because she holds all the power.
Cadence looked up at Celestiar and bowed slightly. „I am very sorry for the actions of my husband“, she piped, „He really is good-for-nothing. But I fear, he is right about that Draconeques. If you still feel the mercy to send guards, we would be rather pleased.“
Celestiar lifted the stallion stature with her hoof. It was wearing a small crown. „Maybe I will“, she said smoothly, „But Equestria is no longer my priority.“
Cadence lifted a brow. „What?“, she asked confused.
Luna's eyes widened in shock. No! Do not think that. It is impossible! There was no way Celestiar could know about Luna's Equestria! Or was there? Don't be ridicolous, Luna!
Celestiar replied: „That is none of your business, Cadence. Now get out.“
„But“, the pink Alicorn protested. „Get out!“ Snatching her knocked out husband at his tail with her magic, Princess Cadence ran out of the throne room.
Luna trotted to her side. „It does not seem like this meeting got so well.“
Celestiar placed the figure back on the map. She bared her teeth and slowly walked back and forth along the window. „I knew, I should not have gotten entangled in this ridicolous deal with Cadence“, she grumbled, „She cannot even fullfill one simple job. And if she thinks, she gets the Crystal Empire, well, then she does not know me so well.“
Celestiar stopped and looked at Luna, smiling briefly. „As soon as Sombra agreed to our offer, we shall be free to rule like we have ever dreamed it“, she said.
The Princess of the Night forced a smile on her lips. „You are right, Tia. Eh, what offer?“ I should not have said this! Celestiar lifted a brow suspiciously. „The deal, that we may get the key to his ladyfriend's world“, she responded, „Seriously, Lunar, are you sure you are alright, Shining Star?“
Luna laughed weakly. „I do not feel that well, Celestiar“, she mumbled, „Maybe if I just take a small walk, I will do better.“
The evil Alicorn laid a wing on her shoulder. „Do this, my younger sibling. In the meantime I will visit our good friend, Sombra.“
A rather outrageous welcome
There was only one path, that leaded away from the castle. Luna was walking through a greyish, twisted version of the world, she knew and loved so much. The Everfree Forest surrounded her castle, thousands of grey trees, whose bark was balckish with ash. The leaves had all fallen down and were now an undefined mass under her hooves, mixed with moss and topsoil. Fog – thick and grey – creeped over the ground and wandered upwards the trees. Luna's ear flickered in an attempt to hear a sign of life, but there was none.
I really don't want to live in a place like this. Shuddering Luna looked up at the sky. It was blackish-grey and in all the clouds swam Celestia's sun, pale and sick compared to its beautiful counterpart in her world. This Equestria is a shadow of itself. Had it always been like this?
The forest had ended and Luna was trotting over the path, which had transformed into a street. From the many hoofprints and carriage's trails, one could judge this was a main route, used to deliver certain supplies. The wasteland around it had not really changed. Luna did not get the idea out of her head, that an ernormous fire had destroyed every possible vegetation.
She stopped at a weathered signpost. Its arms showed into different directions, depicting several cities. Canterlot. Cloudsdale. Ponyville. Luna decided, she wanted to visit Ponyville. Because the castle, where she had woken up, must be the counterpart of the ruins of her Castle of the Royal Sisters this was the shortest route.
The town looked desolated. The buildings were rather simple. Houses flanked the streets. Their roofs were darker. Still everything had this greyish tone. Luna slowly walked over the street. She could hear doors, shutting close and felt eyes, staring at her, filled with hate.
Why is nopony out here? Luna stopped and chewed her lips. Her eyes looked around worried. Could it be that the ponies were scared of her? But why should they be? She was their Princess after all! This is not your world, Luna. And the pony, they are seeing, is not you. Who knew what this reflected Luna had done to her people? Luna could definitely tell that Celestiar was evil and wicked and it was foolish to assume her sister was any different.
I need to make them come out. But how? Should she knock against every single house? No, this would take too much time. Luna thought about using her Royal Canterlot Voice. If she lowered the volume just a bit, she would be able to talk normal without coughing. Or she hoped so. Why couldn't her counterpart use the Royal Canterlot Voice? Was she that unroyal?
Luna lifted a hoof and called: „Citizens of Ponyville!“ – her voice may not have the thundering overtone, but it was still rather loud – „We have grazed your tiny village with our presence so that you might behold the Princess of the Night! A creature of frights no longer, but instead a pony who is in desperate need for your help and assistance.“
Luna had closed her eyes during her speech. She was standing in a tall and elegant position, her wings neatly closed on her back and her head lifted. Everything in her movement spoke of pride and authority. She was suspecting the villagers to come out and at least approach her.
Above her a voice could be heard: „Hey, Princess Bitch! What is soaking wet and clueless?“ What the hay? Luna only had time to look up, before the pegasus, who had spoken, poured ice cold water, out of a bucket on her head and shouted meanly: „Your face!“ Slam! Luna growned as the bucket landed on her head.
By Creator's holy powers! Who did this most disgraceful thing?! Angrily Luna jerked her head around and flung the basket away. It flew through the air, before it landed on the floor, ratteling. Her wings were partly spread and her brow furrowed, she showed her teeth as he whirled around.
I...I must be dreaming! Luna's jaw dropped and her ears went down. Her eyes were wide and she just stared at the six ponies, that had blocked her path. It could only be the ponies, she knew in her world as the Mane Six. Just like Cadence their coats were paler and they had shades in their mane. Grim faces looked at Luna. Also their Cutiemarks were different from the ones of their light counterparts.
The two ponies, which looked the most different, were Applejack and Pinkie Pie. The reflected Applejack was wearing a black cowboy head together with a black scarf. Her Cutiemark depicted three ace cards with an apple.
Pinkie's mane was not fluffy and curled but flat and straight. It only added to her sad and depressed expression (she was the only one, who had no grim face or was smiling). Her Cutiemark still showed three balloons, but one of them was loophole and leached out.
Fluttershy was standing a few steps in front of the others. She smirked. „What?“, she asked tauntingly, „Did the cat caught your tongue?“ That is not the Fluttershy, I know! This pegasus mare seemed to enjoy cruelity as depicted in her Cutiemark: Three butterflies with bleeding wings.
Luna shook her head to clear her thoughts. She folded her wings and responded: „No. But your behaivour was rather unappreciate in welcoming a Princess!“
„Who says, you are welcome here?“, a snarling, angry voice cawed. The Alicorn turned her head around. An old mare and a stallion were coming down the street. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh? , Luna thought confused and lifted a brow.
Granny still had her green coat, but her white mane was not fussed. In fact, she was wearing a silver clasp and hade furry, silver scarf around her neck. She was also moving in a rather noble and elegant way. Big Macintosh wore a long, black cloak and had a zylinder on his head. He also had a well trimmed beard.
Granny stopped and asked sharply: „What do you want, Puppet of the Tyrant Sun? Getting us to pay more taxes? We have already given you and your sister more then the half of our income. We do not have more!“ Luna flinched in shame, when she remembered the meal she had for breakfast. It had looked weird, but now the blue mare understood that it was pure luxury for this world. And why did they called her Puppet of the Tyrant Sun?
Luna responded: „I have not come here for such things!“
Granny swang her stick and shouted: „Then why don't you leave? We do not want you here!“
Other ponies came out of the houses, encouraged by Granny Smith's outbrust. Their hateful voices became a loud echo in Luna's head.
„Go away!“
„What do you want here, Flying Beast?“
„Leave us alone!“
„Nopony likes you!“
„We are sick of your sister's tyranny!“
„You are a traitor to all ponykind!“
„Kill her!“
„Stone her!“
„Leave and never come back!“
The angry mob closed around Luna and she saw that the ponies were holding weapons. Knifes, pitchforks, sticks. They shook their weapons and shouted around uncontrollably. Twilight and her friend were too somehow taking place. Well, Fluttershy did. She was flying in the air, shouting petty insults at Luna and adding to the noise.
Luna felt the panic arise in her chest, together with anger. What have I done? I am a Princess. The citizens should not treat me like this. Her eyes flashed red for a couple of seconds. Then, followed by the crack of thunder and lighting, painting around her body, the Alicorn rose herself up and roared: „ENOUGH!“
This time she had used her Royal Canterlot Voice at full volume. It might hurt like acid in her throat and made her cough, but the strong blow, that laid in it, had pushed the other ponies backwards.
Rainbow Dash whistled. „Impressive.“
The citizens seemed to remember that they just tried to attack an Alicorn and now seemed rather startled and worried. Luna's eyes glowed white and the thunder crept cracking around her. A storm had caught itself right over the town. The Alicorn had gotten the full attention of Ponyville's community.
„This is outrageous!“, declared Luna in her Royal Canterlot Voice, now having a lower volume, „We art a Princess and therefor we won't get treated like this!“ The mare slammed her hoof on the floor, causing an enormous lighting to flare around her. „We have come here to seek help and what do we find? Hatred! Anger! Rage! Why? What hath we done to deserve this?“
Granny Smith looked at her stick and seemed to regret that she had not used it to knock out the Princess of the Night. The other citizens looked at the old mare and back to Luna again. Because the rich Apple farmer had started the riot, she was responsible for justifying it.
„Eh, eyyupp“, he muttered.
The green mare slowly walked towards Princess Luna, until their noses were inches away. She hissed: „You demand to know, what you have done to us? You hypocrite dare to act like you have never betrayed us. Or do you have already forgotten, what you have done? You joined the ranks of your sister Celestiar. The Flying Beast, that's what you are. The Tyrannt Sun's Puppet! You have not only betrayed a nation, you also betrayed King Sombra, a close friend of yours!“
Luna was taken aback by this reveal. Granny Smith had sounded angry, sad, helpless and disappointed, when she had spit out the words. I...I used to be a friend of King Sombra in this world! Her eyes were wide and she put back her ears. The mare whispered: „I did not know that, I am afraid.“
Granny Smith snorted. She threw her fur scarf over her shoulder, before she marched away. „Spare your hypocricity to someone, who cares to listen, Princess“, she called back over her shoulder. The old Earth Pony snatched the stick out of Big Macintosh's grip and grumbled: „Thanks for holding that, Big Mac.“
„There has been found another dead mare in the streets. Do you mind, burying her?“ Big Mac shook his head. When he and Granny started moving, Luna saw he was pushing a large carriage behind him with a blancet over it. Apparantley Applejack's big brother was the grave digger of the town in this world.
Luna hung her head. She was reminded of her fears, when she had first come to Ponyville. That its citizens saw her as a monster. That they looked at her and saw Nightmare Moon. But there is no Nightmare Moon in this world! Or was there? Luna could hardly tell. What was the opposite of a Nightmare Force? A Dream Force? She still knew to less about that world to say for sure.
Blimley, she knew nothing about her counterpart. Had this Lunar always been evil? According to Granny Smith she had been a friend of King Sombra. But how was Sombra in this world? Evil like the tyrannt King, who had enslaved his own nation? Luna could not really believe that. After all Celestiar and the most citizens of Ponyville had a rather aggressive and mean attitude towards others. Everyone, who is my friend in my Equestria, is a foe in this Equestria. Did that mean that every foe from her world was a friend in this place?
„Boy, this meeting was a drop in a clanger!“, mocked Fluttershy. Luna turned around. The Malicious Six were still standing there. She put her ears back, while the pegasus laughed and made weird faces during that.
„Why is she laughing?“, asked Pinkie Pie, „Hey, Flutters, stop laughing!“
Fluttershy landed on the floor and smirked and Pinkie, while she said: „Come on, Pinkamena. It was funny to see her. Hey, look! It seems like the Princess Bitch is about to cry!“ She laughed again.
Pinkamena snarled: „What is so funny about this? And quit the laughter, Fluttershy!“
Luna just stared at the group. They cannot be friends! But what kept them together? She had no idea. The mare had always thought, that the power of friendship was the reason a group could work together in such a dynamic way. But the Malicious Six...they only seemed to be hold together by the desire not to be alone.
Luna said: „Stop acting like I am not here!“ She took a step forwards. „That is just plain rude!“
Twilight scratched her chin. She furrowed her brow. „Something is strange about you, Lunar“, she found, „You never acted like this before.“ The Alicorn's eyes flashed and her ears pirked up. Maybe they can still help me. Despite being so different from the Mane Six, I know.
Luna responded: „It is true. Lunar usually does not act this way. The reason is: I am not Lunar.“
Rainbow Dash flew towards her and lifted a brow. „Say what?“, she asked belivered.
The Alicorn knew, that she was now playing with open cards, but she had to trust herself to someone. Even if it was a pack of bandits.
Luna took a deep breath and explained: „I am from another world.“
The Malicious Six fell silence and disbelief painted itself on their faces. Applejack spat out the blade of gras, she had been chewing on. „Yeah, likly story“, she responded.
Rarity taunted: „Says the cheeter herself.“ She was wearing a small necklace, made out of silvery diamonds.
Applejack snapped: „Don't tell mah yah believe that bullshit she is telling us.“
Luna lifed a hoof in an attempt to calm them down. „Please“, she said, „You have to believe me.“
Twilight stepped in front of her. „Where are the facts?“, she demanded to know, „I only believe something, if I have the facts. Where are the facts to your story?“
Luna dropped her ears and muttered: „I don't have any facts.“
Twilight lifted her nose. „If you don't have any proof, then your story is completley unusable“, she declared. Luna knew her world's Twilight was a bookworm, but this: It was a cold, precise scientist. Even her Cutiemark showed that: The star was surrounded by several atoms.
They need a proof. Luna slammed her hoof against her forehead. She silly dweeb! Why hadn't she thought about that before? Due to the pain in her throat, her counterpart could not use the Royal Canterlot Voice. But she could!
Luna asked: „Then tell me: Can your Lunar do this?“ Her wings bashed back and forth as she rose upwards, clouds swirled around her and her voice boomed over the Malicious Six: „WE ART PRINCESS LUNA, CO-RULER OF EQUESTRIA, PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT AND GUARDIAN OF DREAMS! THY COUNTERPART, TWILIGHT SPARKLE, HATH USED THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY UPON US AND TOOK AWAY OUR DARK POWERS, WHICH HATH TRANSFORMED US INTO NIGHTMARE MOON!“
Luna landed on the ground, shaking and shivering. She was almost choking on her coughs. Her throat felt like someone had thorwn it out. She had never had such pain, when using her Royal Canterlot Voice. It was as if she was bleeding from the inside.
The Malicious Six were a mess. Pinkamena had dugged her head in the ground. Fluttershy had pressed her hooves against her ears. Rarity was moaning about this „ungraceful, beastialic shouting“. Rainbow Dash had been flunged against the wall of an house, Applejack was busy, searching her hat and Twilight just stood there and seemed to try her best to get rid of the beep in her ears.
„Okay“, Twilight said very slowly, „That is some kind of point. I hardly understood anything due to your yelling, but you definitely mentioned some things I did not knew.“
Luna smiled proudly. „Do you believe me now?“
Rainbow Dash flew to her and grumbled: „Guess, we have to.“
Fluttershy asked: „What were you doing there actually?“
Rarity clicked her tongue and looked up, saying: „Flutters, sweetheart, isn't that obvious? She yelled like crazy.“
„Actually not.“ Luna lifted an hoof. It was like Nightmare Night all over again. „I have been using the traditional Royal Canterlot Voice“, she explained, „In my world it was tradition to speak, using the royal We. And to use THIS MUCH VOLUME, WHEN ADRESSING OUR SUBJECTS!“ Again she started coughing and muttered: „But it seems your Lunar is not used to doing this.“
Twilight called: „Oh, this is so exciting. I knew, some scientists had the theory, that there could be other dimensions, but I never believed, that it was actually true.“ She smiled at Luna and added eagerly: „You have to tell me everything about the world of yours. Wait, I get a notebook and write down everything, you tell me. Then I will compare everything of your world with our world and try to analyze it. This will be so much fun!“
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. „In your dreams, Smartass“, she grumbled.
Luna laughed weakly and responded: „I would be honoured, Twilight, but I really need to get back into my own world and into my own body. Could you six help me, considering that we are friends now?“
The Malicious Six looked at one another and then the shock hit Luna, when a confused and irritated Twilight said: „Friends? What are friends? What possible use does one get from having friends? What purpose does it serve in having friends? We are not friends! We only believe you. But we will help you.“
Luna sighted and rolled her eyes. This is way more complicated then I thought. The Malicious Six were the weirdest group, she had ever met. But they believed her. And for Luna this was the most important thing at the moment. One step at the time. I am sure, I can show Twilight and the others what it means to be real friends.
Author's Note
Warning! Fluttershy is swearing!
The wind caressed her wings. Celestiar was gliding through the air. Her eyes were searching the ground. The Alicorn with her dark soul knew the way to Canterlot by heart. The capital city of Equestria laid on the flank of a mountain. The castle towered over the many houses of the city, which formed small hallways and sidewalks. It had silvery marble walls and several towers with onyxblack bricks. On their top, Sombra's flag trembled in the air: A blue shield with an olive branch.
A powerful flap and Celestiar tilted to one side. She flew a sharp curve and aimed at the castle. Her dawncoloured, cold eyes stared down at the ponies, who stood the watch. There were several guards, who blew a horn at her sight. A group of armed soldiers dashed out of a nearby house. They threw several spears and fired arrows at her.
With ease Celestiar kept herself in the air. Her horn flared purple and a magical shield appeared around her body like a weird shimmering bubble. Her eyes were narrow. Pleased Celestiar watched the arrows and spears burning in her shield, before the ash rained down on the guards, who choked and coughed angrily. "Well, well“, Celestiar said and let her shield vanish. She eyed the soldiers, who crawled beneath her like insects. "What is that for a welcome?“ She snorted and lifted her head. "How plain rude!“
"Celestiar!“ The loud shout made her open her eyes and looked at the tall, handsome stallion, who sprinted towards her and stopped, his blue cloak bulged itself from the wind, caused by his short sprint. He had a pearl grey coat and a black mane and tail. He was wearing a clean, blue shimmering armor. The light broke itself on his crown.
"Sombra“, purred Celestiar, "You are right on time.“ Her eyes glittered devilish and the smile that pluged at her lips was sly and sinister.
Sombra stood his ground at the Alicorn, loaming over him. "What do you want?“, he demanded to know, "Another hour of taunting, I persume? Besides, where is your sister?“
Celestiar landed in front of the King and smiled. Her horn glowed violet and she made herself a purple scarf, which wrapped itself around her neck, together with a black, slender pullover. She yawned. "Taunting? Oh, no“, she mumbled and smiled in the most friendliest way she could muster, "I just came by to say friendly hello.“
Celestiar stepped by Sombra's side and explained: "I was wondering: Had you found the time to reconsider my offer?“
The King stamped on the ground. "You and your offer can go!“, he shouted.
You will never learn, won't you? The evil Princess sighted about that stubborness and shook her head.
"While we speak, my sister is probably rampaging one of the nearby towns“, Celestia said and laid a wing on his shoulder, pushing Sombra awkwardly close to her, "Think rational, Sombra. Whom are you helping with saying no? Your ladyfriend? I hardly believe, that she wants your land to crumble, while her land is kept safe and sound. You have not only her to worry about.“
Celestiar slowly walked around Sombra, her snout close to his ear, as she whispered: "An entire nation looks at Canterlot. What do your people think of you? They have little food, less water and are so poorly treated. You could set an end to their suffering. While we speak, my powers grow stronger and stronger. My influence is spreading over your land, Sombra. The ponies turn away from you. Just because of your stubborness.“
King Sombra pushed himself free out of the tempting grip of the Solar Alicorn. He walked towards the balconery and looked at the wasteland. "I will not bow, Celestiar“, he said and closed his eyes, "You can allure me as much as you wish. I will not fall like Luna did.“ Sweet remorse and sadness swang in his last sentence. "I know, what I am doing. Your efforts are in vain.“
For Creator's dumb sake! Celestiar groaned and hang her head. Her horn flared violet once more and she changed her clothing style out of pure boredom. This time she wore a silky, black hat with a wide brim. Her outfit was completed with a small vest. Red fabric laid at the corners and her legs were almost free.
"Don't be a fool, Sombra.“ Celestiar approached him once more. "You would not lose anything. You would keep your throne and your land. Moreover you would even gain something. You and that pretty ladyfriend of yours could live her without anyone disturbing you.“ He opened his eyes and looked at her.
Celestiar smiled and her eyes gleemed viciously. "Just give me the key to her world“, the mare said and placed an hoof on her chest, "and I will be on my way.“
Sombra put back his ears and growled: "I will never give in. No stop begging for something, you can never have!“
Celestiar's cheeks flushed red and she bared her teeth. You dare to say it. "Fine, Sombra. You won this conversation.“ Her wings bashed the air as she took into the sky with a mighty leap. In her fury and frustration Celestiar changed her clothes back to the original style. "But this is not over yet! I will come back, Sombra. You cannot say No forever!“
Sombra just stood there and watched the villainous Princess, flying away. He waited, before he pulled something out of his armor. It was a piece of parchement. On it a word was written: Forever . "And always“, whispered Sombra to himself and his voice was soft and sweet with care. The stallion pressed the parchment against his chest, before he stuffed it away. "I will never let her get your world, my sweet Celestia.“
***
The sun was setting and Luna was walking back to the Castle of the Royal Sisters. She had talked with Twilight Sparkle and her friends about this world and her counterpart, but the six bandits had not given her really many valued information. They were not really liked and even wanted by King Sombra. They only knew, that Celestiar had always lived in this castle, which towered above them, protected in the heart of the Everfree Forest. Sadly they did not knew, what had changed Lunar to become evil.
Okay, that was informative. Luna rolled her eyes and snorted. She knew a bit more at least. But still, there were too many questions in her head: Who was King Sombra? Who ruled over this Equestria? Were the citizens of Ponyville really Celestiar's citizens? And what about her counterpart? If she had been Sombra's friend, what had made her fall from grace? How had she been before that? What had she thought about her sister? And what made her change her mind?
Luna realized, that there was one other way to get on information. I hate doing research! She was not that kind of pony, who could sit in a chair for hours, tons of books in front of her and searching for a possible answer through the pages. And it was not even sure, if she found out anything. But on the other hand: What other option did Luna have?
"Kibitz!“, called Luna and took of her cloak. The unicorn bowed and watched her folding the cloak and placing it in his arms. "Can you bring me to the library?“
The grim stallion grunted through his mustache. "Sure, your Highness. Follow me.“ They trotted through the long hallways and walked down several stairs.
Finally they found themselves in a large room. It reminded Luna of one of those ancient halls, were the collumns pressed themselves against the walls and celling like ribs. Hundreds of shelves were standing there, which spilled over with books. A bookrest stood in front of a window. Luna's wings trembled and her eyes widened. Great, just great! She felt so tiny in this room like an ant. How was she supposed to find any information in here?
Luna cleared her tongue and ordered with a lifted head: "Bring me every single history book, Kibitz.“ She walked to the bookrest and sat down. I need to check something. The brown unicorn sprinted through the halls. Luna could hear the thumbs of things falling down, together with the soft hiss of magic, being used.
Finally a catching for breath Kibitz ran to her and placed down twenty large books around her. He bowed and pressed a hoof against his side. "Anything more, your Highness?“
Luna shook her head. "No“, she replied and waved an hoof, "You can take your leave.“ She heard his hoofsteps as he made his way out of the library.
Sighting Luna levitated the very first book on the bookrest and put her head in her hooves. Here we go. The mare chewed her lips as she directed her eyes on the labyrinth of letters and started to read. Only the dim light of a candle was her companion as her horn glowed and she raised the moon, allowing the night to begin.
The books were informative. More informative then the Malicious Six or anypony else had ever been. King Sombra was the ruler of Equestria, the tenth in line. Celestiar had been the foe ever since his reign began. King Sombra lived in Canterlot Castle, which was – surprise, surprise – the capital city.
This Equestria did not had something like the Elements of Harmony, but there were the so-called Virtues of Good Character Traits. Luna chuckled. Such a long word for something we have. According to the book the Virtues were no real objects, but an energy, that was hold by a certain pony. There were Wisdom, Love, Humility, Good Cheer, Alturism and Temperance. In a report it said, that the actual bearers of the Virtues were Sunset Shimmer, Maud Pie, Duchess Chrysalis, Princess Trixie, Dinky Doo and Gilda, a Gryffon. Maybe they can help me.
Luna yawned. Her lids felt heavy. She stretched herself and flapped her wings, before folding them again. But how could they help her? What use could the Virtues be in the search for a way back to her world?
Luna had scanned the history books in the hope to find something about interdimensional travel, but it had all been in vain. Maybe nopony in this Equestria had ever travelled to her Equestria? But then how did Celestiar know about her world? Could it be that somepony had entered this Equestria from her world? But who could that be? Very dark Luna remembered Celestia, speaking about Starswirl's experiments with interdimensional travel? What gate had they used? I cannot remember.
Frustrated Luna hit the bookrest with her chin. Her concentration was low, she was tired and exhausted. The mare yawned once more. I think about this in the next morning. Using the nearest history book as a pillow Luna laid herself half over the table and closed her eyes.
Her lids trembled as she opened them. Luna blinked. What woke me up? It can hardly be morning already! The Alicorn looked around. Finally she spotted the reason. A door behind the bookrest had opened. Luna narrowed her eyes confused, because she could not see what was behind the door. Only bright light.
Suddenly the mare felt the urge to go to this light, to find out what was behind it. Luna stood up and slowly walked through the door. She turned her head around. Hey! Confused the mare saw, how the library was swallowed by darkness and vanished. Now that is odd. Was it reality? Or only her imagination? The line was so thine and fragile.
Luna found herself in a small, narrow hallway. The wooden scantlings creaked under her hoofsteps. A lamp dangled from the celling, swinging back and forth. Its light trembled. Luna slowly walked through the hallway. Her fur prickled with exertion. This hole place was dark and twisted. And it somehow seemed to react to her.
As soon as Luna was out of the light's reach of the lamp, to others enflared and guided her way. The Alicorn was leaded towards a staircase, which went towards another door, through which this bright, white light shone. The steps were small, caved and bleached out. With her head stretched forwards Luna started to approach the door. Every single hair in her pelt was up and she felt gooseskin all over her body. Something was not right.
Luna finally entered the place. White emptiness as far as the eye could reach. Still Luna felt a weird presence. Someone else was here. „Who are you?“, called the Moon Princess, „Where are you?“ Behind her she could her a crashing sound like splitting glace. Luna whirled around. The doorway now was a black, violet mass like a portal. It shattered in front of her eyes and vanished.
Luna turned around once more. She spotted something odd in her shadow. It started to stretch itself, became larger and thicker. Black weird vibes came out of it and started to transform. They enwrapped themselves together and formed a mare, who stood with her back towards Luna. With a fast whoosh she opened majestic wings.
Luna's eyes widened in terror as the mare turned around. Her horn was sharp like a sword. But that was not what terrified the Princess of the Night. The Alicorn's face was engulfed by blackness and shadows. It seemed as if she had none. Luna took a step back. Her wings opened partly and she felt her mane dancing around her, making her look bigger then she was. What is going on?
The mare folded her wings. "Hello, darling“, she said and approached Luna. Her horn glowed and she made a small, golden necklace appear. "Look, what pretty gift I have for you.“ The voice didn't sound scary at all, but cool and smooth. It almost appeared friendly. Trustfully Luna let the Alicorn enwrapp the necklace around her neck.
She smiled shyly. Suddenly something odd happened. Luna heared a buzzing sound and felt the necklace thicken a grip around her neck. It transformed itself into an iron ring. Luna yerked her head backwards in pain as out of this ring several links came, forming a chain. It ended in front of the faceless Alicorn, who picked it up.
Luna started to panic. That is not good! Not at all. Around her the place started to change. The wide was replaced by a room, looking like a lair. Several books laid around and candles burned. The whole place looked like a sinister cave, where some crazy wizards was mumbling over a brew.
The chain rustled as the facless Alicorn pulled at it. Luna panted in shock as the hard iron burned itself into her flesh. No, get off! She used one of her hooves in an attempt to pull the ring over her head. It was in vain. Luna stared at the mare, who pushed even stronger. If I can not get the chain of me, then I get away from her.
Without thinking twice she turned around and started to sprint in the hope of getting away from the Alicorn's clutches. That one was tilting her head back. Luna shouted in panic as the chain made a weird jump, flunging her upwards. She hit the celling with her forehead. Luna screamed in pain and grunted. Ouch! The pressure of the blow had made cracks in the stone.
Luna stumbled back on the floor. She felt the furious thug of the chain, the ring pressed against her throath. Luna gaged and her tongue hang out of her maw. It hurt and she felt her vision become blury. The Alicorn snatched the board and tried to held on the board. No, no, no! Luna's ears twitched and her eyes were so wide, that one could see the white in it.
The place seemed to crumble. The floor fell off, but the faceless Alicorn still stood there. It pulled and pulled at the chain, lifting not only Luna in her direction but the board as well. Flames emerged around her. Luna greeted her teeth. No, no, no! The faceless Alicorn stared at her and Luna thought, she spotted a pair of crimson eyes, glowing like the one of a cat.
"No, no, no!“ Luna's scream finally made her woke up. She was not falling into the flames. Instead she laid on the wooden floor, struggled like a helpless child. Her coat was wet from sweat and she felt cold with fear. Luna sat up. The books laid around her, closed or half open. The Alicorn panted and stared at the moon, which was not hers, thinking: What is that supposed to mean?
In the Equestria, we all know and love… It had worked. Lunar was still surprised and pleased, when she looked at herself in the mirror. Her body looked so familiar and yet so strange. Her mane was fuller and she had no rings to turn it into a pigtail. The same went for her tail. They both just shivered and danced around, rippeling and sparkling.
Also her outfit was different from what she knew. Those are not even boots. Lunar lifted a leg and eyed the horseshoe, she was wearing. It was ridicolously small in her eyes. Silver metall, which was rather light. Instead of the helmet she was wearing a small, black crown. Only the necklace reminded her of her own version of it.
Still Lunar could live with these minor changes in her appearance. What was more important: She was in the other world. In the world, Celestiar tried to reach so furiously. Their little spell had worked. Oh, Celest will be so envious of me now! Lunar actually enjoyed it, that they had decided, that she would switch bodies with her goody counterpart. Now she could see all the things, Celestiar was dreaming about firsthand.
And this world really was amazing. It was so familiar and yet so strange. Lunar was reminded of her time as the Princess of the Moon and friend of Sombra. There her Equestria had looked similiar to this one: Futile and rich. Green gras, flowers blossoming everywhere and the place fumed with life.
But these times were long passed. Lunar was no longer friends with Sombra and when she had turned her back on him, she had doomed Equestria. Celestiar had gained even more power with the help of her dark sister. A large drought had dried out the land. The grass had crumbled, the trees had lost their leaves and the ponies were doomed to strave of thirsth and hunger.
Celestiar's reign of terror had stretched itself over the land. But she had been smart. She did not tormented the people in person. Instead she had her own way of dealing with the matter. Lunar knew her goal to reach this world, in which she was know, had more reasons then just the hunger for power. But Celestiar had never told her, which these were. Still the blue Alicorn supported her villainous sister, where she possibly could.
"Luna?“ Celestia stuck her head through the slit between door and doorway. Her long, rainbow coloured mane was floating around her and her face was so much friendlier then that of Celestiar.
Lunar turned around. She asked: "What is it, sister?“
Celestia entered the room and smiled. "I wanted to discuss something with you.“ Lunar frowned. Did she found me out? No, that was impossible. Lunar had been careful not to act to mean around her counterpart's sister and she still remembered enough about this world. After all Celestia had visited her world very often and had talked with her and Sombra about the many wonders of her world. So Lunar knew surprisingly much about habits, culture and people of this Equestria.
"What do you want to discuss with me, sister?“, Lunar asked.
Celestia smiled and laid a wing on her shoulder. "Why are you hiding yourself in your room?“, she asked and softly pushed her towards the door, "It is like the onethousand years ago. Come, walk with me.“
Lunar rolled her eyes, but fell into a simple trott. Both mares were walking through the hallways. Lunar peeked up at Celestia thoughtfully. Her long, rainbow coloured mane was rippeling and sparkling. Her dawncoloured eyes were wider and friendlier then the one of her sister on the other side of the mirror. Her whole body language spoke of grace, friendlyness, kindness and elegance. So different from Celestiar's dominance, cruelity, coldness and hypocricity. How could it be that two worlds could be so similiar and yet so different as if they were countries apart?
Sometimes Lunar wished herself a sister like Celestia in this world. Still, she was loyal to the Celestiar in her world. Her sister counted on her and she had to fullfill her task. Not, that it was difficult. It was actually easy and everypony could do it. Get to know that world, observe Celestia and her habits. Win over her trust. Behave like the Luna from that world. Learn as much as she could about this Equestria. The real work was done on the other side of the mirror.
Celestia explained: "You know, that soon we are having the 5th aniversay of the Summer Sun Celebration. I thought, we could make a small eclipse as we had not had that in a long time.“ The white mare looked upwards and added sadly: "After all the last one was an attempt to cause an eternal night over Equestria.“ Lunar had to bite her tongue to avoid asking anything. It appeared that Celestia was expecting Lunar knew what she was referring to.
"Yeah“ – Lunar tried to get her answer as vage as possible – "That really was bad. Luckly we defeated the threat.“
Celestia flinched in shock and looked at Lunar like she had been slapped in her face. Her dawncoloured eyes narrowed. "Luna?“, she said slowly, "Have you forgotten? During that fateful night I had to banish you as your alter ego Nightmare Moon to the moon. I might have defeated this threat, how you called it, but I lost you in exchange.“
Tears trembled in her eyes. Lunar quickly pressed her head against Celestia's neck. She laid a wing on her shoulder. "Easy, sister“, she whispered, "I am sorry, that I spoke so carelessly. I did not meant to bring back bad memories. That was foolish.“ Lunar lowered her head and added: "You wanted to have a solar eclipse during the Summer Sun Celebration.“ Celestia nodded. They both stopped in front of a mirrror, shimmering silvern in the background. Lunar smiled and explained: "I'd love to help you with that.“
On the other side of the mirror…
The Apples were a determinded, narrowminded, focussed family. Ambitious business ponies. They were harvesting all apples, before they placed them on a conveyor, which transported the fruits into a machine, which created the apple jam with tons of sugar and chemical substances to keep the jam fresh, tasty and stable.
Luna had not only brought a few coloured peebles, but also drown several circles on the floor. She looked at the Malicious Six and explained: "There is no purpose. It is a game. It is all about the fun.“
Pinkamena hardly rose her head and asked sniffing: "What is fun?“
Twilight explained factual: "Fun is an activity, which let the brain spill out happiness hormones like dopamine. It controlls the motivation and working increase.“
Luna's maw dropped and she stared at Twilight. That mare is a scientist and nothing more. The other Malicious Six did not looked that surprised. Rainbow Dash, who laid on a cloud, rolled on her back. Stretching her legs, she shouted: "Twilight, we know! We are not in a university.“
Fluttershy spat: "Cann't you keep your mouth shut for a few seconds, Smartass?“
Luna opened her wings and called: "Please! I did not meant that sort of explanation.“ The Malicious Six looked at her. The Alicorn smiled weakly. "Just trust me, okay?“ Luna stepped to Twilight and pointed at the ring. "Twilight, try to hit the ring with your peeble. Only use your muscles, no magic.“
Twilight gave her a sceptical look. "If you say so.“ She took her peeble and threw it. It flew through the air and landed near the ring. The unicorn's lips twitched into some sort of smile. "Hey“, she stammered confused, "I enjoy this fun .“
Luna laughed and laid a hoof on her shoulder. "See?“, she said, "But it can even get better.“
"Rainbow Dash!“ Luna's call made the cyan pegasus lift her head.
"What?“, she grumbled.
The Alicorn smiled and explained: "Throw your stone. Maybe you can outbeat Twilight in her length.“ Rainbow looked at the stone and then at then at the unicorn's stone. Her ambition had been awoken.
"Top that!“, called Rainbow and threw the stone, while falling off the cloud. She used her wings to keep herself in the air. It flew around and landed a few inches in front of Twilight's. "Ha! I win“, cheered Rainbow Dash, "Awesome.“
Applejack snarled: "I can do better!“
"No, you can not.“ The pegasus leaned herself down to face the Earth Pony.
The farmer snarled: "Of course Ah can“, she responded and lifted her nose, "Yah cheated from that cloud up there.“
"Say what?“, shouted Rainbow and hit her hooves together, "You are the cheater here not I!“
Luna called: "STOP!“ They looked at her. The Alicorn explained: "It seems you have not understood, that this is not a competition. Friends are just doing that for fun. It is about the being together, enjoying oneself. It is not about winning!“
Twilight blinked and asked: "But what is the point in it?“
"No winning!?“, called Rainbow Dash and Applejack, "I am out of here.“
Luna only facehoofed. How can I show them, what I mean? How can I show them what real friendship means? It is not only about having fun together, it is about trust and relying on one another.
At that moment a loud roar could be heard, which almost swallowed the high-pitched the screams. Luna looked up. Her wings trembled in worry. "What was that?“, she panted. The Malicious Six stopped playing at once. They gathered around Luna.
Applejack snarled: "Looks like the CMC have caused trouble again.“
"Cutiemark Cursaders?“, guessed Luna, who remembered the three livley foals very well.
"No“, replied Applejack merly and shot her a surprised look, while raising an eyebrow, "The Cute, Mean, Cursed.“
Rarity threw her head back and explained: "They are the local troublemakers. It is annoying and ennerving, what they do. And they always use their looks to cheat themselves out of the situations.“
Rainbow Dash grumbled: "Well, at least they are not wanted by the guards like we.“
Luna did not responded. She only narrowed her eyes. A cloud of dust had appeared, followed by loud screams. The Alicorn and the Malicious Six were standing on the main street. From the corner of her eyes Luna could see, that the other ponies had been awaken by the noise. Head stuck out of windows and some even stepped out of the doors.
Their eyes widened and some even stumbled backwards. Not good , thought Luna, This is not good at all. She could see the Cute, Mean, Cursed, runing out of their dust cloud. They looked a lot like Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom from her world, apart from the facts, that their faces were mean, despite having huge, adorable eyes. Also there were shades of violet, crimson and black in their manes.
A loud growl could be heard once again. The nearby trees rustled. Luna stumbled back, when she smelled a sharp, clear scent like acid. The sky seemed to move. The Cute, Mean, Cursed rushed passed the Alicorn and the Malicious Six and hide behind a few boxes. Rainbow Dash asked sharply: "What have you done now?“
Applebloom opened her maw to answer, but another growl cut her words off. Luna gulped and jumped backwards. Oh my god! In front of them stood a giantic bear. Blue, transperent fur, sprinkled with stars. Yellow eyes, glowing like two suns and a maw, full of white, large theet. The three fillies had lead an Ursa Minor into Ponyville.
This cannot be real! I must be dreaming. I must. Luna slowly walked backwards in the hope to not catch the Ursa Minor's attention. Constellation Animals were rare, powerful and very dangerous. Their beauty only sugarcoated that. Although no pony would call the Minor pretty at the moment. Everypony could see that it was pissed off, seriously pissed off.
Rainbow Dash looked at the CMC and stammered: „How where you even able to lead that freaking thing into the town?“ Another roar made everypony shudder. The citizens ran out of their houses. Their loud screams and the panic seemed to catch the bear's attention. It slowly walked towards a house.
An Ursa Minor had the size of a small house. Therefore the animal was able to rise to its hindlegs and lay its massive paws on the roof. The bear roared and digged its teeth into the bricks. It jerked its head backwards and ripped a large hole in the celling. The Ursa Minor spat out the bricks and roared once more.
„If I could, I would now spent my tax money to fix my roof!“ Luna saw three figures, sprinting out of the building. The one, who had spoken, was a brown stallion with a long, rippling, curly mane. Is that Filthy Rich? Luna lifted her brow in surprise. The two lovley fillies, that were running beside him, had to be Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
They looked so different from the two bullies of her world. Their coats were clean and their faces friendly and helpful. Diamond was wearing her mane in a ponytail, while Silver had it open. Diamond called: „Somepony has to stop it.“
The bear now was rampaging on the market place. It threw over food cards and shattered glass windows of shops. Its massive snout was eating everything it could find. Fruits, bread, fish. It was moving like an undestroyable force, knocking over anything in its way.
Luna stared at the CMC and explained: „There is a reason, why nopony should disturb an Ursa Minor in its sleep. They usually hunt after they slept for a few months. If they are awaken before that period, they go crazy.“ She turned her head at the Malicious Six. „We have to do something.“
They stared at her, shocked and surprised. Rarity said: „Yes, getting out of the situation. That monster is so smelly and disgusting and rough.“ She whimpered and pressed her hoof against her forehead, before she fainted.
„I do not think this is the right moment to go to sleep“, mumbled Pinkie Pie.
Luna was shocked. They are not doing anything to help! How ungrateful can they be! She had never thought she would hate seeing the Mane Six. But their counterparts were nothing one could be proud off.
At that moment the bear tried to eat the apples. „Get off here, you beast!“ Granny Smith swang her stick and hit the animal at its cheek. I do not think, this was a good idea. Luna's coat bristled, when the Ursa turned its head around. It roared at the old mare. Granny shouted: „You do not get my apples!“
The bear lifted a paw and hit Granny on her chest. „Granny!“, shouted Applejack furiously. Everypone watched the skinny, green figure flying over the floor and landing near a door entrance. Big Macintosh cursed, probably „Nope!“ and ran to the old mare to help her on her hooves.
At that same moment Applejack was sprinting towards the Minor. She whirled around, rose to her frontlegs and slammed her hooves against the bear's paw. „That is for attacking my grandma, you dammit thing!“, she shouted. The animal looked down at the small, orange horse, which shouted at it.
„Not very smart, AJ!“, called Rainbow Dash. The Ursa Minor roared. Its breath flung off Applejack's hat and tousled her mane. The farmer narrowed her eyes. She seemed to think about starting another attack or running off. The large fangs and sharp claws took the decision away from her.
When the bear struck again, Applejack swirled around and sprinted towards the Malicious Six and Luna. We have to do something! The Malicious Six screamed and divided, forming a passage. Luna spread her wings and rose into the sky. The Ursa Minor fulminated past them like a wagon train.
„Twilight!“, called Luna, „Cast a spell to stop it!“
The purple unicorn blinked and looked up at the Alicorn. „I am suppose to do what?“, she asked shocked.
Luna shouted: „Use your magic! Your counterpart has been able to defeat an Ursa Minor before.“
Twilight flinched and ducked away. „I do not think, I can do this!“, she stammered.
„Just try“, begged Luna, „You can do it. I know you can.“ She bite her lips.
Twilight gulped. She then slammed her hooves in the ground and closed her eyes. The Alicorn could see how much the unicorn concentrated to canalize her magic inside her horn. Sweat ran down Twilight's forehead. Finally a few purple sparks flew off. The unicorn panted in exhaustion and shame. „Did I do it?“
„Help!“ Luna jerked her head around. Applejack had been pushed into a corner. Now the farmer rose to her frontlegs and kicked around viciously to keep the snapping snout away from her. She hit the bear at its chin. The Ursa Minor roared. It stood up on its two legs, lifted a massive arm and let its paw shot towards Applejack.
„No!“ Luna shot forwards. As she did so, her body seemed to disslove. Under her surprised and shocked glance flakes of red smoke curled over her legs and hips. Her body shapeshifted in the blinc of an eye. Suddenly she was a red smoky thing, which dashed forwards and pushed Applejack away, just as the Ursa Minor was about to strike. I didn't know, I could do that! Obviously she had gained the abilities of Princess Lunar. Now Luna thanked herself for having been Nightmare Moon in the past. She would have never been able to controll her smoke form without the experience from her alter ego.
The animal's claws digged itself into Luna's shoulders. The mare shouted in pain. Her body became the one of an Alicorn again. She was lifted from the ground and tossed accross the floor. Luna hit the ground with her shoulder and slided over it, overturning, before she laid on her side. Her head rang and her shoulder was pure fire.
Baring her teeth, Luna came to her hooves. Her mane was tousled and uncombed. The cloak she had been wearing was thorn at one side. Dirt stuck in her coat. There were several long lines on her left shoulder, crimson red and soaked with blood, dripping down. Okay. Enough of this game! Luna opened her wings partly and yelled to get the bear's attention.
The citizens, who had been hiding, were slowly peeking out of the windows and behind doors. Applejack panted in shock. She grabbed her hat and hide behind a bin. The Malicious Six stared at Luna as if she had gotten crazy.
The Alicorn ignored them. Her eyes, flashing with fury, were focussing on the bear. The Ursa Minor roared and slowly approached her. He seemed to realize, she was the greatest threat and needed to be taken out first. „Do your worst“, whispered Luna quietly.
She ducked down. Dust exploded around her as with a powerful slap of her wings she rose into the air. Luna flew higher and higher. She then glided over the winds, wings fully stretched. Her glance focussed on the bear. The animal had risen to its hindlegs and lifted its paws like a boxer, who was waiting for a strike.
Luna tilted her body downwards and rushed like a comet towards the bear. Her horn started to glow. Her eyes turned white and she showed her teeth. Braking in mid-air, only a few feeth away from the bear, Luna jerked her head backwards, before she unleashed an enormous, bright red beam. It hit the Ursa Minor straight in its chest.
A loud explosion shook the area and sheer red light blinded almost everypony and forced them to close their eyes. The bear roared as it was flung backwards. The animal crushed against a few stands, buring them under its massive body. Dizzy and grunting it tried to come to its feeth, but Luna would not allow that.
She was shooting through the air like an eagle. A blue bolt for anypony. Luna flew in a sharp edge around the bear, before she fired another beam at the back of its head, slamming it into the ground with its chin. The bear panted. Luna kept herself in the air with simple flaps of her wings. Adrenalin shot through her body, killing of fear and pain. She felt alive.
The bear turned around. It was a large being and its massive weight was its downfall. It was already exhausted and therefore not really fast. Luna decided to give the bear one last shot, so it had learned its lesson and never appeared again. Just as she was about to attack the Ursa Minor, another spell hit it.
This time the magic was golden. It did not hurt the Ursa like Luna's fire flashs had done. Instead it softly enwrapped itself around the animal...and put it to sleep? Eh? Confused Luna dashed down and landed on the floor. The Malicious Six gathered around her and the villagers came out to see their hero, who let the bear fall asleep.
It was a grey unicorn with a pretty crown on his head. He had a long, floating, black mane with darkblue strands and a charismatic, caring face. His horseshoes were blue and a long, elegant looking, purple cloak covered his back and shoulders. He looked familiar and different. Luna's maw dropped. This must be King Sombra!
Sombra stopped his sleeping spell. He looked at the citizens and asked: „Is anypony hurt?“
„No.“ Granny Smith approached him and her grim face seemed to brighten up just a bit. „Everypony is fine.“ Her eyes turned backwards as she glanced at Luna, who now felt the whole damage of her fight with a five pfound heavy bear. „We should mabye figure out, who made that thing appear in the first place.“
Luna's exhaustion was replaced by anger and shock. She pointed at her chest and called: „Are you saying, I brought that bear into the town?“
Granny shot her a sharp look. „Yes, I do. I bet, the Tyrannt Sun ordered it, Flying Beast!“
„Th'is a lie!“, declared Luna outraged and slammed her hoof on the floor, „We just saved thou, thou ungrateful whelp.“ The sudden movement cracked open the wounds on her shoulder and she hissed in pain.
Applejack called: „That is true. She just saved mah life.“
Then the farmer blinced. „Why actually?“ Luna felt the glances of the Malicious Six on her. „Why did yah do that?“, asked Applejack, „Yah could have died, while saving mah.“
The Alicorn explained: „That is what friends are for. You protect each other. You rely on each other in your time of need.“
Sombra approached them. „Lunar“, he said. There was so much in his glance. Sorrow, love, sadness, hate, anger.
„Sombra“, Luna merely said. She knew too little about their relationship to know, how Lunar acted around him by now. What did the King saw? The helper of a tyrannt? Or the pony, Lunar had once been?
„Did you really not let the Minor into the town?“, asked Sombra suspiciously. Luna opened her maw to say „No, I didn't. I am not insane.“, when loud, powerful flaps brought the attention of everypony into the air. Looking up, they spotted a figure, soaring over them like a death angle. The citizens backed away in fear and only a few showed their hate.
„Well, well, Sombra. And what are you doing here?“ Celestiar landed in front of Luna and smiled slyly. „Have you come to say, that you accepted my offer?“
Sombra snorted and barked: „No, I didn't. I am not here because of that matter. Did you know an Ursa Minor had attacked Ponyville?“
Celestiar closed her eyes and lifted an hoof. „Yes. I watched it from my window. It had been a rather amusing sight.“ Luna was not sure, if the evil princess had seen her as well. She could only hope, she had been too small to notice from that distance.
Sombra gasped and panted in shock. He shouted: „You let that thing come into the town and did not do anything against it! Are you crazy? The citizens could have been wounded or even killed.“
Celestiar responded sharply: „I do what I am doing. Besides my subjects are all fine. See?“ She waved an arm and pointed at the ponies, who stared at her, some fearful, some with eyes full of hate.
Sombra put his ears back. He responded: „Those ponies are not your subjects, Celestiar. You cannot continue this reign of terror. It will only collapse. Realse them!“
Celestiar opened her wings and her eyes were like pure fire. „Do you think you can come here and make demands on me? This is my reign, Sombra. You are the intruder here.“
Celestia put her head forwards, until her snout almost touched Sombra's. „So unless you have come to tell me that you have finally agreed to my offer, you should leave“, the white mare said and smirked slyly, „You brought this terror to your nation. You have made them outcasts and let them suffer. They have little food, less water and are fighting over everything.“ Her voice had become a sad, sorrowful chant over her lest sentence.
Sombra curled his lips angrily. Celestiar smiled and she walked up and down in a line in front of Ponyville's citizens. „Oh, but you know the conditions to buy your subjects free.“
Sombra bellowed: „There are no conditions!“ He turned around, about to leave. „We are finished here.“
Celestiar once again stepped into his path and chuckled darkly. Her eyes glittered as she eyed the King and then Luna like fruits, she could eat. „Oh no, Sombra“, responded the Solar Princess, „We have barely begun.“
The mare turned around. She eyed Luna's wound surprised, before she softly leaned against her. „Come, my younger sibling“, Celestiar said, „Let us return home.“ She slowly pushed the blue Alicorn in the direction of the Castle of the Royal Sisters. Luna turned her head back and looked at the Malicious Six, who responded her glance with the same worry and hopelessness, she felt.
In the Canterlot Castle, where Luna and Celestia live….
The other side of the mirror. No longer her world. But a place, that was a twisted reality to her.
Lunar decided to ignore it the best she could. She was here because of a certain task. She had to prepare this Equestria for the time, when her sister would take it. Lunar had no attempt in leaving this castle or getting in contact with any other pony then Celestia.
The white Alicorn was explaining: „I think about holding the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot. We would start at nighttime. I would raise the sun and when the bright daylight is shining, you could raise the moon, until it is in front of my sun, before you softly make it pass away. A brief moment of darkness. I am sure, it will be a wonderful spectacle.“
Lunar nodded. „Yes“, she muttered, „A spectacle.“
It happened without any warning. All of the sudden a sharp pain exploded in her left shoulder. Lunar screamed as an invisible force lifted her into the air and flunged her against the wall. „Luna!“, called Celestia in shock and ran to her sister.
Ouch, my shoulder! What was that? Lunar grunted and blinked. She carefully peaked at her shoulder. Three large lines crossed her coat. Blood ran out of them. Celestia reached her. Her dawncoloured eyes widened as they laid on the wound. „What has happened, Luna?“, she asked and helped her 'sister' on her hooves.
„It is nothing“, Lunar grumbled and pushed herself free. She was hobbling towards the throne.
„Are you certain?“, asked Celestia and lifted a brow.
„Yes“, snarled the blue Alicorn. It was only missing that her counterpart's sister got worried because of that. „I am fine. Don't you worry your pretty head, sunflower.“
She left and Celestia stared after her. That is strange. Her eyes narrowed in concern and the white mare laid a hoof on her chin, thoughtfully. Those wounds appeared out of nowhere. They look like wounds from a fight. Luna could not possible say, she was alright. Not with such deep scratches in her shoulder. And did she just called her sister sunflower?
Celestia slowly walked through the castle, until she reached an almost empty room. A few shelves, full of old, dusty books. Tables, covered in parchment roles that were yellow from the lack of sunlight. Starswirl's old library.
In the middle of the room on the other side stood a large mirror. White crystals stuck in the purple frame. The glass was pale and shimmered. It seemed oddly grey. Celestia stepped towards the mirror. Her own reflection showed her worried and concerned face. Something was not right. Neither in her world, nor in the other.
Things, you do in the dark
The sound woke Luna in the middle of the night. It seemed to come from one of the upper floors. Luna sat there in her bed and peerked up her ears. Why is nopony else awaken from this? It was a terrible screaming. Shrill, sharp and dreadfull. As if somebody was dieing in a most violent way.
Luna's coat bristled from the unnatural screams and shrieks. It was as if the screams were pulled out of the organs of the being. Cold fear made the Princess of the Night shiver. What is that? And how can anypony still be asleep? Shouldn't Celestiar have thrown the intruders out by now? Or somebody else? A guard? Besides, where are they when you need them?
Slowly the Alicorn pulled back the blancet. Luna jumped out of the bed. She was only wearing her crown and necklace. Not the boots. The mare hang the cloak over her back. She carefully pulled the door open and peered outside.
The long, dark hallways were empty. Shadows creeped over the floor and grew on the walls. A cold wind made the windows tremble and the carpets flown. It was so still. Only the screams, which came abrupt and all of a sudden, interrupted the atmosphere, sending chills down Luna's spine.
As Princess of the Night, we should be immune to chills and petty frights! The blue Alicorn was slowly walking through the long hallways. She had made herself as small as possible. Worry painted itself on her face together with fear. Whatever this was, it was unnatural. Strange. Why had she not noticed these sounds before? Who was making them? It reminded Luna of a torture chamber! But those usually were in the cellar or somewhere else.
These screams were coming from a floor above her. Luna spotted a staircase. She lifted a hoof and hesitated. What would she find up there? It did not seem to be puppies and kitties but something rather drastic. And did she even wanted to know what was up there? Those screams...they turned the blood in her veins into ice.
Curse this curiosity. The staircase creaked under her hooves as Luna walked up to the first floor. She now could tell, where these screams come from. There was a room, whose door was only ajar. A bright, blue light flashed out of the gap like lightning. Luna narrowed her eyes. What is that? Slowly the Princess peeked through the gap – and her eyes widened in shock.
A large group of ponies was sitting in the room. They were calling a weird, exciting whispering chant. It almost sounded like a prayer. Luna could only catch up a few words. "Hear us, Starswirl the Wicked. Hear our cries of pain! Show us the way to the other side!“ But that was not, what scared the heck out of the Alicorn.
In the middle of the room was some kind of device, which shoot blue lightning, forming a trembling, buzzing strand. And in this elictricity, several ponies threw themselves. Often three or four. Luna could hear their shrill screams in pain as the lightning cut through their flesh, made their fur bristle and their eyes roll in their caves. Their maws formed twisted, gagging sounds and their tongue hang out. They would float in the power of the lightning for a few seconds, before they crashed down, some trembling with the rest of their lifes, but most of them were dead, when they hit the ground like leaves.
What the hay did I got myself into? Luna spotted a brown mare with a bow tie. She was standing on a small podest and seemed to be the focuss of this action. She was calling something and the ponies responded. Above her Luna could see a large hole in the celling. Rotten wood. Bull's eye!
Carefully avoiding to make any more noise then necessary, Luna enlightened her horn and teleported herself in the room above them. What is that? Frankenstein's lab? Dusty shelves and several bottles. Parchment roles, which laid on the floor. Spilled ink bottles, their precious, black juice, drying into the papers.
Luna slowly tiptoed towards the hole and peeked through it. Now she had a better look at the situation. The 'priest' (if one could call her like that) reminded her of Mayor Mare. The same, long darkgrey hair, the same bow tie. But she had a darker coat and even her mane had something dirty and filthy.
Mayor Mare was calling: "Honour the great Starswirl the Wicked, who discovered the other side and became immortal. Oh, great Starswirl the Wicked, hear our prayer, hear our sorrow and cries of pain. Unban us from our beggarly mortal life. Help us to reach the other side. Take our sacrafice!“
"Take our sacrafice“, repeated the group in union. Their faces looked dull and concentrated. It was as if they all were hypnotized. Not by some weird spell. By their sick believe. It entrapped them all. Okay. This is getting weird! Luna shivered in disgust and fright. A powerful atmosphere laid over this ceremony, cold and wicked, pushing everyone in its focuss.
Several ponies stood up. While the others chanted "Take our sacrafice. Gloria! Hallelujah!“ they marched forward and threw themselves into the lightning bolt from the machine. Their screams of pain hurt like needles in Luna's ears and she watched in terror as she saw the bristled coats, burned mains and gagging maws as those ponies, willingly, commited suicide in this device. Mayor Mare called: "Those, who sacrafice themselves for the great Starswirl the Wicked, the traveler between worlds, shall be at peace! They reach the other side, where they live in harmony! Gloria! Hallelujah, Starswirl the Wicked, Hallelujah!“
What I am watching is not suitable for my little ponies! Luna had thought, she knew the weirdness of this other Equestria, but this was gross. Mayor Mare's cult meeting could not compare with anything Luna had ever seen before. It had something ghostly, drastically and strange. As if it really was from another world.
Her eyes ran over the cult members. Many faces did not meant anything to her, but she could tell that several ponies from Ponyville were taking part in it. Luna spotted Granny Smith and Big Macintosh. Her glance travelled futher and stucked at a yellow pegasus with a pink mane. Fluttershy? No!
Luna had leant a little bit forwards to get a better view of the situation. By doing so she had not realized that several pieces of wood had been broken under her hooves. One piece landed between Mayor Mare's feeth, the next one straight on her head. Oh-oh! , Luna thought as the brown mare looked up and they made eye contact.
"Somepony is up there!“, she shouted and alarmed several members, who started to sprint out of the room, "Get her, you idiots!“ Oh, no! Luna stumbled away from the hole. Her head jerked backwards and she stared at the door. These ponies would have to reach the floor first. Horn glowing red, Luna placed several boxes in front of the door, blocking the handle.
I need to get out of here. But how? Luna let her glance travel through the room in the desperate hope for a second exit. Maybe another door? A window? Behind her she could hear the shouts of the cult members. "She is in there! Come on!“ Then loud banging sounds came to her ears, telling her that they were throwing themselves against the door to open it.
Aha! Luna's eyes lightened as she spotted the hole in the celling. The roof did not seem to be repared pretty well. The Alicorn jumped on the table. She rose to her hindlegs. Let's hope, I fit through that thing! Luna pushed her head and frontlegs through it. Her wings were pressed thightly against her body.
Behind her the door sprang open and the cult members stormed the room. Come on! Gritting her teeth, Luna twitched and wiggled her body in an attempt to get herself through the whole. Her hindlegs shook in the air, kicking of bottles and hitting a mare on her cheek. She had been able to get her wings through the hole, which now were flapping in her aid.
Just as the cult was about to reach Luna, she was able to get through the hole. Slender, grey bodies like rats climbed out of the hole. The Alicorn slided down the roof. She just caught herself, before falling of the sims. The fact that she could fly did not really helped her in this situation, because a few of her followers were pegasi. So she had to get rid of them on the old school way.
Luna took a deep breath and sprinted along the side of the roof. Her hooves were slipping and sliding, but she could not allow herself a false step. Unless she wanted to break her neck. Come on! Come on! Behind her she could hear the hoovesteps and angry screams of the cult horses. And they were hot on her tail.
Luna jumped over a jutty of the roof. Spreading her wings she glided as long as she could. With that tactic she was able to slow down a few earth ponies and three unicorns. Other unicorns just teleported and the pegasi flew as well.
Her heart raced in her chest. Luna could hear her gasps. The blood run in her ears. Her legs moved faster then they ever had done before. She was not sure, what would happen, if they caught her, but she could picture every bad case scenario, the worst one, her own death.
Luna had almost reached the end of the roof. Right in front of her a pegasus shot down and blocked her path. "Woohaaa!“ called Luna. Her hooves scratched over the sims as she braked abruptly. Her horn flared red and she fired a spell after the pegasus, paralyzing him for a couple of seconds.
Luna knew she could not go in the opposite direction either. The other cult members were coming closer and closer. She did the only option left: Taking all her courage Luna sprinted upwards the roof. She wished herself the claws of a cat and its sense for balance, but her adrenaline made the impossible possible.
Luna rushed over the roof. There was a golden, decorative fence at its top. Gulping in shock, the Alicorn took one reckless jump. Her wings spread and with a powerful slap she catapulted herself over the obstacle. Cling! Luna's hooves met the bricks. She slided down. The mare opened her wings to keep her balance.
Her eyes were directed at the next roof. It was another house and most likley no longer a new part of the castle. Between her roof and the sims was a large gap. Luna ducked down and waited patientley. She hesitated, hesitated – Now! – then took one reckless jump. Her wings bashed the air, the wind caressed her face and mane as she flew over the gap.
Landing safely on the other side, she allowed herself to glance backwards. This cannot be! They have to be rats! Nopony can climb like this! Gasping in shock, Luna stared at the mass of bodies, running down the roof, aiming for her. The cult members had passed her obstacle.
Luna did not wait for them to jump over the roof. She ran along the sims of the roof. The house, on which she was now, reminded her of an old building. Maybe an abandoed factory? The chimneys could speak for that.
Luna quickly hide behind a rather large one. The mare ducked herself in the shadows of the zylinder and praied her coat would make her invisible. Why did her counterpart had to wear something so bright? It was like a beacon!
Hoofsteps. The cult members had landed on the roof. "Where did she go?“, called a deep voice. Another one said: "You go this way. We check here.“ Luna heard hasty movements as the group split. They were going to surround her! She could not stay here.
Luna carefully and silentley moved backwards as she heard steps approaching her. "She was here“, said one of the colts, "I have seen her.“ At that moment Luna's hoof touched nothing. She could only yelp in shock, when she tumbled backwards and fell down.
Luna panted in shock and looked upwards towards the celling. The hopper window, which she had accidently opened, fell back in its place. She could see the figures of a few cult members, which passed it. Apparantley the Alicorn was safe.
She slowly turned around. The mare was in a nice, comfortable place. A chimney enlightened it with its orange fire. The flickering shine fell on shelves full of books. They were everywhere. On the walls and the celling. There were only a few chairs here.
"Who goes there?“, a voice asked all of a sudden. It did not sounded unfriendly and harsh, but patient, nice and friendly. The talker was sitting on a chair with its back to Luna. It was a pale pink unicorn with a curley, violet mane.
"Luna“, the mare said and approached the chair, "The name is Luna.“
"Friend or foe?“, asked the mare.
The Alicorn smiled. "Friend“, she stated, "A friend forever.“
The mare turned around. The unicorn had a nice mane, which reminded Luna a bit of Twilight's. She was wearing it in a ponytail. Blue strands shimmered in the violet. Her eyes had the colour of a plum. A deep, mysterious violet. Her Cutiemark resembled a blinking star and a small swirl around it, also blue.
"A friend, who has fallen from the sky“, the mare said and jumped down from her chair.
Luna chuckled and admitted: "Well, I actually fell down a roof. I was running away from a sect, which worshipped a so-called Starswirl the Wicked. They had spotted me overseeing one of their cult meetings.“
The pink mare slowly trotted towards the chimney. "You've got lucky“, she only said, "They are not really nice. Although they are not here for a very long time.“
Luna's eyes flashed in surprise. Maybe fate is on my side! She walked to the unicorn. "You know about this cult, eh…?“
Her friendly host smiled. "Starlight Glimmer“, she introduced herself.
"Ah, Starlight.“ The name sounded familiar to her. Twilight Sparkle in her world had told her that this unicorn had been obsessed with the idea of equallizing the ponies by stripping of their Cutiemarks. But this Starlight was the complete opposite.
Luna looked around. She spotted a weird looking, wooden stick, which leaned against the wall. "What is this?“, the Alicorn asked curiously, "And where are we?“
Starlight levitated the stick and smiled. "This is the staff“, she explained and laughed, "It is nothing special. It helps me, doing my work. I am Ponyville's liberian. See?“
Starlight casted her magic into the staff. It glowed in a soft green, before it pulled a book close towards the staff. Starlight eyed the cover. "The Virtues of Good Character Traits. A Guide Book“, she stated, "That goes under V.“ With a flick of the staff she placed the book into the right shelf.
Luna blinked in awe and thought: How weird. In her world Twilight Sparkle had been the librerian. And in this world it was Starlight Glimmer. She moved more books with the help of her staff into the right shelves.
"Why isn't Twilight Sparkle the librerian?“, asked Luna.
Starlight responded: "Please, Luna. That mad scientist could never fullfill such an important job.“ There was contempt in her voice. No real hate, but it was a healthy mistrust for Twilight Sparkle.
Starlight leaned her stuff back against the wall. "Do you ever go outside?“, asked Luna. The purple unicorn shook her head. She crossed the librery and sat down on a window sims. Through the shimmering glass Luna could see the greyish grass and the dieing trees. Sickish green clouds floated over the sky, blocking out the sun.
Luna climbed on the sims as well and sat by Starlight's side. The purple mare spoke: "I used to, when Princess Lunar ruled over Equestria by the side of King Sombra. This world has not always been such a dessert, Luna.“
The Alicorn realized that she was pronouncing her name correctly. She asked belivered: "You know, I am not from your world? I mean, I look like Lunar.“
Starlight smiled and pointed at her. "Yes, but you do not act like Lunar“, she said softly, "You do not speak like her. You move in another way.“ Her ears twitched sadly. „Many Ponyville citizens have not seen that. Due to the years of tyranny and destitution many have developed a tunnel view. They only see what they want to see. That is also a reason, I no longer go outside. This town does no longer feel like Ponyville to me.“
She dropped her head. Luna laid a wing on her shoulder. "I am sorry“, she whispered, "I wish, they could change.“
Starlight responded: "We will see. Besides there are worse things in life, Luna, then ignorant neighbours.“ Her sentence caused both mares to laugh.
But then Luna got serious again. She said: "You mentioned, that you know things about the cult. Do you mind telling me?“
Starlight shook her head. "I do not know much“, she responded, "But what I know, I am willing to share with you.“
Starlight explained: "The cult is rather new. It only exists since a few months. The members are worshipping a wizard unicorn called Starswirl the Wicked and wish to reach another side. I am not sure, if it is just meant symbolic or if there is more about it. Because I do not believe that this special unicorn ever existed.“
Luna responded: "In my world there was an unicorn, who was called Starswirl the Bearded. I have seen many counterparts of my world in yours. So why shouldn't this Starswirl the Wicked exist as well?“
Starlight explained: "Because I witnessed a conversation of Mayor Mare with a hooded figure. I could not really understand, what the stranger said, but his voice sounded so heavy with meaning. It was as if he tried to persuade Mayor Mare of something.“
Luna asked: "And what happened after that?“
"Nothing“, Starlight said, "But in the next night I could hear the first death cries.“
Luna blinked confused. That is strange. Why is this cult holding its meetings in the castle? Does Celestiar know about it? Why is nopony stopping it? And who was this mysterious mare? The strange discovery in this night had given Luna more questions then answers.
There was a clicking of the window, through which Luna had fallen. Alicorn and unicorn looked up. Fluttershy was peeking her head through the slit. "Hey“, she called, "Why did you ran off? We only wanted to talk with you.“
Luna stood up and responded coldly: "After you tried to tear out my guts, I persume.“
She looked back at Starlight Glimmer. "I will come back, I promise“, Luna said. Her tail twitched as she turned her attention towards Fluttershy and added angrily: "But first I would like to have a small chat with that one.“ Bashing her wings she flew through the gap and landed on the roof.
Fluttershy was waiting there. The pegasus blinked in surprise as Luna laid her angry glare on her. "What?“, she demanded to know, "What did I do now?“
The Alicorn explained: "You and your friends told me to help me. So why did you keep something so important secret from me?“
Fluttershy grumbled: "That is not important. Thrill and a bit action, nothing more.“ She rubbed her nose. „I would not take it so serious, if I were you.“
Luna responded: "Are you insane? We talk about willing murder here! This is sadistic, what the Starswirl cult is doing.“ Fluttershy flitched her ears and spread her wings partly.
While cleaning them, she explained carelessly: "This Starswirl sauce is in any case inscrutable. Nopony actually knows who this Starswirl the Wicked is supposed to be. Blimey, it could even be that he does not exist at all. Mayor Mare started the cult a few moons ago and the ponies are flying to her like bees to honey. The idea of a paradise must have something compared to this hell, we are in now.“
Luna asked: "Do your friends know, that you are a member of this cult?“
Fluttershy yawned and stretched herself. "Yes“, she snarled, "They know. And they are okay with it. They know, I am not a dumb bigot like Mayor Mare. I am just doing it for amusement.“
Fluttershy made her way into the direction of her cottage. "Why do you even bother about this?“, she asked and turned her head back to Luna.
The Alicorn shrugged. "I do not know“, she admitted, "I just feel like this cult is the preparation for something big.“
Fluttershy huffed and stared upwards. "Dream on, Princess Bitch“, she grumbled and flew off into the darkness of the night.
The next morning Luna was slowly walking into the throne room. The table was already laid and the Alicorn could smell several breads, fruits and salads. Honey and cinamon caressed her nostrils. Her heart hardened at the sight of these meals. Celestiar was subdueing her subjects and feasted like a queen.
Her thought were clouded, still surrounding, what she had found out. A cult, which worshipped Starswirl the Wicked, was holding its meetings in the upper floor of the castle. A torment, sugarcoated as a sacrafice, brought shrill screams and death from its victims. The sounds echoed through the hallways. Why had Celestiar not kicked them out? What did she knew?
Celestiar was sitting on her throne. In her violet magic floated a cup of tea, sweetened with honey. The mare had closed her eyes and took small sips from the drink. It made Luna flinch. The familiar movement did not suited somepony, who was supposed to be a tyrannt.
"Tia?“, asked Luna worried.
Celestiar opened her eyes. Her grim face brightened up to a sly smirk. "Lunar“, she said softly, "Good morning. Why don't you sit down and eat a bit as well?“
Luna looked at the food. She only took a small bread and some milk. While dipping it in the milk and taking a bite, she responded: "I am not very hungry.“
Celestiar lowered her tea cup just a bit. "Shining Star“, she asked and laid a hoof on her shoulder, "Something seems to bother you. What is it?“
Luna blinked. Her sapphire eyes went backwards and peeked at the evil Alicorn. Her lips went down. "I discovered something“, she said, "Have you ever heard of the Starswirl Cult?“
There was a strange glitter in Celestiar's eyes. She took another sip from her tea cup. "Yes. But they are of no importance“, she responded, "A few crazy ponies, who are killing off each other. I do not mind them.“ She placed the cup on the table and stood up. With a few gracefull steps she walked towards the window and looked at the wasteland. "This world is going to the dogs. A few more maniacs won't make a great difference.“ Her voice was filled with spite.
Luna stood up and stepped by her side. She was shocked to hear these words. It sounded as if this world meant nothing at all to Celestiar. "Why are you so evil?“, she asked, "What demon has made you that way? Equestria used to be a wonderful country. And now… You are throwing it away like it is trash!“
Celestiar stared at Luna. There was another shimmer in her eyes. Pain? Before Luna could be sure what it was the glimmer was replaced by a cold glare. Celestiar started to smile and it was the smile a mother gave to a very young child. She lifted a hoof and softly caressed the Moon Princess' cheek.
"Let me tell you something, Lunar“, she stated, "When ponies say that some sort of demon or spirit is sitting on a throne and plotting to corrupt our souls, then they are kidding themselves. They think, they understand evil, but they know nothing about it. This is not how evil is made. Now it is born in the small things.“
Celestiar smirked and slowly walked around Luna, caressing her with her wing. "A cruel taunt. A forgotten visit. The childlish urge to taunt and hurt. But these things are not something else or other.“ Her lips were close to Luna's ear. "No. They are us. Every single sin, every little evil, comitted by us day by day, gather and thicken in the psychic womb. Until we can not hold them back, and they burst out for the world to see. Once we create them, they feed our darkness back into us.“
Celestiar was walking back to her throne. "So we create the shadows. The shadows create us. Evil never has an unnatural reason. It is commited and shaped by our very own sins. It all lays within our own emotions.“
Luna turned around. I have never seen it that way. The corners of her mouth dropped. On the other hoof she understood what Celestiar was talking about. She had experienced it herself. Nightmare Moon. Many ponies had believed this was a dark force, that had possessed her and in a way it was that. But in another way it had also been her. Luna's own anger and hate, the ignorance of the people and her sister, it had all collided and filled her, allowed the dark force to talk hold on her. Or maybe it just been herself all along.
Celestiar sat on her throne and looked at Luna. "I see no reason to value this world anymore“, she stated, "Anything, what was worth living, is already gone. So why should I help this world to restore itself? It is just a mess of chaos and evil. And I sit on my throne and try to rule over it as nopony else is capeable of doing it.“
Celestiar sighted low and levitated the newspaper. Luna walked back to her place and stopped in her track. Her eyes were resting on the headliner of this newspaper. Black on white. Thick letters said LIBERIAN MURDERED.
"Starlight Glimmer!“, shouted Luna, which made Celestiar lower the newspaper.
"What is it?“, she asked and looked at the headliner. "Oh, this.“
The newspaper was enwrapped by Luna's blue magic as she pushed the paper towards herself. Her heart raced her and her mind went crazy. "This is impossible“, she called, "I have talked with her a few hours ago!“
Dropping the newspaper, she whirled around and sprinted out of the throne room. Celestiar merley folded the paper and said: "Well, I would not deny what is said here!“ The evil Princess closed her eyes and with a sigh pressed a hoof against her head.
***
Lunar was running like thousands of helldogs were on her ancles. Her heart raced and her eyes were wide in terror and fear. This can not be real! It just can't! She had to check for herself. It had to be a nightmare! It had to be! Sprinting out of the castle, Luna took into the air with one great jump.
Despite only having visited Starlight once, Luna had the feeling, she knew, which way she had to go. Her wings flapped through the air. Her longues burned from her sharp, gasping breaths. A knot laid in her throat. Luna tried to prepare herself for what could have happened. Onethousand worst case scenarios raced through her mind.
Being the Princess of the Night made Luna also the Guardian of Dreams. It was her duty to protect her subjects from nightmares. Because of this the blue Alicorn had already seen many horrible images. The minds of her subjects could come up with graphic images in great detail. Slit throats, guts falling off, burned skin, insane smiles, impaled bodies. Luna had seen it all. Still that could not prepare her for what, she was about to find in the library.
Luna panted. Sweat made her fur wet. She slowly landed on the roof of the library. Her wings folded on her back. Please, please, please. Starlight Glimmer don't be dead. The hopper window was partly open to let some air inside. A dreadful silent laid on the place.
Luna gaged. Fear pumped through her veins, thick like toxic. Her steps were slow as if iron chains slowed her down. With her body stretched Luna approached the window. She carefully peeked through the gap and looked inside the library. „Oh my god!“ The shout left her lips and her eyes widened.
Starlight Glimmer was laying on the floor in her own blood. The attacker had somehow ripped off her head. Her legs were weirdly twisted. The staff laid next to her, broken. Perhabs the unicorn had used it in some defence. Her neck was covered in blood and one could see parts of her bones, flesh and fur, ripped appart.
The head was laying a few feeth by her side. Her eyes were wide in terror and blanc. Her maw was opened and twisted in the incredible agony of her fast and painful death. Blood laid around the head. From the position Luna could tell that the murder had probably casted a spell to ripp of the head and as it had happened, Starlight's body had tumbled to the other side.
This can not be. Oh, Starlight! I am so, so sorry. Luna felt a bad taste in her mouth as she slowly turned away from the window and left.
***
„And her eyes… They were wide as if she hoped to see Equestria in its old beauty. Even in her moment of death.“ Luna was laying in the grass by the shore. The Malicious Six were gathered around her. They had heard of Starlight's death and Luna's crazy chase with the cult members.
Fluttershy looked rather disturbed at the describtion, Luna had just given them. She might be cruel and enjoyed taunting and teasing, but even she had her limit. Luna was sad and angry. Starlight's death had wounded her much. This mare had been so friendly and so nice. For being helpful to a pony in need, she had paid a terrible price.
"Life goes on, Luna“, said Rarity, trying to comfort her.
Applejack pushed her in the side and asked: "Where did you get that bullshit from? The book, you are reading?“
The unicorn pouted. "Well, what would you say?“
Applejack spat on the floor. "Definitley not such therapeutic nonsense.“
Luna scratched her neck. The red boot felt silky on it. Her eyes were narrowed. Anger and rage boiled inside her. Together with the hunger for revenge. Starlight did not deserved this. "Whoever had done this to Starlight Glimmer“, whispered Luna and closed her eyes, „will pay for this.“
Her eyes flashed open, her head yerked upwards and she roared: "CAN YOU HEAR ME, RIPPER?! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!“
Fluttershy, who was sitting on a tree, shouted: "We will get you, swine!“
Luna stood up. She cleaned the leaves for her coat. "I do not care, what the newspaper says“, she said, "They may have no clue, what is going on, but I am certain: Starlight Glimmer had to die, because she was an attesetor. We or at least I have been tailed the whole time. Our murder is not a crazy psychopath. He goes on cannily, planned and coldhearted.“
The mare slowly walked up and down in front of her friends. "I do not like this“, admitted Luna, "I mean, I wake up in another world and then all those events are happening around me. It feels weird. Not natural. As if every of my steps is watched. As if I am part of something way bigger.“ She gazed upon the sky with a questionable glance. "But of what?“
The other Equestria was a bit darker. Even during the day. It always took Celestia some time to get used to the new changes in light. This sun was pale and had no warmth just like the Alicorn, who whielded it. Black leaves rustled in the wind, dry and unhealthy. They broke off and flew into Celestia's face.
She stood in front of the stature of Sir Discord. Behind her the marble block hide the portal into her Equestria. Celestia had been bothered by the gaping wound in Luna's shoulder for quite some time. It had worried her so much, that she had decided to go to its source and ask for advice. Also to check on a good friend.
She had made sure that nopony had seen her using the mirror. Nopony should know about it. The dangers were too high. Celestia knew, she could stay out of Equestria for a day and a night, but she had to be back before dawn.
Well, better get moving. With stretched neck and swinging legs Celestia sprinted through the park. It was a representor of what had become off this Equestria. No grass, leaves weak and fragile. The trees looked hollow. Hardly any animal peeked its small head out of its nest or a hole. It was as if Celestia was the only being in this forest.
The park ended in front of a pale looking castle, outwhorn of fights. A few flags trembled in the wind. Guards with egyptian looks stood there. They looked friendly, but sick and tired. Tired of this war. They recogniced Celestia and let her pass. Her hooves clickered over the stones as she climbed up the stairs.
The castle looked prettier from the inside. Marble halls and red carpets. Chandelliers, hanging down the celling. The columns were decorated with symbols and writing. Strange and anciet. Even the drawing style was different from what Celestia knew. The ponies were drawn in frontal, but their heads were in profile. There were no shades added to their colour, just one bland colour.
The drawings told of this Equestria. It showed Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns, guided and guarded by the Virtues of Good Character Traits. Six ponies, who whield a strange, mythical power, not manifested in gem stones like the Elements of Harmony but in themselves. Celestia saw a grey, proud looking unicorn. Beside him stood a blue Alicorn mare, wearing fair blue scarfes and golden necklaces and bangles. They were confronting a white Alicorn with spread wings and firey eyes.
Celestia stopped and laid a hoof on the image of the grey unicorn. "I hope, you are alright“, she whispered and closed her eyes. Tears trembled in the lids. "I pray for you every night and day. Do not think I have forgotten you.“ Her hoof slid down and rested on the blue Alicorn. "Just like I have not forgotten you. Where is the Lunar that helped me overcome my own sorrow? I want that Lunar back.“
She let go off the image on the wall and slowly trotted through the castle. There was a door and a staircase, which lead her outside. The Alicorn slowly climbed upon it. Her mane and tail trailed behind her. It had started to rain. The sickish grey-green clouds loamed over her like a threat. Small and thine waterdrops hit her cheeks and neck.
Celestia finally reached some sort of balconery. On it stood the unicorn, which had been depicted in the hallways. His long, black, floating mane was blown from the wind and tousled. A few strands danced over his friendly looking, but worried face. His long, blue cloak blew itself up in the wind.
"Sombra?“, called Celestia.
The King of Equestria turned around. Joy and bittersweet love enlightened his face. "Celestia.“ With fast steps Sombra crossed the distance. "What are you doing here?“, he asked, "You should not be here.“
Reluctantly he allowed her to hug him. Her cheek brushed his neck. "I have missed you“, Celestia whispered and gave him a kiss on his lips. She felt a strong leg, laying itself on her shoulders, pushing her in a warm embrace. "And I am worried for you.“
Both stood there, entangled in their embrance. Celestia had opened her wings and wrapped them around Sombra. She felt his chin on her neck, while her breath caressed his fur. "I know, my sweetheart“, responded Sombra with his clear, calm voice, "I have missed you too. But I am worried. Why have you come here?“
Very carefully they let go of one another. Celestia stepped back. The rain wet her coat and wind made her floating mane flow. Her glance turned worried and firm as she explained: "The gap is getting larger. I can feel it. My sister got wounded as if her counterpart had been in a fight. The connection is getting closer and closer. It feels as if the process has speeded up. As if there is an even greater disbalance in our worlds.“
Sombra nodded sadly. He carefully scratched his neck. "Things here have gotten weird, complicated and bizarre“, he admitted and looked at Celestia, "Celestiar has gotten very agressive, but she also seems to shelter herself down. I have gotten a report. There has been a murder in Ponyville. Also Lunar“ – he looked around, before he bent close and whispered into her ear – "She seems to have changed. It feels like she remembers her old self again.“
Celestia lifted a brow. "So you think, she might side with you in the fight against my evil me again?“, she asked. That is strange. My sister too has behaved weird. Are they maybe influenced by one another?
Sombra lowered his head. "I would not go that far“, he responded, "Her loyality towards her sister seems to be rather stable.“
Celestia softly laid a wing on his shoulder. "We will see it through“, she whispered, "I promise you to help, where I can.“
Sombra looked at her, a sheepish, caring smile on his muzzle. "I know, Celestia“, he said and nuzzled her, "I won't give your world away. I promise.“
"How sentimental!“ The flapping of wings. Shadows fell on Sombra and Celestia. They looked up. Against the sunlight they could see the silhouette of the villainous Royal Sisters. Celestiar smirked and lifted a dark brow. "Your timing amazes me“, she said softly with a wicked smile on her lips, "Have you discussed about leaving Celestia's world to me?“
Sombra pushed himself in front of Celestia. He shouted: "I will never give in! You and your offer can leave!“
Celestiar laughed. "Don't be a fool. Unless you want me to toy with my counterpart.“ Smirking she made her horn flare. A ball of fire shot down. Celestia gasped in shock as Sombra used his magic to create a protective child around them.
The flames licked over the blue substance. The unicorn trembled as he used all his strength to keep the spell steady. He opened his eyes a slit and gazed back at Celestia. "Run, Celestia!“, he called, "Run!“ Celestia hesitated and looked up at the evil sisters. She did not wanted to run away. Sombra would need her help.
Another flaming shot. Sombra bared his teeth and stumbled backwards. His spell flickered, before he got the shield stable again. "Run!“, he shouted once more. Celestia sighted. Very slowly she moved backwards, before she whirled around and started to run. Sombra was right. She had to get back into her own world, before the way back home was cut away from her.
Behind her the evil Celestiar shouted: "Lunar, go after her! She must not escape us!“ The blue Alicorn looked at the mean dawncoloured eyes, before she slowly flew down and followed.
***
Luna had been shocked, when Celestiar had asked her to accompaign her during her visit to King Sombra. She did not want to go and confront this king in a possible fight. On the other hand she could not stay in the castle. This would have been suspicious.
And now they stood in the air and all Luna could see was the familiar face of her sister. Celestia! What was she doing in this world? How had she gotten here? Luna did not know. The order that awaited her frightened her. She had to chase after Celestia and probably catch her.
Luna looked into this mean, overconfident face. Celestiar was firing beams of fire at Sombra, who was doing his best to stand against her. Her movements spoke of her power. And that she had time. Every time she needed. She did not minded that those worlds were collading. She was probably waiting for it to happen.
Swallowing, Luna spread her wings and swooped down. Her eyes foccused on Celestia. Maybe if she just got out of her sister's evil counterpart's sight, she could talk with Celestia. She could tell her what was going on!
But Celestia threw her head back and fired a small golden beam at her. Oh no! Luna gasped in shock and avoided the spell, which almost made her collide with a tree. How can she do this to me? I am her sister! Not in this world. In this world she was the Flying Beast, a mean being, which served Celestiar.
It hurt Luna to see her sister, running away from her. Not recognicing her. Of course not! She was wearing reddish boots, a crimson helmet and a black necklace. Violet eye shadow caressed her lids. She must look like a devil to her.
Celestia was sprinting through the forest. Unlike Luna she used the ground. Luna flew after her, but she had not the attempt to catch her. She only wanted to get close enough to call her by her name. But that was easier said then done. The trees were forming a green web above her, which made a flight inside the forest almost impossible.
Still Luna tried. But the branches were sharp and she could get entangled in them. "Celestia!“, she called and looked around. Her wings kept her in the air and on one spot. Where are you? Worry painted itself around her face. Had she lost her sister already?
No. Luna spotted a glimpsle of white fur in a valley. "Celestia!“ Luna bashed her wings and shot down. She cut through the trees and landed on the floor. Celestia turned her head around. Her mane shivered and her dawncoloured eyes were wide. She stared at Luna and then at a stature on the other side of the valley.
Luna carefully tried to approach her. "Don't be afraid“, she whispered, "Please. I only want to talk with you.“ But Celestia was not listening. She whirled around and ran towards the stature. "Celestia!“, shouted Luna. She jerked her head upwards and ran after her.
Her hooves thundered over the grass. Her legs moved fast and swang back and forward. Her sapphirre eyes focussed on the white silhouette. Celestia's rainbowcoloured mane flew behind her and she had opened her wings partly.
I have to reach her , thought Luna as her breath left her muzzle with gasping sounds, I cannot lose her. Who knew, when Celestia would return? Luna missed her sister so much. Seeing her again, made her cling to the hope that she could receive more help at last. But Celestia did not saw her. She saw a monster.
Celestia's horn flared golden. "Wait!“, shouted Luna, who had doubled her speed. Celestia jumped into the air. She shot towards the stature. Her body was engulfed by a golden flash of light as she shot straight to the massive stone. The light faded and she was gone.
Luna reached the marble block. "No!“, she panted, "No!“ Panic arose in her chest. No, no, no! I have to find the portal. Her hooves ran over the stone, feeling their way for a secret lock or latch. Nothing. Just smooth stone. The Alicorn hang her head. Tears soaked her fur and her wings dropped. Please, wait. It was like being on the moon again. But this time not space devided her and her sister but a whole other world.
The sky was as red as blood. It stretched endlessly over the ruins. Broken glass windows. Walls, that had crumbled down over the decades. Signs of burned marks on the stone. Dusty chairs and furniture, half broken and destroyed. A rethorn carpet. On the ground laid old metall boxes, cans and glass bottles, which were empty, their liquid had digged itself into the dry ground.
A crow was flying over the ruins. It low cries echoed over the lifless place. The wings were bashing the air. The animal flew through a window and landed on the bottles. It croaked again before with a few more powerful flaps of its wings it flew out of the ruins and glided down the valley.
The crow passed another landscape. It was hard to tell, what had been here before. The ground and gras was buried under thousands of bodies. Unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Their eyes were blank and their maws rethorn in grimaces of agony. The bodies were twisted and laid on one another, next to one another. Every single free space was filled with fur, hooves, legs, heads, horns and wings. The horns were partly snapped off and wings rethorn. Blood ran over the corpses. The smell of death laid on the area.
Luna stood on a small spot. She was not sure, where to place her hooves. The dead ones were everywhere. Even now her ancles sank into legs, opened bellys and bodies, that laid here. Luna's eyes were wide as she looked around. The pile of corpses seemed to stretch endlessly. Every breath she inhalled, filled her longues with the smell of death, decay, misery and suffering.
What has happened here? Luna did not know. Fear and terror stroke her. This situation...it was too large. So many dead ponies. How could they all lay here in this place? Why was nopony doing anything? And what had killed them?
Hopelessness washed over Luna. No matter how hard she looked, there was no sign of life. How many ponies were laying on this hill? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions? Luna knew, if she tried to count she would go insane. It was just unimaginable. Her mind could blow if she tried to reason with this sight.
The dead bodies started to shiver. They moved up and down like waves of the sea. The ponies fell against one another. Some lost their legs or wings. It felt as if something large was laying underneath the dead ones and now tried to break free.
Luna gulped. What is that? She was not sure. Fear rooted her legs and made sure, she could not take another step. The mare watched the waves of dead ponies fly higher and higher, until finally a large, giantic mare broke out of them.
She rose and rose, until she towered above Luna. It was an Alicorn mare. White coat, a dark red mane and firey eyes. Luna almost stumbled over her own hooves. "Creator“, she panted. This ancient being had created all of Equestria, so said the legends. Apparantly this Equestria had its very own Creator as well. She had a cool, but desinteressed look on her small face.
"Luna!“ Creator's voice boomed over the blue Alicorn. She had a wide, weird smile upon her face. "The solution to the riddle is actually quite simple.“ She leaned forwards. A dead unicorn hang on her shoulder. Carelessly Creator flicked it away. The head broke over the jaw and fell down. Luna screamed in shock and jumped backwards. "It lays within our emotions.“
This cannot be. What is going on? Why is Creator so evil and...and like this?! Her wings were partly spread and her mane and tail tousled from the wind. Creator explained: "So we create the shadows. And the shadows create us.“ Her horn flared and she created several wooden crosses, while she spoke the next words: "Do not forget the message of Celestiar. That is the key.“
Thine ropes fell down from the crosses. They connected themselves with the dead bodies on the floor. Creatore slowly made them rise. Luna gulped in shock. The dead ones were rising from their graves. They danced on their strings, eyes wide and blanc, maws twitched in agony.
"Hopp“, said Creator as she used the crosses to make the corpses dance around Luna like some crazy pupeteer, "Hopp and hopp and hopp.“ They surrounded Luna, who had partly risen to her hindlegs. The Moon Princess looked around and followed the movements with twitched ears. This was a circus. The insane circus of the subconciousness and she was spectator and artist at the same time.
"Love and jealousy.“ Luna lifted her head and looked up at Creator, who had curled her lips into a disdainfull sneer, "Why is it that this feeling can be such a double-edged sword?“ The white Alicorn goddess brought out into wild, crazy laughter. "Love and jealousy!“
The dead bodies crashed against one another. Luna saw their limps fall off. Heads rolled and blanc eyes found her sapphirre glance. Ribs stuck out of the flesh, but there was no blood. The pile now was growing higher and higher as the corpses got ripped off the strings that held them together.
They rained down on Luna. The mare panted. No, no, no! Her hooves sank into the wet, soft flesh, which made her slide down. A dead pony hit her shoulder, another one laid its hooves on her hips, holding her. The massive sea of dead had come to live and Luna was drowing in it.
"Help! Help!“, Luna called, "Anypony, help!“ She yerked her head upwards. She was gasping for breath, but the smell of dead and misery slammed itself against her nostrils, choking her. Luna tried to fight herself through the bodies like a lost child. And all she could see was Creator laughing manically.
"Gah!“ Luna's head yerked up and she tried to catch her breath. Sweat ran down her neck and forehead. The navyblue Princess was sitting in her bed and had a throbbing headache. Oh, not again. She rolled her eyes and sighted. The nightmare had left a bad taste in her mouth.
This could not continue. So much had happened since she had found herself in the world of Reflections. Luna could hardly believe that already a month had passed. And this month had been the most eventfull in her entire life by now: Ursa Minors, her friends were her foes and her foes her friends, a creepy cult meeting, the murder of Starlight Glimmer. And her dreams.
Oh, her dreams. Again this nightmare had felt incredible real. Luna still had the scent of dead in her nose and mistaked the sweat in her coat for blood. Her head hurt. She shook it violentley. Going back to sleep was no opinion. I should try to take my mind away from the things.
There was for Luna one simple method she liked to do when she had too much going on in her head and wanted to get a clear mind: Catching shadow rats in the library. Those beings sometimes escaped into the real world and tried to destroy books and knowledge. Not a big surprise. They ate away the brain cells of the dreamer, in which dream they were right now.
The Moon Princess was standing at the entrance of the library. She peerked up her ears and listened. Her saphirre eyes reflected the pale light, which made them glow like the one of the cat. She slowly scanned the library. Shelves, growing out of the shadows, forming walls around her. The pages of the books rustled as Luna entered the library as if they either wanted to warn the rats or show the Princess the way.
Luna walked around a corner and stopped. Ah, there they are. Active as usual and waiting for Day X, when they will take over the world. The rats had black fur and between their legs stressed itself thick, grey skin like some sort of wings. Eyes flashed yellow in the pale grey darkness of the library.
Luna focussed on one of the rats, which was slowly dangeling at a book, digging its teeth inside the leather, trying to pull it down. Oh no, you won't! Opening her wings Luna carefully took into the air. The navyblue Princess hovered over the rats and enlightened her horn, ready to fire a beam.
The animal turned its head around. Squeaking in anger it opened its wings and flew away, trying to get into the labyrinth of books, hiding. Luna angrily flew after it. The rat and the Alicorn were chasing one another, bumping into the shelves. Despite flying in sharp circles the rat always was a few inches away from Luna's snout. Wait, until I get you, foul beast!
In the Dream Realm these beings were usually bigger about the sieze of a model pony. The danger here was not that large, but Luna still took joy in hunting down these beasts. The wild energy and excitement. Luna could simply focuss on catching the shadow rat. She felt the thrill of hunting. It always eased her mind. The rat threw itself away from the shelf and swooped past the Princess. Luna almost crashed into the shelf. She stopped and whirled around.
Her hip hit one of the books painfully and it fell down besides her. Before the rat could try another reckless jump, Luna fired a beam and killed it. Good. One more crazy brain eater is gone. The Princess yawned. Turning around she wanted to pick up the book to store it back, when she gave the cover a closer look. What is that?
The book had no title. Dust covered the brown leather as if it had not been used in months. There was a Cutiemark printed on it. A stylzed sun with a pitchblack centre. That is Celestiar's cutiemark! What was this book? Curiously Luna flipped through the pages. They were pale from the lack of sunlight and the ink so fair it must have been written in ages.
This must be my sister's countarpart's diary! Luna slowly walked to the bookrest, taking the book with her. The mare placed it on the shelf and sat down. „Maybe I will get some information about the events at last“, she whispered, „Because Celestiar has to be the source of them, hasn't she?“ She slowly opened the book and started reading. Now let's see what you have got, evil princess.
The eclipse of the Solar Princess
Celestiar. That is the name my parents have given me. God-like. Heavenly Body. A heavy meaning for a young mare. However if I look at my wings and Cutiemark, I can understand, why they named me that way.
***
He...he looks even greater then I imagined him. The prince of the King is a young stallion with a pearl grey coat and a black mane with blue strikes. He has a charismatic smile on his face and those eyes. They are emerald green. He already wears a crown and a blue cape and walks around like a king should do it.
***
I cannot sleep. I keep thinking about Sombra. Whenever I close my eyes, I see this charming face. His green eyes, glowing like emerald. He is so handsome. His voice. A cool, calm and focussed whisper. It seems like nothing can ever bring him out of his order. Ha! He seems like the perfect pony.
***
Today my sister had become the advisor of King Sombra. I am not sure what to feel. It is like a blow. A slap in the face. Should I have suspected it? Probably. Both have been talking a lot together and seemed to like one another.
***
Finally. I got a chance to speak with him alone. I try to be polite, but I cannot keep myself from moving closer and closer. Sombra lifts a brow and eyes me, confused, belivered. He is surprised by my obsession. Why isn't he sharing it? Just look at me! I made myself all beautiful just for him! My coat is clean, my hooves are polished and I look wonderful. And he is not even realising it.
***
A few months have passed. I have locked myself away in my castle. I don't want to see anyone. Not even my sister. I do not even realize how she leaves the castle to live with Sombra now, completely embracing her role as his advisor.
***
I finally picked up the courage to go to Canterlot. There is a garden party this evening and I would like to chat with my sister a bit and ask how she has been doing. But before I even reach her, I see Sombra, dancing with a beautiful lady.
***
Very well! He called me aggressive! Fine! I will prove him just how aggressive I can be. That pamby-namby nobody will regret dancing with Sombra so much. I am in the forbidden parts of the library, searching through dusty books. There has to be a spell book on dark magic here! Something I can use.
The pieces fall into place
It was unusually warm. The heat choked the air and made it vibrate. It laid itself heavily on Luna's cloak and made her wings hung down. She and the Malicious Six had decided to meet at Fluttershy's cottage for breakfast. Luna mostly had urged on this meeting to share, what she had found out. Her friends, if one could call them like that, had decided to get along with that, because they had nothing better to do. And maybe, just maybe, because they felt a little bit of empathy.
Fluttershy's cottage looked a lot like the small house, in which her light counterpart lived. A small, round house that reminded one from the air of the shell of a tortoise. Green leaves grew over the roof, forming a soft hump. However, as Luna approached the house she sensed something. Compared to the cheerfulness that surrounded Fluttershy's house, this Fluttershy's had a deadly silence and anxiety in it. As if the animals that might live there feared to make a sound.
“Ehm, Fluttershy?” Luna lifted a hoof and knocked with it against the wood.
Through the door she heard a sharp shriek and whimper together with the angry call: “Who is a nice bunny? Yes, you are a nice bunny. You love mummy Fluttershy so much that you stay in your cage and do not try to bite her. AM I RIGHT?!?”
Luna backed away and put her ears back. One of her hooves was lifted like someone who wanted to turn around and leave. Okay. Why am I surprised now? I mean, she has been mean to me. But animals… Still really confused, Luna watched Fluttershy open the door and smile at her. “Oh, you are already there. Come inside, Luna. Don't be shy.”
Luna carefully followed the yellow pegasus in her living room. It would look rather comfortable, if it were not for the many cages that gave the place a creepy atmosphere. They stood on the floor, on shelves, hang from the celling. Sad animal eyes looked at Luna through iron bars. She tried to ignore them. Even Angle Bunny, who jumped up and down and formed small fists.
Fluttershy sat down on the couch. “The others will come soon”, she said, “Make yourself at home.”
Luna slowly took her place in a chair. Rubbing her front leg, she asked: “Do you have any idea, why it is so disgustingly warm?”
“Sure”, responded Fluttershy, “It is another draught. Probably somepony pissed of the Tyrant’s Sun and now she let it feel every single pony around.”
Luna blinked at Fluttershy's calmness. A draught was a serious condition. But the way the pegasus said that, it seemed like a draught was no big surprise here. I never thought about Celestia's powers in that way. She is using the sun to dry out the land. No wonder everypony dislikes her.
Rarity and Rainbow Dash were the next to enter Fluttershy's cottage.
The white unicorn complained: “Another draught! Seriously this temperature is so tiring and exhausting. My fur will be covered in dust for months and my mane will get stringy. My hooves will have cracks.”
Fluttershy groaned and Rainbow Dash responded: “Seriously, Rarity. This is not the first time, we have something like this. And you turn it into a big deal every time!”
Rarity responded: “Pah. You have no idea of natural beauty. All you can think of is cider and your stomach.”
Rainbow Dash hold her belly and grumbled: “Not true.” However, she immediately denied her words by asking: “Where is Applejack? I thought, she brought breakfast.”
“She will.” Pinkamena shuffled into the cottage and dropped herself on the carpet like a rag doll. “Just give her some time.”
“Let me guess”, mocked Fluttershy, “You were too lame and sad to move fast.”
A pair of green eyes looked at her and Pinkamena whimpered: “Oh, quit it, Fluttershy.”
Luna watched the group thoughtfully. She had sometimes read the friendship reports of Twilight, but she was amazed what dynamics laid in here. There was no real friendship, yet still they had a louse connection with one another. Just by the way they responded to one another. It did not looked like a real fight, but more like an usual routine. Making mocking comments about the other one and unnerving one another. Still they never seemed to go too far.
Finally Twilight and Applejack came inside. “Breakfast!”, shouted Rainbow Dash as she laid eyes on the filled saddle backs of the cheater. Her tongue hang out her maw. “At last!” Applejack threw off her backs and opened them. She pulled out several metallic objects, a knife and a loaf of bread.
Luna just stared at the metallic cylinders. “What are these?”, she asked, levitating one and eyeing it. The Malicious Six gasped in surprise and started to laugh.
Applejack responded: “Don't tell mah, yah never saw a can before, Princess Luna?”
“Ehm, no”, responded Luna, “What is it for?”
“Ah'll show yah.” Applejack took out her knife and started to cut open the top of the can.
While doing so, she explained: “Mah family has a monopoly for apples. We are incredible rich, because we know how to preserve food. That is important in this world as we often have draughts.” She opened the can and revealed the orange jelly in it. “Apple sauce”, Applejack grumbled and ripped the bread apart. Everyone took a piece and started to dip it into the jelly to eat it.
The jelly tasted ridiculously sweet and fruity. Luna almost coughed. Her throat got soar from the stuff and she was sure she would get a stomach ache from the stuff later. Still it seemed to be a pretty good meal as everypony ate as much as possible. Luna remembered the luxurious food she had eaten in the castle. Apparently for the folk this was one of the only food sources. No wonder, Applejack's family got so rich. The conditions simply allowed it.
When they finished, Luna told them about the diary entrance she had found. The Malicious Six gathered around her and listened.
Rainbow Dash grumbled: “Sounds like cryptical bullshit to me. How does this help us?”
“I don't know”, admitted Luna and dropped her head.
Rarity asked: “Who could have been the pony, that caught Sombra's hearth? I bet, she was really pretty and lovely.”
“Well”, Fluttershy responded sharply, “The Tyrant’s Sun probably thought differently.”
Luna sighted and shook her head. We have some valid information, but I still feel like I am as smart as where I have started. Her glance drifted around and she spotted a newspaper, laying on the floor. “Can I have a look at this?”, asked Luna and stood up.
Fluttershy sat down on one of her cages. “I see no reason, why you shouldn't.”
The navy blue Princess trotted towards the newspaper. Picking it up she flipped through the pages carelessly and stopped. The newspaper was not the newest one, but a print from almost twenty years before. And one of the articles showed the image of Sombra, dancing with a white mare with dawn coloured eyes and a multicoloured mane.
Luna stared at the image. Her eyes widened. Oh, a fool! Her jaw dropped. Luna recognised the mare at once. Jerking her head around, she called: “Guys, I have a crazy idea!”
“Crazy?”, responded everyone and Twilight said: “A word with which one could call your state of mind stupid.”
Luna ignored the comment and levitated the newspaper. “Look at this!” She thrust the article in their directions.
“Is this Celestiar?”, asked Pinkamena. “Since when is she dancing with Sombra?”
Luna shook her head. “That is Celestia, but not the one with a R in her name.” She jumped down from the sofa. “That is not your Celestiar, that is my Celestia.”
Suddenly it felt like the last few events needed all her intention again. Luna slowly paced up and down and muttered loudly to herself: “Why didn't I, foolish me, asked myself how Celestiar knew about my world? She had not seen it before. But she saw somebody from my world, my sister!”
She slowly turned around. “And what did her diary entrance said? He and his pretty lady friend will learn how bad the sun can be. They sowed the hate and I harvest the price. Powers, they will not be able to withstand. I will bring them hell on earth! I will ruin their lifes and take everything from them. They both will pay! I only claim justice and I will take it. More then they can deal with. The photo must have been taken during this garden festival!”
Luna rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Celestiar stated it herself. She was in love with Sombra. And when he started to date my sister, she got jealous as hell.” “Love and jealousy!”
“Great”, Twilight responded coldly, “Great analysis. We've got her motive. So, what is she trying to do?”
Luna responded: “I am not finished yet. All the clues in my dreams. My original nightmare. The mare without a face. This has been Celestiar! And Fluttershy, do you remember, when I disturbed your cult meeting? I talked Starlight Glimmer after that. And she had such meaningful words.” “I could not really understand, what the stranger said, but his voice sounded so heavy with meaning. It was as if he tried to persuade Mayor Mare of something.”
Luna leaned her head against the wall. With closed eyes she explained: “This cult is not lead by a crazy mare. Remember the main phrase you call, Fluttershy? Help us to reach another side. This could simply be regarded as heaven. But what if Celestiar was behind this? Reaching another side. She is not referring to heaven.” Her eyes widened in terror as the full realization and conclusion hit her. “She is referring to my world! She want to conquer my world!”
The sky looked bad. Sickly green clouds pressed themselves against the glass. The wind howled and the window creaked. Celestiar felt her sun in her back. She eyed the sky's change with a pleased expression on her face. Smirking to herself she whispered: “The time is right.”
Lunar was pacing up and down in the throne room. Her head was lowered and her wings trembled. Her thoughts raced. The sudden threat provided by Celestiar stung in her coat like splinters. She tried to figure out what to do.
Celestiar wanted to conquer her world. And for this she needed to find out how to get on the other side of this portal. Just like Luna. They both wanted the same but for different reasons. I just cannot let her reach my world! If Celestiar did this, her own Equestria would turn into a wasteland just like the Reflections world.
But how could she stop her? Could Luna maybe talk Celestiar out of it? After all she was her sister. Well, she posed as her sister. She had to try. Maybe she could make the evil Sun Princess change her ways. Luna lifted her head as she heard hoovesteps. Turning around she spotted Celestiar, walking into the room slowly.
Luna coughed and approached her. “Ehm, Celestiar, can we talk?”
The dawn coloured eyes showed now encouragement. Wrathful glances stared down on her as Celestiar lifted her head and asked with a snarl: “What is it, Shining Star?”
This will be more difficult then I thought. Luna gulped. She suddenly felt incredible small and worried. The mare felt the thread and hate like a shadow on her skin. But she had to keep herself together. Celestiar was no god! She was an Alicorn just like her. Luna could stand her ground.
“I was wondering”, responded Luna, “if you could change your mind? Why do you want to conquer this other world? We have a kingdom here! The mere land mass will be hard to control. Leave alone you would have to jump between the worlds again and again. Isn't that a bit complicated?” Luna wanted to say more, but she fell silent. Her argumentation sounded silly and she felt like a fool.
Celestiar immediately proved that she had every right to feel this way as she responded: “I will not change my way. I have been waiting far too long for this. You will not ruin the last steps of my master plan...” – she suddenly turned her head to look Luna really in the face; a slight, dangerous smile on her face – “Luna.”
Luna's ears went backwards and her maw dropped. Her eyes widened and she took a step backwards. “Y...you knew?”, she asked.
Celestiar's smile was cold and she remained calm like someone who has the upper hand and knows it. “I knew it the whole time.”
“How?!”, blurted Luna out, “I mean, the other ponies all thought I am Lunar. So how were you not fooled?” She felt her words tumbling, started to stammer.
The smile on her opponent's muzzle turned knowingly: “You never asked yourself how you ended up in this world?”
“No”, admitted Luna and shook her head.
Celestiar smiled and slowly walked around her. “Well, I know it. Because I sent you here. I used a spell that switched your body with the one of my sister.”
“Why?”, asked Luna in confusion, “What possible use could I have for you?”
“Don't you already figured it out? My little riddle?”
Luna responded: “I got most of it, but there are still a few gaps. Maybe you are willing to fill them.”
Celestiar smiled and chuckled darkly. It seemed she had waited a long time for this reveal. The mare placed a hoof on her chest. “Let me tell you a story, Luna. A story of love and rejection. A true story.”
“Yes”, she admitted, “The only reason I am doing this is because I got betrayed by the ones I loved. I loved King Sombra when I was younger. And he rejected me. Me, the perfect ruler for his kingdom. I was angry. He had chosen my sister as his advisor. But then this newbie appeared.”
Her ears went back and her glance hardened. “A goodie-two shoe version of me! And Sombra immediately fell for her. Because she was nice, friendly and kind.” A snort escaped her nostrils and Celestiar bared her teeth. “I was hearth-broken. It felt like a slap in the face. As if everything I hold dear was taken away from me in this one act. I was humiliated! I never wanted to be hurt like this again!”
Celestiar laughed and looked at Luna. Her dawn coloured eyes flashed. “So I thought, she takes something precious from me. I will take something precious from them! I had always believed that I was the natural born ruler of a kingdom. And so being an Alicorn Princess I took, what I regarded as mine. I shaped my own kingdom around the castle. I took Ponyville, I took Appleloosa, I took the Doge City. I caused draughts and made Sombra's kingdom fall apart, turned his people against him.”
Celestiar stopped briefly. She shifted her wings. “I knew the population would never call me their Queen if I had no good reason. And so I invented the cult around Starswirl the Wicked. I knew he was fiction, but I knew that Celestia's old, creepy wizard friend literally begged to be deformed by my will.” Celestiar smiled. “Ponies can endure horrible things, torments and dreadful conditions if they just have the right mindset of believes. I knew the idea of an afterlife, a better life was tempting for everypony. So I made Major Mare my prophet. Before she resided in Ponyville, she travelled far and wide and spread the ideology of Starswirl the Wicked. That this world was hell and worthless and that the only way to have a better life was reaching another side.”
Celestiar laughed dryly. “Little did she know that this was a codeword. I wanted to harm both. Sombra with the loss of his people and his blossoming kingdom. And Celestia with the loss of hers. I knew if I could get both worlds under my rule, they both would cry bitter tears of remorse. Your Equestria is a true gem for Celestia and I will take this gem from her! Just like she took Sombra from me.”
Luna flinched. She had watched Celestiar. This mare was not just fuelled by hatred and her grudge. No her obsession with revenge had drawn her insane partly. She wanted to reign terror over two kingdoms just because of a broken heart. Love. It made people do crazy and wonderful things. And a broken love only made these things worse.
Luna asked: “How do I fit in this? Why am I here? What use do I have for you?” She shook her head energetically. “I can tell you right now that I won't help you in any way!”
Celestiar laughed. Tears of anger ran down her eyes. “Oh, but you already did”, she responded and pointed at her like a child mocking another one.
“With my sister by my side”, Celestiar told Luna, “I could start my actual master plan. I knew if Celestia did not want to give me the key to her world, I would have to make the worlds collide.”
“Make the worlds collide!”, called the moon princess in shock, “But that…..that is impossible!”
It was the work of a mad man. And yet Celestiar's twisted logic worked so precisely.
“Oh, it is far more easier then you think. Your sister and Sombra have met a lot in the past. And this often meeting caused a crack in space and time. The walls of our worlds lost their stability. I am simply quickening the process. With your help.” Celestiar smirked. “I found a spell in an ancient book that allowed me to switch to person's bodies. I used the spell on you and my sister. You switched your bodies and by doing so the crack grew and deepened.”
Celestiar's smile widened and her eyes showed the glitter of knowledge and being aware of it. “You are not supposed to be in this world, Luna. Especially not in this body. When you woke up in my world, I had to buy time. I needed to make sure that the little effect worked on both worlds long enough so that our walls became very thine.”
Luna felt more and more panic and shock in her as Celestiar revealed with pleasure how her great plan worked: “I ordered Mayor Mare to held the cult meeting over your bed chambers. I was sure the noise would wake you up and when you saw their doing, you would most certainly try to figure out more. When you reached Starlight, I had to kill her. I knew this librarian knew a few things and I could not let her share you with things you were not ready. I also made you find my diary. I gave Fluttershy the old newspaper. After all, why should she own such a thing? I gave you all the keys you needed to figure it out.”
Celestiar smirked. “And now that you have finally figured, I can get your good-for-nothing sister on the other side and get the key to your world”, she concluded proudly.
This loosened Luna's shock paralyse. She took a step backwards and put her ears back. “My sister will never fall for any cheap trick to lure her here!”, she responded angrily.
Celestiar gazed upwards and pouted her lips. She responded offended: “Oh, I am not talking about some cheap trick. I am sure she will come running” – her expression changed to devilish all of the sudden – “if her sister's life is in danger.”
“Wait! What are you…. Aaaaaahhhhhh!” It happened too fast. Celestiar's horn flared blood-red and a large shot of dark red fire slammed itself against Luna. The Moon Princess buckled over in a desperate way of protecting herself. But it was in vain. The flames were everywhere. They burned themselves through her fur, her head jerked backwards and her wings snapped.
Fuming with smoke, Luna was catapulted through the air and slammed against the next wall. The blue Alicorn tumbled down and crashed on her side. Her feathers were flying around and her mane was all messed up. Legs and necks ached and her lids hurt as she forced them to open.
Luna gazed at Celestiar. She was in a miserable state. “Please...”, croaked Luna and coughed, “You don't have to do this.”
The solar tyrant responded coldly: “I thought you would understand. You too know how its feels like to be rejected. Besides it is already too late for me to stop. And my sister knows our plan. If her damage won't make Celestia go through the mirror, her words will.”
No! Luna's eyes widened briefly in terror and fear. I have to stop her. I have to. But her whole body felt as if someone had tried to roast it. The pain numbed her muscles and she could hardly move. Celestiar called: “Guards! Take her to the dungeons.” Her dark dawn coloured eyes glittered like rubies as she eyed Luna and said with a smug smile: “Oh, and a little thing by the way: Even if I had not send you here, you would have betrayed yourself. Because my sister does not call me Tia, only Celest. If she ever calls me anything. Now if you excuse me, I have a world to take.”
The sun shone through the slits of the carpet and tickled her nose. Luna chuckled and mumbled something in her sleep. She laid on the bed, her body sank in the pillow and the matress. It felt so warm and comfortable. She was still rather sleepy. The warmth of the sun, which heated the air and her dark coat only added to her dullness. Luna rolled on her side and let her wings open, falling over the corner of the bed.
„Princess!“, Kibitz, the scheduler of her sister Celestia called, „Princess, wake up! Your sister is awaiting you in the throne room for breakfast.“
Luna lifted her head. With her eyes still closed she shouted into the direction, where the door probably laid: „Five more minutes, Kibitz!“ He grunted something in that bushy mustache of his (Luna had a reason, why she called him walrus – although never in public) and walked away.
Luna yawned with her ears, pressing against the back of her head, and her tongue, rolling upwards in her mouth. Her neck stretched itself, just like the rest of her body. From an outsider's perspective she looked like a cat. „Five more minutes“, whispered Luna and placed her sleepy head on her crossed front legs.
She blinked and scanned the room lazily. The darkblue, almost violet walls, engraved with the moon and stars; the chandelier of blue crystalls; her desk, overloading with parchment roles and quills, her red cloak and boots.
Wait? What…? Red cloak and boots? Luna blinked again, this time to get the sleepiness out of her eyes. Her head snapped upwards and she stared at the chair. No, she had not been wrong. There on a chair laid, neatly folded and cleaned, four crimson red boots and a long cloak, also crimson red. How do these clothes come into my sleeping quarters?
Luna stood up and walked over to the chair. She levitated the cloak and spotted even more crimson red objects, also clothing. A strange helmet or Alice band with two spiked, sea dragon like fins; a ring with a cresent moon, hanging from it, that could easily fit her horn, a blackish-red necklace with a cresent moon and several other, crimson red rings, Luna was not quite sure what there use was for.
Luna stared at the strange objects and could not believe her eyes. Her maw was open and all she could think was: Is this some kind of joke?! Where were her silvery horseshoes? Where was the small black crown and her necklace? Where was her stuff? Did some maid somehow ruined it during the wash? Oh, they are in trouble now. No one mocks the Princess of the Night! She would never wear such...villainous looking things!
„SERVANT!“, Luna called and immediatley started coughing. Her head jerked forwards and a sharp pain exploded in her throat. „Ouch!“ Surprised the blue mare pressed an hoof against her throat. It felt dry and wounded as if it has been skinned.
What was going on? Usually she hardly had any problems using her Royal Canterlot Voice. Her vocal cords were as hard as steal and could produce a loud, clear, thundering call, she was so infamous for. And now this. Don't be a whelp, Luna! You probably just drunk not enough last night.
„SERVANT!“ Luna's shout was once again cut off by her coughing and spitting on the floor. She buckled over. „Your Majesty! Are you alright?“ A helping hoof helped her on her feeth. Luna looked at Kibitz, who stood in front of her.
Strange. My sister's scheduler does not look like that! Kibitz still had his long, clean mustache. But there were shades of dark brown in his safran yellow coat and dark rings laid around his eyes. Not to mention his odd vest. It was pure white and had a golden line at its edge. It also had no buttoms and reminded Luna of an acient look. His glance also was rather grimm and grumpy.
Luna shook her head and responded: „No, I am not alright.“ With a zestful movement she pointed at the pile of clothes. „What are those?“, she demanded to know sharply. Kibitz levitated his glasses and cleaned them, before he placed them back on his nose. Squinting his eyes, he leaned forward and peered the clothes.
„Is there something wrong with your cloak?“, he asked and levitated the coat, checking it for possible patches or tears, „Did it got dirty during your last attack on Canterlot?“
Attack on Canterlot?! Luna's eyes widened. Then she shook her head firmly and waved her hoof. „No, that is not a matter“, she responded, „Those are not my clothes, Kibitz!“
Kibitz snorted and placed the cloak back on the pile. He eyed the Princess and responded: „Princess Lunar, of course those are your clothes!“ She lifted a brow. I beg you pardon? She was sure, she had heard an R at the end of her name. Maybe not fully pronounced but still an R. Maybe this was all a clever prank of her sister?
Luna simply facehoofed and grumbled: „You do not get it, dweeb, do you?“ She sighted and lowered her hoof. Then very slowly as if she was talking to a child, the Moon Princess said: „These clothes do not belong to me. They are not my clothes, Kibitz!“
The advicer just shook his head and sighted because of this stubborness. „Princess“, he asked, „Are you sure, you are alright? Maybe you have drunken too much whine. Or didn't the mission go well? Did the King once again rejected your offer?“
Luna bared her teeth and furrowed her brow. She was breathing heavily. Fume seemed to come out of her ears and her mane cringled. Her eyes flashed. Okay, Celestia, I know you like playing pranks, but this is getting ridicolous!
Luna felt her jaws forced open by the attempt to use the Royal Canterlot Voice: „THOU DARE TO INSULT US, THOU UNGRATEFUL WHELP! THOU DARE TO MOCK THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT! THOU….“ The rest of her screaming parade was cut off by a really long series of coughing. Luna shivered and her head danced around as she coughed and sneazed.
Kibitz' eyes widened. „Princess Lunar!“ He came closer and despite her protest guided her back towards the bed and forced her to sit down. „You look dreadful“, he said worried and sampled her cheeks and neck, „Should I tell Princess Celestiar, that you cannot attend breakfast? Because you are not feeling well. Besides why were you yelling at me?“
I was not yelling! I used a traditional way of adressing my subjects. Luna took a deep breath. She responded: „I can assure you, servant, I am fine. I just need a few minutes alone. To calm down. You can tell Celestiar“ – the added R felt weird on her tongue, despite hardly being pronounced – „that I will attend to the breakfast.“
Kibitz saluted and said: „I will, your Majesty.“ With these words he walked off. Luna snorted and eyed the red cloat and the helmet and boots. Okay, Celestia. You played really well. But I will show you that I know it is a prank! The mare stood up and walked towards the mirror to clean her face. Half in the movement she stopped and her eyes widened. Or maybe it is not a harmless prank!
Luna was staring at a stranger that seemed oddly familiar. She looked at herself and not herself. Her eyes were a bit smaller at the corners, her transperent mane was a bit less fuller and on her table stood violett eyeshadow. And she never wore violett eyeshadow!
But what gave her the most concern was her Cutiemark. It still showed the cresent moon and the three small dots on black ground. But her moon was white like the silver body. This moon and these dots were crimson red and small lines went down the moon like blood. Luna touched the Cutiemark in the hope the red shading was paint, but it was real.
Panting, Luna eyed her reflection. She looked at the Cutiemark, then at the mare in the mirror, then at the clothes and then back at her Cutiemark. This is bad! This is really bad! Apparently she was stuck in another world, in another dimension. And to make it worse: She somehow was in the body of her persona from this alternate dimension. Horseapples!
