1-10 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar ParadiseView Online100 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise1-10 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise1.Introduction. Their first meeting had hardly gone smoothly – what with apocalyptic threats and ancient artefacts – but eventually the dust settled, the wounds were tended to, and that beautiful mare of the night approached Twilight with earnest words of apology and gratitude. The unicorn had floundered incoherently claiming it her ‘duty’ and an ‘honour’ – for some unthinkable reason her voice simply refused to properly obey her in the presence of the dark alicorn. She would later seek an explanation for this anomaly in her numerous books, but ultimately it would not be in their inked pages that she finally finds her answer. 2.Love In her millennium of banishment the moon goddess had forgotten the feelings that accompanied falling in love. Naturally she had experienced it many times before her fall into corruption – after all being immortal did not make her immune to Cupid’s barbed arrow. But though she knew of love – and all the symptoms there of –she still revelled in the almost unfamiliar sensations: the hammering of her ever-beating heart; the almost painful shortness of breath; the joyful flick of her sensitive ears when they caught the sound of that one unicorn’s laughter. She couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to. 3.Inoccence “Twilight! ‘Tis this blasphemy truly all that is remembered!?” Twilight sighed, she had foolishly offered to help Luna catch up on the last one thousand years of history. Glancing at the tome currently being scrutinised. “Hardhoof the bloody? One of the most decorated officers from before the founding of the EUP, executed by his commander for treason? What about him?” “‘Tis lies! All of it! Hardhoof was under-order! His only crime – neigh, his only fault – was obeying that snake of a commander!” Twilight blinked “Wait you’re saying that Hardhoof – one of the greatest traitors in Equestrian history – was innocent?!” “Yes!” 4.Light Twilight Sparkle lived in the light. She studied ether and mana not dirt nor dark magic. She was the personal student of the sun goddess and she bore an element of pure blinding power. Princess Luna of Equestria lived in an entirely different world. She had long ago mastered the darker arts and cared little for the ‘purer’ magics. She was the moon goddess and mistress of night, her very existence was one of shadow. Yet she would shed her comforting darkness, forsake her power, and force herself into the light if that is what her Twilight asked of her. 5.Dark As a filly darkness had brought fear; it had promised horrors; told silent tales of disobedient or disappointing fouls being dragged screaming into the night. Darkness meant hiding under her blankets and lighting her horn in the hopes of banishing the grizzly demons that undoubtable prowled the shadows; and sometimes it meant braving cold, shadowy corridors in search of somepony to protect her. But now darkness had an entirely different meaning to Twilight. Now darkness meant night-time rendezvous under starry skies; it meant the purest of temptations and it meant unquestioning trust. Now darkness meant love; now it meant Luna. 6.Past She still hadn’t truly forgiven herself, not really. How could she? She had so much red on her coat and so many deaths on her horn, how could she ever be redeemed. Twilight often assured her that nopony held her accountably for her crimes; that she shouldn’t bear any guilt over the actions of her nightmarish alter ego. But then, Twilight didn’t really understand. She had never told the unicorn much about the time before she and her sister held the throne – she didn’t want to. How could she explain that not all the lives were claimed by Nightmare Moon? 7.Break_Away Sometimes Twilight needed escape. Not often and never for long, but occasionally. Whenever it reached a point were she just couldn’t any more, she – exhausted from living on power naps; tired of Spike’s doting and insisting that she eats; and sick of her studies and, usually beloved, books would disappear. Spike, who would have recognized the symptoms before she vanished, would inform any who came looking for her that she was away on important business and that they should return later – as she wouldn’t be gone for long. This was one thing to which the midnight alicorn was no exception. 8.Heaven ‘I’ll never see heaven.’ There was a lot to legitimize this stray thought, for one, she was immortal; there was also the problem of redemption, something which – she was certain – would forever be beyond her reach. Another thing that came to mind was the fact that she didn’t really belong to any faith, being the closest entity to a god – second only to Discord himself – didn’t leave her many avenues of worship. But as she shuffled her wings and drew the sleeping form of her lover closer to her, Luna decided that maybe heaven didn’t have to come after death. 9.Drive Curiosity. For a long time that was Twilight’s sole motivator: an overwhelming insatiable desire for knowledge; the will to know, to understand. It was the thing that drove her. Perhaps it was even that same curiosity that drew her to the mysterious princess of the night in the first place. All the ancient and forbidden knowledge that the alicorn undoubtable possessed not to mention a mastery of a form of magic that could be considered the exact opposite of her own. It was to learn, that was why she approached the goddess – or at least that’s what she told herself. 10.Breathe She couldn’t breathe. Her lungs were on fire and her head was spinning and she couldn’t breathe. Fear, anxiety, confusion, confliction, hope: raced in her mind and roared in her ears. She couldn’t remember ever feeling like this; she didn’t try to remember, she didn’t try to think: all that mattered, all that existed, was the disturbingly serene face of the unicorn that she desperately clings to. Forcing her wings to near breaking point she finally breached the water’s surface, but even then she doesn’t breathe, not till she hears a desperate, waterlogged gasp from the mare in her grasp.
11-20 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar ParadiseView Online100 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise11-20 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise11.Memory “What’s the first thing you remember?” “I am not certain that I understand thy question Twilight Sparkle.” “What’s your oldest memory? The thing furthest from the present that you can recall?” “Pray-tell what has inspired this sudden interest in mine recollection?” “I was just wondering… I think mine is… is a soft red blanket and the smell of… cinnamon, maybe.” “That seems rather unclear.” “It’s pretty foggy… what about you?” “…Tia… Tia teaching us – me – to fly… I did not know our dam and sire… nor can I recall ever seeing any others of mine kind…” “Luna… are you crying?” 12.Insanity Luna had once read that a form of madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time. If that was the case then she was undoubtable insane. Time and time again she fell in love, and every tale ended in heartbreak: what else could be expected from the love-life of an immortal? She knew that Twilight would be no different – that she too would be lost – but that didn’t stop Luna from loving her with every fibre of her endless being. If the cost of love is sanity, then so be it. 13.Misfortune Twilight was a luck pony – very fortunate indeed. She had so much to be grateful for: like the fact that she most definitely was not in love with an unreachable goddess – yes certainly very lucky; and that said goddess wasn’t in an emotionally weakened state in desperate need of comfort, and guidance. It was also a good thing that Twilight was a brave pony and that, if she did happen to have feelings for somepony, she would have no problem confessing to that, completely hypothetical, pony. Twilight huffed in annoyance, “Yes… so very, very fortunate.” Even the bookshelves seemed unconvinced. 14.Smile Twilight Sparkle possessed a vast arsenal of expressions and Luna liked to think that she – and she alone – was familiar with all of them. Her favourite was most certainly the unicorn’s impressive range of smiles. There was the half smirk of intellectual satisfaction; the wild grin of new discovery; the filly like glee of success or accomplishment. It occurred to Luna, not for the first time, that a many of these were most often brought on by the unicorn’s studies. But there was one that belonged solely to her: that gentle little glance that overflowed with immeasurable and unwavering affection. 15.Silence Silence. Broken only by the breathing of two beings and the beating of two hearts. Warmth. Brought by the midnight wing draped across her and the soft body she leaned into. Beauty. Shown in the stars of the night sky that had been so painstakingly, so masterfully painted by the only thing that could surpass their majesty. Then, though the warmth remained and the beauty was unyielding, the silence was scattered, destroyed, and forgotten. Not a soul wished for its return. “Luna, you know that I love you, right?” “Indeed. And, as always Twilight Sparkle, samely do I love thee.” 16.Questioning “Why me?” the question had caught Luna quite off guard so her only response was an intelligible tilt of the head. “You could have had anypony you wanted – hay! You could have had any horse, dragon or gryphon for that matter – so why me?” “I… I do not know…” the goddess frowned at her weak answer “Does this make thou question mine sincerity?” “What? No!” Luna detected a trace of guilt in the denial. “Twilight Sparkle, I do not know what drew me to thee, but truly, I would sooner return to the moon than see thee doubt my affections” 17.Blood Red… so much red. Twilight entered the throne room with the intent of interrupting Night-court and whisking away the reigning princess for ‘personal matters’, but the sight that met her cast all thoughts of intimacy from her mind. Scattered throughout the room were the corpses of at least a dozen of the lunar-guard, but what called her attention was the indigo mare laying at the steps to her throne. In a flash of light she was right there pulling the larger pony to her. “Luna! Luna look at me!” “…immortal… will survive… foalish assassins… but… mine guards?” “I’m sorry Luna…” 18.Rainbow “Art thou familiar with the tale of the birth of rainbows?” The unicorn with whom Luna was sharing her cloudy perch frowned, “What, like how spectra is made? Because the factory keeps that classified.” “Neigh, I speak of the origin of colour. Wouldst thee be interested in hearing such? ‘Tis no more than mare’s tale but ‘twas mine favorite as a foal.” A nod of encouragement. “Alicorn blood.” “WHAT!?” “Mine dam’s finale gift to a dying world.” “Just a story… right?” “I do not know. Tia says ‘tis but a tale, but Discord once spoke of the grey before harmony.” 19.Gray “‘Tis not so!” “Yes it is!” “I am the goddess of the night and I say it is not!” It was the sight of her faithful student and her beloved sister shouting, horn-to-horn that greeted Celestia as she entered the throne room, though – judging by the mischievous glint in her sister’s eyes – their exchange was only serious to the unicorn. “Princess! Please tell me what colour is this.” Twilight the waved a magically grasped parchment at the solar goddess. “Grey? Specifically damp-ash.” “Neigh! ‘Tis dark-white!” it was the unicorn’s indignant groan that finally sent Luna into a fit of giggles. 20.Confession “I miss my brother.” “Ah yes, Captain Shining Armour, good soldier – he would die for his nation.” Luna wondered if that sounded like the praise it was. “…Would you? I…I know you’re immortal and all… but if you could die would you? For Equestria I mean?” “The things for which I would forsake mine eternity are very few, but yes, mine home is indeed counted among them.” “And the rest? You said that there is a few…” The alicorn gave the contemplative pause before answering “Mine land, mine sister… and thee.” “Me?” “Is one’s love not worthy of one’s life?”
21-30 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar ParadiseView Online100 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise21-30 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise21.War Twilight gaped, eyes wide and jaw slack, suddenly feeling numb and cold at the same time, “W…war…?” her tone was muted and disbelieving. “There is worse yet.” “W…what could be worse?” she was afraid of the answer. “Tia has decided that the Bearers must fight.” “Of course,” she regained some semblance of her wits “we would be powerful weapons.” Luna’s mask of calm broke at that “Do not so willingly consent to being a tool of butchery! Mine sister may seem a kind ruler, but thou hast not seen her wage war.” “Luna, I love you but it’s our duty.” 22.First_Kiss Twilight was stunned, and quite sure that she had misheard the princess she so secretly loved. “…what…?” “Was I not clear?” the beautiful goddess of the night turned, gazing deep into her eyes “I love thee, Twilight Sparkle.” Okay… so her ears weren’t betraying her. Twilight was torn between squealing like a filly at Hearthswarming and asking if this was some twisted joke. “‘Tis understandable that thou dost not share mine affections, we – I – merely wished for-” Luna never did finish that sentence, it was most likely rather difficult to speak clearly with an overjoyed unicorn clumsily claiming her lips. 23.Spoken_Word “Luna, don’t do that.” “Wouldst-” the alicorn cut herself off with a frown “What do you mean?” she spoke hesitantly; unsure as she forced herself into the new dialect. “That, exactly that! You don’t have to correct yourself when it’s just me… I know you don’t like having to think over everything you want to say and, to be perfectly honest, I rather like it when you speak old Equestrian.” “Truly?” “Truly.” The unicorn sent her a not all too innocent grin. “I have always liked the old language, and to hear it roll off your tongue is quite… fascinating…” 24.Cat Twilight sighed contentedly and leaned into the embrace of her slumbering lover. The sun was approaching the horizon and soon she would have to wake the lunar goddess, to raise the moon, but for now Twilight could relax with the steady beat of Luna’s heart and the rumbling purr from the lion at the foot of the bed to keep her company… …lion… “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” Luna was instantly awake, letting lose a deep growl she stood over Twilight protectively, searching the room for any threat. “L-l-lion!!” stammered the frantic unicorn. Laughing, Luna sagged – nearly squishing Twilight – “Twilight, meet Leo, mine pet." 25.Time Her duties as a princess and moon-goddess kept her busy most nights, which left only unpleasantly hot and painfully bright day free to her. Sufficed to say she tended to sleep through the bright hours. All in all Luna was not a pony with a lot of free time on her hooves. But there was one pony for whom she would always have time; for whom she would abandon night-court; and for whom she could endure the day. Luna spent every moment that she could spare – and many that she couldn't – with Twilight. After all, her beloved was no immortal. 26.Trouble_Lurking Celesta sat on her throne and waited for the foundations of Canterlot to shake. She more than most knew the might of the coming storm. Luna had pleaded with her sister, begging for refuge, for sanctuary. She received none. Even the goddess of the sun would not stand against the wrath that her beloved sibling had invoked. In her hiding place in the palace gardens the lunar princess awaited her demise, she had weighed her options – even considering a trip to the moon – but had quickly realised that nowhere was safe. Sooner or later Twilight would find the damaged book. 27.Hidden_Dreams At first Luna hadn’t understood. The dream-walker had assured her lover that there was nothing to fear but Twilight refused. Luna could ward away any nightmares that intruded upon her resting mind and she could visit her beloved little unicorn in her resting hours. But Twilight was adamant, eventually coxing Luna into the most binding of oaths – a Pinkie Promise. Luna was not allowed to enter any of her dreams unless it was for the direst of reasons. At first Luna hadn’t understood, but as the tossing unicorn chocked out a name in her feverish sleep Luna understood. “Nightmare Moon.” 28.Foreign It was strange, different and unfamiliar; foreign in every way; it was new and – above all else – it was a change. Twilight Sparkle did not like change. ‘Change isn’t all bad.’ She reasoned with herself ‘Becoming Princesses Celestia’s student was a change and look how that turned out.’ ‘With you suffering from severe anxiety and several personality disorders.’ Replied the quiet voice in her head. Frowning she mentally pushed the voice back into its little box. Love was completely foreign to Twilight Sparkle and the thoughts of the changes it would bring terrified her. But maybe...maybe love was worth change. 29.Sorrow “Luna… are you alright…” The alicorn briefly considered lying, “Neigh, beloved. I find mine mind drawn to when first I laid mine stars and those for whom I laid them.” “…Do you want to talk about it?” Again Luna considered declining – deserving. “‘Twould mean a great deal if thou wouldst listen to the mournful ramblings of this old foal.” And Luna spoke. She spoke all through the night. She voiced things that had gone unsaid for over a millennia. And she cried. She cried the despite heaving sobs of somepony who had a thousand years of sorrow to cry away. 30.In_The_Storm Twilight watched the rain beat against the window pane, and inexplicably wished to feel it on her coat. “Let’s run.” She had spoken in a sigh and were it not for the sole listener’s keen senses it would have gone unheard. “Run?” there was a pause, then “Whilst it storms?” “Yes.” Her voice is louder now but still distant, “I…I want to feel the rain.” “‘Tis hailing also.” “I know.” “‘Twould hurt.” Twilight turned her eyes to the goddess that belonged solely to her. “I don’t care.” “‘Tis most unlike you, beloved.” “I know.” “…Into the storm?” “Into the storm.”
31-40 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar ParadiseView Online100 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise31-40 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise31.Stars Luna woke slowly, eyes flickering open and was met with the familiar ocean that was the night sky. Hesitating for a moment she turned to awaken her lover. The unicorn groaned in protest before asking “What is it…?” “Gaze skyward, what dost thou note?” “The stars?” “Indeed, and what does that mean to thee?” Twilight frowned, still very much asleep, “That you remembered to put them up?” she paused before adding, “They’re very pretty… can I go back to sleep now?” “Twilight, beloved, thou canst see the stars.” Luna explained patently “‘T means that somepony has awayed with our tent.” 32.Beast “This isn’t going to work.” The creature regarded Twilight with eyes far too intelligent for a mere animal. “I can’t have you walking in while me and Luna are… busy.” The pure black lion’s golden eyes were impossibly deep, and its nod made the silver sheen of its mane gleam. “So let’s make a deal.” Leo seemed to grin, the constellation of his namesake that adorned his cheek twisting slightly. “I’ll stop kicking you off the bed if you stop walking in on us.” His grin widened, showing his alabaster fangs. All had gone according to the sly beast’s plan. 33.Expectations Luna had been mentally prepared for most things she’d encountered after the elements freed her. She’d known that her sister would forgive and accept her; she had anticipated that Equestria would not share Celestia’s enthusiasm. She wasn't even surprised to learn about the worlds various advances. Impressed, yes. But not surprised. The one thing that didn't meet her expectations was that defiant and terrifyingly-powerful unicorn. Twilight Sparkle was not a battle hungry warrior, nor a power-crazed mage, but a scholar. A kind-hearted, gentle pony who’s only desire was to learn. Luna had never been happier to have her expectations crushed. 34.Moon ‘I would give you the moon.’ an absolutely meaningless promise between lovers. Nopony, regardless of power or prestige, could truly promise the moon. Nopony but one. Nopony but Luna. And she had. Twilight could still remember the princess’s exact words. “Twilight Sparkle, thou, some time ago, robbed me of mine heart and, in return, granted me thy’n. Now I stand before thee with an offering of all else I possess: wouldst thou do me the honour of claiming thy place at mine side, as Consort of the Night?” She had replied by shouting yes while hopping around like a schoolfilly. 35.Hold_Her Twilight Sparkle cried, it was the near quite, shuddering, rivers of tears that come from somepony desperately trying not to. It killed Luna to watch. “Twili-” “It hurts,” she drew a shuddering breath “it hurts so much…” she choked on a sob “make it stop…” she turned to face the older mare. “please.” Luna hesitated. It would be easy really, a few altered memories some tweaked ideas, and Twilight wouldn’t even know that she should be grieving. No. Stepping forward she touched her horn to her lover’s, enveloped her in powerful wings, and held her. Twilight stopped fighting the tears. 36.Eyes The blood soaked dreamscape; the all too realistic corpses of her friends; the sinister chuckle of the being responsible. All horrifying. And all paled when compared to those painfully familiar eyes. The irises of gentle teal that she knew so very well, defiled by the draconic slithers of black meant to be pupils. Twilight screamed. Her eyes shot open and her breath caught in her throat as she finally, escaped her nightmare. “Twilight, beloved!?” ‘There they are, those same eyes.’ Silently scolding herself for such a cruel thought Twilight offered a sad smile. “Sorry Luna, just a… just a Nightmare.” 37.Precious_Treasure Being an immortal, near divine, and – until recently – warring diarch came with an impressive collection of ‘souvenirs’ and, although somewhat worn from a thousand years of neglect, Luna’s was nothing short of incredible. Armour, weapons and even bones taken as trophies from vanquished foes lay scattered between towers of gems and monuments of solid gold, either claimed by right of conquest or received as gifts. The personal treasury of the Lunar Princess was truly staggering. But as she stood there, amongst her ancient wealth, she found that nothing she possessed could compare to the awed unicorn that stood beside her. 38.Abandoned “You abandoned me!” Twilight’s indignant accusation echoed throughout the palace as she staggered into the personal chambers of the lunar diarch. “Thou exaggerates.” “I exaggerates not!” she huffed, collapsing unceremoniously on the royal bed, “You know what Cadence gets like once she starts drinking, and you left me there to deal with her on my own!” “‘Twas amusing no?” “NO! I was this close to talking her out of invading The Badlands when Celestia showed up!” “Oh dear…” “So I locked the drunken pair of them in the war room and I think their playing poker with the Equestrian map.” 39.Wishes “I can hear them…” Luna broke the content silence that had enveloped the stargazing pair. “Hear what?” came the rightfully confused reply. “The wishes that ponies plead from mine stars.” She smiled something bittersweet before adding, “It pains me that I mayn’t grant them.” Twilight wasn’t sure how to respond so instead, she leaded into her lover and offered a nuzzle in way of comfort. “Often times, before the diarchy, Discord and I would away whilst Tia slept to play genie.” “Discord?” “We were inseparable, us three … but Tia may never forgive him for choosing chaos rather than her.” 40.Rank “Luna, you could at least try being civil to them!” “Those things are blood-lusting swine! I shan't have them in mine court!” The thestral guard on watch made certain not to notice the argument. “Equestria and The Gryphon Kingdoms have been allies for centuries! You can’t refuse them without causing an international incident!” “Then let there be an ‘incident’! Those hen-cubs shall know their place!!” The guard remained stoically indifferent to the brash – and blatantly speciesist – declarations that rang from within the royal quarters. After all anypony of his rank knew when to be little deaf or a little blind.
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