The Moon's Shadow

A tall blue mare in a black cloak stepped off of the crystal train. Her glittering night shone above her. She trotted slowly towards the crystal castle. She approached the castle gates and the guards immediately stepped in front of the cloaked pony.

“Who dares approach the castle at such an hour!” One of the guards demanded.

The blue mare slipped off the hood of her cloak and the guards instantly knelt before her.

“Sorry dear princess of the night we did not realize..” The guard was stopped short.

“Thou must not apologize for thy loyal guard  was doing his job.” Luna said in a calm tone.

Luna watched as the guards opened the shimmering crystal gates. She stepped inside and saw a light coming from the throne room.Cadence put down the scroll she writing on as she heard somepony enter. “For the seventh time shining-” Cadence looked down, “Luna!” She exclaimed stunned  by the ponies sudden unplanned visit.

“Hello Cadance.” sighed Luna.

“What’s wrong Luna.” Cadance questioned. “You seem, how should i put this… you seem frazzled.”

“We are fine.” Luna muttered.

“Well since you're here do you need a place to stay?” Cadence asked.

“That would be lovely.” Luna Replied

Cadence gave yet another worried look before guiding Luna to a large room. Luna looked around. There was a large bed at the end of the room. There were beautiful Stained glass windows filling the room with color as moonlight shone through them.

“Do you need anything else?” Cadence asked.

“We are fine.” Luna said.

“Why are you here Luna.” Cadence pried, “I mean i’m glad that you're here but…”

“It’s a very long tale to tell and also difficult one.” Luna stated.

Cadence understood that she shouldn't question Luna about this any further, at least not tonight. Luna stared out the the colored windows. She sat down and using her magic pulled out a book called The History of The Crystal Empire, this was gonna be a long night.

Luna flipped through the pages of the book thinking about what she was here to do. Should I really do this? Luna thought to herself, No, I can’t think like that. I’ve gone to far to turn back now.

         “I will bring you back no matter what it, and I will fix the mistake I made so long ago.” Luna whispered, “For I was the one who did this to you. We will not fail thou again!”

Cadence could hear yelling coming from Luna’s room. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on, and thought she should check it out. The pink mare hesitated has she heard sobs coming from the other room. She knocked on the door, but no answer came. The crystal princess then proceeded to open the doors not quite sure what she would find inside. She looked around the room a little shocked to find the once proud princess of the night crying with her muzzle buried in her hooves.

Cadence walked slowly over to the dark blue mare, worry shone in her purple eyes.

“Luna,” Cadence called softly.

Luna looked up with surprise, and was a little bit embarrassed that Cadence had witnessed her in this state of weakness. Luna forced herself to stand up. She straightened her back, and once again stood proud and tall even if she didn’t quite feel that way at the moment.

“Cadence.” Luna stated plainly, acknowledging the other alicorn’s presence.

“Luna,” Cadence replied softly a little lost for words, “what’s bothering you. I’ve never seen you like this. You can trust me.”

Luna just stared back at the mare. Her moonlit eyes were full of hurt and sadness. Cadence could just see one other thing in the lunar princess’ eye, something she had seen in Celestia’s before Luna had returned. Loss, unbearable loss.

“As I have told you before Cadence it is a long and difficult tale,” sighed Luna hesitantly.

“I’ve got all night,” Chuckled Cadence offering a soft smile.

“Oh Cadence, he’s gone and it’s my fault!” Luna wailed, “I should have seen it before, but I let the darkness grow inside him just as it did in me..”

Cadence embraced the crying mare trying to help cheer her up. What she had heard confirmed her suspicions, but she still had so many questions. Who was “he”? Why was Luna here? How was this ponies absence Luna’s fault? And what did she mean by the darkness? Cadence had a bad feeling about this.

Luna broke the embrace and sat down by the large window. Moonlight shone on her glistening blue coat. she wiped the tears from her face, and breathed a heavy sigh. Cadence slowly moved toward the mare and sat down next to the other mare.

“Why are you here Luna?” Cadence asked.

“Because,” Luna murmured, “This is where it all happened Cadence.”

“This is where what happened?” Cadence pressed.

“The is where I met him,” Luna recalled, “and where I lost him.”

“Who’s him?” Cadence preid tired of the mysterious answers Luna gave.

Luna merely glared at the younger alicorn as she tried to fight back all of the tears.

“I-I I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you upset…” Cadence apologized.

“It’s ok,” Luna reassured, “You should get some rest. I will answer more of your questions tomorrow.”

Cadence got up and exited the room leaving Luna alone with her thoughts. Luna looked around to make sure she was alone before heading towards the balcony. She opened the doors and gazed upon her beautiful night.

If I am going to do this I must do it now, Luna thought to herself, If I wait any longer I might be discovered.

Luna spread her majestic blue wings and prepared for flight. Her teal eyes once consumed with sadness now radiated with determination.

Princess Cadence paced her back in forth in her room, as she and Shining armor exchanged worried glances. Suddenly, a ball of fire appeared before Cadence, and a scroll appeared in front of her. Cadence broke the delicate seal and unrolled the scroll.

Dear Princess Metamora Cadenza,

My dearest Cadence, I have been troubled lately by the absence of my beloved sister, Princess Luna. I have no clue where she is or where she may have gone. I thought she may have gone too you. Please notify me at once if you find any clue to where she might be.

                                                                                         Your friend,

                                                                                       Princess Celestia

Cadence slowly levitated the scroll and placed on her nightstand.

“What did the letter say?” questioned the white stallion.

“It was from Princess Celestia,” Cadence announced, “She’s looking for Luna.”

“Why in the hay would Luna not tell Celestia where she was going?” Barked Shining.

“I don’t know.” Cadence admitted, “But whatever the reason, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“We should go get Luna,” The blue maned unicorn suggested.

The two ponies galloped down the grate crystal halls of the castle to the room where Luna was staying. Cadence knocked softly on the door.

“Luna?” Cadence called, “It’s me, Cadence.”

No answer.

“Luna are you there?” Cadence yelled.

Still no answer.

Cadence tried the door. It  was locked. Cadence used her magic to blast open the door and both ponies hurriedly entered.The pink mare gasped,for Luna was nowhere to be found.