Author's Note

I decided to put my previous story A Ripe Harvest on a hiatus, im really having trouble with what Ive written so far and most likely I'll end up revamping the whole story.
Anyways this story i got the idea from the Evanescence song My Immortal. A warning though, this story while not have a happy ending and there will be lots of flashbacks, it is mostly from best princess Luna's POV, with some other characters POVs here and there
As always please read and review, any critcism is appreciated, I really want to become a better writer

The curse of eternity

The night was slowly giving way to the dawn and with it my powers dwindled. My sister would soon be at full strength as the sun rose to its alter in the sky.

Once long ago there was a time when I envied my sister. The daylight was hers to rule, and she was loved for it. Nopony feared the light or the warmth that she radiated upon them. But everypony was wary of the dark, fearful of what thier eyes could not see.

As such, I was.....misunderstood. Ponies obeyed my sister out of respect and love, while I.....I was obeyed out of fear. So it had been since our mother had given up her immortality to join our father in the stables of the Gods.

Although the waning of the moon also meant the diminishing of my magic, there was a reason that I welcomed it. A time to myself, time which I would always spend in the same place.

High in the Arcadian mountains, nearly 3 days journey from Canterlot, as the Pegasus flies was my refuge of peace and solitude.

Although my powers over the night and the dreams of others faded with the rising sun, I was never completely helpless. My Alicorn nature meant that magic was a part of my very being, as such I still possesed the ability to teleport and perform other, minor magics.

As the sun fully rose and my authority ended I concentrated on those mountains. I thought of the jagged edges and sheer surfaces, of the snow covered ridges and peaks, of ice that was as transparent as glass, of the small stone temple that perched precariously on the highest point.

As my mind was filled with these images, I felt a familiar tug, a pull, as if someone was dragging me forward. I embraced it, welcomed the feeling and soon the bright, calm morning my sister had constructed gave way to overcast skies and bone chilling gusts of wind.

I had materialized at the base of an impressive stone staircase that led to my sanctuary. A spell I had cast many millenia ago prevented anypony, even an Alicorn as powerful as myself and my sister from teleporting into the temple proper.

Few were aware this place even exsisted, for none now live who remember its significance. Even Cadence, my neice and fellow princess was oblivious to this place. And I planned to keep it that way.

The cold air stung and bit at my body and wings, my fingers shivering. I focused on warmth and a dark cloak materialized around my person, complete with a hood that I quickly donned to hide my face from the elements.

My wings folded in against my back and I placed a hoof upon the first step as I looked up. The steps were steep and wound around the summit at a very narrow angle. I had designed it to be nearly impossible to reach.

By order of Celestia and myself the pegasi were to keep a permanent haze of ice and snow upon these mountains to discourage any visitors. As if on cue large ivory flakes began to dance upon the breeze, contrasting with my dark navy coat.

With a deep breathe I began the ascent. I was not nervous, I had made this climb everymorning for the last 3,000 years. It was not apprehension that gripped me, but anticipation. Even though I knew full well what awaited me inside this stone relic, every morning seemed like the first time I had ever set hoof inside.

Celestia rarely visisted this place, but then again her connection to it was far less resolute than mine.

A strong gust of icy wind came from around the mountain side causing me to shiver and pull my cloak around me tighter. I continued up the ice covered stone steps, taking careful steps, not being too eager to fall off the mountain side. Of course my wings would keep me from plummeting to my death, but I was not keen on having to reclimb this enchanted mountain.

The temple was but a plain stone construct. Four large stone pillars supporting a stone roof. The walls were made of granite and the only door was constructed of two stone slabs.

As i reached the massive door, my horn glowed a soft dark blue and slowy but surely the twin slabs creaked as they opened inward. It had been designed as such. Only a sufficiently powerful magic could gain entry from the outside, and yet no magic was needed to exit. There were only four ponies alive with the power to forcibly enter this place and I was one of them.

The hanging lamps were extinguished as the cold, brutal air surged forward from the outside. Turning I quickly pushed the doors closed, even my great strength struggling slightly against such a heavy obstacle. My horn glowed again, more brightly this time as I illuminated the darkend room.

On a simple stone table lay a few items that at first glance seemed superflous enough. Two pieces of flint, a bottle of ink and a quill and a large stack of rough parchment. On the floor next to it, small logs which would burn for days when ignited. Grabbing the two flint rocks and a few logs under my arm I set about rekindling the flames in the lamp.

Soon a orange glow filled the room which quickly dispersed the cold air that had invaded my sanctuary. The lamps themselves where situated above a large stone object. Purposefully, a single lamp was positioned above each corner.

This hewn mound of stone was my sole purpose for coming to this isolated mountain every morning for the last 3 millenia. It was the sole reason why this temple was built and such powerful wards cast upon it.

I stepped forward and gently and slowly slid the lid from the stone sarcophagus and layed it quietly on the floor. Inside a sapphire blue substance rolled about gently in defiance of being disturbed by my movements. When in motion the substance was akin to a liquid, but when undisturbed took on a more solid appearance, almost like ice.

But it was not the potion within but what lay submerged in it that drew me to this cold, forbidding place every morning.

His face was serene, no sign of pain or suffering. It had been such for centuries. His smooth hairless skin had not atrophied at all. His black hair had not grown an inch. The strong arms that once held me close in the daylight hours were layed peacefully at his side. Only the gentle rise and fall of his chest hinted at the eternal slumber that he had been cursed with.

I smiled as I traced my finger along the side of his stone resting place. How I longed to feel his naked skin against my coat. How I missed the contrast of my dark body against his strong, pale frame. I longed for the contact I had been denied for millenia, that I would be denied for eternity.....

For to simply reach out and touch him would be the death of him, as the one who cursed him had warned. Perhaps they had been lying, perhaps he would not surely die, but the love I held for him would not let me, even in my eternal longing, take such a risk based soley on a perhaps.

How I wished his eyes would open just once. So that I could gaze into those emerald orbs and that he would gaze back at me, if only for just a moment.

I would often speak to him as if he could hear me. I would tell him about my night, and about Celestia. I would tell him tales my mother had told me as a child. And sometimes I would gently sing, hoping against hope that he could hear me.

We had always been close, even before we became lovers. We had grown up together, He and Celestia and I. My immortal memory had never failed me and I could still remember the first time I'd laid eyes on my beloved human

"MOM! HURRY! COME QUICK!" Celestia shouted upon seeing the strange creature unconscious by the riverside. I on the other hand was silent, standing watch in case the creature were to suddenly spring up and attack. We were young then, even by mortal standards, still young foals. I had just turned 7 and my sister 9.

Through the trees I heard my mother approaching swiftly. Her golden wings folded behind her and her horn a glow in anticipation of the danger we may have been in.

She stopped when she found us and quickly pulled us to her, her crimson eyes wide in worry. She fussed over us, checking to see if we were hurt in anyway. "In the name of Faust what is wrong" she asked. Celestia pulled away from her and turned as she pointed to the still creature. "LOOK! WHAT IS IT!?" my sister questioned, her shouting getting louder.

My mother shushed Celestia while approaching the creature slowly. Its upper body was face down in the mud, while the rest of it was submerged in the dark river water. Mother commanded us to remain behind her, illiciting a groan from Celestia. Using her magic mother slowly and carefully lifed the creature into the air and gently lowered it, face up, into the grass of the forest. My sister and I both peered around our mother eager for a glimpse of the creatures face. Using her powers my mother slowly cleaned the creatures face, revealing the younger visage of the human that I had fallen for many years later. Although at the time my first thought was not how perfect and handsome he was, but rather how strange and diffrent he looked.

He had hands like us yes, but no hooves. No horn or wings or coat adorned his naked flesh. His hair was messy and unkempt. Cuts and scratches riddled his body and his breathing was quite shallow.

My mother, who I had always seen as confident and sure of herself let out a gasp at the creature's appearance. Surely my all powerful mother was not frightened?

I was even more shocked when she knelt beside creature, studying it closely. For the first time I spoke "what is it mother?" I asked softly.

It was as if she barely heard me, as if she was in awe of the creature before us. She beckoned us closer, whispering for us to be silent as she spoke. "This 'creature' is not a creature at all, but a sentient being of great power. Yet I have never seen one in all my years. My grandmother's grandmother used to tell her tales that she in turn told me. Tales of a race of beings that ruled this world long before we Alicorns. She spoke of how they ruled before the first ponies walked upright, before the first ponies learned to speak, indeed they ruled these lands before even magic exsisted"

Celestia's mouth opened as she "Oooohed" quietly. For my part it all seemed a little farfetched, although i trusted my mothers word absolutley, i still found it hard to believe. "What happened to them?" Celestia asked inching closer the being before us, while i scowled at her refusal to obey mothers command to stay behind her.

"I do not know. It is said that they left this world in ships of silver and fire that flew higher and faster than any Alicorn or Pegasus. It is said that they went to live amongst the stars". Celestia piped up again "Ooh! oooh! you said they ruled, so that means they were like royalty, maybe hes a prince or even a king!" She said as she danced in a circle. For my part I merely shook my head at her childish behavior.

My mother smiled slightly before quieting my elder sister. "Perhaps he is Celestia although I think it more likely he is a warrior" Celestia groaned, but at the mention of warriors my own interest was peaked. "Warriors?" I asked barely above a whisper. "Yes Luna, warriors. They were commanded by the ruling class of humans to stay behind and help the first Alicorns battle a great evil, but they were all slain in the final battle.....or so the stories go" at this it was my turn to Ooh softly.

The human was quite small for a warrior though, our royal gaurds while smaller than mother were still larger than the small human before us. I voiced this opinion to my mother as she smiled. "The humans my grandmother spoke off were said to be tall, taller than any pony, as tall as an Alicorn even.....I believe this human is not fully grown, I suspect he is just a foal, like the two of you" at this Celestia Ooohed again as she spoke up "Can we keep him mama? Please? please? PLEASE???".

Mother smiled as she ruffled my sisters hair. "He is not a pet Celestia, he is of an ancient lineage, far older than any Alicorn bloodline, older even than ours"

"We cant leave him here though" my sister pouted. "No we cannot and we shall not. We shall take him to the castle to recuperate and from there may Faust guide us" mother said as she gently lifted the frail looking 'human' in her arms as she walked gently back towards the castle with me and my sister following behind, Celestia giggling and asked many annoying questions, and myself deep in thought....

I shook my head as I forced myself out of my reverie. Dwelling in the past wasnt not something I was proud of, yet every memory of him made me smile. Mother had been true to her word as she had him placed under the best care in Equestria, and he had healed rapidly. But though he was clearly more than a mere animal, he did not behave as such. He could not speak or write, and he had had no sense of personal space whatsoever.

Regardless my mother, Celestia and I adopted him into our family. And over the months and years he progressed until he spoke like us, behaved civily (for the most part) and was raised up in the royal household as Celestia's and my brother. Our mother treated him like her own foal and he in return referred to her as mother.

Still not all ponies were as forthcoming as my mother had been, and even some of our own maids and guards regarded him with suspiscion.

Perhaps it was the teeth. His teeth were formed to devour vegetation and to shred flesh. His canines particularly were a source of much concern as well as his cravings for meat.

He also grew quickly, much quicker than a normal pony, his growth matched my sisters and my own, and within a few short years he was as tall as any of the guards. Perhaps the fact that he was still not fully matured cause them some discomfort.

His strength also was great. Even as an adolescent his strength rivaled even fully grown Earth ponies. He also seemed to have an innate resistance to magic, that is any magic that may cause him bodily harm was severely weakened against him. A blast of energy that could incinerate a normal pony merely singed his hair. In addition to his accelerated growth rate and carnivorous appetite, I could understand why some would feel threatened.

However it was all unfounded, as he was the gentlest of stallions. Whenever he would galavant about town, all the fillies and colts would rush to him and force him into all sorts of ridiculous games. Being adopted by the Queen granted him royal status, yet he never abused it. He was humble and modest, traits that once I found unbefitting of his supposed warrior heritage, I now found to be noble.

No doubt his popularity with the children contributed to the widefound acceptance he soon enjoyed. But even then there were those who were threatened not by his power, but by his position. His adoption by the queen effectively put him in line to be a prince, perhaps even king. Mother had explained his status as a human once he reached a suitable age of understanding. All of the more learned and older Alicorn leaders knew that as the last known human, his right to rule superceeded all others. Some were outraged that thier years of bribery and politics and climbing the social ladder could be undone by his very exsistence. On the other hand there were those that heralded his arrival as a return to Equestria's golden age. But he never desired the throne, and was adamant that the truth of his heritage never be revealed to the general population. He merely wanted a normal, quiet life.

So noble.....so honorable, I think, if I was honest with myself, that I loved him before I ever made the realization. My only love, my human, my dearest Essix.

I placed a kiss upon the stone resting place of my beloved. The cold rock sent a shiver down my spine at the contact. I placed the lid, reluctantly, back over his sleeping visage. I did not extinguish the flames as I left. Even though in my heart of hearts I knew it was foolish, some part of me hoped that one day he would awaken, and I did not intend for him to be left in the dark and the cold.

Hours had passed by swiftly, as they always do. Though I hated to leave his side, the night would soon approach and sleep sounded like a heavenly idea. Focusing my magic, I teleported away from the frigid mountain peak and into a dark room.

At my appearnce the lamps immediately ignited, a soft blue fire in each as I stood in the middle of my bedroom. I was tired, not physically, but emotionally. So tired was my heart that I declined to take my usual shower before bed. I stripped my clothes off unceremoniously and as they pooled around my feet they were instantly teleported to the laundry room.

After dousing the lamps, I sighed as I drew back the covers and lay down. A mortals eternity had passed since last my beloved Essix had shared this bed with me, and still it was just as empty and barren feeling as that first night without him. I had cryed myself into hysteria that night.

It was as if all of Equestria mourned his fate. The wind itself howled in agony and the sky shed its tears as the soft patter of rain had splashed against my window. No moon or stars were raised that night. The sky itself reflecting my mood of lonliness.

There was a light knock on my door. Behind the mahogany wood a gentle voice sounded. "Luna.....may I come in?"

"Yes sister" I ansewered. The door slowly creaked open and my ivory coated sister stepped into the door way. Shutting the door behind her she sat upon the edge of my bed. Her natural aura casting a soft white glow about the room. "I did not see you at breakfast" she said, concern in her tone. "No, I spent a little longer with Essix this morning". "Ah well i can certainly understand that......the date is fast approaching isnt it". I knew what she reffered to. The date we would have been wed, if not for the circumstances surrounding his cursed slumber. "Yes sister, our 3000th and 1st anniversary, would be in 3 weeks"

Celestia smiled gently "Im sure he is dreaming of it Luna" she meant well, I knew this but I seethed at her words. "Dream? Surely you arent serious?" Her smiled fell as my eyes narrowed at her. "He has not dreamed, not once in 3 millenia, I would know wouldnt I dear sister, is it not part of my duties to moniter the dreams of all those in our realm? That bastard Sombra was clear in his dying words that Essix and I would not be torn apart by death, but by an eternity of life. Life! What should have been a gift, he turned into a curse!. An eternity of living! Knowing that you can never touch or speak to the one you long for, not even in thier dreams.....he was very thorough in his curse, so you more than any one should know better than to say something so idiotic!" I spat these words like poisoned cider at my sister. I immediately regretted it as tears filled her eyes.

I immediately moved to apologize but she held up a delicate manicured hand to stop me. "No Luna, there is no need for an apology, I should have thought before I spoke".

A long silence followed, the only sounds were our own soft breathing and the sound of Celestia's wings rustling as she adjusted her position on the bed.

"I loved him too you know" she said idly tracing the designs on the bed post. I opened my mouth to say something, but she continued speaking. "Not like you of course, but in my own way I did. We were raised up together after all....he will always be my brother". She turned to me. "Do you remember how we used to prank eachother?" I smiled and nodded at our childhood antics. "Yes, I especially recall the time Essix and yourself dyed my coat pink for a month". Celestia smiled at the memory and then giggled.

CELESTIA'S POV

"Hurry Essy before she wakes up" I whispered urgently. My human brother fumbled in his pocket for the vial we had stolen from the royal hair dresser. We were outside Luna's room, the sun had not yet risen and we had little time before mother would be along to gather us all for breakfast.

Essy was nervous, but because of my hooves I couldnt sneak up on Luna as easy as he could. I quietly opened her bedroom door and peaked inside. "Luna?" I whispered. I tried again, this time a little louder. Again no ansewer and I ushered Essy forward.

"Remember just pour it in her hair and then get out quick" I said. "Yeah, yeah I know just keep a lookout for mom" he said looking around as if just mentioning her would cause her to appear. I held the door open gingerly as he slipped underneath my arm into the room.

There was a small shuffling noise and then a small pop, as if a cork had been loosened from a bottle of cider. Seconds seemed like hours as I waited for my brother to hurry back. When he finally slid back out of Luna's room I quickly shut the door.

"Well?" I whispered. He grinned at me as he stood, "Mission accomplished". I grinned back and rubbed my hands together like a mad scientist. "Excellent, excellent" I said putting on my best evil genius impersonation.

Essy chuckled "I cant wait for her to wake up". "Cant wait for who to wake up?" We both paused in the middle of a highfive as mother came around the corner.

"Erhm....nobody mom hehe" I chuckled nervously. Mom looked from me to Essy, a look of suspiscion on her face. "What are you two doing outside Luna's room this early?" I fished around in my mind for a quick excuse, but Essy was quicker. "We uhmm came to wake her up for breakfast, so you wouldnt have to" he said, the worlds least convincing smile adorning his face.

Suddenly a piercing scream filled the castle and a crash as Luna's bedroom dooe flew off its hinges. There she stood in the doorway, the epitome of righteous anger. Her eyes blazed in wrath and she looked ready to kill anypony in her path.

And yet her bright pink coat would not allow me too be afraid. Essy and I glanced at eachother behind mothers back and then burst into a fit of laughter.

"Oh my Faust Luna look at you!" I said as tears formed from the force of my laughter. "You actually look like a-" I was cut off as Luna lunged for me only to be caught by our mom's strong grasp. "Dont you dare say the P word!" She shouted struggling futilely in mom's arms.

Essy and I exchanged another glance and he blurted out the unholy word "PRINCESS!" At this we both rolled on the ground in laughter.

"Come now Luna, it doesnt look terribly awful" mother said fighting a smile of her own. Luna looked up at mom, a look of utmost betrayal on her face. "But mom....im...im PINK!" she snarled lunging at us both again.

"Luna fair is fair, last week didnt you cast a spell on Celestia and Essix that caused them to switch bodies for a day?" Luna stopped struggling and looked at the ground as she grumbled acknowledgement. "Well then I'd say the three of you are even, wouldnt you?" Luna kicked at the floor "I guess" "Good then I expect to see you all at breakfast" mother turned to walk away, then adding over her shoulder "And I do mean ALL of you" before disappearing around the corner.

"But mom I cant be seen! Im PINK!" Luna said, but mother was already gone. Essix and I had to hold eachother up to keep from falling over we were laughing just that hard. Luna turned and gave us a stare that couldve frozen a Basilisk. "Hahaha! Princess!" I laughed pointing. I barely heard the roar as My sister launched herself at Essix and I

LUNA'S POV

I shook my head and smiled at the memory, although at the time I had been livid. "I remember you wouldnt speak to either of us for a month AFTER that hideous pink finally faded away" Celestia chuckled. "Yes....it was the ugliest shade of pink I've ever seen" I agreed.

Another silence followed as we both were lost in our own thoughts. I missed those days very much indeed. The time before any of us had any real responsibilities. Just two adolescent mares and a young human without a care in the world. I remembered how we would wake early in the morning and go out into the gardens and trim the hedges into all manner of inappropriate shapes and figures, much to the chagrin of the royal gardners. Or how we would fill the indoor pool so full of suds and bubbles that they seeped under the doors and into the hallways. Or even better how we used to sneak glasses of hard apple cider on hearthswarming eve only to have mother force our hangovers out of us the next morning by heavy manual labor. So many memories that had not been very memorable at the time, had now become more precious than any gem.

"Sooooo" Celestia said interupting my internal monolouge. My ears perked up listening. "How did you pull it off anyway?"
"pull what off?" She laughed at my confused look. "That body switch spell, that was pretty powerful magic for a teenage mare" I laughed "Uhmm well Aunt Nebula may have had a hand in that particular incident" I confessed giggling. Celestia's eyes widened "No way? Not Aunt Nebula she was always so dull". "Yes I know. I believe you and Essix made it an easy desiscion for her after the two of you switched the chocolate frosting on her morning desert with blended mud and frog eggs" Celestia's face contorted as she struggled to remember this specific prank, which numbered among thousands.

She snapped her fingers, no no that was cousin Star Luster, we switched his birthday cake icing with frog eggs and mud. For Aunt Nebula we put old Griffon feathers and paste inside her apple fritter. Oh my Faust she still had a feather glued to her tongue the next day!"

Celestia rubbed her back side, "Mom sure gave us a good punishing, my plot was sore for days". I laughed remembering her and Essix waddling around the castle for more than a few days.

"Thank you sister" I said. "No need Luna, I know I would want somepony to cheer me up if I was in your hooves" she pulled me close and hugged me. "No matter how many millenia pass by you'll always be my little sister". I smiled a single tear welling up. Celestia stood up "Now get some sleep and I'll see you later this evening" I nodded as she left the warm glow of her aura disappearing as she shut the door behind her.

I was alone again and then slowly like a poison, or an assassins dagger, the lonliness and depression seeped back into my heart. I sighed as I rolled over and hugged the pillow that had once been Essix's, his scent having faded long ago.

I could only force my eyes closed and pray to Faust that my dreams of him tonight would be pleasant