The shadowby TwiwnBChaptersSearch for the sunSearch in the nightWho are you princess Celestia?Search for the sunTwilight was staring at princess Celestia in the garden. It had taken her a moment to finally realize what was wrong, but it had become clear as daylight now. She had checked it again and again, making sure there was no rational explanation for it, an angle she had forgotten, any light source she might have forgotten in her model. She hadn’t made any mistake: Celestia had no shadow. Nopony else seemed to have noticed. They were wandering in the garden, never looking down as nobility knew so well how to, and enjoying the glorious day their princess had created for them, surrounded by the scents and colors of flowers, completely oblivious of that simple fact: the princess didn’t have a shadow. Twilight found herself in that very stupid situation where you are either the only genius to have discovered something very important, or the only one not to be aware of something very normal for everyone else. She was pretty sure Celestia had always displayed a shadow before though. It wasn’t a detail she had given much thought in the past, but she would have noticed it during all those years if there had been anything special in that regard concerning princess Celestia. And none of her friends had made any remark about it either. There was no way in Equestria Twilight would be the only pony not to know that it could be normal for Celestia not to have a shadow. So something was clearly wrong. That was the logical conclusion, the only one that made sense. Twilight listed the alternatives. Celestia could have used a spell to hide her shadow. But not only had Twilight never heard of such a spell, she also couldn’t see why Celestia would have done such a thing in the first place. Celestia could have become translucid, letting light pass through her and therefore not form a shadow, but that hypothesis would imply the possibility for Twilight to see through the royal princess, which wasn’t the case. Celestia could… well, not be princess Celestia. It was the only logical explanation. The most difficult to believe too. The word “changeling” immediately came to mind, but could have one of those creature not only copied Celestia’s appearance, but also and most importantly, her composure? Celestia looked royal, like she always did. In the middle of the royal garden, she was still eclipsing the most beautiful flowers and the tallest of plants. Her hooves felt more stable than the ground. Her mane was directing the swing of leaves in the air. Her eyes, more than anything else, were wider than the sky, dyed of a bluer blue, decorated with, in their middle, an even brighter and more powerful sun holding the reins of the whole universe under its sight. Twilight was slowly beginning to panic there. On one hoof, it was pretty clear that princess Celestia had been replaced by an impostor. On the other hoof, Celestia was impossible to replace, no matter how gifted or magical the impostor may be. She didn’t know what to think anymore. She didn’t know what to do anymore. Flee? Attack? Shout? Scream? Cry? Search an answer in books? What book would be talking about what to do in case of shadowless Celestia? Her heartrate was exploding and it signaled her she was losing control of the situation. She was a princess now: she couldn’t afford to panic anymore. She stopped, took a deep breath, bent her hoof and then slowly pushed in front of her with it, while releasing the air in her lungs. The world stopped trembling and she heard the singing of birds again. She was in the royal gardens, ponies around her were enjoying a glorious sunny day and all she had to do was go talk with Celestia, her peer as a princess. “Thanks Cadance” Twilight thought. She then approached Celestia and engaged the conversation. “Good morning princess Celestia. How are you doing?” She asked. “Good morning again, Twilight. I am fine, thank you. How about you?” Celestia replied, with an amused smile. Twilight remembered both of them had already met that day and she blushed for having forgotten that fact. Still, it was indicating her she was still more stressed than she thought, a good indication as she would have to be very careful in how she was going to question Celestia without showing her real intent. And already, she was noticing that even if Celestia had found her mistake funny, the tone she had used to ask for her well-being hadn’t contained any sarcasm or irony. Nothing but true and deep concern for her health and happiness. A tone that was almost unique to princess Celestia. Or lovers. And yet, Twilight had heard it from somepony else, even if she couldn’t remember who. At least, she had a lead now, no matter how faint. “I’m fine, thanks.” She told Celestia. “Excuse me to ask such a thing, but today brings back so many memories to me. I remember my first day at your school for magically gifted unicorn. It feels like so long ago.” Celestia’s expression changed by a millionth of a millimeter, enough though for a very experimented observer to notice she was analyzing what she had heard with that sharpened intelligence of hers. “I remember it quite well.” She responded to Twilight with a laugh. “I gave the introduction speech and you were staring at me the whole time. I could see in your eyes you were so impressed you couldn’t hear any of my words. And when everypony else was called to continue the tour, you stayed there for a moment, looking at me. I have to confess, the look on your face when the teacher called out to you was priceless.” Twilight didn’t doubt it for one second. She had felt so ashamed to be called out doing something wrong in front of princess Celestia that, at the time, she wouldn’t have minded simply ceasing to exist. Quite a memory indeed. For a moment, Twilight had forgotten why she had asked, but she remembered she wasn’t there for old times’ sake. She was there to know the truth about Celestia being Celestia. Her first question had only been a test, she had others. “Yeah…” Twilight responded with a faint laugh. “That was awkward. Just like the time I had sent you a poem I had written in place of the report I was supposed to deliver. I still can’t believe you not only never punished me for it, but actually took the time to read it, analyze it and compliment me about it.” This time, Celestia only smiled a bit more than the first time. A gentle smile, a comprehensive one. The smile of a mother. “I probably would have, if you had ever done such a thing Twilight. But unless my memory is failing me, you never did. Other students did. Not poem though. One sent me a love letter she had intended for a stallion that, at first, I thought was directed at me. It took me quite a while to figure out how to react. In the end, I figured the letter wasn’t for me and I simply asked the student to send me her report, pretending I hadn’t received anything from her.” Celestia had passed the second test. Not only had Twilight never failed to send her report correctly, but she knew the pony Celestia was talking about. She could still hear her voice from when she had learned Celestia had never received the letter. Relief and joy. Also, for some reason, the stallion the student was in love with was assigned to do some research work with her. Destiny at work at the time. Now it was clear Celestia had had something to do with it. And it was clear she had chosen that anecdote very carefully. Because only Celestia could have known. And because Twilight knew about it too. In other words: Celestia was aware that Twilight was testing her. And yet, she was just waiting for Twilight’s next question, accepting to be questioned. She didn’t even look frustrated from Twilight’s distrust. “Excuse me to ask it so bluntly, but could you tell me about prince Sombra?” “Which one?” Celestia replied. “The one I fought here in Equestria? The one I fell in love with? Or the one you haven’t met yet in the dimension Sunset Shimmer’s fell in?” Things were now pretty clear at least. Either the pony Twilight was talking to was princess Celestia, or it was a creature that had stolen both her memories and her intelligence. It left only one way to know for sure. “I am not moving the sun now Twilight.” Celestia said before Twilight had even decided whether or not she would dare ask for it. “I am sorry, but I wish to keep the peace of this day undisturbed and ponies worrying about the sun moving strangely in the sky goes against that wish. But I would gladly have you at my side when I raise it tomorrow. And if you explained to me the meaning of your behavior, I could help you make sure no doubt is left on my identity.” Twilight knew what Celestia had meant with those last words. She too knew that watching the sun rise along with Celestia casting a spell wouldn’t prove anything. The proof would come only if she were to raise it at an undefined moment chosen independently of her own will. So that she couldn’t “prepare” a fake event. Even so, there were ways around to fake it anyway. For those, Twilight had no answer yet, but Celestia would probably offer more than one, all satisfactory. At this point, Twilight had to recognize that even if princess Celestia had been replaced by an impostor, the impostor was way too talented and too smart for her. Or simply, she was speaking with princess Celestia and she had overestimated the seriousness of the situation by quite a lot. She had to decide though. She could either trust the pony in front of her, or still remain in doubt. In a corner of her mind, Twilight couldn’t prevent herself from asking “what would princess Celestia do?”. “I’m sorry.” Twilight said. “I’m making a fool of myself. It’s just… princess Celestia: you have no shadow.” Celestia didn’t reply immediately. But she didn’t bother to check whether it was true or not. All of her attention was focused on Twilight. The latter could feel Celestia’s look piercing through her skull, reaching her very mind, looking deeper and deeper into it, unlocking doors to parts that even Twilight didn’t know existed, uncovering aspects she had always ignored. It was feeling very awkward, almost disturbing and yet, both quiet and thrilling at the same time. For the few seconds it lasted, Twilight wasn’t alone in her mind anymore and the feelings she experienced were so new and incredible for her to mind at all. But it ended. Only remained the gentle smile of the sun princess. “Would you mind me not having a shadow?” Celestia asked. Twilight didn’t know what to respond. Yes? No? What difference was a mere shadow making in the great scheme of things? Celestia was still Celestia and that fact only really mattered. Celestia smiled brighter. Her shoulders now looked lighter and she couldn’t prevent herself from quickly deploying her huge wings and have them experience a freedom of movement they were usually deprived of, before bringing them back to her, back in position, back in order, where they were expected to be. “Everything is normal, Twilight.” Celestia explained. “You shouldn’t worry about it. I can assure you that nothing has changed.” She offered Twilight another smile. One made of pure joy. And for the first time since Twilight had begun that discussion, that smile looked fake. It was Celestia’s smile, Twilight knew it very well. But it wasn’t joy that was motivating it. It was the will to reassure, to comfort. Twilight didn’t say anything, but couldn’t take her look away from Celestia’s smile. She couldn’t just bring herself to ignore the plea behind it. She wanted to understand and more than anything, she wanted to help. “Everything is normal.” Celestia repeated. “Yet, I would like to ask you a favor if you don’t mind.” “Of course!” Twilight immediately agreed. “Anything you need.” “It isn’t something I need. Your curiosity and wonderful mind just offered me with an opportunity to shed light on something I consider quite unfair.” “Do not worry, I’m going to correct it!” Twilight assured her confidently. “It doesn’t require to be corrected.” Celestia replied. “Only to be acknowledged. Then, you will be free to do whatever it is you want with it.” Twilight didn’t understand. But she was willing to do whatever it was Celestia would ask her. She would be able to figure the rest out afterwards. Celestia understood and asked for the favor: “Could you unveil the mystery of my missing shadow?” Twilight got caught off guard. Or maybe she had just been awaiting it all along. All the same, the logic of it escaped her, as Celestia obviously already knew why she didn’t have a shadow. Or maybe somepony had stolen it, or maybe she had lost it in some sidereal bet. It didn’t matter. “I will!” Twilight replied, bombing her chest, ready to conquer any problem and solve the mystery. Then she realized one detail: “I don’t know where to begin though…” Celestia smiled. She knew the answer of the mystery. So she knew what lead to give Twilight: “Begin where all shadows come from and eventually disappear. Search in the night.” And as she didn’t intend to have Twilight solve that riddle, Celestia added: “Go ask my sister.” Search in the nightThe more Twilight was sinking into the corridor leading to Luna’s room, the less she felt it was a good idea. Every step was losing a bit of the surrounding light, to the point where only torches on the walls were guiding her. Luna’s fascination with darkness was impossible for Twilight to understand. The stones around her were cold and scary. The red carpet under her hooves was too dark not to be uncomfortable and so thick it was feeling liquid. The air all around was chilling and constantly in movement, surrounding her, fleeing, hiding, wheezing through the cracks, laughing and plotting. Twilight crashed into a night guard she hadn’t seen who was guarding a huge door decorated with moonstones that she could now see faintly glow in the dark. “Sorry your highness.” The night guard apologized. As a bat pony, she could easily see in the night and thought the blame was hers because she could have easily warned Twilight or avoided her. “No, it’s okay: it’s my fault.” Twilight apologized. “It’s just… that place. I still can’t believe princess Luna wants to live here.” “I know.” The guard replied. “We too wish it was a bit bigger, more fit to her majesty, but the princess doesn’t seem to care.” Twilight couldn’t figure out if the night guard was making fun of her or if she was serious. By default, she decided to ignore the question and asked where she could find Luna. “You’re in luck!” The guard told her. “This is her majesty’s workroom and she has come to study some old books from the library.” “Books? What books?” Twilight asked, her eyes suddenly sparkling out of curiosity. “I’m sorry your highness. I am not allowed to unveil such details. Not even to you. It’s my duty to keep those things secret.” Twilight noticed the night guard was smiling while saying those words. It felt peculiar, because guards from the sun battalion wouldn’t allow themselves such liberties. The night guard, however, lived under other rules and that smile was probably nothing more than a display of the guard’s pride. “Can I enter?” Twilight asked. “You can.” And still that smile. Bat ponies sure were weird. Twilight opened the door and, seeing Luna over a huge opened book, greeted her from the doorstep. “Hello princess Luna!” Startled, Luna closed the book in less than the blink of an eye and turned to face the disturbance, only to simmer down at Twilight’s sight. “Oh. It’s you…” Luna said, while trying to catch her breath. “Sorry, the guard told me I could enter, I didn’t think I would be bothering you.” “I’m sure she did.” Luna replied with a sigh. “But it’s alright. You aren’t bothering me at all. I am simply surprised to see you here. What brings you in my place?” Twilight approached, waited for Luna to put her book away, then explained: “Well, it’s kind of weird to be honest. I don’t really know where to even begin.” Luna sighed loudly. She went to a cabinet, opened it and glanced over all the bottles she had there. She took one, turned her head back to Twilight, had a grin of laughter and put it back in place. She finally made her choice and came back to Twilight with two glasses full of nectar. She put them on the table, offered one glass to Twilight and, calling for her magic one last time, forced the huge heavy curtains to move and allow the glorious light of the day to invade and brighten every corner of the room, all to Twilight’s enchantment. “Surprised?” Luna asked. “I… I thought… I had forgotten we weren’t underground.” Twilight confessed. “Now let me guess if you don’t mind. Your story begins as such: Celestia.” Twilight didn’t know how to respond, so she just blushed and shamefully nodded to confess it was the case. In response, Luna simply took a sip of the nectar in her glass, then put the glass down and asked: “So, now that we know the beginning, why don’t you tell me the rest of the story?” Twilight took one sip of nectar too. She couldn’t really figure out how Luna could be so impressive and yet so simple at the same time. “Come on now, Twilight.” Luna told her with a smile. “Don’t let the decorum fool you. You are welcome here and I am very pleased you have come to see me, even if it involves Celestia. So please tell me, I’m curious: what has she done now?” “Celestia…” Twilight began. “Yes?” Luna interrupted her out of excitement. “She didn’t have a shadow this morning in the garden.” At first Luna didn’t react, but she suddenly burst out laughing. “Princess Luna?” Twilight asked. “Are you feeling okay?” “Oh yeah, I am.” Luna said. “I am sorry, but watching you take it so seriously is just too much: you have been pranked!” “Pranked?” Twilight asked. Luna went to Twilight and put her hoof on her muzzle just to confirm it. “A simple yet childish prank. My sister showed herself to you without a shadow intentionally and you fell into the trap head in. Oh that must have been something: you have to tell me all about it!” Twilight wasn’t really feeling like speaking about it at that very moment. She was more feeling like she had been so very stupid, and yet she had nopony else to blame for it but herself. The only comfort she could find was that if Luna didn’t find it strange for Celestia not to have a shadow, then there was clearly no impostor at all, confirming her own conclusion. “Don’t feel bad Twilight Sparkle.” Luna told her, in an attempt to bring comfort. “You aren’t the first fool she uses to entertain herself. Lots of ponies couldn’t see they were being played. And she probably had some hidden reason for it, like usual. So it wasn’t to your detriment. She probably wants you to learn a lesson or something I imagine.” Seeing that her words weren’t really comforting Twilight, she went back to the cabinet and brought back the first bottle she had chosen, full of apple cider. “Here, drink with me, to a hilarious joke that we have been part of.” Twilight accepted and drank her glass of cider, forgetting about the shame of having had her weaknesses exploited. She didn’t even really feel betrayed. Pinkie Pie too used to play a lot of jokes on her and her friends, so she could understand the good side of a joke. In the end, it had brought her there, to enjoy a moment with Luna and drink some good cider. So everything had ended pretty well if one was to be honest. Then a thought sparkled in Twilight’s mind. “So, it is normal for Celestia not to have a shadow?” She asked. “Of course.” Luna replied. “She doesn’t have one, never had one, couldn’t have one. At least, one she doesn’t create with magic. But you can imagine how ponies would react if they saw my big sister without a shadow. Better than anypony else in fact.” And Luna laughed again. “So… what about you?” Twilight asked. “Is your shadow the product of a spell too?” Luna thought about it a moment, as she was trying to find how to explain it to Twilight. “I am the princess of the night. I come from the darkness, from a time before light ever existed. Asking me about shadows is a bit complex. I actually have multiple shadows.” At those last words, Luna’s face became suddenly very serious and she let out: “So that is what she is after…” “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Oh, nothing really.” Luna replied, recovering her smile. “I just realized you weren’t the target of the joke: I am. You have just been caught in one of our little sisterly challenges. This one, you should probably stay out of if you don’t mind.” Twilight’s curiosity was devouring her. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to put her muzzle where she wasn’t invited. “Alright. I won’t ask.” She assured Luna. “Just please promise me you aren’t mad at each other.” Luna smiled in response: “Do not worry. No matter our differences, my sister and I share a bond nothing could destroy. We just always used to challenge each other, to test our capacities, to prove which one of us is the best and probably a bit to keep ourselves entertained too. This particular challenge’s goal is to determine which one of us, her or I, is the best princess.” Twilight did remember the castle of the two sisters and all the traps laid everywhere. It was making more sense now that the two of them would be in constant competition. She was now convinced she should stay out of it. “I know my sister.” Luna added. “She won’t let you leave the game so easily. Know that it ends tonight. If you don’t want to be pranked again, you should better be on your guards. She can be very cunning, believe me.” Twilight believed her. And she was determined to stay away from the whole thing from this point on. Who are you princess Celestia?Twilight had come back from Luna’s room. She had then spent the rest of the day pretty normally and hadn’t seen princess Celestia anywhere. Dusk was approaching and soon the sun would hide again behind the horizon, signaling everypony that the time to sleep was coming. Twilight was ready to answer to that signal. She was tired and she was happy. Two very good reasons to go to sleep and enjoy some neat dreams. At that very moment, she heard the voice: “Don’t you want to know?” Twilight didn’t have to turn back to know who was saying those words. Only one pony in all of Equestria could provide such a warm, gentle, and yet powerful tone. Twilight had prepared for that moment: “Princess Luna explained everything to me. I understand you want to win your challenge with her, but I would like to stay out of it.” “I do have to apologize to you, my dear Twilight. I understand why you would feel betrayed. Yet, I assure you I never lied to you. Every single word was true. And I truly wish you would find out why I don’t have a shadow.” “Why?” Twilight asked. “What can be so important to you that my own wish not to take part of it should be ignored? I am not a tool. I am a pony. I deserve better.” A little silent ensued, during which Twilight wondered if she hadn’t be too harsh on Celestia. After all, even if she too was an alicorn now, there was a lot she didn’t know. Celestia and Luna had lived thousands of years, met countless ponies, lost almost just as much. Maybe it was normal in such circumstances to forget how to properly treat another pony. Maybe, in a thousand years, she too would have forgotten. Maybe that was the lesson. “Again, I have to apologize. I am acting selfishly and I do see how frustrating it can be for you. I did say I was asking a favor from you. You certainly don’t have to grant it to me. I just really wished you would.” “But what for?” Twilight asked, turning back and facing princess Celestia directly. “So that you could proclaim yourself best princess over princess Luna? And then what? What would it change?” “I admit it: there is very little at stake. And maybe there is a lot. It all depends on you. The future depends entirely on how we build it. So maybe I was wrong, and maybe you don’t need to unveil my little secret.” Twilight’s curiosity was urging her to stop pretending she didn’t care and just bite in any of those baits and follow them no matter where they may lead. There was something to be learned. That fact was clear. Celestia was promising it. So in the end, she would deliver. “No.” Twilight found the strength to reply. “I do not need to unveil your secret. If it doesn’t concern Equestria, it doesn’t concern me.” “Then let me reveal two things to you. And if, after that, you still don’t want to grant me my wish, then I shall leave you alone and never bother you with it ever again.” Twilight had no choice. Her curiosity was about to choke her. And once she would have heard what Celestia had to say, she could go back in her room and find whatever way to console herself from having missed that opportunity to learn. “Here is the first thing: my fur isn’t white by accident. It had to be or I couldn’t have existed. And yet, it shouldn’t be white at all.” Twilight heard the words, but to prevent her curiosity from taking over, she didn’t even try to make sense out of them. She hadn’t heard anything. She was fine. Everything was fine. “Here is the second thing.” Twilight’s fur was bristling with excitement. Her heartbeat was so loud she couldn’t even hear it anymore and her face was covered by some salty liquid to compensate how hot everything was feeling now. And yet, she couldn’t move, or complain, or do anything else but wait for what princess Celestia would reveal to her. And Celestia spoke: “My name isn’t Celestia.” Twilight’s head exploded. A huge blaze had taken over, forcing reason to abandon ship. She was only driven by her emotion and her instinct. “Tell me your secret.” Twilight said. “I want to know.” “There is a condition.” Celestia replied. Twilight already sort of knew what the condition would be. The victory smile on Celestia’s face wasn’t letting much doubt about it. She was back into the game, into Celestia’s hooves, ready to serve the purpose the sun princess had devised for her. Twilight wondered how many of those challenges Luna could have won against such a great adversary. “Tell me, Twilight Sparkle. Who is the best princess? Do you prefer the princess of the sun, or the princess of the night?” “Can’t I choose Cadance and we can call it a tie?” Twilight asked, trying to get herself out of that situation while still obtaining the knowledge she was after. The smile Celestia was displaying didn’t let any doubt on the matter: she wouldn’t get around the problem so easily. She had to choose who the best princess was. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I like princess Luna a lot. She is a great princess. It makes no sense to oppose you against her. You complement each other. You are a team. It’s only together that you can be the best princess!” But Celestia’s look was proving too authoritarian to accept such a weak copout. She wasn’t asking anymore: she was demanding. She was ordering Twilight to choose. “Come on, Twilight Sparkle. Just be honest and say what you think. What you have always thought, what everypony in this land truly thinks: who is the best princess?” As the sun was now reaching the horizon and Celestia had grown so big she was supplanting Twilight's mere existence. She was everywhere, overwhelming, more powerful than the universe and her will ruled supreme. So Twilight confessed: “You are! Everypony adores you. I adore you. You are kind, and patient, and always ready to listen to us, and dedicated and altruistic. There hasn’t been a day in my life when I didn’t hope than one day I could become just would it only be nearly as perfect as you are…” “That is the truth.” Said the imperial voice from the huge Celestia. And the huge Celestia wasn’t white anymore, but black. Completely black. Which was normal. It all looked completely normal. And then a voice came from the other side of the corridor, approaching and as the voice approached, Celestia on the wall quickly shrank. “It is the truth: you better never forget it.” Luna said, emerging from the darkness. Twilight looked at Celestia, what was left of her at least, and saw her legs going along the wall and then along the floor right to Luna’s hooves. “A shadow?” Twilight asked, incapable to accept what she was witnessing. “What is happening? Where is princess Celestia?” “I am here.” The shadow said. And Twilight had just blinked that the shadow was gone, replaced by Celestia, in all her glory. Only her four white legs were still going to the floor and then directly to Luna. “Do not worry. Everything is fine. I just wanted you to know.” Celestia explained. “I told you not to trust her.” Luna responded. “She always has a plan and she always obtains what she wants.” “I don’t understand…” Twilight simply said, lost beyond measure. Luna walked towards Twilight and her hooves detached from those of Celestia who stayed behind, understanding that she wouldn’t be welcomed to come closer right at that instant. “I told you I have many shadows, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna explained. “Nightmare Moon is one of them, the shadow of my inner rage, my jealousy and my despair. Celestia is another one of them. The shadow of everything that is good inside of me, displayed in the real world. The one I decided to listen to and follow.” “Celestia is your shadow?” Twilight asked, still unable to grasp the concept of it. “Perfection doesn’t exist, Twilight Sparkle. She is just a projection. A part of myself. The part everypony likes. The rest of me, ponies like less. Some part of me, they are right to reject.” Celestia approached at her turn and sat in front of Twilight. “Do you mind me being a shadow?” She asked. “I don’t know. I’m not sure.” Twilight replied. “You are a princess too now.” Luna explained. “Ponies will also only see a part of you. And that part of you will become more real than yourself to everypony around. I guess the best part of me wanted to warn you, so that you wouldn’t risk following the same path that I have once your shadow is loved more than yourself.” Twilight looked at Luna, then at Celestia, then at Luna and then at Celestia again. She was confused, unable to feel the ground under her hooves. She wasn’t certain to be awake anymore. Out of the confusion, she tried to find anything that could bring her back to the reality she knew and wanted to be a part of. “Princess Celestia… are you real?” She asked. Celestia smiled: “Of course I am.” “Then who are you princess Celestia!?” Twilight screamed in catharsis. Luna and Celestia looked at each other, giggled and both at the same time put their right hoof on Twilight’s muzzled, bumping it to show her she shouldn’t worry, and then said as one voice and one big smile: “We are your friend.” THE END Author's Note Raichu Wrote a poem about the story that is spot on. I'm thankful and there it is: "Luna's shadows are really odd. To the nonexistent dark tag, I give a nod. In the end, one could say it was just true. But for me, it was much too blue. To know Luna was loved more than herself." *** I was simply listening to a pmv "Who I am" and felt the need to write a story that seemed nice on the moment. So I did. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things .
Search for the sunTwilight was staring at princess Celestia in the garden. It had taken her a moment to finally realize what was wrong, but it had become clear as daylight now. She had checked it again and again, making sure there was no rational explanation for it, an angle she had forgotten, any light source she might have forgotten in her model. She hadn’t made any mistake: Celestia had no shadow. Nopony else seemed to have noticed. They were wandering in the garden, never looking down as nobility knew so well how to, and enjoying the glorious day their princess had created for them, surrounded by the scents and colors of flowers, completely oblivious of that simple fact: the princess didn’t have a shadow. Twilight found herself in that very stupid situation where you are either the only genius to have discovered something very important, or the only one not to be aware of something very normal for everyone else. She was pretty sure Celestia had always displayed a shadow before though. It wasn’t a detail she had given much thought in the past, but she would have noticed it during all those years if there had been anything special in that regard concerning princess Celestia. And none of her friends had made any remark about it either. There was no way in Equestria Twilight would be the only pony not to know that it could be normal for Celestia not to have a shadow. So something was clearly wrong. That was the logical conclusion, the only one that made sense. Twilight listed the alternatives. Celestia could have used a spell to hide her shadow. But not only had Twilight never heard of such a spell, she also couldn’t see why Celestia would have done such a thing in the first place. Celestia could have become translucid, letting light pass through her and therefore not form a shadow, but that hypothesis would imply the possibility for Twilight to see through the royal princess, which wasn’t the case. Celestia could… well, not be princess Celestia. It was the only logical explanation. The most difficult to believe too. The word “changeling” immediately came to mind, but could have one of those creature not only copied Celestia’s appearance, but also and most importantly, her composure? Celestia looked royal, like she always did. In the middle of the royal garden, she was still eclipsing the most beautiful flowers and the tallest of plants. Her hooves felt more stable than the ground. Her mane was directing the swing of leaves in the air. Her eyes, more than anything else, were wider than the sky, dyed of a bluer blue, decorated with, in their middle, an even brighter and more powerful sun holding the reins of the whole universe under its sight. Twilight was slowly beginning to panic there. On one hoof, it was pretty clear that princess Celestia had been replaced by an impostor. On the other hoof, Celestia was impossible to replace, no matter how gifted or magical the impostor may be. She didn’t know what to think anymore. She didn’t know what to do anymore. Flee? Attack? Shout? Scream? Cry? Search an answer in books? What book would be talking about what to do in case of shadowless Celestia? Her heartrate was exploding and it signaled her she was losing control of the situation. She was a princess now: she couldn’t afford to panic anymore. She stopped, took a deep breath, bent her hoof and then slowly pushed in front of her with it, while releasing the air in her lungs. The world stopped trembling and she heard the singing of birds again. She was in the royal gardens, ponies around her were enjoying a glorious sunny day and all she had to do was go talk with Celestia, her peer as a princess. “Thanks Cadance” Twilight thought. She then approached Celestia and engaged the conversation. “Good morning princess Celestia. How are you doing?” She asked. “Good morning again, Twilight. I am fine, thank you. How about you?” Celestia replied, with an amused smile. Twilight remembered both of them had already met that day and she blushed for having forgotten that fact. Still, it was indicating her she was still more stressed than she thought, a good indication as she would have to be very careful in how she was going to question Celestia without showing her real intent. And already, she was noticing that even if Celestia had found her mistake funny, the tone she had used to ask for her well-being hadn’t contained any sarcasm or irony. Nothing but true and deep concern for her health and happiness. A tone that was almost unique to princess Celestia. Or lovers. And yet, Twilight had heard it from somepony else, even if she couldn’t remember who. At least, she had a lead now, no matter how faint. “I’m fine, thanks.” She told Celestia. “Excuse me to ask such a thing, but today brings back so many memories to me. I remember my first day at your school for magically gifted unicorn. It feels like so long ago.” Celestia’s expression changed by a millionth of a millimeter, enough though for a very experimented observer to notice she was analyzing what she had heard with that sharpened intelligence of hers. “I remember it quite well.” She responded to Twilight with a laugh. “I gave the introduction speech and you were staring at me the whole time. I could see in your eyes you were so impressed you couldn’t hear any of my words. And when everypony else was called to continue the tour, you stayed there for a moment, looking at me. I have to confess, the look on your face when the teacher called out to you was priceless.” Twilight didn’t doubt it for one second. She had felt so ashamed to be called out doing something wrong in front of princess Celestia that, at the time, she wouldn’t have minded simply ceasing to exist. Quite a memory indeed. For a moment, Twilight had forgotten why she had asked, but she remembered she wasn’t there for old times’ sake. She was there to know the truth about Celestia being Celestia. Her first question had only been a test, she had others. “Yeah…” Twilight responded with a faint laugh. “That was awkward. Just like the time I had sent you a poem I had written in place of the report I was supposed to deliver. I still can’t believe you not only never punished me for it, but actually took the time to read it, analyze it and compliment me about it.” This time, Celestia only smiled a bit more than the first time. A gentle smile, a comprehensive one. The smile of a mother. “I probably would have, if you had ever done such a thing Twilight. But unless my memory is failing me, you never did. Other students did. Not poem though. One sent me a love letter she had intended for a stallion that, at first, I thought was directed at me. It took me quite a while to figure out how to react. In the end, I figured the letter wasn’t for me and I simply asked the student to send me her report, pretending I hadn’t received anything from her.” Celestia had passed the second test. Not only had Twilight never failed to send her report correctly, but she knew the pony Celestia was talking about. She could still hear her voice from when she had learned Celestia had never received the letter. Relief and joy. Also, for some reason, the stallion the student was in love with was assigned to do some research work with her. Destiny at work at the time. Now it was clear Celestia had had something to do with it. And it was clear she had chosen that anecdote very carefully. Because only Celestia could have known. And because Twilight knew about it too. In other words: Celestia was aware that Twilight was testing her. And yet, she was just waiting for Twilight’s next question, accepting to be questioned. She didn’t even look frustrated from Twilight’s distrust. “Excuse me to ask it so bluntly, but could you tell me about prince Sombra?” “Which one?” Celestia replied. “The one I fought here in Equestria? The one I fell in love with? Or the one you haven’t met yet in the dimension Sunset Shimmer’s fell in?” Things were now pretty clear at least. Either the pony Twilight was talking to was princess Celestia, or it was a creature that had stolen both her memories and her intelligence. It left only one way to know for sure. “I am not moving the sun now Twilight.” Celestia said before Twilight had even decided whether or not she would dare ask for it. “I am sorry, but I wish to keep the peace of this day undisturbed and ponies worrying about the sun moving strangely in the sky goes against that wish. But I would gladly have you at my side when I raise it tomorrow. And if you explained to me the meaning of your behavior, I could help you make sure no doubt is left on my identity.” Twilight knew what Celestia had meant with those last words. She too knew that watching the sun rise along with Celestia casting a spell wouldn’t prove anything. The proof would come only if she were to raise it at an undefined moment chosen independently of her own will. So that she couldn’t “prepare” a fake event. Even so, there were ways around to fake it anyway. For those, Twilight had no answer yet, but Celestia would probably offer more than one, all satisfactory. At this point, Twilight had to recognize that even if princess Celestia had been replaced by an impostor, the impostor was way too talented and too smart for her. Or simply, she was speaking with princess Celestia and she had overestimated the seriousness of the situation by quite a lot. She had to decide though. She could either trust the pony in front of her, or still remain in doubt. In a corner of her mind, Twilight couldn’t prevent herself from asking “what would princess Celestia do?”. “I’m sorry.” Twilight said. “I’m making a fool of myself. It’s just… princess Celestia: you have no shadow.” Celestia didn’t reply immediately. But she didn’t bother to check whether it was true or not. All of her attention was focused on Twilight. The latter could feel Celestia’s look piercing through her skull, reaching her very mind, looking deeper and deeper into it, unlocking doors to parts that even Twilight didn’t know existed, uncovering aspects she had always ignored. It was feeling very awkward, almost disturbing and yet, both quiet and thrilling at the same time. For the few seconds it lasted, Twilight wasn’t alone in her mind anymore and the feelings she experienced were so new and incredible for her to mind at all. But it ended. Only remained the gentle smile of the sun princess. “Would you mind me not having a shadow?” Celestia asked. Twilight didn’t know what to respond. Yes? No? What difference was a mere shadow making in the great scheme of things? Celestia was still Celestia and that fact only really mattered. Celestia smiled brighter. Her shoulders now looked lighter and she couldn’t prevent herself from quickly deploying her huge wings and have them experience a freedom of movement they were usually deprived of, before bringing them back to her, back in position, back in order, where they were expected to be. “Everything is normal, Twilight.” Celestia explained. “You shouldn’t worry about it. I can assure you that nothing has changed.” She offered Twilight another smile. One made of pure joy. And for the first time since Twilight had begun that discussion, that smile looked fake. It was Celestia’s smile, Twilight knew it very well. But it wasn’t joy that was motivating it. It was the will to reassure, to comfort. Twilight didn’t say anything, but couldn’t take her look away from Celestia’s smile. She couldn’t just bring herself to ignore the plea behind it. She wanted to understand and more than anything, she wanted to help. “Everything is normal.” Celestia repeated. “Yet, I would like to ask you a favor if you don’t mind.” “Of course!” Twilight immediately agreed. “Anything you need.” “It isn’t something I need. Your curiosity and wonderful mind just offered me with an opportunity to shed light on something I consider quite unfair.” “Do not worry, I’m going to correct it!” Twilight assured her confidently. “It doesn’t require to be corrected.” Celestia replied. “Only to be acknowledged. Then, you will be free to do whatever it is you want with it.” Twilight didn’t understand. But she was willing to do whatever it was Celestia would ask her. She would be able to figure the rest out afterwards. Celestia understood and asked for the favor: “Could you unveil the mystery of my missing shadow?” Twilight got caught off guard. Or maybe she had just been awaiting it all along. All the same, the logic of it escaped her, as Celestia obviously already knew why she didn’t have a shadow. Or maybe somepony had stolen it, or maybe she had lost it in some sidereal bet. It didn’t matter. “I will!” Twilight replied, bombing her chest, ready to conquer any problem and solve the mystery. Then she realized one detail: “I don’t know where to begin though…” Celestia smiled. She knew the answer of the mystery. So she knew what lead to give Twilight: “Begin where all shadows come from and eventually disappear. Search in the night.” And as she didn’t intend to have Twilight solve that riddle, Celestia added: “Go ask my sister.”
Search in the nightThe more Twilight was sinking into the corridor leading to Luna’s room, the less she felt it was a good idea. Every step was losing a bit of the surrounding light, to the point where only torches on the walls were guiding her. Luna’s fascination with darkness was impossible for Twilight to understand. The stones around her were cold and scary. The red carpet under her hooves was too dark not to be uncomfortable and so thick it was feeling liquid. The air all around was chilling and constantly in movement, surrounding her, fleeing, hiding, wheezing through the cracks, laughing and plotting. Twilight crashed into a night guard she hadn’t seen who was guarding a huge door decorated with moonstones that she could now see faintly glow in the dark. “Sorry your highness.” The night guard apologized. As a bat pony, she could easily see in the night and thought the blame was hers because she could have easily warned Twilight or avoided her. “No, it’s okay: it’s my fault.” Twilight apologized. “It’s just… that place. I still can’t believe princess Luna wants to live here.” “I know.” The guard replied. “We too wish it was a bit bigger, more fit to her majesty, but the princess doesn’t seem to care.” Twilight couldn’t figure out if the night guard was making fun of her or if she was serious. By default, she decided to ignore the question and asked where she could find Luna. “You’re in luck!” The guard told her. “This is her majesty’s workroom and she has come to study some old books from the library.” “Books? What books?” Twilight asked, her eyes suddenly sparkling out of curiosity. “I’m sorry your highness. I am not allowed to unveil such details. Not even to you. It’s my duty to keep those things secret.” Twilight noticed the night guard was smiling while saying those words. It felt peculiar, because guards from the sun battalion wouldn’t allow themselves such liberties. The night guard, however, lived under other rules and that smile was probably nothing more than a display of the guard’s pride. “Can I enter?” Twilight asked. “You can.” And still that smile. Bat ponies sure were weird. Twilight opened the door and, seeing Luna over a huge opened book, greeted her from the doorstep. “Hello princess Luna!” Startled, Luna closed the book in less than the blink of an eye and turned to face the disturbance, only to simmer down at Twilight’s sight. “Oh. It’s you…” Luna said, while trying to catch her breath. “Sorry, the guard told me I could enter, I didn’t think I would be bothering you.” “I’m sure she did.” Luna replied with a sigh. “But it’s alright. You aren’t bothering me at all. I am simply surprised to see you here. What brings you in my place?” Twilight approached, waited for Luna to put her book away, then explained: “Well, it’s kind of weird to be honest. I don’t really know where to even begin.” Luna sighed loudly. She went to a cabinet, opened it and glanced over all the bottles she had there. She took one, turned her head back to Twilight, had a grin of laughter and put it back in place. She finally made her choice and came back to Twilight with two glasses full of nectar. She put them on the table, offered one glass to Twilight and, calling for her magic one last time, forced the huge heavy curtains to move and allow the glorious light of the day to invade and brighten every corner of the room, all to Twilight’s enchantment. “Surprised?” Luna asked. “I… I thought… I had forgotten we weren’t underground.” Twilight confessed. “Now let me guess if you don’t mind. Your story begins as such: Celestia.” Twilight didn’t know how to respond, so she just blushed and shamefully nodded to confess it was the case. In response, Luna simply took a sip of the nectar in her glass, then put the glass down and asked: “So, now that we know the beginning, why don’t you tell me the rest of the story?” Twilight took one sip of nectar too. She couldn’t really figure out how Luna could be so impressive and yet so simple at the same time. “Come on now, Twilight.” Luna told her with a smile. “Don’t let the decorum fool you. You are welcome here and I am very pleased you have come to see me, even if it involves Celestia. So please tell me, I’m curious: what has she done now?” “Celestia…” Twilight began. “Yes?” Luna interrupted her out of excitement. “She didn’t have a shadow this morning in the garden.” At first Luna didn’t react, but she suddenly burst out laughing. “Princess Luna?” Twilight asked. “Are you feeling okay?” “Oh yeah, I am.” Luna said. “I am sorry, but watching you take it so seriously is just too much: you have been pranked!” “Pranked?” Twilight asked. Luna went to Twilight and put her hoof on her muzzle just to confirm it. “A simple yet childish prank. My sister showed herself to you without a shadow intentionally and you fell into the trap head in. Oh that must have been something: you have to tell me all about it!” Twilight wasn’t really feeling like speaking about it at that very moment. She was more feeling like she had been so very stupid, and yet she had nopony else to blame for it but herself. The only comfort she could find was that if Luna didn’t find it strange for Celestia not to have a shadow, then there was clearly no impostor at all, confirming her own conclusion. “Don’t feel bad Twilight Sparkle.” Luna told her, in an attempt to bring comfort. “You aren’t the first fool she uses to entertain herself. Lots of ponies couldn’t see they were being played. And she probably had some hidden reason for it, like usual. So it wasn’t to your detriment. She probably wants you to learn a lesson or something I imagine.” Seeing that her words weren’t really comforting Twilight, she went back to the cabinet and brought back the first bottle she had chosen, full of apple cider. “Here, drink with me, to a hilarious joke that we have been part of.” Twilight accepted and drank her glass of cider, forgetting about the shame of having had her weaknesses exploited. She didn’t even really feel betrayed. Pinkie Pie too used to play a lot of jokes on her and her friends, so she could understand the good side of a joke. In the end, it had brought her there, to enjoy a moment with Luna and drink some good cider. So everything had ended pretty well if one was to be honest. Then a thought sparkled in Twilight’s mind. “So, it is normal for Celestia not to have a shadow?” She asked. “Of course.” Luna replied. “She doesn’t have one, never had one, couldn’t have one. At least, one she doesn’t create with magic. But you can imagine how ponies would react if they saw my big sister without a shadow. Better than anypony else in fact.” And Luna laughed again. “So… what about you?” Twilight asked. “Is your shadow the product of a spell too?” Luna thought about it a moment, as she was trying to find how to explain it to Twilight. “I am the princess of the night. I come from the darkness, from a time before light ever existed. Asking me about shadows is a bit complex. I actually have multiple shadows.” At those last words, Luna’s face became suddenly very serious and she let out: “So that is what she is after…” “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Oh, nothing really.” Luna replied, recovering her smile. “I just realized you weren’t the target of the joke: I am. You have just been caught in one of our little sisterly challenges. This one, you should probably stay out of if you don’t mind.” Twilight’s curiosity was devouring her. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to put her muzzle where she wasn’t invited. “Alright. I won’t ask.” She assured Luna. “Just please promise me you aren’t mad at each other.” Luna smiled in response: “Do not worry. No matter our differences, my sister and I share a bond nothing could destroy. We just always used to challenge each other, to test our capacities, to prove which one of us is the best and probably a bit to keep ourselves entertained too. This particular challenge’s goal is to determine which one of us, her or I, is the best princess.” Twilight did remember the castle of the two sisters and all the traps laid everywhere. It was making more sense now that the two of them would be in constant competition. She was now convinced she should stay out of it. “I know my sister.” Luna added. “She won’t let you leave the game so easily. Know that it ends tonight. If you don’t want to be pranked again, you should better be on your guards. She can be very cunning, believe me.” Twilight believed her. And she was determined to stay away from the whole thing from this point on.
Who are you princess Celestia?Twilight had come back from Luna’s room. She had then spent the rest of the day pretty normally and hadn’t seen princess Celestia anywhere. Dusk was approaching and soon the sun would hide again behind the horizon, signaling everypony that the time to sleep was coming. Twilight was ready to answer to that signal. She was tired and she was happy. Two very good reasons to go to sleep and enjoy some neat dreams. At that very moment, she heard the voice: “Don’t you want to know?” Twilight didn’t have to turn back to know who was saying those words. Only one pony in all of Equestria could provide such a warm, gentle, and yet powerful tone. Twilight had prepared for that moment: “Princess Luna explained everything to me. I understand you want to win your challenge with her, but I would like to stay out of it.” “I do have to apologize to you, my dear Twilight. I understand why you would feel betrayed. Yet, I assure you I never lied to you. Every single word was true. And I truly wish you would find out why I don’t have a shadow.” “Why?” Twilight asked. “What can be so important to you that my own wish not to take part of it should be ignored? I am not a tool. I am a pony. I deserve better.” A little silent ensued, during which Twilight wondered if she hadn’t be too harsh on Celestia. After all, even if she too was an alicorn now, there was a lot she didn’t know. Celestia and Luna had lived thousands of years, met countless ponies, lost almost just as much. Maybe it was normal in such circumstances to forget how to properly treat another pony. Maybe, in a thousand years, she too would have forgotten. Maybe that was the lesson. “Again, I have to apologize. I am acting selfishly and I do see how frustrating it can be for you. I did say I was asking a favor from you. You certainly don’t have to grant it to me. I just really wished you would.” “But what for?” Twilight asked, turning back and facing princess Celestia directly. “So that you could proclaim yourself best princess over princess Luna? And then what? What would it change?” “I admit it: there is very little at stake. And maybe there is a lot. It all depends on you. The future depends entirely on how we build it. So maybe I was wrong, and maybe you don’t need to unveil my little secret.” Twilight’s curiosity was urging her to stop pretending she didn’t care and just bite in any of those baits and follow them no matter where they may lead. There was something to be learned. That fact was clear. Celestia was promising it. So in the end, she would deliver. “No.” Twilight found the strength to reply. “I do not need to unveil your secret. If it doesn’t concern Equestria, it doesn’t concern me.” “Then let me reveal two things to you. And if, after that, you still don’t want to grant me my wish, then I shall leave you alone and never bother you with it ever again.” Twilight had no choice. Her curiosity was about to choke her. And once she would have heard what Celestia had to say, she could go back in her room and find whatever way to console herself from having missed that opportunity to learn. “Here is the first thing: my fur isn’t white by accident. It had to be or I couldn’t have existed. And yet, it shouldn’t be white at all.” Twilight heard the words, but to prevent her curiosity from taking over, she didn’t even try to make sense out of them. She hadn’t heard anything. She was fine. Everything was fine. “Here is the second thing.” Twilight’s fur was bristling with excitement. Her heartbeat was so loud she couldn’t even hear it anymore and her face was covered by some salty liquid to compensate how hot everything was feeling now. And yet, she couldn’t move, or complain, or do anything else but wait for what princess Celestia would reveal to her. And Celestia spoke: “My name isn’t Celestia.” Twilight’s head exploded. A huge blaze had taken over, forcing reason to abandon ship. She was only driven by her emotion and her instinct. “Tell me your secret.” Twilight said. “I want to know.” “There is a condition.” Celestia replied. Twilight already sort of knew what the condition would be. The victory smile on Celestia’s face wasn’t letting much doubt about it. She was back into the game, into Celestia’s hooves, ready to serve the purpose the sun princess had devised for her. Twilight wondered how many of those challenges Luna could have won against such a great adversary. “Tell me, Twilight Sparkle. Who is the best princess? Do you prefer the princess of the sun, or the princess of the night?” “Can’t I choose Cadance and we can call it a tie?” Twilight asked, trying to get herself out of that situation while still obtaining the knowledge she was after. The smile Celestia was displaying didn’t let any doubt on the matter: she wouldn’t get around the problem so easily. She had to choose who the best princess was. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I like princess Luna a lot. She is a great princess. It makes no sense to oppose you against her. You complement each other. You are a team. It’s only together that you can be the best princess!” But Celestia’s look was proving too authoritarian to accept such a weak copout. She wasn’t asking anymore: she was demanding. She was ordering Twilight to choose. “Come on, Twilight Sparkle. Just be honest and say what you think. What you have always thought, what everypony in this land truly thinks: who is the best princess?” As the sun was now reaching the horizon and Celestia had grown so big she was supplanting Twilight's mere existence. She was everywhere, overwhelming, more powerful than the universe and her will ruled supreme. So Twilight confessed: “You are! Everypony adores you. I adore you. You are kind, and patient, and always ready to listen to us, and dedicated and altruistic. There hasn’t been a day in my life when I didn’t hope than one day I could become just would it only be nearly as perfect as you are…” “That is the truth.” Said the imperial voice from the huge Celestia. And the huge Celestia wasn’t white anymore, but black. Completely black. Which was normal. It all looked completely normal. And then a voice came from the other side of the corridor, approaching and as the voice approached, Celestia on the wall quickly shrank. “It is the truth: you better never forget it.” Luna said, emerging from the darkness. Twilight looked at Celestia, what was left of her at least, and saw her legs going along the wall and then along the floor right to Luna’s hooves. “A shadow?” Twilight asked, incapable to accept what she was witnessing. “What is happening? Where is princess Celestia?” “I am here.” The shadow said. And Twilight had just blinked that the shadow was gone, replaced by Celestia, in all her glory. Only her four white legs were still going to the floor and then directly to Luna. “Do not worry. Everything is fine. I just wanted you to know.” Celestia explained. “I told you not to trust her.” Luna responded. “She always has a plan and she always obtains what she wants.” “I don’t understand…” Twilight simply said, lost beyond measure. Luna walked towards Twilight and her hooves detached from those of Celestia who stayed behind, understanding that she wouldn’t be welcomed to come closer right at that instant. “I told you I have many shadows, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna explained. “Nightmare Moon is one of them, the shadow of my inner rage, my jealousy and my despair. Celestia is another one of them. The shadow of everything that is good inside of me, displayed in the real world. The one I decided to listen to and follow.” “Celestia is your shadow?” Twilight asked, still unable to grasp the concept of it. “Perfection doesn’t exist, Twilight Sparkle. She is just a projection. A part of myself. The part everypony likes. The rest of me, ponies like less. Some part of me, they are right to reject.” Celestia approached at her turn and sat in front of Twilight. “Do you mind me being a shadow?” She asked. “I don’t know. I’m not sure.” Twilight replied. “You are a princess too now.” Luna explained. “Ponies will also only see a part of you. And that part of you will become more real than yourself to everypony around. I guess the best part of me wanted to warn you, so that you wouldn’t risk following the same path that I have once your shadow is loved more than yourself.” Twilight looked at Luna, then at Celestia, then at Luna and then at Celestia again. She was confused, unable to feel the ground under her hooves. She wasn’t certain to be awake anymore. Out of the confusion, she tried to find anything that could bring her back to the reality she knew and wanted to be a part of. “Princess Celestia… are you real?” She asked. Celestia smiled: “Of course I am.” “Then who are you princess Celestia!?” Twilight screamed in catharsis. Luna and Celestia looked at each other, giggled and both at the same time put their right hoof on Twilight’s muzzled, bumping it to show her she shouldn’t worry, and then said as one voice and one big smile: “We are your friend.” THE END Author's Note Raichu Wrote a poem about the story that is spot on. I'm thankful and there it is: "Luna's shadows are really odd. To the nonexistent dark tag, I give a nod. In the end, one could say it was just true. But for me, it was much too blue. To know Luna was loved more than herself." *** I was simply listening to a pmv "Who I am" and felt the need to write a story that seemed nice on the moment. So I did. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things .
