Mirror, Mirror

After the defeat of the tyrant King Sombra, the princesses returned to their castle to lick their wounds. Some wounds are harder to get rid of, as Luna knows all too well. Having been put in charge of the military, what little there is, had put her n front lines more times than anypony else. Against nations that would seek to rule the new land they earned. That night, the sisters rejoiced over their victory in the throne room.

"Why do you celebrate? The empire is gone completely! Not destroyed, but non-existant!" Starswirl the Bearded said angrily. "You are either fortunate or very unfortunate that is all that happened. I get that you had the elements with you, as a trump card, but even so-"

"Now Starswirl. The empire is gone, yes, but its inhabitants are with it. In time, I am sure it will resurface, and when that time comes, my sister and I will do it right." Celestia looked at her old friend and waved for him to come over. "You have got to look at the bright side of things."

He reluctantly walked over, a stern expression plastered over his face. "I will hear none of that, Celestia. What bright side is there to decimation?"

Luna looked up from her bandaged wing. "Art thou expressing the smallest amount of unfairness? We did not witness your attempt to quell the situation. Why? Oh, correct us if we are in the wrong, but thou decided not to aid in our infiltration!"

"No, you're right. I wasn't there. But maybe I should have. Would things have changed? Not likely. King Sombra was a powerful unicorn, capable of bestowing fear into all around him with a single look. And his accomplice did not make things easier, I heard." Starswirl sat before his friends.

"Thou hast known of such a being, yes? This... creature?" Luna asked.

"No. Before, I've not seen the likes of it."

"I'm just glad the elements were able to imprison it in Tartarus. 'Tis a fit place for a monster. There it will experience pain eternal."

"If thou ask us, we believe imprisonment was too soft a punishment. Why did the elements not banish it to the tundra like they did Sombra?" Luna inquired to her sister.

"That, I do not know. Perhaps it was not wholly evil. To think it could have acted how it did due to Sombra's influence might be an accurate explaination." Celestia stood and glanced out of the opening in the wall. "He may be gone, the empire along with it, but how long will this peace last?"

"'Twill last as long as it needs to, dear sister. This era of peace could last a decade, or a millennia, either way, we will be here to see it through."

Celestia lowered the the sun as Luna raised the moon to replace it. "Luna, what if it doesn't last at all? All will have been for naught."

"Now, Tia. Don't frown. Rest. The day has been long. As always, we will watch the night skies." Luna stood and walked to the doors. "Starswirl the Bearded, thou should make for your quarters as well. It won't do to slumber under the same canopy as Tia." Starswirl followed her out.

Luna went for a walk through the woods to a secret place, whereas Starswirl went home. She convinced the animals to stay on guard as she enjoyed her peace and quiet.

She had sat down and gazed into the pool of water in the middle of the open area. "Night after night, the same story unfolds. I wake up, I raise the moon. I go to sleep when I lower the moon. Day in day out the cycle repeats. The only ones around me to talk to are animals."

"You have a unique location to reflect upon yourself, child," a voice called out. "In solitude you reside?"

Luna stood and looked around, seeing nothing. "Reveal thyself!" No response. "Thou cannot hide in darkness forever!"

"I was hiding?" A light filled the cave as a large white alicorn with a red flowing mane appeared. "What about you?"

"I'm not hiding from anything. Tell us who you are!"

"I am The Divine Creator, The Ultimate, The Mother. I am All, I am One. As I have many names, I may take many forms. My abilities are grand and miniscule, and none are without price."

"The ultimate? Ultimate what?" Luna asked, stepping closer.

"Ultimate being. An alicorn, like you and your sister, but one that has lived since the beinning of time. It was my birth, that spawned this world and everything on it many millennia ago."

"Why have you come here?" Luna waited, then added, "Does thou wish to do battle?"

"No, of course not. I just wish to hear your troubles."

"As much as I would like to tell you, how do I know I can trust you?" Luna lowered her horn and lit it up.

"You can't, but ... maybe you can trust yourself." Her horn lit up a rainbow of colors and a similar aura pushed Luna into the water. "Just relax..."

Luna teleported out and landed on the opposite side. "You!" she cried. "Y-" She stopped, and looked down at a dark blue hoof protruding from the water's surface. In confuson, she reached out and grabbed on. With enough effort, Luna pulled the pony from the water as it began gasping for air. "What is going on here..."

"We could ask you the same thing..." she replied. "Why are there two of us?"

"Luna, meet Luna. Two of a kind, existing apart from each other. Though, if you choose... You may decide to inhabit the same vessel, and share your lives," the alicorn offered. "Never again will you be alone."

The two Lunas nodded, and a spell was cast on them. Their bodies mixed and combined. The end result was scarcely different from the two components, with the exception of a voice in Luna's head. "What did you do to me?" she asked.

"I made it so you can live two lives. Experience things that you could not otherwise." Another glow began wrapping around Herself.

"Wait, how do I undo this?" Before she heard a reply, She was gone. "Why has this happened..."

Why not? We wished for no more solitude. We were granted no more solitude.

It would not be until years later that the second voice compelled Luna to desire more attention than what was given her. As a result, she found herself on the moon with herself to keep company.