A long time ago, a bitter pony turned Nightmare was banished. One thousand years later she returned, to be defeated by the Elements of Harmony. A cracked shell, a shadow of the magical being she once was, the pony waited and tormented herself over and over, forever asking the same question.
Why?
Why was it me of all ponies who should be twisted into such a hideous monster?
Why did sister always have the love of our subjects and not me?
Why?
Celestia draped a wing over her sister affectionately as they watched the sun begin to set. The remnants of the evening meal lay neatly on trays behind them, for the servants to bring inside and clean.
A slight breeze blew past them; Luna shivered and leaned closer to her sister. Celestia smiled.
For a while, there was a peaceful stillness.
"Celestia?" Luna finally spoke up.
"Yes?"
"I- I wish to speak of the Nightmare."
"Yes?"
"A spirit that possessed me, in my bitter and jealous state... but I find myself wondering why it was me. Should our subjects not have loved us equally?"
"Yes."
"Then why did they not?"
"Love," Celestia stated simply.
"Yes. It was for the adoration of my subjects that I hungered-"
"Luna, speech."
"I... wanted their love. And for their love, the very thing I lacked- And because of the love that I did not have, I became jealous enough to be a perfect host for the Nightmare."
"Yes."
"I believed, truly, that we desired the same thing. I wanted love, which I would never get. And it told me it wanted the same thing, but perhaps it merely wished for my crazed desire for adoration to continue until it could possess me fully. I wanted eternal night so that my night could be seen by all and appreciated for its beauty. It wanted eternal night, to further turn my subjects against me, leaving me wanting their love even more. And yet I was blind enough to see in it an ally, a friend..."
Celestia gazed at the setting sun. Its rays spread across the land in one last plea to bring light to all, before they let go and the sun sank below the horizon.
"I apologize, Sister. I did not mean to ramble so. I merely have a question for you."
"Yes?"
"Will you stop saying that?" Celestia giggled; Luna smiled reluctantly. "I wanted to know how you avoided my fate."
"I already told you. Love."
"I know they loved you. Why did they love you and not me?"
Celestia looked up at the moon, tentatively peeking above the horizon. A cold breeze blew past, causing her to shiver in the silver moonlight. Luna pressed up next to her again, offering warmth.
"Luna, look at the moon." Her sister obeyed, confusion written on her face. "What do you see?"
"A big rock in a empty void filled with glittering stars?"
"What about the sun?"
"A circular flame."
Celestia nodded. "Flames bring warmth and light. My sun is seen as caring, welcoming, and I do my best to be the same. But the moon-"
"Cold, hard, and distant." Luna interrupted her. After a moment of thought, she added, "And perfect."
"Yes. That is what you were to them. You wanted their love, believing you had a right to it. Never did you think that perhaps you needed to earn it first."
Luna stiffened, remembering beggars and peasants groveling for just a single bit, just one crust of bread. She moved away slightly.
"The cold, unfeeling moon is what you became. You never attended their parties, never visited a tavern after work was done - you never saw them as anything more than a source of love that should be permanently throwing itself at your hooves and giving you the adoration that you craved."
Celestia shifted, pressing her body against Luna's. "Even these past years, you have not attended the Grand Galloping Gala. No, don't say it - I understand your discomfort at such formal events, but you must become the warm, caring moon if you truly wish for their love."
There was a pause. Luna nodded. "I have attended Nightmare Night parties. I protect foals in their dreams."
"Yes. You have already taken many steps forward. And now, I think you understand a little better how I avoided becoming the love-craving beast that you were."
"Love," Luna breathed in sudden understanding.
"I walked among them. Talked as they talked. Saw what they saw. I laughed with them at parties, mourned with them at funerals, and in doing so I learned to love them. To see how beautiful they are. Even when they left, their memories stick with me. I kept a journal, I still do; just so I could remember each and every pony I've met and talked to and loved."
"Stars as bright as these should never be forgotten," Luna murmured.
"Indeed. Their stories are just as important to me as the stories in history books, and I tell them and retell them until I have memorized their stories. They have not left me. They will never be forgotten."
"Oh, sister. If only I had known..."
"A thousand years is a long time," Celestia said simply.
"How many - ?"
"Oh, hundreds. I could list them all, as if listing off names could give any indication as to who they were." Tears filled Celestia's eyes as she smiled. "Look at Canterlot, Luna."
And Luna looked at Canterlot, and saw the ponies, smiling, laughing, and living together under her beautiful night sky.
And she loved them with all of her heart as she swooped down to join them.
Author's Note
Written after seeing Kubo and the Two Strings. I don't know if this story would qualify as spoilers, but it's definitely inspired by the movie, so...?
Pure fluff, really. I hope you enjoy anyway.