A Different Kind Of Light

“What do we have to do to receive love,” Luna asked herself. She had locked herself in her royal chambers, staring off into her wonderful night sky. She was thinking about her past, her evil deeds and the consequences of them. “The common ponies fear us. And the royals, they only pretend to like us.”

Luna heard a knock on the door. She already knew it was Celestia. Her sister always seemed to show up in the worst of times. “Luna, sister. Are you alright?” “Yes, big sister. We…I mean…I, am fine,” she replied, hoping that Celestia would leave. The sun princess didn’t seem to take the hint. Celestia opened the door and walked in. “I know you well enough, sister. Something is wrong, now what is it,” Celestia asked. Luna turned her head towards her sister. ‘Sometimes, she knows too much,’ Luna thought. “I’m just feeling lonely, Cele. It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” she said, looking back out at her sky. She spotted the moon, and stared at it. “That is true,” Celestia said. “But you are now surrounded by other ponyfolk, and not just yourself,” Celestia said, trying to make her sister happy. All she received was an angry stare from the night princess.

“All of the commoners fear me. And the royals try to be friendly, but they are not fooling me,” she shouted out. Celestia looked sadly upon her dismayed sister. “Maybe you’re trying too hard.” Celestia tried to use her wisdom to help her sister, but she was right. All of the subjects feared her. The pegasi, unicorn, and earth ponies all did. ‘At least, in Canterlot,’ Celestia thought. “Sister, how about you go see our subjects in Ponyville. I’m sure that Twilight Sparkle and her friends would love to see you again,” Celestia said, a smile forming upon her face.

Luna was not as thrilled. She stared daggers at her sister, and then turned her head back to the night sky. Celestia turned away, knowing that she was beaten. As she left the room, she gave her sister one last piece of wisdom. “Who knows what you could find in Ponyville.”

Luna sighed. Somehow, her sister talked her into going to Ponyville. It seemed that Celestia already knew what she would decide; she already had the royal carriage ready. “Cele,” she muttered under her breath, her head bowed. “Princess,” a voice knocked her out of her ranting. “Yes, Shadow,” Luna answered, looking angrily at him. “I’m sorry princess, but we’re almost to Ponyville.” “Right,” was all the princess said before going back into the recesses of her mind. Shadow only sighed. “What’s been getting to her lately,” he asked himself.

The entourage of ponies finally reached the outskirts of Ponyville. “Princess,” Twilight said after she yawned. It was getting late, and she was getting tired. When the princess didn’t answer, she looked over at the guards. Shadow only shrugged and said “She’s been like this since we left Canterlot.” Twilight looked worryingly at the princess. “Celestia,” Luna finally said, in a whisper. The unicorn looked back at the guard. Shadow only shrugged, and then took flight with the rest of the guards into the sky. Twilight stood there for a minutes, assessing the damage. The princess’s mane was unkempt, and many of her feathers were out of place. She also thought she saw some bare patches in her fur. “Princess, are you all right.” Luna didn’t answer, but began to walk to Twilight’s home. Twilight was puzzled, but quickly followed.

The two never spoke on their way. Luna only continued her grunting as Twilight looked around at her surroundings. She tried to keep her eyes away from the princess. ‘It’s sad to see Luna like this,’ she thought.

It didn’t take long for the pair to make the journey. Twilight opened the door for Luna, who stepped in quietly. The dark princess took a seat on a nearby couch. Twilight went upstairs to check on Spike, and then quickly came back down. “A-are you feeling better, Luna,” Twilight decided to ask. The princess looked up from the floor to see Twilight’s face. They stared at each other for a while, trying to decipher what the other was thinking. “Yes,” Luna simply said. Twilight cautiously took a seat next to the saddened princess. “Princess Celestia never told me why you came for this ‘unexpected’ visit,” the unicorn said, hoping for an answer from the dismayed ruler of the night. ‘I’m glad,’ Luna thought, faking a smile. “I can’t come and visit the ponies that saved me and all of Equestria many times,” she lied, hoping that Twilight wouldn’t be like her sister.

“Princess, you lie about as well as Applejack,” Twilight said, keeping a chuckle in check. The princess attained a blush all over her cheeks. ‘This protégé of my sister has spent too much time with her.’ “I suppose you should know,” the princess began.

“I came her because Celestia thought it would be good for me to take a ‘vacation’ from the palace and Canterlot itself,” Luna said. Her smile disappeared. She hoped she wouldn’t have to continue on with her story, but the unicorn wouldn’t allow it. “Are you overstressed,” Twilight asked. Luna wanted to laugh at her hastened conclusion, but she held it in. “No, Twilight. I’m…” Luna had trouble saying the rest. But looking at the face of Twilight gave her the confidence. “I’m lonely.” Luna whispered, bowing her head. She didn’t want to look at the face of the pony that laughed at her. But no sound of laughter came.

Luna dared to raise her head. She was somewhat relieved to see that Twilight didn’t even have a smile. “Princess, surely you have friends in Canterlot.” Luna only shook her. “All of the other ponies fear me. I have no one but my sister.” Luna bowed her head. She didn’t want Celestia’s number one protégé to see the tears in her eyes.