Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Outskirts of Manehattan

     “We will be arriving at Manehattan Station shortly.” The conductor's voice echoed throughout the train carriage, startling Luna. Opening her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of green, grassy hills and open plains. But in the background stood the beautiful metropolis of Manehattan in all it’s glory, surrounded by sea. The afternoon sun lighting up the city in a golden aura. Despite the majestic feel, the city wasn’t untouched by the aftermath of war. Crime rates spiked after the end of Celestia’s Campaign.

     Using her hoof as a place to rest her head, Luna continued to look out at the magnificent view. Ponies milled around the carts, looking for their luggage. However, Luna’s presence remained unbeknownst to the citizens around her. After all, the only thing they saw was a small, midnight blue, unicorn mare. Not the alicorn she was known for being.

     Luna slept through half of the train ride to Manehattan and it was mostly uneventful… mostly. Her mind was plagued with the memories of the invasion: the day Equestria changed forever. She never did find out what happened to Frost or Spitfire.

     They were both taken to the Canterlot Castle infirmary to which Spitfire was treated for her wounds and a few weeks spent getting her wing working again. After that, she was gone. Months later news arose that she had been stripped of her rank as Captain of The Wonderbolts for no apparent reason. Outraged, she left and was never heard from again.

     Now Frost, he was in a coma for 2 months straight and the doctors said that even if they tried to save him, they couldn’t. His condition was critical but Luna was willing to do anything to keep him alive, instructing the greatest minds of her research team to do whatever necessary to keep him from going under. Whatever they did worked but their congratulations were cut short when a few days after the ‘operation’, Frost had upped and vanished from the face of Equestria.

To think that was three years ago. I remember it clear as day… Day… Tia.

     Luna thought back to the previous day. How she and Celestia had argued. How she hurled abuse toward Luna. How she… punched her. She’d never expected that to come out of Tia. When Celestia had hit her, Luna made her way back to her personal chambers. Filling two saddlebags with enough bits, food and commodities needed to last at the very least a month away from the castle. At that, she took leave, disguising herself as a simple unicorn and took the next train straight to Manehattan. Now here she was.

     Banishing any thought of Celestia from her mind, Luna mused about the city she was about to enter. There was a distinct difference between Canterlot and Manehattan that Luna loved, more ponies appreciated the night over the day. Ponies were up and about during any time here. There were many clubs the city could offer, most of which were filled to the brim. There was of course the light pollution but she could forgive that because all you have to do is travel outside the city and you get to see the beautiful, starry, night sky Luna called her own. There was even the Lunar Observatory! She’d have to visit there later.

     Looking back into the carriage, Luna noticed the conductor from before passing by “Excuse me, conductor?”

     The pony had stopped, turned to Luna and put on a kind smile “How may I be of service to you, miss?” He seemed very jovial.

     “How long would you say until we reach the station?” Luna inquired

     “I’d wager about another five minutes ma’am.”

     “Alright. Thank you.” Luna replied, smiling back at the conductor.

     He tipped his hat towards her and continued down to the other carriage. Leaning back into her chair, Luna enjoyed the rest of the train ride as much as possible.

     As soons as the train doors were opened, Luna stepped out of the carriage breathing in the Manehattan air. Everytime she stepped off a train in this very station, it filled her with joy. Whether it was on official, or in this case unofficial, terms. Tightening her saddlebags around her waist, she walked through the crowd.

Right. I require a place to stay. A hotel shall suffice Luna thought to herself

     Walking out of the station, Luna hailed an old fashioned taxi carriage. There were new age ones available that didn’t require manual labor, ‘auto motives’ as some ponies put it, but Luna preferred the ways of old. The only reason said auto motives existed was solely because of the industrial revolution that took place during the war. Alongside that, new weapons were in mass production, replacing the sword and spear. They were referred to as ‘firearms’.

How this leap in technology came to? I’ll never know…

     Snapping out of her train of thought, Luna realized that she’d been standing in front of the taxi for an absurd amount of time, the driver staring intently at her. “You ok there, miss?” he called out.

     “Huh? Oh, I was just thinking. Sorry about the wait sir” Luna apologised, blushing a little in embarrassment. She climbed aboard.

     “Not a problem” The driver giving a reassuring smile. “So, where ya headed?”

     “Times Square” was the response Luna gave

     “As you wish”

     And with that, they were off.

     Luna stood outside Manehattan’s Manefair Hotel. Having spent a few hours to get something to eat and explore, she needed to find a place to stay. Walking inside, the ground floor was magnificent. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and ponies milled about the place. Spotting the receptionist, who looked rather bored, Luna walked over to the front desk.

     “Hello. I’d like to make a reservation.”

     The receptionist perked up at Luna’s voice. Her name-tag read Square Mile “Hello. Is there anything in particular that you are looking for?”

     “Nah. A simple room will do.” It was at this point that Luna felt like a normal pony not a princess. She liked it. Spending too much time as a public figure took a toll on ponies so it was nice change of pace.

     Square Mile was writing things down in a book “Ok miss…”

     “Midnight” Luna gave Square Mile her fake alias.

     She wrote the name down into the logbook in front of her. “Alright miss Midnight, a lovely name, your room is forty three.” She levitated a key over to Luna. “Just head through that hall - ”  she pointed to the left “ - and take the lift up to the fourth floor.”

     Luna smiled and thanked the receptionist, making her way for the ‘lift’.

Another technological contraption Luna mused

     On short lift ride later and she stared at the door to her room. Upon immediate entry, she made way for the bed, exhaustion taking over. Luna unclasped her saddlebags and flopped onto the bed, undoing the spell she’d cast on herself to change her appearance.

     Sitting up on the bed, she thought of what she could do during her stay in Manehattan.

Bah. I’ll figure it out tomorrow.

     With that, Luna laid back down on her bed and entered the realm of dreams.