An Empire Lost in Time

Luminous found himself in a black world, there were no sights sounds or smells, just emptiness. After a few minutes he found himself in a tent, around him were makeshift lodgings and a desk. He could see that he was putting things into a saddle bag marked with moon cutie mark. He thought to himself for a minute realizing that his dream was not his own. He watched as his dark blue hooves walked over to the desk, there on the desk was a letter and a scale, in his magic he picked up the scale and put it into the bag. Then he picked up the piece of parchment and rolled it up. Moving over to the tent opening he found himself in a small field.

The field was dark and little could be seen, he could feel joy as he sat there and waited for what he assumed was the dream version of himself. After some time her heard himself sigh and look up at the sky, he could see that the moon had moved to almost setting, he wondered how long he had been there. Suddenly he felt and heard a loud rumble, it occurred to him as he stood with the dream point of view he was in that this was the night his city sunk. As he moved to pace around the clearing he felt the worry in the back of his mind. Soon after he could feel himself take flight. The dream went dark for a few seconds and when it appeared again he found himself watching a war camp pack up and leave. By this time he could tell the moon was nearly set and the sun was just rising. He watched as he found himself silently confronting a pony dressed in armor, he could see the ponies lips were moving but heard nothing. Soon he found himself in the woods on the edge of camp.

Tears rolled down his face as he laid under thick trees, everything seemed grey and dark as the world carshed around him, till a hoof rubbed his back. “Is something wrong?” a ghostly voiced eoched asking.

Not even caring to look at to who the voice belonged to he replied in a mare’s voice. “Leave me alone.”

“Are you sure?” the ghostly voice asked again.

He covered his eyes with his hooves, “not unless you have the power to give life to the dead.”

“It is with in my power but are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes! Please bring him back.” he replied turning to the ghostly black figure.

“The one you wish to see again can not come back he is beyond my reach, what then would you have me do?”

“Nothing, you are of no help if i can not see him again!” he found himself saying.

“Come now, I have much more power than that, perhaps I can do something else?”

He looked down at the ground, “Just leave me alone spirit.”

“I'm far more than a spirit, but if that is what you wish I shall leave you be.” the ghostly mare said disappearing from his field of view.

***

He found himself in a dark room, the architecture was gothic. He found himself looking around the room. The room was finely decorated with moons and was dark. He felt content but sad. He moved to look out the window, in the small town below were old equestrian houses with simplistic design. He felt him sigh sadly. He could see it was dark out but not a single pony was around. He looked out over an empty courtyard, under a beautiful night sky. Loneliness gripped his heart and he tried a away in anger, “Do our subjects not care! Do they love truly only love the day.”

He threw himself on the bed and started to cry a bit, till he heard the ghostly voice. “Little one what wrong?”

“Nobody will come out and play in my beautiful night. I can’t enter their dreams because they are scared of me. I’m so alone.”

The ghostly pony sat on the bed, “Well I for one find it the most lovely part of day, too bad you can’t make other see the beauty of night, the glory of the stars and the moon. The sweet coolness of the darkness.”

He looked at the ghostly pony, “You do?”

“But of course little one, it’s calm. The world is at rest, and all seems right within the darkness.” the ghostly pony started to to rub his back.

“I used to know a pony that made me happy, he would always love my nights. Now my sister just brags about how the ponies adore her.”

“Is he the one you wanted me to bring back?”

“Yes, I miss him so much, I love him with all my heart. If he were here now we would be cuddled together under my stars and id be happy and i wouldn’t feel so alone.” he felt the sadness in his voice and felt tears run down his cheeks as he started crying again.

“I could be your friend,” the ghostly figure offered, “And together we could make ponies adore your night.”

“How would you do that?” he said.

The ghostly pony smiled, “All they would need to see if the beauty of the night, so what if your sister didn’t rise the sun for the whole day?”

“Do you really think just a day would do it? I have tried to make the night last longer but still they never come out, its like if its dark they stay indoors.”

“Surely they would need to come out for food at some point?”

“Your right, but what if they don’t?”

The ghostly voice become all the more sweet and tender, “We could simply make the night last forever,”

“We could? But what about the plants and animals, wouldn’t they die?”

A smile come to the ghostly pony, “Come now together we could change their forms and needs,” she paused, “After all the moon is the source of all arcane magic.

“Your right, so then what should you have me do? I can’t make them adore me just by not setting the moon. My sister could easily set the moon herself.”

“Oh, but what if you were the only princess of equestria?” he paused again, “Maybe with all this once you had power over both the sun and moon you could bring him back?”

“But he is under the waves he is probably long gone.” he said sadly.

“Then take the power you need from me, together we could rule this land, together we can make the ponies adore you just as he did. You will never feel alone again.” The ghostly pony smiled warmly, “Who knows once we have gain enough power then we could bend the rules of life and death to our will.”

“Alright, let’s do it.” he paused “but first I must see my sister, I want her to see me take over the land and steal all her adoring ponies for myself.”

***

He saw himself enter the gothic style throne room of the castle he found himself in. there at the end of the room he saw celestia. She had a pink mane and tail, it did not move of its own accord as he knew it to do now. He could see her talking but could not hear her. Her features were troubled as he found himself walking on to a ledge above the thrones. He could see that the sun was out and feel his magic reaching for the moon as he pulled in in the air. As he fell he heard himself scream as the darkness of the shadow surrounded him.

***

The dream was dark once more, his surrounds were cold and lifeless, he felt a magical hold on him weakening before he appeared in a room that was decorated with modern style. Outside he could feel that the moon was still in the sky he seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly he saw celestia appear before him, he saw her face light up in surprise. With a strong cast of magic from himself she disappeared.

***

The dream around him changed again and he found six mares two of which he knew. They all worse strange gems. He saw them float in the air and with a bright rainbow colored flash he felt the shadow that had engulfed him meld into him. The dream went dark and his eyes fluttered open. Sitting in front of him was luna.

His mind was racing, had that been all true, had Luna left anything out? Was that ghost the nightmare, it had to be. No other spirit would speak in that, with words like honey and lies as that, and did the nightmare know he wasn’t dead? He contemplated the dream and looked to luna asking. “Luna, is all of what I saw true?

“Indeed it is all true.”

A few tears ran down his face, “I wish I had seen your feather as a sign something wasn’t right, I’m so sorry I left you all alone.” he said looking at the ceiling.

“It’s alright, all that matters is I have you back. Plus I should have been stronger than I was.” she said downcast.

He looked at her and said, “you are the strongest mare i know, never think otherwise. I love you luna.

Luna smiled at Luminous as he laid there. “You can sleep in my bed. I have to lower the moon and go have breakfast with my sister. If I don’t, she is going to come here, and then we will have a problem.”

Sleepy, he tried to get up. “Should I join you? I mean, I did have to speak to her.”

She touched a hoof to his cheek. “No, when you wake up and bathe, we can go visit her. You’re all sweaty and tired.” At that thought, she looked down at herself, seeing beads of sweat down her body. “I have to bathe before I go.”

“Why am I sweaty?” he asked, “And I’m fine just let me get up.”

“No, I told you this would happen--being in the dream scape tires you greatly. Your mind can’t handle the forced mind magic. You’re sweaty because your body has to compensate for the lack of consciousness while in the dreamscape, or you’ll die; it's part of how I developed the spell.”

He looked fearfully up. “Then you should rest as well! I would die if I lost you.” He sat up.

She yawned. “My body is used to it: I walk in dreams nearly every night fighting nightmares. By this point, I’m usually going to my sister. She and I have breakfast, and I come back here to pass out.”

“Then help me. It seems I can’t stand up right now,” he said.

Luna giggled. She used her magic to pull back her covers, then she picked him up and laid him in bed. “I guess it's my turn to kiss you good night.”

“Wait, what about you?” he asked, yawning. “This is your bed.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll come back and lay next to you.”

“True.” He closed his eyes. “Why is this bed so soft? Almost as soft as you.”

Luna facehoofed. “It’s a cloud bed; they invented them some time before I returned. I had one placed in here because I sleep better on it. By the way, I’m not that soft.”

Snoring was her answer. At that, she leaned down to kiss him and walked into her bathroom. The water was still in the tub from earlier. She pulled the plug and grabbed a wash cloth. “I don’t have the time to take a full bath; I need to lower the moon,” she said as she wiped herself down with the magic-imbued cloth. Walking out, she faced the balcony and lowered her moon. “I mustn't forget my regalia,” she said, putting them on as she walked out of her room.

***

Luna walked tiredly to the private dinning hall her sister always met her in. The smell of pancakes filled her nose, and her tummy growled in response.

“Ah, morning, sister. I trust your night went well?” Celestia smiled as she looked up to greet her sister.

“It was busy, but I had a good night.” She smiled, a slight bounce in her tired steps as she walked to her seat.

“You seem cheery this morning,” Celestia said, taking note of her sister’s slight bounce and smile.

“Yes, I guess I am.”

“Well, may I ask why?” Celestia asked.

Luna contemplated the thought. “Something good happened in a dream I walked in.”

“Must have been something great; mind telling me?”

Luna got serious all of a sudden. “I can’t, not yet at least. You will have to wait till we both announce it.”

Celestia blinked, “We?”

“That is correct, sister. We prefer to come to you together.”

Celestia looked worried. “Who is this ‘we?’ You said it was a dream.”

“Someone I met so very long ago has contacted me again.”

“Sister, tell me please. Quit avoiding it,” Celestia said.

“If I do, you must not get angry and understand that an explanation will be given later tonight when we do come before you together. Can you promise not to overreact?”

“Very well, it's not Discord, right?”

Luna dropped her fork from her magic. “Do you really think I would walk in his chaotic dreams?”

“Fair point. Well, is this ‘we’ a stallion or mare?”

“The ‘we’ is a he, but no stallion. He is…” She thought of how to reveal what Lumi was without saying what he was. “He is not a pony,” she said, picking up her fork and continuing to eat her food.

“Well, I look forward to meeting this mystery... stallion?” Celestia said. “I take it I will see him tonight?”

“Yes, you will. I want to rest up first,” Luna replied, about done with her meal.

Celestia smiled. “Of course, but if he makes you this happy then I’m sure we will get along fine.”

“Yes, I certainly hope so,” Luna said, smiling. Luna finished her plate and went to leave. “Sister, this is going to be a weird question. But do you think I’m as soft as cloud?”

Celestia blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Oh it's just something he does that makes me really wonder. He started by telling me I’m as soft as a plushie.”
Celestia shook her head. “What were you two doing that this would come up?”

“Well, I suppose I could say he was cheering me up and…” She thought of how to explain him smushing her cheeks. “Uh, well, he kinda smushed my cheeks and said I was really soft…”

“I suppose you could be, but sister, this seems like something I don’t need to know,” Celestia said.

“Well, I could just ask him, but I doubt I would get a straight answer. In any case, sister, the chat was nice, as was breakfast. I am going to retire now; I will see you tonight.” She started walking out again then turned. “By the way, thank you for allowing me to sleep the other night. I was tired from the banquet the empire had.”

“Any time, sister. Good night.”

***

Luna walked into her room; her steps were heavy with sleep. She looked to Lumi in her bed and to the too- bright sun that filled the room. Reaching out with her magic, she drew the curtains. She went to the study and cracked the door; inside, she saw four sleeping forms. Gently, she closed the door. Taking off her regalia, she climbed under the covers and snuggled up to Luminous before drifting off to sleep.

As Luna entered their personal dining room, she smelled carrot soup and fresh bread. She thought it smart to leave Luminous outside the room until she greeted her sister. “Good evening, sister,” Luna said, noticing three plates on the table instead of just two.

“And to you as well.” Celestia’s eyes fell onto the scale around Luna’s neck. “So where is this mystery guest of yours?”

“He is waiting outside the room,” she said, a little hesitant.
“Well, have the poor… stallion... come in,” Celestia said.

Luna went back to the door and opened it. As she turned back around to introduce Luminous to her sister, she found her dumbstruck. “I..I was not expecting that.” Her eyes fell on the feathers. “Why does he have your feathers? What is going on?” Celestia asked.

Luna looked to Luminous. “Do you want to tell her, or should I?”

“Well, Your Highness, I may have started courting your sister,” he said.

Luna saw her sister’s mouth drop open. “Wow, I’m not sure what to say.” She paused. “I’m happy for you, too, but when did you two get together?”

“Well, before the empire sank, but that’s a long story. Now, do you want the bad news?” he asked.

“What is the bad news?” she eyed him suspiciously.

“Well for starters, my father is going to invade in spring, and I may be charged with high treason, oh and we have four other ponies who will be charged with it in Luna’s study.”

Celestia shook her head trying to figure out when he arrived. “Ok, that’s quite the news but I must ask when ever did you arrive? It can’t have been too long ago, luna only returned yesterday.

Luna jumped and turned beet red earning her sisters quizzical eye.

“Last night, Luna and I shared a bath, then shared her bed till I was well rested, oh and then we cleaned up and come here.” he said.

Luna punched him in the arm, “thats not how it went, please don’t take what he said the wrong way, he arrived last night I let him take a bath and he fell asleep in my bed, I dream walked and then slept on my own.”

“Why lie my dear nothing happened.” he replied.

Celestia looked back and forth between the two, “im not sure I should have been told all that, my sister is a grown mare and can do as she pleases… in that department.” she shook her head. “What's this about an invasion and why should I believe you?” she asked a sudden serious tone replacing her confused one.

“Why would I lie, my father wants the artifacts you call the Elements of Harmony, and no doubt to claim new land for the empire, oh and to bring my mother back.” he replied.

Celestia looked at luna who shook her head, “How do you know of the elements?”

“Oh Princess Twilight told him when she was having breakfast with my father, before he showed her the city.”

Celestia looked concerned for a moment, she took out a quil and a some parchment. She wrote something and then sent it off in her magic. “So, where do you fit in to all this?” her voice taking a dangerous tone.

He looked to Luna, before turning back to Celestia, “Simple I’m going to help you stop my father.”

“How can I trust you, just because you are courting my sister does not mean i’m going to outright trust you.”

“Wise, but seems you have two options, one is to throw me in chains or worse and lose to my father, or two allow me to help you and trust in my love and loyalty to Luna.” He smiled toward Luna.

Celestia pondered it a moment, “how would you help us if I decided to trust you and my sister in this matter.”

“I know how my father trained his armies, who leads what legions, the plans and tactics they use, but by all means disregard me, and what say you Luna?” he said.

Luna looked between them, addressing her sister, “While you may think I say this because of my relations to luminous I can assure you that what he says is true, he will be executed if he returns to his father. I love him.”

Celestia thought on how to properly word what she said next, “I trust you luna, but I need time to ponder this matter. As for the matter of your guards prince luminous, I can have rooms prepared for them. I take it your not going to need one?”

Luna blushed waiting for him to respond.

“That would be fitting as each of them gave up everything to follow me. As for the other part, I did find Luna’s room quite comfortable, I think I’ll stay there. as long as she doesn’t mind that is.”

Luna blushed but cleared her throat “I don’t mind him staying with me, thank you for considering this. It really means a lot to me to see you so accepting of my courting choice.”