Chapters The Filly of the Stars
Canterlot, the mountainside capital of Equestria ended it's August day with cool night with a warm gust. The main attraction of the city is its castle, home of the alicorn princesses, Celestia and Luna. Celestia has completed her day court and preparing for a long-awaited rest. As she trotted along the marble floors she finds her sister out on the balcony admiring her work.
When Luna was freed from her exile, the two sisters had their embrace and their cries, understandably the pair deeply missed each other. A few weeks after the Luna's return things became normal again, then awkward. The princess of the day will raise the sun and her sister vice-versa but they never truly seen eye-to-eye with each other in a while. Celestia has always wondered how this could have happened she even began speculating that... she ... might return, but she hates thinking of the possibility. Maybe now is the time, maybe I can reconnect with her again. . The ivory princess thought. Confidently she walks to her sister.
"Umm... Lulu," Celestia called. She loved calling her that. When they were fillies she'd call her "Lulu" and Luna would call her "Celly". She loved being a filly and she knew Luna loved it even more.
Luna turned her head and smiled. "Oh hello sister," the sapphire alicorn replied "So how was the day court?" she asked adding the conversation.
"It was very tiresome," she laughed with Luna adding an awkward giggle. "Everyone is always so uptight they don't know how to have fun... I wish you were there," she added.
"It would be nice to spend time together," Luna implied there was a pause and she hung her head with a frown. "But we're always too busy," the younger sister sighed. This broke Celestia's heart she too wanted to be with her own flesh and blood but their 'destinies' their parents like to call it, was keeping them far more apart. Celestia approached closer to Luna she reaches her hoof to her chin and lifts her head up.
"Lulu I will do my most for us to spend time together I promise," she pleaded with a desperate smile. Luna simply nodded smiled at her elder sister and walked to the edge of the balcony. "Well... it's getting rather late, are you going to bed soon?".
"Yes soon, sweet dreams sister," the princess of the night replied still gazing at the orb she was trapped in for a millennium. Celestia took a final glance and walked away.
Luna tilted her head left to right with no sign of ponies. She bent her knees, flapped her wings and jumped as high as she could and flew high in the night sky. She was flying, flying gracefully in fact, the alicorn hopped from one dark cloud to another. She loved this time she had, with everypony asleep she could do anything she wants in the night. Luna sometimes wished her sister was there with her, however Celestia wasn't as agile she used to be, she probably couldn't keep up with the princess of the night. There was also the fact that Luna never told Celestia about her "night treks". She might give a negative reaction towards this Luna was simply too afraid of her sister and she never figured out why.
"Help!" a voiced cried Luna snapped out of her daydreaming (or nightdreaming) looked down. "Hello! Anypony here please! I need help!" the voice exclaimed once more. Where is that voice coming from? Luna thought looking around confused.
"Please I'm lost! I can't find my mommy and daddy!" the voice bellowed finally. The Everfree Forest... It's coming from The Everfree Forest surely Luna fathomed then flew as fast as she could to the mysterious forest. From a few minutes of searching she found a small silver figure crying surrounded by trees. Luna gently glided down to the figure. Up close was a petrified filly with hooves covering her face sobbing her eyes out.
"Ch-child... do you need assistance," Luna asked with a helpful smile. The filly removed her hooves looked up at the princess. Frightened of Luna's intimidating presence she shrieks and hides behind a tree. "Young filly you have no reason to fear me I'm a friend, please come forth from that tree," Luna pleaded. Slowly a small pearl coated unicorn with a dark mane and tail with one blank white stripe on her mane but not on her tail. It wasn't the white stripe that gave caught Luna's attention was her eyes they were the same color as the princess of the night the sort-of dark cyan very similar to Luna's.
"You...you're a friend?," the young filly asked with a sniffle wiping a bit of snot from her nose.
"Yes of course I am," Luna replied with a smile. "What is your name?" Luna implored kneeling down to the filly's level.
"My name is Selene,"
"Beautiful name, how old are you?" Luna trying to make Selene keep calm about her situation.
"I'm seven," Selene answered. "Wh...what's your name?" she asked.
"My name is Luna,"
"Wait you mean as in Princess Luna?" she asked with mouth agape in wonder.
"You have heard of me?" Luna said feeling a bit proud of herself. Not many fillies know about her.
"Two years ago my parents and I were in Ponyville that day you were there," she explained "You look cooler now your mane looks like the stars of the night," she added. Luna blushed but remembered the task at hand.
"Did you say that you can't find your mother and father?" Luna inquired. The poor filly just nodded with a sad look on her face she couldn't say a word or else she would burst to tears. "Well I have an idea, how about you and I go look for them are you okay with that," Luna added. The filly gave her smile and a nod. "Poor thing you must have been walking for hours, here stand still," Luna exclaimed and she uses her levitation magic to carry the filly and place her gingerly on her back. "So which direction shall we venture?" Luna inquired. Selene raised a hoof north of the Everfree Forest the alicorn gave a nod and headed for Selene's direction.
After a quarter an hour of chatting, searching and direction pointing Luna began wondering if the were trotting in circles.
"Selene, dear are you sure you know the right way,"
"Um... well everything was clearer when the sun was out," Selene takes a look around and her lip starts to quiver. "Oh I don't remember any of this at all, we'll never find my parents!" tears began to slowly stream down her cheeks. Luna turned her head to the crying filly and dried her tears with her hoof.
" Hush hush now now don't worry everything will be fine we will find your parents I promise but I need you to stay strong and help me okay," she pleaded.
"Okay Princess, I'll be strong."
"Wonderful and by the way just call me Luna, now I have another idea, now I need you two wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight," the princess explained. Selene followed the alicorn's instructions.
"Okay Luna but whaaaaaaAAA " Luna jumped in the air a flew as high as the tallest trees in the forest. She stops her ascent looks at Selene.
"Are you alright?"
"That was AWESOME! let's do that again!" Selene shouted. Luna gave out a giggle.
"Well first things first I'm just going to glide over the forest while you look over and tell me if you see anything got it?" she instructed.
"Got it!" she replied. It truly was a beautiful night Selene couldn't resist looking at the stars that were so close to her, at one stage she even attempted to reach for one almost stumbling.
"What's wrong, are you okay? Luna asked.
"Sorry Luna the night is so pretty, I...I tried to grab a star, I know it's stupid and I should be looking out, I'm sorry Princess," Selene explained. Luna should be mad at Selene not following the plan but no one has called her night 'pretty' and meant it. When she came back everyone saw their faults and complimented her on her night, so she won't resort to...her . Then seeing a filly trying to reach for a star, for her star, warmed her heart. The princess kept reminding herself that there is a task at hand.
"Firstly, no need to call me 'Princess', like I said before you may call me Luna understand?" the filly gave a small nod to Luna. "Secondly, Selene it's not stupid to reach for a star, they may look close but they are very, very far away, now I forgive you but you must keep your eyes on the forest you will have plenty of time looking at the stars alright?" Luna asked.
"Okay, and Luna," the princess rotated her head. "Thanks for not yelling at me."
"You're welcome Selene, I can never yell at you," Luna replied whisking through the skies. After minutes of searching Selene finally spotted a picnic blanket that her and her family were using.
"Luna there the blanket!" she exclaimed pointing to the site. Luna slowly descended to the location. All that was there was a ripped picnic blanket ,a fallen picnic basket ,three half-eaten sandwiches and a small teddy pony with an eye fallen off. As Selene saw the toy she hopped off Luna's back and galloped to her toy.
"Woony what happened to your eye?" Selene asked the toy trying to shove the eye back into the socket. It was something Luna never saw before light-blue mane, cyan eyes bright purple coat and the toy had wings and a horn.
That toy...that toy looks like me...and she calls it "Woony" this is a bit strange It was a bit strange Luna never knew there was a toy in her design, even Celestia never had toys made after her. Luna strolled next to her with her horn glowing. She picks up the toy and reattached the eye back to the socket and gave it back to Selene's hooves which brought a very wide smile on her face.
"You fixed Woony! thank you Luna!" she cheered.
"Selene may I ask where did you get...um Woony?" Luna curiously asked.
"Oh my mommy made her for me," she answered holding it up to Luna. "She is my favorite toy ever," she added squeezing the woolen toy. Luna beamed at the filly reunited with her toy but on the back on her mind she worried if Selene won't be reunited with her parents.
"Well your mother did a very good job of her, now do you remember how you lost your parents?" Luna asked in a soothing motherly tone. Selene had her eyes shut and tugged on "Woony" tightly.
"Daddy said that we were going on a picnic, I was really excited for it. We went on the train to Ponyville and we went to the forest and found a nice patch for a picnic. Mommy made her delicious sandwiches and we were laughing and hav... we were having fun," Selene brought "Woony" to her face as she bawled her eyes out. The princess hated seeing this, she completely understood why Selene was upset but she had to know where her parents are and soon.
"Selene I know this is difficult now try to remember what happened next?" the alicorn pleaded.
"I was playing with Woony and then they started... they started screaming. They told me to run so I dropped Woony and ran..ran... Ran!" Selene collapsed on the floor crying, obviously regretting her decision to run away from her parents in distress.
"Shh... shh you did the right thing you did what your parents told you to do, now please why were they screaming Selene?" she pleaded. Selene wiped her tears, took a deep breath and looked up at Luna.
"Something was grabbing them, all I saw was Daddy and Mommy being pulled from the back of... from the back of the hedge over there," she explained extending her hoof. "It was all too scary please I don't want to talk about it anymore please, please plea-," Luna silences the distraught filly covering Selene's lips with her hoof.
"Okay you don't have to say another word about this... incident. Now I need you to stay here with Woony, don't move and don't touch anything understand," Luna added presenting Selene with her "Woony". She nodded in agreement and embraced her teddy pony.
"all i saw was Daddy and Mommy being pulled from the back of the hedge over there," Luna trotted to the thorn covered hedge and glanced over,.all was darkness in the Everfree forest. The alicorn illuminated the area with her horn to find any clue on Selene's parents. She found a clue, a kind of clue she hoped she wouldn't find blood Luna's spine shivered it didn't stop there there was a trail, she had to investigate further.
"Selene I will be back in one second stay there, if you see anything just call me got it?"
"Mmm...hmm," answered Selene still hugging her toy.
Luna leaped over the hedge and followed the blood trail she found. The longer she trotted the wider bloodstain was on the ground. On a number of occasions Luna would turn her head to check if Selene was alright. She lifted her head and found another unpleasant clue. A hoof it was almost the same sliver color as Selene but darker and it was cut with the blood cold and dry stuck out of a bush.The alicorn glowed her horn and the bush glowed in the same color as her horn. Luna took a deep breath preparing what was under that bush. The bush levitated with a sheaf of leaves dropping on the grass and moves it away from... them .
The princess of the night let out a heavy sigh of defeat, laid there two grown unicorns one dark silver navy mane and tail colt, with a star in a compass for a cutie mark (definitely the one with the cut hoof she saw earlier). Alongside the dead colt a burgundy mare with a pitch black mane and tail, with a heart for a cutie mark. Both were cut, bloodied and dead and from the looks of it they were like that for a long time. Poor Selene, no filly deserves this. the alicorn thought bowing her head letting down a tear and in her mind apologizing to Selene and her parents.
I'm so sorry Selene,
I promise I will make you smile again,
I promise I will be your shoulder to cry on,
I promise I will make this right,
I promise.
End of Chapter One.
The Filly of the Stars
"Did you find my parents?" Selene asked in her puppy dog cyan eyes. What was Luna supposed to say at this point every time she sees this filly distraught a little part of herself dies. Luna knows telling her straight was the right thing to do but for this little pony she can't bring her to tears.
"No... but I do know where they are," Luna lied, "Selene it is very late do you have any relatives who live near here?" she added.
"Well I have an aunt living in Trottingham but that's really far," Trottingham was very far from the forest the winged unicorn couldn't fly there without being exhausted and if she was to make it there it would be ten o'clock in the morning. Trottingham simply couldn't do, there was another option, Canterlot. What will Celestia think? is there a place for her to sleep? how long will she be staying? Many questions popped into Luna's mind she already made one mistake not telling Selene about her parents, she might as well make another one.
"Selene, are you sure you don't have any other places to stay for the night?" the alicorn asked. The young unicorn stared at the ground and nodded her head horizontally. "Right then, for tonight you shall stay in the castle." The filly looked up and beamed in delight at the princess of the night.
"Really? I get to stay in the castle, with you!" she cheered hopping up and down around Luna like Twilight Sparkle when she was a filly.
"Well you know the drill," Luna said. Selene hopped on the alicorn's back and wrapped her arms around Luna's neck.
"Oh... oh wait don't start yet!" Selene hopped off the princess' back, clamped Woony with her mouth and returned to her original position. "Okay now I'm ready," she said. The alicorn had a short giggle then she took off to the skies.
It was a good ten minute flight to the castle in Canterlot. The winged unicorn elegantly descended on to the same balcony she took flight for her 'night treks'. Luna opened the doors which leads her to the highest floor of the castle, where the two princesses slumbered. Luna stopped and checked at the large grandfather clock near her sister's room. Half past twelve Luna thought a time were no ponies should be awake. The sapphire pony spotted two of her "royal night guards".
"Selene can you wait here for a second?" Luna whispered. Selene yawned and hopped off Luna and sat beside the clock. "I just need to talk to my guards, stay here," the princess trotted to the left hallway, to her guards. Selene looked at the front hallway and saw a sign overhead two jewel-encrusted doors,
Bedchamber of Princess Celestia, Co-ruler of Equestria
Selene looked to the left and only saw Luna pointing at a map whispering to her guards. The mischievous filly tip-hoofed to the two door bedroom, guarded by two sleeping guards.
"Then you must return them to the Canterlot Mortuary as soon as possible understand?"
"Yes Princess but may I ask how this happened," one of the guards asked.
"The young filly didn't get a look of the assailant I'm afraid, now is that all?" Luna asked, the two guards exchanged looks and shook their heads. "Good, be on your way then," and with that, the two guards headed for the balcony for their search. Luna walked back to where she last saw Selene. Much to her horror all was there was her teddy pony leaning alongside the grandfather clock. No no no where is she how can I lose her I only left her for one minute where is she? the paranoid princess thought but suddenly she heard voices from... her sister's bedroom?
Luna slowly trotted to her Celestia's bedroom finding two incompetent guards "resting their eyes" and one of the doors opened very slightly. She peeked one of her cyan eyes through the doors finding, Selene and Celestia on her bed talking and giggling. Luna opened the door extended the door with her hoof peeking her head out.
"Oh... good evening Luna, I see you made a new friend," As soon as Celestia uttered Luna's name the filly hid under the princess' bed in fear.
"Selene come out of there," Luna demanded. Selene crawled from under the bed with her head hanging.
"Luna no its fine I couldn't sleep anyways and you're friend Selene here was feeling bored."
"Sister I'm terribly sorry I only left her for two minutes so that I could talk to some guards and when I came back she was gone,"
"I'm... I'm sorry Luna I thought you would be talking to those guards for a while and I noticed Princess Celestia's room and I had to meet her," she squeaked. Luna gave herself a facehoof.
"Look I gave you a simple instruction and you disobeyed it and not only that you disturbed my sister as well."
"But I didn't disturb her she was just reading a book and looked sad so I went in and cheered her up," Selene explained. Concerned Luna turned to her sister.
"Sister why were you sad?" Luna asked confused.
"Oh... it was nothing really I was just reading a sad story, a tear-jerker you know...but this little filly came here and couldn't stop talking about you, it's quite cute seeing you have a little fan," Celestia explained. Being called a "little fan" made both Luna and Selene blush crimson.
"Well nevertheless, Selene you shouldn't be wandering off in the castle without supervision or especially without..." Luna glows her horn and from the door hovering was Selene's teddy pony glowing in the same color as Luna's horn. "...Woony," she added handing the stuffed pony to the filly.
"Woony?" Celestia giggled.
"Yeah my mommy made her for me,"
"Sorry but may I take a look," the princess asked.
"Oh sure Princess here you go," Selene replied placing the toy on her bed. Celestia like Luna lifted "Woony" with her magic and examined her.
"Selene this... I mean she looks an awful lot like Luna,"
"Well yeah... a couple of days after my family and I saw Luna in Ponyville Mommy made Woony so that she looks like Luna, she really liked Luna for some reason and so did my Daddy they really like the night that you make Luna," she explained.
"What a delightful story isn't it Lulu... Lulu?" the princess of the night was crying, leaning against the wall. Celestia was worried, she knew her sister like a poem these weren't tears of joy, these were tears of pain.
"Lu...Luna why are you crying?" asked the saddened filly.
"It's just... um...I've never heard of anypony who would put so much effort just for me... what I'm trying say Selene when...we find your parents I wish to thank them because I'm so happy," she said trying add a smile but just collapses into tears once more. Celestia definitely knew something was wrong, she wasn't telling her and Selene something she doesn't want them to find out.
"Luna please don't cry when there's no reason to," Selene pleaded walking up to her giving her a hug. Luna stopped her tears and hugged the filly back. Celestia enjoyed this moment she let the two have their embrace before leaving her bed trotting to the pair.
"Yes Luna, Selene is right, you know I say we all need a goodnight's sleep, here Selene I'll show you your room for the night," Celestia said walking out her bedroom doors with her sister and the young filly following her.
After twists and turns around the castle floor she found the nearest guestroom to Luna's bedchamber. With her horn she opened the mahogany door to Selene's room.
"Here we are, little one," Celestia said.
"Wow it's really big, it's twice the size as my own bedroom," she wasn't exaggerating the room was twice the size as her own bedroom, however Selene didn't have a normal size bedroom, it was as the same height as Celestia from hoof to the tip of her horn with wooden flooring, a single bed, one small window and a cupboard for her clothes and toys. Although this was twice everything height, width, two windows, two cupboards a soft carpet and on top a queen-sized bed.
"Now if you need help Luna's room is three doors to the right of here, you can't miss it," the older alicorn added.
"Thank you Princess Celestia and thank you Pr..."
"Ah...ah...ah," Luna breathed waving her hoof.
"I mean... thank you Luna," Selene thanked nuzzling the princess' leg.
"Sweet dreams Selene,"
"Come on Woony," the silver pony said carrying Woony to her guestroom as Celestia closed the door.
Celestia stared at her sister who was smiling and still looking at the door of the room her new friend is sleeping tonight. Luna noticed her sister's magenta eyes locked on her.
"Are you alright Celestia?" the concerned alicorn asked.
"Lulu I've known you for all your life, now tell me what happened tonight," Celestia asked. Luna drooped her head letting out a sigh.
"Let's not talk here, let's go to my room," the alicorn replied. The two sisters trotted to Luna's room. Luna opened the doors this time and the two hopped on Luna's bed.
"Lulu what's wrong, what is going on?" the sun goddess asked. It took Luna almost ten minutes to tell the events that occurred that night. Throughout her storytelling Celestia had many emotions, pride for her sister to help Selene, horror from hearing that the filly's parents were killed and disappointment for not telling Selene the truth. Nevertheless when Luna finished her tale, the milky alicorn was in tears.
"And you know the rest, she had no place to go so I brought her here," Luna explained.
"My what a tragic night, 'tis always depressing for children when their parents... pass on, so she doesn't know yet,"
"Oh sister I couldn't bring myself to do it, I mean as if her day couldn't have gone worse, I couldn't tell her two people she dearly loved are taken from her," the princess lets out a sigh. "Sister what am I supposed to do?" she asked.
"You let her rest, she has dealt with enough drama for the night and then you must tell her tomorrow," she replied.
"I must... but why?"
"Tonight, you made an important decision to be her best friend and her guardian and now you must take its responsibility, this isn't a punishment for your actions this is a distasteful pleasure, do you understand," Celestia asked.
"Yes sister I do understand I will tell her tomorrow, I suppose these things happen for a reason," Luna gloomily added. "Well you should get some rest sister, I know I need mine," she added. Celestia nodded and trotted to her door.
"Lulu one more thing,"
"Yes sister,"
"Even though this isn't a pleasant conversation, I still enjoyed our talk,"
"Me too...Celly,"
"Goodnight Lulu," Celestia added leaving her bedroom. On that night Celestia slept like a log.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Selene run now!"
"But... but,"
"There's no time Selene! we'll be fine! you need to get out of here now aaaahhhhhh!"
"Mommy no!"
Selene dropped her toy and galloped away from the horror. As she ran a shadow was chasing her laughing in a sly tone. She dared to turn her head as she ran and all was darkness the trees, grass and the night sky vanished in a dark void. Selene faced forward once more but it was the same result a dark, scary void. She once again heard the screams and groans of her parents.
"Mommy... Daddy?"
"They can't help you now," said the same bitter voice from earlier. The petrified filly turned her head, the shadow with two large snake eyes with razor sharp teeth pounced at the filly.
"Aaaahhhhhh!," the filly screamed waking herself up. Panting and sweating on her bed the filly searched for her teddy pony. "Woony?... Woony where are you? " Selene hopped off her bed looking for her toy, eventually finding it on the floor. "Oh sorry Woony are you alright? I had a bad dream," she told the toy. "You're scared too, ooh I know what we'll do we can do we can ask Luna for help," with that Selene clamped her toy and headed for the princess of the night's bedroom.
The little filly peeped her head out her door and saw two guards in front of Luna's room. One of the guards spotted Selene the frightened filly sneaked back into her room.
"Wait," one of the guards whispered. Selene heard the two guards trotting to her door and gingerly re-opened her door. The two night guards walked up to the little filly.
"Are you Princess Luna's little friend," the guard on the left asked.
"Um...ye...yes," Selene replied in a scared tone with her eyes staring at the floor.
"What's wrong are you scared of us or something?" the guard on the right added. Well the two of them had dark coats, with scaly bat wings and had the intimidating pupils of a lion so the two were pretty scary.
"Don't worry we're here to help let us introduce ourselves I'm Night Vision and this is Dark Valor," Night Vision said.
"Is it our uniforms that you're afraid of?" asked Dark Valor.
"Uniform?" Selene replied.
"These eyes, they're only contacts and the bat-wings is only a costume," Dark Valor whispered pointing to his eye and wings.
"Oh... well I guess you aren't that scary then," Selene said.
"Little filly just because things look scary doesn't mean they're going to hurt you, sometimes they will but you shouldn't be scared of everything," Night Vision added.
"Well I guess that makes sense," Selene responded.
"Anyway do you need something?" Dark Valor asked with a smile.
"I... had a bad dream and I was wondering if Luna could help," she replied.
"Okay I just need to ask her first," said Valor. The three trotted a short distance reaching Luna's bedroom and Dark Valor clears his throat opening door. "Excuse me you highness your little friend wishes to see you."
"Oh...yes you may let her in," said the snoozy alicorn. Lighting two lanterns with her horn slightly brightening the room. Selene walked in with "Woony" in her mouth she spits her out and turns to the two guards.
"Um... thank you Mr. Vision and Mr. Valor," Selene thanked the two bat-guards. The two of them smiled and nodded at the little filly closing the door.
"Making new friends are we?" the princess asked in a jokingly tone.
"Yeah they're really nice,"
"Well they're more competent than Celestia's guards, she laughed. "So Selene are you alright?"
"Well not really I had a bad dream,"
"A nightmare?"
"Yeah... a bad one,"
"Well from what happened to you today I would predict as such, would you like to talk about it?" she proposed.
"Not really when I have bad dreams... I would sleep in my Mommy and Daddy's bed and... can I sleep with you tonight please?" Selene pleaded.
"Well of course you can Selene," Luna answered. As Selene and her "Woony" crawled under the sheets Luna thought of when she was little and had nightmares she would ask to sleep with her sister and she always lets her. "Would you like me to turn off the lights?" Luna asked.
"Um... it's a little too bright keep one on please," Selene responded. Luna nodded and turned of one of the two lanterns scarcely darkening the room.
"Better?"
"Much better, goodnight Luna,"
"Sweet dreams Selene," the winged unicorn replied. As the two shut their eyes drifting off to sleep.
Unfortunately Selene didn't get sweet dreams her bad dreams came back haunting her fragile soul and it didn't take Luna long to notice. "Oh dear she's having another one what did Celly do at this situation?" Luna thought. An idea popped into her head and very slowly she drifted her head on top of the scared filly and whispered into her ear.
"Now don't be blanched little filly,
"Don't be shy, they guide us,
"Now don't shed a tear the night is ours,
Luna gazed at the filly she wasn't breathing as fast as she was, she was nice and cool and more important she was smiling. She sang her nightmare away Luna couldn't help but smile. However the smile turned into a frown and a tear cascading the sapphire cheek when she remembered.
"Tomorrow I tell this sweet filly, that her parents are dead."
End of Chapter Two.
The Filly of the Stars
Luna woke up at the sight of a bright Saturday morning from her window. She turned over to her right finding an adorable filly sleeping lithely with her stuffed toy pressed onto her cheek. The alicorn gingerly trying not to disturb the dreaming pony shuffles out of her bed sheets. The princess trotted out her room to the bathroom across her way. The sapphire alicorn stared into her mirror, levitated her hairbrush and combed her starry hair. As she combed she hummed the melody of the song she sang to Selene last night.
"What is that song called?" the princess of the night thought stopping her rhythmic combing and wondered.
"Aaaahhhhhh!" cried a voice from Luna's bedroom." the alicorn dropped her comb and rushed into her bedchamber. She blasted the doors finding Selene sitting on a stool staring at her reflection on the mirror on Luna's bureau, disoriented.
"Selene what's wrong?" Luna pleaded.
"My...my mane wha...what happened to my mane!" Selene replied. Luna looked at her mane then her tail. She remembered her odd pattern, both the tail and the mane are ebony but her mane had one narrow stripe of white on her mane but not on her tail. Usually the two would be color oriented but Selene had an unusual pattern when Luna met her.
"What do you mean, wasn't it like that before?" Luna asked.
"No my mane was always black and all of the sudden this white streak came out of nowhere," she explained still staring at her mirror.
"Oh dear... well maybe my sister knows what's wrong," Luna replied.
"Can you fix it?" Selene asked.
"Well I can't perform a counter spell if I don't know what to counter, come on I'm starving and I know you are too, Celestia's probably having breakfast at the royal dining hall," Luna added. Selene hopped off her stool following Luna to the dining hall.
The two were trotting down the carpeted spiral staircase to the ground floor. Luna turned to her friend finding her doleful as they spiral down the stairs.
I promise I will make you smile again
"You know, I like the look," Luna smiled. Selene shot her head up in wonder at the princess.
"You... you do,"
"Why yes it makes you eccentric like me, also it doesn't matter on the outside..."
"It's always about the inside, yeah my Mom gave me that speech, but if you like it... then it must be nice because you have such a pretty mane," Selene interrupted. Luna blushed at the filly as the two reached the end of the stairs.
"Well it doesn't matter what I think," Luna pointed at a large mirror. "Take another look," she added. Selene trotted and looked at the mirror. She tilted her head making many poses and playing with her mane with Luna quietly snickering.
"Well I guess it is kinda cool, but I still want to know why its like this," the filly replied looking at Luna.
"Well let's go to the dining hall and ask my sister," she replied as her stomach made a blatant growl. "Whoa I'm starving let's get some breakfast," Luna added trotting to the to the dining hall with Selene hopping behind her obviously satisfied with her new look.
The two entered the large hall where a very long table stood in the middle on the walls were beautifully decorated stained glass windows with pictures of Starswirl the Bearded and one of Celestia and Luna and one window displayed the story on how the earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns all united to find Equestria. Sat alone enjoying a mouth-watering omelette was Princess Celestia. As the alicorn noticed the pair trotting up to her she wiped the crumbs off her lips with her handkerchief and turned to the pair.
"Good morning Luna and Selene I presume you two had a restful slumber," the sun goddess asked.
"Well you could say that," replied the shy filly.
"Whatever do you mean, did something happen last night?" Celestia asked worried.
"Unfortunately little Selene here had a nightmare, so I let her sleep with me," Luna responded.
"How nice of you Luna it reminds me of you when you get a bad dream and you knocked on my door," the alicorn added. Selene giggled a little of Luna's embarrassment. "I suppose you two aren't here only for chit-chat what would you like to eat?" the benevolent princess asked.
"The usual Celly, a grilled cheese sandwich mhmmm," the princess hummed. "And you Selene?" Luna inquired.
"Umm do you have some 'Wonder-flakes'?" asked Selene. 'Wonder-flakes was a popular breakfast cereal merchandised by the popular Wonderbolts. It contained sugary flakes in the shape of pegasi in Wonderbolt uniform
The two princesses exchanged looks and Celestia turned to Selene with a smile. "I'll ask the servant," replied the Celestia waving her hoof at one of the servants. "Excuse me Miss Lime?" the princess asked. A green mared maid cantered slowly to the royal alicorn shyly.
"How may I help you your highness," Miss Lime asked.
"May I have a grilled cheese sandwich and do you have any 'Wonder-flakes'?" Luna added. The unicorn maid looked confused when Luna mentioned the cereal's name. She tilted her head spotting Selene looking very shy on front of the earth pony.
Miss Lime smiled and turned to Luna. "'Wonder-flakes' umm... I'll check in the kitchen," she added. Leaving the dining hall. Celestia continued feasting on her breakfast until Selene asked. "Princess Celestia may I ask you something?" Luna smiled at the filly for her politeness, the alicorn was never well mannered when she was a filly and she was a royal princess.
Celestia stopped her chewing, swallowed her food and replied. "Why yes Selene what is it?"
"Well I only found out until this morning but there is a white streak and that was never there before," Selene described. Celestia leaned in at the filly's mane examining the whiteness.
"Oh I see what the matter here is," she examined.
"Is everything alright sister is this normal," asked the concerned younger sister.
"Well this isn't normal I'm afraid this-"
"Good news we have Wonder-flakes!" interrupted Miss Lime leaving the kitchen with a bowl of cereal and a plate with grilled cheese sandwiches hovering over the unicorn trotting to the table placing in front of the princess and Selene.
"Thank you very much Miss Lime, what do you say Selene?" Luna asked stretching her head at the filly.
"Oh...sorry thank you Miss Lime," thanked the adorable filly.
"Oops I forgot one thing," the maid blurted galloping in the kitchen. Returning shortly with something hovering behind her head. "This fell out of the box," Miss Lime added holding up a Spitfire toy to Selene's face. In some boxes they contain small collectibles of either Spitfire, Soarin' and Fleetfoot.
"Oh my gosh Spitfire finally she was my last one!" Selene cheered grasping the toy. "Thank you so so much Miss Lime," the thanked once more.
"Oh it was my pleasure ladies, and please call me Lemon Lime Miss Lime was my mother's name," she giggled "Well I won't interfere any longer enjoy your meals," Lemon Lime added once again leaving the dining hall to tend to her duties.
"Sister what were you saying about Selene's mane," Luna pleaded stroking the filly's mane.
"Oh yes you see things like these do not come naturally usually these things only happens when someone gets a terrible fright not a regular hopping out of a door trying to scare someone... Luna," Celestia looked at Luna. The alicorn blushed remembering when they were fillies and they always try scare one another. "Something must have traumatized the poor girl you mentioned you only discovered the white streak this morning?" Celestia asked.
Selene finished chewing her cereal and looked at the alicorn. "Yes so I guess this happened last night?" she wondered.
"Did you get a fright last night?" the princess asked. Placing her hoof on the filly's shoulder.
"Well I was scared when I lost my parents that could that be the fright?" Selene asked looking up at Celestia.
"Hmm... probably, do you not like it, do you wish for me to remove it?" asked the sun goddess. Selene hesitated and turned to Luna enjoying the final bits of her sandwich.
She turns back to Celestia with a smile. "Well actually I like it," she answered. Luna stopped eating and turned to the conversation. "It makes me look... eccentric," Selene added with Luna smiling behind her.
"Very well then," the alicorn replied hopping off her chair. "Well I had a delicious breakfast but I must return to my duties, I'll see you girls later," added Celestia leaving the dining hall.
Celestia left the two ponies alone to finish their breakfast. Luna eventually breaks the silence. "So Selene what do you wish to do today?" the princess asked.
The filly was still playing with her new Spitfire toy and looked up at Luna. "Well what do you do for fun around here?" she replied. Luna thought for a while this castle wasn't designed for little fillies to run around and have fun. The ancient castle of the royal pony sisters now abandoned in ruins and rubble in the Everfree Forest had a room just for Celestia and Luna for playing, learning and as Selene describes having fun.
Since Luna's return she was grown up and couldn't afford time for fun remastering her magic on lifting the moon. There probably wasn't anything fun to do in the castle but there has to be something to keep Selene occupied before she tells her about her parents. "Well I usually stay in my room and read," Luna answered trying to pull a smile but failing awkwardly.
"I love reading!" cheered the filly. Luna was very surprised at this attitude even she knew fillies aren't that interested in books.
"Oh delightful follow me and I'll take you to the Royal library and we could pick out some books sound fun?" Luna asked rhetorically. Trotting out the doors Celestia went through a while ago.
The library wasn't too far away from the dining hall only a three minute trot before reaching the library. The room was filled of many books novels, encyclopedias, spell-books you name it every published document ever made for the last thousand years are kept here. They keep the most influential and most popular books in the room on display while the less important ones would be kept in a store room which was probably four times the size of the original library itself.
Luna and Selene walked up to the librarian's desk where a brown coated pony wearing glasses was reading a book. "Good afternoon you highness," the librarian whispered she notices the dainty filly by her side. "May I ask who your little friend is?" she asked.
"Missus Hooves this is Selene she'd like a book to read," the alicorn replied.
"How lovely what kind of book would you like dear?" the kind pegasus asked.
"Do you have any books with fairy tales like 'Canterella' or 'The Mare and the Beast'?" Selene asked.
"Oh I have just the thing," Missus Hooves said. She gallops across the shelves of books to find the right section, the pegasus flew up scanned through the shelf before finding the right one. She grabbed a hardcover book and flew back to her desk. "This is a personal favorite of mine 'Equestrian Tales of Myths and Fables' it has the stories you mentioned and hundreds more I'm sure you will enjoy it," added the librarian.
"Thank you Ms. Hooves and may I have my personal book for my lunar spells," asked the sapphire princess.
"Of course your highness you two sit over there and I will bring your book over your highness," Missus Hooves responded trotting to the door of the "Special Archives" where the most prized books were kept. As told Luna and Selene walked to a small desk and upon arrival Selene began reading her stories. Missus Hooves returned giving Luna her spell-book and she too began reading or studying for a special night the princess of the night is planning.
The two bookworms were reading for a good half hour in silence (it was a library after all) until Selene broke the silence. "Luna what does this word say?" whispered the puzzled filly pointing the text on the page.
"It says...bitterness...in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness...Nightmare Moon," Luna eyes narrowed in fear with mouth agape. She thought over time she was forgotten but she never knew she was a myth. "Selene sweetie what story is this called?" asked the stunned alicorn.
"This one's called 'The Mare in the Moon' its kind of a sad one though," she added.
"Quite sad I have heard of it before," Luna lied in a sigh. "I feel pity for both sisters," Luna grudgingly added.
"For both? But what about the sister that sent her sister to the moon why do you feel sad for her?" Selene curiously asked.
"The elder sister truly loved her sister but she saw the evil in her heart, she knew it was her fault and she didn't have a choice, she now lives in regret and depression thinking what could have been for eternity, what I'm trying to say is she did it out of love and compassion," Luna let out a sigh. Basically she was repeating what her sister told her after her return two years ago. Those words Celestia told her remained in her memories and she knows it always will. "It's a nice story but maybe you should read the next one," Luna said smiling. Selene lifted the corner of the page over with her hoof.
"Ow!" Selene yelped.
"Are you alright?" the worried alicorn asked.
"I got a frickin' paper-cut!" exclaimed the filly pressing her lips on the wound to stop the blood flow.
"Oh dear, Timid do you have any bandages?" Luna pleaded to the librarian. Timid Hooves stopped reading her book and searched for the drawer where the bandages where located.
Once obtained the pegasus flew over to the injured Selene with her bandages. Timid gently placed the bandage on Selene's wound. "Oh dastardly paper-cuts those are very unpleasant," she said pressing it softly on the cut. "There now isn't that better?" Timid asked.
"Yes it isn't that sore anymore thanks Mrs. Hooves," Selene replied rubbing her new bandage. Timid nodded at Selene and trotted back to her desk resuming her reading.
"Say Selene have you ever attempted magic?" asked the curious princess.
"Magic? No I never tried it," replied the grey filly.
"Well for one thing it prevents paper-cuts," Luna said showing off her levitation flicking the pages of her spell-book boastfully with Selene laughing silently at her cockiness. Luna uses her magic to hover the spell-book 'Magic for Beginning Fillies' over between the two. With her magic once again she flicks through the pages for levitation. "Let's see alteration chapter eleven article eleven telekinesis take a read of that," the princess added.
The young filly studied the guide for a while before gaining the confidence to attempt the feat. "Okay Luna I'm gonna try it!" Selene said with enthusiasm. The gray filly shut her cyan blue eyes attempting to turn a page of that book. Sparks flickered out of her horn letting out hard grunts of concentration. Selene slightly opened her eye to see if it was working. The page was glowing in a blur color and was hovering an inch over the page under it. Selene exhaled loudly cancelling her efforts.
"I did it!" Selene cheered. The smile suddenly altered to a confused frown. The page was still lifted with the same glow surrounding it. Selene looked at Luna trying not to smile with her horn still glowing in the same color as the page was. Selene realizing what was happening began to laugh with Luna who couldn't contain hers.
"Sorry Selene you were trying real hard but even Clover the Clever had to study before she could try magic," Luna laughed. The princess of the night turned to the clock reading quarter to six. "Selene would you like to watch me raise the moon?" asked Luna.
The filly silenced her laughing and looked at Luna. "Would I!" cheered the young pony hopping on the princess' back.
"Thank you for your services Timid," Luna thanked passing Timid's desk.
"You two are very welcome feel free to stop by anytime," Timid Hooves replied smiling eyes closed. The two nodded at the pegasus and left the royal library.
Luna and Selene went to the nearest balcony of the castle. The princess of the night was able to lift the moon and stars anywhere as long as she can witness her lunar orb rising over the horizon. The alicorn halted on the balcony signalling the filly on her back to hop off.
"Stand back," Luna instructed with Selene following her order. Looking a little nervous. "Don't worry it's only a precaution just look at the sky." the alicorn added pointing her hoof up in the air. Luna widened her front and back hooves giving herself a solid stance for the task ahead of her. Eyes shut with her horn glowing the sun was setting in a soothing bright maroon sky. The princess was letting out grunts of exhaustion and determination with bigger sparks spraying out the tip of her horn.
The sky completely darkened bright beautiful stars birthed brightening the dark sky. Selene looked at the magic-wielding alicorn opening her eyes that lost its cyan iris and replaced by a magical achromatic glow. Selene couldn't keep looking at Luna as she sees the peak moon looming over the horizon. Luna began flapping her wings slightly airborne still raising her moon with a filly under her with a look of disbelief.
Eventually the moon reached it's final position sitting atop the horizon further illuminating the shadowy night. Luna gracefully landing on the marble floor. Her glowing eyes dimmed to her normal look. The princess searched for her young companion who was leaning over the balcony admiring what she had just witnessed. Luna stared at the filly remembering the day they had together connecting in so many forms she wishes she could do it again.
"Mmm hmm... your highness,"
Luna turned to find her faithful guards, Dark Valor standing by the doors of the balcony. "Major Valor, a problem?" Luna asked.
"Well Shadow Tail and Poison Thorn completed your mission last night," the major added.
"Oh...I see, so they're in the morgue?" asked Luna
"As the mission foretold," Valor replied
"Okay thank you you're dismissed," the princess grudgingly said hanging her head. She looked up and at the end of the hall was her sister staring at her with a frown.
You let her rest, she has dealt with enough drama for the night and then you must tell her tomorrow,
I must... but why?
Tonight, you made an important decision to be her best friend and her guardian and now you must take its responsibility, this isn't a punishment for your actions this is a distasteful pleasure, do you understand,
Luna looked at her sister and nodded signalling she knows what must be done. She turns to find Selene still stargazing. The princess sat next to the filly amazed by her night.
"Did you enjoy it?" Luna asked.
"It was a little scary but it was still pretty cool," Selene added.
"Apologies it's just how I do it," Luna replied as the two returned to staring a the sky. "Selene there's something I need to tell you," she sighed.
"What is it Luna?" Selene asked looking up at Luna with the biggest eyes the alicorn's ever see.
"We..we found your parents,"
"Really! Where are they Luna?" The princess didn't respond. "Luna?"
"They're... Selene... your..." Luna was rambling at this point trying to salvage her words. "Selene your parents...are dead," Luna said cringing with tears floating her eyelids.
"Wh...what's dead?" the filly asked. This was indeed a distasteful pleasure for Luna. Not only telling her the demise of her parents but must also teach her the meaning of demise in the process. Luna was on the brink of tears failing to figure out how to break it to her. She looked over at the balcony seeing orange leaves scattered on the park and green leaves still on their trees
With her telekinesis she brought two green leaves and two orange leaves and presented them to the young filly. "Selene you see the green leaves they're flexible, moisturized and importantly full of life, however these orange leaves are stiff, dry and dead and," Luna blew on the leaves over the balcony. "You must let them go," the princess added as the leaves cascaded to the ground. Luna looked at the filly that had tears streaming down her cheeks leaping herself to Luna's hoof soaking it with her tears.
I promise I will be your shoulder to cry on
Luna began stroking the mournful filly's mane "There, there Selene I know its hard but everything will be alright," Luna said nuzzling Selene. "Would you like to see them?" the princess asked. Selene stepped back and wiped her eyes and nose and nodded signalling she does.
Luna grabbed the filly and placed her on her back sadly trotting to the exit. While walking Celestia was there waiting for her.
"Do you want me to come along?" she asked.
"No sister this is for me and Selene, sorry," Luna replied.
"I understand sister I'm very proud of you," Celestia replied nuzzling her sister. The white alicorn walked to the crying filly. "I'm deeply sorry of your loss Selene," she said nuzzling the filly. Too sad to respond Selene simply nuzzled back at Celestia. As the princess walked past the pair she hung her head and cascaded a tear.
That poor...poor filly she sadly thought.
Luna and Selene took a short chariot ride to the Canterlot morgue. The pair hopped out and made their way to the entrance escorted by two guards. It was a cold gloomy place the Canterlot morgue. The guards made the appointment and were told the location of the corpses.
Luna and Selene stood in front of the doors and gazed the sign above 'Room B3' it read. The princess asked the guards to check if the bodies weren't too gruesome to traumatize a child and the two walked in.
Luna laid on her stomach to gain eye-contact with Selene. She took her hoof and stroked the foal's dark mane and whispered. "They are asleep, but you can't wake them." One of the guards poked his head out the door gesturing that she and Selene can enter. "Alright, follow me," Luna exclaimed.
End of Chapter Three.
