The Stars Above Know

The Stars Above Know

by Denim Blue

“Time and tide wait for no pony. Even with ponies such as myself this still holds true. I may have to raise the Sun and moon for a whole millennium, but this won’t change the fact that I cannot shorten the sentence of my sister’s imprisonment. Being an alicorn doesn’t mean the laws of the world don’t apply to you. In the end, I have to pay my dues for the actions I made.”

• from a recovered, written document recording Princess Celestia’s personal thoughts found after the Canterlot fire of 3302 E.B. (year of documentation unknown)

Chapter Five: A Place in the Sun
3979 E.B.
Outside of Ponyville City Hall

Nightmare Moon opened her eyes and viewed her surroundings. Ponyville...yes, this was apparently the place she was supposed to be. The Elements had directed her to this spot, stating that Celestia would be here.

It was close to five in the morning, and Celestia would be raising up the sun soon. The streets of the quaint little town were empty, but she could see lights coming from the inside of the center building where the event known as the “Summer Sun Celebration” was to take place.

“Summer Sun Celebration...” Nightmare smiled. “I guess she took my advice on the solstices after all...”

Enveloping herself in shadows, she flew in through the back window of the city hall where Celestia’s life force was felt. Drifting into the room, she halted in place before reforming into her equine body.

She took in the sight of her sister, who stood at the far end of the room. Yes, Luna and her had seen the briefest of brief glimpses into the pony world, but not once had they gotten a clear image of Celestia’s own appearance. They had been able to feel the changes in her heart through the ages while they were in the moon, but nothing more.

The once pure pink mane was now a soft rainbow of green, blue, pink. It seemed that using the powers of the night had affected her slightly, though she wasn’t certain on what caused the change in her mane. She still had the same lustrous white coat that she had when they had last seen her, and she still carried herself with an air of dignity.

There was something else that was different though. She had a welcoming aura about her. Not just towards her, but it was an aura that seemed to be accepting of all life around her. It was almost overwhelming for Nightmare Moon.

Yes, Celestia had changed a great deal.

The white alicorn sensed the new presence in the room and slowly turned. Her eyes lit up for the briefest of moments with joy. “Luna...”

It took every bit of willpower for Nightmare (and Luna) to not run straight into their elder sister’s embrace. Instead, Nightmare forced down the happiness and scowled. “Celestia...you’ve changed I see.”

Celestia’s elation vanished and she gave a nod. “Indeed I have. The same can be said for Equestria as a whole. I...trust you are aware of these changes?”

“Hmmph. Yes, you’ve become a ghost of your former self and let these ponies run their affairs, just like I had suggested foolishly so many-”

The white alicorn made her way towards Nightmare. “It wasn’t foolish, Luna. No, it was far from that, in fact. Luna, please-”

“My name is Nightmare Moon, you foal!” Nightmare growled out as she took a step back while Celestia approached.

The elder sister stopped in mid-stride and frowned sadly upon seeing her sister’s tense posture. “I...Nightmare Moon...please don’t fear me. I know what I did was less than kind, but...I was scared for myself, for Equestria, and...for you. I regret doing what I did, and every night when I looked up to your beautiful moon I-”

“Enough of your pointless rambling, Celestia.” Nightmare cut her off, forcing the grim look to remain on her face as her sister bowed her head in shame. “You know why I am here, and this time you cannot stop me! I sensed the change in the land’s magic, and the Elements are no longer active. The only thing standing in my way is gone!”

Celestia bit her lip and spoke, barely above a whisper this time. “Nightmare Mo- I mean...Luna...please, understand that despite our past, I forgive you. I love you, and I only wish for us to be-”

Nightmare grit her teeth as Luna and her own emotions began to overwhelm her mind. She turned her head away and shouted, her voice nearly breaking. “S-silence! I won’t fall for petty words and apologies, sister! I severed my ties with you long ago!”

“That’s not true, Nightmare Moon. I can feel it within you...”

Nightmare Moon flinched as she felt a warmth flow into her. She blocked off her sister’s telepathic connection and raised up her defenses.

Celestia gasped and took a step back, surprised by Nightmare’s quick defense. “Luna, I know you’re still there...please, let me back into your heart!” The proud princess’s own voice began to crack. “I-I’m sorry! Let me help you! I want to help, just please let me-”

Luna...
Nightmare gave a mental nod to her past-self and blinked away a few stray tears before turning to face Celestia once more. “Celestia, for imprisoning me for a whole millennium, I shall return the favor. Yes...I shall do the same as you did to me, but your prison shall be your own creation!”

Celestia’s head drooped as she shed a few tears. “I will not fight against you, then.”

Nightmare frowned, a bit surprised by her sister’s submissive behavior. “So be it. If you wish to surrender to my will so easily, then that will only make my goals all the more easy to accomplish.” Nightmare’s eyes glowed. “Now, be gone, Celestia!”

The dark blue mist of Nightmare’s starry mane whirled around Celestia several times before swallowing her up. Before vanishing, Celestia cast her gaze up towards the ebony pony and smiled sadly. “I won’t be gone long, Luna. Wait for me...”

The whirlwind of starlight vanished, having done its job in sending her to the Sun. She would be unharmed, of course, being a creature of both pony and celestial origin. Her first task complete, Nightmare looked to the entrance where she could hear the ponies cheering as the name of her sister was spoken.

“Well...let’s go, Luna.”

Celestia found herself on–or perhaps in, she wasn’t sure–the Sun. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the intense light as she stretched out her senses as far as they could go. She looked to see Equestria, as well as the rest of the planet, shrouded in a dark haze several hundred million kilocantors away.

“Oh, Luna...” Celestia sighed while her worries began to surface. The planet wouldn’t be able to endure an endless night for long. A day or two, possibly three at best. That, however, was the reason why she had placed all her faith into her student, Twilight Sparkle.

The young unicorn, ever the scholar, had dug up the old book that had spoken of the ‘myth’ of the Mare in the Moon. Celestia had placed it in one of the libraries Twilight frequented in the hopes she would find it, and lo and behold, she had done just that. Not too long after that, Twilight had sent her a letter via Spike, her baby dragon assistant, warning her of the danger approaching Equestria.

Celestia had of course made it sound like Twilight was overreacting and told her to oversee the festivity preparations for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville, and encouraged her to make friends. This suggestion was made partly because Celestia honestly believed Twilight could stand to get out and socialize more. Yes, the fate of the kingdom, as well as the rest of the world, depended on her finding the other Spirits of Harmony, but Twilight didn’t need to know that. She often cracked under extreme pressure, after all.

Despite all the preparations Celestia had made, she honestly hoped things wouldn’t end with her sister doing such a thing like creating endless night. She had prepared for it, but wanted to end such an event before it happened. The Elements of Harmony may be inactive for now, but the white alicorn knew one sure-fire way to reawaken them and use them to bring Luna back.

If the visions she had received were correct, Twilight Sparkle held within her the spirit of Magic, one of the six Elements. Twilight would naturally run into the other five holders, who just happened to be in Ponyville.

It amazed her how well things could play out from time to time.

With the spirits of the Elements together, they would create a spark and activate the Elements once more. Luna would be brought back and she could once again be with her dear sister.

There was one oddity that didn’t add up with Celestia, though.

Celestia had gone through some of Luna’s books during the first century of her absence, and stumbled upon a book that spoke on the ‘Armor of the Night’. Curious as to whether she could summon it, and perhaps remove it from Nightmare Moon and weaken her, she studied the spell. After several attempts, she managed to call forth the enchanted armor, and was surprised by two things. First of all, the armor had no malignant feel to it. No, far from it, in fact. It was a magical power that exuded feelings of calm. Not at all like Nightmare Moon. She stored away the armor in a vault within Canterlot Castle’s deepest depths shortly after calling it forth. Secondly, during her following connection with Luna, she still managed to feel the armor’s presence. Celestia had quickly went to investigate this, and found the Armor of the Night to be exactly where she had left it.

It didn’t add up. How could the armor be in two places at once?

She had the inkling that there was more to Nightmare Moon than the dark coated mare was letting on. Nightmare Moon...or rather, Luna...had a spark of jealousy in her, and that was understandable. Celestia had always been the center of Equestria’s attention, while her younger sister had been in the background, respected by ponies, but not always acknowledged. Perhaps if Celestia had given her more attention, or tried to make her sister more known to the populace...

She let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding, and looked off to the far distance of space where her sister and the rest of Equestria currently was.

“Twilight Sparkle...I’m counting on you. Please, bring my sister back. Please do this one favor for this old, foolish mare...”

“Seize her, only she knows where the Princess is!”

The Pegasus guards bravely lifted off the ground and flew towards Nightmare Moon. She focused her powers and made sure to dampen the spell to a fraction of it potency. “Stand back, you foals!”

Lightning surged forth from the maelstrom of magic surrounding her and knocked the pegasi guards out of the air. She laughed, melting into vapor and rushing past the other ponies and out the door. She could hear the faint cries of a rather upstart cyan pegasus with the most colorful of manes, but paid her no mind...for now, anyway.

So far, so good. She had made a rather loud and attention-drawing return, ponies were in a mild panic, and she had played her part as a villain perfectly.

“Now I just need to see to it that the holders of the Elements get their hooves moving before the night stars affecting the land...” She thought aloud as she landed on a clearing outside of Ponyville. She took a deep breath and exhaled while rolling her neck. A few loud cracks could be heard as she loosened her stiff body.

The sound of hoofbeats on dirt caught her attention, and she quickly vanished into the shadows of a nearby tree. A purple unicorn with an equally purple baby dragon on her back rushed towards a hollowed out tree. The light flickered on in a window of the tree and she could hear the young mare say a few comforting words to the dragonling before putting him to bed. No sooner did the unicorn leave the room before trotting down the steps and begin looking through the various books that lined the lower floor of the tree.
“Well...looks like Celly went with the idea of public access to literature, too...” spoke Luna. Nightmare listened as the frantic unicorn was suddenly bombarded with an impromptu interrogation from the same cyan pegasus that had tried chasing after her.

“...just what are the Elements of Harmony? And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?”

Nightmare chuckled to herself, amused by the pegasus mare’s brash behavior. “Foals these days...”

Soon enough the library’s lower floor had filled up as four other ponies walked in, inquiring on the situation with Nightmare Moon and the ‘Elements of Harmony’. She was quite surprised with how well-informed this Twilight Sparkle was on the whole ordeal.

Eventually she heard Twilight mention about the last known location of the Elements. The ‘Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters’. Nightmare Moon wasted no time, and flew off in a hazy mist towards the Everfree Forest.

“On to phase two, I guess...”

About an hour or two had passed since Nightmare had begun her ‘trials’ on the young ponies. As far as she understood, the Elements already knew who their carriers were, but the young mares themselves had to discover their powers. Especially whichever one among them that held Magic. That was the most essential element for the time being. So, she had placed the ponies in situations to test their mettle (all the while ready to intervene in some way, shape, or form if they actually got seriously injured). The manticore had been a risky decision in hindsight. She had decided to use a thorn to implant a little magical control over the beast. What normally would have been a dangerous animal for the ponies to handle had confronted them with less than lethal force. Yes, it had knocked the one known as ‘Rainbow Dash’ pretty hard, but she was relieved to see that the young pegasus had been, for the most part, unharmed. What truly surprised her though was how well the quiet pegasus mare had calmed the raging beast after she removed the thorn. The manticore had gone from dangerous creature to purring mess of fur and affection in seconds.

She was definitely the Element of Kindness.

After watching the actions of Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, she was pretty sure she knew where the six stood in terms of what Elements they held. Only one test remained...and she was almost certain on which pony would take on the test.

After untying one of the ropes that held up a bridge, she waited. Sure enough, Rainbow Dash was the one to grab hold of the rope and begin tying it to the rocks once more.

“Rainbow...”

“Huh? Who’s there?”

“Raiiiinbow...”

Honestly, Luna, you’re having too much fun with this.Luna sighed while Nightmare chuckled to herself.

“I ain’t scared of you! Show yourself!” the young mare got on her hind legs and began to punch at the air with her hooves. It was almost adorable, the bravery of the younger pony.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flier in Equestria.”

“Who?”

“Why you, of course!” Nightmare replied to the pegasus, her body shrouded by the natural fog of the forest. Nightmare quickly molded three bodies of vapor from her mane and created illusions of pegasi, borrowing the images of the ‘Wonderbolts’ from the mind of Rainbow Dash. She normally couldn’t access the mind of a pony so easily, but with the mare distracted by her voice, Nightmare was able to get an idea of who these ‘Wonderbolts’ were.

“Really? I mean, oh yeah, me! Hey, uh, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would you? Because I have been trying to get into that group for, like, ever!”

Here goes nothing...Nightmare thought as she sent her “pegasi” forward through the fog. “No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us...the Shadowbolts!”

...
What?
Nightmare heard Luna sigh. Shadowbolts, Luna? That’s almost as bad as your ‘Nightmare Moon’ alias.
Nightmare ignored the verbal jab for now. “We’re the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all of Equestria!”

Rainbow was obviously entranced by the pegasi and their uniforms. They were a bit...menacing, yes, but Nightmare Moon was never one to shirk on looks. The three had sleek bodies, flight suits of a dark purple, and yellow-tinted goggles.

She tempted Rainbow with promises of fame and glory, but told her there was no time to help her friends with the bridge. Just like she had hoped, though, Rainbow declined the offer and chose her friends over the flight team.
Well, that’s loyalty if I ever saw it. Luna thought to herself, and Nightmare couldn’t agree more. As soon as the pegasus made her way back to the others, the illusions melted back to their starlit clouds and slithered towards Nightmare Moon before joining her mane once more. “I just hope they’re ready for the last test...”

Nightmare stood on the decrepit platform that had once been the royal throne room that Celestia and her past-self had used to speak to their subjects ages ago. She had been given quite a scare when the Elements had not reacted to Twilight’s magic at first. Thankfully though, after a tense moments they began to crackle with power. They had awakened, but were not fully activated yet. They needed one final touch.

The spark.

Nightmare gave a mental sigh of relief before continuing with her charade. The rest was simply a show to put on now. She raised her front hooves and smashed them onto the stone floor, which in turn cracked the spheres that held the sleeping Elements within them. It was time to finish what she and Luna had started one thousand years ago. She continued with the ‘evil pony’ act, ridiculing Twilight for thinking she could possibly stop her and bring back Celestia and the Sun.

Twilight Sparkle watched in shock as the crystalline shards that held the magic of the Elements fell to the floor. While they seemed to be destroyed, in truth, they had been freed from their stone casing. Now she merely had to wait until-

“Twilight, don’t worry, we’re coming!”

“Twilight! Hurry, she’s this way!!”

Nightmare looked up. Wonderful, just as I had hoped.
Twilight turned towards the staircase behind her where the echoes of her friends could be heard. Her eyes widened with a mixture of surprise, relief, and...dare she say it, hope?

The young unicorn turned back to Nightmare Moon and smiled confidently. Nightmare and Luna both felt a sudden power surging from the crystals at her feet.

That’s it, she’s put it together! She understands their power! Luna spoke while Nightmare Moon kept the grimace on lips. Twilight had found the spark.

The Magic of Friendship.

“You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony, just like that?” Twilight inquired while pointing to the shards. “Well you’re wrong! Because the Spirits of Harmony are right here!!”

Twilight’s friends all stood beside her, none of them looking the least bit scared anymore.

The crystals began to glow while Nightmare took a step back. Twilight began to explain how each of her friends carried the power of their respective Element.

“You still don’t have the Sixth Element! The spark didn’t work!” Nightmare spoke, more to coax the unicorn into continuing than anything else. She could already feel another presence building up within the stone walls that had not been noticed earlier.

“But it did! A different kind of spark!” Twilight turned to her friends while tears welled up in her eyes. “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized you all are my friends!”

A bright orb of light appeared above the heads of the young mares while Nightmare felt a powerful wave wash over her. Her eyes widened a little as the echoing voice of the Element of Magic within her mind began to blend with Twilight’s own. “You see, Nightmare Moon, when those elements-”

The Elements...the voices of the Elements...

“-are ignited by the...the spark that resides in the hearts of us all, it creates the Sixth Element...the Element of Magic!!!”

The young mares before her soon were wearing necklaces of sorts decorated with an image of their respective Cutie Mark. The Elements had changed and taken new forms fitting of their new holders.

Luna...welcome back.

Nightmare felt a powerful, yet comforting force building within her. Elements...is that...?

The voice of Magic that sounded so much like Twilight’s replied. Yes, Luna...or rather...Nightmare Moon and Luna, we should say... There was a pause, and Magic’s voice was soon accompanied by the other five voices, all which sounded like their holders. We have communed once more with the essences of Harmony that reside in your soul. We thank you for reawakening us, and helping bring peace to the heart of Celestia.
Of course, anything to bring Equestria peace and a bright future, answered Luna.

There is one thing that we noticed, though. Something within the two of you is darkening your own hearts, however slight it is. Nightmare, guilt and a sense of self-loathing, however faint, resides within you.

That isn’t... Nightmare looked down, her thoughts turning back to her past.

Celestia...fighting her and using the Elements to kill her...the damage she had done, the lives she had endangered. Why didn’t she try to do something else? Celestia could still be alive, and she-

Luna, I told you before...you did what you had to...” spoke the younger midnight alicorn within her.

Nightmare said nothing as her eyes began to glisten. Time seemed to have slowed down, just like it had when she had used the Elements of Harmony against her sister.

Luna...you too hold a shadow over your heart. While you truly love your sister, you also envy her. You wish to be acknowledged like she is, and want your work on the night to be appreciated. Jealousy plagues you, though you’ve tried so hard to hide it from her and those around you.

Luna had no retort for that statement, just silence as a sense of sadness welled up within her.

It seems that while you both hold the aspects of us within you, and hold true to them for the most part, you lack one thing of great importance in maintaining Harmony...
What would that be? inquired Nightmare.

Time began to return to normal as the Elements echoed in her mind. The ability to trust others with being able to help you. So, Nightmare...Luna...open up your hearts to us. Let us mend your pain.

Nightmare bowed her head. “I don’t believe I deserve that...”

Nightmare Moon...your anguish and regret over your actions in the past are evidence enough of the good within you. You do deserve it.

The ebony pony closed her eyes as tears flooded her vision. “I...” She choked as she felt her mind as well as Luna’s become overwhelmed by comforting thoughts and warmth. The Elements of Harmony’s true powers became known to her at that very moment.

Nightmare’s eyes widened suddenly before she smiled and nodded.

“Thank you...Elements...”

Time was finally back to normal as a bright light erupted from a jeweled tiara resting on Twilight’s head which held the Element of Magic. Before she knew what was happening, a streak of multiple colors encircled her.

Luna felt a tugging on her very being while the life-force of Nightmare began to fade. Her elation and warmth dissipated suddenly. L-Luna? No reply was given. Nightmare Moon?! Luna, what-?
It’s alright, Luna.
Luna suddenly became aware of her increased sense of touch and smell. What was once images she was seeing through Nightmare were now through her own eyes. Meanwhile, Nightmare’s own presence was now almost nonexistent.

“Luna?!” She could only feel the faintest echo of her older counterpart’s lifeforce. “Luna, what’s happening?!”

Luna, I said it’s alright...I’m still here.

Luna did not seem convinced. “Luna, are you alright?”
Her reply was small chuckle. Yes. I’ve never been better. There was several pregnant moments of silence, and Luna was about to speak again when the ebony pony’s voice continued. Luna...I’m afraid this is the last time we’ll speak to one another.

“What? W-why??” Tears were now blurring her vision.

I...well, I guess the easiest way to put it is that I should no longer exist. The Armor of the Night is still resting safely within Canterlot, Celestia’s back to how she had been ages ago, and the Elements are now in the hooves of six reliable ponies. My future is something that never occurred.

“No!!! You can’t leave! It’s...it’s not fair, after all you’ve done for Equestria and me!”

I’m fine with that.

Luna was sniffling now, not caring who saw her. “B-but...I don’t want you to leave!” She let out a quiet sob before shouting. “I know it’s selfish, but you’re my most precious friend! I don’t want to lose you! You still need to live and help look over Equestria, and raise the moon with me, and talk with Celly, and celebrate all the different festivals, and...a-and...” She collapsed to the ground, her eyes closed as tears ran freely. “You never got to have the life you wanted!”

Luna...a part of me will reside within the Elements of Harmony, your timeline’s Armor of the Night, within you, Celly, and the night sky you weave.
Luna felt a feather-light touch against her cheek. She opened her eyes to see an ethereal figure before her. Their entire body shimmered like the night sky, and their eyes glowed like the moon itself.

“Luna...”

The glowing pony nuzzled her cheek one last time and touched her horn to the tip of the smaller alicorn’s own. I have one last request. Give this to Celly for me.

Luna nodded slowly as her horn glowed. The ethereal alicorn took a step back, her work complete, and gave a final nod to her past-self.

Goodbye, Luna, and thank you so much for being with me all this time...for being a true friend.

With that, Nightmare Moon vanished in a sudden flash of white. Luna’s eyes felt heavy as she closed them, her mind becoming weary from the events she had been through. Soon she was slipping into unconsciousness.

“Princess Luna...”

Luna’s eyes snapped open as an all-too-familiar voice rang in her ears. She looked up to see none other than Celestia approaching her, and for a moment Luna feared that things had gone from bad to worse with her older sister.

“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this...”She closed her eyes, unsure of what to expect. She had banished Celestia, however brief it may have been, to the Sun, after all. Anypony had the right to be angry.

She could sense Celestia lying down on the stone floor beside her. “It’s time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.”

The sincerity behind her words struck Luna to the core. There was no anger in her words, no bitterness at all. All she could feel was sadness, joy, and hope in the elder princess’s words.

“Will you accept my friendship?”

Luna trembled. Should she? Could she trust Celestia? She had changed, she could feel it. The elder alicorn’s feelings were almost too much, but Luna felt the longing behind Celestia’s question.

Please, Luna...

Luna opened her eyes as she heard Celestia commune to her via telepathy.

Celly...do you really mean it? Do you...really want to start over?
Warmth filled Luna’s heart as Celestia’s gaze meet hers. I mean it with every fiber of my being, Luna.

Luna looked down to the stone floor. She had tricked Celestia in more ways than one, though in the end she supposed it had been for the best. A gnawing guilt in her chest told her that she would have to come clean about some things with her sister, but for now...

“I’m so sorry!” Luna jumped to her feet and was beside Celestia a second later, tears streaking her eyes. Nightmare...no, Luna would have wanted this. “I-I’ve missed you so much, big sister!”

Luna could faintly hear the words of Celestia saying she felt the same. Luna was just glad to be back, to have her sister, and to rule over a peaceful kingdom.

Luna...I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me...for all of us... the midnight alicorn thought to herself. From this day forth, I’ll live for the both of us.

Luna had been shocked when a party of all things was held in honor of her return. Pinkie Pie, the Spirit of Laughter, had deemed the return of the younger royal pony sister a worthy reason, and Luna was never one to turn down such things. It was amazing how quickly the ponies had forgiven her. It wasn’t a half-hearted forgiveness either, but honest, genuine forgiveness.

Sister...just how much have you changed Equestria since I was gone? Luna inquired telepathically as she gazed up at Celestia while wearing a wreath of roses with the thorns removed.

I don’t even know where to begin with a question like that, dear sister. Just know that it was because of the things you told me all those years ago that places like Ponyville exist. Celestia answered while smiling gently. She turned towards a certain lavender unicorn who looked a bit down, and chuckled. “Luna, excuse me for a moment. A certain student of mine seems to be bothered by something. I think I know what that thing may be, too.”

Luna nodded while watching Celestia go and comfort Twilight Sparkle, and about a minute later she had decreed that Twilight Sparkle was to remain in her new home in Ponyville and ‘report to Celestia of her findings on the magic of friendship’. Luna nearly rolled her eyes, but found herself beaming as she watched Twilight and the other Spirits of Harmony cheer happily.

Several minutes later Celestia returned to Luna’s side, and raised an eyebrow at the amused smile on her younger sister’s lips. “What?”

“That was quite a royal decree there, Princess. It’s such an immense and taxing duty to be handled by only one pony, don’t you think?”

Celestia smiled. “I’m not the same princess that I used to be, Luna. I’ve taken a more...relaxed role, if you would. I’m more of a teacher and guide for the ponies of Equestria. You know that, don’t you? I have expressed that much during our brief connections throughout the ages.”

The Princess of the Night gave a nod. “Yes, and I have to say I’m quite surprised by how much things have changed...”

“Thing changed for the better, I believe,” Celestia added. “Ponies are better off on the whole. Like I said, the amount of changes I’ve made in your absence are so great I don’t know where to begin...though, I had a little inspiration from a certain pony’s journal.”

Luna blushed. “I...well, you’re the one who actually did things. I only put them down on paper-”

A wing gently brushed against Luna’s bangs. “Don’t short yourself, Luna. Your visions of how the kingdom could run, how ponies could live for themselves and each other, and the freedom they deserve were all wonderful. I’ve applied those visions to our world as best as I could, and as I said, I think it was for the best.”

“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it,” Luna agreed with a smile.

Later that evening when the two had returned to Canterlot, Luna approached Celestia, who had just finished setting the Sun and raising the moon. “Yes, Luna?”

Luna said nothing, but simply approached her sister and touched her horn to the white alicorn’s, summoning the magic that Nightmare had implanted in her mind. Celestia’s eyes contracted before she closed her eyes and suddenly fell asleep. Luna normally would have panicked, but she knew that it was only a part of the spell. It wasn’t uncommon for a mental recordings via magic to cause a pony to suddenly slip into unconsciousness. It was a common side-effect of sorts.

She just hoped Celestia wouldn’t be too upset when she awoke...

Celestia found herself in a mist-filled void. She looked around, unsure of how she got here. Luna had touched her horn to her own, and then she blacked out, only to awaken...

“Luna...” Celestia whispered. Had she cast some sort of spell on her? Oh no, was Luna still upset about the past? She had to find a way out so she could talk to her and-

“Celestia...”

The white alicorn froze as she heard a voice that sent a shiver down her spine. She looked over her shoulder to see a dark alicorn, decked in a blue armor while a crescent moon Cutie Mark could be seen on either side of her.

“Nightmare Moon??” Celestia took a step back, horn glowing. “I thought the Elements purified you! Are you still inside Luna? I won’t allow you to take control of her again!” She lowered her head while assuming a defensive stance. “Leave her now!!”

Nightmare was taken aback by Celestia’s sudden change in demeanor. She was no longer the graceful, serene alicorn, but a protective and powerful sister who was ready to fight for Luna’s safety.

“I’m glad to see the years have been kind to you, Celly. I’m afraid Luna and I have been keeping some things secret from you, though.”

Celestia’s gaze narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

Sighing, the ebony pony met Celestia’s gaze. “Luna and I...well...I’m not all that I appear to be, Celestia.”

“What...what do you mean?” Celestia asked suspiciously.

Nightmare gave no verbal reply, and lifted her horn up while a light mist shrouded her body. She shrank in size until she stood a foot or so shorter than her elder sister.

“Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve been like this...” Nightmare, or rather, Luna commented as she looked at her smaller body. Turning to face Celestia fully, she spoke. “This is my true form, Celly. I am Nightmare Moon, and Luna. We are one in the same, and different at the same time.”

“I know that, you explained it to me already. You and her were connected to each other because of the Armor of the Night.”

Luna shook her head. “No...that’s...not what I mean. I am Luna, but I am not from your time. I am a Luna who came from a different timeline 900 years in the past.”

Images flashed through Celestia’s eyes. She watched as fires razed countrysides while dragons and ponies fought one another. A sudden blast of light penetrated the smoke before all the mighty reptiles were reduced to ashes, along with several of the nearby ponies who were unfortunate enough to get caught in the solar blast.

She watched as a pony resembling her when she was much younger stood atop of her old throne, pink mane glowing in the afternoon Sun. She glanced down at a much younger Luna, displeasure clearly on her face. She couldn’t make out all the words, but she knew that Luna and her younger self had disagreed on something, and harsh words were being exchanged.

A transformed Luna calling forth the Elements of Harmony’s after Celestia’s younger self had awakened them. Luna had been forced to kill her younger, power-hungry self or face the possible destruction of Equestria. The Elements of Harmony infused a portion of themselves into Luna’s very soul. All of these images, among others, flashed before her in a matter of seconds.

Celestia’s eyes refocused before she looked to the Luna before her. Those images...no...those weren’t images. Those were memories. They were much too detailed to be something she had thought up on the spot.

“Luna...how...?”

“I somehow slipped into a rift between my time and your own...or perhaps me trying to control the Sun after suddenly killing my sister and using the Elements created a magical influx and sent me into the past. I don’t know what happened to my time, but I know that I will never be able to return to it.”

The white alicorn bowed her head and shook it slowly. “Luna, I don’t...why...?

“Why did I do all this?” Luna asked. “I thought about that, and then I noticed that you were behaving similarly to my time’s sister. I could have made things worse by appearing before you without help from Luna.”

“Still, you could have avoided banishing Luna and yourself to the moon! I would have listened to you!”

“Are you sure about that? Think back to how you were about a millennium ago. Would you have trusted the words an alicorn that claimed to be from the future and wished for you to step down from your throne?”

Celestia opened her mouth before closing it. She hung her head and closed her eyes. “No...I wouldn’t have.”

The smaller alicorn slowly approached Celestia, smiling ever so slightly she drew nearer. “Celestia, I don’t have much time left, so I will have to make this brief.” She drew in a breath and sighed. “While you may be a princess, you aren’t alone in the world. You don’t have to throw the burdens of running a kingdom on your shoulders alone. Luna wishes to help, as well as the rest of the ponies in Equestria. You’ve done so much good for the kingdom, and I know now that you are the epitome of what a ruler should be.”

“How can you say that, after all that has happened to you, much of done by my own hooves?”

Luna just laughed. “I’ve been through darker times than this, Celly. I’m content in leaving this world in the capable hooves of you and Luna...and the rest of the ponies.”

“What about you, though?”

Luna just smiled serenely, then returned to the form that was Nightmare Moon. Slitted eyes gazed serenely into her Celestia’s own. “The Elements are calling to me, sister. While I am still Luna, I am from another time...another world that doesn’t exist here.”

Those words sparked worry in the ancient pony sister. “W-wait, you don’t mean-?”

“I’m sorry, Celly. I honestly wish I could have spent more time with you.”

“Luna, but that...” Celestia felt warm tears flooding her eyes as she approached the pony. She wrapped her wings around the midnight mare and began to cry. “This...you shouldn’t have to leave us like this!” She nuzzled the alicorn, wishing to stop the ancient magic from taking her sister away from her. “Y-you deserve better than this!!”

Celestia stared into the deep, teal eyes of Luna. While the Luna she had known carried a sense of wisdom with her age, there was always a hint of mischief and youth in her eyes as well. This Luna, however, was very different. Her eyes held years of weariness within them, and reflected all the pain and hardships she had dealt with. There was still a glimmer of joy and laughter in them, but it was a mere echo of what her Luna’s eyes held.

The Princess of the Sun drew her sister close again, sobbing more. “I-I wish I could stop this, a-and make up for what my past-self has done to you.” She held the younger alicorn tighter. “Please don’t go, Luna. Y-you can stay, Luna and I will explain things to Equestria, and then you can help rule with-”

A gentle hoof touched Celestia’s lips. “I can’t stay here. You and I are both aware of that.”

This only caused the white alicorn to shed more tears. “I...I don’t want to lose you again, Luna.”

“You won’t. A part of me will continue to live on, in some way, within Luna, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash...” she placed a hoof over Celestia’s chest, right above her heart. “...and you.” Her eyes softened while she continued to smile peacefully. “So, if you still wish to show me the love you seem to believe I never had from you, then you need only turn to the ponies you already have in your life. I will live on in them, in the Elements of Harmony, and in Equestria itself.”

Celestia felt like a little foal with the way Luna was speaking so calmly to her. It was much like a mother speaking to a child. “Okay...”

With those final words, Luna faded away. Before completely vanishing within the void of misty white, she gently nuzzled Celestia. The Princess of the Sun was then standing alone in the white void, and bowed her head and let out several more sobs before the world around her dissolved.

Celestia opened her eyes, only to be met with the concerned face of her younger sister once more. She moved forward without thinking, wrapping her front legs around Luna while crying again for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening. “Luna! I...she...” She could feel her younger sister returning her embrace while shaking a little as well. “She told me everything, and...” She choked back a shuddering breath. “...s-she’s gone now, and I just...I...”

Luna nodded slowly. “I know. She talked to me briefly as well after the Elements separated us.”

“I wish she had told me, but...if it hadn’t been for you and her, the Elements would never have helped me all those years ago.”

“I think that deep down, she knew she was on borrowed time, Celly,” Luna sighed. “She was so strong though, and...I don’t think we’d be where we are now without her.”

The elder nodded silently while continuing to hold her younger sister in her hooves.

It must have been close to an hour before they finally broke their embrace, Luna stating she was feeling tired from today’s events. The two sisters made their way to Celestia’s bedchambers (Luna’s room was still being furnished), and were soon both under the silky sheets of the extra large bed.

“Celly?”

“Yes, Luna?”

“Do you think that...that we’ll ever see her again?”

Celestia rolled her head to the side to face her sister, whose green eyes gave the faintest glow. No doubt she could see Celestia’s face clearly with her night-vision. “So as long as you and I are together, and so as long as Twilight Sparkle and her friends carry the Elements in their hearts, yes, we will. Every time we greet one another, smile to one another, and comfort one another in our time of need, she will be there.”

Luna raised an eyebrow before grinning a little. “Celly, you’re sounding like some kind of ancient guru pony with the way you say stuff like that.”

Celestia blushed a bit before laughing. “Well, I will have you know that I am still in the prime of my youth right now, young filly.”

“Filly?” Luna laughed. “I’d rather be a filly than an old gray mare!”

“Oh, that does it, young lady. You’ll get nothing but alfalfa to eat for the next month. I’ll make it a royal decree!”

“Ewww, the not alfalfa!” Luna giggled, causing Celestia to break into another fit of laughter as well. The two spent several more hours awake, their sleepiness disappearing temporarily. It was close to sunrise by the time they decided to get some actual rest. The Princess of the Sun quickly raised the sun up from the eastern horizon before promptly joining her now sleeping sister under the covers once more.

“Luna,” Celestia whispered softly, smiling as she looked at the peaceful face of her only sister and family. “I promise that I’ll be there for you from here on out. I won’t make the same mistakes as my other self did.”

Celestia scooted a little closer and draped a wing over Luna, who in turn mumbled in her sleep, rolling closer to her elder sister’s side. Celestia closed her own eyes after that and began to doze off. Just as her mind began to drift off into unconsciousness, she swore she heard a voice echo in the back of her mind. It was similar to Luna’s, but...

I’ll be there for you too, Celly. Thank you.

It was the first truly peaceful bit of sleep she had in over one thousand years.

The End