Because She Loved Us: The True Story of Seven Mares

Starlight whimpered. "I'm a good pony."

The alicorn, Twilight Sparkle stood before her. Her voice cold and affectionless,"Tell me, who is a good pony?"
Starlight wailed as she screamed her words to the heavens themselves."I'M A GOOD PONY!"

Starlight felt her hooves hit something hard. Blinking, she opened her eyes and saw the very annoyed eyes of Twilight staring into hers. Her face was bleeding but like always, she didn't feel the pain. "Yes, you are a good pony. You are a wonderful pony, and I love you, now shut up and stop kicking me so I can go back to sleep! It's still the middle of the damned night!"

It was late into the night and Starlight and Twilight were in their bed. It was only a dream? That does it, no more cider before bed. Grinning sneakily, she leaned down and whispered tenderly in Twilight's ear. "It's only nighttime still because you haven't used your lovely moon to raise the sun."

Twilight's eyes popped open and she grabbed Starlight playfully in a headlock. "Oh, you think you are so clever, do you? Well, since you want to talk about my "moon" so much, let me take this time to show you it up close and personal. Let's see if this shuts you up, you incessant tease!"

With that Starlight found herself directly under Twilight's flank. The night would last a little longer than normal and a new spooky legend was born in Equestria that night. From that night on, rumors of ghosts inhabiting the Canterlot Castle at midnight while the moon was full, began to spread as the moans and wails of the two rulers echoed across the city of Canterlot. For those who were awake to witness it, the moon in the sky seemed to jump up and down for hours on end as it danced through the sky in a wild and erratic pattern.

The next day as the sun came up and the moon was lowered, Twilight glanced beside her to see Starlight happily watching the spectacle few had ever witnessed. "You are horrible, you know that?"

Starlight grinned at being addressed in such a manner. "Don't forget loud, annoying and how much you love me."

Twilight nodded. "Loud and annoying and of course I love you- Hey wait a minute!"

Starlight kissed her and gave a small laugh as Twilight gave her flank a good smack with her forehoof. "I love you, too, your majesty."

Twilight laughed. Her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. "Come on, you nuisance let's get to work."

Years soon passed. Starlight began masquerading as the best doctor in Ponyville in order to distribute the serum to repair the mares and females of Equestria. Rainbow Dash was learning to fly, courtesy of "Aunt Spitfire."

Watching from the balcony she used to observe Equestria, Twilight Sparkle watched as Rainbow Dash flew by. She'll be back to normal before long.

Princess Luna stood beside her and watched her for a moment in silence before she spoke. "Mom, can I ask you something?"

Twilight smiled down at the young unicorn in bitter satisfaction. One of her most respected mentors was long gone, but her daughter had grown up to be a well-behaved and truly wonderous mare. "What is it, Luna?"

Today had been the tryouts for the school play in Ponyville. More than likely she had concerns about her role. "Today I auditioned for the school play like you suggested."

Twilight already knew the results but calmly played along. "How did you do?"

Luna looked annoyed as she answered. "Lead role."

Twilight turned to her. "You sound upset about getting that part. I would have thought you would be excited. Is everything okay?"

Scuffing a hoof, Luna began tearing up as she explained. "I was, that is until -"

Twilight lifted her muzzle until Luna's eyes were looking directly into hers. "Look me in the eyes, like you were taught, that's better. Now tell me, Luna, until what?"

"A couple of girls at school claimed they saw you and Cherilee talking. They claimed you rigged the audition."

Twilight nodded sagely. "I see."

"Mom, tell me you didn't!"

Giving a light-hearted laugh, Twilight began to explain. "Actually, Luna it was the opposite. What I told her was not to play favorites. I told her how hard you practiced and worked for this. I also said that she was not to give you special treatment, just because your mother rules Equestria. I told her to judge you based on your skills alone, nothing more."
Luna whispered hoarsely. "Really?"

Reaching up a forehoof, twilight gently wiped away her daughter's tears and gave her a big hug. "I wanted you to truly feel accomplished when you got it, just like I told you, you would."

Growing up, Luna had been forbidden from using magic, except for her studies and to pick objects up. Like many mares and stallions who find themselves barred from one thing, she resorted to another. She had found that with a bit of practice she could be a very convincing actress. After she had left elementary grades behind her, she joined the 7th grade drama club and quickly became noticed. Her mom, Twilight could often count on her being late for dinner as she spent many hours after school with the drama club, rehearsing.

Twilight was as supportive as she could be, going to performances and even chaperoning trips in person, when her daughter needed to go to a competition. She often found herself wondering if she had made the right choice keeping Luna's magic sealed away, but now she knew for sure. It had been the right choice. That smile gave her the only answer she needed. The princess before her was indeed named Luna, but she had grown up in far different circumstances and been taught other lessons than the Princess Luna that had created the stars. This was her daughter; the other was lost to the sands of time.

That night, as she watched Luna perform, she saw a rare kind of magic. The magic of a daughter to capture her mom or dad's heart. It hurt, yet it felt amazing. She wouldn't be a teenager forever, the tears began to fall. For the past sixteen years, Twilight had been there for it all. Everything from teaching her to speak, to how to harness her desires and seize them. In every sense of the word, Luna was truly her adopted daughter. Just yesterday I was making her 'owie' better when she fell. She grew up so fast.

By her side, Starlight sat. Next to her was her own daughter, Rainbow Dash who was shouting "Awesome!" towards Luna, who laughed and blushed as she curtsied to the thunderous hoof stamping applause. Starlight passed Twilight a tissue and as the Queen wiped her eyes, Starlight whispered. "You know, she would have been proud to see this, in another lifetime."

Twilight wanted to be mad. How dare she mention Her, though all she could do was laugh. "She liked plays, you know."

Starlight snuggled next to Twilight as the two watched their kids; once friends in another time and place, talking casually with each other and as Rainbow Dash presented a bouquet of roses to Luna who gracious sniffed them and hugged her, Starlight smiled and lovingly gave a kiss to Twilight. "I know, your majesty, I know."

I still miss Her, though.

"Perhaps after everything is fixed for good, we can bring Her back once more. For now, my queen let us enjoy tonight. Tomorrow we have another hard day ahead of us."