Cult of Luna

Moonlight reared up and kicked with all her might, but the door didn't budge. She didn't know how long she had been down there, but she felt sure that escape was impossible. Even if she did manage to get out, it would most likely be too late to do anything about the sacrifice. My own daddy's trying to kill me! She thought as she realized the severity of her father's crime. Then she started a bit as she also realized that her mother was probably in on the whole thing.

"No," she said out loud, "I won't let this beat me!" With that, she reared up and gave it one last try. By some miracle, she actually managed to break through the door. She went to race through it and out into freedom, but then stopped herself. I have to take evidence with me, she told herself, so that everypony will realize that this entire "Order" is just a hoax.

So she quickly raced upstairs and grabbed the small camera that her parents kept in a side drawer. She ran back into the printing room and snapped photos of all kinds. She took pictures of the printing press, the finished copies of the Book of Luna, her father's manifesto, and other various cult related paraphernalia. She ran back upstairs and burst from her house, her small head turning in the direction of Mount Luna. Now if I can just get up the slopes, she thought.

It had begun snowing again, and the wind howled and whipped the small white flakes until they were stinging her face like a horde of angry flash bees. She forced her way through the blizzard until she reached the base of the mountain. She took a look up to try and see the marked path that the villagers used to get to the top, but she couldn't see it. The snow was absolutely blinding. I think I remember where the trail begins, she told herself, but I'm not sure…and if I don't make it…

She stopped and shivered at the thought of not only freezing to death, but the fact that the lives of three other ponies depended on her making it to the summit. So she forged onward. Luckily, she was used to living in snowy conditions like this, so her tough little exterior braved the cold very well. It didn't faze her one bit. The wind was a bit disconcerting, but other than that, she wasn't all too uncomfortable. She couldn't help but find the entire adventure a tad bit exciting. I've never been on a mission before, she said internally, I would enjoy it more, if the lives of other ponies weren't hanging in the balance.

She made her way to where she thought the path began and took a look for the small flag that would signal the way. She dug around in the snow, but couldn't find it. Then a horrifying thought struck her. Maybe it blew away in all this wind! The snow had blanketed the ground where the path should've been, so that made tracking it all the more difficult. Then, she remembered something her uncle, Comet Mane, had told her. Whenever you see the black raven fly, know that the path is somewhere nigh.

The ravens of the area roosted high on Mount Luna, and they always followed the same flight patterns. Her uncle had studied these for years and knew that the birds always flew up and down the mountain near where the villagers had dug out that path. So, she threw her head skyward and tried to peer through the whiteout conditions to find a dark speck. She looked and looked and finally, when she was about to give up hope of finding one, she spotted it. The raven flew downwards through the snow, and lighted on a tree branch nearby.

Moonlight smiled and raced up the mountain, following the same trail the raven had taken down. I'm gonna make it! She thought excitedly as she raced through the forest, I'm gonna make it! She ran up the slope and past multiple shrines that the cult had built. They regularly burned incense to Luna on the mountain, and regarded it as a very holy place. It was sort-of their natural temple, for on its peaks you could see the moon in full as it hung in the sky. She remembered attending Moon Church services on this mountain. With a wince, she also remembered attending sacrifices here. She remembered the victims screaming for their lives as her father pronounced their "glorious and holy death in the name of Princess Luna." Afterwards, he would set them on fire.

She shook the horrifying thoughts out of her mind and continued running. She didn't want to bear witness to another sacrifice, especially one that could throw all Equestria into complete turmoil. She ran as fast as her small legs would carry her, but it was a long way to the top. It took her a couple of hours to get there. Maybe Daddy's launched into a spontaneous sermon. Oh, please, let that be the case! She knew her father preached for hours at a time, and the ponies ate up everything he said.

When she arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her assumption had been correct. Her father was carrying on babbling some nonsense about how Luna would be appeased once the three princesses had met their fiery fate. She ran around the side of the sacrificial complex, weaving in and out of the crowd and trying to remain unnoticed. The last thing she wanted to do was to attract attention before she had the opportunity to put her plan in motion.

When she got around to the side, she found that the three regal ponies had been tossed into cages after having their bindings and gags removed. Her little mouth fell open and she walked up to Princess Celestia. She noticed that the royal mare's normally kind and cheerful face carried a look of utter devastation and despair. She could tell that Celestia had at least attempted to cry, but whether or not she was successful was yet to be determined.

"Princess Celestia?" Moonlight asked in a small voice. The white mare turned and regarded Moonlight with a stern look. "Oh, it's you," she said, "what do you want?"

"Please, Your Majesty," she said, "first of all, I want to apologize."

Celestia gave her a surprised look. "You do?"

Moonlight nodded, "I was very disrespectful to you when you first arrived in our town. I was acting out of what I believed in. But since then, I have found that what I thought was true was not. I realize that my actions were unbecoming both to you and to me. So, Your Highness, I'd like the chance to say…I'm sorry."

Celestia looked down and smiled. She couldn't stay mad at a filly, especially one with such a sincere heart. She beckoned Moonlight closer with a hoof, and the young one obeyed. "I forgive you, Moonlight," Celestia said softly, "and I am very proud of you. Your actions would have been disrespectful to anypony, not just me, and I am happy that you have realized this. I believe you would make an excellent friendship student at Twilight's school."

"Twilight's school?"

"Indeed," Celestia said, "and I believe you should speak with her about this."

She pointed at Twilight's cage where the Princess of Friendship sat with her tail and mane drooping. Moonlight walked over to the purple mare and bowed in respect. "Princess Twilight?" She asked timidly. She expected Twilight to greet her in the same distrustful manner as Celestia, but the purple mare simply walked to the door of her prison and sat down. She gave the filly a friendly look. "Hello, Moonlight," she said, "I heard you apologize to Celestia and I agree with her. I think you should learn what true friendship is at my school."

"Do you really think I could? I mean, I've never had any friends before. Daddy says friends are for ponies who are weak."

"That's because he doesn't understand the true value and power that friendship possesses. Thanks to your discovery that what you thought was true actually wasn't, I believe that you have begun to unlock the door that will lead you into a better understanding of what friendship is."

"Really?"

Twilight nodded and smiled, "I would love to see you in my school next semester. We're booked up for the rest of this one, but I assure you there will be a place for you. I will personally see to that."

Moonlight's mouth fell open and her eyes shone. The Princess of Friendship cared about her! She wanted her to be around! Nopony had ever told her this before, not even her own parents. They always complained whenever she was under hoof. But this mare smiled at her and welcomed her with open hooves! Was she…her friend?

"Your Highness…" Moonlight began, but Twilight put her hoof up. "As the Princess of Friendship, I am a friend to all Equestria. So, in informal situations, I like to be addressed as such. You may call me Twilight."

"What about if I'm your student?"

"Professor Twilight will do, then. But you had another question for me?"

"I did, but I think you answered it. You said that you were a friend to everypony in Equestria. Does that include me?"

Twilight nodded, "I can see your pain and your loneliness. I've felt that same pain before. I can tell you from experience that having a life filled with friends and ponies who actually care about you is a whole hay of a lot better than living one without them."

Moonlight nodded and smiled. She was so happy! These were the first ponies that truly cared for her and where she was going in life. She felt like doing a dance, but she didn't because of who she was addressing. She simply said, "thank you so much, Twilight," and turned to Cadance.

"Princess Cadance, I…" she tried to start, but Cadance put her hoof up as well. "I forgive you, too, young one. I am so proud of you. You will be a welcome addition to Twilight's school, and if you're ever in The Crystal Empire…come and see me."

Moonlight smiled once again and bowed low in respect and gratitude. She popped up and said, "now, let me get you out of those cages." She stepped forward, and bucked Twilight's cage door. It opened, and the Princess of Friendship stumbled out. Moonlight caught her and gave her a hug. "Thank you for not giving up on me, Twilight." Twilight returned the hug and said, "I would never give up on anypony, Moonlight. That's not what friends do."

Moonlight smiled again and then proceeded to buck down the other two cage doors. "Those are some strong legs, Moonlight," Celestia said, "Twilight, I believe Applejack could use some help on her farm in Ponyville. That way, Moonlight could have a place to work and learn more about friendship while she studies at your school." Twilight turned and smiled at Moonlight, "I think that's a wonderful idea, Celestia! I'll talk to Applejack about it as soon as we return home."

But suddenly, just as the four of them were celebrating the escape, a gruff voice was heard. "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" It shouted angrily. Moonlight would know that voice anywhere. It was her father.