In the highest tower of Canterlot castle two ponies sat having a rather quiet argument.
“Lulu just try and see reason. I’m always busy so it’s hard for me to spend time with you.” The sun goddess said getting exhausted with the argument. “Tia I don’t need anypony else except you!” The moon goddess shouted in a whisper.
Celestia facehoofed and continued on. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to explain, I won’t always be here for you so you’re gonna need other friends,” Celestia moved closer to Luna, placed her hoof on her sister’s shoulder and changed her face to look pleading. “Please Lulu do it for me.”
Luna looked at her sister's face and could tell she really wanted this. Eventually Luna sighed and gave in. “Fine... But only because you want me too,” Groaned Luna. Celestia pulled her sister in and hugged her. “Oh thank you Lulu, now go and make some friends.”
Celestia let her go and began ushering her out the door “Alright alright I’m going” Luna giggled. Luna began walking through the castle, walking pass several guards who all bowed to her as she passed. She simply ignored them being too used to it and moved on.
‘Time to make some friends, how hard could that be? I’m just like Tia and she gets on great with everypony, this should be easy’ Thought Luna, smiling as she approached the castle's main entrance. She walked outside to be greeted by the sun shining on her.
She walked into the castles gardens which were open to the public. She could see young fillies with their parents admiring the flowers and other couples having a picnic on the grass.
A few ponies noticed her and immediately began gossiping and pointing at her.
Luna just thought it was because they had never seen her before, only heard of her. She spotted a few ponies playing hoofball and decided to ask them if she could join them. She ran over to one of them, he appeared to be an earth pony. His coat was a sandy yellow, his mane and tail were both a dark orange, and his eyes were a light blue with a light sparkle in them. His cutie mark was simply a ball.
Luna approached him and he quickly bowed to the floor, this annoyed Luna a little, she wished everypony didn’t do that when they see her. “Please rise, you don’t need to do that.” Luna said with a smile on her face. “Oh... Is there something yo-you need of me?” Stammered the stallion looking a little worried.
“I was just wondering if I could join you and your friends in this game? I would also like to know your name.” Luna asked politely “You want to play with us? Uh sure of course you can play, we were a pony down so it’s great timing that you came along and my name is Stryker,” he said smiling at Luna “And don’t worry I already know your name Princess Lu-.”
Luna waved a hoof to cut him off. “Luna will be just fine, no need for formality’s out here.” The stallion stood a bit stunned. He didn’t expect royalty to be so ‘normal’ “Alright then, Luna it is. Also you’re supposed to wear a shirt representing what team you’re on, but luckily I have a spare. I have it in my bag it should fit you, follow me.” He said motioning towards a bag near the goalpost.
They walked there in silence, but Luna was a little worried. She had never played hoofball with anyone except her sister. She didn’t want to mess up and let them down. “Here we go!” Stryker said while rummaging around his bag. “One hoofball shirt for the lady,” Said Stryker in a fake posh accent while extending it to her.
“Why thank you, good sir,” Said Luna in a posh accent and slightly giggling to herself. She took the shirt and put it on her, it was a bright orange with the number two on the back. It also covered her wings so she couldn’t fly with it on.
“Alright time to play some hoofball, let’s go!” Stryker shouted while running into the middle of the field, Luna following behind him. “Ummm what team am I on?” Asked Luna curiously. “You’re on my team, don’t worry I promise not to make you look bad” Said Stryker with a smirk on his face.
Luna grunted and seen this as competition, as the players took their place, she was determined to outshine her new rival. She was placed behind him; he was up front ready to get the ball. She had to defend her area.
The ball kicked off and Luna ran for it, catching up with Stryker easily. In her sudden rush for it she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings and bumped into Stryker allowing one of the enemy get the ball, he sprinted down the field with it and was about to shoot for the net.
Luna forgetting the rules unleashed her wings ripping the shirt she was wearing, she felt bad for destroying it, but her competitive side ignored it for now. She flew down the field and dove in front of the ball saving it from entering the net. She landed and a whistle was blown from the middle of the field.
“Foul!” Shouted the referee, Luna quickly remembered what she just done and turned a bright shade of red. “I’m so sorry!” Shouted Luna in embarrassment. “I forgot, sorry I get way too competitive.” She could hear some of the rival team gossiping behind her, unaware of who she really was.
“What is a mare doing playing this game?” Said one of them. “Yeah this is a stallion’s game; it’s not for stupid mares,” Grunted the other one. Luna was about to shout back in anger, but didn’t want to make a scene. She ran off the field and into the flower gardens across the field. She flew into the sky and took off for her favorite sitting spot.
‘Why am I running? I should turn around and show them who I am! I’m Princess Luna for Equestria’s sake! No one ever talks about me like that.’
She reached a mountain and landed on the grass below. The mountain was overlooking the sea, it was a beautiful sight. She walked to the each of it and sat down, watching the sun lower. She knew it was nearly time to raise the moon.
‘Is it really that hard to make friends? To others ponies really judge you based on one little mistake? Or am I just really unlikable? Oh Tia I wish you were here with me right now.’
Little tears began to appear in her eyes as she watched sun finally disappear. She knew it was time to raise the moon; she stood up and braced her stance. Her horn began to glow a light purple and eventually an aura of purple and blue surrounded her body. Her eyes turned white and sparks began emitting from her horn, the aura shot up into the sky as she raised her head. Slowly over the horizon the moon could be seen coming up. She continued this until it was at its highest peak. The stars all manifesting in their usual spots.
In the blink of an eye the aura disappeared, her eyes back to their normal color and her horn went back to normal. She collapsed on the grass, exhausted from raising the moon.
‘I hope you were watching Tia, I hope I made you proud’
“Who there!?,” Shouted the Princess she could hear rustling in the back, she feared someone was watching her from the bushes. “Show yourself!” “I’m sorry for spying... But that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen!” A small Pegasus filly walked out of the bushes.
She was very small, her coat was the color black and her mane was a light and dark blue with streaks of the two colors running through them. Her eyes were a dark green.
“Young child, what are you doing out here so late? It’s not safe to be wandering around alone,” Said Luna with concern in her voice. “Oh I’m not wandering around randomly. This is my favorite spot to watch the moon rise,” Said the young filly.
“This is your favorite spot? And you like to watch my moon rise?”
“Yeah, it’s my favourite thing ever! The moon and the stars are so beautiful...”
Luna could feel joy building up in her, this was the first time she ever heard somepony say they liked her moon except her sister. “Oh well... Maybe you would like to star gaze with me?” Asked Luna nervously. “Would I! I would love too!,” Said the filly running up to Luna.
“Great! Ah I mean...that’s good,” Squeaked Luna trying to keep her cool composure. She sat beside the child and started pointing towards the stars. “See those three stars all lined up together? They are called Orion’s belt. Oh wait, I never asked your name young one. Mine is Luna,” Said the Princess looking at her young friend.
“Oh I’m sorry I should've introduced myself. My name is Cadenza.” Luna smiled at her new friend. “That’s a beautiful name.” “Not as beautiful as yours Luna!,” Said Cadenza with a hint of admiration in her voice. “You’re my favorite Princess; I love your moon and stars. Everything you do is so beautiful...” The filly stopped talking as she gazed at a meteor fly through the sky.
Luna could see that Cadenza really did love her work, she felt so happy to be able to connect to some other pony. She returned to her young friend and started pointing out more stars to her, naming them and their structures. The child sat there stunned at how beautiful everything was and the fact that she was really sitting beside her favorite Princess in Equestria.
Author note
The OC Cadenza was created before Princess Cadence came into the show. She is my friends OC, please don't think I ripped of the name.
Luna and Cadenza sat watching the stars for some time; Cadenza laying in Luna’s hooves. The young filly began to yawn, exhaustion taking over her small body. “Are you tired? Well it is very late, shouldn’t you be getting home?” Luna asked. Cadenza looked to the floor nervously and wriggled uncomfortably in Luna’s hooves.
“What's the matter young one?” Cadenza looked up at Luna and sighed. “I don’t really have a place to go home to; I’m an orphan.” Cadenza whispered. Luna blushed, feeling sorry for the filly. “Oh... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude in your personal life.” Luna said with sympathy in her voice.
They sat in silence for a while; Luna pondering her thoughts. “Well I guess there’s only one thing to do,” Luna said while standing up. “You’re coming home with me.” Luna grinned at the small filly and seen her face light up. “Real- really? You want me to come home with you?” Cadenza stuttered her words, not really believing what she heard.
“Of course, I couldn’t just leave a young filly out in the cold all by herself,” Luna said “Now lets go before you catch a cold. Cadenza stood up and started walking beside her. “Hold on. There isn’t much point walking all the way back to the castle. Can you fly?” Luna asked the young filly staring at her wings.
Cadenza shifted nervously, feeling a little ashamed. “Oh... don’t worry about it, every pegasus learns to fly in their own time, and I’m sure you will be a great flyer one day.” Luna said with a smile on her face. “I can fly a little, but not for very long.” Cadenza said while flapping her little wings. Luna had to stifle a giggle, she thought the little pegasus looked so cute.
The pegasi flapped her wings, strain appearing on her face. She floated off the ground only to hit it again a few seconds later. He landed and looked to the floor, digging his hoof across the ground. “It’s alright Cadenza, I can just teleport us there,” Luna said. “Now please stand beside me."
The filly stood beside the Goddess; not really sure at what was about to happen. Luna’s horn lit up a light purple, and a blue aura surrounded the two of them. A bright flash went off, and the two of them were in the main hall of Canterlot Castle. They looked around them to see multiple ponies in armour looking at them.
The royal guard swooped in; pegasi from the sky, unicorns teleporting, and earth ponies running at top speed. Before Luna or Cadenza could react they had multiple swords pointed at Cadenza’s throat. “Don’t move or we will strike! Who are you, and why did you follow the princess?” Shouted one of the more muscular guards, his voice sounding emotionless.
Cadenza stood motionless, and shaking. “STAND DOWN!,” Luna shouted at the guards. “She is with me, and if any of you touch her you’ll be sorry.” Luna stood gritting her teeth, and her eyes turning white. The guards immediately backed down, apologized, and returned to their posts.
Luna’s eyes went back to normal, and she tried to calm herself down; she turned to look at Cadenza, and make sure she was alright. “I’m sorry friend... I will make sure to have a talk with the head captain so this never happens again.” Luna said in a soft voice.
“It’s not your fault Luna, it was just a misunderstanding.” Cadenza said, but she was still shaking.
They heard footsteps coming from the main stairs ahead of them, they turned to look at who was coming.
“Dear sister you return, I was wondering when you would get back, and who is this young one?” Celestia said while staring at Cadenza. Cadenza shifted behind Luna; not really sure how to react. “This is my new friend Cadenza, she will be spending the night with me, in my chambers.” Luna said firmly.
Celestia raised an eyebrow while staring at her sister. “A new friend already? And she is staying over? Well I must say Luna you do work fast.” Luna walked over to whisper in her sister’s ear. “I will explain all in the morning, but could you do me a favor? Tell the chief to have a banquet cook and delivered to my chamber.” Celestia walked away, and towards one of her royal guards. “Not a problem dear sister, I will get right on that.” Celestia shouted while walking away.
“Lets go Cadenza, we’re going to my room.” Luna said in a happy tone. Luna began walking up the stairs, and through the corridors with the filly walking behind her. Every royal guard bowing as they passed, but mainly just for Luna; as usual Luna ignored them. She couldn’t help, but throw a dirty looks at them for their earlier actions.
It didn’t take long for them to reach her chamber, the food was already sitting on a tray on her bed. They walked in, and Cadenza stopped to take in the beauty of her room; the walls were a light blue, ornaments in the shape of the moon, and stars were littered around the room. Star charts, and a four poster bed sitting in the middle of the room. A balcony with a telescope was just beyond the room.
Luna sat down on the bed, and motioned Cadenza to do the same. She jumped up on the bed, and sat opposite of the Princess. In between them was a tray full of food; it had toast, tea, and biscuits on it. “Help yourself,” Luna said pointing to the food. “You are my guest after all, I would be a terrible host if I didn’t offer you food."
Cadenza smiled at her, and felt her own stomach growl. She tucked into the biscuits, eating them faster than most ponies would. Luna waited patiently on her friend finishing, it didn’t take long considering the speed she was eating at. “You’re a pretty fast eater, you may wanna slow down next time.” Luna said while laughing.
The small filly blushed. “Sorry... it’s just been so long since I’ve had real food. The streets don’t really provide much.” Cadenza said in a whisper. Luna turned her expression into a friendly one, and turned to her new friend. “You... wouldn’t mind telling me about your life? Luna asked.
“Of course not, but I doubt its interesting compared to a Princess's life.” Cadenza said while moving to sit beside Luna. “Now where do I begin?”
