She gazed out into the night sky with a small smile on her face. She always loved watching the night sky, witnessing what she has created.

But tonight, it wasn’t just beautiful, it was delightful. The stars were sparkling and the moon was brighter than it usually was. On the ground below, it was witnessed by the other creatures who had night duties or preferred the night.

She found it curious that some creatures other than bat ponies preferred the night other than herself. She always believed other creatures weren’t compatible to stay up so late, but she was wrong; they were more than capable.

She sighs as she had the internal conflict inside of her. Whenever she was alone during the night, she always had thoughts about how the ponies and other creatures could handle eternal night.

She always thought whenever Celestia’s back was turned how she had her moment, how she could finish her sister off and take over.

But she never acted on her impulses.

She did everything she could think of to not go off and attack her sister. She had already been to the moon a thousand years and certainly wasn’t planning on wasting another thousand.

Not that she was ever truly happy that her sister made that decision …

Despite that it was for a good cause, Luna always believed that it was ridiculous that she was sent away by her sister. She had believed that Celestia wouldn’t have the guts to do it to a family member, but she’d been proven wrong; if Celestia saw you as an enemy, no matter who you are, she would do everything in her path to take the creature down.

It was a sad reality that Luna came to realise when she’d served half her imprisonment.

When she thought further on it, she came to see the pattern her sister followed; whenever they would meet a new creature, they would be hesitant to speak to them because they were different, not ponies. They would slowly get along with one another, then whenever the creature did something that wasn’t to Celestia’s liking, she would imprison the creature which would understandably cause many problems which escalated into wars.

Celestia had the same problem as a control freak, or rather, she was a control freak; she wanted to control everything and when she couldn’t she either imprisoned them or did something else.

In honesty, Luna was disgusted by such behavior.

It was exactly the same as arresting a filly because she doesn’t like to play outside. It’s just wrong.

She could understand why so many creatures despised Equestria. They had a good reason to. It was no wonder that many creatures stayed by themselves, not wanting to be bothered by any other creature outside except for when they needed supplies.

Even then, it was very scarce. No conversation, just get it done and move on.

When she was defeated by the main six, she looked around Equestria and was not surprised that the other kingdoms were very quiet about what they were doing. From what little she saw when she locked herself in her room, she seldom saw a different creature from another kingdom.

Of course, there was Spike, her nephew that had been blood adopted if she remembered correctly. Wait … did they still even do blood adoptions? Shaking her head, she got back on track.

But he was the only different creature she met and he was a dragon, which was very rare as dragons were not known for interacting with ponies. At all. They always wanted to be left alone and so they did.

Looking up at the night sky again, she felt her heart clench as she started to think about how different life would be if Celestia wasn’t in power. It was horrible, surely, but the path Celestia was going down will only lead to her downfall.

Her sister had lost her way long ago.

“If only she would share Spike’s view.” She muttered to herself as she glanced downwards to the creatures below in the Crystal Empire who were dancing, partying, and training.

The Crystal Ponies were not happy with Celestia and had made it known by practically worshipping Spike’s statue by going there every morning and saying a few prayers before going on about their day.

The Crystal colts and fillies were told stories about Spike’s battles like Yakyakistan, outposts, small towns, and even Manehattan. They heard about his legend and the wrath that came with it and were always fascinated.

Luna had even listened to a few of his stories and was amazed by the descriptions of the battles. If they were true, then he certainly was the destined hero of Equestria with a legend to show for it.

She smiled as she saw the young creatures run around and play, temporarily forgetting that they were the generation that would remember the invasion.

It was another thing that Luna was troubled by. How could Celestia just arrest her own child like that? It is one thing if he did something illegal—which he to some extent did but they are at war!—not giving him a chance to truly explain his reasoning.

He clearly did not do it for himself. He did it for the sake of Equestria.
He is neither interested in money nor power, having grown up with that already, so there is no need for that.

Whatever it is that Celestia believes Spike is trying to achieve is wrong. He is trying to save Equestria and the other kingdoms from the hooves of King Sombra. Something that neither Luna nor Celestia was doing.

Luna admitted, that she didn’t do a whole lot ever since she went against Celestia’s back a few months ago. But Celestia wasn’t doing anything either, she was just sitting in the throne room eating cake, hoping for better times while not doing anything to make that future possible.

She grits her teeth as glanced behind her into the room she slept in. The door that led to the hallways was firmly shut with a lock Luna had designed herself. It was a lock that both required magic and hoofprint.

She had made the lock because she was unsure of who to trust. Her sister arrested her son that is unofficially banished from Equestria, Twilight, and what little she has left of her friends were faithfully loyal to Celestia, believing that she is the sole hero of their kingdom.

It significantly sickened her.

She couldn’t believe that they would do such a thing to one of their friends and family member even. They were not the same ponies they were when they defeated her, they were entirely different ponies.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself before she started going on a rampage against her sister and followers. She wanted them to be alive.

“Okay, so what should I do?” She asked herself with some trepidation. Normally, she wasn’t anxious, but this was one of the few rare times she felt genuinely worried about what may happen in the future if she was to make the decisions.

It wasn’t like she wanted to go against her sister entirely. But Celestia had become too soft to her liking. They were at war. War laws and rules are bound to be broken, Spike knew that as well and even expected to get a harsh punishment after the war.

She remembered the exact words he told her;

“Aunt Luna, I don’t expect not to be punished for my actions, but until that day comes, I need you to promise me something. Never give up hope. I know you and Mother are not on the best of terms because you and I think alike which is why I ask you; to liberate Equestria and the other kingdoms that are in King Sombra’s hooves. Make sure the creatures have some creature to look up to.”

She had smiled and felt honoured that he considered her competent enough to do a task that her sister was failing miserably. Celestia had a thousand-year knowledge of politics and military experience, if anything, Celestia should be more than capable.

But sadly, Celestia was too occupied by her cakes to even care. It made Luna feel saddened by what has happened. She wanted desperately to go back in time and make it so that King Sombra never gains power.

But she couldn’t do that. It would ruin the prophecy and the world could potentially look grimmer than it already did so she didn’t want to risk anything.

She had witnessed Spike’s feats, defeating the Umbrums while leaving none of them alive to witness the sun or moon ever again in this life. She also heard his tale from the different creatures who had been liberated from him.

She saw how they smiled and spoke about him with such happiness and joy, that it moved Luna to tears.

Which is why she had to make a decision. She has already chosen it, and she knew her sister would be against her and call her a traitor. But there was no other side to pick, Celestia wasn’t doing anything productive for the future of Equestria, and Spike would need all the help he could get.

So she picked Spike. She loves her sister, but this war had three clear sides. One; join The Ghost and liberate their home, two; join King Sombra in his plummeting of innocent lives and live forever in darkness, or three; still be with Celestia, waiting for their inevitable demise if they didn’t do anything or hope for the best.

She couldn’t sit and roll her hooves hoping for the best, she would help her nephew any way she could. There would be casualties, there would be hated, destruction, riots, and much more.

She looked up at the night sky one more time before she made her way inside. She had to speak with her sister.

“WHAT!!?” Princess Celestia shouted in an angry, booming voice that made the walls shake so violently that the guards, maids, and butlers almost fell to the floor in fright of the voice.

Luna stared at her sister with an emotionless look on her face. They were standing inside the dining hall where they would have their meals. There was a long brown polished table that stretched a good twenty feet with chairs with the same colour and polish aligning on the sides.

The walls were thick but not enough to block out the booming voice of an angry Celestia.

Luna had just told her sister that she did not stand with her and would most likely leave the Crystal Empire with any creature who believed in The Ghost.

Naturally, Celestia didn’t take the news well. How could her younger sister betray her like that? A second time no less.

“You heard me, sister,” Luna said with no emotion on her face. It was like her emotions had evolved into one, stoic expression. She expected such a reaction so it wasn’t unwarranted in the slightest.

“Why,” Came the dreading question. If Luna could, she would walk out of the room and never return but she couldn’t. Words needed to be exchanged so both of them knew where they stood in the war. It needed to be official, not just written on some paper.

Which was why she didn’t turn away from Celestia.

“You know why,” She replied with such force, that it seemed like Celestia was knocked out for a second. “You first hit Spike, then you arrested him for a crime that was needed, and now you won’t fight this was.”

She may have been cruel, but it needed to be said. Even if they would never see and speak to each other again, At least Luna could say that she left her sister with words to think about.

Celestia’s face contorted into a look of fury. How dare she stand again her?! Did her sister not know how much she’s had to sacrifice?

“Does thou not know what I’ve sacrificed?” Celestia was mocked the way her sister used to speak before she learned the modern Equestrian language.

“Yes,” Luna impassively said, not remotely triggered by Celestia’s mockery. “But thou have made one too many mistakes in this war. I have let it slide many times over, but I cannot hold back any longer. Thy incompetence has been duly noted.”

It felt good to let it out. The feeling she had was as if something was lifted from her chest, making breathing possible for her.

The room became tense after what the night princess had said. But Celestia did not make any kind of moment or say anything that revealed what she was feeling; complete and utter fury.

Luna watched as Celestia’s face first contorted into anger which later turned into a neutral expression. They stared at each other as if waiting to see who’d break first. When neither broke, Celestia decided to speak up.

“Why have you turned against me, sister?” Her voice held betrayed sound as if she couldn’t fathom why such a thing would happen but there was sorrow, unforgettable sorrow that Luna would remember for the rest of her long life.

“Because I love you and cannot watch as you bring Equestria close to extinction,” Luna said with a sad voice, allowing it to seep inside her.

She didn’t want Celestia to think that she’d turned into Nightmare Moon but with the same body as she normally looked.

It wouldn’t do well otherwise if she was labeled to be the entity she hated with a passion.

Celestia looked temporarily stunned by the words. Bringing Equestria close to extinction? What did she mean by that? She had not done anything of the sort!

It was preposterous to think that she would ever do anything remotely close to that calibre …

“I will give you a decision, sister.” Celestia glanced at Luna with some caution. Whatever it was that Luna would propose would in some way shape or form, involve her son who was a criminal. “Either you join me and defeat King Sombra once and for all, or you continue down the path your going that will end with you having the blood of every creature on your hooves. Your choice.”

When she put it like that, it didn’t sound like she had many options.

“I’m sorry, Luna, but I cannot stand by The Ghost.” Celestia finally spoke after a pregnant pause had been in their air, filling it with tension like blowing a balloon.

Luna hung her head in despair as the situation truly kicked into her heart. There was no way she could convince her sister that Spike was the way to their freedom. Her sister would refuse to see it that way.

She had failed. It was meant to work! It was meant to convince her sister that there was time for them …

Her line of thought cleared as she looked at the crystal floor covered by a wine-red mat so her hooves wouldn’t be tortured the first few steps by the harsh cold crystal floor.

“Then I have no choice,” Luna spoke with a calm and collected voice, doing everything so she wouldn’t break down in tears. She refused to give her sister the satisfaction.

Celestia looked momentarily surprised by the attitude. “What?” She questioned with narrowed eyes.

The princess of the moon looked at her sister with an emotional face, no longer able to keep it hidden longer. She had expected the rift between them to eventually collapse into tiny pieces, forcing them to fight for survival and make sure that their kingdom doesn’t fall. She didn’t want to do it, but Celestia wasn’t giving her a choice in this matter, she was making it increasingly difficult to sympathise with her as the days goes by.

“I will take The Ghost’s followers, and re-establish what’s left of Equestria. You have shown that you do not care about Equestria; the kingdom we swore to protect when we unified the three pony tribes.” Luna’s words were like knives to Celestia, feeling her heart shatter as she stood a few feet away from her.

Luna turned around and walked away from there, finished with the conversation that had just cost them each other. Before Luna was gone though, she gave Celestia one last look and with a tear in her eye, she let out the final words;
“I’m sorry sister,”

On the outside of the castle, Luna walked away from her sister, intending on getting away as far as she could.

She witnessed a few ponies bow to her in respect like the solar guards as well as the lunar guards who were on standby if any Umbrums were ordered to invade the last Equestrian stronghold that thousands of creatures had fled to.

Walking faster than normal, she caught the eyes of a few Crystal Ponies who glared at the palace, knowing that the princess of the sun was inside there, doing nothing like usual.

At least in their opinion.

She allowed a sad smile. Loyalty was both a beautiful thing and a dangerous thing. It’s good that you have faith in a creature with evidence as to why one should be loyal but it can be dangerous if it’s under the wrong circumstances.

A few Crystal Ponies had left their beloved empire and travelled to the other places their hero had liberated. They then would either travel back and tell stories, or they would write the stories down and publish them as books of different sorts, explaining how The Ghost came to be.

Many creatures loved the books dearly and read every single word from cover to cover, eager to learn more about the hero who’s saved them so many times before.

Even Luna had read some of them, though, like many other times, she sincerely hoped that some of them were exaggerated for entertainment purposes.

But the Crystal Ponies were also known for their brutal honesty, just like the Apple family.

She sighed and continued to walk to the gates of the empire where she would leave and not return until the day King Sombra falls to his hooves.

There were many things she regretted not doing differently, like speaking up when Celestia hit her nephew or trying to stop the spell that was used to put Spike in the dungeons. But this time, she would speak up and she would be the leader her subjects and other creatures could look to.

Glancing at the gates where the guards were patrolling, she noticed that there were many creatures cooperating which made her smile.

If she had been told something like this would happen, she would have laughed in the creature’s face, but now, seeing it, in reality, made her realize that the possibility was there. She just hoped it stayed there after the war so they could strengthen their bonds and friendships throughout not just Equestria, but the world as well.

Smiling, she took off flying in the direction of the closest liberated town and didn’t stop even when she heard the guards shout at her to stop.

Author's Note

Be prepared guys, Luna will now take an active role in this war.