In Lunar Shadows

by Blade Star

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Stygian
Length: 11281

Stygian struggles to cope follwing his rescue from the Pony of Shadows.

My entry to the Pillars Shipping Contest.

Stygian sought to improve his own magic, to help and protect others. But in doing so, he created the Pony of Shadows, and for a thousand years, he was trapped within his own madness. Now released, along with his friends, he must face up to his past mistakes. Fortunately, he will soon learn that he is not the only one to fall to darkness, and in doing so, discover the path to a mutual redemption.

Published 2021-08-03 18:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-08-03 18:30:00 UTC

In Lunar Shadows

Stygian wasn’t sure what he should be feeling right now. Everything had happened so quickly. The elation of being free of that vile monster he had created had in short order been replaced by worry and fear over what came next. The creature that had consumed him was gone. Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, their friends, and his own comrades had ensured that when they blasted it back into the Limbo from whence it came. They had pulled him out of the dark shadows that had ensnared and enveloped him for so long. And now he was free.

He wished he wasn’t.

Freedom meant a future, and a future meant facing the consequences of his actions.

In the initial chaotic moments after Starlight had finally pulled him free of the shadow’s grasp, he had not had any time to think, pause, or reflect. He had been living in his own private hell, of his own creation. The pain, torment, and fear had been overwhelming, and more than enough to prevent coherent thought. But on the long journey back to Canterlot, while the others had revelled in their success, he simply felt...tired.

How could anypony process what he had undergone? To be alive, aware, able to see and hear all that went on around you, and yet be powerless to act. At first, it had not been this way. The darkness that first spoke to him in Hollow Shades had been like a companion; a separate creature. But as his anger had grown, it had gained strength, until it became too much. There had been a moment Stygian remembered well. For a single fleeting moment on that dark day, his anger towards Starswirl had cooled. He tried to step back, step down, try and salvage their damaged friendship. But the words had not come. His apologies were replaced by threats, and violence. One moment, he was in control, the next, it had taken possession of his being. The shadows had closed in around him; nothing but rage and hate, until there was no more. After that, he was thankful that there were only flashes in his memory. Memories of that place, that silent hell. All the time, the beast had roared and raged against its bonds. Only when Starlight broke through to him did he begin to feel some semblance of control.

It now felt strange to move his own limbs, speak with his own voice, when for so long, another force had commanded them. But was that really the case? His creation was a part of him after all. Thus the guilt that now dominated his thoughts. Guilt of the greatest consequence of them all. He had trapped his friends in that hell with him, and while they may now be free, so much had changed. A millennia had passed! What would become of them all? Everything, everyone they had known, was gone.

The guilt hit him again and again like waves breaking on a shore. Yet the others were calm and serene as ever. Perhaps it hadn’t sunk in for them yet? Then again, they had nothing to feel guilty for.

“How are you holding up, Stygian?” a voice asked him, startling him for a moment.

Stygian looked up and saw that Starlight had crossed the train carriage, leaving their little group and had come to join him. He shook himself out of his melancholy.

“Oh...erm..I’m fine,” he lied.

“I can’t imagine how strange this must all be for you,” she said comfortingly. “But I’m sure things will seem better when we reach Canterlot. I know the princesses are looking forward to seeing you all again.”

Princesses. Stygian could hardly believe it. Those two had been little fillies the last time he saw them. Still, it would be nice to see familiar faces; something to help ground them all in this new world. Starswirl might have been their teacher, but all of them had been their friends. He couldn’t help but wonder though how they would receive the pony who not so long ago had been the Pony of Shadows.

He’d find out soon enough.

Like everything, their arrival into Canterlot showed Stygian just how much everything had changed. Last time he’d checked, Canterlot was a mining outpost. A group of unicorns had struck gems within the Canterhorn mountain, and the town had soon sprung up around the mine. Now though, instead of a rough and ready mining town, the place was a glittering metropolis. It was the home of the nobility, and had become Equestria’s capital city. There was even a castle, which was home to the Two Sisters themselves. What had prompted them to come up here? As far as Stygian knew, those two had lived a somewhat secluded life deep within the Everfree Forest, so as to avoid influence from the nobles.

As the train pulled into the ornate terminus station, Stygian saw a group of guards waiting for them on the platform. Were they for him?

“Okay, we’re here, everypony,” Twilight announced. “The castle is just up the hill. We’ll meet with the princesses and go from there.”

“Splendid,” Starswirl said with a smile. “It will be wonderful to see my dear students again. I’m sure Tia and Lulu will help us adjust to this new world.”

Stygian smiled at that. Starswirl would be in for a shock. True, they might be the ponies they once knew. But a thousand years had passed. He doubted they would be the same two fillies they remembered.

Of course, all the Pillars were feeling this. Starswirl might have been their teacher, but each of them had been a friend to the two future rulers. Stygian even remembered playing with them when they were fillies, helping them out when they had trouble with Starswirl’s lessons, or offering advice when they had problems in their new role. And of course, he all too often played peacemaker when the pair would argue.

On the one hoof, he was greatly looking forward to seeing them. Even if they were not the same fillies he once knew, they were still a connection to his old life. Still, he remained unsure how he would be received. Seeming to sense his unease as their group made their way to the castle, Starlight offered some advice.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about, Stygian,” she reassured him. “Everypony understands what happened, and nopony here blames you for it. I’m sure the princesses won’t either.”

Stygian bit his tongue to avoid replying. How could anypony understand what happened? Why should they not blame him? He did after all. Mitigating factors or no, there had to be some consequences for his actions.

Arriving at the castle, the group crossed the drawbridge and headed inside. It was an impressive place. True, it was not as large, or as defensible as their castle in the forest, protected as it was by the wild woodlands and weather that surrounded it, but it was nonetheless a sight to behold. Heading inside, through wide open, well lit marble hallways, Stygian marvelled at the beautiful stained glass windows. He recognised his new companions in many of them. But there were a few familiar faces too. It seemed that some old ‘friends’ had come calling in the time when they had been gone. Tirek had apparently made another grab for power, as had that insane lunatic Discord. Sombra even appeared to have returned. But there were others he didn’t recognise, insect-like ponies, and, most surprisingly, another alicorn. As far as he knew, there were only two; Celestia and Luna. He didn’t recognise this one, with her black coat, deep blue mane, and cat-like eyes. She was apparently the first threat Twilight Sparkle and her friends had faced down and defeated.

Looking closer, he saw that, upon its defeat, this dark alicorn was replaced by Luna. Had this creature taken her prisoner somehow? The crescent moon cutie mark it bore was similar to Luna’s. Perhaps it had tried to seize power. It apparently forced a solar eclipse according to the images depicted. Celestia too, had apparently fought this creature at some point, defeating it, only for it to return in this time.

Evidently, they all had a lot of catching up to do. Arriving at the imposing double doors of the throne room, the group was let in by yet more stern, stone faced guards.

Stygian, and the other Pillars, looked about them in amazement as they entered the vast throne room. At the far end, seated on a raised dais on her throne, they saw Celestia, with Luna standing beside her. Stygian wondered why Luna didn’t have her own throne. In the original castle, there had been two; one for each ruler.

But this was of little concern to Stygian though. He was more taken aback by the two alicorns. They had only been crowned for a short time when he and the other Pillars found themselves stranded in Limbo. Crowned by Starswirl, with the support of the leaders of the three tribes, they had only just begun their reign. They had been little more than teenagers then. Now though, they were very different. Gone were the two fillies Stygian often thought of as foalhood friends. Now they were grown mares, his senior many times over. His eyes came to rest on Luna for a moment, standing as she was beside her sister.

He’d always been fond of her. She had been shy as a filly, like he had been. And while Celestia had been so easily able to mingle and befriend everypony she came across, Luna had always found the task more trying. The two had developed a close friendship as a result of their time together, essentially growing up together, being so close in age. Stygian had always been the youngest of his own little group. Now though, the young stallion was struck by the beautiful mare she had become. He was startled out of his thoughts as Celestia spoke.

“Starswirl!” she exclaimed. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you back, all of you!” The old wizard, now quite humbled by recent events, chuckled at her foal-like glee and replied in kind.

“I simply can’t believe how tall you’ve gotten,” he said.

It was true. Celestia had to stand at a good six feet, including her horn, and Luna wasn’t far behind. Quite a change when they all remembered them as being not much larger than Stygian. For the smaller stallion, the difference was even more profound. He felt like a foal next to her.

“Well, it has been over a thousand years,” Celestia replied. “Will you stay here and teach magic once again? My sister and I have such fond memories of your lessons.”

“As long as you don’t ask for those essays we owed you before you disappeared,” Luna added, making her sister and Starswirl giggle.

“I’m not certain Canterlot is where I belong,” Starswirl admitted. “The realm has grown and I believe I’ll have a look around before I settle in any one place.”

“And I long to see what’s become of my home,” Meadowbrook said.

“I believe we all do,” Mistmane agreed.

“Then I hope you will return to Canterlot on occasion and share the wisdom of your great experience with the next generation of ponies,” Celestia said hopefully.

“We would be honoured,” Starswirl said, once again showing the humbling experience he’d undergone. “But if it is wisdom you seek, look no further than your own pupil. She showed me that the power of friendship is a magical force indeed. And that in turning away from others, you hurt yourself as well.”

“It’s funny,” Twilight said with a smile. “I thought meeting my idol would give me all the answers I ever wanted. But instead I forgot what I already knew. Good thing I have a student of my own to remind me.”

The smallest alicorn pulled Starlight in a hug as Celestia stepped down from the dais, with Luna following.

“Before you depart though,” she said. “Might I suggest you spend a few days in the castle to help you acclimate to this new world? A lot has changed since you were gone, and I would hate to see anything happen as a result of that.”

“Indeed,” Luna agreed. “I know full well the folly of going out into a world where you are so out of time. Perhaps, Sister, I could offer them some advice on adapting to this new world?”

“That sounds like a bonnie idea, Lulu,” Rockhoof agreed, before remembering himself. “Ah, I mean, princess.”

“It’s quite alright, Rockhoof. Shall we begin tomorrow then, Starswirl? If nothing else, it will give you a chance to look around the city as well.”

“Of course, princess,” he said with a slight bow.

“In any case,” Celestia continued. “Until then, you are our honoured guests. I shall have some rooms set up for you all. I’m sure you’re all exhausted after what you’ve undergone. Twilight, you and your friends are welcome to stay too.”

With that, a group of guards appeared to escort the group through the sometimes bewildering maze that was Canterlot Castle. As they were led away, Stygian hesitated and briefly glanced behind him. Celestia had stepped down from her dais and was talking to one of her aides. Luna however, was still standing where she had been. For the briefest moment, their eyes met. Stygian quickly broke the brief contact and hurried to follow the others.

Luna found herself smiling. It was so wonderful to see them all, alive again. And Stygian, she had to confess, in particular. A connection to her old life beyond that of her sister. A reminder of the mare she was before Nightmare Moon. She couldn’t help but remember how she used to have to look up at him. He was...well, not quite like an older brother. That would no doubt make the feelings in her most unsavoury to contemplate. In any case, she was still very much the stallion she remembered and admired as a filly. Although she couldn’t help but notice his demeanour. He’d always been more nervous than others, but it wasn’t hard to tell what thoughts would be weighing on his mind right now.

And so, in fairly short order, Stygian found himself being escorted to his rooms for the night. The vast castle had plenty of suites, typically reserved for visiting dignitaries, ambassadors and the like. But for tonight at least, Celestia had set many of them aside for the Pillars. Each had their own modest room, and an invitation to breakfast with the princesses tomorrow morning. The seven heroes of Old Equestria thus briefly parted ways for the evening. Starswirl chose to make for the library before bedding down, while Meadowbrook and Mistmane took in the castle’s famous gardens, along with Sonambula. Rockhoof and Flash Magnus meanwhile accepted an invitation by the Captain of the Royal Guard to their officers club for a well deserved drink.

Stygian however, wasn’t in much of a mood for such things, and instead chose to try and get some sleep. He was still surprised by what had happened. Nopony had mentioned a word about what he had done. Heck, Starswirl had even apologised to him. While the unicorn wizard was indeed in the wrong in the way he had banished Stygian from their company, was he not more guilty? Where was his punishment? Why was he not being led to the dungeons even now? All this friendship and love. He deserved none of it! His bitterness, jealousy and arrogance had nearly brought ruin to all he cared for.

But he dared not open his mouth. Why snatch away the mood of celebration? And in all honesty, a part of him was quite happy with how things were. You didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth after all. If he was to be spared punishment, so be it. But another part of him could not let things lie. It wasn’t a question of if he should be punished. He had committed a terrible crime. Whatever mitigation you might argue, he had created the Pony of Shadows. And thus he was responsible for its actions.

It felt so wrong to be here, in opulent surroundings. He felt as if he was being rewarded for his misdeeds. Leaving the bedroom, he stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the city below. It was late evening now, Celestia was setting the sun and Luna was bringing her moon skyward to replace it. He remembered fondly the first time she’d done it, with Starswirl guiding her, and Celestia cheering her on.

It had been almost painful seeing the two of them again. Even though he had hung back and tried to avoid their gaze. He’d missed them for so long, but seeing them amidst such disgrace…

He was startled out of his dismal thoughts by a knock at the door.

“Er...come in?” he called out, sounding a little unsure of himself. The door clicked open, and he saw Starlight walk in.

“Stygian?” she called out. “Are you in here?” She then spotted him on the balcony and trotted over to join him.

“I just wanted to check how you were doing before you went to bed,” she explained. “Celestia knows you’ve been through more today than anypony else.”

Stygian shot her a puzzled look. Unable to keep his thoughts to himself any longer, he asked the question.

“Why are you being so kind to me, Starlight?” he asked her. “You, your friends, my friends, Celestia and Luna, all of you. Why aren’t I in the dungeons right now, or Tartarus?” It was now Starlight’s turn to look puzzled.

“Why would anypony do that?”

“Is trying to plunge the world into shadow not a crime in this future?” Stygian asked, sarcastically.

“Stygian, that wasn’t your fault,” Starlight countered. “You weren’t in control of your actions.”

“But I was!” he insisted. “That creature and I are one and the same. I made it, from my anger and bitterness.”

Starlight paused as she tried to come up with a convincing counter-argument.

“Even if it was,” she insisted. “Your friends have forgiven you. We all have. Please don’t shut yourself away like this.”

She attempted to put a comforting hoof on Stygian’s shoulder, but the smaller stallion darted away from her, shrugging off her embrace. Stepping back out onto the moonlit balcony, he looked up at the star filled sky and came to a decision.

“I have to,” he said bitterly, after a moment. “It was my desire for friendship, for acceptance, that led to the Pony of Shadows being created. All it would take is another bad experience to bring it, or something like it, back to the surface. I won’t risk anypony else by putting myself in that position again.”

“So you’re just going to spend the rest of your life alone?” Starlight asked, aghast. He nodded.

“If none of you will act to protect yourself from me, then I will. Friendship is magic, but it’s a magic far too dangerous to me to possess.”

Starlight stood, seemingly frozen to the spot for a few moments. Even recalling her own experiences with the darker side of friendship, she could not believe what she was hearing. Still, she knew that trying to force the issue any further would only cause Stygian, in all likelihood, to lash out at her. So, with a heavy heart, and deeply concerned, she withdrew, leaving him in his solitude.

Hearing her hoofsteps depart, and the door closing behind her. Stygian let out a breath and allowed his head to sink downward in exhaustion. He didn’t want this, any of it, but it was necessary. He was like a ticking time bomb. It would only take one bad day to return him to the vile creature that had made his life a living nightmare for so long.

Utterly miserable, he tried to get some sleep. Even this proved difficult as he slipped between the luxurious sheets. He felt so undeserving of it all.

Stygian found himself in a green open meadow. He knew it well. This place wasn’t too far from the Everfree Forest, and the castle that a young Celestia and Luna called home. Before they had been princesses, they had been two happy-go-lucky adventurers. And before that, they had been two equally happy fillies. It was here that Stygian, along with the other Pillars, had first met them through Starswirl, who was charged with their instruction, and preparing them for the day they would come to govern Equestria.

All that was far away now, as Stygian found himself enjoying happier times. He had been quite young when he joined the Pillars, barely more than a colt. But Starswirl had seen that, while he lacked magical power, he had a keen intellect that rivalled his own, and so he had been offered the chance to leave his own humdrum life, and join their travelling band, helping to protect the fledgling nation, carrying on the traditions of great heroes like Gusty. He was a couple of years younger than Celestia, and a year or so older than Luna. Given the age difference between himself and the rest of his companions, he’d soon bonded with the two siblings, joining in on their games.

“You can’t catch me, Tia!” an excitable young voice called as a light blue blur shot past on his right.

“Come back here, Luna!” Celestia called in a vain attempt to sound authoritative.

The pair had both taken flight, skimming along the ground. Luna always was the more capable flyer, and at the moment was outpacing her older sister.

“Stygian! Help me!” Luna called out as she climbed and turned into a shallow bank. “Tia’s trying to drag me back to that cranky old Starswirl!”

“We can play later, Luna!” Celestia implored, still giving chase. Stygian chuckled to himself as the two fillies chased each others’ tails.

He was about to intervene, when Luna misjudged her speed and distance from the trees.

“Luna! Watch out!” Celestia called out.

Luna had been so fixated on avoiding her sister’s grasp, that she wasn’t looking where she was going. She tried to pull up and turn, but she had too much speed, and crashed straight through the small grove, emerging a moment later on the other side. With no lift, she dropped to the ground and rolled, coming to rest on the soft grass. The branches had cut her in a few places, but the landing seemed to have done a number on her left wing. Almost as soon as she came to rest, the young filly began to cry. Celestia quickly dove to land next to her, while Stygian galloped over to where she’d fallen.

“Luna!” her sister exclaimed in fright, clearly panicked.

“Ow! It hurts!” the little alicorn wailed through her tears.

“Hang on, Lulu,” Stygian said reassuringly. “Let me have a look at it.”

Activating his magic, he carefully prised her injured wing open. Luna winced, but didn’t cry out, so he doubted it was seriously fractured. While he was no Starswirl, he could use what magic he had to great effect. For a few moments, Luna’s wing was engulfed by it.

In short order, Luna stopped crying, the pain ebbing away until it was virtually gone. Stygian was no healer, that was more Meadowbrook’s department, but he knew a few basic spells. He managed to numb it enough to make her comfortable.

“There we go,” he said comfortingly as Luna dried her eyes. “Now why don’t we head to the castle and find Meadowbrook? I’m sure she’ll be able to have you mended in no time.” He wiped away a stray tear from Luna’s cheek as the filly hugged him. Celestia soon joined her.

The trio headed for the castle, with Luna leaning on Stygian for support. As they did though, the happy scene began to change. The sky darkened, the air grew cold. And colour itself seemed to fade from the world.

Dropping down from the cloud in a great funnel, a horrid dark shadow began to take shape. And a moment later, Stygian found himself face to face with the Pony of Shadows...with himself.

The two fillies screamed in terror. Stygian tried to tell them to run, but before he could, they were snatched up in it’s shadows, disappearing from his sight. The dark creature laughed.

“You think you can escape me that easily, Stygian?” he asked. “You think you can hide from me in some snivelling foalhood memory?” Stygian summoned what courage he could.

“You’re not real!” he shouted. “I beat you!”

“Beat me?” the shadow asked, with a maniacal laugh. “You just buried me. And we both know that won’t stop me.”

“You tricked me!” Stygian kept on. “Lured me with promises of power to help my friends.”

“I saved you!” the shadow snarled. “When they all turned on you. I sheltered you, taught you, made you greater. With me, you’re stronger than friendship, stronger than anypony!”

“You took everything from me!” Stygian exclaimed.

“Consider it a fair trade for what you did to me,” the shadow replied. “You chose to forsake me, throw me in Limbo. If I’m to be trapped alone forever, it seems only fair that you should suffer the same fate.”

“No! You did all those horrible things, not me!” He was lying to himself, but he couldn’t let this monster win. It smiled cruelly.

“We both know that isn’t true. You’ll never be the same, Stygian. You’ll always be the one who fell to darkness, never entirely trusted. Isn’t that why you want to be punished; so you have an excuse to be alone?”

It had always done that. Whenever Stygian had tried to challenge or question the dark things it whispered in his mind, the shadow would read him like a book.

“Just give in, Stygian,” the shadow continued. “There’s no hope for you. No future. You’re alone, abandoned, unwanted. Just as you were when I found you in that dark place.”

Stygian couldn’t bring himself to reply. The monster was right. He had burned his bridges. He would never be truly forgiven for what he had done. No matter what ponies might say, there would always be that stain on his character. The shadow drew closer to him.

“Come, Stygian. Give in. Join with me once more. What do you have to lose?”

Stygian didn’t know what he might have said had events not run their course. As it was, he was grateful for the timely intervention.

“No!” a commanding voice roared.

Suddenly, the shadow was blasted from behind by powerful magic, coating its back in hot, white light. It howled in pain, rearing up onto its hind legs before turning to face the aggressor. From the clouds, Stygian saw Luna, her dark blue coat standing out against the grey sky.

“You!” it hissed in fury.

Reaching out with shadowy tendrils, the shadow tried to ensnare her, but Luna deftly dodged and blasted her way through each obstacle it presented. She landed just a few paces in front of it, and squared off, staring the beast down. The shadow glared at her.

“I know you,” it said darkly.

“And I know you,” Luna said, her voice dripping with contempt. “There is but one thing to be done to a demon like you. Begone!”

With that, she blasted the creature again, her magic crashing into its chest. It screamed in pain once more, trying to fight or block the near blinding light. Stygian too raised a hoof to his face to avoid the glare.

“I will not let you take him!” Luna roared, seeming to intensify her magic even more.

The shadow was soon all but covered in light, and with one final cry, it shattered, flying apart in an explosion of intangible darkness that scattered in all directions. As the wave passed, the world around them began to change. The meadow remained, but the clouds parted, and the warm summer day gave way to a balmy night, lit by the light of the full moon.

Stygian was left amazed by what he had seen. The alicorn’s arrival had dispelled any remaining illusions of his dream, and he was now full lucid and conscious of what he was seeing.

“Luna!” he exclaimed in amazement. “You’re dream walking!” The alicorn smiled and walked over to join him.

“I’ve had a lot of time to practice since we last spoke,” she said with a smile. Her previous rage now subsided. “I walk the dreams of ponies every night, dispelling nightmares.”

“Was that what that...thing was?” Stygian asked. Luna nodded.

“The Pony of Shadows is gone from you, Stygian,” she assured him. “The Elements purged it from you completely. It was but an illusion, created by your dreaming mind.”

Stygian found himself now struggling to meet her eye again. Wasn’t the Pony of Shadows a creation of his mind too?

“Well, I appreciate your help,” he said a little lamely.

“I can stay here with you if you like,” Luna offered. “It’s a quiet night, and I think you’ll find that my command of dream weaving, as well as walking, has come a long way over the past thousand years.”

Stygian wanted to say yes, with every fibre of his being, but the words would not come.

“No, that’s alright,” he said, in a flat voice. “I’m sure you’ve got other things to do than humour me.” Luna frowned and moved closer to him.

She knew this reunion would be difficult for him, given all that had happened. She remembered, without fondness, how difficult her own first night back had been. With luck, her own experience would help guide her in helping Stygian.

“I’m not humouring you, Stygian. You’ve been through a horrifying experience, and nopony expects you to simply put it all aside. You always looked out for me when we were younger. Consider this returning the favour.”

Stygian looked at Luna in bewilderment.

“I’ve been through a horrifying experience?” he repeated. “No, I put my friends through a horrifying experience. I caused it. Because of me, the safety of Equestria fell to the two of you long before it should have. You should be looking in on them, not me.”

If Luna was unsettled by Stygian’s outburst, she didn’t show it. She’d been just as self-sacrificing when it was her turn. Anything resembling reward and goodness had left her feeling guilty.

“I already have, Stygian,” she assured him. “They are all sleeping peacefully, glad to be back, and just as happy to have their old friend back too.”

“But why?” Stygian asked in exasperation, getting up and walking away from her. “Why is everypony so happy? We all just spent a millennia trapped in Limbo. I nearly cast all Equestria into shadow. Why should anypony be happy that I’m still here?”

Luna was silent for a moment as he finished. She looked at him, not with pity or sympathy, but genuine worry for somepony she cared about. It was then that she truly saw that he was walking the same path that she herself had trod, not so long ago. The guilt for her had at first overwhelmed her happiness at being home and free again. Perhaps she ought to show Stygian that he wasn’t the only one to make a mistake.

“Come with me, Stygian,” she said, wrapping a wing around his smaller frame. “There’s something I have to show you.”

Luna led Stygian away, across the hillside. As they walked, Stygian’s dream slowly began to fade away, the two fillies, now safe from the monster, the trees, clouds, even the very ground they walked on slowly faded away. It was all slowly replaced as they crossed from Stygian’s dream, into the dreaming realm that was Luna’s domain. Stygian marvelled at the glittering array of stars and nebulae around him.

“Is this what you wanted to show me, Luna?” he asked as he walked alongside her. “It’s incredible.”

“You are kind, my friend,” Luna said with a smile. “But I’m afraid what I have to show you is not as pleasant as this place.”

Luna swallowed for a moment. It had been a long time since she had dreamt this dream. The dream with which she had punished herself. But Stygian needed to see what had happened to her in his absence.

With a flick of her horn a door appeared before them. It was a soft, light blue colour, emblazoned with Luna’s crescent moon cutie mark.

“Would you care to step into my head, Stygian?” she said with a half-grin. Stygian was caught off guard.

“Your dream, Luna?” She shook her head.

“A lucid one, crafted for your benefit,” she explained. “A great deal has happened since you and the others left. I think it’s time you caught up with history.”

The door opened as they approached, a white void within. Luna ushered Stygian over the threshold.

As he crossed it, for a few moments, Stygian’s world went white, he could neither see, hear, feel, nor smell anything. Fortunately, this deprivation only lasted a few moments, and before long, the world Luna had led him to began to take shape.

He found himself somewhere familiar once more; the castle in the Everfree. The throne room to be more precise. The great banners of both princesses hung from the ceiling, above their two thrones. Standing on the dais, he saw Luna, as she appeared now, so he reasoned that what he was seeing took place after his departure. Her expression was one of anger and disgust. Fortunately, he was not the target. Instead, she was directing her glare towards Celestia, who stood a few feet away from them, looking concerned. The real Luna, standing beside him, hung her head as she looked on. Whatever she was showing him, Stygian could tell it was painful to recall.

“Not another step!” the Luna on the dais snarled at her sister. Celestia stopped in surprise, but didn’t seem able to form a reply.

“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?” she continued, flaring out her wings. She activated her magic, building up a powerful spell. Celestia responded in kind, but Stygian could see her heart was not in it.

“There can be only one princess of Equestria. And that princess will be me!” Luna roared, rearing up before plunging down and smashing the masonry around her with her front hooves, her eyes briefly glowing with arcane power. That was when Stygian saw it.

Luna rose slowly into the air, by force of magic, not wings. Dark shadows began to form around her. They were not normal shadows though. There was light in the throne room, yet these shadows absorbed everything, seeming themselves to shine with a dark energy. Slowly, these shadows began to envelop the enraged alicorn, like some horrid cocoon. It was only at the last moment, before she was completely covered, that Luna seemed to realise what was happening. Then Stygian saw fear on her face. A fear he knew all too well. Of course, by that time it was all too late.

The moon rose, eclipsing the sun and shrouding the land below in darkness. A moment later, the transformation was complete.

Cruel laughter rang out through the great hall as the shadows receded. Gone was the Luna who stood beside him. In her place, the dark alicorn he had seen depicted in the castle. They were one and the same!

From there, the two sisters fought, really fought. It was clear that this twisted version of Luna was trying to kill her sister, and apparently almost succeeded, knocking the elder alicorn from the sky. But at the last moment, Celestia rallied. She removed what Stygian knew to be the fruits of the tree he and his friends had planted together; the Elements of Harmony. And with one blast, this dark creature was gone. On the moon’s surface, the eerie image of an alicorn’s head appeared.

As the dream version of Celestia stood, exhausted and weeping, Luna offered Stygian an explanation.

“You were not the only one to fall to darkness, my friend,” she said, in a softer voice than before. “I fell, too. My jealousy towards Celestia transformed me into her, Nightmare Moon. To save herself and her subjects, Celestia imprisoned my dark counterpart in the moon. A thousand years later, I escaped to take vengeance. But our mutual friend, Twilight Sparkle, and her companions were able to save me. They used the Elements to cleanse me of the darkness, just as it did you. I was saved, but I have had to live with the consequences of my actions ever since.”

Stygian was dumbstruck. Luna? The sweet, loving little filly, did all that? He couldn’t believe it. He wouldn’t believe it! He knew that darkness. It had corrupted her, tricked her as it had him, promising power and glory.

“Like you, upon my return, I feared punishment. But my sister would never do such a thing. We reconciled, and I resumed my place as Princess of the Night. But for the longest time, I struggled to adapt. Not just to a new world, but to comprehend what had happened to me. I blamed myself for it all. My jealousy allowed that...creature to take over and threaten everypony with eternal night. And I knew that it would be all too easy for it to happen again.

“To protect myself and my subjects, I tormented myself in my dreams, each and every night. Every night, after guarding the dreams of others, I would allow myself to fall into slumber. But my dream was the same, each night. I would make myself relive the terrible thing I did; the anger, the rage, the hate, and all the consequences that came with it. I all but tortured myself. It wasn’t until not so long ago that even this threatened to cause harm. The Tantabus, the creature I created to fashion the dream, tried to escape into the waking world. Were it not for the help of Twilight and her friends, it might even have succeeded.

“Of course, I blamed myself for all this too. Another consequence of my fall. I felt terrible for what I had done. But do you know what, Stygian? I learned something from that event. Despite all I had done, my friends and my subjects had forgiven me. Not one of them blamed me for my fall. And all thought it abhorrent, the way I sought to prevent it from happening again. I learned, in time, to let go of my mistake. It will always be a part of me, but I refused to let it govern how I lived my life.”

Stygian was blind-sided by what he had heard. He once again felt a pang of regret at his own exile. Had he and the others been there, they might have prevented such a tragedy.

“Oh Luna,” Stygian said, hugging the larger alicorn as best he could. “I’m so sorry!”

Luna had expected many possible responses from her tale. It had been a trying thing for her to relive that experience again. But she hadn’t expected an apology to come from Stygian. Pity, yes, concern, perhaps. But an apology? What did he have to be sorry for? She sought to show how alike their pasts were, and help him move on with his life, as she had done. He was blameless in the affair.

“Sorry for what, Stygian? You were not even there.”

“Exactly!” he said, releasing her. “If I...if we had been there, I’m sure that horrible thing would never have happened. Because I let myself fall to the shadow, you and Celestia were left vulnerable too. And you were trapped up there for so long.”

Luna couldn’t believe her own ears. He blamed himself for Nightmare Moon?! She tried a different approach.

“Stygian. Look at me,” she said after a moment, her voice a little harder than before.

“My fall was my fault. I listened to those dark whispers in my mind. I did not seek to plunge the world into night-time eternal, nor will I hold myself accountable for the actions of my dark counterpart. But I fell because of my choices, Stygian, so don’t you dare for one instant blame yourself. I am not to blame for the crimes of Nightmare Moon, just as you are not to blame for the actions of the Pony of Shadows.”

Stygian was surprised at Luna’s outburst. It was a rare thing to see her truly angry. As a young mare, she’d been somewhat excitable and prone to making the odd rash decision, but she always had a fairly calm temper, something she seemed to have improved upon greatly over the years, judging by her previously serene demeanour.

“By your logic,” she went on, now bordering on a tirade. “I should blame myself for what happened to you. I didn’t comfort you when Starswirl cast you out. So your fall in Hollow Shades is my disgrace. By the same token, my fall is the fault of my sister. Hay, everything is everypony’s fault!

“But if we all share in the blame, then we all bear it together. I shut myself away on my return, blaming myself. Yet I found my sister blamed herself even more. After the Tantabus incident, she was even more distraught at having failed me, while I thought the fault was my own. When we finally talked to one another about our feelings though, we both thought the other foolish for thinking as they did.”

Stygian listened to Luna’s argument in silence. He could see the parallels between her experience and his own. They were, in fact, remarkably similar. Both of them had been tricked and duped by the darkness. They were victims, not villains. Seeing the anguish on his face, Luna went on, now in a softer tone.

“Stygian,” she said gently. “When I was young, you were my closest friend. You looked out for me, helped me with my lessons, counselled me when I fought with my sister. I looked up to you as the pony I hoped to become. Please don’t torture yourself, as I did, for something that was not your fault. Take it from somepony who has been through the same terrible experience. It was not your fault.”

Stygian looked up to her and let out a sigh, turning away from her for a moment.

“I still have to live with the consequences though,” he said. He let his head hang low. “Even if I didn’t do what the Pony of Shadows did, I still have to face up to the result of their actions. Even if it wasn’t my fault, my friends and I still find ourselves catapulted through time. Almost everything I knew is gone. My family, my home, all of it. This Equestria is nothing like the one I remember.”

“You have your friends, Stygian,” Luna said, placing a comforting wing on his shoulder. “And...you still have me.”

Stygian looked up at her, briefly shaken from his melancholy outlook. Luna now seemed much more nervous than before.

She was. Luna regretted the remark almost as soon as she’d said it. Why in Equestria had she said that? She was here to help her friend, not indulge in some ancient foalhood crush! Yes, she had missed him, and yes, she was glad to have a chance to be with him again. But right now, he needed her help. Try as she might though, the floodgates had opened, and something she’d buried, something she’d never told anypony, not even Celestia, finally came spilling out.

“You were always there for me, Stygian,” she said, a little hesitantly. “And when you and the others vanished I...I missed you. Tia and I spent weeks searching for you all. We combed all Equestria, the whole of the Everfree. We even ventured to the Dragon Lands trying to find you. I wanted to find all of you, of course, but...you were the one I cared about the most. You were my best friend...and…”

Luna trailed off, now struggling to meet the smaller stallion’s gaze. How could she tell him? It would destroy him. He thought himself guilty for her fall now, never mind his own.

“And?” he asked gently. Luna began to cry softly.

“And when you left,” she said through quiet sobs. “That was when it started. That was when the darkness began to whisper in my ear. Before then, you would always tell me how beautiful the night was, how ponies did appreciate me. But without you, I began to listen to its poisoned words. I should have been stronger. I’m so sorry, Stygian! Please don’t blame yourself. The fault was mine. I just missed you so much. I...I loved you!”

And there it was. A secret Luna had kept to herself for a thousand years. At first, it had just been a filly’s crush. But as she had gotten older, her feelings for Stygian had only deepened. Of course, many suitors had approached her over the years, but through it all, she had never let Stygian entirely leave her thoughts.

Stygian looked on in amazement. Her declaration took him completely by surprise. He would be lying if he had said he had not had similar thoughts. He had always admired her. She had always been strong, wise, and had all the makings of a fine ruler. Had circumstances not turned against them, he might even have considered acting on his feelings. No, that was a lie. He’d enjoyed having her as a friend, and wasn’t willing to risk that friendship by revealing his feelings. Besides, why would she have wanted him? He was a short, little stallion, with magic comparable to a foal’s. He always thought her and Flash might end up together in all honesty.

Now though, he had an opportunity. She was interested in him. Despite all that had happened, all the time that had passed. Taking her hoof in his, he allowed her eyes to meet him. He had no idea what he was doing now, but he wanted to stop her crying, just like he always had.

“Do you know why I wanted to improve my magic, Luna?” he asked. She shook her head. “It was to protect you. Starswirl and the others, they had powerful magic, strength, speed. I was just this little weakling, barely able to cast a good levitation spell. If I could make myself more powerful, I could help my friends more, protect the ponies I loved, protect you.”

Now Luna’s tears stopped, and her smile returned.

“You never needed it, Stygian,” she said gently. “You saved me and Equestria many times over without it. Besides, it was always this that attracted me to you.” She placed a hoof briefly on his forehead, indicating his mind.

“And you don’t need to be jealous of Celestia,” Stygian said. Luna let out a soft chuckle.

“It’s funny,” she said. “I came here to help you face your demons, and yet you’ve helped me face some of my own. Just like when we were young, here you are, looking out for me.”

Luna carefully leaned down. It felt right. Now or never. Stygian felt the same way and moved to meet her. Luna kissed Stygian. The stallion instantly blushed up to his ears at the intimate gesture. It took him a second to remember to return it.

The pair spent the next half hour simply staring up at the stars, resting on the soft grass of the meadow. Stygian’s heart was lightened. It would take time, but Luna’s advice had already helped him a great deal. While he would never deny responsibility, however slight, for what had happened, he now at least understood why everypony had been so forgiving towards him.

Perhaps, he mused, in giving in to his own anger, he had forgotten how compassionate ponies could be. He no longer saw himself as a defeated villain, or a ticking time bomb. More to the point, he had quite the reason to go on now. It seemed that friendship wasn’t the only magic he’d forgotten about.

But there still remained the most difficult of questions. What now? Here he was, flung a thousand years through time. What was he to do?

“What was it like for you, Luna?” he asked, catching her attention. “The first night after you returned.”

“Strange,” Luna said simply, still gazing up at the sky. “You’ve actually dealt with things better than I did. For weeks, I was in a near daze, not quite believing that it was all over. My sister and I were reunited, my subjects had welcomed me home, and I was to resume my old duties. I spent weeks burying myself in books trying to catch up on all I had missed. I finally went to visit Twilight Sparkle and her friends a few months later. It turned out my learning was not all that effective. I still used the Royal we, the Royal Canterlot Voice…” Her explanation was cut off as Stygian giggled.

“You, speaking in the royal we?” he said through his laughter. “And the Royal Canterlot Voice?”

“What?” she asked a little defensively.

“Sorry,” Stygian apologised. “It’s just I can’t imagine fun loving Luna being so serious. I always figured that was Celestia’s department.”

“I suppose that is one major change since my return,” Luna admitted. “Celestia said I became a lot more serious as I got older. She’s done the opposite. Would you believe she enjoys zip lining now?”

“Zip what?” Stygian asked. Luna explained, the image alone making Stygian burst out laughing.

“It’s like the two of you have swapped places,” he joked.

“Oh don’t worry,” Luna assured him. “My sister is still very much herself, she’s just learned to be a little more fun.”

As their laughter died down again, Stygian turned his attention back to the night sky, and his thoughts returned to the future.

“I wonder what’s going to happen to all of us,” he said, half to himself. “Starswirl wants to explore the realm, the others are all wanting to look in on their old homes. But there’s no need for us old heroes now.”

“Not so, Stygian,” Luna countered. “Ponies like you and I, with our experience, have always been a welcome aid in times of trouble. All too often, problems arise because knowledge of some ancient artifact or magic has been lost. You and your friends could greatly help in that regard. And given our respective pasts, we possess a unique insight into the more dangerous forms of magic.”

“Fighting fire with fire?” Stygian suggested. Luna nodded.

“In a way,” she agreed. “Still, nopony expects any of you to be pitching in right away. There’s a whole new world for you to uncover yet. And a great deal for you to catch up on.”

That was true alright. With Luna, he felt more at ease. She was familiar. He knew her. This whole future Equestria though seemed too alien to him. The capital had moved, whole new cities had spring up, attitudes had changed. Almost every aspect of life was not as he knew it. Even sending messages. According to Luna, there was now a whole organisation of ponies who could take a letter from anywhere in Equestria and, properly addressed, deliver it to a particular pony wherever they might be, even beyond the borders of the realm. When something as mundane as a post office is a revolution, how do you come to terms with airships, electricity, or an entire city made of clouds? To try and understand this world alone would be a daunting task. Stygian was certainly grateful that Luna had offered to help them all adjust.

“Still,” Stygian said., a note of sadness in his voice “I’m not sure where I’m going to go. Heroes or not, I’m pretty sure my old home won’t be there waiting for me after all this time.”

On that front, Luna felt compelled once more to speak her mind. After all, she’d managed, just about, to confess her feelings. Surely this simple suggestion wouldn’t be beyond her.

“I would have no objection to you staying here with me, Stygian,” she said kindly, leaning down and gently nuzzling him affectionately. “While I enjoy my sister’s company, our duties keep us apart all too often. It would be pleasant to share quarters with somepony other than my guards and servants.”

It was as Stygian was pondering this that the world around him began to shift and shimmer. The small stallion started for a moment, prompting Luna to place a reassuring wing protectively across his back.

“Be at ease, my old friend,” she said calmly. “We are simply waking up. I shall see you again at breakfast.”

With that, she opened her wings, and allowed the strong currents of wind to take her aloft, before vanishing from the dream a few moments later. A few seconds after that, as the world slowly vanished around him, Stygian’s vision went white, before he woke up, and found himself in his bed.

As the sunlight streamed in through the still open balcony doors, Stygian found himself feeling...well, feeling like himself again. He was by no means ‘over’ his experience, but his views on the Pony of Shadows and his role in the harm it did had changed greatly. He had made a mistake, true, and he ought to regret that mistake, but he didn’t need to hold himself accountable for actions that were not his own. His process of healing would take a long time, and ultimately, would change Stygian forever. But he had taken the first step in dealing with it all, and that made him feel at least a little better.

He was certainly more open to the idea of being around his friends again. After all, they were his friends. He had been saved from darkness and they were glad to have him back. He didn’t need to feel guilty around them, or as if he were no longer part of their group. After all, had Starswirl himself not apologised for pushing him away so callously? So as he got out of bed, he looked forward to rebuilding those friendships he thought lost forever.

A short while after he woke up, a maid knocked at his door and proceeded to lead him to one of the castle’s dining rooms, where both princesses, the other Pillars, as well as Starlight and her friends had gathered. The latter group would be returning home not long after. Each had their own lives to get back to. The Pillars meanwhile, under Luna, would spend some time adjusting to their new world, before venturing out. He was the last to arrive and found everything in full swing.

The group was gathered around a large, long table, with Celestia and Luna at each end, and the Pillars and the various Elements of Harmony, along with Spike and Starlight, on either side. The sole empty seat, with a place set for him, was at Luna’s end of the table, between the diarch herself, and Starlight Glimmer. With a little effort due to his shorter stature, Stygian made himself comfortable, and helped himself to some of the offerings available.

“Good morning, Stygian,” Luna said with a smile.

“Morning, Luna,” he replied, smiling back. He then turned to the unicorn next to him “Hi Starlight.”

“You seem to be better this morning,” the pinkish mare replied.

“Well, I guess you could say I had some time to sleep on everything,” Stygian said, directing a knowing look towards Luna. “I appreciate you checking up on me the way you did.”

Starlight had been just as concerned about him as Luna was, only the two of them had parted far less favourably. Given how she was leaving soon, Stygian explained what had happened overnight, while the others carried on their own conversations. He didn’t want her to leave worrying about him. He explained how Luna had banished his nightmare, and helped him begin to come to terms with what had happened to him.

“Well I’m glad to see you’re doing better than last night,” Starlight said as he finished his story. “I don’t suppose this is a good time to tell you I’m a reformed villain too?”

The three of them soon fell into an animated discussion about their various nefarious pasts. Starlight, Stygian reflected, probably had the most difficult road to redemption, since unlike him or Luna, she couldn’t explain away her actions due to a corrupting influence. Conversely, it had been her own past that prompted Starlight to try and save Stygian, when all others were quite willing to send him, along with the Pony of Shadows, back to Limbo. And he was hardly in a position to criticise, now was he?

“Just remember, Stygian,” she cautioned him. “This is just the beginning of a process. You can’t expect to simply ‘move on’ from what has happened. It will take time before you really come to terms with everything. I know I still have a hard time sometimes when it comes to my own...mistakes.” Starlight looked away at that, somewhat ashamed.

“Indeed,” Luna concurred. “It is a long journey that lies before you, a journey that both Starlight and I still walk. But it is not one you must make alone.”

“Twilight was a huge help to me, taking me on as her student. My first week living in the castle, she spent a lot of time with me just talking things out. What really helped though was her suggestion of writing therapy.” This piqued Stygian’s interest.

“Writing therapy?” he repeated. His confusion was understandable, given that such things didn’t exist in his time.

“The act of writing down one’s innermost thoughts and feelings to help a pony come to terms with a traumatic event,” Luna explained. “Bottling up one’s fears can make a difficult problem worse. But some ponies find it difficult to discuss such things. Writing them out in a journal-like structure allows them to confront the event from another angle.”

It was a novel idea, Stygian mused. He knew that Starswirl had kept a journal throughout their adventures. He felt a pang of guilt and sadness when he recalled that it, along with several other treasured objects, had been destroyed by the Pony of Shadows when it escaped from Limbo. Still, it sounded like something worth trying. There were, after all, plenty of things that Stygian didn’t feel he could tell anypony, at least not face to face. Perhaps he could make a start this evening; go over everything that had led up to his fall, and then confront his time spent ‘with’ the Pony of Shadows.

That was something to do later on though. As he finished his own breakfast, Luna made a brief announcement to their assembled little group.

“Twilight Sparkle and I have been putting together a brief course for you to undertake,” she explained. “It should help you adjust to some of the more substantial changes that have taken place while you’ve been gone. You certainly won’t have to face the same challenges I did upon my own return. However, before that, I’m sure we’d all like some time together. I know everypony was quite exhausted last night. So I suggest we begin the first lesson later this afternoon.”

“A sound idea, princess,” Starswirl agreed, nodding sagely. “As much as I enjoyed my romp through your archives last night, it would be nice to ‘take it easy’ as ponies say now.”

“I’d suggest you all spend some time in the castle gardens,” Celestia suggested as she sipped on a cup of tea. “It might even make for a pleasant outdoor classroom.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Mistmane agreed. “It’s simply amazing how much you’ve been able to cultivate all the way up this mountain. It’s like your own nature reserve.”

“Then it’s agreed,” Luna said with a nod. “You are all free to explore the castle and gardens this morning, and after lunch we shall begin our lessons.”

Stygian hadn’t yet had the chance to see the gardens. Based on Mistmane’s descriptions, he was expecting something impressive, but he wasn’t prepared for what awaited him. It truly was a sight to behold; an entire arboretum had been created halfway up the Canterhorn. There was a vast hedge maze, open grasslands, and a few copses, where much of the garden’s native wildlife congregated. The gardens also held various statues, depicting what were, to Stygian, contemporary heroes. It was certainly awkward for the likes of Meadowbrook to find herself immortalised in marble.

While Stygian no longer felt the need to wall himself off from his friends, he was still quite the introverted pony, and relished his solitude. After all, it was then when some of his best ideas came to him, which had helped save Equestria on more than one occasion. So, staying close enough to the others, he began to explore the gardens. Perhaps this peaceful oasis would give him a chance to start this writing therapy his friends had suggested. He had, in any case, brought along a small journal along with ink and quills in a pair of small saddlebags. It probably wouldn’t hurt to take notes for Luna’s upcoming lessons anyway, so it made sense to bring them along.

Leaving the large open area where most of the statues stood, including one oddly vacant pedestal marked ‘Chaos’, Stygian found his way to a small sheltered grove. A collection of apple and pear trees had grown up near a small brook. Their overarching branches provided a canopy that kept a fair portion of the sunlight out. Given its location in a quieter end of the gardens, the usual ambience of the city was instead replaced with nothing but a babbling brook and birdsong. After all that had happened in the last day or so, it provided a nice opportunity to let himself relax.

Lying down on the grass, Stygian closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the soft wind, and the birdsong, to wash over him. It was wonderfully calming. He’d felt the same sort of serenity when he’d been in Luna’s dream, as if a great weight had finally been lifted. Letting out a contented sigh, he opened his eyes again and pulled out the small journal. Dipping the quill into the ink, he slowly began to write. Starlight had told him not to think too much about what he wrote, and to not inhibit himself either. He was to write his true feelings out, whatever they may be.

After a few minutes, he’d managed to fill a page with his scribblings. It was disordered; a collection of almost random thoughts, both good and bad. And while it had seemed somewhat illogical at first, Stygian couldn’t help but admit that it did feel good in a way to put them all down in writing. It was like he was sharing his thoughts with somepony, while still keeping his privacy. There were things here that he wasn’t about to tell anypony, not even Luna. At least, not yet.

Speaking of Luna, as he paused and looked up from his work, he found that the alicorn had joined him in the sheltered grove. She hadn’t approached him, or tried to read what he was writing, instead simply sitting down a short distance away, seemingly meditating.

“Oh, Luna,” Stygian said, prompting the night princess to look his way. “Sorry, I guess I got a little lost in this.”

“I saw,” she said with a smile. “I thought you might seek out somewhere like this. You should see it at night, when the lunar shadows filter through the leaves.”

Stygian could imagine it. The flickering sunlight made this place idyllic already. Moonlight would only intensify the effect.

“I’m not disturbing you, am I?” she went on, now looking a little embarrassed.

“No, not at all,” Stygian assured her, closing the book after the ink had finished drying. “I could use a break anyway. So is it time for our lessons to start?” Luna chuckled lightly.

“Time may fly when you are busy, Stygian,” she said. “But it doesn’t fly that quickly. No, it’s not time for our lessons to begin. But it is time we all had some lunch.”

At that moment, Stygian’s stomach decided to let out a low rumble, making him blush as looked up at Luna.

“Oh, right,” he said sheepishly. “I guess I really did lose track of time.”

Getting up and packing his things back into the saddlebags, he looked up at the taller alicorn with a smile. Luna smiled back.

“You know,” she said coyly. “You never did give me an answer to my offer. Your staying with me here in the castle I mean.”

Ah yes, Stygian recalled their dream conversation. He was no expert on how things happened in this modern world, but it seemed an awfully big step, considering the two had just confessed their feelings to one another last night. Then again, if Luna was asking him…

A part of him wanted to stay with his fellow Pillars. Having only just reunited with them, he wanted to stick with them, rebuild their friendship and trust, never mind travel and explore this new realm. But if he was honest with himself, he felt a much greater pull towards Luna. He still had a lot to do in terms of dealing with everything that had happened, and Luna had already been invaluable in helping him. At the same time though, he felt a need to help her. She too was still affected by her past as Nightmare Moon. The two could support each other, help and comfort one another. In the end, there was only one answer he could give.

“If you’ll have me,” he said with a smile. Luna leaned down, wrapping her wings around him, and pressed her head against his, their horns crossing each other.

“The darkness may have taken something from us in our weakest moments,” she said softly. “But together, we’ve both gained something that gives us the strength to fight it.”

With that, the two stepped out into the light of the day. Darkness would haunt and torment them no longer. And together, they would heal, rebuild, and be better ponies for it.

Author's Note

So, here's my entry for the 2021 Pillars Shipping Contest.

Thanks to Alden MacManx for proofreading.

I'll be honest, shipping isn't my strong suit. I've never experienced love or a deep emotional connection to someone, and writing about something you've never experienced is a little difficult. But I always thought this would be an ideal pairing, given Stygian and Luna's similar backstories, so I gave it a shot.

I know this is isn't exactly romance, it's really just the bare beginnings of a relationship and more an exploration of Stygian coming to terms with his fall, but it was nice to write out. I'm honestly surprised that I haven't seen more Luna/Stygian stories on here.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading this. Feel free to give some feedback if you have a moment. Like I said, shipping and romance aren't what I'm good at, so I'm always open to suggestions to improve.

Thanks for reading.