A Day Without Light

As we walked down the hall both me and Shadow started talking.  "So, that was some pretty cool magic you did in there Shadow."  I said with a genuine grin on my face, letting it show that I was actually being sincere.  "That shield was so powerful nothing I could have thrown at it would have gotten through."  I finished with a chuckle, forgetting for a second that I was talking to the Princess of the Night.  That disguise was really good.

"I was surprised that you actually hit me, no pony has done that in ages.  I think it has been, oh, roughly 300 or 400 years."  I gape for a second before remembering who I was talking to.  "You definitely have a talent in Black Magic, though I'm not so sure It would be safe for you to learn more just yet.  Maybe when you get older I will teach you more."

"Princess?"  I quickly asked not sure how she would respond to my question.  "What is the other half of my cutie mark?  I know one half is the night, but what does the other half stand for?"

Princess Luna's eyes almost seemed to bore a hole in my body before she started talking.  "Well, if you are going to be my student then you will need to get a deeper understanding of out history."  I just stared at that, knowing full well that I already knew everything I could know about our History.

"What do you mean about that princess?  I already know our history like the back of my hoof."

Princess Luna smirked as I said that.  "There is some things that you may not know young Dusk.  But do not worry, for I shall teach you."  A smile appeared on my face as when continued trotting down the halls.

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"And here we are,"  Princess Luna said as we walked into a room.  "The Grand Library, home to some of the most ancient books that we may have."  I just stared and kept on walking, lost in a state of shock.  This place was so big that you could probably fit an entire city's population in it.  "Follow me."  Luna started walking off into one of the corners of the Library, and as usual I was accompanied by stares from everypony else in the room.  Soon we stopped in front of a huge gateway that looked like it belonged in the depths of Tartarus.  "This is the forbidden section of the library, it contains some of the oldest and most dangerous books in the library.  If you every come here alone, there is a good chance you could find something that is more dangerous than an Ursa."

"What could be more dangerous than an Ursa?"  I ask cautiously, not sure if I really wanted to hear her answer.

"Well for one, me."  Princess Luna says calmly, almost as if she thought taking out an Ursa was an everyday activity.  I gasped at that, though she didn't seem to notice.  "There are also many books in here that can corrupt the weak minded and destroy your soul."  I knew a look of fear appeared on my face at that, she just chuckled when she noticed.  "Don't worry, as long as i'm here, they cannot hurt you."  At this I relaxed slightly, knowing full well that what she said was true.  We continued walking down the corridor of bookcases.  As we approached a small table in the center of the area, the room seemed to light up.  "This is where you will learn of our History.  However, you must swear to never tell any other pony of what you have seen or read here."

"I promise princess."  I said this wholeheartedly, knowing that the princess was putting her full trust in my hooves.

"Well, let us begin."  At this I nodded.  "Roughly one thousand years ago, there were in fact two Alicorns.  There was me, the princess of the night, and there was my sister, the princess of the day."  At seeing the puzzled look on my face, Luna sighed.  "This is going to take longer than I thought.  The day and the night were cycles in the sky.  The sun was what brought light and heat to our planet.  And my moon, was what terrified children at night.  As I brought fear, Celestia,"  She said this with an almost murderous intent. "brought peace and love to her children.  I asked her nicely if I could show all her ponies the beauty of my night, and she refused.  She exiled me to this land and said I could never come back."  It sounded like she was hiding something in her speech, but I knew that it must have been a tender subject for her.  "I had all the old history books burnt, so that no pony would try to pursue this light."

"Princess, I..."  I couldn't bring words to my mouth.  My next words were some of the most terrifying words I would ever speak, and I knew it.  "Princess, I would like to go on a mission to Celestias land."  At this she gasped.

"Why, why would you want to go to that forsaken land."  Luna said, practically choking on her words.

"I know that you don't like the idea, but I believe that it could help me learn more about our culture and our world."  I said this sincerely.  I really did want to see this land, especially if it had something to do with my cutie mark.  Even if the ruler was a tyrant.

"You may go Dusk, but you must tell Celestia how I am doing."  Luna was nearly in tears.  I guess she really did love that tyrant.

"I will princess, and don't worry ill be back soon."  A fear appeared in my heart, what if I didn't make it back.

"I will teleport you to the borders of their country, in the land know as the Rise."  At this a flash of light enveloped me, and I dissapeared.