Moonrise: The Birth Of The New Lunar Empireby Drunk LunaChaptersPrologueChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter OnePrologueBathed in moonlight, a majestic alicorn surveyed the glowing blue sphere in the distance, her bright turquoise eyes narrowed in a scowl. Rage brewed within her, making Nightmare Moon’s starry tail begin to twitch involuntarily. She gritted her teeth and began to calculate the position of the moon in proportion with Equus. In spite of her circumstances, the goddess of the night lived comfortably; fortunately, the sun bitch had restricted the use of Nightmare Moon’s powers to the moon so that she could still conjure food, lodging, and adequate forms of entertainment for herself and her young daughter. The lunar alicorn had built a fully-stocked library, a school building, and a magnificent palace, but of course, nothing would ever compare to Equus. Nightmare Moon huffed in irritation and tossed her dished head, which was a clear sign of her Arabian ancestry, along with her elegant, long neck that curved in a graceful arc, her endlessly slender legs, and her proud, high tail carriage. She walked over to her mirror and surveyed her glossy black coat, pausing for a few extra seconds to admire her striking beauty. “Mommy!” The demoness’ delicate ears flicked in the direction of the small, familiar voice, and a warm, loving smile began to soften her features. As she continued to look in the mirror, a much smaller, eggplant colored alicorn appeared behind her, prancing excitedly as her turquoise eyes glinted like the stars that surrounded the moon. “Circe, my little moonbeam,” Nightmare Moon trilled, gently pulling the filly in for a hug. “How are you, darling? Did you finish your assigned reading?” She dropped a gentle kiss on the foal’s forehead, then nuzzled her affectionately. Circe nodded. “Every word,” the foal said with a proud smile. “I can’t believe how many constellations are in the sky, Mommy. Did you really make all of them? Which one is your favorite?” Nightmare Moon smiled so widely that her face began to hurt, but the warmth in her eyes proved the genuine love she held for her precious young daughter. “Well,” the goddess replied thoughtfully as she gazed out at the endless abyss of stars that surrounded them, “I like Scorpius. I created that one when I was feeling extra bitter about your terrible aunt. Do you see how the scorpion is poised to kill?” She gestured to the cluster of stars. “One day, my dear, we shall be the Scorpius of Equestria, raising our stinger to strike down my inconsiderate, unkind fool of a sister. She only sent me here when I lashed out at her in response to her neglect. She never once shed any of her precious light on any of my accomplishments, though my role was exponentially more difficult and valuable than hers will ever be. I ushered ponies to the afterlife, Circe. I gave a peaceful end to every single pony who passed away on Equestrian soil. It was the most sacred, precious, emotionally painful job a pony could have, but did I ever receive any respect, recognition, or appreciation for it from her? No. Ponies have suffered and died alone for nearly a millennium because she is too lazy and emotionally weak to handle the weight of my most sacred duty. I hate her, my dearest daughter, and I will protect you from her with my life if I have to.” Nightmare Moon’s face turned serious. “Circe, you must promise me that you’ll never trust her when we return, no matter how hard she tries to manipulate you—and believe me, she will try.” “I won’t trust her, Mommy,” Circe replied, cuddling under Nightmare Moon’s wing. The mare relaxed and nuzzled her daughter’s temple. “Are you sleepy, my lovely?” the demoness cooed as the filly lay down beside her. Circe yawned and pressed against her mother’s side, curling up into a fluffy purple ball and tucking her muzzle underneath her small wing, curling her long, thick tail around her body. Nightmare Moon’s heart melted with maternal love, and she instinctively formed a protective circle around the filly’s body with her own. “Sleep peacefully, daughter,” she whispered as Circe began to drift off. “The night shall always keep you safe. We will never part, my little moonbeam. I love you so very much.” Nightmare Moon nuzzled Circe once more, then cuddled the filly against her side and fell asleep. Chapter TwoCirce opened her eyes, blinking several times to adjust to the blinding light that seemed to envelop her. The air was much warmer than the frigid winds that blew across the moon’s desolate landscape. The ground beneath her was cool, but solid and pristine. Circe froze, her entire body shaking as she looked up and saw the tapestries on the walls of the bright room in which she now found herself. She continued to tremble, frozen in fear as the sound of approaching metal horseshoes echoed across the floor. “Circe,” a familiar voice said gently. The filly’s ears swiveled in the direction of the voice, and she turned slowly, her eyes widening as she looked up at a beautiful blue alicorn. “My dearest little Circe,” the alicorn said, placing her hoof on the filly’s shoulder, “it’s only me, it’s your mom. You are safe, and you are so very loved, my darling. Mama missed you so much.” Circe gasped and recoiled backwards. “You,” she hissed as she fixed her eyes on Celestia. “I’ll kill you, Sun Bitch!” Circe lunged at the solar princess and was immediately subdued by Luna’s magic, which sent her into a comatose state that could easily be reversed. Luna sobbed as she lifted her daughter gently and placed her into her new bed. “Nightmare Moon completely brainwashed Circe,” a heartbroken Luna confessed later as she and Celestia stood outside of the filly’s bedchamber. “She has been conditioned to hate you… to do anything to kill you.” Her eyes began to fill with tears. “What can I do to earn her trust?” Celestia asked. “Luna, are you sure it’s safe for her to be here?” “Where else can she go, Sister?” Luna snapped. “We are the only family she has. I will talk to her as much as I can, but it will be incredibly difficult to undo so many years of brainwashing. I’ll monitor her constantly; she will not be allowed to leave my wing of the castle without me. I will continue to educate her myself, but I would like to send her off to school once she has grown accustomed to Equestria.” Celestia nodded, sighing thoughtfully. Circe woke with a start, her head snapping in every direction as she tried to remember where she was. Above her, the ceiling boasted a beautiful fresco of Luna and Celestia underneath their respective celestial bodies. Circe’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the sun in the breathtaking work of art; the sun that shone over this planet was so bright, intense and overwhelming, and Circe hated it. The disoriented young mare’s ears flickered, and she nearly fell out of bed. She shook her head and trotted off to find Luna, eager to learn more about her new home. As Circe descended the spiral staircase, her breath caught in her throat. Celestia stood in the dining room, surrounded by a wide variety of cakes. Circe’s stomach dropped as the sound of her hooves on the ivory marble floor echoed all around her, soaring up to the cathedral-like ceilings and flitting from one side of the room to the other. The solar diarch’s ears swiveled back in Circe’s direction, and she turned to greet her niece with a warm smile. “Good morning, Circe,” the white alicorn chirped, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear as the sunrise’s crimson light reflected brilliantly off of her gold horn, crown and necklace, the latter two of which were both adorned with a large pink sapphire surrounded by equally large diamonds. “Did you sleep well?” Circe’s muscles tensed involuntarily, and she set her jaw, raising her chin slightly. “Yes,” the younger princess replied, her tone icy. “I trust you slept equally soundly?” Celestia’s fuchsia eyes swept over Circe with a faint look of wariness that did not go unnoticed by Luna’s daughter. “I did,” Celestia said after a few seconds that felt like hours. “How are you finding Equestria? Have you started exploring your new home yet? I know your mom is homeschooling you, but as your auntie I would love to take you on a special trip around Canterlot sometime. Would you like that?” Circe hoped that she didn’t sound as bitter as she felt when she heard herself agree to a tour of Equestria’s capital with her aunt. Yes, she hated Celestia, but curiosity was building within her. “Wonderful,” Celestia squealed. “Why don’t we start with the castle? You’ve stayed in your mom’s wing for so long. I hope you understand that Canterlot Castle is just as much your home as it is mine, so please feel free to explore as much as you like. You are a princess, after all.” “Thank you,” Circe replied shortly. “I… I think I would rather explore on my own. Thank you for the offer, though.” With that, she trotted down the nearest corridor and entered the first room she saw. The door was locked, but Circe opened it effortlessly with her magic, shooting a hot pink bolt from her horn that instantly unlocked the door and shoved it open. The room smelled of old books, leather, dust, and mahogany. Hundreds of shelves packed with thousands of books filled the expansive space. Circe’s jaw dropped at the sheer size of the massive library, which boasted several large stained glass windows that depicted five alicorns. Celestia’s picture was first, then Luna’s, followed by a pink alicorn with a purple, pale yellow and dark pink mane and tail, then another, smaller pink alicorn, both of whom were depicted levitating a blue heart. The next window was adorned with a picture of a purple alicorn against a hot pink star. As she looked up, Circe caught sight of the largest window in the library, which depicted a scene of Celestia banishing Nightmare Moon. Circe stifled a growl, then walked over to a random shelf and selected the first book she saw. Within it were many detailed accounts of Celestia’s “heroic deeds.” The filly looked through the titles of the other contents of the shelf, none of which seemed to acknowledge any of Luna’s incredible contributions to Equestria. She moved on to the shelves that contained the history textbooks from which every school in Equestria taught; these books, too, only mentioned Luna as the princess of the night who raised the moon and governed the realm of dreams. The detailed accounts of her victories in battle, lengthy descriptions of her charity work, and the reassuring passages that told of her most treasured work guiding ponies to the afterlife had all been completely omitted. Celestia had rewritten the history of Equestria, eliminating anything that portrayed Luna in a positive light. “Where are the books about my mom?” Circe asked. Celestia shifted her weight uncomfortably between her front hooves with a guilty look on her face. “After your mother’s banishment,” she sighed, “I was so enraged that I pulled everything that painted Luna as the kind ruler that she used to be from the shelves. I couldn’t afford for anypony to think I was in the wrong for doing what I did. I had no other choice.” Celestia looked down and refused to meet Circe’s eyes. You cowardly, spineless, narcissistic bitch, Circe thought. Hatred bubbled within her, and she could no longer bring herself to look at her aunt. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest for a while,” she murmured, trotting back to the wing that she shared with Luna. She had seen enough; the sun bitch had to go. Chapter Three“Please, my darling, calm yourself,” Luna whispered soothingly, rubbing her daughter’s back. “Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart.” Circe took a deep breath, trying to rein in her tempestuous thoughts before speaking. “Mom, Celestia is not who you think she is,” the purple mare said. “She--" Circe was cut off by Luna's raised hoof. The mistress of the night's clear cyan eyes narrowed into a scowl. "I will not hear any more negative words about your aunt from you, young filly," Luna said sharply. "My banishment was my fault. My sister is not perfect, but I had to take full responsibility for my actions." Her eyes flitted downward for a fraction of a second, then returned to meet Circe's. "I do not trust her," Circe muttered. "Look at all the history books, Mom; Celestia has completely erased you from Equestria's story. None of your accomplishments, contributions, nor anything else pertaining to your reign pre-banishment is being taught in any of the nation's schools; in fact, you're only ever mentioned in passing as Celestia's younger sister whose jealousy sealed you in the moon for a thousand years. It's nothing but propaganda to make your sister look like a hero." A wave of pain washed over Luna's face, but she quickly regained her composure. "I will not believe any of your preposterous claims until you have shown me concrete proof of such unbelievable material," she said coldly. "Furthermore, even if such works do exist, there must be at least a few articles and essays that disprove their points. Did you search the library at Canterlot University? I'm sure there are plenty of scholarly articles that argue in my favor." Circe shook her head sadly. Even after hours of combing through countless academic journals, history textbooks, and peer-reviewed essays and articles, she had not found a single written work outlining the actual causes of Luna's downward spiral. "Mom," Circe said softly, "history is written by its victors. While I was researching, I learned..." she paused, choosing her words carefully, "...I learned about a supposed clandestine parliamentary session, which took place about three months before you turned into Nightmare Moon. Celestia held this meeting so that the laws of succession could be amended, but she issued a gag order to your private secretary so that you would never know about it unless you had a foal of your own. The history books all stated that you were 'out of the country on a royal tour of Saddle Arabia, the United Arab Equines, and Thoroughbredistan,' but that didn't make any sense, since your private diaries proved that you were in residence in Canterlot at the time. Anyway, these new succession laws, which are still in effect today, are summarized on this page. Though it is technically impossible for any law regarding you, Celestia, nor your heirs and successors to pass through Parliament without the signatures of both rulers of Equestria, Celestia swore before all the MPs that you had expressed your desire to abdicate, and that she would personally deliver this document to you to be signed as soon as the session adjourned. I have looked through enough of your personal diaries to know that this signature is not yours." She thrust a sheet of paper under Luna's nose. "Mom, Celestia forged your signature in order to hide an important matter of state from you. That is not even the worst part, though; read what the law itself says." Luna's stomach dropped as she began to read the contents of the document: Should one or both of Their Majesties die unexpectedly, only the offspring of Her Most Excellent Majesty Celestia, By the Grace of the Sun, of Equestria, the Commonwealth, and of her other realms and territories, Princess, Co-Ruler, Sovereign of the Day, shall remain in the royal line of succession. Any offspring of Her Most Excellent Majesty Luna, By the Grace of the Moon, of Equestria, the Commonwealth, and of her other realms and territories, Princess, Co-Ruler, Sovereign of the Night, shall be removed from the royal line of succession, at which time Equestria shall immediately change its government structure from that of a diarchy to that of an absolute monarchy over which the sun shall always shine. Anypony who publicly or privately threatens, criticizes, slanders, or questions the legitimacy of the glorious rule of Her Majesty The Princess Of The Sun as their sole head of state or questions the legitimacy of Her Majesty's heirs and successors, shall be arrested, imprisoned, and tried for sedition and possibly high treason in Her Majesty's Crown Court, at which time they shall be sentenced to death by immolation if convicted for the latter offense. If a subject witnesses such an act and fails to report it, he or she shall also be arrested, tried, and possibly convicted of sedition, which is punishable by life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or high treason, which is punishable by death. May the sun never set on Equestria. Long live Princess Celestia. "N-no." Luna's voice shook. "This... cannot be real. Celestia would never forge my signature, although she probably tried to justify this law by saying that I failed to act in a manner befitting a ruler of Equestria." She looked at the bottom of the document again, then shook her head in shock, her face contorting with anger and pain. "I can forgive her for neglecting me. I can even forgive her for banishing me, but the fact that she threatened my supporters with death is unfathomable to me. She's... a tyrant." Author's Note Okay, so yeah, I got that last part from the saying "the sun never sets on the British Empire." Chapter FourLuna closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled slowly, trying to keep her temper in check. Circe's eyes changed to a blood orange hue as she set her jaw. If Luna was angry now, Circe was slightly afraid of how her mother would react to her next revelations. "That isn't even the worst part," she said with a sigh. "Celestia has made sure that her government starts indoctrinating and training foals to fight and die for her cause from the moment they're born. I found a book of nursery rhymes and little songs that are required to be taught in every preschool. Every single foal is implanted with a tracking and mind control device as soon as they leave the womb. They do not belong to their parents; it is understood that every foal is Celestia's property. The thestral population is incredibly small now. As soon as you were banished, Celestia rounded up all of your guards, including my dad, and killed them all by genocide. Their race has been minimized significantly." Circe swallowed hard, knowing she would break down if she said another word. Luna's stoicism crumbled as her tears began to flow. "Your... your father," she sobbed, "my beloved husband, Ares. I... of course, I knew that he would not be alive upon our return, but to know that such a brave warrior, my most loyal soldier, the love of my life, a war hero who fought so valiantly in so many battles, died at the hooves of my own sister... I have no words." Luna's voice was thick with a mixture of pure devastation, grief, disgust, and rage. Her heart shattered, and she fell to her knees, curling up into a ball. The lunar princess' body shook violently as she sobbed uncontrollably. After a few minutes, she raised her head to look at Circe, her eyes wide with fear. "She will stop at nothing to get rid of you," Luna whispered to Circe. "You must return to the moon, my little one; you will be safe there. Let me get rid of Celestia alone. I will not allow you to endanger yourself, Circe. Your princess orders you to go back to the moon at once." The young mare's face hardened as she lifted her chin in defiance. "No," Circe replied, looking her mother squarely in the eyes. "Celestia's government cannot be toppled by you alone; your last attempt to overthrow her was a massive failure, to say the least." Luna's jaw dropped, and she stood in stunned silence for a few long seconds, then she glared. "Circe," Luna said in a voice that was dangerously low and soft, "you will listen to your mother, or I will have no choice but to send you back to the moon. I only just got you back, sweetheart; please don't force me to make a decision that will be painful for both of us. I refuse to allow you to put yourself in harm's way, my most beautiful night. If I were to lose you, I would never be able to live with myself." Circe set her jaw, planted her hooves firmly, and stared Luna down, never breaking eye contact with her mother. Finally, Luna looked down and chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are your mother's daughter," she sighed. "There is no question of where you got your stubbornness. Very well, you may fight alongside me, and we will win; we will need to form a huge army, but in the meantime I will gather as much information as possible from my sister. Thanks to my position, I obviously have unquestioned access to every bit of Equestria's intelligence info, including top secret government documents. You, my dear, will try to find ponies who may secretly support our cause, starting with my guards. Now, go. In noctis restarum veritas. In luna restarum pax." "'The truth rests in the night. Peace rests in the moon,'" Circe translated. "What a perfect motto." She kissed Luna on the cheek and galloped off, casting a spell to hide her identity. "It should go without saying that no details of our conversation should be shared," Circe told the first Royal Lunar Guard she saw. "Your discretion is of paramount importance. Are you in favor of the formation of a New Lunar Empire with Princess Luna at its helm? Would you be willing to sacrifice your own life in order to secure the foundation of such an empire?" "Absolutely," the guard replied without hesitation. "Most ponies in Equestria live in fear of Princess Celestia. Princess Luna is exponentially more popular among the masses, though nopony would dare say so publicly. While Princess Celestia is only feared, Princess Luna is truly revered, respected, and loved. Many of us can see through the propaganda because the majority of Equestrians have personally met Luna in their dreams at least once. She is a therapist, confidante, and protector to everypony, and her genuine kindness, gentleness, and strength are evident in everything she does. Yes, I would gladly fight and die for my commander-in-chief, Princess Luna. I took an oath upon my life to protect her. It is the greatest honor of my life to serve Her Majesty as a Royal Lunar Guard, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that my sentiments are shared by all of my comrades in arms. I am a staunch monarchist, as are the vast majority of my fellow guards. What do you need us to do?" After confirming that Luna had the undying support of her guards, Circe sent them to suss out the intelligence officials who were vocal supporters of Luna, promising safety for them as well as for their families. Talk of an uprising began to stir. Circe knew that it wouldn't be too long before assassination plots were orchestrated. Everything was moving apace, and the time for action was close at hoof. Chapter FiveThe sun nearly blinded Circe when she stepped outside the next morning. As she blinked to adjust to the intense light, the eggplant-colored pony bumped straight into another alicorn, who boasted a lavender coat, a straight, pink, purple and navy mane and tail, dark purple eyes, a cutie mark of a pink star surrounded by smaller white stars, and a genuine smile that was almost as bright as the sun that still threatened to rob Circe of her sight. "You must be Luna's daughter," the alicorn said cheerfully. "Hi, I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, bearer of the Element of Magic, and former student of Princess Celestia. You're Circe, right?" Circe couldn't help but smile back at Twilight as she nodded. "That's me. Nice to meet you, Twilight. I am glad you have decided to come hither to converse with me. I have not made a lot of friends here yet; I am still trying to get used to the trees, grass, sunlight, weather, and everything else. We only had nighttime on the moon." "Oh, all of this must be so exciting for you, then!" Twilight enthused. "How do you like Celestia? She must be such a cool aunt. I'm jealous!" "She seems kind," Circe lied, forcing a megawatt smile. "I am looking forward to getting to know her better. What was she like as a teacher?" Twilight's eyes nearly closed as her smile widened. The lavender alicorn was practically bursting with admiration. "She's like a second mom to me," Twilight said. "Celestia has taught me so much about the magic of friendship. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be a princess. She's the one who insisted on sending me to Ponyville to make friends, and if she hadn't done that, I never would have met the best friends I could have asked for. Wanna come to Ponyville with me? I can show you around and introduce you to everypony; I am the Princess of Friendship, after all." Despite her irritation with Twilight's excessive admiration of Celestia, Circe began to relax as she nodded excitedly. Twilight was the first pony to speak to her as an equal. Even Luna's servants eyed Circe with suspicion, as if Nightmare Moon had somehow corrupted her. Before either of them could say another word, a gigantic shadow covered the two alicorns. Circe slowly lifted her head and glared at the impossibly tall purple and green figure that now loomed over them, which she instantly recognized as a dragon. With a growl, Circe planted her hooves firmly and illuminated her horn. "Leave at once, foul beast, or you shall be vanquished!" she bellowed, her Royal Canterlot Voice shaking the ground. Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh, no, Circe, it's okay!" Twilight assured the younger princess. "Spike is harmless; in fact, he's one of my best friends. I raised him, so he's pretty much my son." Circe relaxed as the dragon sat down, causing a small earthquake as he did so. "Hi, Circe. Welcome to Equestria," Spike said cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you. What did you do while you were on the moon?" Circe blinked, and her face began to flush at the bluntness of the purple dragon's sudden question. Twilight gave Spike a forceful nudge in the ribs, shutting him up as she gave Circe an apologetic look. "He's fine," Circe chuckled, smiling warmly as she turned to the dragon. "Actually, the moon was quite nice. My mom built a castle for us there, and she taught me all about Equestria. Even so, this place is still quite shocking to the senses. What is there to do here?" Twilight's eyes grew large with excitement. "Come on," she said, "I'm going to introduce you to all of my friends, and we'll show you a great time. Follow me!" She spread her wings and took off, motioning for Circe to follow. The aubergine alicorn joined Twilight in the sky, inhaling the fresh, warm breeze. Around half an hour later, the two princesses and the dragon landed in a green field filled with beautiful apple trees. A red and white barn stood a little ways down the hill, and two Earth ponies stood in front of it. The larger pony, a palomino in a cowboy hat, waved to the two alicorns. Her thick golden mane hung in a short braid over her shoulder, and her flanks boasted a cutie mark of three red apples. The palomino waved and galloped up the hill, followed closely by a smaller pony, who had a pale yellow coat. The filly's pinkish red mane was pulled back with a large pink bow. "Howdy, Twilight!" the palomino called in a strong Southern accent. Her smile grew, making her green eyes sparkle as she looked over at Circe. "Howdy, there. You must be Princess Circe. Nice ta meet ya. I'm Applejack, and this young'un behind me is Applebloom." The pale yellow filly waved and bounded up to Circe. "Yer mama's Princess Luna, right?" Applebloom asked. "That must be fun. Do y'all wanna try some of our apples? They're real good. Granny Smith just made a fresh apple pie if y'all wanna come in fer a slice. That pie's so good, it'll make ya wanna slap yer mama!" "No, thanks," Twilight said with a smile. "We would, but I want to make sure Circe gets to meet everypony before the end of the day." Applejack wrapped up some slices of pie for Circe to take home for herself and Luna, then Twilight took Circe to a boutique in the center of Ponyville. As they entered the store, Circe saw a pretty white unicorn with a glossy purple mane and tail. As soon as she saw Twilight, the unicorn trotted elegantly up to the ponies and Spike, the latter of whom was blushing madly. "Why, Twilight, what a pleasant surprise, darling," the unicorn cooed in a clipped transatlantic accent. "Hello, Spikey Wikey." She gave the dragon a small peck on the cheek, making him fall over like a piece of paper in a hurricane. "Rarity, meet Princess Circe. She's Luna's daughter," Twilight said. Circe smiled as Rarity greeted her with an elegant curtsy. 'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Royal Highness," the unicorn said. "If you ever need a dress for any sort of royal event, I am always at your service. Your dear mother and aunt always wear my gowns to the Grand Galloping Gala. Just say the word, darling, and one of my dresses will be yours." Circe's mouth curved upward in a soft smile. "Wow, thank you, Rarity," Circe replied, touched by the offer. "I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I need a gown for any occasion." "Of course, darling!" Rarity chirped. "I'm always so honored to dress a princess. You would look absolutely stunning in black, Your Royal Highness." Smiling, Circe thanked Rarity once more. As they exited the shop, Circe's ears perked. A flock of birds sat in a nearby tree, singing a beautiful song. A yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail stood in front of the tree, directing them. After the song had ended, Twilight spoke up. "Fluttershy," she called, "meet Princess Circe." The pegasus blushed as her birds flew away. "Hi, Fluttershy," Circe said. "Your song was lovely." "Th-thank you," Fluttershy whispered. "We've been practicing for a few weeks now. The p-princess' birthday is coming up, and she asked my birds and me to perform at her party." "The princess?" Circe raised an eyebrow. "You are aware that Equestria once again has two princesses at its helm, are you not? To which princess are you referring?" The pegasus' eyes widened. "Oh, no, Princess," Fluttershy said quickly. "I didn't mean to offend you. I beg your pardon." "There's no need to apologize," Circe replied with a smile. "I'm still getting used to living in a country with two rulers. I imagine it must be even harder for you, as an Equestrian citizen, to adjust to having an additional pony in charge. Thank you for your role in returning my mother to her rightful place as..." she sucked in a breath and gritted her teeth, hoping her face wasn't showing the utter contempt she harbored for Luna's title, "...as co-ruler of Equestria." If Twilight noticed Circe's discomfort, she didn't react. "Princess Celestia is such an amazing ruler," the princess of friendship gushed. "She's just so smart, kind, wise, powerful. I was so lucky to have her as a mentor. She told me that she considers me to be the daughter she never had, so I guess that makes you and I kind of like cousins!" she giggled. "Luna is great, too, though I'm not as close with her as I am with Celestia. Celestia's job is incredibly difficult. Luna is so lucky; she gets to fight off things that can't actually hurt ponies, and when she's not doing that, she only has to create beautiful nights for us." Twilight's last statement sent Circe over the edge. Her entire body trembled with rage as she stopped dead in her tracks. "How dare you," Circe growled in a voice that sounded as low and ominous as an approaching thunderstorm. "How dare you undermine my mother's role. You have no idea about the duties required of her. The tasks she must perform every night are very much needed. How can the bearer of the Element of Magic be so astoundingly ignorant?" she spat. "Celestia actually neglected my mother's duties, other than raising and lowering the moon, for a millennium. Your 'mentor' is so emotionally weak and unkind that she not only banished her own sister to the moon after she pushed Luna to her breaking point and refused to take any responsibility for her actions when Luna felt neglected and finally decided she'd had enough, but she also couldn't be bothered to grant a peaceful end to billions of dying ponies--a job that her sister treasured--during my mother's absence. Celestia shirked my mother's most sacred duty: the task of escorting ponies to the afterlife so that nopony would ever die alone. Celestia has never even apologized to Luna for her substantial role in Nightmare Moon's creation, yet she expected Luna to not only apologize for lashing out at her because she only wanted to be loved, but also to accept her absolutely warped idea of 'friendship.' Celestia is a narcissist, a failure, and a disgrace, and the fact that you took friendship lessons from a pony who has done such reprehensible things to her own sister is absolutely laughable. I would take a good, long look at myself if I were you." With a snort, Circe turned and ran off to Luna's wing of the castle, her nostrils flaring with rage. Chapter OneCanterlot Castle looked so different from the fortress that Luna remembered. A memorial plaque commemorating the lives lost during the sisters’ battle for Equestria had been placed near the entrance to the castle’s gardens, which were in full bloom with roses, hydrangeas, peonies, rhododendrons, and countless other flowers and plants. Luna was shocked that her favorite tree, the beautiful old oak that she and Celestia had spent so many days climbing as fillies, still stood in the center of the gardens, though it, like almost everything else around her, had changed immensely over the last millennium. The princess sighed heavily and turned her gaze to the full moon as she inhaled the fragrant aroma of fresh flowers, then turned to walk back into the castle. “Lulu?” The blue alicorn’s ears flicked behind her at the sound of her sister’s voice. Celestia walked up beside her, lowering her head. “What’s on your mind, Luna? You’ve been so quiet lately.” Luna released another sigh and turned to the older princess. “My… my daughter,” Luna said, her voice faltering as she looked back up at her moon. “I’ve abandoned her. I’m a terrible mother, Tia. I need her. Please, Sister, I beseech you to allow her to come here. I was pregnant when… when everything happened, and I raised her myself during my banishment. Celestia, I need my precious Circe every bit as much as she needs me; bring her home for me, please.” Celestia’s magenta eyes flashed with sympathy, and she placed a comforting hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “I will see to it that she is brought to you at once,” Celestia declared. “My niece is a princess, and she deserves to be treated as such. I was a fool to assume that you had… lost her… after you were banished.” The alabaster alicorn’s face grew heavy with guilt. “You and Circe will be reunited before the day is out; you have my word.” Luna threw her hooves around Celestia, tears filling her bright turquoise eyes. “Thank you, Sister,” she whispered, kissing Celestia’s cheek. “My greatest treasure will never be lonely again. I cannot wait to hold her.”
PrologueBathed in moonlight, a majestic alicorn surveyed the glowing blue sphere in the distance, her bright turquoise eyes narrowed in a scowl. Rage brewed within her, making Nightmare Moon’s starry tail begin to twitch involuntarily. She gritted her teeth and began to calculate the position of the moon in proportion with Equus. In spite of her circumstances, the goddess of the night lived comfortably; fortunately, the sun bitch had restricted the use of Nightmare Moon’s powers to the moon so that she could still conjure food, lodging, and adequate forms of entertainment for herself and her young daughter. The lunar alicorn had built a fully-stocked library, a school building, and a magnificent palace, but of course, nothing would ever compare to Equus. Nightmare Moon huffed in irritation and tossed her dished head, which was a clear sign of her Arabian ancestry, along with her elegant, long neck that curved in a graceful arc, her endlessly slender legs, and her proud, high tail carriage. She walked over to her mirror and surveyed her glossy black coat, pausing for a few extra seconds to admire her striking beauty. “Mommy!” The demoness’ delicate ears flicked in the direction of the small, familiar voice, and a warm, loving smile began to soften her features. As she continued to look in the mirror, a much smaller, eggplant colored alicorn appeared behind her, prancing excitedly as her turquoise eyes glinted like the stars that surrounded the moon. “Circe, my little moonbeam,” Nightmare Moon trilled, gently pulling the filly in for a hug. “How are you, darling? Did you finish your assigned reading?” She dropped a gentle kiss on the foal’s forehead, then nuzzled her affectionately. Circe nodded. “Every word,” the foal said with a proud smile. “I can’t believe how many constellations are in the sky, Mommy. Did you really make all of them? Which one is your favorite?” Nightmare Moon smiled so widely that her face began to hurt, but the warmth in her eyes proved the genuine love she held for her precious young daughter. “Well,” the goddess replied thoughtfully as she gazed out at the endless abyss of stars that surrounded them, “I like Scorpius. I created that one when I was feeling extra bitter about your terrible aunt. Do you see how the scorpion is poised to kill?” She gestured to the cluster of stars. “One day, my dear, we shall be the Scorpius of Equestria, raising our stinger to strike down my inconsiderate, unkind fool of a sister. She only sent me here when I lashed out at her in response to her neglect. She never once shed any of her precious light on any of my accomplishments, though my role was exponentially more difficult and valuable than hers will ever be. I ushered ponies to the afterlife, Circe. I gave a peaceful end to every single pony who passed away on Equestrian soil. It was the most sacred, precious, emotionally painful job a pony could have, but did I ever receive any respect, recognition, or appreciation for it from her? No. Ponies have suffered and died alone for nearly a millennium because she is too lazy and emotionally weak to handle the weight of my most sacred duty. I hate her, my dearest daughter, and I will protect you from her with my life if I have to.” Nightmare Moon’s face turned serious. “Circe, you must promise me that you’ll never trust her when we return, no matter how hard she tries to manipulate you—and believe me, she will try.” “I won’t trust her, Mommy,” Circe replied, cuddling under Nightmare Moon’s wing. The mare relaxed and nuzzled her daughter’s temple. “Are you sleepy, my lovely?” the demoness cooed as the filly lay down beside her. Circe yawned and pressed against her mother’s side, curling up into a fluffy purple ball and tucking her muzzle underneath her small wing, curling her long, thick tail around her body. Nightmare Moon’s heart melted with maternal love, and she instinctively formed a protective circle around the filly’s body with her own. “Sleep peacefully, daughter,” she whispered as Circe began to drift off. “The night shall always keep you safe. We will never part, my little moonbeam. I love you so very much.” Nightmare Moon nuzzled Circe once more, then cuddled the filly against her side and fell asleep.
Chapter TwoCirce opened her eyes, blinking several times to adjust to the blinding light that seemed to envelop her. The air was much warmer than the frigid winds that blew across the moon’s desolate landscape. The ground beneath her was cool, but solid and pristine. Circe froze, her entire body shaking as she looked up and saw the tapestries on the walls of the bright room in which she now found herself. She continued to tremble, frozen in fear as the sound of approaching metal horseshoes echoed across the floor. “Circe,” a familiar voice said gently. The filly’s ears swiveled in the direction of the voice, and she turned slowly, her eyes widening as she looked up at a beautiful blue alicorn. “My dearest little Circe,” the alicorn said, placing her hoof on the filly’s shoulder, “it’s only me, it’s your mom. You are safe, and you are so very loved, my darling. Mama missed you so much.” Circe gasped and recoiled backwards. “You,” she hissed as she fixed her eyes on Celestia. “I’ll kill you, Sun Bitch!” Circe lunged at the solar princess and was immediately subdued by Luna’s magic, which sent her into a comatose state that could easily be reversed. Luna sobbed as she lifted her daughter gently and placed her into her new bed. “Nightmare Moon completely brainwashed Circe,” a heartbroken Luna confessed later as she and Celestia stood outside of the filly’s bedchamber. “She has been conditioned to hate you… to do anything to kill you.” Her eyes began to fill with tears. “What can I do to earn her trust?” Celestia asked. “Luna, are you sure it’s safe for her to be here?” “Where else can she go, Sister?” Luna snapped. “We are the only family she has. I will talk to her as much as I can, but it will be incredibly difficult to undo so many years of brainwashing. I’ll monitor her constantly; she will not be allowed to leave my wing of the castle without me. I will continue to educate her myself, but I would like to send her off to school once she has grown accustomed to Equestria.” Celestia nodded, sighing thoughtfully. Circe woke with a start, her head snapping in every direction as she tried to remember where she was. Above her, the ceiling boasted a beautiful fresco of Luna and Celestia underneath their respective celestial bodies. Circe’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the sun in the breathtaking work of art; the sun that shone over this planet was so bright, intense and overwhelming, and Circe hated it. The disoriented young mare’s ears flickered, and she nearly fell out of bed. She shook her head and trotted off to find Luna, eager to learn more about her new home. As Circe descended the spiral staircase, her breath caught in her throat. Celestia stood in the dining room, surrounded by a wide variety of cakes. Circe’s stomach dropped as the sound of her hooves on the ivory marble floor echoed all around her, soaring up to the cathedral-like ceilings and flitting from one side of the room to the other. The solar diarch’s ears swiveled back in Circe’s direction, and she turned to greet her niece with a warm smile. “Good morning, Circe,” the white alicorn chirped, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear as the sunrise’s crimson light reflected brilliantly off of her gold horn, crown and necklace, the latter two of which were both adorned with a large pink sapphire surrounded by equally large diamonds. “Did you sleep well?” Circe’s muscles tensed involuntarily, and she set her jaw, raising her chin slightly. “Yes,” the younger princess replied, her tone icy. “I trust you slept equally soundly?” Celestia’s fuchsia eyes swept over Circe with a faint look of wariness that did not go unnoticed by Luna’s daughter. “I did,” Celestia said after a few seconds that felt like hours. “How are you finding Equestria? Have you started exploring your new home yet? I know your mom is homeschooling you, but as your auntie I would love to take you on a special trip around Canterlot sometime. Would you like that?” Circe hoped that she didn’t sound as bitter as she felt when she heard herself agree to a tour of Equestria’s capital with her aunt. Yes, she hated Celestia, but curiosity was building within her. “Wonderful,” Celestia squealed. “Why don’t we start with the castle? You’ve stayed in your mom’s wing for so long. I hope you understand that Canterlot Castle is just as much your home as it is mine, so please feel free to explore as much as you like. You are a princess, after all.” “Thank you,” Circe replied shortly. “I… I think I would rather explore on my own. Thank you for the offer, though.” With that, she trotted down the nearest corridor and entered the first room she saw. The door was locked, but Circe opened it effortlessly with her magic, shooting a hot pink bolt from her horn that instantly unlocked the door and shoved it open. The room smelled of old books, leather, dust, and mahogany. Hundreds of shelves packed with thousands of books filled the expansive space. Circe’s jaw dropped at the sheer size of the massive library, which boasted several large stained glass windows that depicted five alicorns. Celestia’s picture was first, then Luna’s, followed by a pink alicorn with a purple, pale yellow and dark pink mane and tail, then another, smaller pink alicorn, both of whom were depicted levitating a blue heart. The next window was adorned with a picture of a purple alicorn against a hot pink star. As she looked up, Circe caught sight of the largest window in the library, which depicted a scene of Celestia banishing Nightmare Moon. Circe stifled a growl, then walked over to a random shelf and selected the first book she saw. Within it were many detailed accounts of Celestia’s “heroic deeds.” The filly looked through the titles of the other contents of the shelf, none of which seemed to acknowledge any of Luna’s incredible contributions to Equestria. She moved on to the shelves that contained the history textbooks from which every school in Equestria taught; these books, too, only mentioned Luna as the princess of the night who raised the moon and governed the realm of dreams. The detailed accounts of her victories in battle, lengthy descriptions of her charity work, and the reassuring passages that told of her most treasured work guiding ponies to the afterlife had all been completely omitted. Celestia had rewritten the history of Equestria, eliminating anything that portrayed Luna in a positive light. “Where are the books about my mom?” Circe asked. Celestia shifted her weight uncomfortably between her front hooves with a guilty look on her face. “After your mother’s banishment,” she sighed, “I was so enraged that I pulled everything that painted Luna as the kind ruler that she used to be from the shelves. I couldn’t afford for anypony to think I was in the wrong for doing what I did. I had no other choice.” Celestia looked down and refused to meet Circe’s eyes. You cowardly, spineless, narcissistic bitch, Circe thought. Hatred bubbled within her, and she could no longer bring herself to look at her aunt. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest for a while,” she murmured, trotting back to the wing that she shared with Luna. She had seen enough; the sun bitch had to go.
Chapter Three“Please, my darling, calm yourself,” Luna whispered soothingly, rubbing her daughter’s back. “Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart.” Circe took a deep breath, trying to rein in her tempestuous thoughts before speaking. “Mom, Celestia is not who you think she is,” the purple mare said. “She--" Circe was cut off by Luna's raised hoof. The mistress of the night's clear cyan eyes narrowed into a scowl. "I will not hear any more negative words about your aunt from you, young filly," Luna said sharply. "My banishment was my fault. My sister is not perfect, but I had to take full responsibility for my actions." Her eyes flitted downward for a fraction of a second, then returned to meet Circe's. "I do not trust her," Circe muttered. "Look at all the history books, Mom; Celestia has completely erased you from Equestria's story. None of your accomplishments, contributions, nor anything else pertaining to your reign pre-banishment is being taught in any of the nation's schools; in fact, you're only ever mentioned in passing as Celestia's younger sister whose jealousy sealed you in the moon for a thousand years. It's nothing but propaganda to make your sister look like a hero." A wave of pain washed over Luna's face, but she quickly regained her composure. "I will not believe any of your preposterous claims until you have shown me concrete proof of such unbelievable material," she said coldly. "Furthermore, even if such works do exist, there must be at least a few articles and essays that disprove their points. Did you search the library at Canterlot University? I'm sure there are plenty of scholarly articles that argue in my favor." Circe shook her head sadly. Even after hours of combing through countless academic journals, history textbooks, and peer-reviewed essays and articles, she had not found a single written work outlining the actual causes of Luna's downward spiral. "Mom," Circe said softly, "history is written by its victors. While I was researching, I learned..." she paused, choosing her words carefully, "...I learned about a supposed clandestine parliamentary session, which took place about three months before you turned into Nightmare Moon. Celestia held this meeting so that the laws of succession could be amended, but she issued a gag order to your private secretary so that you would never know about it unless you had a foal of your own. The history books all stated that you were 'out of the country on a royal tour of Saddle Arabia, the United Arab Equines, and Thoroughbredistan,' but that didn't make any sense, since your private diaries proved that you were in residence in Canterlot at the time. Anyway, these new succession laws, which are still in effect today, are summarized on this page. Though it is technically impossible for any law regarding you, Celestia, nor your heirs and successors to pass through Parliament without the signatures of both rulers of Equestria, Celestia swore before all the MPs that you had expressed your desire to abdicate, and that she would personally deliver this document to you to be signed as soon as the session adjourned. I have looked through enough of your personal diaries to know that this signature is not yours." She thrust a sheet of paper under Luna's nose. "Mom, Celestia forged your signature in order to hide an important matter of state from you. That is not even the worst part, though; read what the law itself says." Luna's stomach dropped as she began to read the contents of the document: Should one or both of Their Majesties die unexpectedly, only the offspring of Her Most Excellent Majesty Celestia, By the Grace of the Sun, of Equestria, the Commonwealth, and of her other realms and territories, Princess, Co-Ruler, Sovereign of the Day, shall remain in the royal line of succession. Any offspring of Her Most Excellent Majesty Luna, By the Grace of the Moon, of Equestria, the Commonwealth, and of her other realms and territories, Princess, Co-Ruler, Sovereign of the Night, shall be removed from the royal line of succession, at which time Equestria shall immediately change its government structure from that of a diarchy to that of an absolute monarchy over which the sun shall always shine. Anypony who publicly or privately threatens, criticizes, slanders, or questions the legitimacy of the glorious rule of Her Majesty The Princess Of The Sun as their sole head of state or questions the legitimacy of Her Majesty's heirs and successors, shall be arrested, imprisoned, and tried for sedition and possibly high treason in Her Majesty's Crown Court, at which time they shall be sentenced to death by immolation if convicted for the latter offense. If a subject witnesses such an act and fails to report it, he or she shall also be arrested, tried, and possibly convicted of sedition, which is punishable by life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or high treason, which is punishable by death. May the sun never set on Equestria. Long live Princess Celestia. "N-no." Luna's voice shook. "This... cannot be real. Celestia would never forge my signature, although she probably tried to justify this law by saying that I failed to act in a manner befitting a ruler of Equestria." She looked at the bottom of the document again, then shook her head in shock, her face contorting with anger and pain. "I can forgive her for neglecting me. I can even forgive her for banishing me, but the fact that she threatened my supporters with death is unfathomable to me. She's... a tyrant." Author's Note Okay, so yeah, I got that last part from the saying "the sun never sets on the British Empire."
Chapter FourLuna closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled slowly, trying to keep her temper in check. Circe's eyes changed to a blood orange hue as she set her jaw. If Luna was angry now, Circe was slightly afraid of how her mother would react to her next revelations. "That isn't even the worst part," she said with a sigh. "Celestia has made sure that her government starts indoctrinating and training foals to fight and die for her cause from the moment they're born. I found a book of nursery rhymes and little songs that are required to be taught in every preschool. Every single foal is implanted with a tracking and mind control device as soon as they leave the womb. They do not belong to their parents; it is understood that every foal is Celestia's property. The thestral population is incredibly small now. As soon as you were banished, Celestia rounded up all of your guards, including my dad, and killed them all by genocide. Their race has been minimized significantly." Circe swallowed hard, knowing she would break down if she said another word. Luna's stoicism crumbled as her tears began to flow. "Your... your father," she sobbed, "my beloved husband, Ares. I... of course, I knew that he would not be alive upon our return, but to know that such a brave warrior, my most loyal soldier, the love of my life, a war hero who fought so valiantly in so many battles, died at the hooves of my own sister... I have no words." Luna's voice was thick with a mixture of pure devastation, grief, disgust, and rage. Her heart shattered, and she fell to her knees, curling up into a ball. The lunar princess' body shook violently as she sobbed uncontrollably. After a few minutes, she raised her head to look at Circe, her eyes wide with fear. "She will stop at nothing to get rid of you," Luna whispered to Circe. "You must return to the moon, my little one; you will be safe there. Let me get rid of Celestia alone. I will not allow you to endanger yourself, Circe. Your princess orders you to go back to the moon at once." The young mare's face hardened as she lifted her chin in defiance. "No," Circe replied, looking her mother squarely in the eyes. "Celestia's government cannot be toppled by you alone; your last attempt to overthrow her was a massive failure, to say the least." Luna's jaw dropped, and she stood in stunned silence for a few long seconds, then she glared. "Circe," Luna said in a voice that was dangerously low and soft, "you will listen to your mother, or I will have no choice but to send you back to the moon. I only just got you back, sweetheart; please don't force me to make a decision that will be painful for both of us. I refuse to allow you to put yourself in harm's way, my most beautiful night. If I were to lose you, I would never be able to live with myself." Circe set her jaw, planted her hooves firmly, and stared Luna down, never breaking eye contact with her mother. Finally, Luna looked down and chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are your mother's daughter," she sighed. "There is no question of where you got your stubbornness. Very well, you may fight alongside me, and we will win; we will need to form a huge army, but in the meantime I will gather as much information as possible from my sister. Thanks to my position, I obviously have unquestioned access to every bit of Equestria's intelligence info, including top secret government documents. You, my dear, will try to find ponies who may secretly support our cause, starting with my guards. Now, go. In noctis restarum veritas. In luna restarum pax." "'The truth rests in the night. Peace rests in the moon,'" Circe translated. "What a perfect motto." She kissed Luna on the cheek and galloped off, casting a spell to hide her identity. "It should go without saying that no details of our conversation should be shared," Circe told the first Royal Lunar Guard she saw. "Your discretion is of paramount importance. Are you in favor of the formation of a New Lunar Empire with Princess Luna at its helm? Would you be willing to sacrifice your own life in order to secure the foundation of such an empire?" "Absolutely," the guard replied without hesitation. "Most ponies in Equestria live in fear of Princess Celestia. Princess Luna is exponentially more popular among the masses, though nopony would dare say so publicly. While Princess Celestia is only feared, Princess Luna is truly revered, respected, and loved. Many of us can see through the propaganda because the majority of Equestrians have personally met Luna in their dreams at least once. She is a therapist, confidante, and protector to everypony, and her genuine kindness, gentleness, and strength are evident in everything she does. Yes, I would gladly fight and die for my commander-in-chief, Princess Luna. I took an oath upon my life to protect her. It is the greatest honor of my life to serve Her Majesty as a Royal Lunar Guard, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that my sentiments are shared by all of my comrades in arms. I am a staunch monarchist, as are the vast majority of my fellow guards. What do you need us to do?" After confirming that Luna had the undying support of her guards, Circe sent them to suss out the intelligence officials who were vocal supporters of Luna, promising safety for them as well as for their families. Talk of an uprising began to stir. Circe knew that it wouldn't be too long before assassination plots were orchestrated. Everything was moving apace, and the time for action was close at hoof.
Chapter FiveThe sun nearly blinded Circe when she stepped outside the next morning. As she blinked to adjust to the intense light, the eggplant-colored pony bumped straight into another alicorn, who boasted a lavender coat, a straight, pink, purple and navy mane and tail, dark purple eyes, a cutie mark of a pink star surrounded by smaller white stars, and a genuine smile that was almost as bright as the sun that still threatened to rob Circe of her sight. "You must be Luna's daughter," the alicorn said cheerfully. "Hi, I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, bearer of the Element of Magic, and former student of Princess Celestia. You're Circe, right?" Circe couldn't help but smile back at Twilight as she nodded. "That's me. Nice to meet you, Twilight. I am glad you have decided to come hither to converse with me. I have not made a lot of friends here yet; I am still trying to get used to the trees, grass, sunlight, weather, and everything else. We only had nighttime on the moon." "Oh, all of this must be so exciting for you, then!" Twilight enthused. "How do you like Celestia? She must be such a cool aunt. I'm jealous!" "She seems kind," Circe lied, forcing a megawatt smile. "I am looking forward to getting to know her better. What was she like as a teacher?" Twilight's eyes nearly closed as her smile widened. The lavender alicorn was practically bursting with admiration. "She's like a second mom to me," Twilight said. "Celestia has taught me so much about the magic of friendship. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be a princess. She's the one who insisted on sending me to Ponyville to make friends, and if she hadn't done that, I never would have met the best friends I could have asked for. Wanna come to Ponyville with me? I can show you around and introduce you to everypony; I am the Princess of Friendship, after all." Despite her irritation with Twilight's excessive admiration of Celestia, Circe began to relax as she nodded excitedly. Twilight was the first pony to speak to her as an equal. Even Luna's servants eyed Circe with suspicion, as if Nightmare Moon had somehow corrupted her. Before either of them could say another word, a gigantic shadow covered the two alicorns. Circe slowly lifted her head and glared at the impossibly tall purple and green figure that now loomed over them, which she instantly recognized as a dragon. With a growl, Circe planted her hooves firmly and illuminated her horn. "Leave at once, foul beast, or you shall be vanquished!" she bellowed, her Royal Canterlot Voice shaking the ground. Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh, no, Circe, it's okay!" Twilight assured the younger princess. "Spike is harmless; in fact, he's one of my best friends. I raised him, so he's pretty much my son." Circe relaxed as the dragon sat down, causing a small earthquake as he did so. "Hi, Circe. Welcome to Equestria," Spike said cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you. What did you do while you were on the moon?" Circe blinked, and her face began to flush at the bluntness of the purple dragon's sudden question. Twilight gave Spike a forceful nudge in the ribs, shutting him up as she gave Circe an apologetic look. "He's fine," Circe chuckled, smiling warmly as she turned to the dragon. "Actually, the moon was quite nice. My mom built a castle for us there, and she taught me all about Equestria. Even so, this place is still quite shocking to the senses. What is there to do here?" Twilight's eyes grew large with excitement. "Come on," she said, "I'm going to introduce you to all of my friends, and we'll show you a great time. Follow me!" She spread her wings and took off, motioning for Circe to follow. The aubergine alicorn joined Twilight in the sky, inhaling the fresh, warm breeze. Around half an hour later, the two princesses and the dragon landed in a green field filled with beautiful apple trees. A red and white barn stood a little ways down the hill, and two Earth ponies stood in front of it. The larger pony, a palomino in a cowboy hat, waved to the two alicorns. Her thick golden mane hung in a short braid over her shoulder, and her flanks boasted a cutie mark of three red apples. The palomino waved and galloped up the hill, followed closely by a smaller pony, who had a pale yellow coat. The filly's pinkish red mane was pulled back with a large pink bow. "Howdy, Twilight!" the palomino called in a strong Southern accent. Her smile grew, making her green eyes sparkle as she looked over at Circe. "Howdy, there. You must be Princess Circe. Nice ta meet ya. I'm Applejack, and this young'un behind me is Applebloom." The pale yellow filly waved and bounded up to Circe. "Yer mama's Princess Luna, right?" Applebloom asked. "That must be fun. Do y'all wanna try some of our apples? They're real good. Granny Smith just made a fresh apple pie if y'all wanna come in fer a slice. That pie's so good, it'll make ya wanna slap yer mama!" "No, thanks," Twilight said with a smile. "We would, but I want to make sure Circe gets to meet everypony before the end of the day." Applejack wrapped up some slices of pie for Circe to take home for herself and Luna, then Twilight took Circe to a boutique in the center of Ponyville. As they entered the store, Circe saw a pretty white unicorn with a glossy purple mane and tail. As soon as she saw Twilight, the unicorn trotted elegantly up to the ponies and Spike, the latter of whom was blushing madly. "Why, Twilight, what a pleasant surprise, darling," the unicorn cooed in a clipped transatlantic accent. "Hello, Spikey Wikey." She gave the dragon a small peck on the cheek, making him fall over like a piece of paper in a hurricane. "Rarity, meet Princess Circe. She's Luna's daughter," Twilight said. Circe smiled as Rarity greeted her with an elegant curtsy. 'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Royal Highness," the unicorn said. "If you ever need a dress for any sort of royal event, I am always at your service. Your dear mother and aunt always wear my gowns to the Grand Galloping Gala. Just say the word, darling, and one of my dresses will be yours." Circe's mouth curved upward in a soft smile. "Wow, thank you, Rarity," Circe replied, touched by the offer. "I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I need a gown for any occasion." "Of course, darling!" Rarity chirped. "I'm always so honored to dress a princess. You would look absolutely stunning in black, Your Royal Highness." Smiling, Circe thanked Rarity once more. As they exited the shop, Circe's ears perked. A flock of birds sat in a nearby tree, singing a beautiful song. A yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail stood in front of the tree, directing them. After the song had ended, Twilight spoke up. "Fluttershy," she called, "meet Princess Circe." The pegasus blushed as her birds flew away. "Hi, Fluttershy," Circe said. "Your song was lovely." "Th-thank you," Fluttershy whispered. "We've been practicing for a few weeks now. The p-princess' birthday is coming up, and she asked my birds and me to perform at her party." "The princess?" Circe raised an eyebrow. "You are aware that Equestria once again has two princesses at its helm, are you not? To which princess are you referring?" The pegasus' eyes widened. "Oh, no, Princess," Fluttershy said quickly. "I didn't mean to offend you. I beg your pardon." "There's no need to apologize," Circe replied with a smile. "I'm still getting used to living in a country with two rulers. I imagine it must be even harder for you, as an Equestrian citizen, to adjust to having an additional pony in charge. Thank you for your role in returning my mother to her rightful place as..." she sucked in a breath and gritted her teeth, hoping her face wasn't showing the utter contempt she harbored for Luna's title, "...as co-ruler of Equestria." If Twilight noticed Circe's discomfort, she didn't react. "Princess Celestia is such an amazing ruler," the princess of friendship gushed. "She's just so smart, kind, wise, powerful. I was so lucky to have her as a mentor. She told me that she considers me to be the daughter she never had, so I guess that makes you and I kind of like cousins!" she giggled. "Luna is great, too, though I'm not as close with her as I am with Celestia. Celestia's job is incredibly difficult. Luna is so lucky; she gets to fight off things that can't actually hurt ponies, and when she's not doing that, she only has to create beautiful nights for us." Twilight's last statement sent Circe over the edge. Her entire body trembled with rage as she stopped dead in her tracks. "How dare you," Circe growled in a voice that sounded as low and ominous as an approaching thunderstorm. "How dare you undermine my mother's role. You have no idea about the duties required of her. The tasks she must perform every night are very much needed. How can the bearer of the Element of Magic be so astoundingly ignorant?" she spat. "Celestia actually neglected my mother's duties, other than raising and lowering the moon, for a millennium. Your 'mentor' is so emotionally weak and unkind that she not only banished her own sister to the moon after she pushed Luna to her breaking point and refused to take any responsibility for her actions when Luna felt neglected and finally decided she'd had enough, but she also couldn't be bothered to grant a peaceful end to billions of dying ponies--a job that her sister treasured--during my mother's absence. Celestia shirked my mother's most sacred duty: the task of escorting ponies to the afterlife so that nopony would ever die alone. Celestia has never even apologized to Luna for her substantial role in Nightmare Moon's creation, yet she expected Luna to not only apologize for lashing out at her because she only wanted to be loved, but also to accept her absolutely warped idea of 'friendship.' Celestia is a narcissist, a failure, and a disgrace, and the fact that you took friendship lessons from a pony who has done such reprehensible things to her own sister is absolutely laughable. I would take a good, long look at myself if I were you." With a snort, Circe turned and ran off to Luna's wing of the castle, her nostrils flaring with rage.
Chapter OneCanterlot Castle looked so different from the fortress that Luna remembered. A memorial plaque commemorating the lives lost during the sisters’ battle for Equestria had been placed near the entrance to the castle’s gardens, which were in full bloom with roses, hydrangeas, peonies, rhododendrons, and countless other flowers and plants. Luna was shocked that her favorite tree, the beautiful old oak that she and Celestia had spent so many days climbing as fillies, still stood in the center of the gardens, though it, like almost everything else around her, had changed immensely over the last millennium. The princess sighed heavily and turned her gaze to the full moon as she inhaled the fragrant aroma of fresh flowers, then turned to walk back into the castle. “Lulu?” The blue alicorn’s ears flicked behind her at the sound of her sister’s voice. Celestia walked up beside her, lowering her head. “What’s on your mind, Luna? You’ve been so quiet lately.” Luna released another sigh and turned to the older princess. “My… my daughter,” Luna said, her voice faltering as she looked back up at her moon. “I’ve abandoned her. I’m a terrible mother, Tia. I need her. Please, Sister, I beseech you to allow her to come here. I was pregnant when… when everything happened, and I raised her myself during my banishment. Celestia, I need my precious Circe every bit as much as she needs me; bring her home for me, please.” Celestia’s magenta eyes flashed with sympathy, and she placed a comforting hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “I will see to it that she is brought to you at once,” Celestia declared. “My niece is a princess, and she deserves to be treated as such. I was a fool to assume that you had… lost her… after you were banished.” The alabaster alicorn’s face grew heavy with guilt. “You and Circe will be reunited before the day is out; you have my word.” Luna threw her hooves around Celestia, tears filling her bright turquoise eyes. “Thank you, Sister,” she whispered, kissing Celestia’s cheek. “My greatest treasure will never be lonely again. I cannot wait to hold her.”
