Unexpectedly, Luna is already waiting here in the castle gardens with the head groundskeeper when I arrive late in the evening. I had thought she might be late as with the breakfast invitation, but it seems she has actually shown up substantially early this time…

“I apologize for my tardiness,” I say, hoping to be as tactful as possible even though I am by no means actually late. “But duty must always come first, must it not?” That part is by no means misleading – I have spent all day in meetings with various nobles who have all wanted to know what the return of Equestria’s second princess means for their own personal affairs, and I have just come from one such meeting.

Actually, at this point, a relaxing stroll through the castle gardens might be just as beneficial for me as for my sister. The flowers are so fragrant at night. This may just be the relaxation that both of us so dearly need.

“It’s so nice to see you, Sister,” I say with my very gentlest smile. “I’m glad you could make it.”

Luna looks away and nods timidly.

So distant… I look up at the bright moon tonight. As far away as my sister seems right now, she might as well still be there. A traitorous part deep down inside me perhaps even misses that simpler time, when I didn’t seem quite so beset with unsolvable problems between Luna and me. Having her back now feels almost a punishment, when it should have been a joyous occasion. What should have been fanfare has become a dirge. What am I to do? Surely there must be some way to close the vast rift between us. It must be healed.

Even though it suddenly seems woefully inadequate, I cannot think of any better course of action than to continue on with the night as planned. Perhaps at some point during this walk through the gardens, she will finally open up to me? Or at least I might be able to get more of a read on her and better understand what she needs from me.

“Shall we go?” I ask. “I’m eager to show you what we’ve built here in the last thousand years.” Oops … perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned that thousand-year gap? Certainly not a pleasant memory for her. Better try to distract from it. “I think you’ll find these grounds to be every bit as grand as the old castle’s, perhaps even exceeding them. But I’m certain that our head groundskeeper, Delphinium, can explain them all better than I.”

A glance is all it takes to get a hasty nod from him. “If you would, Your Highnesses, we can begin our tour in the herbalist’s garden…”

Delphinium, despite his relatively high position among the castle staff, would seem to be nothing but an ordinary gardener at first glance. Brown coat, robust earth pony build, and perpetually with a bit of rich black dirt stuck to his hooves. But I know better. Though he truly does love to get his hooves dirty with actual gardening work, most of this is mere affectation. His role is strictly supervisory, and he spends the bulk of his working hours in a well-appointed office, not in a dirty garden bed. Still, I very well know that he didn’t begin his gardening career in that office, and after working in these gardens for decades, he knows them better than anypony in the world.

There are no other ponies in the gardens tonight, not even the customary castle guard patrols – a detail I ensured just this afternoon. I saw how uncomfortable Luna looked around all those unfamiliar nobleponies, and I found it understandable. Perhaps things will be easier if it is only her, the groundskeeper, and me.

Or… Perhaps not. I was sure Luna would be interested in the gardens. She always used to love strolling through them in the old Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. By all rights, this should be the perfect calming excursion for her. But it hardly seems so. Constantly, she’s looking over her shoulder to see if I’m watching. And any time I am, she immediately averts her gaze. Delphinium’s words seem lost on her, arousing no hint of interest.

That said, I’ve become so preoccupied with my sister that I haven’t been paying any attention to him either. Poor pony. He doesn’t deserve this. I try to split my attention, at least a little.

“This area is particularly dear to us gardeners,” Delphinium says. “Not for the flora, but for the fauna. Here, we house neglected, traumatized, or displaced animals from all over the continent, in a peaceful sanctuary where nothing can possibly harm them anymore.”

I glance over to my sister. “Isn’t that wonderful, Luna?”

Luna’s smile, which had been slowly growing, instantly fades. She looks down and away, and she gives only a slight nod. Was it something I said? Does she think of herself as an abused, neglected animal in need of sanctuary? Sanctuary from what?

Luna still looks away. Even when a rare snowy owl flies directly across our path, she doesn’t even look up.

Sighing, I shake my head. Something else, then? “Perhaps we should move on to the hedge maze?” I suggest.

Delphinium winces away from Luna. “Ah, er … yes, of course, Your Highness. Right this way…”

☀️ ❇️❇️❇️ 🌙

Seeing the maze has, of course, taken quite some time. Not as much as it might have, thanks to Delphinium. Few ponies could navigate it without getting lost. Even I might have to resort to taking advantage of my wings and simply flying out if I were on my own. But Delphinium seems to know every turn and dead end perfectly, leading us on an unwavering tour of its many highlights.

And yet… Luna still seems aloof, disinterested. Hadn’t she loved mazes, traps, and secret passages when helping me design the old castle? And yet here, she walks stiffly, head held low, her eyes scarcely glancing toward all of the clever details of maze design and construction Delphinium points out. She should be enraptured with all of this, her head buzzing with new ideas and suggestions to add to the maze … shouldn’t she? Or…

Or what if I had only imagined her prior enthusiasm for such things? My memory of times so long ago is, unfortunately, imperfect. Hazy. I’m well aware of my own limitations, of my mind’s tendency to invent memories rather than admitting to being unable to recall them. Could Luna’s love of mischievous architecture and design be one such false memory? I had thought it was something we shared, but what if she had only been going along with it, following my lead, feigning enthusiasm in an attempt to mollify me? Would I have noticed the difference? I’d like to think I could now … but back then, when I was blind to her suffering?

As we leave the maze and follow Delphinium toward the botanical greenhouses, I once again wonder if Luna is even here of her own accord. I stressed to the servants to convey the message as an optional invitation, but would it not be all too easy to see an ‘optional invitation’ from the beloved ruler of Equestria as not truly optional? It’s very possible that Luna is only here because she fears possible consequences for declining such an invitation. Does she truly trust me so little? And yet, given her experiences, can I blame her? She’s been through so much…

What rankles me the most is that I cannot simply ask her. Or, rather, I can ask, but I cannot expect an honest answer. If she came of her own volition, she would surely say so … but if she came due to feelings of obligation and fear, she would also surely say it was of her own volition. Oh, how I long to actually be able to talk to my sister again! How is it that after her return, after all this time, I still cannot so much as hold a meaningful conversation with her?

Even at night, the greenhouses are well lit, warm, and smell of fresh spring air. Truly a marvel, and with no small expenditure of magic to accomplish it. Despite their blatantly artificial nature, I often find them to be one of my favorite parts of the garden, particularly in winter, when the rest of it looks rather bleak.

Luna actually seems to show a spark of interest as well, which is a blessing to see. Her head is a little higher, and she’s actually looking around, at least.

“Nearly every known flower variety in Equestria is grown in these botanical greenhouses,” Delphinium says, “even the hazardous ones, so please do watch your step, Your Highnesses.”

Quite abruptly, Luna stops near a cascade of purple-flowering vines. She holds up a hoof to touch one of the delicate petals.

Delphinium is quick to notice. “Aha! Yes, those are a personal favorite of mine as well. Violet nightingales, as they’re commonly called, native only to a few islands off the coast of Southern Equestria, but stunningly beautiful. I imagine they hadn’t yet been discovered and cultivated in your time, Your Highness?”

“Oh… Yes, of course.” Luna slowly lowers her hoof, looks away, and resumes walking down the center hall of the greenhouse.

The corners of Delphinium’s eyes are pinched. The normally affable and sociable stallion looks up at me as if begging for help.

Now that Luna is a few steps ahead of us and hopefully out of hearing, I can at least reassure him a little. “Don’t mind her,” I comfort him, “she has been through quite a lot lately, and she merely needs some time to recover.” I hope that’s true.

“Is she…?” He glances worriedly in Luna’s direction, as if she might overhear him and curse him with dark magic.

Is she … what? However Delphinium intended to conclude that question doesn’t matter. It still hangs around my heart like an anchor weighing me down. Is she … going to turn back into Nightmare Moon and terrorize us all again? Is she … even capable of interacting and conversing like a normal pony anymore? Is she … going to survive whatever it is she’s going through? Each question is as painful as the last…

But the worst part is the fear in the groundskeeper’s eyes. He’s been through a lot – I should know – and yet it’s clear that he finds my sister at the very least unsettling, if not outright terrifying. How will the rest of the ponies in Equestria see her, after centuries of spooking each other with tales about Nightmare Moon, each more sordid than the last? I had thought such fantastical terrors would soon be put to rest by seeing my bright, cheerful sister once again in the public eye. The Luna I once knew was so innocent, so adorable; nopony could fear her once they met her.

But this Luna… This quiet, reserved, brooding Luna… If even a pony as stalwart as Delphinium could fear her, then what hope is there for everypony else? And being thus feared would certainly not improve Luna’s mood or outlook on life. Is she already doomed to a downward spiral? Is there no means of escape?

As we exit the greenhouses, I resolve anew that no matter what, I will not fear her. Nor will I mistrust her. I know the Elements purged every last remnant of darkness from her heart. I must put my faith in time, love, and acceptance to heal the wound that separates us.

“And that just about does it,” Delphinium states, back at the entrance to the gardens. His eyes are entirely on me, avoiding my sister. “For a quick overview, anyway, that is. I’d surely be pleased to show you anything in particular you’d like to see in much more detail, Princess…” He glances toward Luna as well, “Either of you, that is.” He seems relieved when he can look back toward me. “You’re both of course more than welcome here at any time, and don’t hesitate to ask for me if there’s anything more you’d like to know, or anything you’d like to see changed.”

I glance over at Luna, hoping to goad her into saying something at least. It’s quite ineffective. All it managed to get out of her was a timid nod of acknowledgement.

“Thank you, Delphinium,” I finally say, unwilling to stretch the moment out any further. “I’m sure we shall both be back on many occasions. For now, though, perhaps it’s time to rest.”

“Yes, thank you.” Luna dips her head, in something between a nod and a bow. And then, just for one invaluable moment, she actually looks up at me.

Our eyes meet. There’s an inscrutable depth to her gaze – hints of something there. Not resentment or loathing; maybe something softer, something like wistful desire? But before I can say anything, she looks away again. Her wings flare, and she sets off into the night. Perhaps on her way back to her quarters in the highest tower, perhaps some mysterious elsewhere.

And I’m left there, standing next to Delphinium and wondering if the night’s excursion has actually accomplished anything at all, or if perhaps this might be the wrong approach altogether.

☀️ ❇️❇️ 🌙

A week later, and I have yet to summon Luna again. Surely she is capable of emerging from her quarters on her own, for her own reasons? As much as I may want to encourage her, that may only be counterproductive if she sees it as a fearful obligation, rather than a polite invitation. I want to make it clear that it’s her choice … but in order to do that, she must make the choice. But it cannot be good for her to leave her brooding in those dark rooms for so long…

For now, though, there is another matter: five of the castle’s finest artisans, nervously waiting in front of my throne with a small golden box held in their foreman’s magic.

A couple of them glance nervously toward the empty throne next to mine. I already had this second throne constructed and placed next to my own, but my sister has not yet sat in it. Nor, to my knowledge, even seen it. She has, after all, never actually been in this throne room as far as I know. Hopefully, soon, that may change.

Hiding these thoughts, I smile benevolently down at these craftsponies. “Good news, I hope?”

The lead artisan, a tall and slender unicorn with a flowing golden mane, bows low in front of me, the rest of them quickly following. “As you predicted, we were unable to identify the material used, and thus, we haven’t been able to restore it perfectly to its original condition. However, we’ve found it to be amenable to platinum sintering, and we hope that you’ll be pleased with the results.” Looking back up, he uses his magic to float the box nearer to me.

But it isn’t me who needs to be impressed by it. This is for my sister, after all. Hopefully they’ve remembered that in their work. I can only imagine what a mess they might have caused if they tried to force it into a copy of my own crown instead…

Well, no sense in worrying about that. Time to open this box. Taking it into my own magical grip, I bring it even closer and open the lid.

Nestled in dark blue velvet lies Luna’s pitch black crown, its shape perfectly restored, and its glittering sheen as impressive and mysterious as ever. Now, though, shining silver lines run here and there throughout it, criss-crossing over its surface, almost like… Like constellations among the stars.

The realization takes my breath away. Was this the artisans’ intention? If anything, the crown is now more beautiful and intricate than ever before, rewarding close examination with ever more shining, glittering detail.

“It’s…” I glance up at the artisans, who gaze back up at me, clearly hanging on my every word. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, thank you all. I could not have asked for better.”

“Our pleasure to serve,” he says with another bow.

“Um… Your Highness?” another of the artisans says, a dark red mare.

“Hush!” the foreman tells her. “I told you, don’t speak unless you’re spoken to!”

“It’s quite alright,” I assure him. Even without already being in high spirits from the exquisite craftsmanship of their work, I always make an effort to be approachable to my little ponies. “Please, continue, ah… What might your name be?”

“Ruby Gleam, Your Highness.”

Closing the box and setting it down beside my throne, I smile to her, hoping to appear as unintimidating as possible. “Is there something you wanted to ask of me, Ruby Gleam?”

She casts one nervous glance toward her superior before looking back up at me. “Um, Ma’am … does this … does this mean there will be a coronation soon?”

I can only hope. But I dare not say anything in answer, lest the rumors fly wild. Only a slow and enigmatic smile, a well-practiced gesture. But within … within, I am screaming. How desperately I want an answer to that very same question! It seems like ages now since my sister returned, and it still remains a mystery whether she shall ever recover from her ordeal and once again take her rightful place by my side.

The Luna I have seen since her return would hate being subjected to a coronation ceremony. I’m certain she would attend it, at least, but would it not be abject torture for her, in the state she’s in?

But what’s the alternative? How can I bring this up with her at all? What if she merely accepts the crown, nods, and walks away without a single word? What if she shuns the royal responsibility entirely? Well, in that case, she would still be my sister. Princess or not, it’s the pony underneath the crown who truly matters. I will respect her decisions, and I will continue to aid her recovery. Hopefully, in the right moment, this rebuilt crown will help with that. It’s best for now that the crown remain entirely secret, though, until I find just the right way to introduce Luna to it.

To that end, I stand up before the artisans, coming closer to them. “Thank you, once again, for your exquisite work. However, I do have one more request.” I look each of them in the eye, especially Ruby Gleam. “Please keep any news of this to yourselves for now. It must be kept secret until the time is right.”

Under the deluge of the artisan’s fervent promises, I silently wonder if this is the right decision … and whether reviving this old crown has even been a good idea to begin with.

Author's Note

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