It Was Warby AlwaysTheCuriousChaptersSeparationRise and FallConfessGuiltA New SentenceEverything Once Left BehindSeparationA recently redeemed goddess of the night watched as the sun sank below the horizon quickly followed by the moon's rising. Luna played no part in this, and she agreed with her elder sister that it was for the best. Everything she'd known centuries ago had died long before her return. Yet she was free to learn of this apparently new world without the influence of the Nightmare; the elements of harmony had separated Luna and the Nightmare, sending the second back to the moon. Without the everburning desire for vengeance Luna felt cold and empty; whereas before she was filled with a hatred for all the citizens of Equestria, there was nothing. The elements of harmony had stripped her of everything it seemed, though she could feel a slow rising of her old self coming she also knew it would take some time before she felt right. Luna was anything but ungrateful for what the bearers of the elements had done for her, but the feeling of utter loss was something she didn't think any creature, pony or otherwise, could fully understand. Of course her sister could, Celestia nearly died to save Equestria from Luna's rampage; a piece of her soul was given to wrest the three elements of harmony under her sister's control in order to do yet another unthinkable thing. Now that Luna could think clearly, she wanted to feel pity or remorse for what she'd done; not even such justified emotions could be felt by the midnight blue alicorn. She remembered watching the restoration of Equestria, remembered how her sister fought the urge to simply die after what she'd been forced to do. Her soul was gone, the elements inert, and her only sister banished in a manor not even the worst of criminals could expect as punishment. All this she did for Equestria, but not before allowing the way to continue on four several years during which thousands died. Luna remembered all of this clearly, as it was all that had been on her mind while she was banished. Now as the night fell upon Equestria Luna found she had more time to herself than she really wanted. With her new found freedom there was no end to the things she wished to do. For the sake of the guards and other palace staff, Luna confined herself to her room. This was also in part a suggestion from her sister after Luna tried to punish a guard for not bowing at the passing of royalty. Celestia, at the time, had to put herself between Luna and the assaulted guard before he was skewered with his own spear. Luna was shocked to learn that she was required to at the very least acknowledge the right's of those in the palace as ponies. The only ting that hadn't really changed, Luna realized, was the citizens of Equestria still feared her. Why had Celestia told her it wasn't a good thing, then? Several weeks had passed since her return, but it was as if nothing changed. Celestia still tended to all the royal duties, and still controlled the sun and moon; even though Luna commonly wandered the palace to familiarize herself with it, she'd overheard several guards debating whether or not she was in the palace at all. She'd made her presence known, and they'd all scurried away quickly. Why was it wrong to be feared? Luna didn't believe she'd ever understand, but submitted to her sister's greater wisdom on such matters. Celestia had been very right in the past by banishing her one and only sister; something Luna was no longer loathe to admit. "Luna?" Her sister's voice separated Luna from her thoughts in an instant. She hummed in response. "I haven't seen you today, how are you feeling?'' "We do not feel, dear sister. It has been long since We hath felt not but the fires of hatred; We are empty with its loss." Celestia crossed the room in seconds and pulled her lost sister into a hug. "Give it time, you will heal; some day all those wounds will disappear leaving behind no scars." Celestia's voice was panicked as though she desperately wanted to believe those words, whether for Luna's sake or her own. Luna pulled away from her sister's embrace, "What of thee, and thine own wounds?" "I don't know, Luna. They say time heals all wounds, but it may take too long for mine to heal." Celestia's serene and sure mask was betrayed the the shakiness of her tone. Luna's eyes widened when she realized the meaning of her sister's words, but before she could say anything else Celestia turned away. "I've bothered you enough, haven't I?" Celestia said as the sound of large, ornate wooden doors opening echoed through the spacious room. "Please do look at the book I gave you on social etiquette, I'd love nothing more than to have you meeting the ponies of today's world. It would be good for you to know your subjects." Celestia's last sentence hung ominously in Luna's thoughts. The entire conversation, short as it was, left Luna feeling drained and tired. Learning etiquette would have to wait until another time. As she climbed into bed and settled under the covers, Luna realized she could feel again. Tears stained her silk pillows while she drifted off to sleep. At last she felt remorse; her actions had damned her sister. Rise and FallPrincess Luna stood upon the field of her army's most recent victory with a look of hellish glee. The eternal full moon bathed her in it's radiant light. In the distance stood another town soon to the prize of her most recent conquest. An entire militia lay slain about her with only two of her own lost in the battle; while her dear sister sat holed up in Canterlot she was with her troops ensuring victory after victory with the power she possessed. She sighed loudly and picked up the blade of a fallen foe to inspect it casually when her second in command approached her in a near panicked haste. "Princess!" He said taking a moment to catch his breath. "What has Our most fearless and noble of warriors so excited?" Luna inquired with a mocking tone. "I have received word, your sister, the Princess Celestia, intends to join her troops when next we meet resistance." Luna stared at him blankly for a moment the sword she held telekinetically danced in wide arcs between them. "This is most welcome news." She declared at length, "We can be done with this war sooner. Tell the troops to bed down within the hour, I will give them rest with magic so we can march posthaste." The stallion general moved without hesitation to carry out the orders given. What he'd heard of about the fate of his predecessor, Luna was quick to punish anything she perceived as questioning her decisions. "Our dear sister has not the will to fight us, her weakness upon the field of battle will be the fall of her kingdom. Equestria is Ours." Luna's voice echoed into the night, followed by the laughter of what many would consider a mad pony. "Your highness, You can't possibly mean to meet your sister in battle. If I may, it is-" Celestia's general cried from the bottom of the golden throne. "You may not!" Princess Celestia barked, cutting off her general in a manor greatly against her nature. She'd thought it over for three months, and would not be deterred by words. "We have come to this decision at length, and this is the only way." "But Princess-" "We are responsible for the lives of thousands in this war. We are ashamed we allowed it to continue on this long, the time cometh for Us to act as Luna has. We will stop her and this war at any cost." "Dear Princess I have seen you at all hours of the night with tears in your eyes as you cry over every victory your sister has. I cannot believe you have the will to fight, I'm sorry." Celestia's general blurted out loudly before she could interrupt. Celestia was speechless for a long time, and the once brave stallion felt sure his next destination was the dungeon. "Truly, We cannot fight our beloved sister; even after all she has done, she is still Our one and only dearest sister. Never could We bring harm to her directly." Celestia looked down and away, "In truth, general, We have allowed you to continue sending soldiers to their deaths in the hopes that fortune would shine upon one who would fell Our sister in battle; We hoped this would allow us to shove the blame of her death on another. This selfish act weighs heavily upon Us, and now we are moved to act." "Clearly You will not be dissuaded your highness; will you at the very least be fitted for battle. It would put our minds at ease to know you are protected when on the field of battle." "We hath thought of this already. The forgemaster took our- Measurements some time ago, and should have a suit of armor prepared by now." The hardened veteran let out worried sigh, for both Princess Celestia and Luna; whatever Celestia had planned would be a terrible thing no matter which way one were to look at it. ~~~~ Luna woke from her dream in a cold sweat, her mattress was wet under her. She never knew her sister's reason for prolonging the war. At the start of the war a thousand-and some odd years ago, she'd counted on her sister being unable to fight for more than a few days. She'd been more than a little surprised when she continued to meet resistance into the third week. By the first year Luna had been more than a little worried her sister was secretly a diabolical warlord who would be more than a match for her own tactics. The unexpected continuation was the primary reason she became a presence on the battlefield. Now she knew Celestia had less to do with the war than the grass beneath so many thundering hooves as they marched across. As much as her sister claimed to love and forgive her, Luna couldn't help but feel there would be more apologizing to come. ConfessMost of the night passed Luna by in her sleep, but the moon still shone through her open windows. The thought of staying in the sweat soaked bed was disgusting to say the least. She used to have servants for this kind of work at all hours of the night and day. Now she would have to wait until morning before she could locate clean sheets. With the aid of her magic one of the doors to Luna's room swing open silently, she peaked out into the hall. A changing of the guard was taking place just as Luna stuck her head out. Four pairs of eyes spotted her starry flowing mane, and each of the brave, royal guards froze in place; filled with nervous anxiety while being reminded the princess known for her mean streak was on the other side of the large doors. The two guards being relieved of duty galloped down the hall leaving behind their doomed companions. "Princess?" One of the left behind guards sputtered breathlessly. Luna eyed them both for a second before withdrawing her head and closing the door, this time allowing it to creak closed ominously. She may have trusted in the wisdom of her sister, but for the moment being feared felt as good as it had a thousand years ago. Alone once again, Luna was left to think about what was revealed to her in her dream. Had her sister truly wanted her to die? Truly Celestia could never have raised a spear to her sister. Luna had a hard time believing Celestia was capeable of wishing death on another. Clearly her mind would not be at ease until this question was answered, by the only one who could could possibly know. Thankfully sleep was nothing more than a something to pass the time, yet it was odd the way such a vision would deny her rest. She galloped to the balcony and leapt over the edge spreading her wings and taking flight up to her sister's tower. Luna would have her answers and be done with it, or so she hoped. Luna was surprised to see her sister out on her own balcony standing statuesque in the pale moonlight; indeed it reminded her of the very night she was banished a thousand years ago. The moment Luna alighted next next to her sister, a wave of weariness washed over her and she collapsed. Her sister shouting her name, "Luna!" ~~~~ "Luna!" ""It is a true testament to your foolishness that thou would meet Us in battle, dear sister. Luna hissed as her Celestia landed in the midst of battle. As soon as the second sister landed on the battlefield ponies on both sides stopped whatever it was they were doing, her sudden appearance a jaw dropping experience for both sides. Most were forced to look away due to the fact, Celestia wore segmented golden armor that shone with the light of the sun, and would burn with the same intensity were she ever struck, the mark of the sun still decorated her flank. The light warped the shadows of those serving Luna's soldiers, into twisted visages reflecting their own souls. Luna, by contrast, wore armor the color of true night that spilled tendrils of smokey darkness around her, wicked spikes covered her hooves, and she wore her most delighted of sadistic smiles at her sister's arrival. Her mane, a reflection of the sky above where a bright full moon dominated all else, as it had for some time. "Dear sister, We ask of Thee once more, cease this foolish rampage, let no more innocent blood be spilled." "Surely dear sister you are so much wiser than that." Luna said with a dark chuckle. "We have come so far, and thou hast not but met Our advance with the weakest of resistance. Thee thinkest Us a fool to surrender now?" "By Our power as a Princess of Equestria this war will be done with today." With these words Celestia's horn began to glow brightly. Luna took notice of her sister's emphasis on the word "today", but was far to preoccupied with her sister's attempt to raise the sun, as she had many times in the past. What was unusual was that she didn't not attempt to lower the moon first. "We see thou hath devised a plan." Luna said looking back to her sister. "Luna." Celestia said weakly, pleadingly. ~~~~ "Luna!?" She said with ever increasing concern. Luna responded by looking into her sister's dark pink eyes. "Thank the stars, you're alright." Celestia said, moving away so she no longer hovered over her fallen sister. "Celestia, We hath- have questions that require your answer." Guilt"Do you know what happened to you Luna?" Celestia asked as the walked back into her room, her sister following close behind. "We have had to visions already this night-" Luna hesitated before a moment before continuing. "About the war." Celestia cringed noticeably. "Perhaps We can bring this up another time." Luna began to retreat out the open door. They clicked shut before she could escape. "You make it sound as though they weren't simply dreams, so then what did you see?" Celestia invited her sister to a cushioned corner of the otherwise sparsely furnished room. This was the corner where Celestia would lay down to do her paperwork; sitting on a throne all day left no desire to also sit and write. Celestia cleared away space for her sister and waited patiently while Luna nervously lay down across from her. "Luna, understand that after so long your every word and thought is important to me. Certainly now, and even then I found it hard to be upset with you; you can tell me what you saw and I won't be mad." Luna bit her lip and hid behind her star filled mane; despite her sister's assurance she didn't know where to begin such a conversation. At length Luna took a deep breath and said, "What happened to Ye over the years of the war?" Celestia gave her a questioning look in response. "Perhaps that is not the question We meant to ask." Luna looked around the room as she thought of yet another way to attempt to broach the subject gently. "What is it We did to Ye- You by waging war against the kingdom?" Celestia nodded both in a slight understanding of the question, and in commending her sister's efforts to normalize her speaking. "You hurt me in more ways than one Luna; I'm not going to lie, I'm sure I won't recover fully. You know what I did to gain control over all six elements of harmony in order to banish you. You also-" "What We really mean is-" Luna paused, slightly embarrassed she'd cut her sister off, "What We mean is, you wanted Us to die. You didn't want to kill Us, you wanted Us to die. What did We do that would have made you think such things?" Celestia simply stared in Luna's direction , her precious one and only sister; whom she could share anything with. Luna was aware that Celestia was contemplating her question, but the way she stared through her was somewhat disconcerting. "I was scared, Luna; so very scared." Celestia's voice was weak and unsure. "When you began your campaign I didn't know what to do. When you didn't stop, the idea of having to face you as you were was terrifying to me. Not because I was scared of you, but because I was scared of having to match your hate fueled ambition with my own hate." "We see." Luna failed to maintain eye contact during Celestia's explanation. "No, you don't Luna." Celestia said sharply, making her sister jump. "You were born after me, you didn't see what I was before you came. I was bad, Luna. The dark ages of Equestria were my doing, I held power over all things, and I ruled through sadistic fear. That is why I was scared, for I knew that if I faced you without any other plan, I would not simply defeat you; I would break you, and damage you until you admitted you were wrong. Then I would have killed you without a second thought." "So, you allowed Us to continue on, unhindered, to save Us from thine cruelty?" "I could never replace you, Luna, until the day I knew something had to be done, I tried to imagine there was nothing wrong. I thought ignoring you for as long as possible would allow you to come to your senses, but I could no longer stand hearing of the casualty reports; could no longer bear to see widow's and orphans fill the streets." "We swear upon Our own immortality, We will make this right, somehow." Luna said as confidently as she could, attempting to hide the fact she was currently scared to be in the same room with her sister. She'd been given far more information, than she knew what to do with. With so much learned about her sister, Luna was denied the peace of mind she'd sought. Celestia nodded, silently dismissing her sister as she left. Luna went to the balcony and once again took off into the air, instead of returning to her room she continued to fly over Canterlot letting the cool night air run over her body as she continued to mull over what she'd learned of the once pristine sun goddess. As she flew, the weight of her past deeds were a physical presence that eventually forced her to land and walk the empty streets. It was her fault after all, she realized. A New SentencePrincess Luna sat before Canterlot's largest clock tower as she had been for some hours. Surrounded on all sides by rather tall buildings it wasn't clear that dawn had arrived, but the clock said Celestia's sun had already crested the horizon. She sat unmoving like the myriad of statues in the plaza. During the night a guard had stopped to take a rest from his patrol not but a few feet from Luna's spot; when she attempted to start a conversation he very well may have been in Trottingham. She had come to expect no different from anyone she tried to talk to when her sister was not right next to her. Previously, her worries were fixed on how she could regain the faith of her subjects sans fear and intimidation, but with recent revelations the only thing on her mind was a way to fix what she'd broken. It wasn't hard to reason out a solution, but in all reality there would be no happy ending for both her and Celestia. The moon still shown its pale light down upon the secluded square, while Luna watched it intently. She could see the smile of her only companion for a thousand years; could feel the cool collected stare of a being with all the time there would ever be. The Nightmare was watching Luna, and she could feel it in every part of herself. Luna knew she would soon go back, would soon strike another deal with her once friend, now revealed to be eternal tormentor. The thought of speaking with the embodiment of her malice and hatred shook Luna to her very core, but she knew it must be done in order to recover what Celestia had given up. Only once the sunlight touched the square where Luna sat did she make her way back to the palace, where a very concerned Celestia was happy to receive her. "I thought you'd gone, Luna." Princess Celestia said trotting quickly out to the balcony to meet her sister. "We are not some petulant runaway who merely seekest thine attentions, but We- I," Luna paused and recollected herself. She tried deliberately to please her sister with her progress towards day to day dialect in order to soften the blow of her words, "I must go back for a time, Celestia." "Back to bed?" Princess Celestia said, the hope in her voice fake and fleeting. "No, I must return to the lunar prison to-" "I forbid it." Celestia said with all the finality she could summon. "Forbid it how?" Luna demanded, raising her voice. "You and I know what waits there for you, and I will not have you coming into contact with it as long as I am alive." "You will not stop Us from righting Our wrongs!" Luna said, increasing her volume even further. "Please Luna, don't." "We-" Luna stopped suddenly, catching the volume of her own voice. "We did not mean to shout at thee, but life is not worth living while We hold this guilt." "Even if I say for the hundredth time, that I did what I did for your sake as much as Equestria's, and I forgive you?" Celestia pleaded, knowing she was nearing the end of a losing battle. "We would rather have the rest of Our lives to work for your forgiveness than have it mean next to nothing in two years time. If nothing else, let Us do this for Equestria lest it lose you and be left to Our care." "Say you will return whole and I will let you go." The elder alicorn whispered, turning her head away. "We swear to return to you the same Princess Luna." Luna drew herself up and put a hoof to her chest, but slumped noticably as she continued, "Beyond that, We can promise very little." "For the record, Luna, I believe you would be a fine ruler in my absence." Without another word Luna's horn began to glow softly as she walked out onto the balcony. A loud snap echoed throughout most of the palace, and the moon was clearly visible in the morning sky for several seconds. Celestia went wide eyed. The spell her sister had cast took considerably less effort than it should have; Luna hadn't gone so much as the Nightmare had pulled her in to the lunar prison. Luna was well aware that Celestia was nearly in tears as she screamed for her to return. The Nightmare had been expecting her, and wasn't about to let her leave until her business was concluded. Luna steeled herself for the inevitable encounter. Cruel laughter filled the void that once served as Luna's own prison. A laughter that once fueled her contempt and hatred did so once again; this time her spite was turned towards the source instead of her sister. Luna's past surged to catch her with every, increasingly weary step she took. Her comfort and company, her ally and strength; now and forever more her greatest mistake waited expectantly. The Nightmare had a power over both the royal sisters and would not conclude this visit without retaining it in some manner. Luna knew this and was fully prepared to offer a trade. She was ready to make things right. Everything Once Left BehindLuna walked through the imitation palace she once called home. Though this place had been her prison, Celestia hadn't had much control over her activities. This gave Luna time to purse any activity she could think of; her project for the first fifty years of her sentence was recreating the palace in Canterlot, her memory was infallible and so the imitation was near perfect. She spent a couple hundred years walking its halls and scrawling her thoughts on the wall. A thousand years later, as Luna walked those very same halls, she realized her descent into madness inspired by loneliness had not been a gradual thing. She'd begun by counting the years of her stay, up to fifty years. After that she began to count the days; under the 7305 day were the words, "Just let me die." Luna unconsciously put a hoof on the words, and heard her sister's pleading again. "Luna dearest, please speakest Our name. Tell Us that our friendship can be mended. Tell Us that thou mayest return to Us peacefully; We hath no hatred for thee, only a longing for thine presence next to Us!" Her plea was followed sullenly by, "Or perhaps thou hast a hatred for Us deeper than We can understand. Regrettably then, We must extend thine sentence by a year once more. Perhaps in a year thou will find a voice for Us." That hadn't happened as far as Luna was concerned. She didn't hear her sisters voice for the entirety of her imprisonment; she'd felt forgotten. Had her sister truly tried to reach her, if so how many times. Every year. The writing on the walls seemed to whisper. Had it been every year? Then why hadn't she heard her sisters pleas? Luna was shaking violently, a rage she'd thought far behind her quickly rising. Yesss... The walls hissed, far beneath the notice of the furious princess. The stars in her mane began to wink out one by one leaving behind a black nothingness. Luna tore herself from the writings and stalked down the hall, praying the nightmare would show herself before she had time to reconsider her thoughts. One thousand years. The walls hissed when Luna neared the end of her writings. Luna's journey stomping through the hall took her all the way to the throne room; wherein the Nightmare sat statuesque upon the black marble seat. "Did you enjoy the walk?" The Nightmare's voice filled the air around Luna and sent vibrations through her body and soul. Any reasoning Luna had done to calm herself down was clearly wasted as she let out an animalistic roar her hoof came up and slammed into the ground shattering the floor with ease. This meant little as anything in this palace would yield to even her lightest of touches. The Nightmare was unfazed. She leaned forward slightly and seemed to instantaneously change forms. Whatever it had been before was impossible for Luna to remember, but now she stood as her last physical incarnation. Jet black coat under sections of a light purple armor. Luna's coat was beginning to darken as the Nightmare descended from the throne revealing that she as well bore Luna's mark; a thing that was supposed to be hers alone. The fires of hatred burned within Luna and radiated out of her in a tangible force that warmed the room. "Has your sister sent you to me yet again? Did you perhaps miss me so much that you came back of your own free will?" The Nightmare's tone was mocking at best. "You know why We are here. Now return what you have stolen before We are forced to violence." Luna was just as afraid of such an occurrence as she hoped the Nightmare would be. "I have stolen nothing, I do recall being given several things however." "We will not be tempted by thee again. Tell Us what it is you want so we can be done with this meeting." Though the Nightmare still stood on the opposite side of the room, Luna felt as though she was slowly being backed into a corner. "All I want is someone to talk to, and here you are." "We have no intention to stay." "And if I decided to keep you? Or what if I convinced you to stay?" The Nightmare came closer. "Nothing you could do would keep Us here." Luna said taking a few nervous steps back. "If I have nothing for you then why would you come back?" The Nightmare reminded Luna that she did in fact possess something the princess wanted. "But We promised our sister we would return from here." Luna near pleaded. "Indeed?" The Nightmare said with a wicked grin. "Then shall we say 'anything but that'"? "Anything, but." Luna could not hide the shaken fear in her voice. Her rage suddenly subsided at the thought of the promise made to her sister. "First your sister's soul was worth as much as my aid in taking revenge. Now you want it back for the sake of, what exactly?" "It was not Ours to give!" "You gave it nonetheless, and I would be the only one to lose here if I simply returned it to you." The Nightmare began to pace back and forth casually, well aware that Luna was more or less at her mercy. "Why do We hear the voice of our sister from centuries ago? Was that your doing?" Luna asked after a moment of silence. She needed a distraction from the thoughts of what she would pay for her sister's sake. "Perhaps." The Nightmare ceased moving and she resumed a much more neutral expression. "It could very well be that your sister tried to reach out to you. Perhaps she was more than willing to give you a year to let you let go of your hatred. When you said nothing to confirm those hopes, perhaps then she was forced, due to uncertainty, to extend your sentence. What if I knew this and didn't tell you, what would it change now?" Her tone was dangerously calm. "Why?" Luna's reply came weak and distant. The answer was yes and the Nightmare made no attempt to deny it; Luna now wanted to know what sort of explanation could justify such a cruel act. "'Why?' You ask? Why, when another alicorn is thrust into my domain bearing part of another's soul and a hatred like I hadn't felt in so many lifetimes, would I want to keep said alicorn in a state of isolation? Tell me, do you, or did you ever plan ahead for when an enemy was to fall?" Luna did and said nothing. "Of course you have; I know you have, because I've been a part of you." Suddenly she was behind Luna as she whispered, "And I will always be a part of you." "The elements of harmony cleansed my body of you, even now you are still reeling from their power!" Luna backed away quickly, from the revelation. "Truly, because of them, we will never share your body again. That doesn't mean I am all gone. I will be your doubt and your unshakable fears for all eternity now. I let your hatred grow and fester for several centuries before revealing myself. By then you were a husk drained of the will to miss those you'd left behind. It was a simple thing to give you something you thought you'd need and get exactly what I wanted in return." "Stop this at once!" Luna demanded. The Nightmare chose to ignore the frightened mare before her and finished her tirade, "Now it has come again. You stand before me asking for something you think you need; once again I will have what I've wanted since the beginning." Luna began to shake, all her fury fleeing her body as a cold apprehension settled in. "Simply put, I will have your soul in the wake of your death; in exchange your sister will be made whole, and the two of you will live for as long as you wish. What say you to this arrangement?" Luna nodded slowly, stood and left the room. Her exit followed by the Nightmare's dark chuckle ringing through the halls of the palace. When she was outside the walls of the castle began to sink into the ground. Everything she'd left here was being taken back with her; the imitation palace was spawned of her memories and could no longer hold up in the absence of their blueprints. The Nightmare released the magical anchor that'd been holding Luna in case she changed her mind; with the weight on her own soul gone Luna was immediately pulled back to the Canterlot palace, by her sister's insistent summonings. Though she'd accomplished her goal, she could not give her sister a smile to convey such. Celestia's worry would only increase over the next few days as her sister sat silently in her room; watching the moon at nights and crying.
SeparationA recently redeemed goddess of the night watched as the sun sank below the horizon quickly followed by the moon's rising. Luna played no part in this, and she agreed with her elder sister that it was for the best. Everything she'd known centuries ago had died long before her return. Yet she was free to learn of this apparently new world without the influence of the Nightmare; the elements of harmony had separated Luna and the Nightmare, sending the second back to the moon. Without the everburning desire for vengeance Luna felt cold and empty; whereas before she was filled with a hatred for all the citizens of Equestria, there was nothing. The elements of harmony had stripped her of everything it seemed, though she could feel a slow rising of her old self coming she also knew it would take some time before she felt right. Luna was anything but ungrateful for what the bearers of the elements had done for her, but the feeling of utter loss was something she didn't think any creature, pony or otherwise, could fully understand. Of course her sister could, Celestia nearly died to save Equestria from Luna's rampage; a piece of her soul was given to wrest the three elements of harmony under her sister's control in order to do yet another unthinkable thing. Now that Luna could think clearly, she wanted to feel pity or remorse for what she'd done; not even such justified emotions could be felt by the midnight blue alicorn. She remembered watching the restoration of Equestria, remembered how her sister fought the urge to simply die after what she'd been forced to do. Her soul was gone, the elements inert, and her only sister banished in a manor not even the worst of criminals could expect as punishment. All this she did for Equestria, but not before allowing the way to continue on four several years during which thousands died. Luna remembered all of this clearly, as it was all that had been on her mind while she was banished. Now as the night fell upon Equestria Luna found she had more time to herself than she really wanted. With her new found freedom there was no end to the things she wished to do. For the sake of the guards and other palace staff, Luna confined herself to her room. This was also in part a suggestion from her sister after Luna tried to punish a guard for not bowing at the passing of royalty. Celestia, at the time, had to put herself between Luna and the assaulted guard before he was skewered with his own spear. Luna was shocked to learn that she was required to at the very least acknowledge the right's of those in the palace as ponies. The only ting that hadn't really changed, Luna realized, was the citizens of Equestria still feared her. Why had Celestia told her it wasn't a good thing, then? Several weeks had passed since her return, but it was as if nothing changed. Celestia still tended to all the royal duties, and still controlled the sun and moon; even though Luna commonly wandered the palace to familiarize herself with it, she'd overheard several guards debating whether or not she was in the palace at all. She'd made her presence known, and they'd all scurried away quickly. Why was it wrong to be feared? Luna didn't believe she'd ever understand, but submitted to her sister's greater wisdom on such matters. Celestia had been very right in the past by banishing her one and only sister; something Luna was no longer loathe to admit. "Luna?" Her sister's voice separated Luna from her thoughts in an instant. She hummed in response. "I haven't seen you today, how are you feeling?'' "We do not feel, dear sister. It has been long since We hath felt not but the fires of hatred; We are empty with its loss." Celestia crossed the room in seconds and pulled her lost sister into a hug. "Give it time, you will heal; some day all those wounds will disappear leaving behind no scars." Celestia's voice was panicked as though she desperately wanted to believe those words, whether for Luna's sake or her own. Luna pulled away from her sister's embrace, "What of thee, and thine own wounds?" "I don't know, Luna. They say time heals all wounds, but it may take too long for mine to heal." Celestia's serene and sure mask was betrayed the the shakiness of her tone. Luna's eyes widened when she realized the meaning of her sister's words, but before she could say anything else Celestia turned away. "I've bothered you enough, haven't I?" Celestia said as the sound of large, ornate wooden doors opening echoed through the spacious room. "Please do look at the book I gave you on social etiquette, I'd love nothing more than to have you meeting the ponies of today's world. It would be good for you to know your subjects." Celestia's last sentence hung ominously in Luna's thoughts. The entire conversation, short as it was, left Luna feeling drained and tired. Learning etiquette would have to wait until another time. As she climbed into bed and settled under the covers, Luna realized she could feel again. Tears stained her silk pillows while she drifted off to sleep. At last she felt remorse; her actions had damned her sister.
Rise and FallPrincess Luna stood upon the field of her army's most recent victory with a look of hellish glee. The eternal full moon bathed her in it's radiant light. In the distance stood another town soon to the prize of her most recent conquest. An entire militia lay slain about her with only two of her own lost in the battle; while her dear sister sat holed up in Canterlot she was with her troops ensuring victory after victory with the power she possessed. She sighed loudly and picked up the blade of a fallen foe to inspect it casually when her second in command approached her in a near panicked haste. "Princess!" He said taking a moment to catch his breath. "What has Our most fearless and noble of warriors so excited?" Luna inquired with a mocking tone. "I have received word, your sister, the Princess Celestia, intends to join her troops when next we meet resistance." Luna stared at him blankly for a moment the sword she held telekinetically danced in wide arcs between them. "This is most welcome news." She declared at length, "We can be done with this war sooner. Tell the troops to bed down within the hour, I will give them rest with magic so we can march posthaste." The stallion general moved without hesitation to carry out the orders given. What he'd heard of about the fate of his predecessor, Luna was quick to punish anything she perceived as questioning her decisions. "Our dear sister has not the will to fight us, her weakness upon the field of battle will be the fall of her kingdom. Equestria is Ours." Luna's voice echoed into the night, followed by the laughter of what many would consider a mad pony. "Your highness, You can't possibly mean to meet your sister in battle. If I may, it is-" Celestia's general cried from the bottom of the golden throne. "You may not!" Princess Celestia barked, cutting off her general in a manor greatly against her nature. She'd thought it over for three months, and would not be deterred by words. "We have come to this decision at length, and this is the only way." "But Princess-" "We are responsible for the lives of thousands in this war. We are ashamed we allowed it to continue on this long, the time cometh for Us to act as Luna has. We will stop her and this war at any cost." "Dear Princess I have seen you at all hours of the night with tears in your eyes as you cry over every victory your sister has. I cannot believe you have the will to fight, I'm sorry." Celestia's general blurted out loudly before she could interrupt. Celestia was speechless for a long time, and the once brave stallion felt sure his next destination was the dungeon. "Truly, We cannot fight our beloved sister; even after all she has done, she is still Our one and only dearest sister. Never could We bring harm to her directly." Celestia looked down and away, "In truth, general, We have allowed you to continue sending soldiers to their deaths in the hopes that fortune would shine upon one who would fell Our sister in battle; We hoped this would allow us to shove the blame of her death on another. This selfish act weighs heavily upon Us, and now we are moved to act." "Clearly You will not be dissuaded your highness; will you at the very least be fitted for battle. It would put our minds at ease to know you are protected when on the field of battle." "We hath thought of this already. The forgemaster took our- Measurements some time ago, and should have a suit of armor prepared by now." The hardened veteran let out worried sigh, for both Princess Celestia and Luna; whatever Celestia had planned would be a terrible thing no matter which way one were to look at it. ~~~~ Luna woke from her dream in a cold sweat, her mattress was wet under her. She never knew her sister's reason for prolonging the war. At the start of the war a thousand-and some odd years ago, she'd counted on her sister being unable to fight for more than a few days. She'd been more than a little surprised when she continued to meet resistance into the third week. By the first year Luna had been more than a little worried her sister was secretly a diabolical warlord who would be more than a match for her own tactics. The unexpected continuation was the primary reason she became a presence on the battlefield. Now she knew Celestia had less to do with the war than the grass beneath so many thundering hooves as they marched across. As much as her sister claimed to love and forgive her, Luna couldn't help but feel there would be more apologizing to come.
ConfessMost of the night passed Luna by in her sleep, but the moon still shone through her open windows. The thought of staying in the sweat soaked bed was disgusting to say the least. She used to have servants for this kind of work at all hours of the night and day. Now she would have to wait until morning before she could locate clean sheets. With the aid of her magic one of the doors to Luna's room swing open silently, she peaked out into the hall. A changing of the guard was taking place just as Luna stuck her head out. Four pairs of eyes spotted her starry flowing mane, and each of the brave, royal guards froze in place; filled with nervous anxiety while being reminded the princess known for her mean streak was on the other side of the large doors. The two guards being relieved of duty galloped down the hall leaving behind their doomed companions. "Princess?" One of the left behind guards sputtered breathlessly. Luna eyed them both for a second before withdrawing her head and closing the door, this time allowing it to creak closed ominously. She may have trusted in the wisdom of her sister, but for the moment being feared felt as good as it had a thousand years ago. Alone once again, Luna was left to think about what was revealed to her in her dream. Had her sister truly wanted her to die? Truly Celestia could never have raised a spear to her sister. Luna had a hard time believing Celestia was capeable of wishing death on another. Clearly her mind would not be at ease until this question was answered, by the only one who could could possibly know. Thankfully sleep was nothing more than a something to pass the time, yet it was odd the way such a vision would deny her rest. She galloped to the balcony and leapt over the edge spreading her wings and taking flight up to her sister's tower. Luna would have her answers and be done with it, or so she hoped. Luna was surprised to see her sister out on her own balcony standing statuesque in the pale moonlight; indeed it reminded her of the very night she was banished a thousand years ago. The moment Luna alighted next next to her sister, a wave of weariness washed over her and she collapsed. Her sister shouting her name, "Luna!" ~~~~ "Luna!" ""It is a true testament to your foolishness that thou would meet Us in battle, dear sister. Luna hissed as her Celestia landed in the midst of battle. As soon as the second sister landed on the battlefield ponies on both sides stopped whatever it was they were doing, her sudden appearance a jaw dropping experience for both sides. Most were forced to look away due to the fact, Celestia wore segmented golden armor that shone with the light of the sun, and would burn with the same intensity were she ever struck, the mark of the sun still decorated her flank. The light warped the shadows of those serving Luna's soldiers, into twisted visages reflecting their own souls. Luna, by contrast, wore armor the color of true night that spilled tendrils of smokey darkness around her, wicked spikes covered her hooves, and she wore her most delighted of sadistic smiles at her sister's arrival. Her mane, a reflection of the sky above where a bright full moon dominated all else, as it had for some time. "Dear sister, We ask of Thee once more, cease this foolish rampage, let no more innocent blood be spilled." "Surely dear sister you are so much wiser than that." Luna said with a dark chuckle. "We have come so far, and thou hast not but met Our advance with the weakest of resistance. Thee thinkest Us a fool to surrender now?" "By Our power as a Princess of Equestria this war will be done with today." With these words Celestia's horn began to glow brightly. Luna took notice of her sister's emphasis on the word "today", but was far to preoccupied with her sister's attempt to raise the sun, as she had many times in the past. What was unusual was that she didn't not attempt to lower the moon first. "We see thou hath devised a plan." Luna said looking back to her sister. "Luna." Celestia said weakly, pleadingly. ~~~~ "Luna!?" She said with ever increasing concern. Luna responded by looking into her sister's dark pink eyes. "Thank the stars, you're alright." Celestia said, moving away so she no longer hovered over her fallen sister. "Celestia, We hath- have questions that require your answer."
Guilt"Do you know what happened to you Luna?" Celestia asked as the walked back into her room, her sister following close behind. "We have had to visions already this night-" Luna hesitated before a moment before continuing. "About the war." Celestia cringed noticeably. "Perhaps We can bring this up another time." Luna began to retreat out the open door. They clicked shut before she could escape. "You make it sound as though they weren't simply dreams, so then what did you see?" Celestia invited her sister to a cushioned corner of the otherwise sparsely furnished room. This was the corner where Celestia would lay down to do her paperwork; sitting on a throne all day left no desire to also sit and write. Celestia cleared away space for her sister and waited patiently while Luna nervously lay down across from her. "Luna, understand that after so long your every word and thought is important to me. Certainly now, and even then I found it hard to be upset with you; you can tell me what you saw and I won't be mad." Luna bit her lip and hid behind her star filled mane; despite her sister's assurance she didn't know where to begin such a conversation. At length Luna took a deep breath and said, "What happened to Ye over the years of the war?" Celestia gave her a questioning look in response. "Perhaps that is not the question We meant to ask." Luna looked around the room as she thought of yet another way to attempt to broach the subject gently. "What is it We did to Ye- You by waging war against the kingdom?" Celestia nodded both in a slight understanding of the question, and in commending her sister's efforts to normalize her speaking. "You hurt me in more ways than one Luna; I'm not going to lie, I'm sure I won't recover fully. You know what I did to gain control over all six elements of harmony in order to banish you. You also-" "What We really mean is-" Luna paused, slightly embarrassed she'd cut her sister off, "What We mean is, you wanted Us to die. You didn't want to kill Us, you wanted Us to die. What did We do that would have made you think such things?" Celestia simply stared in Luna's direction , her precious one and only sister; whom she could share anything with. Luna was aware that Celestia was contemplating her question, but the way she stared through her was somewhat disconcerting. "I was scared, Luna; so very scared." Celestia's voice was weak and unsure. "When you began your campaign I didn't know what to do. When you didn't stop, the idea of having to face you as you were was terrifying to me. Not because I was scared of you, but because I was scared of having to match your hate fueled ambition with my own hate." "We see." Luna failed to maintain eye contact during Celestia's explanation. "No, you don't Luna." Celestia said sharply, making her sister jump. "You were born after me, you didn't see what I was before you came. I was bad, Luna. The dark ages of Equestria were my doing, I held power over all things, and I ruled through sadistic fear. That is why I was scared, for I knew that if I faced you without any other plan, I would not simply defeat you; I would break you, and damage you until you admitted you were wrong. Then I would have killed you without a second thought." "So, you allowed Us to continue on, unhindered, to save Us from thine cruelty?" "I could never replace you, Luna, until the day I knew something had to be done, I tried to imagine there was nothing wrong. I thought ignoring you for as long as possible would allow you to come to your senses, but I could no longer stand hearing of the casualty reports; could no longer bear to see widow's and orphans fill the streets." "We swear upon Our own immortality, We will make this right, somehow." Luna said as confidently as she could, attempting to hide the fact she was currently scared to be in the same room with her sister. She'd been given far more information, than she knew what to do with. With so much learned about her sister, Luna was denied the peace of mind she'd sought. Celestia nodded, silently dismissing her sister as she left. Luna went to the balcony and once again took off into the air, instead of returning to her room she continued to fly over Canterlot letting the cool night air run over her body as she continued to mull over what she'd learned of the once pristine sun goddess. As she flew, the weight of her past deeds were a physical presence that eventually forced her to land and walk the empty streets. It was her fault after all, she realized.
A New SentencePrincess Luna sat before Canterlot's largest clock tower as she had been for some hours. Surrounded on all sides by rather tall buildings it wasn't clear that dawn had arrived, but the clock said Celestia's sun had already crested the horizon. She sat unmoving like the myriad of statues in the plaza. During the night a guard had stopped to take a rest from his patrol not but a few feet from Luna's spot; when she attempted to start a conversation he very well may have been in Trottingham. She had come to expect no different from anyone she tried to talk to when her sister was not right next to her. Previously, her worries were fixed on how she could regain the faith of her subjects sans fear and intimidation, but with recent revelations the only thing on her mind was a way to fix what she'd broken. It wasn't hard to reason out a solution, but in all reality there would be no happy ending for both her and Celestia. The moon still shown its pale light down upon the secluded square, while Luna watched it intently. She could see the smile of her only companion for a thousand years; could feel the cool collected stare of a being with all the time there would ever be. The Nightmare was watching Luna, and she could feel it in every part of herself. Luna knew she would soon go back, would soon strike another deal with her once friend, now revealed to be eternal tormentor. The thought of speaking with the embodiment of her malice and hatred shook Luna to her very core, but she knew it must be done in order to recover what Celestia had given up. Only once the sunlight touched the square where Luna sat did she make her way back to the palace, where a very concerned Celestia was happy to receive her. "I thought you'd gone, Luna." Princess Celestia said trotting quickly out to the balcony to meet her sister. "We are not some petulant runaway who merely seekest thine attentions, but We- I," Luna paused and recollected herself. She tried deliberately to please her sister with her progress towards day to day dialect in order to soften the blow of her words, "I must go back for a time, Celestia." "Back to bed?" Princess Celestia said, the hope in her voice fake and fleeting. "No, I must return to the lunar prison to-" "I forbid it." Celestia said with all the finality she could summon. "Forbid it how?" Luna demanded, raising her voice. "You and I know what waits there for you, and I will not have you coming into contact with it as long as I am alive." "You will not stop Us from righting Our wrongs!" Luna said, increasing her volume even further. "Please Luna, don't." "We-" Luna stopped suddenly, catching the volume of her own voice. "We did not mean to shout at thee, but life is not worth living while We hold this guilt." "Even if I say for the hundredth time, that I did what I did for your sake as much as Equestria's, and I forgive you?" Celestia pleaded, knowing she was nearing the end of a losing battle. "We would rather have the rest of Our lives to work for your forgiveness than have it mean next to nothing in two years time. If nothing else, let Us do this for Equestria lest it lose you and be left to Our care." "Say you will return whole and I will let you go." The elder alicorn whispered, turning her head away. "We swear to return to you the same Princess Luna." Luna drew herself up and put a hoof to her chest, but slumped noticably as she continued, "Beyond that, We can promise very little." "For the record, Luna, I believe you would be a fine ruler in my absence." Without another word Luna's horn began to glow softly as she walked out onto the balcony. A loud snap echoed throughout most of the palace, and the moon was clearly visible in the morning sky for several seconds. Celestia went wide eyed. The spell her sister had cast took considerably less effort than it should have; Luna hadn't gone so much as the Nightmare had pulled her in to the lunar prison. Luna was well aware that Celestia was nearly in tears as she screamed for her to return. The Nightmare had been expecting her, and wasn't about to let her leave until her business was concluded. Luna steeled herself for the inevitable encounter. Cruel laughter filled the void that once served as Luna's own prison. A laughter that once fueled her contempt and hatred did so once again; this time her spite was turned towards the source instead of her sister. Luna's past surged to catch her with every, increasingly weary step she took. Her comfort and company, her ally and strength; now and forever more her greatest mistake waited expectantly. The Nightmare had a power over both the royal sisters and would not conclude this visit without retaining it in some manner. Luna knew this and was fully prepared to offer a trade. She was ready to make things right.
Everything Once Left BehindLuna walked through the imitation palace she once called home. Though this place had been her prison, Celestia hadn't had much control over her activities. This gave Luna time to purse any activity she could think of; her project for the first fifty years of her sentence was recreating the palace in Canterlot, her memory was infallible and so the imitation was near perfect. She spent a couple hundred years walking its halls and scrawling her thoughts on the wall. A thousand years later, as Luna walked those very same halls, she realized her descent into madness inspired by loneliness had not been a gradual thing. She'd begun by counting the years of her stay, up to fifty years. After that she began to count the days; under the 7305 day were the words, "Just let me die." Luna unconsciously put a hoof on the words, and heard her sister's pleading again. "Luna dearest, please speakest Our name. Tell Us that our friendship can be mended. Tell Us that thou mayest return to Us peacefully; We hath no hatred for thee, only a longing for thine presence next to Us!" Her plea was followed sullenly by, "Or perhaps thou hast a hatred for Us deeper than We can understand. Regrettably then, We must extend thine sentence by a year once more. Perhaps in a year thou will find a voice for Us." That hadn't happened as far as Luna was concerned. She didn't hear her sisters voice for the entirety of her imprisonment; she'd felt forgotten. Had her sister truly tried to reach her, if so how many times. Every year. The writing on the walls seemed to whisper. Had it been every year? Then why hadn't she heard her sisters pleas? Luna was shaking violently, a rage she'd thought far behind her quickly rising. Yesss... The walls hissed, far beneath the notice of the furious princess. The stars in her mane began to wink out one by one leaving behind a black nothingness. Luna tore herself from the writings and stalked down the hall, praying the nightmare would show herself before she had time to reconsider her thoughts. One thousand years. The walls hissed when Luna neared the end of her writings. Luna's journey stomping through the hall took her all the way to the throne room; wherein the Nightmare sat statuesque upon the black marble seat. "Did you enjoy the walk?" The Nightmare's voice filled the air around Luna and sent vibrations through her body and soul. Any reasoning Luna had done to calm herself down was clearly wasted as she let out an animalistic roar her hoof came up and slammed into the ground shattering the floor with ease. This meant little as anything in this palace would yield to even her lightest of touches. The Nightmare was unfazed. She leaned forward slightly and seemed to instantaneously change forms. Whatever it had been before was impossible for Luna to remember, but now she stood as her last physical incarnation. Jet black coat under sections of a light purple armor. Luna's coat was beginning to darken as the Nightmare descended from the throne revealing that she as well bore Luna's mark; a thing that was supposed to be hers alone. The fires of hatred burned within Luna and radiated out of her in a tangible force that warmed the room. "Has your sister sent you to me yet again? Did you perhaps miss me so much that you came back of your own free will?" The Nightmare's tone was mocking at best. "You know why We are here. Now return what you have stolen before We are forced to violence." Luna was just as afraid of such an occurrence as she hoped the Nightmare would be. "I have stolen nothing, I do recall being given several things however." "We will not be tempted by thee again. Tell Us what it is you want so we can be done with this meeting." Though the Nightmare still stood on the opposite side of the room, Luna felt as though she was slowly being backed into a corner. "All I want is someone to talk to, and here you are." "We have no intention to stay." "And if I decided to keep you? Or what if I convinced you to stay?" The Nightmare came closer. "Nothing you could do would keep Us here." Luna said taking a few nervous steps back. "If I have nothing for you then why would you come back?" The Nightmare reminded Luna that she did in fact possess something the princess wanted. "But We promised our sister we would return from here." Luna near pleaded. "Indeed?" The Nightmare said with a wicked grin. "Then shall we say 'anything but that'"? "Anything, but." Luna could not hide the shaken fear in her voice. Her rage suddenly subsided at the thought of the promise made to her sister. "First your sister's soul was worth as much as my aid in taking revenge. Now you want it back for the sake of, what exactly?" "It was not Ours to give!" "You gave it nonetheless, and I would be the only one to lose here if I simply returned it to you." The Nightmare began to pace back and forth casually, well aware that Luna was more or less at her mercy. "Why do We hear the voice of our sister from centuries ago? Was that your doing?" Luna asked after a moment of silence. She needed a distraction from the thoughts of what she would pay for her sister's sake. "Perhaps." The Nightmare ceased moving and she resumed a much more neutral expression. "It could very well be that your sister tried to reach out to you. Perhaps she was more than willing to give you a year to let you let go of your hatred. When you said nothing to confirm those hopes, perhaps then she was forced, due to uncertainty, to extend your sentence. What if I knew this and didn't tell you, what would it change now?" Her tone was dangerously calm. "Why?" Luna's reply came weak and distant. The answer was yes and the Nightmare made no attempt to deny it; Luna now wanted to know what sort of explanation could justify such a cruel act. "'Why?' You ask? Why, when another alicorn is thrust into my domain bearing part of another's soul and a hatred like I hadn't felt in so many lifetimes, would I want to keep said alicorn in a state of isolation? Tell me, do you, or did you ever plan ahead for when an enemy was to fall?" Luna did and said nothing. "Of course you have; I know you have, because I've been a part of you." Suddenly she was behind Luna as she whispered, "And I will always be a part of you." "The elements of harmony cleansed my body of you, even now you are still reeling from their power!" Luna backed away quickly, from the revelation. "Truly, because of them, we will never share your body again. That doesn't mean I am all gone. I will be your doubt and your unshakable fears for all eternity now. I let your hatred grow and fester for several centuries before revealing myself. By then you were a husk drained of the will to miss those you'd left behind. It was a simple thing to give you something you thought you'd need and get exactly what I wanted in return." "Stop this at once!" Luna demanded. The Nightmare chose to ignore the frightened mare before her and finished her tirade, "Now it has come again. You stand before me asking for something you think you need; once again I will have what I've wanted since the beginning." Luna began to shake, all her fury fleeing her body as a cold apprehension settled in. "Simply put, I will have your soul in the wake of your death; in exchange your sister will be made whole, and the two of you will live for as long as you wish. What say you to this arrangement?" Luna nodded slowly, stood and left the room. Her exit followed by the Nightmare's dark chuckle ringing through the halls of the palace. When she was outside the walls of the castle began to sink into the ground. Everything she'd left here was being taken back with her; the imitation palace was spawned of her memories and could no longer hold up in the absence of their blueprints. The Nightmare released the magical anchor that'd been holding Luna in case she changed her mind; with the weight on her own soul gone Luna was immediately pulled back to the Canterlot palace, by her sister's insistent summonings. Though she'd accomplished her goal, she could not give her sister a smile to convey such. Celestia's worry would only increase over the next few days as her sister sat silently in her room; watching the moon at nights and crying.
