Raise the Sun

Spike walked along the streets of Ponyville, glad only to have gotten away from the 'party' that Pinkie had thrown. One good look at those cupcakes and he could tell precisely where she had gotten the coloring, and the thought made his stomach turn right over. Still early in the afternoon, but a few gasps from down a side way piqued his curiosity, and he glanced over to see the few ponies wandering by had knelt down to...

"Princess Luna?" the young dragon considered aloud.

Indeed, the princess of the night had arrived in Ponyville not even a day before the festival for the Summer Sun Celebration. Spike came closer to see just what her business was, but she looked so modest - so normal without her elegantly-flowing mane that Spike knew right away her purpose was not meant to be seen on a global standard. Although she still posed a time and a half as high as any pony in town, excepting Big Macintosh, she appeared not much different from any of them. She came on unofficial business.

Looking back to Twilight's library, the purple-scaled dragon didn't have to guess specifically why.

"Spike?" The dragon's attention snapped back to the scene at hand as he realized the princess had addressed him. "Why are you alone on such a day as this? Is Twilight Sparkle unwell?"

"Yeah..." Spike answered with a hushed earnesty. "And I don't think it's just Twilight either. Ever since the gala two years ago, everypony sort of drifted."

"We are well aware of the circumstances," Luna waved a hoof back and forth as if to indicate two points. Two sisters, Spike managed to guess; her use of the word 'we' was not in singular intent. "We... I, came to see if there was any way I could help."

Spike lowered his head in thought. Although his wisdom and intelligence were both far from his strong points, in a tight situation he was known for knowing what was best. Even still, the severity of the situation led him to fail and sever his streak. "Uh, I got nothin'." He admitted with a sag of his shoulders.

"Very well then," Luna nodded, "perhaps if you would come also, you might think of something while we are there."

"Huh?" Spike looked up, both eyes wide in confusion. Once he noticed Luna's pointed expression towards the library however, it occurred to him that the princess' interest was clearly not in him. "Oh, right. Heh heh... sure thing, princess."

Luna nodded, setting a slow pace for the library as though wanting to delay the trip herself. "I would as you call me 'Luna', young Spike." she said simply, "I am no better than you nor any pony here, and wish to be treated as an equal."

"But you're a princess!" Spike objected, his voice flowing out with disbelief.

"I am no less a pony for it though, am I?" Luna countered, making Spike stop in his steps.

"Well, no but the Nightmare Moon deal was a whole nine years ago, and you've done nothing wrong since!"

Luna smiled and shook her head. "Nine years of peace cannot justify a thousand of hatred, my little dragon."

"Yeah, but..." Spike reeled in a vain attempt to retort with something worth mentioning. "Alright, you win."

"Come, the day is still young." Luna offered with a warmer smile, "There will be time to reflect upon past and present when this is through."

Spike was kind enough to open the library door, and to the alicorn's surprise the interior was much darker than she had known any place near to the ecstatic Pinkie Pie ever to be. While within were all the standard party supplies, an excess of ribbons and balloons as were the young mare's signature, and everything else one might expect, the lights were out, save for several gathered in a circle, around wich sat the six holders of the Elements of Harmony.

Five of the ponies looked up and turned in curiosity to who had entered. Twilight Sparkle did not. "It's an honor to have you here, Princess." Twilight spoke faintly, her voice leaden with a heavy heart. "I take it you're here on business?"

"Twilight Sparkle," Luna sighed, stepping in and rerouting her thoughts to address the lot of them. "My little ponies, I did not come at my sister's request if that is what you are asking. As I have in years past, I wish to see from the same eyes as my beloved subjects."

Only then did Twilight lift her head. Luna took the moment to measure the expressions of the ponies gathered around the candlelight. Each of them wore either retrospective or introspective expressions, each of which the princess of the night could read as clearly as black and white.

"I'm afraid there isn't much festivity to be had, your highness," Rarity offered as she nudged herself to the side somewhat, "we were just recalling some of our times together, if you would like to join us."

Luna closed her eyes for a moment with a silent tear falling from her eye. If nothing else, the young fashionista had explained the retrospection in the ponies' faces, and she could guess on her own why the introspective looks.

"Um, princess?" Fluttershy's weak voice sounded closer than Luna remembered her being, and she opened her eyes to see that indeed, the yellow pegasus had come closer, albeit cautiously. "I-is this about since two years ago?"

Thus confronted, Luna let out a long sigh and nodded. "It is, though I am hesitant to admit it."

Twilight again lowered her head to the floor, and each of the others followed suit one by one. This was going to go nowhere, Luna realized. Each of them knew full well what they were doing wrong, and each felt guilty about it and about what it had done to them as a group, but none of her little ponies seemed willing to admit it in front of any of the others, let alone to a princess.

Applejack lifted her head, lifted an eyebrow at all of her closest friends and finally turned to Luna. "Ah think ah get the picture here," she said plainly, "but... no offense princess, ah highly doubt we'd be up fer confessions with her royal highness with us. Ah'll talk, ah promise. What about y'all?" She looked to her friends as she asked.

With varying paces, all with solemn expressions, each of the ponies crossed a hoof over their hearts in an x-shaped pattern, waved their hooves - or in the pegasi's case, wings - for a moment, and proceeded to drive a forehoof into a closed eye. Naturally curious of such a strange gesture, Luna raised an eyebrow.

"Cross my heart," Pinkie Pie explained, going through the motions again, more slowly this time. "and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. It's a Pinkie Promise, and nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise."

As unpredictable as ever, the princess thought to herself as she let off a small smile. With little else to go by, she nodded and excused herself, Spike in tow.

As she reached outside and heard Spike close the door behind him she turned to him and shook her head. "This is not something for me to hear, Spike, but you are as close to these ponies as anyone could ever hope to be. You should be there for your friends as well." she advised.

"But-!" Spike protested. Luna merely opened the door again with her magic in response. "Oh, alright." he conceded, retreating back to the library and closing the door yet again behind him.