Of Olden Times Long Past: An Introvert's Perspective

Of Olden Times Long Past

An Introvert's Lone Perspective

October 11 2012

6:15 AM

Songs used during production: Octavia's Overtune Remix and Canticle of Cadence
“In Her name, and for the New Lunar Republic, charge!”
Battle cry of Her Majesty's Lunar Army.

“The night is young, the starlight of the stars grace oh so poetically. Simply both bliss and divine, once in a lifetime, to experience such grace and poise.”

“Yet so I see her beauty, so young, so innocent, and... So alike me.”

“Shy and most timid, she took refuge under her sister's shadow. Rarely, did she present herself, hiding within the shadows and out of sight.”

“Oh to be so dazzled by such a wee, young Princess. Her heart touched upon mine greatly so, that nothing save Octavia could even compare.”

“Tis be a most joyful year to remember, of such fond memories that I foster. One who was so informal, and to our level of the common being. Struck soundly dumb by fools love, never would thine have foreseen the coming storm that made it so to change this forevermore. As with all good things, you too went your own separate path.”

“A year has since past, yet so much has changed. She possessed the same poise and grace of her former.... Yet so noted, thou carries her form in different posture. Standing tall and proud, you now tower over all. No longer you were the shy introvert that has touched my heart. In her place, you stand beaming with confidence like none other. Your voice, once so quiet that thou art even rival Fluttershy. Your speech and mannerisms, no longer of the modern tongue, but in a veiled, Elizabethan Equestrian. Shakespeare looks down in bemusement, but all the same your theatrics still hold most endearing.

Jolly art thou most inner thoughts. Your every hoof step carries a spring that once a year before, never would have been possible. So loud and rambunctious, so unlike the little one who only a year before has returned from banishment.”

“So coy and cunning, a flare of your brilliant moonlight reveals all beneath the shadows. Governor and Guardian of the Night once more, you make peace with the people's heart. So tearful Celestia was, who had not enough tears to shed for your return to grace. Glorious and valiant, you stood tall and proud. Conquered the evils that have cloaked thine form, you are held in equal measure to your beloved elder sibling. Converse you do with a new alicorn of magenta, her love so abundant.

Your life was never before so joyful. Night is held to the utmost regard, equal in measure to that of the Day. More protective and loving than ever, your sister lashes out to those who even dared to insult you and your beloved night. When word came that you were attacked by the extremist factions who fear the night, hearing the failed assassination attempt land you in hospital, so great was her rage that all of Equestria heard her roar with agony and despair.

She was not merciful to the culprits, who she smited with glee all too evident. Now, your sister Celestia has passed an edict, that if anyone were to disrespect the night again, she would plunge the country into darkness for a week's time. Thanks to your efforts to calm her soul however, this thankfully did not come to pass. Both of you now stand proud, ever the symbols of hope, valor, wisdom, and justice.”

“Yet out of all that, a feeling of being constantly observed has you at least bit on edge. But no matter how much effort you put in to locate this source, the shadows reveal not what you desire. Shrugging it off as so, you continue your daily duties to the people, but only for a while.”

“For every once in a while, this feeling comes back in force, yet disappears as quickly as it came. Frustrated, you request the presence of Twilight Sparkle, a prodigy at magic, and Pinkie Pie, whose abilities to break into other dimensions is unparalleled.”

“Now here you are, waiting with anticipation as the time draws near. You will finally find out what this feeling of apathetic sorrow is, indeed so Princess Cadence has stated, this soul feels most alone. Before, it held feelings of camaraderie, jolly joy, and heartfelt kinship. But now, this soul weeps silently for a loss that cannot be replaced, a veil pulled over the eyes of others to keep silent and stem their worries, for it's own is not worthy of comment. Or so it would seem anyhow. But so great is this call, you cannot help but heed the cry for help. Something is amiss about this soul however. You feel fear, tension twisting it's knife in your gullet. You sense many feelings plaguing this soul, those of despair, fear, anger, envy and general apathetic acceptance. This soul knows much about you, even though it has never met you in person. From afar does he admire you, though you sense there are many others like minded who hold you in that regard, even if their plane of existence differs from your own.”

“You have established the gender and age of this one. The reveal of whom this one may be draws your complete attention... Ah, a young soul in their adolescent age, bright but ultimately introverted, even more so than Twilight before she met her fellow elements. Conflict reside within his heart, something to do with a change that has cause him alarm. Yet despite his attempts to communicate these feelings to his fellows, they could only shrug, helpless to answer what was gnawing at him from the inside. His failure to put to words the emotions and feelings that he hold only serve to irritate and depress him more than ever.”

“Wait... Something has happened... Huzzah! Your companions have now established a portal to view into the realm that has the source of these feelings....”

“Wait... What are you doing? …. No stop! You mustn’t dwell within these sacred parts. It shall be His pain alone, has always been and forever shall be. Cease with this meddling immediately, or face the sword's edge you wretched cur of an-”

CRACK

The puzzle will finally assemble itself to completion. Destiny now draws ever closer. We must make ready...

"DAMN!" Luna shouted. She slammed her forehooves into the marble floor, creating a small crack at the impact site. The bang, combined with the Royal Canterlot Voice, could be heard all around the castle. The sudden noise caused a servant to accidentally drop a cake on an unfortunate Prince Blueblood, who had the fate of standing under the balcony outside, right under where the cake landed at deadeye center.

Needless to say, the resulting theatrics of the Prince that night made headlines in the papers, and much to his dismay, almost everypony will recall the moment from that time on, the look of absolute horror that plastered itself on his muzzle being something that was absolutely priceless..

Luna had took no notice of this, for she had more immediate and pressing concerns to deal with..

"By Faust's hooves! Make haste Twilight Sparkle, thy sense an interference!"

"I'm trying," Twilight said, struggling to stem the huge amount of magic overload that threatened to burst from her horn and flood the room with explosive anti matter. Sweat beaded the young unicorn's brows as she grunted.

"Just-, a few more seconds -nghhhh, GOT IT!" Twilight shouted, only to cough as she began to wobble.

"Twilight! Art thou unwell?" Alarmed, Luna began to trot over to assess Twilight's condition, only for a steady hoof to halt her.

"I'm fine Princess! I just a need a breather."

"Very well Twilight Sparkle. We shall move on to the task at hoof here."

The image portal flickered for a few moments before settling on a urban woodland backdrop.

An image flickered briefly in front of Luna. What she saw was what she could only describe was a bipedal, hairless ape.

What stood out to Luna though was the fact he was brooding, looking horribly depressed. There he sat alone on a park bench, surrounded by a desolate wasteland. Not another soul was to be seen, and the neighborhood around it looked like it had been abandoned for some time, rust covering just about every building, along with some smashed windows and collapsed rooftops to add into the mix of decay.

"Curious. It would appear we have found our query Twilight. We suggest that-"

Luna stopped as her blood went frigid cold.

"By Faust!?"

An oppressive spirit that hovered over him, casting a heavy veil of haze with a darkened dye that engulfed the colt. One that she knew all too well from the past.

Luna scowled. Something ticked at the tip of her horn. "Twilight Sparkle, thy hast sense of a malevolent presence within this r- !"

Luna yelped, flinching from a scalding sensation on her horn. The princess panted as she forced herself to concentrate, sensing a very strong signal emanating from the portal. Luna grimaced as she steadied herself on her four hooves, complete tunnel vision overtaking her eye sight.

"Princess Luna! Here, I'll stop the spell-"

Luna silenced Twilight with a grunt.

"No Twilight. We have this-... Under control."

Luna gritted her teeth, fighting through the sudden vertigo that was trying to force itself upon the Night Princess.

"Yes, this is the one! He is the source! Quickly Twilight, we mu-"

She paused and blinked. Where the bipedal once stood, was a younger version of herself, who looked at her with sorrowful eyes.

FLASH!

'Bow to me Celestia! Soon, the night will last FOREVER! Nightmare Moon cackled, thunder sounding in accompaniment.

Luna.... I'm so sorry.... Please forgive me.... Celestia said in a whispered sob. It was now or never. Risk eternal night, or send the one she loved to a fate worse than death.

It only took Celestia one last look at Nightmare Moon before the Element of Harmony floated around her in a semi-circle.
The Elements of Harmony glowed brightly, then suddenly the beam was upon the hellish deity.

"No!" In that moment, Celestia flinched with horror, hearing a shriek so horrible that it would haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I'm so sorry!" Celestia wailed, tears now flowing freely down her mane, her words being choked with sobs in between.

'"*hic* I'm so- *sniff* sorry little sister... I have failed you...." Celestia whispered, lying flat on the ground as she gazed at the moon in what would be the first of many tormented filled nights, always serving as a reminder for her sins.

"No. Oh no, please not now!"

As dread matured into horror, a younger "Luna" found herself back against the wall, terror wide within her eyes as Nightmare Moon slowly strode her way closer to her prey, followed in tow by a tentacle monster, whipping and lashing out at anything in it's way. "Luna" trembled, knowing all too well what this hideous intentions this wicked thing held for her. She could only whimper as she tried to shrink herself into a corner, hiding herself from the ungodly demons of the world.

"Please, just stop! I- I just want to go home." "Luna" whispered, praying with all her might that the scary monsters would just go away.

The monster displayed callous disregard to "Luna's" request, who shrieked as she felt herself snatched up and put face to face in front of Nightmare Moon. Her heart ran cold as she was pierced by the wicked pupils of Nightmare Moon, who only grinned with an all too sinister intent of completely stripping away whatever innocence this little one had.

"Do you know what I do to naughty fillies like yourself?"

Her eyes flashed a venomous blue.

"I have them punished personally."

A wail of agony pierced the morning sky as "Luna" went through some of the most brutal torture imaginable.

Luna blinked, before staggering back in absolute agony, her head and horn throbbing with a horrible pounding pain, feeling like that she drank Moonshine that was mixed and distilled with liquid rainbows. She could vaguely hear Twilight calling out to her in panic, which only made the Princess's pounding headache even worse as Twilight's voice reverberated, bounce around her brain hard. She saw flash of stars, her vision started to fade into darkness.

Luna could vaguely feel the sensation of an unknown source beginning to tighten it's vice grip around her, pulling the Princess of the Night to... Actually, she had no clue as to her own destination.

"You will find out all you wish to know, my dear night guardian.

Luna blinked. Gone was the Observatory that she was in, only moments before she had been engaging in a spell cast matrix with Celestia pride. Now, there was only darkness, yet she had a clear view of a figure who seemed to radiate light. The character in question was bipedal in nature. Two wings jutted out of it's shoulder blades, folded at a rest position. It also was wearing some type of armor, it definitely didn't seem metallic, resembling more of a dress uniform. In it's, ("Talons?" Luna wondered.) it held something black and metallic, though by the general shape of the object, Luna guessed it had similarities to a crossbow. Where the bolt was placed was beyond her though.

Reasserting her posture, Luna found herself face to face with the strange creature. But at least she had a clear view of whom she was conversing with.

Possessing a sharp beak and eyes that pierced into her soul, Luna found that any attempts at communication fail her, muscles slack, gaping at the hypnotizing glare that the avian was giving the princess.

"All will be revealed in due time, my lady. But for now, you must rest. Until then, farewell to thee and good slumber to you my dear." It said in a low, gravely voice, giving confirmation that it was indeed a male.

"Wait! Who and what are you? What do you mean by revealing?" Why are yo-" Luna was rendered silent as the biped lifted a finger to her muzzle.

"All in due time my lady. What I can tell you is that you will wake in a very strange place. A place that exists outside that of our physical realm. Do not be alarmed, for I shall be there to greet you, and once I have explained everything held dear, you shall reawaken back in the land of the living. But now, you must sleep."

Then in a flash, he disappeared..... Already, the veil of darkness was beginning to smother her, quickly it enveloped her vision.

"Who.... Was that?" She mumbled in a stunned duper, before she slumped flat on the cold floor.