The mug made a heavy click as it came to rest on the old wood topped counter. The former guard looked around the dimly lit bar. All around him other guards and retired guards chatted loudly over drinks or poker, and he probably could join any of the tables if he so wished. They all were Royal Guards, and that formed a tight friendship between all of the ponies in the room, it just needed a spark. However, he wasn't in here much, and was content being alone at the counter.
He took a sip of his drink.
A mare walked up to the counter and threw a pile of bits down, “Eleven,” she said to the Bartender. “Stupid cards” she muttered under her breath.
He took a drink and inquired, “Not your lucky day?”
“Today?” she exasperated, “I had better luck during the Changeling attack, how 'bout you?”
“I was a vet by then,” he answered dryly.
She blinked in confusion, “You? A vet? You're untying my armor now.”
He shook his head, “Nah, I just had an experience that I just couldn't get over.”
The bartender returned with her drinks.
“Discord?” she asked, since that was the main cause of why the Royal Guard halved this last year.
“No, long before that,” he replied, “And I've been sworn to secrecy.”
She shrugged and, carrying the tray with her forest green magic, returned to her table.
He took another sip from his cup, remembering that day that changed his live forever.
“Guards, fall in!” the Captain ordered.
The Guards obliged as Princess Luna descended next to the Captain. Her brilliant silver shoes clicking gently as she touches down, and soft blue mane falling gracefully to her side.
He bowed slightly, “Good morning Princess.”
“Indeed it is Captain, and thou may callest us Luna.”
“As you wish, Luna. Why have you come today?” He asked, though fully aware of her intent to be here, he was unsure why.
“Who is thy boldest of warriors and bravest of souls?” she commanded in, though not the royal Canterlot voice, a volume that put the Captain's to shame.
He hesitated, unsure of her meaning,“That would be my second in command here.”
She nodded, “Very well, Captain, take thy men and leaveth this one you speak of with me.”
“You hear her! Guards, retire!”
Once the precession of guards had left, the Princess looked to him and simply said, “Remove thy armor and follow.”
The grand room was empty and void of light save the twinkling stars that adorn the great dome that is the ceiling and the soft orange light of a fire that burn on the opposite side of the circular room.. All around the room stood pearly pillars and rich dark furnishings, but they were all overshadowed by the grand central majestic bed raised on a marble platform. Only a select few can find themselves in this room, Luna's private chambers.
And now I was one of those few.
She lead me around the room to the fireplace, and said gently, “Feel yourself to be at home.”
I nodded and lied next to the fire on one of the soft midnight pillows that surrounded it. The fire was warm and its orange light glowed and reflected against the flawlessly polished black granite. Small wisps of smoke rise in a dance to a large chimney where they fly into the growing light of the day that is beginning outside of this bubble of night.
“Does thou wish for a drink?” the Princess asked from behind.
“No thank you Princess.”
A minute later she has joined me besides the fire, and without crown, shoes, or necklace. Together we sit watching the fire and smoke as they waltz to the choir of pops and snaps from the wood that echos in the otherwise silent chamber. Tendrils of flame reached out to every branch and lowly crept along until each one was as black as the room. I peered up and to remind myself that I was indoors because it was perfect replica of the true night sky. My mouth hung agape as I marveled in its splendor.
“Beautiful, is it not?” Luna said, now looking at me.
“I'm not sure there's even a roof above me,” I replied.
“It is strange being surrounded by night time nearly all the time,” she whispered, “And ever so lonely.”
I remained silent. Why, if she wished only to sit quietly, had she requested me to accompany her? Couldn't Princess Celestia be her with her? I fidgeted and biting against my lower inside lip.
“We know this must be strange for thee, but please do not worry,” she attempted to reassure.
I drew in a deep breath and found myself 'star'gazing. I could feel my wings itch to be returned to their home aloft the clouds and among the star speckled sky. I close my eyes and see Star Dancer and I smiling and laughing as we glide through gentle night breezes in the pleasant summer night air. A euphoria envelopes me and I grin.
Oh what happy times were those.
It was no longer bright, hot, and Celestial day, but rather a cool, beautiful, and Lunar night. I embraced the calmness and enjoyed the extended night and its beauties. I could lay for hours admiring this one sphere of night alone, and countless more on the rest of it.
Luna's sweet voice broke through the silence, “We have always been thankful that we are the Princess of the night. Our sister's day is beautiful, but it is harsh and loud. Peaceful is our night, and though it be lessened by ponies to us it has always been better.”
I smiled as I pictured Star Dancer leaning on me atop a cloud at the edge of Cloudsdale, her warm black mane resting against my ear, “All of my happiest times were during the night Princess.”
“Call us Luna,” she said, “For that is what our friends call us.”
I nodded and thought. Realizing something I turned, “Luna, why does the moon have phases?”
“When we were young and for the first time raising the moon, it was full. And for three day it was full, but we were too weak, and on the fourth day we rested. Tia told us that we had to raise the moon every day, but we told her that we could not. We gathered all of our highest advisers to come up with a compromise, the result being the formation of the phases. Despite that we have grown strong we still do this out of habit.”
The silence returned and hung in the air, yet I remained placid. I found myself relaxed in this slice of tranquility and found it to be akin to heavenly. I no longer was in the highest of towers in Canterlot, in the room of the royal, nor was the Princess, bringer of night, sitting next to me, but rather my dear friend Luna.
“Does thou know the story of Nightmare Moon?” she asked.
I looked to her, and she held a neutral expression as she gazed into the fire, “Yes, I know the tale.”
“Nightmare Moon...” she echoed softly, “And a nightmare we were.”
Sparks rose crackling from the fire and embers joined the floor and entered the waltz.
“We still recollect that first time we donned that helmet. The bright blued silver sculpted perfectly to round my head. Our chest plate to match and our battle shoes that rose high to above our knee. We shook beneath the weight of armor and what was to come. Celestia and her soothing wing gave us strength, and with Loyalty, Generosity, and Honesty at our side we knew we had nothing to fear. A nervous grin spread across our face that was mirrored by Celestia from behind her golden armor.”
I remember the weight of the Guard armor pressing heavily against my back that first day of training. Patters of raindrops bombarded the shining metal that adorned me as I stood listening to the Captain barking orders.
“We stood with Celestia before our fortress hidden by trees as we prepared to challenge the god of chaos at his mountain top castle. The ponies that lived with us in the encampment surrounded us and invigorated us for what was inevitable— a battle. That was the day Discord fell.”
During the pause I asked, “Who is 'Discord'?”
Luna took a deep breath, “He is the god of chaos who ruled Equestria before Celestia and we. While he is in the world there is unrest and disorder. But so long as he is where he belongs sitting in stone among statues the world is safe.”
Luna leaned over and rested her head against my neck.
“That day was the first eclipse as Celestia rose the sun and we the moon to celebrate. From henceforth we have risen each separately, her sun during the day and my moon during the night.”
On the first of the year there had been an eclipse, and Star Dancer and I had cleared the sky to see it. The shining aura of sun beamed around the moon to display their combined beauty in a gorgeous show of celestial wonder.
“As ponies began to adjust to this new found order it became clear that the sun and the day held their favor.”
More wisps of white smoke rose to solo in its eternal dance with fire as a quiet once again entered the room. Flames groped aimlessly throughout the piles of coals in attempt to find any scrap of wood that remained unburned. Soft orange light still poured out around the cushions and the two ponies resting on them, but much less than what entered the room when they had arrived.
“Rejection,” she continued quietly, but she needed not to be loud as she was so close, “Is hard when one is but a child. All those years ago when we were left wandering empty streets alone we knew well that no pony cared for our beauty and our night. We spoke with Tia about how we felt but she told us that our night was loved as much as day. But alas we were but a child and we saw what we believed to be the truth. No pony stayed out during the night and that was enough for us to believe we were forgotten. Those days we bottled our feeling, layering them over and over until we were ripe for an explosion.”
Coals glow softly in the house of the once great fire. The waltz had ended, the music silenced. Light grew dim and their shadows grew longer on the dark night shadowed floor.
She sighed, “Our childish selfishness drove us to a state of savagery. On the dawn of the shortest day as our sister rose we told her 'Let the moon stay high so they may experience the night.' She knew not our feelings so she rejected our proposal. We complied, lowered the moon, then stormed off to our fortress of old and retrieved our wondrous silver armor. Returning to the castle we stored it away until the next dawn.”
I looked down at Luna in the fire's fading light. Her young face glowed with soft orange light and her eyes rested in deep shadows. From within an icy wind of dark memories blew out to the shadows and chilled them to an ominous level.
“As our sister's waking hour approached I slid my armor on and walked to her room. As she exited I told her, 'the moon shall remain.' Thou should have seen her face, so hurt. We knew that the armor was a sign of rebellion, and chose to wear it to hurt her. It worked too well. She pleaded for us to listen to reason, and that the world would not be the same without the sun. Reason was not our concern, and we waved her off. Celestia responded to our foolish rage in an almost as brash manner. She ran. We chased her. Or so we thought; in reality she was leading us to our old fort. She took her elements shouting, 'If you so love your moon then join it!'”
I saw Star Dancer storm out of the house, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. I watched her until the gentle Cloudsdale shadows hid her from view.
“'Bout time you show up!” Thunder Wing shouted to me over the loud party, “Get your flank in here!”
He returned to the party leaving the door open for me. I went up and shut it before turning and running after Star Dancer.
She sat alone on one of the lowest clouds at the edge of the city, tears running freely from her shining silver eyes. I stretch my wing over her back at smile at her.
“It's a-a-awful,” she sobbed, “He, he broke up with me!”
She burrowed her face into my shoulder and continued sobbing, “It's okay Star Dancer, everything will be all right.”
“H-how do you know? What if no one loves me again?”
“Don't be ridiculous Star Dancer! You're beautiful, smart, and kind, and fun to be around.”
“You're just saying that!”
“No I'm not Star Dancer, you know I'd never lie to you,” I turned and hugged her
“Thank you best friend,” she smiled weakly, then frowned again, “Are you going to the party?”
“I'd rather hang out with you.”
She smiled and we sat gazing at the stars for a while, “Come on, let go flying,” I suggested.
She smiled and we took off, two shadows against the world of stars at our back.
We soared around the top of Cloudsdale flying slowly in the fresh night air, and diving in and out of clouds, smiling and laughing giddily. For hours we messed around in the sky before landing atop the highest cloud above the city.
“Thank you for that,” she said smiling, “I really needed some cheering up.”
“No problem Star Dancer,” I said.
“You know it's okay to just say 'Star', I don't mind.”
“I like 'Star Dancer' better, it's a perfect name.”
She blushed, “Oh, thanks.”
“I'm glad I didn't go to the party,” I told her.
“Me too,” she smiled.
She looked down at the cloud, “You wanna go someplace cool?”
“Sure.”
Taking flight she lead me down to the surface and into Canterlot. There was a fountain surrounded by a ring of candles, and in it floated more candles. The soft flow of water kept a current going that prevented the candles from flowing under the water and being extinguished.
The soft dancing light reflected on the water and onto Star Dancer's face. She sat looking at me, beautiful in the candlelight, “I found this place when the class came to Canterlot two years ago, and I knew that I would take somepony special here.”
Her face grew red, “After what happened tonight, I realized that he would never do anything half as kind as what you did. I realized that... I...”
I put my hoof over her mouth, smiled, and hugged her.
We backed apart, briefly gazing into each others eyes, then kissed.
“Those thousand years on the moon were so lonely. We had lost everything, our friends, our world, and even our sister. The worst part was that first year, those first hours when we were all alone. Our heart felt like it has been ripped out.”
She paused, “But it was almost as bad as the years went on and we grew crazy. Whereas before we called ourself Nightmare Moon once, during our punishment we grew to refer to ourself only as such.”
The coals were dying and the light's glow shrunk farther and farther into the fireplace.
“We do not regret it though, wishing for more night that is. Still we believe that, but now we are older and wiser. The world without sun would be desolate, and we do not wish for that. We are glad that we became Nightmare Moon, despite her haunting our dreams she has lead to only positives in the end. We are strong now, and we grew from the thousand years on the moon.”
Luna yawned, “We are stronger and wiser and freer than we have ever been”
She smiled with her eyes closing; slowly drifting to sleep as the last bits of light and day left this sweet garden of shadows and bubble of night.
