Intro: Lullaby for a Princess

AN: This introduction was inspired by the song of the same title by PonyPhonic...Lullaby for a Princess I highly recommend that you listen to it!

It had been years, unknown, uncounted years, since Jack had headed east in exile from Equestria, into the distant lands beyond the mighty mountains that divided Equestria from the lands beyond. It was there, somewhere in the Far East, beyond the sight of Celestia and her corrupt monarchy, where Jack stood atop a mountain. As he regarded the moon in the sky, he turned his muzzle skyward and in a somber voice began his lament…

“Fate has been cruel and order unkind,

How could you’ve sent her away?

The blame was my own; the punishment, hers,

The harmony's silent today…

But into the stillness, I'll bring you a song,

And I will your company keep.

Till your tired eyes and my lullabies,

Have carried you softly to sleep…”

Little did he know that leagues away, upon the battlements of her mighty solar-citadel, the alabaster mare he ever so briefly considered his sister, had unknowingly joined him in lamenting their exiled sister, with her own powerful voice…

“Once did a pony who shone like the sun,

Look out on her kingdom and sigh,

She smiled and said, "Surely, there is no pony

So lovely and so well beloved as I…”

So great was her reign and so brilliant her glory,

That long was the shadow she cast.

Which fell dark upon the young sister she loved,

And grew only darker as days and nights passed…”

Without the two realizing it, they were both singing a lullaby to their imprisoned sister…

“Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine,

And rest now in moonlight's embrace.

Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth,

Through cloud, and through sky, and through space…

Carry the peace and the coolness of night,

And carry my sorrow in kind.

Luna, you're loved so much more than you know,

Forgive me for being so blind…”

The mare once again took the lead…

“Soon did that pony take notice that others,

Did not give her sister her due…

And neither had she loved her as she deserved,

She watched as her sister's unhappiness grew…

But such is the way of the limelight, it sweetly,

Takes hold of the mind of its host…

And that foolish pony did nothing to stop,

The destruction of one who had needed her most…”

Once again, the two unknowingly joined their voices to sing to the heavenly body that was both their sister and her prison…

“Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine,

And rest now in moonlight's embrace.

Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth,

Through cloud, and through sky, and through space…

Carry the peace and the coolness of night,

And carry my sorrow in kind.

Luna, you're loved so much more than you know,

May troubles be far from your mind…

And forgive me for being so blind!

The years now before us,

Fearful and unknown…

I never imagined,

I'd face them on my own!

May these many winters,

Swiftly pass, I pray.

I love you; I miss you,

All these miles away!”

One last time, Jack took the lead for the final verse, his voice became at once, soft and tender, only just holding back a tear…

“May all your dreams be sweet tonight,

Safe upon your bed of moonlight…

And know not of sadness, pain, or care,

And when I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there…”

He turned his head back towards his side, where his wings once resided and his tears flowed. If only he still had them, maybe…just maybe, he could’ve actually flown to the moon and rescued her from herself…?

“Sleep...sleep…sleep…”