Canterlot, 4059 EQDT(12 B.C.)
It was a bright day, the birds chirping, the bees buzzing...all was well in the city of ancient Canterlot.
The air was brisk, and the winds blowing. Not so much to make it uncomfortable...but a cooling wind, that cools the body down on a hot summer day. It was only 3 weeks until her Night festival, which was one of the royalty's highest highlights of the year.
Princess Luna, who was walking down the central courts of medieval Canterlot, was also enjoying her day. Though not as much as the others...well, this was not abnormal. The night festival, not being one of the biggest highlights of the year, wasn't as glorious as her sister's day festival. Nothing, must be nothing, she thought.
"Greetings, how art thou...okay, seest thee later." A pony saw her and just trotted away.
"Greetings, 'tis thy Princes-oh, I bet he was busy too."
"Hello, doth thou needest any..."
'Tseems that evr'ypony is blatantly ignoring myself, she thought. Maybe we can just go to the courts, and try to meet others there.
This was normal for her. Every day, coming home, to a day of being mediocre. To her, it was like the special forces soldier who came home from the hospital, wounded from a successful battle; only to be belittled by his older brother in the reserves. Most humiliating, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. She had talked with her sister about this, and her sister didn't know what was going on, either. Or did she?
A plethora of thoughts were rampaging through Luna's head. At most, she was saddened. Almost getting on her nerves. But this, this still did not stop her. Onward she went.
She trotted, onward down the path of Canterlot. She normally did not appear in the daytime, but she wanted to spent quality time with her subjects. Still...nopony even bowed. Except...one? No, two.
"Oh, greetings, I-"
"Greetings, mighty one? How doth thou barest on a fine day like this?"
Luna looked, at first surprised, but then sighed to realize it was her 2IC, Athanasius; Commander of Lunar Operations.
"O, the joy! I believe that my day hath been quite boring, as usual."
"Surprising." He replied dryly. "Ponies just can't UNDERSTAND how much thou doth, Luna."
"Thanks, Athanasius. At least one pony does."
"Oh, and Princess, Octavian has been DYING to see you. Do you mind spending some time with him, instead of gaining time with, them?" Athanasius pointed to the crowd of ponies not paying attention whatsoever.
"Oh, I would love to!" The Princess always loved to see Octavian, and she hadn't seen him in a while.
"Hello, Octavian. I heard thou wantest to meeteth us again?"
Octavian was still bowing, trying to pay all his respects to his princess. He could almost relate to her, since he was outcast by his looks. His eyes glimmered with a pure sapphire, almost the same shade as his fur. His mane starry, matching the stars that lit the night sky. His mane wavered in the wind, as his head down bowing. He was only 5 years old, and his father always spent time with Luna. He made jokes about her and him being married, and Athanasius didn't take very well to that. Probably because he didn't want Octavian figuring out that he was her...
Octavian's thoughts were racing. Finally, meeting the Princess of the Night!
"Thou can stop bowing now, Octavian." Luna and Athanasius chuckled, he was a very eager-to-please colt, for sure.
Octavian stopped bowing, and jumped up and down. Luna bent down, so she wouldn't be towering over him.
Luna toned it down to a lower voice, as well. "So, Octavian, how hast thy day been? I heard you have always wanted to meet me, but thy bedtime schedule might be a bit botched up."
"Mine day hath been very good, thy majesty! Ooh ooh ooh, can we go places?! Like a vacation, two like ponies unite!" Luna giggled, gosh her son was most cute.
"Sure, once I can get some vacation time. Our nights are long, raising the moon and maintaining the night is quite the consuming job, young one."
"Okay, Princess!"
"Please, call me Luna, I dislike formalities."
"Sure, Luna!" Octavian ran up to Luna, and hugged one of her legs.
Athanasius giggled again. "Okay, son. Well, Princess..." Athanasius said while winking to her, "...maybe we can all take a walk down Canterlot, on such a nice day?"
Luna giggled, he always knew what she was thinking. "T'sounds very fine, swee- Athanasius."
The trio trotted down the eloquently designed tile, in a fine summer day. She didn't need others, when she had her lover, and her son. Luna looked up, and thought, maybe she could take some time off soon. She really wanted to spend more time with Octavian.
Luna attempted to look down, and...what?
Her neck was locked, and her legs remained stiff.
"What in the name of the dear gods...Athanasius, please come hither! I need some assistance, I am...Athanasius?"
The sun slowly faded into the sky, the sky turning atramentous. The scene started to fade away. Feeling helpless, she cried out for help.
"Athanasius, Octavian, anypony? Please, somepony help!"
Finally, she broke free, and snapped her head back. Finally, whatever this was, was now going to pass.
Luna looked, and saw that everypony had gone, and now the town was fading away as well. What was going on here?
The sky faded even more black, almost midnight black. She was laying down, on this white, rocky surface....in a ditch?! As the scene faded away more, she saw stars, and galaxies, and...her planet.
There was nopony around to explain to her what had happened. Then, she realized. The scene taking place happened almost three weeks ago, and she had been under a spell. As she got up, she felt almost weightless. She closed her eyes, powered up her horn, and...nothing. Her horn sizzled out, as her magical abilities were blocked. She tried flying, but...flapping her wings did nothing. She rose, almost free....but she couldn't rise past almost 30 feet or so, and was blocked by an invisible barrier.
She stood up, and cried out.
"Sister, what is going on?!"
"Sister?!"
"Celestia?!"
Her Royal Canterlot Voice, she thought. That will work.
"CEEEELLLESSSTTIIIAA!"
Luna's voice faded into the distance, and sizzled on the same invisible barrier. A shield, that blocked all sound or any deemed unnecessary objects or images from leaving. As Luna saw this, she collapsed, alone, with no idea what had happened, where anypony was.
"L-luna?"
A faint voice echoed from behind. No, she was probably hallucinating that as well. Luna trotted forward briskly, attempting to think out an escape plan.
"L-l-luna?!" The voice came a bit louder, but shakier. No, she was not hallucinating, there was somepony else there. As she trotted down to the area of the voice, she remained anxious of who it could be. Her trot turned into a sprint, which turned into a high-paced gallop. She skidded to a stop, kicking up a bit of dust. She then slowly looked down into a smaller crater, which a small colt was curled up, scared for his life.
It was Octavian.
