The Search for Midnight

Chapters

Acceptance
Setting Out
Meetings
The Way to Ponyville
The Sun and the Forest
Lost and Found
Author's Notes + FAQ

Acceptance

Princess Celestia stood at the centre of the throne room of the Royal Palace in Canterlot, waiting. It was midday, the sun high in the sky overhead, shining through the stained glass windows that lined the walls and throwing colourful shapes on the tiled floor. The door at the end of he hall swung open, and her sister walked into the room, blinking in the bright light.

"You asked to see me?" asked the smaller blue pony.

"Yes," replied Celestia, "this is a matter of urgency."

Luna's eyes widened slightly as she heard the last word.

"What's the matter? What's going on?"

Her older sister sighed.

"Luna, it is paramount that you assume your duties soon. I cannot keep raising the moon for you!"

" But...you know I'm not ready! Please...I can't do this...not yet..."

" You can Luna, and you will!" Celestia paused for a moment, then her voice softened. " I'm sorry. If I could give you time, then I would. But with you back here, Equestria needs both of us to do what we are meant to. If I have to control the sun and the moon, the balance of this land will change!"

Luna said nothing, choosing to let the silence do the talking.

"I know how hard it is for you to accept your place, but you are a different pony to Nightmare Moon." Celestia continued.

Her sister flinched slightly at the name of her alter-ego, but still did not speak.

"Please, Luna. Every day the power I have over the Moon grows weaker. You are the true Princess of the Night!"

For a moment, Luna looked like she was going to argue. But then she looked down, and said quietly

"I'll try to restore the balance. Equestria needs me to."

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Princess Celestia looked fondly at her younger sister.

"I know you can do it if you truly want to."

Princess Luna stared out of the window at the peaceful land below, the land she had once tried to shroud in darkness. If she had her magic back, she could do so again. Her jealousy could confront her again, turning her back into that evil pony, the one whose reputation she had yet to erase. But at the same time, Equestria could not survive without the night. It was her night, not her sister's, and she needed to use it herself. Celestia knew that. But did she want the responsibility of bringing the moon every night?

"I'm not sure if I want to at all..."

***

Evening came, and Princess Celestia lowered the sun and pulled up the moon. For the hundredth time that day, she sighed. Bringing the night was getting harder. It would not be long before she couldn't do it at all. She stood at her balcony and stared at the stars, wondering what would happen if her sister never took her place. What would happen when night refused to come? The day would last forever, with no respite from the sun. Celestia was painfully aware of Equestria's need for both night and day, no matter if anypony wished otherwise. If the sun never went own, what would her subjects think of her? Perhaps they would believe she had become evil, refusing to lower the sun for Luna's night.

She shook herself. She would never allow that to happen. It was her duty to maintain balance for all of Equestria, and she would, whatever happened.

"Come on, little sister," she whispered at the sky, "find your true calling. All of ponykind needs you to accept who you really are..."

Then she had an idea. Using her unicorn magic, she flew a quill, an inkpot and a blank scroll out to where she was standing. Quickly dipping her writing tool in the ink, she penned a letter:

My dearest student Twilight,

I have an urgent request for you. I require your researching skills to help me resolve a problem that concerns all of Equestria.

I want you to find as much information as you can on how young ponies earn their cutie marks. This may sound like quite a trivial subject, but it is extremely important. My sister is having trouble regaining the use of her powers to raise and lower the Moon.

Whilst I realise that Luna already has her cutie mark, I believe any books you have on the matter will help. Getting your cutie mark is about discovering who you really are, and I think that Luna needs to do this if she is to become bringer of night once more.

Your mentor, Princess Celestia.

Celestia sent the note. She knew she would not get a reply until morning, but perhaps knowing the letter was on its way would set her mind at ease.

Once again, she sighed. She hoped tomorrow Luna might realise how important her task was. But in the meantime, it would be her struggle to bring nightfall.

She just hoped she could do it.

***

Twilight Sparkle was awoken by early morning birds twittering outside her window. She rolled sleepily out of bed and over to her mirror, where she brushed her unruly mane into submission. Then, quietly, she tiptoed downstairs, just in case Spike wasn't already awake. Glancing at the basket where he was still snoring, she spied a rolled-up scroll lying beside him. She immediately recognised the royal seal, and decided to risk picking it up with her magic. Gently, she lifted it up into the air. Spike rolled over, and Twilight winced. But luckily, he only mumbled a few words before beginning to snore again.

Twilight read the letter, and creeped down to the library. Searching through her hundreds of books, she eventually came across the one she wanted.

"A cutie mark is a symbol displayed on a pony's flank that depicts their true talent. Ponies are born without a cutie mark, but earn it when they discover who they truly are."

Twilight sighed. She knew all of this already!

She flicked through the rest of the book, trying to find something useful.

A particular passage caught her eye.

"While most ponies need not worry about forgetting who they really are, unicorns are different. For their magic to work, they need to understand who they are. If a unicorn forgets what they truly believe in, their magic can often cease to function. Getting this magic back can often be similar to getting a cutie mark; they need to realise their full potential. This usually entails finding something that reminds them of themselves, and this can mean going on a quest to find such a thing."

Twilight closed the book.

She knew that time was running out for Luna. If the Princess didn't get her magic back soon, then the consequences would affect everypony in Equestria!

She hurriedly wrote a reply to her mentor's letter.

"Spike! Spike!" she called.

"What do you want?" asked her assistant blearily, "I was having such a nice dream!"

"I need you to send this letter right now!"

"Okay, okay!

Spike took the scroll and blew his green flames onto it. He looked questioningly at Twilight.

"It was important, Spike. Very important."

Setting Out

Princess Luna stood at her window, watching the clouds. As she stared at the sky, she looked back on her life...

She and Celestia had once been inseparable, working together to bring harmony to all their subjects. It was only after several centuries that she had begun to grow jealous of her big sister. The more she looked back on it, the stranger it seemed that she had become angry at the daytime. She knew now that both day and night were needed for Equestria to function. Despite Celestia being older than her, they were both equals.

Turning around, she looked in the mirror at herself. A mid-blue pony with a dark blue mane and a patchy black cutie mark. Underneath her tiara, the only things that made her special were her horn and her wings. Luna knew that would change if she had her magic back. Her mane would become starry, and she would grow, looking more like her sister and more like a true princess.

But at what cost?

There was a reason she shied away from her responsibilities. Power corrupts. She had already explained that to Celestia, the fact that Nightmare Moon could not come back without her powers.

But then again...

She looked back through her window, at the bustling city of Canterlot and the green fields beyond. Silently, she made a decision, and went to find her sister.

***

Princess Celestia smiled as she saw her sister walking up one of the many corridors of the castle to meet her. From the mask of determination on the younger pony's face, it was clear that she had made up her mind.

"Sister, I wish to have my magic back." Luna announced loudly, possibly because she was trying to convince herself it was the right thing to do.

"I knew you would realise how much all of ponykind needs you!" said Celestia joyfully. But then her smile slipped. "Unfortunately, there is no way I can just give you your powers. I wish I could. But you must claim them yourself."

Luna looked troubled.

"But...I don't know how!"

Celestia took a deep breath.

"And neither do I, sister dearest."

This did nothing to ease her younger sister's worry.

"Well then, all is lost! I cannot raise the moon if there is no way for me to do so!"

"Do not fret so much, Luna. There is a way. However, everything is down to you. The only way to find your magic is to follow your heart."

Princess Luna stared at the floor for several minutes. Everything was quiet. When she looked up again, there was understanding in her eyes.

"I know what I have to do"

***

The Canterlot Library was entirely deserted by the time Princess Luna walked in. It was almost sundown, dusky orange light mixing with shadows as it shone through the open doorway of the building. As much as she enjoyed the feeling of the cool evening breeze, Luna shut the door after her. She had research to do.

It wasn't long before she found the right book: Flora and Fauna of the Everfree Forest.

She came to one particular chapter, then stopped. Chapter 10 dealt with some of the more unusual plants allegedly seen in the expansive woodlands; leaves with special medicinal properties, wood that contained naturally-occurring magic...and the Moonflower. This was what she had come looking for.

Long ago she had heard the story of a young colt who became lost in the forest. He had wandered for hours, night had fallen, and he had lost hope of ever finding his way home. But then, apparently, he came across a flower, one that glowed just like the moon above him. It shone through the darkness, illuminating a path out of danger and back to his house.

At the time, Luna had not believed the legend, but now she saw the colt's face once more, eyes shining as he recalled the tale. Perhaps he was telling the truth.

And if he was, she could find the Moonflower. Clearly, it had some sort of magic that allowed it to help ponies. It could help her find her magic! She rushed back to the castle, eager to begin her search.

"I am so proud of you, sister," said Celestia after hearing Luna's plans. "You must set off as soon as possible!"

Luna galloped back to her room to start preparations for the adventure to come. Her sister smiled briefly, then turned her attention to the sky.

Princess Celestia slid the sun below the horizon easily, and willed the moon to appear. But it did not. Worriedly, she increased her focus, her horn glowing brightly. She could feel the moon pulling against her magic, and glanced upwards at her horn. Sparks were flying off it now, shining as they hit the floor. Something gave way, and slowly she tugged the moon into position. Celestia ended her spell just before her legs gave way under her.

As she sat on the cold polished stone, she saw a dark figure dashing out of Canterlot, cloak flapping. Luna. She closed her eyes, and willed her little sister not to fail in the task that so many ponies' lives depended on.

Meetings

Luna dashed out of Canterlot, then spread her wings and flew into the early evening sky. After so long trapped in the moon, it had taken her a while to learn how to fly again, but when she had finally succeeded, it had felt good. She flew as often as possible, using the night to cloak her presence from the sleeping villages beneath her. She was truly free in the air, able to see for miles around, to appreciate the kingdom that she and her sister had worked so hard to create.

She felt a twinge of sadness as she looked upon the land below her. It reminded her how important it was for everypony that balance and harmony was kept, and she wondered what the world would be like in eternal darkness. Immediately, she repelled the thought. It would not be beautiful, the sky a permanent shade of black. No sunset, no dawn and no beautiful blue-purple twilight.

Twilight.

What was it about the name? Of course! Twilight Sparkle. The Element of Magic. Luna had not had much of a chance to talk to Twilight, but she seemed intelligent and kind. She had been the first to realise the consequences of Nightmare Moon's escape, but she had been forgiving too. She respected Luna as a princess. She would help her.

It was then she realised she did not know where Ponyville was.

Looking down, she saw a tiny village containing only a few houses. Perhaps she could ask for directions there. Landing gently, she surveyed the wooden cottages that were dotted around a central hall that was little more than a barn. Nothing stirred. It seemed as though everything had closed for the night.

Princess Luna read the signs above the small number of shops present. Clover's Cafe. Jackhammer's Carpentry. Honey Flower Confectioners.

Finally, at the end of the street there was a guestroom. The sign on the door read 'SHIRE VILLAGE BED AND BREAKFAST'.

Luna knocked, and waited...

***

The door creaked open. Luna was greeted by a warm smile, illuminated by the orange-yellow flickering of a lamp.

"Hi there! If you're looking for a room to stay in, you're at the right place. Please, come in, come in!"

Nervously, the princess stepped into the light. The other pony gasped.

"You...you're a...oh my goodness darling, you might have warned me! Gave me quite a fright for a minute there!"

The pony hung her lantern on a hook by the doorway, illuminating the room fully. Luna had never seen anything quite like it. Shelves lined all the walls, holding just about everything possible that was pretty in the world. Gemstones and glittering rocks, seashells, diaries in all colours, vases and jars made from finest glass, and carvings of wood and stone.

A narrow staircase led up to the floor above, and in the corner was a chestnut-wood desk inlaid with ivory and silver birch. On it sat a brass bell with intricate designs, a reading lamp, and a large book.

The pony trotted over to the desk. Luna looked carefully at her, not wanting to stare. A unicorn. She had a lavender coat and plum-coloured hair piled up into a bun, with the exception of one neat ringlet. Silver half-moon reading glasses were perched on her nose, and she wore a gold necklace. Her cutie mark displayed a scroll and a writing quill.

"How do you do my dear? I'm Dawn Star, but just call me Dawn. Now, who might you be?"

"My name is Luna"

Using her magic, which was pinkish-orange, Dawn Star opened the large book and wrote inside.

"Guest book. Now, how long will you be staying for?"

"Oh," said Luna, slightly startled by the question, "I hadn't really thought about it...just tonight, I suppose."

"Right. I'll get your bedroom all set up. Breakfast is at--"

Just at that moment, Dawn was interrupted by a young filly who came dashing down the stairs.

"Muuuuum...who's at the door?!

She stopped as she saw the alicorn standing there

"Mum! She's a...a princess!

***

Both ponies stared at Luna.

"Well..." started Dawn Star, "I see you've now met my daughter. Evening Primrose, this is Luna. She's staying here for the night."

Evening Primrose stood, mouth agape, staring at Luna.

"Now now, Primrose, it's not nice to stare," continued Dawn. "Even if our guest is rather...unexpected." She then looked at the guest in question.

"Well...are you a princess?" She tried not to make the question sound accusing, but failed.

Luna looked at the ground. She decided not to lie to the friendly unicorn and her daughter.

"Yes. I...I am Princess Celestia's sister, Princess Luna, guardian of the Moon and bringer of night. Please, though...don't be scared of me. I do not have any magic. I have yet to take my place back."

It was then Primrose who spoke.

"I'm not scared of you...you're a princess! With a tiara and a horn and wings! Right here!

The tension in the room was alleviated by the small pony's amazement. Dawn chuckled.

"Well, you shall have our best room. Just call if you want breakfast, I'll send it up to you. And, seeing as you're only staying a night, you can stay for free!"

Luna was surprised by the unicorn's generosity.

"Oh, no, please. You have a living to earn!" She pulled a bag out of her cloak and laid five gold bits down on the table. "Keep them. I insist. For...not running away from me."

Dawn Star smiled warmly again.

"I thank you most kindly, good princess. Your room is the first on the right."

Luna walked up the stairs and opened the door of her room. It was big, circular shaped, and reminded her strangely of her room back at home. She smiled.

The bed was soft and warm, smelling slightly of roses. Laying her head on the pillow, Luna let all her worries go and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

The Way to Ponyville

The unfamiliar sounds of the dawn chorus woke Luna from her sleep. For a moment, she looked around, dazed, wondering why her room looked different. The she remembered her quest, the tiny village of Shire, the guesthouse and its kind owner. Looking at the antique clock that stood on the mantelpiece, she saw that it was still early. She didn't want to wake ever other pony in the house, so she studied the many books arranged next to the clock. One in particular caught her eye: An extremely old black tome inlaid with gold, clearly worn but in good condition. She carefully took it out of its place. The title surprised her.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna: Years of Harmony

She laid the book down on her bed and opened it to the first page. There in front of her was a skillful drawing of her and her sister, side by side. Behind them were the Elements of Harmony, and a window with a view of emerald green woodlands. The ancient castle in the Everfree Forest! She opened the book and began to read.

Luna was interrupted by noises from downstairs. She glanced at the clock and saw that she had been reading for over two hours. The book had reminded her of her old life, when she was almost the same size as her sister, standing tall and proud. The smell of pancakes brought her back to the present and she shook her mane to get it neat. She clopped downstairs where the sight of breakfast greeted her.

"Good morning, princess!" chirped Dawn Star as she laid the table with her magic. Evening Primrose started to greet her too, but decided against it when her mother shot her a warning look.

"This all looks delicious," Luna complimented, before she hungrily began to eat.

"Oh, it's nothing really, dear" said Dawn, looking modest.

"Now," said the alicorn, "I wonder if you could tell me where Ponyville is..."

***

Dawn Star and evening Primrose stood in the doorway of their home as Princess Luna donned her cloak and flew off into the sky once more. She smiled as she saw them waving. They had been kind to her, even when her true identity was revealed.

It wasn't long before she came to Ponyville. She vaguely recognised the town hall, the place where Nightmare Moon had first appeared. The library was where Twilight Sparkle lived, that much she knew. There it was. The huge hollowed-out tree that contained all the books in the town. Checking that no-one else was around, she landed lightly on the path and knocked on the door. It opened, and the cheery face of the purple pony looked out.

"Princess Luna!" exclaimed Twilight, "I didn't expect to see you here. Come in!"

The princess stepped into the library, and Twilight turned to face her.

"So, what brings you here, Princess?"

"I wondered if I might have your help in finding a rare plant known as the Moonflower."

"Of course! I'll get right on it. Please feel free to look around, though try not to wake up my assistant Spike. He's very grumpy in the morning."

Some time later, Twilight returned.

"Now, judging by all the stories about the flower, I can safely say it will be by a lake, very deep in the Everfree Forest. All accounts point to that, although no-one knows exactly where. Everypony that saw the Moonflower was lost, guided home by its shining silvery light. I should study more about things like this. There are a lot of plants in the forest that seem to have mysterious magical qualities."

"Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. Would you mind if I stayed here until nightfall? I do not think other ponies would react very...well to me."

"I understand. It's no trouble at all."

***

Princess Celestia stood on a pedestal in the center of the top room of the castle's highest tower. The pedestal was made of grey marble, carved with patterns and incantations, and pictures of the Sun and Moon. Normally, she would perform the daily rituals of the sky from her balcony, but she knew today would be different. She needed all her strength.

With a dip of her head, the Sun sank below the horizon. Now was the moment of truth.

Summoning all her power, the princess commanded the Moon to rise.

She could feel it, disobeying her will. She pulled harder, and still the Moon would not move. Now her horn was glowing more than ever, its yellow light illuminating the whole room. An orb of magic grew at the point of her horn, shining intensely, burning away the last of Celestia's determination. There was a bright flash, and she fell backwards. Staring out of through the window of the tower, she saw daylight again. The Sun had risen back into the sky. The Moon had rebelled against her.

It was the beginning of the longest day.

Twilight looked worriedly at her clock. Because of the presence of a princess, she had closed the library and left Spike to sleep all day. Night should have come, but instead the Sun was still in the sky. Luna came to stand next to her.

"My sister...she cannot raise the Moon..." she sighed.

"Why not?" asked the lilac unicorn.

"The night knows that I am back in Equestria, ready to use my powers to bring it once more. It does not want Celestia to do it for me, even though I have given her permission to."

Twilight nodded, then opened the front door to look outside.

"Well, there's nopony outside to see you now."

"Then I must go!" said Luna quickly, "I must revert this crisis as soon as possible!"

The alicorn sped outside and jumped into the blue sky, to focused on her task to say goodbye.

"Good luck, Princess!" shouted Twilight. "Oh behalf of everypony..."

Celestia stood at her balcony, looking down on her land as it descended into chaos. Ponies stood outside, staring at the Sun, willing it to go down.

"Luna..." she spoke to the sky, but willed the words to carry to her sister so many miles away. "Help us. Help us all..."

The Sun and the Forest

"Help us, Luna...help us all..." the voice that the princess of the night heard was her sister's. Celestia had used magic to send the desperate message, and it stabbed at her heart, reminding her of her quest. She knew she didn't have magic, but even so, she murmured back a reply, willing it to reach as far as Canterlot.

"I will try sister...for you and for Equestria..."

The Everfree Forest spanned the horizon as far as Princess Luna could see. It was huge, never-ending, and something about it seemed alive. Heat haze obscured her view, yet another reminder of her failure to bring night. She flew down, the shade of the woodland providing some protection from the unrelenting sun. All around her insects buzzed drowsily, the only creatures not taking shelter in the daytime. Remembering Twilight's words, Luna started to walk.

A stream trickled somewhere nearby. The alicorn standing in a small grassy clearing took no notice of it. She was a pony not used to the bright daylight, preferring her own night to walk and think. But now it wasn't possible to do that. And it was her own fault.

She had come across many lakes. None of them had any sign of the elusive flower. Maybe it didn't exist. She didn't want to believe that, but it was possible. Just because more than one pony claimed to have seen the Moonflower didn't make it real.

Luna hung her head. Perhaps she had been deceived by nothing more than a collection of old mare's tales. It was stupid of her to think that such a flower could be found.

She was of no use to anyone. She had let her sister down, as well as all of her subjects. Dejectedly, she walked away from the clearing and into the tangle of ancient trees.

After that, she wandered, not caring if she saw a lake. There was no hope of finding what she wanted. She had condemned Equestria to a fate of eternal daytime.

It was better if she never went home.

***

Princess Luna heard a loud roar behind her. It rumbled through through the Everfree Forest, sending birds scattering up into the sky and shaking trees to their roots. She whipped around, and there was the beast: A Manticore, bat wings stretched wide, scorpion tail curled over its back, charging straight for her. Instinctively, Luna lowered her head and summoned her magic...nothing happened.

It was then she realised - she had no magic! She opened her wings and leaped for the safety of the air, but try as she might she could not lift off the ground. Looking behind her, she saw that the Manticore had caught her tail with its claw, trapping her on the ground. Fangs headed for her, and helplessly she looked around her for some way to escape. Nothing. She was the creature's prey, and it had pinned her down. As a last ditch attempt, she opened her mouth, ready to call for help.

Then, something caught her eye.

A shadowy figure in a brown hooded cape, skirting the trees. The figure drew closer, and suddenly leaped into the air. It headed straight for the Manticore, kicking out with two powerful hind legs and hitting it right between the eyes. Immediately the beast abandoned its catch and sprang at the intruder. There was a blur of motion and the cloaked pony was on the Manticore's back. There was a shout in a dialect Luna did not understand, and the attacking creature stopped. The pony jumped down to where the princess was standing, and pulled down their hood. A striped face was revealed, smiling.

A zebra! Luna had never seen a zebra before. She knew they came from a place beyond the realms she had travelled, and were rare in Equestria.

This one certainly looked exotic, with her short mane, her black and white stripes, and the unusual gold jewellery she wore.

The zebra began to talk with a rich accent that spoke of strange and wonderful things in lands far away:

"That Manticore will trouble us no more. Now, your tale is interesting, I am sure."

***

Zecora the zebra listened carefully to Luna's story. When the tale had finished, she finally voiced her opinion.

"The legends say the plant exists out there, but if you can find it I know not where."

Luna sat down on the forest floor.

"I can't go home without my magic. I let everypony down. This..." she motioned at the sky, where the Sun still hung at its midday position, "...would not have happened if I had just accepted my duties."

Zecora stood for a minute, looking at the sky.

"Magic won't return if your heart isn't steady, time must pass before you can be ready."

"You mean I couldn't have accepted my duties?"

The zebra nodded, before returning to studying the clouds. It was almost as if she was looking for something, something that would hold answers. Then she nodded once, like she was agreeing with something in the air that only she could hear. Then she turned back to the alicorn beside her.

"You should not worry, princess dear. The flower you want is somewhere here."

Luna jumped up in delight. She looked around, almost believing the Moonflower would appear in front of her.

"It is?! But...how did you know?"

"The spirits of the sky have awoken. It's because of your plight that they have spoken." replied Zecora.

The princess of the night had heard the spirits before, whispering in the night sky. She never knew what they were saying, but she also knew better than to question what they knew.

"I will begin my search anew. I hope that you will come with me...you have a far better knowledge of these woods than me."

The wise zebra shook her head solemnly.

"From here you will go on your own. This journey is yours to complete on your own..."

Lost and Found

Not a breath of wind rustled through the Everfree Forest. The trees and bushes were still, as if sleeping, unmoved by Princess Luna as she brushed past them. Everything was silent, and the shimmer of heat haze could clearly be seen in the sky. Slowly, nature had ground to a halt in the face of the burning Sun. Except, that is, for Luna herself, determined to end the day that had lasted through what should have been night.

She continued on through the silent woodlands, wings curled over her back to protect her from the heat. Despite her desperate measures, she began to feel the effects of sleep deprivation. Her last meal at Twilight's library also seemed so far away, and her stomach started to make itself heard. She shook her head, dislodging her pangs of hunger. Any plant she came across could be poisonous, even if she didn't eat it. Celestia had told her of her student's encounter with 'Poison Joke'.

The air around her became more humid, and she realised there had to be a lake nearby. Luna soon found it. But no plant life existed there at all, save for a few huge ferns.

How can there be no plants? Luna wondered. There was a growl in reply. Something loomed above her, mouth open in an evil smile revealing rows of pointed teeth. Scales glistening in the sunlight, it shot its neck forward, ready to eat her.

A lake serpent! Ferns were poisonous to them, but they ate anything else they came across.

Realising Zecora couldn't help her so deep in the forest, the princess did the only thing she could: ran.

The serpent howled at the loss of a good meal, and sank back into the depths of its lake.

***

Breathlessly, Luna galloped away from the serpent, only slowing to look around her. She didn't recognise her surroundings. Ancient trees grew, gnarled branches sprawling to meet each other. They created a canopy that blocked out even the blistering heat of the noonday Sun that hung unmoving in the sky.

There was something foreboding about the whole area.

As the alicorn went deeper into the heart of the forest, it became darker and darker. The trees grew more closely together, twining together into strange, twisted shapes. Above her, the leaves turned black. Shadows somehow moved, gathering around rotted tree stumps. Ponies would never have cut the trees down, but clearly something had.

It was as if a blanket of stillness and mystery had settled over the woods. Luna, normally comfortable with darkness, became wary, looking behind her every few seconds. She felt like she was being followed, but it seemed as if she was the only pony to ever venture this far way from Equestria.

Shadows haunted the trees.

Something screeched, and once again Luna found herself running. The crow that had made its nest in the branches above her turned and flew away, leaving the dark forest and wheeling into the sky.

The princess eventually found herself by a small lake. It was in a clearing, and for the first time Luna was glad of the sunlight. The azure water was calming to her, and she began to look for her flower.

Then she saw it. It was almost hidden, but still showing enough for her to see. It could only be one thing, the thing that she had been searching for...

***

Luna sat on the damp grass. What lay in front of her was indeed a Moonflower. It had a midnight blue stem and leaves, delicately traced with veins of turquoise.

But the flower head was blackened and shrivelled, drooping over the water's edge. The plant was dead.

The alicorn looked at her reflection in the lake. She was nothing like Celestia. Her dark blue mane hung straight, her wings barely reached above her head, and her horn was stumpy. She wasn't a princess. She had let all of Equestria down. Now, the land would slowly die as water supplies slowly dried up and crops failed.

And her sister could do nothing to prevent it.

The night disobeyed Princess Celestia, and did not come for her.

Her acceptance would have changed all that, if only she had been ready. Why couldn't the Moon give her more time to find her magic? It had been her prison for a thousand years, and now it had trapped her again, helpless without magic but unable to claim it.

A random piece of information flitted through her mind.

The Moonflower is believed to only bloom at night time...

A single tear rolled down her cheek, and fell to the ground beside the dead plant.

Princess Luna looked up at the sky. Her horn sparkled with blue magic. Her mane started to wave in the air, becoming translucent and starry. Her coat darkened, and she stood up, taller than she had been before.

The Sun lowered, and slowly the Moon raised into the night.

Next to her, a flower unfurled. Pure white petals opened, and a beam of light shot from it far into the distance.

They illuminated a castle far away, bathed in the light of a million stars.

The End

Author's Notes + FAQ

Thank you for reading my first fanfic. I really hope you enjoyed it, but if you have any suggestions on how to make it better, please tell me. This is also an FAQ as I'm sure you probably have a few questions. I'm going to guess what you want to know, but once again, tell me if you have any suggestions.

Why doesn't Luna use the Royal Canterlot Voice or the Royal 'We' when speaking?

As she has no magic, and is still shy when meeting other ponies, she does not speak down to them. She doesn't consider herself a true princess until after she gets her magic back.

What's with the name Shire Village?

I got the idea from a place we went to for a geography field trip. That was called Shere Village, so I adapted the name to fit into Equestria.

Why doesn't Spike run away from Luna when she visits Twilight?

He was asleep the whole time! He is a baby dragon after all.

Why do you spell stuff weirdly, like 'realise' and 'travelling'?

I realise you spell 'realise' 'realize'. (Hey look, three realises in one sentence!) I'm from England though, where we don't do spelling shortcuts.

Why did you even write this?

I like writing stories, I'm a brony, and I wanted to explain Luna's change in appearance from series 1 to series 2. Simple.

Anyway, this is my first fanfic ever as I mentioned earlier. I don't know what I'll do next...

At the moment either some poems about early Equestria (I do poems now. Poems are cool...)

Or some really sad story involving Twilight getting a teleport spell wrong and ending up on Earth, where she uses her magic to keep a dying child alive. (I have never written a sad story before, but maybe I should. My Little Dashie inspired me as well as turning me into a human waterfall)

Well, I had better go, but if you like this story, tell me, an I will try to write something else like it.

-goldie5999