Moonbound

by Warmblood

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 49006

Princess Luna falls into a deep sleep, leaving Six companions to save her from her own mind.

Memories of a time long gone by hold the key to Luna's salvation. To save her sister, Celestia sends Twilight on a quest through Luna's mind, searching for the source of an ancient spell that is slowly killing her. What she finds may change her forever.

Twilight experiences Luna's life first hand on an emotional journey through the dark alicorn's past.

Published 2012-02-01 14:09:52 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-07 16:30:46 UTC

Chapter 1

Moonbound

By Warmblood

http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Warmblood

Rain lashes against the window and violent winds stir the sky to a boiling cauldron of storm clouds. In thick sheets the water washes down the panes, obscuring the rest of world. No feeble starlight passes through the clouds this night, and even inside Canterlot, ponies hear the whistle of the zephyr snaking around the parapets and towers.

A flash of white lightning casts the shadows of seven ponies against the walls. They stand in a loose circle, centered on the eighth pony lying under the covers of a grand four post bed. Seven ponies blink at the flash. The eighth remains motionless.

Those gathered gulp at the strike, and at the sound of close thunder. Even the stout walls of mighty Canterlot fail to calm their nerves. The light on the walls flickers as the fire within the grey stone hearth flares. A gust robs the air from the room to feed the flames, yet all the warmth of the fire flies out the chimney, leaving only a chill draft within the walls.

As the crackle of thunder dies out, Princess Celestia clears her throat.

“The pegasi have outdone themselves this time. I am afraid I must have a rather stern chat with the master of weather ponies afterwards.” Her smile is only half-formed; she is unable to put her heart into it. It draws a smile from some of the ponies, but not all, and some rather half-heartedly. Celestia continues on with what she must say, her smile lost.

“Everypony here knows their responsibilities?” The six ponies nod. “Very good.” She turns to the purple pony close by her side. “Twilight, I have absolute faith in you. Remember that I cannot help you directly, but I can be your guide. Take care.” Twilight nods, her eyes staring back unblinking. Her jaw is set, ready for action. Celestia inhales as the moment of truth arrives. “Let’s begin.” She looks at Twilight one final time. Twilight cannot help but be touched by the love she sees in her mentor's eyes.

A moment later the room blurs, swirling into a mix of color and light. The bed becomes the ceiling; the grand wooden beams the floor. Paintings on the wall turn as their images are distorted into shapes devoid of meaning. A point of light from a burning candle is a bright circle on a dark grey background. It feels like falling, in a strange way, falling into a whirlpool of black and red. Or is that just the color of the bedspread? Twilight can’t tell anymore. In a flash it all goes dark.

Outwardly, there is a slight purple light from Celestia’s horn, and Twilight slumps to the side as though she fainted. All eyes are on her. Fluttershy and Rarity gasp. But Applejack, quick as a whip, throws herself against Twilight as she begins to fall and props her up again, albeit unsteadily, on her hooves. The ponies look towards the Princess, some with ears down in doubt, others up and focused in keen attention for the slightest sign. Celestia lets out her breath and opens her eyes.

“It worked.” She says, almost toneless. “Applejack, hold her up if she can’t stand on her own.” The tan earth pony bobs her head in response, standing close beside her friend.

“You can count on me!”

“Rarity, stay close to Twilight. Lend your magic if need be, as we practiced. Everypony else, try to rest. There is no telling how long this may take. We will take shifts on who is standing if need be.”

The circle breaks as the ponies attend to their tasks, standing at the end of the bed, supporting Twilight, or taking seats on oversized chairs and cushions. Celestia softly steps to the side of the four- poster. She stretches out a foreleg to the sleeping pony. Very gently, she lays her hoof upon the black mare’s cheek. There is no response. Celestia leans her head so close to the pony’s ear that they are almost touching. As her hoof strokes the dark pony’s starlight mane, she whispers, “We will save you, sister. Can you hear me? I won’t lose you again!” Celestia hugs her sister, pressing their cheeks together while Celestia half stands, half lays on the bed. It is an undignified posture for a Princess, but the tears on her cheek betray any pretension of regal dignity. The other ponies avert their eyes from the scene, looking to each other instead. Rarity closes her eyes tightly. There is nothing they can do but hope, both for Princess Luna and for Twilight Sparkle.

****************************************************************************************

Earlier that Evening…

In Ponyville, the skies were cloudy, but near Canterlot they appeared downright threatening. Daylight began to fade, and the land cloaked itself in a dark shadow. Still, the six ponies were glad to see the towers of the castle grow closer as their journey neared its end. It rained off and on during the ride up, but those inside stayed dry thanks to a spell that normally shielded the Princesses. On this occasion it served just as well for them. Unfortunately the pegasi pulling the carriage had no such protection, and one could only imagine what they felt as they forged through the chill wind and rain. Nevertheless, they had not faltered.

On the way, the friends tried to guess what demanded their sudden trip to Canterlot. “Dragons! That’s it! I betcha it’s dragons.” Rainbow insisted.

“D—d…dragons?” Fluttershy shrunk down in her seat as though she meant to hide away.

“Fluttershy dear, don’t you recall the last dragon we ran across? He wasn’t so bad after all.” Rarity reminded her.

“Sure… you’re probably right… silly me…” Fluttershy said, though she still had a frown on her face.

Pinkie Pie coyly suggested that the Princesses wanted to throw a surprise party for the six, “With a big cake! And banners and…” She quickly placed her hoof over her mouth as though she were afraid she had ruined the surprise.

But Applejack had calmed her, in a manner. “Pinkie Pie, Ah ain’t so sure about that.” She pointed towards the sky. “Them clouds don’t make for the best party kinda weather do they?” Her words calmed one pony, and disquieted the other five. “But hay, the weather’s nothing! So long as we stick together we’ll be just fine!”

That comment spurred guilt for Twilight Sparkle, as there was one of their usual number that they had left behind. It had been a fairly ordinary day in Ponyville. She thought the weather a little dreary perhaps, but nothing too worrisome. Spike had just left, complaining as he stepped out the door that his scales would get wet, to pick up a new book for Twilight. Twilight reminded him to keep the book safe from the rain, and then he was off. Five minutes later there was loud knock from the library door. She opened it to find two large, winged ponies, outfitted with the armor of the royal pegasi.

“Miss Sparkle, sorry to bother you, but well...” The lead pegasus looked to the second, who shrugged apathetically. “Ah… we’re here to take you to Canterlot. Princess Celestia’s orders.”

“What? Now? Well of course if Celestia needs me… but what about my friends? Can they come too?” Twilight asked.

“Actually,” the pegasus said, “Our orders are to escort all the Elements to Canterlot, so if you look right over there…” He gestured with hoof. Twilight leaned around and saw the carriage full of her friends. Pinkie waved energetically. “We’ve already got everypony, but we’re a little behind schedule… so pack anything essential and we’ll be off.”

“Wait, we have to find Spike, too. He’s ummm…. useful! And he’s my assistant so…” Twilight tried to give the pegasus her sweetest possible smile, but he didn’t budge. The hard look in his eyes already gave her the answer.

“Look, our orders are to be back by nightfall. We’ve got time to make up. I’m sorry, but we have to go right now.” There was no arguing with him. Inside Twilight knew that Spike would be fine for a few days, but how he would take to being left in such a manner was another question.

Twilight said nothing much once in the carriage. She alone knew Princess Celestia well enough to know that something dire would have to happen to require the immediate presence of the Elements at Canterlot. She didn’t like leaving Spike behind, but she had to trust that the Princess would not ask it of her on a whim.

The pegasi circled the castle of Canterlot as they made their descent towards the plaza in the outer courtyard. To see Canterlot from the air was a privilege few non-pegasi enjoyed. Its towering spires and thick walls were a breathtaking sight,

Rain-slicked stones rose up to meet the carriage as they swooped in for a landing. With a jolt, the pegasi touched down, a spray of water quickly following their steps. The gallop slowed to a trot, then to a canter, and finally they brought the carriage to a halt a short distance from the entrance to the great hall of Canterlot. Each pony disembarked, careful of their footing on the slippery ground. Fluttershy inched over to the nearest pegasus, eyes focused on her hooves.

“Thanks…I’m… um… thanks.” The armored pegasus tilted his head, one eyebrow raised, his breath visible in the dense air. Fluttershy had already begun to back away when he finally nodded to her. She turned with the hint of a smile on her lips.

Twin doors of heavy oak swung open and out stepped Princess Celestia, surrounded by a radiant bubble of magic that deflected the rain with the slightest ripple of its transparent surface.

“Come here my friends. Follow me inside and take a seat by the fire. Warm yourselves and dry your manes.” To the pegasi she suggested that they get some rest and a warm meal, which just happened to be ready for them in the castle guard quarters. Their faces brightened with gratitude.

The six ponies followed the Princess into the grand hall. Twilight walked in first, followed line astern by her friends. The guard ponies closed the doors behind them. There was indeed a fire burning in the great stone hearth, and they were all glad to warm up after the flight. White and black cushions in equal numbers awaited the ponies. Each pillow felt like lying upon a cloud, basking in the warmth of the sun. But the peaceful respite was only temporary. Once everypony found a place, Celestia spoke up.

“For the sake of saving time, we will forgo any needless formalities, as I’m sure you are all wondering why you are here.” Celestia took a breath and spoke quite slowly, albeit with typical regal grace. “Three days ago my sister mentioned to me that she felt a little tired after her night’s work raising the moon. I thought nothing of it at first. When the time for the next night arrived, Luna was nowhere to be found. I thought at first she might have left Canterlot, but in fact she was still abed. She… I… could barely wake her. She couldn’t raise the moon. That night I told the weather ponies to cloud the sky, so nopony would panic over the missing moon.”

The six looked at each other. Pinkie Pie tilted her head side to side. Twilight blinked twice.

“But Princess, you raised the sun and moon alone for a thousand years…” ventured Twilight.

“Indeed. However, after my sister returned, we made a mutual vow to never use such unilateral magic without the other’s permission. To solidify our pact, we have constructed a magical ward that prevents me from sending my magic towards the moon, and she cannot affect the sun."

“Does that mean that as long as your sister is… um… sick, there will be no moon?” Rainbow Dash asked, a concerned expression on her face. “Night flying without moonlight is pretty tough.”

“Well, in truth the moon still exists, but we cannot see it. I imagine the ponies of the antipodes are considerably disquieted by the moon standing still in their sky. To answer your real question, I have already begun using a portion of my available magic to unravel the ward. I imagine if my sister were in a position to say something about it, she would agree that it is for the best.” Celestia’s voice betrayed her. Twilight heard the undertone of sadness.

Celestia resumed after a pause. “My sister’s condition only grew worse. I have not been able to wake her since that last time I spoke to her. She will not wake by any means, physical or magical. Although I cannot use my magic to find the cause of her condition directly, I do sense that she is tired. Very tired, verging on total exhaustion.” Celestia had begun to pace back and forth with long strides. “I have thought a great deal on this matter, and throughout all my years I have known only one force which might cause such exhaustion.” She fixed her eyes on Twilight. “Twilight, dear, you are familiar with the effort it takes to craft a spell that permanently affects the world around you?”

Twilight thought about it a moment. “Yes, and if I recall correctly, you advised against permanent enchanting. That was after I made my books to float along behind me so I didn’t need to focus my magic on them.” Twilight said. She cherished the memories of her days studying in Canterlot. Celestia helped her understand magic. Not just in the sense that she could perform it. Rather, she understood its complexities and fundamentals, thanks to her mentor's lessons.

“Good, you still remember. When I used my magic to pull the books away, what happened?” Celestia prompted.

“It drew more magic to try to go back to equilibrium…” Twilight looked to the floor, deep in thought. “…and the more you pulled the more magic it drew!” Her gaze snapped back to Celestia. “Do you think that's what’s going on?” She asked as the pieces began to click into place in her head.

“In short, yes. I’m afraid not everypony is a unicorn though. We should explain.”

“Ah don’t really understand Princess. Is it some kind of spell?” Applejack asked, confused by the talk of special magic. In fact, most of Twilight’s friends sported a somewhat quizzical expression, except Rarity, who spoke up to try to explain the situation to Applejack.

“Well, dear, imagine I made a dress and I wanted to prevent it from ever becoming dirty. It is possible for a unicorn to craft such a spell—oh how I would love to! However, while possible, it is not advisable because it draws from the crafter’s magic to keep the dress clean. So if some careless foal were to, say, accidentally drop that dress into a mud puddle, it would draw magic to keep itself clean.”

“Huh. Ah don’t know about keeping clothes clean, but I can see how that would be mighty useful!” Applejack said.

“Yeah, just imagine the possibilities!” Pinkie Pie added.

“Why of course, it would be lovely” Rarity said. “But it would be a terrible mistake.”

“Why is that?” Dash asked.

“Well imagine no one ever picked up that dress.” Twilight answered. “Imagine they just left it there. It would continually use the caster's magic to keep itself clean.”

“Yes indeed, how dreadful! As you know, magic is not my greatest talent—Fabulosity, on the other hoof!---“ She preened for a moment. “Erm…so anyways, I do not enchant my creations with such spells. I just could not possibly hope to keep them going for long.”

“Magic comes from within. It is closely tied to the life force of the caster. To maintain a spell too long can greatly tire a pony- or worse. I fear Luna has created such a spell.” Celestia explained.

“But Princess, it is not too difficult to break the spell. If Luna is in trouble, why didn’t she just break the spell?” Twilight asked, getting to the core of the issue.

“I’m afraid she doesn’t know she cast the spell to begin with.” Celestia answered. “That is why I have asked you all to Canterlot. I need your help or I fear my sister won't survive.”

Twilight felt her breath ripped away, her vision suddenly fuzzy. Her mind reeled for a moment, focused on just one thought. Luna? Dying? She didn't know Princess Luna as well as she knew Celestia, but given what they had been through together Twilight saw her almost as a member of her own family. How would her mentor take the loss of her only sister? She told herself it wouldn't happen and tried to push that thought away.

“We will!” Applejack said with absolute determination.

Twilight nodded. “Anything for you and your sister.”

Celestia’s eyes rested upon her young student, filled with a distinct sadness. Twilight's intuition told her the Princess wanted to say something to her. This was a side of Celestia that Twilight hadn't seen before. Her eyes had spoken more than her words let on. Her lips parted as though there was more she wanted to say, but she held herself back. After a moment she simply inclined her head to Twilight and took a deep breath. She looked out to the gathered ponies.

“Thank you all. Allow me to explain my plan...”

*********************************************************************************************************

After Celestia concluded, she quietly asked Twilight to follow her and turned down a hallway leading to another wing of the castle. Twilight hastened to follow. The other ponies had been told to get some rest and await special instructions from the Princess. Each had a room waiting, but everypony decided to stay together in the great hall by the roaring fire.

The sound of Celestia's and Twilight’s hooves echoed off the marble tile and exquisite walls of stone and intricate woodwork. They were the only ponies in sight. Everything else is quiet as the light slowly fades outside the windows of the palace. Beyond the walls, the clouds continue their deluge.

“I’m so sorry, my dear Twilight.” Celestia says, breaking the silence. Her voice sounds as though she intends to apologize for a grievous offense.

“None of this is your fault Princess!” Twilight responded, trying to cheer the Princess, and rather surprised that she would apologize for anything. Celestia had only ever been good to her.

“Isn’t it though?” She looked at Twilight with tired eyes, still walking at a measured pace. Then her gaze departed Twilight’s eyes to look back down the hall, at nothing in particular. “I am Princess Celestia, majestic and mighty. Everything devolves to me, to some degree. But that isn’t the worst.” Twilight noticed she spoke differently now that they were alone. “No, not that. It is selfishness. I ask too much of you,” She said, turning back to Twilight. “To hope to save a sister, I would risk all those who have been so loyal, so supportive.” She sighed. “I wonder if you can forgive me in the end.”

“I couldn’t imagine how…” Twilight started.

“I can.” Celestia cut her off. They had stopped at a white fountain under a vaulted ceiling. It was empty however, there was no water flowing over its terraces. “For the lives of hundreds of ponies I have lived, and I tell you now with all sincerity that eternity is a heavy burden to bear. When I send you within Luna’s mind, I cannot foresee what you will discover there. Should you see only one one-hundredth of Luna’s breadth of experience, you shall have surpassed the experience of any mortal pony who now lives. Even I cannot predict the effect on your young mind. I'm sorry, for my sister and I are not perfect. I would go in myself, but I must raise the sun. There is no one else who can. If I were somehow stuck in her mind for a long time, all of Equestria would go to ruin. That is why I've asked you. However, I give you this warning, for better or worse: My sister and I, we have loved, and we lost---always lost. After a time, one scarcely dares to hope that the lifetime of a friend lasts longer than the blink of an eye.” Celestia’s eyes were downcast, but her voice held an intensity Twilight rarely glimpsed. “I have set you upon this path. To lose your course could mean disaster. You must be stronger than you imagine you can be. Uncover the source of this spell, and return to me the one pony that I might keep in my heart without fear of loss.”

Twilight stayed silent. She found she didn’t know how to address the Princess. She never realized the depth of the connection between the sisters, perhaps because she never had one. Yet she knew Luna meant more than that to Celestia. They are siblings, yes, she thought, but to live so long a life… Twilight pondered the Princess’s words, not lightly said, that loomed over her thoughts. Is this the meaning of eternal life? She thought. To live until all days seem as one? Still, Twilight couldn’t believe it. For her, the world was only beginning to unfold, and the idea of a lifetime passing in a flash seems impossible.

Celestia continued after a weighty silence.

“I trust you with this so that you might prepare yourself for what comes next. You have this chance to say no. Once you go in, there is no easy way to turn back. Take a moment to think about it. I cannot force you to do as I ask, but I want you to understand that I ask it out of love. So, are you still willing to go through with the plan?"

"Of course."

"I suspected as much. Very well, stay still for just a moment.” Twilight did as she said and Celestia bent to touch her horn to Twilight’s. When they touched, Twilight’s magic flared and she stepped back almost involuntarily.

“Whoa…” Twilight gasped.

“Yes,” Celestia said. Can you hear me, Twilight? Twilight looked up curiously at Celestia, her mind slowly realizing that Celestia’s lips hadn’t moved when she spoke.

“Did you just…?” Twilight asked.

Yes. It is not permanent, but should last long enough for our purposes. I can communicate directly with your mind, even separated from your mortal form. It likely won’t be this easy once we start with the plan, but I should still be able to guide you to some degree. Twilight nodded. This would be a great spell to learn, Twilight thought for a moment.

“Good. I must go help the others in their tasks” Celestia said, turning back. “Remember above all one thought: you are Twilight Sparkle.” Then Celestia was off, down the long corridor, leaving Twilight standing alone before the empty fountain.

*************************************************************************************

Twilight floats in the abyss. Everything is shapeless around her, a mist of varying hues swirling about. There is color, here, there. A pastel cloud shines like dust motes in a sunbeam. Everywhere else the darkness prevails, among other shades of grey shaped into snaking coils intertwined with the light. Twilight wonders if this is what it feels like to fly free among the stars. She tries to turn her body to see more of the scene, to find something to orient herself. In one sense, she is successful. Now she sees other patches of color illuminating the dark. However, when she tries to stretch a hoof to touch the nearest cloud, she realizes she has no hoof to speak of.

The darkness seems to close in, constricting its prey. Nothing could prepare her for the feeling of incorporeal existence. How can I have no body? How can I live? She thought. The shapes around her emit only the slightest emanation of light, rapidly fading from view. Soon it seems the darkness will be all that remains.

Twilight! a voice intones. Hear my voice! Let it be an anchor for your mind. Calm yourself. Breathe deep. Just breathe. Twilight--- Breathe! Twilight realized she hadn’t for a long time. She takes Celestia’s advice, breathing as if she had just surfaced after diving underwater. But Celestia’s words are true, she could do it, and darkness no longer threatens to overwhelm the light. She uses an old trick to calm herself: reciting in her mind the first simple spells she learned many years ago when she was just a filly. Slowly the fear and anxiety disappears, and she opens her eyes to the space around her once again.

That was too close for my liking, my dear. Nevertheless, you have made it through the first trial. Twilight reminds herself it was Celestia’s voice she heard. I'm within Luna’s mind… how odd to think… but no, she shakes that thought away. She has to keep focused on saving Luna.

Twilight, are you ready to begin? Celestia’s voice asks. On one hoof, yes, she is. On the other, no, she can’t imagine where to begin. The sights around her are just patterns, like a cloud in the sky. Where does one start? And how?

Celestia answers. I sense you are confused. Observe your surroundings. Navigating another pony’s mind is not an ability we are born with. We have no notion of what we see at first. Look for patterns. To touch the memories of… erm… my sister… you need only think. To attempt to move physically in this plane is redundant. I feel compelled to admit, even I have seldom attempted to visit the realm of memories. It has rarely been necessary. However, I know that you can succeed. Find the source of the spell and bring my sister back!

Right, Twilight thinks, I will observe, find patterns, and figure out this place!

Time passes, a strangely indeterminate amount of time, for there is no sun, moon, or stars to measure the passing of time. Twilight herself isn’t sure how long she watches before the patterns begin to show themselves. Realization dawns on her. The darkness that surrounds her no longer stifles her thoughts. She realizes that what she sees are memories, but they are not in logical order. Some patterns repeat themselves again and again, others only rarely. With this realization, she begins to move from pattern to pattern, trying to understand what each memory means. As a strange tingling sensation, she felt a pull upon her to reach out and touch the memories, now that she understood their true nature.

The thought tempts. It dances in her head. Curiosity is not only the bane of felines, in truth. Throughout her life, her quest for knowledge led her to explore dusty tomes, great libraries, and the minds of her elders. To imagine what might be contained within Luna’s memories… surely a repository of knowledge of the highest order. She reasons that she needs to find the spell that Celestia thought Luna had cast, and for that she must search through Luna’s memories. One must start somewhere after all!

Approaching what seems one of the most vivid patterns, one that occurs again and again around her, a flowing thread of crimson red interwoven with the deepest violet, she tries to sense what might be contained inside. The sense of “pull” increases exponentially as she edges nearer. If she had them, the hair on her forelegs would be standing charged with energy.

Doubts enter her mind about what she is to do. These thoughts tear through her concentration. I could have spent more time observing. Do I really understand? Where will this lead me? At the last moment she tries to pull away, but she is dragged into a maelstrom, swirling down to the depths of a memory of a time long gone by.

End Part 1

Chapter 2

Dark faded to light. In the air, the flavor of flowers and the tang of the ocean breeze lingered. Leaves rustled and high above a seagull called out. Luna opened her eyes to the rising sun, the color returning to the sky, and the shimmering light on the ocean stretching out to the horizon. A vine covered trellis cast a crisscross shadow on the bed’s crisp white coverlet. The bed sheet made the slightest sigh as she rolled over. The new day can wait! This moment is perfect! Luna thought. A kiss of the sea breeze ruffled her mane like a playful hoof. She heard the flutter of the curtains, a sound not unlike the flap of a sail caught in a little gust of wind. A smile played across her lips. This is peace, she thought. It was not so hard to let her eyelids fall again…

“Luna! Wake up sleepy!” Luna opened her eyes to a bouncing white filly looking at her with big violet eyes. Sometimes Celestia’s greetings came as an unwelcome intrusion. But this time Luna couldn’t be cross with her sister. It was after all, a brand new day.

“Come on, it’s time for breakfast!” Luna stretched her legs, savoring the last of that sweet moment. She couldn’t deny that a warm breakfast sounded fantastic right now.

“Okay Celly, I’ll get up, but you have to promise me one thing.” Luna said, wriggling over to the side of the bed on her belly, looking up at her sister.

“OK”

“You won’t eat all the oatcakes!” She leapt out of bed as she said the last word, kicking with her hind legs to give her a good head start out the doorway. In a second her sister was by her side, both giggling as they galloped for the kitchen.

The sound of hooves on the tile floor surrounded them as Luna burst into the kitchen just a neck behind her big sister, but her place at the table was a little closer. She could still win! Her hooves slid with a screech, not quite slowing her enough to prevent a collision with the breakfast table, which she thumped into flank-first. Did she win though? A quick glance shows that her sister was already in her place. There’s only one way to settle this!

“Grandma FiFi! Who won?” Luna asked between breaths. The older grey mare looked at the fillies with her soft golden eyes. Her white mane was not long, nor perfectly even, but still maintained the grace that the mare seems to naturally possess. FiFi’s muzzle showed the traces of many smiles in its lines and furrows, a visage almost as familiar to Luna as her own mother’s.

“Oh, I must have missed it, sorry girls.” Luna thought she could see the hint of a smile on those lips. But FiFi could be like that sometimes, and there’s no use arguing because she always sticks to her story. Luna looked across to her sister Celestia, who put her hooves up as if to say “what can you do?” She figured that meant the race was a tie. Good enough. FiFi brought over plates of hot oatcakes swimming in syrup, one for each filly. She reminded them that she could always make more if they were still hungry. As if that were possible. They smelled absolutely wonderful, hearty and sweet.

*********************************************************

Upon an ocean side bluff the summer hall perched. Like an aerie for sea-eagles it overlooked the deep blue sparkling sea. Green and yellow wild meadow surrounded it, while a dark green canopy of pine and oak backed it. Taken by itself, the house was modest. Within its milieu however, it was grand as a palace gilded in gold. A path wound down from the house, through the forest, to a white sand beach some distance below.

The beach was the sister’s special place. Its seclusion prevented most from ever visiting. Still, every once in a while another pony would appear on the beach. Today, there were two visitors, a young colt and his companion.

“What’s her name?” Luna asked, regarding the dog that accompanied the young colt everywhere he went.

The azure pegasus colt giggled, holding a hoof to his mouth. “He’s Harry.”

Luna puzzled over it for a second before it clicked. “Oh! Harry… I guess you could say it suits him well!”

“Duh…That’s the joke.” The colt returned in a tone that mocked seriousness.

The dog in question most closely resembled a small bear. Hair black as coal, coarse textured, but very thick. His head was round and massive, his neck covered by a thick lion mane of fur. All in all, the dog looked the sort that a pony ought to fear. Luna figured he easily weighed more than she did, and just in terms of height, his head was easily on a level with her shoulders.

“He loves his ears scratched.”

“He does?” Luna asked.

“Of course! Go on, you can pet him.” The colt responded.

“Umm… okay.” Luna’s hoof stretched out slowly, hovering over the dog’s coat. Very gently she touched its thick coat.

“Oh come on!” The colt threw his front legs around the dog’s neck in a strong embrace. The force of it made the dog lean into her hoof, which shot back as if it had a mind of its own. She checked if the colt had noticed. He hadn’t. In fact he was looking the opposite direction, and trying to avoid the dog’s tongue as it turned to lick his face. His smile was broad, his mirth effervescent.

She couldn’t say why exactly, but she couldn’t imagine any colt she knew back in Canterlor with that expression, that straightforward and joyous laughter. They played at dignity, a game Luna already knew quite well. But more than that it was as if they were practicing to be old mares and old stallions. Didn’t they know they are fillies and colts? Yet she knew she was guilty of playing those same stuffy games. Maybe just for once she could let it all go.

This time when she reached out to pet the dog she put more confidence behind her actions, even if it was a somewhat shallow façade of confidence. Whereas before the animal had probably thought a fly had landed on his back, this time he acknowledged her presence with a benign gaze from deep brown eyes. Luna wasn’t sure if there was anypony who could always understand what a dog was thinking, but she was pretty sure this one, right now, was happy.

“See, he’s not so bad! Just watch out for… Agh!” The black dog was licking again. “He drools!” The colt said, keeping his head up. Luna chuckled at his predicament, but he didn’t seem bothered in the least.

“So anyways, what’s your name?” Luna asked.

“Ah, my name’s Orion. And you must be Luna right?” He said, looking at her over the dog's neck.

Was it surprising he knew her name? Luna wondered. After all, she had gone on these summer excursions to the coast since she could remember, surely the local ponies were aware that the alicorn fillies often visited. She couldn’t recall seeing the colt before though, he must have heard her name from someone else. That wasn’t surprising. What was more interesting to Luna was his manner of speech, as if he were speaking to a close companion or perhaps even a friend.

“Yes.” Luna said in a subdued voice, her hooves fidgeting in the warm sand. The sun had attained its full height in the sky by now, and with her dark coat and the heat baking from the sand Luna was suddenly struck by the warmth of the day. She felt like she should say something, but couldn’t find the right words.

“Ummm…” She started, but a yell interrupted her before she knew what she wanted to say.

“Lunch’s ready!” It was FiFi. Luna checked over her shoulder. FiFi had a blanket spread out over the sand, and she was beckoning Luna. Celestia was already sitting down to eat.

Luna looked at the sand, rubbing her neck with a hoof. Her eyes flitted back to the colt’s. “Well, I guess I better go.”

“Okay. See you again sometime?”

“Um… Sure!” Luna said, wondering if the colt said that as a customary phrase or if he meant it for her specifically.

“Great!” The blue colt replied enthusiastically. So far as she could tell, his words were meant for her. Why else would he wait to see if she said yes?

“Bye!”

“Bye. See you later!”

Luna turned with a little wave to the colt, and trotted towards the picnic FiFi had set. That went pretty well, she told herself. If only it wasn’t so hot! She needed the wind through her mane to cool her down. To nopony but herself she smiled… maybe, just maybe, I made a friend!

She watched the young pegasus play with the dog in the surf while she had lunch. The waves rolled in, and he braced himself against their force as they crashed around him, keeping his wings tucked close to his sides. Meanwhile the dog leapt into the waves head on, like he meant to defend his master from their onslaught. The colt’s color was a fair approximation of the color of the ocean, especially after it had been soaked by the waves. His black mane ended up soaked and splayed to either side of his neck, although he paid it no mind.

After a few more minutes though, the colt returned to shore. The dog followed in his hoofsteps, pausing on the beach to shake the water off his coat. Luna thought she could see him wave to her out of the corner of her eye, although she was trying to devote her attention to several tasks at once. By the time she had leave to look back, he was gone.

“So, Luna, who did you meet over there?” Celestia asked.

“Oh, well,” said Luna, eyes on her hooves. “I guess his name is Orion, and his dog’s name is Harry.”

“Harry?” Celestia giggled. “Of course, of course.” She put on a more serious face. “It was an awfully big creature wasn’t it?”

“I know! But it was really nice. Way nicer than that dog Radiance has… and it’s tiny compared to Harry!” Luna exclaimed. Celestia nodded.

“So it looked like you talked to…” Celestia paused, “what was his name again? The Colt, not the dog.”

“Orion.” Luna provided.

“Right, you talked to him, so he’s a pegasus is he? Did you ask why he came down to the beach?”

“Ummm…. No I guess I didn’t.” Luna said.

“Did you ask where he lived?”

“No, I didn’t ask that either.”

“Well what did you talk about then?” Celestia asked.

“Ummm… nothing really.” Luna responded, a little crestfallen. How could she say she made a friend when she hadn’t even asked even the most simple questions? She had talked to a colt. Fine, that was all well and good, but that was it. She talked to colts and fillies everyday in Canterlot. Why should meeting one here be such a big deal?

That thought tried to stamp itself in her mind, to categorize her meeting as just another everyday occurrence, something to be filed away and forgotten about. But deep down she didn’t feel that way. For a precious few minutes she felt changed, stronger, bolder, whatever it was, it was something worth holding onto. Her mind kept returning back to the scene, even as FiFi packed up the blanket and they started on the path up the hill to the summer house. The phantom of the day’s events flittered through the branches of the trees that lined the path. It remained in the back of her mind as she went to bed that night.

The next day dawned with a hint of fog rolling in from the sea. This morning Luna got out of bed without assistance from her sister. She heaved a yawn as she entered the kitchen. As always, FiFi had breakfast cooking.

“When are we going down to the beach Grandma FiFi?” Luna asked.

FiFi looked a little perplexed by her question. “Well dear, we can if you really want to, but I hadn’t planned on it. The weather looks a little like rain, and we were just there yesterday after all. Maybe we can go tomorrow.”

“Oh, you’re right, it’s not a big deal. Tomorrow would be quite fine.” Luna responded, realizing her question had been a bit optimistic. She figured tomorrow wouldn’t be too long to wait.

The weather disagreed. It rained three days straight. All the windows and doors had to be shut and shuttered. Luna’s favorite bed outside on the verandah was completely unusable. The closed off windows made the house feel cramped and stuffy. Most of the living space was normally open to the sea breeze and the warm air. Without it the house shrunk to its inner shell of the kitchen and just two small bedrooms. Luna didn’t mind sharing a room with her sister, but Celestia always got up before her and woke her. Grumbling about it didn’t accomplish anything. Luna made sure to extract a promise from Gradma FiFi. The first day of good weather, they would head down to the beach.

On the fourth day the sun returned, scattering the dark clouds. The air still smelled of rain, and the ground remained damp and muddy from the soaking, but Luna’s request for a trip to the beach was gleefully seconded by her sister, and FiFi quickly agreed.

“It’s so nice to be outside again!” Celestia exclaimed, bouncing up and down outside the house.

“Careful now dear, you’ll get your coat muddy.” FiFi said.

“Sorry. It’s just… nice to step out into the sun every once in a while.” Celestia said. “Do you ever have that feeling Grandma FiFi?”

“Oh, certainly dear, I think all earth ponies have that feeling from time to time." A wistful look spread over her eyes. "Just think, right now it is your father raising the sun, giving it a little nudge on its way. It’s beautiful isn’t it? I daresay, just think about it: one day it will be you who lifts the sun for all of Equestria.” FiFi said, tilting her head towards Celestia.

“Well, it will be a while yet won’t it? Father said it wouldn’t be for many years.” Celestia said.

“Oh yes, it will probably be beyond my time, but the day will come little one.” She said so looking out to the horizon where sea and cloud met. Looking to Celestia, she added with a smile and a laugh, “I hope you are paying attention to your magic tutor! That goes for you too Luna dear.”

The sisters looked at each other. FiFi was being FiFi again. Sometimes she went all philosipony on them, and started talking about how lovely the day was, or how she hoped she would be around to see the sisters grow up. The customary response was “Of course you’ll be around” to which FiFi would smile and nod. Luna wondered if that’s just what old ponies think about.

All in all, the beach looked just about the same as it had a few days earlier. Luna noticed some driftwood strewn about, piled into a few uneven heaps. Her sister walked a few steps ahead of her.

“Celly.” Luna called to her sister. “What do you think the ponies back in Canterlot are doing?”

Celestia snorted. “What does everypony always do?”

“You don’t think there’s anything fun at all?” Luna asked.

“Oh, maybe there is. The Greenbriar brothers are probably working up their next prank. Since it isn’t noon yet, Scarlet is probably still in bed. Pearl is out visiting the shops or perfecting her hair. Everypony has a different idea of what’s fun and what isn’t little sister.”

“Hey! I’m not that little. Well I don’t know, those things just don’t sound very fun.”

“Well it isn’t like anypony is forcing you to do any of those things. You can decide what you want to do. Except of course if it’s “official” business. Trust me, there is no arguing with mom and dad on that one.”

“I guess.” Luna said glumly.

“What would you like to do in Canterlot? If you’re feeling bored back home I’m sure there are lots of fun things we could do. We could go see a magic show, have lunch at a new restaurant, there is plenty to do if you know where to look.”

“Um…”

“Luna.” Celestia said gently.

“What?”

“You’re saying ‘um’ again. You know what Miss Eloquence says about that.”

“Of course I know. I just didn’t know you were on her side. Ugh.” She sighed. “I’m not really sure what would be fun in Canterlot right now. I think I would like to be able to do whatever I want when I want to. You know?”

“Sure, I know what you mean. There’s a time and a place for that, but sometimes you have to be responsible too. Mom and Dad have to be responsible. Everypony counts on them to raise the sun and moon.”

Luna sighed. “You’re probably right Celly. I have to admit, you’re usually right about those things.”

“Of course I am. I’m the older sister.” Celestia replied. Luna stuck her tongue out. Celestia chuckled at her sister.

“Hey Luna, is that your new friend down there?” Celestia asked.

“Huh? Where?”

“Over there silly, by that big rock.” Celestia said.

Luna squinted at the outline of a grey boulder. It was about the size of a large wagon, the side overlooking the sea terminating with an overhanging promontory. Much of the far end of the sheltered beach was comprised of a field of such rocks. FiFi said they had tumbled down from the cliffs many years ago. The sun got in her eyes. It made it hard to see what was in the shadow of the rock. She thought she could just make out the shape of a pony lying down and also something big and furry looking. That was enough for her to be pretty sure it was Orion. The next problem was what to do.

“Oh, yes I think you’re right.” Luna said.

“Well?” Celestia prompted after a moment.

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to say hello?” Celestia asked.

“I guess I could. But I wouldn’t want to upset Grandma FiFi by just running off.”

“Come on now Luna, don’t worry about it, I’ll tell her you wanted to say hello to a friend. Of course she’ll understand. Now go on, get a move on and enjoy yourself.”

She didn't need to think twice. “Thanks Celly! I owe you one.” Luna dug her hooves into the soft sand, propelling herself to a quick trot. She didn’t want to just walk over. That seemed too awkward. Was running over too awkward though? Ugh, she told herself to stop thinking about that stuff. She figured she should say something.

“Hallooo!” She immediately cringed. The sound had started too soft, then rapidly became too high. Oh great, Luna thought, that sounded like a yodel. The pony in the shadow stirred. From his paws Harry raised his head to look at her. Luna wondered if he was going to bark at her. He didn’t, he just watched quietly.

“Hi Luna!” Orion said, getting to his hooves. He stepped out of the shadows to greet her, blinking a few times in the sun. Luna noticed his eyes were violet, a color that she thought went rather well with his ocean-blue coat. He had a smile on his face. So did she, she realized, without even thinking about it.

Luna recalled her sister’s words from a few days ago. What did she know about the pony she had called a friend? Did she know why he came here, how long he had been coming here? How did he get Harry, and where did he live? She resolved to ask.

“Orion, well, maybe this sounds a little odd, but I was wondering where you live?”

“Where I live?” Orion arched an eyebrow, looking rather quizzically at Luna. She couldn’t keep his gaze, she instead looked at her hooves, trying to come up with some kind of explanation. She mentally kicked herself again. Why am I so bad with this… she thought to herself.

“Erhm, I mean, I was just wondering because I haven’t seen too many other ponies around here. It’s usually just me and Celly. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Just you know, I’m curious because I haven’t seen you before. Except a couple days ago…” Am I rambling? she wondered. Her words trailed off into an awkward silence. Somewhere nearby a gull gave a raucous call. She looked up and tried to force a smile onto her face.

Orion let just the hint of a smile show on his lips. The slightly bemused look in his eyes calmed Luna. She hadn’t made too big of a blunder. “Sure, I understand. Right now we’re staying near Tall Trees. By the mouth of the river. You know it?”
She didn’t want to say it out loud, but she didn’t know where that was. She was a little bit ashamed to realize she hadn’t bothered to learn the name of the town where Grandma FiFi went every week or two. It was just “that town” in her mind. One thing that Orion said stuck in her mind though.

“You’re just staying there? You don’t live there?” Luna asked. What does that mean? She thought. Does he come here just for the summers too, like Celly and I? He spoke up without hesitation.

“Well, right now my dad’s working at the cranberry farm. We stay in the guest…well I don’t know if it’s a guest house exactly, but we stay in a little house on the farm. Don’t know for how long. Until the end of the harvest I guess.” Orion said, holding one hoof bottom up in a gesture of uncertainty.

Not staying? Luna thought. “Wait, what are you going to do after that?” She asked.

The colt repeated his gesture. “Don’t know. But there’s always somewhere to go.” He replied nonchalantly. Luna couldn’t quite understand what he meant. Didn’t he know where he’s going? She thought. Shouldn’t he know when he’s going? That uncertainty was foreign to Luna. It frightened her, although she would not admit that, even to herself. She wanted to know where she would be when the next day dawned, and what that day would bring. She eyed him uncertainly.

“But what do your parents do then? Do you live somewhere else the rest of the year?” Luna asked.

Orion chuckled heartily. “You could say we live somewhere else the rest of the year. Sure, you could say that, as long as somewhere means anywhere. See, my dad says that most ponies have a job that they do and they live in one town and they do that job. We’re kind of different. We move around a lot, and do different things. Sometimes he helps with the harvest, sometimes he helps the weather ponies, or you know, whoever needs help. My mother sells things, since sometimes ponies give us stuff if they don’t have any bits. Like one time, I guess my dad helped out on this ranch, and they gave us this puppy here.” He gestured towards Harry with a hoof.

“Oh really? Is that how you got him?”

“Sure is. Can’t imagine how boring things would be without him. You know, it’s really true that the best things in life are free.” Orion said, grinning. Luna couldn’t help but do the same. That warm smile seemed to have some kind of invisible pull. It wasn’t politeness. It wasn’t kindness. It was simply a smile that made other ponies smile.

After a moment Orion shook his head, having put a hoof in the air. “But enough about me” he said. “I’ve been rambling on about this and that, you’ve hardly said a word. Maybe you’d like to sit in the shade here?” He asked politely.
“I guess I could.” Luna said, giving a demure nod. Orion put out his hoof and bowed his head a little, as if to say “after you”. It wasn’t the first time anyone had ever done that for her. She was a princess after all. Yet somehow it meant more when the other pony treated you like an equal the other half of the time. The sand shaded by the overhang was cool, and thankfully not too wet. She carefully laid down near the side of the rock. Orion flopped down next to her, legs splayed out to the side. She couldn’t help giggling just a little at his mannerisms.

“What’s so funny?” He asked, bemused.
Luna smiled. “Sorry, I’m just thinking how mad my teacher would be if she saw me do that.”

“What? Sit down?”

“No, silly, you’re going to get sand in your coat.” Luna replied cheerily, not really interested in nagging him, just pointing it out.

“What, don’t ponies ever get dirty where you’re from?” Orion asked. Luna thought he was joking for a second. She looked him in the eyes. Nope, he’s serious, she thought. She let out an exasperated sigh.

“Have you ever been to Canterlot?”

“Once, but just in passing by. It looked awfully pretty, I have to say. But I didn’t get to see much of it up close.” Orion explained.

“Well, maybe one day, you know, if you happen to pass by again, and have some time, and you want to, maybe I could show you around. I mean, there are a lot of things to see, and lots of cool stuff to do. You don’t have to just look at the pretty stuff.” She actually wasn’t sure what exactly there was to do. I need to talk to Celly about that, she reminded herself.

Orion took a moment to respond. She looked over at him, a little concerned as to his response. To say his jaw was on the floor would have been an overstatement, but the expression fit his appearance fairly well at that moment. He quickly recovered his composure, but his voice still carried a thoroughly surprised tone. “Really? I could go meet all those super clean ponies?”

Luna nearly rolled into him laughing. Meet super clean ponies? Hah! He doesn’t know the half of it. Imagine him in Canterlot! She shook her head. Of course, just how many of those “clean” ponies would like to meet him might be another question. That’s what made her laugh. Spotless they may be, but in Luna’s estimation not many of Canterlot’s residents really cared to meet “commoner” ponies. There were other problems too. She had no clue how she would go about arranging such a visit, or if her elders would even agree to go along with it. Well, she thought, I’ll make it work somehow.

“Yes, I think so.” She said, between giggles.

“Wow. That’d really be something.” Orion said wistfully.

“It sure would be. Let me tell you a little bit about Canterlot.”

End part 2

Chapter 3

Dreams are real. Proof exists in the simple fact of their lingering aftereffect, the barest echo of the height of emotion reached by the dreamer. Joy, sadness, nostalgia, fear, all amplified tenfold by the apathy of the logical part of the brain. In lieu of reason, the rest of the mind breaks loose, painting broad strokes across an empty canvas. Entire universes of thought are created out of nothing, fully realized to the eye of the sole beholder. In the span of a fleeting, unconscious moment, temples of stone rise up. Histories are created, their origins original, yet unavoidably intimate to the architect of fantasy. Drift away on a sea of stars and live in castles in the sky. Until, in a few moments, the vision disintegrates, the world collapses, fades to black, and all that remain is a taste of the emotion left on the metaphorical tongue.

These feelings linger on, for a short time, as the memory of the dream fades like a lamp burning without oil to sustain its light. Within a moment, they flicker and die. Most do not realize that their world is a fabrication until they open their eyes. Dreamers are caught in the unfolding story, unaware of any other reality but the vivid portrait painted by their mind. Of course, sometimes a hint slips through, perhaps an echo of reason, of the outer world. A vague sense that the created world is different, too fantastic to be real. Only rarely can the dreamer convert the fleeting realization into actualization; most are carried along by the current, a one way flow towards the inevitable fate of the dream world.

Unaware, Twilight Sparkle had fallen into a great river, the pull far too strong to fight, driven by the torrent of memory. Moreover, the world offered no seams to pull upon, no loose ends to grab. Its conception perfect, its detail impeccable, the world Twilight saw formed an impenetrable facsimile of reality; a dream of the real world.

Luna watched as the sun drooped behind the forest of evergreens. Dusk slowly descended over the coast. She reclined on a cushy lounge chair outside the summer house, a book propped open with a hoof. After a moment she pulled her eyes away from the darkening sky and tried to fix them on the book in her hoof. For the tenth time this evening she reread the same sentence. Sighing, she gave up and let the book fall to rest pages down. There was hardly enough light to read anyway. Besides that fact, the book was one of Celestia’s, too verbose and tedious for Luna.

Summer was nearly over. The nights were a little cooler, the days a little shorter. Soon the young Princesses would make the return trip to Canterlot. But before that time came, there was one more thing Luna needed to do. She had promised to see her friend Orion one more time, tonight.

Wide eyed, Luna gazed up at the stars from her bed on the verandah overlooking the sea. She had feigned sleepiness and gone to bed early. The truth was she simply couldn’t stand waiting any longer. So far as she could tell, FiFi and her sister suspected nothing. Hopefully they were well asleep by now.

The moon emerged from behind a cloud, imperceptibly brightening the night. All around, in uncountable numbers, dots of starlight danced like a candle’s flame. Her eyes, accustomed by now to the dark of the midnight sky, could just make out the blurry outline of a band of pastel blue. Luna had been stargazing a few times before with her sister, with her mother. Tonight, as she waited for Orion, left alone with her thoughts, she found the swirls of stars enchanting.

“Luna!” A whisper sounded, breaking Luna’s reverie. She jumped at the sound, letting out a quiet squeak. “Don’t worry, it’s just me!” She recognized Orion’s hushed voice. He stepped out from behind the low masonry wall at the edge of the overlook. She smiled, pushing back the covers very carefully, soundlessly. She pushed herself up to greet him.

“Hi!” She whispered warmly, wrapping her legs around his neck. “I’m sorry we had to meet like this.” Luna said, her eyes searching Orion’s. “I don’t know what’s gotten into FiFi.” It was the truth. She didn’t know why FiFI had told her she wasn’t to spend any more time with Orion. Luna had her suspicions. FiFi might be an earth pony, but maybe the habits of the nobility had worn off on her. Maybe she saw her friend as some beggar pony looking for attention. Fine. She could believe that. But she’s wrong.

Orion smiled, seeming to shrug off her concern. “It’s okay. We’re here now. That’s what’s important isn’t it?”

“I guess. It’s just…” Luna trailed off.

“What?”

Luna sighed, a little exasperated. She wondered if Orion was as clueless as he sometimes seemed, or if he just didn’t understand the difference between her life and his. He was at least as intelligent as most of the other colts and fillies she knew, that she was pretty sure of. But he rarely seemed to understand her motivations.

“Well, let’s see. First, I’m sneaking out after dark. Secondly, I’m sneaking out after dark with you. Third, I don’t even know why I’m doing it! Aren’t you the least bit concerned?” Luna ranted, in hushed but tense tones. She had been carrying that burden all day. Once a target appeared, the words leapt out.

“I’m not… I mean…” Orion stuttered. Luna could tell she had caught him off guard. That happened so rarely she might have smiled. But on the other hoof she hadn’t meant to be that terse with him. No words to soothe the situation came to mind. In the past, the conversation would surely have fallen into an awkward silence. Over the past few months though, she had learned from her friend that action could be the best substitute for words.

She set her hooves in motion and passed by his side, rounding the corner of the verandah wall. “Come on then” she said. “Let’s just go.” He nodded, and turned to follow, quietly padding beside her. She noted how quietly they could tread over the wild grasses on the top of the bluff. The rustle they made as the stalks swished aside was absorbed into the sound of the soft sea breeze. Had there been only hard rock, the sound of their hooves would have surely given them away. The ground moreover, was quite familiar to Luna, and the half-lit moon provided enough light for her to find her bearings.

Orion spoke up over her shoulder, once they were a good distance away from the little wood house perched on its stone foundation. “What did you mean by saying you don’t know why you’re out here?” He asked. Luna cringed; she had hoped he’d missed those last, tactless words. She should have known better than to let them slip out. As soon as you asked why, things get complicated, she reflected.

“Orion, it’s just that these past few months have been… uh… different. Or maybe, unique is a better word.” She paused a moment. “And, it’s mainly because of you.” She looked back sheepishly. It seemed like something too grown-up for her to say.

“Because of me? What does that mean?” Orion asked. Luna couldn’t read his tone or expression well enough to guess what answer he expected from her. Best to speak honestly then, she decided.

“You’ve been such a good…friend to me.” Yes. That’s the right word. Anything more just didn’t seem right. She was just a filly after all, not some story book princess. Moreover, she was well aware that Orion was not a prince. Moving on quickly she continued, “I think I’ve changed for the better since I met you. Do you remember when we first talked? I know it was only a few months ago, but it seems like a lot longer. Anyway, even Celestia has said she noticed something different about me.”

“I hope that means…” Orion started carefully.

“Yes, I mean that in a good way, silly!” Luna interrupted, smiling. “Some things are just new to me, that’s all.”

“Okay. So what do you want to do?”

“Eh… I hadn’t given it much thought.” She put a hoof to her chin. “How about stargazing?”

Orion looked unsure. Luna knew it wasn’t really the most exciting activity, it had just been the first to come to mind.

“I think I have an idea” Orion told her, a mischievous lilt in his voice. “Follow me.”

He set off in the direction of the beach. Luna followed, thinking he meant to take the path down to the sand. Instead, he strode to the edge of a promontory overlooking the rocky shore and the little beach. Had he taken a step more Luna would have yelled at him, but he stopped right at the edge of the steep slope. Craning his neck over the precipice he looked down towards the sea below.

Luna caught up to him. “What are you doing?” She asked, perplexed.

He turned, a glint of moonlight in his eyes. That look, by the light of the moon or the light of the sun had become quite familiar to Luna these past few months. It meant he wanted to try something daring, quite possibly dangerous.

“Get down from there! Don’t even think about it!” Luna had figured out what he was doing. He wanted to jump. It was a tall cliff. The youngest alicorn wanted nothing to do with it.

There wasn’t really a set age that pegasi flew at. Some bloomed early and soared like an eagle before their fifth year. By random chance it seemed that others had to wait many years just to get off the ground. Those that flew later often developed into the best flyers, or so went most of the stories Luna had heard.

She hadn’t seen Orion fly yet. His best attempts Luna would call gliding. Or maybe falling like a rock, wings flapping.

“Why do you have to do this? You’re a big dummy! You’ll get hurt, maybe really badly. I’ll have to get help and we’ll both end up in big trouble!” Her voice was well above a whisper.

“Well” Orion said, nonplussed “Sometimes you just gotta do something even if it’s kinda dumb.”

“Are you crazy? You’re going to hurt yourself! Is that what you want?”

“It would hurt me more not doing it. Where’s the fun in anything if you don’t even try? I’m going. Because I can!”

“Hey! Don’t…” Luna surged towards him as he began to move. She wasn’t going to let him get himself hurt if she had any say about it. Strangely, that was the moment that an abstract thought popped into her head. Usually she didn’t much care what other ponies did unless it affected herself. If one of the Canterlot colts did something stupid like this, would she risk herself to stop them? Probably not, if she was being honest, which at this moment of fear and adrenaline, she was. You can’t fix stupid. That’s what some of the more uncouth ponies said. Why was she trying so hard with him?

That was the moment she realized, consciously, how much she cared about Orion. In that same moment her legs closed on air. She had missed Orion’s hind leg by a few inches. He leaped off the rock, wings out, hind legs trailing out behind him in an optimistic imitation of his older cousins.

He didn’t exactly soar. He started losing altitude almost immediately. Then he disappeared below the ledge of the cliff.

There was one thing to do, Luna thought. And it wasn’t the smart thing. She jumped after him.

-----------------------Back to the future----------------------

“This is all kind of freaky isn’t it?” Rainbow Dash asks with a frown on her face.

“It has not been what I expected. Not at all.” Rarity says. Silence settles between them as nopony else is able to add any other constructive thought.

About two hours ago, Princess Celestia had sent Twilight into Luna’s mind. Sleep was not coming easily for the ponies. Everypony but Pinkie were in the room next door to where Luna slept. Twilight was still there, or at least, her body was. Since Celestia’s spell she hadn’t moved, spoke, or gave any indication of awareness. The Princess assured them that Twilight was alright, however.

Pinkie Pie volunteered to sit with Twilight first, just in case something happened. Every once in a while, the other ponies could hear her voice through the wall. It seemed she had taken up talking to Twilight, even if it Twilight couldn’t acknowledge a word she said. Or maybe she was just talking to herself. That seemed just about as likely.

“So, uh, Applejack, how’re the apples doing this year?” Rainbow Dash asks.

Applejack looks puzzled by Rainbow’s question. “You want to hear about mah trees? You? Okay, if you like.” She pauses, checks to see if anybody is actually listening. They are. “Well, you know last year was pretty good, well we’re fixin to do even better this time round. I’ve spent lots a time going round the orchard, looking where we gotta trim some branches and where we might need more water. It’s good to do that stuff in the morning, I reckon. Grab a bite to eat, go out and enjoy the day. Anyhow, apples, I think the only problem might be running out of space to hold em all once we get em picked!” She chuckles.

“I like going out early too. Well sometimes at least. That’s when a lot of the animals are out and about too.” Fluttershy says.

“Mornings? You mean that time between when it gets light out and when I get up?” Rainbow Dash jokes.

“I’m sure you would probably like them if you tried them, Rainbow.” Fluttershy says.

“Yeah right. What about you Rarity?”

“Oh, well I have a little routine I like to follow. Wake up, fix my hair, trim my hooves, make sure my coat is nice and shiny, decide if I want to wear anything fancy, accessorize…”

“Hold on. First question: How long does that all take?” Rainbow Dash questions.

“Five hours, give or take.”

“Ummm… is it still morning by the time you’re done?”

“Usually.” Rainbow Dash shakes her head.

“Okay, Second question…”

“Wait, hold on!” Applejack interjects, eyeing Rarity with an incredulous look. “Is that why we always have to meet around lunchtime? Because it takes that long for you to do your hair?”

“Yes, in essence. I wouldn’t be fit to go out without it. Besides, we all have a routine we follow. Applejack, how would you like it if somepony said you couldn’t check on your farm every morning? Fluttershy, you take care of your animals. You need that time too. Rainbow Dash, ummm…” Rarity pauses in thought. “Well Rainbow Dash, what if someone said you had to get up early?”

“You’ve got a point there Rare” Applejack says. “Ah guess everypony likes something different.”

“Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted, I want to know when you have breakfast. That’s first thing I go for when I get up.” Rainbow says.

“Oh, well I get to it eventually, when I have some time available.”

Rainbow Dash thinks to herself that she had managed, quite admirably in fact, to get a conversation going. It had been way too quiet.

That topic went on for a little while, until it petered out to be replaced by another. Talk always focused on mundane, everyday events around Ponyville. It served as an excellent distraction from their situation. Still, although nopony said it, they still missed Twilight’s typically dorky contributions. She formed the centerpiece of the disparate group.

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie kept up a verbal barrage of partly intelligible exclamations. She updated Twilight on the status of a number of pastry confections and parties in the making.

“One time, I made this cake, and it had flowers and garlands and houses and all these little teeny tiny details, all crammed together like a city made out of FROSTING! And I was thinking ‘Concentrate Pinkie Pie!’ And I did, because this was a really super-important cake. Then I thought, I wonder if it takes a lot of muscle, well, you know, like brain muscle for the Princess to raise the sun? Probably.”

“Anyways, we all really miss you, and hope you come back soon. OH, and help Princess Luna too. That would be good. Cause you’re really great, and smart, and I just know you love parties.” Pinkie adds, in a whisper “Even if you don’t know it yet!”

“Maybe I can throw a party for everyone after you come back. A great big ‘Welcome Back’ party. And the Princesses will be there, and it’ll be just fantastic! And of course, there would be a cake. There has to be a cake. Although I guess I left all my stuff behind. Darn, I should have thought to bring cake making stuff! You never know when you’ll need cake! Oh well, I’ll just have to improvise. By the way, when we yell surprise, pretend I never told you anything about this, okay?”

“By the way, Princess Celestia says she’s doing everything she can to help you. She’s off working on a spell to help her reach the moon again. Or at least that’s what she said. I’m sure you’d know what she was talking about.” Pinkie sighs. “I miss you Twilight. Please come back soon!”

Eventually everypony drifts off to sleep. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity were warmed by their reminiscences of Ponyville. They sleep peacefully, thinking of home and comforted by the presence of their friends nearby. Pinkie Pie exhausted herself keeping Twilight company. Once her voice was so hoarse she could barely even talk she decided it was time to sleep. She plans a party for Twilight and the Princesses. Everypony eventually got to sleep. All but one.

Princess Celestia paces the cage she assigned for herself, the upper room of the observatory tower. She chews on her lip, a bad habit she had indulged in far too much lately. In her mind, the problem facing her was compound, with difficulties none of the other little ponies understood. Their innocence was cute, she thought, but their ignorance would not save them.

She tries to focus on the complicated process of crafting a complex spell. The spell must be able to break through the wards which block her influence on the moon. She pulls together the threads of shimmering yellow light, willing the spell into being with the power inherent in her horn. She fails. The threads collapse and wink out of existence like so many little fireflies. She grits her teeth. Once again she barely resists the urge to thrash about in rage. Deep breaths. Calm.

What irritates her most is the knowledge that it is her own lack of focus that harms her efforts. She can’t stop thinking about other concerns. At the worst time a thought keeps popping into her head: ‘What if she finds out?’ It’s irrelevant, the Princess tells herself, and begins the delicate process again.
************************
End Part 3

Chapter 4

The door swung open as she raised a hoof to knock. The pony holding it smiled, as if appreciating an inside joke. His frame was lean but muscular. The style of a pony used to hard work and travel. His coat’s ocean blue hue served as an excellent complement for his violet eyes and dark mane. Rivulets of black hair fell across his neck in disordered fashion. Perpetually tangled, his mane often gave him the appearance of a ruffian.

“Well good evening, Princess!” He cocked his head to one side, looking her over. “Little damp out isn’t it?”

“You know bloody well it is!” She didn’t wait for permission. Instead she impatiently dashed through the door. She had a very strong desire to shake off the water that had soaked her on the way over. The flight from Canterlot castle to a rather obscure street in the city was short, but she hadn’t anticipated the sudden burst of pounding rain that had overtaken her. About halfway through she began cursing herself for not even casually asking somepony about the weather forecasted tonight.

She brushed by Orion’s side, shedding some of the water onto his coat.

Orion chuckled, closed the door behind her with a quick glance out towards the rain-slicked street. He turned to the completely drenched Princess in his parlor.

“You’re dripping on my floor, you know.” He observed, wry smile on his face.

Luna shot him an exasperated look, willing him to shut his mouth this instant. He was right though, her midnight coat was soaked, and where water dripped down the hair stood out in little spikes. Her starlight mane was not immune to moisture either. It clung to the sides of her neck and some unruly strands had fallen in front of her eyes.

She shook her head, trying to get her uncooperative mane back into place so she could see again. Droplets of water flew around her head. She shivered, suddenly feeling rather chilly. Orion didn’t keep his house very warm, she observed. She glanced at Orion, questioning whether he was going to do anything or if he planned to just let her sit here soaking. Given his goofball smile and stare, she thought the latter.

“I say, are you mocking your royal Princess?”

“Wouldn’t never think of it.”

“Then get over here you big dummy!” She said, her façade of regality quickly dispensed with.

She embraced him with a fierce hug, her legs wrapped tightly around his neck. He returned the gesture, fortunately a little more gently. The chill left her, as did much of her tension and pent up frustration gathered over a season spent locked away in Canterlot. In his arms, she let go of the walls she maintained in Canterlot. She dropped the pretense of the royal Princess and was simply a pony with the one she loved. Although they liked to tease each other, there was no need for false facades with Orion.

“Your hair is in my face.” Luna mumbled.

“Sorry” Orion replied.

“You really should cut it shorter.”

“I distinctly remember you said it looked good like this.”

“How many years ago was that?”

Orion grunted. “A few.”

“Well then, you must be misremembering my words.” Luna said. Orion didn’t say anything, he just squeezed her tighter. After a moment she spoke up again.

“So where have you been the past four months?”

“Around Fillydelphia, mostly. They’ve had good weather. Big crop this year. I worked for this older couple, they needed help bringing in the harvest. They were really nice folks, and very welcoming too. Wish you could have met them.”

“Hmm.” Luna replied, relaxing against Orion’s chest. He was so warm. And soft.

“Eh, you’re gonna have to stop hugging me if you ever want to dry off. I’ve got some big towels in the other room. I’ll fetch em if you let go.” Reluctantly Luna complied and let Orion go. She snickered as he looked down and noticed the large patch of his coat that had soaked through from holding Luna. He sighed. “I guess I’ll get one for myself too.” He winked at Luna before he turned towards a room towards the back of the townhouse.

Luna looked around. She noted that the windows were properly shuttered, nodded approvingly. The rest of the room was sparsely furnished, a few chairs, a larger dining table and a smaller end table, both crudely made by Canterlot standards. Several still featured a light feathering of dust. They hadn’t been used yet this visit. All in all, it wasn’t exactly a home, but it was a house, and that was enough.

The house was not overly large. Too large or opulent brought too many questions. Its construction was the usual wood frame and shingle roof, a popular style for the past fifty years. He had an upstairs neighbor, but she knew the pony that lived there was an elderly mare who didn’t go out very often. All in all, it blended in very well to the neighborhood. Luna had picked this one out as a nice quiet place right near the end of a small side street. Not many ponies came this way unless they lived here, or happened to be visiting someone they knew. As far as Luna was concerned, that was for the best.

Orion reentered with some towels slung across his neck. He grabbed the tip of one with his mouth, offered it to Luna. A light blue glow enveloped the fabric as she used her magic to bring it over and start drying off. Now that she was inside, safely away from prying eyes, she ought to be able to use her magic.

“So,” She said, toweling off her neck. “How is Equestria away from Canterlot? It seems like ages since I’ve had a chance to travel.” What she really meant was since her parents had left. It was a day of mixed emotions, about twelve years ago now. She felt, deep down inside, that they weren’t really gone. That thought however, did not ease their passing. Nor did it relieve her of the deep sadness she felt after her parents were gone. For months she staggered along, bearing the burden of her new responsibilities to Equestria, and struggling to find something to put her faith in.

Then, Orion returned to her life. And here he remained, looking at her quizzically. He had finished drying himself and had set the towel on the brim of a wing-backed chair. She had thought she would never see him again after what happened at the summer house.

“Whatcha thinking about?” He asked her.

“My parents, I guess.”

He nodded. He understood her thoughts on the matter quite well, having spent many nights with her as she worked through her pain over her parent’s departure. It had helped her so much to simply talk about it, to open up to someone about her feelings. Orion never seemed to get tired of listening to her, although it was hard for him to offer her more than just platitudes and folk wisdom he had learned from his own upbringing. Nevertheless, one day she just started feeling better. Light returned to her world, and the pain left her. Not all at once perhaps, but eventually.

“You’ve missed a spot.” Orion told her, smirking. “Here, allow me.” He grabbed his towel with his mouth, the goofiness of which made Luna snicker. His “help” felt suspiciously like a shoulder rub, but she wasn’t about to complain.

He had been there for her. He comforted her. She loved him, although she had been aware of that in some form since the summer she first met him as a filly. It was only later that she learned how to express her feelings for him.

“Orion?”

“Yes?”

“My coat’s dry. Eh, more or less, anyway.” Luna said. She let the towel drift over to what she guessed was a laundry hamper.

“That’s good” He said. The blue stallion sidled up against Luna’s side. He nuzzled her neck with his soft nose. She leaned into him, enjoying the attention. He put a leg around her, kissed her lightly, on her check. Luna giggled like a filly. Orion drew her muzzle towards his, kissed her, she responded in kind.

“I’ve missed you!” Luna said.

“Missed you too.” Orion replied, somewhat deeply involved in the kiss at the moment.

Princess Luna flew in the pre-dawn twilight, towards the dusky silhouetted spires of Canterlot. Her mind jumped this way and that, each minor detail of her return relentlessly examined. She had to get back before her sister would be up, she needed to take the route that would best conceal her in the shadow of the castle. Of course, she didn’t believe that her exit could be concealed completely. Some pony was bound to notice. But so long as that pony didn’t tell Celestia, she could avoid her sister’s notice.

The Princess of the Moon took steps to ensure this. Over the past ten years she carefully cultivated her relationship with some of the royal guards. A remark here, a compliment there, helped sway them to her side. They helped keep her secret. She also left traces of an alibi, an urgent trip here or there, as a backup in case someone mentioned her absence to her sister Celestia.

Luna sighted the double window she had left open the night before. The northern side of the castle received less of the morning sun. The shadows there were more than enough to conceal her from all but the most hawkish observer. It was one of the rooms with a panoramic window that could be fully opened onto a small terrace that jutted from the wall. Landing there was tricky, but it was conveniently close to the observatory wing, allowing quick access to her normal nighttime workspace. Thankfully, the windows remained ajar.

The Princess swooped in, flared her wings to bleed off speed, and executed a perfect entry through the window. She allowed herself a moment to appreciate her own ability. Then she saw the other figures in the room. Her hooves screeched across the stone floor, all four legs outstretched to bring her to a halt. She shuddered to a stop before the interloper.

“Sister, we need to talk.” Celestia’s presence seemed to fill the room. Every corner stood illuminated by the glow of the iridescent halo that framed the Sun Princess.

Squinting in the brilliant light, the Moon Princess tried to adopt a look of innocence, cast a wish to powers unknown that her sister had only discovered her absence, not her whereabouts.

“Celly!” Luna squeaked. “You surprised me. I was just getting back from a little flight to…” Celestia cut her off.

“Enough, Luna.” Her expression was in Luna’s experience, unusually severe. “I know what you’ve been up to.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Don’t lie to me Luna. Your alibi is worthless. I’ve had you followed for some time.”

“You had somepony follow me? What… How could you do this? There’s supposed to be a bond between us! A trust!”

“The last time I trusted you was long ago, little sister. I wish I had it in me to trust you now, but your actions speak for themselves. You’ve gotten too close, you’ve forgotten who you are. In the end, you will only get yourself hurt. I can’t just stand by and let it happen!”

“It’s my business! My life! You have no right!”

“Don’t you remember what father said? Our business is Equestria’s business. Our health is Equestria’s health. And we were warned, sister! Our parents warned us about getting too close to mortal ponies! Nothing good can come of it. Apparently that lesson didn’t sink in to your addled mind. They should have sent that colt away. Far away. He was bound to cause trouble.”

“Cause trouble! Is that what you think? I love him!”

“Of course he’s trouble. Heavens above, have you forgotten what happened the first time you knew each other? You jumped off a cliff trying to save him from his own stupidity! You could have both been killed just by the fall!”

“But we weren’t!”

“So? You could’ve drowned if I wasn’t there to save you two! I brought help! I helped drag you two to shore!”

“Because you followed us! You didn’t trust me even when we were fillies.”

“Was I wrong? Look, what I’m trying to tell you is that he’s bad for you. He nearly got you both killed with his stupid, self-destructive attitude. And now it’s rubbing off on you. Can’t you see that?”

“That was twenty years ago. We were just dumb foals. He’s different now. Besides, it’s my life, and if I want to see him, I will!”

“No, no, no, you’re not listening!” Celestia sighed. “It’s not just about you. It’s for the good of everypony. The good of Equestria! You have to stop this madness before it consumes you. Please! I’ll help you. I can be there for you. Always, not just for a few years, but our entire lives. Please, come back to reason, just listen to me!”

Princess Luna stood without a flicker of an eyelash. When she spoke, she spoke soft as the sigh of a breeze through distant trees. “I see.” She said.

“You do? Good, good, I knew you would! Let’s just…”

“I SEE!” Luna’s voice boomed across the room. It struck Celestia like a blow. She thought she had succeeded. She thought she had stopped the madness. “It’s YOU! It’s all YOU! You want to take him away from me! You have no right. Tell me, dear sister, when did your heart shrivel and die? When did your thoughts turn dark? Love, care, passion, when did you start to hate these things?”

“No! That’s not me, that’s not what I want at all! Just calm down and we can talk about…”

“SILENCE!” Luna’s voice rang out sudden and violent as the breaking of glass.

Somehow it seemed there was something in the world that had shattered too. Harmony was dead. The element of discord struck like a viper. In place of harmony a new feeling emerged. Uncertainty, doubt, distrust. It was the feeling of suspicion. It had spread between the sisters, and now boiled to the surface like molten tar.
“I can stand this place no longer. It is a falsehood. Caring? You do not possess it. Love? You do not want it. You’ve barred the gates to passion of any sort. My soul cannot live without it. I bid you farewell, dear sister.”

Luna turned her back to her sister, who struggled for words under the spell of Luna’s tirade. The Princess of the Moon held her head high as she galloped out the open window and spread her wings in the early morning sun.

The wind beneath her wings and the fresh, crisp air she tasted ranked among the most refreshing things she had ever experienced. To her, it was a new beginning.

To Princess Celestia, left behind, staring out at the sister she had once known, it was the ending of something formerly beautiful, now destroyed.

The malaise that began in that room did not stop at the boundary of Canterlot. By nightfall, the news had emerged. The royal sisters had split, and the land stood divided. Nine royal guards disappeared under cover of night. They were seen accompanying the Night Princess out of the city. Another pony, which witnesses described as a lanky blue pegasus, went with them.

Some ponies favored Princess Celestia, others, although far fewer, favored Princess Luna. The older Princess had been the more visible of the two, and the public knew her to be a capable ruler. At the moment though, it was a matter of concern, of speculation and debate, not of fear. That would only come later. At that time there was still hope that there could be reconciliation between the sisters, and that Equestria could be whole again.

“Where is the Element of Loyalty?”

“You mean Rainbow Dash? She’s getting breakfast.” Applejack answers.

“Good. Thank you.”

“Is everything okay, Princess? You look worried.”

“Worried? No, everything is fine. I’m not worried.”

Celestia reasons that there is no compelling argument to tell the others more than they need to know. To them, everything is proceeding as planned. She senses it though. The turmoil in Twilight’s mind screams out like the clashing of mismatched gears. Celestia senses uncertainty, she senses doubt. Those emotions are familiar to her. She remembers, even after, or perhaps because of, a millennium of regrets. If Twilight is at that point in Luna’s memories, it means two things, Celestia concludes.

First, Twilight was not careful enough. She had fallen deep into one of Luna’s strongest memories. Perhaps it was inevitable that this would happen. Hope had suggested to the Princess the naïve thought that Twilight might not blunder into the dark times, the strong, turbulent memories she knew Luna possessed.

Second, given the lack of any communication from Twilight to this point, it seems likely that Twilight is trapped in a memory, perhaps unaware that she is Twilight Sparkle, not the Princess of the Moon. This could be particularly dangerous now. She needs to be reminded who she is if at all possible, and at the very least, be reminded that she must stay loyal to Princess Celestia, not past-Luna.

Of course Celestia worries. Those events turned her own sister against her. Would they do the same to Twilight? She wonders, but finds no concrete answer. It may depend on how much she sees. How much she learns.

She encounters Rainbow Dash a short time later, in the hallway.

“The food’s great, Princess! You must have one awesome chef!” Rainbow Dash exclaims, patting her belly.

“Yes, she is very talented. Rainbow Dash, I may need your help.”

“Really? How can I help? I’ll do whatever you need me to do! Can I do a Sonic Rainboom?”

“Well, I guess I was thinking more along the lines of helping Twilight. She may need your aid right now. She needs to remember the strength of her bonds to her friends. You’re the Element of Loyalty, do… whatever it is you usually do.” Rainbow Dash looks puzzled.

“Oooo-kay” She says.

Celestia smiles, shrugs. “Just talk to her, be with her. It makes a difference.”

“Alright, will do! You can count on me!”

Celestia hopes so. She knows better than anypony else the magic of the Elements of Harmony, but even she cannot predict Twilight and her sister’s fate. She will do what she can, but only time will tell. Meanwhile, ponies all over Equestria grow restless. The moonless night frightens the common ponies. It was as if a companion all had known for their entire life had left them, leaving behind the impression of a black hole in the night sky. The black night better conceals those nocturnal predators that stalk the night. The ponies want something done. Celestia’s spell to break through the moon’s wards is not yet ready. It will require a few more days before she can attempt a direct intervention. But moving the moon is not her real concern.

Princess Luna still lies in bed, her power growing steadily weaker. She might endure long enough for Celestia to reach the moon, but what good would it do without knowing the source of her sickness? Celestia feels lost, alone and helpless. She places her hope in her student Twilight. She stands the best, perhaps last chance to save Luna.

End Part 4

Chapter 6

Princess Celestia knows the way to her sister’s room by heart. At the same time, her mind wanders, brooding over the knowledge that she may just have lost the two ponies closest to her. She wants to feel scared, to feel her heart beating faster. At least then she would feel alive, but instead she feels dead inside, devoid of any sensation but despair. She feels as though her future is looming ahead of her like a dark abyss, but rather than recoil in fear, she is walking forward with mournful steps into the darkness. Where that road will lead her she does not know, but she struggles to care.

Celestia had encountered a few unchangeable forces in her lifetime, but this does not feel like one of them. If only she knew what spell is affecting her sister, she could stop it. The answer is almost within her grasp, only to be snatched away by betrayal. If this is fate, it is very cruel indeed, to lose not only her sister, but her most promising student, her rising star, at the same time. She had waited so long. Lifetimes, by the reckoning of mortal ponies, for her sister to return. How could she lose her now? It was one of two questions which tortured her mind.

Celestia lethargically rounds a corner into Luna's wing of the Palace. Why had Twilight turned so suddenly? Celestia gathers that Twilight had discovered her secret. She found out about Luna's memories. But she had always been such an understanding and loyal student, surely she could see that Nightmare Moon had to be stopped, by whatever means necessary. It was for the safety of Equestria, after all. The Elements of Harmony held a great power, but without direction they could be dangerous. With a little additional guidance, that power could be channeled. I saved Luna, Celestia reminds herself. She couldn’t let herself forget that fact. Twilight would claim otherwise, she knows, but she had to maintain confidence in her cause.

First of all, Twilight had to be brought back. She wouldn’t let Twilight die out of spite… she was not evil, after all. Her student, now almost certainly former student, would have her own life to live. Celestia reflects on one of the lessons she should have learned: that she should let mortals be mortals. She should not be so deeply involved with them in the first place. They would live, and die, and she would remain, like the mountains, until her time here came to an end. It is a logical thought, but the visualization of those indefinite years, stretching out before her, alone and unloved, makes her feel icy cold inside.

Where would Twilight go? Celestia wonders idly, as a distraction from bleaker thoughts. Probably back to Ponyville. Ironic that it was I who sent her there. Would she stay? That was a good question. On the one hoof, she will probably avoid Canterlot, but on the other, Ponyville is the home of her friends…her friends… Celestia thought. Her mind swings into action, brought back into action by the seed of a plan developing in her head. She isn't sure why it took her so long to approach the problem from this angle. Perhaps because I don't have friends like she does. I have to rule, and I would soon outlive my friends anyway. Still, friendship is a powerful bond: There had been ample proof of that over the past year or two. If I could somehow get Twilight’s friends to help me, she thought, I might have a chance to swing her back to my side, at least long enough to save Luna.

Behind her, the sound of staccato hoof falls on the tile floor suggests to Celestia that Twilight's friends are following her. She had not thought much about their presence before, but she now realizes that they are essential to her one remaining chance to save her sister.

If Twilight's friends see her acting strangely, especially against me, her mentor, I might be able to convince them that Twilight is unwell, perhaps temporarily insane, and needs their help to return to reason. That would put Twilight's friends on my side, and force her to make a choice between losing them and fighting me. Celestia thought about it for a few moments. Surely Twilight would choose her friends over a futile cause won't she? Yes, surely she must, Celestia concludes.

The thought of manipulating Twilight's friends remains distasteful to Celestia, but compared with the alternative of her sister's life, the choice is clear. By the time she reaches her sister's room, she has made her decision.

The entrance to Luna’s chamber is via a large wooden door, painted pastel blue. Two Royal Guard ponies flank it. They salute as Celestia approaches, exchanging a quick nervous glance at each other. The atmosphere in the palace had grown more intense every day. Ponies are demanding answers, but Celestia doesn’t have any, or at least none that she is willing to give to them. Even the long-suffering Royal Guards have felt the effect, but they wouldn’t readily give in to it.

“Sergeant White Mane, open the door please.” She commands the nearest pony. He nods, and swings the door open for her without a sound.

Her most trusted Guard, Captain Bramble Briar, kept watch over Twilight, who had been moved onto a rug and had some pillows arranged around her for support, and Princess Luna, unmoving in the grand bed. Briar is a stout, serious-faced pony, with more than a few grey hairs in his mane. He is already standing at attention when she walks in. Over the years, Celestia had known many Guards, and in time she learned the characteristics that made for the most loyal and trustworthy ponies in all of Equestria. She had picked the best to guard what mattered most to her.

“Captain, I will take over from here.” She tells him.

He makes his way out without a word, which leaves Celestia with one more task before Twilight’s friends catch up with her.

“White Mane,” She whispers to one of the guards at the door. He turns his helmeted head, raising an eyebrow. “I need you to keep this door closed. Don’t open it for anypony until I open it myself. If Twilight’s friends ask, tell them I cannot be disturbed while casting the reawakening spell.” He looks like he wants to ask a question, but he nods anyway. “Oh, one more thing,” Celestia adds. “You might hear yelling and shouting. Do not worry about it. Just keep the door closed until I come out. Understood?” He nods again, somewhat uneasily. Celestia turns to Twilight, just catching White Mane shooting a fleeting look at the other guard, who shrugs. Once she steps inside, they close the door behind her with a dull thud.

Celestia approaches her sister Luna. She is tucked under the covers, as if she is simply napping and would soon awake. There is no frown on her lips, nor a crease on her brow. She looks perfectly at peace. Yet It is only a deception. Her breathing is shallow, feeble and almost imperceptible. Celestia sighs, but she knows she can’t linger by her sister’s side. She needs to deal with Twilight first. To that end, she takes a moment to compose herself. Deep breath in, exhale, repeat. Her mind needs to be clear.

Twilight lays motionless on the cushions. Celestia focuses her thoughts on casting the spell, and a moment later, soundlessly releases her magic as simply as she might lift a cup of tea to her lips. Her excuse to the guard is nothing but a cover. The spell is in fact quite simple to cast. At first there is no observable change. Then Twilight’s breathing grows deeper as her mind regains control of her body. Her eyelids lift ever so slightly. She squints at the light, and recognizes Celestia standing over her.

Twilight's legs flail, kicking at the floor and flinging away the cushions that had surrounded her. Her hooves scrape across the floor, raising an ugly sound. Celestia takes a step back, maintaining an unperturbed expression. Twilight tries to get her legs under her and stands to face Celestia, but her legs don’t obey her, and she ends up on her knees instead.

“You!” Twilight sputters, her hoarse voice croaking out the word. Celestia says nothing. She knows Twilight’s attitude is to be expected, and she steels herself against forthcoming accusations and denunciations.

“I’m surprised you even deigned to bring me back, dear Princess.” Twilight announces in a harsh tone. Her words sting Celestia, who notices Twilight no longer calls her Princess or even Celestia, instead insisting on a blunt, insultingly informal "you".

Celestia decides to try a direct approach first, and takes a conciliatory tone. “Of course I did, Twilight. I care for you. I am deeply sorry for my sister, but I will not lose you pointlessly. You must know that I would never hurt you. You are my student, and my dearest friend.”

“Says the one with blood on her hooves!” Twilight bites back in a raised voice, levering herself onto her hooves, her head in a low, tense posture.

Celestia lifts a foreleg and examines her hoof. “What blood? I have not hurt anypony.”

Twilight snorts dismissively. “Fine, use whatever excuse you will. I know the truth. Your sister is not this imposter you’re created.” She thrusts a hoof towards the bed to emphasize her point.

“What was I supposed to do?” Celestia thinks twice about her words. “No, never mind that. Just listen. Please Twilight, I need your help. There is still time to save Luna’s life!”

“I won’t go back. You won’t get anything more from me.” Twilight rejoins.

Celestia realizes this track is pointless. Twilight isn’t listening to her. She suspects something is amiss with Twilight. She senses a perceptible change in her character as though the two of them were acquaintances who meet after a long time apart, and upon seeing each other, realize they have grown estranged. Even the way she speaks had changed. Anger might explain some of it, but Celestia feels there is something deeper affecting Twilight. She begins to realize that sending Twilight into Luna’s mind had wrought more changes than she had bargained for. She had understood that risk, but had thought it worthwhile to save her sister. Yet now, she finds herself regretting that decision.

Nonetheless, there is no turning back the hourglass, she must salvage what she can. Her sister’s life depends on it. That leaves her with an unpleasant alternative. She had to provoke Twilight, and force her to reveal her anger in front of her friends. Only then would they understand how deeply Twilight had been affected.

Celestia heaves a sigh. “Twilight, let me be honest with you." She pauses for a moment to collect her thoughts, then looks Twilight dead in the eyes. "No matter how much you protest, no matter what names you want to call me, it does not matter. You see, my dear, you have no proof of what you say, and no one will believe your word over mine. I am Princess Celestia. You are a pony, a talented one, I will grant, but still just a pony. So go ahead, tell your tale and what you think you have seen. Tell your friends, tell them of your misguided feelings for a merciless tyrant. No one will listen, and no one will care. See how long it takes before your friends desert you.” She has to rein herself in, belatedly realizing how much malice she let slip into those words. Celestia’s words hurt her to say so blithely, so gloatingly. She feels uncomfortable, as she always did when she took on the mantle of the enforcer, the voice of unpleasant reason. She had felt the same when she warned her sister Luna not to get involved with that foolish pony Orion. Time hadn’t changed that aspect of her personality. Perhaps, though, it had made her wiser in the way she approaches her problems. Twilight wouldn’t listen to her directly, but there are more methods than reason alone to influence a young pony.

Twilight listens, but Celestia doubts she hears. “I’ll find a way.” she promises, hooves bracing against the ground like she’s weathering a storm.

“How? Do you have any ideas in mind?” Celestia insists, pressing for an answer. “Go on, tell me.”

“My friends will stand with me!” Twilight says through gritted teeth.

Celestia admits that Twilight possesses determination and grit. Familiar qualities of the Twilight she knows. Deep down she is pleased to see her student’s stubbornness shining through. That trait is exactly what she hopes to see. She needs Twilight to be vocal, to be stubborn, and to fight. Now she simply needs to steer the conversation in the right direction.

Celestia holds her head high. Along with her natural height advantage, she towers over Twilight. “Will they?” She asks.

“Yes!”

“Then go on. Your friends are not far away.” Celestia nods towards the door. “I will not stop you.”

Twilight eyes Celestia warily, searching her face for a sign. But Celestia had ruled long enough to perfect a calm and serene expression when she wished to present that face to the public. She keeps that impeccable stony façade, which only seems to infuriate Twilight.

Twilight heaves an angry sigh and turns for the door, walking with a determined effort. Celestia lets out a shallow breath, and prepares herself for the next part of her plan.

For Celestia it is a trivial matter to reach out with her magic. She aims in Twilight’s direction, but not at her. In a moment the broad door creaks to life, flinging itself outwards in a wide arc and squeaking to a halt just short of the Guard pony flanking the doorway.

In front of Twilight stand her five closest friends. Celestia notes that they are concerned, their expressions demonstrate that much. All of them are gathered to the left of the door, where Sergeant White Mane is stationed. Poor pony, Celestia thinks, he had withstood their pleas and questions asking why they couldn’t see their friend. It must have been difficult to tell them “no” when they heard raised voices arguing through the door.

When they see Twilight, it takes a moment to register, then everyone speaks at once. Applejack speaks loudest. Celestia hears her voice rise above the clamor.

“Twilight!” Applejack crosses the distance to Twilight in a few strides, as everyone else gradually settles down and starts to gather around their friend. “Are you okay? Still in one piece ah hope!” She chuckles after her last words, but it rings hollow and tinny, lacking its typical heartiness.

Twilight takes a step backwards as a circle forms around her. She looks momentarily stunned. She turns her head this way and that, trying to meet the barrage of questions, as though she is facing a pack of circling wolves. after a second she regains control and focuses on Applejack.

“Uhm, I’m fine Applejack. Really, girls, I’m fine.”

Celestia clears her throat. “I am afraid that is not quite true, my dear ponies.” She delivers the news in a slightly sad tone, but intentionally uses her regal incantation and form of address. Her voice commands respect. The other ponies’ eyes shift from Twilight to Celestia, then dart furtively back to Twilight. True, they couldn’t see anything amiss from the outside, but perhaps they notice as Celestia does, how Twilight’s body language screams tension and stress. Twilight herself turns to face Celestia. Anger burns in her eyes, but she holds her tongue for the moment.

“Our dear Twilight is very confused right now.” Celestia continues. “I am afraid something must have gone wrong when I sent her into Luna’s mind.”

“Nothing went wrong but your plan…” Twilight mutters under her breath. Celestia ignores her.

“She has come to believe that I hurt our dear Luna, by some machination, many years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth, I assure you all.”

Twilight’s temper flares. Growling like a feral dog, she grits her teeth until she could take it no more. “Liar!” she shouts at Celestia. “You’re lying through your teeth and you know it!”

Her friends peer at her, wide eyed, staring at what they had thought impossible. Twilight accusing the Princess of lying, acting like a crazed beast. Fluttershy steps back, ducking her head and flattening her ears like she refused to hear the words being said.

“Twilight! What do yah mean?” Rainbow Dash steps towards Twilight, demanding an answer.

“How can you talk to the Princess like that!” Rarity cries out, blushing as though just hearing Twilight’s words embarrasses her.

“I’m just angry that our Princess,” Twilight mocks, “Is a fraud. She ought to be ashamed.”

“It saddens me so, to hear you say that, my dear Twilight. I do not know what she claims to have seen,” Celestia lies, “but it is plain to see that she is not herself.”

“We trust you Twilight, we really do, but ah just can’t believe it without seeing some proof.” Applejack adds.

“Well, not with me, but… Look, I know what I saw in Luna’s mind. I’m telling you, I’m not going to save Luna because it doesn’t matter. She isn’t the real Luna!” Twilight facehoofs out of frustration. Explaining the situation without hard evidence is like trying to convince a lamb that its mother is wolf.

“Luna is Luna, silly! Of course she’s real.” Pinkie Pie tells her. Twilight starts to protest. “Princess Celestia, isn’t there anything we can do?” Pinkie Pie pleads, asking Celestia, not Twilight.

Twilight jumps in before Celestia can answer. “Pinkie Pie! It’s me!”

Pinkie Pie gives her a poignant glance. “No, something’s wrong Twilight. Princess Celestia is right, you’re different, like, well, I don’t know how, but you are.” Pinkie Pie tells her.

“Come on! You’re my friends! Don’t you believe me! Celestia is lying!”

Rainbow Dash puts her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Look, we just want to help.”

Twilight sidesteps and shakes off Rainbow’s hoof. She glares at Rainbow Dash for her betrayal.

Celestia speaks up in the lull. “The best we can do for our dear Twilight right now is to give her time to rest.”

“Fine,” Twilight retorts, “I’ll go back to Ponyville.”

“But Twilight, what about Princess Luna?” Rarity asks.

“I… I can’t Rarity. You just don’t know. You haven’t seen what I saw. Luna isn’t even…”

“I am afraid,” Celestia cuts in, “that Ponyville is too far away. You’ll be staying in the Palace, for the time being.“ Celestia informs Twilight.

Twilight slams her hoof against the tile. “Like hay I will!” Her horn flashes to life, shimmering violet light encasing her like a cocoon. It takes only a split second, but then, nothing happens. Her magic envelope pops like an ephemeral soap bubble, and her magic fizzles away.

“It is quite rude to try to teleport out of the palace, dear.” Celestia chides. “Sergeant,” she calls, waiting for him to step out. “Please escort Twilight to her quarters, and see to it she gets some rest.”

Twilight glares at the Princess, realizing that she is powerless to resist at the moment. “This changes nothing.” She says, “You can’t win.”

Celestia looks down at her. “This is not about winning or losing, it is about living and dying, my dear. My sister is dying. How can I win?”

Twilight doesn’t have an answer for her, but keeps her gaze for a moment. Scowling, she turns and stalks away, shrugging off her friends who want to give her words of encouragement. White Mane follows. She doesn’t look back. The sound of her hooves fades from them as she turns out of sight, leaving only echoes behind.

A small voice speaks up. “Princess Celestia, do you really mean it? Luna can’t…die?” Fluttershy looks up at the Princess with round, sad eyes.

“I wish that was so, little one. I wish that was so.”

“You can’t save her?”

“Not without knowing what is draining her magic.”

Applejack nods with a forlorn look in her eyes. “Then we’re no closer to saving her than when we started out.”

“I am afraid so. Without Twilight’s help, my sister…” Celestia lets her emotions show as she sniffles, “she won’t make it.”
Celestia’s words hang in the air for a few moments.

“I just can’t believe she would… refuse! Refuse to help save Princess Luna.” Rarity exclaims.

“That’s can’t be her. A few days ago she said she’d do anything to protect Luna. Look,” Rainbow Dash paces, “if the Princess says only Twilight can help, then there’s just one thing we gotta do. Find a way to get Twilight back to normal! Because we’re her best friends, and that’s what friends do!” Rainbow Dash stomps one hoof to place an additional exclamation mark on her point.

“But how?” Pinkie Pie asks. “She was so mean and hurtful. She won’t talk to us!”

Celestia speaks up. “I think she will. She’s angry right now, but give her an hour and she may calm down enough that she will be willing to talk.”

“But Luna needs her help now!” Rarity insists.

“She does,” Celestia agrees, “but we cannot force Twilight against her will. Wait an hour, then go to her. I know our Twilight is still in there, you just have to remind her who she is, and who her friends really are. Besides, I will need time to prepare a new spell. It may be a long shot, but there is still hope. Stay true in your hearts and never give up, my little ponies.”

“We will, Princess. But, there’s just one thing I don’t understand… What did Twilight mean by all those things she said?” Pinkie Pie ventures.

Celestia shakes her head. “Dear, there are some things that even I cannot explain.” She wouldn’t tell them any more. She could explain, but to do so would only muddy the water. It would only cast a shadow across the sun. So she spared them that burden. If only she could have found a way to spare Twilight from it as well.

End Part 6

Chapter 7

The door closes, and Twilight is alone. There is no bar or lock on the door, but Twilight knows the ever present Royal Guards will stop her if she tries to leave. Quite calmly and with a great deal of civility, Twilight is sure, but they'd stop her. With that in mind, the imprisoned inevitably begins to see her surroundings as the walls of her confinement; her prison. The door, stout as all the others in Canterlot, and the immovable walls of stone and mortar, those marked the limits of her freedom. Her window gave her a view of the plain far below Canterlot. There are no bars on the window, of course, but without wings or the ability to use her spells inside the palace, Twilight isn’t about to attempt escaping that way. So instead of an escape route, it remained simply a window looking over Equestria.

Twilight studies the room intently, her eyes searching for some difference from the last time she was here, a few days ago. It is still the same Canterlot guest room she remembers. The bed seems unchanged, even its covers are still neatly folded, just as she had left them. A writing desk with its overlooking mirror and comfy chair appear just as they had before. Twilight wonders what she’s looking for. A layer of dust? But no, she had only been unconscious a few days, not the years that had seemed to pass for her. She sighs and walks to the window, stepping into the ray of sunlight that pierces the glass.

Twilight stares out over the peaceful landscape of rolling hills and meandering streams, interspersed with green forests, and snow-capped mountains far in the distance. She feels conflicted. The peace and comfort that she ought to feel from the sight of her beautiful homeland is overshadowed by the memory of almost a hundred years of life crowding her head. Tall peaks far to the west, the ocean of deepest blue hue, trees as wide as ten ponies are tall, she had seen them all. She had experienced the wonder of the mountains towering over her, and the elation of soaring above them with her love by her side. It all had felt so real, as real as Ponyville and Canterlot, as real as every minute of her own life.

Consequently, her anger for the injustice that had been done to Luna couldn’t simply leave her. It wasn’t that easy to just let go of the past, and the truth that no one else remembers. Twilight couldn’t forget that Princess Celestia had perpetrated the crime. She had altered Luna’s mind. She stole away what made Luna unique. She replaced it with meaningless, self serving fabrications.

Twilight berates herself for not anticipating Celestia’s attempt to turn her friends against her. She had known the Princess was more manipulative than she appeared, but she had let rage blind her to Celestia’s guile. The Princess had anticipated her every move so far. Twilight bit her lip as she thought of the other issue at hoof. She lacks hard evidence against Princess Celestia, to such a degree that it may as well be her word against Celestia’s. Could she really blame her friends for betraying her for the Princess? What proof had she given them to believe her claim?

Furthermore, there is a small voice, somewhere in the back of her head, reminding her that Luna’s life is not her own. Even if she remembers every detail of the Princess’s life, that didn’t make her one with Luna.

“But what am I supposed to do? Just forget everything I saw?” She hisses under her breath. “I can’t. There’s just no way!” She argues with her invisible opponent, pacing back and forth like an attorney before a judge. In this case the large mirror, laced with ornate bronzework around its outside edge, is her arbitrator.

“What is the one thing I treasure the most? It isn’t my books. It isn’t my house. Knowledge? No, that’s part of who I am, not what I love most. What would I miss most?” She asks herself as she turns from the door and paces to the window. She pauses in front of it. In the distance, she knows, there is a place called Ponyville. A place she calls home. Her eyes widen as she performs an about-face.

“It’s friendship, isn’t it? I care most about my friends and all the things we have done together. We’ve built a bond together, and proved we can face anything if we just face it united.” She reaches the door and turns back towards the window.

“But it isn’t just the here and now. It’s also the memories we’ve made. The feeling of belonging, the laughter, the crazy adventures, those are the things that matter most to me, because they involve the ponies who matter most to me. I could lose everything else, every other material thing, because those things can be replaced. But my memories, and my friends, I couldn’t bear to lose. I treasure them more than anything else.” Twilight sighs, looking to the ceiling as though searching for an answer. “Then what am I supposed to do! Ugh! I want to help Luna, but if I go against Celestia... it won't end well."

“Now I have memories that aren’t my own, but they sure seem just as real! I feel like I should be mourning a pony I never knew! Or, at least… I don’t know! Why does the pain feel so real! It’s like it just happened yesterday!” Twilight throws herself on the crisp sheets of the bed, fighting the urge to curl up into a ball and forget the outside world. She rolls over restlessly, futilely searching for a more comfortable place to lie. Instead she disturbs the sheets until they coil around her like a constrictor snake.

“Gah!” She groans. She hadn’t asked for this anger, or this pain. It is utterly unwelcome, like a cruel autumn snowfall ruining a harvest. And like the snow foretells of a winter to come, she fears what her own revelations would herald. "How can I live without Celestia’s guidance? What will I do? How much more pain and hardship will it take to expose Celestia’s crimes, and what would happen after they were revealed?" Twilight admits she doesn’t know the answers to any of those questions.

A moment later she feels something cool on her cheek. She gingerly touches the spot with a foreleg, which comes away damp. It takes a moment for her to realize she’s crying. She hasn’t cried for a long time… at least not as Twilight Sparkle, anyway. She couldn’t remember her eyes tearing up. She didn’t think she was going to cry, but it had come unbidden and without warning. Who am I crying for, Twilight thought, Orion? Luna? Myself?

Orion wouldn’t have wanted Luna to mourn for him, Twilight thought. He would have wanted her be happy. But that didn’t change the fact that Luna did mourn for him. For years, in the deepest dark of depression and self loathing, she pined and cursed mortality, though it made no difference. That was Luna’s life. She soared through the highs with carefree ecstasy, but her lows plunged her down far beyond the point of sadness. Her life was in one way a lovely story, the Princess and her fate-ordained mate, running away together, living their lives together and free. But there was no happily ever after, and time made a tragedy of the fairy tale.

Luna lived that life as best she knew how. She lived by her passion, and she did not regret it. Even though it brought her great sadness, would she have wanted it any other way? Twilight couldn’t imagine Luna ever wishing to undo the past. For all that had gone wrong, for all that had struck a note of discord in her life, she still had such beautiful memories. She loved Orion in a way that Twilight could never have imagined before experiencing the feeling herself. That part of her life was a stunning song, sadly cut too short. Nevertheless, it is a part of her life, and it should be inseparable from her persona.

Reflecting on her own life, Twilight realizes how naïve she had been. She has been through more than most, certainly, but she has never really understood what her life means. How could she? It isn’t every day one gets to step out of their own skin and see their life from a novel perspective. What she has is rare. She has a good life. She has talent and ability. She has friends who care for her. Moreover, she has a full life left to live. What more could she ask for? She closes her eyes, hoping a little rest would give her a clearer view.

Twilight sits up in a second. Her head snaps to the door. No, it is still closed. There are no shadows of legs under the door, so she doesn’t think someone had knocked, but what was that noise? She is sure she had heard something, and she didn’t think she was just hearing things. She hopes she’s still sane enough to be spared from that annoyance.

Another tapping sound made itself known from the direction of the window. Twilight swivels in that direction and saw the shadow of flapping wings cast by the ray of sunlight on the floor. Then she notices the light blue furred face framed by a rainbow colored mane and a pair of large violet eyes peeking through the window. Ah, it’s Rainbow Dash! Twilight realizes. She kicks off the covers and strides to the window. She could see Rainbow Dash saying something, but she can’t hear very well through the window, so she searches the frame until she finds the latch and opens it. A gust of wind rushes into the room, along with Rainbow Dash, nearly knocking her off her hooves.

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash exclaims.

“Shush!” Twilight puts a hoof to her lips. She shuts the window and resets the latch with an effort. At least the window opens inward. It would have been much harder had it opened out over the sheer wall. She rounds on her Pegasus friend. “I thought you were supposed to be good at this sneaking around stuff!” Twilight huffs.

Rainbow Dash suppresses a snicker. “Hey, I can be sneaky if I want to!” She crouches down, taking small, measured steps that make no sound, mimicking her exploits from a while back. Of course, those had been under cover of darkness. In a brightly lit room, it serves to make her more noticeable, rather than less.

Twilight can’t help but smile at her friend’s antics. “You know, you haven’t changed a bit.” She tells her.

Rainbow Dash’s smile fades, and she raises an eyebrow at Twilight. “Why would I have?” she asks.

Twilight stumbles over her words. “Well, um, it’s just that I…”

“What is up with you? One second you’re like normal, the next, it’s like you’re a totally different pony!” Twilight opens her mouth to try to explain, but Rainbow Dash continues on.

“And why are you mad at Princess Celestia? No one understands that! I mean, you’ve been her student since you were what, five?” Twilight starts to correct her, but realizes how pointless it would be. “Rarity won’t stop going on about how you insulted the Princess, and Fluttershy was bawling her eyes out. I just want to understand why.”

Twilight nods solemnly. “I see. Is that why you’re here? You’re just curious?”

“Partly. But also because I can fly, and mostly because I’m your best friend! I snuck out as soon as Celestia let us go back to our rooms. Look, I know something’s gotta be really wrong for you to go calling the Princess names. It just isn’t like you.”

Twilight sighs, realizing this is exactly the problem she is worried about. Rainbow Dash considers the situation a problem with her, not with Princess Celestia. “Would you believe it if I told you what I said was the truth? That she really did hurt Luna. Not physically, nothing that left a mark visible from the outside, but I’m telling you she took from Princess Luna the most important thing in her entire life.”

Rainbow Dash looks incredulous. “Go on.” She says.

“Celestia stole what made Luna Luna. She took her memories away, and replaced them with something fake and trivial. It’s like she stole her soul, Rainbow.”

“Woah, that’s pretty crazy.” Rainbow Dash remarks.

“What do you mean crazy!” Twilight explodes. “I saw it!”

“I’m sorry Twilight, that came out wrong.” Rainbow says, grimacing. “Okay, so Celestia messed with Luna’s memories. How exactly did you figure this out?” She takes a seat in the chair with her forelegs supporting her head, like she meant to settle in for a long story.

Twilight takes a seat on the edge of the bed across from her and does her best to explain what it had felt like to be a disembodied spirit, floating through the mindscape of another pony. She describes what the memories look like as best she could, and what they had revealed to her. She could tell that most of it goes over Rainbow’s head, but she listens closely to every word Twilight says. When Twilight talks about what she had seen about Luna’s life, Rainbows ears perk up.

“You mean Princess Luna… Princess Luna! Had a lover?” Rainbow Dash interrupts in the middle of the story.

“Yes.” Twilight agrees, “He changed her life in so many ways. He was very handsome, in a roguish kind of way. You would have liked him.” Twilight tells Rainbow with a sad smile.

“You saw him? I mean, I guess you would have had to, but I just didn’t really think…” Rainbow trails off.

“It wasn’t like reading a book, Rainbow. It was much more than that.”

Twilight continues her story to its conclusion, explaining how she had talked with Luna’s consciousness, and how it had known nothing about Orion. It had been like an imposter, with the real Luna nowhere to be found, if she still exists at all. Rainbow Dash actually agrees with her on one point, that Princess Luna seems the more foalish, and perhaps the more submissive of the two Princesses. But while she might agree with that observation by itself, Twilight could tell she doesn’t believe the whole story. In the end, Twilight just couldn’t prove anything she said, and without that, it would remain only a story, not an indictment of the Princess.

As Twilight wraps up her retelling, Rainbow looks down and notices how the ray of light slanting in from the window has grown to almost touch the door on the opposite wall. She jumps up, checking the sun. “Oh! I’ve got to go. Celestia wants us all to talk to you together, in about… pretty soon, I’m guessing! I’ve got to go before somebody notices I’m gone.”

Twilight reluctantly agrees. She had enjoyed sharing what she’d seen, even if she doubts Rainbow Dash believes all of it. It feels like a significant burden relieved from her shoulders just by talking about her experiences. She walks with Rainbow to the window, so she can hold it open as Rainbow took off.

“Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Princess Luna seems pretty happy doesn’t she?”

Rainbow’s question strikes Twilight as rather simple. “Of course she does. She just can’t remember what was stolen from her.” She answers.

“But Twilight, would remembering all that stuff make her any happier?”

“It’s what makes her unique. Without it she’s just a puppet!” Twilight argues.

“I’m just saying what I’m thinking. If she’s happy, what does it matter? And meanwhile what will this do to all of us? Look, you’re just so caught up in this. We don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose you. Don’t go down this road Twilight, I’m telling you it won’t lead anywhere good.”

“Get along Rainbow Dash. You’d better go before you get in trouble.” Twilight shoos towards the window, holding back the angry words she wants to throw at her friend. Rainbow Dash goes reluctantly, concern evident in her eyes. Twilight opens the window with a whoosh, and Rainbow Dash is off. She shuts the window behind her and watches her fly away to the other side of the guest wing.

Just as Rainbow Dash had promised, there is a knock on the door five minutes later, and Twilight’s five best pony friends step in. Rainbow is breathing a little heavier than she should be for simply walking down the hall, and Applejack gives her a glance that suggests she hadn’t gotten away with her excursion scot-free. Nevertheless, she made no admittance to her visit except a small guilty smile when Twilight first looks her in the eyes.

For the others, Twilight has little to say. Judging by Rainbow Dash’s reaction, she doubts she could convince anypony of her story. She is happy that at least Rainbow Dash knew, but she realizes that pressing too hard on her friends might drive them away. And what good would it do? It is an ugly and difficult truth, one that could divide them and draw them into factions between the believers and the non believers. Twilight reasons that Rarity and Pinkie Pie seem most likely to side with the Princess, judging by their reactions outside Luna's room, while Twilight thinks she might be able to swing Applejack and Rainbow Dash to her side. That left Fluttershy, although it seems just as likely she would refuse to pick a side. Twilight decides she needs time to make a decision that could have dramatic consequences for their friendship..

However, what everypony is keen to remind her of is the unfortunate fact that Luna’s condition is no better than before Celestia sent Twilight into her mind. Twilight wants to tell them that the Luna they see isn’t the real Luna, it isn’t her Luna that she knows from her memories. But to do that would demand the whole story, and perhaps drive a wedge between them all. She could only shake her head at their insistence that she talk to Celestia and find a way to help save Luna.

Quite frankly, she couldn’t remember any other meeting of friends that had felt so dour. After half an hour, her friends give up on trying to pry information from her, and simply offer their support. Pinkie Pie hugs Twilight tightly and promises everything will be okay. It is a nice thought, Twilight thinks, but it feels too much like a pat on the head a doctor pony might give a small foal. Even so, these gestures make Twilight think about what she will miss if she loses her friends.

The talk eventually ends with the weary ponies saying goodnight, and wishing her well. Rainbow Dash is the last to step out the door.

“You’ll remember what I said, won’t you Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asks. In the dying light, Twilight can’t distinctly make out her face from across the room.

“I will.” Twilight duly responds.

“Sleep well.”

“I will.”

The door closes. Twilight is alone again. The room is so dark she knows she’ll have to light a candle if she wants to stay up any longer. Truly though, she can’t imagine spending another needless moment awake. Her muscles ache and her eyes are tired. She collapses onto the bed as a wave of weariness passes over her. Today has been a long day in so many more ways than one, she thinks as her eyes swiftly close and consciousness speeds away.

“Princess Celestia?” Sergeant White Mane inquires, knocking on the door at the top of a long stairway, a door leading into the upper room of the observatory.

“You may enter.” A strained voice says, as though she is busy holding the world on her shoulders.

White Mane opens the door a crack. A brilliant golden glow escapes through the gap. He dares open the door wider as blinding light pours through the opening. Standing in silhouette as though in front of the sun itself he sees Princess Celestia. Behind her he can just make out the dazzling strands of her spell. Like a golden astrolabe they shimmer in a complex spherical pattern, slowly rotating. He is dazzled by the sight of such a complex spell.

“My Princess, it’s… incredible!” He had never seen anything like it in the twenty years he had served Princess Celestia. The light it emits is so bright he must look down at the floor to ease the discomfort in his eyes.

“Thank you. Now please go ahead with your report.” Celestia tells him over her shoulder, too involved to spare him a glance.

“Ah, yes! As you command. I listened as ordered. Twilight didn’t recant her story, but neither did she try to defend it with any vigor. Mostly it seemed her friends just wanted to cheer her up.”

“Is that all? I expected more, one way or the other.” Celestia says.

“There was something else. I heard voices through the door before her friends arrived. I think one of her Pegasi friends must have arrived through the window. I felt the draft under the door.”

“The element of Loyalty, surely.” Princess Celestia surmises. “Did you intervene?”

White Mane nervously shifts his hooves. He hopes he had done right. “No, as you ordered, I left them alone.”

“Good.” Celestia says. White Mane immediately breathes easier. “What did they talk about?”

“I’m afraid I couldn’t hear much of it, they were whispering. But right before the other pony left, I heard them say to Twilight that they didn’t want to lose her, and that she was heading down a bad path.”

“Ah, interesting.” Celestia says, languidly drawing out the word. “I may have an additional use for this spell after all.”

“Princess,” White Mane asks tentatively, “if I may, what kind of spell is it?”

“A powerful one. Powerful enough to reach the moon.” Celestia replies.

“Thank you, my Princess. I’ll let myself out.” White Mane says to her, although she doesn’t respond and maintains her stoic posture facing her shimmering spell. He turns to leave, reaches the door and abruptly turns back to face her again. The spectacular glow illuminates her flowing mane in a melody of color, light, and motion. Her white coat reflects so much light she seems to shine of her own accord. His eyes linger on her for a second. She is still looking the other way, as though gazing into the depths of her magical creation. She doesn’t see him hesitating at the door. The light, like a miniature sun, begins to blind him until he can barely see, and an angry purple blotch colors the center of his view when he finally looks away. How Celestia can stand it, he can only guess. He backs out of the door and gently closes it. I am not worthy, he silently reminds himself. I'm just a lowly guard pony and she's my Princess.

End Part 7

Chapter 8

Twilight awakes with a groan, annoyed, that all of her aches from yesterday still remain. She opens her eyes and squints at the bright light that already fills the room. She wets her dried-out lips and heaves a wide yawn while she squeezes her eyelids firmly shut. A persistent ache still bothers her eyes, but it isn’t as bad as last night. She blinks a few times, trying to get some moisture into her eyes. She rubs them with her hooves, but doing so doesn’t help either. In fact it makes them feel even worse. Now they burn fiercely, and still ache unabated.

“Ugh.” She groans as she plops her front hooves down on the covers, still trying to blink away the tiredness from her eyes. She stretches out her legs, then winces at the audible popping sound emanating from her joints. There’s an annoying pain in her back, but even as she tries to twist and turn to relieve it, she just can’t quite get a satisfying crack from it. She gives up and rests her head on the pillow again, staring up at the blank white ceiling.

Only then does everything flood back into her mind. The events of the past few days, Princess Luna, Celestia, the secret she now knows, and the uncertainty of what will come next. For a few moments she had been free of it all, and simply cared about waking up and feeling comfort. But she couldn’t hide from reality or the responsibility she feels. She had accidentally uncovered a secret no one else knows. Except Celestia of course, Twilight thinks. The Princess knows, but hides from the responsibility. She denies her crime based on the pretext that it was for the greater good.

Twilight frowns as she thinks of the conflict once again. I’ll have to deal with Celestia today. I’ll have to deal with her nagging injustice every day from now on. Will my first thought every morning be how to expose Celestia? How to win over my former friends? Or how I didn’t save Luna?

She stares, simply stares with wide open eyes, at the ceiling. She sees nothing in particular but a vision of her future flashing before her. For several minutes she does not move, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, with a violent kick, she flings off the covers. She immediately gets to the side of the bed, stands up and strides single-mindedly to her desk. With her magic she picks up a brush and quickly arranges her mane into something close to a respectable state. After just a moment she flings the brush down and before it has a chance to slide to a stop, she starts towards the door.

When she opens it, she finds a guard pony in ceremonial armor. He isn’t a pony she had seen before, but many guard ponies looked so similar she couldn’t be sure. He dips his white head at her in greeting. His light blue eyes are cool, assessing, but non-threatening.

“Good morning Miss Sparkle.” He says as though he is just a doorman at an inn.

“Yes, sure.” She quickly brushes off his greeting. “Look, I’m starving! Where can I get some breakfast?”

He smiles ever so slightly. “It’s closer to lunch time, but if you would just follow me I’ll show you where you can find something to eat.”

Twilight isn’t surprised that he asks her to follow him. All the easier to keep tabs on her. But she doesn’t worry about it immediately. Her main concern at the moment is food. She really is famished. Hunger had the power to get her out of her reverie and up out of bed. There is simply no way she can deny it.

The halls are quiet as she follows the guard. She sees few ponies stirring, other than a number of guard ponies who patrol the grounds of the palace. As they pass, the other guards tend to eye her with curiosity, rather than animosity, Twilight notes. It would seem that Celestia has not yet informed the rest of her guards of the situation between Twilight and her. Interesting, Twilight thinks, does that mean she’s wavering in her decision, or does she think she can convince me to help her? Either way, at least I’m not being dragged away kicking and screaming. That’s a good sign.

She’s distracted by her stomach rumbling so loudly she worries she might hear it echo from the walls. Twilight glances at the guard with her ears back and a self conscious smile on her face, hoping he didn’t hear that. If he did, he didn’t give any sign.

Twilight’s guard eventually turns and opens the door to a dining hall she can recall visiting a few times before. He motions for her to step in. When she does, she is immediately surprised by what she sees.

“Spike!” She exclaims upon seeing the little dragon standing on a chair, leaning across a wide table for a golden brown pastry bun that is one among many treats stacked on platters full of breakfast food. Judging by the volume of crumbs on his plate, it isn’t his first treat of the meal. Behind him, high latticed windows framed by white drapes let in the mid-morning light. On hearing her voice, he looks over, but, as Twilight notes, he continues reaching towards the pastries.

“Twilight!” He takes a moment to transfer the bun to his plate. “Well it’s about time!” He says, puffed up in mock anger. “Why did you leave so quickly, and why did I have to take a cart all the way up here? That’s right, I had to hitchhike to get here!” He says. “What do I smell or something? You totally ditched me!” Twilight is quite familiar with his tone of voice. It means he’s just being his usual self and complaining to anypony that would listen. She sidesteps his questions for the moment.

“Oh, I’m sorry we left you behind, Spike. But I’m really glad to see you! “ Spike tries to wave her off, then gave up and braced himself as she rushes over and envelops him in a bear hug.

He sighs. “I’m glad to see you too, Twilight.” He still sounds as though he wants to begrudge the point that everyone had left him behind, but he accepts her gesture nonetheless and he wraps his arms around her neck in return. A few moments later he starts to squirm in her grasp. “Uh, hey, do you mind letting go already? You’re kind of crushing me.”

Twilight lets him go. “Sorry about that, Spike. It just seems like it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”

“It’s only been a couple days…” He eyes her with an eyebrow up.

Twilight gave out a combination of a sigh and a grunt. “I know. Everpony’s been telling me that lately.”

“Hmm,” Spike muses. “Are you okay? You look tired.”

“Yes Spike, I’m fine. More or less.” She walks to the opposite side of the table, where she finds a convenient seat.

“More or less?” He questions.

“Just tired, never mind.” She turns her attention to the food on the table. It looks rather like a banquet to her, although she knows from experience that Canterlot breakfasts never lack for variety and flavor. For her though, the appearance of so much food feels like a small miracle. She shovels several donuts, cinnamon buns, and oatcakes onto her plate until she constructs a pyramid of baked treats. She takes the place opposite Spike and begins wolfing down a jelly donut, smiling as the flavor fills her mouth and the hunger starts to subside.

“Right…” Spike adds skeptically as he watches her gulp down her food. “So you know what the strangest thing was, there wasn’t a moon for at least the last two nights?” Twilight pauses for a moment, about to take a bite from another donut. She glances up at him, continues eating. Spike hadn’t noticed, as he was busy articulating his speech with gestures. “It was so dark you couldn’t see anything! Not even your hand in front of your face. Like this, see!” He waves his hand in front of his eyes.

His joviality ends abruptly and his voice takes on a more serious tone. “Ponies are saying that Princess Luna’s sick, and no one’s seen her for the past week. Is that why you had to come here so quick, Twilight?”

She took a moment to swallow a mouthful of food before she speaks. In that time she carefully selects the right words for her explanation. “Yes, that’s pretty much it. I’ve seen Luna, but I shouldn’t say too much. Princess Celestia doesn’t want us to give anything away.” She figures it might be best to shift responsibility to the Princess. Twilight doubts Spike would question the Princess’s orders. Which in a way, she thought, was precisely the problem with most of her friends.

“Ah, secrets!” Spike’s expression brightens. “Are you sure you can’t tell me more? I won’t tell anyone.” He winks.

“No, I really shouldn’t.”

Spike sighs. “Okay, fine. Can you at least tell me how long it’ll be before Princess Luna gets better?”

“I, um…” Twilight realizes that if he doesn’t hear it from her, Spike will eventually get the news from somepony else. “The thing is Spike, I don’t think I can help her.”

“What? You can do practically anything! Why can’t you help Luna? Is there something I can do? I’d be glad to help any way I can. Like maybe I could find some books in the library or something.”

Twilight silently gives him a soul-searching look. She doesn’t doubt he meant what he said, but his vehemence in asking to be put to work surprises her.

“Spike, you’ve hardly met Princess Luna.”

“Well, maybe I don’t know her like I know you, but of course I still want to help her. She’s one of our Princesses. You can’t just refuse to help Celestia’s sister!”

“But what if she were… I don’t know, hiding a dark secret? Or what if she was actually manipulative and cruel? Would you still want to help her then?”

Spike brushes aside her veiled criticisms, unaware they are aimed at Celestia rather than Luna. “Please, Twilight, I think we would’ve heard about it if she were a big meanie. Besides,” he said after picking up one more pastry, “she’s still our Princess. We’ve got to help her no matter what! Equestria needs the Princesses.”

Twilight thinks about what her little dragon said. Is royalty and idolism all that matters? To Spike the Princesses are idols to be worshiped. He seems to keep them on a high pedestal, well above the casual mortal pony. With that viewpoint, imperfection is impossible.

Twilight realizes she once thought the same way he does now. She had perceived Princess Celestia as a flawless guardian of peace and harmony. The Princess had presided over much of her magical education, and she had helped her grow and make friends outside Canterlot. But Twilight knows she is no longer blind to the truth. Celestia and Luna are flawed, as vulnerable to emotion, fear and doubt as any other pony. It is as though a coat of whitewash has been removed from a wall, and beneath it she can see the cracks that undermine the structure.

“Okay, okay. Look Spike, I understand your enthusiasm, but the issue is more complicated than just finding a book or a scroll.” Twilight tells him.

“Hmm, I guess you’re probably…” Spike looks up and suddenly his eyes widen. “Princess Celestia!” Twilight spins around, and indeed, standing at the door is Princess Celestia. Spike smiles and immediately executes a well-practiced bow, while Twilight simply sits and observes, her thoughts conflicted..

The duality of Princess Celestia has been made clear to her. She could be kind, she had done much for Twilight personally, and yet Twilight now saw another side, manipulating and meddling, capable of erasing her sister’s memories without any admission of guilt. Perhaps that is why she feels annoyed by Spike’s obsequious gesture. His bow shows that he respects her, he idolizes her. Twilight, on the other hand, did not move an inch. Where Spike sees an object of worship, a god-like being in the form of a white alicorn, Twilight sees flaws and imperfections stemming from an emotionally damaged pony, as fallible as anypony else. The fact that the truth is hidden, and those like Spike will never realize it is what stirs the most anger towards Celestia. Twilight wants to tell everyone that Celestia does not deserve to be worshiped. Far from being a god, she has failed her sister, and now failed her student.

Princess Celestia addresses Spike in her typically regal tone. “Hello my dear Spike. I am sorry you were left behind. I hope your trip to Canterlot was a smooth one.” Twilight notes how effortlessly graceful she appears.

“Thank you, my Princess.” Spike spoke with reverence like a star struck foal.

“If you do not mind too greatly, I would speak with Twilight alone for a few moments.”

Spike nods, understanding he’s receiving his cue to leave. “No problem, my Princess, I think I’ll see what everyone else is up to.” He grabs one last pastry from the table before hopping off the chair and heading for the door. He passes by Celestia, who gives him a kindly smiling glance. Twilight, meanwhile, glares at the Princess, trying to judge her intent.

Celestia uses her magic to close the door after Spike leaves. Like the shedding of a cloak, she drops her pretense of regality. Her shoulders seem to slump down more than usual, she holds her head a little lower, and she blinks a few times as though her eyes are as tired as Twilight’s were when she first woke up. She glances at Twilight.

“Sleep well?” She asks. Twilight doesn’t respond. Celestia sighs, her eyes downcast for a moment. She returns to look Twilight in the eyes. “Spite only breeds spite, you know that don’t you?”

That takes Twilight by surprise. She has to conceal a look of shock from appearing on her face. The Princess is being far more direct than usual, Twilight thought. She may be desperate. I should be very careful. Celestia begins to walk, very deliberately, around the other side of the table. Twilight watches her very closely, somewhat intimidated by Celestia’s new approach. She leaves the rest of the food on the table untouched.

“I’m sorry, Twilight.” Celestia breathes, “Believe me, even if you do not believe any other word I say, I am sorry that I have put you through this. If there had been any other way, I never would have asked you to try. Even so, I dearly regret my decision. As I told you when you arrived, even I could not predict what you would see. I admit…” Celestia looks away from Twilight’s accusatory glare. “I admit this has brought back memories I would have rather forgot. Please, Twilight, just understand that I’m sorry.”

Twilight thinks for a moment before responding. “What do you want?”

Celestia sighs. “Well, I suppose I should be glad you are talking to me at all. Such a shame. Not long ago we were so close.” She pauses, as though collecting her thoughts. “Fine. You have seen past our shell. My sister and I are not perfect. I wish we could be, but we aren't. You know that we are as vulnerable as anypony else. So I will simply tell you the truth. I need my sister back.”

“You do not know this, for you had no way of seeing, nor did any other pony because I kept it a secret in my heart. For hundreds of years I awaited my sister’s return.” She speaks with a spark in her eyes, recalling her memories of times past. “The first few hundred years I ruled and life in Equestria continued on as it always had. Yet as the ages dragged on, I found it increasingly difficult to care about day to day life. Sometimes I had trouble even wanting to raise the sun.”

“You may have read about dark ages in the history books? Sometimes that took a more literal meaning than you know, Twilight.”

“What eventually carried me through was the hope of being reunited with my sister. I dreamed that she might have changed in her exile, that she would have realized the error of her ways. My fantasy was always of our return to Canterlot, together, happy, with love and peace throughout the land. It would have been beautiful Twilight. Can you imagine the sight of all the ponies of Canterlot, lining the streets, welcoming their united Princesses? The flags and pennons on the towers would stream like ribbons in the breeze, and the Palace would shine in the sun. Trust me, I had many years to think about it, I know every detail I put in place to welcome her home. I kept rooms in the Palace ready for her return. I never converted them to some other purpose.”

Celestia’s nostalgic smile fades. “You know what happened instead. She returned as Nightmare Moon, not the sister I remembered from our childhood. It was just as I had feared, and it appeared she fully intended to usurp control and plunge Equestria into darkness and despair. Fortunately I was not so blind to the possibility of Nightmare’s return that I neglected to prepare a defense.”

She nods to Twilight. “That’s where you come in. You found the Elements, and used them. What you did not know is that I had worked for many years, in the interim between Nightmare’s banishment and return, to channel the powerful magic of the elements. I searched the libraries and discovered records of spells even I had not known existed. Using this knowledge, I crafted a spell that would modify the effects of the Elements. Instead of banishing, or perhaps destroying the body and soul of Nightmare Moon, the spell separated Luna’s memories of Nightmare, and gave her new memories of a happy existence before the coming of Nightmare Moon.”

Celestia smiles, which momentarily stirs Twilight’s anger. “Thus I was able to welcome her back as a sister, and all she remembered was that something bad had happened. No details of what Nightmare Moon had done remained. She begged my forgiveness, and of course I granted it. Our homecoming was perhaps not so carefree as I would have wished it, but we were still able to return home as sisters, in harmony and peace.”

“So you see, these past few years have been the fulfillment of a dream I held for centuries. There were obstacles and challenges, certainly, but we overcame them together, as sisters, as it should have been…” Celestia trails off.

“Then Luna got sick.” Twilight adds, continuing Celestia’s train of thought.

“Yes,” Celestia breathes, “I saw the signs long before I called you. I told myself it would get better on its own. I reassured her that she would start feeling better soon. Then one night, she simply didn’t wake up. I… I can’t…” Celestia’s tongue stumbles. She walks to the table and sat down across from Twilight. Up close, Twilight can see dark circles below her eyes, even though her white coat did its best to hide them. She turns her head away from Twilight, sniffles, taking a deep breath through her mouth. She lowers her head to rub at an eye with her hoof, which has the effect of pointing her alicorn horn at Twilight. And yet, Twilight doesn’t feel threatened anymore. From experience, she could empathize. Losing a loved one is never painless.

“Um, do you want me to give you a minute?” Twilight asks. She’s conscious that Celestia’s emotion could in part be a ploy, but another part of her understands Celestia’s fear and pain.

“No! No, I wanted to talk to you, and I don’t think it matters anymore if you see me like this.” She sniffles and clears her throat. “Here, follow me,” she says, standing up and gesturing for Twilight to follow. Twilight decides to follow, partly out of sympathy, and partly curiosity. Within a few moments of stepping through the doorway, Twilight can guess where the Princess is taking her.

Down the hall, up a flight of stairs, and three doors down is Luna’s room. Celestia follows this course precisely. At the doors, the guards take one look at her and open the door without a word.

The curtains are drawn, and in the dim light Twilight sees Luna, still and silent as ever, lying in her bed like the stone effigy on the face of a tomb. She can barely discern Luna’s breathing. As the door closes behind them, Celestia walks to the bedside with Twilight a few paces behind. Very gently, she touches Luna’s cheek with a hoof. Luna’s dark mane streams out alongside her neck. When Celestia drops her hoof from Luna’s cheek it plays among these strands for a moment.

Celestia looks Twilight in the eye. “What I’m trying to tell you is, I just can’t lose her, Twilight. For the last five hundred years I’ve waited for her return. If she dies, I’m lost. I know you don’t agree with what I did, but please, you have to see, I need my sister back!”

Twilight’s conscience screams out to her. She could have stopped this if she had just found the spell. She could have saved Luna. No! The back of her mind shouts. Be strong! The Luna you see is not the Luna that was. Celestia killed the old Luna and replaced her for her own benefit. You heard her, she wanted her childhood sister back! Well what about what Luna wanted? Luna was no child, and Celestia had no right to remake her into one again! Rationality took neither side. Equestria could survive the loss of one Princess, it has managed before. But if Celestia says she can’t go on without Luna’s companionship, we risk losing both. What would happen then? Will all Equestria be plunged into darkness, forever?

Twilight looks upon the Princess with pity. Now that I already know the truth about Luna’s past, Twilight thinks, it says something that Celestia still wants me to bring her back. Letting her die would be an ideal way to hide what she’s done. So clearly she cares more about having her as a companion than she does about protecting her secret. Maybe she’s telling the truth and she really can’t go on without her Luna by her side.

Finally, Twilight spoke up. “Even if I did go back into her memories, it would take too long. It took days to go through eighty-five years, there’s just no possible way I could go through a thousand years of her banishment in less time.”

The appreciative expression on Celestia’s face raises a mixture of gratification and dull anger for Twilight. “You are right, it would take too much time. But if you are willing, there is another way.” Celestia tells her.

“How?” A part of Twilight still tells her to resist, but she asks anyway.

“I finished the spell to break the wards around the moon. Last night I wove in another element to the spell. It will take you to the moon in the same way Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon. You should arrive at the same place she arrived, which should be safely under the surface.”

“What? You want to send me to the moon?!” Twilight exclaims incredulously.

Celestia sighs. “Yes, I know it sounds absurd, but it should be possible. It makes sense, if you think about it. I cannot find any trace of a large, persistent spell of the kind we were looking for anywhere in Equestria. It seems most likely, then, that the source of the spell is the moon. I had hoped that you would see it in her memories, but you didn’t go far enough. That leaves one option, an inspection of the potential source firsthand.”

Twilight agrees that her logic made sense, but the question of actually going, physically, to the moon, looms as a far larger issue in her mind. “And how would I find what’s wrong there?” She asks.

“It should be fairly obvious. Something large, something drawing a great amount of magic. Up close you may be able to feel it, rather than just see it. Then, with the wards around the moon gone, I should be able to use my magic to fix whatever the problem is.”

“So how do I know you’re planning on bringing me back?” Twilight asks, still a little suspicious of Celestia motives. She wants some form of reassurance that she will be able to return.

“I brought you back from Luna’s mind. I could have just left you in there.”

“Fair point.” Twilight concedes.

“Also, because the distance is so great, I won’t be able to communicate with you while you’re up there. Therefore I have built in a return time to the spell. It’s a very complex spell, but I can show you my work if you wish to double check. You will have two hours to find the source of the draining spell. No more. Once you get back, you will tell me what the source is, and I will do whatever needs to be done to fix it.”

“I see.” Twilight says, nodding.

“Everything is in place. The spell is ready. I just need your help, one more time.” Celestia’s voice has an urgency to it. She’s begging Twilight for her help. Even if her royal dignity won’t allow her to get down on her knees and hold out her hooves, the purpose is the same. Celestia looks to Twilight for an answer, one way or the other.

Twilight sighs, and refuses to meet Celestia’s stare. Less than a day ago she would have found Celestia’s request completely unconscionable. She had done everything but swear to never even speak a word to the Princess again.

Still, she knows the answer in her heart. She has to try again to save Luna, even if she is just an imposter now. For Equestria, which needs Celestia to survive. For her friends, who expect her to play her role in saving their Princess. For herself, so she doesn’t have to bear the burden of being a pariah, a heretic, the rest of her life for going against Celestia. Twilight begins to wonder whether her mindset yesterday might have been affected by Luna’s own, so soon after leaving her mind and reliving her memories. Perhaps a night’s sleep had indeed let her see the situation more clearly, and realize that her own future is more important than Luna’s past.

“I’ll do it,” Twilight says, “on one condition. When I get back, and this is over, you will leave my friends and I alone. No letters, no invitations to galas. Just let us be, and I’ll let you be. No one else will ever have to know about Luna.” Excluding Rainbow Dash, Twilight silently adds.

Celestia nods slightly. “If you insist, then it shall be so.” A hint of sadness tinges her voice, but otherwise she has retrenched that royal facade she let down earlier.

“Good.” Twilight puts a hoof to her chin. “How soon will you be ready?” She asks.

“A few hours, most likely sometime in the afternoon. I want to go through the spell one more time. I’m sure you would agree on the importance of every element working flawlessly to bring you to the moon and successfully break through the wards. Ideally I would examine my work in even more detail than that, but the time constraints placed on us by my sister’s condition preclude a more thorough inspection.”

“Umm...wait, so what would happen to me if something went wrong?” She ventures.

Celestia’s expression is quite serious. “I will not let that happen so long as I have any say in the matter. The spell should work fine. If it does not, there are a number of possible outcomes.”

“Like what?” Twilight presses.

“Namely, you might come back to the starting point, or you might not.”

“And how likely is the ‘not coming back’ part?”

“It is highly unpredictable. Even I do not know for certain.”

“Great.” Twilight says sarcastically. “Low chance of success, highly dangerous, minimal reward. Why should I do this again?”

Princess Celestia looks down at her hooves, then back up. Her mouth opens like she’s about to say something, then she closes it again. She looks conflicted, as though her thoughts are caught in a tug of war between opposing viewpoints.

“What?” Twilight prompts in exasperation, rather fed up with secrets and double-talk for the moment.

Her question seems to force the Princess to decide on a course. “Well, there may be another reason you might wish to go. I had hoped, of course, that a desire to save Princess Luna would be enough,” Celestia says pointedly, “but perhaps you require more motivation. “ Celestia sighs as though she’s reliving an unpleasant memory. Curious, Twilight listens attentively to her every word. “The consciousness of Nightmare Moon, who you insist on calling Luna, was not destroyed by the Elements of Harmony. It was banished to the moon once more. It is bound to the moon, and thus cannot return to haunt my dear Luna anymore.”

“You’re saying the original Luna is still alive?” Twilight asks excitedly.

Celestia frowns at the question. “No, not alive, not exactly. Just the spirit was bound to the moon. Luna’s body remains here, in Equestria, but the spirit that was Nightmare Moon was banished and locked to the moon.”

“But Nightmare Moon is Luna, the real Luna!” Twilight exclaims. The Princess does not share her enthusiasm, but ignores her assertion for the moment. “Will I be able to speak to her?” Twilight asks.

“Possibly.” Celestia reluctantly admits.

Twilight’s thoughts race at the possibility of talking to the original Luna. The idea of speaking to somepony with whom one shares so much in terms of experiences and memories is incredibly exciting. Twilight imagines it like meeting an old friend, except in this case, the two had met only for the briefest of moments, and not on the best of terms in any case. But that was forgotten and put out of her mind by the vision of meeting Luna, the real, true Luna, whose life Twilight had lived, who shares so many joys and feelings.

I’ll meet the real Luna again. I’ll see the moon. I’ll save the imposter, for Equestria’s sake, and then it will be over. Twilight thinks. Then I can live my life as I see fit. All those places Luna visited, I can see them too. My friends will be with me, and we’ll have adventures of our own making to talk about the rest of our lives. Who knows, perhaps I can find a way to bring back the real Luna. Maybe, just maybe…

Chapter 9

At the foot of the winding staircase to the observatory tower, is a thick wooden door. Twilight pushes it open with some difficulty and trots/walks into the anteroom chamber. The heft of the door, she knows, is a function of its usefulness keeping out the cold. On a cold night this room would serve as a good place to warm up after spending time in the observatory itself.

Accordingly, the room features fairly small windows, but does include a number of plush cushions and seats circled around a large stone hearth. There’s a little fire going, just to add a little bit of light and activity to the room, rather than much of any heat. It is after all, in the middle of the afternoon, and the temperature even at the top of the observatory tower is only slightly chilly.

Twilight finds her five pony friends, and Spike, congregated in a close huddle around the fire, as though they are a cabal discussing some conspiracy plot. Twilight smiles at the idea of her friends as plotters and schemers. Sometimes they don’t even agree on where to eat lunch, let alone how to carry out some devious scheme.

The creak of the door on its hinges signals her arrival to the gang. They look up from their huddle expectantly.

“Hi there,” Twilight says, “Am I interrupting anything?” She closes the door to make sure the distant noise from their talk doesn’t bother Celestia at the top of the tower. “Celestia says the spell is almost ready. I’ve been looking over it too, and I can’t see anything amiss, but she is being very methodical and checking every detail.” I can’t fault her there, Twilight thinks. It’s rather important to both of us this spell works.

“That’s good Twilight.” Applejack responds. “We were just saying how happy we were to see you and the Princess make up with each other. You had us all right concerned for a while. Ah would’ve said you’d never be back to normal after yesterday!”

“It was so sad, I just couldn’t understand.” Fluttershy adds. Her eyes very briefly make contact with Twilight’s before returning to an intensive examination of her own hooves.

Twilight can do nothing but smile. She knows her feelings have not changed. Forgiveness is beyond reach. But on the outside, she had chosen to spare her friends from that quarrel. It was difficult, but she had forced herself to control her emotions. She had met with her friends a few hours ago, after talking with Celestia, and told them that she had been temporarily insane when she had confronted Princess Celestia. Of course, she had added afterward, she is fully recovered and feeling much better now.

The lie nags at her conscience every now and again, but she pushes it to the back of her mind. It was for the best after all. That sounds a lot like Celestia's reasoning, Twilight thought. Have I started to become what I hate?

Yet she kept that hollow smile on her face. “I know Applejack, and I’m sorry Fluttershy, for being so mean in front of everyone. I didn’t mean any of it. It was just a bad dream, maybe. Something I thought I saw but really didn’t. I’m much better now.”

Twilight noticed Rainbow Dash hasn’t said anything yet. She looks at her and notices a strange expression on her face, as though she still has doubts about Twilight’s state of mind. Twilight isn’t surprised. Only Rainbow Dash knows what she saw in Luna’s memories, or at least, the abridged version of what she had seen. Perhaps she suspects what Twilight now called a bad dream was the truth, and her façade she maintains now is the lie. From what Twilight had told her, she knew the complexity of Twilight’s ‘dream’ and the level of detail which Twilight put into it readily surpassed the misty haze that usually surrounds the events in a sleepy unconscious flight of fantasy.

For all that though, Rainbow Dash doesn’t say anything on the subject. Twilight thinks it best she doesn’t. For one, she doesn’t want to be questioned any further on the subject. It has been hard enough pretending to love Celestia once again, she didn’t want to natter on in even more detail about it. Lying about it already turns her stomach. Secondly, she worries that Rainbow Dash might let something slip to alert Princess Celestia. Twilight isn’t sure precisely what the result of a mistake on Rainbow’s part would be, but she doesn’t want to find out. For her, and for Rainbow Dash, she has already made up her mind that it will be best to stay quiet, at least for the time being.

“How can you be so calm? You’re about to go to the moon!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.

“Shush Pinkie, you’ll freak her out.” Rainbow Dash scolds.

Twilight wonders about Pinkie’s question too, although she doesn’t let it show. She feels fairly calm, she knows what she must do, and she knows that if something goes wrong, it will have been after hours of checking and rechecking every element of the spell. But there is another part of her that is very excited, and perhaps it helps overrides the potential risk. That part can’t wait to get to the moon to perhaps meet the spirit of the true Luna. It’s like a dream, somewhat literally in this case, coming true. Thus instead of the excitement derived from falling off a cliff, she has the excitement that a Pegasus might feel in anticipation of their first flight.

Of course, if one is really daring, Twilight recalls from memory, it’s possible to do both at once.

“I feel fine.” Twilight tells her friends. “It’s definitely exciting, but I’m also looking forward to getting back here afterwards!”

“Hmm, right.” Applejack nods, before moving on. “Well anyhow, we’ve got something for you!”

“Really? I mean, I hadn’t planned on taking much with me.”

“It doesn’t weigh much, dear.” Rarity speaks up from over Applejack’s shoulder. Applejack moves aside so Twilight can see her holding out a shiny silver pendant suspended on a fine loop of chain. The silver gleams in the firelight, outlining a serpentine pattern of curves melded into very fine shapes. “It’s a necklace,” Rarity says, “that we thought you might like to wear for good luck.”

“Please, Rarity, for once you don’t have to be modest.” Rainbow Dash chides. “She worked on that thing almost nonstop while you were out. She made a… what’s it called?”

“A mold.”

“Yeah, a mold for it, and then the palace forge cast it for her. She put in a lot of work!”

Rarity blushes slightly. “Well thank you, Rainbow, it was a fine way to pass the time, and more importantly, it expresses our friendship in a form that you can easily keep close to you, wherever you may go.”

“I don’t know what to say, it’s lovely!” Twilight examines the silver pendant, admiring its detail. She can discern the figures of a flower, an apple, a cake, a lightning bolt, and a diamond. Each one is tiny in size, but together they intertwine and form the shape of a heart. The chain fits through a neat gap in between the branches connecting the individual shapes. Twilight slips the chain over her head, and adjusts it to lie perfectly at the base of her neck. The chain, as she might have expected from Rarity, is the ideal length to fit snugly around her without any constriction. She looks down at the silver shining amidst her violet coat, and nods appreciatively. “Thank you Rarity. You really didn’t have to do this.” Twilight smiles. “And don’t worry, I promise I’ll be thinking of you all while I’m up there.”

Everyone takes turns admiring her necklace. It is nice to once again have the support of her friends by her side. Twilight reassures Spike that he is, in fact, represented on the necklace by the heart shape itself. Rarity nods in agreement, although Twilight doubts she had actually had Spike in mind when she made the necklace. Still, Spike seems to derive a certain enjoyment from being included in Rarity’s design, so Twilight isn’t about to insist otherwise.

For a few minutes the scene is almost just like one they would often have in Ponyville. They are just ‘hanging out’. Of course, it couldn’t last. There is a knock at the door. Twilight looks up to see Celestia poke her head in. The room instantly falls silent.

“I have checked everything thrice over. Now is the time, Twilight.” Celestia announces.

Nodding solemnly, Twilight crosses the room to the door. Her heart begins to beat a little faster now that the leap of faith draws near. She walks up the stone steps, to the observatory proper where Celestia has worked to construct and inspect the spell. Her friends follow to see her off, hopefully not for the last time.

They filed into the room, circling the glowing golden globe of Celestia’s spell construct. It would have been rather impressive for Twilight to see such a complicated spell, but for a fact Celestia had mentioned that somewhat spoils the experience. Apparently, in the past the Princess typically assembled spells of this caliber over months or even years. She had said she had studied and constructed the spell to channel the Elements of Harmony for more than ten years. In that sense, a spell cobbled together in a few days on very little sleep, and only checked over several times instead of dozens seemed a little less impressive and more frightening.

Twilight takes a place next to Celestia. The eerie glow that fills the room reflects off everyone’s eyes, creating a surreal scene. Only a few cracks of light entering through seams of the dome reveal the daylight outside. Otherwise the observatory is quite isolated from the outside. When everyone finds a place, Celestia begins to speak.

“Today our brave Twilight shall journey into the depths of the moon. Let us all remember she has agreed to do this out of love, not for greed, avarice, or any other material reason. This is what the bond of friendship means. Now and always, we shall give our respect to Twilight for her unique ability and willingness to help save my precious sister.”

“Thank you, Princess, that’s quite nice. Yes, I’m going to do this for friendship. Friendship is what keeps us together, now and always.” Twilight projects towards her friends. She doesn’t want Celestia to assert that she’s helping to save her sister because she loves the Princesses. Focusing on friendship, and turning the point towards her own friends, is the best she can do.

“Good.” Celestia says. “Step into the center of the spell when you are ready. Remember, you only have two hours, then your time is up and you will be brought back.” Twilight tries to ignore how tired Celestia looks as she says this, and muster as much trust as she can that when she steps into the sphere she won’t be turned to dust. I have to do it. For my friends... and for Luna.

The first step is the hardest, but after it, the rest come easier. She finds it strange as she enters the spell how the tendrils of light seem to simply pass through her body, but she’s quickly engulfed by the sphere. After a moment’s thought, she decides to face her friends, rather than Celestia. Their faces are somewhat more comforting, and if it is to be her last sight, she would rather see her friends anyway.

Perhaps she lets some of those emotions tell on her expression, or perhaps her friends are also starting to worry more about the risk involved. She can see the expressions on their faces, and knows they are just as grave as her own.

“Ready?” Celestia asks her.

“Yes.” She says, after a deep breath. True or not, she knows she has to face it, one way or another, sooner or later.

“Three…” Celestia begins to count down.

Twilight’s heart is thumping to the beat of a racehorse's hooves, pounding a frenetic rhythm in her ears.

“Two…”

Until now, Twilight hasn’t addressed the risk that she’s taking with her friends. She has shrugged off the risk with the confidence of a pony who has been through many dangerous adventures already. But she couldn’t deny that she wants to return to lead more adventures, and she couldn’t leave without saying a word.

“Goodbye” She mouths to her friends.

“One.” Rings Celestia's voice.

The globe with Twilight inside winks out of existence, plunging the room into darkness, and sending Twilight far away.

Twilight might have expected a vivid light show of colors shooting past her eyes, but in fact there doesn’t seem to be any sensation of movement at all. Everything felt the same as it had a moment ago, except now everything around her is black. Coal black, without a hint of light. Several possibilities thus occurred to her, for a moment at least.

Either she hasn’t gone anywhere, and the spell had simply fizzled out, or she had gone somewhere very dark. Or, of course, she’s dead, and the afterlife isn’t quite as exciting as she’d hoped.

After a few beats of her heart with only the sound of blood rushing through her ears, she decides she must have gone somewhere, and she probably isn’t dead if her heart is still beating. Somewhat relieved, she turns her mind towards figuring out where exactly she is, instead of where she isn’t.

I need a… light spell, yes! Twilight casts a simple spell to light the tip of her horn. A gleam returns from walls only a few feet away. They possess an almost metallic shine, like a chunk of iron or a fragment of a meteorite. She realizes that the chamber she’s in is really very small. She has just enough room to stand and turn around, and not much else. The floor and ceiling are made from the same material, although the floor is smooth, without the ridges and pits that the walls and ceiling shows.

Is this it? Twilight wonders in disappointment. It’d be a bit of a colossal let down if this is what banishment to the moon is like. On the other hoof, I’d feel a lot worse for Luna if she was confined in a tiny cell for a thousand years. Luna could have used her powers to sustain herself, but wow… would it be painfully boring. It’d be no wonder if she came back angry after being imprisoned like this.

Twilight put a hoof up to the wall and pushed, to make sure these walls weren’t just an illusion. Cold, solid rock resists her hoof. Hmm. Twilight chews on her lip for a moment as she thinks about the situation. No, this just can’t be. There’s no way I’ve come all this way, only to find Luna’s banishment is just a tiny cave. There must be more.

She turns in place, holding the tip of her illuminated horn out towards the wall. Each part of the surface seems to be unique, most likely naturally formed by a combination of heat and pressure. But she refuses to accept the conclusion that this cell is all that exists here. I know Luna. She would rather destroy herself than accept this. So she must have… Aha! Twilight sights a small ‘x’ that has been neatly carved into the wall.

Close nearby, she finds edges that have been concealed by a layer of dust. She wipes the dust away, progressively uncovering the seams of what appears to be a doorway. She finds the seams extend down to the floor, and at least up to head height. When open, she can fit through it, she estimates. As long as it is in fact a door. Only one way to find out, she thinks, setting both front hooves up against the door. She strains to push it out, but it doesn’t move an inch. She backs off and takes a deep breath. Realizing she may need all available resources to move this chunk of rock, she cues up a pushing spell, sets her hooves to the door and shoves with every ounce her muscles can manage, releasing her spell to coincide with a strong thrust.

Instantly, the chunk of rock slides backwards and shoots outward. Twilight tumbles through the doorway ungraciously, winding up sprawled on the ground. The door slams down with a boom that echoes off far distant walls.

The first thing Twilight notices is the smoothness of the ground. Or floor, she should say. She finds she’s laying on perfectly square tiles, each one a deep, shiny black, like obsidian. The mortar lines in between each block show impeccable craftsmanship. I knew that little cell couldn’t be all that was here, she thinks, I just—she looks up—wow.

Before her, a forest of intricate fluted columns suspends a floating roof of black rock over the sculptured structures of a stunningly beautiful palace. Its spires rise up to caress the ceiling of the cavern, and as they do, they take shapes that would impress a master woodworker, let alone an architect. Many towers were hollow things: long, slender cylinders of interwoven liana which stretch impossibly tall. In Twilight’s eyes they defy the force of gravity by their mere existence.

Twilight’s eyes follow the path of the towers to the dark ceiling. A few pinpoints of light greet her eyes. There are windows, barely discernible, finely latticed windows, opening into the great beyond. The contrast between the windows to the void, and the dark rock of the roof is minimal. Distinguishing one from the other would be difficult without the light of the stars shining through.

Eventually Twilight returns her gaze back towards the safe confines of the ground, and starts to recollect her thoughts. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined the beauty of the architecture, or the feeling of exhilaration that wells up inside her.

She can tell by the architecture and style that all of what she sees sprung from the same mind. The columns and towers are arranged in patterns, and are perfectly symmetrical. Everything around her shows consistency of vision and an eye for aesthetic beauty.

And yet, there is something missing. There is no noise, no movement, at least once the echoes of the door sliding to a halt finally ebb away, and most of all, there is no appearance of life.

Recovering from her initial shock, Twilight notices the stale taste of the air as she breathes in. Motes of dust irritate her nose, and she finds even more dust coats her flank from her tumble onto the floor. With a hoof she can draw a stark line on the floor, a layer of dry dust making every mark show up against the black of the underlying tile.

She notices the chill in the air, and promptly begins wishing she brought a coat. Already she’s starting to shiver. Looking about, she sees a myriad of blue, violet, and deep black hues, but no greenery. She walks a short distance to the edge of the tiles, and discovers what looks like a planter, or at least, what may once have contained plants. Its soil is dark and bone dry. Anything that used to grow there seems long gone.

A sense of sadness overcomes Twilight, as the realization of what this place is starts to haunt her. It is a dead city, a dead palace.

Resolution dawns on her, and she tries to fortify herself to her task. Regardless of the state of her surroundings, she must search the ruins for the spell. She can’t let her sadness get in the way of saving Luna’s body and finding her soul. There must be a clue, somewhere, which could give her some hint of the secret, and she is determined to find that clue.

She has to start somewhere, and after surveying the layout of the buildings around her, she picks the tallest towers as her first destination, on the assumption that the most important areas of the palace are centrally located. There is something of a road she can follow, snaking through several buildings and around empty plots. It is a path of black tiles, apparently unblemished by the passage of time, but covered in a thick layer of dust.

Each step down this path feels strange, as though her steps bear no weight. Out of curiosity she jumps into the air. Startled, she flails her legs as it feels like she simply floats in the air before gradually settling back to the ground. Suddenly the connection between her feelings and her surroundings enters her mind. Of course! She thinks. The moon must have less gravity, so I can jump higher, and buildings can be built in delicate artistic shapes! Amazing!

Yet even this curiosity is overshadowed by the sights around her. Every few paces she finds a new sight to marvel at, if only for the work that must have been put into each structure to achieve the level of delicate detail she discovers. Pillars supporting the roof a gazebo, for instance, each diverge like the branches of a tree midway up their height, only to recombine at the top and form a solid structure that supports a dome made of grey bricks. Twilight wonders if Princess Luna had begun to miss living in Equestria, and thus created buildings with roofs and windows even though such features were unnecessary in a cavern like this.

But there is something more to this place too. It isn’t just a palace. No, there are too many smaller buildings, too many paved paths. And furthermore, many of the smaller structures bear individual touches, as though they had been tailored to a specific pony. Below the towers and the palace itself, there are houses and shops. The conclusion Twilight reaches: other ponies must have lived here with Luna. Twilight wonders if she might have found a way to bring at least some of her followers with her into exile.

Twilight proceeds closer towards the heart of the complex. The path opens into a large plaza paved with alternating grey and black stone blocks. At its center a large sculpture soars, set on a circular plinth and surrounded by a low wall. Twilight admires the graceful lines of the sculpture which outline two figures that could be mistaken to represent the Princesses. Yet at a closer inspection, as Twilight circles the outer wall, she recognizes the features of Princess Luna and Orion. The Princess is pictured in mid-stride, while Orion flies close beside her. The only point of contact between the two is where Orion’s forehoof rests upon Luna’s neck. Twilight notes how his right wing crosses over and wraps around Luna’s body. Each looks at the other, and their exquisitely crafted faces display a mutual smile.

Twilight feels the pain inside her rising anew. She forces herself to turn away from the sculpture and study the buildings around her.

What Twilight assesses as the palace proper is the most prominent among them. Its wings embrace the plaza and partially enclose it on three sides. The walls are resplendent with tall windows, and between them, half-columns meld into exterior of the structure. A large balcony stands above the main entranceway, supported by a triple archway of black columns. Twilight imagines Princess Luna standing at the railing, speaking to her followers gathered below.

Where should I look first? Twilight wonders. The palace seems like the most obvious place, but it’s also the biggest. Hmm, I’ll just have to search quickly then! After all, I have to sta— Her thoughts are interrupted by a loud crash that echoes throughout the cavern.

Instinctively she turns to look behind her, searching for a stalking predator. All she sees are the traces of her hoofprints in the dust, leading away like tracks in fresh snow. She sweeps her eyes back and forth looking for any movement, but she sees nothing. A moment later a dull rumble sounds in the distance, and then through her hooves she feels a vibration. The vibration quickly builds to a tremor, and then the shaking starts.

The rumble intensifies to a roar as the ground beneath her hooves shakes violently. She braces her hooves against the ground, swaying back and forth. Nervously, she glances at the roof of the cavern, as showers of dust and small bits of debris begin to fall from the ceiling.

A haze of dust starts to form. Raised from the floor by the shaking, it rises into the air, obscuring Twilight’s vision with little dancing motes, and irritating her nose until she coughs for breath. Lacking any other way to help herself, Twilight crouches down with a squeak and buries her face under her forelegs, waiting for the tremor to stop.

After what seems like hours, the shaking subsides, and the rumble dies away. Twilight uncovers her eyes to the sight of dust gently settling like snowflakes over the ruined city. She gets up and turns to inspect her surroundings. Everything seems intact, although she notes a few pebble-sized rocks littering the plaza, most likely fallen from the ceiling.

Movement catches her eye as she turns back to the palace. Through the falling dust she can just make out… something odd. It is as if a pony moves through the dust, disturbing its fall, but this pony has no body that Twilight can see. It is only the outline of a shape that Twilight sees moving towards her. Panicking, she steps back as the ghostly outline continues to approach. It moves closer and closer, and when one of Twilight’s rear hooves suddenly bumps into the wall around the sculpture, she almost screams.

Dust continues to settle, and every so often a mote sticks to the form of the apparition, until the ephemeral outline of a large pony is clear enough to see. Twilight holds her ground only because she knows she has nowhere to hide in the wide open plaza.

Suddenly Twilight recalls what Celestia had told her. The spirit of Luna… she is bound to the moon in spirit only. Could it be? It must.

“P-Princess Luna?” Twilight asks timidly.

The ghostly outline of a pony stops before her, and Twilight waits expectantly. “I am pleased to meet you, Twilight Sparkle.” A disembodied voice says. It sounds distorted, and far away, but Twilight immediately recalls the timbre and sound that Luna had spoken with in her memories.

In a few moments, a shadow coalesces before Twilight, filling in the outline of the pony standing in front of her. The shadow never becomes completely opaque, but Twilight can distinguish Luna’s eyes, ears, and mouth, along with the outline of her horn and wings.

“By all that’s good! It’s really you!” Twilight kneels down in awe.

“Of course it is I. Who did you expect?” Luna jokes with a smile. “Oh come now, do get up from there! I think we know each other well enough to avoid the bowing and hoof-kissing.”

Twilight looks up. “But Princess, how can you know me? If anything I had thought you would be angry at me…” she asks, puzzled. Surely their previous meeting at Everfree Castle couldn’t have endeared her to Luna, nor should it have given Luna enough time to learn anything about her. Twilight had gone so far as to devise a plan ahead of time to try and calm Luna if her spirit was still in the form of Nightmare Moon.

“Ah, I understand your confusion. You are not aware of the properties of the mind melding spells Celestia used. I will correct her mistake.” Luna smiles and takes a deep breath. “In short, the spell my sister used to send you into my mind possesses the effect of allowing me to explore your mind at the same time. It is a mind melding spell. While you looked through my memories, I took the liberty of doing the same with yours. So you see, I know you quite well, Twilight Sparkle.” Her gaze fixes upon Twilight, somehow leaving Twilight with little doubt as to the truth of her claim.

“But how can that be? I don’t understand how you can be here and Luna’s…er… your body can be down there.”

“What you see before you is the spirit that Celestia removed from that body. We are still linked though, for we both share a consciousness. My sister’s spell simply sent you to my part of the mind first because she believed that’s where you would find the answer she sought.”

Princess Luna studies Twilight for a moment. “By the fact that you are here, I presume you never found the cause of the illness weakening my body.”

“No, I didn’t…” Twilight confirms. She wonders if now is the proper time to apologize to Luna for the role she played, albeit unknowingly, in confining her here.

“Then allow me to show you. It is the best act left available to me now.” The shadowy form of Princess Luna walks to the low wall Twilight had put her back to. Twilight turns to see what she looks at. Luna checks over beyond the low wall for a moment, then turns her head to Twilight.

“Here, stand beside me.” She gestures with an ephemeral hoof to come closer.

“My Princess,” Twilight ventures. “I… I found out what Celestia did to you. It was wrong, very wrong, and I wanted to ask if there’s any way possible, perhaps, to return you to your rightful form, and…”

“Please, Twilight. I know you do not have much time here. Just do as I say and stand beside me. I will answer your questions later, but first there is something I must show you.”

Twilight opens her mouth to argue her case, but she quickly realizes there is no point in arguing the question of Luna’s return with Luna herself. Reluctantly, she obeys Luna’s command and stands beside her. She looks up at the sculpture again, thinking it is what Luna wanted her to see.

“No, look down.” Luna tells her.

Puzzled, Twilight shifts her gaze to the area behind the low wall. It is a geometric mosaic of small tiles, but nothing that stirs her senses to the same degree as the sculpture or the palace.

“Now close your eyes.” Luna commands.

Twilight complies. Wondering what point Luna intends to make.

After a moment, Twilight hears a new sound. The soft rush of water. Hooves clicking on paving stones. Jovial voices of other ponies. She opens her eyes, and sees her own reflection staring back at her. Startled, she looks up to see the same sculpture she recalls, but now water flows around its base, Cascading down from spouts under the hooves of Princess Luna and Orion.

“Ah, how I’ve missed the sound of the fountain.” Luna says beside her.

To be continued in Chapter 10.

Chapter 10

The plaza hums with activity. Ponies of all kinds walk to and fro going about their business. Other ponies converse in small groups. Twilight sees unicorns talking animatedly with earth ponies, and pegasi helping unload a small metal cart stacked high with green cabbage and alfalfa. Beyond being a central meeting place, it seems the plaza also serves as a marketplace for produce and goods, judging by the many stalls set up along its sides. Twilight spots fruits, vegetables, and a glimmer of jewelry laid out on several tables.

“Mama!” A shrill voice cries out. It belongs to a small filly, only a few years old, who unsteadily follows her earth pony mother from stall to stall. “I wanna apple!” the filly cries out. In a moment Twilight loses her amongst the legs of the other patrons of the market.

Elsewhere Twilight spies a gathering not too dissimilar from her own group of friends. There are two pegasi, two earth ponies and a unicorn, all near the same age, in the midst of those years between fillyhood and adult life. All they lack is another unicorn. Her, perhaps. Twilight almost unconsciously reaches up and touches her silver necklace, as though to reassure herself of the memory of her real friends.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Twilight stamps her hoof back down, glancing over her shoulder at the Princess. Luna returns a coy glance in her direction. Twilight silently reminds herself that Luna can probably read her like a book if she’s lived some of her life. That knowledge is unfortunately not mutual. Despite having experienced at least a part of Luna’s life, She senses that Luna has changed and matured over the intervening years since that day on the bluffs. Twilight wonders what it would have been like to live through what happened after that day. The conflict, the strife, the power. She imagines living Luna’s life during the time of Nightmare Moon. And yet, it’s difficult for her. The thought of seizing control by force is so unnatural that Twilight simply cannot fully place herself in Luna’s hooves.

Idly she wonders if the disconnect between her personality and Luna’s formed at least part of the reason why she was able to escape Luna’s memories just after Luna made the decision to overthrow her sister Celestia. Perhaps the thought of violence against her mentor had helped separate her consciousness from those memories. Even now, fully armed with the knowledge of what Celestia had done, Twilight still doesn’t wish Celestia harm.

Twilight snaps out of her reverie. “Yes… although they’re just an illusion aren’t they? Everything I see in front of me,” Twilight sweeps her hoof to indicate the entire market plaza, “is just an illusion.”

On closer inspection Twilight can visibly discern the somewhat ephemeral nature of the images around her. The hedges covering the base of the walls of the palace are not completely opaque, letting through a glimpse of the stonework that should have been concealed by their leaves. Moreover, their outlines shimmer with a ghostly silver light, the same aura which surrounds the other ponies, the stalls, the trees, and Luna herself. Structures like the palace walls, however, remain solid. They still stand in real life, and so need no illusion to bolster their strength. It is as though a magical overlay is superimposed over the true scene.

“You are correct. These images are even more nebulous than I am. At least I have some physical presence, albeit barely.” Twilight nods, recalling the dust motes that had settled on Luna’s invisible form. In that sense, she barely exists in the physical world as anything more than a breath of air. Even if she had given Twilight a tremendous fright, she likely lacks the power to cast even the simplest physical spell.

Twilight looks up to Luna’s shadowy face. Outwardly, there are no visible differences between the visage she sees before her and the Luna she knows back at Canterlot. No wrinkles to mar her timeless features. No strange, snake like eyes that struck fear into Twilight’s heart in Everfree Castle. No scars to show the hurts she has suffered, except those on the inside and cannot be seen. Her eyes seem to Twilight like those of a caged bird. They are dark baubles shining out, a window into a soul which yearns to be free but cannot fly.

Twilight’s compassion wants to understand, and her curiosity demands an answer to the riddle she sees written out by Luna’s spirit. When Twilight last departed her memories, Luna had escaped a deep sorrow and begun to regain her passion, even it if was for a cause which Twilight’s conscience can not quite endorse. The advent of Luna’s Nightmare Moon persona was, in that sense a blessing. It had rekindled a fire for life within Luna’s heart, a fire which once again seems extinguished by the sadness Twilight observes in Luna’s spirit.

Yet those are thoughts born from her memories. In the present, Twilight’s practical mind reminds her that she has only a short time to find the source of the spell which is nominally the reason she has been sent to the moon. This part of her mind questions the wisdom of allowing herself to be sidetracked by Luna’s illusions. What if Luna’s spirit simply meant to delay and confuse Twilight out of spite for her sister? Twilight sincerely hopes that isn’t the case, but she remains aware of her prime objective.

“Luna, why show me this? I could see the beauty of the city by myself, I could see that there must have been many ponies who lived here who you cared about and who cared about you in return.” Luna’s shoulders visibly tensed, but Twilight went on. “Why is it necessary to show me firsthand?”

“To help you understand.” Luna replies flatly. Twilight senses she’s holding back.

“Understand what?” Twilight asks, trying to provoke some response, hoping for some semblance of the passion she recalls from the Luna she knew.

“You’ll see.” Luna’s shade turns and starts walking towards the palace doors, walking ahead quite heedless of the other ponies, apparently secure in the knowledge that they are only conjured images.

Twilight seethes. In part she’s annoyed at receiving such a cryptic answer. She had hoped for something more direct, and more importantly, an answer which would give her a clue as to Luna’s intentions. Twilight is conscious of her time constraint, and this interference and lack of explanation is starting to get on her nerves. Moreover, Luna’s spirit does not act as Twilight expects. She had imagined it would be like meeting an old friend. She thought as long as she could explain the situation to Luna’s spirit, whether or not it was in the form of Nightmare Moon, she would immediately connect with her. Surely sharing each other’s lives for so long had to have that effect? Instead Luna seems so distant, passionless.

Twilight quickly trots to catch up with the long strides of the Princess. It feels odd, running directly through the images of random ponies which surround her, but they do not obstruct her way.

“What does that even mean? What’s happened to you?” Twilight says it perhaps a little louder than she meant. Her frustration is boiling over and with her blood flowing a little from her run.

“Give me a little time, and…”

Twilight hastily cuts her off. “Come on! Where’s the fire that once burned in your heart? Where’s the passion? I came here to see the Luna that sought to change the world, not some speaker of murky tropes and mysteries!”

Luna rounds on her in an instant. “You want to see the old Luna? You want to see… THE NIGHTMARE!?” Twilight recoils as she meets the frightful black slits residing in Nightmare’s eyes. “IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? A BEING MORE POWERFUL THAN THE FOUNDATIONS OF EQUESTRIA! STRONG ENOUGH TO THROW OFF THE TYRANNY OF THE SUN! THE BRINGER OF THE FINAL NIGHT!”

All the other images fade, drawn into the shadow that Nightmare projects from herself, blanketing everything in a darkness so deep that no light can be seen but the glimmer of Nightmare’s mane. For a moment it feels as though there is nothing in the whole universe but her and Nightmare Moon, facing each other. And there is no one to support Twilight, and no one to save her. There is no Princess of Light, she failed long ago, and all that is left is fear in the darkness.

And yet, the fear only lasts for a moment, and as the light around Twilight returns it fades away, as if it was never there at all, leaving no trace and no shadow.

Twilight finds Luna in her normal form once again. “I can no longer be that creature, I cannot, nor shall ever be what I once was.”

There is a moment of awkward silence. “I’m sorry.” Twilight says. She rubs her neck with a hoof, reluctant to meet Luna’s eyes.

“Don’t be. The allure of power and passion is very great. It is a poison that tastes sweet, but can only lead to bitterness and pain.” Twilight meets Luna’s eyes. They are once again the round blue rimmed eyes she knows well. “I understand why you wish to hurry. You must return to Equestria soon, I presume?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Twilight answers.

“How much time do you have?”

“Two hours.”

“Ah, merely the blink of an eye in my life. It will have to do. Now please come with me. I will answer some of your questions while we walk.”

Luna turned back towards the doors of the palace, which stood open. Twilight follows somewhat more quiescently. She wonders if she should ask the nagging question in her mind: Does Luna know that she’s here to help save the imposter’s life? She must, surely. She seemed to know why I was sent here. But if she knows, does that mean she’s helping me or hindering me? Twilight thinks to herself.

Luna’s voice raises Twilight from her thoughts. “Don’t know which question to ask, do you?” Luna lets out a halfhearted chuckle. “I’ll begin with my banishment here.” Luna pauses. “Banishment does not seem a proper term. In time I came to view this place as my home away from home. In many ways it became my pride and joy. And not merely the city itself. The rock yielded readily to my magic, and I simply exercised my imagination to craft the beauty I always wanted to see in the world around me. Yet in the end, rock is simply rock. No, my greatest joy was finding a way to bring my people here after me. They were what kept me strong for hundreds of years.” Luna smiles ever so slightly. “We proved love was stronger than any barrier.”

“I wondered about that.” Twilight adds, just to prove she’s listening more than anything else.

“You should understand that I was at the peak of my power when I was sent away. I had a raw strength powerful enough to accomplish a great deal, and a recklessness to use that power however I saw fit. Shortly after I was imprisoned, I broke through some of the enchantments that held me. Not enough to break out, the Elements were too strong for that, but enough to bring other ponies and a few supplies in. It was a loophole which had not been strictly guarded against. I reached out across the distance, and every so often I could feel the intangible yet very distinct love that my followers held for me. I brought back those with whom I shared the strongest bond.”

They enter the palace. Twilight marvels at the height of the ceiling and the artistry of the decorative works carved into the stone. It is, however, quite dark and equally dusty as the rest of the city. Before them both is a huge staircase, elegantly carved and hued a shade of blue that is reminiscent of marble. There are some traces of color along the wall. Twilight wonders if there used to be a mural of some kind. She realizes that Luna had dropped the illusion when she briefly transformed into Nightmare Moon.

“Um, Princess Luna, would you mind, perhaps changing it back to the way it looked before?”

“Oh? You want me to show you how an ‘unnecessary’ vision of the past?” Luna chides.

Twilight sighs, but the feeling of defeat quickly turns to amazement as the vivid colors of the painting suddenly appear on the wall. The mural stretches across almost the entire room, depicting an open field of tall grass, the ocean, and a forest, all interspersed with ponies at work and in play. Each scene is depicted as bright as day, but the sky is painted a dark blue with a bright moon overhead.

“I didn’t want our future generations to forget what Equestria looks like. Fortunately we had several talented artists among our number.”

Twilight studies the painting for a few moments before turning back to Luna, a burning question on her mind. But a part of her fears the answer it might bring. “Princess, what happened to the other ponies?”

Luna seems to take the question relatively well, as though she had prepared herself to answer it when the time came. “It is that question, and its implications which I hoped to show you with this vision. You see, for the first few hundred years, I focused on my people. Life was not always easy, and there were challenges every day, but we not only survived, we prospered. I spent much of my time building, crafting, painting, as a way to keep my spirits up and give myself something to do. About five hundred years ago, we reached a peak of productivity. Everypony and everything worked together in near perfect harmony. Our farms prospered, our people were happy. We had no need of money, nor of any government. I simply kept watch over my ponies and waited for the years to pass.”

Luna sighs. “Then, I made a mistake. I brought about our downfall with my own foolishness and recklessness. I turned my gaze away from my people and towards revenge. I saw the globe of Equestria, out there in the void, just waiting for my return. I sought to overthrow my sister and escape the moon. I focused more and more of my magic against the spells that bound me. I fought them by day and by night, in my sleep and in my dreams. I fought them until there was nothing left in my life but the desire for victory. But my actions had a dire cost. Society started to unravel without my magic to stabilize the living conditions, and without my guidance to help the ponies deal with life in such a cramped space. Factions formed while I grew weaker, exhausted by decades of battle against the spells that held me. I didn’t notice, or perhaps didn’t care about the crops failing, and the trees withering.”

She speaks with anger in her voice, but Twilight senses it is directed inward, at her own failings. Luna continues on. “One day, a pony came to me, all skin and bones with a patchy grey coat. I had never seen him before, nor any pony else, for many years, having almost fully secluded myself inside the palace to do battle with my sister’s plans and the Element’s binds. He said he was the highest authority left among the ponies. He said the ponies were starving.”

“Something he said got through. I took the time to see with my own eyes what had become of the ponies I had once loved. In the end, I realized the city could not be saved. My people would never love me as they once had, nor could I replace the plants that we had lost to drought and bad air. It had been my magic that melted ice to produce the water that sustained us, and my magic that helped clean the air. I had drawn so much of my power into fighting my sister that I left none for these life sustaining functions. Of course, I came to blame my sister for my own failing, and swore revenge anew. But in the meantime I had to do something for the ponies that remained.”

“So I gathered them together and sent them back to Equestria. It was far more difficult than I thought. The Elemental magic resisted very strongly, far more so than when I brought the first ponies here. I collapsed from the effort at some point, and awoke much later. I found no trace of the ponies, so I can only hope that they did indeed make it back to Equestria. That was almost three hundred years ago.”

Twilight silently hopes so too, for what good it will do. She doesn’t recall ever hearing about the return of ponies brought to the moon. Perhaps they had disbanded and lived quiet lives after their return. Twilight could only hope.

“It’s odd.” Luna muses. “Sometimes I wonder if Celestia meant for me to bring my followers here, as a sort of correctional learning experience, so that I might learn to rule and realize the error of my ways. It almost worked. I learned to rule, and did well for a time. I might have eventually realized the error of my ways, but it wasn’t in time for my ponies. I had a responsibility to them and I failed them.” Luna turns away.

Luna ascends the staircase to the second floor of the palace. Twilight follows her as they walk out onto the balcony that overlooks the plaza. From this distance, it is easy to imagine the bustling scene Twilight sees below as being real. There are thriving trees and plants, and in the distance there are small fields of green which Twilight reasons must be the farms Luna mentioned. Somehow the enormity of it all struck Twilight at that moment. This city had once lived. Those fields that are now barren dust had once sustained many lives. Water had flowed through stone channels to irrigate the crops, and for whole generations ponies had lived their lives here. Luna was right. She needed to see what it was once like for herself before she could appreciate the scale of what had happened.

“Here I gave my speeches and made my appearances at festivals and the like.” Luna looks out over the plaza from the stone banister. “More often though, I simply talked to ponies face to face. There was a time I prided myself on the fact that I knew everyone who lived here by name.”

“Princess Luna?” Twilight ventures.

“Yes Twilight?”

“To be honest, when Celestia told me that I might find you here, I thought it might be like encountering Nightmare Moon again. You said you didn’t realize the error of your ways. When did you change your mind? What made you realize it? I mean, if you believed something for a thousand years, surely you believed in it very strongly…” Twilight trails off.

“Much as you have been changed by living another’s memories, I too have touched, and been touched by the memories of another.”

“But I haven’t…”

Luna waves her off. “Now, now, Twilight. You have changed. Would the pony you were merely a week ago have told me, or in another sense, Nightmare Moon, that she wants to help return her to her rightful form? I think not.” Twilight admits to herself that Luna has a point. “Besides,” Luna continues, “think of how much you’ve learned. Love and loss. Freedom and jealousy. Ecstasy and despair. These are not experiences to be taken lightly.”

“But what if I haven’t changed for the better?”

“Who can say what is better and worse? You have a broader perspective now. You can perceive the world, and your own life with far greater clarity. Trust me, if you have not already, you will see it sooner or later, as I did when I saw my life from a new perspective.”

“Surely you don’t mean… from my perspective?” Twilight asks incredulously.

Luna smiles. “In part. Your memories helped me understand what true friendship is. You must understand that the Princess-subject relationship is vastly different from that of two friends of equal standing. You’ve lived it for yourself, in my memories.” Twilight is honored, and perhaps a little shocked that her own life would have any meaning to a Princess, let alone one who has lived a life like Princess Luna has. “Regarding your question, however, it is actually the memories of my sister I speak of.”

“Princess Celestia? How could you see her memories?”

“Recall what I said about the mind melding spells. They work both ways. So when her spell enchanted in the Elements of Harmony hit me, I was able to see her own mind, for a few moments. Even though it was just a few brief seconds of contact, it was enough to show me that I was wrong. Imagine every action you have ever taken in your life, seen from the opposite perspective. That is what I saw. Moreover, I found no malice in her mind. There was sadness, there was determination, and there was hope. All of it centered around me. I thought my sister thought only of herself. I thought she was selfish. But I was wrong. All that time. From her eyes, I was the selfish one. I destroyed…” Luna chokes on her words.

Twilight, standing at her side, wants to comfort her, to tell her it is alright. And yet, what words does one use to comfort a spirit? It’s okay? At least it can’t get any worse? She couldn’t even give her a hug because she simply did not know if Luna’s ephemeral spirit form would stay intact with that much physical interaction.

Luna makes a sniffling sound. “By the time I had this revelation, it was too late. Celestia’s spell sent me here, and replaced my consciousness with the imposter.”

“I’m sorry.” Twilight tells her.

Luna raises her head and smiles, albeit with sad eyes. “You don’t have to be, my dear. It’s not your fault. None of this is. You just happened to be caught up in the whirlwind.”

“But we can do something about it now, can’t we? Now that I know, I can carry a message to Princess Celestia, and we can fix this.”

“Yes… we can.” Luna muses absentmindedly. She turns to Twilight. “There’s one more place I’d like you to see, if you’d oblige me. How do your legs feel?”

“Um, fine?”

“Good. We’ll need to go up quite a few stairs.”

Luna had left Twilight with many ideas to ponder. Her own life, Luna’s life, how to deal with Celestia. These thoughts occupy her mind while she walks through the empty dust filled halls. Twilight follows Luna into the left wing of the palace. A door stands open which reveals a flight of spiral stone stairs ascending upwards. Twilight reasons it must be the interior of one of the towers that reaches towards the ceiling of the cavern. Luna begins to ascend first, while Twilight follows behind. Each step is fairly steep, as though they were designed as a compromise between long alicorn legs and slightly shorter pony legs. Luna was right, Twilight thinks, these steps would be difficult to tackle with worn out leg muscles. But the persistent partially weightless feeling helps Twilight climb the spiral without too much difficulty. The inside of the tower is quite dark, and seeing her footsteps proves difficult until Twilight notices the silver light coming from Luna’s horn. Twilight adds her violet glow to help light her own steps.

Soon Twilight imagines they must be near the roof of the cavern, and her guess proves correct as she sights the top of the stair. Silvery light streams through a doorway at the landing. Luna reaches the door and steps through it. Twilight follows a moment later.

The most striking feature about the room beyond is the view. It stops Twilight dead in her tracks. For the first time she sees Equestria, a globe of blue and green and white, hanging suspended as if by an invisible string over the moon’s horizon. All against a backdrop of numberless stars. This image is framed by the tall arched windows which line the room. The roof is held up by black rock columns and walls built of stone blocks.

“How did you ever build this place?” Twilight asks, overawed.

“It was tricky,” Luna admits, “but with careful application of magic it was possible. The most difficult challenge was ensuring that the rest of the cavern was not put in danger from a room built at the surface like this.”

“Well, I can see why you wanted to show me this room.” Twilight says, staring out the window.

“Actually, it is only part of the reason. I’m going to let go of the way it looked then, and show you how it looks now. Try not to be too alarmed…”

Suddenly, before Twilight’s eyes, half the roof disappears, and the windows shatter into jagged shards. She lets out a startled squeak at the fear that suddenly grips her. There’s nothing between her and the stars. But, she notes, she can still breathe normally. She glances at Luna questioningly.

“There’s a magic barrier around this room, and around much of the cavern that prevents air from escaping, even in case of damage.” Luna explains.

“But how did this happen!” Twilight exclaims.

Luna points one leg off to Twilights right. “Do you see that large crater there? Off in the distance?” Twilight peers through a broken window. “That was not there a few months ago. It seems another celestial body, thankfully a small one, hit the ground nearby. The shock and debris destroyed this room. It seems the impact has also destabilized the entire cavern. The tremors have gotten worse and worse, as though the rock of the walls is under stress to settle into a new position but our magic barrier is holding it back.”

Twilight gasps. “The entire cavern? The spell must be huge!”

“Indeed it is. I cast it when I was at the peak of my power, after all. But you know as well as I that the Luna back on Equestria does not have enough strength left to support it for much longer.”

Twilight swings into action. “We have to do something then! We should seal off this room, and I’ll tell Celestia to strengthen the shield around the rest of the cavern. That should buy enough time to…”

“Twilight, Twilight. Stop. There is nothing that can be done for the city.”

“But… But, I know Celestia can save it!”

“She may be able to, she may not. But I have also seen firsthand what happens when a ruler uses their power to help a futile cause instead of paying attention to her own people. Celestia has other responsibilities that already are hard enough for her to shoulder. There is no need to burden her with any more. Her focus should be on Equestria.”

“Then how…”

“You must tell Celestia to sever the connection between Luna and the moon. That is the only logical way to save her in time. She must be completely disconnected from the moon and this spell.”

“But how will she raise the moon?”

“Luna can build up the connection again, over time. It was the same for me, when I took over from my mother.”

“So the city will be destroyed?”

“Yes.”

Twilight swallows a lump in her throat. “What about you? What will happen to you?”

“I will die.”

“What! You can’t die! You said your consciousness is still linked with the Luna’s mind on Equestria!”

“That’s true, but I’m also bound the moon, and that bond is stronger than the one between that body and me. Once the connection is gone, I’ll simply fade away.”

Tears begin to appear in Twilight’s eyes. She fought to hold them back, but she couldn’t stop them as they rolled down her cheeks. “You can’t do this! You need to come back!”

“No. Equestria doesn’t need me. Celestia doesn’t need me. She needs a companion to stay by her side. She needs someone she can always love, and feel loved in return. The imposter she created will be that comfort, that security.”

“But it isn’t you!”

“Then so be it. My sister may not be perfect, but she is Equestria’s best hope. If it requires my death to secure the future then I shall die.” Luna pauses for a moment. “Besides, there are times when I think I should have left this world long ago. I should have died by Orion’s side. This way I’ll finally be free to join him, wherever he may be.”

“I just can’t… It’s not fair! No one will ever know who you really were! No one will ever know about the life you lived!”

“That is true. When I’m gone only Celestia and you will bear those memories. If you want my memory to live on, pass on that knowledge.”

Twilight nods, in between wiping tears from her eyes.

“Oh, and speaking of my sister, you must forgive her. She only did what she thought was necessary to save Equestria. She cares for you, and you care for her. Somewhere inside I know you can find a way to forgive her. Perhaps you can help her come to terms with her own problems.”

“She’s in denial over what she did to you.” Twilight sniffs.

“Then help her. She isn’t as strong as she seems. She’s just as fragile as any other pony behind that façade. Do that, and tell her that I forgive her.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Good. Give her a little while to calm down before you try. You both must be at peace. Finally, don’t let my experiences deter you from living your own life. I know the pain of losing my love was great, but so was the joy of having someone to love. Don’t let fear of loss deter you. Make your own adventures, and be good to your friends, because they will repay you in kind.”

“I will.”

Both went silent for a few moments, with the exception of Twilight’s sniffling and fighting back tears. It hurt to lose someone you know so well after such a short meeting.

Luna speaks up. “How much time do you think we have left?” She asks softly.

“Some minutes I think. Maybe half an hour.”

“Well, let’s make the best of it.” Luna walked towards the broken window that faced towards Equestria. She sits down on her haunches and pats the floor beside her. “Come here, we’ll look at Equestria. It’s like reverse stargazing.” Luna smiles just a little at her own joke.

“Okay.” Twilight takes a seat beside her, shivering as she sits on the cold floor. Half of Equestria is shining brightly, covered with white clouds, the other half is green and blue, with the encroaching shadow of night looming on the eastern horizon. For about a minute Twilight fidgets restlessly, feeling the need to do something other than just sit and wait. But somehow she can sense the waves of calm energy radiating from the spirit of the Princess sitting beside her, and after a while, the moment seems timeless, as though it could go on forever. Twilight thus couldn’t say how long it lasts, only that it is a feeling of peace she has rarely experienced, looking down on Equestria.

At some point Twilight feels compelled to ask Luna a question. “What do you think death is like?” She asks quietly.

“I don’t know. If it is something like this, it would be okay.” Luna answers serenely.

Somehow that comforts Twilight. Luna seems to be prepared, and seems to be at peace with it. At the same time Twilight wishes she didn’t have to go, but Luna’s logic is inescapable. The Luna in Equestria won’t survive if the link isn’t severed. Doing anything else will take too long, and involve too much complicated spellwork.

Having finally accepted Luna’s fate, Twilight feels a strange power starting to grow around her. She wants to remain sitting here, but the power refuses. It wants to take her far away, back to her home. She realizes she has no choice, she must leave. Twilight looks at Luna one more time.

Luna seems to understand. There is no pleading in her eyes, only the deep understanding brought by a thousand years of experience.

“Goodbye, Princess.” Twilight whispers.

“Farewell, Twilight.”

The power surges and takes Twilight away. She disappears from the room, leaving Luna’s spirit all alone. Luna gets to her hooves, determined to at least meet death standing up. Her silvery-blue starlight mane streams out, even without a source of wind to propel it. She stares out at Equestria, her head slightly lowered, wondering if she will know when her time has come to an end.

Twilight’s arrival back at the castle is more precisely timed than her departure. Celestia and all Twilight’s friends are there waiting for her when she arrives. She's sitting down on the floor, in the same posture she left the moon. She gets up quickly, as it is readily apparent her moment of peace has faded.

Twilights friends clap and cheer when they see her appear, unharmed.

“Thank goodness you’ve returned! What news have you, Twilight?” Celestia nervously asks.

Twilight motions Celestia in close. Hesitantly, as if expecting bad news, Celestia lowers her ear to Twilight’s level.

“You must sever Luna’s connection to the moon.” Twilight whispers in the Princess’s ear.

“Are you sure?” Celestia whispers back. “That is a drastic action. There’s no guarantee it will work.”

“Luna told me it would work.” Twilight tells her.

Celestia looks at her for a moment, as though evaluating her words. A suspicious expression crosses her face.

“And what if she lied?” Celestia retorts.

“Then your Luna dies anyway. There is no other option.”

Celestia bites her lower lip for a moment before she bows her head. “Very well. If it must be done. Stay here, I will be back in a few moments.”

Celestia hurries out the door. And with that, Twilight knows she has assured the death of the true spirit of Luna. All that would be left is an empty shell of the pony Luna had really been. The one pony who probably understood her better than anyone else. The pony who had shared her mind and life. She would be gone. It still stings. As her friends begin to pat her on the back, ask questions and congratulate her, she finds herself drifting away, as though on an island of her own making. She can’t focus on the here and now, even though she wants to reassure her friends she is alright. But on the inside, she is, in many ways, still lost.

End part 10

Chapter 11

Celestia stands on a terrace in the palace gardens. She watches the evening sun settle amongst a bed of fluffy clouds as the sky slowly turns to amber. In the days since the storm lifted the world has glowed with renewed energy and light, as though the rain washed away a haze that had spread over the landscape. From horizon to horizon, the vivid colors of the land exclaim themselves to her eyes. Yet night must fall, and her job is far from finished.

The Princess sighs. Her workload has increased significantly over the past few days. In addition to raising the sun she now must stay up and raise the moon. She had looked forward to a time of peaceful rest after her sister recovered, but as at this moment that seems unlikely to happen anytime in the near future. Instead, as the days and nights begin to blend together she feels ever more strongly bound to her duties. It feels as though a tipping point has past, and all that remains is to brace oneself, and see what the future will bring.

Behind her she hears the sound of iron-shod hooves on the tile. She turns her head to find Sergeant White Mane striding up to her.

“Hello Sergeant.”

“Princess.” He bows his head in deference.

“Well, White Mane, it appears I have my work cut out for me once again.” Celestia sighs
.

“You’ve done it before, I’m sure you can do it again.” White Mane encourages with a warm tone.

“Yes. I will manage. Though I must admit, a short vacation from the palace would have been quite welcome.”

“As I’m sure you would agree, my Princess, life does not always lead us in the direction we wish to go.” White Mane replies.

“Hmm.” Celestia murmurs. She smiles. “With a silver tongue like that you could sit in for me at court.”

“I would be honored, of course, but I eh… wouldn’t request the honor, my Princess.”

Celestia chuckles a little at his discomfort. He is a good guard pony, but clearly has no interest in being a party to tedious court discussions. He needs a clear cut duty and responsibility, not just a place of make-believe importance in her entourage. And as far as Celestia is concerned, he deserves whatever position he wishes to take.

“Right.” She pauses. “You know, I never thanked you properly.” Celestia confides to him.

An astonished expression crosses White Mane’s face. “I only did my job, that’s all.”

“Then take my word for it that you did it well. You helped maintain calm within the palace during a very trying time, and you were very helpful to me personally.”

“I don’t know what to say your highness… other than thank you, of course!”

“No need, you are most welcome. So then, what news have you?”

The guard pony snapped to attention, armor clanking slightly. “The palace is secure, and life is returning to normal in Canterlot.”

“And of my sister?”

“The doctor says Princess Luna is doing well. She needs time to regain her strength, and is still confined to bed rest for the moment, but she has been eager to learn about what happened while she was unconscious. Also, she asked to see Twilight Sparkle, and said to thank her on her behalf.”

“Hmm.” Celestia is lost in thought for a moment. She looks up again. “Any word on Twilight.”

“None, my Princess. We know she left via a side entrance. The guard on duty admitted he may have been distracted by ponies from Canterlot asking questions about Princess Luna and did not see Twilight leave. We could start a search for her. We have many strong flyers. She can’t have gone too far.”

“No, no need for that. Let her go.”

White Mane hesitates. “May I ask why, your highness?” Celestia’s expression is part rueful smile, part furrowed brow. She takes a second to compose a proper answer.

“She needed some time by herself, I think.”

“Shall we not follow her? We could perhaps keep an eye on her from a distance.”

Celestia thinks about it for a moment. “No, not this time.”

“As you command.”

“If that’s all for now, I’d appreciate a few minutes of peace before I raise the moon.”

“Absolutely, your highness. I will see to it that you aren’t disturbed.” White Mane salutes and turns on his hooves.

After raising the moon for the night, Celestia retires to her quarters for some much needed rest. But before she can sleep, she feels compelled to reread the letter that Twilight had left for her. She opens a drawer on her formal writing desk, and lifts out a thin sheaf of paper, folded twice over. On the outside is scrawled in a familiar script “For the Princess.” Celestia opens the letter and sits down at the edge of her bed to reread the message that had tantalized her mind for the past few days.

Dear Celestia,

By the time you read this, I should be well away from the Palace. There are feelings I must come to terms with, and a life that I feel obligated to honor before I can return to my home. I left similar notes for each of my friends. Please see that they receive them.

You should know that you were right. Princess Luna’s spirit did still exist on the moon. I spoke with her at length about what happened. I wish you could have seen it; there was a great city up there, carved out of stone beneath windows of glass and a blanket of stars. It was truly incredible. Sadly, it is gone now, as is the spirit of Princess Luna. The spell that kept the city intact was the spell that harmed Luna. With Luna’s link to the moon severed, the connection should be gone for good. I could say more, volumes more, really, but I must make this brief.

Your sister wanted me to tell you that she came to understand the error of her ways, but only after you confined her spirit to the moon for the second time. I sensed that she was at peace with herself, and did not think her sacrifice would be in vain. The most important message is that she forgives you.

I think, somewhere inside, you are aware of what you did, although you aren’t ready to admit it just yet. One day I hope that you will, and on that day, I hope you will be able to forgive yourself as well. I would like to help you come to terms with the truth, but first I feel I must take some time for myself. So, my Princess, this isn’t a goodbye, it is only a farewell.

Twilight Sparkle

Celestia put the letter away. She needs her sleep, she reminds herself. Yet even with the lights dimmed and the covers of her bed pulled tight, her eyes refuse to close. The thought of her student returns to her once again. Somewhere out in the wild, Twilight is out there. Where will she go? When will I see her again?

The road from Canterlot into the east led past much of the agricultural heart of Equestria. Many towns remind Twilight of her familiar Ponyville, but she steels herself and leaves them behind for the open road. A towering mountain blocks her path, but the trail snakes its way into the foothills of the mountain to find a pass. Beyond the mountain and the hills, the land is blanketed by a thick cover of forest. The evergreens here are built to withstand heavy snow, growing tall and close, often overshadowing the road.

While the evergreens stand fast, the other trees are preparing for winter. Their painted red leaves dangle from rapidly denuded branches. The crunch of a dry leaf underhoof accompanies many of Twilight’s steps through the forest lanes.

There are towns here too, although more sparsely distributed. They are hewn into the forest, or sometimes, incorporated in between the trees. Apples are harder to find, but as Twilight approaches the coast she encounters many ponies selling their harvest of berries and hazelnuts. Such treats are somewhat rare in Ponyville, but here they seem very plentiful. Twilight has ample opportunity to join in on meals served by local ponies, who seem quite used to helping travelers in need. Twilight carries enough bits to pay her way, but she certainly does not turn down the opportunity for good food and company. Here, she isn’t Twilight Sparkle, the Equestrian renowned pony, she’s just another pony on the road.

Twilight is surprised the first time another pony mentions the nights that came and went without a moon a few weeks back. In response, another traveler mentions that he heard in town that a Pegasus arrived with news that Princess Luna had been ill, for a time, but had recovered with the help of some ponies from Ponyville. “Always Ponyville… What is it about that place?” The first pony asks. Twilight sits back and listened quietly. She doesn’t want to discuss her role in the events that had taken place. Not yet, at least.

Finally, she reaches the coast. The air is filled with the tangy taste of salt and changed by the temperate coastal clime. Here, there are little fishing villages of logs and shingles, built around half moon bays. Elsewhere, the coast is rocky, with waves grinding against giant boulders and cliffs that rise above the waves. Twilight maintains her course, stocking up on her supplies at a small village, following paths seldom traveled and overgrown with trees and shrubs. The weather is overcast for much of her walk, but as she nears her destination the clouds begin to scatter.

And there it is. She feels a swell of nostalgia as she sees the place she remembers from her memories, from her dream, from her vision. She still can’t quite decide what to call her experiences in Luna’s memories. They were surely more than a dream, or else this place wouldn’t have any significance to her. But they aren’t quite the same as her own memories. Perhaps the best metaphor she can think of is that they are like memories of something she did side by side with a friend. They shared the same experience, even though they aren’t the same pony.

There is no trace of the little house. She didn’t know if she expected there to be a sign, after all these years. The house was never that strongly built after all, just timber and stone. It was not Canterlot, it had no foundation reaching down to bedrock. Perhaps it just seemed that given the significance of this place it somehow seemed it might be spared from the ravages of time.

Even the rock of the cliff itself had not remained unchanged. Years of waves pounding against the rocks had washed away some of the support at the base of the cliff, causing rocks at the top of the ledge to tumble down into the sea. Twilight knew this process of erosion was the same that had carved all of the cliffs and bays in the area. Yet she could not help but feel a little sad that the place where the house once stood would soon fall into the sea.

The house is gone. Nothing remains but memories and dust... and yet, Twilight thinks, maybe somepony used the stone from this house to build the foundation of their own home. Maybe a sea bird used the rubble as a nest. Like everything else, it has passed on, becoming one with the environment around it. That’s life, that’s the way the world works.

Twilight walks among the knee-high grass, followed by the perpetual sound of little buzzing insects and the whispering wind. As the clouds scuttle along through the late afternoon sky, she imagines young fillies galloping through the grass. The smell of warm food briefly fills her nose before a gust of salty air blows it away. She remembers a moonlit night, a colt and a filly, two young fools.

There is still a beach, down below, back towards the town she left behind. She makes her way down to it, walking aimlessly along the tideline. There are hoofprints in the sand. She tries to follow them, but like her own meandering path they loop and turn in on themselves until Twilight can’t be sure if the hoofprints she’s following aren’t her own.

The feel of the soft giving sand beneath her hooves is familiar, ever so familiar, as if she herself had been here before. Twilight feels like a pilgrim in a holy place, a place of history and deep memories. There is something about foalhood that creates stronger memories, more lasting memories, and this is one of those places that obviously stuck with Luna forever, just as Twilight imagined it would stay with her.

On these sands Celestia and Luna innocently played. Luna met Orion just over there, by that boulder. Out in the water, on a dark night, both had almost met their end.

What does it mean to be the only one to remember a life? Twilight wonders. One day I might have found out on my own, when I got to be an old pony and had foals of my own. Then I would have to think about what I wanted to say about my mother and my father so that their memory would live on. But I’ve skipped ahead. Luna’s memories are a part of me now. I’ll live the rest of my life with the echoes of her knowledge, her experience.

In many ways, she feels older than her years. The burden of so many memories weighs heavily on her mind. And yet, at the end of her journey here, having reached her goal all by herself, she feels young, and free.

She thinks about what she has learned. One thing is clear to her. Life has no absolute good or evil. Each royal sister once looked at one another, and thought each other evil. Could Twilight pick a side? Even with her experience she found it difficult. She understood why Luna had rebelled, and why Celestia had sought to restore order and peace. Could Twilight say, knowing what she did now, that Celestia is perfect, and infallible? No, most certainly not. She had glimpsed the loneliness in Celestia’s soul, and realized that she needs someone to lean on every once in awhile, just as everpony else does. Life is life. It isn’t perfect, just as nopony is perfect, but Twilight accepts this now. And if living inevitably leads to tragedy, it is at least possible to live a beautiful tragedy.

I’ve changed. My relationship with Celestia has changed. Maybe I was too caught up in Luna’s memories. I couldn’t see the bigger picture. When I realized what Celestia did I was so angry I didn’t even think. I just reacted with anger and rage. It felt like Celestia betrayed me personally. But in the end she did what she promised: No guard pony has come chasing after me. Twilight sighs. I ought to know by now that life can be tough. Not just for me, not just for mortal ponies, but for the Princesses too. I can’t stay angry at her the rest of my life. What’s more, she needs my help. And If I can help her then that’s what I should do, because that’s the right thing to do. There’s nothing to do but…

“Hello!” A voice calls out, startling Twilight.

“Uhm, hello?” She replies, looking around. How did it get so dark all of a sudden? She asks herself. It seems evening has fallen, and the sun has already dropped behind the trees.

“Hello again! Over here I am!” He has a funny lilt to his voice that makes Twilight want to giggle. Twilight locates the speaker. He’s a light red pegasus with a dark brown mane.

“Are you lost, missy?” He asks.

Twilight laughs. “Actually I’ve been here before… Sort of, anyway.”

He tilts his head to the side. “If you say so. It’s getting mighty late now, you’d best get on the move if you’re to get back to town. I’m guessing that’s where you’re staying.”

“Oh, I guess so. I hadn’t really thought of it.”

“You know, daydreams don’t keep you warm when it’s cold outside.”

Twilight giggles at his remark. “You’re right, my friend.” He might have meant what he said to be reproachful, but her laughter readily disarms him.

He sighs. “Well it’s awful dark out, maybe we ought to walk back together. Would you mind that?”

“Why not?” Twilight smiles.

It is just before dawn in Canterlot. Everything is quiet save Celestia’s hoof-steps as she walks down a corridor within the Palace. Although her days since Luna awoke have been hectic, requiring her to once again assuming responsibility for raising both sun and moon, Celestia has settled into her new schedule. It is a difficult, but not impossible task. She is grateful for rest after the end of the day and the raising of the moon. The sleep that takes her is deep and restful, as it always is after a hard day’s work.

Her days flow together in a natural rhythm, leaving little time for idle thought. But every so often, she wonders about Twilight, and sometimes, before settling down to bed, she would reread the letter Twilight had left. Some part of her still believes that Nightmare Moon was somepony else. It could never have been her sister all along. Surely it was something which had corrupted Luna’s mind, not something which arose from within her. Yet whenever she reads Twilight’s words once again, they always call forth the doubt, the concern that Twilight was right. The rest of the time she tries to keep the idea out of her mind.

Celestia’s ear twitches as she hears something down a side hallway. She stops, curious as to its source. Standing silent, she can hear the noise more clearly. It sounds like running water, gurgling and splashing.

Ah, she thinks, it must be the fountain down the hall. Somepony must have forgotten to turn it off for the night. Celestia considers her schedule. After a moment she turns down the hallway where the noise is emanating from. I have a few minutes before I need to raise the sun anyway. I’ll turn it off and save somepony the trouble.

When she reaches it, through the familiar marble hall, she is surprised by what she sees.

“Luna! What are you doing here?” It isn’t so much that Celestia is shocked to see her sister, as she is often up and about around this time of the morning. Rather, Celestia is surprised because Luna usually follows a routine every night, a ritual that she follows almost religiously. Celestia has never run into her sister on her morning walk to go raise the sun, but here she is, gazing at the fountain as though deep in thought.

“Oh hi sis! Just relaxing for a while before my dinner. Or your breakfast, whichever you prefer.” Luna’s laughter sounds like the tinkling of tiny bells.

“Ah. It is simply that I cannot recall meeting you on one of my morning walks before. Correct me if I am mistaken, but do you not usually take your dinner in the east wing?” Celestia asks.

“Yes, but this time I thought I would do something different. Somehow the fountain seemed like a perfectly peaceful place to go, so that’s where I went. And here I am!”

Celestia raises an eyebrow, but can’t see any reason why her sister shouldn’t be able to relax by the fountain if she wants to. She reflects that perhaps she has gotten into such a rhythm that any deviation from the plan seems like a big change in her eyes. I ought to see if I can make any time in my schedule for a day outside the palace, just for a change of surroundings. It would surely do me some good.

“Oh, sister, have you heard anything about Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asks.

“No,” Celestia replies, a little put-off, “I have not had any word on her in quite some time, I’m afraid.”

“That’s too bad. I really wish I could thank her.” Luna says, looking a little crestfallen.

“Indeed.” Celestia agrees. “She risked much to help save you.”

“I know. She even talked to me, while I was asleep, I think.”

Celestia’s ears perk up. “Did she now?”

“Yes. She said that you sent her. That she had ‘seen what I’ve seen.’ But she seemed a little confused. She left in a bit of a hurry. To be honest I would have preferred she stayed and talked to me a little longer.” Luna explains.

“Hmm…” Celestia mumbles. “Yes, I suppose that is possible.” She frowns.

“Is everything alright sister?” Luna asks.

“Yes, yes. I should let you relax. I must go, it is almost time to raise the sun.” Celestia turns halfway round, stops, turns back. “Luna, I want to tell you… that, I…” Celestia couldn’t grasp the words. They slip away, out of reach. Goodness, what am I thinking?

“What is it sister?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” Celestia forces a smile. What was that about! You didn’t have to say anything! She berates herself. “Have a good time. I’ll see you at breakfast!”

Shortly after raising the sun, a guard trots up to Celestia. He salutes and stands at attention.

“Yes?” She asks.

“Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle just arrived a few moments ago. She’s in the main hall.”

“Really? I’ll be there at once.”

When Celestia sees her, she feels happiness, trepidation, relief, and guilt, all mixed into one. A tight knot forms in her stomach as she realizes the day she has been waiting for is finally here. She takes a deep breath, briefly closing her eyes, before she steps from the side door into the soaring height of the grand hall.

Twilight is bundled up in a brown overcoat, a common accessory of traveling ponies in the winter months. Celestia’s eyes rest on the coat for a moment. It shows some wear and dirt at the edges, as though it has been worn recently and frequently. She’s been traveling for a long time. Celestia thinks. But the question is why has she returned now? Has she found whatever it is she sought? She wouldn’t stop here just to say hello surely? Celestia clears her throat, just in case her hoof-steps hadn’t already alerted Twilight to her presence.

After a moment, Twilight looks up at Celestia. She meets Celestia’s eyes with an even gaze, steady, unflinching. Her eyes say more about her than any words ever could. Celestia thinks. She has changed. She seems more mature, more thoughtful. Of course she was thoughtful before, but now it is as though she has gained something deeper. The knot in Celestia’s stomach tightens. But what? What if she still hates me?

Twilight maintains her place as Celestia walks up to her. Her face is almost expressionless, hard to read, but her eyes remain watchful.

“Twilight”

“Princess”

“I received your letter.”

“Good.”

A pause. “Your friends are doing well in Ponyville.”

“Good.”

“They miss you.”

“I know.”

Celestia sighs. She can’t stand to face Twilight. The Princess turns away and walks a few steps forward, gazing up at the stained glass window and the light streaming in from the morning sun. She seeks strength in that light, to give her the fortitude she needs to get come to terms with Twilight. She was my student. It shouldn’t be this hard. But when I look at her I feel so guilty. It’s my fault. I caused this, and I don’t know how to fix it.

Then Celestia hears hoofsteps, and a second later feels a presence by her side. She looks down and sees Twilight standing beside her. The smile on Twilight’s face catches Celestia off-guard. But in a moment she smiles back. What it means exactly, she isn’t sure, but she knows Twilight is by her side once again.

Celestia lifts her head towards the window and closes her eyes, feeling the warmth of the light upon her white cheeks. She feels the knot in her stomach starting to ease, the anxiousness in her mind starting to ebb away. It feels as though she has been adrift on an infinite sea for so long, and only now has she found the shore. She has someone to confide in, someone who knows her secret. The burden she feels is lifted by that knowledge.

“I’m here to help you.” Twilight says.

“Thank you.” Celestia whispers back.

-------The End---------

Chapter 5

Thirty years had passed since Luna had last visited the headlands. The one-time summer house had not fared well in the interim. It was all too obvious that no pony had taken the time to maintain it.

Wind and storms over the years had brought down the roof, which lay in a gray, rotten heap over top of the weathered stone foundation. Green stems poked through the tumbled remains. A small tree had grown into the base of the stonework on the leeward side. A pattern of cracks in the mortar between the stone showed where roots had broken through. The whole place smelled of damp decay, gradually returning to the state of nature around it.

A teardrop fell from Luna’s cheek. The cool breeze ruffled her mane. She tasted salt. Whether it was the tang of the sea or of her own tears, she wasn’t sure.

She remembered the last time she visited this place. At least then she still had Orion by her side, even if he was old and gray. Now, without him, she felt cold and lost.

“My Princess?” Luna’s head turned to her guardpony Onyx Sky. He was young. She had watched him grow up within her entourage of followers. A close knit group, they formed a tribe all their own, largely a mystery to outsiders. They had traveled very far together, for well over fifty years. Few of her original followers remained. Many, like Onyx, were second or third generation.

“Uhmm, I’m sorry.” He saw her cheek laced with tears.

“Don’t be, my dear.” She sniffed. “Better to feel something, even sadness, than nothing at all.”

“He meant a lot to all of us, your grace.”

Luna nodded in agreement. “He had that magic about him. Only those who are truly blind would try to dispute that.”

“Absolutely, your grace.” Onyx replied. He knew who Luna had in mind.

She composed herself, while Onyx waited patiently. Afterwards, she examined what was left of the summer house. She circled the ruins several times, searching for a relic of her past here. In short, there was little to be found. She knew most of the family mementos had been removed by her sister Celestia a long time ago. They were gone even before the last visit. She found a shred of latticework that gave her a brief vision of a time long ago, but it was only a fleeting reminder of the good times she had here.

She left the ruins and looked out over the sea. As always the waves murmured well below. With her back to the house, she found it easier to imagine herself back then. She walked a short distance, towards the beach. It was right about here, she knew, that she had stood. Over there, she recalled, Orion had looked over the cliff, many years ago, when they were just a filly and a colt.

Had the time passed by so quickly, she thought? There were many good years. She enjoyed the family she had built around her more than the sister she left behind. Travelling around Equestria had given her a new perspective on the world, and its ponies. It had also built up a certain mystique about her, which she had over time begun to embrace. They traveled by night, leaving many who speculated about the dark alicorn who passed through like a shadow.

“Onyx, could you give me a minute alone?”

“As you will, your grace.” He said. He strolled to the other side of the house and out of earshot. He was a very good guardspony in that way; he could read between the lines.

A gust smacked her in the face, accompanied by a rush of sound from the grass atop the hill. She shivered as a chill stole down her spine to the base of her tail. Sometimes nature can hold the power to do that, even to a being as strong as her. In the face of that wild force, she felt insignificant by comparison, and for a moment she felt free, as free as she had once felt flying away from Canterlot, many years ago. She had left her worries behind that day.

That had been a glorious day. She didn’t remember the anger she had felt, or consider the pain it must have caused her sister. Instead she remembered what had made her feel alive and free. Secrecy had grown tiresome, and once she liberated herself from her shackles she had a taste of what the power to govern her own future felt like.

Yet, it didn’t matter. The years went by, and the worries returned. Ponies expected her to do something, to live up to her name. She wanted peace, she wanted quiet, like the quiet one finds in the dead of the night. There was a time when she thought night brought ultimate freedom. She traveled by night, she loved by night, she lived by night. Eventually though, day always returned. She realized that her freedom, like the night, was only ephemeral. The night could only be sustained by the absence of the sun.

She couldn’t change who she was. Princess of the Moon. Cursed with the power to carry out a futile duty, second fiddle to the sun’s magnificence. Cursed with immortality until destiny decreed it her time to depart. She would have grown old with Orion. She would have held his hoof and gone after him into the darkness. But the great books held no such spells for her, nor any balms to cure her pain as she watched her love age while she remained young.

There was no changing death, either. When Orion’s time came, as for all mortals, there was nothing she could do. She could only prolong his life, not save him from his fate. He stayed cavalier, and loving, to his last day. But then he was gone, and the realization set in that she would never see him again, not in all of her long years to come. She would be empty, incomplete, for the rest of her life. Then the pain and grief became an unbearable, crushing weight.

Her followers kept vigil over her, day and night, for more than a year. They wouldn’t let her hurt herself, not by force, but because she couldn’t bring herself to harm them. After more than a year, the immediate grief resided into a persistent ache. It would not leave her, not completely, but she could at least bear it. Strangely, it had been a song that had helped her the most. An old pony had sung it, while keeping watch over her. He said his mother had sung it to him. Luna vaguely recalled the tune from her childhood, as something Grandma FiFi had hummed, every once in a while, a long time ago.

“Ten years have come and gone, Orion, and not a day has passed that I didn’t think of you.” Luna said in a low voice, speaking to the black sky and bright stars. “Maybe it’s silly, but when I look up at the stars, I think to myself that you’re out there somewhere, looking down on me. Maybe it’s just a wish, but I have to hold on to a hope… One day we’ll meet again. Not here, my love, but somewhere far away. Somewhere where we can be happy and free, forever.” She began to sing the song she had been sung, in a soft voice, tinged with sorrow all too personal.

Where night does not steal away from day,
Where darkness reigns,
Where even the stars disappear,
May we meet again.

Long years have passed
The golden leaves have fallen.
Our past is but a dream
Forever calling.

If I could, I’d make time run backwards,
I’d make the stars shine again.
Instead, my longing heart is filled with light
For a dream I once had

That we would be together again,
After the sun fades to grey,
When my leaden eyes close
And all the world is cold.

Luna broke down then. She felt she couldn’t go on, the pain was too deep. She sobbed as she whispered the next words of her song.

Now I beg the sky
To return the souls we once had
When we were young
Filled with a thousand dreams.

For this is my last,
The last dream,
My only wish.
To be with you.

Her legs collapsed. She fell to the ground. She lay there overcome by the despair that welled up from within her. It took a few moments before she even felt the caress of the grass against her sides. Minutes before she could listen to the soft sigh of the wind, and then gradually she brought her sobs under control. She wiped away the tears, and put her chin down on the grass, to let herself rest under the stars.

When she awoke, Luna saw a smudge of orange light on the horizon, over the eastern sea. Sunrise. Creeping its way into the morning sky, disrespecting her stars. She once loved the sun. Now it offended her eyes. It befouled and destroyed her night, and yet she was drawn by her sister’s force into the light, beneath the blinding eternal flame.

Can’t they see that moonlight is the music of the night? A symphony of beautiful silence, when all the world is right.

She had honored her responsibilities, she had honored her duty to raise the moon. In the good times, the night sky was illuminated by blue and crimson light dancing across the stars. In the bad times, the sky was an endless black void, the stars the only relief. Even through her darkest sorrow she raised the moon every evening. Yet still, the years passed by and fewer and fewer ponies remembered the Princess of the Moon. She was not a cheap imitation of her sister, she was equal, in might and beauty.

It wasn’t fair! She thought, and yet, was there anything that she could do about it? How could she defeat fate? There wasn’t anything she could do, she couldn’t stop the sun. She couldn’t turn back time, she and the stars can only shine at night. Or did they?

She turned her head, saw Onyx keeping watch close by her side. She looked up towards the brightening sky, as garish color returned to the world. There were stars there. Only the strongest showed through, preserving the last hallmark of the night sky. She watched them fade away as the sun rose higher in the sky, their lone points overwhelmed by the blinding light of the sun. So, the Princess thought, the stars must remain, day only obscures their presence. Without the sun, she thought, they would shine above us eternally.

“Onyx.” She called out, her voice a little raspy.

“Yes, your Grace?”

“Could we live without the sun?” She asked, tentatively.

He didn’t question Luna. He answered with confidence. “Absolutely. We can live without it. Love will light the way.”

Luna considered his words. He seemed so sure, as if he was certain beyond any doubt. The way he looked at her, it was as if he expected her to give an order, to command him to slay the sun, and he would carry it out, no matter what.
She hadn’t given many orders since Orion died. Her will to command and shepherd her followers had fled. Instead their roles had been reversed, and for the past ten years her followers kept her going, not the other way around.

“Let’s go. We’re done here.” Luna said to Onyx.

“As you command.” He replied.

Her followers waited on the overgrown trail leading to the ruins. The grass had grown very tall along the bluff, rolling in waves just like the sea. Small trees and green shrubs grew in the middle of the trail in some places. It had been rough going to haul the wagons up here, and many ponies were resting in the grass as the sky began to brighten.

“My ponies! Hear my voice!” Luna announced.

Ears perked up, their heads lifted off the ground, her guards stood to attention. Eyes gazed at her, she gazed back. There was something in the air, something fresh and new, like the last breath of winter turning to spring. Maybe it was an echo of fond memories of this place, taking her back to her youth, when everything seemed so clear and her life so free. She felt something she had not felt for years: a purpose. A vision of a new life, a new future for her ponies.

In her followers’ eyes she saw devotion, she saw dedication, and most importantly, she saw the love they gave her. They would follow her to the ends of Equestria and beyond if need be. They were ready for change, a new hope, a new cause to live for.

We’ve let too many years pass, Luna thought. She looked around, taking in her followers. I have perhaps thirty, young and old. We’ve shrunk in number, she observed. Our cause is just a legend to most, lost to their grandsire’s time. Yes, it has to be now. If not now, then when? I’ve put this off for far too long already.

“From this day, I am no longer Princess Luna. I am Nightmare Moon, and I shall be Queen. Only then can beauty, love, and harmony return to this great land.”

An ecstatic cheer went up, and somewhere deep inside her, something changed. Orion was a memory now, a deep and painful one, yes, but a memory. What lay ahead of her was different, it was new, it was fresh and exciting. She would make her dreams true. The stars would shine, looking down on her, forever. Day would become night, and beauty would reign eternally. She would make it so.

And then… there was a voice, an irritation buzzing at the edge of her mind. T-Twi, where… Twi… She waited for it to go away, but it persisted. Twi…light… Twilight Sparkle? Where are you? You must come back to us. Come back now. That sounded familiar, what was it? Was it from a dream, she thought? An old story half forgotten? Twilight Sparkle… Twilight Sparkle…

She fell, out of her body, out of her world, into a void where pastel colors slowly swirled around her. She had been here before.

Twilight Sparkle, are you there? A voice speaks to her, a familiar voice. It gave a name, her name. Thought floods back. Memories return, mix with the confusing contradictory vision of the life she had just lived. Her mind races through the events she had seen, trying to make sense of them all in context with her own life.

Are you there? Celestia asks again.

I… I am. Twilight responds, testing her own voice against her expectations. She thought she might hear Luna’s voice responding just as easily as her own. It would take a while to get used to her new… old… voice.

Thank goodness! Celestia responds ecstatically, We were afraid we’d lost you.

Lost? Twilight thinks. I was lost. For many years. Through the sorrow of death and the elation of rebellion. I wandered the night and the moon lit my way. The years passed as real and corporeal as any of my real experiences. I can tell the difference between my own life and Luna’s life, but not as though Luna’s life was a dream. It was real, and it felt real. Yes, I was lost, but on the journey from there to here have I not changed?

Twilight is silent for a while. Celestia tries to prompt her to explain.

Are you alright, Twilight?

Fine.

Twilight? What did you see? Celestia asks.

A lot. Twilight responds.

What, Twilight?

I was Luna. I didn’t just see through her eyes, I was her.

For how long?

About eighty years, I think. Twilight tells her.

Oh. Celestia says pointedly. After a pause she adds, I didn’t expect that it would last so long.

That made Twilight think. If it had been years for her, how long had it been for the others? She guessed it hadn’t been eighty years, but she asks to make sure.

About a day has passed, real time. We were all very worried for you out here. Your friends, the Elements of Harmony, have kept a constant watch over you, and tried to lend you whatever support they could.
Her friends, yes, her real friends… she had almost forgotten them.

Thank them for me. Twilight says.

Of course. I just told everyone you’re okay, so they’re pretty happy right now.

Twilight wants to smile, although floating disembodied in the void, she can’t. Nevertheless, it feels good to hear that her friends are happy for her. Her optimism returns, banishing any darkness lingering in her mind.

Now, have you found anything that could help our dear Luna?

Twilight’s elation quickly fades. She had gone through all that, and for what? She remembers Luna casting many spells, but none that could have lasted long enough to hurt her now. Most of the spells Twilight recalls were spells that helped her band of followers. A band she thought of as her family. Those spells were just temporary, and not very large. She figures there wasn’t any use in keeping it from Celestia.

I’m afraid not. She cast a lot of spells but nothing that could be draining her power now.

Twilight felt, rather than heard, a sigh over her mental connection with Celestia.

Nothing at all?

No. I’m pretty sure, seeing as how it’s just like I cast them myself. I know that none of them could have lasted long enough.

I was afraid of this. We just don’t have any idea when, where, or how she cast this spell. I had hoped it might be connected to a more prominent memory, but there was no way to be sure. There is a pause, like Celestia is taking a deep breath. There’s more. I’m not sure how much time we have left. She’s getting worse, and if we don’t find the source and stop it… well, it’s a matter of life and death. If you were still in her mind when that happened, you might not make it out. Are you sure you still want to do this?

Absolutely. I’m going to save her. I know I can do it.

Thank you Twilight. I wish I had more time to properly thank you, but we don’t have much time to spare. Do you think you are ready to start looking again?

Yes, I think so. I hope so, Twilight thought to herself.

Very good. You saw the first century or so of her life, correct?

Yes, how did you know? Twilight asks, a little startled by Celestia’s seemingly omniscient guess.

Call it sister’s intuition. So that rules out any of the time before Nightmare Moon took over. That’s good to know, but I suspect the most likely territory is during the reign of terror or immediately after….

Something sounds odd to Twilight. Something doesn’t click between her experience and what Celestia was saying. She wants to trust her mentor Celestia, usually she would, but it feels like there is some obstacle to trust blocking her path. Call it a nagging suspicion, it is a feeling she can’t shake.

Princess Celestia, why do you say “When Nightmare Moon took over?” She was still Luna, just misguided maybe, by her own feelings.

No dear, something changed. I felt it. She only returned to normal when she returned to us after a thousand years. After you used the Elements of Harmony.

But that’s not what I saw at all…

Celestia cut her off with razor-edged terseness that surprised Twilight. She had rarely ever heard Celestia angry over anything.

It is the TRUTH. Something changed. That’s what you need to know. Now, Celestia sighs, we still need to find the source. Look for a memory that doesn’t overlap with what you’ve already seen. Perhaps you can find one from the time of Nightmare Moon. Please hurry, we don’t have time to waste.

Twilight looks around in the void. There are a multitude of memories surrounding her. If she recalls correctly, she is at a different place than she started. The color and locations of the other strands of light are foreign to her. At least that gives her a clue to the organization of Luna’s memories. Judging by her position, she can tell she has probably traveled in a relatively linear manner. It should be possible to find…

A thought strikes her like a brick to the head.

Why is she spending time looking through each and every memory? Her search has been grossly inefficient so far. It has taken too long to find nothing at all. If she enters another memory, she might find what she wanted, or she might get stuck in it for a thousand years!

She thinks of the situation as an analogy: This place is a little like a spider web of memory-threads. Why not just ask the spider? Ask Luna where to find a memory!

Yet that thought only brought more questions. The whole reason why Celestia had sent her into Luna’s mind was to find something that Luna had forgotten, right? But all her memories were right here, in crystal detail, as fresh as ever! She could remember every detail of places she visited in her childhood, she could recall the weather a millennium ago, she could recall every line on her love’s muzzle. Yet Luna couldn’t remember crafting a spell that was so powerful and long lasting that its terrible repercussions could be felt even now? The math didn’t add up. Something felt grossly wrong.

She begins to contact Celestia. Her words almost come out before she stops. Once again there is a shadow of a doubt that nags at Twilight. It is as if a voice whispers in her ear, telling her not to trust the Princess. Twilight recalls that it was Celestia that told her Luna forgot her own spell… Could she be lying? Why would she? Surely she must want to save Luna as much as I do, Twilight thinks.

After thinking it over, she decides not to say anything to Celestia. Twilight reasons that there might be forces at work she does not understand. On the other hoof, she feels compelled to investigate further. It could help her save Luna, after all. Celestia didn’t have to know that Twilight had disobeyed her command.

She navigates the threads, following the biggest ones. At least one is the thread she had already seen, which she interprets as the memory of Orion. Indeed, the thought occurs to her that she might be able to categorize each thread by what emotion it represents. Each gives off a certain feeling when she hovers near it. She hadn’t noticed it the first time. Perhaps she was not as attuned as she is now, as it is only a very subtle feeling in the back of her mind.

Orion’s thread must represent love, Twilight thinks. Another she hovers by feels different: it makes her feel gloomy and down. That one must be sorrow or loss. It ran parallel, in large part, to much of Orion’s thread. At another she feels a strange emotion, not quite anger or hatred, but akin to them. After a moment she realizes it must be jealousy, directed towards her sister Celestia. It helped to have experienced firsthand these emotions. Several she would not even have understood before she had seen what Luna had seen, and felt what she had felt. Twilight had never experienced love, not like the kind of bond Luna and Orion developed between them.

She follows the pattern of threads, tracing the largest branches, hoping they will converge on a central point. The threads grow stronger, there are more subsidiary branches departing from each, but Twilight stays on course for the center of the cluster.

Finally, she reaches the center where the myriad of threads coalesce into a rainbow of iridescent color. It is a beautiful sight, more strange and wonderful than she had expected, even here, in this odd immaterial dimension.

Yet, her reward was absolutely nothing. There was no other conscious presence, no essence of Luna to be found. The threads just terminated abruptly, without warning or reason. Once again Twilight finds herself baffled. Luna’s consciousness ought to be here somewhere, she thinks. This is the most logical place. This is the only place it should be. So where is it?

Twilight lets herself rise above the place where the threads converge, then looks out across the void for something that would show her where to go next. She begins to question whether she had been right to disobey Celestia. Maybe she is just wasting time out here, chasing something that didn’t exist.

Then she sees a dim speck of light, far away, and all alone in the dark. She approaches it, looking for connections to the other memories. Twilight could see none. It is far isolated from the rest of Luna’s memories.

Twilight feels a feather touch on her mind, a feeling she hadn’t experienced since she entered this place.

Hello? A new voice says. It sounds small, timid, scared, like a filly without her mother.

Luna?

Yes! Oh thank goodness! I’m so glad I have somepony to talk to again! Her exuberant voice communicated the relief she found in Twilight’s presence.

Of course, I completely understand. I’m Twilight Sparkle, Princess. Celestia sent me to help you. Twilight communicates to her.

Wow, I never would have thought… I mean, you’re in my head? Wow. How is that possible?

Twilight is a little surprised she doesn’t already know how. The Luna she knows from her vision is a well read scholar and spellcrafter. She had been born with a great deal of innate power. When she learned to control that power, she could do almost anything. During her travels she had read many books of spells and sorceries that were old a thousand years ago. Her repertoire of spell knowledge had to be second only to Celestia.

Your sister cast a spell that let me see what you’ve seen, and, obviously, converse with you as I’m doing now. Twilight explained.

That’s great, Twilight. I was scared but… Oh I just knew Celestia and the Elements of Harmony would come to the rescue! My sister has always been there for me, even when I do something silly.

Hmm… Twilight thinks to herself.

What? Luna asks. Oops. Twilight didn’t mean for Luna to hear that. She scrambles to come up with the right words.

Uh, it’s just that I’m a little surprised you can be so upbeat after everything that’s happened. Twilight says.

Everything that’s happened? Why, it’s just been a few days since I got sick, and I mean, it’s not like I’m in pain or anything. Luna responds.

Twilight cannot escape the feeling that this is a puzzle with pieces that do not fit. She wonders about what she has heard from Luna so far. Can a pony really be that forgiving? When Twilight departed Luna’s memories after Orion died, there was not an ounce of compassion left in Luna’s heart for her sister Celestia. For all she cared at that point, she did not have a sister, she had an enemy by the same name. Wise ponies say that time heals all wounds, but Luna’s wounds went down to her very core. How could she ever forgive?

I’m sorry if I offend you, Princess Luna, but I have to ask. I’ve seen what happened when you were a filly. I lived that part of your life as though I was you. I know that there was a time when you blamed Celestia for everything. You thought her heartless and without compassion. She tried to stop you from living your own dreams. How can you forgive her for all that? Twilight asks tentatively, at first, gaining momentum as she continues on. A part of her feels she isn’t just asking out of curiosity.

Luna acts shocked. What? I don’t understand! My life was nothing like that! Celestia has always been very kind to me. She always helped guide me. I’ve had a very happy life, all in all.

Twilight now knows something is wrong. What about when you became Nightmare Moon? She asks insistently.

I didn’t become that terrible thing. Luna replied. I would remember it if I did. Something else must have taken over my mind, temporarily. Some evil force, surely. That’s what my sister says, and she knows what she’s talking about.

Twilight pauses. Slowly, she asks one question.

Does the name Orion mean anything to you? She asks Luna.

It’s a constellation, I’ve studied it at the observatory, but I don’t know why… Hey! Where are you going? Don’t leave me here! The link grew fainter as Twilight drifted away.

Fake! Twilight rages. This is all fake! She knows why this spot doesn’t connect to anywhere else in Luna’s mind, because it isn’t Luna! Anger erupts throughout her mind, at each synapse picking up momentum, racing through her head in mad unguided rush. What happened to the memories she had lived? Where was Luna’s real consciousness? Who would do this?

The answer to the last question is clear to Twilight. Celestia. She’s the only one who could have done this. She knew the spell. She must have been here before!

Twilight contacts Celestia, who feels a sudden surge of rage emanating through the connection.

At that moment Princess Celestia happened to be eating her dinner in a small dining room, side by side with Twilight’s five friends and fellow Elements of Harmony. She had thought a nice dinner would be good for everyone’s spirits while Twilight searched Luna’s memories. Suddenly she drops her spoon. It hits the table with an abrupt clang. The room goes silent. Everyone looks to her, questioning, but she stares into the distance as though lost in another world.

Imposter! Twilight yells at her through the link. Her rage carries her voice like a hammer pounding into Celestia’s head. You replaced your sister’s memories with lies! This is not your sister, this is a fake! A construct! She doesn’t remember anything that actually happened. She remembers nothing of the REAL Luna!

Celestia swallows a lump of food that has gone sour in her mouth.

You did this, didn’t you! Twilight accuses. Only you could have… tell me, what did it feel like, to kill your sister? That’s right, you killed her! You took away everything that made her unique. You left nothing but an empty shell, a shadow of her real self, and you pass it off as the truth. How could you!

Celestia, with a painful expression, clamps her hoofs over her ears, as though that will drown out Twilight’s words.

I’m sorry. Celestia responds, trying to calm Twilight with a soothing voice. It was the only way to save Luna and protect the world from Nightmare Moon. I did it, yes, but I did it for Equestria.

Was it for Equestria, dear Princess? Or was it for you? Twilight asks sardonically.

Celestia starts to respond, but Twilight cuts her off. It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to help you preserve this charade any longer. I don’t care what’s killing Luna, she’s already dead. I’m done. Get me out of her mind. Or would you rather have the blood of your student on your hooves as well?

Celestia pushes her chair from the table, its grating sound the only noise to be heard in the entire room. She stands up, looking stiff as a soldier at attention, and announces the news to the other ponies.

“Twilight is coming back.” She says, and promptly turns to exit the room.

End Part 5