Things have changed so much. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this though, I have been gone for a thousand years. But to me, it feels like days. I have missed so much while I was gone. The people of Equestria have changed so much as well. Many have forgotten that I was not always filled with such hatred and anger. That is why I am telling this story, to help people see that I was happy and good before I became what I did, but also to tell why I became what I did. I am Princess Luna, and this is the story of how I became nightmare moon.
"Papa! Papa! Can I watch you raise the moon tonight?" I called as I galloped to catch up with him.
He stopped and turned around. As soon as he saw me, a big smile lit up his face.
"Of course you can sweetie. Does your sister want to watch too?"
"Tia is already asleep, she wanted to help Mamma with the sun tomorrow." I stated.
"It can be just you and me then squirt." He said as he ruffled my mane with his hoof. "Hay, tell you what, you can even help me with the stars tonight."
"Woohoo!" I did a loop de loop in the air, then followed daddy to the taris that Mamma and Papa raise and lower the sun and moon. It looked out over the everfree forest where our castle was built. Despite its wildness and fearsome reputation, it was quite beautiful. Mommy was already there lowering the sun below the horizon. She was the most beautiful pony ever and everypony loved her. She was so wise and kind and she cared about everypony.
"Another breath taking sunset my love, why don't you go get some rest now, I'll watch over the night as always."
Mamma walked over to Papa, a warm smile on her face and her crown sparkling in the fading light, they touched horns and said more mushy things, then she turned to me. "Helping your father with the moon I see."
"Yup! And Papa said I can even help him bring out the stars!" I said, barely able to contain my excitement.
"My my, what a big responsibility." She looked at me with soft eyes and sighed. "You are so much like your father."
Daddy smiled at that. "Well it's not hard to see where she gets her looks," he said with a chuckle.
Mommy chuckled too. "Yes, it's true, you even look like your father, and already you share his love of the night."
"You shouldn't count yourself short, Sun Cast. It's not hard to see where Celestia got her looks and charm. She is like a miniature of yourself."
"I think you may be right." She yawned. "Sorry I am not staying to watch you two bring on the night, but it has been a very long day for me, and I am exhausted."
Papa just looked at Mamma. "My Love, you have already done plenty today. We can manage. You go get some rest now."
Mamma's face softened and she smiled lovingly. "Oh, Silver Moon, how did I ever get lucky enough to have a husband as wonderful as you."
"Who says you are the lucky one. If anything I am lucky to have you." They embraced one last time, then Mamma flew up to the castle to rest. After Mamma was out of sight looking at me excitedly. "Are you ready to do this?" He said excitedly. Even though he was the king, he still acted a bit like a little colt sometimes.
"Yeah!" I exclaimed, practically dancing with anticipation.
"Alright then, watch me, then we can bring out the stars." His horn started to glow an indigo color with magical aura as he started to perform the spell to raise the moon.
"What! Can I please try to raise the moon? I have been practicing my magic a lot. Can I, can I Pleeeeeese!"
Papa grinned at me. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with your sister getting her cutie mark, would it?"
"Hehe, maybe," I said Coyly as I looked at my blank flank. I looked back up at him with pleading eyes. "l really think I can do it though. Please oh please Papa, can I try?"
"Well who can say no to that face! Very well. If you think that you can do it, then give it a shot."
"Ok." I concentrated as my horn began to glow with magic. I cast the spell, and I felt the moon start to move. I tried harder, and harder, and it moved more. Finally It peeked over the horizon. I put everything I had Into the spell, and it slowly rose, but I still was not able to get it very high.
"Here, let me help you." Papa cast the spell too, and together we lifted the moon high in the sky.
"I did it! I did it!" I shouted with joy. I was so excited when the moon take its place in the sky. I looked around us, taking in everything. I couldn't remember a more beautiful night, and I couldn't help but feel overjoyed knowing I helped make it, and I just knew that this is what I wanted to do every day, or should I say, night.
Papa looked at me, a flash of surprise crossed his face, and then he smiled really big. "That's not the only thing you did tonight, look on your flank."
I froze, did this mean what I thought it meant? "Is it really there daddy? If you are teasing I'm going to be mad." I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly turned my head towards my flank, after a moment I opened my eyes again and it really was there! A crescent moon had appeared on my flank! . "Yay yay yay! I got my cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!" I shouted as I did another loop de loop in the air.
"Well done Luna, I'm very impressed, not many phillys can do magic that powerful, even if they are alacornes. Now let's get those stars up."
We worked for a little while longer to get all the stars up. I was still giddy from finally getting my cutie mark. When we were all done, daddy and I laid down on the taris to look at the beautiful night we made together.
"It's so beautiful daddy, I could just stay here all night." I looked at the beautiful moon for a while, then asked, "Daddy, why do ponies fear the night? How can anypony be afraid of something so beautiful?"
"You see Luna, it's not so much that ponies fear the night, it's what's in the night. There are many dangers in the night, and it is my duty to protect all the ponies from those dangers. Also, night time is a time for rest and rejuvenation. Much like the winter is for the land. There needs to be a balance. If there is no night there would be no time for your body to rest and restore itself. If there was no day, there could be no work done nor food grown. We all depend on that balance. If harmony is not maintained, then the equestria will fall into kaos. Do you understand?
"Yes Papa."
That was the night it all began, the day I discovered my true talent. It was one of the happiest days of my life, and also a pivotal one. That night, I made a silent vow to myself that one day, I would show everyone just how beautiful the night was.