Herr Regis

A Confession

Readjusting was a difficult task. Princess Luna never thought such a simple word could mean such hardship. Despite her cultural flaws that needed immediate correction, all of Equestria was forced into the reeducation process. Now, with a gentler speaking voice and more popular pronouns in mind, the princess had to find her niche in Canterlot.

She was, unarguably, the princess of the night. That having been said, the lunar guard were not particularly accepting of her after a millennium of absence. The princess was working with a headless snake. Within the lunar guard, everything was organized, apart for the lack of leadership. "Where is your captain?" The princess was getting flustered, as nopony was willing to speak to her.

The guards shifted uncomfortably, all standing in a perfectly straight line and waiting for their dismissal. The question simply washed over their heads: none intended to answer it. When this became apparent to the princess, she frowned.

They were standing in a dark room, all the night ponies were avoiding the sun. Princess Luna shook her head, dismissing them and leaving. Princess Luna later that same day went for a walk under the subtle darkness of early night. The moon had risen and the sun had set, Princess Celestia had turned the night over to her sister's safekeeping.

The streets of Canterlot were silent, even at dusk the ponies limited themselves to the safe and warm insides of their homes. The princess sighed, it would forever sting her heart how they shunned the night she gave them.

After walking for a short while, the princess stumbled upon a welcome sight. In the courtyard of a large building, behind an equally large fence, a group of happy fillies and colts were playing a game. All Luna could hear was the happy laughter of excitement and youthful energy, energy that was being used under the light of her moon. She couldn't help but smile.

Princess Luna stood and listened, happy that the darkness brought some ponies happiness. She closed her eyes, breathing in the light and soothing cool air. Then, something soft and round struck her side. The princess yelped, lifting her hoof to cradle her stinging shoulder. She looked, seeing that a small, brown, ball had been tossed over the fence.

She could hear them speaking, whispering, trying to decide who would go to the other side and retrieve their ball. Her yelp did nothing to reassure the foals' safety. Princess Luna stepped over, picking up the ball. She spread her wings, looking at the fence and considering the consequences of making a surprise appearance.

Luna sighed, lifting her body off of the ground and flying over the protective barrier. She saw the amazed looks on the many small faces. Luckily, none of the faces looked scared. Princess Luna landed, her eyes darting from the ball to the ponies, their eyes looking at her. "Is this yours?" Luna smiled, mentally patting herself on the back for maintaining a peaceful and attractively soft tone.

The colts and fillies nodded, taking the ball from the princess. "Thank you, Princess Luna." They all spoke in happy unison, still in shock from the arrival of a princess during their game. From behind, a door opened, revealing a young mare, a mother.

She too was surprised to see the princess. "Have a good night." Princes Luna waved goodbye, floating away on her wings yet again. Princess Luna trotted home with a spring in her step, something little had made her happy, and greatly improved her already cheery mood.

Princess Celestia stood on her balcony, tired. She could see her sister walking home. The princess shook her head, closing her eyes and feeling shameful. "I'm going to have to tell her, I can't live like this." Princess Celestia was completely torn about the secret she had kept from her sister. Never before had the princess hidden anything so important. Up until Luna's return, this piece of information was almost completely irrelevant, but now it was all that mattered.

Princess Celestia wandered the castle, trying to find the words. "Oh, what am I going to say!" She pouted, continuing to walk around her home aimlessly. Just as she rounded a corner, Princess Luna saw her. Celestia tried to make away, but she had been discovered.

Luna trotted over to her, it being very late at night. "Celestia, what's wrong? You should get some sleep. I can handle this, I'm alright." Princess Luna immediately assumed that the reason for her sister's restlessness was a lack of confidence, this was incorrect.

Princess Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but despite her mentally scripted response, her throat refused to make any sounds. She pinched her eyes closed, unable to face her sister.

Princess Luna frowned, silently waiting for her sister to collect herself. "Are you sure you're alright, Celestia? You seem nervous." The night pony had her sister's health in mind, although her current situation had nothing to do with that.

Princess Celestia shook her head, backing away. "I need to go, I'm..." Celestia did not know how to complete her sentence, so she simply trotted away, hastily leaving her sister alone without closure.

Luna feared her sister's worry was caused by her presence, and a lingering doubt of the night pony's abilities and judgements. Luna's good mood was toppled, replaced with sadness and incompetence, like a young filly, incapable of maintaining responsibilities or trusts.

The next morning, Luna encountered her sister yet again as she set the moon and Celestia raised the sun. She looked well rested, but Luna was growing tired. Inside the castle where there was no sunlight to harm the night pony, the two princesses confronted one another.

Princess Celestia frowned, rubbing her eyes and sitting down, patting the spot beside her, welcoming her sister's presence. Luna sat, looking at her sister who didn't look at her. "I feel ashamed, Luna." Celestia closed her eyes, hunching forward sorrowfully.

Luna patted her back, looking over her sister carefully. "What have you done?" Princess Luna could not imagine her sister ever making a mistake or doing something wrong, so this moment came as a shock.

Celestia wiped tears from her eyes, sniffling. "I'm so sorry, Luna. I've disgraced your trust, and the trust of Equestria." She sat up, pressing her back to the bench she was sitting on. "All those centuries I told everypony that I, alone, raised and set both the sun and moon... I was lying." Princess Celestia hugged her sister, still shedding silent and small tears.

"Why, Celestia? Why did you lie?"

"I was so tired! I tried, I tried for years to work alone. I needed sleep, I couldn't do it." Princess Celestia sat up, looking at her sister dead on as she spoke quickly, trying to prove that her actions were done in good faith. "I needed somepony's help." She wiped her eyes again, sighing heavily.

"There's nothing wrong with asking for help." Princess Luna smiled, glad that her sister's anguish was over something apparently very simple.

Celestia shook her head, still upset and not yet done explaining her actions. "That's now what I'm ashamed of, Luna. I told nopony, I let all of Equestria think I was working alone." She sighed, biting her lip. "I stole the credit." Princess Celestia started to tear up once more, the reassure hoof of her sister softly rubbing her shoulder. "Forgive me."

Princess Luna nodded, hugging her sister happily. "Of coarse I forgive you, Celestia. If I had been here, you'd of never needed to ask for help." Celestia thanked her sister for the support, stating emotionally that they would rule together forever, and that they were inseparable. "I have to ask, Celestia. Who has helped you?"

Princess Celestia stood up, looking at her sister with a half smile. "He's a night pony, like you." She giggled to herself, trying to recall the face of the one who had helped her. "He doesn't like the spotlight."

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review!

Herr Regis