She was a small proud pony, of the night;
she raised the moon, cold and bright.
Her sister, a pony tall and fair,
raised the sun into the morning air.
All of Equestria joined in joyful play
in the golden light of the soaring day,
but upon that night, they only slept.
Forlorn, the pony hid and wept.
Her sister was well-loved and known,
all due respect to her was shown -
but unto that sweet and loving mare,
no similar friendship - it wasn't fair!
"How dare they in my night sleep,
and leave me lonely, dark and deep,
the night's beauty I will show them
then from their hearts love for me will stem."
"Oh sister dear, you forget,
that you need only let
me in when you are blue
I will always, no matter what, love you."
But the words were distorted through Luna's ear,
no longer truth could she hear,
as darkness overtook her mind,
she left both name and duty behind.
"Nightmare Moon, let my sister go!"
"The answer to that, my dear, is no."
"But Luna, my dearest sister, why?"
"Don't you know how you made her cry?"
"Oh yes, she wept and sobbed alone,
deep in the heart of her own home,
when she cried out no one came -
certainly you are the one to blame."
"But I was there, I gave comfort and pride,
to a little lost pony who in misery cried.
I took her shame and let her weep
and made promises that I can keep."
"Let her speak for herself, then!
Luna, please, just let me in!"
"It's too late for that, you're long past due,
but don't you know I just wanted to be like you!"
And so the NightMare bleak unfolded
darkness crept, by hatred molded,
across the land and the sky, once-bright.
"I'll be ruler in an eternal night!"
"My people," Princess Celestia cried.
"My people," the NightMare in rage denied.
"Our people," Luna inside said,
but her voice spoke only in her head.
Trapped was she by what she had built,
hatred and jealousy, as yet untainted by guilt.
A living prison which ensnared and possessed
one who had once been one of the best.
And so Celestia faced an impossible choice:
with neither decision could she rejoice;
send her sister away for a thousand years,
or make her people face their worst fear.
She lifted her head and saw through her tears,
Nightmare Moon was drawing near,
so she called on the Elements of Harmony
and sealed her sister's destiny.
On that night the moon did rise,
with a mare upon it most did despise.
But Celestia could not help but lament;
"Together was eternity supposed to be spent!"
"My dear baby sister, I greatly miss you,
I will do all I can do,
to ensure the long and lonely nights,
pass in peace, without fear or fright."
"We shall be together soon,
we now share not time, but the same moon,
Though a thousand years shall pass until you come,
I will be there to welcome you home."
And so through the night the Princess kept her vigil,
raised both sun and moon in regular ritual,
awaiting the day for which they both yearned;
the day when her sister returned.
And at last the stars did them free;
NightMare and little pony,
but by friendship was the former held at bay,
so the latter could welcome the break of day.
"Princess Luna, it has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this,
Time to put our differences behind us.
We were meant to rule together, little sister."
The little pony's broken heart swelled bigger and bigger.
"Will you accept my friendship?" Celestia asked.
In joyful light Luna's heart basked.
"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!" she appealed,
running to Celestia as her heart healed.
And so the two sisters were rejoined,
two sides of the same dear coin,
and they went on to rule together,
with a bond that would never again sever.
