On a crystal stool that glowed like starlight, sat a lavender deer, with bright blue eyes. With short fluffy hair and an equally fluffy tail, she held with her magic a book to read, for the young ones who had come to hear the stories of the first Lunar Citizens.
Deer, half deer, half pony, and ponies alike all sat around her, eagerly awaiting the tails of those who came before. Lavender Heart was her name, a teacher, a lover, a healer and more: today she played the role of historian. Reminding the next generation of their origins.
Lavender cleared her throat and called the little ones to attention.
"Are you ready small ones?" her voice was soft and gentle, and melodic in nature. As most Deer's voices little fillies and colts, and little fawns too, eagerly became quiet, ready to hear the stories of old.
Lavender opened the book, and began:
"Past the Crystal Empire even further north than Mount Everhoof, lies the not so well known Colony of the Night. A colony created by the Great Mother, Luna, who brought our ancestors here after saving them from hunger, poverty and loneliness."
"Just on the other side of Mount Everhoof,hidden under a veil of magic: The Enchanted Forest. When they arrived the ancestors recounted the sheer beauty and majesty the likes of which they had never seen before! Trees of every color glowed gently but somehow never outshine the moon. The tree trunks had gems and crystals sticking out from them and those too glowed softly. "
"Greeting them just beyond the veil were the Deer who guarded the Magic of the Enchanted forest, just creatures were a mystery and ethereal in nature, our ancestors talk of becoming hypnotized from one glance! Yet even they were not the last gift the Great Mother gave."
"Behind the forest, built into the mountain where we now reside today: The Lunar Caves."
"The caves glowed in the gentle light of crystals embedded in the cave walls. All the colors of the rainbow and beyond! And like the forest the enchanted crystals seemed to warm the entire stretch of caves! No corner was too cold nor too hot! For them, this forest, these caves and the deer they met that day were miracles to behold."
"Even as years went by and news of our Mother being banished to the moon our people never stopped being grateful and loving our dear mother. Now, we are more than just ponies, more than deer, we are all one in the Moonlight."
The little fawns, fillies and colts all clapped their hooves as the story finished.
"I hope the great mother returns soon!"
"Oh yes yes! When will the reports come in from the Everfree deer Enchantress Lavender?" one of the fillies asked.
"So lovelings, very soon." she gave them a reassuring smile as their parents come to pick up their children.
As the last fawn left Lavender sighed deeply and went to rest in her next of a bed. Poking her head in soon after was Lavender's twin sister, Forest Lavender. Identical to Lavi in nearly every way Forest sported a longer mane and Pink doe spots rather than a lighter shade of purple like Lavender's.
"Did the report come in? Is there any word on mother?" Lavi asked her sister anxiously. Forest gave her a smile and used her magic to pass a letter to her sister.
"There is word of mother, at long last dear sister" Forest seemed to slump in relief next to her sister who started to cry as she read the letter.
"Do you think she remembers us?"
"I don't know, there may be only one way to find out."
"You mean-"
"Either you or I have to cross the Veil into the world of the Sun, and try and reach our Mother Moon"
Both sisters paused at this. Staying silent for a very long time until Forest spoke up.
"My back hoof hasn't recovered well from my fall last week….So it has to be you"
Lavender's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to protest but Forest cut her off.
"You were her student once, if she is to remember anyone, I hope it would be you"
While Forest had wanted dearly to have been chosen as Luna's pupil, Forest's heart lied with archery and healing where Lavi's was the study of the heart and the Magic of Heart. This is what inevitably lead their Mother Moon to Lavender rather than Forest who'd found her calling in the forest's defense and healers council.
"Go Lavi, go see mother again" Lavender felt her heart swell as she and her sister nuzzled each other tenderly.
"I leave our home in your care then Forest, I leave first thing tomorrow night."
