I wake up far before dawn and for a few moments I just lie in my bed thinking about what I needed to do.

I have to change, that much is evident. I want to become a pony that Luna won't be ashamed to have as a student and I want to become a friend that Twilight would be proud to know. I want her to talk about me to her other friends like she how she talks about her friends back in Ponyville.

Maybe even a little more fondly, a little voice whispers in the back of my mind but I shut it out.

I finally get up, leaving Jason the fire salamander peacefully slumbering under the bed sheets and pillows. Sleepiness still stains my movements as I sluggishly drag myself to the balcony to get some fresh air.

"I'm going to do this," I say out loud. "I'm going to become the best pony that I can be and more! I'm going to master magic!"

I start stretching out my limbs and awkwardly trying out pushups but it doesn't work out well since I naturally walk on four legs now. So instead I just jump up and down and lift my front legs up to do some squats. I don't do much but I soon run out of breathe and collapse onto the floor.

"Damn, I really got out of shape," I groan. I silently vowed to go for a run later to get back into the game.

The sky is still dark when I start making my way to the front of the castle. It's a bit too soon to meet up but I want to go early and prep what I want to say to Twilight.

"Hey, Twilight," I start out. "I'm Luna's student now so I can't go to Ponyville with you. Sorry."

No, no, that sounds wrong. How about:

"Princess Luna asked me to be her student and I just couldn't say no."

No that is lying, I was given a choice.

"I'm a princess' student now just like you! Yay!"

Nope.

"It's emergency! Princess Luna's pet cat has died and she really needs a pony to help with her grief."

Wow I was nowhere near the truth with that one. I don't even know if she has a pet.

"Agh what the hell do I say?!" I shout out in frustration to the heavens.

"Are you okay?" A voice asks me. I turn around to see Spike looking at me concerned.

I blush heavily.

"Um, yeah, I'm fine," I say awkwardly. "Where's Twilight and Pinkie Pie?" I attempt to change the subject.

"Oh they sent me ahead to tell you that they'll be a little late," Spike explains.

"I see."

There's a brief moment of silence before Spike clears his throat.

"So what was that all about earlier?"

"Oh just me acting like an idiot," I sigh. "Hey Spike, you've known Twilight all your life right?"

"Yeah, I'm assuming she told how I was born?" Spike says.

I nod.

"Some circumstances came up and I won't be able to go to Ponyville with you guys.. How do you think she'll take the news?" I ask nervously.

"Oh don't worry about it," Spikes assures me offhandedly. "Twilight's really understanding so if you have a good reason for not being able to go, she'll completely understand."

"Oh," I blink. "Oh that's good."

I guess I was getting myself worked up over nothing. I realized my shoulders slumped over for some reason so I straighten myself off and cough.

Too soon I hear the shrill and happy voice of Pinkie Pie jumping towards us with Twilight close behind her.

"Sorry we're late!" Pinkie cries out waving her hoof in her over energized way. I can't help but smile. She really has that way with ponies.

I wave back.

"We saw Princess Celestia on our way here," Pinkie explains.

"Oh cool," I reply. I suppose I'd be meeting her soon as well.

"And we heard that your Princess Luna's new student!" She screams and hugs me.

"Oh you already heard?" I reply, a little disappointed since I wanted to be the one to tell them the news.

"Congratulations Lium!" I didn't notice it before because she was dragging it behind her but she pulls out a huge blue cannon and it explodes in the confetti and good cheer.

I laugh and thank her.

Then I look over her shoulder and see Twilight being a bit quieter than usual. Her facial expression is one of distractedness. I walk up to her and poke her shoulder.

"Hey," I greet her with smile.

She doesn't return it. Instead she looks at me sadly and confused like she's not really sure how to act around me.

"Hi, I heard the news," she says, attempting to sound cheerful but failing. "Congratulations."

"Thanks..." I say quietly. I'm not sure why her attitude towards me has taken such a drastic turn but it hurts.

"I know that this means that I can't go to Ponyville with you guys but I figured that I could always come and visit when I get established here and... What's wrong? "

My voice breaks off. There are faint traces suspicion in her face and I don't know what I did to earn her mistrust.

"Oh Princess Celestia just mrmghd merhg-" Pinkie starts but is immediately cut off by Twilight.

"It's nothing," Twilight forces a smile. "We really got to go catch that train now so we'll be on our way. Bye." Right before she turns around, I see her face slack into confusion and she leaves with Pinkie in tow. Pinkie sadly waves goodbye with Twilight's hoof still clamped tightly over her mouth and Spike follows them with an apologetic expression on his face.

"Bye," he shouts.

"Bye," my voice small.

What was that?

I just kept standing there unable to comprehend what just happened. It was all sunshine and daisies yesterday wasn't it? How has things changed so drastically overnight?

Does Twilight hate me now?

How though? Was it because I became Luna's student? I don't understand how that warrants any hatred though.

"Wait," I murmur softly to myself, the gears in my head are turning.

When Pinkie Pie tried to answer my question, she mentioned Princess Celestia and they were late today because they were meeting her right?

And I know how much Twilight fawns over the princess; I can tell from how her tone changes into one of total admiration whenever she talks about her. Could her sudden change of attitude be due to princess of the sun?

I have to know. I gallop back into the castle and I immediately bump into an alicorn that I realize must be Princess Celestia. Her multi-coloured mane, like Luna's, floats in ripples to the side of her head despite the lack of wind. A large tiara/crown sits behind the longest horn I've ever seen on a pony yet. Her white body towers over me and I understood at this moment what Luna meant about living in her sister's shadow all her life. Any pony who met her would be forced into her shadow whether they wanted to or not.

"You must be Lium," Princess Celestia says, her voice cold enough to send shivers down my spine.

I move my head up and down slowly in affirmation, unable to pull my eyes away from her relentless glare. She opens her mouth as if to say something but then thinks better of it and closes her mouth.

"I love my sister," she finally says. I'm not sure what she's getting at so I let her continue. "And for her own reasons, she decided to take you as her student. I will respect that decision. But," and she says the but as if it's only thing that mattered. "I suggest you get your act together as soon as possible and lift those burdens you have left upon Luna."

Then she just walks away. Her words hit me hard and once I again, I just find myself frozen on my hooves. I can't even make a comment about how that was the "kind and caring" Celestia I heard so much about because she hit me right where it hurts.

My selfish cowardice.

"She's right," I murmur to myself, making my way slowly to my room. "I have to get my act together."

I step into my room all sense of previous excitement efficiently murdered and loneliness quickly taking its place.

Mentally drained, I go to sleep both hoping that I can meet Luna in my dreams to apologize and that I never wake up again.

Twilight's POV

"What the heck was that Twilight?" the purple dragon exclaimed when they finally settled down onto the train. "Something tells me that wasn't because he broke your promise to come back to Ponyville with us."

"I- I honestly don't know what to think Spike," Twilight shakes her head in obvious distress. "I've never seen Princess Celestia have such- such negativity towards a pony before."

"Ooh yeah, she was not a happy princess when she we told her we were going to go meet up with Lium," Pinkie added chewing on a cupcake.

"And she even specifically told me not talk to Lium any more than what was necessary!" Twilight yells, raising her hooves up. "I don't understand it Spike... Princess Celestia obviously has her reasons but Lium is one of the nicest ponies I've met. He saved our flanks not too long ago either and I can't see why Princess Celestia would possibly have any reason to... to detest him so much!"

"Princess Celestia hating a pony?" Spike shakes his head. "Are we talking about the same princess here?"

"Yup!" Pinkie confirms. "She definitely hated Lium."

"I think you really hurt his feelings though Twilight," Spike says, holding his tail.

"I know Spike... I feel really bad about it too but I've only known Lium for a few days and I've known Princess Celestia for more than half my life. I think I have to trust Princess Celestia's judgement on this," Twilight sighs, looking at the train station through the window as the final passengers board the train.

Spike frowns for a bit.

"But what's your judgement on this Twilight?" He asks but Twilight doesn't answer.

Princess Luna's POV

I silently walk through the hallways of the castle. Guards salute me at their posts and I curtly nod back to acknowledge their good work. The night is over and thus it is time for my rest. When I open the doors to my chambers and then close them behind me, I let myself collapse onto my dark bed sheets of satin and silks and feel the corners of my mouth reaching up into a unstoppable smile.

"No, calm yourself Luna," I command myself, still unable to halt this invincible expression of joy. "He has only said yes a few hours ago. There is much to teach him of the night."

But the happiness I feel cannot be quelled with mere words. Finally, I have another to share the wonders of the night with. Finally, there is another who can truly appreciate all the beauty and mystery the night has to offer.

I remember his own night that he had created in his dreams and the moon that shone so bright and proudly in his dark sky. A moon that called out to me and pulled at my heartstrings.

Suddenly, my head splits open as my vision fills with blood. I cry out in pain, tears flowing non-stop from my eyes. I start shaking, and I desperately grab a pillow to just hold onto something, anything. I don't how long it is until the fit passes and at some point, my sister had entered my room.

"Luna..." she says, her face deeply concerned.

"I'm fine sister," I assure her with a tired smile and a raised hoof.

She doesn't say anything but I see the pain in her face from being unable to help me. It is fine for I do not need any help. I let my eyes close, a dull steady ache in the back of my head is all that remains of the intensity I felt before and it acts as a soothing lullaby to send me to my own dreamland.

A warm hoof touches my forehead and I hear a whisper in my ear before I completely drift off from this realm of consciousness.

"I'll protect you Luna."