Chapter 20

"Miss Luna, I've learned so much! So interesting, unlike anything I've ever heard of before! The best part is that it's all nonfiction works!" Mary's mouth moves so fast that I can't understand her words. She's been like this since we claimed her back at the library. "No, now, wait, even better than that is that I can go BACK and learn even more! How fantastic is it that there is an ocean of knowledge out there and I get to swim in it like a common ocean dwelling fish-" I hurriedly interrupt her.

"Slow down, Mary! Please start at the chronological beginning. And please, no fish." I look at her like I'm desperate. She seems to only hear the first two sentences, or maybe only the middle one.

"Oh yes!" Mary squees in delight.

"The history of the Alicorn Wars: how it started." I close my eyes to see what Mary is about to describe to us. Images flash as she speaks:

"The Alicorn Wars were the fight between the two legendary alicorn sisters of the sun and the moon. What prompted the fighting is unknown but whatever it was soon made many individual ponies choose a side and fight for it. Most ponies chose to side with Celestia, for their own varied reasons. Luna usually had a leg up on the numbers, though, and nopony knows where she found so many ponies to fight for and with her. The side of the night, the Lunar Republic, won most of the battles, but sadly lost the war. There was something vague referring to the Alicorn Art of War, but I couldn't find much about it specifically. However, I found that the Alicorn Wars were not just the epic years-long battle between the two alicorn sisters, but hundreds of 'artificial' alicorns. Nearly all the recruits on each side were given this gift. Over the course of the thirteen battles, both Luna and Celestia granted temporary alicorn powers to many normal ponies so that they could fight without restriction. The most noted were the generals of each side, of course, but countless ponies were given this honor. The histories said that the powers these ponies gained were mind blowing to say the least, and many note that it was probably more than a normal pony could handle."

I want to make you strong, Knights. I want to give you a piece of myself.

"These ponies were stripped of their powers once the war was over, but during the years in which it lasted, they were demi-gods. There were reports of side-affects long after the wars, such as personality changes or violent mood-swings or prophetic dreams. Some claimed they'd held on to their powers but none could prove it. The damage of those horrific battles and the intense powers that being an alicorn gave them surely made them crazy. Losing those powers…even more so."

I can give you all the power in the world and more.

"Most of these ponies, the ones that lived out the remainder of the war, died at earlier ages as well, some ponies even disappeared and were never found. However, they remained away from public eyes for most of their lives after the war. They hid or were sent away to places where they wouldn't bother anypony. What's interesting about this is that it seems like a cover-up. The ponies that fought for Equestria were then hidden away from other Equestrians. Some histories said that it was for their own good as well as others'. Beyond that, about ninety percent of Luna's troops died within the first year of her absence, from strange and terrible cases of rot and decay. Those who had children in that time noted that their children never seemed as 'lively' as the other foals, but many blame that on the occupation that so many of those ponies took up, rock farming. Descendants can still be found and traced there to this day. Celestia refuses to do interviews about this time period nowadays, so any firsthoof accounts are rare and limited, so this is most of what I could find, related to the war explicitly." Mary stops and sighs. "But all that's just the during and after."

I can give you a piece of godhood. Eternity..

"Before the war, this country was making exponential leaps in science and math and literature and the arts. All of it was put on hold and never really continued after the war. Even today, we don't have quite the understanding that we used to. A lot of knowledge was lost. A lot was destroyed. Our technologies are very strangely diverse and unconnected. Some of the leaps we were making seem to have disappeared. For example, electricity is only being used experimentally here in Canterlot, but records show that it was being studied and tested way back then too! The war upset many projects such as this one, and we're only now rediscovering some of it."

I can make you strong enough to be with me. To last with me…

"But a lot was gained from the hardships of those times too."

Strong enough that you'll never have to leave me. Strong enough that I will never lose you…

"A lot of things became more effective, more efficient. Ponies took appreciation of everything. Especially each other. Ponies began to truly love and respect each other like never before. Celestia preached love and tolerance to all the ponies of the time, and many took her message to heart. Love and affection was taught on a scale as never seen before or since. These practices are still in effect, of course, and can be seen in the utopian style of our country and in the way we treat each other."

And I'll never have to be alone.

Not ever again…..

"Are you two alright?" Mary interrupts our thoughts and the sound memories end.

"I was remembering something. Luna?"

"Yes. I was as well. I remembered a battle scene. It was horrific."

"Are you okay?"

"There is nothing I can do; it has come and gone and been buried in time." Luna is staring at the floor. I nudge her with my hoof. She looks up at me. "What of you?"

"I was remembering something you said to me. I think it was you convincing me to join you."

"We didn't share a memory this time?" She seems puzzled.

"I guess not. Mine was all sound, nothing more."

"Mine was…nothing but imagery." A horror filled line passes between us. Secondhand, I catch glimpses of what she saw moments ago and even further back in time. It's frightening, but I know Luna. This memory wasn't her. This was something else.

"Memories? So…that story about you being her knight from a thousand years ago…that's true?" Mary interjects.

"Yes. I didn't know it myself until about a day ago." I feel like I need to say more but I don't know what else to say. To think that I am a thousand years old, sort of, and yet barely an adult is amazing. To think that Luna is as well and doesn't look it is even more amazing. And even more amazing than all of that, is we're both re-becoming our original selves with every memory we go through.

"I almost don't believe it, but knowing Ms. Luna, it is indeed the stone cold truth." Mary looks at us with a serious but happy expression. I smile back.

"You're a genuinely wonderful pony, Mary." I think of something I might do for her to repay her kindness. Suddenly I remember that I promised to do the same for Jasmine. "Say, Mary?"

"Yes?"

"What would I get for a pony that helped me out a lot and became a good friend?"

"That would depend on the pony. Who is it you wish to get a gift for?"

"The pony that helped me recover, Jasmine. She was so nice and helpful. I really want to repay her, from the bottom of my heart, but I can't think of anything that might express my feelings of gratitude and friendship." I scowl at my own stupidity. I feel so silly not understanding relationships like friendship like I should.

"Knights? I do not…" Luna begins but drops off.

"What?"

"It is nothing."

"If you're sure you don't want to talk about it." I look her in her eyes again. I want her to know I'm here for her. To listen.

"I am certain. There is nothing I need to speak about. The question I had was answered before I asked it. But I thank you." She looks back at me with a smile.

"Okay."

"Well, for your friend pony I would suggest something beautiful, such as flowers or a necklace."

"I don't think Jasmine is into such… foalish things. She's more mature than a little filly; she's grown up and into more… lasting things. Her house was decorated with fine arts and simple decorations and furniture."

"Hmmm. Then I would suggest something less material. More meaningful. Understand?"

"Yes. But what? She got me goggles, and this lovely bandana, and she took care of me, and inspired me. What could match that?" I sigh in despair. Luna surprises me with what she suggests.

"Maybe she does not enjoy material things, Knights, but if she has simple things in her life only, it might be more meaningful to her to have a material gift. Perhaps she could be your guest at the Grand Galloping Gala? You could buy her a lovely gown as well, that she might wear to the Gala. Such a thing might be the perfect gift." Luna blushes slightly. Through our link I feel her nerves on end.

"That's a wonderful idea. The only problem is that…well there are a few problems. I don't have any money with which to pay for a gown, and I don't know what size she wears, and wouldn't I be going with you?" The last part blurts out of my mouth. Immediately I screw my mouth shut in embarrassment. Luna's blush deepens. "I mean! Not to assume! But as your guard and stuff! I'm not saying that we would be a couple! Unless that's what you want! I…I uh…" I feel myself turn bright red. I feel a terrible headache coming on, very suddenly, erasing some of my thoughts.

Luna stays quiet, her face also red.

Oh snap. What did I just do?!