A/N: Hellooooo MLP lovers! I'm back with the next chapter my MLP fanfic! Yay! Artemis and Luna sitting in a tree K-I-...well I'll stop right there. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. hee hee. Once again I'm on a roll with my fanfics. I have a few weeks off work and school program so hell, I'm gonna write as much as I can. Already halfway done with my next betrayal chapter for my JR fic (it's ok if you don't know that one :3 )
But anyway! Artemis and Luna finally meet each other! And trust me...he made an impression. Is it a good or bad one? I'll let you decide! I hope you guys like this chapter! Thanks for reading and enjoy! :)
Artemis slowly walked into the large room, almost timidly following behind the young pony, his eyes slowly scanning the area as they walked. As he quietly examined the area, he couldn't help but feel the twinges of nostalgia nipping at him as he remembered the place where he once called home. He looked around some more. A spacious and lavishly, yet very tastefully decorated interior, the large windows overlooking the kingdom, tall ceilings…so many things about this place reminded him of his old life. He grit down on his teeth a bit, not being able to stop himself from feeling the tiniest ache of pain in his chest. The stallion quickly pushed it back down and finally brought his attention back to reality. He quickly blinked a few times, realizing that Twilight was looking over her shoulder, staring at him. She may have been saying something…he wasn't sure of anything right now. Rather than lamenting on it for too long, he offered the young princess a small smile and then looked ahead again, where he could see three mare alicorns waiting near the two grand thrones. In the distance, he could see them looking at him with wide eyed curiosity and anticipation, making him instinctively look away. In no way did they look like they meant him any harm, and after the time he spent with Twilight, it was most certainly the furthest thing from his mind. Yet, he still could not shake the feeling of a foreign internal anxiousness. Perhaps it was nerves? Almost instantly, he felt his coat bristle with the familiar uneasiness of meeting anypony on the outside. It had been so long since he had been in the company of others like this…so very long. He was constantly worried that he would unintentionally do something to offend them.
His nerves only seemed to increase as they neared the other group. Despite the fact that the mares all looked welcoming, the stallion couldn't stop himself from looking away from them for a moment. Yes, he was ashamed of his rude actions but his eyes had seemed to forgotten how to focus on something that was a living and breathing being. The stallion took another glance at Twilight, and couldn't help but smile, seeing the twinkle in her eyes as they walked further in. Almost instantly, he felt better. What the young princess had told him earlier was completely correct. After all this time…all this time of living in solitude…there was no need for it. There was no good reason why he should continue to live in hiding. That time was long gone…it was time…time for a new beginning, as Twilight had put it. The stallion forced himself to look at these strangers who looked so much like him and held his head highly as he always did, despite the fact that he felt so exposed without his cloak hiding his appearance. He ignored it and brought his attention back to the other group, quietly analyzing their appearances, finally standing in front of them with Twilight beside him. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped, his lips feeling dry as he looked at them. On the outside, the stallion was able to maintain his cool appearance, but he could feel his hooves growing slightly moist in his anxiousness.
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at them, scanning them over from left to right. His vision immediately caught onto the likeness of the first alicorn he saw. She was tall, not at tall as him of course…but she had a certain aura that exuded elegance and serenity. Her perfect white coat, so much like his own shimmered against her multi-colored mane, which flowed at her side. The mere's lovely amethyst eyes stared back at him. They were kind, making him feel a bit more at ease, and he felt some of the stiffness in his body leave, and although this was his first time laying eyes on her, he immediately knew that she was indeed Queen Galaxia's daughter. There was no denying the resemblance that the two shared. To the right of her stood another a mare, one that was much shorter than the others. She had a pink coat with similar eyes to that of the one before…most definitely not exactly the same shade, but close enough to make it apparent that they had to be related in some way. She smiled at him, raising her head to meet his eyes, her mane of swirling colors moving with her. She was just as lovely as the other one and he couldn't help but think she possessed a sort of innocence…not so much childlike, but he could tell by looking at her that she was not as old as the others. While he and princess Twilight were traveling here, she had told him that she was something called…a made alicorn. It was quite possible that this one was also the same as her. Finally, his eyes moved to the last alicorn on the right.
Artemis blinked a few times, looking at the mare with a coat that sparkled as beautifully as the night sky itself. He was suddenly felt hit with an unfamiliar feeling in his chest, one that he could not quite put his hoof on. The stallion numbly wondered what it was and then brought his eyes back to meet her face again. He quickly realized that her coat wasn't at all as black as he had once thought. How could he have missed it? No…it wasn't black at all…more like…it was the color of when the shadows of night themselves began to cross the skies…midnight. That was the color to that described it perfectly…the color of midnight…a breathtaking color. Her dark blue mane flowed at her side, speckles of stars twinkling in its silkiness…clear as….night...even in the early afternoon of the day. Artemis was suddenly overcome by an unknown feeling of energy surging through his body. Even after mastering countless magical arts, he couldn't name what the feeling was...it would take him quite some time for him to come to know the meaning. Artemis could feel his eyes tingling and he almost wanted to close them but something in him...was compelling him to look at the beautiful dark coated mare…for the first time since arriving…he wanted to look at them…he wanted to see her eyes. Or did he? He averted his eyes for a second but then quickly looked back at her direction to stare into hers for just a moment. As soon as his eyes looked into the mare's clear blue eyes, he couldn't tear them away from hers. Truly, Artemis didn't think that he could even if he wanted to. She was looking back at him now as well, her mouth slightly agape, as if she wanted to say something. She closed it, not making any comment on the awkward silence that was happening between them. It suddenly felt as though they were the only two ponies in the room…no…in the world. He couldn't quite place it but…this mare…she was more than just beautiful…she was…unique. Without warning, Artemis could feel his eyes tingling with a warm and gentle light…something that he had never experienced in his long time in the world. The stallion could picture that his eyes were glowing with some sort of energy…they had to be. His body numbly stung and his chest sweetly ached. It wasn't unpleasant though…not in the least…it was just…new.
Not tearing his eyes away, Artemis could see the mare looking back at him, her eyes just as wide and almost trance like as his own as she looked at him. Her gorgeous eyes…were looking back at him. Inwardly, the stallion felt his breath hitch in his throat, as he saw a light suddenly shimmer in her eyes, and at the same time could feel it in his own. The light belonged to both of them…connecting them in a way he couldn't even begin to explain…he just knew. Artemis' body felt as though it was made of air, floating in a space between heaven and earth. It was as if he were just floating in a space…with her…which seemed to be right where he was meant to be. As they looked at one another, the stallion felt his eyes suddenly sting slightly and he must have blinked for less than a second, but when he opened them again, before him, he could see images of a life that was not his own flooding into his mind, much too quickly for even him too make sense of. The mare's eyes momentarily flashed with a white light and she too blinked a few times, as if she too witnessed something she was not able to understand. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, even for him, the energy within him subsided, bringing back to the material world. And then suddenly…everything around them…was silenced…and it was just the two of them again. They stood like that for a moment, neither of them being able to tear their eyes away now…it was as if they were compelled to hold eye contact. The soft light…the unplaced memories and visions…they seemed to be gone as quickly as they had appeared, and the prince found himself to be disappointed at this. Before he knew what was happening, he soon found that they were back inside the grand room, something that now felt foreign to him. It took a moment for the stallion to recall his purpose for coming here.
Yes…he had come here with…princess Twilight…to meet the other…princesses…the other alicorns...he had just become distracted because…he had met her. Artemis blinked a few times and brought a hoof to his forehead, feeling his temple throb before quickly dying down. Still…even after such an intense experience, one that even frightened him somewhat…he could not resist stealing another glance at the mare. The little world they had momentarily shared had completely fallen away but he could still feel slight sizzles of energy surging through him just from looking at her. His could still hear the light hum of the powerful force that had completely connected them for that short time, and he had to wonder if she could hear and feel it as well. The mare's wide blue eyes looked at him. She was as at a lost for words as he was. He would like to think that this was a normal reaction. After all, what had happened between them was…it was…well…there were not any words to describe it. He brought his eyes to meet hers again, and could see the mare outwardly flinch when he did. Just as he had initially done, she looked away from him…but Artemis didn't…not this time. He felt warm energy zinging in his chest when she brought her eyes to look at him again. Artemis opened his mouth to say something…anything to her but stopped, finally hearing Twilight's voice gently calling out next to him. Numbly, he wondered how long she had been trying to get his attention. The stallion teared his eyes away from the mare and looked down at the confused face of the young princess.
"Prince Artemis?", she asked, looking at him, a worried expression on her face now.
The prince blinked a few more times and glanced at her.
"Are you alright?", Twilight asked, taking a small step toward him.
He quickly cleared his throat and spoke.
"Ah…yes. I'm fine. I was just…taking everything in", Artemis replied, his eyes blankly scanning the room again. He faced forward, looking at the other alicorns again. By now, the prince had thought it was best to make an effort not to look in the direction of the dark coated mare, lest he get distracted again and come off as rude to the others. Still, he couldn't stop his eyes from briefly traveling in her direction. She was looking in a downward now, clearly not wanting to look at him. Artemis wondered why he suddenly felt saddened at this. The stallion's ears perked up and he swiftly tore his eyes away, hearing the voice of one of the mares.
"Your highness", the white mare said, giving him a respectful nod.
"It is an honor to finally meet you", she said, with a smile.
"Twilight's already told us so many things about you…how you saved everypony in town from that terrible fire", the pink one said, bowing.
Yes. It's thanks to you that princess Twilight and the others weren't harmed. You have our deepest gratitude", the white one said.
"It really was something out of a miracle that you showed up", the young princess said.
"No…not a miracle. I was simply in the right place at the right time", Artemis said.
"It was lucky you were. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my favorite sister in law", the pink one added. Twilight giggled and then straightened up, her eyes widening in shock. She laughed again and tapped a hoof against her head.
"I must be losing my manners today", she said, looking at the group.
"Princesses, I'd like to introduce to Prince Artemis of the Mediean family", she said, happily.
"Prince Artemis, this is Princess Celestia", she began, looking over at the tall white mare, who nodded again and smiled.
"Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire…my sister in law", the young princess said smiling over at her.
"The Crystal Empire…", Artemis trailed off, thinking back to the tales his mother used to tell him…the stories she used to write.
"I've heard tales of such a place…but my home…it seemed to be so far away from anything else…I was never entirely sure that it existed", he said.
"It's very much real.", Cadence said.
"In fact, we'd love it if you stopped by sometime. I know Shining Armor would like it" she said.
"My brother", Twilight said, with a smile.
"Yes. Perhaps. Now that I know it is real. It may be nice to see it. I've often heard stories of its beauty", Artemis said, for once feeling as though he wouldn't mind taking a trip of leisure. He was faintly hopeful that seeing it would act as a way for him to be closer to his mother who was long gone. Twilight smiled and continued with the much needed introductions, now gesturing to the mysterious dark coated mare who he could already feeling his eyes urging him to look at. He did, of course and nearly instantly he could feel a sort or energy…the same distinct power from earlier traveling from him to her, as if connecting them in some way. The mare brought her eyes to look at him once more. She looked as though she wanted to look away but was drawn to meet his gaze, just as he had experience. Artemis felt his heart thump once loudly in his chest, a kind of palpitation that he could feel throughout his body. It was only that one time but…he couldn't describe it…he suddenly felt like he knew this mare, even when he had just met her today…felt like he knew everything and yet nothing about the beautiful soul that he sensed was within her. His lips silently moved, forming words to himself he couldn't even understand. He closed his eyes for a moment. He must have been standing there very briefly because when he opened them he could hear that Twilight had barely had started the final introduction.
"And this is princess…", she began, smiling at the dark mare.
"Luna", Artemis breathed out suddenly in a low voice, without even realizing. For some time he could feel that very same name echoing around him and then deep in the depths of his mind. More importantly…he could sense a familiarity in the name before he even first met the young princess. He couldn't make sense of it. He didn't know where it came from or how he knew it was the mare…it just was. Feeling slightly embarrassed, the stallion hastily silenced himself and did his best to look away from her. Twilight looked at him for a moment before letting out a small laugh.
"Uh…yes. Right on the nose, your highness. I should have guessed that you were listening in detail while we spoke", she said.
"Indeed", Artemis said with a smile, feeling somewhat awkward on the inside. A moment later, his ears caught the sound of princess Celestia quietly whispering to the mare next to her. The group quickly looked at them, clearly waiting for the final princess to reply after Twilight had introduced her. Rather than speaking, she was silent and kept looking away and back at them, as if unsure of what action to take. Her face was clouded in some sort of uneasiness and confliction, making it all too apparent that she was uncomfortable.
"Luna", princess Celestia, said, gently urging her to speak. Luna sucked in a breath, as though she had been holding it and spoke.
"Yes…it's….nice to meet you. We were all unaware of the possibility of the existence of other alicorns. We…we look forward to…speaking with you…and such", she said, before quickly retreating back to Celestia's side, who looked at her for a moment before bringing her attention back to him.
"Oh and-", the youngest princess began but stopped, as a small purple dragon came up to her and threw himself against her leg, hugging it.
"And I'm Spike!", the small dragon said.
"We didn't forget about you", Twilight said, with a smile. Spike craned his neck high, obviously not used to looking up at somepony so tall. He put a finger to his lips, thinking.
"So you're the alicorn that saved Twilight. You really did help us all out. Twilight's been telling us about you since this morning", Spike said.
"Those flames didn't stand a chance. Thanks for saving her", he added.
"You are most welcome", Artemis said, with a smile.
"So you're staying here for a while, right?", Spike asked, cocking his head to the side, looking at him.
"I bet you all have a lot to talk about", Twilight said.
"We all do", Artemis said, offering her another smile.
"No pony even knew that there were any other alicorns outside Equestria. It's still so hard to believe, your highness, even when I'm looking at you right now", Cadence said.
"Yes. We all look forward to learning more about your kingdom. Likewise, we would also be more than happy to tell you of ours", Celestia said. Artemis nodded.
"Yes. I…I'd like that", he said.
"As Twilight said, we really do have much to talk about, and we will…soon enough.", Celestia said.
"But until then…you must be tired from your journey.", she said.
"Yes. I would not mind resting for a bit", Artemis said, his eyes traveling to the window where the pure blue sky looked back at him.
"You're more than welcome to stay here. I'm sure that any one of us would be honored to have you in our kingdom", Celestia said. She quickly glanced at her sister who was still silent and looked back up.
"You can rest and we can talk…maybe figure out things…together", Twilight said. The stallion became thoughtful for a moment, still not quite used to the kindness of others.
"I wouldn't want to impose on any of you", Artemis said.
"None of us think that way", Cadence said.
"We were the ones who wanted to find you. I even almost fell out of the sky just to meet you", Twilight said, jokingly.
"I don't think I could forget that", Artemis said, with a smile.
"You can stay as long as you'd like. We can learn from each other", Twilight said. Artemis nodded.
"Yes. Please. I would ask sanctuary for two or three days. A week at the longest", he said, looking at the group.
"The princesses have plenty of room. It's not any trouble at all", Cadence said.
"I will summon one of the guards to lead you to a room where you can regain your energy", Celestia said, using her magic to conjure up a scroll that soon disappeared into thin air.
"I guess I'll let you have some time to yourself then", Twilight said levitating Spike on her back and bowing again.
"I do hope to see you again, princess", Artemis said.
"Oh, I'm sure you will. I don't think I could stay away anyway", the young princess said, with a laugh.
"I'll be going back now. I have a bit of unfinished business in the Crystal empire", Cadence said, walking up to them.
"Don't worry. I won't breathe a word to anypony about you, your highness", she said.
"Thank you. I…I suppose I'm just not ready…but I have already been discovered in Ponyville", Artemis said. He smiled.
"I don't mind you telling anypony you choose. I trust your discretion", he said.
"Thank you. But I'll be careful still", the pink pony said. He briefly talked with princess Twilight and princess Cadence, and he couldn't control one of his eyes carefully looking over at princess Luna who was standing a few inches behind her sister, looking down at the floor, her eyes blank. Of course, she soon felt his eyes looking at her and Artemis did his best to look away from her but once again, found it difficult to look away from her. Her blue eyes met his own and the mare hastily looked away, clamping down on her jaw, this time blatantly turning her head in the opposite direction. They all saw Celestia casting her questioning looks, clearly sensing that something was off, but didn't say anything. The prince brought his attention back to Luna, hearing her speak, and was even a bit caught off guard, considering that she barely said a word to him since he arrived.
"Well…now that the formal introductions are over…I…I will retire to my quarters", Luna said, abruptly and quickly walking off.
"Luna", Celestia said, a clear tone of disapproval in her voice.
"Are you sure that you want to-", she began but stopped hearing Luna speak again.
"I am tired, sister…as…as our…guest is. We can all talk again once…we have all rested", the dark coated mare said. She flapped her wings once and effortlessly glided towards the large door where a guard was already holding it open at full attention. She looked behind her one more time before disappearing down the hallway.
"Is something wrong with princess Luna?", Spike asked.
"Um…no. Couldn't be. She must just be worn out after last night", Twilight assured him, with an awkward laugh.
"Yes. Princess Luna works very diligently at maintaining the night, so she hasn't gotten any sleep", Celestia said, looking at the door Luna had just left out of.
"I…I see. I completely understand", Artemis said, feeling a bit guilty, knowing that he was the reason princess Luna was in such a hurry to leave. Just then, a guard strided into the room, his eyes growing wide upon seeing Artemis, clearly in disbelief. The armored pegasi rubbed his eyes a few times before walking a few feet closer and bowing to Artemis.
"This guard will show to your room", Celestia said, walking up beside him.
"Thank you", the stallion replied, beginning to walk with her. All four ponies and the young dragon walked out into the hallway, Twilight asking him simple questions, which he was more than happy to answer. When they reached the hallway, Twilight and Cadence said one final goodbye and then walked a few steps in the other direction towards the exit.
"I'll see them out. Enjoy your stay", Celestia said, smiling at him and then joined the others. Artemis and the guard continued the walk to the room, the guard occasionally stealing glances at the stallion, still in complete shock of who he was walking next to. As they walked through the halls, the prince found himself looking in all directions, unconsciously trying to pinpoint where the dark coated princess had gone off to. After their encounter, she had been in much of a hurry to leave…to get away from him as soon as possible. Initially, he had felt like that as well…that unnerving sensation of being pulled in by another's presence…one that he had just met. Feeling that way after meeting a pony for the first time…surely it couldn't be normal. Even now, somewhere in the back of his mind was screaming at him to run…to get out of the castle and get as far away as he could from it…from her…but he didn't want to…not now. So instead, he silently walked through the halls, yet again experiencing the familiar yet very foreign feeling of energy gently flowing through his body that let him know that she was near. At this point, Artemis could still not tell whether or not he disliked the strange feeling...but even when such a feeling disturbed him to some extent…confused him…scared him…he didn't think he'd mind finding out the mystery behind it.
A/N: Please rate and comment!