My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Night

Chapter Six: First Steps

"Equestria has changed so much during my absence," Princess Luna declared, her voice not without sorrow. "I can scarcely recognize it. Tell me, sister…Have they all forgotten me?"

"Many of them are young, little sister," Princess Celestia answered, her voice soft and calm. "They know little of the past Age. They are ready to welcome you, though."

"Perhaps it is for the better," Luna confessed, lowering her head. "They have always hated me."

"You mustn't think that, Luna," the white Alicorn sharply exclaimed. "You are loved…More than you have ever known. You must first forgive yourself, though."

"How can I?" the Princess of Night replied. "As Night Mare Moon, I committed such sins. I fear we are still much alike." Hearing this, Celestia abruptly stopped, catching Luna's attention. The elder sister knew no pain greater than her sister's self-hatred, and even now it burned. "I'm afraid, Celestia. I want to make amends…But I can still see myself as her. I'm so sorry."

"Luna, you have served your time in exile," Celestia assured her sister. "I see only goodness and sorrow in your eyes. You don't have to be her anymore. And you mustn't spend your life in sorrow. Please, sister. We can start over and just be happy."

"I will try," Luna declared, her tone still heavy. "Tia, the ponies who met me upon my return…I should like to see your pupil, Twilight. Are her and her companions still nearby?"

"I shall call them to the castle, my sister," the Princess of Day answered with a smile. "They will be here very soon."

"Thank you," Luna graciously replied, allowing herself to smile. "I have missed you, sister."

"And I you, sister," Celestia lovingly answered. "I sang to you every night…Let us never be apart again."

"Never again," Luna promised, leaning her weary head against her sister's cheek.

Making their way down the near-crystalline hallway of a new yet vaguely familiar castle, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike, Rarity, and Pinky Pie looked around at the Gothic architecture and ancient tapestries surrounding them. Somehow, it all felt like a whole new world after the ceremony. At first, the change was liberating, but there was more to be discovered.

"I wonder why they called us back here," Twilight declared, having forgotten her questions from the previous day.

"No clue," Applejack answered, her voice free of any stress or weight. "Maybe they wanna thank us for being the welcomin' committee."

"I would love to get my own castle," Rainbow Dash joked. "That'd be sweet!" The others giggled at the absurdity of the matter.

"I just hope everything's okay with Princess Luna," Fluttershy confessed. "It must be so scary for her to come back after being alone all those years. I know Princess Celestia had no choice, but I just feel so bad for her. She must've been so lonely."

"I know, Fluttershy," Twilight sympathized with her friend. "But it's all over now. She's back in Equestria with her sister."

"Maybe we're here to help her reintegrate," the sunny Pegasus excitedly suggested. Twilight smiled as her friend's tone grew happy once more. "She seems so nice."

"It's kind of hard to believe she was Night Mare Moon from those old horror stories," Rainbow Dash declared, her voice uneasy. Twilight glanced back at her friend for a moment.

"Ah know what you mean," Applejack replied, flipping her mane out of her face again. "But she's been gone for a thousand years. Ah can't imagine what that does to a pony. She didn' seem sore about it, either."

"I think she's really sorry," Pinky suggested, bouncing up and down with every step she took. "Besides, who could stay made at Princess Celestia? Still, I feel bad for Luna. I mean…one thouuuu-sand years?! That would drive you crazy!"

"Well put, Pinky," Rarity replied. "Princess Luna seemed perfectly stable, though."

"Good point, Rarity," Spike shamelessly kissed up, dangling his head off Fluttershy's shoulder. Knowing her little friend all too well, Twilight giggled to herself.

Finally, the group made it to the entrance to the royal chamber their presence was requested at. Two sentries, each armed with golden spears, stood at attention before the doorway. Seeing the staunch guards, Pinky quickly approached one, stared at his unmoving expressions, and lightly bopped his spear, only for the sentry to snap it back into place. Fascinated, the pink Pony went in once more, only for Applejack to quickly stop her and mouth an apology for her friend's sake. "The seven of you may enter," the other guard declared.

"Thank you," Twilight replied with a humble bow. The ponies and Spike then made their way inside. However, the sentry kept a close eye on Pinky, who took it as a compliment.

Once everypony was inside the chamber, the sentries closed the doors for security and traditional purposes. Looking around, the group took in the dark colors that lined the walls, the ancient tapestries that enforced a sense of divine fear, Gothic design, and walls upon walls of bookshelves all filled with large, dust-coated books and scrolls. Unlike the castles of modern-day Equestria, this particular structure did little to welcome its guests. All concepts of hospitality and equality between royalty and commoners seemed lost within ancient structures and design within the complex.

Fluttershy and Spike instantly grew uneasy, quickly becoming obvious to their friends. Applejack gently placed Fluttershy in a comforting hug and Twilight picked up and swaddled Spike in her loving hooves. At first, the baby dragon tried to resist, his little arms and legs wiggling as he squirmed. "I'm fine, Twilight," he tried to fight back. "I'm a grownup. I don't need…" Soon, Spike felt the comfort of his maternal friend's embrace and lost all will to resist. "Ahh," he sighed, settling into Twilight's cradling hold and closing his eyes. Holding back for Spike's sake, the others watched the precious sight, covering their mouths to prevent the inevitable "aw!" their hearts would cry out.

"You can sense the unhappiness in the air," Rarity declared as she avoided dust and cobwebs while walking around. "I don't believe anypony has been here for centuries."

"Can't imagine why," Rainbow Dash sarcastically replied. "This place is like a graveyard." Glancing over, the Pegasus saw Twilight staring off into space, still holding a sleeping Spike. "Twilight?"

Her eyes and mind fixated on a wall, Twilight watched as images, almost like a memory, played out before her. Not unlike a ghost, a blue mist in the form of Princess Luna, her mane flowing, lowered itself to the ground, looked around, found the misty form of an old teddy bear, picked it up and pressed it to her face, smiled for the first time in so long, and then faded. The absence of dust in certain spots confirmed the truth of the memory, though everything else was gone. Saddened, the Unicorn turned away and rejoined her friends. Still, she knew Luna's pain and isolation, though it had been hundreds of years.

Suddenly, the sound of shoed hooves harshly though gracefully descending the aged stairs interrupted and silenced all conversations. The ponies all gathered in the center of the chamber and stared ahead. Sensing her friend was still uneasy, Applejack kept Fluttershy close, inspiring Pinky to pull Rainbow Dash closer to her. The Pegasus gave her pink friend a confused and slightly irritated glance before turning back to the stairs. Her starry mane flowing, Princess Luna stepped down until she was completely in sight of her subjects. Each of the Mane 6 bowed down on their hind and one front leg, closing their eyes and lowering their heads in reverence. To properly humble herself, Twilight carefully set Spike down, making sure not to wake him. Somehow, the room seemed darker, as if under the starry skies of night, though the change was subtle. Pleased with her reception, the Princess of Night allowed a small smile to cross her lips. "At ease, my subjects," she declared, her eyes closed as she raised her hoof with authority. Standing back up and opening their eyes, the mares couldn't help but stare at their beautiful and mysterious new ruler. Not used to staying still for so long, Pinky cracked her neck from side to side and shook it all off. "Twilight Sparkle, we require an audience with you upstairs."

"Yes, my princess," the Unicorn answered with great reverence. Picking Spike up, Twilight began to follow the princess.

"We wish to speak with you alone, Twilight Sparkle," Luna declared. "You may leave your drooling dragon behind with the others." Noticing Spike slobbering on her hoof, Twilight quickly yet carefully handed him to Fluttershy and parted ways from her company behind the princess. With that, the two ascended the staircase, leaving the others behind.

"I wonder what's up," Rainbow Dash declared, trying to keep her voice down.

"I haven't a clue," Rarity added, growing somewhat nervous and fearing the worst. "I hope they don't want to take her away from Ponyville."

"Don' sweat it, fillies," Applejack replied with confidence. "Twilight's not goin' anywhere." Nodding, Fluttershy readjusted her grasp on Spike, trying to keep him steady and not drooling on her.

Ascending the stairs behind Princess Luna, too nervous to look any higher than the next few steps before her, Twilight felt her thoughts start to drift. This was all so strange: Like dreams and reality blending together. There are so many things radiating from her, the young Unicorn told herself. I can't read her, but it's like we've known each other forever. But I don't know anything about her. There's so much confusion and power and fear to her. What's it all mean? How've we met before? Finally, once the two reached the top floor, Luna turned around, and Twilight's eyes truly opened. The staircase was no longer in sight, all outside noise had faded, doors and windows to the rest of Equestria were nowhere to be found, the ceiling flowed with the stars and dark matter of the night's sky, the light faded, and a phantom of the Moon provided the only true source of light. Time and its restraints seemed to fade as the two mares stood in space. For a time, neither spoke. Lowering her head, Twilight gave in. "It has to be you," she silently declared.

"What?" Princess Luna replied, her tone coming out harsh.

"It has to be you who begins, my princess," the Unicorn answered, her voice humble as she stared down into the stars of the cosmos. "We're no longer equals."

Stepping closer to her subject, Luna relaxed her stance and let out a slight sigh. "Twilight Sparkle," she declared in a lightening tone. "There is much to explain. Before any of that, though…I wish to extend my gratitude to you. You have always been a true and compassionate friend to me, as you have seen me in my weakest times."

"You've helped me as well, my princess," Twilight answered, expressing her own relief. "I just don't understand why it is you came to me, of all ponies in Equestria."

"I believe we both know the unhappy answer to your question, one young," the princess answered with a weight to her voice. "We are both cursed with the voice that haunts us: Me by what I have done, and you by a cruel twist of fate. In this, our spirits became kindred. Kindred in fear and suffering, but kindred all the same. I am truly sorry for the life you have been deprived of, Twilight. She is my darkness…the wretched face of my own sins, not yours."

"Does Princess Celestia know?" Twilight asked, her fear beginning to show in her voice. Suddenly, her expression grew youthful and hopeful as her tone lightened. "Maybe she can stop it. Maybe we can all work together."

"You and I know nopony can stop it, Twilight Sparkle," Luna sorrowfully answered. At this, Twilight felt her spirits sink once more, and the princess was pained. "…I just want you to know that you are not alone. Whether I am here or not, my child, I am with you."

"Thank you, my princess," the young Unicorn sobbed, allowing herself to smile, even as tears welled up in her eyes. "And thank you…for always being there for me when I needed you."

"I did…so little to help you, Twilight Sparkle," the Princess of Night confessed, turning her gaze from her young subject. "I was only seeking comfort of my own. It is I that should be thanking you." Placing her hoof upon Twilight's weary shoulder, Luna looked into her subject's red, tear-lined eyes with great pity. "I know you are afraid…But you have her eyes. We'll always be with you."

"I have so many questions," Twilight whispered, her heart still troubled. "You've been in my life so long, Princess, but I know so little about you."

"It is a different world than when I visited you in dreams, Twilight," the starry Alicorn sadly replied. "There is much I cannot tell you, anymore. I am sorry."

"I understand, my princess," the Unicorn accepted with a quick bow. No longer a foal, Twilight remained humble and obedient, no matter what she was feeling inside. "I hope you'll be happy back home. Will you come see me in my dreams sometime?"

"Perhaps," the princess jokingly answered, allowing a smile to slip across her face. Twilight smiled with newfound hope. "I am never far away." Bowing to her superior, the young Unicorn smiled and was shown the stairs.

Hearing the doors close behind her, Twilight walked down the stairs, shaking off the unclear images residing in the shadows on the walls. Hesitating before joining her friends, the mare watched Fluttershy comfort Spike while Rarity and Applejack talked with one another, and Pinky attempting to make Rainbow Dash wear the paper hat she had constructed. Smiling to herself, Twilight finally exited the hallway and walked over to her friends, who instantly came to her side.

"So, when do we move into our new castle?" Rainbow Dash jokingly greeted.

"Is everythin' alright?" Applejack added with optimism.

"Everything's fine," Twilight answered with a smile on her face. With that, Spike climbed onto his friend's back and hugged her mane. "We're free to go." Fluttershy smiled with relief.

"Aw, no fun," Pinky Pie whined. "Ooh, did you get a chance to touch her mane? It looks so cool and full-of-stars!" Twilight shook her head.

"Well, it got us out of town for the day," Dash concluded. "Wanna get some lunch?"

"That sounds nice," Fluttershy answered. "There's a café not far from here we could try. I brought Spike's disguise just in case."

"I could use a break from all this," Twilight joined in.

"And it would give us a chance to see more of the metropolitan area," Rarity enthusiastically added.

With her company gone, Luna remained in her silent study, gazing at the stars around her. Like too many days of her life, the princess was alone. The silence was absolute as she drifted through space, growing colder by the minute. It wasn't long before Luna felt the lush, bat-like wings embrace and surround her, chilling her to the bone. Within moments, the stars had all faded, leaving only the deepest darkness of the impure night. Closing her eyes, the majestic Alicorn felt Moon's icy breath wash over her spine. "All alone yet again, Luna," the malicious voice taunted the princess. "But as long as I am here…you shall never be alone."

"What do you want?" Luna demanded, her voice cold as she pulled away from the dark creature's grasp.

"I only want that which you want, my beloved," Night Mare Moon lovingly hissed. Following Luna, the beast drifted in front of her, staring into her eyes with the icy, nearly serpent-like gaze. "I know what your heart truly longs for, even when you attempt to disguise it. I have always been a part of you, Luna. In the thousand years you suffered in exile, I was right there beside you. Now we are free once more."

"I'm not like you anymore," the Princess of Night fought back, thrusting her head away from Moon's. In her fear and anger, Luna felt hot tears beginning to well up in her eyes as her strength reached an emotional high. "You are only that which I have thrown away: A childish fit of rage and a desire for power. You are my folly and pain. I do not need you…anymore… I don't love you…anymore." Her strength fading, the Alicorn closed her eyes and felt herself sink into the calm and quiet shadows.

"There is reason why I survived all those years, Luna," the beast argued, maintaining a horrid pleasure. "I am no simple shadow to be cast away in the morning's Sun. I am not a ghost to haunt you… I am you, Luna." Laying her head down upon Luna's neck, Moon closed her eyes and whispered into the princess' ear, cackling with sadistic pleasure and exposing her fangs. The wicked Alicorn spread her wings and covered Luna as she slept, merging and overpowering her body. Parting her wicked eyes and smiling with malice, Night Mare Moon rose onto her white-armored hooves that spread a fog of darkness around them with every step, spread her massive, pitch-black wings into the air as her endless dark-celestial blue mane and tail flowed like mist, allowed her long, straight, sharp, black horn shine in the moonlight, felt her corrupted blue Crescent Moon Cutie-Mark glisten upon her fully black coat, and breathed in the air of Equestria for the first time in one thousand years. Her cackle rising with unholy joy, the dark Alicorn willed her slim, white helmet to form like mercury from the tip of her snout, over her head, and down to her mid-neck. "Never again shall they sleep through my night," the monster declared, opening the Realm of Dreams, where Celestia had no hold. "The nightmare begins anew."

"You'll be wonderful, Luna," Princess Celestia had once told her sister before her first raising of the Moon.

"Promise me you'll help me if I can't do it?" the purple filly nervously replied.

"I wish the day would never end," young fillies and colts told one another as the Sun set over Equestria. "Wish that the Moon would fall and never return."

Standing alone in her anger and isolation, Princess Luna, still a filly, gazed off into the kingdom guarded by her loving Moon. "Am I so wrong to wish that they would see things like I do? And am I so wrong to think that they might love me too? Is it not within my right? I'll not be overshadowed: Mine is not the lesser light. I've waited long enough now, for them all to come around. And though the Sun may plead and threaten, the Moon will stand her ground. And all will know the wonder, of my dark and jeweled sky, when all the world is wrapped in an Eternal Lullaby! So say goodnight, to this, the final setting of the Sun. Tomorrow dawns in darkness: The night time has begun!"

Awaking from a nightmare and finding herself all alone in her bedroom, Twilight clenched her sheets and caught her breath. The day was gone: Spike was asleep downstairs and the others were back home. From a distance, the young Unicorn could see the darkening light of the Moon outside her window. The night was young, raw, and cold as something flew through the stars and darkness.

Song featured: "The Moon Rises" as performed by Eile Monty, created by PonyPhonic.