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This story is meant to be kinda sad but comforting as well. I seem to write more sad songs and stories than happy ones. I really want to get the happy ending of my story, and that's what keeps me going. The story only gets darker and sadder, so if you can't handle it I don't blame you. I can still cry sometimes lol

Enjoy this chapter. Thanks for the support!

PBJ

Chapter 4: Permanent Problems

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Luna cracked open her eyes, only to close them again because of the blinding light. She slowly opened her eyes, and yet even her eyes were out of focus. Everything was blurry.

Then came the pain. Her entire body shook with stabs of pain down her spine. She yelled in agony.

There was a sound of an impact on wood, and voices of some pony.

Her eyes were gaining focus. She could make out the speaking form of…

Celestia. The name burnt like a fresh wound. If what she saw was true, then Celestia… was not her sister. She refused to believe it.

"-Luna! Say something! Can you hear me?" Celestia's voice faded into life and Luna's eyes focused. "Si…" Luna's throat was so dry, she couldn't finish even one word. Celestia had tears rolling down her face. She moved closer to the edge of the bed. "You've been out for an entire week!"

Luna slowly shook her head. The tiny neck movement caused a splitting migraine right on her forehead. Not a good time to try magic yet.

Luna had crawled from the observatory to Shining Star's room and got help from him. She was found bloody and battered, dragging herself along her front hooves in desperation to survive the fall that nearly claimed her life.

"Where is Shining Star? I want to speak to him," Luna croaked. Celestia nodded then leaned out the door and whispered something. She leaned back in. "He's on the way."

Luna and Celestia waited for Star to arrive. When he did, he rushed over to the side of the Moon princess. "Are you okay, Luna?"

"I don't feel okay… I have a splitting headache that feels like my horn has been ripped off!"

Star was silent. "About that. Luna, there is some very unfortunate news we have for you. Actually, two or three."

"What could be wrong with me?"

"Well, first, the doctor found out your bones are extremely weak. I'm guessing a thousand years on the Moon would have caused that."

"What's worse?"

"Your back right hind leg is crippled. We have no idea how long it will take to heal, but with the combination of your weak bones and the fall you had, it may be permanent."

Luna could already feel a tear threatening to spill over. "And the worst?"

Star sighed. He grabbed a mirror. "Luna, I'm afraid this is the worst thing that can happen to any horned pony."

"No. You don't mean…"

Shining Star held the mirror up for Princess Luna. Her eyes opened wide and she was on the verge of tears. "No…"

Her horn was ruggedly snapped near the base. The white bone inside with many air pockets inside them gaped open, showing just how destroyed she was.

Luna demanded, "Where is the broken horn?!" When it was passed to her, she tried to put the horn back where the base was, tears spilling over her cheeks and wetting her fur. In a last attempt, she tried to make the horn float with her magic. She saw visible sparks come from her forehead, and felt a hot sensation. She eventually gave up and started sobbing, crying in loud bouts that made more tears flow. She was never going to be able to do magic again.

Shining Star stood right next to Princess Luna, trying his hardest not to break down like he did the day before. Celestia was also letting tears flow.

Luna suddenly leaned over and embraced Shining Star. He was quite shocked but returned the embrace with kind.

Luna let go and looked at him. She asked, "Will you help me? Please." Shining Star have a nod of affirmation, and Luna pulled him into another hug. This time, Star truly was the shoulder to lean on.

Three days later

Luna woke up yawning and stretching her forelegs. She was back in her private chambers. She sat up and went to get out of bed, and came face first with a wheel chair. Reality came crashing down and she weeped for her soulless self. She was able to walk now however. Luna stepped down and automatically shifted off her crippled leg. It was permanently disfigured now. She walked awkwardly to her bathroom only for her to try to use magic to open the door and walk straight into it.

The first thing Luna saw was her own reflection. Her eyes were puffed and slightly red. There were wet tear trails down her face.

The pushed her hanging head of hair aside and looked at the broken horn. The holes in the bone were closing up, but the jagged split was still there.

Luna kept her broken-off horn in a box on her bedside table.

She was still crying as she opened the door and immediately hobbled to the toilet.

She sat and emptied her bladder. After a minute she got off. She picked up a toothbrush from the counter and shoved it to the back of her throat, triggering a gag reflex. She emptied the contents of last night into the porcelain bowl.

She spat out the bile and flushed the toilet. After washing and not bothering to put on makeup (it would wash off from the tears anyways) she made to the dining hall.

Celestia was already there with Shining Star. She warmly smiled as Luna sat at the table. "You're finally out of that wheel chair." Luna nodded and forgot she can't use magic again - she tried to pick up the fork with magic. "Argh!" Celestia's smile faltered as Luna picked up the fork with a hoof and speared the egg with it.

Breakfast was then eaten in silence. Luna dropped the fork twice and it clattered across the floor both times. "Fucking seriously?"

When Luna finished her breakfast she noticed Celestia had left, leaving only Star left in her presence. Star politely waited for Luna to finish her breakfast then stacked all the plates manually.

Star turned to Luna. "Were you okay this morning?" When Luna averted her eyes he said, "You did it again, didn't you?" She nodded. Star adopted a look of disappointment.

"You need to stop. It's a bad habit you can't afford to keep having." Star sternly said.

"Please don't tell Tia…" Luna pleaded.

Star rolled his eyes. "Fine. But if I found out you did it again, it's going straight to her." Luna nodded, biting her lower lip.

Luna had a small flashback.

"If you truly think that it's okay to do it, you're wrong, Luna." Celestia was standing in front of a younger Luna, with the lighter blue coat and sky colored mane. Her voice acted on her own. "I can't stop it! It happens every day!" Luna knew this moment, when Celestia found out about her depressive disorder.

"You can stop doing it yourself. You just need the willpower." Celestia retorted. This was one of many arguments the sisters shared, but this one stung more than any wasp could.

Luna rose and stood. She took in a sharp breath and yelled, "It's your fault! Your stupid ponies don't truly understand! You made the day to be inferior to the night by twisting the words and the books! YOU'RE THE REASON THIS IS ALL HAPPENING!" Luna's horn lit up and Celestia was moved out the door, pleading all the way. The door slammed shut and the deadbolt clicked into place, and Luna broke down and laid there, the sun taunting her as it rose into the sky.

Luna blinked, the vision leaving her. She was on the floor in the same position as she was in the vision. Star was at her side, shaking his head. "Your eyes turned white, and you just yelled something about no ponies caring about the night, then you just collapsed. You also tried to use magic."

Luna shakily stood up and shook her head. "I need to talk to Celestia. Go out and do something. It is a talk I need to do alone." Star nodded and walked out a side entrance.

Celestia sat on the throne in the courthouse, listening to ponies argue about some project. She paid not much attention.

A small mare walked up to Celestia. "Princess, Princess Luna wants to speak to you in private."

Celestia said, "Tell her that I'll be over as soon as I can." The servant nodded and left. She turned back and denied the request of the accuser. The four ponies left.

Celestia stood. "Court is adjourned for a one hour break." The ponies in the stands broke into chatter as they left the courtroom. Celestia took a special exit meant to save her life in the event of an emergency, which lead to the main palace room. Celestia walked direct to Luna's quarters.

Luna was sitting on the carpeted floor. Celestia could hear nothing. But she could smell a hint of stomach bile as she walked in, and decided not to comment. She walked on the soft grey carpets and stood next to Luna. "I'm here."

Luna looked up at Celestia. Suddenly she was sent reeling from a flashback.

Luna sat and looked at the empty sky. "And I'm supposed to raise the Moon?" She asked.

Celestia nodded and placed a hoof on Celestia's back. "You're the princess of the night. It's what's you're supposed to do." Luna sighed and lit up her horn, imagining the Moon crawling up the sky.

She had her eyes shut, but when she felt something move she gasped. The Moon was creeping up the sky, bathing the entire room in a silver light. When the moon was in its right place Luna cut her magic and fell on her rump, panting slightly. "I did that?"

Celestia chuckled. "Yes, you did." Luna was sitting, with Celestia standing on her left.

Luna looked into the sky, noticing the emptiness. "Where are the stars?"

"You're supposed to raise them too." Luna pouted and leaned against Celestia's leg

"Can you do the stars tonight?" Luna asked, yawning. Celestia smiled and lit her horn, effortlessly making the stars twinkle into existence. Luna hugged Celestia. "Thanks, sister."

Sister. The words echoed in the wind.

Luna turned around, and that's when she noticed. "Celestia! Look, look! I got my cutie mark!"

A white crescent on black inky sky was present on the young pony's flank. The cutie mark seemed to sparkle with stars.

"I told you so," said Celestia. She embraced Luna and motioned at the night sky. "Welcome to your domain, Luna."

The flashback faded, leaving Celestia to look worried at Luna as she stared at the sunlit landscape. "It's like all has changed," Luna said.

It was Celestia's turn to seem puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Remember my first night ever raising the Moon? Remember when you raised the stars?" Celestia nodded. Luna continued, "It's all wrong now. I'm staring over the sunlit landscape after you rose the sun."

Celestia's face went from puzzled to happy to sad. She sat next to Luna. "Was this what you wanted to talk about?"

"No. We- no, I, saw something, Tia." Celestia asked what it was, and Luna began.

"When I fell and nearly died, I was in… another world. A voice keeps speaking to me, taunting me what happened. It called me Lulamoon."

Celestia remembered. Her guise melted. "Continue."

"I… saw things. I saw, forgive me, I witnessed a vision regarding my own birth." Celestia's eyes widened as Luna continued. "It was horrifying. I didn't know it was me until I heard the baby named Lulamoon as the- no, my mother died. I then saw everything change. You held me, the newborn baby as the mother bled out. There was a white nurse. I remember her from what you told me was my mother."

Celestia put a hoof to her mouth. She very well knew where it was going, but she let her continue. "Then you disappeared. I watched as time advanced, as I had my own child, and then… I saw you, you had died, and I was permanently disfigured. I was missing a wing. My… 'child' was there. I suffered, Celestia. My life showed suffering beyond anything you or I could comprehend. But the final scene stung. My child had to lower the sun and moon broken together for the last time as she died, leaving ponies extinct. Then… I came back to my senses, and I fell." Luna concluded her tale, and saw Celestia's tears falling as well as her own.

"Celestia, are you truly not my sister?"

Tia broke down, sobbing while embracing Luna. "I'm sororororororry!" She wailed.

Meanwhile Luna was shocked. Celestia hadn't refuted what she said of her birth. Which meant it was true. If Celestia wasn't her sister by birth, how did they both get the status as princesses? Luna asked such question.

Celestia got all silent, tears still streaming down her face and ruining her eyeliner she usually wears. "You don't want to know," she whispered.

"You tell me now." Luna nudged her sister.

Celestia sighed. "Shortly after your birth, the alicorn race was wiped out. I was instructed to hide with you underground. We came back up years later only to have to rescue the three new races of ponies-"

"What?"

"The Alicorns were the only pony race in existence at the time. Shortly after a great fight in desperation of loss a group of alicorns created three new races as the failsafe. The pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies came into existence then.

"We were the last of our race left, and the dead souls of the alicorn races tainted our souls, giving us the long lives we will lead. We weren't sisters by blood, but we had to rule together to prevent the extinction of ponies. All of this happened while you were only a month old.

"I was now practically your foster mother, and watched as you grew as my 'sister'."

Luna was shocked. By the fault that they weren't sisters by blood, they were driven together by the three races of ponies' need for a ruler. Celestia hugged Luna tightly as the city below remained oblivious to the pain the two were facing.

Star was looking for Emerald. He wanted someone to talk to again. He found her in the library, pulling books out only to put them in a different place. Star walked up to her and said, "What's with the books?"

Emerald jumped. "Oh, I was told to sort the library shelf here. It's rather out of order. Did you hear those screams a couple nights ago?" Emerald's horn lit up and a newspaper floated over.

Ghost of Canterlot! Screams heard from castle.

"Oh. I know what happened." Star solemnly thrown the paper down.

"Do you know who it was?" Emerald interrogated. Shining Star nodded. "Then who was it?"

"I'd rather not say… it's tragic." Emerald gave him a questioning look. Star shook his head. "I needed to talk to someone, so I looked for the one person I knew in this castle besides the two princesses."

Emerald laughed and she slid down the ladder she was on. "Me? Oh, I'm flattered. Cmon, lets chat then."

The two caught up in the empty library, talking about what happened in the time they spent apart. Until the dreaded question came up. "Come on, can't you tell me who that ghost was?"

Star shook his head. "As long as you don't tell any other soul you see." Emerald eagerly nodded. "Alright. The ghost was not a ghost, rather a pony who fell from the sky. That pony was no other than Princess Luna herself."

Emerald stopped smiling. She gasped. "What happened?"

"She hallucinated or something. Her wings froze in sub zero temperatures, and when she tried to stop herself her wing snapped and she fell upside down on the ground."

"It's an odd detail to say she landed upside down," Emerald commented.

"It's cause it's the entire reason… no, you'll find out in due time. Someone is listening." Star looked around for the visitor. "Show yourself."

And peeked in the sunroof was a pegasus pony with a notepad. She squealed and disappeared.

"Well shit." Star stood up. "You need help with those books?" He stretched his wings which were healed up in the week Luna was unconscious. "I can fly now."

"Sure. Two ponies better than one I guess." Emerald and Star got to work, organizing books by their title.

"They should do something like numbers that are easier to keep track of, huh?" Star said as he glided down to meet Emerald on the ground floor of the two storey library. Emerald nodded agreement as they both left the library.

Taking to the town, a pink pony approached them. "Can I have a word you you, Mr. Shining Star?"

Star shrugged. "Why not?" The pink mare hoof pumped. "Alright." She pulled out a notepad. Oh.

"What's it like being the student of Princess Luna?"

"Fine, but challenging. She has a lot to teach." The reporter wrote it down with unicorn magic. "Next, what is she teaching you?"

"She's teaching all about the night sky. I believe I'm being taught about the Moon next." The reporter hmm'd and wrote on the pad.

"What happened the week ago? The yell across Canterlot?"

"I can't answer that." The reporter seemed disappointed.

"Sorry to bug you. Thanks for your time, bye!" She ran off.

Star and Emerald hang out in town until lunchtime when a letter suddenly appeared in front of Star's face. "What?" Emerald opened the letter with magic.

Dear Shining Star,

I need you in the castle. Luna has gone and locked me out and refuses to talk to me. Can you try to talk to her and see what's wrong?

Celestia

"Well, Celestia's a killjoy," Emerald said, "but you should get going." Star sighed and said, "Nice seeing you today, Emerald."

Emerald waved as he left back toward the castle. There were no problems on the way back as he flew.

Walking into the castle and into the throne room, Celestia was there talking to a few members of the guard, with one of them being the captain of the guard. Star politely waited until the guards had dispersed, then approached Celestia. "What's going on this time?" He asked.

"Luna locked me out of her room and won't let me in. She says she doesn't want me to be there, but I think she will listen to your reason," Celestia told Star. Star nodded and walked off.

Then Shining Star realized something small: he now knew the main paths in the castle. He smirked as he trotted down the hall towards Luna's private quarters. He stopped before the door and knocked his hoof on the door.

"Go away!" Luna said from inside the room. Star said, "It's me, Shining Star. I wanted to talk to you."

He heard a door slam and then heard poor Luna growl in frustration. She probably tried to use magic again.

The door opened. "Star. Hey." She walked inside, nodding her head. He followed. Luna sat at the edge of her bed. "Ever since losing my horn, life has pretty much completely changed."

"You know I don't have a horn right? I am living just fi-"

"You do not know how it feels to live for two thousand years with being used to magic, then being forced to live with none of the spells that helped you survive. I doubt I'm going to survive another battle without my magic!" Luna roared.

Star took a step back. "Alright, alright! I'm sorry!"

Luna took a deep breath. "Hey, now I really want to ask something important, since you're here." Luna was breathing hard.

Luna couldn't come herself to ask the question.

Will you be my friend?

Such a simple question, so hard to say. Her heart was being twisted, pulled towards the caring pony. She never felt it with Celestia, but with Star, she felt butterflies in her stomach and her tail twitch automatically.

She tried to force out the words. "Will… Will you…"

"Will I what?" Luna began to leak tears, scared that he would reject her.

"Shining Star, will you please be my friend?" She let go of a breath she didn't know she was holding, taking in sharp breathing to prepare for the imminent decline.

What she wasn't expecting was the smile and for Star to say, "Luna, I'll be your friend. I've always been your friend and I will help you get through these hard times."

Luna broke down for the third time that day, taking Shining Star into a large hug as she wept into her shoulder. For once, the tears were happy.

Luna felt it. She felt the warmness that was missing from her cold shell of a body. As she cried those happy tears she knew. She knew.

Luna, the night princess, was beginning to feel again. Not anger, not spite, not jealousy… she felt… happy.

Happy. What an odd word. It's indescribable to anyone who hasn't felt it before. It's like a warmness that removes the sinking feeling from your chest.

But regardless, her broken soul had been shattered after a millennia on the moon, and she was beginning to pick up the pieces.

Celestia sat in the throne room using her magic to listen to Luna's conversation with Star. She had a grin on her face and she had tears welling in her eyes, she knew Luna was, with the assistance of a new friend, starting to feel happiness.

Celestia thought about what had to happen next. She teleported down to the Canterlot library and began to search for books.

Placing books she couldn't use back onto the shelf, she found what she was looking for.

Starswirl's Emergency Healing Guide.

She flipped through the pages, scanning for what she wants. Finding on page 104 gave her the heading:

Unicorns: horn fracture and breaking

Celestia looked over the page and her eyes narrowed. The book listed it was possible, but the pony with the broken horn would need to be able to at least activate her horn. Now that was a hard task to do, especially as with how much of Luna's horn broke off. She rubbed her temple as she bookmarked the page and left the library.

Luna let go of Star. His light blue coat was wet at the shoulder. Luna said, "Thank you so much. Thank you…." Star smiled.

"You're welcome. Now, Luna, it is nearing night time. I want you to try your hardest to raise the Moon tonight." Luna lost her ability to raise and lower the Moon, so Celestia had to do it manually. It didn't stop Luna from trying.

Celestia decided then to let herself in, floating in a book using magic, which stung Luna. "I found something!" Celestia said. Luna took the book and opened it to the book mark. She read through the page with hunger in her eyes.

Then she threw the book at Celestia. "DOES THAT HELP?" She screeched, making Celestia flinch. "YOU KNOW I CANNOT PERFORM MAGIC! WHAT IS THE POINT? ARE YOU GOING TO FUCKING TEASE ME LIKE THIS?"

Celestia had been shocked so much she was crying. She took the book and galloped out of Luna's room with no utterances.

Luna was hyperventilating, and she groaned. The happiness had been made dormant, but it was still there. She flopped on her bed and sighed. "Why can't I be happy for one moment?" She fell onto the bed and fell asleep.

UGH. I had to manually put in all the italics. Thanks Google Drive. Whatever.