Diary of the Night

by CalebH

First published 8th of July, 2013

After Luna returns from imprisonment on the moon Celestia suggests keeping a diary might be therapeutic. What will the princess of the night see fit to write?

After a thousand years imprisoned in the moon Luna has returned but for her those thousand years passed by in a matter of moments. Though the Elements of Harmony have cleansed Nightmare Moon's taint from her heart she is still very much a broken mare. Celestia suggests she write her thoughts down in a diary to help her process what she is going through but what will she see fit to write?

*notes*
Chapters for this story will be short but will be updated often.
Featured on 6/18/2014 and several times since then. Holy crap you guys are awesome!

Reunion - Chapter 1

Dear C,
I know you are reading this diary; I knew you would read it the moment you suggested I start keeping one again. Being made one with the moon is a novelty for a week at most. Little has happened that could make me forget you. You have not changed at all; at least I hope you have not.
-L

Author's Notes:

If you've read my story A Crystal Shattered then you should know that I will be writing this fic with a different headcannon in mind so if some details or character interactions aren't the same this is why.
I have about a dozen chapters for this written right now and i will try to publish them at least daily (if i remember). They will not all follow this letter format and will switch to a diary standpoint and get longer soon. I'm hoping the short chapter length of this story will help me to get them published with some sort of regularity once the ones i have written run out.
Anyway, hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!

Reunion - Chapter 2

C
That was unfair. I… I know you have changed; how could you not? It has been a thousand years, everything is changed. Where there was once a capitol there is a forest. A thousand years; and I was a rock floating through the void all that time. Everything is changed but me.

I am still hurting. All that pain and jealousy and anger were mere moments ago to me even if it was a thousand years for everypony else. I will not return to that nightmare, but I went there for a reason and that reason is still here. I drove you away and I locked you out in my pride. I will not do that again.

It has been a thousand years and I have at least learned this one lesson.
-L

Author's Notes:

Okay so you need at least 1000 words to publish so a good portion of what i have will go up immediately but I should be able to get it updated pretty often.

Reunion - Chapter 3

C
Thank you for sending the astronomers to talk to me. It is heartening to see that some of your ponies started looking at the sky after the sun went down. Maybe I may do something in thanks to them once I start doing the nights again. When I am allowed.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 4

C
I understand, I do not need to hear you say it again. The elements took two torn halves of me and washed them and bound them back together. it will take some time for me to recover.

We have known each other far too long, sister. There is no such thing as an unspoken word between us. I know what you did say and what you were too afraid to say.

It is painful, Tia. I understand but still, it wounds me.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 5

C
They say progress is two steps forward, one step back; or at least they used to. Today is that step back.

Do you remember that city in the north? We stopped watching it and that tyrant took over. Who would have thought there was a spell that would make the entire Crystal Empire a personal shield for him? Not me. I struck him into oblivion at the first opening, and the city and all its subjects joined him. it is no mystery why you do not trust me, there is far too much blood on my hoofs.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 6

C

When a pony claiming to be a councilor showed up I thought you were going to let me in your court. It seems the meaning of ‘councilor’ has drifted somewhat. (If any councilor is reading this, I will know and you will find out firsthoof if the rumors about Nightmare Moon eating ponies are true based on the method I chose to kill you) We had a long conversation after which he concluded that I have ‘issues’ and I concluded that he is wholly under qualified to help me through the guilt of destroying an entire city, having my mind taken over by the very darkest of my emotions and trying to destroy the world twice.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 7

C
I realize I never cared for your court but just about anything is better than wallowing in self-pity. And if this “Nephew” is such a cad then why do you not just remove him from the “family”. I swear, you are such a softy, you need to have some rumors involving dungeon throwing and banishment spread so your ponies will respect you.

Also yes I do realize that by the time a “councilor” got enough experience to help me they would be dead of old age. But perhaps there is a certain alicorn guardian of the sun (and currently my moon) that could do more than a short lunch together and reading my diary.
-L

Author's Notes:

don't worry dear reader, you will find out more about this "family" later

Reunion - Chapter 8

C
No Tia, this is the same pile of manure you fed me a thousand years ago. It is impossible for you to have lived so long without learning to delegate. If you do not have time for me it is because you cannot be bothered to make time.
-L

Author's Notes:

do we detect bitterness in thy writing, oh princess of the night?

Reunion - Chapter 9

C
I am sorry. If I had to do that to you I would throw myself at every diversion I could too. Old habits do indeed die hard and I should have kept that in mind before I passed judgment. I do not mean to play the victim but I do not know what other part is left for me to play. I am reduced to a mere recluse without the benefit of knowing what recluses do to pass the time in this age.

Please, just give me one night. It feels like my cutie mark is going to fall off my flank from misuse.
-L

Author's Notes:

I really am trying not to go all Lunar Republic on this and make Celestia out to be the bad guy.

Reunion - Chapter 10

C
Oh thank you sister! I cannot even begin to express my delight! It will be the most wonderful of nights. I will make sure your ponies love it, it will be endlessly beautiful. I shall look into these video games you suggested later but as for the present I have a night to prepare.
-L

Author's Notes:

I may do some more with 'gamer Luna' in a little while I even have an OC in mind if i do but i have some other stuff mapped out for the time being.

Reunion - Chapter 11

C
You are heartless. This is the most utterly cruel thing you have ever done to me. You give me hope only to dash it before my face based on my ‘subtext’. Let me spell it out clearly for you, I do not want to plunge the world into endless night. Without the sun everypony dies and as frustrating as you and your subjects may be at time I have caused more than my share of death.

Leave me alone. Let me fade into the night that will not be mine again and die. At least in death I will not be able to harm another.

When I write in this book you will not be allowed to read it. If you will not trust me then I will at least have my privacy from you.
-L

Author's Notes:

aaand with that this fic is done with letter format onward to actual diary-ness!
also if your wondering what subtext is being referred to here "It will be the most wonderful of nights. I will make sure your ponies love it, it will be endlessly beautiful."

Reunion - Chapter 12

When I awoke everypony told me I had been gone for a thousand years but it felt like nothing more than a deep slumber. Now I feel every lifetime it has been since I have had somepony to call ‘friend’. All that is left is a sister who refuses to trust me and ponies that are scores of generations removed from those I knew. A friend; maybe that is what I need to mend my breaking heart.
-L

Author's Notes:

something isn't right with the wordcount on this story. I tallied up all the chapters before this one and got 1006 but the story page only says 800-something... whatever have the first diary chapter that's not actually a letter.

Reunion - Chapter 13

I tried talking with a guard today. I asked him to only call me Luna but he refused. I assured him I would not object to the lack of formality, I begged, I pleaded with him just to use my name.

“The princess has ordered that you should be called princess, princess,” he finally said.

It is nothing but a word they are told to call me. Celestia is still ‘The’ princess. I am only a hollow shell she has assigned a title to. I have no power and no authority yet they still insist on calling me ‘princess’. That word has become to me the worst of insults.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 14

There is a simple truth. It is astounding and crushing to me in its own right and yet its use as a metaphor to describe my situation is uncannily accurate. I wonder have these little ponies learned it in a thousand years, do they know the shame of the night? Have a thousand years of progress revealed that my moon is nothing but a proxy, shining only when the sun gives it light?
-L

Reunion - Chapter 15

Imagine my surprise to wake up this afternoon to a sun blotted out by smoke. Either this new ‘Everfree Forest’ has caught ablaze or there is a dragon. Either way the nation is in danger. I look out the window and see the forest lush and green as always; it is a dragon.

Dragons, I had heard they had moved into the former home of the pony tribes. Serves those blasted windagoes right. They froze the land only to burn under the withered fury of dragon fire, HA! But if dragons see fit to move near us we must send them a firm response.

I go to talk with sister on her throne but I am turned away at the door. I finally squeeze an answer out of one of her guards. “Her student is handling it,” He says.

Who is this student? My memory of my rescue is still…lacking. There are only scraps, an orange earth pony, a yellow pegasus. They are important but Celestia has cut me off from learning of them.

There is already one ascended alicorn in Equestria (I am also not allowed to know anything of them) does Celestia mean to have another, is that who this student is?
-L

Author's Notes:

First update-type-thing! This chapter does tie in a little with episode 7. I doubt i'll do many more blatant episode tie ins but we'll see.
On the "ascended alicorn" thing i haven't written anything to explain it yet but i will.
Thanks for the thumbs ups favorites and comments and i hope you enjoy reading.

Reunion - Chapter 16

Nostalgia is one of the few activities I am permitted in my gilded prison. I remember the castle of the very first unicorn king. I learned to read and do magic at Celestia’s hoofs, I was her first student. Who is this usurper?

And so it slithers back into my heart; an old foe. An emotion I have stopped trusting myself to feel, jealousy. But what would I do with it? Would I steal a place my sister no longer trusts me to have from a pony who has done me no wrong? Jealousy is such a stupid petty thing when looked at critically.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 17

I remember the first constellation I ever made. It was nothing but a foals hoof painting really. It was just a few stars in the rough shape of a unicorn. No galaxies, no nebulae, just stars. In the sky now it is nothing special but it will always hold a place of privilege in my heart. I still remember the night I put it in the sky.

“Daddy, daddy look,” I said holding out my star-chart.

“That’s nice, what is it?” he asked.

“It’s you silly, come see,” I say dragging him to a window by his hoof. He follows as every parent being dragged by an exuberant foal follows. “Look, look,” I say pointing into the empty night. Joining the moon on her lonely vigil are nine infant stars blinking into existence.

I looked at my father to see his smile. He was the first pony to ever smile at the night sky. No longer was the night a thing of fear; a necessary evil so that the world would not burn under the harsh sun. It could have life and light and beauty and I could give it.

An eternal destiny from one smile. After the first ever stargaze father saw that I had a cutie mark. Celestia was so jealous.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 18

Monoceros passed and every unicorn of note was at the castle before the sun set. It was harsh but the fledgling nation needed a king. One who would channel the power of all unicorns and direct the sun and moon in their course through the sky.

He had no sons, only two daughters. The council deliberated at length but it was clear from the beginning they would choose his brother over his blank-flank eldest daughter.

The dealings of court were never important to Celestia, she snuck out before the first hour was up. As the empty deliberations dragged on and on no unicorn noticed that the sun had already set without a king. As the sun set in the sky it rose on Celestia’s flank. The new king, our uncle, had to make do with raising the moon for his coronation. Though I had made many stars the night sky’s only adornment was its first; a foals crude portrait of her father.
-L

Author's Notes:

now with a cover image, hope you guys like it. There actually is a constellation of a unicorn called Monoceros that i wikapedia-ed while writing this chapter so you can rest assured that I put a minute or so into researching to ensure that the astronomical data in this fic is correct. I've been trying to do a chapter a day and i guess it is technically thursday in New Mexico so I'll let you guys have this one early, hope you enjoy!

Reunion - Chapter 19

Uncle was not happy with Celestia; she was not even allowed to add her power when the heavens were manipulated. By the next century we were only estranged aunts to the royal family. We stayed for centuries gaining and sharing wisdom. For the pegasi I made Polaris to be a fixture of navigation. For the earth ponies I taught the moon her phases so they could plan their plantings and harvests.

I tried to find new spells for the unicorns but my talent for creating magic was outshone by one unicorn. He came up with new spells faster than most unicorns could learn them and I was proud to call him teacher and friend.

Princess Platinum would have nopony in the royal line more skilled at magic than her. We were exiled for the sake of her insecurity. We returned when the parasprites came and the harvest failed, offering what aid we could. I only saw my teacher and friends in passing before the windigoes came. We could only save a small group of refugees from each tribe before the rest were frozen.

I hate remembering. There have been too many friends I have watched die and too many I could not be near in their final hour. I am immortal but I am not immune to death, I am its harshest victim.
-L

Author's Notes:

it feels like it's been a while since i posted, mainly because yesterday's was at 3AM. so...yeah, have some more family history.

Reunion - Chapter 20

There is nothing to do. My memories are always there waiting but remembering countless friends dead is a punishment I would never dare inflict on another.
-L

Author's Notes:

even by this story's standards this chapter is very short so i will publish two

Reunion - Chapter 21

I have her, a name and a cutie mark; Twilight Sparkle with a six pointed star on her flank. Does Celestia intend to make her into an alicorn? Is she to be my replacement, to guard the night as I once did? She will NOT! If Celestia thinks my madness contains the fullness of my power she is wrong. Nightmare Moon may lie defeated but I do not. I will have my night back and neither Celestia nor Twilight nor the power of harmony itself will stand in my way!
-L

Reunion - Chapter 22

If only I could capture a moment in time and view it preserved forever, but alas one day long from now time will take the memory of Celestia’s face as I break down her door demanding what is mine by rights. We argued for quite some time over the subject. We did not get violent but we did get rather vocal with each other and the room is now in need of some new windows.
-L

Author's Notes:

I was considering leaving y'all hanging with Luna on the warpath but updating and seeing the viewcounter go up makes my heart sing so have another chapter.

Reunion - Chapter 23

It seems I am to be “rewarded for good behavior” and am “permitted” to raise the moon and stars one night per week. Even in her concession Celestia insults me. I am permitted nothing; every night is mine by right!

I am not trusted. I must remind myself of that from time to time. One night in seven is a start even if the wording of the decree was belittling.
-L

Author's Notes:

Sunday must be the day to upload fanficitons. thank y'all for liking, favoriting, and commenting, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Reunion - Chapter 24

Sister’s lack of trust is… understandable. Even I cannot impose such ignorance on myself as to believe otherwise. It is not just her I have betrayed but the whole of Equestria. As a sister she has pardoned me for my crimes but as a ruler even she cannot offer forgiveness so flippantly. She speaks for the whole of Equestria, thousands of ponies that remember me only for the day the sun did not rise.

The position of princess is one of immense trust between me and the ponies I would rule. How can they trust me when all they know is stories of, among other atrocities, cannibalism to scare foals? How can I ask them to trust me when I know that these stories only mask a darker truth?

I turned Equestria against itself. Tribe against tribe, city against city, and even brother against brother. There was a stallion, I do not even remember his name, I made him kill his brother in front of me to “prove his loyalty.” He knew that his life would end painfully if he did not. He was a single pony amidst a war, his loyalty was of no consequence. He killed his brother, not for justice or loyalty but for fear and in my madness I made him do it for nothing more than a momentary diversion after a lost battle.

How many lives did I destroy? How many ponies have I worked unspeakable cruelty on without even remembering their names? A thousand thousands years’ imprisonment would not be enough to atone for my crime. I must be a petty sight indeed as I wallow in self-pity. I demand trust yet I have earned less than nothing.
-L

Author's Notes:

hopefully this will help you to understand this version of Celestia a little better. keep in mind this is written from Luna's point of view and she sees her interactions with Celestia through the lens of their still damaged relationship.

Reunion - Chapter 25

A night pony appeared before Celestia today. According to the fragmented history I was able to glean from the few records I am allowed to see they have disappeared entirely from Equestria for a thousand years.
He is here to see me and I hope that Celestia is not foolish enough to refuse him. They would dash themselves against Canterlot’s walls to free me just as they secluded themselves for a thousand years in my absence.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 26

The utter foal! I am the night, the soft glow of the moon is mine, the shimmer of the stars is mine, and even the aurora of the north belongs to me! They belong to me and she would refuse me my ponies. They will come and make war on Equestria. From every shadow and on the swift wings of night they will come and rip out her guards pretty white throats.
How many will they kill before they are stopped I wonder? The sheer weight of three tribes against them will overcome just as it did a thousand years ago but it will be a terrible cost to Equestria. I must admit part of me is tempted to let them make their war for my freedom but it is a selfish and petty thought.
I will make peace where Celestia’s fervor in imprisoning me would make war.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 27

It seems my foolish sister is only able to see reason after I have broken down the doors to her throne room and given testament to her foolishness. I am tempted to make the ritual part of my daily routine.

Her guards bristle and prepare what spells they know as I bring tidings of death and war but only stand slack-jawed as I place the blame on Celestia’s head.To her credit she did bear the embarrassment with some dignity and once she saw her error was quick to admit it. Was she really so foolish as to believe the night ponies would take her denial lightly?

On swift wings her guards fly out with letters bearing my seal. They are to the night ponies inviting a token force to be my personal guard in Canterlot. As dusk falls a guard returns with a dozen night ponies in dark armor. He approaches sister and whispers in her ear that they are merely the vanguard of the army he saw.

I order one of my new guard to deliver a message to the general of the army. It thanks him for his loyalty and eagerness in defending me but that the time of bloodshed between me and my sister is long since over. It urges him to return his army to its home and know that I am well guarded by the soldiers he has sent.

The guard, Night Shield, returns and announces that the army has turned back and is marching home. In secret he tells me that the night ponies are well trained and ready to take up arms should I need them to.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 28

They are dark, violent things my night ponies. But that is what Equestria needed them to be. Earth ponies would give growth, Pegasi would give water, and unicorns would give light and together they would make a nation. But it was a nation beset on all sides by feral wilds that would encroach on its borders and swallow it up were it not for the gift of the night ponies: death.

I wish that the creatures of night were not all so tragically violent but that is how it was. I commanded some level of obedience from each of the monsters that attacked at night but as the nation grew I alone was not enough. In the night my ponies would deal death to every threat while I guarded dreams. In the day Celestia and her guard would bask in praise for our actions.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 29

This ‘Prince’ Blueblood is an insufferable foal. Celestia has brought this idiot and everypony like him on herself. He serves no purpose to Equestria; I could have my new night guards find him and kill him and Equestria’s government would continue to prosper.

I told her we should have just destroyed Princess Platinum’s line when we took over but no, “We don’t need to establish dominance Luna,” “Their technically related to us Luna,” “Killing your subjects just because they annoy you is wrong Luna”. Who is she to say I cannot kill? I have been Equestria’s sword and shield since long before it was even a nation while she; well aside from sending me to the moon I do not recall her ever raising a hoof in battle.

I earned Equestria’s place in this world by my might in battle. I am the bloodied protector of this nation in a thousand battles! If Celestia wants to entertain a useless parasprite in her court that is her decision but she must learn not to object when he slights my honor and I respond by spilling his blood.

“His blood is our blood,” She claimed. He is technically related to me and Celestia; he is our first cousin countless times removed.

His ancestor, Princess Platinum, our first cousin countless-minus-forty-or-so times removed, had me and sister removed from the old royal line when she had us expelled from the unicorn kingdom. I hold him in no familial regard and if he ever offers me slight, intentional or no, again he will find himself begging Celestia to rescind her rules on killing.
-L

Author's Notes:

I'm pretty sure i got the cousins removed thing right but i'll explain the family tree just in case: Celestia and Luna's father is Monoceros the first unicorn king. his brother took over after his death and unicorn royalty was descended from the brother's line to Princess Platinum. after Celestia and Luna took over equestria her line becomes "minor royalty" like prince Blueblood and the nobles.

now the cousins thing, the common ancestor between the sisters and the minor royalty is the sister's grandparents so they are first cousins(great-grandparents = 2nd cousins great-great-grandparents = 3rd...) but because they are are a younger generation they are removed(1st cousin three times removed would be your first cousin's great-great grandchild(that's how cousin's removed works I'm pretty sure...i think)). the sisters are called 'aunt' because it shows a greater deference due to age and is less of a mouthful than first-cousin-several-dozen-times-removed.

Reunion - Chapter 30

My last entry has raised my curiosity so today I looked into the conflicts that have happened in my absence. The guard has been involved in surprisingly few conflicts over the past thousand years. Having the pony who controls the raising and setting of the sun and moon as the ruler of your nation tends to lend one a political advantage.

There have been a scattering of assassination attempts, none of which met any measure of success. It seems even a ruler as lighthearted as Celestia will have a few attempts made on her life, though if any would-be assassin made it past the guard they would find themselves very much unable to harm her.

There have only been a few small border disputes which show a drastically decreasing number of casualties. Equestria has not even lost a soldier in battle for five centuries and the casualties report for the most recent skirmish only reports that a soldier took a pie to the face and recovered the next day.

Curious I investigated just what sort of weapon a ‘pie’ was. It is the type usually baked with apples and eaten for dessert. Further investigation into the guards armament revealed that the number of ponies who can make a weapon intended to kill another can be counted on one hoof by not raising that hoof, that is to say there are none.

What has become of Equestria?
-L

Author's Notes:

thirty chapters WOO!

Reunion - Chapter 31

Murder rates are near nonexistent. Even the largest cities have averaged less than one suspicious death per year for the last century. I am led to believe a vast majority of these are accidental or victims of circumstance. Many smaller towns and provinces have none to report for their entire existence. It is the same with nearly every serious crime. Police forces are as near nonexistent as crimes, having no real purpose to serve.

In the last thousand years it seems Celestia has succeeded in making Equestria into a utopia. War, violence, and crime are all things of the past. There is but one question: In this bright gleaming age sister made is there any place for me?
-L

Reunion - Chapter 32

Me and sister have always been opposites; my night to her day, my cold wind to her warm breeze. While hers was always a throne of mercy and understanding mine was a throne of judgment. I would not tolerate unanswered crimes to pollute the kingdom I had fought for. What use is a judge when there is no crime?

I was harsh, I will not pretend otherwise, but I was just. Whatever the crime I would never descend to giving the victim revenge but would give Equestria justice. But now there is no need for justice, in every corner Equestria has harmony. Perhaps it is a good thing that this student of my sister is to replace me.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 33

Sister “suggests” I delay my return to my duties until after the upcoming holiday. I see no reason that my return should not coincide with the harvest feast, yet this was no suggestion. It was worded as such yet there was a hardness to her voice as she spoke. I am tempted to ignore her out of spite yet she has been present these last thousand years where I have not. Nopony will know better than her what the harvest feast has turned into and what the implications of the tradition have become. I think this once I will defer to her judgment.

After all she is now over a thousand years my elder.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 34

Mortals are such stupid, weak things. I watched from a balcony as sister’s subjects paraded around the city in all matter of costumes. They were exchanging sweets and candies. It seems to be some new take on the harvest festivals of old, though centered much more on the foals. If nothing else it served to distract me from the rather…grim thoughts I have been having of late.

While standing at a balcony holding a chocolate I did have a dark thought though. I could have dropped the treat and killed everypony in the room by the time it hit the ground below.

Who would miss these useless nobles. They lord their affluence over even one another with these social gatherings, what pony would miss them? Their conversation prattled on about nothing useful or productive only inflating their own egos.
There was one, a stallion with three crowns as a cutie mark that seemed to be an exception. I overheard him talking of some charitable venture for the impoverished in Equestria and abroad. I shall see to it that he is well funded. Discretely of course; I may yet sit in judgment over these ponies, Faust forbid they know I have a heart.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 35

Tonight is the night. After a thousand years the moon and stars were shepherded across the night by their true mistress. I agreed to put off my return for another week once Celestia explained to me what the ‘nightmare night’ celebration really was. Though I am eager to let ponies know that their princess of the night is no monster, returning to my ancient duty on such a holiday would only warrant more fear. But now this night is mine.

Do the ponies notice? Celestia’s nights were passable. Better than that oaf Discord’s, thankfully short, nights.
Celestia arranged a ceremony for my raising of the stars. She disappeared a half hour before it was to begin and the guard was doubled, then doubled again. At first I thought they were afraid that raising the stars surrounded by my night guard would reawaken my madness.

As the moon crests the horizon musicians play a fanfare and the modest gathering of nobles before me gives a polite hoof stomp. Then night ponies begin parading into the courtyard. There are hundreds; far outnumbering my modest few guards. Whether from fear of the night ponies or disgust at their rough dress the nobles shrink back into a tight circle in the courtyard.

When the last of the night ponies enter the courtyard my guard step forward and call out, “Vivas Nactus.”

“Vivas Nactusss,” the crowd answers. Rather than loudly roar they hiss their response through their fangs.
It is an old salute that fell out of use during my madness. It simply means ‘long live the night’. Even after I have been gone a thousand years, and even after how I used them these ponies still hail me. Truly I am unworthy of their loyalty.

I fly down to the courtyard and prostrate myself. It is not a bow or kneeling, I spread my wings across the ground and lay my horn along the earth. It is a gesture of repentance inviting those who will not forgive me to damage my horn or step on my wings should they withhold their forgiveness. As I lay before these ponies I confess every mistreatment of their ancestors I can remember.

The head of each family comes before me and declares me forgiven. I rise from the dirt weeping yet I have never been happier. I declare a feast to be held, the likes of which Canterlot has never seen, I call for wine, mead, ale, and cider to be brought up from the cellar.

My celebrations have always been much more raucous than sister’s and they only ever end two ways. Either I am forced to replace much of the grand halls furniture or Celestia becomes very drunk very quickly and makes a fool of herself.
Whatever may come this will surely be the best night since my return.
-L

Author's Notes:

this chapter takes some ideas from Luna's Story by Aegis Shield. If you haven't read it i recommend it, it's a good read.

Reunion - Chapter 36

Damn this blasted sun and its infernal brightness! I wish only to recover from the night’s revelry in peace and quiet yet I cannot even open mine eyes without it driving molten rays into them with dazzling vengeance.

Celestia knows this, mind you, and she takes untold delight in torturing me through the after effects of drinking spirits. No doubt it was her who removed my curtains so that I would have to suffer the suns wrath. I must be a strange sight indeed hiding beneath a crude tent of blankets and sheets but I do what I must.

Beside me is the expense report for last night’s festivities. Apparently the castle cellars only had a few casks of mead and ale but ‘beer’ and ‘whisky’ seem to have been more than suitable replacements given the amount consumed.

It was not an especially destructive feast with just under half of the furniture used being damaged. I am also to pay for replacing a chandelier and a…cello? Oh yes the cello! One of the few memories I retain of last night. It took a few magical modifications but it made an excellent drinking horn.

Note for the next feast I host: musical entertainment may be an issue.
-L

Author's Notes:

hungover Luna is actually kinda fun to write

Reunion - Chapter 37

If I am to be denied all the responsibilities of my station then should I not revel in my irresponsibility? A foalhood is a fleeting and precious thing. Mine was far too short and far too long ago so I chose today to relive it to some extent. I am surprised Celestia lets me out of my gilded prison and she is surprised I feel that I must ask to be let out. Nevertheless there is a carnival and I intend to make the most of it.

Even the grandest of carnivals I remember are outshone by this one. There is food and dancing and merriment everywhere I look. Even the group of guards, a mixture of my own and sister’s, around me cannot prevent foals from chasing each other under my hoofs as they scream with laughter. After a time the sound can be grating to the ear but I must admit it is heartwarming to hear such a joyful din once more.

I am a mare of quiet pleasures and the press of the crowd, even stayed by my guards, becomes too much for me. I find a secluded bench and sit for a time. I merely watch as others enjoy the festivities. My warm cape hides the fact that I am an alicorn and braces me against the late fall chill. Though I may not revel in the merriment or take the center of attention like my sister I see my subjects happy and I am gladdened for it.

As the sun sets lanterns of all kinds are lit. Many of them were not lit by fire but by some sort of magic. I do not sense any enchantment upon them only the flow of magic through them. I begin tracing the magic to its source and I am led to a solid structure lit up by so many of these magic lanterns that it shines like a beacon.

Inside I recognize a young colt. I observed him earlier that day and he seemed to be shy and withdrawn but here he was the center of attention and was even making the occasional boast. One of the group around him would offer a challenge and they would put a few bits in the machine in front of them. It seemed to be some contest of skill which he usually won but even when he did not he seemed happy.

There are several very complex spells placed on each of the machines. It is an alluring mix of magic and craftsponyship that even I am impressed by. I did not set hoof in this ‘arcade’ but I have resolved to investigate this new field of magic further.
-L

Author's Notes:

I've been in a bit of a writing slump lately so after this chapter i may switch to weekly updates. I don't know yet so we'll see tomorrow.

Reunion - Chapter 38

Winter is by far my favorite season. With its soft chill and the entire world resting peacefully beneath a blanket of snow it is not unlike a months long night. The only facet of winter I hold no affection for is the clouds. In the day they are like a soft blanket gently shedding their downy snow but in the night they are simply in the way.

The weather pegasi have come to a practice of setting a cloud cover and letting it do what it will over the winter months. This is understandable. The winter chill at altitude could be fatal to an unprotected pony so I will not begrudge my subjects their vacation.

Yet the clouds hide my best work. There is something about walking a moonlit field in winter. The way the snow catches the light and the whole world seems to take a soft glow. It is a gentle purity that can soothe the soul.

Perhaps there will be a break in the clouds and one of my subjects may find this beauty for themselves. I will yet bring the beauty of the night even if it is hidden away.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 39

I am told that some of Equestria’s larger, more industrialized, cities remain active through the winter months. Canterlot is not among their number. To ease the boredom sister has proposed a snow battle between our guards. It is an interesting challenge. My guard is perhaps overtrained for this friendly mock battle. They have been trained for real combat and will constantly be holding themselves back. Celestia’s guard has a great advantage in numbers but her bloated force will be unwieldy in the castle courtyard.

To engage head on will mean certain defeat but sister has far less tactical experience than me. Goading her force into a trap should be foals play. I will accept her challenge. even in defeat it will be something to do other than laze around the hearth. I enjoy reading and studying far more than other ponies but even so it has quickly become tedious.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 40

Celestia allows me and my force an hour to prepare defenses and one of her lieutenants, Shining Armor, as an advisor. She believes my forces to be at a severe disadvantage. They are not but I am the author of the rules of war and I remember my first tenet: when your opponent makes a mistake, you let them.

Shining Armor is as capable as any of Celestia’s guard. He has a specialty in large shield spells and has an unmatched talent for logistics. He is no tactician however. I intend no dishonor to the pony but his tactics range from the blatantly obvious (or honorable as he describes them) to the disastrously foolish.

I listen to him berate my guerrilla strategies as we make our preparations. I know he possesses neither subtlety nor battlefield experience. Honor is defending your home and walking away from a battlefield with none of your soldiers lost. Simply lining my troops up and exchanging volleys as he suggests would lead to disaster.

We are outmatched in both numbers and range. Celestia knows the terrain but not how to turn it to her advantage. She possesses flyers but they are more suited to flying sky chariots than aerial combat. My formal defenses are modest while snowy traps abound.

My victory is all but won.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 41

Shining Armor advises me that no plan of battle survives contact with the enemy. I am not surprised given the simplistic strategies he seems to prefer. The battle is well met and my victory is yet assured. A third of my force has taken to the sky where they battle Celestia’s pegasi. My flyers are outnumbered but skill is prevailing and none have yet fallen. Soon the skies will be ours alone.

The land battle goes similarly. My forces have been in a fighting retreat from the beginning. They goad Celestia’s guard into traps and pitfalls. Celestia’s forces are thinned as they make their way across the courtyard. My forces have kept to a mid-ranged fight. Should they move in too close training may overtake reason and the fighting become less lighthearted. At greater range the unicorns will have a clear advantage.

A temporary ceasefire has been called. Some icicles hang dangerously above the fighting and should they be dislodged it may prove fatal. As they are cleared sister and I agree that the fighting should resume exactly as it was the moment before the ceasefire was called. I have no objections considering I am winning.
-L

Reunion - Chapter 42

It is all but done. Sister believes herself to be on the cusp of victory but she only marches to her defeat. In the sky is a swirling mask of my guard. To her eyes it looks as if the battle for the sky is still being fought in earnest. None of her flyers made it back to report the defeat. Her guard has been bled off to half its former strength while mine have suffered no loss.

There is a fort she believes to be my command post. Her guard marches to take it. my flyers pester them from the skies while I carry my ‘advisor’ over and behind the force. Does he still believe himself honorable as he is carried like a foal over his doomed comrades?

My trap I set without the need for bait. Celestia believes she will find victory but she will be handed defeat instead. ‘Twill be a glorious triumph!
-L