The True Story of Nightmare Moon

by ClearAndNothingElse

Chapters

Luna's Lunacy
Raising the Moon
Meeting the Clear
Betraying the Flames
Run,Luna, Run
Confronting Chamberlin

Luna's Lunacy

Part 1:The Rift

Long ago, after the fall of the Crystal Empire, Equestria was still the same. The same bright fill of laughter in the air, the same common noble ponies quiet chatter brimming the streets of Canterlot. But inside the palace of the Royal Sisters, something dark and mysterious inside was brewing. The same evil that Sombra’s touch had created when the somber king cursed the entire empire to be banished for 1000 long, tortuous years. Few still know that the he was responsible for the downfall of Princess of the night. He left the sisters broken and crushed, the very essence of their emotions laced with his crepuscular ways. He lead to a great evil. This my littles fillies is the true story of Nightmare Moon.

The second daughter of the Great Alicorn reign shivered. The artificial amber glow of the starlight encrusted lamp shone sheer and shimmering through the night princesses room.

She was the only pony up at this hour, her night being shunned out by other selfish ones. Even her own sister, Princess Celestia, was sleeping. Princess Luna tried very hard to not wake her dear sibling, but she just couldn’t help herself. Since they defeated Sombra, Celestia had grown distant, too caught up in duties and responsibilities which made less and less time for Luna. Princess Luna had grown somber, horrified by what the dark king had put into her mind. The princess of the night shuddered as she remembered the seeds that had been planted into her small fragile mind. Her ears sprung back as her eyes were in a different place. She remembered the ponies taunting her left and right. They said that she was unloved. Unwanted. She saw everypony who she thought cared turn on her and hate her with bittersweet passion. The sun princess’s ember burning into her navy coat. She shook her head again and again, painful memories torturing her, perhaps forever. She stood up, shakily and used her magic to grab her single black notebook. Writing down cursive, precise words with her ink pen, she stated with…

Each day and every night I sit here, wondering what my fate will bring me. Wonder if I will shatter onto the ground like a million pieces. Wonder if I will give up until my breathing stops and the ground beneath me fades away. My mind had been gone for quite sometime. I cannot handle these memories. I still ask myself how the princess of the night goes on living. How can she stand to still be on this hell of a world. How her bones ache and crack with her every movement and how she buries her head in her forelegs each time she weeps. How can she stand this?

Not many have noticed but, I often wonder about killing myself. Equestria would be better without me. My subjects who value the burning sun more than the beauty of the night. No one would remember. Because no one would care.

I still get up every day, with these aching bones, this cracking body. Smile until your face muscles rip. That’s how I keep it. I am a dark prison, bottling my sorrow, anger and jealousy in a cage. No one to unlock it. How does one not see my feeling? Ponies loved me 100 years ago-Tia loved me 100 years ago. But now she is as cold hearted as Celestia.

Where is Celestia after all of this? We used to stay by each other, clutching one another until our hearts exploded with such love and compassion . Those days are over. The stillness gone. She expects me to go on with my life as raising the moon as well as attend to my duties. How can I go on with this pathetic scenario of a life?

I am not stupid Tia. I know that they look at you like a god, your beauty shining and swirling while your emptiness haunts you. You were there for me and I to you, but now we are nothing. We are not even sisters anymore. I am nothing more to you then the villains that we banished. You ignore me, like you have banished me. I am a figure in the night, calling to you but I know you will not come.

But still. I have the same swirling mane as you. I am an alicorn just like you. I have been called beautiful just like you, but none of these matter. I can lie to myself, cover my ears and pretend the world is just some sort of propaganda. I was never like the great Celestia! Goddess of the melting sun! Our subjects will always love the day and cower and run away from my night. So I’m not going to lie anymore. Even royalty is not strong as one pony might think.

Run Luna run. Run until your lungs collapse and your breaths slow and the beating of your heart stops. Run Luna run until your heart's beats out of your chest because it was always too big for your body.

Run, Run Luna, until you're just a blur in the background, a smear of paint on a canvas. A spot on a griffins's forehead.

Run before the ponies catch you, before the moon sets, before dusk and dawn. before there words rip you piece by piece.

Run so you can’t hear their voices. Run until you can’t feel him touch you. His darkness edging at your soul.

Run until you drop dead.

Run Luna run.

I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane

What is happening to me?

Raising the Moon

Princess Luna looked out the vast Canterlot window. Surely, she thought her lips quivering. Somepony cares about my night? Luna was responsible for raising the moon, and keeping watch over her subjects from dusk to dawn. She lowered the moon to make way for the sun. The sun. Luna scoffed. What does that thing have that I don’t? She often wondered why everypony even liked the sun. Everypony would always say, “Look at gorgeous Celestia!” “The glorious day!” “Who’s that little blue filly?” “I’ve only seen her in paintings.” They didn't even recognize her. They didn’t even seem to notice the she was cast with the burden of raising and lowering the moon. She just wanted somepony to love her. She wanted to feel appreciated. She just wanted to be loved… She sniffled, as bitter tears streaked from her beautiful cyan eyes.

“Nopony loves me…” She weeped. “Nopony cares about me…” Luna cried and sobbed but there was nopony to help her. To even comfort her. And yet where was Celestia? Probably helping Clear Ray learn a new spell. This made her cry even harder. Not even Celestia was here to help her. Celestia with her brilliant white coat, shining purple eyes, and beautiful rainbow colored mane that floated on an invisible wind. She was so beautiful, so pure. The thought made Luna repulse. I am hideous... she thought, choking back tears, almost gasping in the meantime. Unloved, unwanted, even my own sister couldn’t possibly love this repulsive thing that was supposed to be her sister. Just like my repugnant, unappreciated night. Luna shuddered as she remembered her sister. Where was she when Luna was at her darkest fears as she shed tears? Too caught up in Equestria, to caught up to even help her subjects. Luna made it seem like nothing was wrong but on the inside, she was dying each day. A mask she wore. A mask of lies and sorrow with nopony to break it to see what was inside. A shell encased something bittersweet and repulsed by the world. A chrysalis holding a newborn butterfly.

The princess of the sliver moon looked in the mirror that was defined and curved like Luna’s cutie mark by the side of the window. Each of these mirrors were there so the princesses could fix themselves on last time before going to judge at the royal court as Celestia’s sun shaped mirror was on the other side.The mirror so sheer, radiant aligned with the stars of Luna’s light that nopony knew. Luna looked at her reflection. The mirror was so precise and pristine. She knew this wasn’t what she wanted to look like. After Sombra’s scarring touch, the young and dejected princess would never think of herself as beautiful perhaps ever again. Luna was fearful for she longed for somepony to love her or be loved again. But ponies cruel nature of being so ignorant by their own selfish problems, they couldn’t grasp what was beyond the curtain of another. Luna looked at her reflection once more, and smashed her head into the precise and pristine mirror while she quietly whispered,

”I hate you…”

Chapter 2

Blood thick and atramentous profusely streamed from Luna’s forehead along with her horn, down between her cyan eyes. Tiny pieces of her flesh splintered and shivered across her face. The mirror, cracked and smeared with cruor, dropped little pieces of the once silver beauty. Luna rushed to feel her horn to make sure it was okay. Celestia always said after they had defeated Sombra that she must always keep her most prized possession safe. “You must keep this safe Luna… The safety of Equestria comes first. Sit up and stop fussing with the gash on your leg, the court is coming.” She wanted to see her sister badly, maybe try to get her mind off of the safety of Equestria at least once. Luna conjured a napkin out of thin air and wiped the plasma off of her dark muzzle. Dawn was arriving and Celestia had ordered her to stay by the window. 100 years ago, Celestia and Luna would raise the sun and moon together. They were happy back then. But now, Celestia had driven apart from Luna, a great rift between little sister and big.

Luna closed her eyes, for it was time to lower the moon. Luna’s horn glowed, as the moon was covered in her magic. She grunted as the heavy weight, was pulled down from the sky. Immediately she saw a soft orange light beam from the horizon. The orange glow turned to amber as the sun rose into the clouds with ease. Luna panted. Even through all her years taught by Starswirl, she still had quite some trouble with raising and lowering the orb of night. Nopony even noticed the moon go down, nopony was even sad to see the my moon go…

***

Luna needed to see her sister. Luna hung her head still slightly covered with blood, and walked out of the vast hallway.

When she came to a purple room with the sun and the moon entwined on it, she happened to notice that the moon was smaller than the sun. Sighing, she knocked with a silver shoe upon her leg.

“Hello, uhh…” The advisor said, adjusting his spectacles but kept looking at his papers instead of Luna herself.

“Princess Luna, please it’s important,” Luna mummered quietly.

“Be right back your highness,” The advisor spoke. Luna could hear Celestia teaching Clear Ray a new spell.

“Your majesty, Princess Luna wishes to speak with you,” The advisor aforementioned. The white alicorn sighed.

“Right at this moment? Clear Ray, try harder. You must not fail, you must be prepared. We weren’t when King Sombra rose to power, and we will not fail now! We must be ready to face a threat like that again or something might happen like how Sombra destroyed the entire Crystal Empire, every shard of it gone!” Celestia shouted.

“I will try harder. Princess, perhaps it would be wise for you to make time for your sister,” Clear Ray suggested.

“No Clear Ray, I’m sure Luna can wait. Try harder than that. You must accomplish this spell.” Celestia barked.

“Princess, your sister wishes to speak with you now,” The advisor piped up.

“Alright. Just this once, Clear Ray I better see you achieve this spell by the Summer Sun Celebration,” Celestia said. The gray unicorn levitated his quill and ink and scrolls, and left through the purple doors.

“Hello Luna, what a beautiful day it is!” Clear smiled as he walked in the hallway.

“A beautiful day indeed,” Luna sighed. Luna walked into the practice room with her head down her eyes not looking at her sister.

“Sister,” Luna whispered.

“Yes Luna,” Celestia asked a tad bit irritated.

“I just wanted to talk…” Luna said hushful. Raising her head to talk to Celestia.

“Luna…”

“Please Celestia…”

“Luna, I love you dearly but I have duties to respond to, does this topic you will be discussing with me have anything to do with the safety of Equestria?” Celestia said more softly than the last time she spoke. “What time is it? Luna, it almost time for moonrise!”

“I know… but I was thinking maybe we could talk about…”

“Luna please, you have a duty to fulfill, we will talk tomorrow I promise.”

“That’s what you say all the time.” Luna sighed, hung her hand once more, and left the practice room.

Meeting the Clear

“LADIES AND GENTLECOLTS! PLEASE SETTLE DOWN AS OUR GLORIOUS LEADER PRINCESS CELESTIA RAISES THE SUN!” The captain of the guards bellowed. The ponies gentle chatter stopped as they turned to look at their ruler. Eyes all different hues gazed upon the sun princess, the ponies mouth’s agape.

Princess Celestia did not smile, or even bat an eyelash as she walked with two stallions in golden armor up the stage. On the golden stage, there was a amber pole that curved and formed into the shape of Celestia’s cutie mark. Behind the sun, there was a silver that was defined pole in the shape of a moon, more fragile looking and smaller than the sun pole as if to shatter it by a single hoof.

Celestia stood in front of the sun pole, and stretched her wings to make herself appear more magnificent. This made Luna become cast away in the shadows behind her sister. Like a pathetic snail cowering away from the predator of which stood before it, clawing and biting it’s teeth like razor in its phosphorescent and burning mouth. Celestia motioned for Luna to begin. With everypony watching, well everypony watching the sun princess. Luna seized the moon with her enticing cobalt magic, and lowered the moon, grunting and panting as she did. Last night was different. She could grab the moon with ease, it flowing with its fluorescent silver and cerulean rays becoming one with the ey. because she was relaxed she was happy back then. But the happy was seized from her like the moon, and replaced dread and sadness. The moon lowered behind the horizon and Celestia flew to the top of the sun pole, and raised the flare. The crowd cheered and applauded. Celestia managed a small smile and quickly flashed back to the ice that Luna now called her sister.

“Stop! We have something to share with you!” A voice boomed from behind Celestia. Luna beat her navy wings against the scorching sun. Luna flew so high up so that the sun shone behind her. “We feel we are not accepted by thou subjects and wish to share the beauty that we create every night with everypony while they art thou awake to see it! Behold a beauty that goes unnoticed every night as the flare beats down upon thou! Look upon the magic of NIGHT…” Luna cast her magic and the moon rose up in front of the sun. But Luna forgot to lower the sun as well. Both alicorn sisters could lower each other’s sky objects, but the task was dangerous and could kill them. The sun and moon collided and became black as Sombra’s soul. Luna had created the first solar eclipse. But however, this did not work in Luna’s favor as planned. Luna’s body turned black by the shadows and her eyes turned white, making a menacing glare.

“What happened to the sun?” a unicorn named Bubble Blossom shrieked.

“She devoured the sun!” Her friend an earth pony named Minty Web screamed.

“EVERYPONY RUN!” A stallion wailed.

“It’s the NightMare!” Voices laced with fear were heard from all directions, the ponies shrill screams echoing in the streets. They were knocking each other down, and practically destroying the cobblestone buried in the sidewalks. Luna didn’t mean to cause such panic. Luna panted and tried to calm everypony down. She couldn’t handle something like this. She was not social or had the collective skills to reassure a kingdom. They weren’t afraid of the collision, they were afraid of her.

“Wait! Can’t you feel how safe thou art? Stop running! We only wanted to share-”

“It’s a demon!”

“Run! She’s trying to trick us!” A earth pony carrying crops screamed. The vegetables on his back rolled out of his basket, causing nearby panicking ponies to slip and crash into one another.

“LUNA! What have you done?” Celestia cried. She looked up at her sister, still flying high above the clouds, her navy wings flapping vigorously. Luna recognized that look. It was the same stare. The same horrified glance that shared the same moment of when Sombra used his dark magic on the sun princess. Luna had never seen perfect, emotionless Celestia so terrified. Luna looked away. She couldn’t handle it. The screams of her people, the panic ripping her soul apart. Her emotions out of control. But worse was her sister. What had Luna done. Celestia managed to form 4 words with her quivering, shaking mouth. “I will end this madness!” Celestia’s brilliant white horn glowed, lowering the solar eclipse as revealing the sun. Luna flew to the shadows.

“The sun’s coming back! Oh thank Celestia we’re saved!” A mare exclaimed.

“It’s back!”

“It’s back! The sun is back!” A stallion shouted. Whoops and cheers came toward the crowd of mares and stallions, but Celestia’s attention was not her subjects.

‘’Sister I…” Luna started, ashamed at she did.She backed, wanting to fold herself into tiny squares and disappear.

“LUNA. MY CHAMBERS. NOW.” Celestia barked.

***

“Luna… what were you thinking?”

“Tia, I-”

“Luna you almost scared them to death!” Celestia scolded.

“I just wanted to…” Luna sobbed.

“Luna, unannounced? At the Summer Sun Celebration?” Celestia chastised. “Luna we must not cause fear. We rule because they allow us to. You and I are alicorns. We are not of earth, nor pegsi, nor unicorn. Luna, did you even recall what might happen?”

“I just wanted to show them my night!” Luna wailed.

“Luna, have you learned nothing after our fail with Sombra?” Celestia barked.

“I just wanted somepony to care about me for a change.”

“Luna we do care. We all care. You and I both are body haves of an eternal balance…” Celestia stated.

“No! Nopony cares about me. Or my night. They only care about you.They hate me…” Luna was hanging her head now.

“Luna you know that’s not true.” Celestia said.

“Isn’t it? You don’t even care about me anymore! Why should they?” Luna howled.

“Luna!”

“I made a mistake okay? I didn’t mean to do anything wrong. I made a mistake and thought somepony might care about me and what I do if they all knew! Everypony cared about me 100 years ago-YOU cared for me then too!” Luna weeped. She felt herself turn back into that weak snail cowering away from her sister. “We used to be best friends as well as sisters! Now all you care about is Equestria!” Luna sobbed and shed her cold emotionless tears as they ran down her face dripping their liquid content onto the floor. Celestia watched, heartbroken for the first time of all of her long slow years. She reached a golden hoof to Luna’s shoulder, but Luna slapped it away. Luna stared hard into the middle of Celestia’s eyes, her’s like ice for a moment, her sister’s like fire burning a brand into the center of her soul. Luna ran out in a hurry, crying as she did.

“Luna wait! Please!” The door to Celestia’s chambers slammed shut. Celestia sighed. “I do care.”

***

“Solar Beam, make sure these guards do not leave their posts.”

“Yes your majesty. You! Get back in line!” Solar Beam barked. Clear Ray burst in the door.

“Ah… Clear Ray. You are quite early for our studies toda-”

“Princess I’m sorry but it’s near moonrise and no one has seen Princess Luna since this very morning!” A worried Clear Ray spoke. A flash of misgivings erupted like a ray of light across the white alicorn’s face. Her ears splayed back and her pupils grew to the tiniest pinpricks.

“Oh no...Warn the guards! Search the castle grounds! I want my sister found!” Celestia looked around left and right and motioned for her guards to start her frantic search.

“Princess, she left a note…She’s run away.”

Betraying the Flames

“What happened to the sun?” a unicorn named Bubble Blossom shrieked.

“She devoured the sun!” Her friend an earth pony named Minty Web screamed.

“EVERYPONY RUN!” A stallion wailed.

“Wait! Can’t you feel how safe thou art? Stop running! We only wanted to share-”

“It’s a demon!”

“Run! She’s trying to trick us!” A earth pony carrying crops screamed. The vegetables on his back rolled out of his basket, causing nearby panicking ponies to slip and crash into one another.

“The sun’s coming back! Oh thank Celestia we’re saved!” A mare exclaimed.

“It’s back!”

“It’s back! The sun is back!” A stallion shouted. Whoops and cheers came toward the crowd of mares and stallions, but Celestia’s attention was not her subjects.

‘’Sister I…” Luna started, ashamed at she did.She backed, wanting to fold herself into tiny squares and disappear.

“LUNA. MY CHAMBERS. NOW.” Celestia barked.

***

“Luna… what were you thinking?”

“Tia, I-”

“Luna you almost scared them to death!” Celestia scolded.

“I just wanted to…” Luna sobbed.

“I just wanted to show them my night!” Luna wailed.

“Luna, have you learned nothing after our fail with Sombra?” Celestia barked.

“I just wanted somepony to care about me for a change.”

“Luna we do care. We all care. You and I both are body haves of an eternal balance…” Celestia stated.

“No! Nopony cares about me. Or my night. They only care about you.They hate me…” Luna was hanging her head now.

“Luna you know that’s not true.” Celestia said.

“Isn’t it? You don’t even care about me anymore! Why should they?” Luna howled.

“Luna!”

“Luna wait! Please!” The door to Celestia’s chambers slammed shut. Celestia sighed. “I do care.”

***

“Solar Beam, make sure these guards do not leave their posts.”

“Yes your majesty. You! Get back in line!” Solar Beam barked. Clear Ray burst in the door.

“Ah… Clear Ray. You are quite early for our studies toda-”

“Oh no...Warn the guards! Search the castle grounds! I want my sister found!” Celestia looked around left and right and motioned for her guards to start her frantic search.

“Princess, she left a note…She’s run away.”

Run,Luna, Run

2 months later...

Luna ran and flew and ran until she collapsed. Luna’s eyes once bright and clear, were now weary and frightened. She had no idea what to do or where to go.

Sister how could you? Why did you let me run away? Why didn’t you stop me? She looked up to the sky as the cursed red ball of fire burned her in the hot Arabian desert. As she swore at Celestia’s sun, she tried to cast a cool spell onto herself but her magic was weak. She needed to gain her strength back to recast the spell. She needed shelter and fast. Luna had never been out on her own. She had never, ever gone without out a guard or Celestia herself. Reality hit her like a strike across the face. She was alone. No sister, no parents no guards and nopony to help her.

Memories flooded back her to her as she remembered what happened. She had brought the moon in front of the sun. She had made herself-and her elder sister look bad. It not your fault beloved… a voice called inside her head.

“Who’s there?” Luna wondered aloud. It is your shadow Luna. It was their fault. They made you feel bad. They treat you poorly-your sister treats you poorly. THEY ARE THE REASON! The voice was scaring the distraught Luna. She shook her head vigorously and laid back onto the moistened sand. The grains burned her like a flickering sunset. The scorching touch was like a million beetles gnawing and biting at her flesh and cruor.

Luna looked at her surroundings. Nothing but herself, the desiccant sand and the scorching flare to accompany her. She knew she was in Saddle Arabia, for no desert was as hot as the horses of the Middle East. She dragged herself along the desert for a few more steps, then collapsed once more. A nearby mare dressed in violet garments wandered about.

She looked about, as the pegasus pony folded her spectacular wings to her sides. Her sight immediately drifted to the small cornflower pony lying on her side. The mare leaped off of her camel almost instantly, and rushed to Luna.

“Miss! MISS! Are you alright?” The pegasus shook Luna. Luna stirred and quickly tried to get up, almost knocking down the mare in the process.

“Miss please, I need you to calm down,”

“Where-where am I?” Luna stammered. Luna was frighted when she saw the strange mare standing over the fractured princess. “Please! Do not harm me!” She covered her trembling body with her broad wings, cowering from the pegasus.

“It’s okay Miss. Please calm down, as well as where you are, you’re with me miss. Say, can you get up with me slowly so I can fully see you.” With the help of the mare, Luna leisurely stood up. Luna stretched out her wings.

“Mother of Celestia! Why you’re an alicorn!” The mare cried.

“Yes, indeed, why do you say so?” Luna said weakly.

“Well the only two alicorns I’ve heard of were Celestia and Luna,”

“Well subject, I am Princess Luna of Canterlot.” Luna said with defiance, but she was not sure she even liked the title anymore.

“Why is Equestria are you doing in Saddle Arabia, princess?” The mare cried.

“I am... I am...Uh,” Luna did not know how to explain this to the mare. She couldn’t just tell her that she had run away. “I am on an errand for my sister.” She lied.

“Alone?”

“Well, uh, the ponies I was traveling with got sucked away by a sandstorm. and I managed to escape but I was cast out and lost conscious!” Luna tried to sound dramatic, but she was a terrible liar. Luna’s story sounded filthy in her mouth. She knew what really happened. Her sister let her run away.

“Okay...Princess come with me. I’m going to Ridyahoof. That’s where the Emperor and Empress are.” Luna went with the strange mare. “And by the way, the name’s Alicia.” Luna was astounded to hear this. She and Celestia were the only two ponies in Canterlot with first names much less a regular pony. Something inside of Luna realized that Alicia was helping her. She cared about Luna. Luna was feeling a warm feeling inside. Something telling her that maybe someponies were not a cruel and heartless like her sister. Alicia took off her headscarf as she wrapped it around her mouth, revealing herself as a fuschia white mare a golden mane in a braid. With one swift motion, she handed her red neckscarf to Luna.

“Here you go. These streets are crawling with unpleasant folk.” Luna put the red scarf around her mouth like Alicia.

The city of Ridyahoof was crawling with all sorts of species like horses, griffons, dragons and even some of her own kind. Of course, there were no alicorns like Luna.

Luna and Alicia turned heads as the creatures looked at her. They had never seen an alicorn before. Alicia snorted at them, and they all turned back to trading. Luna did not remember much of her old life, but she remember her mother Galaxia, how she used to raise not a burning sun like Celestia, but a warm loving sun. Her father Darkness used to bring out a beautiful night with a sky so tinted black. Luna smiled. That was the time she was happy. That was the time ponies cared about Luna. How she would love to feel those precious moments again. But those were just memories before the Great Alicorn War which wiped out all of the natural alicorns. She remembered very little about the war when she was just a young filly. A happy filly that is. Those memories would be forever in her heart where nopony could hurt her. Or so she thought.

“How much farther?” Luna muffled voice came out of the scarf.

“Not too much.” Alicia replied back. Luna picked her head up. They trotted up to palace. The palace was much like the one in Canterlot, but it was much bigger with golden circular domes and large pale pink walls and columns in the front. A wide and and tall brown door was slightly ajar. Guards on either side came forth and asked the alicorn and mare why they needed to enter. Luna took off her scarf.

“I am Princess Luna and wish to see the Emperor and Empress.” The guards eye’s widened in recognition and trotted out of the way so Princess Luna could move inside. She turned to Alicia.

“Well, Alicia, I guess this is a goodbye,” Luna said sadly.

“Goodbye fair Luna. I hope you travel safely.” Alicia replied respectfully before bowing. Luna leaped down, and hugged the mare with her forelegs.

“Thank you Alicia, You’re the only pony who had helped me in a very, very long time.” Luna whispered. She wrapped her sapphire wings around the cloaked mare. Luna felt warm white wings wrap around her our frail body.

“No thanks needed princess. She let go of Luna, turned and walked away. Luna entered the palace, the guards closing the door behind her.

Alicia stopped walked and sneaked behind the back of the palace. The guards were called inside, while Alicia flew up onto a nearby window and observed the conversation that was happening between the emperor, empress and Luna.

“Presenting her royal highness, Princess Luna of Equestria!” One of the guards announced.

“You majesties, thank you so much for seeing me on such short notice.” Luna stated.

“Of course Princess! Saddle Arabia had long valued the relationship with her sister country across the sea. Tell me Princess, how is your sister? I have not seen her since I was a filly!” The emperor cried out in a thick Saddle Arabian accent.

“I…. don’t know.” Luna’s voice now getting weaker loomed through the ancient palace.

“Princess, is there something wrong?” The emperor said, taking a worried tone in his voice.

“I-I need shelter. I no longer live in Equestria.” Luna spit out the truth as she hung her sore head. Alicia gasped at this. She knew Luna was lying to her.

“By the beard of Starswirl! How is that possible?” The emperor spoke, flabbergasted by what Luna was telling him.

“Oh you poor dear! What happened?”” His wife said with sympathy.

“I’ve been on my own for months! Celestia gotten...mean!” Luna shouted. “She doesn't care about anypony anymore.The only thing she cares about is ruling Equestria.”

“Oh your highness! I can’t imagine that Princess Celestia do such a thing! Ever since I saw her as a filly, I knew that she was supposed to represent wisdom and compassion!” The Empress spoke aghast.

“She’s changed!”

“Go on,”

“When we battled King Sombra in the North, He cornered Celestia, and did something to her. I saw her eyes, she wasn’t the same after that.”

“Oh heavens no!”

“When we finally defeated King Sombra, I didn’t think his power left Celestia. It’s like… he’s still influencing her!” Luna exclaimed.

“That is of great concern!” The emperor spoke.

“We should send a delegation to Princess Celestia!” The empress squealed.

“NO! No… would you your majesties...help me?” Luna shrieked.

“Of course gentle princess. You are welcome to stay here at the palace. Any further action however, must be thought out.”

Alicia let herself fall from the wall and flew down to the town. She needed to get to Celestia fast and tell her where her sister was or the princess of the night could be lost for all eternity.

Confronting Chamberlin

5 days later

“Chamberlin get papers filed by the end of today.” Celestia ordered her second advisor.

“Princess Celestia!” Clear Ray shouted.

“Clear Ray! That is not how my student speaks.” Celestia strictly barked. Celestia had grown colder and isolated since her sister departed.

“I’m sorry Princess Celestia, but a pegasus pony named Alicia is at the palace door, begging to see you or anybody that can get the message across to you.” Clear Ray said.

“Please, Clear Ray. She could be a spy or a thief waiting to strike when she gets in the palace. She could be the cause of the downfall of Equestria when she comes in here and destroys every pony within and killing everypony in a heartbeat just like Sombra to the entirety of the Crystal Empire!” Celestia shrieked. Clear Ray took a few steps back from his hysterical teacher.

“Alright Princess. I will tell her to leave.” Clear Ray stuttered. He turned to go to the main entrance when he heard a

“Clear Ray. I’m sorry, I just got a little out of hoof. I’m just scared something might happen. Like my sister…” Celestia whispered the last part so quietly, that nopony could even hear it. Clear Ray could’ve sworn he saw Celestia’s tear splash, drenching her blanched cheeks but he dare not recognize it. “Go check on the mare, she was she has to say. It’s probably nothing more than a fan trying to visit.”

“Okay princess. Your majesty, is there something wrong?” Clear Ray asked reluctantly.

“No Clear Ray, why do you ask?” Celestia pretended to look confused.

“Nothing…” He turned to front door, leaving a broken princess behind him.

“Excuse me,” Clear called to the guards. He turned to see the pegasus pony push through the crowd of guards trying to hold her back from entering the castle.

“Let me pass! I need to see the princess!” Alicia hollered.

“What is the meaning of this?” Clear Ray shouted. The guards stopped struggling to keep her back and Alicia ceased to move. The castle guards spread out to create a pathway from Clear Ray to Alicia.

“Why do you want to see the princess?” Clear Ray asked. He almost blushed when he spoke. Who was this beautiful pony? Her eyes were like twinklings stars, blue with so much compassion and love in them.

“I uh- am Alici and I uh,” Alicia and looked at the muscular stallion in front of her. His red mane so neatly combed it looked vibrant against his silver fur. His horn was shaped so perfectly… Shut up! I need to stay focused! The princess!

“I need to talk in private with Princess Celestia!” Alicia exclaimed.

“It will have to wait. I am Clear Ray, the princess’s student. You can talk to me privately.”

“Alright.” Alicia agreed.

“Guards leave us!” Clear ordered. The guards left.

“So what is so important.” Clear stated. Alicia looked around before speaking to see if somepony was watching them. Nothing.

“Just kidding. I just wanted to meet up with royalty.” Alicia fake smiled.

“Are you serious?” Clear Ray shouted.

“I can pay you for it!” Alicia pressed.

“GET OUT!” Clear Ray ordered. Alicia smiled.

“Now I can trust you.” The mare was actually quite the clever one. Even Clear was impressed. “It works everytime. Offer money and they go loco.”

“Just tell me why you’re here.” Clear Ray groaned.

“Okay okay jeez, I know where the missing princess is.” Alicia stared him dead in the eye. Clear’s eyes widened in shock.

“How? She’s been gone for 5 months already! Nopony even noticed except the guards, Celestia and I!” Clear shouted.

“I helped her. She would’ve died out in the hot sun. unless she was hydrated enough.” Alicia said and cracked a grin at the memories.

“Where is she?”

“Saddle Arabia.”

“Saddle Arabia? Why?” Clear asked.

“She lied to me and said she was on orders for her sister. I helped her get into the palace, but I spied on her while she talked to the emperor and empress. She said she didn’t live in Equestria anymore and explained to them why she wasn’t living there anymore. She said that Celestia banished her and she’s not herself. I didn’t believe most of it. I like her and all, but I thought she went insane!” Alicia explained.

“No she’s right. Celestia hasn’t been herself after she came back from the Crystal Empire. I thought I was the only pony who thought it so I kept quiet.” Clear said. “I’m worried. Luna’s still gone and Celestia isn’t herself. What is happening?” Clear walked over to the window and sighed. Alicia followed him and put a hoof on his shoulder.

“Hey it’s okay. We will sort this out. We find Luna and fix this mess.” Alicia said defiantly. Clear Ray’s muscles contracted when she put a hoof on his shoulder. Her hoof was warm and lingering there so long. He liked it. He turned to look at her beautiful face and immediately grew shy.

“But we cannot tell the sun princess about what Luna said.” Alicia looked deep into Clear’s eyes telling him it was serious.

“Why?” Clear Ray’s face washed over with confusion.

“Luna said that the princess hasn’t been herself lately. It could stir up trouble.”

“Alright well we better tell the Princess!” Clear walked out, flustered while Alicia had a small loveable grin on her face.

Chapter 6

“Chamberlin please! Let us in!” Celestia’s student shouted at the tall purple Earth Pony stallion blocking the doorway to his teacher.

“No Clear Ray. Princess Celestia is busy at court. Go somewhere else!” Chamberlin stated.

“Please sir, we need to she the princess! It’s important!” Alicia cried.

“Clear Ray, take your strange marefriend here and leave!”

“No! It’s important! It’s about Princess L-!’

“What is so important my faithful student?” Celestia came out from behind Chamberlin.

“Ah, Princess Celestia, it is good to see you,” Chamberlin smiled to his ruler.

“And to you Chamberlin. Clear Ray and um.” Celestia spoke.

“It’s Alicia your highness. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“So you're the strange mare who has been at my doors.”

“Yes your majesty.”

“Your highness please! We carry valuable information about Princess Luna!” Clear Ray exclaimed. Celestia head snapped.

“What did you say about Princess Luna?” Celestia snapped her, attention focused on them now.

“Can we talk privately?” Alicia looked at Chamberlin who scowled.

“Chamberlin, leave us.” Chamberlin left looking back at Alicia.

“In here.” Celestia motioned for Alicia and Clear to follow her into a room with a purple door. “Begin,”

“Princess Celestia, Alicia tells me that she has come into contact with Princess Luna.” Clear explained. Celestia nodded eager to know more about her missing sister.

Alicia explained how she had found Luna lying on the ground almost dead. She left out the parts of how Princess Luna blamed her sister for banishing her and not being herself.

“Excuse me my subjects, I need a moment.” Celestia said, shakily. Celestia was worried sick since Luna’s disappearance, and she wouldn’t tell a soul. She must stay strong. Equestria could fall if she wasn’t ready! Just like Sombra destroyed the entire Crystal Empire. She cleared her throat shakily and continued.

“Alright. Since I cannot go to Saddle Arabia myself, I am going to send you three to the emperor and empress. Retrieve my sister and be careful.” Celestia warned her faithful student and the blonde pegasus.

“We will princess. Alicia unfold your wings and take off your cloak.” Clear instructed.

“Why?”

“We need to be more careful. Saddle Arabia is an… unpleasant place. Alicia understood, and waited for Clear’s call. He turned her long blonde mane pink and her fur red. He changed her into a bright earth pony. Alicia gasped when she saw she had no wings.

“Can I have my wings back? I love to fly and consider myself extremely lucky to be a pegasus.” Alicia asked politely. Clear Ray cast his purple magic and restored her wings.

Clear Ray enchanted himself to look like a green earth pony with a golden mane with deep emerald streaks.

“The spell should last at least 2 moons.” Clear quickly regretted saying moons. “Before I have to cast the spell again.”

“Hold a minute my loyal student. I said three of you were going.” Celestia interrupted.

“Who else would go your highness?” Alicia asked. Celestia looked at the door.

The princess’s purple advisor walked in. Alicia and Clear groaned.

Chapter 6

“Chamberlin, wear this cloak and pack your things in this saddle bag,” Celestia instructed her stuck-up advisor.

“Yes your majesty,” the violet earth pony smiled up the at the powerful alicorn, but gritted his perfect teeth at Alicia and Clear. They looked at one another and rolled their eyes.

“Please, be careful and bring my sister home.The safety of Equestria matters” Celestia whispered into Clear’s right ear.

He looked up at his teacher and grinned. She was not smiling back.

He grabbed Alicia and handed her the saddle bag.

“I don’t carry peasant's things.” He scoffed. Alicia sighed. She opened the pack and Celestia handed her 24 stocks of hay, 17 water bottles, 4 apples and everything else from cloaks to rope. The princess fastened the bag, with her golden magic.

“Put on your black cloaks and head out the back door. Try not to get draw too much attention.” Celestia instructed.

“Your majesty, do I really have to go with these two insolent-” Chamberlin started.

“Yes Chamberlin. You must keep an eye on them.” Celestia paid no attention to Chamberlin’s impatience with Alicia and her student. Chamberlin was beyond annoyed.

“Very well you gloriousness.”

“Let’s go. We don’t have time for this, Luna could be in serious danger and we could be too late.” Clear said, worriedly as he remembered his friend. Alicia flinched. She respected the princess of the night and loved her just as much as Clear, but she was jealous of the way that he talked about Luna. Maybe he cared for her much as he did for herself.

“Come on Chamberlin,” Alicia snarled as she threw the pack at the indigo earth pony.

“Scavenger piece of scum.” Chamberlin retorted.

“What did you say to her?” Clear Ray turned around and caught Chamberlin by the throat.

“I won’t say-it- again!” Chamberlin wheezed.

“Clear STOP!” Alicia cried. Chamberlin may not value her life, but she still valued his. Clear Ray dropped Chamberlin but not before giving him a good buck in the foreleg and a snort in the face. Chamberlin winced at his leg, and spat on the ground.

“I don’t know why Princess Celestia would hire a worthless piece of shit like you.” Clear snarled.

“Clear. Stop. If we fight we may never find Luna.” Alicia put her hand on his shoulder.

Clear Ray once again felt that tingling feeling. Alicia made him feel special. Not just another unicorn- well earth pony for right now.

“Umm… let’s head out!” Clear Ray trotted a little farther than Alicia praying that he didn’t look stupid. Chamberlin limped along while Alicia offered to help him, but immediately declined. The trio then hurried along, jogging with their aching hooves and continued their journey for the long lost princess.

Chapter 7

10 days later

When they arrived in Saddle Arabia the land was desolate and empty. The trade in Ridyahoof was clearly gone, and the laughter seemed to quiet down. The trio walked up to the palace and were greeted by a pair of guards.

“Stop. What is your business?” A brown horse with sliver armor said.

“We need to see the majesties. I am Chamberlin, advisor of Princess Celestia. These two with me are just peasants.” Chamberlin scoffed. Alicia huffed at him while Clear scowled.

“Oh uh alright sir,” The guard seemed suspicious, but let them past anyway. The trio walked into the vast palace with little realization what was about to happen.

“Your majesties, it is my great pleasure to accompany you.” Chamberlin tried a grin.

“Have you come looking for something?” The emperor asked unsurely.

“Yes. In fact, we have come here on the behalf of Princess Celestia looking for the young Princess Luna.” Chamberlain informed. The empress and emperor looked at one another before beginning.

“I’m very sorry, but the Princess Luna left us...a while ago.” The empress said.

Clear looked horrified. They had come this close to recasing the princess of the night, and she had slipped out of their grasp.

“Your majesties, may I ask where did she go?” Clear Ray butted in.

“Quiet fool!” Chamberlin shushed Clear.

“Where did Princess Luna go esteemed majesties?” Chamberlin asked with a grand smile.

“That she wishes to remain silent to all advisors, for she told us herself for no one to speak of it.” The empress was clearly hiding something in her voice. The empress could barely contain herself as she blurted out ”She also told us that Celestia was corrupt, and banished the poor dear!” The empress’s shrill voice was raising.

“Beloved please.” the emperor told his wife. “The princess told ourselves that we must not trust Celestia or anyone who comes from her… palace.” The emperor looked at Chamberlin.

“I wish not to be a nuisance, but Princess Celestia knows highly of the world. She is an incorruptible example of greatness and we all should-”

“Enough advisor. You are here to stay for a few days until, you go back to Equestria.” The emperor interrupted the shallow advisor. The empress motioned for her guards to take the ponies out of the throne room and into the rooms in an east hallway. Alicia took the room on the left, Clear next to her on the right, and Chamberlin across.

“Everypony should get some rest.” Alicia suggested.

“Alicia’s right. Chamberlin, I suggest you don’t run away?”

“Whatever peasant. You may be her highnesses student, but I will treat you no less that an arrogant child!” Chamberlin squawked.

“Whatever priss. Alicia you look tired. Rest your wings and be ready in the morning.” Clear bade her a farewell before disappearing into his own room. Clear Ray laid his throbbing head onto a silk pillow as he quickly fell into the dream world.

Clear....

What? Who’s there? He knew he was dreaming but he had no idea who the voice in his head was.

Clear Ray….

SHOW YOURSELF!

Clear Ray it’s Luna....

Luna is that you?

Yes Clear Ray.

Luna! Are you alright? We’ve been worried sick!

I’m-I’m scared Clear! Luna began to sob through her dream like realm.

Luna! Are you hurt? What’s going on?

I-I...This is the only way I can contact you. I don’t trust anypony anymore!

Luna you can trust me. Where are you?

I left Saddle Arabia, I even went to the Griffonia! Something… Something been following me… ever since I left. It’s been haunting me… Luna was practically weeping confused and lonely as her voice cracked and filled the quiet space.

Luna! Where are you?

I...I don’t understand! I’m scared!

What? I don’t understand Luna! Luna please come home!

I can’t Clear. Can you help me? Wait… what’s that.. that THING! AH! Luna was voice was cut off as she screamed her light airy scream, and nothing left but Clear Ray. Her shattered voice echoing in his mind.

Luna? LUNA!

Clear Ray woke up with a sudden gasp. Alicia and Chamberlin were standing over his trembling gray body.

“Clear. Clear Ray? Where is Luna?” Alicia shook the unicorn until he woke up.

“Huh? Luna? Were you guys watching me sleep?”

“We heard you screaming for Luna so we got worried. Well one of us did.” Alicia at Chamberlin.

“Well you peasants really are quite bothersome.” He scoffed.

“Stop! I’ve had just enough of you!” Clear struggled to scramble up, but Alicia put a hoof on his chest.

“Oh for the love of Celestia! Will you shut your worthless pegasus mouth?” Chamberlin shouted.

“Shut up you racist mud pony!” Alicia shoved the purple stallion into a nearby closet.

“You stupid, cow faced pegasus!” Chamberlin screeched. An exchange of cursing and swears erupted from the two. Chamberlin had had enough. He grabbed the terrified mare and slammed her into the ground. She cried out, blood falling from her fragile body. At that moment, Clear’s disguising spell cracked, and was gone. Clear Ray saw what was happening, and stepped out of his daze. He used his purple magic to try to stop the stallion, but the violet pony was to strong for him. Chamberlin pinned Alicia up by the throat and kicked Clear Ray in the gut. He hunched over.

“Now little-!” Chamberlin hollered.“You get outta of here!”

“Let go of me you filth of a pony!” Alicia wheezed.

“You stupid pegasi brute!” He pulled her back by his hooves, and smashed her against the window. . Alicia’s wings were useless for she was unconscious. Tiny pieces of glass cut through her white fur. Her wings were useless.

Clear Ray watched in terror as Alicia plummeted out of the shattered window, and fell to her death. Clear Ray shot out like a bullet, his magic glistening around his horn. He leapt up, throwing the earth pony Chamberlin out of the way, and grabbed Alicia with his magic. The white pegasus pony was knocked out cold, her head hung like a boral stone. Clear Ray grunted and twisted as he was not strong at carrying live objects, much less a whole pony. He hoisted her up with quite some effort, His body aching.

He grabbed the pony in his gentle forelegs, and wrapped her in cloth and poured water onto her face. Chamberlin stood in the corner bewildered. He had just committed a crime of highest order. Of Celestia’s order. He rushed out of the room, terrified about what might happen next.

"I need a medic quick!” Clear screamed to any horse in sight. Guards burst into the room. They had Chamberlin around the neck with a burnt lasso, pinching his flat slab of a neck. The guards hoisted Alicia’s body onto each of their backs and left the terrified student behind them.