Original Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_41xn3hCmUWwS316f0TepGPz325flSVcEjs_XtP0pcY/edit

“Please, Princess Celestia!” the orange stallion pleaded. “We were the ones who discovered the crystal caverns in the first place!”

“Preposterous!” the cream colored mare protested. “If it weren’t for us and our families, not a single crystal would have been mined by now! You owe all the labour to us!”

“Silence please, my little ponies!” Celestia finally broke into the debate using the royal voice. “This arguing brings us nowhere! We have been debating over this situation for hours already and have come to many points we all were agreeing with. I am not willing to begin all over because neither of you can see that this was a combined effort of both of you! Let me resume the conditions.”

The present ponies bowed down to the bright demi-goddess as a symbol of apology, then they nodded in agreement.

“The crystal caverns are part of Equestria, therefore they belong to the land. But for the discovery of the caverns, the excavators get their percentage on the bits earned from selling the crystals. Same do the crystal miners, for it is their hard labour that even brings them to the surface.” Celestia resumed.

“But what about the traders? They are blocking the way to the mines with all their tends!” the orange stallion asked.

“I see but one solution for this problem. We must found a new city, directly at the mountain. The excavators shall manage the city, while the crystal miners and the traders are free to set home in it. Do you agree with these terms?” Celestia suggested.

“A brilliant idea, your majesty! The miners would finally be living in proper homes again without the need to travel a good hundred miles! Of course, the crystal miner department agrees!” the cream colored mare agreed happily.

“Under these circumstances, the excavators also agree! Managing the city will ensure we get our share of the profit and helps us organize the project better!” the orange stallion confirmed.

“Then it is decided. I will make arrangements to start the construction of this city. Your part of the deal is to think of a name for it. Do not forget, my little ponies. The foundation of Equestria was only possible because enemies put their differences behind them and started cooperating. Only together, you were able to maintain this land for such a long time. So, I wish for you to think of a name together. I am looking forward to hear your decision,” Celestia declared.

“We thank you a thousand times for your patience and kindness, your majesty!” both ponies spoke while bowing down. Then, they turned around and left the throne room.

Celestia maintained a royal and mighty appearance until they both were gone. Then, she sighed in exhaustion and started to relax. Instantly, a green earth pony mare with brown mane and light blue eyes wearing a maid dress and glasses popped out of a corner, quickly carrying a tray with a tea set on it to her.

“Here! Freshly brewed herbal tea! This will help you, Princess!” she spoke happily and started pouring some tea into a cup.

“Thank you most sincerely, Emerald Dream. Just what I needed. You are by far the most attentive of my maids,” Celestia replied in her regular voice, using her magic to let the cup levitate up to her.

Emerald Dream smiled widely. “I’ll do whatever I can for our beloved princess!”

Celestia, too, smiled a bit, then closed her eyes and took the first relishing sip from the cup. The demi-goddess of the sun loved all her subjects. But Emerald Dream was in a special position. She was the only pony around which Celestia didn’t have to pose mighty, divine and wise. She could be herself when she was present.

“Five hours. Good gosh, Princess. Some ponies just don’t seem to learn from our past. Five hours of debating over something so silly as money and crystals. You must be drained,” Emerald commented.

“Well I do admit that this was rather draining. But it was necessary and in the end absolutely worth it. Of course, they only see the temporary advantages of the foundation of a city directly at a newly opened crystal mine. But I can already sense how the things will develop for this city, hundreds of years ahead. It is bound to flourish,” Celestia replied.

“How so, if I may ask?” the maid wondered.

“It will attract ponies from all over Equestria, who are searching for work. The construction will take a very long time, but it will never run out of income. So the development is ensured. Since the main income for the city is the trading of crystals and gemstones, jewellers, goldsmiths and artists from all over the world will be drawn to this city. Due to the special location, they will quickly find inspiration and start making crafts for the city. I can see it already: this future city will become the jewel of Equestria,” the bright demi-goddess explained.

“Princess Celestia! You are a genius!” Emerald exclaimed, deeply impressed.

“Thank you, my dear maid,” Celestia replied, smiling lightly.

“This is so exciting! Oh I hope I will live long enough to see this city bloom!” the maid kept speaking.

Again, Celestia smiled lightly and took another sip from her cup. Then, she placed it aside and used her magic to let the sun go down very slowly.

“Oh! Is it evening already?” Emerald Dream wondered.

“Yes it is. Another very exhausting day comes to an end. You can leave now. I will let you know when I need you,” the princess of the Day replied.

“As you wish, Princess!” the maid spoke happily and turned around to leave.

Somehow, Emerald Dream always managed to make Celestia smile. She was always so happy and full of energy, it was a real inspiration for her. It were small things like these that kept the bright demi-goddess fueled to go through all this hard work she had to face every day.

Celestia’s tasks as the ruler of Equestria were very time-consuming and mentally draining. Each day was a challenge and she had to face her subjects with infinite patience. After the many years of Discord’s leadership, they forgot how to trust each other and cooperate. They became trained to only care for themselves in order to survive in a realm of chaos. Now, it was all up to Celestia to reestablish the high standards this land once used to be known for.

But it seemed like her efforts were finally coming to fruition. Just recently, she received the first offers and invitations from other empires. Equestria was slowly regaining global acknowledgement. Yet, there was still a long way to go before the land would be what it once used to be again.

All the land’s burdens rested solely on Celestia’s shoulders. Her word had nationwide influence. Every decision she made was speaking for itself and delivering a certain message, which she always needed to make sure was the correct one. A message that clearly stated that she only wished the best for pony-kind and the land. She needed to make sure that the ponies kept believing in her. They needed her guidance after lacking any for several hundred years.

So, of course, Celestia was under a lot of stress. There was so much she had to supervise. So much she had to manage. Her entire day consisted of nothing else but work. The last time she found a moment to do whatever she wanted was so long ago, she couldn’t even remember.

Not even now that it was evening and all audiences and negotiations for today were over did she find a moment to relax. Like most things, the bureaucracy of the entire land also depended on her by a vast majority. Like every day, she spent the most of the time dealing with her upset subjects and only found the time to do paperwork in the evening. As usual, she would be sitting in front of large piles of paper for the rest of the day, trying to get as much done as she could before she would get too tired to think clearly anymore. Then, she would hand the rest to her sister.

At times, Celestia envied Luna. She had so little to do during the night that she actually could follow her hobbies for hours, like reading through the castle archives. The princess of the Day really couldn’t understand why Luna was constantly complaining about being alone for such a long time. If there was a way she could change places with her little sister for even a day, she would instantly take this opportunity. It would be such a pleasant change for Celestia to just relax for a while and be only by herself, without having her subjects crowding her every day, all day long.

But of course, that was not possible. Luna belonged to the night like Celestia belonged to the day. This was their destiny and despite all the stress Celestia was experiencing, she still loved her subjects and cared a huge deal for every last of them. This is why she forced herself though all the efforts each day.

---

Three hours passed and finally, Celestia began to get tired. As always, she had been working from dawn to dusk and all that was left for her to do now was to get some rest to prepare for the next day. But at least, she could see her sister quickly before she went to bed.

In the last three years, Luna started to change. While she seemed depressed for hundred years, she now suddenly became rather cheerful again. Celestia didn’t know what caused her to suddenly change and she just didn’t have the time to ask back, but it was a development that surely pleased her to see. She only considered that Luna finally became aware of her bad attitude and found ways to deal with her apparent problems.

Indeed, Luna found a solution to her loneliness. But Celestia was completely unaware of how much she would have to pay for this solution in just near future.

As the bright demi-goddess entered her sister’s throne room, Luna was already waiting for her. Along with the change of her attitude came a change in her behaviour. While for hundreds of years before, Celestia had to wait for Luna to get up and ready to perform her duties, she now always was there already when Celestia came after a long and exhausting day of work. This change even went so far as that Luna now greeted her with a smile whenever she met her sister.

So she did this time as well. Celestia only smiled back, too tired and exhausted to get herself involved in a long conversation and as always, they both exchanged sun and moon without speaking a word.

The princess of the Day was about to leave, when she noticed a black tear trail on her sister’s cheek.

“Um, Luna. I think your makeup is running,” she informed her sister.

Luna reached up to her eye and then looked at her hoof, as well surprised to see a black liquid now sticking to it.

“I suppose I overdid it then. Thank you for telling me, sister,” Luna replied calmly and smiled a bit while wiping the tear away.

This already was confirmation enough to Celestia that everything was alright with her sister. She really didn’t have the energy left to have a long emotional conversation now. The bright demi-goddess was just too tired after the events of today and badly needed some rest.

After her sister had left the room again, Luna’s face changed to one of confusion and she wiped her eyes a second time.

“Gosh, why am I crying? And why are these tears black? I have no reason to cry! Since you are around, Nightmare, I’m finally happy again!” she spoke to herself.

“Those are not your tears, Luna. Actually, they are not tears at all,” Nightmare Moon spoke.

“What do you mean? Do you have something to do with that?” the dark demi-goddess wondered.

“Yes. They come from me. Since the night you created me, you allowed me to keep growing stronger and stronger. Now, I am slowly starting to take physical shape,” the de manis explained.

“Physical?! Does that mean you are turning into an actual creature?” Luna asked, quite excited to hear of this development.

“It seems like it. Maybe one day, we will be able to see each other face to face,” Nightmare Moon replied.

“That would be so wonderful! The world’s first de manis, walking with me during the night for everypony to see and talk to! What a beautiful thought!” Luna fantasized happily.

“For everypony to see and talk to, Luna? Did you not say that all ponies sleep during the night?” Nightmare Moon wondered.

Now, the happy expression on Luna’s face disappeared and her depression returned. With Nightmare Moon around, she finally found a way to distract herself of the fact that, besides this voice accompanying her, nopony else was paying attention to her. But still, she kept finding things that reminded her of her situation.

“Yes... you are right, Nightmare. There is not a single exception to this either, otherwise we would have met at least one pony in the last three years,” Luna replied in a sad tone.

After the princess of the Night said this, Nightmare Moon suddenly became silent, catching the confusion of Luna.

“Nightmare? Hello?” she called.

No response was given. Slowly, Luna felt how fear spread through her body. In all the three years she had been living with Nightmare Moon so far, she never suddenly became mute like this before. Did something go wrong? Did she disappear?

“Nightmare! Please! Speak to me! Don’t leave me alone!” Luna called out, louder this time and starting to breathe faster.

While the dark demi-goddess slowly started to panic over the fact that the de manis wasn’t replying to her, Nightmare Moon made a discovery. She understood that Luna depended on her. She wouldn’t be able to endure it if Nightmare Moon would turn against her. From this moment on, as the de manis realized she could control Luna, things began to change.

“I can not believe you let them get away with this,” Nightmare Moon suddenly spoke again, a bit of anger in her tone.

Luna sighed shortly in relief as she started hearing the voice in her head speak again, but became a bit shocked after she realized what Nightmare Moon just said.

“Ge... get away with what, Nightmare?” Luna asked back.

“With treating you like this. You are the co-ruler of Equestria! Not only that, but a demi-goddess, too! You deserve to be worshipped and praised! Yet, not a single one of your subjects even thinks of you!” the de manis explained.

“Well... they are having a really hard time, you know... I do not blame them. They are struggling for survival and focus on reconstructing the land,” Luna stated.

“That is a poor excuse, Luna. A very poor one. For how long are they rebuilding Equestria by now?” Nightmare Moon asked.

“For... a few hundred years...” the demi-goddess of darkness replied.

“A few hundred years. When was the last time you had been speaking to one of your subjects?” the voice kept asking.

“More than fifty years...” Luna answered again.

“It didn’t tell you anything about how things were developing for the land, didn’t it?” the de manis wondered.

“No...” Luna replied, starting to get depressed again.

“Then what makes you so sure the land is still so much under reconstruction that they do not have time to worship you? How can you be sure they haven’t simply forgotten you?” Nightmare Moon wanted to know.

“No! It can not be! They can not have just forgotten me! Just recently, sister informed us about-” the dark demi-goddess started, but found herself interrupted.

“Your sister is not a valid argument!” Nightmare Moon spoke, harshly for the very first time. “If at least your sister would care enough about you, you would not have felt the need to create me! Speak honestly, Luna! When were you last able to inform yourself of the development of the land personally?”

“A... long time ago... a very long time ago...” Luna answered, meekly.

Now, Nightmare Moon took a moment of silence to let this sink in to make Luna aware of how bad her situation truly was. In fact, the dark demi-goddess never thought of things like that before. Finally, Nightmare Moon started speaking again.

“Think of all the things you do for the ponies. Think of all the lullabies you have written, yet the only creature that ever heard them was me. Think of the hard work you put into making the night enjoyable for all creatures of this world, yet nopony cares about it. But mostly, think of the great risks you have taken to save the ponies of this land. You faced Discord! You defeated him! How do the ponies repay you for all this?” she asked.

Now, Luna understood. Nightmare Moon was right. The ponies of Equestria were very ungrateful to her. No, not only they, but even her own sister.

Her expression changed again. Now, the dark demi-goddess looked angered.

“By disrespecting and ignoring me,” Luna replied.

Again, the de manis became silent for a good minute to let Luna think over this knowledge. After the minute had passed, the voice made the first suggestion she had ever given to Luna.

“We have to change this,” she spoke in a serious tone. “We have to stop allowing them to ignore us. If we do not take action, nothing will ever happen. We will only end up becoming a forgotten legend, lost between the pages of history.”

“Yes. You are right, Nightmare. So very right. I allowed myself to get suppressed and ignored for far too long. As you stated correctly, I am a demi-goddess! I deserve more! I deserve better! I will not stay hidden in the darkness any longer! I will step into the moonlight and let everypony see that I still exist! Thank you, Nightmare. Thank you for opening my eyes,” Luna replied.

As soon as she finished speaking, another black tear rolled out of Luna’s left eye and down her face.

“This is what you created me for, Luna. Allow me to guide you and I will promise you that everything will change. Absolutely everything,” the de manis swore.