Waiting for the Sun to Rise

“Twilight, I thank thee. Tonight has been wonderful.” Luna rose from her spot next to Twilight, stretching her wings. “But sadly, I must return to the castle. It is almost time for me to change over the day with my sister.”

Twilight nodded, giving the alicorn a warm smile as she did. “I understand princess. Thank you for teaching me about the stars. I would love to spend more time with you if you don’t mind.”

Luna returned the smile, giving the young mare a gentle nuzzle. “Well, Celestia did give me an idea.” The princess sat back, gazing calmly at Twilight. “She has invited you and your friends to the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot in two weeks.” While Luna wasn’t sure how such a short celebration in the morning would translate to very much time spent with the ponies who had freed her, it was still time.

“That sounds wonderful princess!” Twilight exclaimed. “Though we would have to arrive the day before so we can stay up all night. Oh! And we’ll need to find a place to stay in case we want to. And we’ll need…” Twilight trailed off, her mind buzzing as she planned everything out.

Luna laughed softly to herself as she watched the young pony plan everything out. She silently shook her head, sighing. “Twilight!” she called, bringing the mare back to earth. “Why don’t you go check with your friends, make sure they’re free in two weeks. Sadly, I have to leave now, so I will see you at the celebration.” Luna took to the sky, quickly disappearing into the sunrise.

“Welcome back sister. I trust your night went well?” Luna had barely landed in her room when Celestia spoke, giving her a small shock.

“Why yes, I did enjoy my night. I visited your pupil, Twilight. I was in need of somepony to talk to.”

Celestia tilted her head, gazing quizzically at her sister. “Why didn’t you come talk to me? You know I’m always available for you.”

“I didn’t want to wake you,” lied the princess, thinking quick on her hooves. At this point, Luna had walked over to her sister, and they shared a quick hug. “However, Twilight was awake, and as I have been wanting to talk more with her, I figured she would make a wonderful companion for the night.”

Luna left her room, hoping to end the conversation. However, Celestia quickly followed, so the princess of the night directed herself towards the kitchen.

“You know I have no problems being awoken by you sister.” Celestia said warmly, walking alongside her sister. “However, Twilight is awake during the day. I hope you did not keep her up all night, and expect her to stay up today.”

By this point the sisters had reached the kitchen, entered, and sat down to eat. “I gave her the sleepless spell sister. I hope you do not mind.”

Celestia stopped mid-chew. She knew how much her student would want to learn that spell, and just how bad it would be if she did. “Please tell me you didn’t teach her that spell Luna.” The princess mumbled around a mouth full of food.

“It’s not polite to speak with your mouth full,” Luna chided. She loved being able to get the upper hoof on her sister. “And no, I did not teach her. I told her about the spell, what it does, and the risks, but nothing of how to cast the spell.”

Sighing deeply, Celestia swallowed her food before continuing. “Well sister, I trust you. And I can tell that something has been bothering you the last few days. Will you tell me what it is?”

Luna was taken aback. She had not expected her sister to have noticed anything. Much less confront her about it. “Something has been bothering me sister.” Luna sighed, deciding to trust in her sister’s love for her. “However, I do not wish to discuss it with you, or anypony. I am having a problem, and need to solve the first step before I can ask for help.” Luna stood, having finished her own meal, and smiled. “Shall we change over the day now?”

Sighing deeply, the elder princess rose. She needed to talk with Luna about what was going on, but didn’t want to press it. “Alright sister,” she replied. The sisters lowered their horns, each aglow, and caused the changing of the day. “Well, good morning sister. I trust you wish to sleep. But please know, I am always here to talk with.”

Luna nodded her reply and left. Slowly she walked to her room, winding through the halls. “Are you going to tell her? Or anyone?” The soothing voice of Mare wafted from the back of Luna’s mind. Though she hadn’t been expecting it, the voice no longer scared her. “I’m here for you, but you can’t keep me from them forever.”

“Why not?” Luna thought back. She was tired from her night with Twilight, and somewhat irritable from Celestia. “You’re my voice, in my head. If I want to keep you to myself, I can.” Luna snapped. “And if I can trust you, why should I share you?”

“Because you need to. I’m here for you, but you still can’t keep me inside. It’s not good for you.”

Luna sighed, knowing her friend was right. “Alright, fine. But not until you’ve earned my trust.” Slowly trotting into her room, Luna lay down on her bed, curling up. Her night had been long, and filled with much thought. She quickly drifted off to sleep, dreamily pulling her blanket over her as she did.

Her eyes slowly opened, blinking to adjust to the bright white of her surroundings. Shakily she rose to her hooves, still squinting against the whiteness. As her eyes finished adjusting to her surrounding, Luna began looking around. No matter which way she looked, everything was white.

“Let’s see” she thought to herself. “Could I be dreaming? I suppose it is possible. Dead? No, I am a princess of Equestria, immortal. I can not die.” Continuing to ponder over her current state, Luna heard the soft pattering of hooves behind her. “Ah, somepony to talk to. Perhaps they can tell me where I am.”

Spinning around to face her visitor, Luna was greeted with the form of Mare. “Why hello there friend. I wasn’t expecting you to join me.” Mare’s voice was gentle and calm, like a cloudless night sky. “Though while you’re here, shall we have tea?”

Luna gazed at the mare before her, very confused. “Is this a dream? Or am I in my head again?” she asked, eyes never leaving the mare before her.

“I don’t know Luna.” Mare responded. “All I know is that this is where I find myself when I’m not speaking with you. I think it may be somewhere between dreaming and your mind. It is peaceful here though.”

Luna nodded at Mare’s words. Though she didn’t have much to go on, what she had said make sense. “Tea would be lovely Mare.”

The black alicorn smiled at her name, whispering a small thank you. She served them tea at their small little table. “I hope we can have a pleasant talk.”

Luna smiled in return, joining her friend. “That sounds wonderful.” She responded. They enjoyed their tea, sipping and chatting.

Eventually the tea was finished and Mare cleared everything away. When she turned back to Luna though, her face was serious. “Luna, would it be possible for me to stretch my legs? I’ve been in here for almost a year now, and I would like a chance to actually move around.”

At this Luna seemed to snap back to reality. Her suspicions of Mare returned, though somewhat softened from their conversation. “Maybe. I’m still not sure I can trust you. But you are much closer. I will want some assurances though.” Mare sighed in response. She had expected as much. Nodding her acceptance, and smiling at her friend, the alicorn of dreams walked away. Slowly the world around Luna dissolved into black and Luna was falling.

With a start she awoke, panting for breath. While it was still early for her to be up, it was late enough to not be worth trying to go back to sleep. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, her dream already forgotten, Luna began her waking routine, beginning by combing her mane. It lay unkempt around her face, her light blue curls doing their best to hide her face. She gave a small chuckle as she combed, slowly pulling every strand back, neatening each one.

As she lay the brush down a voice drifted into her mind. “Please consider my offer,” Mare asked. Luna gave a jump, her dream returning to her in one giant rush. She blinked in surprise, and then sighed. Giving a small nod, she returned to her evening routines.

The next two weeks passed without much incident. Many letters passed between Twilight, Celestia and Luna, all in preparation of the upcoming celebration and get together. And every day, as Luna slept, she would talk with Mare. And over the two weeks Luna came to trust in her old friend, finally accepting her. She still wouldn’t let her out, still wanting to have some assurances first. But she resolved to, within the week following the Celebration, and under the watch of her sister.

Soon, the day before the celebration had arrived. As Luna had just finished her royal duties, she took her chariot down to Ponyville to collect her friends. Though Luna had told Twilight she would be there early, she hadn’t expected the six ponies to already be prepared to leave; much less barely an hour after dawn had risen. Yet the lights were on in the library, and Luna could hear the tired conversations of drowsy ponies.

Smiling to herself, Luna walked up to the door and gently knocked. The sounds from inside for immediately quieted before the door was wrenched open to reveal a bouncing pink mare.

“Ohh my gosh, hello Princess! I’ve been waiting to meet you ever since Twilight mentioned that you wanted to spend the Summer Sun Celebration with us, and I said that I would love to! I always love making new friends, and you’re going to be my newest friend! I mean, I know everyone in Ponyville, and now I get to be friends with a princess, I mean, how can I miss this chance am I right? But anyways, we’re-” The pink pony exclaimed in one breath, before being dragged back by the tail and silenced by Twilight’s magic.

“I’m sorry princess, Pinkie is just being Pinkie.” Luna stood staring at the place Pinkie Pie had been, slowly razing her gaze to Twilight, who had just spoken, and Pinkie next to her. She gazed at Pinkie Pie a moment longer, wondering how any pony could speak for so long without taking a breath.

She shook her head and smiled. “It is quite alright Twilight. We simply were not expecting it. Please, if you would follow us to our chariot, we can leave at once. Celestia wishes to greet you all before she has to begin her royal duties.” Luna beckoned the ponies to her chariot. Though she knew she could trust in Twilight, and considered her a friend, she was still unsure of the others. The ponies lifted their bags and made their way to the chariot of the princess of the night.

After an hour long trip, the chariot descended onto a platform jutting from the side of the royal palace. Luna thanked her chariot pullers as she climbed out, motioning for the ponies to join her. By now the ponies had woken up and, after grabbing their bags, quickly followed the princess.

Luna led the six ponies through the castle, navigating its many halls with ease. Each guard the group passed bowed before the princess, and gave a small nod towards Twilight. Soon, they were outside the throne room. Luna opened the door, and motioned them inside.

The six friends walked in, all giving a bow before Princess Celestia. The princess looked up from the paper, breaking into a large grin as she saw the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. “My little ponies!” she exclaimed, happy to see her student and friends. “I’m glad that I’m able to see you all before royal duties call me away.”

The six girls stood, smiling warmly at their princess. “We are always happy to see you princess,” Twilight spoke up. “How have you been?” Luna quietly exited the hall, slowly making her way to her room. Her night court had been busy for once, for which Luna was grateful. Even though it was nice to be busy, she was tired. She had sat through hours of bickering nobles, and still hadn’t determined what they wanted.

She sighed to herself, opening her door. “Morning guards.” Her faithful guards nodded to her, opening the door for her. “Gentlecolts, should Twilight Sparkle or any of the other Elements of Harmony come to visit, please allow them in. If it is the pink one, calm her down first.” The guards bowed, closing the door behind their princess.

Luna climbed onto her bed, worn from a long night. “I hope that the seven of us can find time together. Sometimes I hate being nocturnal.” The princess of the night pulled a blanket over her and, with a yawn, curled up and fell asleep.

Luna spent most of the day sleeping, awakening a few hours before nightfall. She yawned, stretching as she climbed out of her bed, groggily getting to her feet. Levitating a comb over, she brushed slowly through her mane, getting it untangled from her face. “There we go, now I can see.” She mumbled to herself, turning to leave.

“Shall we go visit Twilight, Luna?” Though Luna wasn’t expecting her newest friend to speak up, it still didn’t surprise her.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea Mare. She should still be awake, and we can make plans for tomorrow.” Luna smiled as she made her way to Twilight’s room, glad she had decided to stay in her old room. Slowly making her way through the halls, Luna contemplated what to ask the young student. Deciding that she would simply ask where to meet the girls the following morning, Luna reached Twilight’s room. She knocked lightly, wondering what Twilight was up to.

The door was pulled open slowly by a blue glow, revealing five of the girls sitting happily, while the sixth bounced around. As soon as they saw who was at the door they bowed, Pinkie bouncing up almost immediately to tackle Luna in a hug. “Hey Princess! We were wondering when you were going to show up! We wanted to invite you to stay up all night with us! But we weren’t sure if we should wake you, or if you had royal things to do. So Twilight said she would go and see if she could talk with you, and Rarity wanted to go with her but Twilight said that it should be just her as she’s the closest to you. So me and Applejack nodded in agreement while Rainbow just snoozed up on the ceiling.”

Luna gently lifted the pink mare off her, levitating her to the ground. “Well, we are always up through the night, though we have royal duties to attend to. Sadly, we don’t believe we will be able to join you in this endeavor. We however do wish to know why thou are staying up all night.”

“Well, it’s been a tradition as far back as anypony remembers,” Rarity spoke up. “Everypony stays up the night before the Summer Sun Celebration to watch Princess Celestia raises the sun. Though to be honest, I don’t know how it all started.”

Luna looked at the Element of Generosity with curiosity. While she originally hadn’t thought about the origins of the celebration, she now did. She couldn’t remember it ever occurring before her banishment, so it must have started after. She shrugged, not bothered much by the information. “Well, we would love to spend the night with you, however, we have royal duties to attend to. We came simply to inquire as to the plans for tomorrow. Where shall we meet you?”

“Well, if it’s alright with you princess, would we be able to help you with your royal business?” Twilight responded. “It would help us to stay awake, and give us more time to be with you. That is the main reason for this trip after all.”

The princess smiled at the thought. She would love to have company as she sat on her throne, so few ponies ever showed up. Sadly, as she could not predict if any would, the girls wouldn’t be able to join her. “Luna, let them come.” Mare advised Luna. “Yes, they may not be the best to accompany you, and they may have to leave at some point, but it would make the night much more enjoyable.”

Mare, they are barely more than foals. On top of that should a single pony show up I would have to ask them to leave, for the privacy of the pony outweighs my enjoyment of company. Luna responded calmly.

“Even so, you must admit, it is highly unlikely that anypony will show up.” Though Mare’s words stung, Luna knew them to be true. “And sitting there alone would be much worse than having them around to talk with. Have some fun for once.”

Luna sighed to herself, knowing the truth in her friend’s words. “Alright, that sounds like a plan,” Luna said aloud. “However, should anypony come with concerns to me, we must ask you to leave. The pony’s privacy comes above all else.” The girls nodded their understanding, following Luna as she left.

The group soon found themselves in the throne room, lounging around. Luna sat on her throne, her new friends around her. Twilight’s head lazed on the hoofrest, Rarity dozed on a cushion to the side. Rainbow slowly flew about the room while Fluttershy curled up at Luna’s feet. Applejack was the only active one, working on tying up Pinkie. It had taken the pink mare seconds to notice the bored mood, and only a second more to decide to throw a party. Luna had quickly put her hoof down, saying that while she wouldn’t mind one, the throne room was no place for one. It had ended there, until Rainbow noticed Pinkie pulling out her party cannon. That was when they decided to tie her up.

Applejack trotted back to her friends, giving them all a calm gaze. “Ya know, Pinkie’s right. Y’all are looking as lively as a bunch of hay stacks.” The others looked up at their farmer friend, surprised.

“Well, what should we do?” Rainbow shot back, slightly annoyed from boredom. “Nothing’s happening.”

“Still, we need ta do something.”

“Well, we could spend the time talking.” Rarity piped up “I’m sure there must be things for us to discuss.”

“We do have a few questions for thou, if thou doesn’t mind.” The five ponies looked at Luna, surprised.

“We would love to answer anything we can princess.” Twilight quickly replied. “What do you wish to know?”

“First, we would like you to address us as… Luna.” The princess blushed slightly at the informality. The girls nodded, smiling at their princess. “We, erm I, wish to know, what is so important about the Summer Sun Celebration? I don’t remember it ever existing before now.”

The girls looked stunned, never having considered her question before. Rarity recovered first, responding “I must admit, I’m not sure prin-, Luna. I don’t know why it is so important. It’s the longest day of the year, and it starts with Princess Celestia raising the sun. I’m not sure why it became such a big thing, or when.”

The others nodded in agreement before Twilight spoke. “Luna, I must admit, thinking back through pony history, I can’t think of any mention of it starting, or why.” The lavender unicorn looked down at the floor, ashamed at her lack of knowledge. “But, as the princess never let me read any of the history surrounding the few years before and after your banishment, and I can’t think of it before then, I must assume it started around then.”

Luna was taken aback. First that her sister had banned all text on the war she had waged, but more so that the ponies had created a holiday to celebrate the sun, right after her banishment. She knew it had never occurred before the war with her sister, and if Twilight said it was around immediately following that war, then it was created right after. That must have been why it became so important to them. The days were chaotic during the war. The ponies must have decided to celebrate the sun afterwards.

“Well, I must admit, I believe it started the year after my banishment. And Twilight, please, do not look into that piece of history. It is better left forgotten.” Though Twilight was confused, she quickly agreed.

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