Astronomical Recollections

by Lavender Minuet

First published 27th of January, 2012

Star Sparkle must save the Canterlot Planetarium and help Princess Luna overcome her anxiety.

As a young mare, Star Sparkle wanted nothing more than to work at the top stargazing facility in Equestria. She finally got the job but now events in her life are going to propel her to places she could never have imagined.

Of Royal Things Otherworldly (Prologue)

We wonder if you know what it is like to truly fight another unicorn using magic. Undoubtedly the closest you have come is the occasional argument where you might throw an object at the offending pony's head. We speak of battle magiks that were common in Our time as Princess but which you (thankfully) know nothing of. But it is not what spells one learned that made one victorious over the other in a duel. It was through proper timing and counter magiks that one prevailed.

At its most basic, to fight another unicorn one must have at least a small knowledge of the spell their opponent is using. One must then prepare a counter spell of some nature, be it to disrupt the casting of their spell in some manner or to negate their spell once cast. On one instance, as an example, Our Sister cast numerous lightning bolts at Us. We know two ways to counter them immediately. One is to cast a shield and so be saved from the strike. The other is to cast a faster spell that would stop Our Sister from completing her spell.

We were evenly matched with Our Sister a thousand years ago. As such, our duel was many days long and extensively destructive. Neither of Us could get an advantage over the other. Be grateful that Our duel was so evenly matched. By the end We were using such spells that Equestria should be destroyed save that We knew how to counter each other. As the legends say, the last magiks Our Sister cast in our duel were those of the Elements.

However, there is no direct counter to the magik of the Elements. Once started, there is no disruptive spell powerful enough to break through to their castors and no shield strong enough to stop their work. As such, We could not stop Our Sister imprisoning Us on Our moon. Yet We knew a way to subvert it, freeing Us from Our prison after five hundred years.

For in the time it took Our Sister to use Six elements, We had time to touch Six stars.

Of four of these you know; they brought about Our escape from Our lunar prison as eye witness accounts testify. Of the other two you do not, nor for that matter do We, know their whereabouts. We had miscalculated. We had intended for six stars to assist in Our escape. Using them We would have been returned to Equestria on the five hundredth year of Our imprisonment and at Our full power.

Our miscalculation was thus; We had assumed that Our Sister would take control of the whole of the night. But Sister only took control of the lunar orbit (the most notably and recognizable portion of the night). As such, the stars and other astrological beings began to drift. Of all the punishment Our Sister could have done, letting my creation fall to ruin was the worst possible thing that she could ever do.

We watched the lunar sky for twenty and five years from Our prison. After that, We could not bare to look at it; striped of our power We could not change its drifting nature. We only looked up at the skies three times the last nine hundred, seventy and five years of Our imprisonment.

The first, in the second hundred and sixty-third year, was to note that one of the six stars We touched had become misguided. It played no major role in Our escape and its loss was acceptable. We should have made note of its status and left it yet We searched the skies to see if the others were drifting as well. This act only reminded Us how Our work was being ruined and We raged at Our sister for a decade hence.

In the year three hundred, thirty and seven, We looked up after taking a fall off a cliff accidentally. By this time, nearly all of the stars had begun to drift. All but the oldest and most diligent stars that is (of which my six had been members). We remained surprisingly calm at that instance given that Our sky was in a state of disaster.

In the year one and five hundred, We looked to the sky, searching for the five remaining stars that should have come the previous year. The first star being waylaid had only set back a small portion of this plan and this delay was not acceptable. But looking up and seeing another star lost was devastating. It was to grab the other four as it passed by them; creating a path to Equestria and channeling their power for Us to take. It had disappeared. We searched the sky for three days but We could not find it. Our rage was thus that We did destroy a portion of Our moon. The moon could be rebuilt but that star was the first star I had ever crafted and it was dearer to me than any other object I had and likely will ever know.

When Our rage had subsided enough for rational thought, We recalled everything We could of the last three instances We had looked at the sky. We determined from memory that the thousandth year of Our imprisonment would be the last.

We have yet to look at the sky since.

--From the recent writings of The Regent of the Moon

Unexpected Promotions

This whole venture started rather abruptly. And it was my birthday. That morning had started out pleasantly enough. My husband, Dusk Shine, woke me up early when he got out of bed. I guessed he would be getting breakfast, so I stayed in bed to see what if I was right. Maybe half an hour later, I smelled burned toast and I knew I was about to have breakfast in bed. My husband is so sweet to do that, there’s a reason I love him. But its not his cooking.

After breakfast I went to the planetarium. I work there you know. I had originally applied for a job in the research division at a young age but had been turned down when I didn’t meet the qualifications. But a job at the top stargazing facility in Equestria was my foalhood dream so I kept applying until I was finally given a job as the receptionist and general caretaker of the planetarium. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I applied but a job was still a job. I never got into researching the stars very much but I still had access to the telescopes at the research site so it wasn't all bad.

Years later I came to love every inch of that planetarium and I won’t trade it for anything. The building is relatively small when you compare it to it’s neighbors. The main theater can only hold fifty ponies at a time. Not that we have ever run out of room, but the neighboring mall’s smallest shop is bigger than that I think. It doesn't help that the mall encircles the planetarium on two sides and has a gigantic wall that wraps around the whole thing. It pretty much guarantees that nopony goes to both places. Not that we haven’t asked if they will take it down. They insist that it remains because it’s a ‘design element’.

Besides that, public interest in the stars is at an all-time low right now. Even with the return of Princess Luna the night sky remains something that most ponies don’t think about, at least in Canterlot. My daughter in Ponyville says she had a really large group of ponies watch a meteor shower with her once. She seemed to enjoy it immensely.

When she was a little filly I brought her to watch the shows we put on at the planetarium. She really loved those as well. Aurora does a really good job with them. Actually come to think of it, Aurora’s shows might be the only reason that most ponies come to the planetarium at all.

Anyway, we only had six ponies come in that morning. Being the receptionist can get rather boring at times. But then that’s why I bring plenty of books. I had finished lunch and was reading the last chapters of my book when things started to get interesting. Firstly I was interrupted by the mail mare.

“Hello, Star. Hows your day been?” I looked up from my book to see my best friend walking across the lobby towards me. Postage Stamp is a pink colored pegasus mare with a cream colored mane and lavender eyes. I’ve never seen her without a smile, at least not for very long.

Smiling back I replied, ““Boring as always. What have you got for us today Post?”

“A surprising amount actually. There’s like, five letters and three packages in here” She reached into her bag and pulled out the stack of letters and three medium sized packages. “That’s like a new record for you guys isn’t it?”

“Yes, actually. What do you think all this could be?” I asked.

“Well I have no idea about the letters but I know whats in the package addressed to you.” Postage caroled. She looked around conspiratorially as she leaned in close and whispered, “It’s your birthday present. Happy Birthday!”

Giggling at her antics, I replied, “Thanks Postage but you didn’t have to get me a present. And certainly you could have waited to give it to me at the surprise party I’m not supposed to know about.”

“I know that. But that’s what friends are for. But don’t open it until after work. I want to be there when you open it and I'm kinda busy right now. I’m still going to take you to the mall so we can go shopping before the surprise party that I wasn't supposed to tell you about. See ya after work okay?”

“Of course. See you later.” I replied. As Postage Stamp walked out of the building another pony walked in. He was a large unicorn with a black mane, purple coat and grey eyes. One would say he was quite an intimidating figure. But I knew that Sagittarius wouldn’t hurt a fly. That didn’t help Postage though. She took one look at him and scurried past as fast as she could. He came close to the desk and I asked, “How are you today Tarius?”

He looked at me and I could tell that something was worrying him. “Not that good.” He replied. “Quill called me and he wants to talk.”

I wasn’t concerned. “What does he want to talk about? It’s usually no big deal isn’t it?”

“Usually.” He frowned. “But he sounded a lot more anxious than his normal panic attacks and refused to say anything until I came over. Perhaps you had better come along with me.”

I nodded. I was sure this was nothing but Feather Quill was unpredictable at times. I left the mail on my desk. There would be plenty of time to deal with it later. We walked to the back of the lobby and entered a door marked ‘Employees Only’. It led into a small hallway with three more doors in it. The door on the left leads to the theater room control booth where Aurora’s controls her shows. The door at the end of the hall opens into a small storage room, nothing special. The door on the right had a placard with the name ‘Feather Quill’ on it. That’s where we were headed.

Whenever I had gone in his office before, Feather had kept it very neat and organized. Even when he had a panic attack his office was still mostly tidy. So when Tarius opened the door and we saw the chaos that lived in that space we both gasped. Papers were strewn on the floor and boxes were haphazardly placed with their contents spilling out.

“Quill! What are you doing?” I exclaimed. I couldn’t even see him for all the mess.

From beneath the cluttered desk came his muffled reply. “I’m packing. What does it look like I’m doing?” I wanted to say he was trying out for the weather team as a tornado specialist but Sagittarius beat me to it.

“Are you really leaving or,” he asked slowly, “is this just another panic attack?”

“Ah, found it.” Feather’s head popped up holding a quill in his mouth. “Oh, I’m really going this time. And before you ask, yes I did take my pills this morning and I am completely sane right now.” He continued to put stuff in boxes.

This time I got to ask the question before Tarius could. “Why are you leaving?” I really was confused. This seemed to come out of nowhere.

He replied, “Star I realize you don’t get as much information as I do but surely you know how much money comes into this place, right? You’re the receptionist after all. We only just barely got enough bits to cover last month’s rent. Plus the mall is closing in on buying this place and if they give a good enough offer we can’t compete.”

“But why are you leaving now?” Sagittarius asked. It seemed like we were going to be taking turns when asking questions. “Don’t you have to notify someone of that kind of thing?”

“Oh I did. I gave my three week notice to myself three weeks ago.”

“But there is no reason to go! We're doing fine." I said. "Even if the mall wants to buy the planetarium we still have that contract for the property."

“Oh sure! The contract! How could I have forgotten?” Quill sardonically stated. He frowned as he looked between me and Sagittarius. “That contract is the only reason the mall hasn’t come and outright bought this place yet. I’m just cutting my losses and getting out now.”

We just stood there quietly. When Quill went back to packing I realized he wasn’t going to expand on that so I asked quietly, “So, what are we going to do?”

Quill answered just as quietly as he put the last items into his briefcase. “Star, we can’t do anything. The contract is only valid for three more months. The Planetarium will close down, and I would imagine the Research Site will close down shortly after that. I already got a job offer and I'm taking it. I suggest you do the same.”

“Surely there is something-“

“No Star!” Feather Quill slammed his briefcase closed. “I've already looked everywhere; there is nothing we can do.” He grabbed the briefcase, stacked a few boxes on his back and walked to the door. One thing I have to admire about earth ponies is there incredible sense of balance. I could never carry that much stuff in one trip without dropping something. He paused for a moment in the doorway. “I’m sorry Star. I know you love this place but all good things come to an end.” He walked out the door.

I was shocked. Feather would never just quit at something. I looked at Sagittarius hoping he would have an answer. He looked back and sighed. “He’s right you know. The Research Division can’t stay open without income from the Planetarium.”

“Don’t tell me you’re giving up too Tarius!” I begged. “There must be something we can do.”

He looked away sadly. “I’m not so sure. You know how organized Feather is. If there was something we could do he would have known about it. And from the way this office looks he must have been looking franticly for something.”

“So what do we do now?” I asked.

“I don’t think we can do much. I suggest you wait around and tell Aurora the news when she gets back from lunch. I’m going back to the site to tell the others.”

“But, hold on!” Feather Quill was right. I really loved the planetarium, and I wasn't going to go down without a fight. Although I have no idea where the next words I said came from. “Give me two weeks to find something. Then you can quit.”

He looked skeptical. That upraised eyebrow thing was a dead giveaway. “What makes you think you can find something that Quill missed?”

I really didn’t know, I just needed some time to figure stuff out. “I don’t know. Maybe he is right and there is nothing we can do. But I’m going to try and find a way regardless.”

His upraised eyebrow turned into a furrowed forehead. “You know Star, one of the things I really like about you is that you never give up. Its infuriating. Fine, I’ll give you two weeks to find a plan but if I don’t like it then I’m out.” That’s probably as good as I was going to get from him. He walked out the door and as he went he said, “Heh, you know I guess this means you’re in charge of the planetarium. Congrats on your promotion.”

Contemporary Systems

I have gotten better at using the Modern Equestrian language when I speak. It seems so informal at times but on a whole, once I had grasped how it was structured it did seem to come more naturally than Old Equestrian. However when I was a filly I was taught that reading and writing were never informal. Pleasurable at times certainly but never to be unappreciated. Of course back when only your immediate family and other high officials in pony society could read or write, it was seen as a very refined skill. It is something I seem to do quite often these days. With so many new things in today’s society I often have to keep track of things in a written medium or I would forget them.

I was writing in one of my more recent journals on the balcony, admiring the view. Canterlot Palace has quite the location. The sun was closing in on the horizon when one of Celestia’s guards came to me. He said, “Her Highness requests your presence Princess. She is in the throne room.”

“Thank you,” Now what was his rank… “Sergeant. Please inform my sister that I will be with her presently.” Modern Equestrian military is different from… as a standing rule modern stuff is all different for me, and strange; hence the journals.

I finished writing a last remark in the journal and went inside. The sparse furnishing of my bedchamber give me a sense of peace I rarely find anywhere else in modern Equestria. Having only a writing desk, a (somewhat larger than necessary) bed, and a few chairs neatly arranged around the room is enough comfort. There is only one place I like lavish designs and it is not in the place I sleep and study. Above the desk is a shelf where I store most of the journals I write. I set the current journal down and proceeded to make my way through the palace.

I am aware that I will probably bore you with seemingly insignificant details about things you, as a modern equestrian, find trivial and commonplace. Please keep in mind my… unique situation.

The first time I entered my sister’s palace (I call it hers because I had no role in its creation and until recently never lived there) I was overwhelmed by the extraordinary décor. Even the back corridors had ten times the amount of ornamentation than our old castle’s main chambers. Stained glass, as an example, was a crude art form then. We would be lucky to have five differently colored frames in a window but it is now used with such skill that one can make an entire picture.

The throne room is no doubt the most lavish room in the palace. Well, perhaps my sister’s bedchambers but that is a different type of lavish. Celestia was waiting alone. Odd since her guards rarely left her side. My guards were nearby although where I had no idea.

My sister was standing at the base of the throne. “Dearest sister. I am glad you came so quickly. I have some matters I need to discuss with you.”

“Is that so.” I replied closing the distance between us. “You know how I am at politics. My opinion should mean very little to you.” That was certainly the truth. Politics had always been Celestia’s specialty. She was always the social one, the one who knew how to play chess. I prefer to stand in the background, I am there and you would probably notice me but I am not the focus of your attention and I certainly do not influence you in any meaningful way.

“This is not a political problem Luna. It is about your sky. Now-“

“Forgive the interruption sister but we have had this conversation before. You know perfectly well my feelings about that sky.” If Celestia wants to continuously talk about it that says more about her guilt than about my feelings.

“Yes and you know I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused you but surely you have been Watching it?”

“You know I cannot stand to look at it. I have not Watched it for centuries.” It seemed that Celestia wants to have this same conversation every week. I do not understand her persistence.

“You, haven’t been Watching the sky? What about your ancient obligation!?”

“It stopped being My ‘obligation’ the moment We let Nightmare Moon control Our… my actions!” Why was Celestia surprised? She had seen me angry before. And no wonder when she keeps talking about the same thing. “Watching the sky is no longer necessary sister. There is no need for me to even look at it anymore. It is a lost cause of a bygone era!”

Understand this about my sister if nothing else. She is a benevolent ruler, a master of manipulation, very difficult to surprise and horrible at mathematics. “Luna, do you recall what the obligation said about Magik.” A statement not a question, this was going to be interesting. “When we were born we were tasked with the protection of all ponykind and with the safekeeping of Magik. Even today that still stands. I know you hate some modern things, among them modern magic, but you cannot seriously expect me to believe that you think there is no danger in not Watching the sky!”

“Modern magic does not need the stars like Magik did sister.” When did this conversation change to ancient obligations when all sister wanted to talk about was stargazing? “If you recall, you volunteered to take charge of the Magik of the Pegasi and Earth ponies yourself; leaving me with the Magik of Unicorns. And I perfected that art.” A lost art form.

“Luna! Do not forget why I volunteered for those positions. And why you gladly took yours.” Of course. Her political shrewdness allowed her to very easily control the actions of ponies, thereby making it very easy to see to the wellbeing of all the different types of ponies as well as the Earth and Pegasus ponies Magiks.

“If we are to take a look at recollections, sister, let Us also remind you of where I have been for the last thousand years.” She remained silent. I continued quietly, “I was stripped of power. I had no control over my sky. I am grateful that you took control of the moon, but the stars? Celestia you know what the stars did. Why then, for a thousand years, did you do nothing for them?”

She remained silent. I saw in her eyes the exact same tears I had shed during the twenty fifth year. I continued, “When I returned the first unicorn magic I saw preformed was by your student Twilight Sparkle. I was amazed. I had never seen Magik like hers before. There was no structure, no preparation. I came to realize later that it was not Magik I saw but magic.”

Our first encounter with Twilight Sparkle was in Ponyville shortly after Our return. We found her cutie Mark amusing. To find that she was also the star pupil of Our Sister, well, that made Us laugh to be sure. There is much symbolism in her Mark.

The first and most widely understood symbol is that she is a particular gifted magic user. The second expresses her position as a Bearer of an Element. A single bright star surrounded by five smaller stars. Undoubted she is the center piece of the pentagram. And these two symbols work well with each other.

But what you may not understand is the significance of them being stars. After all why did she not have six gemstones instead? Gemstones can be extremely magical and it certainly fits the elements better, in their current form as necklaces and a tiara. She says her special talent is magic but how does one describe what magic is? Let me explain.

Magik and magic are different.

Magik is external. Glyphs and diagrams as well as incantations and other rituals are used to make a spell. That is where the sky comes in. Magik uses structure and shapes to make an action in our world work, at least for Unicorn Magik. The Magik of Earth ponies is in their work as they move around Equestria. Pegasi similarly use their actions to manipulate Magik. How else would they fly on such small wings and at such great speeds?

The stars and constellations in the sky allowed unicorns in the past to forgo making their own glyphs and work with ones that were maintained by Us. They need only speak an incantation for the spell to be complete and use their own horns as a channel for the distant glyph.

Magic, on the other hoof, is focused very differently. All a unicorn need do is concentrate on an outcome hard enough and with enough magical power achieve that outcome. Levitation is the simplest example of this and is often mastered by all unicorns.

Due the drifting nature of the modern sky this internal magic is much more prevalent. It has also become more powerful as the stars drift. With the loss of structured glyphs that were premade for them, most unicorns simply stopped caring for Magik, not wanting to have to draw a glyph which would dissipate after the spell was complete. My stars were more durable then that. Instead unicorns focused on this new magic that arouse which was easier, cheaper, and more reusable.

-From the recent journals of The Regent of the Moon

My sister remained silent and I concluded, “My sky and Magik were one and the same Celestia. Now, magic does not need the stars. Certainly Twilight was exceptionally powerful at magic because of her unique cutie Mark. But she would be far above average still if her cutie mark had been anything else. Overall she, as well as every other unicorn, does not need the alignment of stars for modern magic.

“Celestia, so much was lost when Unicorn Magik ceased to be practiced. Why then did you not do anything to save it?”

My sister dabbed the tears from her eyes. I knew tears were in mine as well but whither mine were from anger or sadness I could not tell. Probably both. Celestia moved to a window. The setting sun was marvelous. Once, a soldier had suggested we fight before each sunset and sunrise because our emotions made them so much more than they normally would have been. My sister and I laughed at the time. But you have to admit, maybe he was right.

“Because I was afraid. I was afraid that if I tried to control your sky that I would make a mistake that could spell disaster for hundreds. We failed Luna,” She turned around, and I saw her grim expression before she covered it. “it might be destroyed.”

That seemed a little too strong to me. Magik being destroyed simply because the stars were unaligned? “There is a simple solution sister. All we need to do is return the stars to where they should be.”

She smiled sadly at me. I hate it when she does that. It is her most effective look. “Oh. Who was it that said they could not stand to look at the sky, hmm? Can you really put down your anger at the stars to work with them? And even if you can will they listen to you? A dog that is beaten by its master soon learns to avoid that master, Luna. And most of those stars still remember the abuse you gave as Nightmare. Besides our inability to work with the stars anymore, the solution is not as simple for political reasons.”

Politics. I hate politics! Why does it have to be so complicated? “How can it be a political matter? Even today, nopony would particularly care if the sky was rearranged. They still do not appreciate the sky.”

“Yes, I am aware that most ponies still do not care. But that is not the problem I speak of.” Then what was. It seemed clear to me, fix the sky and fix Magik. What could it be harder? However Celestia was always was more politically inclined so I listened. “The real problem lies in modern magic. I will not risk losing it just to fix the sky, even if that sky would destroy Magik.”

“Why do you care for magic, sister?” I personally did not see the appeal. There wasn’t much inventiveness involved. “Surely Unicorn Magik would make Equestria more prosperous.”

“I do not care one way or the other, Luna. But the unicorns do. And changing the way they live is not something they will like. It has to be done carefully.”

I really hate politics. “What should We do then? If I cannot control the stars and nopony cares about them how can We save it?”

Celestia always has a plan. And now was no exception. “I know a unicorn who works at the planetarium. She would make an excellent candidate for the job. I already sent her a letter this morning. You will meet with her tonight.” Some plan. A unicorn I do not even know about to take over my job. “I hope that will not be a problem sister. After all the sky must be fixed and we cannot do it.”

Oh I had a problem alright. “How do you expect this unicorn to do the job? It took me decades to learn about the sky. I am sure that she does not have that long. I could teach you about them, surely that would be more practical.”

“Luna, it is true I know nothing about the stars but they would never accept me even if I did. They have seen me before and they will not forget me. You forget that although they may act like foals they are very smart. Besides, it is not as if this unicorn has to create more stars, she just has to befriend them.”

It is not that easy sister of mine. Stars are fickle. Even if the stars love her they still might not obey her. That is one reason I knew Celestia was the better choice. “Are you absolutely certain there is no other way? Suppose the stars accept me back?”

“Of course I am sure this is the right way. I highly recommend her. But if you insist I will leave the decision up to you. Have a good night sister.”