Dark Side of the Luna

Dark Side of the Luna

It was a beautiful night in Equestria. Princess Luna stood watching over the land, taking in the awe of the world around her, the greens of the fields that covered the land, the browns of the forests that decorated the horizons. She looked outward, keeping an eye on all of the ponies as they slept peacefully through the night, each one with their own stories, their own histories and futures. It had been a long day. The Pegasus ponies has created a mighty storm earlier; huge, dark clouds hung above; thunder cracked across the skies and strong winds howled through the trees. It was a beautiful yet frightening sight to behold, and now, everypony needed a rest after the commotion. Luna just watched, as families slept in their stables, open fires crackled across the horizon, illuminating the land like fireflies as a cool breeze swept the land causing the flames to dance. She became lost in the beauty for hours, just watching in silence, as the fires danced for her, and only her. She just stood, thinking what all the ponies down there were dreaming. Her mind wandered for so long, she almost didn't hear Celestia approaching from the castle.

"Good evening Luna," Celestia said, her royal mane flowing in the night time breeze.

"Good evening Celestia," Luna said as she hugged her elder sister, as happy as ever to be with her beautiful sister, the silkiness of her soft pearly coat brushing against her face.

"What a beautiful night you've made here Luna", Celestia said, looking up to the night sky, surveying the glistening stars above.

"Thank you sister, but it pales in comparison to your day."

"Now Luna, don't put yourself down like that. Your night is just as beautiful and important as my day; if not more so."

"If you say so, Celestia," She replied, as a cloud moved over the moon, blocking what little light there was, her dark blue coat barely visible in the night, as she hung her head in sadness.

"I do Luna. You should be proud of what you do. Just remember, all of those ponies down there love you... I love you."

"Yeah, you're right sister. Thank you," Luna said raising her head a little, a smile spreading across her face, the clouds moved away and the light of the moon fell over her, illuminating her figure. She met her sister in the eyes. Celestia always found a way to make her younger sister feel better.

Celestia smiled and let out a short, playful laugh. "It's what big sisters are for."

The Royal sisters hugged again and Luna could feel Celestia's heart beat against her cheek, slow and calming, Luna felt relaxed and at peace. Down in the village, some ponies began to stir in their sleep.

"I guess that means you have to raise the sun now, huh sister?"

"Yes Luna, I just need you to lower the moon for me."

Luna nodded silently. She looked to the sky and concentrated on the giant white marble in the night sky. Using all her magical abilities, she brought the moon down, below the horizon, allowing Celestia to raise the morning sun. It came up beautifully, the huge glowing ball spreading warmth across Equestria just in time for all the ponies to wake up to a new, beautiful day.

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Luna woke up a few hours later, the mid-morning sun playfully peeking through the windows of her quarters. She slowly walked to the window and into the light, the suns warmth spread over her face. She looked out across Equestria, as ponies went about their businesses. The fillies and colts were out playing in the grasslands; mares and stallions tending to the flowers and crops across the land. Luna smiled as she watched them, the joy in their faces as they went about their day. But something wasn't right, she began to wonder. Why is it that the ponies bask in the day, but are always confined to their homes at night? Luna had never really thought about this before. But in all the years she had been mastering the night it had never been clearer her work wasn't as appreciated as Celestia's day.

"Oh Luna, don't be so silly. You're still a little sleepy" She said to herself. She gave a little chuckle and looked back across the land. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and a cool breeze sang through the summer trees. Down in the courtyard Celestia was walking amongst the plant life, her colourful mane swaying in synchronisation with the flowers creating a beautiful magical aura, the beauty intensified by the butterflies who had nested atop her mane. It truly was a beautiful day, and Luna was determined to create an even more beautiful night. One that Ponies would be talking about for a thousand years.

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It was nightfall and Celestia began to lower the sun, as the enormous source of warmth and light descended in the sky, Luna appeared from the castle, she had her vision all planned out in her mind, it would be the most glorious night Equestria had ever seen and possibly ever would see. The sun was gone from sight in a matter of moments and Celestia had already returned back to her chambers, so Luna began the ascension of the moon. The giant rock rose from behind the snow capped mountains in the distance, its dim light glowing in the darkness around it, rows of stars joining suit as it rose higher and higher in the sky.

The ponies down below who were still out began their way home. Luna knew that if she didn't carry out her plan soon it would all be for nothing. It wasn't long before the moon was at its highest point and only a few earth ponies were still out. Luna concentrated her attention on the sky, on the stars. She has never tried this before, but she knew she could do it, she was determined to remain indefatigable. A cluster of stars close to the moon began to move, they broke away from their positions and began to create new shapes in the night sky.

At first it was indistinguishable, but as the blinking lights moved distinct shapes began to appear, slowly they appeared, first the legs, then the torso, moving upward until the shape of a mare was prancing in the sky, she was followed by more, until the sky was filled with mares and stallions, made of the stars themselves, dancing and playing in the night sky, their brightly lit forms leaving beautiful trails across the horizon. Luna looked up, admiring her work, she knew she had done it. She had made the night beautiful, something ponies would behold for generations to come. She looked down smiling, already imagining the gleeful faces of the denizens of the land, all awake, looking to the skies at the beauty before them.

There was nopony there.

Luna surveyed the land but there was not a soul looking up to the heavens. As the crushing realisation hit her, the heavenly ponies in the sky exploded into dust as the stars shot back to their original positions. Luna stood there in silence, too crushed for words. The Alicorn stood, not moving from where she was, as a cold wind found its way across the landscape dousing all the fires plunging the land into almost complete blackness. The only light, the dim reflection the moon let off. There was no sound, no chirping crickets, no sound of the wind, just silence. Luna forced her eyes shut, trying to hold back her tears, but to no avail, as a single tear made its way down her face, just as her heart dropped in her chest.

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Luna stood in silence throughout the night, not moving from the spot. Despite her best efforts she had failed to make the night something to behold. She stood in the blistering cold, her breathing broken from the night chill and her crying. Tears had frozen to her cheeks in places. But she didn't care, like she knew nopony else did. All they cared about was the day, the sun... they only cared about Celestia. Luna scoffed as the thought of her elder sister crossed her mind. She looked up in disgust at the tiny land below. It was nothing but an insignificant blot on the landscape from her vantage point, high above any other point in the land, she belonged here, high above any other pony. She was their Princess, they were to look up to her, and only her, and she would look down at them, she would decide their fates, their destinies and futures. She was the Princess of the Night, the controller of the Moon, one of the rulers of Equestria. Yet despite the power she held, she was always cast aside; there were no celebrations for her efforts. Would any of those insignificant ponies down there even realise if she didn't raise the moon? The realisation slowly creeping in, she was nothing but a novelty to those ponies down there, they didn't need her. But they were wrong. Luna felt the darkness rise in her being, her innocence was slowly replaced by hatred and loathing, she may not refuse to raise the moon after all. But she may refuse to lower it, then everypony would realise the night. As Luna looked out across the pitiful land, a dark cloud began to envelop her, changing her soul and her body.

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Celestia awoke from her peaceful sleep. She paused for a few moments to reflect on her dreams, taking in the atmosphere around her. But something was wrong. She could feel a disturbance. It was as if a dark power had been awoken. She felt a genuine rush of fear as the worst came to mind.

“Discord...” She galloped to her window, and looked down to the maze area. The statue, encasing the beast was still there; the white stone reflecting the moonlight. Celestia let out a sigh of relief. Equestria was safe for now. But she still knew something was wrong. She could feel it, though she had no idea what 'it' was. She paused, wondering... then... she stopped. She looked around her chambers. Blackness. There was no light within the castle.

“What is going on here?”

Celestia walked towards the door, opening it with her magic and stepping out into the long hallway beyond. She stepped out into the lifeless passage, cautiously stepping atop the carpet. She had made it half way when she froze. The Princess span to look behind her. The guard who was always supposed to be watching over her room wasn't there. Was he failing his duties? Had something happened to him? If so, then what? Or was Celestia dreaming? So many possibilities were racing through her mind. Then something hit her. She was horrified at herself for not considering it earlier... Luna... her sister could be in trouble; she could be hurt, or even worse. Celestia ran at full speed to her sister's room. Tears flying from her face as she ran, a cold chill blowing in from the open windows whipped across her face. She endured the pain. All that mattered right now was making sure Luna was safe. Celestia reached her sisters door and shot a blast at it, blowing it from its frame, sending it splintering into the wall at the other side. She ran in and looked to the balcony. There stood Luna...

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