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Blood Moon Part 4 By DontWannaKnow

By Anonimoose
Created: 2022-06-06 06:32:22
Expiry: Never
anonlunaaie

  1. Created: 2014.07.10 07:08:33 UTC
  2. Last modified: 2014.07.10 07:08:33 UTC
  3. Archived from https://pastebin.com/2b9p0m40 on 2020.10.25 06:10:04 UTC
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  6. >As it turns out, you were right
  7. >At least partly
  8. >Luna has several highly-regarded doctors helping keep the population of her sanctum healthy
  9. >One of them is a bat pony herself, and obviously this situation calls for the most intimate and thorough understanding of the mechanisms and magic at work in bat pony physiology
  10. >And yet it matters little
  11. >Luna, Nebula, and several of Nova’s other family members are huddled anxiously in the catacombs’ infirmary
  12. >Though it maintains the same color scheme as the rest of the place, it possesses the type of sterile modernity you’d expect from a hospital
  13. >You hang back, not wanting to get in the way
  14. >“I’m sorry,” the doctor apologizes, “but at this stage the prognosis is grim”
  15. >They’re all crying
  16. >She’s said something to this effect several times now, and they keep begging for a different answer
  17. >“If she’d been found a few hours earlier, she might’ve had a chance of recovery”
  18. >“As it stands, even if by some miracle we’re able to get Nova through the next twenty-four hours and stabilize her, the quality of her life going forward would be severely diminished”
  19. >“She will have scars over every inch of her body, and it’s likely her coat will not grow back. Her eyes are damaged beyond repair and we cannot save them. Her wings are not salvageable either, and the burns in her throat may make speaking and eating difficult”
  20. >Miserable sobs emanate from many of those present, and the doctor continues
  21. >“I am sorry to be so blunt, but as her family you have a decision to make. If you ask me, I can try to save her, and there is a chance that I might succeed, but there is also a chance that she may not thank you for it”
  22. >Nebula looks to Luna
  23. >“Princess, isn’t there some way you could…?”
  24. >The dark alicorn shakes her head gravely
  25. >“I’m so sorry, my child, but I’ve already tried; her injuries are beyond even my craft”
  26. >An older looking mare – whom you take to be Nova and Nebula’s mother judging by her features and coloration – begins to wail louder still
  27. >Luna turns to the doctor bat
  28. >“Keep her alive, I will consult my sister. There has to be something she can do”
  29. >There is hope in the eyes of Nova’s family, but not much
  30. >“I will see you back in my chambers, Anonymous,” her voice manifests inside your head, “but I may be a while”
  31. >The ambient temperature in the room increases ever so slightly, and she’s gone in a flash of light
  32. >Slowly, Nova’s relatives file out of the room to return to their homes
  33. >You reflect that you haven’t seen any of the residential areas that must be hidden away in these caverns, but you can’t bring yourself to feel curiosity at the moment
  34. >The doctor retreats as well
  35. >Only you and Nebula remain
  36. >She trots over to you and looks up with misty eyes
  37. >To your surprise, she throws herself around your leg
  38. >“Thank you, Anonymous,” she sniffles
  39. “I…why?”
  40. >“There’s not much hope, but at least there’s some because you found her”
  41. “Well, I mean…”
  42. >She doesn’t wait for you to stammer out a reply, she just gives you a sad smile and takes off after the rest of her family
  43. >The past few hours have been a fog of chaotic emotions for you, but one finally rises above the rest and takes hold of you
  44. >Anger
  45. >And you know just who it’s directed at
  46. >The door opens, and Luna steps in
  47. >You don’t rise from your place on her bed
  48. >She looks completely drained
  49. >You don’t even have to ask if Celestia had any bright ideas
  50. >It’s obvious she didn’t
  51. >The princess trudges over and climbs in next to you
  52. >She hasn’t even said anything and you’re already finding it increasingly hard to be mad at her
  53. >But you have to say something to her
  54. >Somebody has to say something
  55. >Still, you give her a few minutes to rest before you speak
  56. “Luna, we need to talk”
  57. >You didn’t think she could look any more defeated, but she manages to collapse in on herself further
  58. >“Let me guess, you’re having second thoughts about us?”
  59. “What? No!”
  60. >She’s usually incredibly adept at reading you
  61. >If that’s what she thought, she must really be in a bad way
  62. >She at least relaxes a bit once you’ve dispelled her fears
  63. >Now back in her presence, you realize that you can’t be mad at her
  64. >You love her, and you do not wish to see her in pain
  65. >But regardless, something needs to be said
  66. >You soften your approach considerably, simply asking a question
  67. “You’re going to call off the celebration, right?”
  68. >She sighs with exhaustion
  69. >“I cannot”
  70. “Why the hell not?”
  71. >“I told you, Anon. I’ve never stopped the Lunar Rebirth for anything or anyone. I can’t have these ponies wondering why they, of all the countless generations before them, were the first ones to force my hoof”
  72. “Yeah, but did anyone ever die at one of these things before?”
  73. >“I’ve already told you it’s happened before”
  74. “And how is that acceptable to you?”
  75. >“I’ve never given it much thought”
  76. “You’ve seen my dreams, Luna, and you know how much I’ve lost because I didn’t know when to stop the party”
  77. >You put a hand on her face and turn her towards you
  78. “You need to think about it”
  79. “You say these ponies are your children and that you love them; If you mean that, you’ve gotta start acting like a mother, and not the cool mom who smokes pot and lets her daughter’s boyfriend sleep over”
  80. >Her expression is pensive and unreadable
  81. “Look, I get it, you’re really into this whole ‘Queen of Darkness’ thing, and I’ll be the first one to admit you pull it off pretty spectacularly, but that isn’t what these ponies need”
  82. >“Then what do they need, Anonymous?”
  83. “They need normal lives”
  84. >She closes her eyes and slowly shakes her head, a few teardrops rolling down her cheeks
  85. >“I am the princess of the night, Anon. I am not my sister. There are only certain things I can give, and the light is not one of them”
  86. >You caress her face and run your fingers through her mane
  87. “Just because you’re the princess of the night doesn’t mean you have to be the princess of sin”
  88. >When she looks at you again, you can see the turmoil raging behind her eyes
  89. >“But that is what I am. That is the entire reason behind the Rebirth”
  90. “No, you don’t have to be, not if you don’t want to. You can be better than that, I’ve seen it, you just have to be willing to make a sacrifice”
  91. >Her expression becomes slightly cold
  92. >“I would sacrifice anything for them”
  93. “Then call this thing off. Tell them to act responsibly, they’ll listen to you. Stop being an enabler and start being a ruler”
  94. >Her eyes narrow
  95. >“What are you saying, Anonymous?”
  96. “I’m saying you need to stop caring so much about your image and start being a little more strict”
  97. >She sits up and pushes your hand away
  98. >“Are you implying that I’ve allowed these terrible things to happen out of some misguided vanity? That I would place my subjects’ perception of me over their actual wellbeing?”
  99. >The ice is thinning
  100. “I think you’re afraid of disappointing them, that’s all I meant”
  101. >No way she could take that wrong, right?
  102. >“So I’m a coward, then?”
  103. >Goddamnit
  104. “Luna, no, I didn’t say that. I’m saying that maybe you should think about what your subjects really need, not what’s going to make them happy right now”
  105. >“Do not lecture me, Anonymous, you are thoroughly unqualified”
  106. >She quickly transitions from offense to outright hostility
  107. >You’re becoming a bit irritated yourself
  108. >You sit up and give her a harsh glare
  109. “You asked me if I thought you were a good princess”
  110. >“And you said yes”
  111. “And I meant it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be better”
  112. >“Why don’t you take the job, then? You seem able to spot all the flaws in my methods”
  113. “Are you really this allergic to criticism?”
  114. >“I am thousands upon thousands of years old, Anon, what makes you think you can tell me anything I haven’t already thought of myself?”
  115. >Her arrogance makes your blood boil
  116. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve thought of it, because you clearly haven’t acted on it”
  117. >“I act as I see fit; if I do not do something, it is because I do not deem it necessary or effective,” she snarls
  118. “Yeah? And look where your judgment has gotten your bat ponies. You aren’t infallible, and I think it’s time you faced up to it”
  119. >“Why don’t you leave for a bit, Anonymous, take a walk before you say something you’ll regret…”
  120. >You pound your fist against the headboard
  121. “No, you’re not going to brush me off like that, you need to hear this”
  122. >“Do you really think you’re so much more clever than I?”
  123. “No, I don’t!”
  124. >You’ve never raised your voice at her before
  125. “I’m an irresponsible, egotistical alcoholic, just like you. The difference is I don’t have people depending on me to make good decisions”
  126. “People like those friends from your dreams?”
  127. >Your breath catches in your throat as Luna’s hoof claps over her mouth
  128. >You feel like someone just punched an ice pick through your chest
  129. >You nod your head slowly
  130. “Yeah…yeah, okay”
  131. >“Anon! I’m so sorry!”
  132. >She reaches out a hoof to touch your cheek, but you draw away
  133. >She moves toward you, but you slide off the bed and stand up
  134. >“Anonymous, please! I didn’t mean it!”
  135. >She grabs at you desperately, but you evade her
  136. >You nod your head again, not sure if you ever stopped in the first place
  137. “You’re right, I need to take a walk”
  138. >You circle around the bed and head for the door, and she’s on her hooves to pursue you
  139. “Don’t”
  140. >You hear her hooffalls slow to a stop
  141. >“Please…”
  142. >You don’t look back at her as you exit and close the door behind you
  143. >But you can hear her crying
  144. >You know she didn’t mean it
  145. >But she cut you down like only someone who knows your darkest regrets can
  146. >You were probably prodding her a bit too hard in the ego
  147. >But what happened to Nova has shaken you to the core
  148. >The fact that Luna reacted so viciously tells you that deep down, she knows something isn’t right
  149. >You just have to figure out how to make her see
  150. >You wander aimlessly through the catacombs, unconcerned about getting lost
  151. >Though you can feel the vibrations of the concert raging in the great hall, the place feels empty
  152. >Probably because the majority of its residents are congregated in attendance of said concert
  153. >You pass the occasional stray bat pony, but your despondent demeanor deters any of them from greeting or engaging you
  154. >Rounding a corner, your eyes are met by a sight you’ve not encountered before
  155. >Thestral children, three of them
  156. >No, four
  157. >One of them sits slumped against a wall while the others play some elaborate game of pretend or whatever
  158. >You’ve never understood kids, you don’t like them, and you’re thoroughly bewildered by the fact that you ever were one yourself
  159. >Still, that one filly looks lonely
  160. >She sees you coming, gazing up at you with huge eyes
  161. >They’re a sunburst of green, yellow and blue
  162. >You can’t help but feel as though you’ve seen her before
  163. >Even though you’re sure you’ve never been around any bat pony foals
  164. >You feel markedly out of place walking amongst them, but if you turned around now it would look even weirder
  165. >“Anonymous?”
  166. >You snap out of your reverie and turn around
  167. >You were so lost in thought you didn’t even realize you’d walked past the filly
  168. >Nor did you notice the stallion who now stands by her
  169. >He’s a more haggard version of the one you first met, but you remember him
  170. “Light Bender? Hey man”
  171. >“What brings you around here, Anonymous?”
  172. “Just taking a walk. How are…”
  173. >You don’t want to ask him how he is
  174. >You already know
  175. “…uh…what’s up?”
  176. >You can see his entire body heave a sigh
  177. >“Just trying to get little Prism here to play with her friends”
  178. >“They aren’t my friends,” the filly interjects morosely
  179. >Oh god
  180. >You didn’t know they had a daughter
  181. >“Now now, love, I’m sure they’d be happy to play with you”
  182. >“I don’t want them,” Prism states plainly and stubbornly, “I want Mommy”
  183. >Light Bender seems to become smaller
  184. >He slumps and his whole frame trembles
  185. >You can see him pushing back his sorrow for her sake
  186. >“Why don’t we go inside, then?”
  187. >“Okay”
  188. >His eyes meet yours
  189. >There are heavy bags beneath them
  190. >His jawline is covered in stubble
  191. >The fact that ponies can grow beards is supremely baffling to you, but now is not the time to question it
  192. >“You’re welcome to join us, Anonymous. We’re just about to have dinner”
  193. >You don’t have much else to do, and you figure maybe he could use some company
  194. >You follow him through a narrow tunnel
  195. >Well, it’s narrow for someone of your stature
  196. >At the end is a small door
  197. >You have to duck down to get through it
  198. >Once inside, you realize that Light Bender needing company is not an issue
  199. >This place is swarming with bat ponies
  200. >The majority of them sit at an aged-looking dining table, but others mill about, carrying various plates and mugs that they set down upon its surface
  201. >Over the past week, you’ve seen more feasts laid before you than in the entirety of your previous life combined
  202. >But this is different
  203. >It’s less grand
  204. >Homier
  205. >The dishes are small and varied, an assortment of family favorites as opposed to food prepared en masse for a hall full of ponies or the extravagant offerings served to a princess
  206. >You suddenly feel a twinge of homesickness
  207. >“Anonymous?”
  208. >You look up – or down, rather – to see Nebula
  209. >She’s smiling, as though she’s happy to see you
  210. >“I thought you would be with the princess”
  211. >You don’t really want to think about Luna right now
  212. “Just takin’ a break…”
  213. >“Well, I’m glad you chose to join us”
  214. >Good god she’s so much like Nova
  215. >The genial yet vaguely formal tone
  216. >The measured articulation in her voice
  217. “I just kinda wandered in”
  218. >“Well, you are welcome regardless”
  219. >They’re all so…happy
  220. >You sit at the table with Nova’s relatives
  221. >Cheer fills the room and ensconces you like a warm blanket
  222. >You would never be able to tell that they’d lost two of their own in less than a week
  223. >Laughter and the clanking of flatware fill the air
  224. >On one side of you sits Light Bender
  225. >You can tell how tired he is
  226. >How dejected he is
  227. >But he’s still chatting animatedly with the pony next to him
  228. >His daughter Prism sits in his lap, and even she has been touched by the infectious excitement that permeates the room
  229. >Her wide eyes fill you with memories of your own childhood
  230. >When a simple change in atmosphere was all it took to lift your mood
  231. >On your other side sits Nebula
  232. >She’s much more subdued, but seeing as you don’t know her very well, you can’t determine how different that is from normal
  233. >If she’s anything like Nova – and you suspect she is – probably not much
  234. >You lift a turkey leg from your plate and nibble at it
  235. >You aren’t overly fond of fowl, but you can’t deny that it’s expertly roasted
  236. >Salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme greet your taste buds
  237. >The ringing of silver against glass meets your ears
  238. >A pony across the table from you taps her spoon against her wine glass one more time and rises from her seat
  239. >It’s the mare you noticed back in the infirmary
  240. >Nova and Nebula’s mother
  241. >Her coat is a light shade of gray, halfway between that of her two daughters
  242. >All present fall silent, and she speaks
  243. >“My dearest family and friends”
  244. >Her tone is proud and matriarchal
  245. >It’s hard for you to reconcile the pony before you with the sobbing wreck you saw just earlier this evening
  246. >“I am so happy that all of you could be here tonight. I cannot deny that our family has been beset by hardship of late”
  247. >Excellent diction must run in this family
  248. >“But let us not dwell on the things we cannot change, for salvation is upon us”
  249. >You hear the pounding of hooves against the table
  250. >“We are truly blessed to live during this time. These caverns have not seen a true Rebirth in over a thousand years, but that will soon change”
  251. >“I know we are all aching right now”
  252. >Her eyes linger on Light Bender for just a moment
  253. >“But I have faith”
  254. >“Tomorrow night, our princess will be reborn anew, and she will provide for us”
  255. >A chorus of voices rings out around you
  256. >“Luna nobis providet!”
  257. >A pit forms in your stomach
  258. >They have faith in Luna
  259. >You feel bad for thinking it, but you’re not sure they should
  260. >She is no god
  261. >She is hardly different from you
  262. >But what can you say?
  263. >You can’t risk crushing the last ray of hope in their lives
  264. >She raises her glass
  265. >“To Princess Luna”
  266. >“To Princess Luna!” they echo her with gusto
  267. >You’re the only one who doesn’t join the chorus
  268. >Your faith and your heart are on the verge of breaking
  269. >After partaking of the delicious meal, the bat pony family retires to their living room for dessert wines and entertainment
  270. >“Hey Bender! How about some music?”
  271. >You hear one of them call to your acquaintance
  272. >Light Bender – who sits with his daughter on the couch across from you – looks a bit sheepish
  273. >The ponies around you murmur their encouragement, and you find yourself joining in
  274. >Nova’s mother, the matriarch, disappears down a hall and returns holding what appears to be a violin case in her teeth
  275. >She sets it down before him and he blushes slightly
  276. >He’s clearly bashful about public performance, but at the insistence of his family he opens it
  277. >You’ve never really given much thought to how such an instrument could be played with hooves, but now that you’re witnessing it up close, it’s quite fascinating
  278. >One hoof supports the violin while the other rests across the neck
  279. >He takes the bow with his wing and touches it to each of the strings
  280. >He hums a series of notes as he turns the tuning pegs, and you realize he must have perfect pitch to be able to do such a thing
  281. >Even before you hear him play, you wonder why in the world he would have a cutie mark in drinking
  282. >When he finally seems satisfied with the sounds coming from his instrument, he drags the bow across the strings
  283. >He then begins to strike notes in a rapid staccato
  284. >It’s a lively, folksy tune, and within moments all the bat ponies around you – even little Prism – are on their hooves and moving
  285. >Everyone is dancing except you
  286. >Nebula appears in front of you, her green eyes sparkling with joy
  287. >“Don’t look so sad, Anonymous. Please, come and dance with us”
  288. >For a moment you don’t move, but when she reaches out a hoof you take it and rise from your seat
  289. >And you dance
  290. >Not the lame, ironically goofy hip-thrusting that is your usual wont
  291. >You just step to the music and the steady stomping of hooves
  292. >You move, and in doing so, you begin to let out all the confused feelings and anxieties that have mounted in you over the past week
  293. >They all do
  294. >Suddenly the song shifts into a minor key
  295. >You and the ponies around you regard Light Bender as he plays a solo
  296. >It’s forceful and melancholy, but it keeps with the rhythm he’s already established
  297. >It doesn’t feel like something to dance to, so you simply tap your foot in time
  298. >The bat ponies clearly feel the same
  299. >They’re all looking at him, their hooves striking the floor and keeping the beat
  300. >His notes carry both hurt and hope, slowly but steadily gaining speed
  301. >His eyes are closed as they reach a crescendo
  302. >For a fleeting moment, he lingers a half-step below the root
  303. >Then he dives back into that lively melody, and the gathered family once again dances
  304. >And so do you
  305. >You say your goodbyes
  306. >Nova’s family really wants you to stay, but you have business to take care of
  307. >Or so you tell them
  308. >In truth you’re not sure of what you’re going to say to Luna
  309. >You aimlessly wander the catacombs once again
  310. >You want to be angry with her
  311. >In fact, after what you’ve just seen, you want to hate her
  312. >But you can’t
  313. >There’s a slowly-mounting ache in your chest that only her touch can assuage
  314. >Your mind is quiet, and you wonder why she hasn’t projected her voice into your head
  315. >You find yourself in front of the outer door of her chambers
  316. >Luna nobis providet
  317. >It’s written in silver
  318. >You ignore it and push onward
  319. >You don’t knock
  320. >When you open the inner door she is upon you immediately
  321. >She was waiting for you
  322. >“I’m so sorry!”
  323. >Your lips lock with hers
  324. >Her legs wrap around your waist and you carry her over to the bed
  325. “It’s okay,” you tell her in one of the brief pauses when your tongue is free
  326. >“No!”
  327. >She uses her considerable strength to turn you over, hooves planted firmly on your shoulders
  328. >You feel your belt unbuckling
  329. “Hold on…”
  330. >“Please, Anon, let me make it up to you?”
  331. “Luna, I–”
  332. >“You can tell me how terrible I am while I do it”
  333. >You can’t resist any further
  334. >You need her
  335. >Without hesitation she lets her wetness slide down onto you
  336. >You’re close within moments as she mercilessly rams you into her
  337. >She senses your attempted resistance and pumps you harder
  338. >“I’m so sorry, Anon”
  339. >You grab her mane and pull her into a kiss as you climax
  340. >You don’t say anything
  341. >You just fill her up with your reassurance
  342. >It’s over as quickly as it started
  343. >She peers down into your eyes, her own full of remorse as she repeats her refrain
  344. >“I’m sorry”
  345. >She covers your face with kisses
  346. >“I promise I’ll never hurt you again”
  347. >“I promise I’ll be better, for you”
  348. >You touch her cheek and smile
  349. “Don’t do it for me, do it for them”
  350. >She sniffles but gives you a determined nod
  351. >“Okay”
  352. >You just gaze at each other for a while, not needing words to communicate
  353. >She loves you, and she’s sorry
  354. >You love her, and you forgive her
  355. >But you’re tired
  356. >It’s been a draining night for both of you
  357. >Either she senses your fatigue or she can see it
  358. >She lies down at your side, resting her head on your chest and pulling the covers over the both of you
  359. >“Sweet dreams, dear heart. I’ll see you soon”
  360. >“Anonymous?”
  361. >You sit once more in your field of dreams
  362. >You pry your eyes away from the starscape you’re crafting and look at the alicorn who sits next to you
  363. “What’s up?”
  364. >“You’ve hardly said anything. You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?”
  365. >It takes you a moment to even remember what she’s referring to
  366. >“It’s alright, I do not blame you…”
  367. >You put your arm around her
  368. “No, it’s not that, I’ve just…got some stuff on my mind”
  369. >“And you do not wish to share it with me?”
  370. “I dunno, it’s kind of about you”
  371. >“Oh…”
  372. >She wilts
  373. “Whoa, wait, not like that…I’m just saying it involves you and it feels kind of weird telling you about it”
  374. >“How so?”
  375. “Well, like, when I took that walk earlier I sort of just ended up with Nova’s family, and they were saying some things…”
  376. >“Did they speak ill of me?”
  377. “No…the opposite, in fact”
  378. >“Then what is the problem?”
  379. “I can’t explain it. Is there any way you could just suck the memory out of my head and look at it?”
  380. >She chuckles
  381. >“I can suck many things out of you, Anon, but a memory is not one of them”
  382. >You snicker
  383. “Ah well, never mind”
  384. >Silence falls between you once again
  385. >There is a faraway look in her eyes
  386. >At length she speaks
  387. >“Anonymous?”
  388. “Yeah?”
  389. >“Do you believe in life after death?”
  390. >Whoa, where the hell did that come from?
  391. “Um, seeing as you’re immortal, I kinda have to wonder why you’re asking me that”
  392. >“Humor me”
  393. “Well no, to be honest, I don’t”
  394. >“Why not?”
  395. “I dunno, it just seems like wishful thinking to me”
  396. >“But do you think it’s a possibility?”
  397. “Anything’s possible…hey, If you’d told me two years ago I’d be sitting here right now having an existential conversation with an alicorn princess in the middle of a lucid dream I’d have told you you needed some thorazine, so what the hell do I know? Are you planning on dying?”
  398. >“I’m sorry love, recent events have brought such thoughts to the forefront of my mind”
  399. “I take it your sister didn’t have any bright ideas…”
  400. >She shakes her head, and you see a few stray tears run down her cheeks
  401. “It’s not your fault, Moons”
  402. >She clenches her teeth
  403. “Luna”
  404. “It’s not your fault”
  405. >“Then whose is it, Anon?”
  406. “Nobody’s. Sometimes bad stuff happens, you don’t always have to blame someone”
  407. >“Nova was clearly upset last night, Anon. I could’ve prevented this had I just been a bit more sober and a bit more sensitive”
  408. >She seems pretty adamant about shouldering responsibility for her hoofmare’s current plight
  409. “Yeah, well, you know what? Who gives a fuck?”
  410. >“Beg pardon?”
  411. “You heard me. Who cares if it’s your fault or not? It’s probably partly my fault too. We could argue about this all night and nothing would change. What matters is if we can do something about it”
  412. >“I have wracked my brain Anonymous, and my sister hers. There is nothing to be done. She will die”
  413. “Are you seriously telling me that two ancient demigods can’t come up with a way to save one pony from some third-degree burns?”
  414. >“Anon, you’re wiser than most ponies…”
  415. “People”
  416. >“…people your age, I’ll give you that, but one thing you do not understand is magic. Death and dying are not things easily staved off by proper magic. Yes, there are a thousand and one spells that could save Nova, but that sort of magic is black, corrupt, and evil. It would come at a terrible cost to both the caster and the subject. I know her, Anon; she would not want me resorting to such measures, even if it means her life”
  417. >“My sister and I are not so powerful as you seem to think. There are pure magics that can bring a pony back from the edge of death, but they are beyond our power to wield. Do you really think that if I could simply spark my horn and dispel disease and injury that I would allow there to be pain and suffering in this world?”
  418. >“Such feats are beyond any creature that exists on this plane. My mother was the last of the true deities who could harness such power, but she and her kind are no more. All we have are echoes of their reign. The Elements of Harmony and the Lunar Rebirth are remnants of their awesome might, but we can only marvel at them and use them under certain conditions, we cannot conjure such divinity on our own”
  419. >“We can only struggle against life and death, not control them”
  420. >You don’t really have anything to say to that
  421. >You used to think of Celestia and Luna as the goddesses of ponies
  422. >Now you realize what they really are
  423. >They are stewards, as Luna once so aptly put it
  424. >Mortal minds in immortal bodies
  425. >Powerful enough to see that the celestial cycles continue
  426. >Powerful enough to bear certain burdens for their subjects
  427. >But not so powerful as to be able to spare them from the everyday blights of mortality
  428. >You can only imagine what a frustrating and torturous existence that must be
  429. >Suddenly, the idea of Luna losing her mind, going on a murderous rampage, and shrouding the land in eternal night makes a lot more sense
  430. >In fact it’s a wonder that it took so long for one of them to snap, and that it’s only happened once
  431. >You throw your arms around her in a tight embrace
  432. >It’s not amatory
  433. >It’s not even romantic
  434. >It’s just a base-level empathic reflex
  435. “I’m so sorry”
  436. >All this time you’ve been wondering how someone who’s lived so long could be so fallible
  437. >How she could still be so vulnerable and prone to error after such a long life
  438. >But she’s just a person
  439. >And even after all these aeons she still loves, laughs, and hurts just as intensely as you do
  440. >That must take a kind of strength you can’t even fathom
  441. >You think of Celestia
  442. >How polished, serene, and unreadable she is
  443. >Does she possess the same strength?
  444. >Was she always the rock, or has time taken something away from her?
  445. >Perhaps her stoicism is a symptom of losing the fire of transience that Luna has been able to cling to
  446. >“For what? You’ve nothing to be sorry for”
  447. >You rock her back and forth ever-so-gently
  448. “Nevermind, let’s just go to sleep”
  449. >“We are asleep”
  450. >You kiss the tip of her muzzle
  451. “No, I mean really sleep; no more dreaming or dreamwalking, just darkness”
  452. >You feel her sigh and tense against you
  453. >She lets out a hollow laugh
  454. >“Anon…”
  455. “Hmm?”
  456. >“I’ve never known that kind of sleep”
  457. “Oh…”
  458. >You suddenly feel guilty about wanting to drift into true oblivion, so you remain in the dream a little longer
  459. >After a few minutes of silence, she turns to you
  460. >“What did Nova’s family say about me?”
  461. “Urm…”
  462. >“Please, Anonymous?”
  463. >You’re conflicted, but you realize she deserves to know
  464. “They said that they have faith”
  465. “In you”
  466. “That you will provide”
  467. >That far off look is magnified a thousand fold
  468. >“Do you…do you think they are right to?”
  469. >Earlier tonight you weren’t so sure, but now you answer her swiftly and with confidence
  470. “Yes”
  471. >Her eyes grow misty
  472. >“Does that mean that you have faith in me as well?”
  473. “Yeah, I do”
  474. >She shakes her head
  475. >“I don’t know if that’s wise, Anonymous”
  476. “Doesn’t matter if it’s wise; it’s faith”
  477. >“Faith can be misguided…”
  478. >You smile
  479. “But it’s not. Not when you know the person you believe in has a good heart. Not when you know they’re trying to be better”
  480. >You place a hand on either side of her face and direct her gaze into yours
  481. “Faith doesn’t have to be blind, Luna”
  482. >You can feel her trembling under the weight of all this trust
  483. >You feel a twinge of guilt as you realize how she must feel
  484. >Her mind is that of a mere mortal
  485. >But her children treat her as a god, with expectations to match
  486. >You’re about to say something
  487. >To tell her that all she can do is her best
  488. >That it’s all they can ask or hope for
  489. >But something changes
  490. >Tears stream down her cheeks, but there is a sudden steel in her expression
  491. >Determination
  492. >As though her path has suddenly been made clear, and she has resolved to see it through
  493. >She nods and touches a hoof to the wetness on her cheek, then to your lips
  494. >Even in this realm, that familiar tingling warmth overtakes you swiftly, sending you into a dreamless sleep
  495. >“Go to the darkness, my love. I will see you when we rise”
  496. >“I have much to think about”
  497. >“Anonymous”
  498. “Mrrg”
  499. >“Anonymous”
  500. “No…”
  501. >“Oh come now, Anon, wake up”
  502. >Your princess finally succeeds in rousing you from slumber
  503. >You are not happy about this
  504. “Whaaaaaat?” you whine
  505. >Her glossy teal eyes peer down into yours as you blink blearily
  506. >In the periphery of your vision, you notice that a smoky black shroud still hangs over the archway to the balcony and the accompanying windows
  507. “Luna, it’s still light out, why are you waking me up?”
  508. >“The eclipse happens at midnight, Anon. That’s less than six hours from now”
  509. >You roll over and grumble
  510. “So? It’s not like we can’t do stuff afterwards”
  511. >She says nothing in response, but you feel her hoof massaging your back
  512. >At length she speaks
  513. >“Please, Anon? I want tonight to be special”
  514. >You know she’s doing that pouty thing that makes you do whatever she wants immediately, but it’s thwarted by the fact that you can’t see her face in this position
  515. >“Please?”
  516. >Goddamnit you can hear it in her voice
  517. “Okay okay I’m fucking awake,” you mumble, sitting up
  518. >She snickers
  519. >“You really need your beauty sleep, don’t you dearest?”
  520. >You nod
  521. >You’re still squinting despite the dim lighting
  522. >You look at the clock
  523. >Six-thirty
  524. >Why in the hell are you so tired when you got nine hours of sleep?
  525. >Whatever, time to man up
  526. >You get up and throw your pants on
  527. “I dunno about you, but I’m hungr–”
  528. >You stop mid-sentence
  529. >“Anon, do you really think I’d wake you so early without food on the table?”
  530. >Before you is the feast that will end all feasts
  531. >It makes the previous nights’ smorgasbords look like your family’s thanksgiving
  532. >Everything from pancakes to pot-roast is laid out before you
  533. “Okay, I’m finally going to ask: where does all this food come from?”
  534. >The princess trots around the table and you both take your seats
  535. >“My servants bring it, Anon”
  536. >She says it as though this should be obvious
  537. “No, I mean aren’t some foals in the Zebrahara starving because of this?”
  538. >Her laugh is oddly shrill
  539. >“They might be if I ate like this every night”
  540. “So I guess after tonight I’ll have to get used to normal meals?”
  541. >When she replies, you detect a hint of solemnity in her voice
  542. >“Yes, after tonight, I suppose you will”
  543. >“But let’s not think about that right now. We’ve a whole night ahead of us”
  544. >She floats a pitcher of mimosa and a plate of bacon over to you
  545. >“Now, tuck in. We’ll both need our strength”
  546. >Eat
  547. >Drink
  548. >Fuck
  549. >Repeat ad infinitum
  550. >Every time you’re certain you can’t possibly go another round, she coaxes it out of you
  551. >You’re not sure if Luna’s trying to stuff you full or wring you dry
  552. >What you do know is that this night has put every other binge of your life to shame in terms of sheer debauchery and decadence
  553. >During your hundredth orgasm in less than half a day, you realize in a moment of detachment that you’re still holding a beer mug
  554. >It rolls off the bed and shatters on the floor as you wrap your arms around your princess
  555. >She writhes atop you, and it’s almost painful as you empty what you’re sure must be the very last drops of your seed into her waiting body
  556. >She moans lustily, and you feel her hot breath against your face
  557. >She makes sure you’re completely and utterly spent before grinding to a halt
  558. >Your chest heaves against hers as you struggle to form words
  559. “Luna…I can’t…no more”
  560. >You hear a chime and look over at the clock
  561. >Eleven-thirty
  562. >The eclipse is imminent
  563. >She touches your face affectionately and then slides off of you
  564. >“I have a gift for you, Anonymous”
  565. >You watch as her aura envelopes a small chest that sits on her bedside table
  566. >She uses her magic to withdraw an object from inside
  567. >She takes your hand in her hoof and turns it upward, placing the thing in your palm
  568. >It’s a key
  569. >A very ornate key, crafted of sterling and pale-blue moonstone
  570. >There is a silver chain attached to it
  571. >She lets you regard it for a moment before draping the chain around your neck
  572. >She kisses your forehead and gazes intently into your eyes
  573. >“As long as you wear this, I will always be with you”
  574. >You’re so exhausted you can barely process what she’s saying
  575. >“Make yourself decent, we will have company shortly”
  576. >You once again find your pants at the foot of the bed and put them on
  577. >Just a moment after there is a knock at the door
  578. >“Enter”
  579. >You watch the engraved slab of wood swings open, half-expecting to see Nova trot into the room
  580. >But no, it’s Nebula
  581. >She curtseys
  582. >“You called, your grace?”
  583. >Luna says nothing
  584. >Not out loud, anyway
  585. >But the expression on the bat mare’s face shifts, and you can only surmise that she hears the princess’s voice in her head
  586. >“Wh-why?”
  587. >Luna’s eyes close and Nebula calms
  588. >“Yes, your majesty”
  589. >She hurries away, shutting the door behind her
  590. >Your princess shudders, and her head snaps around, looking out across the balcony
  591. >The full moon hovers in the western sky
  592. >The smallest hint of darkness touches its edge
  593. >As you watch, the shadow begins to crawl across that luminous disk, encroaching further and further on the pale light
  594. >You never really paid attention to eclipses back on earth, but it’s awesome to behold
  595. >Minute after minute of silence ticks by as you Luna simply watch the cosmic event taking place before you
  596. >Her voice breaks through the solemn quiet
  597. >“It is time, Anon”
  598. >Her declaration is serene
  599. >Full of peace and resignation
  600. >You shake your head, returning to a relatively lucid state
  601. >Her mane is separating into tendrils
  602. >They stand on end and crackle with static
  603. “Is this gonna hur–”
  604. >Another knock at the door interrupts you
  605. >“Enter”
  606. >In trots Nebula and several bat pony guards, carrying a cot
  607. >Upon it rests a withered, scorched form
  608. >Your eyes widen
  609. >Nova
  610. >The bat ponies attempt to bow and engage in other formalities, but Luna waves them away
  611. >Your eyes catch the clock
  612. >Five until midnight
  613. “Luna, what’s goin–”
  614. >“Shh”
  615. >Her hoof touches your lips
  616. >Her eyes are beginning to glow, and beyond the halo of her mane, you can see that the moon has nearly been swallowed by shadow
  617. >When next you hear her, she speaks out loud, but the words also echo inside your head
  618. >“I love you, Anonymous. Don’t be afraid. Never be afraid”
  619. >Her touch leaves you
  620. >Possessed by an unearthly radiance, she levitates, drifting out onto the balcony and into the waning moonlight
  621. >You feel afraid, even though she told you not to be
  622. >You look up, and the last sliver of the lunar disc disappears
  623. >All is dark
  624. >But only for a moment
  625. >The moon returns to the sky in blood red, and your breath catches in your throat
  626. >A strange humming vibrates in your ears
  627. >Luna closes her eyes
  628. >She looks sad but utterly resolute
  629. >The spell is cast
  630. >A column of red light arcs down from the blood moon, homing in on your princess
  631. >Just before it reaches her, Luna’s horn sparks to life, enveloping her form in a blue-green bubble
  632. >You recognize it as a shield spell
  633. >You’ve seen Twilight cast these many a time
  634. >You figure it must be a part of the Rebirth
  635. >The light bears down on her, but is deflected by her shield
  636. >A second layer of magic ensconces her horn
  637. >And then a third
  638. >The only time you’ve seen that happen is when a unicorn – or alicorn, in this case – is reaching the limits of magical exertion
  639. >You’re just comprehending that something is wrong when an earsplitting scream rings through every frequency of your thoughts
  640. >She’s in pain
  641. >Bolts of red lightning crackle and scorch the surrounding stone
  642. >One strikes you on the shoulder and you feel a searing burn
  643. >You shrug it off
  644. >Luna writhes inside her bubble
  645. >This can’t be right
  646. >In the periphery of your vision, Nova’s burnt body thrashes
  647. >Harsh, white light forces its way out of Luna’s eyes
  648. >The teal orbs within their sockets dissolve, and blood rolls down her cheeks
  649. >This is definitely not right
  650. “Luna!”
  651. >You rush towards her
  652. >An invisible force strikes you in the chest, and you tumble backwards
  653. >“Stay back!”
  654. >Her voice, pained and haggard, echoes inside your head
  655. >A fourth aura has sprung up over her horn as she maintains the shield spell
  656. >White-hot splashes of raw, liquid magic drip from it
  657. >Fissures begin to appear in her skin, blue light pouring out of them
  658. >Her expression is one of immeasurable agony
  659. >Shelves are crashing to the floor around you
  660. >A table shatters in a hail of splinters
  661. >Random objects rise into the air and levitate as the spell of an old god wars with the full might of an alicorn
  662. >The blood and tears running down Luna’s cheeks boil and evaporate
  663. >Steam rises from her body
  664. “Luna, what are you doing?!”
  665. >You shout over the deafening roar of ancient renewal
  666. >She looks at you with eyes that no longer see
  667. >Her teeth are clenched against the impossible pain, but she smiles
  668. >Her words reverberate inside of your skull
  669. >“I’m being better”
  670. >A deafening roar meets your ears
  671. >Your body is thrown against the wall as though you were a ragdoll, and you are blinded by brightness that fades into darkness
  672. >You choke as air rushes into your lungs
  673. >A world of color explodes around you as you regain consciousness
  674. “Luna!”
  675. >Her name tears at your throat as you stumble to your feet
  676. >You stagger towards the balcony
  677. >For a moment, you hardly know why you’re so urgently frightened for her
  678. >Then you remember
  679. >Her scream of pain
  680. >Her molten eyes
  681. >You stumble forward and cry out once again
  682. “Luna!”
  683. >Your hands reach out instinctively to stop you from slamming against the ground as you fall
  684. >Your fingers feel heat
  685. >Your nostrils are greeted by ozone
  686. >Your eyes see charred blackness
  687. >But at its edge is the dark marble floor you recognize
  688. >Your limbs thrash desperately as you unconsciously search for her warm body
  689. >You do not find it, and that fact pains you mentally and physically
  690. >You try to shout her name once more, but you’re so weak with shock and confusion that it’s barely above a whisper
  691. >Your eyes finally begin to make sense of the world, and you realize what you’re looking at
  692. >The ground where you last saw her is scorched
  693. >The stone floor has been emblazoned with a crescent moon, surrounded by a halo of black stars
  694. >You run your hand over it, and something catches your attention
  695. >Your knuckles
  696. >All the tiny scars you acquired in your various drug-fueled mishaps – the very ones that Luna replicated when she recreated your hands with stars – are gone
  697. >You pull your sleeve back, looking for the larger one on your arm, but it is gone as well
  698. >You could swear your vision is clearer
  699. >You look around searching for any sign of the princess
  700. >She’s not there, but you are not alone
  701. >You recognize a gray coat and moss-green mane
  702. >Is that possible?
  703. >She’s gazing off into the distance, beyond Canterlot, where a wave of blood red light is traveling outward over the rolling hills, cresting the horizon
  704. “N-Nova?”
  705. >She turns to you
  706. >It’s Nova, but not
  707. >She has the same cutie mark
  708. >The same coloration
  709. >That familiar expression
  710. >But the nocturnal slits of her golden-yellow eyes have been replaced with normal pupils
  711. >Her fangs are nowhere to be seen
  712. >You search her for other differences, and your eyes widen when you see her wings
  713. >The leathery membranes you’re used to have been replaced by feathers
  714. >Like a normal pegasus
  715. >She remains silent, looking just as dumbfounded as you
  716. >She hasn’t just been healed, she’s been completely reimagined
  717. >Reborn
  718. >A memory of Luna’s words resounds through your consciousness
  719. >“That which is tainted is cleansed. If something is twisted or maligned, it is made whole again, recreated as what it is meant to be”
  720. >You understand what happened now
  721. >What she did
  722. >And in your heart of hearts, you realize you need not search for her
  723. >For she is all around you
  724. >You sit down next to Nova
  725. >You watch the healing red light of the Rebirth wash over Equestria, bringing renewal to its inhabitants and the land itself
  726. >They had faith in Luna
  727. >And they were right to
  728. >Luna nobis providet

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