Created: 2014.07.10 07:08:33 UTC
Last modified: 2014.07.10 07:08:33 UTC
Archived from https://pastebin.com/2b9p0m40 on 2020.10.25 06:10:04 UTC


>As it turns out, you were right
>At least partly
>Luna has several highly-regarded doctors helping keep the population of her sanctum healthy
>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
>And yet it matters little
>Luna, Nebula, and several of Nova’s other family members are huddled anxiously in the catacombs’ infirmary
>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
>You hang back, not wanting to get in the way
>“I’m sorry,” the doctor apologizes, “but at this stage the prognosis is grim”
>They’re all crying
>She’s said something to this effect several times now, and they keep begging for a different answer
>“If she’d been found a few hours earlier, she might’ve had a chance of recovery”
>“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”
>“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”
>Miserable sobs emanate from many of those present, and the doctor continues
>“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”
>Nebula looks to Luna
>“Princess, isn’t there some way you could…?”
>The dark alicorn shakes her head gravely
>“I’m so sorry, my child, but I’ve already tried; her injuries are beyond even my craft”
>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
>Luna turns to the doctor bat
>“Keep her alive, I will consult my sister. There has to be something she can do”
>There is hope in the eyes of Nova’s family, but not much
>“I will see you back in my chambers, Anonymous,” her voice manifests inside your head, “but I may be a while”
>The ambient temperature in the room increases ever so slightly, and she’s gone in a flash of light
>Slowly, Nova’s relatives file out of the room to return to their homes
>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
>The doctor retreats as well
>Only you and Nebula remain
>She trots over to you and looks up with misty eyes
>To your surprise, she throws herself around your leg
>“Thank you, Anonymous,” she sniffles
“I…why?”
>“There’s not much hope, but at least there’s some because you found her”
“Well, I mean…”
>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
>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
>Anger
>And you know just who it’s directed at
>The door opens, and Luna steps in
>You don’t rise from your place on her bed
>She looks completely drained
>You don’t even have to ask if Celestia had any bright ideas
>It’s obvious she didn’t
>The princess trudges over and climbs in next to you
>She hasn’t even said anything and you’re already finding it increasingly hard to be mad at her
>But you have to say something to her
>Somebody has to say something
>Still, you give her a few minutes to rest before you speak
“Luna, we need to talk”
>You didn’t think she could look any more defeated, but she manages to collapse in on herself further
>“Let me guess, you’re having second thoughts about us?”
“What? No!”
>She’s usually incredibly adept at reading you
>If that’s what she thought, she must really be in a bad way
>She at least relaxes a bit once you’ve dispelled her fears
>Now back in her presence, you realize that you can’t be mad at her
>You love her, and you do not wish to see her in pain
>But regardless, something needs to be said
>You soften your approach considerably, simply asking a question
“You’re going to call off the celebration, right?”
>She sighs with exhaustion
>“I cannot”
“Why the hell not?”
>“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”
“Yeah, but did anyone ever die at one of these things before?”
>“I’ve already told you it’s happened before”
“And how is that acceptable to you?”
>“I’ve never given it much thought”
“You’ve seen my dreams, Luna, and you know how much I’ve lost because I didn’t know when to stop the party”
>You put a hand on her face and turn her towards you
“You need to think about it”
“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”
>Her expression is pensive and unreadable
“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”
>“Then what do they need, Anonymous?”
“They need normal lives”
>She closes her eyes and slowly shakes her head, a few teardrops rolling down her cheeks
>“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”
>You caress her face and run your fingers through her mane
“Just because you’re the princess of the night doesn’t mean you have to be the princess of sin”
>When she looks at you again, you can see the turmoil raging behind her eyes
>“But that is what I am. That is the entire reason behind the Rebirth”
“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”
>Her expression becomes slightly cold
>“I would sacrifice anything for them”
“Then call this thing off. Tell them to act responsibly, they’ll listen to you. Stop being an enabler and start being a ruler”
>Her eyes narrow
>“What are you saying, Anonymous?”
“I’m saying you need to stop caring so much about your image and start being a little more strict”
>She sits up and pushes your hand away
>“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?”
>The ice is thinning
“I think you’re afraid of disappointing them, that’s all I meant”
>No way she could take that wrong, right?
>“So I’m a coward, then?”
>Goddamnit
“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”
>“Do not lecture me, Anonymous, you are thoroughly unqualified”
>She quickly transitions from offense to outright hostility
>You’re becoming a bit irritated yourself
>You sit up and give her a harsh glare
“You asked me if I thought you were a good princess”
>“And you said yes”
“And I meant it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be better”
>“Why don’t you take the job, then? You seem able to spot all the flaws in my methods”
“Are you really this allergic to criticism?”
>“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?”
>Her arrogance makes your blood boil
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve thought of it, because you clearly haven’t acted on it”
>“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
“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”
>“Why don’t you leave for a bit, Anonymous, take a walk before you say something you’ll regret…”
>You pound your fist against the headboard
“No, you’re not going to brush me off like that, you need to hear this”
>“Do you really think you’re so much more clever than I?”
“No, I don’t!”
>You’ve never raised your voice at her before
“I’m an irresponsible, egotistical alcoholic, just like you. The difference is I don’t have people depending on me to make good decisions”
“People like those friends from your dreams?”
>Your breath catches in your throat as Luna’s hoof claps over her mouth
>You feel like someone just punched an ice pick through your chest
>You nod your head slowly
“Yeah…yeah, okay”
>“Anon! I’m so sorry!”
>She reaches out a hoof to touch your cheek, but you draw away
>She moves toward you, but you slide off the bed and stand up
>“Anonymous, please! I didn’t mean it!”
>She grabs at you desperately, but you evade her
>You nod your head again, not sure if you ever stopped in the first place
“You’re right, I need to take a walk”
>You circle around the bed and head for the door, and she’s on her hooves to pursue you
“Don’t”
>You hear her hooffalls slow to a stop
>“Please…”
>You don’t look back at her as you exit and close the door behind you
>But you can hear her crying
>You know she didn’t mean it
>But she cut you down like only someone who knows your darkest regrets can
>You were probably prodding her a bit too hard in the ego
>But what happened to Nova has shaken you to the core
>The fact that Luna reacted so viciously tells you that deep down, she knows something isn’t right
>You just have to figure out how to make her see
>You wander aimlessly through the catacombs, unconcerned about getting lost
>Though you can feel the vibrations of the concert raging in the great hall, the place feels empty
>Probably because the majority of its residents are congregated in attendance of said concert
>You pass the occasional stray bat pony, but your despondent demeanor deters any of them from greeting or engaging you
>Rounding a corner, your eyes are met by a sight you’ve not encountered before
>Thestral children, three of them
>No, four
>One of them sits slumped against a wall while the others play some elaborate game of pretend or whatever
>You’ve never understood kids, you don’t like them, and you’re thoroughly bewildered by the fact that you ever were one yourself
>Still, that one filly looks lonely
>She sees you coming, gazing up at you with huge eyes
>They’re a sunburst of green, yellow and blue
>You can’t help but feel as though you’ve seen her before
>Even though you’re sure you’ve never been around any bat pony foals
>You feel markedly out of place walking amongst them, but if you turned around now it would look even weirder
>“Anonymous?”
>You snap out of your reverie and turn around
>You were so lost in thought you didn’t even realize you’d walked past the filly
>Nor did you notice the stallion who now stands by her
>He’s a more haggard version of the one you first met, but you remember him
“Light Bender? Hey man”
>“What brings you around here, Anonymous?”
“Just taking a walk. How are…”
>You don’t want to ask him how he is
>You already know
“…uh…what’s up?”
>You can see his entire body heave a sigh
>“Just trying to get little Prism here to play with her friends”
>“They aren’t my friends,” the filly interjects morosely
>Oh god
>You didn’t know they had a daughter
>“Now now, love, I’m sure they’d be happy to play with you”
>“I don’t want them,” Prism states plainly and stubbornly, “I want Mommy”
>Light Bender seems to become smaller
>He slumps and his whole frame trembles
>You can see him pushing back his sorrow for her sake
>“Why don’t we go inside, then?”
>“Okay”
>His eyes meet yours
>There are heavy bags beneath them
>His jawline is covered in stubble
>The fact that ponies can grow beards is supremely baffling to you, but now is not the time to question it
>“You’re welcome to join us, Anonymous. We’re just about to have dinner”
>You don’t have much else to do, and you figure maybe he could use some company
>You follow him through a narrow tunnel
>Well, it’s narrow for someone of your stature
>At the end is a small door
>You have to duck down to get through it
>Once inside, you realize that Light Bender needing company is not an issue
>This place is swarming with bat ponies
>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
>Over the past week, you’ve seen more feasts laid before you than in the entirety of your previous life combined
>But this is different
>It’s less grand
>Homier
>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
>You suddenly feel a twinge of homesickness
>“Anonymous?”
>You look up – or down, rather – to see Nebula
>She’s smiling, as though she’s happy to see you
>“I thought you would be with the princess”
>You don’t really want to think about Luna right now
“Just takin’ a break…”
>“Well, I’m glad you chose to join us”
>Good god she’s so much like Nova
>The genial yet vaguely formal tone
>The measured articulation in her voice
“I just kinda wandered in”
>“Well, you are welcome regardless”
>They’re all so…happy
>You sit at the table with Nova’s relatives
>Cheer fills the room and ensconces you like a warm blanket
>You would never be able to tell that they’d lost two of their own in less than a week
>Laughter and the clanking of flatware fill the air
>On one side of you sits Light Bender
>You can tell how tired he is
>How dejected he is
>But he’s still chatting animatedly with the pony next to him
>His daughter Prism sits in his lap, and even she has been touched by the infectious excitement that permeates the room
>Her wide eyes fill you with memories of your own childhood
>When a simple change in atmosphere was all it took to lift your mood
>On your other side sits Nebula
>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
>If she’s anything like Nova – and you suspect she is – probably not much
>You lift a turkey leg from your plate and nibble at it
>You aren’t overly fond of fowl, but you can’t deny that it’s expertly roasted
>Salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme greet your taste buds
>The ringing of silver against glass meets your ears
>A pony across the table from you taps her spoon against her wine glass one more time and rises from her seat
>It’s the mare you noticed back in the infirmary
>Nova and Nebula’s mother
>Her coat is a light shade of gray, halfway between that of her two daughters
>All present fall silent, and she speaks
>“My dearest family and friends”
>Her tone is proud and matriarchal
>It’s hard for you to reconcile the pony before you with the sobbing wreck you saw just earlier this evening
>“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”
>Excellent diction must run in this family
>“But let us not dwell on the things we cannot change, for salvation is upon us”
>You hear the pounding of hooves against the table
>“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”
>“I know we are all aching right now”
>Her eyes linger on Light Bender for just a moment
>“But I have faith”
>“Tomorrow night, our princess will be reborn anew, and she will provide for us”
>A chorus of voices rings out around you
>“Luna nobis providet!”
>A pit forms in your stomach
>They have faith in Luna
>You feel bad for thinking it, but you’re not sure they should
>She is no god
>She is hardly different from you
>But what can you say?
>You can’t risk crushing the last ray of hope in their lives
>She raises her glass
>“To Princess Luna”
>“To Princess Luna!” they echo her with gusto
>You’re the only one who doesn’t join the chorus
>Your faith and your heart are on the verge of breaking
>After partaking of the delicious meal, the bat pony family retires to their living room for dessert wines and entertainment
>“Hey Bender! How about some music?”
>You hear one of them call to your acquaintance
>Light Bender – who sits with his daughter on the couch across from you – looks a bit sheepish
>The ponies around you murmur their encouragement, and you find yourself joining in
>Nova’s mother, the matriarch, disappears down a hall and returns holding what appears to be a violin case in her teeth
>She sets it down before him and he blushes slightly
>He’s clearly bashful about public performance, but at the insistence of his family he opens it
>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
>One hoof supports the violin while the other rests across the neck
>He takes the bow with his wing and touches it to each of the strings
>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
>Even before you hear him play, you wonder why in the world he would have a cutie mark in drinking
>When he finally seems satisfied with the sounds coming from his instrument, he drags the bow across the strings
>He then begins to strike notes in a rapid staccato
>It’s a lively, folksy tune, and within moments all the bat ponies around you – even little Prism – are on their hooves and moving
>Everyone is dancing except you
>Nebula appears in front of you, her green eyes sparkling with joy
>“Don’t look so sad, Anonymous. Please, come and dance with us”
>For a moment you don’t move, but when she reaches out a hoof you take it and rise from your seat
>And you dance
>Not the lame, ironically goofy hip-thrusting that is your usual wont
>You just step to the music and the steady stomping of hooves
>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
>They all do
>Suddenly the song shifts into a minor key
>You and the ponies around you regard Light Bender as he plays a solo
>It’s forceful and melancholy, but it keeps with the rhythm he’s already established
>It doesn’t feel like something to dance to, so you simply tap your foot in time
>The bat ponies clearly feel the same
>They’re all looking at him, their hooves striking the floor and keeping the beat
>His notes carry both hurt and hope, slowly but steadily gaining speed
>His eyes are closed as they reach a crescendo
>For a fleeting moment, he lingers a half-step below the root
>Then he dives back into that lively melody, and the gathered family once again dances
>And so do you
>You say your goodbyes
>Nova’s family really wants you to stay, but you have business to take care of
>Or so you tell them
>In truth you’re not sure of what you’re going to say to Luna
>You aimlessly wander the catacombs once again
>You want to be angry with her
>In fact, after what you’ve just seen, you want to hate her
>But you can’t
>There’s a slowly-mounting ache in your chest that only her touch can assuage
>Your mind is quiet, and you wonder why she hasn’t projected her voice into your head
>You find yourself in front of the outer door of her chambers
>Luna nobis providet
>It’s written in silver
>You ignore it and push onward
>You don’t knock
>When you open the inner door she is upon you immediately
>She was waiting for you
>“I’m so sorry!”
>Your lips lock with hers
>Her legs wrap around your waist and you carry her over to the bed
“It’s okay,” you tell her in one of the brief pauses when your tongue is free
>“No!”
>She uses her considerable strength to turn you over, hooves planted firmly on your shoulders
>You feel your belt unbuckling
“Hold on…”
>“Please, Anon, let me make it up to you?”
“Luna, I–”
>“You can tell me how terrible I am while I do it”
>You can’t resist any further
>You need her
>Without hesitation she lets her wetness slide down onto you
>You’re close within moments as she mercilessly rams you into her
>She senses your attempted resistance and pumps you harder
>“I’m so sorry, Anon”
>You grab her mane and pull her into a kiss as you climax
>You don’t say anything
>You just fill her up with your reassurance
>It’s over as quickly as it started
>She peers down into your eyes, her own full of remorse as she repeats her refrain
>“I’m sorry”
>She covers your face with kisses
>“I promise I’ll never hurt you again”
>“I promise I’ll be better, for you”
>You touch her cheek and smile
“Don’t do it for me, do it for them”
>She sniffles but gives you a determined nod
>“Okay”
>You just gaze at each other for a while, not needing words to communicate
>She loves you, and she’s sorry
>You love her, and you forgive her
>But you’re tired
>It’s been a draining night for both of you
>Either she senses your fatigue or she can see it
>She lies down at your side, resting her head on your chest and pulling the covers over the both of you
>“Sweet dreams, dear heart. I’ll see you soon”
>“Anonymous?”
>You sit once more in your field of dreams
>You pry your eyes away from the starscape you’re crafting and look at the alicorn who sits next to you
“What’s up?”
>“You’ve hardly said anything. You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?”
>It takes you a moment to even remember what she’s referring to
>“It’s alright, I do not blame you…”
>You put your arm around her
“No, it’s not that, I’ve just…got some stuff on my mind”
>“And you do not wish to share it with me?”
“I dunno, it’s kind of about you”
>“Oh…”
>She wilts
“Whoa, wait, not like that…I’m just saying it involves you and it feels kind of weird telling you about it”
>“How so?”
“Well, like, when I took that walk earlier I sort of just ended up with Nova’s family, and they were saying some things…”
>“Did they speak ill of me?”
“No…the opposite, in fact”
>“Then what is the problem?”
“I can’t explain it. Is there any way you could just suck the memory out of my head and look at it?”
>She chuckles
>“I can suck many things out of you, Anon, but a memory is not one of them”
>You snicker
“Ah well, never mind”
>Silence falls between you once again
>There is a faraway look in her eyes
>At length she speaks
>“Anonymous?”
“Yeah?”
>“Do you believe in life after death?”
>Whoa, where the hell did that come from?
“Um, seeing as you’re immortal, I kinda have to wonder why you’re asking me that”
>“Humor me”
“Well no, to be honest, I don’t”
>“Why not?”
“I dunno, it just seems like wishful thinking to me”
>“But do you think it’s a possibility?”
“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?”
>“I’m sorry love, recent events have brought such thoughts to the forefront of my mind”
“I take it your sister didn’t have any bright ideas…”
>She shakes her head, and you see a few stray tears run down her cheeks
“It’s not your fault, Moons”
>She clenches her teeth
“Luna”
“It’s not your fault”
>“Then whose is it, Anon?”
“Nobody’s. Sometimes bad stuff happens, you don’t always have to blame someone”
>“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”
>She seems pretty adamant about shouldering responsibility for her hoofmare’s current plight
“Yeah, well, you know what? Who gives a fuck?”
>“Beg pardon?”
“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”
>“I have wracked my brain Anonymous, and my sister hers. There is nothing to be done. She will die”
“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?”
>“Anon, you’re wiser than most ponies…”
“People”
>“…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”
>“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?”
>“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”
>“We can only struggle against life and death, not control them”
>You don’t really have anything to say to that
>You used to think of Celestia and Luna as the goddesses of ponies
>Now you realize what they really are
>They are stewards, as Luna once so aptly put it
>Mortal minds in immortal bodies
>Powerful enough to see that the celestial cycles continue
>Powerful enough to bear certain burdens for their subjects
>But not so powerful as to be able to spare them from the everyday blights of mortality
>You can only imagine what a frustrating and torturous existence that must be
>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
>In fact it’s a wonder that it took so long for one of them to snap, and that it’s only happened once
>You throw your arms around her in a tight embrace
>It’s not amatory
>It’s not even romantic
>It’s just a base-level empathic reflex
“I’m so sorry”
>All this time you’ve been wondering how someone who’s lived so long could be so fallible
>How she could still be so vulnerable and prone to error after such a long life
>But she’s just a person
>And even after all these aeons she still loves, laughs, and hurts just as intensely as you do
>That must take a kind of strength you can’t even fathom
>You think of Celestia
>How polished, serene, and unreadable she is
>Does she possess the same strength?
>Was she always the rock, or has time taken something away from her?
>Perhaps her stoicism is a symptom of losing the fire of transience that Luna has been able to cling to
>“For what? You’ve nothing to be sorry for”
>You rock her back and forth ever-so-gently
“Nevermind, let’s just go to sleep”
>“We are asleep”
>You kiss the tip of her muzzle
“No, I mean really sleep; no more dreaming or dreamwalking, just darkness”
>You feel her sigh and tense against you
>She lets out a hollow laugh
>“Anon…”
“Hmm?”
>“I’ve never known that kind of sleep”
“Oh…”
>You suddenly feel guilty about wanting to drift into true oblivion, so you remain in the dream a little longer
>After a few minutes of silence, she turns to you
>“What did Nova’s family say about me?”
“Urm…”
>“Please, Anonymous?”
>You’re conflicted, but you realize she deserves to know
“They said that they have faith”
“In you”
“That you will provide”
>That far off look is magnified a thousand fold
>“Do you…do you think they are right to?”
>Earlier tonight you weren’t so sure, but now you answer her swiftly and with confidence
“Yes”
>Her eyes grow misty
>“Does that mean that you have faith in me as well?”
“Yeah, I do”
>She shakes her head
>“I don’t know if that’s wise, Anonymous”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s wise; it’s faith”
>“Faith can be misguided…”
>You smile
“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”
>You place a hand on either side of her face and direct her gaze into yours
“Faith doesn’t have to be blind, Luna”
>You can feel her trembling under the weight of all this trust
>You feel a twinge of guilt as you realize how she must feel
>Her mind is that of a mere mortal
>But her children treat her as a god, with expectations to match
>You’re about to say something
>To tell her that all she can do is her best
>That it’s all they can ask or hope for
>But something changes
>Tears stream down her cheeks, but there is a sudden steel in her expression
>Determination
>As though her path has suddenly been made clear, and she has resolved to see it through
>She nods and touches a hoof to the wetness on her cheek, then to your lips
>Even in this realm, that familiar tingling warmth overtakes you swiftly, sending you into a dreamless sleep
>“Go to the darkness, my love. I will see you when we rise”
>“I have much to think about”
>“Anonymous”
“Mrrg”
>“Anonymous”
“No…”
>“Oh come now, Anon, wake up”
>Your princess finally succeeds in rousing you from slumber
>You are not happy about this
“Whaaaaaat?” you whine
>Her glossy teal eyes peer down into yours as you blink blearily
>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
“Luna, it’s still light out, why are you waking me up?”
>“The eclipse happens at midnight, Anon. That’s less than six hours from now”
>You roll over and grumble
“So? It’s not like we can’t do stuff afterwards”
>She says nothing in response, but you feel her hoof massaging your back
>At length she speaks
>“Please, Anon? I want tonight to be special”
>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
>“Please?”
>Goddamnit you can hear it in her voice
“Okay okay I’m fucking awake,” you mumble, sitting up
>She snickers
>“You really need your beauty sleep, don’t you dearest?”
>You nod
>You’re still squinting despite the dim lighting
>You look at the clock
>Six-thirty
>Why in the hell are you so tired when you got nine hours of sleep?
>Whatever, time to man up
>You get up and throw your pants on
“I dunno about you, but I’m hungr–”
>You stop mid-sentence
>“Anon, do you really think I’d wake you so early without food on the table?”
>Before you is the feast that will end all feasts
>It makes the previous nights’ smorgasbords look like your family’s thanksgiving
>Everything from pancakes to pot-roast is laid out before you
“Okay, I’m finally going to ask: where does all this food come from?”
>The princess trots around the table and you both take your seats
>“My servants bring it, Anon”
>She says it as though this should be obvious
“No, I mean aren’t some foals in the Zebrahara starving because of this?”
>Her laugh is oddly shrill
>“They might be if I ate like this every night”
“So I guess after tonight I’ll have to get used to normal meals?”
>When she replies, you detect a hint of solemnity in her voice
>“Yes, after tonight, I suppose you will”
>“But let’s not think about that right now. We’ve a whole night ahead of us”
>She floats a pitcher of mimosa and a plate of bacon over to you
>“Now, tuck in. We’ll both need our strength”
>Eat
>Drink
>Fuck
>Repeat ad infinitum
>Every time you’re certain you can’t possibly go another round, she coaxes it out of you
>You’re not sure if Luna’s trying to stuff you full or wring you dry
>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
>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
>It rolls off the bed and shatters on the floor as you wrap your arms around your princess
>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
>She moans lustily, and you feel her hot breath against your face
>She makes sure you’re completely and utterly spent before grinding to a halt
>Your chest heaves against hers as you struggle to form words
“Luna…I can’t…no more”
>You hear a chime and look over at the clock
>Eleven-thirty
>The eclipse is imminent
>She touches your face affectionately and then slides off of you
>“I have a gift for you, Anonymous”
>You watch as her aura envelopes a small chest that sits on her bedside table
>She uses her magic to withdraw an object from inside
>She takes your hand in her hoof and turns it upward, placing the thing in your palm
>It’s a key
>A very ornate key, crafted of sterling and pale-blue moonstone
>There is a silver chain attached to it
>She lets you regard it for a moment before draping the chain around your neck
>She kisses your forehead and gazes intently into your eyes
>“As long as you wear this, I will always be with you”
>You’re so exhausted you can barely process what she’s saying
>“Make yourself decent, we will have company shortly”
>You once again find your pants at the foot of the bed and put them on
>Just a moment after there is a knock at the door
>“Enter”
>You watch the engraved slab of wood swings open, half-expecting to see Nova trot into the room
>But no, it’s Nebula
>She curtseys
>“You called, your grace?”
>Luna says nothing
>Not out loud, anyway
>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
>“Wh-why?”
>Luna’s eyes close and Nebula calms
>“Yes, your majesty”
>She hurries away, shutting the door behind her
>Your princess shudders, and her head snaps around, looking out across the balcony
>The full moon hovers in the western sky
>The smallest hint of darkness touches its edge
>As you watch, the shadow begins to crawl across that luminous disk, encroaching further and further on the pale light
>You never really paid attention to eclipses back on earth, but it’s awesome to behold
>Minute after minute of silence ticks by as you Luna simply watch the cosmic event taking place before you
>Her voice breaks through the solemn quiet
>“It is time, Anon”
>Her declaration is serene
>Full of peace and resignation
>You shake your head, returning to a relatively lucid state
>Her mane is separating into tendrils
>They stand on end and crackle with static
“Is this gonna hur–”
>Another knock at the door interrupts you
>“Enter”
>In trots Nebula and several bat pony guards, carrying a cot
>Upon it rests a withered, scorched form
>Your eyes widen
>Nova
>The bat ponies attempt to bow and engage in other formalities, but Luna waves them away
>Your eyes catch the clock
>Five until midnight
“Luna, what’s goin–”
>“Shh”
>Her hoof touches your lips
>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
>When next you hear her, she speaks out loud, but the words also echo inside your head
>“I love you, Anonymous. Don’t be afraid. Never be afraid”
>Her touch leaves you
>Possessed by an unearthly radiance, she levitates, drifting out onto the balcony and into the waning moonlight
>You feel afraid, even though she told you not to be
>You look up, and the last sliver of the lunar disc disappears
>All is dark
>But only for a moment
>The moon returns to the sky in blood red, and your breath catches in your throat
>A strange humming vibrates in your ears
>Luna closes her eyes
>She looks sad but utterly resolute
>The spell is cast
>A column of red light arcs down from the blood moon, homing in on your princess
>Just before it reaches her, Luna’s horn sparks to life, enveloping her form in a blue-green bubble
>You recognize it as a shield spell
>You’ve seen Twilight cast these many a time
>You figure it must be a part of the Rebirth
>The light bears down on her, but is deflected by her shield
>A second layer of magic ensconces her horn
>And then a third
>The only time you’ve seen that happen is when a unicorn – or alicorn, in this case – is reaching the limits of magical exertion
>You’re just comprehending that something is wrong when an earsplitting scream rings through every frequency of your thoughts
>She’s in pain
>Bolts of red lightning crackle and scorch the surrounding stone
>One strikes you on the shoulder and you feel a searing burn
>You shrug it off
>Luna writhes inside her bubble
>This can’t be right
>In the periphery of your vision, Nova’s burnt body thrashes
>Harsh, white light forces its way out of Luna’s eyes
>The teal orbs within their sockets dissolve, and blood rolls down her cheeks
>This is definitely not right
“Luna!”
>You rush towards her
>An invisible force strikes you in the chest, and you tumble backwards
>“Stay back!”
>Her voice, pained and haggard, echoes inside your head
>A fourth aura has sprung up over her horn as she maintains the shield spell
>White-hot splashes of raw, liquid magic drip from it
>Fissures begin to appear in her skin, blue light pouring out of them
>Her expression is one of immeasurable agony
>Shelves are crashing to the floor around you
>A table shatters in a hail of splinters
>Random objects rise into the air and levitate as the spell of an old god wars with the full might of an alicorn
>The blood and tears running down Luna’s cheeks boil and evaporate
>Steam rises from her body
“Luna, what are you doing?!”
>You shout over the deafening roar of ancient renewal
>She looks at you with eyes that no longer see
>Her teeth are clenched against the impossible pain, but she smiles
>Her words reverberate inside of your skull
>“I’m being better”
>A deafening roar meets your ears
>Your body is thrown against the wall as though you were a ragdoll, and you are blinded by brightness that fades into darkness
>You choke as air rushes into your lungs
>A world of color explodes around you as you regain consciousness
“Luna!”
>Her name tears at your throat as you stumble to your feet
>You stagger towards the balcony
>For a moment, you hardly know why you’re so urgently frightened for her
>Then you remember
>Her scream of pain
>Her molten eyes
>You stumble forward and cry out once again
“Luna!”
>Your hands reach out instinctively to stop you from slamming against the ground as you fall
>Your fingers feel heat
>Your nostrils are greeted by ozone
>Your eyes see charred blackness
>But at its edge is the dark marble floor you recognize
>Your limbs thrash desperately as you unconsciously search for her warm body
>You do not find it, and that fact pains you mentally and physically
>You try to shout her name once more, but you’re so weak with shock and confusion that it’s barely above a whisper
>Your eyes finally begin to make sense of the world, and you realize what you’re looking at
>The ground where you last saw her is scorched
>The stone floor has been emblazoned with a crescent moon, surrounded by a halo of black stars
>You run your hand over it, and something catches your attention
>Your knuckles
>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
>You pull your sleeve back, looking for the larger one on your arm, but it is gone as well
>You could swear your vision is clearer
>You look around searching for any sign of the princess
>She’s not there, but you are not alone
>You recognize a gray coat and moss-green mane
>Is that possible?
>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
“N-Nova?”
>She turns to you
>It’s Nova, but not
>She has the same cutie mark
>The same coloration
>That familiar expression
>But the nocturnal slits of her golden-yellow eyes have been replaced with normal pupils
>Her fangs are nowhere to be seen
>You search her for other differences, and your eyes widen when you see her wings
>The leathery membranes you’re used to have been replaced by feathers
>Like a normal pegasus
>She remains silent, looking just as dumbfounded as you
>She hasn’t just been healed, she’s been completely reimagined
>Reborn
>A memory of Luna’s words resounds through your consciousness
>“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”
>You understand what happened now
>What she did
>And in your heart of hearts, you realize you need not search for her
>For she is all around you
>You sit down next to Nova
>You watch the healing red light of the Rebirth wash over Equestria, bringing renewal to its inhabitants and the land itself
>They had faith in Luna
>And they were right to
>Luna nobis providet