Princess Nightmare Moon ran a hoof along her desk. The carpenters she had hired had done a very good job on it. It looked so much like her old one, every corner and cutout and bevel in precisely the right place. It felt like she had never destroyed it, like it had sat waiting for her the entire time she had been gone. They had even put some light enchantment on it to make it feel and look older than it was. The maple felt smooth with age, even if she knew it was a lie. Her collections of mementos and trinkets didn’t match Celestia’s yet, but the desk mattered the most.
Somepony knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Nightmare looked up from her desk, crossed her forelegs stoically. Would not do for anyone to see her so wistful. They might get the correct impression.
The door swung open, and Celestia walked in.
“Si—Celestia!” Nightmare Moon stood up. “Please, come in.”
“Hello.” Celestia glanced around the room, but did not say anything else.
The silence continued. Nightmare Moon did not break it. She had said everything she could. Rushing Celestia now would only make things worse.
“I’m sorry, for attacking you earlier,” Celestia said. “I was…rather shocked…but that is no excuse.”
“It is fine.”
“I have been…processing it all. It was not easy to get my head around.”
“I know.”
Celestia took a step forward. “I came here to say that, in spite of everything, I forgive you.”
Nightmare Moon inhaled sharply. “Really?”
“I would not joke about something like that.”
“Oh, sister!” Nightmare Moon stepped away from her desk, flung herself into Celestia, wrapped her hooves around her sister. “You don’t know what that means to me!”
Princess Nightmare Moon felt it. It barely happened. It came then passed in an instant. Celestia had flinched, recoiled when Nightmare Moon touched her.
No. She must have imagined it. Everything would be fine. She pushed her face into Celestia’s body, felt her tears dampen her sister’s coat and mane. Celestia felt so warm and soft and real. Princess Nightmare felt her disguise fray slightly, but she forced more magic onto it, pressed it back into place. She wanted to hold onto the moment as long as possible, and her real form would only ruin it again.
“I know what I put you through. It will never happen again, I swear,” Nightmare Moon whispered. “I couldn’t imagine what I would do without you. What it would be like if you exiled me again.”
“I know.”
Celestia’s foreleg inched upward, returned Nightmare Moon’s embrace. She probably needed the other to keep her balance.
“I love you, sister.”
“And I love you, sister.”
(facepalm) Celestia, you have such an obvious tell...
Well, that's sad. Hopefully enough time will make that lie true.
Though it might have been better to be (somewhat) honest and claim that she would require more time to get used to the idea.
EDIT: But not full on "you disgust me" honest as revealed in the next chapter. Tact.
She doesn't really love you.
....so sad.
Oh, this is so sad. I honestly wasn't expecting it to turn out this badly, but Celestia's clearly stuck on the idea of Nightmare Moon being totally separate from her Luna, the one NMM murdered - instead of a Luna that was essentially her Luna right up until the point of her banishment, where NMM has several centuries of new, dead history before returning to that point. I was hoping Celestia would be able to reconcile with her, but after a few chapters in I could tell we weren't going to reach a happy ending. I really do feel like Celestia's not being fair, though. Hearing her sister was murdered is obviously not something she can get over quickly, but she's not even trying to see things from NMM's perspective. Is she in denial of the fact that her Luna would have killed her and proceeded to become this NMM, had she not intervened?
I'm glad to see both Twilight and Cadence are both supportive - or at least accepting - of NMM, though. She'll need it once the lie inevitably surfaces. :x Not going to be pretty.
Does the name changes mean anything? Cause it is clear this character is not Luna or Nightmare Moon. She has NMM's memories yet with Luna's compassion. I am wondering if the name changing has anything to do with the character's self perception.
That felt off, for a lot of reasons.
It will be never be the same, of course. However, that was Discord's point wasn't it? The things of which he accused Luna are really Celestia's sins - wanting some constant. His point is that there is no such thing, even amongst the immortals.
Cadence will lose Shining Armour one day and she will probably never love again even though she will be faithful in caring for her Crystal Ponies and encouraging of love wherever it may take root.
Twilight's friends will fade and die one day. She will be a loyal and loving godmother and 'auntie' to their foals, grandfoals and so on but, in the end, she will be an ever more remote figure in the lives of their descendents. Ultimately, she will only be the Keeper of the Cutie Map and an enemy of all who would be a false friend. However, friendship would be something that she can only remember, not experience.
Change... Discord... is the only true constant of the universe.
5900747
Woah. That was deep.
5900015
The pace of this chapter felt too fast...
5898102
A lot like Nyx...
5900015 Care to share them with us?
5975420
Celestia's apology did not at all feel sincere. And as it turns out, the idea that it "felt off" turned out to be accurate.
Celestia, you are a TERRIBLE liar!!! Ungrateful bastard.... she saved your life and loves you yet... oh my god just... I have no words.
5900747
So...is this true for mortals, then? Because mortals have it pretty easy, what with the finite life span and all...but. I guess that I can see what you were talking about.
The feels... they burn us!
5920391
I never thought of that. Makes sense.
and then she stabs luna, with whatever she is carrying on the other helmet
that's why I have to end your suffering now
9068157
to be honest it did give off those vides, was thinking the same thing
9068157
Haven't read the last chapter yet. I'll be pretty surprised if you are (were) wrong.