//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Nightmares Come True After All // by EmeraldStarfire //------------------------------// “Tia!” I yelled, my hooves clopping against the cool castle floor. “Tia?” I called again. I walked to her bedroom and looked in. Celestia was brushing her rose-colored mane, humming to herself. “Tia?” I said. She turned around. “Hello Luna,” she said. “What is it?” I walked to her and sat down next to her. “May I greet our subjects today?” I asked. Celestia placed her brush down, then placed her tiara and collar on with her magic. “Yes Luna, you may. I’ll come out onto the balcony after you greet them so I can raise the sun.” I smiled. I could finally get a chance in the spotlight! I walked out of Celestia’s room, trotting towards the balcony in a good mood. I had never greeted the subjects before, I just watched Celestia do it, but when I had come from my usual night watch, I felt like I wanted to tell the ponies about the spectacular show I would put up in the sky just for them. After a deep breath, I walked out onto the balcony. “Greetings my ponies!” I exclaimed to the crowd. I smiled and continued. “I, Princess Luna, ruler of the night am pleased to announce that-” I was interrupted by a colt. “Where’s Princess Celestia?” he yelled. “She’s in the castle, I just decided to-” I was cut off again, this time by a mare. “Is Princess Celestia sick?” she yelled. I was beginning to become agitated. The ponies began to converse, each one speaking over each other, and the crowd became noisy. “SILENCE!” I shouted. “As I was saying, I, Princess Luna, ruler of the night am pleased to announce that tonight, I will give thou a surprise. Just go outside at night and wait. When I raise the moon, you will see the surprise.” “Can Princess Celestia come out now?” a mare said. I sighed. “Yes. You will see her soon.” I turned and walked back into the castle, and Celestia passed me, going the opposite direction. I could hear her speaking to the subjects in a clear, calm voice, but I ignored it as I raced down the hall, tears blurring my vision. Why do ponies always beg for Tia? I thought, flopping down into my bed. “Why not me?” I stood up to look out the window. “She hogs all the attention. Just because she’s the eldest and can raise the sun does not make her any better than me!” I yelled, stomping my front hoof. When I broke my gaze away from the bright blue Equestrian sky, I glanced towards the mirror. “Is it how I look?” I wondered aloud. I walked towards the mirror and using my magic, I took off my crown and slippers, placing them gently on my bedside table. “Am I not pretty enough?” I gazed at myself for some time, fixing my mane and tail and smoothing my fur. No, I was definitely okay looking. I wasn’t monstrous, but I wasn’t as attractive as Tia. I sighed and laid on my bed. “When they see the beautiful kingdom I’ll make in the stars tonight, maybe they’ll pay attention to me. They will.” I stared at the ceiling for a while, until I heard a knock at my door. "Sister?" a soft voice called. I sat up and faced towards the window, my back to the door. "Come in," I called. Celestia opened the door with a creak and walked towards Luna. "Luna, I just was about to go for a walk to clear my head. I was wondering, would you like to come with me?" I looked at Celestia and nodded. My horn lit up with an indigo sparkle and I put my crown and slippers on. "Lets go then," I said. Celestia nodded and walked out of my bedroom, with me following her. ------------- I was watching the busy city of Canterlot from a high cliff Celestia had found. Next to me, Celestia spoke. She sighed, so I turned and looked at her. She smiled and said, "Surely there is no pony so lovely, and so well beloved as I." That was it. I was done. The little brat had become boastful now, and she was so, so blind to my pain. I spread my wings, and with one hard flap, I took to the skies, ignoring Celestia's calls. I soared into the clouds, not knowing where I was going and not caring either. “That selfish little...arrgh!” I screamed, diving down to what looked like a forest. Yes, it was a forest, the Everfree Forest to be exact. I glided between the dark trees. Celestia was probably trying to set the sun now. I looked up. The sun was slowly, but surely setting. I found a clearing to raise the moon. When the sun dipped beneath the horizon, I raised the moon, flying with my arms outstretched to support the spell. When I was finished, I started on the stars, making them look like everypony in Canterlot. I put myself, standing triumphantly over everyone, under the moon, with Celestia standing next to me. I made her a little smaller, but nopony would be able to tell, unless they looked closely. “There!” I exclaimed, feeling well enough to go back to the castle, but first, I needed to check if everypony was looking up at the night sky. I flew through Canterlot, happy to see that ponies were everywhere, looking up at the beautiful display in the sky. I flew down to the center of town, where most of the ponies were. Many ponies stood in awe. I walked up to one pony, a colt, and asked him what they thought. “I think it’s fantastic! Princess Celestia did an amazing-” I cut him off. “Did you say ‘Princess Celestia’?” I asked in a chilling tone. “Yes...didn’t she raise the moon and put up the stars since you were declared missing?” I gritted my teeth. “Is Princess Celestia ruler of the night?” I said, my left wing twitching in annoyance. “N-no…” the frightened colt said. “Yes, then who is ruler of the night, my dear subject?” I asked. “Y-you are.” I held my hoof to his chin and moved his head so he would look into my eyes. “So I would raise the moon and stars. Don’t ever mix that up again.” I let go of him and soared into the sky, then sped towards the castle. “Tia!” I called. “I’m here!” I heard no answer. “She’s probably asleep,” I mumbled. I trotted to my room, closed the door, and got ready for bed. After a relaxing bath, I sunk into my velvet bed. Before I fell asleep, I heard a mare’s voice. Goodnight, princess. I thought nothing of it and went to sleep.