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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
Smiling Moon
“I will teach you when the Moon smiles upon the day,” said the brown-bearded gray stallion, the wide brim of his blue hat shadowing his smiling eyes.
“That is not fair! You know Celestia would never allow that!” The midnight blue filly shook her starry mane and clopped her hoof, her movements still clumsy like those of a growing foal, and framed the silver moon that was her cutie mark with her wing. “You promised to teach me more magic after I got my cutie mark!”
“My little princess, always triffling with the details. Yes, I did pledge to teach you, but only after I rule you ready. By neglecting the details you take exception to you prove how much you still have to learn.” Soft tingling from the bells in his hat heralded his rich baritone laugh. “And pouting at me shan't improve your standing.”
“I'm not pouting!” said the princess, straightening her back and lifting her head to new heights, her unwavering crown pointing to the skies. “Should we command thee tutor us?”
The gray stallion knelt, his star-studded cloak sweeping the ground at his side. “If you would be satisfied with the safe magic. But the enchantments I alluded to, and that you now seek, are older, treacherous. My duty to your safety overrule your orders, I'm afraid; I can't allow you to put your mind at risk merely to impress your sister.”
The princess sighed and murmured something about mules; the gray stallion's hat stirred, betraying his moving ears, but otherwise he was still immobile. Slowly, the princess glanced at the Sun, which was lazily making its way down. “Mayhap I should just rise the Moon now and deal with the consequences later.”
“Then the Moon wouldn't be smiling, as it would be struggling with the Sun for control of the skies.” He lifted his head, a smile stealing back into his lips. “This is not a test of your magical strength, Princess Luna, for I know you are already more powerful than me. This is a test of your temper, your commitment — and perhaps also your imagination, if you truly intend to keep your lessons concealed from your sister.”
As if conjured by the third mention, Celestia emerged from the castle, her white coat glistening in the sun. despite the short week since she raised the sun for the first time, since both sisters matured into their true alicorn heritage, her bearing was regal. She nodded towards Luna and the stallion, carefully crossing the garden towards them.
Luna glanced at the stallion, her eyes begging him to keep the conversation in confidence, and started towards the castle, her forlorn figure dawdling back through the garden.
Wondering if his princess was gloomy or merely pensive, the stallion felt a wrinkle forming on his temple, one of many he knew would come. Lifting his head, and conjuring a zephyr to carry his voice to the princess's ears, he whispered, “Don't concern overmuch about my little conundrum, my little princess, for I have seen the future, and before my twilight you shall make a most excellent student of the magic you seek.”
Luna lifted her head, the stars in her mane bursting momentarily. She looked back, shouting “Thank you, Star Swirl,” and, with a final nod towards her sister, galloped towards the castle, still clumsily but already faster than Celestia could match.
“... And now we welcome everypony to the first Twilight Festival!”
Under a deluge of whistles and the staccato sound of hooves striking the earth Luna ceded her place on the dais to Celestia and went towards Star Swirl.
“Congratulations on passing my little test,” he said, scanning the sky where both sun and moon hung low. “But how did you get Celestia to agree with this?”
“She still feels ashamed for allowing the unicorns to almost lose their magic moving Sun and Moon, and wants to make amends. I merely suggested a festival presided over by both Moon and Sun to lift everypony's spirits,” said Luna with a wink.
“But you…”
“Were not responsible. We know. Still, we need to assure everypony that Sun and Moon will never escape our control; gaudy as it might be, this festival shall help.” Luna looked deep into Star Swirls's eyes. “When do we start?”
On the moon, the part of Luna that didn't succumb to the darkness remembers her lessons, seeking shelter from the nightmare in the dreams of ponies that still love her.
“That is not fair! You know Celestia would never allow that!” The midnight blue filly shook her starry mane and clopped her hoof, her movements still clumsy like those of a growing foal, and framed the silver moon that was her cutie mark with her wing. “You promised to teach me more magic after I got my cutie mark!”
“My little princess, always triffling with the details. Yes, I did pledge to teach you, but only after I rule you ready. By neglecting the details you take exception to you prove how much you still have to learn.” Soft tingling from the bells in his hat heralded his rich baritone laugh. “And pouting at me shan't improve your standing.”
“I'm not pouting!” said the princess, straightening her back and lifting her head to new heights, her unwavering crown pointing to the skies. “Should we command thee tutor us?”
The gray stallion knelt, his star-studded cloak sweeping the ground at his side. “If you would be satisfied with the safe magic. But the enchantments I alluded to, and that you now seek, are older, treacherous. My duty to your safety overrule your orders, I'm afraid; I can't allow you to put your mind at risk merely to impress your sister.”
The princess sighed and murmured something about mules; the gray stallion's hat stirred, betraying his moving ears, but otherwise he was still immobile. Slowly, the princess glanced at the Sun, which was lazily making its way down. “Mayhap I should just rise the Moon now and deal with the consequences later.”
“Then the Moon wouldn't be smiling, as it would be struggling with the Sun for control of the skies.” He lifted his head, a smile stealing back into his lips. “This is not a test of your magical strength, Princess Luna, for I know you are already more powerful than me. This is a test of your temper, your commitment — and perhaps also your imagination, if you truly intend to keep your lessons concealed from your sister.”
As if conjured by the third mention, Celestia emerged from the castle, her white coat glistening in the sun. despite the short week since she raised the sun for the first time, since both sisters matured into their true alicorn heritage, her bearing was regal. She nodded towards Luna and the stallion, carefully crossing the garden towards them.
Luna glanced at the stallion, her eyes begging him to keep the conversation in confidence, and started towards the castle, her forlorn figure dawdling back through the garden.
Wondering if his princess was gloomy or merely pensive, the stallion felt a wrinkle forming on his temple, one of many he knew would come. Lifting his head, and conjuring a zephyr to carry his voice to the princess's ears, he whispered, “Don't concern overmuch about my little conundrum, my little princess, for I have seen the future, and before my twilight you shall make a most excellent student of the magic you seek.”
Luna lifted her head, the stars in her mane bursting momentarily. She looked back, shouting “Thank you, Star Swirl,” and, with a final nod towards her sister, galloped towards the castle, still clumsily but already faster than Celestia could match.
“... And now we welcome everypony to the first Twilight Festival!”
Under a deluge of whistles and the staccato sound of hooves striking the earth Luna ceded her place on the dais to Celestia and went towards Star Swirl.
“Congratulations on passing my little test,” he said, scanning the sky where both sun and moon hung low. “But how did you get Celestia to agree with this?”
“She still feels ashamed for allowing the unicorns to almost lose their magic moving Sun and Moon, and wants to make amends. I merely suggested a festival presided over by both Moon and Sun to lift everypony's spirits,” said Luna with a wink.
“But you…”
“Were not responsible. We know. Still, we need to assure everypony that Sun and Moon will never escape our control; gaudy as it might be, this festival shall help.” Luna looked deep into Star Swirls's eyes. “When do we start?”
On the moon, the part of Luna that didn't succumb to the darkness remembers her lessons, seeking shelter from the nightmare in the dreams of ponies that still love her.