10

[doublethefun]

[the single black cloud floating nonchalantly amongst the blues and whites of the otherwise perfectly sunny afternoon was a bit conspicuous, to say the least. The ends of her rather long mane and tail were flowing over the edges of the cloud, but she didn't seem to care.

Luna was currently sprawled on her side, wings unfolded, and unmoving. Eyes were staring unseeingly into the middle distance, but her ears were perked towards the two journals that were open next to her. One was her own journal and the other was a copy of the old journal she had found in the library; she had been looking for a record of the previous entries ever since Vanyel had mentioned that Celestia had been in Paradisa before. She had found only one entry of Celestia's and the book was open to that page. It had long since been scrutinized and examined and now is merely a sort of (soothing?) background noise for Luna.]

Sister, what am I to do?

[she certainly didn't expect an answer from a recording, but she sighed nonetheless, when no answer was forthcoming. This whole business with the foal had thrown her off. She was content, once they had gotten past the initial incompetencies of raising a child and the awkwardness of wondering how exactly two mares can have a baby. She was content, and she was growing attached. Nine was no longer 'the foal,' or 'a foal.' Instead, she was 'my foal,' 'our child.' Or, when she was exasperated, 'thy child.'

And then the good bye. She hoped to - to something. The moon, the stars, the sun, the earth. Anything. She hoped that the room was real, that there is one such world where a child such as that could exist and be loved and not merely be some cruel construct of the castle's, transient and disposed of after it had its fun with her parents. Luna shuddered.

Should she be jealous of this other (imaginary?) Luna? Or would it be far worse to be that Luna? Nine would grow up in a blink of an eye and then grow old and die in another blink. A breath, and her bones would be scattered to the four winds as dust and her memory long forgotten. Twilight and her (Luna's?) friends would be subject to the same fate. Ponies forget easily; great deeds become pony tales in a generation or two, monsters become nothing more than bogeymares to scare children.

Is it worth it? Is it worth it to be able to remember great and good pon - friends even when the whole world will soon forget them, even if it hurts?







Has to be better than the alternative, right?]

Comments

dictated;

[checklist]

Luna? Are you... all right?

[doublethefun]

[there's the barest hint of a smile as she adds another pony to the list of those who have dispensed with her title.

Though she does skip over answering that question.]

Hello Twilight Sparkle. How art thou?

1/2

[checklist]

I'm.... Well, I would by lying if I said I was fine. I miss her terribly.

But I'm glad we had the chance to meet her.

[checklist]

What about you?

[doublethefun]

Thou art certainly more mature than some of the supposedly wise and venerable ponies I know. [and/or knew. Herself included.]

I have been keeping busy. Didst thou know that Celestia was here merely a year ago? [does that non-answer suffice?]

1/2

[checklist]

Being with Nine, and then having to say goodbye... it gave me a lot to think about.

[checklist]

I heard about Celestia being here once, from Fluttershy. I was apparently here during that time as well - though I suppose I left and came back, since I don't remember any of that.

[doublethefun]

[After a long pause, she sighs.]

I miss her.

...And what were the conclusions of thy contemplations?

[checklist]

[ ... /sob this was hard enough to write down the first time.... ]

My conclusions... well...

[ Her voice gets kinda smaller as she talks. ] Saying goodbye is hard, and it hurts. But it's a part of life that you have to accept. And...

And even if it hurts, having met somepony who can make us feel like that - having met Nine - is still worthwhile. We can cherish our memories, and... she'll always be in our hearts. Our lives are better for having had her in them.

[doublethefun]

[she might even go so far as to lift up her head to look at the journal - though she flops back onto her raincloud as soon as Twilight's done speaking. And then what? Go on, make new friends, watch them die. Do it all over again. Would it be worth it?

...Probably.

There's a quiet chuckle.] Straight from the horse's mouth, as 'twere.

There is always next year.

[dictated]

[whathedoves]

Mon amie? Ah, Your Highness?

You sound quite melancholy.

[doublethefun]

[a hint of dry humor] I am ever the dark and dreary one, Yuuya Sakazaki; hence the title "the Princess of the Night."

[whathedoves]

I would never be so cruel as to call the night 'dreary,' mon amie. It may be dangerous on occasion, but it is very beautiful.


Have you recently said goodbye?

[doublethefun]

[the smallest hint of a smile] I did not take thee to be a night owl.

I did - along with many others, I am sure.

[whathedoves]

Haha, we'll have you speaking like a bird yet, mon amie. The night is far too exciting to sleep through! All the rogues and vagabonds are out in full force.

Lucky I don't need too much beauty sleep!

[This is a subject Yuuya has to keep addressing lately, and he is uncomfortable with it every single time. He pauses for a long while.]

I am sorry. I did not think this would happen so quickly. It's never easy.

[doublethefun]

Or perhaps I merely speak as a Pegasus pony. [at least partly as a Pegasus pony, in any case. A pony of confused breeding is she.]

I thank thee. [pause] Yet, time heals many wounds. [and tears fresh ones]

[a bit more lightly:] Are there many rogues and vagabonds here?

[whathedoves]

Not ready to assimilate yet, Your Highness?

Yes, life still goes on ... Always. For everybirdie, eventually.

[...]

Oh, none as roguish as me, though! I'm the most dangerous one here, don't you know?

[He's joking. Maybe.]

[doublethefun]

[somewhat amused] I must admit, I am rather set in mine ways.

[an actual chuckle] Ah, yes. Not even a closet can hold a fearsome creature such as thee.

[whathedoves]

But of course! They are what characterize you. I would never will your unique and alluring diction away from you!

I must give credit where it's due, much as it pains me. I didn't blast out of the closet all by myself. I did have some help there!

[doublethefun]

Did one Sakuya Le Bel Shirogane eventually come to thy assistance or did he leave the task to others?

[whathedoves]

I was rescued by Sister Esther, the dear! I never once panicked, I assure you. I always keep my cool.

[Laughs.] Sakuya's assistance was just reporting me missing. That was enough!

Dictated forever

[huffythedragon]

Princess Luna? Are you okay?

[doublethefun]

[...]

Who speaks?

[huffythedragon]

It's me, Spike!

[Oh...right]

Uh. I don't actually have my real body right now.

[doublethefun]

Ah, young Spike. I recently met thy counterpart, wearing thy countenance. Art thou all right?

[huffythedragon]

I'm okay. It's kind of weird, and this guy has a shot leg. But I'm not hurt otherwise.

[Pause] I'm sorry about the foal you and Twilight had.

[doublethefun]

A shot leg? [what, like an arrow to the leg]

I thank thee for thy sentiments. [pause. There'd be a shrug if she could find the energy to move.] 'Twas something that I was warned about. [and should've paid more attention to]

[huffythedragon]

Uh huh. With a thing called a gun. He won't explain why it happened.

It's still hard, though. But if you're still here next year, you'll see her again. That's gotta be something, right?

[doublethefun]

[guns. She'd done enough reading to learn it was a projectile weapon of some sort.] Dost thou need any assistance?

[a dry chuckle] That may be one of the few things to look forward to in this place, young Spike.

[a year. Maybe half a blink?]

[huffythedragon]

Zelos said he has some healing magicl, so maybe he can help me, but thanks anyway.

See? It's not all bad here.

omg these two are breaking my hearrrrt

[ectobabble]

[quietly] ... That you, Luna?

laskdjf oops

[doublethefun]

[there's a moment's pause]

Hello, Ray. How art thou?

babies.... ;_;

[ectobabble]

I'm ... well, I'm okay, but I'm worried about you, Luna.

[doublethefun]

[there's a dry chuckle]

I did not intend to sound quite that disconsolate, I assure thee.

[ectobabble]

Oh, well, uh ... okay. ... I'm glad you're okay, then. It's been a while since I saw you, so. I figured I should check in.

[doublethefun]

I simply knew not what to do with mine free time now that I am no longer chasing an energetic filly all over the castle.

[it starts off as off-hoofedly as possible, though she gets quieter as she speaks]

[ectobabble]

Well ... I'm trying to get some of that castle research pulled together, if you want to help me with that. I know Twilight will want to help, but she can't read, so -- another pair of eyes might be good.

If you want, of course.

[he remembers how much she wanted to help with his experiments, though, so - it seems like a decent offer to keep her mind off things]

[doublethefun]

[ears are totally perking up]

Verily? Has there been much research done thus far?

[ectobabble]

Oh, yeah, loads! It's a matter of pulling it all together. Last March was just a wake up call as to how much other information could be hiding in the library...

[doublethefun]

What occurred last March?

[ectobabble]

Oh, it was really nasty... [and yet he sounds excited, because paranormal science okay] There was a creature that kidnapped a bunch of kids around the castle and hid them in an upside-down underground pocket dimension... We had to perform an exercise and go get them back. I have notes on the whole thing, but I try not to mention the sleaze by name, since a lot of his power comes from his name.

[doublethefun]

Thou art implying that he is capable of returning.

[Though it does reinforce the reasoning that leaving the foal in some other version of Canterlot is a Very Good Idea.]

[ectobabble]

Well ... yeah. Not right away, of course, it could be years. Especially if we're careful not to mention him by name or anything. The way we vanquished him ... we found a lot of old entries and articles about him that residents from a long time ago left, so. If history repeated itself once ... it probably will again.

[doublethefun]

Two events do not a pattern make - but I do concede thy point.

[especially if those old materials are still there. Not that getting rid of it would help, especially if he has other methods of returning.]

...'Paradisa' is certainly something of a misnomer.

[ectobabble]

No, but ... every pattern starts somewhere, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm hardly saying I want it to happen again, but if it does, we'd be prepared.