Description:
Deleted from Derpibooru https://derpibooru.org/images/2049309
Hijack nervously approached her mother, who was sitting at her desk as the pony mulled over some papers. Her mother wore no royal garbs and was free of any bindings - the way she preferred it.
Luna didn’t notice her daughter approach her until Hijack mumbled something, unsure on whether or not this time was the time to interrupt. Rubbing her eyes, Luna turned away from her papers and gave Hijack a small smile. The alicorn was wearing her reading glasses - Hijack remembers how she used to try stealing them straight from the pony’s face. They were comically small and Hijack thought Luna looked like an elderly mare who works at one of those booths during the summer.
“Yes, my star?” With her magic, Luna lifted her daughter up and gently placed her on her lap. She ran a hoof over Hijack’s hair. Luna was exhausted and Hijack could tell...with their new, chaotic addition to the family Luna was wrung dry.
The draconequus cub rubbed her arm and crossed her tail over her legs. “Uh…” She looked anywhere but at her mother’s face. “I have an important question, mother. It has to do with...Nightmare Moon.” With the last part Hijack winced a bit as she forced it out her mouth. The topic of the infamous Nightmare Moon was something that wasn’t talked a lot in their family, for good reason. It didn’t keep Hijack from being curious, though...
Luna’s face twitched a bit and her smile fell. Her blue eyes suddenly became serious. “Hijack...we talked about this.”
“I-I know…” Hijack gathered her courage and puffed out her chest. She needed to know! She deserved to know! Right? “But you never talk about it! You only tell me it’s something you will tell me “one day” but you always avoid the topic, even with dad! I’ve only read about you as - her. The books can only show part of the story is are written by ponies who weren’t there... I want to hear it from you.” Letting out a gasp, Hijack looked at her mother straight in the eyes. Luna’s face was stoic, honestly unsure about her daughter’s outburst. Hijack wasn’t a pushy child and just took it when her parents told her “no”. The alicorn thought of scolding her.
Hijack continued, obviously nervous. “I...I just think it will make you feel better if you tell me about it. And I want to know...it’s a part of our family history, after all.”
She was surprised when her mother nodded after a moment.
“Yes….you are right, child.” Luna closed her eyes and rubbed them. “You are old enough to know, I think. But be warned - my...this story is not to be taken lightly.” Blue eyes bore into the cub. “I am telling you this as a warning, Hijack. I’m hoping you can take what I am saying and keep it at heart.”
The alicorn moved herself and her daughter off the chair. She sat in the middle of the round, vast room with her daughter between her front legs. Stretching out her large wings, Luna started as mist started to materialize around them. A bead of magic swirled within her left wing.
“My story started with jealousy, anger and spite. I was jealous of other ponies around me...especially my sister. It’s been around 60 years since we ascended and we were juggling the title of being queens and alicorns. Though we ruled together; Celestia was stronger, more beautiful and loved by our subjects. She was the queen ponies went to for their problems and I wasn’t. Equestria was still a young country at this time. The only thing I thought I had complete control over was my Night Guard whom I used to terrorize others who we thought were conspiring against the crown. I guess you could have called me the Boogie Mare of that era. I was unhappy and I made others suffer because of it. I wanted ponies to like me like they did my sister but the thing I wanted the most was power. I wanted to be as powerful as Celestia, to be admired by everypony. So… I sought to change how things were.”
The bead of magic turned into a shadowy silhouette of a tall pony, cloaked in a tattered cape with cyan eyes showing through the shadows of the hood.
“I left my sister and my kingdom to find that power I so sought after. I trekked the lands of Equestria, seeing many ponies from different backgrounds trying to find their way in the world. I saw the war, famine and strife that stuck their hearts but did nothing to help as I passed. I had one thing in mind and damn any other pony.” Luna looked down at Hijack, her face tinged with sadness. “I was a bad queen and in the back of my mind I knew it...but I assumed the ponies didn’t need me. I raised the moon but that was all. As you probably know, Celestia and I did not reside in Canterlot at first. I’ve heard of the Everfree Forest but it had no name at first. Many ponies refused to settle near it for centuries. There was a lot of rumors surrounding it but the main one was that it held the heart of Magic within its depths."
"Along my travels I had compiled scrolls and stories from ponies who knew it was not me in my disguise, and a wise pony told me that I was to take all my knowledge to Everfree where I was to find my answer.” A pony in a pointed hat with a gigantic beard appeared next to the silhouette of the cyan-eyed pony. “I took all my belongings and sought after this Magic crystal...and I did. It took weeks but I finally found it. I was an alicorn but where this crystal was hidden was protected by an ancient spell from whom I do not know. Finding it I never felt so accomplished. I sat in this cavern for hours as I studied it. I called my Bat Ponies and they came, even though I was so far away. I also called my sister and she came too. I missed her. The ponies who lived under her followed close behind, becoming out servants and we built the Castle of the Two Sisters...as known as the place of my demise. It was built close to that Magic source and me and my sister were amazed by it. Me more than her, though. I heard voices within that Magic crystal and it consumed me. I felt alone again, even though I was surrounded by those that loved me.”
The silhouette was alone again, cape gone and Hijack seeing her mother within the reenactment.
“The crystal’s voices became louder and louder and I couldn’t turn my ears from it. It poisoned me. I was more jealous than I was before. Those negative emotions came back more powerful and I couldn’t chase them away. Celestia tried to help but I think she made the situation more dire...I don’t know. The seeds of the Nightmare was already in my heart. It did not take long for me to become Nightmare Moon. I am still shocked with how weak my resolve was. I drove everypony out, including my sister and terrorized Equestria with my newfound strength. I…” Luna paused and sighed. “...lost my way. I had power but I was still wanting more. I felt like the crystal and the voices were my only allies. I even pushed away my dear Bat Guards, but they always stayed loyal...” The silhouette suddenly contorted and in its place was a mass of dark clouds, the maw dripping with black goop as it growled a long lost language, eyes raging. Hijack attempted to squish herself closer to her mother as she felt fear bubble up in her chest. She knew none of this was real, but...
“I matched my sister and enjoyed beating her but she eventually had the upper hand with the newfound Elements and banished me and Nightmare Moon. The moon was my home for a long, long time.” Letting out a breath, Luna closed her wings and with that the apparition faded away. The shining eyes the last thing that went away as the smoke went along with it.
Hijack was silent.
“I am not the best story teller, so I apologize. I don’t want to give you the gory details but that was how I became Nightmare Moon.”
The alicorn looked down at her daughter, face unsure. “I am sorry if I made you fearful, little one...it’s not a light story. The books you read are for children and they disclude a lot.” After an awkward pause, Luna gave a small smile. Her daughter looked up and didn’t say anything, but there was clarity and understanding in her eyes. Hijack knew how hard it was for her mother to open up about her past, and she felt honored to have been told some details about it. Turning, Hijack hugged Luna.
She squeezed. “Thank you, mom. I will always be there for you.”
Whooo, this took a bit to write. It’s long but I feel like it’s needed. I’m actually not that strong in the creative writing area pppppftt but I want to change that. I feel like if it wasn't dialogue heavy then I wouldn't get across the interaction between Hijack and her mom.
She has always been curious about Nightmare Moon. Her mom tried to lessen her interest in it but Hijack kept asking...so Luna indulged her, a bit. Hijack is still a kid here (around 7) so Luna didn’t give her all the details. After this, Luna is hoping her daughter is satisfied with her answers.
Luna is kind of a troll and enjoys scaring her daughters sometimes lmao.
