Third Night: The Longest Night

[raisethemoon]

[Luna peers critically into the camera as it comes on. For once, it isn't wrapped in the pale blue shimmer of her magic; she reaches out a hoof to straighten it slightly.]

Excellent. Hold steady, Noctis.

[She turns and paces slowly away, to the edge of what turns out to be the belltower.] Tonight is the night of the Winter Moon Festival. My festival. 'Twas to be our first in...in some time. We had meant to gift our subjects with a grand and glorious sky, to show them all that -

[She stops, sounding near tears, and tosses her mane in frustration. Then, visibly composing herself, she takes a deep breath and lowers her head, her horn glowing first blue and then a bright silver as she takes flight. The silver light coalesces around and in front of her as she rises, until she is silhouetted against what seems to be a huge, brilliantly shining full moon, hanging high in the sky above Traverse Town.

Luna lands again, her horn still glowing faintly as she maintains the illusion. She's a little out of breath, but smiling triumphantly and somewhat defiantly.]

Tonight, there shall be a moon!

Comments

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo appreciates a good illusion, and this one is both impressive and lovely.]

Congratulations on this special day, Princess Luna. The moon you've made is beautiful.

[raisethemoon]

[Special night, really...but she knows what he means, and appreciates the sentiment.]

Thank thee, Ienzo. 'Tis the image of our own moon.

[Action]

[skysmirror]

[Having been outside when Luna made her announcement, and not much of one for speaking over the communicators, Xion makes her way to Luna's rooftop. She smiles as a way of indicating a greeting to Luna, then sits and studies the moon for a few moments.]

It's pretty.

[She speaks as if she hadn't expected it to be so.]

[Action]

[raisethemoon]

[Luna's just sitting on the roof, looking at her creation. Ursa's curled up at her side, and Noctis is perched atop the bear's back. Her ears flick at Xion's arrival, but she barely casts the girl a glance.]

We had planned a meteor shower as well. Perhaps two...

[Action]

[skysmirror]

A meteor shower? You mean like shooting stars?

[That would have been nice to see--she's only heard of them, never seen one for herself.]

[4letters4ninja]

...[The video is showing Ziva looking away, probably out a window, at the moon Luna's created.]

Luna... that is amazing.

[Maybe she can get behind this magic thing.]

[raisethemoon]

We thank thee!

[All this attention is surprising her a bit, even if she did take pains to put her little show on the network. She never got this much attention back home, and that was when she was raising a real moon.]

[4letters4ninja]

[To someone who's used to a moon being dictated by something other than magic, seeing one now is incredible to her.]

Is this what you did at your home, with the moon?

[frostyfuntimes]

[While the communicator is recording all you can really see is Jack staring up at the sky in awe.]

Wow.

[Remembers he has a magic watch and looks down to it.]

That was amazing Luna.

[raisethemoon]

We are pleased thou thinkest so. [She seems deeply touched.]

[frostyfuntimes]

So is the Winter Moon Festival all about the moon? What do you guys do exactly to celebrate?

[Curious Jack is curious. Plus, come on, festivals and holidays are fun.]

Do you need snow for this holiday? You did say winter after all.

[go_dream]

Whoa, I--whoa!

[His eyes light up, mouth agape.]

That's some moon.

[raisethemoon]

'Tis our moon! Or, rather, a facsimile of it. We raise the true one o'er Equestria every night.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

[York's balanced enough to appreciate this by now. His grin is audible in his voice.]

That's gorgeous, Luna. Thanks for showing us.

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, thank thee.

[nightmaresfear]

[A light in the darkness... It's fitting, for what is supposed to be the longest night in the year. Riku doesn't know Luna well enough to fully understand the significance of the day for her, but he can guess, nonetheless.]

I've never seen such a beautiful moon. Thanks for showing us this, Your Highness.

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, thank thee for watching it. Thou art the first people to witness this festival in many years.

[promotiondemotion]

Wow... That's incredible!

[raisethemoon]

Our thanks!

[defrostedpride]

[Even doesn't much care about festivals, but he can appreciate a skilled work of magic.]

An impressive accomplishment.

[raisethemoon]

We admit, raising the moon itself is far easier. Habit, perhaps. It is our special talent.

[unrecovered]

[Wash is out of his armor - in those cat-patterned pajamas, actually, given that he'd been about ready to crash out. He looks thoughtful.]

You know, considering how weird everything is here and how it's all supposed to be a dream, time might not pass the same. You might wake up at home in time to do this for your subjects.

[He takes a moment to look up at the moon again. He'd never been one for stargazing - you lose that habit when you spend years on a spaceship - but he had to admit it was a hell of a scene. Plus, Luna obviously put some effort into it.]

I'm glad you decided to show us, though. It...looks nice.

[raisethemoon]

We suppose it may be so. If 'tis, we hope they like it as well as the people here.

[salvagedlight]

[Ven peers through the comm unit, trying to decide if that's real or not. With Luna, it could probably be either.]

Do you need any help?

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, neigh. We art quite well. [Just rather melancholy-sounding, apparently.]