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

[salvagedlight]

Most of them were. There's a thing, though, one of the precepts - the worlds aren't supposed to know other worlds exist. So whenever we go somewhere, we have to try and be quiet about it, and try to fit in. I didn't do so well at it sometimes, but since a lot of worlds don't even know the other worlds exist, most people just assume you're from a part of their world that they've never seen.

But I made a lot of friends out there - I hope I get to see them again someday.

[raisethemoon]

Perhaps thou shalt! Traverse Town seems to respect worldly boundaries little.

[salvagedlight]

[He nods at that, because boy is it true.] Yeah - there's some people here that I saw in Radiant Garden, but it looks like they're from a lot later, time-wise, than I am.

[raisethemoon]

Yes, we had heard that was occurring. 'Tis somewhat troubling...

[salvagedlight]

Yeah, I... [This really is just weird to think about.] I met Ienzo when he was... maybe seven? Eight? And now look at him, he's older than me. And he talks.

[It's just a really weird feeling.]

[raisethemoon]

[Luna smiles, withholding an amused chuckle. Yeah, she knows that feeling. Mortals grow up so fast.]

We only hope the timelines are not damaged.

[salvagedlight]

I hope so, too, but I don't know how to tell if they are...

[And he casts a glance her way.] Do you?

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, we care not for time spells. But we knew the great spellcrafter Star Swirl, some centuries past. He believed that time could not be altered by mere mortal hooves, and his time travel spell seemed to bear it out. No matter what he did, what happened in the past would not be changed.

Still, magic is strange. We hesitate to say what is impossible, here.

[salvagedlight]

Yeah. [And he leans back with a sigh, lying back all the way with his arms under his head.] I've given up trying to figure out what's possible and what's not. Even with living here, I can't figure that out.

[raisethemoon]

We suppose we must, in some part, trust to fate. [She stretches out, leaning her chin against a foreleg, and her aura pulses a little as she idly sends a few illusory meteors past the moon's face.] It is not something I am used to...