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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[go_dream]

Whoa, I--whoa!

[His eyes light up, mouth agape.]

That's some moon.

[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]

[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...

[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.]

[raisethemoon]

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

[raisethemoon]

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

[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.

[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.

[promotiondemotion]

Wow... That's incredible!

[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?

[raisethemoon]

Indeed, every night. We arranged the stars too, long ago, but we have created no new constellations in some time.

[go_dream]

That's incredible.

[defrostedpride]

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

An impressive accomplishment.

[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.

[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.]

[raisethemoon]

Tradition would have our subjects gather to watch us raise the moon, then remain awake throughout the night to appreciate our work whilst enjoying their local festivities. Quite like a nightly form of our sister's Summer Sun Celebration.

[She looks down, tracing a circle on the tiles with a forehoof.] But it was never the most popular of holidays, and is no longer observed. We thought perhaps this year we might revive it.

[Luna looks rather depressed now, but she brightens a little at the mention of snow.] Snow is also traditional!

[frostyfuntimes]

Yeah...I know what that can be like. [He winces at that. He can really relate to being forgotten or, heck, ignored. Well, he's not going to let ANOTHER friend be forgotten.]

Pfft. Who needs sleep? If no one else will, I'll stay up with you Luna. Uh...though I guess you meant reviving it in Equestria...not here.

[He's getting an idea though and kicks his staff up into his hand. He's now floating and a smirk is forming on his face.]

You don't say...hold that thought.

[Suddenly Jack zooms up into the air and is racing across town, searching for where Luna is. Snowball spins out of control in the air at Jack's speed before racing after him as well.

He's become fairly familiar with the landscape of this place in the few days he's been here...especially from the air. It's not long before he finds Luna and as soon as he sees her he swings his staff around and concentrates. Flurries and small snowflakes start to trail behind him and he freezes the air around him. He swoops over Luna's building perch with a whoop of excitement and increases the amount of falling snow. His goal becomes clear: cover the building in a layer of snow and ice...although this might also result in coating Luna and her Spirits in snow unless she takes to the air.]

[Action]

[raisethemoon]

Yes, like this.

[She glances off towards another part of the sky, managing one or two small meteor illusions.] We would have had more, of course.

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, thank thee.

[raisethemoon]

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

[raisethemoon]

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