Восход Луны (СИ) - "Лунный Жнец" - Страница 322

"I am so happy, that you were able to win that war, my dear..."

The pony rested her head on my shoulder and sighed sullenly. Probably, she was not going to remember any of this in the morning, but at least in this moment she felt happy, being with me.

I was stupefied with drink, yet I was able to hear Luna's singing next to my ear. Then, having released me, she sat up on the pillow, drew a cookie closer with an unresponsive telekinesis, missed the mouth several times, caught it finally and took a sip of remaining tea.

"I-w-will-sing-now..." - the princess announced solemnly. She got up, having put her forelegs on the table, and stretched her wings upwards in a manner, which I had already known well. She had always stretched herself before some decisive action.

"Ow, something is going to happen" - Northlight muttered with a strange expression. It seemed like he already had the honour to witness Luna's vocal talents.

Grey weightless curls of smoke waved through the alicorn's feathers and interlaced with strands of her mane. The purple gleams of magic flickered ominously below thick lowered eyelashes. The lightning stroke suddenly and lights went out, chilly glow of the moon burst into the room through the balcony and windows.

Luna's quiet whisper sounded like a distant rumble of an approaching storm.

"Well, sister, it is time to remember our story..."

Celestia lowered her ears involuntarily. Her fear was understandable, since the sorceress, who was drunk as a lord, towered above her menacingly. Bat-stallion cast some spell, covering walls and windows with solid magical barrier. Luna was pleased with the impression, she had made, lay down and brushed everything off the table with a wave of her wing. There was no jingle or splashing, the utensils had disappeared in soft twilight without a trace.

Hawing bent over the table, Luna breathed the cloud of silvery steam out, as if she was breathing in the cold. Very soon that cloud took shape of a high mountain. A castle clambered up one of its slopes like a small glimmering sparkle.

The rising sun illuminated Canterlot with a slight wave of the horn. It took a wide ark around the mountain and receded over the invisible horizon, giving its place on the tiny sky to the moon. The brilliant scattered stars were a delight for the eye, and then the canvas of the night blazed up with a fire of a new day.

We were watching the illusion of this eternal cycle with bated breath. The Canterlot castle, illuminated by the flashes of days and nights, was approaching quickly, revealing more and more details. Soon one could spot two alicorns, who were standing on the balcony. The white princess was resting her forelegs on the fence majestically, staring into the distance, and the dark one was sitting with her back to her sister, huddling up miserably in her shadow. Maybe, she was just a shadow herself, lacking a face or a voice.

Luna's eyes blazed up in the twilight, and her voice sounded suddenly low, like an uneasy movement of the wind, which foreboded the hurricane...

Back then rage clouded my mind,

And sadness made my heart so heavy.

These ponies did not notice nights,

While walking in the sunlight daily.

And, living in my sister's shade,

I longed for glory and attention.

The patterns of my nights were made

With all my care, joy and passion.

But at sunrise I was forgotten,

No pony had a word to say.

In winter, summer, spring and autumn

They hailed Day Princess and the day.

There was a balcony, alicorns and a barrier, which rose out of the darkness.

Celestia touched it with a hoof, as if she wanted to destroy the wall of old mistakes, but the illusion stayed unshakeable. Luna's voice grew stronger like a storm, flashes of lightning in the heart of it were like emotions, which had been lived through long ago, but was awaken again.

Misunderstanding and resentment

Build walls between the two of us,

Revealing brittleness of friendship,

That seemed so solid at first glance.

It broke the proud pony's spirit.

How could it ever be revived?

The swarm of nightmares left me feeling

Like darkness crept into my mind.

Having been captured by the dark magic, illusory Luna was transformed into a terrible, fierce monster. One look of it made me shudder, because I had been like that myself.

So I embraced this deepest darkness.

My rage and envy took the blame

As much as spirit of the nightmares,

And Nightmare Moon became my name.

I gave my body to that force

For the authority and power.

I was not asked if that was worth

My soul, when we had closed the bargain.

Canterlot was ripped asunder, revealing the confrontation of kindred spirits. The light one did not understand, what was happening, and the dark one was enraged by this lack of understanding.

The ancient balance was disrupted,

The Darkness rose against the Light.

I went to limits, was corrupted

And blinded by my own pride.

I strove to rule the world, dismiss her

I longed to settle an old score

With her, Day Princess, elder sister

Celestia, I loved no more.

Luna flew up to the lofty ceiling with one flap of her mighty wings and disappeared in the darkness. Only the air flows, which were driven by the wings, suggested that the alicorn was hovering above us. By the will of the Mistress of Darkness the three silent spectators, who were us, found themselves in the eye of the storm of events. The entire space around us became a huge somber mirage, showing the picture of a cruel fate. We were looking at Celestia, who was flying away in panic, and at Nightmare Moon, who was in swift pursuit. The glowing charges of battle magic, sweeping over us, were imbued with fury.

She said, she did not want to fight me

I took it as a great offence

And cast her out, high and mighty

For me, she had deserved no less

Her flight was short and on its merit

The blast of magic caused her fall

It brought her down, she could not bear it,

Went through the roof, crashed in the hall.

Her broken body lied in wreckage,

Disgraced and beaten, overthrown.

This time she truly got the message,

I triumphed for my strength had grown.

My heart was overwhelmed with joy,

My greatest dream was just at hand.

The opposition was destroyed,

And now my night would never end!

There is no pattern like the stars

On fine dark velvet of night sky,

The comet leaving trail of sparks,

The forest, hushed by lullaby.

No one will dare to confront

My powers. Everyone will kneel.

No one will offer an affront,

No one will scheme, deride or leer.

Alas, I dropped my guard too soon.

The wings of happiness were flaring.

I was besotted by the Moon,

I felt invincible and daring.

The mirage died out suddenly, and we were deafened by the silence, that had fallen upon us. Luna seemed to disappear, one could not hear even the sounds of her wings. Having cast a glance at Celestia, I saw her eyes widened by horror, they were glimmering in the moonlight, and tears were streaming down her muzzle heavily.

The new mirage, showing the confrontation of luminaries, flared up with a terrible might. And the dark alicorn's voice sounded again, its harsh measured pace seemed to count the words like the moments, which were left before the death.

And then I heard my sister's solemn voice.

Protecting loyal subjects from ill fate,

She said, I had not left her any choice

And used the strongest weapon ever made.

I felt like I was burning from inside,

Consumed by pain, despair, anger, scorn,

And I attacked again with all my might,