Luna knew what nightmares were, she’d seen thousands of them in her time as guardian of the night. From the failing crops to a sickly family member, the changelings haunting Cadence to her own corrupted face haunting her sisters sleeping mind, Luna knew what nightmares were- she had been one herself. It had been so long ago that she had taken up the mantle as NightmareMoon, lost to the Elements of Harmony wielded by her sister and was banished to the moon. Her hatred had years to mob and fester, to strip her of any last hope of her sisters forgiveness, of any last hope of any pony to save her, and she accepted that.

And when she was brought back to her former self by those very same elements now wielded by young ponies, Luna never felt the same. The ponies tried their best to accept her as their Princess even though some still ran and hid when they caught wind of the princess of the night. And Celestial- her dear sister, she tried so hard to help Luna find her place again. It took some time before that look in Celestia’s eyes- the one she must’ve thought Luna hadn’t seen, to fade away and for love and acceptance to take it’s place. And with the help of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, defeating the Tantabus, Luna could even say she’d forgiven herself.

Equestrian had once again felt like home. Luna had found her place in the world and she was happy.

“Join me?” Celestia poked her head into her sisters room, smiling as Luna lifted her head from her pillow.
“Hmm, what?” Luna rubbed the sleep from her eyes and pushed herself up out of bed. “Is everything alright sister?”
Celestia smiled, “Yes, everything is fine. I was just hoping for some company in the garden?”

Luna looked at her sister closely, and then it hit her. The bags under her eyes, the smile that didn’t quite seem genuine- “You dreamt of her again, didn’t you?”
Celestia’s face fell, eyes dropping to the floor. “It’s fine, Luna.”
Luna sighed and stood from her bed, “You know I can traverse your mind and see what you see into your dreams. You cannot hide this from me.”
“But you shouldn’t have to see her ever again.”
“And neither should you sister…”
Celestia just smiled, as she always did. “Join me in the garden.. please?”


They walked in silence for a long time, looking over the flowers and trees, the animals running free, but the silence stretched. Luna swallowed thickly the lump of anxiety growing unbearably tight in her throat. She came to a stop, Celestia continued to walk for a few paces before stopping as well.
Celestia spoke, “You shouldn’t have to see her.” Luna’s breath hitched. “I shouldn’t be seeing her anymore.”
“Celestia-“
“I know you’ve changed. There is no doubt in my mind that you are good. I doubted you once Luna, but never again.”

Celestia turned around, tears brimming in her eyes. “But I can’t stop them, the nightmares. And it’s killing me to know that it is my own fear that gives them strength.”
Luna took a step backwards. “Do you fear me?”
“No-“ Celestia gasped, eyes wide. “Not anymore, not since I’ve finally gotten you back.”
“Then why…” Luna’s head fell, tears blurring her vision. “Why do you dream of NightMare Moon.”
Celestia lifted her face to the sky, the shadows of the trees sparing her face from the harsh rays. “Because I am afraid of losing you again. Not because of your own doing, but mine.”

Luna stared at her sisters. She could see the centuries of age, the power of the luminous magic flowing through her mane. And under the front, Princess of Equestria, Luna could see her sisters younger face smiling as they played in these very same gardens as young fillies. There was no fear, no stress of an entire kingdom on her shoulders- no, it was just them and the little world they’d created for the two of them only and the stories they would make together.

“I fear that I may somehow bring all of that pain back and- and that maybe I might lose you to that nightmare once again.” A single tear streamed down her face. “Fear is a mighty force and it terrifies me that I could still lose you.” Celestia was strong, unmoved by the most persistent forces and always able to keep a level head even in the most dire situations. But for her to admit that fear, it made something curl inside of Luna’s heart.

“Never.” Luna stepped forward until she stood a few paces away. “I won’t let that happen sister. You do no have to fear that ever happening again-“
“I know that, and yet I still do.” She looked ashamed to say that, barely able to keep her eyes on her sisters.
“They’re just nightmares, I know that very well. But you cannot grasp the utter shame I feel having to see you afterwards. You’ve done nothing but prove yourself not only to me, but Equestia, and I should have no fear.”
Luna met her sisters gaze. “There is no shame in that. You cannot control what you fear, only how you react to it.”
Celestia smiled, “When did you grow so wise?”
Luna tilted her head to the side. “I had a great teacher.” Luna laughed as color rose in her sisters cheeks. “But what I said is true, you shouldn’t feel guilty of the nightmares. Twilight and her friends showed me that I cannot let that guilt swell inside or else it will overcome me. You must see that too.”
Celestia’s smile faded, a look of confusion taking its place. “You’re not angry with me?”
Luna shook her head, “Never, only when you don’t let me help with your duties.” She grinned, nudging Celestia and causing her to roll her eyes. “But this, no I am not angry with you about it. How could I be angry with you for freaking about NightMare Moon when I do that very same thing almost every night?”
“You-“
Luna raised a hoof, “it is only flashes of her eyes or sometimes I can hear her distant laughter, but yes. I’ve dreamt of her every night since I was reformed.”
Celestia frowned, “Why have you never told me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. And because I’ve come to except that I may never stop dreaming of her or that night. But learning to not let it control me or make me feel guilt, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.”

Celestia sat on a patch of grass beneath a grand tree. “I wish you would have told me sooner. Maybe then we could have talked things over and some of this wouldn’t have gone on for so long.”
Luna bowed her head, “Me too..”

The wing blew gently through the trees, the world around them quite and this moment was meant for them and them alone.

“Let’s make each other a promise.” Luna sat beside her sister, “When we dream of her, we tell the other?”
Celestia hummed, closely her eyes and taking in a breath of the warm summer air. “I’d like that very much.”
Luna did the same, leaning against her sisters side. “Me too.”
“We can tell each other about anything.” Celestia decided.
“Even if we’re afraid to.” Luna agreed.
“Even if we’re afraid to.” Celestia rested her wings ver her sister.

They sat together like that for longer than the two of them cared to keep track of. They told each other of the things they’d held back on, little things they wanted to do and see, anything that came to mind. And when Luna’s stomach gurgled loudly, breaking the peaceful air around them, it sent the two of them into a fit of hysterical laughter. They leaned against each other to keep upright and wiped away their tears with their hooves.
“Come on, I’m going to make us pancakes.” Celestia stood from the ground and offered a hoof to her sister. Luna took it and rose with her. Celestia ttrotted away, shortly followed by a giggling Luna.

As the two sisters walked from the garden and into the castle, that lingering fear and pain in their minds had vanished, and the nightmares no longer felt so heavy.