The Night Is Ours =================   Chapter I ---------   >It is night. >You roll around in your bed, unable to sleep. >Thoughts torment your tired mind. >You open your eyes and decide to get up. >It's a full moon, so turning on the light isn't necessary. >You open the door to the lantern-lit Canterlot castle hallway. >Your mind begins to wander as you drag your feet over the polished marble floor.   >Only a week has passed since you were teleported to this world. >You couldn't remember much about yourself from back in your world. >Neither do you remember anything about the circumstances that brought you here. >All you know is that one night, you landed head-first in a room that shimmered like crystal. >You fell unconscious as your head bashed onto the hard floor. >When you woke up, you instantly noticed that everything looked brighter. >And more colourful. >And there were talking horses that could do magic. >Princess Celestia was nice enough to let you stay at Canterlot Castle until they would figure out what to do with you.   >You take a turn from the hallway through a door out to a large balcony. >You put your hands onto the cold railing and look up into the star-filled Equestrian sky. >A beautiful sight, and so clear without all the light pollution back on earth. >Back on earth... you still don't know if you ever will get to see that place again. >Or if you even want to.   >As you were pondering those questions, someone comes up beside you. >You both stand there in silence for a moment. "Good evening, Princess Luna." >"Greetings, Anon." >She has this weird way of talking. >"What brings you out here at this time of night?" "I couldn't sleep, Princess." >A moment passes. >"Do you wish to speak about it?" "I don't mean to bother you with such inane things, Prin-" >"Please, call me Luna. And I will be happy to listen to you, Anon. I don't get much company." "I understand." >The two of you stand side by side, looking out over Canterlot. >Only a few lights are still on. >A lone guard is patrolling at the castle gate. "There has been something on my mind lately." >Luna raises her ears, but makes no comment. >You continue. "Why me? Why of all people back on earth would I be brought here?" >You pause for a moment. "I am sometimes afraid that I will become lonely. I'm... different." >"I can relate, Anon." >"I sometimes ask the same question to myself as well. Why did I become Princess of the night?" "Have you found an answer?" >"Not as of yet. And I probably never will. Things are just how they are." >"As Princess of the night, I'm not a figure the Equestrians get to see very often." >"Besides, the one thousand year banishment has certainly not made me more sociable." Both of you stare into the distance for a moment. "How do you cope?" >"I don't."   >Ten silent minutes have passed. >You breathe in audibly. "It is a beautiful night." >"Thank you." "Are there some chairs here? My feet are getting sore. N-Not that I don't enjoy your company, of course." >Luna chuckles. >She levitates two sun loungers over. >"I do enjoy your attitude. It's not often that I see someone who's not a pony feel this awkward around me." >You feel blood rushing to your cheeks. "I-I- didn't mean to give the impre-" >"Oh Anon, stop being so formal. It's just the two of us here, and since I don't take offense at some informalities, there's no one else around here who would." >Luna puts down the furniture and occupies one of the sun loungers. >Hastily, you lie down beside her. >It feels odd having a Princess warm up to you. >After all, you're just a simple human in a strange world. >"Anon" Luna says, >"I quite enjoy having someone to talk to during these lonely nights." >You feel like you've finally found something to hold onto in this foreign environment. "I do enjoy your company as well." you answer. >You'd have heard Luna's thanks if you hadn't already fallen asleep.