>Abstract images begin to fade away and are replaced by darkness
>Your mind begins to return to its conscious state as you become more aware.
>Shifting a little under the bedsheets, you roll over to a more comfortable position
>Not wanting to remain idle too long, you bring your hooves to your eyes and give them a good rub.
>Your body seems to get the message that it's time to wake up as energy begins to course through your form, beckoning you to rise from bed.
>Sitting up, you give your neck a good stretch before looking over to the clock
>6:23 PM
>"Ah... Nice and early!" You smile.
>As you throw off the covers, Philomena ruffles her feathers, arising from her own slumber
>You prance over to her, giving a soft pat on her head and checking to see she has water in her dish.
>The phoenix hops onto your back, and you escort her over to the window.
>Opening the glass portal, you watch as Solaris's red bird soars out of it, getting her evening wing stretch.
>You leave the window open so she can return as you turn to the vanity on the other side of the room
>Using the brush that lay in front of you, you straighten out your bed mane until it looks something like presentable
>Putting the brush back in its place, you hastily make your bed and then head for the door.
>Lunar Eclipse was definitely up by now, he has court to hold tonight.
 
>You arrived at Eclipse's chambers
>You raise a hoof to the chamber doors and give a knock. You wait.
>...There's no answer.
>"Hmm."
>Shrugging, you turn and leave. He must be in the throne room preparing for court.
 
>Finally, after a long walk, you're getting close to your destination
>Gods above, this castle is big...
>No, you're NOT out of shape, despite the jokes from everyone else.
>You turn the corner to enter the throne room...
>And recoil in shock as Lunar Eclipse lies stone-still on the tile floor
>"ECLIPSE!!"
>Your heart is caught in your throat.
>What's wrong?!
>Did someone attack?!
>Does he have a heart condition?!
>You begin to scamper over to him before you quickly come to a skittering halt.
>At the entrance to the throne room, there are two Royal Guards standing at attention, like nothing is the matter
>You make eye contact with the both of them, making a sputtering start to what is supposed to be a coherent sentence.
>"Uh, your KING is kinda LYING MOTIONLESS ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW!!"
>One of the guard speaks up.
"Er, yes, we were hopin-"
>"WHY are you two just STANDING there?! Seriously!! Answer me that! Is he still breathing?! Does he even NEED to breath?! Have you tried mouth-to-mouth yet?!"
>The two soldiers continue to simply stare at you, blankly
>"WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE?!!"
>This time, the other one clears his throat.
"Um, he's been lying there for about an hour now... We tried talking to him, but he's refusing to get up. We were actually hoping you could talk some sense into him since he is supposed to oversee court in about an hour or so..."
>You blink
>...
>And again.
>"Oh."
>You may have overreacted a little there.
>A little uneasy, you walk over to where Lunar Eclipse lay.
 
>It really looked like he was dead from a distance, the way he's just... collapsed in the middle of the throne room like this.
>How do you even address something like this...?
>You clear your throat, announcing your presence.
>"U-uhm... Your Majesty?"
>He doesn't do anything to respond.
>No grunt... no twitch... nothing.
>"Why are you lying on the floor in the middle of the throne room...?"
"It is Our castle, and We are the King of Equestria. We may lay wherever we damn well wish."
>...
>...Well that story checks out.
>"Is there... something wrong, King Eclipse?"
>For a second, you're pretty sure you're still having no luck.
"...Everything is wrong."
>You breathe a small sigh of relief
>Finally, a sign of life.
>"What uh... do you mean by that? 'Everything' is a pretty big criteria, you're gonna have to narrow it down a bit for me."
>Again, he goes eerily silent for a moment
>still not moving a muscle
"...Nothing is wrong."
>It takes a second for you to register that.
>Nothing.
>Nothing is wrong.
>From 'everything is wrong' to 'nothing is wrong'
>Which is it?
>Everything or nothing?!
>You frown.
>"You're just fucking with me, now aren't you?"
"Perhaps, dear Dusk Shine... Perhaps..."
>You bury your face into your hooves.
>This was going to be great.
"We have spent most of Our long life being 'fucked' with, Dusk... And after a thousand years of waiting, the 'Fuck-ee' has become the 'Fucker.'"
>You bite your lip a little.
>"With the 'Fucker' being...?"
"Us."
>"...And the 'Fuck-ee' being-"
"Solaris. You. Those two grunts at the gate. And every single one of those ponies out there who took Us for granted, and shunned us when we needed them the most... Every last one of them."
>Well, this was different...
>...kind a callback to his old self, actually.
>'old' being several weeks ago.
>"Oh, come now, you don't mean-"
"I hate you, Dusk Shine."
>"O-oh."
>He still refused to move
>It's like you're being berated by a corpse.
"I *HATE* you, Dusk Shine, protegé of my most hated enemy, the pony sent to recover the Elements of Harmony and 'stop' me. Like a problem to be fixed. I hate you. I hate *all* of you ungrateful ponies who cast me aside a thousand years ago after all I had done for you..."
>You considered saying something, but wisely decided against it.
"And now I am finally getting my revenge. Taking back that of which Solaris took from me."
>He gives a frustrated huff
"I hate you, Dusk Shine... But I love you. And I love all those ponies who shunned me and cast me aside. I love you, and I love them so much. That is why I could not maintain my eternal night, Dusk. I could not let myself kill all these ponies that I loved. I... I just wanted to frighten them, I suppose- Or... no, that is not right..."
>He falters, trying to find the words.
"N-no... I did not want to scare the ponies I love, it was just... just... I wanted them to know... That I was here. That I was back. After all these many, many years, I had finally returned for my wretched, beautiful ponies... But it became very clear that the ponies of Equestria did not want me anymore. After a thousand years, they do not even remember their former Prince, the one who helped free all of Equestria from Discord! ...Solaris has succeeded. All of Equestria loves him, and I am simply an old boogiemare--a MYTH, at that--who took him away from all of you. Every pony in this country would be their happy selves if I just... faded away... or stayed within the moon..."
>He makes a noise that you seriously think is a sniffle.
>You'll keep that presumption to yourself, though. You like your legs just the way they are.
>Lunar Eclipse takes a deep breath, composing himself.
>He wouldn't dare fall apart in front of anyone.
"I honestly wish I could bring myself to be the evil, all-destroying stallion the old mares tales paint me out to be... It would be so much easier that way. I would know my place in this world. But now it seems I'm stuck in some kind of... moral purgatory. Tell me... What am I if I am not the kind, divine ruler like Solaris, and yet I do not seek to destroy all of Equestria like the ponies seem to think? Where does that leave me, Dusk? What am I doing?"
>You swallow, wishing you had some kind of answer for him.
>Really, you do. He looks utterly miserable.
>Still trying to think of something to tell him, you decide to literally get down to his level.
 
>Joining him on the floor, you get next to him
>You also get a look at his face... it's not the one of a happy king.
>"Well... Er... I'm no psychologist, but I'd say that you're in the position of... trying your best to rebuild yourself? At least, that's what it seems like to me..."
>He gives a dismissive snort
"I have rebuilt nothing. My reputation is that of what it was a thousand years ago. You were the only pony who remembered me, and that was only because you read of me from a storybook prophesising that I would return to bring the apocalypse!"
>"And did you? I mean... except for that first little while? Yeah, you were a little overzealous with that 'eternal night' thing at first, but you came to your senses..."
>You pause.
>"...Eventually!"
>You thought you were just stringing some words together to make him feel better, but it's sounding like there's some truth in this.
>"You didn't bring eternal night because you still loved your subjects, even after they hurt you all those years ago... Even now, you've stepped in to lead and protect your country because you still love them all. That alone defies everyone's expectations of 'Lunar Eclipse.'"
>Eclipse's glowing cyan eyes drift as he takes in your words.
>He looks like he still doesn't believe you...
>But you want to show him that he's wrong. A good part of you really *does* believe in him.
>All his... villainy aside, he's actually played himself completely straight with you.
>The least you can do is extend the same courtesy.
"My Subjects do not love me, nor do they respect me. They fear me. It is exactly as it was a thousand years ago, nothing has changed."
>He lifts his head, soaking up the sight of the large throne room
>High above on the far side of the room, the bright orange light of the setting sun could be seen through the round window.
>Aligned near-perfectly, the twilight flooded through as to spotlight the center of the throne room, where Solaris's emblem of the sun emblazoned the glossy marble floor.
>The spot where Lunar Eclipse lay despondent.
"...Except for the sole ownership of this castle... Oh how I wish I hadn't destroyed my beautiful palace in Everfree..."
>He sighs, his head sinking back to the floor.
>After a heated internal debate, a suggestion in the front of your mind comes forward.
>"Well, umm..."
>You hesitate, hating to bring him up.
>"Y-you know, I bet your subjects would really respect and appreciate you if you... b-brought Prince Solaris b-back...?"
>You gulp
>That's always a bad idea, mentioning him.
>Eclipse's face simply scrunches up into a frown.
"No. I will *not* bring him back. I misspoke, I was wrong to say *nothing* at all has changed, but that will certainly be the case if HE is allowed to return to the throne again."
>You want to speak up and object.
"NO. I will not have it."
>A sigh escapes your dejected form.
"No... I will... persevere. As I always have. I can do nothing more than hold onto the hope that eventually, my subjects will come around and begin to love me as they did their previous ruler... Even if it takes another thousand years..."
>Silence falls on the throne room as the two of you simply lie there.
>Lunar Eclipse, the mighty King of Equestria...
>Bringer of Nighttime Eternal, conqueror of Prince Solaris of the Sun...
>Here he lay defeated by no one and everyone.
>Even if you hadn't known him on a more personal level at this point, it would still be a pretty depressing sight.
 
>Finally, the sound of shuffling armour approaches the two of you.
>Glancing up to see behind the king's prone form, one of the guards awkwardly approaches.
"Ah... Your Majesty?"
>Lunar Eclipse's immediately shoots up, and he twists his neck to glare daggers at the trooper.
"Guard! How DARE thou disturb Us! Art thou so utterly blind that thou cannot see We are busy wallowing in self-pity?!"
>The golden-armoured soldier recoiled slightly from the snarled, verbal lashing.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir, b-but... Your court is scheduled to be held in the next hour, and preparations can't really begin if you're lying in the middle of throne room..."
"Baah..."
>The black king returned his head to its previous resting position.
>His ethereal, astral-themed tail gave a small flick, momentarily scattering the glittering stars.
>He took a slow, shallow breath and let out a small sigh.
"Guard, spread the word: tonight's court is cancelled. If anyone asks why, thou will tell them that We have... We have... contracted Cushing's Syndrome, and are confined to Our bed for the night. We wish not to be bothered any further."
>The guard stood still for a moment before awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
"Uhh, Your Highness, Cushing's Syndrome was cured nearly 300 years ago."
>Eclipse's face sours.
"Damnation!"
>You, too, find yourself frowning.
>This is a perfect opportunity to try to whip Artemis into the leader he wants to be like.
>"Oh no, you don't!"
>He glances up to you, confused.
>"You're not getting out of court duty THAT easily. You think Prince Solaris ever cancelled court because he didn't feel like doing it? You're the King of Equestria now, you so you GOTTA hold court, like it or lump it!"
>He snorts at you
"Bah! I am the ultimate position of authority! I may cancel my own court for the night if I damn well please!"
>You sit up and tower over Lunar Eclipse with a slightly authoritative frown.
>"Nuh-unh! This is your duty, now! Solaris did this EVERY. DAY. If you wanna start being seen as his equal, you're going to have to start matching his efforts! Tell me, what exactly have you been doing these past few weeks, besides moping around the castle and destroying the library? What have you DONE for the Kingdom of Equestria?"
>He stays silent, glancing around, trying to recall from his memory.
"Well, I... I attended the executions of some rather dangerous criminals the other day... I formed a task force that has successfully killed or arrested key leaders in the resistance against me..."
>You frown harder at him, unimpressed.
>His eyes widen and his ears splay backwards just a bit.
"...Oh yes, and I believe I ordered my new elite counter-terrorism unit to tear apart Canterlot to rescue YOU. Yes, I believe that is something I can add to my list of recent accomplishments."
>He scowls back at you, and you waver in your stance, slightly.
>"O-Okay, fine, you got me there... But as the king, you need to let your ponies know that you do more than just punish them... *harshly* when they break the law..."
"You think I am incapable of mercy?! I show mercy all the time! To those two stallions who kidnapped you, to the entire population of that miserable, backwater town by the Everfree forest... And to YOU."
>You swallowed, feeling a little less off the high-ground than you were just a moment ago.
>"No, that's not what I'm saying... Yeah, you're helping your subjects by... 'dealing' with bad ponies, but you also have to bond and form a connection with all the good ponies, too! Holding court every night is a really good way to show your subjects that you care about them and want to help them with their problems!"
>He stares at you from his position on the floor, contemplating all of this.
"Do you... really think so?"
>"Yes, of course!"
>Finally, you're starting to get through to him.
>"Prince Solaris never, EVER missed court, and always did his absolute best to make sure every pony left happy with their problem solved. Now, that can't always be the case, but he always tried, and that's the important thing."
>You tap your hoof on your chin, thinking of more ways Lunar Eclipse could improve his image with the public.
>"And... ah... Oh! He always attended special events around Equestria, like the Best Young Flier competition in Cloudsdale, or the Running of the Leaves Marathon to show his support and socialize with his ponies!"
>Eclipse rolls his eyes
"That sure doesn't sound like the Solaris that ruled with me a thousand years ago... How am I supposed to participate in things like *that*, let alone help ponies with their problems in court, when they all fear me like death?! I will be shocked if even TWO ponies arrive to partake in my Night Court."
>You tilt your head
>Court attendance couldn't be THAT grim, could it?
>"Well... how many ponies showed up for your last session of court? And how many of their problems did you solve?"
>Lunar Eclipse shrugs
"One pony, and one problem solved."
>You recoil at this, your face scrunching in utter bafflement
>"ONE?! Just one pony?! Are you kidding me?! And you solved their- Oh... OH god... Please, PLEASE tell me you didn't execute them!"
>Eclipse carefully removes your hooves which are now situated on his barrel, and eases back your panicked face away from his.
>He calmly responds.
"Of course not. It was two weeks ago. The request was to bring back the daytime, and after much consideration, I yielded and raised the sun."
>You blink.
>And blink again.
>"Two wee-... The SUN?! That was ME!!"
>A blank look from Artemis.
"Hmm. So it was."
>You're flipping out, here.
>"That wasn't even an actual session of COURT! That was just a desperate PLEA for you to spare all of our lives!!"
>He shrugs again
"Still, it was really the only time someone had made a request of the Crown... Does that not count?"
>The pressure that you're applying to your temples threatens to pose a serious problem to your health.
>But then again, so is this spike in blood pressure you're experiencing.
>"NO! It DOESN'T COUNT! How many times have you held court since then?!"
"Ah..."
>He looks away.
"Zero."
>You're stunned.
>You really are.
>"Alright, that's it, NO MORE DELAYS. You are holding court TONIGHT, and you are going to LISTEN to your ponies' problems, and you are going to FIX as many of them as you can!"
>He raises a hoof and opens his mouth to say something.
>"And before you ask, NO, there will NOT be any executions! You are going to be NICE to your subjects and show them that you are not a scary pony, or so HELP ME GODDESSES ABOVE, I'm gonna be *reaallly* FUCKING pissed!"
>Closing his mouth, his hoof lowers back down, sadly.
>He takes in your angry ranting, mulling it over in his head
>Huh... if any other pony had talked to him like that, he'd probably kill them on the spot.
>Perhaps you get special privileges since he gave you that kiss, or something.
>Finally, he gets that look you've been waiting for.
>That look in his eyes. Determination.
>Straightening himself out, he pulls himself to his hooves and stands tall, renewed with vigour.
"Very well, I shall give it a try. Now quickly! We must hunt down and kill that guard before he misinforms my kingdom that I am cripplingly ill! To the armoury!"
>A voice could be heard clearing his throat behind the king.
>Eclipse turns to meet the awkward gaze of that same guard.
"Uh, sir... I'm still here."
>After a moment, Eclipse 'hmphs' and straightens up his ceremonial armour chestpiece.
"Very well, We shall rescind the order on your life. Now spread the message! Night court shall begin with the changing of the guard in one hour! Tell the castle staff to begin preparations!"
>The Royal Guard gives a salute and runs out of the throne room to his task.
>...Probably very grateful that his king decided not to kill him.
 
>Turning, Lunar Eclipse makes his way over to his throne.
"I'm worried, my dear Dusk Shine... My subjects still fear me. They may be too afraid to seek my assistance."
>As he takes his seat, you decide to follow and sit down on the floor next to him.
>"Don't worry, if you just show them that you can be approachable, they'll come around in time. You need to start proving yourself to them *now*, though! So for tonight, if someone so much as asks if you can run down to the store for them and grab them some smokes, you do it!"
>You give him a solemn point with your hoof for emphasis.
>He still looks pretty anxious, but he takes a deep breath and straightens his form.
"Very well..."
>"Remember, you're all for your ponies! You can do it, I know you can! I'll be right here during the entire thing if you need any help at all."
>You shoot him a reassuring grin.
>He regards you and your smile.
>For a moment, you're worried you may have creeped him out...
>...But his face lights up with his own smile.
>Phew, that's a relief.
>Maybe this wouldn't be the lost cause he was making it out to be.
>But you weren't lying. You really believe he can do this.
 
>Oh gods above, you really, REALLY hope he can do this...