Luna: Sishteh, khan hou ehpwain- Urgh! *spits it out* Sister, can you explain to me what is the idea behind this?

Celestia: Simple Luna. This, is a representation of the sun and the moon on the same sphere. Or figuratively the balance between my day and your night.

L: I see. But why not asking for an artisan for doing all the work? It would had a much proper appearance in front of our ponies. This look so... inappropriate for us...

C: Are you insinuating that I can't do a proper job of painting?

L: Well, not as gifted as that pony who made my latest portrait, I can say. And I'm far to be as gifted as well...

C: Luna. This was not made to be exposed into a museum of art or into display into the throne room.

L: No? Somehow I'm glad about it.

C: I asked you to help me into its making because I care for you little sister.

L: Uh... I'm not following. I don't see the relation between making this and you caring for me.

C: *giggle* Oh Luna. We made so few things together. Simple things. Like this art project.

L: So, this is a collaboration project so we could do something together? As sister?

C: That's correct.

L: Why you didn't say so? I would have took art classes, made practices and read books about-

C: No Luna.

L: Huh?

C: This would have took of our free times and you know how few they are. Furthermore, I wanted to see how skilled you actually were. Beside, wouldn't that been cheating?

L: What do you by cheating? More like an advantage... B-but you got so much more time for practising and improve that I ever had.

C: That, I'm afraid, is not true.

Celestia continued to paint while Luna kept her gaze at her, a perplexed look on her face.

C: I got more free time since your return that I ever had in the last centuries. I had to take care of both our duties after all.

L: S-sister?

C: And the regrets and sorrow of your banishment gave me dark thoughts whom had influence me to paint only dark and sad painting over the time. Some I may classified as... creepy. I hid them away from the public eyes for that matter. I... I was afraid that they would have put our ponies in the worry of their princess' mind...

L: Tia. This is the past. I am here now. Stop thinking about it.

C: I know Luna. Your presence... brought the light that swept away those thoughts.

L: Strange thing to say about the princess of the night. Mostly from the one who brings the light.

C: *chuckle* True. But I was sincere, little sister.

They both looked at each other with a smile.

L: Is it me or you put more yellow than my white?

C: Well, the sun is much bigger that your moon.

L: *groan* Again with this? Isn't this supposed to represent harmony.... balance.... equilibrium?

C: Yes, it is. You are right. I will leave the remaining blank for you.

L: Thank you. May I ask you something?

C: Is it about the paintings I made over the years? *Luna nodded* I burned them.

L: What?

C: Believe me if I tell you some gave nightmares to several ponies.

L: You... you put them on display?

C: I had not choice. My consultant recommend me to put them in the Canterlot Museum. It was... short lived.

L: How come?

C: Did I just mentioned that they gave nightmares to ponies? And, most particularly one I painted when I was depressed.

L: What did you paint that gave them fright?

C: Umm. I-I don't want to say...

L: Tia! Sister! Stop it! You piqued my curiosity at its highest point... I beg of you... tell me!

Celestia put her brush on the ground.

L: Please!!! Show me.

She took a deep breath.

C: All right.

Her horn glowed and at a portion of the wall pivoted, right where a painting was held, to reveal the secret painting, covered with a velour sheet. Celestia stayed sit while the younger alicorn stood and trotted and stood in front of the covered painting. She looked back at her sister, silently asking if she could remove it, answered by a simple nod. Luna's horn glowed a royal blue and remove the sheet slowly, carefully to reveal to her immortal eyes the artwork of the princess of the sun. Shock. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped... while Celestia looked away.

L: Is... is it..... is it what I thinking it is?

C: Y-yes.

Luna looked at her sister.

L: T-tia? T-they really were afraid of this to happen? It-it really put them in a fright to give them nightmares?

Celestia simply nodded, but tears began to rolled down her eyes. Luna couldn't put her eyes away from the painting without her lower lips trembling. She couldn't hold it anymore and galloped to her sister, her own eyes watering and took her in a tight embrace. She wailed while putting her head against her sister's neck. The white alicorn simply hold her while her own tears fell.

C: I-I guess we should take a break for now. I-if you don't mind...

Luna couldn't answer and was simply crying.

C: I guess you do.

Celestia's horn glowed again and, on the wall, a painting representing her and Luna, as Nightmare Moon, side by side, smiling, happy and ruling Equestria stronger that they ever did... returned in its secret compartment, out of ponies' eyes.



I hoped you enjoyed this little story. I prefer Luna's actual appearance, but I can't deny how cuter was her former self. Wonderful work.