A Much Needed Visit
Lunar stood out on the balcony connecting to the bedroom where both he and Celestia slept. Luna had already started to raise the moon and it was now time for him to awaken the stars. With the magic glowing from his horn, one by one the star burst to life and begin to twinkle in the velvety night sky. When all was said and done and he was happy that every star was in their place, he leapt from the bedroom balcony and into the cool night air.
The chilly winds rushed past him as he fell but soon he opened his large wings and took to flight. Upon his back was a single saddle bag, it's contents only known to the stallion in question. He flew through the cool night air, using the currents to give him speed as she flew from his mountain home of Canterlot and down in the valley where his friends resided. But silent town was not to be his stop, no, where he was headed was much further away.
Beating his wings to gain more speed he flew past the slumbering town and over the eastern entrance the the Everfree Forest. It may have been a dangerous place for the common pony but to a stallion like Lunar it was a place full of memories. Memories of long ago and lost to the passage of time. But again he did not stop there. Instead her continued on till a familiar ruin appeared on the horizon.
The ancient castle where once he called home as a young colt lay in disarray. Wall had fallen away leaving portions of the old castle's interior at the mercy of the Everfree's bizarre weather patterns. It was here that the stallion made his decent. It would not have taken him long to touch ground since the fall from the mountain had left him just shy of the tree tops. His hooves lightly touch upon the old stone walk ways of his youth and he looked about himself. "So much has changed."
Lunar did not enter the castle no, it was not where he intended to be yet the castle old cemetery, that was where he was headed. He made his way past the old and now rusted wrought iron gates. The metal was fragile given it had weathered centuries without repair. Walking past the many crumbling stones the signified graves, he walked up an shallow hill where rested two stones. The name carved on them barely visible that to the erosion of rain and the tangling vines of a nearby bush that grew all over them.
The stallion turned his head and with his muzzle, reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a few lotus blossoms and set them in front of both headstones. He smiled softly and the moon dance off his silvery mane. "Hey guys, I am sorry I have not stopped by sooner. I am sure you know how it is, running a kingdom isn't easy." He chuckled. "Who would have thought, me a prince of Equestria. I know I didn't...but somehow I think you did. You seemed to know everything there was to know about Equestria when I was a kid. I am sure I was quite the hooffull." He sighed softly. "Still I am sorry it took me so long to come and see you both. I mean I started guardspony training back then and I really wanted to prove to you guys that I was strong enough to protect those I cared about and I did just that." He too a deep breath and continued.
"I fought long and hard for Equestria and her ponies when the panther scourge came. I fought them and drove them back to their home in the north but that was not enough. I had to make sure that they could never again harm another creature as they had when they washed over the griffon kingdom. So we combined our armies and in a final battle, destroyed them. In the end however I gave my life to protect the mare I loved. That was the main reason I was not here for all those years. I thought I would have joined you both in the Elysian Fields, but I was wrong. I was reborn to a new life somewhere among the stars, a place called Earth. I lived on that world for twenty five years until King Evening Star found me and brought me back to Equestria. I had no idea that the king and queen were capable of such a thing but I guess... that is a moot point now."
"I... met her... my real mother I mean. She is beautiful but... not so much then you were." He lets out a nervous chuckle. "Still she comes by to see the little ones..." He smiles. "Can you believe it? Little Star having little ones of his own. Silver Snow and Midnight Sun, filly and colt. Luna was ecstatic when we told her Celestia was pregnant with Silver. You would love them to pieces mom, especially Midnight. He's turned out to be just like his father, head strong and reckless. Always jumping into situations just to try and prove to himself that he is not scared. Silver, oh. She has the colts chasing after like bears to honey."
Lunar slowly closed his eyes, squeezing out the few tears that threatened to make him loose his composure. "I miss you guys. When I first came back to Equstria I couldn't remember anything of my life here and now that my memories have returned, all the feelings and the emptiness that I felt when I lost the two of you came with them. Even though its been over fifteen hundred years since I lost you I still wished there was something I could have done to save you two but... I know that no matter what I couldn't. I was still young and my magic was not as refined as it is now. I would have asked Celestia if there was a way to move you two to Canterlot Royal Cemetery but I don't think you would have wanted that since this was the area where the two of you were born. Still...."
"Lunar..."
The stallion turned his head only to be met with the visage of Luna at the bottom of the hill. "We thought to find you here." The stallion smiled and shook his head.
"Am I THAT predicable?"
"No, but from what sister has told us it is the anniversary of your mother and father's death." The stallion nodded his head and turned to look at the headstone as Luna slowly joined him. "We were just a foal when they were taken from you but sister said they loved you deeply."
"And I loved them as well Luna. When I was left at their door I was but a foal. They didn't have to take me in but they did and I will always and forever be grateful for that. I just wished they could have seen the stallion I would become." Luna place a gentle hoof to his shoulder.
"They see Lunar, just as mother and father are always watching us, so are they and we have no doubt that they are very proud of how you have grown up."
"I hope so Luna, I would hate to disappoint them."
"Enough Lunar. Nothing you have ever done could possibly disappoint them. You helped bring back peace to Equestria, stopped a rouge tyrant from gaining dominion over her ponies. If anything they would be bursting with pride for the things you have done." Lunar smiled. "You are right Luna. As long as I tread this path and not falter from it I will always do them proud."
"Now come. T'is nearly the midnight hour and we are certain you have a long day tomorrow along with Celestia." The stallion again nodded.
"One more thing Luna." The dark mare was already at the bottom of the hill when the stallion turned and stood before the two headstones. His horn lit up and covered both in his magic. The vines disappeared and the weathering gone. The words appeared once more as if they were just recently carved. The stones were restored to their once pristine condition before he smiled and turned back to walk down the hill and out of the cemetery with Luna by his side. Upon the headstones were two name that will forever remain with the stallion for the rest of his days.
Andromeda and Night Hawk.