The Night Is Ours - Chapter 1

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.