Chapter Text
“Are you sure about this, Prince Artemis?”
That was the first thought from Midnight Vesper’s mouth after being explained the plan. What plan you may ask? The plan for this year's Festival of the Two Brothers. A new event brought forth by Prince Dusk Shine in commemoration of the two brothers reuniting to rule Equestria. This event takes the place of the previous holiday, the Summer Sun Celebration.
This would only be the second celebration of the event since Prince Artemis’ return from banishment. And to hear such a bizarre plan in regards to such an important day, Midnight had to double-check her mentor.
“Yes, Midnight. I believe the event will go splendidly if you were to oversee the preparations. My brother and I are far too busy with other business concerning the Crystal Empire to plan ourselves. Not to mention, Prince Dusk Shine would have a conniption if he knew we were to plan our own celebration.” Prince Artemis sat in his personal observatory, looking through numerous scrolls scattered across his dark oak desk. He spoke with confidence, but never once looked away from the scrolls as he spoke to Midnight Song.
“You have been my apprentice since shortly after the return of the Crystal Empire. I have faith that you are quite capable of overseeing this event.”
Midnight sighed from her spot sat in front of the prince’s desk, looking from her hooves to the royal. “I’m not worried about my capability. I’m worried about what will be left here in my absence. Who will overlook the night staff if I am not present? We’ve already established that Prince Solaris’ workers are not capable of such. Remember what happened last time I was gone from the castle?”
That caused a pause from Artemis. The prince pulled the parchment he was hovering in front of his face away with his magical blue aura. The smirk on his face gave Midnight her answer.
“Yes, I remember. In my brother’s defense, he talked up his staff quite a bit as capable. I suppose the switching of timetables was expected to cause a problem.”
Midnight Vesper’s face immediately went deadpan. “I do not appreciate you downplaying how horrible that was. To return to the castle and see important tapestries in ashes because some pony thought it appropriate to hang them while dragons were present in the castle was horrid. I spent 2 two weeks learning a reconstruction spell because no pony in Cantorlot could restore them!” The emphasis on the word dragons made Artemis cover his mouth with his hoof to prevent laughter from spilling. The scroll in the hold of his magic was set gently on the desk, the aura around it fading. The prince faced the unicorn to smirk in her direction.
“Can we really fault a pony for wanting to show our history to our new treaty holders?” The inquiry made Midnight roll her eyes before setting her face in a pout, grumbling a response as she looked off to the side. “You can when they don’t bother placing a simple protection spell on said priceless history that could have prevented the whole mess…”
A soft smile overtook the smirk on the Prince’s face. He sighed fondly as he moved his head to face downward. With a shake of his head, smiling all the while, Prince Artemis stood from behind his desk. He walked to the other side where Midnight sat before gesturing with his head for the young mare to stand. “Walk with me, Midnight Vesper.” The dark stallion then walked toward the large wooden double doors on the opposite side of the observatory, passing many bookshelves lined with night-themed artifacts. A fireplace sat to the right side of the room, glowing warmly to provide heat and a soft glow. A very large telescope poked out of the ceiling to observe the night sky on the left.
Midnight quickly stood to follow her mentor. Once she was beside him, Prince Artemis walked out the double doors, holding them open with his magic. Midnight followed suit, allowing the two ponies to walk side by side in the dark castle halls.
The halls they walked were only lit by candles and soft moonlight, allowing dark shadows to spread across the grand floor and walls. The large windows allowed for a grand view of the waxing crescent moon. An indication of just how close the festival was.
Silence persisted between teacher and student, only the sound of their soft hoof falls could be heard. They walked for a long while, down winding corridors and up a long set of stairs heading toward the balconies of the castle. Once on the balconies, Prince Artemis directed them toward a set of grand doors located on the West side of the castle.
The doors were not of wood. Instead, they seemed to be of a dark crystal. Dark blue with speckles of white, as if stars were shining from within the stone itself. Engravings in gold depicted a picture of a waning crescent moon on the left door and the bust of a unicorn facing the moon phase on the right.
Now standing in front of the opulent doors, Artemis turned from facing the doors to looking slightly down to his left to view Midnight. The younger unicorn in turn looked to her teacher.
“I have gotten to know you quite well in these years, Midnight. I know that you wish to stay in your set ways. But change is coming. For all of us.” Artemis spoke in a soft baritone, his voice carrying a great deal of tenderness as he gazed at his student. “With this assignment, I want you to embrace this change.”
Artemis leaned down his neck and gently placed his horn tip to tip with Midnight’s. A deep blue glow emitted from his horn. With a slight widening of her eyes at the contact, Midnight’s magic started to glow. Her soft sky-blue magic glowed to match the shade of her eyes. The two magics combined in a soft white light where the two horns met.
“One night, these doors will open for you, Midnight Vesper. When that time comes, you will be ready for the next step in your apprenticeship as my student. But until then, I ask that you look a little further than what you see right before you. Look to the future. Look to the moon and stars to guide you to who you wish to be.”
With soft eyes, Artemis observed his student as she thought. He practically sees the thoughts bouncing around in the mare’s mind. Her eyes spoke a thousand words at that moment. Her eyes finally focused again on Artemis before speaking. Her voice was just barely above a whisper and shaking with emotion.
“What if I’m not ready..? What if the change you speak of is for the worst? How can I trust the moon and stars to guide me on the right path?” She looked into her mentor’s gaze for guidance. With a gentle smile playing upon his lips, the prince of night closed his eyes and spoke.
“The path the stars choose for us may not always feel right in the moment. I ask that you trust in the path I have placed for you. Trust that the end of that path will be the right one.”