The Princess of the Night looked over her kingdom with a cold gaze, watching the still city of Canterlot in the moonlight. All was quiet under the stars she rose, as it had always been. It was well past midnight, she knew, as it was every night when she became like this. The sun would rise in but hours, yet the night still stirred. What use had she of sleep at a time like this, when life was truly that – Alive? When everything she worked for was on display? Yet, still, not a soul below stirred. All was silent.
She sighed, her grief overtaking her suddenly, as it always did, gripping her heart in its cold embrace. She felt tears needed to be shed grow, yet not a single drop ran down her face. She was unable to cry, even despite that terrible emotion that had held onto her heart all these years, silent and painful. She needed an escape, but where? Where could a Princess go to escape herself?
“Every night now,” she whispered to herself, wishing beyond all hope that she could cry. “Every night, this pain clutches at thy very soul and mind, Luna. Where have you gone wrong? What have you done to deserve this?”
With an anguished, nearly silent cry, the Princess of the Night flared open her wings and began her flight through the silence, already near the breaking point. She flew fast through the clouds. She felt moisture on her face, but knew it was simply raindrops, parts of the clouds that splashed her face – Not her own tears. She had not been able to cry, not since Twilight had brought her home. Not since she had embraced her sister, the same one who had sacrificed the one she loved the most for the general safety of those around her.
Luna flew fast, then slowed, landing by a pool that reflected the silver moon that she had called home for centuries. She gently folded her wings, panting from the exertion of flying this far. She hardly flew any longer. She hardly felt need to. What motivation could spark such an act but her grief, the pain which stole her heart away from her own control?
She lied down in front of the water, watching the shimmering moon in the still glass of the pool. She realized dimly that she had grown tired rather suddenly. She took a deep breath, letting her heart slow and allowing herself time to think. She sighed, realizing how fast everything was happening tonight. It happened every time she felt like this.
There was only one word for it, but she refused to acknowledge it. She refused to admit that the night could be something so saddening, something so painful – But she was. And she was the night. She looked straight up to the moon, her heart aching with this pain, the thing that had held her in its grasp since she had first lashed out – Since her sister had become the leader, the Solar Princess… “Please,” she whispered to the moon. “Please, you have always been my only solace… Speak to me, Moon, make me… P-Please, make me cry… Show me I am still able…”
The moon shone in the sky, lighting up the world around her in an unearthly light. Luna watched it for a long time. The moon couldn’t respond, she knew. It was a solid mass, a cold, unfeeling rock. She had been trapped inside it, just as cold and unfeeling – Yet she was not unfeeling. She was… saddened. She was something she refused to acknowledge the night could be. She simply could not be that. It left no hope for her – For who would share in that feeling with her, to ease her pain?
Her sister could never join her – The sun lit up the night, overpowering it tenfold. Twilight worshipped the sun – Even her namesake leaned toward the sun. The setting sun, the rising moon – A neutral force. All of her subjects had opinions of their own, but were intimidated by both Sun and Moon – Heavenly beings that were far beyond them. Nopony would be at her side – Nopony could heal her ache.
“Please,” she begged, softer this time. “Moon… Anypony…” She bowed her head, wishing she could cry. “Help me.”
The night wore on. The stars shone bright, mocking Luna’s sorrow. The moon hung in the sky, cold and unfeeling, unlike the poor mare it had held in its core for a thousand years. The pool was still, reflecting all it saw. Luna did not see what it reflected, but it continued to reflect all it saw. That was what it did, its purpose in life. It reflected a falling star. It reflected a flying bat. It reflected a beautiful, powerful white alicorn with flaming hair, rainbow in color, fly down and land behind the Lunar Princess.
“Luna,” the alicorn said, worried. “A guard said they saw you head this direction. It is time to raise the sun, but I cannot until you lower the moon.”
“Leave us to our peace, dear sister. We shall lower the moon when ready.”
“I… don’t think you’re at peace, little sister.”
Luna looked at her sister, a small smile on her face. “What do you mean? I’m fine.”
“I know you, Luna. Please, tell me what’s wrong – Why are you so sad?” Celestia lay down next to her sister, concern etched into her face. “You can tell me anything, Lu-Lu,” she said, reverting to her sister’s pet name from so long ago.
Luna looked at her sister, then at the starry sky, her smile dropping from her face. “We… I… I am sad, dear sister.”
“I can tell that much, Lu-Lu. What are you sad about?”
“I am sad… because I have become something I wished to avoid… Something I think the night should never be.”
“And what is that?”
“I…” Luna sniffed, trying to say the words, trying to put to voice 1000 years of inner turmoil and pain and distraught – And suddenly, all of her emotions burst forth like a dam. Tears welled up in previously dry eyes, and the Lunar Princess wept. “I-I’m s-so lonely, dear sister! T-the night is solitary – There are none to love it the way it needs, and yet it lasts on and on. I-it doesn’t need anypony, a-and neither should I! I am not fit for this role, I-I am not fit for my crown! I-I am in pain, d-d-dear sister, t-trying to keep up this façade! I cannot, c-cannot go on in my lonliness!” With that, the Lunar Princess sobbed, her face falling into her hooves.
Celestia felt a pang of sympathy for her sister, sighing. Opening her wings, she covered her sister in her own soft feathers. Luna glanced at her, her face stained with tears. “There now,” Celestia said softly, her voice gentle as the summer breeze. “It feels better to cry, doesn’t it?” Luna nodded, 1000 years worth of tears streaming down her face. “It is true that the night is often dark. However, while the night as a singular entity may be alone sometimes, it’s many intricacies are just that – many.”
Luna looked at her sister, bewildered. “W-what do y-you mean, Tia,” she said, sniffing. She realized she was being un-princess like, but it didn’t matter to Tia, so it didn’t matter to her.
“Take the stars, for instance.” Celestia looked up. Luna followed her gaze. Above them, millions of stars twinkled softly, littering the night sky with their dull glows. “Each star is a single entity – Alone. Yet, there are millions of them in the night sky – a single entity with a million complexities. And the night sky then becomes the day sky.” Tia turned to her little sister. “We are the same, dear sister. My sky is your sky – Your stars still shine, even in the most overpowering sun.”
Luna sniffed, looking at her older sister. “But… I’m still so alone, Tia… I-I have nopony… I just stay in my tower all day, wishing something, ANYTHING would happen… For the longest time, I’ve just wanted to cry.”
“And now, I’m here.” Celestia nudged her sister’s head, nuzzling it slightly. “Do you not think I do not get lonely either?”
“You are so popular with the subjects, Tia. Everypony loves a beautiful summers day.”
“Oh, yes, they love the sun. Then complain when it burns their crops or is too hot, or even too bright. I am the figure head of the sun, and therefore, it’s all my fault.” She sighed. “Nopony seems to care for me but for my power – Twilight is in awe, not in friendship of me.” Celestia looked her sister dead in the eyes. “Perhaps we can counter this loneliness together, hmm?”
Luna smiled, seeing tears in her sister’s eyes as well. Somehow, her gentle kindness fixed everything. Just one pony managed to quell her doubts, fears – All her pain melted away with a single word – Together. She nodded, cuddling up to her sister. She cried still, but she was glad she did. The tears needed to be shed.
Together, Night and Day lowered the moon and made way for the sun. And Night and Day, the Sun and Moon, smiled back at each other.
Author's Note
HAVE FUN :3 First One-Shot
