Of the Sun and Moonby TheTrueDragoonChaptersFear of the DarkMoon RisePierced HeartMoonlit ShadowFear of the DarkLuna cast a giddy gaze about the room she sat in and gave a gleeful giggle. She could still hardly believe that she had finally managed to get her own room. All of her pleading and begging along with Celestia’s support had finally paid off. This was her room. She would prove that she was grown up enough to start having her own stuff. And perhaps this would help her earn her cutie mark. As the day drew to a close, she put away her toys and climbed into bed, peering out her window as the moon rose into the sky. She watched with fascination as an eager smile traced its way across her face. One day, she would be the pony to raise the moon. She eased herself under the covers as the lights dimmed and the night began. Her first night all by herself was about to begin. Several minutes passed as Luna waited for sleep to overtake her yet unease stirred about in her mind and sleep kept its distance. She rolled onto her side and held her position for several more minutes before shifting to the other side. After almost an hour of tossing and turning, Luna opened her eyes wide and gave a soft groan of frustration. She had always been good at getting to sleep so why was it so hard tonight? Perhaps it was her being unused to being alone that had her uneasy. She had always had Celestia close by to keep her racing mind at ease, but not this night. Not for a big filly like Luna. Several more sleepless minutes passed as the young filly awaited the dreams that she often had. But the dreams were held back as a soft moaning sound echoed through the night. Luna’s eyes shot open and she peered about the darkened room. The room seemed to stare back as black shadows hung in the dark. Luna gave a worried giggle of false bravery, dismissing the moan as her imagination before rolling over and tugging the covers over her head. She was going to do this. She was going to sleep in her room all by herself. She was a big filly after all. Another moaning sound sent a chill down her spine as a soft tapping rang from her window. Despite her building fear, Luna refused to look and held a stuffed pony close. She could do this. She just had to fall asleep and she could see those wonderful dreams she always had. All of this would go away. “I am a big filly,” she told herself. “I can do this. Just fall asleep.” Despite her stated confidence the moaning echoed once more as the tapping continued. She peered out from under the covers at the numerous shadows that surrounded her. Eyes seemed to stare back at her from the various blackened shapes that lined the walls. One such shape towered over the rest as it wavered back and forth. Luna pulled the covers over her muzzle yet could go no further. Her heart began to pound against her chest and her breathing became ragged. No matter what, she could not look away from those frightening shapes. She tried to remind herself that she was a big filly despite the gentle whimper that escaped her mouth and the tears that built in her eyes. Finally, a loud bang resounded in the dark room as something hit the window. The force shook the glass and the frame and caused Luna to jump nearly four hooves off her bed. She gave a high pitched squeal of terror as she charged passed the dark shadows, tears streaming down her face. “Tia! Tia! Tia!” she shouted as she bolted down the hall to Celestia’s room. “Tia, Tia, Tia, Tia!” The darkened hall only served to exasperate her fear as she ran for safety from whatever it was that was after her. Her shouting became mumbled as she cried and her vision began to blur as tears flooded her eyes. Then she saw Celestia’s room, her haven of safety. She slowed to a halt and quickly but gently rapped on the door, struggling to suppress her crying. She trotted in place and glanced back to see if the terror was still behind her as she awaited an answer. Fear held her in a tight vice grip as panic pushed her to gently open the door. “T-Tia?” she said amidst a soft blubber. “Tia, are you awake?” “Lu-lu?” Celestia said, muffled by her grogginess and the covers that sat over her face. “What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” Luna shifted in agitation, wanting to quickly move in and flee the chasing demons. “Umm…Tia? Can…Can I sleep with you? J-Just for tonight. P-Please?” She wiped her tears from her eyes and tried to look as brave as she could, hoping and pleading internally that her big sister would accept. Celestia rubbed her eyes and pushed the covers off her face. “What’s wrong Lulu? I thought you wanted to sleep by yourself in your own room.” Luna shifted in both embarrassment and panic as she peered back for a moment at the dark hallway. The black shadows held their position, chanting and waiting for the little filly to return. “Umm…T-Tia…I-I am scared of the dark!” she said, spilling her fears and letting her tears fill her eyes and spill down her face once more as she begged. “Please Tia. Please let me sleep with you tonight. I am really scared Tia. Please.” To her relief, Celestia gave a gentle smile and scooted to the side, moving the covers to offer an empty space of safety and protection. “Of course Lulu.” Luna’s eyes grew wide at her sister’s acceptance and she nearly slammed the door behind her before bolting to the bed, sliding on top and shifting as close to Celestia as possible. Already, her fear and panic began to fade as she felt the warm body of her big sister. She closed her eyes and let the feeling of safety overtake her. Her frown of sorrow eased into a gentle smile as she curled into a tight ball. She wiped her tears from her eyes once more. “Thank you Tia.” “Of course Lulu,” Celestia said as she pulled the covers over Luna, blanketing her with the safety only she could provide. Luna’s racing heart slowed and eased into a gentle rhythmic beating as her erratic breathing grew soft and smooth. She felt Celestia place a wing over her, providing even more protection. Luna was a big filly, but tonight, she was just Celestia’s little sister. There was always tomorrow night to be big and brave. “I’ll always be here for you Lulu. Don’t ever forget that.” Just before sleep overtook young Luna, she said one last thing before she went to those wonderful dreams. “I love you Tia.” Celestia shuffled closed and pulled Luna in tight. “I love you too.” Moon RiseThe low tone of the ticking grandfather clock echoed through the hall as Luna watched to pendulum gently sway back and forth. She peered up at the face to see the time. She was still learning how to read the clock but knew that the moment the bell sounded seven times it would be time to change the day to night. Her anticipation grew as the clock ticked and the long arm inched further on its journey around the face. She itched and fidgeted in excitement, eagerly awaiting the tones of time. Tonight would be more special than any other. Tonight, she would raise the moon all by herself. Finally, the long hand reached the top of the clock face, completing another cycle on its endless journey. A gleeful smile stretched across Luna’s face as the bell echoed through the hall. The little filly counted the tones and leaped for joy as she reached seven. It was time. Tonight she would raise the moon by herself without any help. Tonight she would earn her cutie mark and prove she was ready to be the princess of the night. “Tia! Tia! It is time! Tia!” she shouted as she ran through hall to find her older sister. She skidded to a halt just before plowing into the white alicorn who only gave a soft giggle at the sight of her excited sister. “Slow down Luna or you’ll hurt yourself,” Celestia said as she reached out a hoof to help Luna up. Yet Luna stood on her own and instead used her magic to grab her sister’s outstretched hoof and begin tugging her. “Come Celestia. It is time to begin the night. Hurry!” “Okay Luna, slow down,” Celestia said as Luna moved behind her and began pushing her forward. “Calm down. Why are you so excited tonight? It’s just another night.” “No!” shouted Luna, still pushing her sister towards the door to the castle garden. “It is not just another night. This one will be special.” “And why is that?” “Because tonight, I am going to raise the moon all by myself and even earn my cutie mark.” “Well, okay,” Celestia said just before taking off down the hall. “Race you!” Luna fell forward and plopped into the floor. When she looked up, all she could see was her sister running away laughing. “Tia, wait!” she cried as she ran in place before gaining traction and chased after Celestia. The two fillies ran through the castle laughing the whole way. Luna pushed her little legs harder to catch up to her sister and even used her wings to give herself as much momentum as possible. Finally, she passed Celestia and burst through the doorway into the garden, screaming in glee. She bounded around as she giggled and cheered. “I win! I win!” she gasped. “Okay Lulu, you win,” said Celestia who was walking slowly through the garden, admiring the flowers. “Wait,” Luna said, stopping her celebration. “You let me win again did you not?” “What makes you say that?” “Tia!” Celestia giggled as her sister huffed and stomped in frustration. The little filly plopped onto the ground, crossed her front legs and pouted. “You always let me win. You never let me do anything on my own.” “That’s not true,” said Celestia as she tried to stroke Luna’s short mane. The little filly instead huffed and brushed the hoof away. “Come now. What about the moon? You’re going to raise it on your own right? We should hurry before we are late again.” Luna quickly stood in excitement, having all but forgotten her current frustration. “Oh, oh, oh. You are right.” The moved to their usual place in the garden, a spot which gave them an uninterrupted view of the sky, and got ready. Celestia took her stance first, charging her horn with her magic. The sun gently moved through the sky and slowly sank behind the horizon leaving a glowing orange hue in its wake. The sky glowed with the warm orange before shifting into a cool blue. One by one, the stars began to wink into existence and fill the sky with a shimmering glow. Luna’s eyes were wide with wonder at the many shapes and figures that the stars made in the dark blue sky. The little princess shook her head to get her focus and took her own stance, charging her horn with her own magic. She focused hard on everything she had learned and all the practice she had had. Her tongue poked out of the side of her mouth as she concentrated. Yet for all her focus, practice, and determination, the moon would not rise. She focused harder, pushed out more magic, but still nothing happened. Frustration and sorrow built up inside as time ticked by. “Come now. Rise!” she said in her struggle. “Would you like a little help?” Celestia asked after a few minutes. “NO!” Luna shouted, fighting back tears of frustration. “I do not require help. I…I can do this. Do not look! You are making me nervous, that is all.” Celestia sighed and turned around to let her sister concentrate. Yet time ticked on but the moon remained in its place below the horizon. After another minute, Luna’s soft voice called. “Um…Tia,” the filly said, shifting in agitation and stared about the ground. “Yes Luna?” “Um…I believe I could use just an intsy, tiny bit of help. J-Just for tonight that is.” Luna kept her eyes averted as she continued to shift and fidget. The thought of asking for help when she was so confident burned in her mind and a small tear glistened in the corner of her eye. Celestia smiled and walked over to her sister before placing a hoof around her neck. “Of course Luna.” The two sisters returned to their spot and Luna took her stance once more. She could do this with Celestia’s help, but the thought still burned in her mind. She had been so confident before but now the thought left her lowly. She brought back her determination and stood ready as she charged her magic again. If she could not raise the moon by herself and earn her cutie mark tonight, she would do it tomorrow night. She had to. She calmed her mind and thought back to her teachings. Be gentle. Call to the moon as though calling a small, shy animal. Her magic flowed through her body as a gentle light began to be cast across the garden. She looked up to watch as the moon gently peeked out from below the horizon and slowly made its way to its spot in the night sky. An uneasy smile crossed Luna’s face at the sight of the silver disc in the sky. She turned to Celestia who had a large smile on her face. “Thank you Tia.” “Well, I actually didn’t do anything.” Luna’s face contorted in confusion. “What do you mean? Did you not help me raise the moon?” “Actually, you started before I was ready and so I watched. You really raised the moon all by yourself.” Luna’s eyes went wide at this thought before shifting to skepticism. “How do I know you did nothing?” Celestia peered passed Luna and pointed. “Just look at your flank.” Luna turned to look and her eyes went wide once more. On her flank was a black spot like the night sky with a crescent moon placed upon it. It was her cutie mark. She had done it. She had raised the moon all by herself and earned her cutie mark. She charged Celestia in glee and grabbed her sister in as strong of a hug as she could muster. “Thank you Celestia! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “What do you mean?” Celestia asked, trying to free herself from her sister’s grasp. “You raised the moon by yourself.” “But you gave me the confidence to do it. I knew I could do it with you here. I still could not have done it without you.” Celestia smiled and returned her sister’s hug. “You’re welcome.” “We will always be together, right Tia?” “Of course Luna.” “I love you.” “I love you too.” Pierced HeartHigh in the night sky, the moon cast its silver glow upon the world below. Arrayed with the numerous twinkling stars, it sat as a beautiful watcher and gentle light for all who would be below. On a small balcony of the stone castle below, Princess Luna stared up at her charge and the stars that surrounded it. Above, the moon was constantly surrounded by other dots of light. It had its place below the horizon where it would retire for the day before being rejoined by those white dots for another night. Yet Luna sat upon the balcony alone. She stared out at the distant towns and cities of ponies and watched as all but a few lights winked out of existence as the inhabitants settled in for the night. Soon, the land was dark, lit only by the light of the moon and stars. All around was quiet and still Luna stood alone on the balcony, again. Once again, she would spend another lonely night watching over the many ponies of the land she and her sister were charged with. She gave a sigh as she hung her head before spreading her wings and taking flight. Perhaps a patrol of the night would help clear her head and ease her mind. She stopped for but a moment and looked back at the castle wondering if Celestia would spend a night with her. Her sister had spent a few nights watching the land with her before during their early reign but the lack of sleep had taken a heavy toll on the elder sister. But would just one night hurt? Putting the thought out of her mind, Luna resumed her patrol. She peered down at the many habitations of pony and animal alike. Each was quiet as the inhabitants slept save for the nocturnal creatures. She descended to listen to the song of the owls and crickets echo through the night. She watched as a few small creatures scurried through the grass into hiding spaces. While she did enjoy listening to the sounds of the night and watch the night animals it did little to ease the loneliness she felt. After some time of wandering Luna found herself in a small village. The homes were dark and all was quiet save for the soft sounds of the night. The bare streets and darkened homes gave the village an air of abandonment. Luna had watched during the waning hours of her watch before as the towns came to life during the day. The doors opening and ponies filling the streets or rushing to their farms. But at night, it often gave the appearance that all had vanished. The thoughts of loneliness filled the princess with dread and she quickly took to the sky once more to flee the lifeless village. While the routine of watching the land had become monotonous, the true toll was the loneliness. The endless hours of silence and stillness that gave the whole land a sense of being dead rather than being asleep. Not even the occasional monsters provided the needed distraction of the weight of the night. If only there was even one pony awake at night to fill the void. After some time of flying, a small shadow in the moonlight caught Luna’s eye. She peered down to see a shape similar to that of a pony wandering the road alone. Two thoughts raced through her mind at the sighting. An enemy spy from another land? Perhaps a changeling. Or was it maybe the company she desired? She dove and landed before the wanderer to find a dull green stallion with an orange mane who jumped with fear at the sudden appearance of the princess. Luna pondered for just a second to discern his identity to see a lost citizen of the land. “Citizen!” she exclaimed, using her practiced royal voice. “Art thou lost? Doth thou require aid to traverse the land tonight?” The stallion stayed silent as he simply stared at Luna as though he had awoken to a nightmare. His body quivered a shook and his legs began to buckle underneath. Luna lowered her tone in an attempt to ease his fear. “I see the night has left thou frightened. Fear not! Thy princess shall escort you-” “Get away from me!” Luna stood in shock at the response. Normally, upon even seeing either princess a pony would bow or give some sort of courtesy to the royalty. But to have one not only interrupt but demand that she leave, Luna could hardly understand. “But…Your princess is here to aid you-” “GO AWAY!!! LEAVE ME ALONE YOU MONSTER!!!” Luna froze at the final word. Here noble demeanor and air of power she held fell and shattered. Not only had this pony disrespected her position, he had wounded her own heart. No pony had ever spoken to her in this manner, not even Celestia in jest. “B-But…Mon…You cannot-” The stallion said nothing more but turned and ran at top speed, leaving Luna to ponder about what had just happened. No answer came. She simply watched the stallion run until he was out of sight. The mighty and proud princess of the night dissolved into a small scared filly. She understood being frightened by things she did not understand, but to be the thing that scared others… Could she really be seen as a monster? Why? Was it their position as princesses? The sisters did not rule with might or fear to appear as tyrants. Was it their appearance? Surely being slightly taller than the average pony or having both horn and wings could not make them that frightening. Was it the night and the shadows? As a filly, she had been frightened of the dark and seen things appear more terrifying in the dark than they did in the light. Perhaps the pony had simply been afraid of what the night concealed. But what if it was one of the other options, or something more? Luna steeled herself and took to the sky. She needed to return to the castle and speak with Celestia. She would have the answer, she always did. Luna soared across the night sky hardly noticing how fast she was flying. A mix of anger, sorrow, and confusion drove her to seek her sister’s council at any cost. She watched as the sky began to slowly bleed orange as Celestia was already raising the sun. Seconds later, Luna landed on the balcony with a slight thud before skidding to a halt. She turned to her sister gasping for breath as she tried to speak. “Sis..ter…must…speak…now.” “Luna calm down. Slow down and catch your breath. What’s wrong?” Luna took several deep breaths to calm herself, taking note of her sister’s worried expression. “The kingdom is fine, I simply wish to speak with you. Forgive me for appearing so urgent.” Celestia waited patiently as Luna tried to ease her racing heart. Yet the more she relaxed, the more she recalled every detail of the night’s encounter. The terror filled eyes fearful face was burned in her mind. That word he had said echoed in her ears. Her body began to tremble as that moment repeated itself. Luna took a final deep breath and pulled the veil of calm over her wounded demeanor. “Sister. Have you ever been called a monster?” Luna winced slightly at the question and the word that still echoed in her ears. She kept her mask of control as she moved to lower the moon. “Of course not Luna. Why would you ask that? No pony has desired harm of me. There is nothing-” “I do not worry for you sister!” Luna cringed at her own tone and kept her face turned. She could practically feel Celestia cringe as well. She wiped a small tear from her eye before apologizing. “Forgive me. It is not you who I am worried for. It is me. Last night, a stallion was wandering the night and I offered to aid him. But he demanded I leave and…and…he called me a monster.” She squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears but she betrayed her emotions with a loud sniff. She quickly turned to Celestia. “Why did he call me a monster?! I am supposed to be the guardian of the night! I am supposed to protect them from the monsters! If you have not heard such things then what makes me the monster?! Tell me sister! TELL ME!!!” Luna flung herself onto Celestia, wrapping her forelegs around her sister and weeping loudly into her soft pink mane. Her heart felt torn and her emotions felt like a storm within her. Anger, sadness, regret, fear. How was she supposed to feel? Celestia wrapped a hoof around her distraught sister. “Luna do not worry. He was probably scared of the night and let his fear get the best of him. There is nothing to worry about. Go rest now. All will be better tonight.” Luna felt Celestia’s hoof retreat as her sister prompted her to retire for the day. Yet the hole in Luna’s heart remained. Certainly the stallion could have simply been afraid of the night’s shadows and allowed his imagination to get the best of him, as Luna had as a filly. But it was Celetia’s comfort that felt hollow. As though she viewed the whole incident as a simple misunderstanding. Was it? Did she really get so upset over something so simple? She got her confirmation at their ritual parting. “I love you Celestia,” said Luna, waiting to see that loving and comforting smile. “I love you too.” Celestia never looked back. Moonlit ShadowAlone. That was how Luna spent every night now. Alone with naught but the darkness to surround her and the silence to speak to her. The moon and stars watched over her but they were so distant. Always watching and nothing more. The night was so cold and empty and Luna sat as a ruler of nothing. She looked around the throne room of the castle she and Celestia had built. The surrounding grey of the stone made the room so dull at night. And the use of stone made it cold and emotionless. The tapestries that draped from the walls and ceilings showed the distance that had formed between her and her sister. Those for Luna on one side and those for Celestia on the other. Division. Even her sister’s throne was empty and abandoned. Once, she loved this castle. Now, she hated it. And she was steadily starting to hate more. Luna descended from her throne to begin wandering the castle, hoping to ease her mind. Yet each turn, each hall, each room, was as empty as the last. All of the trap doors and secret passageways and other silly designs were that of a filly’s mind. The simple gags to liven up the life of being a princess only served to show her what a fool she had been. The sisters had wanted to be guardians of the land, not the rulers. They wanted friends, not subjects. But time had changed all of that. So much had changed in their lives and the inhabitants had regarded the sisters more as rulers now than ever before. With each new change, the isolation grew. No friends to ease her loneliness. The ponies raising them up higher and higher, and away from them. Her sister becoming more distant as the duties of being princess called for more attention. And the ever present isolation at night as all but Luna slept under the watchful eyes of the moon. Each thought reminded her of the growing isolation and tore at her heart. She could feel the void that hung in the hole of her heart. It drained her joy, making her feel as cold as the stone that surrounded her. All she was left with was her frustration and anger. She thought back to the days of her fillyhood. The days when she and Celestia played and laughed together. She held on to those memories, unwilling to let the void claim them and leave her with nothing. Could such days ever return? Luna found herself at the entrance to the castle and turned to look back at the structure. It was like her. A shell, decorated for appearance but empty within. Within, her sister slept. Like the hopes and desires of Luna’s heart to one day stand by her sister’s side and smile and laugh together again. She squinted her eyes shut as a cold tear dripped down her face. “Please do not take my sister away from me.” She turned to the night and felt her hooves dig into the ground a bit as she kicked off and took flight. Each night held the same ritual now. Examine the hollow shell of her home, the analogy of her heart that became emptier each night. Seek something new, only to find it as empty as the night before. Wander the kingdom and the empty lands of the night, all in a vain attempt to flee the nightly reminder of the hole in her heart. Finally, return to watch the day fill with life and push her into a corner as a shadow. She watches the light, tries to reach out to it. Yet, like the shadow, is vanquished and overwhelmed by the light. They all see the light and revel in it only to ignore and fear the shadow in the corner. Luna soared over the villages and towns of the land to find them as empty as the castle in which she resided. Hollow shells and lies. In the day, they were alive as they reveled in the light of the sun. At night, the ponies hid away from the dark, ignoring the soft light of the moon. She caught herself gritting her teeth at the thought. Why do they ignore and fear her? She descended and landed in the middle of a small village and wandered the empty streets. The homes were as she had seen each night. Dark and silent. But a small light from the window of one home caught her eye. She looked and saw a small filly gently open the window and peered out into the night with a groggy expression. Luna smiled softly at the filly who smiled back. Yet her world was shattered once more as the filly’s mother pulled her in and closed the window before putting out the light. The look on the mother’s face show everything Luna feared. Luna heard the mother scolding the little one in a harsh whisper then soft hoof steps before the silence returned. For Luna, the look from the mother was still seared into her vision. Fear, dread, hatred. She saw it all. Why? Why do the ponies look upon her in such a way? What is it that makes her so frightening? No answer came. Perhaps she could ask Celestia once more. Or would she ignore her as she had lately? Luna silently took off and made her way back to the castle, still feeling the sting from the mare’s eyes. Her jaw clenched once more as her teeth started to grind. She felt the tears build again in her eyes and felt them burn and chill as they dripped. The ground rushed beneath her as she flew faster. Her mind raced and her emotions became whipped up in another storm within. Why did it hurt so much? What was wrong with her? The balcony she regularly perched on rushed towards her and she struck the stone with a thud. A ring and screech sounded as her silver horseshoes struck and slid across the stone. She felt a sharp sting spike up her legs from her ankles as she skidded to a halt just before slamming into the door to the inside. She stood at the door for several minutes trying to calm down. Her heart pounded inside her chest and her breathing was quick and sharp. Her legs shook from the pain of the landing and her body shook between bouts of tension as her muscles seized and relaxed. What was wrong with her? Exhaustion overwhelmed her and she leaned against the door to keep from falling to the floor. She tried to calm herself but the storm of emotions ravaged her all the more. Her breathing became more erratic, threatening to cause her to hyperventilate. Her heart beat faster, forcing adrenaline throughout her body and exasperating the other effects to her body. Her mind swarmed with the images of the looks that ponies gave her and the stories that they had begun to tell each other and their children about her. Their fear and hatred of her only fueled her own fear and hatred. What was wrong with her? As her emotions ravaged her mind, her heart felt like it was being torn asunder. The hole in her heart grew and tore at her soul. She blinked away another flood of tears and stared up at the silver moon in the sky. The moon had so many companions in the night sky despite being so different from those stars that surrounded it. Yet Luna stood alone. No stars to surround her and ease her pain or wash it away. Her world went dark as she shut her eyes and bowed her head. She stamped her hoof and began to scream into the night. What was wrong with her? Luna gave in to the torment and fell to the floor. Tears streamed down her face and she continued to scream in her anguish. The hole in her heart began to tear wider, feeling as though it was ripping open her chest. She tore at her mind in vain to understand what reason she seemed fearful or ignored. Certainly she could not simply be misunderstanding so much. So many fearful and hateful looks. So many hurtful things they said about her. Could they not see the isolation she endured? Could they not see that all that they did stuck her as much as a physical blow? Finally, her screams fell silent as her voice began to fade. She laid on the floor another minute before rising and wiping away her tears. She held the rail of the balcony to steady herself and waited. It was nearly time to change to the day and she could not let her sister see her in such a state. She needed to speak to Celestia once more regarding the ponies and how they viewed the night princess. Her body shuddered violently for a split second as a loud creak sounded from behind her. She turned to see a groggy Celestia pass through the doorway as she shut the door behind her. The elder sister stared at Luna in confusion at her state of shock. “S-Sister,” Luna said, trying to maintain a veiled calm. “You have awakened.” “Yes,” Celestia said with a yawn. “Today shall be a very busy day. So much to do.” The sisters began the process of changing the night to day as Luna mustered the courage to speak to her sister. “Sister…I wish to speak with you about something.” “Luna, I can’t right now. There is so much to do and I cannot afford to be behind schedule.” “Sister please!” Luna stomped the floor as she spoke. The two stood for a moment as Luna withdrew in regret from her outburst. “Forgive me. But I must speak with you now while there is time.” “Luna, I’m afraid there is no time. Perhaps later.” Celestia gave a smile, one that veiled the frustration she truly felt. “You are tired. Please go rest up and we will speak later.” Celestia turned and spread her wings. “But-” Luna began, stopping Celestia for but a moment. “Later Luna.” “I love you,” Luna said, relenting and wishing to hear her sister recite their age old ritual of parting. But she stood alone on the balcony as her sister had already taken flight.
Fear of the DarkLuna cast a giddy gaze about the room she sat in and gave a gleeful giggle. She could still hardly believe that she had finally managed to get her own room. All of her pleading and begging along with Celestia’s support had finally paid off. This was her room. She would prove that she was grown up enough to start having her own stuff. And perhaps this would help her earn her cutie mark. As the day drew to a close, she put away her toys and climbed into bed, peering out her window as the moon rose into the sky. She watched with fascination as an eager smile traced its way across her face. One day, she would be the pony to raise the moon. She eased herself under the covers as the lights dimmed and the night began. Her first night all by herself was about to begin. Several minutes passed as Luna waited for sleep to overtake her yet unease stirred about in her mind and sleep kept its distance. She rolled onto her side and held her position for several more minutes before shifting to the other side. After almost an hour of tossing and turning, Luna opened her eyes wide and gave a soft groan of frustration. She had always been good at getting to sleep so why was it so hard tonight? Perhaps it was her being unused to being alone that had her uneasy. She had always had Celestia close by to keep her racing mind at ease, but not this night. Not for a big filly like Luna. Several more sleepless minutes passed as the young filly awaited the dreams that she often had. But the dreams were held back as a soft moaning sound echoed through the night. Luna’s eyes shot open and she peered about the darkened room. The room seemed to stare back as black shadows hung in the dark. Luna gave a worried giggle of false bravery, dismissing the moan as her imagination before rolling over and tugging the covers over her head. She was going to do this. She was going to sleep in her room all by herself. She was a big filly after all. Another moaning sound sent a chill down her spine as a soft tapping rang from her window. Despite her building fear, Luna refused to look and held a stuffed pony close. She could do this. She just had to fall asleep and she could see those wonderful dreams she always had. All of this would go away. “I am a big filly,” she told herself. “I can do this. Just fall asleep.” Despite her stated confidence the moaning echoed once more as the tapping continued. She peered out from under the covers at the numerous shadows that surrounded her. Eyes seemed to stare back at her from the various blackened shapes that lined the walls. One such shape towered over the rest as it wavered back and forth. Luna pulled the covers over her muzzle yet could go no further. Her heart began to pound against her chest and her breathing became ragged. No matter what, she could not look away from those frightening shapes. She tried to remind herself that she was a big filly despite the gentle whimper that escaped her mouth and the tears that built in her eyes. Finally, a loud bang resounded in the dark room as something hit the window. The force shook the glass and the frame and caused Luna to jump nearly four hooves off her bed. She gave a high pitched squeal of terror as she charged passed the dark shadows, tears streaming down her face. “Tia! Tia! Tia!” she shouted as she bolted down the hall to Celestia’s room. “Tia, Tia, Tia, Tia!” The darkened hall only served to exasperate her fear as she ran for safety from whatever it was that was after her. Her shouting became mumbled as she cried and her vision began to blur as tears flooded her eyes. Then she saw Celestia’s room, her haven of safety. She slowed to a halt and quickly but gently rapped on the door, struggling to suppress her crying. She trotted in place and glanced back to see if the terror was still behind her as she awaited an answer. Fear held her in a tight vice grip as panic pushed her to gently open the door. “T-Tia?” she said amidst a soft blubber. “Tia, are you awake?” “Lu-lu?” Celestia said, muffled by her grogginess and the covers that sat over her face. “What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” Luna shifted in agitation, wanting to quickly move in and flee the chasing demons. “Umm…Tia? Can…Can I sleep with you? J-Just for tonight. P-Please?” She wiped her tears from her eyes and tried to look as brave as she could, hoping and pleading internally that her big sister would accept. Celestia rubbed her eyes and pushed the covers off her face. “What’s wrong Lulu? I thought you wanted to sleep by yourself in your own room.” Luna shifted in both embarrassment and panic as she peered back for a moment at the dark hallway. The black shadows held their position, chanting and waiting for the little filly to return. “Umm…T-Tia…I-I am scared of the dark!” she said, spilling her fears and letting her tears fill her eyes and spill down her face once more as she begged. “Please Tia. Please let me sleep with you tonight. I am really scared Tia. Please.” To her relief, Celestia gave a gentle smile and scooted to the side, moving the covers to offer an empty space of safety and protection. “Of course Lulu.” Luna’s eyes grew wide at her sister’s acceptance and she nearly slammed the door behind her before bolting to the bed, sliding on top and shifting as close to Celestia as possible. Already, her fear and panic began to fade as she felt the warm body of her big sister. She closed her eyes and let the feeling of safety overtake her. Her frown of sorrow eased into a gentle smile as she curled into a tight ball. She wiped her tears from her eyes once more. “Thank you Tia.” “Of course Lulu,” Celestia said as she pulled the covers over Luna, blanketing her with the safety only she could provide. Luna’s racing heart slowed and eased into a gentle rhythmic beating as her erratic breathing grew soft and smooth. She felt Celestia place a wing over her, providing even more protection. Luna was a big filly, but tonight, she was just Celestia’s little sister. There was always tomorrow night to be big and brave. “I’ll always be here for you Lulu. Don’t ever forget that.” Just before sleep overtook young Luna, she said one last thing before she went to those wonderful dreams. “I love you Tia.” Celestia shuffled closed and pulled Luna in tight. “I love you too.”
Moon RiseThe low tone of the ticking grandfather clock echoed through the hall as Luna watched to pendulum gently sway back and forth. She peered up at the face to see the time. She was still learning how to read the clock but knew that the moment the bell sounded seven times it would be time to change the day to night. Her anticipation grew as the clock ticked and the long arm inched further on its journey around the face. She itched and fidgeted in excitement, eagerly awaiting the tones of time. Tonight would be more special than any other. Tonight, she would raise the moon all by herself. Finally, the long hand reached the top of the clock face, completing another cycle on its endless journey. A gleeful smile stretched across Luna’s face as the bell echoed through the hall. The little filly counted the tones and leaped for joy as she reached seven. It was time. Tonight she would raise the moon by herself without any help. Tonight she would earn her cutie mark and prove she was ready to be the princess of the night. “Tia! Tia! It is time! Tia!” she shouted as she ran through hall to find her older sister. She skidded to a halt just before plowing into the white alicorn who only gave a soft giggle at the sight of her excited sister. “Slow down Luna or you’ll hurt yourself,” Celestia said as she reached out a hoof to help Luna up. Yet Luna stood on her own and instead used her magic to grab her sister’s outstretched hoof and begin tugging her. “Come Celestia. It is time to begin the night. Hurry!” “Okay Luna, slow down,” Celestia said as Luna moved behind her and began pushing her forward. “Calm down. Why are you so excited tonight? It’s just another night.” “No!” shouted Luna, still pushing her sister towards the door to the castle garden. “It is not just another night. This one will be special.” “And why is that?” “Because tonight, I am going to raise the moon all by myself and even earn my cutie mark.” “Well, okay,” Celestia said just before taking off down the hall. “Race you!” Luna fell forward and plopped into the floor. When she looked up, all she could see was her sister running away laughing. “Tia, wait!” she cried as she ran in place before gaining traction and chased after Celestia. The two fillies ran through the castle laughing the whole way. Luna pushed her little legs harder to catch up to her sister and even used her wings to give herself as much momentum as possible. Finally, she passed Celestia and burst through the doorway into the garden, screaming in glee. She bounded around as she giggled and cheered. “I win! I win!” she gasped. “Okay Lulu, you win,” said Celestia who was walking slowly through the garden, admiring the flowers. “Wait,” Luna said, stopping her celebration. “You let me win again did you not?” “What makes you say that?” “Tia!” Celestia giggled as her sister huffed and stomped in frustration. The little filly plopped onto the ground, crossed her front legs and pouted. “You always let me win. You never let me do anything on my own.” “That’s not true,” said Celestia as she tried to stroke Luna’s short mane. The little filly instead huffed and brushed the hoof away. “Come now. What about the moon? You’re going to raise it on your own right? We should hurry before we are late again.” Luna quickly stood in excitement, having all but forgotten her current frustration. “Oh, oh, oh. You are right.” The moved to their usual place in the garden, a spot which gave them an uninterrupted view of the sky, and got ready. Celestia took her stance first, charging her horn with her magic. The sun gently moved through the sky and slowly sank behind the horizon leaving a glowing orange hue in its wake. The sky glowed with the warm orange before shifting into a cool blue. One by one, the stars began to wink into existence and fill the sky with a shimmering glow. Luna’s eyes were wide with wonder at the many shapes and figures that the stars made in the dark blue sky. The little princess shook her head to get her focus and took her own stance, charging her horn with her own magic. She focused hard on everything she had learned and all the practice she had had. Her tongue poked out of the side of her mouth as she concentrated. Yet for all her focus, practice, and determination, the moon would not rise. She focused harder, pushed out more magic, but still nothing happened. Frustration and sorrow built up inside as time ticked by. “Come now. Rise!” she said in her struggle. “Would you like a little help?” Celestia asked after a few minutes. “NO!” Luna shouted, fighting back tears of frustration. “I do not require help. I…I can do this. Do not look! You are making me nervous, that is all.” Celestia sighed and turned around to let her sister concentrate. Yet time ticked on but the moon remained in its place below the horizon. After another minute, Luna’s soft voice called. “Um…Tia,” the filly said, shifting in agitation and stared about the ground. “Yes Luna?” “Um…I believe I could use just an intsy, tiny bit of help. J-Just for tonight that is.” Luna kept her eyes averted as she continued to shift and fidget. The thought of asking for help when she was so confident burned in her mind and a small tear glistened in the corner of her eye. Celestia smiled and walked over to her sister before placing a hoof around her neck. “Of course Luna.” The two sisters returned to their spot and Luna took her stance once more. She could do this with Celestia’s help, but the thought still burned in her mind. She had been so confident before but now the thought left her lowly. She brought back her determination and stood ready as she charged her magic again. If she could not raise the moon by herself and earn her cutie mark tonight, she would do it tomorrow night. She had to. She calmed her mind and thought back to her teachings. Be gentle. Call to the moon as though calling a small, shy animal. Her magic flowed through her body as a gentle light began to be cast across the garden. She looked up to watch as the moon gently peeked out from below the horizon and slowly made its way to its spot in the night sky. An uneasy smile crossed Luna’s face at the sight of the silver disc in the sky. She turned to Celestia who had a large smile on her face. “Thank you Tia.” “Well, I actually didn’t do anything.” Luna’s face contorted in confusion. “What do you mean? Did you not help me raise the moon?” “Actually, you started before I was ready and so I watched. You really raised the moon all by yourself.” Luna’s eyes went wide at this thought before shifting to skepticism. “How do I know you did nothing?” Celestia peered passed Luna and pointed. “Just look at your flank.” Luna turned to look and her eyes went wide once more. On her flank was a black spot like the night sky with a crescent moon placed upon it. It was her cutie mark. She had done it. She had raised the moon all by herself and earned her cutie mark. She charged Celestia in glee and grabbed her sister in as strong of a hug as she could muster. “Thank you Celestia! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “What do you mean?” Celestia asked, trying to free herself from her sister’s grasp. “You raised the moon by yourself.” “But you gave me the confidence to do it. I knew I could do it with you here. I still could not have done it without you.” Celestia smiled and returned her sister’s hug. “You’re welcome.” “We will always be together, right Tia?” “Of course Luna.” “I love you.” “I love you too.”
Pierced HeartHigh in the night sky, the moon cast its silver glow upon the world below. Arrayed with the numerous twinkling stars, it sat as a beautiful watcher and gentle light for all who would be below. On a small balcony of the stone castle below, Princess Luna stared up at her charge and the stars that surrounded it. Above, the moon was constantly surrounded by other dots of light. It had its place below the horizon where it would retire for the day before being rejoined by those white dots for another night. Yet Luna sat upon the balcony alone. She stared out at the distant towns and cities of ponies and watched as all but a few lights winked out of existence as the inhabitants settled in for the night. Soon, the land was dark, lit only by the light of the moon and stars. All around was quiet and still Luna stood alone on the balcony, again. Once again, she would spend another lonely night watching over the many ponies of the land she and her sister were charged with. She gave a sigh as she hung her head before spreading her wings and taking flight. Perhaps a patrol of the night would help clear her head and ease her mind. She stopped for but a moment and looked back at the castle wondering if Celestia would spend a night with her. Her sister had spent a few nights watching the land with her before during their early reign but the lack of sleep had taken a heavy toll on the elder sister. But would just one night hurt? Putting the thought out of her mind, Luna resumed her patrol. She peered down at the many habitations of pony and animal alike. Each was quiet as the inhabitants slept save for the nocturnal creatures. She descended to listen to the song of the owls and crickets echo through the night. She watched as a few small creatures scurried through the grass into hiding spaces. While she did enjoy listening to the sounds of the night and watch the night animals it did little to ease the loneliness she felt. After some time of wandering Luna found herself in a small village. The homes were dark and all was quiet save for the soft sounds of the night. The bare streets and darkened homes gave the village an air of abandonment. Luna had watched during the waning hours of her watch before as the towns came to life during the day. The doors opening and ponies filling the streets or rushing to their farms. But at night, it often gave the appearance that all had vanished. The thoughts of loneliness filled the princess with dread and she quickly took to the sky once more to flee the lifeless village. While the routine of watching the land had become monotonous, the true toll was the loneliness. The endless hours of silence and stillness that gave the whole land a sense of being dead rather than being asleep. Not even the occasional monsters provided the needed distraction of the weight of the night. If only there was even one pony awake at night to fill the void. After some time of flying, a small shadow in the moonlight caught Luna’s eye. She peered down to see a shape similar to that of a pony wandering the road alone. Two thoughts raced through her mind at the sighting. An enemy spy from another land? Perhaps a changeling. Or was it maybe the company she desired? She dove and landed before the wanderer to find a dull green stallion with an orange mane who jumped with fear at the sudden appearance of the princess. Luna pondered for just a second to discern his identity to see a lost citizen of the land. “Citizen!” she exclaimed, using her practiced royal voice. “Art thou lost? Doth thou require aid to traverse the land tonight?” The stallion stayed silent as he simply stared at Luna as though he had awoken to a nightmare. His body quivered a shook and his legs began to buckle underneath. Luna lowered her tone in an attempt to ease his fear. “I see the night has left thou frightened. Fear not! Thy princess shall escort you-” “Get away from me!” Luna stood in shock at the response. Normally, upon even seeing either princess a pony would bow or give some sort of courtesy to the royalty. But to have one not only interrupt but demand that she leave, Luna could hardly understand. “But…Your princess is here to aid you-” “GO AWAY!!! LEAVE ME ALONE YOU MONSTER!!!” Luna froze at the final word. Here noble demeanor and air of power she held fell and shattered. Not only had this pony disrespected her position, he had wounded her own heart. No pony had ever spoken to her in this manner, not even Celestia in jest. “B-But…Mon…You cannot-” The stallion said nothing more but turned and ran at top speed, leaving Luna to ponder about what had just happened. No answer came. She simply watched the stallion run until he was out of sight. The mighty and proud princess of the night dissolved into a small scared filly. She understood being frightened by things she did not understand, but to be the thing that scared others… Could she really be seen as a monster? Why? Was it their position as princesses? The sisters did not rule with might or fear to appear as tyrants. Was it their appearance? Surely being slightly taller than the average pony or having both horn and wings could not make them that frightening. Was it the night and the shadows? As a filly, she had been frightened of the dark and seen things appear more terrifying in the dark than they did in the light. Perhaps the pony had simply been afraid of what the night concealed. But what if it was one of the other options, or something more? Luna steeled herself and took to the sky. She needed to return to the castle and speak with Celestia. She would have the answer, she always did. Luna soared across the night sky hardly noticing how fast she was flying. A mix of anger, sorrow, and confusion drove her to seek her sister’s council at any cost. She watched as the sky began to slowly bleed orange as Celestia was already raising the sun. Seconds later, Luna landed on the balcony with a slight thud before skidding to a halt. She turned to her sister gasping for breath as she tried to speak. “Sis..ter…must…speak…now.” “Luna calm down. Slow down and catch your breath. What’s wrong?” Luna took several deep breaths to calm herself, taking note of her sister’s worried expression. “The kingdom is fine, I simply wish to speak with you. Forgive me for appearing so urgent.” Celestia waited patiently as Luna tried to ease her racing heart. Yet the more she relaxed, the more she recalled every detail of the night’s encounter. The terror filled eyes fearful face was burned in her mind. That word he had said echoed in her ears. Her body began to tremble as that moment repeated itself. Luna took a final deep breath and pulled the veil of calm over her wounded demeanor. “Sister. Have you ever been called a monster?” Luna winced slightly at the question and the word that still echoed in her ears. She kept her mask of control as she moved to lower the moon. “Of course not Luna. Why would you ask that? No pony has desired harm of me. There is nothing-” “I do not worry for you sister!” Luna cringed at her own tone and kept her face turned. She could practically feel Celestia cringe as well. She wiped a small tear from her eye before apologizing. “Forgive me. It is not you who I am worried for. It is me. Last night, a stallion was wandering the night and I offered to aid him. But he demanded I leave and…and…he called me a monster.” She squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears but she betrayed her emotions with a loud sniff. She quickly turned to Celestia. “Why did he call me a monster?! I am supposed to be the guardian of the night! I am supposed to protect them from the monsters! If you have not heard such things then what makes me the monster?! Tell me sister! TELL ME!!!” Luna flung herself onto Celestia, wrapping her forelegs around her sister and weeping loudly into her soft pink mane. Her heart felt torn and her emotions felt like a storm within her. Anger, sadness, regret, fear. How was she supposed to feel? Celestia wrapped a hoof around her distraught sister. “Luna do not worry. He was probably scared of the night and let his fear get the best of him. There is nothing to worry about. Go rest now. All will be better tonight.” Luna felt Celestia’s hoof retreat as her sister prompted her to retire for the day. Yet the hole in Luna’s heart remained. Certainly the stallion could have simply been afraid of the night’s shadows and allowed his imagination to get the best of him, as Luna had as a filly. But it was Celetia’s comfort that felt hollow. As though she viewed the whole incident as a simple misunderstanding. Was it? Did she really get so upset over something so simple? She got her confirmation at their ritual parting. “I love you Celestia,” said Luna, waiting to see that loving and comforting smile. “I love you too.” Celestia never looked back.
Moonlit ShadowAlone. That was how Luna spent every night now. Alone with naught but the darkness to surround her and the silence to speak to her. The moon and stars watched over her but they were so distant. Always watching and nothing more. The night was so cold and empty and Luna sat as a ruler of nothing. She looked around the throne room of the castle she and Celestia had built. The surrounding grey of the stone made the room so dull at night. And the use of stone made it cold and emotionless. The tapestries that draped from the walls and ceilings showed the distance that had formed between her and her sister. Those for Luna on one side and those for Celestia on the other. Division. Even her sister’s throne was empty and abandoned. Once, she loved this castle. Now, she hated it. And she was steadily starting to hate more. Luna descended from her throne to begin wandering the castle, hoping to ease her mind. Yet each turn, each hall, each room, was as empty as the last. All of the trap doors and secret passageways and other silly designs were that of a filly’s mind. The simple gags to liven up the life of being a princess only served to show her what a fool she had been. The sisters had wanted to be guardians of the land, not the rulers. They wanted friends, not subjects. But time had changed all of that. So much had changed in their lives and the inhabitants had regarded the sisters more as rulers now than ever before. With each new change, the isolation grew. No friends to ease her loneliness. The ponies raising them up higher and higher, and away from them. Her sister becoming more distant as the duties of being princess called for more attention. And the ever present isolation at night as all but Luna slept under the watchful eyes of the moon. Each thought reminded her of the growing isolation and tore at her heart. She could feel the void that hung in the hole of her heart. It drained her joy, making her feel as cold as the stone that surrounded her. All she was left with was her frustration and anger. She thought back to the days of her fillyhood. The days when she and Celestia played and laughed together. She held on to those memories, unwilling to let the void claim them and leave her with nothing. Could such days ever return? Luna found herself at the entrance to the castle and turned to look back at the structure. It was like her. A shell, decorated for appearance but empty within. Within, her sister slept. Like the hopes and desires of Luna’s heart to one day stand by her sister’s side and smile and laugh together again. She squinted her eyes shut as a cold tear dripped down her face. “Please do not take my sister away from me.” She turned to the night and felt her hooves dig into the ground a bit as she kicked off and took flight. Each night held the same ritual now. Examine the hollow shell of her home, the analogy of her heart that became emptier each night. Seek something new, only to find it as empty as the night before. Wander the kingdom and the empty lands of the night, all in a vain attempt to flee the nightly reminder of the hole in her heart. Finally, return to watch the day fill with life and push her into a corner as a shadow. She watches the light, tries to reach out to it. Yet, like the shadow, is vanquished and overwhelmed by the light. They all see the light and revel in it only to ignore and fear the shadow in the corner. Luna soared over the villages and towns of the land to find them as empty as the castle in which she resided. Hollow shells and lies. In the day, they were alive as they reveled in the light of the sun. At night, the ponies hid away from the dark, ignoring the soft light of the moon. She caught herself gritting her teeth at the thought. Why do they ignore and fear her? She descended and landed in the middle of a small village and wandered the empty streets. The homes were as she had seen each night. Dark and silent. But a small light from the window of one home caught her eye. She looked and saw a small filly gently open the window and peered out into the night with a groggy expression. Luna smiled softly at the filly who smiled back. Yet her world was shattered once more as the filly’s mother pulled her in and closed the window before putting out the light. The look on the mother’s face show everything Luna feared. Luna heard the mother scolding the little one in a harsh whisper then soft hoof steps before the silence returned. For Luna, the look from the mother was still seared into her vision. Fear, dread, hatred. She saw it all. Why? Why do the ponies look upon her in such a way? What is it that makes her so frightening? No answer came. Perhaps she could ask Celestia once more. Or would she ignore her as she had lately? Luna silently took off and made her way back to the castle, still feeling the sting from the mare’s eyes. Her jaw clenched once more as her teeth started to grind. She felt the tears build again in her eyes and felt them burn and chill as they dripped. The ground rushed beneath her as she flew faster. Her mind raced and her emotions became whipped up in another storm within. Why did it hurt so much? What was wrong with her? The balcony she regularly perched on rushed towards her and she struck the stone with a thud. A ring and screech sounded as her silver horseshoes struck and slid across the stone. She felt a sharp sting spike up her legs from her ankles as she skidded to a halt just before slamming into the door to the inside. She stood at the door for several minutes trying to calm down. Her heart pounded inside her chest and her breathing was quick and sharp. Her legs shook from the pain of the landing and her body shook between bouts of tension as her muscles seized and relaxed. What was wrong with her? Exhaustion overwhelmed her and she leaned against the door to keep from falling to the floor. She tried to calm herself but the storm of emotions ravaged her all the more. Her breathing became more erratic, threatening to cause her to hyperventilate. Her heart beat faster, forcing adrenaline throughout her body and exasperating the other effects to her body. Her mind swarmed with the images of the looks that ponies gave her and the stories that they had begun to tell each other and their children about her. Their fear and hatred of her only fueled her own fear and hatred. What was wrong with her? As her emotions ravaged her mind, her heart felt like it was being torn asunder. The hole in her heart grew and tore at her soul. She blinked away another flood of tears and stared up at the silver moon in the sky. The moon had so many companions in the night sky despite being so different from those stars that surrounded it. Yet Luna stood alone. No stars to surround her and ease her pain or wash it away. Her world went dark as she shut her eyes and bowed her head. She stamped her hoof and began to scream into the night. What was wrong with her? Luna gave in to the torment and fell to the floor. Tears streamed down her face and she continued to scream in her anguish. The hole in her heart began to tear wider, feeling as though it was ripping open her chest. She tore at her mind in vain to understand what reason she seemed fearful or ignored. Certainly she could not simply be misunderstanding so much. So many fearful and hateful looks. So many hurtful things they said about her. Could they not see the isolation she endured? Could they not see that all that they did stuck her as much as a physical blow? Finally, her screams fell silent as her voice began to fade. She laid on the floor another minute before rising and wiping away her tears. She held the rail of the balcony to steady herself and waited. It was nearly time to change to the day and she could not let her sister see her in such a state. She needed to speak to Celestia once more regarding the ponies and how they viewed the night princess. Her body shuddered violently for a split second as a loud creak sounded from behind her. She turned to see a groggy Celestia pass through the doorway as she shut the door behind her. The elder sister stared at Luna in confusion at her state of shock. “S-Sister,” Luna said, trying to maintain a veiled calm. “You have awakened.” “Yes,” Celestia said with a yawn. “Today shall be a very busy day. So much to do.” The sisters began the process of changing the night to day as Luna mustered the courage to speak to her sister. “Sister…I wish to speak with you about something.” “Luna, I can’t right now. There is so much to do and I cannot afford to be behind schedule.” “Sister please!” Luna stomped the floor as she spoke. The two stood for a moment as Luna withdrew in regret from her outburst. “Forgive me. But I must speak with you now while there is time.” “Luna, I’m afraid there is no time. Perhaps later.” Celestia gave a smile, one that veiled the frustration she truly felt. “You are tired. Please go rest up and we will speak later.” Celestia turned and spread her wings. “But-” Luna began, stopping Celestia for but a moment. “Later Luna.” “I love you,” Luna said, relenting and wishing to hear her sister recite their age old ritual of parting. But she stood alone on the balcony as her sister had already taken flight.
