Curiosity was an eyebrow raised and her plans put on delay as her feet stopped and her head turned towards a window by a mere urge to do so. Her finger pulled back the lilac curtain just enough for her head to peek between it and the wall through the window to the figure outside. It was raining and the water droplets on the glass fell and connected, turning to streams that blurred her vision. Her magic spread the water on the glass like the jutting of a stone dividing a waterfall before the mouth of a cave.
Surprise was both eyebrows raising, then her brow furrowing as she wondered what could posses her sister to sit on a bench in this downpour. Luna had been venturing towards the back of castle, taking a tour for her own relaxation. She had not known where her sister was off to and had not expected to find her in a isolated garden of land between the building and the mountain. Luna watched as her sister rose from her bench and extended her arms widely way from herself. Her head fell back, letting the rain fall on her sun kissed face full on. Her crown and neck piece sat on the bench for her.
Understanding came when her sister began to dance, a carefree thing that sent matted hair splattering around, strands clinging her face and arms. One hand extend to the sky while she bent the other across her front, then she switched and repeated the motion. Her face was elated at the muddy grass beneath her feet, her shoes off as well. Her dress, damp and heavy, spun with her, fanning out in a soggy circle that did nothing to darken her mood. If nothing it brightened it. Luna was almost completely sure her sister was singing, not that she could hear her from inside and three stories up, but she could see the way her lips moved, as if repeating a musical mantra to herself.
Amusement followed just as quickly. Luna’s chuckle was small, more an upturn of her lips than an audible laugh. She watched as her sister took this personal moment for herself, rejoiced in the refreshing water where she could be, for a moment, free of her crown and her ink drawn face of grace and leadership. Celestia kicked up her feet and jumped up and down, not as a child nor an old woman but a carefree spirit let loose.
Nostalgia hit hard, forcing down the smile on Luna’s face like the slow closing finality of elevator doors. Celestia’s arms drew up in the form of a partnered dance, still giggling and splendidly lost in her own memories. Luna recalled the times they used to spend together. There was a lifetime beyond her banishment when she and her sister would dance and leap like this. Where they were simply happy together and loved each other. They were best friends. There was a time when Celestia would free her head of the crown and Luna would slip off her shoes, and they could take a break from others together.
Melancholy was the weight that slumped Luna’s shoulders. Clearly, Celestia’s best solace was a hidden place behind the palace. Celestia dipped and spun, changing freely from leader to follower in her one person duet. Luna sighed, accepting that life moved on and had it’s own intent for everyone. Some things were and some things were not. She should go; her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she had stayed far too long. Celestia had come here for privacy not eavesdroppers. The sun princess stopped and bowed, heart pounding from exertion and adrenaline.
Startlement was the backboard to Luna’s paddleball heart. Celestia straightened up and gestured largely at the window, directing her audience of wildflowers and rocks to applaud in that direction.
Celestia couldn’t be pointing to her. She just couldn’t, but she was, even from that distance, through the rain and her pastel hair plastered around her face, Celestia locked her exuberant gaze with Luna’s.
Bashfulness made the night princess’ eyes rove in embarrassment and disbelief. Luna pointed to herself, mouthing a “me?” Her sister had given her the confirmation she needed, nodding at her and calling her to her side with the repeated bend of her fingers.
Excitement, brought Luna to the small garden in a flash of light and trail of snow. In an instant, Luna was in the small garden. Her ever ebbing hair quickly too weighted down to ride the magic winds that kept it in constant motion. Her dress, always more ornate and layered than her sister’s, became increasingly heavy. Yet a smile could not help but form across her cheeks, as Celestia took her hand and pulled her into a hug.
The rainwater was chilly, but nothing could discomfort her when she had this embrace from her sister. When they parted, still finding her way into this happy little dream her sister had built, Luna asked if she could remover her regalia as well. Celestia chuckled at her, of course she didn’t have to ask. When finally her shoes, the last to come off, had been placed by Celestia’s on the bench, Luna no longer felt the weight of her hair or the cling of her dress. There a lightness that filled her, the same as she had seen in her sister.
Celestia urged her sister to try what she had done earlier, spread her arms out and let the rain kiss her face. It was such a cleansing thing, every drop seemed to find a worry and carry it off her skin as it rolled off her and landed in the grass. Luna’s displeasure from her previous reminiscing slipped away and she felt like doing nothing other than what Celestia had done as well.
She wanted to dance.
So she did and Celestia soon joined her. Not that she had any other choice once Luna had taken hold of her arms. Much like the older woman had done before, they both spun together, playing beneath the grey clouds. Celestia hummed and Luna “lala’ed” as they tip toed in circles and waltzed like they had when they were younger.
“I think I had forgotten how wonderful of a dancer you are, Luna,” Celestia managed to say though a laugh. They both lay on the ground now, faces turned toward each other, letting the rain hit them while they caught their breath.
“Thank you, Sister, but most of that was hardly dancing,” Luna joked back.
“I say we hold the next gala in the rain. That would certainly make things more lively.”
Luna giggled, knowing how quickly her sister grew bored of formal dances. “Just think of the warm reception to that idea by the party committee. Surely every aristocrat dreams of waltzing in the mud.”
“But they wouldn’t even turn down the offer, just because they could never miss the chance to talk themselves up in front of a princess.” Celestia laughed again, but the brightness of it faded, the truth in her words bringing down her mood.
The rain was lighter now, just a drizzle that kept the sister’s from drying off.
“Sister,” Luna began, catching Celestia’s darkening tone, “do you remember when we were younger? You know, before, when we used to hide ourselves away in my room or yours with a few stolen slices of cake.”
Celestia smiled fondly, thinking back to the times when they ruled together as equals and sisters. “Yes, and I would always get you to give me a bit of your cake after I had finished my own.”
“And we would talk and laugh. Without fail there was always someone on the council who had was bent on annoying you in some fashion. It was as though the same person had been reborn over and over just to become a council member and get under your skin.”
Celestia’s expression soured at the memory causing Luna to laugh. “Oh yes, I remember.”
Luna continued despite not regain one hundred percent composure. “So you would- you would rant to me, for what seemed like like hours, about this such and such. Some of the things were rather nasty, I dear say. You could have gotten yourself in a lot of trouble if they were repeated.”
“Oh, you said some mean things as well, lets not forget.” Celestia’s arms were folded as she pouted.
Luna rolled her eyes, “It’s alright for me to do it; I’m the mean one.”
“That is true,” the older sister replied with a smirk.
“Hey! You’re supposed to disagree.” The mood princess poked her sister’s forehead, sticking her tongue out at her.
“I’m teasing, I’m teasing. You’re not mean.”
“That’s right.”
“Just a little snippy from time to time.”
Feigning offense, Luna frowned with a pout that could alway out match Celestia’s. An achievement only a younger sister could claim.
“I miss those days. When we were stressed and just had enough of being princesses, we could always just spend time together,” Luna said, her fake frown now turning into a real sadness.
Turning her head away from her sister, as to look directly at the thin drops that floated to the ground, Luna continued. “I know things are different now. No matter what, we are two people. Just like everyone else, eventually time catches up to us and we change, or even separate.I’m sorry for intruding, Celestia.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down the side of her face. She didn’t even bother to wipe them, hoping that maybe the light rain was enough to hid it and wash it away. “You came out here to get away from it all and I interrupted that by watching you from the window. You didn’t have share your personal time with me. I should have left you alone-”
“Luna,” Celestia began. Her voice was stern and clearly lamenting her sister’s words. “You were not intruding and you never will. People grow up and time apart changes people, puts a strain on them. But it will never tear us apart. I won’t let it. Not again. You are right, I came out here to get away. I needed to relax and stop being the crown for a moment, but Luna, I can’t tell you how happy I was when I noticed you there.”
Her voice was wavering, but it did not lose it’s intensity. This caught Luna’s attention and turned back towards her sister, shocked to see how serious her eyes were, as though through her stare alone she could communicate how much Luna meant to her.
“I didn’t know you missed spending as much time with me as I did you. I thought our friendship still had a ways to go before we could possibly go on about simple things like which guards liked which maid, or steal some ice cream and stay up all night.”
“You did?”
“Luna, I don’t want this to go back to the way things were. I want things to be better. And I certainly don’t ever want to lose you again. I didn’t want to rush you, because I wanted you and I to be on the same page on your own time, but I’ve missed you so much.” Her hand sought Luna’s, entwining their fingers.
“I’ve missed you too.”
“I didn’t want to do anything that pushed you away, and when I asked you to join me, I was actually surprised you did. I love you, Luna. I love you and I’ve missed you way too much. I could never spend too much time with you or not want you around. You’ve always been my best friend.”
Luna was still crying, but her tears were happier now. Celestia joined her too, glad to let everything out of her system. Luna lifted up their joint hands, kissing the back of Celestia’s, and Celestia did the same to her, sealing a promise between them.
Peace surrounded them. Their bodies relaxed and the dark grey clouds were now gentler lighter puffs in the sky. The sister’s remained on the ground for a time, not caring if they would be missed or late. Their fingers stayed locked and they spoke of things that came to mind. Simple things like their favorite dresses or a song they remembered from ages ago. They were calm and comfortable. They were sisters.
Author's Note
This was a style experiment. Tell me what you think.
