Not a long time ago…
Once again, Celestia stared at the moon rising high in the sky, just like the other 365242 sunsets before, the Mare in the moon visible on its side.
The next day would have been the Summer sun celebration. After one thousand years, there would have been a breach, a single opportunity for Nightmare Moon to come back. But also one chance for her sister.
Celestia already had prepared all her resources for the coming challenge, but she knew that she was not allowed to interfere with the return of the Harmony. Even if this was a reason for growing anxiety and worry, she had to have faith.
“I wish you the best of luck, my little ponies.”
This little augury of hope was all she could still do, before entrusting the salvation of Equestria to her one faithful pupil whilst herself stepping aside from this battle.
The Princess of the sun went into her chambers and laid down under her sheets. Like the other 365242 Nights, she rested in a sleep without dreams.
Today, in the afternoon…
Peace and quiet filled the halls of the Canterlot royal Palace, everypony fulfilling their duty without a worry on their minds.
On two big thrones, the two sister Princesses sat gleaming with wisdom and power, they had been listening all day long to everypony who requested an audience with his rulers.
Nopony showed himself for a while though, and the two alicorns simply sat there enjoying the quiet and their mutual company.
Celestia couldn’t have been happier. It has been weeks since her sister’s return, and everypony was eager to forgive and accept her back. Luna herself was once again the sister that she had missed for so long. Thinking of that made Celestia chuckle to herself.
The younger sister turned her head on her side:“What are thou thinking, sister?”
“Why, Luna?” Celestia smiled back to her sibling “I’m just enjoying the peace of this day in your company.”
“I’m glad” Luna nodded “but do we have to stay here? Nopony has come needing our guidance for almost all day.”
“Howsoever, we shall attend.” declared Celestia raising her hoof “It’s our duty as Princesses to always be available for our subjects.”
Luna gazed away and sighed.
Today, in the evening…
Once again, Celestia stared at the moon rising high in the sky, replacing her yellow sun. It was Luna now who moved the moon every night, while the elder sister cleared the light out from the sky.
It had become a ritual, a sort of greeting between the two Princesses otherwise too busy with their royal routine.
Celestia couldn’t help but stop and think about it, about how she still had to be cold with her own sister after all those years without each other. When Nightmare Moon had been defeated, Celestia was so full of happiness that she felt like exploding. But since that day, she had had to settle down again and be the Princess that she was always supposed to be for everypony.
That hadn’t changed yet, she still wanted to jump, to shout, to embrace her little Luna and cry and never let her go again. And still she knew that she couldn’t.
…
No, that’s not right.
She could, she could have waited for them to be alone, if she wanted just to maintain her image at the castle as the ruler. And she could certainly organise some time to spend with her sister without disregarding her duties.
Truth was, she didn’t have the courage to face her.
After a quick shown of affection at their old castle, Celestia didn’t know how to rekindle the bond between them.
And she was just too afraid. Afraid of messing up with her sister and driving her down a dark path again. Afraid to see her become once again the monster that broke her heart. Afraid to loose her little sister once again.
Without a sound, the Princess of the sun laid under her sheets, preparing herself for another dreamless sleep.
Celestia was sitting right at a big desk, a big book open at the middle page. She didn’t know how she has arrived here, nor why she was sitting here in the first place. She recognized the book though, it was an old tome about the gallantry of nobles ponies, and she knew she had to study every page of it, since it was her destiny to become Princess of Equestria.
With composure and form, she moved herself closer to the desk and raised a hoof onto the wood.
Only at that moment did she realize how tiny her body was, her front leg almost as big as a normal pony’s, and her mane was different too. Instead of the usual multicolored aether, behind her head flowing a stream of pink hairs.
She wasn’t scared, but couldn’t help but wonder how her appearance had changed. She was supposed to look bigger, older, and more striking than this. Last time she recalled to have this look was…
“Tia!”
The sudden call forced Celestia to turn over, staring with wide eyes at... her sister?
She was… different too. Her size was far more little than what it was supposed to be, and her hairs were also looking their natural color and shape. Just like when they were fillies.
The young blue alicorn trotted a few meters forward, she had shaky legs and her gaze was running everywhere in the room. Then she took her time, biting her lower lip and staring down, like she was trying to summon some courage before jumping off a cliff.
Celestia just stared confused.
Finally the dark filly looked at her big sister “Do thou wann to play?”.
Realization hit Celestia as a hammer.
She lived this, she had already been here, this was when the two of them were just young fillies, one of the many days where she had to prepare for her ascent to the crown. One of the days when she would turn her sister down to focus on her own studies.
But how was this possible?
With her mind looking for an answer, finally she understood where she really was, and how she got here.
This was a dream.
It has been so long since her last dream that she was able to recognize it just now. And if this was a dream, then…
Celestia scanned the pony in front of her.
That wasn’t part of the dream, she was sure that the alicorn in front of her was her real sister and that she was the artificer of this dream. And that meant she had to make a choice.
Celestia attention flew several times between the book and her sister, asking herself if it was more important to be a Princess than a sister. She wasn’t sure about the answer, but she wouldn’t take the wrong one again.
Celestia smiled at her sister with misty eyes.
“Every time you want, Lulu!” The white princess jumped off the chair.
Inside the safety of her room and her bed, the mighty Alicorn Princess rested under her blankets. With an happy smile on her muzzle, she was enjoying the first dream she had for so long.
