Chapters Foiled
Written By Steve Ott
Celestia
This was supposed to a cause for celebration. Finally, after over a millennia of waiting, my little sister had returned. No more Nightmare, no more pain, and no more suffering. It was going to be as it once was, two sisters who very much cared for one another. However, some things are simply never meant to be.
My younger sister that I have waited so long for sat across the dining table toying with her food. Her once beautiful blue eyes now were downcast, cold, and dark. her once flowing mane now just hung limply down her neck. This was not the Luna I had been expecting. I wanted the fun Luna, the devious Luna, the carefree Luna, not some alien.
But I didn't say that, I couldn't risk further damaging her already fragile psyche. Not now. Not ever.
I knew her time on the Moon would affect her, but not to this degree. Perhaps I was in denial or being naive. Or maybe I underestimated the effects of banishment. I almost want to ask her about it, but I think better over it and stay silent. As much as I want to hug her I stay still. Her bones are probably fragile. I want to laugh with her, but her ears may not be used to the noise. I want to cry on her shoulder and let my guilt wash away, but I am unable to break my facade, something that has lasted a millennia.
So I stay silent, unmoving, just like a Princess should.
Luna
This was supposed to be a cause for celebration. I suppose it had been at first, yesterday, but now it felt cold. It didn't help that Tia looked at me as if I was some sort of alien. Was I an alien to her? She would be half-right I guess. Normal ponies don't typically have two sets of memories.
As I toy with my tasteless food, I search through my memory. There were two conflicting sets, both different yet similar. Themes of anger, distress, lack of belongingness, and overall melancholy permitted from both. Yet both also emitted hope, happiness, and joy. It was complex and hard to swim through, but what hasn't hard was to tell the difference between them. One contained the memories of Luna, Princess of the Moon, The War Mistress, Nightmare Moon. The other contained the memories of Aaron, a normal man just trying to swim through his own anxiety.
I had tried to determine which one was real and fake to no success. Instead, both felt natural, felt familiar, yet I knew that couldn't the case. Reincarnation is a myth, and I haven't died yet or am I capable. Yet the feelings remained.
I wanted to tell my older sister about it, even if she were to think of me as some lunatic. I didn't want to fall back into familiar patterns. I knew how much Tia cared for me, how much she wanted me to talk to her. But I wasn't sure, I am never sure.
So I stay silent, unmoving, like a Princess should.
Foiled
Written By Steve Ott
Celestia
The cycle of the Sun and the Moon, something I have had to do for centuries alone. But I never felt this alone while doing the task. Back then, it was one of our few bonding times it our ever busy schedule. A time where we could be ourselves with nopony interrupting. Instead, we were separate. While I was only doing half the job now, my sister was instead on her balcony, as far away from me as she could be.
Since she returned two months ago, we had only shared a few words. I several times tried to start a conversation, but was either prevented by somepony else or my own stupidity. Why couldn't thing be the way they were before?
I sighed to myself, finding myself thinking of an old tune. A lullaby. I used to sing it on occasion when I was alone while lowering the Moon. Over the years the lyrics and even language changed to a degree. I had sought to retire the song when Luna returned, but now it felt like she was once again gone as the lyrics seeped from my lips.
"Fate has been cruel . . ."
Luna
Once again I raised the moon from the comfort of my balcony. I could feel Tia's longing stare from here, but I didn't have to guts to accompany her. I was a weakness I was sorry for.
I still couldn't figure out if this was real or just some elaborate coma dream. However, as more time went on, the more I have become sure of my reality. Even then, I couldn't believe it. Why leave me with memories of Earth? Hell, why did I even end up on Earth, assuming I am Luna? Where the Elements in a pranking mood? If so, how does 24 years on Earth equate to 1000 years on the Moon. I wish I knew.
Suddenly, I heard something from down below. I strained my ears to hear only to be shocked on what I heard. It was a lullaby, producing two different reactions. One part of expressed a mix of grief and rage, the other just appreciated the beauty of the song. Emotions slowly bubbled up in a attempt to rush through. Instead, I fled indoors and into the comfort of my bedroom. I pressed my muzzle into my pillow and screamed, letting my conflicting emotions out.
Foiled
Written By Steve Ott
Celestia
"What do you mean I have been avoiding you?" Luna harshly replies.
"You know exactly what I mean," I sternly said.
"Can't you see that this has been hard for me. Instead you keep looking at me like I'm some sort of zoo animal that is one second away from ripping somepony's head off," Luna snaps back.
"You know that is not true," I reply
"Yes it is, you and everypony else thinks this way and I'm tired of it," Luna said through gritted teeth.
"I think of you as my sister, nothing less than that," I replied, wanting to end this conversation before it blows up.
"Then why have you been avoiding me?" Luna suddenly asked.
"Pardon?" I reply, severely stunned.
"Now you know exactly what I mean Celestia," Luna presses.
". . .", for the first time in centuries I am dumbstruck.
"How you have barely talked to me in this last five months, how you failed to seek me out for anything, how you ignore me a dinner time. I'm tired of it Celestia," Luna yelled
"You don't know the pain that I went through you selfish brat," I roar in anger.
"Your right, I don't," Luna tentatively replied
And with that, she left me to wallow in my misery. I have failed her once again.
Foiled
Written By Steve Ott
Luna
Sometimes when I lay upon my bed, I simply like pretend I don't exist. Some days such as this one, the feeling morphs into one of contemplation. Through my early years on Earth, my anxiety was overwhelming. I was socially awkward, overweight, and a human pip bomb. A day didn't go by that the thought of suicide didn't cross my mind. I even attempted it twice. While I eventually overcame my problems, my anxiety was ever-present.
And now, it has once again surfaced. It had been set off by something seemingly expected, but it only confirmed the reality of what I found myself it. I was now attracted to stallions. Being a male back on Earth, same-sex attraction never crossed my mind. Now, being attracted to that is utterly terrifying. Personal tastes have been adapting to Luna's or to my old one's. Especially my apparent fondness for piercings.
Closing my eyes, I remember what had occurred a few hours earlier when I was inspecting my newly formed Lunar Guard. One such guard, I believe his name had something to do with bats, was absolutely dashing. His bulging muscles, chiseled jaw, deep green eyes, he was a swooner and that was the problem. Another part of my humanity dissipates as in adapt to my new situation. I try to think of names of my past.
Tyler, Audrey, Brett, Taylor, Shane
How I miss them. Friends and family I'll never see again. I would give anything to see them again, but I know I couldn't. i have a sister here, a sister I care too much about. She's been waiting for me for several lifetimes, and even though I'm back, I'm still so far away.
A shift into a more comfortable sleep position, removing my right hoof from my midsection, still coated with the remnants of my personal session. Maybe, I just need to sleep.
Foiled
Written By Steve Ott
Luna
Hate. Hate was all I felt for a while. I held an extreme dislike for that emotion. It only caused problems in the long run. In the short run however, it was obscenely satisfying in the short run. It actually kind of scared me. Then my hate would resurface and push my inhibitions down below. That was when the voices started.
You don't have to feel this way
I cocked my head, surprised at the sound of the somewhat soothing voice. It was as if it could truly understand me. I responded, "I don't?"
Of course you don't, you are a princess. I can help you
"How?" I questioned, not sure if what was happening was real.
I can give you power, power that you deserve.
I smiled as I began to approach the origin of the voice. Suddenly I paused, gears in my mind turning. I heard this voice before. It was a voice I had hoped to never hear again. "Nightmare."
Missed me
"You're a roach," I spat angrily.
It's only a matter of time before you come running back to me. You know you can't live without me.
"Begone you demon! You are nit welcome here anymore," I declared angrily. I waited with baited breath for a response which never came. That was when a song came to my head. I smiled, this time genuine, as the lyrics slowly came to me.
"I have to block out thoughts of you, so I don't lose my head," I began
Celestia
Guilt racked my as I approached my little sister's door. My mind raced through the events of earlier that day, my outburst and the crushed psyche of my sister. It wasn't until later when I calmed down that I realized my mistake. And now here I was, hoping that my darkest dreams aren't coming true.
Then I heard singing coming from Luna's room. Luna had a rather masculine singing voice for a mare, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Tears threatened to cascade down as I listen to what my little sister was singing about. It was then I realized what my sister was truly feeling.
Before I knew it, Luna stopped singing. Composing myself, I let myself in.
"Luna, I just want you to know, I'm sorry."
I waited for a response only to receive a crushing hug.
"I'm sorry too sister."
It was then I knew everything was going to be alright.
