Mortal Equines

What is the price for immortality?

What is it, to be cursed to always die?

These are the questions that haunt my dreams, these are the worries that steal the rays of sunshine from my passing days. My heart has grown stony and my soul has become broken, this life I live is nothing more than a shadow.

A shadow of another pony in this reality, I've lived countless times. Each story ending the same, each life full of disappointment or worse. I've been chosen to serve a purpose not my own, for when immortality is granted, the mortal soul must go somewhere.

To live on in the flesh, weak frail bodies created to counter the natural order. We are the helpless to suffer, we take the pain, sickness and ultimately death. To ensure the reaper is paid her due, for as soon as the debt is paid, the cycle starts anew.

Born to die.

Live to cry.

My life is a shadow of a pony named Luna.

My beloved sister, living the faux life of Celestia.

We are the cursed.

We are Mortal Equines.

“Somepony's totally being dreary!” Sunshine Smiles my older sister chimed in with a melodic voice dripping with sweetness.

Her head popping into my room from the open doorway curiously, those large lime green eyes bouncing all across my room in utmost awe. Her golden blonde mane could light up even the darkest cavern, her pink coat vibrant yet welcoming to all around her.

Far more than I could say for myself, I had a inky blue mane bordering upon black. My eyes a dull honey hue that never glittered, coat a cream white color that nearly faded into background, never to be cherished.

“You're inner monologuing again Moonie!” My sister exploded into my room with a loud giggle, bouncing ever closer in a oddly joyous dance.

“I am not, I'm merely musing.” I gave a slow roll of my eye, stretching out upon my bed with a loud yawn.

“Mm-hmm! Look at me I'm Moonlight Raven, woey, woey, woey!” My sister quickly grabbed some eyeliner off my drawer, spreading copious amounts around her eyes foolishly.

“Grrr, does this visit have a point!?” I scoffed in growing annoyance to this buffoonery.

“Um, does me loving you count?” Sunshine pounced halfway across my room, landing roughly on my bed nearly shattering the frame.

“No.” I pouted, my bed rocking side to side uncontrollably from the aftershock.

“I just wanted to hang out, like when we were fillies.” Sunshine rolled onto her backside, flaunting a dainty hoof towards me playfully.

“I hate fillyhood, always so awkward!” I snorted, A flash of dozens of childhoods flooding my mind.

“You just make it awkward, I always have fun!” My sister lifted up, poking my cheek with her hoof softly.

“Easy, when you never grew up.” I shook my head somberly, swatting away the teasing hoof swiftly.

“I'm a filly at heart, might as well have fun!” Sunshine giggled with a loud squee.

“Grrr.” I gave a loud hum of anger.

“Remember that one time, when we were born as twins!” Sunshine swished her tail to the side excitedly.

“Don't remind me, tall, lanky, pale…” I sighed.

“With giant curly red manes!” My sister rolled over on her side giggling.

“Och, ah hated th' hielands! " I grumbled under my breath.

“Maybe, but it was better than being born as colts.” Sunshine shivered as if waking up from a nightmare.

“Masculinity was overrated.” I popped my lips sarcastically.

“Everypony expected us to work in the fields, father kept hounding me about getting married…” Sunshine groaned aloud in a deep sigh of exhaustion.

“I kind of liked Busy Bee.” I gave a shrug of my shoulder.

“She was boring!” Sunshine blew a loud raspberry.

“Had nothing to do, with the fact she wanted children!?” I nudged my sister on her side teasingly.

“They wanted to trap me in those corn fields.” My sister pouted, rolling over before placing her head on my front hooves lovingly.

“It's ok, stallionhood is behind us.” I hid a sly smirk.

“We've lead good lives, right?” Those lime green eyes lifted to lock on my own.

“I suppose.” My voice never changing tone.

“Have you grown weary?” Sunshine yawned softly.

“With you at my side…” My eyes glanced down to her, she had the look of anxious fear upon her usually carefree face.

“Hmm?” She batted long lashes.

“Neigh.” I gave the answer she desired to hear aloud.

“Like yay! I just want you happy, that makes me…” The soft sound of snoring filled my room suddenly, glancing down I watched my sister curl into a tiny ball slumbering.

The truth was though, I had grown weary of this existence. The many lives I've lead blurring together in a deep haze, my soul had become so numb to surprises that life held. I couldn't feel the anxiety or zest I once felt in a lifetime, it all had been done before.

Truly how long was eternity?

Was there perhaps a reason for our situation?

Not to live for another, but our own fate?

I leaned forward placing a tender kiss upon the forehead of my sister, sliding out of my bed I trotted towards the open window of my room. Honey colored eyes watching the moon float high above the horizon, my hoof resting delicately on my chin in deep thought.

“When will immortality be enough?” I whispered a secret to the winds.

“Where will our souls go?” I lifted my gaze higher to the blank night canvas.

“I will live for us, no longer the echoes.” I felt a tiny spark ignite somewhere deep inside.

“I will find our own destiny...for her.” I turned my head to watch my sister sleep, with her at my side, I could go on.

I could create our legacy.

Each step back to the bed built a new sense of purpose inside my mind, slipping in at my sister's side, I wrapped a tender hoof around her waist lovingly. She brought sunshine into my life, the least I could do is keep my faith alive.