"What are you doing up this early?"
Luna's head snapped up from the book at the sound of my voice, eyes darting about her room before quickly spotting me poking my head through the cracked door.
"You startled me. Good afternoon, sister," she replied, gently resting her reading material on the bed beside her. A slight bow of her head was the signal for me to enter, which I was happy to oblige.
"I should be asking you what brings you into the halls at this time of day," she mused with a smile.
"Surprisingly, today has been rather quiet," I answered. "I took the opportunity to stretch my legs when I got the chance."
"Fair enough," she said, sliding over on her bed. "Join me."
I didn't have to be told twice as I stepped up onto her mattress, the springs creaking lightly as I shifted sideways and lay beside her.
Meanwhile, Luna was biting her lip as she turned the other way. I'm fairly certain I heard her cut off a giggle as it began.
"This bed was made for you and only you, little sister," I said.
"I said nothing," she replied quickly, keeping her face averted from my gaze.
"I'm taller than you, too."
"I never said anything," she replied, bursting out into a chuckle. I couldn't help but smirk as I unfolded one of my wings and playfully bopped her on the head. It merely served as a catalyst for more laughter as she finally faced me, all smiles. I could not help but giggle a bit too, as she responded with a swing of her torso, bumping her body against mine.
"Anyway, what are you reading?" I asked as the pair of us settled down. The cool blue glow of Luna's magic wafted out of her horn and enveloped the book she had set aside earlier. It gradually levitated up and over toward me, hanging in the air and spinning to show off the leatherbound cover.
"Myths and Legends of Equestria? What spurred your interest in this old storybook?" I inquired, surprised by her interest.
"Well... I first must apologize, I may have perused some of the letters you received from your student, Twilight Sparkle while in your room a few days ago," Luna admitted sheepishly.
I raised my brow in skepticism at her confession, even as the embarrassment made her slightly blush. "I'm listening," I goaded.
Luna cringed just a bit before she spoke up again. "It had not been my intention, I just happened to spy my name mentioned within one of the more recent dated letters. You did not tell me she had inquired about the nightmare she had."
"I thought it was not of much importance. That was actually a few weeks after you entered her dream, she admitted that was what spurred her to admit she was feeling anxious about her new studies," I clarified. "But as you requested of me, I kept your ability secret. But I'm going to assume you did not stop there."
"No, I happened to find the letter she sent that mentioned the legend regarding me," Luna continued. "More specifically, her warning of my return – the fearsome Mare in the Moon from tales of old. Hence why I knew the name of the book I sought."
While her answers did not fully satisfy my question regarding her interest, the guilt Luna exuded from admitting to her nosiness was too much to leave alone any longer.
"I'm not actually upset with you seeing those correspondences, Luna. Truth be told, I have been considering sharing some of Twilight's letters with you, as I think you will find them quite helpful in expanding your own horizons and making friends when you're ready. So don't fret about it."
Almost at once, my words soothed Luna, whose body had become increasingly rigid and tense as she delved further into her explanation. Now, that strain dissipated with a sigh of relief.
"Nevertheless, I did not mean to invade your privacy, even if at some point, you had planned on sharing those correspondences. But as to your inquiry, I could not help but wonder about the details surrounding the 'legend,' as well as its coincidental resolution, which ended up being quite similar to how events played out. But after reading that, I found myself surprised to find many other legends that are in fact our history."
I was not surprised to hear that final bit of information from my sister. Just as her fall from grace eventually faded away to be renewed as a tall tale, so too did many of our battles when Equestria was in its infancy. Of course, only my sister and I could vouch for the authenticity, and Luna had been exiled.
I was never one to discuss those years of work and toil, a combination of being preoccupied with ruling over the land and a reluctance to talk about those times. While I admit that the end result of the kingdom being united and at peace was well worth the struggles, I am not particularly fond of some of the choices my sister and I had to make in the heat of the moment.
"Yes, most of those are not exactly dinner table conversations, are they?" I quipped with a wry grin. Luna's blank stare informed me my joke had been lost upon her.
I was certain that would have been an understandable joke. I really need to help her catch up on more modern terms and phrases – but I guess moments like that are good teaching moments.
"I just meant it's not really an enjoyable conversation piece, so to speak. After all, if ponies knew Discord in fact existed, what would they think knowing he was turned to stone and we use him as an ornamental piece?"
"You decided to turn him into a centerpiece of the garden, not us," Luna corrected. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her scolding tone.
"Yes, Luna, I know," I said. "Let's not get into a debate about that again, please."
"It was not my intention to start such an argument," she said, shaking her head lightly. Her mane, now similar to mine, danced wildly in response, a cascade of stars surrounding her.
Evidently, I had been staring, for Luna gained a queer expression after a pause. "Are you alright, Tia?"
"I am. I just can't get over how much more mature you look. Nothing like the little bratty sister I remember," I sassed, drawing a snort from Luna.
"Please, you were just as immature as I. In fact, I propose you still are immature," she retorted, an air of playfulness in her voice.
These silly little conversations never go anywhere, but I love them all the same. It had been too long since I could just be myself; I strive to be genuine at all times, but there's only so much I can let slip at one time, lest my regal visage begin to tarnish.
"Let's be honest, what fun is it acting our age? There's not really a precedent at this point. But anyways, I'm still curious, what made you decide to drag out that old book, Luna?"
Luna quickly snapped back to a more neutral expression almost instantly, as if the moment of silliness we just had never existed. "I am glad events worked out the way they did, but there is one item that still troubles my mind – I do not understand what allowed my return."
Her statement had me blink a few times silently. This whole time, I had assumed Luna had just... well, just broken free of the spell that encased her within the moon. I suppose in reality, I had never considered the catalyst for her escape and just taken it for granted.
"What do you mean?" I asked, dumbfounded. "You have no idea how you got here?"
Again, Luna shook her head. "No, it is as much a mystery as it is to anypony else. I merely recall being within my prison for an indeterminate amount of time before abruptly finding myself within the Everfree, near our old home. In a living, breathing body again, no less," she explained, her face showing how troubled her mind was with this mystery. "I had hoped the prophecy – or merely coincidental legend – would shed some light upon the questions I possess, but it is of little help. I cannot make heads nor tails of the 'stars' that supposedly aided in my escape."
A proverbial light went off in my head at the utterance of that phrase. "Luna, perhaps Twilight Sparkle could help you get some answers. She loves to do research, I think the two of you would get along quite well."
At once, every muscle in my sister's body tensed up once again, while she remained silent.
"What?"
"Nothing, I said nothing," Luna mumbled.
"I know, but you don't seem very comfortable with my idea," I replied, subtly pressing her to speak up. She picked up on it as she let a sigh escape.
"I just don't like the idea, Tia," Luna said. "When you consider the last time we met, everything I put her through, her friends through... what makes you think she has any desire to speak to me, let alone help me?"
"Luna, she helped you free yourself from the darkness in your heart, why do you think she would hold that against you? Twilight has even asked me how you are doing in a few of her letters, and let me remind you, you've helped her in a dream."
"A dream, not reality, sister. There is a difference," she argued. "I could not blame her if she didn't want to—"
I couldn't stand my sister's feeble excuses anymore – I raised a hoof and gently bumped her nose. The action stopped Luna dead in her tracks, more out of shock than anything else. She only lay there, staring at me with wide eyes.
"No more of that, sister," I lightly scolded. "You are a changed pony, and Equestria knows it. They hold no ill will against you, and you should know better, considering you have presided over the night for months now."
"Interactions when ruling and interactions of a casual nature are completely diff—"
Again, I booped her snout, instantly bringing her retort to a halt.
"If you can do one, you can do the other, Luna."
"Will you at least let me finish?" Luna cried.
"Yes, as long as you don't make excuses."
"I'm not making excuses, I am merely tr—"
Booped again into silence.
Luna snorted, scrunching her snout as she grew impatient and frustrated. "What is that, why do you keep doing it?"
"I keep doing it because I can't bear to listen to you tear yourself down when you've made so much progress. It's nonsense," I softly replied, trying to dispel her anger. "As for what it is, I believe my subjects call it a boop. It's a sign of affection, I think. I really don't know, but it hushed you, which was my goal."
Luna narrowed her eyes with suspicion, before she quickly raised a hoof. I moved sideways to dodge it, my sister only reaching empty air.
"Hold still," Luna growled.
"Mmm, no."
Luna tried again, but I remained quicker than her movements.
"Sister, I merely wish to show you my affection," Luna said through gritted teeth.
"You don't need to do that, I already know you love me lots," I managed to spit out between giggles. I leaped off the bed just in time to dodge Luna's next attempt, this one a more aggressive, desperate lunge toward me.
The banzai charge left Luna empty-hoofed yet again; however, the full-bodied attempt to reach me left her hanging precariously off the bed for a moment, until her balance gave out and she fell to the floor with a resounding thud.
"Are you okay, Lulu?" I asked, my concern winning out against the giggle fit I had been having moments before.
"Never better," she mumbled in a daze as she slowly peeled her sprawled-out form from the floor. "Just for that, you should let me boop you."
"Nope, not that easy," I sassed. Luna jumped to her hooves as I trotted towards her door, ready to bolt down the hall.
"You're really going to attempt to run again? After tripping on the rug a fortnight ago?"
"Hm, you may have a point," I pondered aloud, eyeing my sister as she slowly stalked toward me. Every step she took gained a hint of confidence, judging by the mischievous smile that slowly materialized on her face.
I let her have fun for a few more steps. Once she came into striking distance, I let my magic flow, picturing the maze outside as I teleported. Even as my surroundings shifted, I heard Luna's growl of frustration loud and clear.
"Tia!" Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice rang out loud and clear, echoing across the landscape for a time.
However, I knew she wouldn't be far behind; Luna always had a knack for tracing magic remnants, and the teleportation spell I used would leave her a clear trail.
Sure enough, I looked back at the castle to see a deep blue figure approach the balcony, hesitating a moment before wings unfurled and it launched into the air.
I wasn't sure if she had spied me already or if I remained somewhat safe, so I settled into a trot as I twisted through the maze just a bit. I began to wish I had memorized the pattern to get through the shrubs that surrounded me, but it was too late for that.
"Celestia, you cannot keep away from me forever," Luna's voice echoed around me.
Now, I have always had the upper hoof in terms of raw power when it comes to magic; some of it has to do with being the elder sister, but spells of a more physically manipulative sort have come to me as if natural. However, Luna is unmatched in her use of magic relating to subterfuge, stealth, and more psychologically manipulative nature.
Hence now, where her voice seemed to come from every direction at once. I was dumbfounded as to her true position.
"Lulu, that's cheating. No magic," I protested with a smirk.
"Nay, thou hath opened the door to this opportunity with thine teleportation. Thou must deal with the consequences."
Luna's sudden change of dialogue momentarily caught me off guard. I knew there were only a few situations she ever reverted to that archaic form of language nowadays – first, anxiousness, and second...
"Sis, I didn't really make you angry, did I?"
"Of course not. We are merely attempting to throw thine wits out of order, a distraction. Clearly, it has worked," came her response.
"Only a little," I argued. "Not that it matters, you have to find me first."
"Thou sounds confident she hast not been spotted. How would thee know she—"
"Luna, your speech is merely annoying, not intimidating," I interrupted. A resounding scoff swirled around me.
"Fine. We — I will drop the outdated dialect," Luna muttered. "But you still have not refuted the notion that I have had you in my sights the whole time I have been conversing with you."
"I don't think you have. I'm pretty sure you're just stalling for time while you wander around the maze and run into dead ends," I replied, making no effort to hide my confidence. Coincidentally, I ran into a dead end at nearly the same moment, much to my chagrin.
Luna hesitated before answering, likely trying to figure out how to respond to my arrogance. "Much confidence from somepony who has chosen the wrong path herself..." Luna's resonating voice trailed off as she let out a forced, sinister chuckle.
Oh hay, so she had somehow spotted me. But I wouldn't make it easy for her; I was not about to let her pay back the boops I had given her.
"No wings, Lulu."
"I have not used them since flying to the maze."
"You're using magic to see where I am then. Cut it out," I scolded.
"Ah, so my guess was correct, you found a dead end," she taunted. "Perhaps it was the same one I found mere moments ago."
"Not likely, sister," I said as I turned and headed back the way I came. It was a fine line between a trot and silent movements, I was doing the best I could. Every corner I reached was a hesitant peek before slinking forward.
Never had I considered I would ever use the maze, let alone as a silly game on a boring afternoon. I am glad I allowed my gardeners to do as they please.
Yet this absurd moment was nothing short of heaven. I felt as if I had gone back many, many years, before Equestria. Back when I was a filly, with nary a care in the world as I entertained my sister, barely beyond the age of a foal.
A peek around another hedge revealed a brief sight of Luna's tail streaking past only steps ahead. Instantly, I halted all movement, holding my breath as I only listened. I could just barely make out her hoofsteps upon the dusty trail nearby. I waited a minute or two, letting her steps fade out to the left and behind before I started moving again, rounding the corner.
Only to find Luna standing there, amused by my sudden appearance, but not at all surprised. She was more than ready, a hoof raised in anticipation, which gently contacted my nose.
"I win."
"How? I just watched you—"
"No, you saw my mane. As I stood here just around the corner," she said, giggling with all the delight of a school-age filly. I poked my head around to find a path leading directly parallel to the one I had traversed. "All I had to do was walk back a ways and lighten my steps. Then I waited for you to come to me."
"I feel like you somehow bent the rules," I grumbled, somewhat disappointed the hunt was already over. Luna shook her head, having not lost an ounce of pride as her smile grew.
"It would seem you have forgotten the art of stealth. I could hear your lumbering movements. Plus, I will admit, it helped that I spotted you as I flew down here."
"So you did bend the rules, just as I expected!" I shouted triumphantly.
"Yet had I teleported in an effort to follow you, would you not have considered that as 'bending the rules'?" Luna asked, her brow furrowed with confusion. "Not to mention, I was not aware of the rules, or the simple fact that we were playing a game."
"I may or may not make them up as I go," I coyly replied, closing my eyes as I rested back on my haunches and turning my nose up to the sky.
Without warning, something began tickling my nose. Just as I was about to open my eyes to investigate, the urge to sneeze became too great.
"Achoo!"
"Ew, gross!" I heard my sister cry. Quickly recovering from the rather violent sneeze, I dropped my head to a normal level and glanced at Luna.
She stood just in front of me, holding one of her wings outward. The feathers at the tip were glazed with mucus.
"What the hay did you think was going to happen?" I asked.
"Well, not that!" Luna shouted back. She took a step forward, reaching out toward me with her wing.
"No, get that away from me," I ordered, standing up and stepping back in unison with my sister's movements.
"But it's yours, why are you afraid of it?" she asked, a menacing smirk crossing her lips.
"No, it's yours now. You always complained I didn't share enough, there you go," I quipped, hastening my steps as I kept a wary eye on my sister.
"Now, I desire to share with you. So halt," she said ominously.
"You know, I think it's about time I go back to my duties," I spoke up, hit with an epiphany for an out. "Good talking with you sister, let's do it again sometime, shall we?"
Luna scowled as she halted all forward progress. "I would like to suggest that this is purely an attempt to escape from your fate, but I suppose this 'break' from your duties is beginning to push the boundaries of reasonable," she muttered.
"I don't think it would look good if I resumed my place in court with snot smeared all over me, either."
Easing up on her cross facade, Luna relaxed her posture – though keeping her tainted wing outstretched for the time being. "Very well," she sighed. "This will have to continue later."
"Er... you're going to save that?" I asked, mildly disgusted as I pointed a hoof toward her wing.
"Heavens no!" Luna exclaimed, laughing at the absurdity. "No, I will take care of this and return to my reading – or a nap. I am unsure."
"I'll talk to you later, sis," I said bowing my head – but keeping my distance. With a flash, I set off for the castle interior via teleportation. First stop – my bedroom. After that little escapade, I thought it best to check to see if everything about my appearance was in order.
As my private chambers came into focus amidst the dwindling light— Luna leaped toward me, rubbing her wing on my shoulder before I could recoil back. I could feel the lingering dampness on my fur and almost retched on the spot.
"So predictable, dearest sister!" Luna cackled, her face lit up with a delighted grin. "And fortunately, I have always been just a split second quicker than you in teleportation!"
"But you can't completely obliterate a mountain like I can – you should be a fairly simple target..." I lowered my head, trying to fight off my own grin from forming while playing up my threat.
"I'll be going now, have a good afternoon, Tia!" Luna called out as she scampered out the door to my room.
Ugh, little sisters. What would we do without them?
I know that feeling. I'm glad I no longer have to suffer with that pain in my heart – even when Luna is being a pain in my flank.
(Kidding! Love you, Lu.)
