The night was hectic for the princess.
Stars weren't staying where she put them, dreams were confused, and in general everything that went wrong could.
"You, go there and STICK!" she exclaimed to the errant star she was placing. Waiting briefly, she nodded in approval as the star twinkled but remained exactly where she put it.
Sipping briefly from a cup of tea she surveyed her results. Only five more constellations to go. she thought to herself.
She felt a twinge behind her right ear and turned her head to address the intrusion. In front of her floated a tiny green point of light. "Well hello little one!" she said with warmth in her voice. "Are you lost?"
The light bobbed briefly and sputtered a little.
"Having some issues I see..." Luna replied. "Here...let me help you." she continued as she reached out a hoof to touch the tiny spirit. "Hold still please. This won't hurt a bit!"
With a focus honed over hundreds of years, the moonlight princess slowly fed energy into the light in front of her. Shoring up things broken, clearing away darkness, and shaping the outside edge smooth.
"There!" Luna said with a smile. "Do you feel better?"
The light wobbled but shown a brighter emerald color.
"Hmm...something still feels off. Hold still." Luna replied while concentrating and connecting to the spirit again.
In a flash she felt thoughts and ideas run through her mind. Concerns, fears, but most of all love.
"Ahh...I understand now." Luna intoned in a soothing voice. "You need not concern yourself. Your mate and your filly are fine. It is not unusual for these feelings and thoughts after one leaves a life. Take no heed of them and rest. You made it through and that you can be proud of! This one was a little troublesome I will admit. But you made it. Take heart in that. Many could not battle a disease as long as you did and remain intact."
The light made a figure-eight motion.
"No story can last forever, thus so it is with life for most of us. Even my sisters and I needs must change things from time to time." Luna stated. "But with the sadness of each parting there is the joy of new beginnings. Things end and that's sad. But things begin anew and there is joy."
The light blinked once and Luna nodded. "We are all spirits of our greatest hopes and dreams. Sometimes a life diminishes us but we often regain such strength once we are free as you are now."
The light spun in place a bit.
"No we cannot remain without a life. Not for long anyways." Luna explained. "Each life enriches us and feeds us even as it drains us. In the end we grow. If we do not experience life we can't grow and thus we only diminish."
The light stopped and held steady.
"Well it's true!" Luna exclaimed. "Without those experiences, good or bad, we would not become who we are in the end."
The light hesitated then alighted on Luna's nose, blinking slightly.
"Not forever. At least I don't think so." Luna replied. "Even after as much time as has passed in my own life I still do not know the final outcome. The universe is big and mysterious and I am in awe of that always. We live in both love and hate of the universe and so it shall ever be I suspect."
The light appeared to give what could only be interpreted as a sigh and hovered in front of the princesses face once again.
"Oh cheer up little one!" Luna replied. "All of us, myself included, are involved in a great dance. And I for one welcome it even when I cannot hear the music and my hoofs are trod on."
The light hovered pulsing slightly.
"And even" continued the princess "if the universe ends some day, I am confident that we all shall meet together in a better place. I must believe such! For if not, and all is lost, what is our worth?"
The light drew the sign of a question mark in the air.
"No there's no way to ensure that we have happy lives." Luna said with a sigh. "Were all our lives happy we would learn nothing."
The light hung there briefly then bobbed once.
"The cycle of lives is as sure as..." Luna paused. "...as sure as your mate's horrible singing."
The light bounced off Luna's nose as if in protest.
"Well you must admit he IS flat as a board." she replied.
The light sighed again and bobbed once.
"For what I can see he, and your filly, will be fine." Luna said. "Granted I'm a princess not an oracle, but I see challenges and not a few tears, but I do not see ruin."
The light bobbed erratically.
"Ssshhhh! Calm yourself." Luna replied. "I give you my oath as a princess that I will look after them. Doth this satisfy you?"
The light settled into a gentle bobbing motion.
"With that addressed we move on to you." Luna said with a smile. "What shall we do with you little one?"
The light blinked a little and circled the head of the princess once.
"Where do you want to go my dear?" Luna said. "Focus please. ...There it is!"
With a strong puff of breath the night princess blew on the tiny light, as if blowing on an ember, until it shone a brilliant emerald green and increased in size. "You fought well little one and you deserve a reward. Safe journeys!"
A final inhale and puff of breath and the green light sped off into the ether to its destination. It's size growing as it departed until it was out of sight.
"Fare well young one." Luna said while picking up another star.
The star stuck...then started slowly sliding away in the firmament.
"Think happy thoughts..." Luna muttered while taking another sip of tea.
Author's Note
I recently lost my partner of 30 years. I wish her safe journeys and hope she shines as brightly as I know she can. -- RGM
