“Dear sister?” Luna called from outside of Celestia’s bedroom. “It’s nearly eleven in the morning. Will you be getting up to raise the sun soon?”
“You do it,” the princess called back, a sigh in her voice. “I’m not feeling up to getting out of bed.”
“Is something the matter?” her sister asked, concerned. “Are you feeling well? Shall we bring in the royal doctor?”
“I’m fine, Luna, that’s not necessary. Please just raise the sun for me if you would.”
Princess Luna commented no further on the subject, doing as she asked and bringing light to the dark skies of Equestria. She did wonder what was going on with her sister however. She wasn’t one to lay in bed well past time to raise the sun, or, at least, she didn’t remember that trait in her. Of course, she hadn’t seen Celestia in over a thousand years until very recently, but she didn’t believe it to be a habit she would pick up. She always pushed herself out of bed to do it, no matter if she was sick, busy, sleepless, facing some dangerous Equestrian threat, or something else.
The princess of the night didn’t bother her though, letting her stay in her room for the day. Perhaps she was just tired from raising the sun each and every day for the last several thousand years and needed a day off. She certainly deserved one. When the time came to set the sun and raise the moon for the night, Luna opted to do it herself, letting her sister rest. Surely one day wouldn’t hurt.
Concern began to set in when, eventually, seven o’clock in the morning came again, and Celestia wasn’t up to raise the sun so Luna could sleep. She waited to see if she would come out and greet her, but by the time eleven o’clock rolled around, Luna was at her sister’s door, asking if she was okay.
“If you’re ill, please tell us,” her sister said. “You know as well as we do that even our alicorn bodies can’t protect us against the worst sicknesses.”
“I’m fine,” she asserted, the same sigh in her sister’s voice as yesterday. “I’ll be out in a moment to let you sleep.”
It was much longer than a moment before she came out, closer to half an hour than a minute. When she did finally leave her room, Luna gasped at the sight of her. Her normally flowing mane was flat on the floor, looking more muted shades of gray than it did colorful. Her eyes had bags under them, and her head was hung low. She had the appearance of somepony who looked ready to collapse back into bed.
“Sister? Are you certain you’re alright? You don’t look well to us.”
“I’m fine,” she assured her, albeit unconvincingly. “I’ve just been tired lately. I can raise the sun now though. Give me a second.”
Celestia trudged out of her room, dragging her hooves across the ground, each moment her sister becoming more and more concerned. She had none of her armor or regalia on, and her coat looked slightly matted, like it hadn’t been washed. It was quite unlike her sister. She’d never seen anything like it before from her in her life.
Even more shocking was the lack of attention that seemed to be given to Celestia’s state. The guards and assistants and ponies she passed by gave her no second look, continuing on as though everything was perfectly normal. It was jarring to see, like Luna was inside of another world or a dream or an alternate universe. What was going on?
She watched the alicorn step outside into the cold, winter air to quickly raise the sun. It didn’t go very high, only high enough to light up the sky with daylight instead of the sky’s center she usually put it at. As well, she didn’t go about painting a picture of a sunrise like she usually did, instead only taking a second to raise the thing before heading back inside. Luna continued to follow her, watching as she made her way back to her room, collapsing into bed and closing the door behind her.
Luna blinked a few times at the whole scene that played out before her. What was that? That wasn’t her sister! Was she a tired changeling in disguise? Poisoned by one of her chefs? Victim of an incorrect spell being cast on her? Luna needed to get to the bottom of it.
She knew she shouldn’t, but being concerned about her sister, the first place she went was into Celestia’s dreams. Or she tried to at least. When she attempted to visit them, however, she found nothing. No dreams. Her mind was completely empty, a rare sight from anypony. She must have been either extremely sick, or else dead tired. Regardless, it gave her few clues as to what was going on.
She tried to ask other ponies about what was up, although while none were surprised by Celestia’s state, few seemed to actually know what was up with her. Not her senior assistant, not her student, Twilight Sparkle, not even her adopted niece Cadance. Even the royal doctor apparently knew about her state, but offered no remedy, saying it was ‘just the way things were for someponies’. It frustrated the alicorn greatly to hear.
It wasn’t until she came across Prince Blueblood that she got an answer to her problem. She hadn’t even bothered to ask, figuring he wouldn’t know, but he brought it up anyway.
“Have you seen Aunty?” he asked. “I need to consult with her regarding funding for the Grand Galloping Gala this year.”
“I’m unsure if she’s in any state to discuss the matters of anything,” Luna replied. “This is the second day in a row she’s failed to raise the sun on time, and it’s beginning to affect my sleep.”
“Ah, she’s still in her room, isn’t she?” Blueblood commented. “I should have known. It is winter, after all.”
“You know what ails my sister? Tell us, now. Nopony else seemed to have an explanation.”
“Huh? I would think the whole city of Canterlot would know Aunty gets seasonal depression.”
“Seasonal depression?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow and tilting her head at the foreign concept. “I’ve not heard of such a thing. Is she distressed by something?”
“No, nothing in particular, except the colder weather,” the stallion explained. “It takes hold of her in the winter months. She wants to enjoy the cold weather, but something about it makes her depressed. Perhaps it’s the plants dying and animals hibernating? In any case, she becomes depressed, and then stays in bed longer, which makes the days shorter, which intensifies her depression. The opposite begins to happen during the warmer months as well.”
“And how have you acquired knowledge of this?” Luna asked.
“She spoke to me of it when I asked her as a colt. Evidently, a doctor long ago diagnosed her with seasonal affective disorder. Since she’s taken me in, I’ve taken it upon myself to get her out of bed if she’s not awake by noon, and then again by three so she can set the sun.”
“We asked her what was going on with her, and she told us it was nothing,” Luna said, sounding a bit hurt. “What else is there that we can do besides waking her up on time?”
“Nothing, I don’t believe,” Blueblood replied disappointedly. “I’ve taken to making her tea when I wake her up, and breakfast to make sure she’s eating, but despite what we try, we cannot seem to change it. It’s just how she is, unfortunately.”
“There must be something we can do!” Luna protested. “Perhaps if she is hurt by the cold weather, we can banish the cold from Equestria entirely! Then there shall be no more of this ‘seasonal depression’!”
“We won’t be able to do such a thing,” the prince told her. “Winter is a part of Equestria’s natural cycle. Both plants and animals need it to keep our world functioning as it does currently.”
“Well then we shall promote good cheer! Where is that excitable pony, Pinkie Pie? Surely a party would be able to cheer her up! I believe she made known that the pink mare was the best party planner in the country.”
“Would you want a party when you’re depressed?” Blueblood asked. “Trust me, I’ve tried to cheer her up. The only thing that’s ever ended up happening is her falling into tears. It’s not a great situation she’s in, or an easily curable one at that.”
“So then what shall we do? Surely we can’t stand on our hooves and do nothing.”
“There’s hardly anything we can do, Aunty,” Blueblood told her. “If she raised the sun for longer, it would ease her mood, but it’s hard to do once you’re trapped in the cycle of depression. It’s unfortunately just something she happens to go through at the end of every year.”
“Neigh, I say! We shall figure out a way to remedy this!” With that, Princess Luna galloped off to somewhere else, leaving Blueblood standing in place and blinking in confusion.
She went to the kitchen and got to work, cooking up something she hoped her sister would enjoy. Despite her being on the moon for a thousand years, Luna could say she was still an excellent chef, and knew just what her sister’s tastes were. Before long, she was in front of Celestia’s door with a delicious smelling piece of cake and a hot cup of tea, remembering that her nephew brought her the latter when he woke her up for the day.
“Sister?” she called from the outside. “Is it acceptable if we come inside?” she asked. She waited a second for an answer, but when none came, she let herself in. What she saw inside was surprising.
Celestia was one who normally prided herself on tidiness, but the room was messy. Used teacups and pots everywhere, some empty, some still full. There were plates of half eaten food, along with dozens of used tissues littering the ground. Celestia herself was curled up in bed with her head turned. Luna for some reason expected her to be crying, but instead, she found the white alicorn sleeping. Perhaps this was a good sign? Maybe sleep would help her feel better.
“Celly?” she started carefully, using a hoof to touch her sister’s shoulder. She stirred, and Luna said, “I have some cake and tea we made here. Would you like to partake?”
“Hmm, tea, yes,” she nodded as she blinked awake. “I’m not in the mood for cake at this moment however.” It was an exceptionally strange sentence coming from her. Her sister never turned down cake.
“Is it already time for the sun to be set?” Celestia asked as she rubbed her eyes. “I didn’t think three o’clock would approach so quickly. Why didn’t Blueblood tell me?”
“It’s not quite three o’clock, but we were wondering if there was any way we could attempt to improve your mood. We don’t like to see your downcast disposition.”
The princess only sighed at the offer. “I’m quite well, thank you. If it’s not three, I’ll see myself back to sleep.”
“Wait, please. One minute.” Her sister stopped and turned toward her, allowing Luna to ask, “Are you truly well off? We don’t believe you are, and would like an honest answer if you could give one.” The white alicorn glanced away, pointing her eyes toward her hooves as she let out a breath. Was she ashamed?
Princess Luna couldn’t fully tell, but she pressed on anyway. “Our nephew, Prince Blueblood, explained to us that the changing of the seasons affects your mood greatly,” she said. “Is this true?”
Her sister let out another breath, and nodded. “Yes, that is true,” she confirmed. “A previous royal doctor explained it to me several hundred years ago, and explained how it was made worse by your absence.”
“But we are here now for you, sister!” Luna exclaimed. “Whatever illness developed in our absence, we shall banish it now, for we have returned! Tell us what we shall do!”
“There is nothing you can do, dear sister,” Celestia told her calmly, her voice mostly flat. “It has been affecting me ever since I can remember, long before the Nightmare or Discord or the Pony of Shadows, or even before our ascension to the throne. This is the way it’s always been.”
“Then we shall change it this very day!” Princess Luna declared with authority. “Where is the royal doctor, and our nephew? Together, we shall–”
“Sister,” Celestia interrupted. The princess’s voice wasn’t its usual commanding style, but it was forceful enough to stop her in her tracks. “This excitement is making me feel worse. Please, let me head back to sleep.”
As she said it, she used her magic to gently push Luna out of her bedroom, and then firmly close the door behind her. In a second, the princess of the night could hear her sister lightly snoring.
“What shall we do then?” she asked herself aloud. She wondered about the question as she stared out a hallway window to the snowy courtyard of the castle. Then an idea came to her.
It wasn’t until eleven o’clock the next morning that Celestia was awoken again. Despite the long sleep, she still felt tired, but managed to force her eyes open as she let in the pony who knocked on her door. It was Princess Luna again, bringing with her a pot of tea and a gentle look. Thankfully, the determined energy she had the previous day had dissipated.
“I believe Blueblood said this was normally the time he woke you to raise the sun?” she asked. “Although if it's no trouble,” she continued, “when you do get up to do so, would you mind finding one of the guest rooms to stay in? We’d like to take time to clean your bedroom, if that’s acceptable.”
Celestia didn’t answer. She only got up to raise the sun, once again taking a second to place it in the middle of the sky. Then she took the room directly adjacent to hers, grabbing the tea from Luna as she passed by and flopping into the bed to head back to sleep.
She found herself waking up on her own the next time her eyes opened. It was around one o’clock in the afternoon, and she still hadn’t eaten, so got out of bed and left for the dining hall for the first time in several days. Blueblood waved to her, and beckoned her to sit next to him. She obliged him, and sat down tiredly, a castle servant quickly setting a plate of food in front of her, as well as a cup of tea.
“Good afternoon, Aunty,” the stallion politely greeted. “It’s nice to see you up and about today. Although I was planning to wake you up at eleven as usual when Princess Luna offered to do it for me. Did she ever get around to it?”
“Yes, she did,” Celestia nodded slowly. “She brought tea for me as well, and said she would be cleaning my room today.” She took a sip of her drink and a very small bite of a sandwich, then said, “I appreciate the efforts both of you make to take care of me during these days. Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble,” he assured her. “But since you’re awake, would you be willing to look over the budget I’ve created for this year’s Gala?”
The two chatted for a couple of hours or so, first about the budget, but then about castle matters in general and the topics of the month circulating Canterlot. It didn’t make Celestia happy—she certainly didn’t smile—but it was something stimulating. It helped her feel a smidge better.
By three thirty, she was getting tired again, and so bid her nephew farewell. She quickly stepped outside into the cold air to lower the sun, and then headed back to her bedroom. Before she got there though, she was greeted by her younger sister, standing out in the hallway, outside her door.
“We were just looking around to wake you,” Luna said. “We’ve finished with cleaning your room and making it more presentable. We’re glad to see you up and about today.”
“Yes, it’s good for me, I believe,” she agreed. “And thank you, I appreciate your efforts, just as I was telling Bluey.” She closed her eyes and yawned, and continued, “In any case, I’ll be heading back to bed now.”
“We will be back at eleven tomorrow to wake you again. We hope you sleep well, dear sister.” Luna smiled gently, although Celestia wasn’t sure why. Perhaps it was just that she went out of her bedroom for longer than a minute for the first time in several days.
She quietly entered into her chambers, and stopped to blink in surprise at what she saw. Yes, her room was now clean, but it was more than that. In place of her normal, white walled, plain looking chambers was something more stylistic.
The walls were painted soft hues of orange, and a fireplace now existed along what was previously a blank wall. A picture of a shining run was painted across the ceiling, and several different potted plants hung from the walls and off of desks and dressers. The lights in the room weren’t as bright as they were before, but that made the place feel more comfortable. None of her things had been rearranged, thankfully–everything was still in its right place. It was different, but not startlingly or uncomfortably so.
There was a desk by her bed now, one hosting a pot of tea and a small plate of cake. Not an overly large slice; in fact, it was an unusually thin slice. Somehow, that fact made the alicorn princess smile and feel thankful for her sister. Similar to the room, it was enough that she could try to enjoy it at her own pace without it being overbearing.
“Yes, this does help me, dear sister,” she said in a whisper before yawning. “Thank you.”
It wasn’t enough to make her feel less tired—it certainly wouldn’t rid her of her yearly winter depression, that she knew. But she was made to feel a little more comfortable, and another smidge better. She appreciated her family’s concern, and that they would help her as best they could, just as she would them.
She didn’t dwell long on it though, taking a sip of tea and a small bite of cake before she fell back to sleep. She didn’t wake up on her own the next day—Princess Luna had to knock on her door to raise her from her bed—but she did stay out of her room for a few hours, speaking to her servants and Princess Luna for a little while. The little things would help her to better deal with her mood until spring came again.
