A Love to Endure an Eclipse

"You know you don't have to do that, Moose."

You look up from your work to view the mare attached to it, lying down and leaning up next to the oak tree. "It gives me an excuse to play with your hair," you answer back.

Luna gets a giggle out of your candid response as you resume.

After some time discussing the events to come, there was some light-hearted small talk before that too petered out. As much as you tried to keep it out of your mind, it was hard to push the reality that you're both just sort of waiting around for changes to start.

It's only now the true feelings of helplessness are beginning to invade. Really, other than being here, there's not much you can do. So, wanting to feel at least some sense of – well, accomplishment, you began braiding Luna's hair while she began focusing on her attempts to meditate that had been interrupted earlier.

Hair care was a skill you had picked up not long after arriving in this world. Landing here with just the clothes on your back, ponies were kind enough to help you out. But you knew that couldn't last forever, so you were in desperate need of money when it became clear there were no hopes of return. The spa in the little town of Ponyville was kind enough to give you a chance at their line of work after seeing what you could do with your hands –more specifically, the dexterity of your fingers and opposable thumbs.

Massage, hair care, hoof care – it was an odd line of work, something with which you had no experience, and would never have imagined doing in your old life...

But it paid – and it paid pretty well. And honestly, you felt like you were pretty good at it – though a bit lacking in pedicure. Er, hooficures? You never really did get clarification on which was right.

But massages – your fingers work magic on tight and weary muscles. And you have developed a strong knack for braiding – which has become somewhat of a therapeutic exercise for you.

Maybe that's why you decided to do it now. Though to be fair, Lu looks fantastic with her mane styled up. The way the blue and violet strands can complement and highlight in the right light is something breathtaking. However, it does take away a bit from the stars in her hair and its ethereal qualities.

"I'm assuming my weaving is keeping you from concentrating, huh? I guess I didn't think of that."

"No, you're quite fine," Luna assures you, shaking her head. "I'm finding it difficult as a whole to clear my mind."

"Gotcha."

Now in a rhythm of work allowing you to continue by feel and muscle memory, you look around at the fabricated little world the two of you currently inhabit.

Just off of the hill where you are is a drop-off that gives way to a lush valley rife with trees of varying heights. Further dips and rises in the terrain add variety, along with what looks like a decent-sized river further off in the distance. It's hard to make out the size or speed, but the calming blue sheen adds further highlight to the landscape and a sense of peace. Eventually, like when you first began the hike with Celestia, the world fades out, essentially becoming one with the sky and the true nature of this place, the Aether.

"It really is quite the scene you two created, huh?" you comment, hoping to spur discussion.

"Yes – my sister's idea, I must admit," Luna replies, allowing a bit of cheer to grace her face. "Originally, I was just tethered to the Aether, but Celestia thought perhaps some sort of tranquil setting could help my focus, as opposed to the undeniably empty and somewhat ominous backdrop the Aether normally affords."

"Really? I guess I would have thought you would like being surrounded by the night sky."

"It is not the night sky which I tend to with familiarity, only compounded by the sense of floating within an empty void created by a lack of terrain. It gives something of an uncanny feeling after a short period, compounded by unrecognizable patterns in the sky. But, this plane was receptive to shifting into what you see, sans the sky. It was as if it could tolerate being decorated, but not completely covered up."

"Huh. That explains the daylight in the middle of the night."

"Yes, a fair compromise – an ironic one, considering I once yearned for an eternal night, and now desire a balance. But this all began as an attempt to avoid the solar eclipse, in the hopes it was my exposure to the phenomenon that triggered my affliction."

Luna pauses, a slightly bitter laugh escaping her lips. "In hindsight, a foolish notion, considering the effects begin well before the eclipse totality."

"How is it that the solar eclipse is connected to your transformation? That doesn't seem to make much sense."

"There is a certain buildup of energy during this time as the moon deviates from its normal pattern to overtake the sun. Quite the paradox, being a natural phenomenon I am bound to complete based upon the connection I share with the moon and the feel for where it must be placed - and yet, in total disregard for the balance of night and day. A beautiful and wondrous sight, one which I admit I miss experiencing and controlling." Luna's voice takes on a particularly somber tone on those final notations.

Fortunately, you're close to finishing her hair, taking just a few moments to complete it before patting her side in sympathy.

"I am fine, Anon. I must say you always do such fine work," she says, lightening up as she inspects your styling.

"My work is only as good as the canvas I'm provided," you croon.

"Ah, there's one of those cute little lines," she giggles, blushing just a bit. Abruptly, Luna winces just a bit as she shifts to lie on her stomach in a rather abrupt manner.

"Everything okay?" you inquire. Your mind instantly flashes to the earlier discussion – aches and pains often signal the beginning of her transformation.

"I'm... fine. Perhaps I should have not been lying like that for so long," Luna answers back. It sounds more like a question toward herself than a response. Her wings flare out wide, stretching upward toward the overhead branches of the tree.

"Normal stress spot?" you ask, knowing this movement all too well.

"Yes, right between my wings."

Internally, you breathe a small sigh of relief; this is something mundane and normal. It seems like whenever Luna has had a rough or stressful day, that frustration always builds up in the muscles between the shoulder joints where her wings sprout from her back.

That little quirk is the reason you ever crossed paths with her. One tight ball of inflammation that could never quite get alleviated by the best masseurs the castle had to offer led Luna to little old Ponyville and the spa in which you worked. What started as a visit to rectify a nagging ailment somehow led to so much more...

"Is it gonna be cash or credit today?" you tease her, rising to your knees and crawling behind her.

"Put it on my tab?" she suggests with a wry grin.

"Oh, all right." You kneel down behind Luna, leaning forward until your hands reach the base of her wings. Following practice, Luna relaxes, lowering her head until resting flat on the ground.

Gingerly, you start to carefully knead at the sore spot, starting with just your thumbs. Luna grunts just a bit under your ministrations, while you find yourself awestruck just by how tense this area is. It's been a long time since you felt her in this sort of shape.

"Wings down, Lu," you softly instruct her.

"Sorry," she apologizes, gradually lowering her wings until fully fanned out on either side.

"When was the last time I helped you out with this?" you ask her.

"I don't reMEMber," she mumbles, her voice picking up just a bit as you continue to work and find a particularly tender spot. The whole area feels warm to the touch and swollen, making you wonder if she strained something recently. This really isn't normal...

What is more normal is the sensation of Luna's tail idly flicking across your midriff back and forth, albeit somewhat dulled by the presence of your shirt. It's something she has a habit of doing without noticing while you work her back.

Well, it's allegedly involuntary. It was never a thing when you initially started working with her. Funny how that happens...

"You're sure you didn't do something out of the ordinary lately?"

"Mmm. Not that I can think of. Is it that bad?"

"It's not good - I think it's loosening up a little bit though."

It's a matter of trying different angles and techniques with the tools Mother Nature gave you, but it still takes some time.

"You're reminding me of the other reason I married you," Luna teases.

"I knew it. You only married my hands," you gasp, going along with her jest.

"Maybe. Or they just sweetened the deal."

"Hands and horrible pickup lines were what sold you on me?"

"There may have been... other things."

Your eyes go a bit wide as Luna shifts back toward you just a bit, pressing her tight rump into you.

"Miss, I don't know what kind of establishment you think we're running here..." you quip.

"Ohh... my mistake. An honest mistake," she purrs, giving her rear just a little wiggle. "Though it doesn't seem like you object too much~"

"Well, I picked an awkward time to return."

Both you and Luna bolt in opposite directions upon hearing Celestia's voice.

Turning to look at the path while trying to fight a sense of utter embarrassment, you find Celestia standing about ten paces away, averting her eyes up toward the sky – albeit sporting a rather cheeky grin.

"Anon was helping me with a back spasm," Luna sputters. "You know, right between my wings, whenever I get a lot of stress."

"You act like I'm scolding you," Celestia laughs, trotting up to meet with both you and Luna. "I never realized how interactive massages were, to be honest."

"You're having way too much fun with this, aren't you?"

"Maybe. Looks like you were enjoying the massage too."

You don't have to think of what she's referring to, instead blocking that area with your hands.

"Guess I should have just taken the prudish route announcing my arrival with shock and horror at the little show," Celestia continues to tease, sticking out her tongue.

"Okay, okay, we get it, sis," Luna curtly replies. "Why are you here?"

"Right - I am actually here for a reason," Celestia states, shifting away from taunting-sister mode. Out from under her wing, what looks like a large gold coin appears, hovering over to you. You put your hands out, while Celestia gently drops the curiosity into your palms.

On the shiny cast surface are various symbols that seem to be etched into the lustrous metal. You can only make out one symbol at a glance. Dead center and the largest graphic lies a sun surrounded by rays, quite similar to Celestia's cutie mark.

"That should allow you to notify me if you have any issues, Anon," Celestia explains while you pick it up to find the other side a mirror image. "It took a little bit of help from the goldsmith in Canterlot. I have to say, it was rather awkward coming up with an excuse to put some of my essence within the smelting process."

Uh...

You glance over at Luna, not entirely sure of the term Celestia just used. She stares back at you, also looking quite perplexed.

"Blood. Not... whatever you two are thinking of right now," Celestia clarifies, her nose wrinkling just a bit at the thought.

"I know, Tia. I was wondering why Anon was staring at me so concerned," Luna argues.

"I was having a brain fart, that's all."

"To finish off my point, the rest of the work is mine; it has been quite a while since I've dealt with physical working of magic like this, but it should work from this plane of existence to ours. Just hold it firmly in your hand for a few seconds, and it should react with my mark."

As instructed, you set the coin back in your palm and close your hand around it. In a matter of seconds, there's a faint pulse of energy that surrounds the sun mark on Celestia's flank, as if the mark itself has become a miniature solar object.

"Perfect."

It's... something. After the teasing you and Luna had to endure, it might be a good time to pay back the favor.

"So whenever I'm contacting you, I'm basically grabbing a handful of your ass?"

"I—" Celestia's composure goes out the window with your scathing comment, her eyes widening at the realization.

Meanwhile, you don't have to look over at your wife - you can hear her struggle with a few minor snorts as she contains her laughter.

"I didn't think of it that way," Celestia finishes, pointing her nose up to the sky as she closes her eyes.

"Oh, now we want to take the high road?" Luna taunts.

"I'm always gonna be a bit higher than you, sis."

"Anon must have you all sorts of flustered if the best you have to say is a cheap and tired height joke."

"I figured if I didn't say anything right away, you'd hold it against me," Celestia huffs, continuing her snobbish facade.

"Alright – how about a truce for now?" Luna responds with confidence as she snatches a look at the medallion in your hand. "From what I see, your talent with runes hasn't diminished in the slightest."

Slowly, Celestia brings her head back level with the world, letting a grin ease onto her face. "Very well - your hair looks very nice braided this evening," she states, opening her eyes to study the work.

Oddly, her positive expression falters just a bit.

You carefully drop the coin in your pants pocket before patting Luna on the withers.

"To be fair, that was Anon," Luna says, extending a wing that brushes your back before reaching your other side.

However, that little gesture wipes away what joyous atmosphere had managed to bloom over the last several minutes, as Celestia suddenly appears very serious.

You trace her line of vision to your side, where Luna's primary feathers tickle your arm. Sticking out far enough so that you can see, you expect to see feathers in a rich navy blue hue.

Instead, the plumage you can see is raven black.

Craning your neck to get a better view of her extended wing, the black coloring seems to be restricted to the tips, slowly fading into indigo that is still far darker than normal.

"What? Suddenly resting a wing on Anon's back is lewd?" Luna jokingly scoffs.

"I'm afraid it's begun, Luna," Celestia states, her voice utterly flat.

Curious, Luna retracts her wing from you to inspect, while you take a side step to get the complete picture that Celestia has seen.

The front edge of her wing still has some blue – but the oddity you take note of now is the limb looks... bigger? Not that it sticks out in a comical fashion – it's subtle but noticeable.

"So it has," Luna mutters in a rather bitter voice, unfurling the other wing for comparison. At this point, they are virtually matches. "I guess the pain wasn't stress after all," Luna notes to you, forcing a hint of a smile. It doesn't do much to hide the utter disappointment contained in those eyes.

"I'm sorry Luna," Celestia quietly apologizes, stepping forward and consoling her sister with a nuzzle. "I believe this may be the latest the transformation has ever begun, though. I suppose that is something positive."

"It sounds more like an attempt to grasp at straws if I am to be quite blunt about it," Luna responds. But she at least returns the loving gesture. "Thank you anyway."

"Be strong, Lu. You will get through this, just as always," Celestia adds before stepping aside.

Directly in front of you.

"Though I already know the answer, I'll ask again - are you certain you want to stay?" There is a hint of sadness emanating from Celestia with her question – both in voice and expression. Clearly, she carried hope in the idea your presence alongside Luna would make a far greater difference.

"I'm here to the end."

Celestia leans in, nuzzling the side of your face. "Take care of her and yourself, Anonymous," she whispers in your ear. "When it comes to that point, listen to your heart - not her words. Be strong."

"Bet on it." You pat the side of her neck before she retreats.

"I best get going. Sister, rest assured I will care for the moon as you do," she says.

"Of course. Good night, Tia."

You nod at Celestia, who summons up a nod and a faint smile of reassurance. With that, Celestia once again disappears.

Meanwhile, Luna shuffles back toward the oak tree, pausing for a moment before flopping down unceremoniously.

You don't know if you've ever seen her look this defeated.

She flares her wings out again, inspecting them as if hoping her eyes have played tricks on her. You head over to join her, hoping you can say something to brighten her mood. It may be a tall order, now that the faint hope everyone had banked on seems to be gone in an instant.

"You okay?"

Sitting down beside her, Luna's discolored wing gently pushes you more toward her, which you're more than welcome to oblige. You end up leaning against Luna's barrel, her wing spread over you like a makeshift canopy. If it weren't for the scenario that's led to these changes, you'd comment on how beautiful her wings look with the fading patterns of color.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she answers, her voice filled with disappointment. "I guess even though I was trying not to get my hopes up, I still ended up crashing."

"I know." You extend your arm and hand out, grasping Luna's front right hoof. Just holding it, lightly squeezing it, before using your thumb to caress the frog in a loving manner. A way of saying you're still here for her without using the tired old phrase.

"I suppose this has been a bit better than normal," Luna says after a short period of silence between you.

"What has?" You sit upright, turning yourself to direct your full focus upon your wife.

"The talking. Spending time with you, with Celestia. The little bit of back and forth we've had today," she clarifies, barely above a whisper. But the inflection sparks a hint of fondness and desperately needed happiness in her expression, as well as her words.

"Yeah, your sis was pretty embarrassed about the implications of the coin she gave me."

"Serves her right for trying to be a voyeur," Luna snickers.

You share a laugh with her on that quip.

"Usually I'm just alone the whole time, waiting..." she murmurs. "It's maddening, knowing what is going to come, and being unable to do anything but pass the time."

"Told you I should be here," you remind her, booping her nose with a finger.

"Be sure to heed my sister's advice, Moose."

"Hm?" The sudden cold shift in tone catches you by surprise.

"I heard what Celestia said to you. Know you will always have my heart. Do not let anything that I may say when I am... not myself - do not listen to me."

"I know, Lu. I'd like to think there's still some hope me being here is gonna make a difference. Let's focus on that thought instead."

Luna nods while you lean forward and kiss her on the cheek. Before you can back away, she returns and one-ups your gesture, her soft lips pressing against yours. Not a smooch of passion, but gratitude.

"Thank you," she says after you separate. "You're right, there's still a chance."