A Love to Endure an Eclipse

"Come on, this spot up here will be perfect!"

"Slow down – I'm almost ninety, you know!"

Luna cackles at your pitiful joke while you struggle to keep up with her torrid trot. "And I'm thirteen hundred thirty-nine come next month – your excuse is invalid!" she playfully taunts, prancing circles around you.

"Okay, so you're used to being old."

"Funny – you still look like the vibrant twenty-five-year-old I married."

"It's the best excuse I could come up with aside from noting you have two more legs than me, Lu."

You get another giggle from your wife as she brushes against you affectionately. "We're almost there, just the top of this hill," she encourages you.

Way out in the wilderness of Equestria, you and Luna have been hiking for the better part of two hours, finding that perfect spot. Celestia should be along soon – if she hasn't already beaten you two.

You can't blame Luna for being so enthusiastic, and it is endearing to see. She's been talking about this trip for months now, and it wouldn't surprise you if it has been on her mind for years.

Finally the two of you reach the end of the dirt path as the crest comes into view...

You know this place.

The oak tree. The rock that erupts from the ground near the edge of the cliff. And as you draw closer, you recognize the valley down below.

"I take it you remember?" Luna asks, making you realize your mouth is agape.

"I do. It would be a little hard to forget, even if it was fifteen years ago," you admit. "Well, there was also the last time, when we came to the conclusion your feelings about the darkness were right."

"My sister and I used to frequent this place whenever a major astronomical event took place – the view is incredible, and there are no lights to be seen for miles."

"So you two made that little place in the Aether a reminder of—"

"Happier times, yes," Luna finishes, a twinkle in her eye as her wings envelop you. "To be quite honest, I had forgotten this was a real spot in our world. I suppose time tainted that memory, when seeing these features meant three days of—" Luna cuts herself off, shaking her head.

"Yeah. Crazy to know this is a real place."

"Celestia reminded me earlier this year, and we both agreed to make time to make this trip again."

"Look out below!" Coincidentally, Celestia's voice rings out from above as she glides in, flaring out to stop on a dime right in front of you two.

"Perfect timing Tia - we just arrived!" Luna cheers.

"Ugh, I was getting concerned I'd be more delayed than I was; it seems like everypony in Equestria wanted an audience with me at the last moment" Celestia sighs, following it up with a stress-relieving laugh. "But I would have found an excuse to get out of there. I've been looking forward to this since... well, I suppose since the last eclipse. Once we realized there would be no transformation."

"You too?"

"Of course!" Celestia exclaims, stepping beside her little sis and giving her a playful hip check. "I think this has a lot more significance for you than me being able to celebrate an eclipse together again - but this has still been marked on my calendar for a long time."

"I've seen your calendar – with all the crap you have written on it, I'm surprised you can find anything," you comment.

Celestia chuckles as she swipes at your chest with one of her wings. Her feathers merely brush against you, but you still pretend like it hurts.

"Should we have a seat, sister? I feel we're nearing showtime," Luna interrupts, giddiness clearly beginning to overwhelm her as she trots in place. It's fantastic to see her so excited, especially when such an event in the past would have brought a sense of dread for her.

No more.

With an equally enthusiastic nod from Celestia, all three of you climb up on top of the rocky plateau and sit down, with you on the right of Luna, and big sis to her left.

Luna's soft plumage urges you to draw closer, and you don't hesitate to oblige. In addition, Celestia's even wider wingspan lets her just reach behind you as well as Luna.

"Whenever you're ready, Lulu."

With a smile that can hardly be constrained to her face, Luna's horn begins to glow. In the sky, the moon appears above the horizon and slowly ascends toward its sibling.

You look back over at Luna before the eclipse officially begins. Tears have begun to well up in her turquoise eyes.

"Hey, none of that now," you console Luna, putting your arm around her back and giving her a tight squeeze.

"It's been so long since I've been able to not only witness this myself, but to grace Equestria with a beautiful solar eclipse under my ministrations. I never thought I would have the chance of either ever again," she replies, as a bead of moisture breaks away to fall down her cheek.

But her smile hasn't diminished in the slightest. You brush that pesky tear away from her cheek and give that area a smooch as the skies begin to darken.

"You did it, Luna."

"You helped me, Moose."

All attention turns back to the heavens as the moon essentially engulfs the sun – leaving a brilliant halo of fire around the dark silhouette.

You still can't get over how staring at the sun or an eclipse without protection is perfectly fine here.

Luna leans in and nuzzles you affectionately. "I can never thank you enough."

"Considering I get to wake up next to you every day, spend my life with you... I'd say we're even."

"That was terrible!" Celestia exclaims in response to a comment you would admit was quite cheesy. Despite her struggle, she is unable to keep a straight face, letting a smile crack through her supposed displeasure

"I liked it. It was cute," Luna comments in response to her sister, sticking her tongue out before turning to face you. She nuzzles you, pausing just long enough to allow you to pepper her snoot with a few kisses.

"Maybe eventually, I'll figure out how to not have such horrible lines, Cel," you comment, looking back at her – pausing to stick out your tongue. "But she liked it, so I guess it's gonna take a while longer to learn what's bad."

She shakes her head but has completely given up on trying to keep a facade of disappointment as she bleps her tongue childishly in response. "Well, I suppose I can take the good with the bad," she relents with a giggle. "I don't have to cover for Luna's absence now."

"Ah man, we could have used that to our advantage, Lu – a quick transformation spell to the dark one, and we would have a vacation," you whine in jest.

But Luna shakes her head. "I look forward to presiding tonight, knowing it is not a chance I had until now," she answers with a coy smile.

"Ugh, I married into a family of workaholics." Laughter rings out from the pair of sisters as you cross your arms and pout in exaggerated fashion.

"Oh come on, is it really that bad?" Luna asks.

"... I guess not. At least you two make life entertaining behind the scenes."

"Our little secret, though," Celestia hums with a smirk, turning her nose up toward the sky.

"Yeah, no shit. Equestria wouldn't be the same if they knew what you two were like to live with."

You get a pair of wings to whap you for that as giggles ring out, in time with the moon beginning to ease away for the sun to peek through once more.

"Perhaps you're just a bad influence on us, Moose," Luna chides with a wry grin, sticking her nose up just like her sister did moments ago.

"Indeed," Celestia chimes in, adding a hmph at the end.

"Maybe. Guess the cuddles are gonna have to end, Moonbutt."

"Never!" she gasps, turning to throw her forelegs and wings around you.

"Hm. A very good counterpoint," you muse, looking up at Celestia. "Your thoughts?"

"I don't think I'll ever know what the hay Lulu first saw in you," she says, shaking her head. But Celestia pauses the thought to lean down and nuzzle you and Luna. "But I'm glad you're family."

Up in the sky, the sun fully reappears, while the moon eases back to her rightful place for now.

Beyond the horizon, and in your arms.