The Church of the Half Moon

Sleep Walk

Genesis Fae, the younger sister to Seraph Shine Twinkle, and daughter to Radiance and Dove Whisper. A small mare, a quiet mare, who's hair was pulled into two parts, tied with ribbons by her mother, Dove, used to use as decoration for her garbs. She collected them, she loved how they felt even when they frayed with age. When she decorated her mane with it, she pulled the sheet off the mirror. Looking at her frail bloated body. She would try to curl her mane around her hoof pretending it did scrunch away in different directions. No, it would stay in ringlets, like Seraph’s pretty mane. Sometimes she would pull it flat, like Monotones… Her mane was simple, a single dark color, yet shiny. She was like a porcelain doll with her big, pale eyes, round face, and a laugh that bubbled like soda pop. Every pony knew her, not just by name, even a filly like Fae. Going to school was her favorite, Monotone would sit next to her, pass her notes with small letters. Fae could smell the citrus and herbs on her.

Even her scars were pretty. She once had wings, cut off before she could be tainted by the sun. Normally, the thought of winged ponies horrified Fae, but somehow, with Monotone, it was different.

“Nothing interesting happens in this town,” Monotone said,

“Well, isn't that a good thing?” Replied Fae,

Mono sighed, the filly’s eyes drifting to the window. The teacher had left like she often did, leaving the two alone. Fae stepped closer, placing her head on top of the other's back, closing her eyes as she baked on her sun kissed skin. Monotone glanced back at the smaller unicorn, her body fizzling as she giggled.

“I knew you would say it,”

“Am I that predictable?”

“Oh absolutely!”

There it was again, that soda pop laugh, with dimples framing her smile. Fae wrapped her hooves around Monotone’s neck, pulling her down a bit as she settled against her. She felt so grateful for these moments, for the way Monotone’s fur laced with hers, for the way their breaths synced. Monotone brushed Fae’s mane back with her hooves, flattening her ears before they sprang back up. The wind blew against the chimes outside, just enough to make them sing.

But time brought change. While Monotone revealed in the unfamiliar, catching onto any excitement with a grin, Fae remained by her side, snipping at her ankles. Even as adults, Fae felt most at peace when those pale eyes were on her, during those special moments when they shed their faces—their perfect little secret.

Then she ruined it.

“Your sister has a new scar,” Monotone said one day,

“...How would you know that?”

“Oh, last night she was at my house,”

“She was now,”

“Poor mare fell splat! Face right into the corner of the counter, luckily her mask didn't have harm come to it, nothing water and some bandages can't fix,”

“Oh.”

“That's really the only knews I have,”

She had to share those blue eyes, with her husband,

“Anyways how about you?”

With her children.

“Fae?”

And now her sister. Who else intrudes on their sacred secret? “Oh pardon me, do you usually spend that kind of time with her?”

“Hm? Oh! Yes, she comes by every other crescent Moon to lead me in prayers for a child, but she's a charmer! So I sometimes invite her over while I sew, Speaking of children, how is your little girl?”

“Another? Haven't you had three already?”

“Well of course! I can't get enough of their baby cheeks, so smoosh wooshie-able,”

“They are a hoof full, if I didn't have you with Picpuck, I wouldn't know what to do,”

“Really? She was such a good kid, I'm surprised you haven't had more,”

“You'd be surprised, the children called her the sun before she fixed her act,”

“You know just as I how cruel they can be,”

Monotone sipped her tea, her ear twitched towards the curtains covering the windows. Children laughing outside faintly ran in her ears.

“what if you had another child? Ours could get married!” Monotone only meant this in passing, “Then we would have even more excuses to goof off with one another,”

“...You're right,” yet Fae took it to heart,

Hearing her laugh grace her ears once more. How it took over the scene like reins on a wagon. It got every ponies attention and got them to smile, it could be felt even under the mask.

Now, the house was quiet, the laughter faded, leaving only echoes in the walls. Genesis sat alone on the same worn sofa where they had once shared secrets and dreams many moons ago. Alone in the house with her youngest off on their extended promise week with his dad. Monotone's voice faded into those walls, sometimes looping around like the gramophone Monotone was so insistent on playing. Replaced with only a humming of pipes, and the empty space she used to occupy. Running her hoof over the cushion, she pressed into the fibers. If she focused she could see her still there, telling her things about the village she heard before. Her presence is like a dream. Waiting for her to walk out those doors so she could finally wake up, her hoof steps were long forgotten a mere fairy tale.

Her figure stayed faint when others were around. Yet by herself Monotone became so vivid. Like a stray puppy, Genesis retraced Monotone’s steps. Back and forth in the stone house. Sometimes she was young, spacing off as she snooped around her parents home, other's she was an adult. Her mask black and white with blue cornflower moons on her cheeks. Her dresses are frilly and soft. Her sleeves are delicate.

Then, there are times where she'd stand upright in the corner of her room, legs twisted like mangled tree roots. Her porcelain face shattered with red painting her like smeared makeup. Her eyes remained, glaring.