Luna

The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The students had gathered on a grassy field near the hotel, where someone had brought a guitar. Cadence sat on a fallen log, her eyes bright as she watched the group.

A senior began strumming a familiar melody, and without hesitation, Cadence joined in with her clear, crystalline voice. Her singing drew everyone’s attention, the sound so natural and captivating that it felt like the whole scene was wrapped in warmth.

Luna, sitting beside her, watched with admiration, as always a bit intimidated by Cadence’s energy. When Cadence finished, she turned to Luna with a playful smile.

“Your turn,” she said, giving her a gentle nudge on the arm.

“Me? No, I can’t,” Luna replied, shaking her head.

“Of course you can. You have a beautiful voice, and I want to hear it,” Cadence insisted, taking Luna’s hand gently.

Hesitant but encouraged by Cadence’s reassuring gaze, Luna took a deep breath and started to sing a simple melody. Her voice was soft and soothing, with a tone that seemed to touch something deep in everyone listening.

When she finished, there was a brief silence before spontaneous applause erupted.

“Luna, you’re amazing,” Cadence said, squeezing her hand. “You should sing more often.”

Luna blushed but couldn’t hold back a small smile. “Thank you.”

The next morning, the students split into groups for various activities. Luna and Cadence joined a group exploring the nearby trails on bicycles. They pedaled through fields of flowers and small groves, the spring breeze cooling their faces.

“I didn’t think biking could be this fun,” Luna admitted, trying to keep pace with Cadence.

“Everything’s more fun with me,” Cadence replied with a mischievous grin.

Later, Luna found a moment of quiet. She sat under a large tree with a book in her hands while Cadence chatted with some classmates. As Luna read, she let the story transport her to a distant world, briefly escaping the chaos around her.

That afternoon, Luna and Cadence wandered through the hotel’s flower garden when a familiar voice called out Cadence’s name.

“Cadence! Hey!”

Cadence turned quickly, her face lighting up with a smile. “Shining?”

A tall boy with dark hair and a warm smile approached. He wore a Crystal Prep sweatshirt, immediately marking him as a student from their rival school.

“I can’t believe I’m running into you here,” Shining Armor said with a laugh.

Cadence laughed as well, stepping closer to greet him. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you with your team?”

Shining shook his head. “No, I’m here on a short trip with my family. It’s great to see a familiar face.”

Luna, who had stayed quiet next to Cadence, observed the scene with curiosity. Shining turned to her with a friendly smile.

“And you must be one of Cadence’s friends,” he said.

“I’m Luna,” she replied timidly.

“Nice to meet you, Luna,” Shining said warmly. “Cadence has talked a lot about her new school and her friends.”

Cadence smiled, glancing down shyly. “Well, it hasn’t been easy adjusting, but I’m glad I’ve found special people.”

As Shining and Cadence continued talking, Luna felt a bit out of place, like she was intruding on a moment between old friends. She couldn’t help but notice how naturally Cadence spoke to Shining, as if they belonged to a different world.

In the late afternoon, a group of students gathered for a picnic on a wide hill overlooking the valley. Blankets were spread out on the grass, covered with baskets of food.

Luna sat next to Cadence, while Celestia was a little farther off with her friends. Discord arrived shortly after, carrying a basket that seemed far too large for one person.

“What’s in there, Discord?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just the essentials,” he replied with a mysterious smile.

He sat down next to Luna, studying her with curious eyes. “You must be Luna,” he said.

Luna nodded, feeling slightly uneasy. “Yes…”

Discord grinned. “Well, it’s obvious you’re Celestia’s sister. You have that same aura of perfection… just a bit darker, perhaps.”

Luna wasn’t sure whether to take it as a compliment or a tease, but Cadence laughed, stepping in to ease the tension.

“Don’t worry, Discord teases everyone,” she said, patting Luna on the shoulder.

“Exactly,” Discord added. “I just enjoy seeing how people react.”

In the end, Luna couldn’t help but smile a little.

That evening, the students gathered around a large bonfire. The flames cast flickering light on their faces, and the gentle spring breeze carried the scent of smoke and earth.

“Who wants to tell a scary story?” one of the teachers asked with an encouraging smile.

“Luna’s great at telling stories,” Cadence said, nudging her toward the fire.

Luna hesitated but eventually stepped forward. She shared a tale of ghosts and cursed castles, using her voice to build suspense. By the end, some students clapped, while others pretended to be terrified.

Cadence beamed at her. “I knew you’d leave everyone speechless.”

Later, back in the hotel’s common room, Luna noticed Cadence sitting on a couch, laughing with Shining Armor. They were deep in conversation, and Luna found herself watching from a distance.

A strange pang settled in her chest, like a weight she couldn’t quite define. It wasn’t jealousy, at least not in the usual sense. It felt more like a sense of detachment, as if she were losing something she hadn’t yet fully understood.

When Cadence returned to their room, Luna asked, “Do you know Shining well?”

Cadence nodded as she removed her earrings. “Yeah, I’ve known him since elementary school. He’s always been kind to me—one of the few who made me feel accepted.”

Luna gave a faint smile. “He seems like a good person.”

Cadence paused, studying Luna carefully. “He is. But you know what? I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite like you.”

Luna looked at her, surprised by those words, but didn’t say anything.