//------------------------------//
// Chapter 28 
// Story: Those Distant Sisters 
// by Rettro 
//------------------------------//

Lone hoofbeats echoed across the sun goddess’ chambers, met only with their own echo as Celestia paced in the moonlight. She had gained some time away from her guard now that the immediate ‘threat to Equestria’ was over. The guard had a way of making even the slightest event sound disastrous. But it was disastrous, Celestia thought to herself. I do not wish to lose my sister again, but could I be pushing her away with all this control? Celestia had been tormenting herself over the past week’s events. She tried to sleep, trusting her sister to control the kingdom for the night, but her mind would not stay calm. 

The tall white mare approached her chamber door, intent on pacing the halls of the castle. She stopped just short of placing her hoof on the handle at some sound beyond it. That guard will never give up will he? I suppose he’s just trying to protect me in light of recent events but does my opinion mean nothing?Celestia stood silent for a moment. How can I ask this of him when I act for Luna without asking her... With that, the goddess of the sun took flight from her window, careful to approach her sister without her guard becoming suspicious. 

Celestia’s hoofbeats rang out into Luna’s observatory. The dark goddess paid her no heed, instead alternating her telescope between the vacant streets of Canterlot and the starry sky above. 

“I am glad they still sleep through the night, sister.” Luna’s voice cast loud through the night air. “Those who are awake simply add number to the stars I must watch. You may not see them shine when all is bathed in the light of the sun, but now… everypony in Equestria shines so brightly.” Celestia walked toward her sister, confused by the comment. “Not just Equestria either. I have been well aware of the light on the horizon for some time now. I had always thought that those lights belonged to the griffin, or the zebra, or one of the dozens of other nations which we relate with. Now I see that there is more to this world than we could possibly believe before.” Luna turned away from her telescope and toward her sister. “Why have you come here sister, should you not be sleeping?”

“I thought you’d be happy to see me.” Celestia said. Luna’s only response was to return to her telescope. “I have been thinking of the events of the past few days. I believed it was my duty to protect this nation by protecting you. I see now that I may have been wrong.” Luna did not speak. “Luna, I do not want to lose you again. I fear that in my efforts to protect you, I may be doing just that.” Celestia stood next to Luna, watching the city. Luna stood with a cool conviction while Celestia stared blankly. As time passed, she began to sweat. “Luna… please tell me I’m wrong. I don’t want to lose you.” 

“But you will.” Celestia nearly fell over.

“What? No!” Celestia jumped forward, grabbing her sister. “I can’t lose you again, Luna. What do I have to do to keep you here?” Luna, seeing that her sister was on the verge of tears, finaly returned her embrace. 

“It’s getting dark.” Celestia looked around. It was already the dead of night and the moon shone brightly overhead. When she looked back Luna had returned to her telescope. “The light on the horizon, in the direction they flew. It’s been dimming for a while now.” Luna stepped away from her telescope, sighing deeply. “You don’t want to lose me, and I don’t want to lose them.”

The two met eyes.

“We have to fix this.”