//------------------------------// // She's Not So Bad // Story: Foalhood Days // by KayeStar //------------------------------// Hours deep into the night, the family had easily fallen asleep, particularly Eos. Luna slept next to her in a small basket while Astraios slept near Celestia in a nearby bed. Not even a lullaby had been needed to get Celestia to sleep. After the events of the day, sleep was nothing short of welcome. Continuous sleep was preferred, however. It was still a long way from dawn when Celestia found herself shaken awake by an unpleasant dream. She snuggled herself closer to her father and tried to return to sleep, but she woke up awake merely thirty minutes later. Usually, sleeping with her parents warded off any night troubles, but perhaps staying overnight in a place that wasn't home made remaining asleep difficult. She looked over to her mother, who still looked worn out from her point of view, despite having been asleep for hours now. Slowly, she moved herself from beneath her father's hoof and crept off the bed, being cautious not to make even the slightest sound. One good thing about being normally wild and hyper was the ease of fooling her parents when she wanted to be stealthy. She learned long ago stealth had its usefulness. Once she was sure her steps on the floor hadn't stirred either of her parents, she walked to her mother's bed. again being cautious not to make a sound as she climbed into it. Her parents would probably be upset if they knew what she was doing, but since she couldn't get back to sleep and they were practically passed out, it was an opportunity hard to pass up. She peeked into the basket. Despite the room was dark, she could see her newborn sister somewhat well. The baby was still asleep, eyes tightly shut, and curled up. She had barely moved since she was born just those hours ago. Celestia again glanced between her mother and father. She felt a twinge of anxiety, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. She slowly slipped her hooves into the basket and beneath the foal's body. When she didn't move, Celestia picked her up and cradled her in her own hooves. She climbed off her mother's bed and used her wings to hover just an inch off the floor. Teleporting or flying quickly would make noise, and she didn't want to risk waking her parents. Instead, she hovered out of the room and downstairs. Only when she was outside of the door, and the building, did she drop her stealth and fly upwards. She seated herself on the facility's roof, as she would do on the roof of her home when she was using it as a slide. But she wasn't sliding tonight. The roof was flat, so it wasn't usable as a slide anyway, or the idea would've come to her mind if she came alone. Certain she'd made a quiet getaway, she returned her attention to the merely-hours-old being she brought along for the ride. At first, she simply gazed at her in silence, admiring her as she was when her parents were trying to select a name. Celestia knew what babies looked like, so why did she keep staring like she'd never seen one before? "Luna?" she whispered. She paused, as if subconsciously hoping for a response. "I'm Celestia. I'm your... your big sister." It felt silly to do. She knew Luna couldn't hear her, and even if Luna could hear, she couldn't understand. Yet, she felt the need to continue. "You're, uh, really little. Littler than lots of babies. But you're kind of cute. I think your spots are pretty." She poked gently at Luna's black marks. A small wave of sadness washed over her and she held Luna closer without meaning to. "You're really scaring us. That pony told Mother they didn't know if you were okay. Mother was sick for a long time with you in her belly. And she's really happy to have you. And Father is too. And I don't think you're so bad. So, maybe you can stay with us? Please?" She looked up to the moon and down at Luna again. This wasn't making her feel better, Luna couldn't hear her, and she was struggling to find more to say. Yet, something seemed to compel her to go on with it. "The moon is small and pretty. Like you. If you stay with us, I'll... I'll... I'll watch the moon with you every night. I'll do... whatever big sisters do. Like... I'll show you how slide on the roof! I'll teach you how sneak dessert! I'll tell you secrets! We... we really love you, Luna. So, pretty please stay with us?" She began singing a lullaby, one her mother often sang to her to put her to sleep, while changing the words a little. Sleep, my tiny sister Feel peace throughout the night I'll be by your side No need for worry or fright Celestia felt her hoof bump. Did Luna move? She looked as still as she had been, so Celestia didn't think much of it and continued singing. Over you, the drowsiness creeps Let it carry you to sleep A watch over you, I'll keep Here by the moonlight The end of her song was met with light whimpering and wiggling. Luna was moving! Soon, a full-fledged cry erupted from the newborn. Panicking, Celestia tried to calm her. She hadn't meant to upset Luna. "Celestia, what are you doing?!" A look of dread came over her face as she turned to face her angry parents, who were running over. Before either could say more, they paused in shock at seeing their newborn foal crying in Celestia's arms. "I-I'm sorry!" Celestia cried, nearing tears herself. "I just wanted to hold her for a while! I-I was singing and... I didn't know she'd wake up!" "You... you woke your sister?" Astraios asked. Luna began to quiet down, her wail lowering to small, sputtered ones. She was still again, but her eyes were open as she continued making her existence heard. She was very much alive. Celestia passed Luna to their mother, who cradled her. Their parents were fighting back their own tears. Luna would survive. She was okay. "Are you m-mad?" Celestia asked. "No," Eos assured her. "We are happy. Celestia, whatever you did, it let us know your sister is okay. She's coming home with us. All will be okay." Eos placed Luna in Celestia's hooves again. Celestia was surprised, but happily held the tiny foal again. Luna's wails were now reduced to a bit of whimpering. Celestia held her tightly with one hoof and gently caressed her face with the other. When she put it close enough to Luna's mouth, Luna quieted completely and sucked on it. "Looks like she's hungry," Eos said. But when Celestia tried to return her to their mother, Luna whimpered again. Eos gently pushed Celestia's hooves back toward her and held one of Celestia's hooves next to Luna's face. Luna held it with her own tiny hooves, yawned, and fell asleep again. "Would you look at that?" Astraios joked. "Dear, I think our Luna has a favorite." "I agree," Eos teased. "Oh, but Celestia, if you don't want her, we could still take her out of your hooves." Celestia only blushed and returned her attention to Luna. "I guess she's not so bad." "Sure. Not so bad," Astraios repeated softly to his wife, both laughing quietly. But they decided they wouldn't keep teasing her about it. They certainly couldn't complain she came around, nor could they be prouder.