Cryo-7

by Metal Pony Fan


Rosa Luna

A lone, greying mare sat in front of a glowing terminal. The room around her sat in the dark as she sorted through real estate listings. She didn't want to move, but there were more important factors at play than her own desires.

With a sigh, she looked around the room. Fourty-seven years worth of knick-knacks, photographs, and sentimental baubles cluttered the bookshelves. Her office at work was in much the same condition. Five decades at the same job will do that to you.

Tired of digging through grandiose descriptions of boring apartments, she switched off her monitor. It took a few blinks for the light to fade from her eyes, more with every passing year it seemed. Once it was gone, she stared at her reflection.

Her mane was down, greying black hair permanently curled from tying it into a tight bun all the time. Her glasses, slowly, but surely, growing thicker with each new prescription, balanced on her nose just so. "How many years has it been since I switched frames?"

Another reflection appeared beside hers, the same face, bun drawn up, and makeup flawless. "Three," it answered quietly.

With a yelp, the older mare jerked sideways in her chair, dumping herself out on the floor. If she was a few decades older, she might have just had a heart attack instead. But, as it was, she picked herself up rather quickly, chuckling as she recovered. "You would think I would be used to that by now, wouldn't you?"

"One would expect," answered the doppelganger as she retrieved the old mare's glasses. She waited for her to finish dusting off before delicately placing them on her snout. "I saw the screen. Are you selling the apartment?"

"I think so." The old mare adjusted her glasses with a smile. "And it's all your fault, you know."

"My fault? However so?"

"I was planning to keep the apartment when I moved offworld, so I had somewhere to stay when I visited. But now that my family's moving here, I want a bigger place for the twins to play when they visit, something with a garden. And I can't justify keeping two apartments in the same city."

The doppelganger nodded slowly, as shadows engulfed her. "An unforeseen consequence." A larger pony stepped out of the cloud of darkness, lighter in color than the previous form, but much more youthful in appearance. She towered over the old mare as she crouched beside her, wrapping her wing around her aging form. "I apologize."

"No apologies needed, Luna." She smiled up at the alicorn. "It's good to know that even you can't foresee everything."

"Everything?" Luna shook her head. "We can barely foresee anything. We plan, and we stick to those plans, no matter what happens. Stubbornness, not foresight explains the outcome."

"Does it though?" The old mare walked away from the night princess, heading for the kitchen. She had some tea sitting from earlier. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've already broken from your plan. Silver was supposed to take my place, a younger form for you to take, so that you could explain away use of more powerful abilities."

Luna followed the older mare, setting out glasses for her as she retrieved honey to sweeten the tea. "She still may, if you tire of serving as my herald."

"Never, Luna, never." The old mare shook her head as she poured the tea. She held out a cup of tea, already sweetened. "I would serve until my last breath if you will it, and my end would be a happy one."

"Thank you, Rosa." Luna took the cup, and took a sip. It was cool from sitting out, but sweetened exactly how she would have done it herself. "Perfect, as always."

"Glad to hear it." Rosa started sweetening her own, adding much more honey than went in the alicorn's cup. "How was the shopping trip with Chryssy?"

"Quite fun," Luna answered with a smile. "I believe you would enjoy Stormy's company. If we were to arrange another excursion, and I take another form, would you join us?"

"I might like that. It would give me a chance to get new glasses." The old mare took a sip of her tea. "Do you remember the first time you offered me tea?"

Luna nodded. "You threw it in my face, after begging me not to eat you."

Rosa laughed. "Oh, what foal I was back then."

"One does literally count as a foal at age four," Luna pointed out. "It was my fault for transforming first."

"No, it was your fault for adopting the filly who was in time out, and for biting the last pair of prospective parents no less."

Luna nodded. "Yes, it must be said, we almost walked by, but when you looked back, your eyes..." The alicorn shrugged. "As you've said, we can't foresee everything. I most certainly did not foresee myself becoming captivated by a little filly giving me the stink eye from her corner, but it happened."

"And I am grateful that it did." Rosa sighed and looked at the wall. Even in here, there were pictures and clutter. Framed photos lined the walls, photos of her and her family, herself with the many students she taught over the years, and even articles of students that went on to make names for themselves in their fields. "I wouldn't have this otherwise."

After a moment of letting her eyes wander the pictures, Rosa looked back at Luna. "I've never had the nerve to ask you this before, but with the twins on the way, I've had time to sit and think about it. How many others have there been? Like me? Adopted off of small planets to serve as your herald?"

Luna set her tea down before answering. "There have been many heralds, and there will be many more after you. But, most of them were like Silver, adults, who, by various circumstances learn the truth of this galaxy, and choose to serve as my double. Others were hired, paid generously to play the part for a few years, and retire early. Though, many of them eventually chose to stay beyond their original contracts. I never took foals for this purpose."

Luna wrapped her wing around the older mare. The unchanging princess had watched her grow, and watched her grow old. She had learned much from this mare, and understood her sister better now because of it. She knew that she would one day have to say her goodbyes, and that day was sooner than she wanted. But, she would watch over Rosa's family until the end of time.

"I was only at your orphanage to interview the nutritionist. They applied to teach at the academy, and my herald at the time was out with a cold. I was never looking for you, never planning on you, yet found you all the same." Luna leaned down. In the seventy-four years she had known Rosa, she couldn't recall a time she wasn't standing over her. But, that was fine. "I have had many heralds, serving as my replacement when I am away." She kissed the top of the old mare's head. "I have only one daughter."