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// Present Day 
// Story: Hidden in Darkness's embrace 
// by Dollie 
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Luna silently sat at the dining room table as she rolled a piece of potato around her plate with a fork. She was severely conscious of the staff members fearful gaze and the guards cautious and alert stance towards her.She turned her head towards her sister, who was talking to Cadence. Luna had met her a few days ago when Celestia was introducing her to a "new addition" to the royal family. Cadence, who was said to be her niece, was a very caring individual. Luna somewhat envied her warmth and confidence. 
"Tia... May I be excused from the dinner table?" Celestia and Cadence looked towards the lunar princess in a seemingly confused manner.
"But Lulu you barely even touched your food?" Celestia said with a slight frown. Concern evident in her voice."You haven't really said much either auntie... Are you alright?" Cadence added in a caring tone.
Luna paused for a moment. She was anything but alright. She had so many thoughts, regrets and sorrows swarming in her head like they were ready to burst at any given moment. "I'm alright you two. I'm just tired is all. I think I will retire to my room early if that's alright." Luna had noticed Celestia exploring into her eyes, looking for something, any sign of distress from the younger sibling. The sun princess sighed in a defeated manner. "We will see you tomorrow then little sister..."
With that, Luna got up and made a silent retreat to her chambers. Celestia rubbed her temples in silent frustration. "Auntie what's wrong?" Cadence asked confusingly, words laced in slight concern.
"It's Luna. She's been like this for the past week. I know she's been nervous around our staff and she still feels guilty... But theres something else... There's something she's not telling me and I don't know how to get her to open up to me." Cadence tilted her head slightly. "How do you know she's hiding something?"
"I'm her sister dear Cadence. I know her by now. She keeps her distance when she has her little secrets and she always wears a mask to hide her true emotions" Celestia explained. " I'm worried about her... I want to be someone she could feel comfortable around and rely on when she needs to vent her problems. I feel like such a terrible sister..." droplets of tears fell from the regal sun monarch's face and onto the table.
Cadence got up and hugged Celestia and wiped the tears from her eyes. "You are not a bad sister. It has only been a couple of weeks and she's still adjusting. When she's ready to open up, you will be the first person she will tell." Celestia sniffled a bit and looked at her niece. "I hope you're right..."
On the other side of the castle
Luna had closed her door and locked it before silently going to her bathroom and washing her face. She took a good look at herself in the mirror. Her expression empty and fatigued yet her eyes were filled with anguish and despair. She decided to shower, hoping that it could relieve some of the tension coursing through her body. 'I just need to relax for a moment...' she thought as she turned on the shower. She remembered Celestia had to teach her how showers were used as she was only accustomed to tubs.
As the warmth of the shower hit her back, it relieved some of the stress from her little dinner situation. She sadly didn't feel much different than a few minutes ago. Luna tried to drown out her thoughts with the sound of the water hitting the shower floor. It worked for a certain amount of time, but not as long as Luna had hoped for. She just accepted the fact that nothing will probably work at this point.
Luna turned the nozzle, shutting off the water, before getting out and grabbing the towel to dry herself. As She walked to the door, She stopped for a moment and looked at herself in the mirror once more. She ran her fingers along the stretch marks on her stomach... Tears fought their way to the surface as the silently poured down her cheek. The marks still seemed pretty recent. Her imprisonment kept her from ageing, meaning everything was like how she was right before banishment.
Luna looked at her reminder of guilt and failure and let out a few choked sobs before supporting herself on the bathroom counter and hiding her face in her arms. How could she tell her sister... That she had a daughter all those years ago. Celestia would only feel worse and blame herself,or get mad at her for having a child in the first place... Luna sobbed freely, hoping that the guards wouldn't hear her from her bathroom.
'I'm so sorry my little angel... I have let you down as not only your mother, but your guardian... I don't know if you've woken up from that deep slumber of yours or... or if our enemies have found you and... and...' luna shivered as she cried harder. 'I pray that the elements have protected you... and as selfish as this may be... kept you as a baby so I can have a second chance at being your mother...I'm so sorry little one... If or when I find you, I promise I won't let you down again. I will do better... '
Later on into the night, after Luna raised her moon, She lied in her bed thinking of her little daughters. How her eyes were such a bold amethyst color and her hair being as white as a fresh blanket of snow. She remembered how her eyes would light up and a smile would quickly appear on the little infants features whenever she saw her mom enter the room. Luna had fund herself smiling a bit. She took comfort in the memories of her little gem.  As her eyes grew heavy and slumber was overcoming the night princess, only one thought remained in her mind.
'I love you my little princess... I hope I can hold you once more...'