//------------------------------// // Day V // Story: I'll Huff and I'll Puff // by Acologic //------------------------------// It was not dark. Celestia could not lower the sun, whose presence she did not feel; Luna could not raise the moon, whose absence she did not feel. Nevertheless, it was dimmer – as though the sky corresponded to the passengers’ collective state of mind. Cadence snored against a hay sack; Rapidfire kipped under a blanket that Luna had conjured. The other balloon was silent, its occupants fast asleep. Luna yawned. ‘Getting colder,’ she said, adjusting her blanket. Celestia stretched her neck. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘And clearer. See there? The clouds are starting to thin.’ ‘Oh – yeah.’ ‘Good news, let’s hope.’ Celestia yawned too and reached for her flask. She sipped her tisane, still warm. ‘Tirek in the morning?’ ‘Good idea. I checked the skirt, and there’s no sign of magic. Can’t wrap my head around it. No response from Twilight?’ Celestia shook her head sadly. ‘Nothing.’ Luna grinned. Celestia sighed. ‘Luna.’ ‘What?’ ‘Stop smiling.’ ‘Stop smiling? Why would I do that?’ ‘Because it isn’t funny.’ ‘Who said it was funny?’ ‘You didn’t say, but you certainly implied!’ ‘Come off it, Sister. You should smile more. It’s good for you. It’s good for everypony. It’s harder to feel sad when you smile.’ ‘Is it? Weren’t you telling me just the other day about forced smiles?’ ‘Touché. OK, you have me there – though in my case it isn’t forced.’ ‘Yes, I know! And that’s precisely why I told you to stop! Because it isn’t funny.’ Luna grinned more widely. ‘And that’s what makes me want to smile even more! We’ve done OK here, really. It’s been good so far. Come on, Sister; it’s been fun. Food, drink, rest, relaxation. No responsibilities. A real lark, as Tirek put it.’ Sometimes Celestia did not understand her sister. To her the idea of laughing in the face of danger was inane, a comic-book fantasy. Luna appeared to find it not only appropriate but obligatory. In the previous days Celestia had observed that the more serious their situation became the more Luna revelled in its desperation. This forced her to take it even more seriously. ‘If you can materialise objects, can you materialise ponies?’ she asked. ‘What?’ ‘Well, Luna? Can you?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘Ponies are more complex. Too complex for me.’ ‘What does that mean?’ ‘I can’t perform the spell.’ Celestia sighed and sipped her tisane again. ‘Of course. And why would you?’ For the first time Luna frowned slightly. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘You’re clearly having a good time. Why go back? That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? Why return to day-to-day life when you can be stuck here instead? But for how long, Luna? Hmm? How long until you realise you have to go back, until you realise the gimmick is over?’ Luna digested this quietly. Celestia shook her head. ‘I think we could solve this, you and I. And Cadence. There are other ponies besides us, to whom we have a responsibility. And though we wouldn’t have made it this far without you, we’re playing games now? Making jokes? Counting cards? What is this, Luna?’ ‘I don’t know. But neither do you.’ Luna fixed her sister squarely. ‘And don’t talk to me about responsibility. What have you done that I haven’t? Come to think of it, have you done anything at all? Other than point hooves and whine about nothing.’ ‘About nothing? Nothing, Luna?’ ‘Sorry.’ Luna turned away – and turned back, her eyes strained. ‘Can’t you ever just enjoy something, Sister? For what it is?’ To this query Celestia did not respond. In it she sensed a depth of emotion that she had not heard before. For a moment she held her breath. Luna had moved on: she closed her eyes. Pop! Two cigars plopped into the basket – thick and fragrant, with branded bands. Celestia raised her brow. ‘Imperials?’ ‘Of course.’ ‘Luna, we can’t –’ ‘There it is again, Sister! “Can’t”! Well, why not?’ ‘When have you ever smoked?’ ‘I haven’t – but how about we have this one together? Just this one, Sister. Just this once.’ Celestia picked up the nearest Imperial and sniffed. ‘Motherwort?’ Luna grinned. ‘From the grape roads. So, what do you say?’ Celestia sighed. She nodded. ‘OK, Luna. OK. You win – just this once. And you had better summon up some matches. If my fire spell is imprecise, then yours is –’ ‘Faultless,’ said Luna, igniting both with her horn. Celestia snorted. ‘Since when are you so polished? Luna! I’ll have to practise!’ Grinning, Celestia puffed on her Imperial. ‘Huh.’ She blew out and frowned. ‘It’s like – chewing on a strange tisane. Does that make sense?’ ‘Guess I’ll find out.’ Luna drew on hers and choked, spluttering. Celestia laughed. ‘Now who’s not enjoying it!’ ‘Heck, it’s like molten metal!’ ‘You’re supposed to let it touch the back of your mouth. Then you exhale. Luna, really. What a fool you make of yourself sometimes.’ She smiled. ‘You make me laugh.’ Luna grinned, her face a portrait of triumph and affection. ‘Well, that’s good, Sister. That’s great. I did say to smile was to find sadness difficult. So, what’s the plan?’ ‘The plan, Luna?’ ‘Yeah, the plan! For getting out of here.’ ‘Oh, so you’re interested now?’ ‘I always was. I just wanted everypony to calm down a little. That’s the power of a good game or a funny joke, Sister. Ponies relax. You could use a little distraction more than most! Ugh!’ She choked again and gave a hacking cough. ‘Ooh, it’s horrible!’  Celestia choked on her own Imperial, she was laughing so hard. ‘Come on,’ she wheezed upon recovery. ‘My plan is that we get some sleep.’ They tossed their half-finished cigars over the edge of the basket and beamed at each other.