//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten // Story: A Heart Like The Sea // by Drunk Luna //------------------------------// The atmosphere in the dining room was thicker than molasses. All was silent with the exception of the occasional clink of silverware against china. Cassie kept her eyes on her salad. When she finally found the courage to speak, just as she opened her mouth, Edelweiss began to call for Neoma. "I'll get her," Silver offered, starting to stand up. "No, I'll go," Neoma huffed, shoving her chair back. Cassie flinched at the look her sister gave her brother-in-law; Neoma's eyes could have cut diamonds. Celestia cleared her throat as Neoma left the room with Silver in tow. "So," she said, "have we all chosen our dresses for the ball in a few weeks? It's always the highlight of the summer!" The solar princess' hot pink eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, yes, sister!" Luna enthused, clapping her hooves together though she was clearly tense. "I think you will approve of my gown; it sparkles like a starlit sky on a clear evening. What does yours look like, Tia? You don't have to tell us, of course. I'm sure it will be stunning." An uncomfortably long silence followed, disrupted only by muffled shouting from upstairs and the soft sounds of eating. Cassie excused herself and headed up to her bedchamber, wincing at the yelling that echoed from behind the closed door of the room adjacent to hers. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and Silver stormed out into the hallway. Neoma lay on the bed, crying quietly. The thestral alicorn's pink, purple, and ice blue mane was a mess, and her pretty, delicate face was streaked with mascara. Cassie felt her chest clench as she sat down next to her older sister. "What do you want?" Neoma sobbed. Cassie draped her wing around Neoma's shoulders and rubbed her back silently for a few minutes before replying. "If he hurt you, Neoma, I swear to Celestia, I will end his life right now," Cassie whispered, her voice heavy with love and concern for her big sister. Neoma looked up, still crying. She shook her head wordlessly, took a deep breath, then spoke softly. "Silver lied about wanting another foal," she whispered. "He just changed his mind on me after we've spent months trying to get pregnant again. I've been through so many brutal fertility treatments. I put my body through hell because I thought we were on the same page, but no, he suddenly just decided not to have another foal with me. I thought we could use this trip as a way to reconnect. Our marriage has hit a little rough patch..." She trailed off, and Cassie nodded sympathetically, hugging her sister tightly. "I just feel like this is all my fault," Neoma whimpered. "I feel like he's so frustrated with my fertility issues that he's just given up." Her voice caught in her throat, and Cassie nodded, still hugging Neoma. "I would be furious if I were you," Cassie said. "Just go talk to him after everything has blown over. Silver loves you so much, Neoma; give him some time to figure out exactly what he wants. You two will work everything out, and it will all be okay." Cassie hated herself for enjoying her older sister's distress ever so slightly; Neoma was always so perfect, so it felt a little satisfying for Cassie to see the princess of the northern lights in such a vulnerable state. "I shouldn't take any advice from you," Neoma whispered coldly. "You don't know a damn thing about marriage; all you know about are your stupid fish, your whales, your dolphins, and whatever the fuck else you talk to out there in the water all day." Neoma's words were a hard smack to Cassie's face. She gritted her teeth as anger flared in her stomach. "Well, excuse me for not making pretty little lights shows or giving ponies a free dose of magic sleep medicine every night," Cassie snapped. "Some of us have other living, breathing creatures from different species to look after." "You know what, Cass? Fuck you," Neoma spat. "ENOUGH!" Luna's royal Canterlot voice shook the room, causing the crystal chandelier above them to make a soft tinkling sound as she appeared before her daughters in a flash of white light. "If you two are going to act like little fillies, then I will treat you like little fillies. Cassie, go to your room." Cassie stared at her mother, dumbfounded. She opened her mouth to speak, but Luna's glare silenced her. A sob rose in her throat, and she took off toward the door without looking back. Cassie closed her eyes, waiting for Luna's magic to freeze her in place or suspend her in midair so that she could be berated, but nothing happened. She kept running until she was embraced by the sea and the saltwater mingled with her tears. Cassie didn't even look up when she heard the unmistakable sound of an orca surfacing for air. Polaris nuzzled Cassie's side, asking her what was wrong. The young alicorn shook her head and sniffled as she wiped her tears, knowing that not even her dearest friend would understand her plight. The orca let out a soft, concerned whistle, then swam off. Cassie climbed out of the water and lay down on her back on the floating dock that extended from the beach. The warmth of the wood and the rhythmic rocking of the dock relaxed her tense body and anxious mind somewhat. The sound of approaching hooves made her open her eyes and sit up, and all of her tension returned when she saw Luna. "If you're here to lecture me, I'm not going to listen," Cassie groaned as she rolled onto her stomach, tucking her face into the crook of her foreleg. Luna chuckled softly and lay down beside Cassie, then affectionately draped her wing over her daughter's shoulders. "I am not here to do any such thing, Cassiopeia," the lunar princess said gently. "I only want to talk. I know you've heard this from me countless times, my dear, but I understand what you're going through, probably better than anypony else. Having said that," Luna continued, "I want to--" "You want to remind me of what led to your banishment so that Neoma and I will put aside our differences. You don't want me to make the same choices." Cassie sat up and finished her mother's sentence curtly. "I went to school, Mom. All of Equestria knows about your little squabble that changed history, but they don't know the real story; I do, though, because you've told me the same tale since I was born, but you know what, Mom? I. Don't. Care." Her tone became venomous. "I hate her, Mom. She started this; I was trying to make amends. Nothing you say will ever convince me to speak to her again. I refuse. I may be named after a star, but it's impossible for a star to shine when it's surrounded by the northern lights all the time." She flopped onto her back. Luna sighed sadly and nodded, her eyes shining with sympathy. "Why do you think it is necessary for the moon, the stars, and the northern lights to balance their brilliance, my little star?" she asked gently. "Do you think the constellations quarrel with the moon over their positions in the sky? Do they ever accuse the aurora borealis of stealing their thunder? No, they do not, because they know that they each play an indispensable role; though they shine together, each one is no less beautiful than the others. You and Neoma must look at your relationship as if it were the night sky. Shine together and stop comparing each other." "But all I can do is talk to sea creatures," Cassie huffed. "I can only hold conversations with whales and interpret for fish." She looked up at the sky and quickly found the constellation for which she was named. "Why did you name me after a queen who had such a terrible personality?" Luna chuckled and reached out to gently brush an unruly strand of mane from Cassie's face. "Do you want the honest answer?" Luna asked. "I named you Cassiopeia because the constellation resembles a queen sitting on her throne; it is a symbol of power. Regardless of her story, Cassiopeia is still remembered as a great beauty, much like you." Luna smiled. "You, however, are much kinder than your namesake. You have a good heart, my little star. While there is an undeniable fire within you that your sister lacks, you are still so sweet, sensitive, and empathetic, and I think your orcas--the unchallenged rulers of the sea, who are so feared, respected, and admired for their strength and intelligence, but are still so playful, curious, and gentle--know that, and that's why they are drawn to you. They consider you to be one of their own, though you are from a different species. Listen, I know that your sister can be... difficult," Luna sighed, "but can you please just try to get along with her so that we can all enjoy this vacation? I know you're already trying, but I just don't want you to make the same mistakes that I did. Ignore her little digs at you and try to give her some grace, okay? Don't push her to talk to you or try to be her friend again yet; just be patient with her, my sweet, and she'll come around." Cassie nodded and hugged Luna, a renewed sense of strength and confidence rising within her. That night, Silver Shoals was hit by several major thunderstorms. Cassie was kept awake by the relentless crashing of the waves, the hammering of rain and hail against her window, and Edelweiss' constant cries. Frustrated and restless, the alicorn tiptoed into the castle's library and perused the large array of books that lined the shelves. As she was enveloped in the comforting scent of old and new books, leather, and mahogany, Cassie was reminded of her fondness for books. She was a voracious reader, but the sea had kept her attention away from doing virtually anything else since her arrival in Silver Shoals. She grabbed the first romance novel she saw and curled up on one of the many brown leather sofas that were scattered throughout the room. Gradually, Cassie started to allow her anxiety to fade as she lost herself in the story, and she soon fell asleep.