//------------------------------// // I. // Story: Siblings // by thelunarmoon //------------------------------// I. A princess should never have to banish her own flesh and blood. No matter the circumstances. But this is what Celestia has held inside her head, ever since that fateful day. Swaddled in regret, she asks herself. What could she have done differently? She never wanted to hurt her little sister. Luna gave her no choice. Luna was putting herself, her sister and above all else Equestria in danger. Celestia never fully understood the reasons until it was far too late. Her sister, miles away from her home. A home she believed that should have loved her as much as her older sibling.  Celestia sighed as she sat at a royal red adorned table. The table was plastered in food for the evening meal of the royal palace. A cup levitating in her golden aura of magic, her eyes vacant as she stared into it. A dark earthen abyss of tea that had long gone lukewarm from her not nursing her thirst. Celestia gently touched the lip of the cup as she swallowed a good gulp of the liquid. Her dry tongue thanking her for the refreshing tea, even if it had lost its warmth over an hour ago. Muffled voices began to tickle at her ears as someone was speaking to her. "C-celestia...? Are you ok?" Celestia's ears flicked as she recognized the voice and turned her head towards it. A midnight royal blue alicorn just below her chest height was leaning close to her from the adjacent seat. Her light blue eyes looked at her with a hint of worry in them. Celestia's younger sister Luna was trying to talk to her. Celestia gives herself a firm blink to center her thoughts back in the present moment. "...L-luna. Sorry I was lost in thought." Luna gave a small frown, knowing that Celestia tends to not daydream during a meal. "Well knowing you, that's rare for my sister to be lost in her ever present brain." Luna attempts to help bring her sister a bit of joy in her coy wording. Her elder sister being the forever workaholic she always has been. Celestia decides to give a soft smile in return. "Well I do have to agree, I have been kinda distracted as of late." Celestia gives her feathers a gentle stretch as she speaks. Flexing her wings and letting them rest against her sides. Celestia returns her vision to the meal in front of her. A plate of noodles in a soft red sauce and a refreshing salad setting to its side. A slice of fresh bread, coated in melted cheese sat in the bowl of noodles. Not a single bite has been taken out of the meal . Luna looks at the food in front of Celestia then to her sister.  "You've not touched your dinner either sister. Are you sure you're ok?" Celestia gave her sister a small smile. "Of course I am, I'm probably not as hungry as I thought I was. But it still looks delicious." She smiled and looked at her sister.  "Did you have enough Luna? Would you like any of my  food?"  Luna shakes her head, her own mind worrying at that question.  "N-no I'm good, you should really have it Sister."  "I will be fine until the morning Luna, I promise to eat seconds for breakfast if it will help ease your worries."  Celestia smiles with that ever glowing smile of hers. Luna returns it meekly but comes close to gently prod Celestia's side with a hoof.  "You better. I want my Sis to be healthy. Especially with how much you work yourself to the bone..." Luna said, giving her eyebrows a furrow. Knowing well that her elder sister seems to bury herself in work. Maybe on purpose. But for what...is still a mystery.  Luna has been frustrated for a long time since her return. Not because of her trying to fit back into Equestrian Society, but because of how her sister has been acting since that time. No matter how hard she tries, Luna could not dreamwalk in her sister's dreams. A magical barrier,  ancient magic woven in many different layers of locks and wards has been keeping her out. Luna wants to make amends to her sister. Protect her against the nightmares that haunt her. Luna could only hear cries of terror and muffled whimpers from Celestia's dream door. The sounds echoing inside the younger alicorn's mind. Celestia stood up from her seat and gently waved her hair from bobbing her head gently to and fro. She turned and began to walk away from the dinner table. Luna got up to follow her but was stopped from seeing Celestia's gaze. A very short, but brief empty pair of magenta eyes looked at her before she closed them in a soft smile again. Celestia adorning her princess mask. "I'm retiring for the evening, sister, I hope your night court goes well."  The elder sister said before continuing through a pair of ornate double doors leading towards the castle's halls. Luna could only watch her leave.  "Alright Sister. Celly?" Celestia stopped before she fully left the frame of the doors. An ear turning towards Luna. "Please...let me know if you need me. For anything. And I mean that. Pleasant dreams sister, I-i hope whatever they are. They bring you rest." Celestia's ear twitched very softly as she heard that. The golden shoes clinked as she began her way through the doors again.  "Don't worry Luna, I will be fine. I always have. Goodnight Sister." Luna watched her sister disappear through the doorway. Her magical tail disappearing around the corner. Luna sighed deeply to herself, knowing full well that wasn't true. Luna gently levitated a fork of her own pasta dish and placed it in her mouth. Luna chewed her food in thought. Hoping to break through those doors tonight in her dream walk. She has to help her sister. No matter what lies behind those doors of her siblings mind.