//------------------------------// // Sisters // Story: Many Moons Ago // by GrapeVino //------------------------------// Luna's voice was so kind and hopeful that Celestia felt something loosen in her chest. “Whu-... What?” “Tia, all of that is gone now, and so is the part where we were sisters, true. But we were sisters for so much longer than we were enemies! Remember how whenever I was having a bad day, or I just couldn't get something right, you'd always help me guide my thoughts.” Celestia nodded slowly. “Remember how you used to go to New Buffalo whenever I was down, just because you knew the coffee there was my favourite? Even though you hate coffee.” Celestia nodded again. “And how about when we used to sit together at the table on those few evenings and mornings when we were awake enough to have a meal, and we still managed to laugh and joke even though we were less agreeable than a chimera in a sink-hole?” Celestia began smiling slightly. “Yeah...” “Then why, if that was such a big part of our lives, should the last one thousand years be what we focus on?” “True... but we can't ignor-” “And we won't! And we haven't!” Celestia looked into Luna's eyes with a bitter-sweet expression, obviously finding it difficult to gain Luna's optimism. “Oh darn it, Tia, I just want my sister back! I finally got it all out of my system, and I just want my big sis again!” Luna threw her arms around Celestia's neck and hugged her like she had never hugged her before, her eyes welling up again. Celestia looked shocked for a second before the warmth of her sisters embrace finally seeped into her, and she truly felt Luna's love, almost radiating from her. “And I want my little sister too!” and in response she wrapped her hooves around her little sister as tightly as Luna had. Eyes closed with smiles upon their faces and tears rolling down their cheeks. They sunk into each others hugs, for the first time in over one thousand years. After sitting for a while, together on the rocky balcony, Celestia and Luna Departed for Canterlot. The warm breeze did little to help their reddened eyes, but they hardly cared. As they arrived they walked side by side through the decorated city in contented silence with warming smiles on their faces. They suddenly spotted four royal guard running through the street, in as professional of a panic as could be achieved, almost skidding to a halt in front of the Princesses. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, what happened? You've been gone for so long, we didn't know wher-... Um?” The guard was quickly silenced by Luna raising her hoof to him to stop him. “We were gone for quite a while, that is true, but what's important is that we are back and there is no crisis to be had.” Luna spoke in a calm authoritative voice. “But where? We should have been informed! If something had happened we would have been left withou-” He was stopped again by Luna. “... We are Princesses, and last time I checked, that mean we are not prisoners.” Celestia looked softly to her sister at the last word. “No. Not at all... Not anymore... So it is to my understanding that my sister and I are allowed to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while to talk to one another. Somewhere a little less populated. Am I correct in that understanding?” Luna asked, almost slyly. “Erm... Yes, your Majesty, but-” “Then I don't see the issue. Do you?” The guard stuttered. His companions frozen and slightly agape from surprise. “Good. Now if you don't mind, would you be so kind as to clear the way? My sister and I where on our way to see Nightsun Bloom's firework display.” The guards sat still for a moment, unsure of how to react. The most forward one looked to Celestia, as if for an answer or contradiction, but in return all he received was a smile and a look as if to say 'Well. You head her.' With that they stepped aside. Watching them pass, their normal stern 'guard faces' returned to them before hearing the two sisters break out into giggles a little way down the path. The sisters spent the rest of the night trotting through Canterlot enjoying all manor of festivities that had been set up. There were night time puppet shows, firework displays, fire-breathers and so much more. They even got the chance to peruse shops of various natures, all open late with various sales available. And for whatever reason, whether it was not wanting to inturrupt the sisters personal affairs, or whether ponies could see they had been crying earlier, not a soul bothered them for the rest of the night. Before they knew it, it had come to be time for the finale. The guards beckoned them over to the oh-so-familiar stage which had not changed in so long. The golden circle, with pinions like sunlight spreading around it, a frame for the great solar body that was to be raised, and positioned in a point in Canterlot so that all may see the very instant that it breached the horizon before settling for a second within that glimmering gold ring. As they approached the steps, the crowd now gargantuan with the whole population of the city, and more, now gathered to one spot. It slowly grew silent as the sisters came to the first step. A rather official looking pony, with a quill for a cutie mark, stepped up to the mic. “Fillies and gentlecolts! For the first time in one thousand years, please welcome to the stage not only Princess Celestia, but also Princess Luna!” The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. The crowd was alive with energy, even having stayed up all night the atmosphere was positively electric. Celestia looked to her little sister. “Are you ready?” She smiled, and Luna took a breath in through the nose before breathing out slowly. She opened her eyes with a determined, yet nervous look on her face. “Yes. I am, sister.” Celestia nodded softly before turning to face forward and putting her hoof out as if to step up. She took a deep breath as well, just as Luna had. “Together... As sisters.” Luna nodded and put her hoof out too before both taking that first stride up to the stage in tandem. As one. The crowd cheered and a fanfare played as they arrived at their positions. The crowd slowly quietened once more. “It is not often that we see such amazing displays of joy and happiness, but today is an exception that everypony can truly...” As she carried on Celestia and Luna stood in silence. Luna was clearly tense, and her big sister noticed, and for one moment, Celestia's face lit up as if an idea had struck. After a small speech the time came. “Now, without further adieu, may I welcome to the front of the stage, Princess Luna!” The crowds cheered, though it was noticeably quieter, but still enthusiastic. Luna stepped forward. She readied herself to lower the moon, closing her eyes before feeling a hoof on her shoulder. It was Celestia. “Tia?” Luna asked, confused. “I think that you've had enough of the moon for one night, little sister. Let me lower to the moon tonight...” Luna looked to her sisters eyes, trying to find some meaning behind this, but only saw a twinkle which endeared her to trust in her big sister. She nodded and stepped down. Celestia looked to the quill-marked pony and silently gestured to go to the mic again. A murmur of confusion arose in the crowd. “Erm... ugh-Ahem. Excuse me, there has been a small change. May I instead welcome to the front of the stage, Princess Celestia!” An applause and some cheering was heard, the crowd obviously confused. Luna watched as Celestia ignited the magic within her horn, and then saw the moon dip below the horizon as she did so. In the thousands of years that Luna had been raising and lowering the moon, she realised she has never truly been able to watch the moon set. And she felt in her heart a small joy as she was granted the opportunity right before her eyes by her big sister. Celestia completed the spell as applause rose from the crowd, but then did something that Luna did not quite expect. Walking up to the mic Celestia beckoned the announcer to step aside so she may speak. “Fillies and gentlecolts! I can imagine that we have taken you slightly off guard tonight with the change in schedule. For that I apologise, but it is for something that I feel has been long since due that I have done this.” Luna looked on in confusion the crowd now so silent you could hear a pin drop. “You may or may not all be aware of the events which occurred exactly one year ago today, and if you aren't you've certainly heard of my sisters reputation. But you also now know that my sister has returned to us as she once was many years before I sentenced her to a terrible fate upon the moon. She has returned to us as our loving and caring Princess. And it is for that reason, and many more that I see fit that we change things slightly this year.” Celestia's words resonated with Luna even though she was still unsure what Celestia was doing, as was the crowd. “So now I shall delay no further. May I please welcome to the front of the stage for the first time in history, so as to raise the sun for you tonight, my sister and monarch of the night, Princess Luna!” A few seconds passed before anyone realised what she had just said. Luna still stood in place, stunned. But to Luna's surprise it did not stay silent. Instead a cheer like no other roared up from the crowd. Luna recoiled slightly before slowly stepping forward unsure of what to think. Her sister approached her and leaned in to speak to her personally as the crowd cheered. “I'm sorry. I hope I didn't take you too off guard.” “Errrm.” Celestia chuckled. “Are you okay to do this?” Luna turned to look at Celestia and saw a worried expression on her face. At this Luna regained herself and replied. “Yes. Yes I believe I can.” Luna replied confidently with a warm smile. Celestia turned to walk to the back of the stage. “Tia!” Celestia turned and saw her little sister mouth to her two unmistakable words. 'Thank you'. And at that they took their positions. Luna looked to the sky for a second and closed her eyes. Her magic alighting her horn, and her mind focusing. Instead of a serene night sky she instead pictured the brightest and sunniest day she ever did remember. She imagined the suns golden rays dispersing outward into a fresh, clear bright blue horizon. She felt her magic find the sun, and she caught hold of it, her whole being grasping onto it. It could tell she was unfamiliar with it, and she could tell it was unfamiliar with her, but a certain acceptance washed over them as Luna remembered her big sister. Luna began to lift with all she could muster! This could be no ordinary sunrise. This was the brightest in the year. She pulled and pulled and felt her wings unfurl and her hooves leave the ground, bringing the sun with her until soon enough she felt the sun settle, and slide into place content in where it was, yet confident it was where it was meant to be. Luna opened her eyes and what had replaced a busy night city was thousands of ponies faces bathed in light, herself before them all. Every eye was on her as she flew. And in one final moment every ponies saw it was done, and they cheered in such a fashion that Luna had never seen. Luna looked behind her and saw the sun sitting happily within the golden frame on stage, and without even realising she smiled so brightly that even the combined sunlight of an entire summer could not outshine her. Luna looked to her sister and saw tears rolling down her cheeks as she regarded her with pride immeasurable. She landed and hugged her, both of them laughing with joy. They parted and looked to each other. “Luna. I have to know... when we were on the balcony, why did you so suddenly come to comfort me after everything you had said?” Celestia's eyes shone with anticipation. Luna thought for a second. “Because it was at that moment I saw something in you that I had not seen for one thousand years, Tia.” “What did you see?” “I saw... I saw that you really and truly cared about me... and it was in that moment, when I saw you in such turmoil over what had happened, that I finally put my hatred aside. And finally, after so long...” Celestia held her breath. “Forgave you.” The two sister looked to each other eyes for a few seconds, thousands of unseen words being spoken as the thunder of the crowd still surrounded them. And in those seconds Celestia realised that maybe, just maybe, she could now forgive herself too. She nodded. “Come on, I think it's time we went home. You need some sleep.” “Actually... can we stay up for a while for breakfast? And can we get a coffee from the Griffins Lookout?” “I couldn't think of anything more wonderful.”