//------------------------------// // So Close // Story: Moonlight // by Ocean Heart //------------------------------// Acrylic Evenfall woke up in a warm bed fit for Celestia in a luxurious guest room, he found it strange to be back in the room he first called home. All the memories made for a pleasant night of dreams reliving his past, at least the good parts. Regardless, he was happy to be with family again after so long. It was sobering to Acrylic to walk down the stairs of the mansion, the walls had a new dark and velvet shade of red and soft tapestries now hung to fill the home with a sophisticated air. Walking down and seeing small foals with metallic coats running into the kitchen; both of them carrying some kind of resemblance to his brother. Evenfall walked into the large dining room after admiring his old art hanging on the wall. His attention was dragged to a centerpiece on the table...bright green crystals mixed with blue and yellow to make a carved bouquet made of pure crystal; lighting the room on its own and Acrylic assumed if the lights on the wall were quelled, the crystal would make a pastel of light and color across the walls. Wintered Tail walked in with a few plated in tow suspend by a green and black field of magic, the foals following closely and trying to grab the plates out of the air, arguing with each other. "Ah! Glad to see thou are awake, How long has it been since ye had a real breakfast?" The foals stopped and looked over at Acrylic, both their eyes widened and smiled nearly melted his heart... "Uncle Acrylic!" They both said in unison. Acrylic laughed and rubbed the back of his head, he liked kids but he always felt like he would be a bad foalsitter due to his distracted nature...nevertheless, the twins charged him and tackled the unprepared stallion to the ground in a lung crushing hug. Their coats weren't as dense as an adults but he still felt like he was hugging pure fluff. "Oof! Tail, they're...crushing me!" Acrylic said, finishing with a long laugh. Tail rolled his eyes and set the food down, walking to hover over Acrylic and trying to control his own laughter. "Alright alright, get off the lad, thou know he has fleas." Both foals jumped up quickly, the filly ran in circles trying to toss off any insect while the colt just laughed at his sister. Tail rolled his eyes and helped Acrylic off the ground; after regaining his breath he punched Tail in the arm, causing the metal pony to just laugh harder while Acrylic pretended he didn't hurt his own hoof. "I don't have fleas..." Tail laughed and looked back to the twins, picking up the filly in the air with a bit of magic to calm her down. After flailing in the air for a moment she slumped over and looked worried still... "Uncle Acrylic doesn't have fleas, now both of ye stay here and eat. Uncle and I are going out for a bit." They looked upset that Acrylic was already leaving but their rumbling stomachs took their attention to the warm food waiting. Acrylic dusted himself off and picked up the case he left by the stair case, unhooking his bag from it, admiring his sense of function and fashion... "How many dirty bags do ye have tucked away, brother?! The maids will be cleaning for hours...." Acrylic rolled his eyes and threw the light bag over his shoulder,checking the knot on his case and turning back to face Tail. Acrylic looked over his brothers shoulder and saw the foals destroying their meals and he smirked... "Why did thee stop sending letters?" Tail suddenly changed his demeanor to guilty... "I...got pretty busy once the two started growing up...and when Tome got his mark of destiny, it was utter chaos trying to keep him from thinking he was suddenly an adult." Acrylic look again to try and see the mark on the colt, it was a old looking book with a rusted lock and quill. Feeling a little pride for taking the time to visit when they were younger...perhaps his talent inspired the colt. Either way, it was always nice to see more ponies with a talent in something that came from the heart. "Just give me a moment to check my painting, the travel might not have been kind.." Tail nodded and grabbed a black silk scarf off a stand, wrapping it with practiced grace and heading out the door to wait on Acrylic...giving him a chance to take out a box from his bag. Walking briskly to the table and getting a curious look from the foals, he smiles slyly and put out a sweet roll for both of them; the colt gasped and grabbed it eagerly but the filly shook her head at her brothers lack of etiquette, Acrylic laughed quietly and turned to join Tail outside. Wintered Tail was looking up at the bright morning sky when Acrylic finally joined him, there was an unusual level of noise for so early in the morning but Tail just thought it was another snake oil salesmen like the two stallions last week making a rabble. Regardless,it was nice to finally get to catch up with his solitary brother. "So, Acrylic, I thought we could sit down over some coffee and snacks and discuss what brings thee here after so long." Evenfall looked around at the new buildings and admired all the shining towers, nodding in agreement absently. Tail rolled his eyes and pulled Acrylic to his side so he wouldn't miss the turn into a new street. "Sorry, Tail...It's just so different." Wintered Tail nodded, it was because of his family that most of the tall towers stood against the cold winds in winter and harshness of summer so naturally he felt a little family pride when Acrylic admired the new city. They kept walking until Tail lead him to a small coffee shop, a large crowd was gathered outside but the owner was trying to shoo them away. "Is this normal?" Tail tried to get a clear view but shrugged. "Probably a special going on." Acrylic shrugged in kind and they both took an empty table tucked in a corner under a thick umbrella to shade the table. The crowd dispersed soon and a waitress trotted over,trying to wipe the stress off her face. "I apologize for the wait, how can I serve thee?" Tail ordered a black coffee and Acrylic simply requested a slice of apple pie, the mare smiled brightly and trotted back into the store; leaving them to catch up... _ _ Celestia was thankful that the owner managed to shoo away the onlookers, true,they would've had a private date but Celestia insisted on being more social; perhaps it was a good change for her reclusive sister. Luna felt a little uncomfortable but she admitted it was nice to get this kind of attention. More often she found herself at odds with what kind of attention is good... "Sister?" Celesita snapped Luna back to reality, no onlookers remained and it was finally a quiet morning to have tea and chat. Luna smiled warmly to put her sister at ease. The conversation began dryly but soon it picked up when they got to nit pick at each other. "Do not bring up that old tale!" Celestia pleaded in jest. "Ye were covered head to toe in mud, mother was so furious but when thou started arguing and-" Luna had to stop from the fits of laughing taking over. Celestia shook her head and tried not to laugh and encourage her sister. "Thee...Thee tripped over my wing and fell face first into the marsh again, thou were crying for hours about the worms thee swear ye swallowed!" Celestia buried her face in her hooves and she was trying to hide the embarrassment over her sisters giggling fit. True she wanted to argue that there was a few details Luna was forgetting like how they even ended up in that mess in the first place but there would be no point. "I think I remember thou were confined to thy room whilst I was absolved of responsibility." Luna rolled her eyes, shrugging off the reminder and taking a sip of the warm tea...Celestia smirked playfully and Luna knew embarrassment was on the horizon... _ _ Acrylic took a bite of his warm and flaky pie, trying to keep it down between his laughing and Tail's way of telling stories. Wintered Tail was a hard working stallion but when it came to having fun, no pony was more animated with their expressions or boisterous acting. Sure enough, Acrylic was in tears just listening to Tail's everyday life with two hyperactive twins... Wintered Tail took a moment to enjoy the coffee; the bitter smell was enough to make Acrylic turn his nose when it first was brought to the table but somehow the metal pony seemed to enjoy it. They both sat in contented silence for a moment until Acrylic hear a voice that made his eyes nearly jump out of his head widening... "Tail...Tail, is there a mare behind me somewhere..?" Wintered raised a brow and looked over his brothers shoulder, his own eyes widening... "Tis the Sisters of Harmony!" Acrylic tilted his head in confusion, his time in seclusion kept him out of touch with current events; indeed the lack of strange weather and odd occurrences was a relief but he thought nothing of it because it never affected him. Evenfall turned his head just enough to glimpse back and he noticed two ponies unlike anything he has ever seen... "Brother...they have wings..and horns?" Tail nodded quickly, smieling brightly in admiration. "Aye! They have a gift from the AllMother that allows them to raise the sun and call forth the moon!" Celestia glanced back,overhearing the loud comments and they bother snapped back to each other. The goddess shrugged and resumed her conversation, Luna cut her off and started laughing; a sound that Acrylic somehow knew yet... "Tail, who is the one with her backs to us?" "That be Princess Luna...I'm afraid to say I or anypony I know knows nothing about her other than she summons the moon and....brings nightmares..." Acrylic turned back around and tried to hear just what was being said between the two. To bring nightmares to the dreams of ponies took a dark madness that just seemed ludicrous when he looked at the lunar princes. Surely Tail was wrong about the princess....surely... "-Just wish I could enjoy more time like this with thee..." Celestia nodded in agreement, but in reality,their duties would always pull the two apart. Acrylic though didn't know or care about what Tail said...the voice...he heard the same deep longing buried under a lighthearted facade. Tail was taking another drink when Acrylic got up and started towards the two... Tail spat up the coffee and stuttered trying not to draw attention, yet stopping his brother was impossible and within seconds he was standing just behind the night princess. "Excuse me...your Majesty?" Luna rolled her eyes and scooted to the side to let the brave follower speak to her sister, though Celestia just looked confused and Luna heard the stallion repeat himself. "Princess...Luna, is it?" Luna felt her heart quicken; to suddenly find the spotlight was completely unfamiliar to her. Especially to have somepony desire her attention after opening herself up in public to enjoy a laugh with her kin. It took a moment but she turned around with a blank expression. "Yes..?" Acrylic did his best to control his overflowing joy, giving a deep bow and speaking to the ground in reverence. "My name is Acrylic Evenfall. I would simply like to thank thee, from the deepest part of my heart for giving me new inspiration with thy stunning beauty of the night..." Luna was speechless...in nearly five-hundred years, she never saw a smidgen of appreciation. Now a scruffy and paint spotted stallion has his head lowered and hoof outstretched not for Celestia or the Sisters of Harmony...But for her. Acrylic remained lowered for a moment longer before standing up again, the display was overzealous to say the least but even Celestia could see what was behind those emerald eyes staring into Luna. The princess of the night cleared her throat and Acrylic shook his head out of his daydream, face turning a slight shade of crimson. "My apologizes, milady; enjoy thine afternoon." Celestia looked at the stallion until he grabbed the bulky looking metal pony and started running back into the streets...worry starting to sink in when Luna was watching, still awestruck... "That was nice to see...I told ye ponies love thy night." Luna nodded happily, the same smile from a few nights ago now stuck on her face for she knew who that pony was. It took a moment to sink in but she realized the paint spots, the raggedy mane...it was her admirer. Now she knew this wasn't a enigma; this stallion was just like her, solitary... "Sister?" Perhaps she would find his dream and actually muster the courage to talk to him, perhaps there were more that basked in the moonlight that she was unaware of... "Sister??" Luna snapped back to Celestia, the white alicorn looked worried but Luna dismissed the stress and finished her tea. The princess was racked with questions but she knew that the night would hold her answers when she payed a visit to her admirer's dreams...to Acrylic Evenfall's peaceful sleep... Luna walked into her dark room eagerly, closing the door behind her and smiling happily when she heard the soft click of her lock securing in place with a gentle nudge of her magic. Curtains flying open and getting the brilliant orange glow of dusk; a warm smile growing on the princess's face, Celestia was in her room and after today's excitements, she was already in bed awaiting the warm embrace of sleep. The guards walked the castle to make sure no malcontents lingered, empty halls darkened and quiet chambers grew cold when the shadows took over once more. Luna stood on the balcony, forcing her mind to quell all the thoughts about him; once the sun fell to the horizon, her horn lit up luminously blue and like the light of a newborn foals eyes...the moon broke into the sky to bring the gleaming stars into view. It was the brightest night since the fall of chaos, not a cloud in the sky could stop the light shining into the city and dimming the street lanterns that couldn't hope to outshine this night... "Perfect..." Luna opened her eyes again to really admire her work; smiling happily and proud before making a quick turn and shutting the glass doors and sitting down on the soft rug in the center of her room. Closing her eyes once again to seek out her follower in her world of dreams. "Acrylic...Evenfall..." Luna felt her body suddenly become weightless and when she opened her eyes, a bright light blinded her momentarily.. "Nightmare Moon....?!" A panicked voice said though tears. It was the voice of a young mare, when Luna's eyes adjusted she realized she was in a classroom... Oh sweet sister no... It was obviously a nightmare, a poor mare was having about some embarrassing moment in school, judging by the detail and age of the mare as well as the wings on everypony in class; it had to be an advanced flyer class. Now it looked like she was the one who brought this mess. "I-I'm sorry for whatever I did!" Luna started to feel guilty somehow, even though she never caused it; yet it was more disconcerting that she had a very unflattering nickname...Luna's horn glowed softly as she tore apart the dream until a soft whiteness dominated the dreamscape, almost like a limbo. "Do not fear, young one...ye did nothing to anger me-" The mare wiped tears off her face and shouted back in confused anger. "T-then why did thou make Sleight Wind loath me?! All I did was...tell her how I feel..." Oh...it can get so much worse... "Please little one...stop thy tears and calm thine troubled mind." "How can I?! Did the god of chaos find it funny to curse me with these...impossible feelings?" She pleaded though the tears. Luna couldn't stop feeling guilty and now she felt a deep sadness. It was not....unheard of that ponies might have feelings for somepony of the same type...but it still normally meant that the certain pony would live a miserable life persecuted by friends and family. Even Luna hard a hard time thinking of how this happens and it took even more for her to accept it now. "He is no longer with us..." Luna said absently...when she looked up she saw a pony wearing a smock and ragged mane specked with paint..nodding in approval and waving as if to encourage her before fading into the light. Luna strengthened her resolve and put a soft hoof on the mares shoulder to get her attention; wide eyes still watery but more curious than afraid... "It is okay to have these feelings..Love is something that nopony can force upon one another. Take confidence in who thou are, because if ye stay quiet and afraid...ye will never know just what is possible." The mare wiped her face again, sniffing quietly and lowering her head... "B-but...what if she hates me if I say anything?" Luna closer her eyes to look into the light brown mare's mind...she indeed saw the cyan mare that had her affections; light yellow mane flowing in the wind as they flew together. The two were wing mates and from what she gathered, good ones. Best team in the class because they played off each others strength and weaknesses to balance and boost rather than try and avoid exposing any short comings to the class instructor. They had to trust each other when performing, a thousand feet in the air and one mistake could be the last either of them make...that kind of trust is rare to truly find...Luna smiled softly and opened her eyes once more. "Sleight Wind did not help thee reach where ye are now, the sleepless nights training, long hours studying with thee, to just remain a friend. Little one, thine fear is blinding you to the answer you seek..." Luna said with a kind laugh. "Princess..." "Do not let anypony stop fate, and have no fear." The mare looked up at the lunar princess in pure wonder, every rumor shattered by solid reassurance and the best support the mare has ever known. It almost second nature to be a comfort, Luna always knew what to say to somepony to ease their mind or bestow confidence; almost like she had an air of love that she could readily call upon to uplift troubled souls. That air was lifting the mare into a lighter state of mind, the soft smile and warm tone...almost like a mother, a mother to the unfortunate few who knew no love. As the comforting silence stretched on, Luna knew it was time to resume her real mission and her search;the dream fading around her to white as the mare woke up with a new peace... Acrylic lay asleep with the twins in the living room, recanting an old tale from the glory days of Acrylic and Wintered against the world...it put the two asleep long before Wintered could take them back to their rooms, making the soft rug in the living room by the warm fire a temporary cot for three; for Acrylic even nodded off remembering the past. So the tree snored quietly curled up, the twins just enjoying the fact that their cool uncle had returned... In his mind, the tall towers of Canterlot loom over him in darkness and a shadowy figure ducks though the streets to avoid him. The cloak billowing in the wind and gleaming blue eyes shooting him nervous glances when he got within line of sight. Acrylic broke out into a run down the claustrophobic streets, buildings passing in more of a blur of grays and blacks mixed and racing by. "Stop! Please!" He shouted in vain. No matter how fast he ran, the figure just ran faster or somehow lost him...the sun had set and it would soon be impossible to keep up with who ever that was...until he rounded a corner and ran face first into the figure under dense cloak. The princess had no idea why she entered this dream with a cloak on but even she winced when a mare struck her chest and landed on the ground... "I-I'm so sorry! I seem to have found the wrong dream yet again..." The pony sat up back into the light of the moon again and the emerald eyes gleamed with wonder... "I..." They both said in confused unison. Both were standing, staring at each other and just when he needed it the most; Acrylics sense of calm and collected awe from earlier that day was thrown out and replaced by hesitant fear. The dream began to reflect that inner conflict when the buildings started to crumble and a more destructive tone took the peaceful setting. Luna failed to notice it due to a smile creeping across her face; she never noticed it before but she always imagined any admirer to be a bit...bigger. The books talk of hard muscles tested by trials, big chins with masculine beards and kind hearts for the princesses...Acrylic was just a little short to the standard... "What are thou laughing at?" Acrylic said a little nervous. Luna closed her eyes and set the dream back in place. Buildings standing straight again and moonlight chasing away shadows of doubt. Smile contorting as she tries to hold back her fits for Acrylic's sake... "Tis nothing..." Acrylic stood upright and tilted his head, ears falling against his head and worry starting to show more than he would like. Luna managed to get herself under control when the dream was set in place once again...though even she gasped in shock when the cloak became warm before erupting into fireflies that danced in the night sky around them; causing her face to turn a slight red, thankfully it seemed Acrylic failed to notice the change. The princess took a moment to remember why she wanted to visit his dream. "Hello, Evenfall-" "Call me Acrylic if ye like.." He said, throwing Luna off again with the kindness in his voice... "...Acrylic.." A soft smile grew... Never has she referred to anyone other than her sister by their first name, let alone have a...semi-normal conversation with them. Acrylic looked to the sky just as a shower of heavenly meteors streaked the sky and created a brilliant display of lights across the moon and stars; Looking back down to see the reflections in the Princess's teal eyes. "This is surreal..." Acrylic said in disbelief. "It is a dream." Luna said with a warm laugh. The dream might be her doing but the detail and beauty could only be from an artist's mind. The silence felt almost pleasant rather than awkward, They both admired their creation, even though neither of them would take credit. Something about the moment made it feel like forever but when their found each other once again...Luna finally had the courage to ask him the all important question... "Even-..Acrylic...I just-" Luna felt her heart stop as the dream was torn apart in seconds by a bright light; back in the princesses room, Celestia was applying her own magic to shake her sister out of the deep trance. Worry in her eyes but a little impatience working its way into her mood. Luna breathed sharply when her eyes shot open; room spinning slightly and limbs stiff. Oh no,I forgot! The dreamscape was very different from the real world...in Luna's kingdom, the laws of reality could be bent and broken at a whim...but the cost of such a freedom was time. Time moved at breakneck speeds back in the real world; the better the dream, the faster it was over...and it seems this one was over long before Luna thought it would be... "S-sister! I-" The look in the sun goddess's eyes told it all...she knew Luna had forgotten about the raising of the sun, the moon still hung high in the sky and it was nearly a half an hour into what should be sunrise....but she was so close...she had to go back and finish her question. "Sister, please, Let me have just a few more moments! There was a mare in desperate need of my help!" It wasn't a lie...not completely, there was no need to tell Celestia about the later visit to Acrylic. Yet there was a small if not see though loophole.. "Lulu...I am sorry, but thou knows what Mother told us..." Luna bit back a retort and abandoned her cause as soon as she was brought into the argument. It may have been centuries, but Luna remembered the guilt on her mothers face the day she left them... Luna lowered her head and the moon sank into the horizon faster than normal to make way for the waiting sun. Celestia walked past her sulking sibling and performed her duty to not just Equestira...but to honor their mothers last wish. It's not fair...