//------------------------------// // The Secrets Out // Story: Moonlight // by Ocean Heart //------------------------------// The princess of the night never slept that day...torn between indecision and anxiety about the night before. Even though her eyes were heavy, her mind was running a marathon of questions that only time would answer. Of course in her state, time was dragging out every second to torment her. Celestia knew something was bothering her sister more than ever, she stood outside the door, silence getting heavier by the second. Even now ponies searched the hallways trying to find the princess of the sun, meaning if she didn't find the courage to speak now; she night not get the time later... "Ah but tis a problem of blood that takes the mind of gods away from duties faster than us mortals can understand." Celestia jumped at the soft voice, turning around as gracefully as she could to hide her inner turmoil, holding her head high and smiling softly. "Hello friend..." The pony blinked his weary looking eyes and gave the princess a suspicious look... "All ye need it to take thine first steps...words shall not fail ye in such a troubled time." He said with a comforting smile. Such a simple idea...but even now his words were wise, all time wasting thinking of what to say when all she had to do was say what her heart told her. This was family, and her only sister; something that Celestia would rather give her life than lose. "I shall guard the door and send any guards away for as long as ye need." As he spoke, voices started coming from the hallway and soon guards would turn the stone corner and spot the princess. Celestia looked back down and sighed out the anxiety. "I thank thee...old friend." With that she pushed open the door with a small push of magic and shut it behind her, loud voices calling just as it shut. "Wait, Starswr-!" The door clicked shut... guard voices muffled. Hopefully the unicorn could muster up a good lie with that vast pool of knowledge he could call upon. Celestia pushed the outside world out of her mind and turned around, feeling her heart skip a beat when she saw her sister staring out the window...mane a infinitely beautiful but somber looking black; gleaming lights like stars flowing quietly in the air. Luna's tail was the same strange color until she turned around and gave a warm smile, coloring flowing back to the normal blue...leaving Celestia speechless... "Sister...?" Luna said quietly. Celestia cleared her throat and put that for a question for later. Though hopefully it was just her sister experimenting with her look with magic...strange as it would be. "Hello, Lulu...I need to ask you a question, and I need a straight answer." Luna tilted her head slightly and nearly lost the calm look when her nickname was used. Celestia knew what was happening..or at least had an idea. Luna lowered her head and after thought...she couldn't keep the emotions inside. Looking back up and eyes glaring down Celestia with a strange hate... "I do not like being used...sister." Celestia's eyes widened and she had to take a step back in shock, jaw dropping a little even. The idea was so ludicrous that were it not for Luna's gaze, Celestia would think the statement a joke. "I...I'm sorry?" Celestia said quietly... "I can not believe! You would use mother's promise to force me to lower the moon." Luna said with a slowly raising voice. Celestia was still floored by her sister's words, Luna was shy and quick to take offense but this was a new level that Celestia had never seen; she almost managed to counter the argument but Luna cut her off again. "Ye have the honor of controlling every part of Equestria's rebuilding, every governor answers to thee and the guard will die at thine command...but all I get is raising the moon that ponies sleep though anyway?!" Luna stomped her hoof, shaking the books on the shelf and sending a strong current of ice cold wind though the room. Celestia felt tears start to build up...the one thing her mother asked was to keep Luna happy, to love her as a sister should and be there to comfort her. Now Luna stood the the shadows of her room glaring down at her own blood with a dark hatred... "Do thee even need my help?" Luna said flatly. "I bet the favorite child could raise the sun and the moon by herself!" Celestia's eyes broke wide and memories came flooding back... Two tiny fillies bickering constantly and while Luna had her moments, you would be a fool to say Celestia had a equal field with her sister...but that was the purpose of mother's lectures on both of their duties! A way to see that they were both equal; but it was the leadership that Celestia was forced into that made it easy to see Luna in the shadow of her regal sister... "Has that vast vocabulary failed ye finally?" Luna said just to add insult to injury... That's when she knew she went too far...Luna saw the water in her sister's eyes and confusion in her shaking demeanor. Luna struck something deep, while she still stood behind her position; it was impossible to sit back and watch her only family suffer... "W-wait...Tia please don't be upset...I-I took it too far..." Luna said as her eyes started to water. Celestia lowered her head and took a deep but fast breath to calm herself. Knowing this was what she was after, the problem that was causing friction was a simple one born of bitter memories and natural insecurities. Which means it was reparable. "I understand what thou mean, Lulu...thou hath every right to be cross with me. I swear I shall move heaven and earth to make sure you have a say in what happens in Equestria. After all, it should be both our decisions...tis what mother would've wanted." Celestia said somberly, looking back up and smiling wearily. Luna was taken aback by the sudden change in her sister, as if she expected this kind of out lash...maybe it was that she still did not know of her deeper feelings...but now would be the time to ask! "I thank thee, Tia...my mind is at rest once again getting that off my chest. I am sorry that I was so harsh." Celestia nodded in understanding and turned for the door once again, talking of how to fix the courts to better suit them both and how fast she would make the changer. Though Luna didn't hear a word of it, mind a buzz with how to present her question until Celestia grabbed the door; shouting out the first thing that came to mind. "Sister! Thou...had a love before...right?" Luna asked like she was trying to avoid a landmine.. Celestia stopped her hoof inches from the door and bit back a bitter retort, the voice returning to her as always Is it...wrong...that I love you..so much? Echoed in her mind like a recording. The last memory of her special somepony. "Yes...." She said quietly. "But I was wrong, mother showed me why love is a horrible thing for us. For ye know why we can not love..." Luna felt her hopes plummet; the only thing Celestia could mean is an alicorns god like longevity. To love is to just cause more pain when your love dies and you must continue for centuries after. "Are you in love...sister..?" Celestia asked just as softly. Luna looked back up and wanted to answer, but the pained look on Celestia's face put a cold shiver down the moon god's spine...the light violet eyes lacked the normal luster they would have and the snow white coat her sister was known for was somehow darker and somber looking. Celestia opened the door and stepped out without a word and Luna was certain her next stop would be the royal garden to clear her thoughts as she always did when the stress mounted to be too much. How could love cause so much pain...to fall apart at the mere mention of a past love is something you only read about. Celestia had to have been over reacting for some reason...its just not possible for something that fills the princess of the moon with so much odd joy for it to consume the princess of the sun with so much pain. "Why can't you come back...show us what we are doing wrong..." Luna said quietly as the curtains in her window finally fell from their hooks with a breeze of willpower and darkness enclosed the young princess in comforting shadow.