//------------------------------// // Chapter 9. - Reflections: Meeting the Family // Story: Reflections // by Amethyst Flower //------------------------------// Luna was sad when Loyalty didn't come around for two whole weeks. She wondered if she had done something wrong. Was he still okay, out there by himself in that little cavern, behind the waterfall? Would he ever come back? And how would things be, if he would come to see her again? Luna had, what felt, like hundreds of questions swirling inside of her. And then, one day, he did come back. Luna was reading a book that her father had given to her -and told her to read- when she heard a rapping on her window. She looked up, wondering who in Equestria would be banging on her window. She laughed when she saw Loyalty. Luna walked over to the window and magicked it up. "I can't believe you seriously did that," she said, trying to keep a straight face. Loyalty grinned. "Did what?" "Repeated exactly what you did when we first met," Luna said, letting a small smile slip. Loyalty shrugged. "It was almost a year ago, so I was just making sure that you remembered." "Of course I remember. How could I forget? You came banging on my window like an idiot and told me that you were practically a stalker!" Luna said. Loyalty raised an eyebrow. "Okay, okay, so you said it a bit differently than that, but it was basically the same thing," Luna laughed. After a bit of silence she asked, "Loyalty, are you mad at me about something?" Loyalty looked surprised. "Mad at you? Why would I be mad?" "Well, you haven't been to see me for about three weeks, that's enough to cause any pony to start worrying," Luna said, looking down. "I just didn't want to get you in trouble with your father again. Was he really angry?" Loyalty asked, worried. Luna smiled and shook her head. "No, just upset that I wasn't responsible enough to come back in time." Loyalty continued to frown. "Loyalty, it wasn't your fault," Luna said. When he didn't reply, Luna grinned. "Do you want to go out for a fly or something?" "Sure," Loyalty said. He helped Luna out and then asked, grinning, "Race?" Luna's reply was shooting up into the blue sky, wings spread wide. "Hey!" Loyalty yelled, racing after her. Once he caught up with her, he asked, "What was that about?" "You said you wanted to race," Luna said, with a shrug. They laughed, unable to keep straight faces any longer. The two stopped at a creek for a quick drink of water and a rest from flying so fast. "Luna, I just want to tell you that I'm really sorry about the other day... you know... if I did anything to offend you... I..." Loyalty said, struggling to find the right words. Luna shook her head. "No, it's fine. I... it was just unexpected is all..." "It's not fine. I never even asked you, how you felt... or... anything. It was horribly rude of me to just rush ahead like that. I really want to apologize. You're so nice and I never wanted to hurt you in any way, shape, or form. And I-" Luna leaned forward and kissed the rambling pegasus to shut him up. It surprised her so much that she jerked back almost immediately. Loyalty looked equally shocked. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds. Luna could feel a blush creeping up into her face. Suddenly she knew how she felt about Loyalty and everything else. She liked him. A lot. He was the only one who really made her feel like she mattered. He excepted her for who she was. He didn't try to force the 'princess of the night' thing on her and tell her it was her destiny and what she was supposed to do. He made her feel like it was a good thing to be the night princess. Loyalty really truly cared about her. And she cared about him. Loyalty cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, thank you for letting me know how you really feel." Luna smiled. They sat there for awhile, not saying anything, just enjoying each other's presence. Finally, after what felt like only minutes, Luna looked up at the sun and sighed. "I should go. I don't want my father to start worrying." Loyalty nodded. "You know, I'd really like to meet your family some time." "I guess I should introduce you all sometime." Luna thought for a moment, then said, "I'll tell you what. Next time my family has a reunion at the castle my father and I share, I'll introduce you to them. I'm sure they'll like you." "You sure?" Loyalty asked. Luna nodded. "Well, okay." They smiled. "Well, I need to go now," Luna said, getting up. Loyalty got up after her. "Um, bye." "Bye." Luna started to fly back home, and looked back at Loyalty. "I'll see you tomorrow," she called back to him. "You can count on it!" A month later the royal family was having their reunion at the moon castle. Luna decided to invite Loyalty. When her family was all together she said, "I hope you all don't mind that I've invited a friend over to meet you." Tia smiled. "You've made a friend, Lulu?" Luna nodded. "Really?" her father asked. "When?" "Uh... one day when I went outside..." Luna said, trying to decide if this was a lie or not. "Of course we don't mind," her mother said. "I'd love to meet your friend. I'm glad you have someone to spend time with, out here, besides your father. As long as your friend isn't keeping you from your studies, of course." "No, I am studying just fine." Luna's father nodded, confirming that what Luna said was true. Luna opened a door and said, "You may come out now." "I don't know..." Loyalty said, hesitantly. "What if they don't like me?" he whispered. Luna shook her head. "Nonsense. They'll love you. I promise." Loyalty bit his lower lip. "Fine." He stepped out of the room, that he had been waiting in, and let Luna introduce him. "This is my friend, Loyalty Moon," Luna introduced. "Loyalty, this is my parents and my sister, Celestia." Loyalty stared with eyes wide in wonder. He was really standing before the royal family. He bowed low to the ground. "I think he's cute!" Tia squealed. Her parents and Luna shot her a glare, and Loyalty, who was still bowing, flushed. "You're Luna's friend?" her father asked, motioning for Loyalty to rise. "Uh, um, y-yes sir," Loyalty stammered. "And who are you're parents?" Luna's mother asked, more gently than her husband. "Uh... they're... um... dead..." "Oh, I'm very sorry," Luna's mother said. "Who then do you live with?" Luna's father asked. "I, uh, live by myself, your Majesty. I have a job and have my own house," Loyalty answered. Cave-house, Luna thought to herself. "Hm, aren't you rather young, to be living by yourself?" Luna's mother asked. "Um, not really. I am finishing school, so I think that's old enough." "Well, I am glad that Luna has a friend," Luna's father said, "But I do not want you taking advantage of her." "Of course not, your Majesty," Loyalty said, with great passion. There was some more talking and then Loyalty said that he needed to leave. Luna spent the rest of the day with her family, and then helped her father raise the moon, when her mother and Tia had left. Then she went to her room. She was glad that her family had at least somewhat liked Loyalty, but she had felt bad for him when her family asked about his parents. It was normal to ask, Luna guessed. But still. Luna saw Loyalty even before he tapped on her window with his wing. She opened it, straight way kissed him -once again, surprising both of them-, and said, "I told you that they'd like you." Loyalty nodded. "And you were right." "Thank you for coming. I really wanted you to meet my family. I thought for a little while that you wouldn't come," Luna said. Loyalty smiled. "I was just kind of shy and... well, you know. You belong to the great royal family. The sovereign rulers of Equestria. You can imagine why I nervous." Luna said, "Yes, I suppose so." "Do you want to come out and look at the moon... and stuff?" Luna laughed. "Sure, why not." She climbed out of the window, and she and Loyalty flew up to a part on the roof of the castle where they could sit and admire the moon. "Isn't it beautiful?" Loyalty asked with a sigh. "Shimmering white. Surrounded by stars that, seemingly almost lovingly, twinkle with joy." "You're quite descriptive," Luna said, laughing. Loyalty smiled. "Life is too short to not see things in a descriptive form. At least for me..." "What do you mean?" Luna asked, worry showing on her face. "I mean, that I don't want you to get attached to me." Luna's eyebrows shot up. "Well, it's too late for that." Loyalty sighed. "I know. And I should have thought about it sooner. But, Luna, you do realize that you won't have me forever. You will take over for your father one day." Luna shrugged. "I can have you stay in my palace or something." "Even though I'm not a royal?" Loyalty asked, critically. "Of course. Just because I will become a big, badly-needed co-ruler doesn't mean you have to disappear out of my life!" "True, but there is also the thought that... well, you're going to live much longer than I am. Alicorns live who-knows-how-long, where as earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns die when they get old. I'm going to age, while you will still be young. I will die, while you will still be young. I will disintegrate into the earth, while you will still be young." Loyalty looked down. "I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I've been thinking about the facts, and I don't think we should start a relationship of any kind. Maybe we should just stay friends, like your family thinks we are." Luna's breathing grew heavy. "Loyalty. Stop." "Luna, I just don't want you to be hurt." "I know, but, you will die whether we are friends or anything else and it won't make it any easier either way. In fact, if we stay just friends it would be worse for me when you die, knowing that we could have been more than friends while you were still living," Luna said. She sighed. She hadn't been thinking about any of this, and it was very stressing when out of no where, Loyalty suddenly brings up the very subject that she had been avoiding ever since they had become friends. She didn't like the thought of death. When she did she started screaming and no one, and wondered why she had to be an alicorn and live awhile watching everyone else die. It was only one more thing that she couldn't handle. But Loyalty was right. It had to be considered some time or other. She wasn't foolish. She knew. She just hated it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," Loyalty said, when he noticed how upset Luna was. Luna took a deep breath, to compose herself and to ensure that she wouldn't start crying. "No, it's fine. We have to think about it sometime." Loyalty nodded. "Just not right now," she added sternly. Loyalty frowned, but said, "Fine." They sat there in silence, just looking up at the moon. Loyalty put his one wing around Luna, and they sat like that until midnight.