Solace of the Phoenix
Sleepless Nights
I must admit that, in the many languages I have learned throughout my life... I cannot find a word to describe my last six weeks. I was supposed to teach the Princesses about my world... however, these had been some rather busy few weeks as of late for the Sun Princess. So I’d decided to learn more about this place in the meantime.
however if there was something that truly surprised me, was the fact that I ended up drawing closer to the younger of the two. While we haven't spoken much… the moon princess is much easier to speak to as night court was much less sought out than the day’s.
One thing you need to know about me is, throughout my one hundred and eighty thousand years, and the cause of my grievances… is how differently my body works. I live in a cycle of forty-six years… where I remain awake for thirty years, then sleep for sixteen. Of course, I cannot let normal people suspect neither my true age, nor my different cycle, so I would usually lay on a bed and rest.
With time, however, I had managed to learn that it made me even less suspicious if I had a sleepless night from time to time.
Tonight was one of such, but it was not because of this tight routine of faking to sleep and such… but another reason. I was standing on a balcony, not too far from the room that they had given me in their castle, as I continued looking into the sky.
I’m not a… a mutant. It was an accident, but I’m afraid I’m getting ahead of myself…
The Human mind is limited, and therefore cannot remember every single detail. This happens at any age, however, after you having basically lived four thousand different lives, been in the center of many a historical event, or decided to remove yourself from said event... many details of such previous lives simply fade away. I can still remember the important things, but once again I’m getting ahead of my story.
As I looked up to these alien heavens, wondering if in this other universe my parents could still see me from their afterlife, I was shaken out of my thoughts by the quiet sound of hooves. I turned around to see the black and blue Alicorn looking at me with a troubled expression.
“Is something bothering you Mr. Artyunov?” The princess asked in a soft tone.
Her voice seemed to sooth my grievances that this foreign land had greeted me with. I however, could not really bring myself to look at her.
“Rest assured your highness, it’s nothing to worry about.” I quickly replied.
Only then do I realize the dire mistake I had been making… I’d been staying up for much longer than I usually had. I guess I can’t blame anyone but myself, as I've always loved watching the night sky and all its dazzling stars. However, I now realized I’d been doing this nearly every night.
“Besides, it is a wonderful night…” I managed to say, needing something to put myself out of that corner I’d found myself against.
It seemed to work as she nodded and awkwardly stood there. You see, one of the main grievances of this cycle is… you cannot really get attached, or rather, you shouldn't... I learned this the hard way. As it stands, just let’s say that not having anyone to hold in your sleep or wake up to a smiling face can make you feel so lonely at times.
I guess that is was made me feel somewhat identified with the sisters... I guess there is no way I could have fit in like this anywhere in this, or any other world I've been to, a part of me feels some understanding. Among the many things I’ve learnt about their world, is the small fact that as quasi-deities, they are more than fifteen-hundred years old if my memory serves me right.
I guess that we might not be as different as I first thought... once again, however, I was taken out of my thoughts by that soft voice.
“There is more to you than meets the eye Human.” She said.
I felt myself almost panicking. Had she figured me out? I wasn't sure, but one cannot discard that possibility so soon, but to my relief - or maybe not so much - she continued.
“We can see how you look at the heavens, and it is not how any creature of your age would.”
Oh, the royal we, it had been so long since I had actually heard it.
“What is this you seek so badly to hide from us?” She asked inquisitively.
I sighed and looked down, at least she had not figured me out… but… on one hand was it really necessary for me to hide this? On the other, how does a person say it without sounding like a madman? I mean, I am pretty sure that ‘Well, I am a hundred times older than you’ just won’t work.
“It is, your highness, a very long and admittedly far-fetched story.” I managed to say as she frowned slightly.
“Please Mr. Artyunov… just call me Luna.” She asked politely.
Once again I stood there surprised, of course, as both of them had already told me this countless times... yet, here I was, going through it again.
“I don’t think you’ll believe my story as it’s rather impossible…” I said looking up into the sky yet again as I continued, “Yet, I guess it could make for a good way of spending time.”
I was really expecting something along the lines of ‘do not waste my time’ but instead I saw her sitting by me, looking at expectantly as I realized that she was waiting for me to begin. And so, sitting down as well, I took a deep breath and began...
As you can imagine... the tale was long, even with me trying to make things as short as I could. The Princess however was not reacting as I had expected her to… and she actually seemed to believe me, which only made it more awkward for me. As you can probably imagine, all I had expected to happen should I tell this, was to be put into a madhouse.
It took a while... however, when the tale was finished she looked right at me, as if expecting something. I said nothing as I looked back, before her next action surprised me the most...
She leaned forward and hugged me.
I froze in confusion as I felt this. When I was about to return the hug, she broke off and stood, where I stood as well. There was something to the way she looked at me, but I didn't quite catch it...
My mind, still clogged with so many memories and thoughts, took a few seconds to process what had just happened. For a few seconds there was silence, neither of us capable to look away from the other. Then she stood back and flew away.
And I was left there, in a position I had not been in a long time.
Trying to understand what had just happened.