//------------------------------//
// Prologue I  
// Story: Hotaru, Hotaru 
// by Vanilla Hex 
//------------------------------//


PROLOGUE



Part One



Luna & Celestia





"Even this doesn't seem the same," thought Celestia as she sauntered through the castle halls. The way to her beloved sisters' room was pure instinct now, and she had often joked about how she could perhaps walk there blindfolded one day. 

She was putting that theory on trial today, and although there was no blindfold involved, she was still neglecting her sight by keeping her head down. Celestia only raised it  to offer a half hearted smile to a concerned guard, then her sight was set to the carpet again. 

Everything seemed to be underwater and languid since--it happened. She cursed how cruel life was--how things whistle and whirl and blur together when everything you take for granted evaporates in a morbid instant. Indeed, life goes on, but so does the pain, and with each waking moment Celestia felt it intensify. And that feeling--that emotion--was there again, a soft pulse of rage that simmered into a dull, aching heartcry; and she gasped in tangent with this sensation and swallowed the lump, her misery, down. "If only I had paid more attention, if only--"

Suddenly, discomfort rocked her brow as her horn collided with Lunas' bedroom door. She raised her eyes, acknowledging the impact with a numb stare; and then, grunting, she allowed herself inside. 

Witnessing Luna in the nurturing, kind arms of sleep made Celestia tremble with envy. The navy alicorn was relaxed--her cosmic mane swept beneath her in a vaporous, unkempt heap. "Wake up," Celestia commanded with a listless flair, which spurred no reaction from the snoozing Princess. 

Ever since Luna had reverted back to her true self and resumed her former duties, she had adopted a nocturnal cycle of sleep. This cycle was seldom disturbed, mainly because Luna was a heavy sleeper. 

Celestia stood before her siblings' bed, becoming transfixed with a particular cross-stitched constellation on Lunas' bedsheets as her mind wandered. "She slept through the Changeling attack, how am I going to wake her up?" She contemplated everything from prodding her to kicking her with a forehoof (that idea was scrapped as soon as it arose), before she finally settled on the obvious (and least painful) answer--magic. 

With a contempt snort, she conjured forth a periwinkle aura that drifted idly from her horn. It swirled around Luna's limp body and wafted into her unguarded ears. 

It was a gentle 'wake-up' spell she had last used when they were fillies. Nostalgia blanketed her in a brief state of tranquility until Luna was roused. Her groggy moans brought Celestia back to the matter at hoof. It infuriated her that the world couldn't be as innocent as it seemed through the eyes of a filly. "Sister, sister, I need you to raise the moon early." 

The navy alicorn, her mind still foggy from sleep, flopped a hoof over her eyes with an unceremonious groan. "Whyyy? Can't it wait?" Luna felt the fuzzy veil of drowsiness numb her senses as slumber threatened to claim her again. 

"Not today, lazy bones," hissed Celestia acidly. "Get up!" Luna sat upright as soon as she heard the unbridled scorn in her voice; her eyes glazed over with a frightened, watery film as she stared at her broken sister. Celestia's ears almost flattened in guilt, and Luna noticed them twitch, but the Sun Princess managed to keep them upright. The smallest action that revealed that she was still alive, and not a creature that acted solely on blind rage and distress, relieved Luna. She offered a small smile to Celestia, and Celestia gave an almost maternal gaze in return. It was bittersweet; Celestia wished that this moment would last for an eternity. She wanted to dive in her siblings' comforting gaze. Her teal eyes offered the comfort she so desperately needed. 

"It's tonight, isn't it?" whispered Luna, shattering the heartfelt silence between them.

"Yes," responded Celestia flatly. 

"You know, I'm here for you, right?"

"I know."

"But why must I raise the moon early? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to hold the ceremony--"

"CEREMONY?! It's NOT a celebration! Celestia snarled suddenly, her eyes ablaze with an unanticipated fury. Her nostrils flared. Lunas' eyes widened as Celestia reared her hoof back--was she...was she going to hit her? Luna cringed, shielding herself with a feeble, shaky arm and cowering into her mattress.

There was no impact. Luna cracked open one eye, unable to subside the shivers that overtook her body. Luna had never witnessed Celestia become so cross. In fact, she couldn't recall ever seeing Celestia's anger bypass a stern glare. Even when she banished Luna to the moon, all she had bore was a strong vibe of disappointment. 

Celestia bit her cheek and swallowed the lump down once again. Celestia curbed the desire to fall into Lunas' arms and sob until all tears were drained from her body, to scream at the sky until her throat was raw and her larynx withered away, to curse both of their names as if they were Gods. "But I must stay strong, always. No matter how upset I am, I...I can't hurt anyone else. I have to stay strong, not only for the kingdom, but for Luna. She's all I ha-" 

"I shall take my leave," Luna nodded, rising to her hooves. Celestia stared at the floor in shame, hoping that maybe, just maybe, Luna would embrace her. But she had already driven Luna away. The clacks of Lunas' footsteps faded as she drew closer to the door. Then, as if by a miracle, they paused. Celestia's head shot up from its sorrowful position, an apology prepared on her tongue. It didn't come to fruition.

Luna was standing stagnant, her halituous mane the only thing moving on her rigid body. She cocked her head over her shoulder. Her eyes were stony, yet sympathetic. She swiped her tongue over her chapped lips before whispering, "Are...are you going to be okay, Celestia?"

Celestia could give no answer.




In the nocturnal and ceaseless depths of sky, Princess Luna rose the moon of which she reigned. She cradled it in mottled wisps of stratus clouds, and then remained still, watching the kingdom of Equestria below with a blank expression.

And, where nopony below could hear her, Luna wept and screamed to a deity that she no longer believed in.