Waning and Waxing

by Calliope Pony


Chapter 5

I’m sitting silent, clenched, waiting for Celestia to come out of her bedroom. I can hear her moving around in there. The door opens.

“Oh! Luna, you startled me. What is it? Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. Not a damn thing. Except I was sitting up half the night in the reading room.”

For a moment she just looks confused. Then she gasps and her eyes widen.

“Oh, Lu, I’m sorry! I completely forgot that I was supposed to meet you. The meeting with the ambassador just dragged on forever, and then I was so tired I just went straight to bed. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, I just forgot.”

“Of course you forgot. I’m just so forgettable, aren’t I? Even my own sister can’t be bothered to remember about me.”

“Look, I said I’m sorry okay? I was tired. I had a long day. You’re lucky that you don’t have so much to deal with. You just get to hang out all night.”

“Yeah, my life is great isn’t it?” I hurl the words at her and storm out.

I stop just a little way down the hall, teeth biting together, tears welling up. I’m torn up inside. Part of me wants to run out of the castle and fly away as far as I can. Part of me wants to go back in and hug Celestia and cry into her mane the way I did when I was a little, little filly.

I listen to the sounds in the room behind me. For a few moments there’s silence. Then I hear Celestia’s hoof steps coming toward the door.

Maybe she’ll come out and ask me what’s wrong. Maybe I’ll finally find a way to get the right words past this choking feeling in my throat. Maybe we can sit together and she’ll hug me and I can tell her about the unhappiness gnawing away at my gut. Maybe-

I hear another pony enter the room through the other door.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Breakfast is waiting, and I have a stack of papers that need your attention. Will you look over them during your meal, or would you prefer to go over your schedule for the day first?”

There’s a long silence.

“Let’s go over the schedule first. I’ll look at the papers later, after I’ve eaten.”

“Very good, Your Highness.”

I hear them both leave.

I go to bed.

But I don’t sleep.