Half-Sisters

by Steve Ott

Everlasting Friend

Finally, the sun dipped below the horizon ending the most eventful day since the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration. Canterlot was a bit worse for wear, but nothing that the residents could handle. There had initially been a lot of fear because of the likelihood of some changelings were still in the capitol, but after Shining Armor dispelled those fears, everypony went about their day. After all there was still a wedding to be held. However, none knew what was going on in the castle infirmary.

It had been almost two hours since Twilight, her friends, Shining Armor, and Cadence left the Monarch of the Sun alone with her younger sister. All had been shocked by the revelation, and nopony could possibly believe it. However, the proof was lying comatose on the hospital gurney. As much as she wanted to finish the story, she knew that it had been a stressful day for all involved. She promised them that tomorrow she would finish. So they left Princess Celestia alone to wallow in her misery.

Tears infrequently dripped from her eyes, slowly streaming down her face. She had only had Luna back for not even two years and now she was knocking on death's door. All because she was so blind once again.

As she gazed at her prone sister, her mind began to drift to a happier time. It was during on of Luna's stays at the old Everfree Castle around fourteen years after her birth. Celeste closed her eyes, completely immersing herself into the memory.

***

Celestia's eyes snapped open suddenly. Instead of being in the infirmary, she was now in one of the expansive hallways in her old castle. Tentatively, she began to slowly trot through the corridors. Glancing at a nearby window she determined that it was a little before midnight. Exactly the time when her younger sister would be awake.

As she began to trot down the halls, she began to approach a dark brown door at the end of the hallway. As she began to get closer, her ears picked up the faint sound of music emanating from the other side. After a few more steps, she heard what she identified as somepony playing the cello. She quietly opened the door revealing her younger sister playing her cello with perfection. Slowly, Celestia recognized the song.

Her younger sister had her eyes closed, focusing all of her effort on her instrument. It had been her parents idea to have their daughters to learn how to play instruments. While she herself failed miserably at playing the flute, her sister was a natural at playing the cello. So much so that some of Equestria's greatest composers had asked Luna if she wanted to join their orchestra. However, Luna simply didn't have the time.

As the song began to wrap up, Celestia felt tears begin to cascade down. She attempted to wipe them away only for more tears to follow soon after. While the song was undoubtably beautiful, it wasn't the reason why she was crying. She was crying because this was the last day she would get to see her sister for another three months.

Finally, Luna played the last note of her tune and opened her eyes to find her older sister crying. "Tia, why are you crying?" Luna asked innocently.

After taking a moment to compose herself, Celestia responded, "I'm not crying, its just liquid pride."

Luna suddenly began to giggle at her older sister's comment. Soon, Tia herself began to laugh along with her. And so the two sisters laughed and laughed and laughed.

***

Suddenly, the memory changed. Instead of being in her sister's quarters, she was now in her own. Her muscles ached everywhere, her horn was completely spent, and she struggled to even stay awake. As she lied on her side, she heard hoof steps approach from behind.

"Tia?" Luna asked fearfully, now with a deeper, more mature voice. Celestia glanced at her sister, taking in her new form. She now stood at almost equal height, her blue carapace shining brightly as the twilight hit it. Celeste recognized the moment, the moment that changed both herself and Luna's live forever.

"I must raise the moon," Tia breathed out slowly.

"I'm sorry sister, but you are in no condition to raise the moon," Luna replied quickly. Luna had gained an independent streak ever since her mother died.

Celestia attempted a retort but what came out was a groan. She didn't even have the energy to speak. Reluctantly she closed her eyes and allowed blissful sleep to overtake her.

When she woke up next, the sun was no longer out. Instead, the moon was out and brighter than ever before. On her balcony, she saw what she first thought was a stranger. The pony sported a flowing mane that seemed to sparkle, she had a long horn upon her head as well as large wings, and a cutie mark of a crescent moon on black background. However, when she gazed into the pony's eyes, she immediately recognized who it was.

"Luna?"

***

Once again the memory shifted. Now she was in her new room at Canterlot Castle. Beside her was he sister Luna, looking how she did back when she first returned from the moon. Worry was etched upon her face and she seemed reluctant to say what was on her mind.

"What is it Luna?" Tia asked softly.

Luna took a deep breath before asking, "Tia, what happened to Chryssy?"

Celestia nearly gasped aloud. It had been years since she had even thought about Chrysalis. The last time they had talked was when she had to inform Chrysalis about Luna's banishment. After composing herself, she replied as calmly as she could, "I don't know Luna, I haven't seen her and her hive for over five centuries."

Suddenly, tears began to slowly cascade down Luna's face. Luna thrusted herself into her older sister's shoulder and began to weep. "Its all my fault isn't it?" she choked out after a few seconds of effort

"No, don't you ever say that Luna. This is my burden to shoulder, not yours," Tia responded swiftly as she continued to console her younger sibling.

Luna continued to cry for what seemed like hours but Celestia didn't notice. The memory began to shift but instead of changing into yet another memory, it blasted her out into the real world.

***

Celestia opened her eyes, now finding herself in the present. Luna was still in a coma having shown no sign of waking up. She sighed before leaving the room. After around five minutes of walking, she found herself on her balcony. Her horn lighted up as she lowered the sun, slower than she ever had since the day she was forced to banish Luna almost a millennia ago.

Once the sun was finally lowered, Celestia reluctantly began the task of raising the moon. It took a lot of agonizing, but the moon slowly climbed higher and higher. Once it had reached it's apex, Celestia once again burst into tears. She didn't know how long she sat there all alone, but it felt as if it were hours. With her tears finally quelled, she stood up and slowly began to trot for the door. Just as she reached it however, she heard a low groan. Turning swiftly around, she began to cry once again. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.

"Tia?", Luna groggily croaked out, her throat parched. "I'm sorry."

Celestia scampered over to her prone sister, tears falling as she did so. "You have nothing to be sorry about, nothing at all," Celestia whispered. She then carefully hugged her sister, both embracing this tender moment.

***

A drone approached the broken Queen.

"How may I be of service, My Queen?", the drone asked in a monotone tone.

"I need you to go back to Canterlot and inform my sister of my plight. She needs to know." the broken queen rasped, the order punctuated by a cough.

"Of course, My Queen," the drone responded before flapping his insect like wings, quickly gaining altitude. As he flew from the hive, he thought back to lead up the botched invasion. The Queen had been very nervous about her sister intervening, and from what he could tell, she did in the end. However, the Queen never made any order to capture her sister, in fact she told everyling to stay away from her. In order to do so, she gave her drones her sister's name: Luna.

Now, she was the only one that could save their species from certain doom.