Covet
The sun finally descended.
Luna bowed her head to her sister, before turning to attend to her duties. She did not do so from the castle in Canterlot, instead leaving the city to be on her own. It was obvious on Celestia's face that she had been stressed during Luna's exile – not only from having to raise and lower both sun and moon, but also having to deal with the loss of her sister. Luna had no doubt in her mind that Celestia loved her, adored her as she adored her very own sun. The beast she had become had been borne of such a desperate need to be noticed – to be recognised and loved and adored. The sun was no easier to raise than the moon, yet the ponies played and frolicked and celebrated Celestia's sun.
Luna took to trotting uphill, relishing the feel of the fresh spring grass beneath her hooves. Her first night in a thousand years.
In the time it took her to reach her position, a small, level piece of land, Equestria was left in the limbo of twilight. Luna sat down on the grass and turned her head to the east. Her teal eyes fell closed, and she concentrated on the moon. The place of her imprisonment, how she both loathed and loved it. The one beauty she had wanted to share with the world had become her only sight for a thousand years.
It came as naturally as a long unused skill could – weak, at first, faltering and unsteady. And then her confidence grew, and the moon began to steadily rise, wreathed in deep violet and navy. The stars formed a sparkling trail, sprinkled out by Luna's design. There was a lot of effort involved in initially setting the moon to its chosen path, and then for the night Luna could relax, in a way. The mere act of keeping the moon up cost some of her energy, an innate, familiar feeling, but that was all. Exhaustion always plagued her by the time morning came around, and she was glad to hand the reins to Celestia.
Luna opened her eyes at last. Celestia stood in front of her, looking as if she'd aged every one of those thousand years since Luna was gone, albeit gracefully. The white mare tilted her head to the side, offering a tired smile. "Why are you up here?" She asked.
Luna shrugged. "It's nice up here." Was all she said, watching as the colours of the night began to bleed over the entire sky, chasing Celestia's day to the west.
Celestia's smile grew. "It certainly is." She agreed, stepping forward with all the majesty Luna lacked. She was a mere pony, but Celestia… she was something ethereal. Her pelt glowed with the colours of the growing night sky, and her mane and tail billowed without wind, ebbing and flowing like the tide. The mix of colours was enchanting, the midday sky blue, mint green, sunset purple and sunrise pink all a testament to her deserved royalty.
Luna glanced down at her own hooves, blue mane falling to obstruct her view. It did not dance to the unsung tune of nature, it hung limp in her face. She huffed, and blew it out of the way.
"Might I join you?" Celestia asked, walking as though she was on clouds.
Luna could not quell the envy within her, no matter the cold stab of fear it drove through her. Could Celestia tell? Would she banish her once more? Celestia had done the right thing; Luna had no doubt in her mind. She had become consumed with such jealousy, she had deserved every second of her imprisonment. It was a punishment made of love, not of spite.
Luna nodded, not trusting her voice, not in the wake of Celestia's perfect tenor.
The white mare came around her, and Luna focused on the sky. The moon continued to move, though the night time navy preceded it across the sky. Celestia lay down around her, and Luna almost jumped. "Sister?" She cast a look over her shoulder, one of confusion.
Celestia reached out her muzzle to brush against Luna's, their horns touching. "I missed watching you bring in the night. I could never do it as perfectly as you." She said, an easy confession, before laying down her head on her hooves.
"You're tired." Luna argued, shuffling her forelegs anxiously. This must be some sort of trick – the ponies surely celebrated Celestia raising the moon as often as they did the sun. Luna could do nothing as good as her sister, she was amazing. She was perfection. "You should rest." Luna almost pleaded. Celestia should not put herself out so much for Luna's sake – she had only done so for the past millennium.
"Something so beautiful deserves an audience." Celestia surmised, around an all-too-real yawn. "Even if it is just an audience of one."