The Longest Night
Equestria was bathed with soft rays of red, orange, pink, and yellow. Celestia’s horn glowed a shimmering gold as her magic flower to lower the sun. The Princess herself, wasn’t truly paying attention. She had done this for many many moons. So the lack of focus was never the problem.
It was her guilt
Ever since Nightmare Moon…Luna…. has been defeated, this overwhelming guilt has slowly build up deep in Celestia’ heart. It threatened to crack her heart in half, but perhaps any form of punishment was worthy when she felt like she had failed her sister…..her….their kingdom.
Celestia blinked and was quickly snapped back into reality by the clip clopping of hooves on stone. Her breath hitched, her ears twitched and her heart raced. Luna when they were younger, had the habit on sneaking (Or atleast trying to when Celestia was setting the sun. Turning around, Celestia saw the approaching guard, a tall pale pink pegasus mare with with gold eyes, and a two toned red and white mane. Her armor glimmered in the light of the setting sun, reflecting its symbol along the left shoulder, a sun symbol.
“Good Evening Princess Celestia” the guard bowed, wings furled out slightly by her sides. “I have more news from the outskirts of the Equestian borders.”
Celestia released the breath she didn’t even know she was holding, her chest heaved slightly and her heart slowed down some.
“Ah,” Celestia started, “Golden Flame, Thank you, you can leave your message near the podium by the entrance, I will get to it in a bit”.
Gold flame saluted before taking out the scroll and trotting away to follow through her orders.
Celestia turned back to the now darkened sky, she hated this part, absolutely despised it. She had half the mind to walk away and never look back and focus on other duties…..but what good what it do? No matter where or what she was doing, everything reminded her of her beloved sister. And her heart broke just a little bit more every single time.
Taking a shuddering deep breath in, Celestia closed her eyes, and almost immediately regretted doing so. The only thing she could see was Little Lina’s adorable smiling face when she was a foal. The times where they would prank Starswirl in the middle of his lessons and get sent back to their chambers with extra paperwork and scrolls. The time where they nearly burned the kitchens down because they were trying to bake a cake for their caretakers 100th birthday.
Celestia chuckled at the memories, and the small laughter turned into small sniffles, and almost sobbing as the memories turned dark. Celestia’s eyes snapped open wide, she couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her right now. Refocusing, she let her magic flow once more, ignoring the tears dripping from her eyes and onto the balcony’s smooth polished floor. She began to slow raise the moon, the sky turned from its blazing colors to the cool pool of midnight blue, as the stars began to shimmer. Celestia’s heart broke as she finally looked at the moon. She had only been staring at the sky the whole time, doing anything to try and not look at the mare in the moon. Celestia’s knees went weak and she fell over, her legs hitting the balcony floor pillows infront of her. The cushions did nothing to stop the pain and tore its ugly claws into her heart and soul once more. There in the moon, was a reminder of what she had lost …who she had lost.
Celestia’s quiet sobs filled the air, her throat felt dry, and her chest repeatedly heaved up and down as the sadness took over. She bowed her head almost to the point where the tip of her horn touched the ground. Her tears now made a pool on the floor, in between her forelegs. Celestia’s tears flowed more as she looked up, to see the crescent of a black horned mare in the moon staring right back at her. The four stars on each corner of the moons surroundings seemed to have shined the most. Celestia didn’t know how long Luna was going to be stuck in that prison…miles and miles away from home, from Equestria…from her. The moon was high up in the sky for everypony to see and witness. But the stillness of the night confirmed that most were asleep. Feeling safe as the nightmare that had plagued the land was defeated, thanks to…
Celestia’s browsed furrowed, she didn’t feel like a hero. No matter how many rounds of applause were made everytime she entered a room. No matter how many papers were written or how many scrolls would be filled with her name as the victor. She felt responsible, responsible for not seeing through Luna’s depression. For not seeing through Luna’s isolation and anger. For not seeing how much her sister was truly hurting. To Equestria, Celestia had banished a monster…but to her, when she looked in the mirror (or in this case) the pool of her own tears. The only thing she saw was her, the monster. So blind and oblivious to not see the pain that it turned her sister into one.
Celestia tucked her hooves under herself, she lifted her head from its bowed position towards the floor, the cramp in her neck protesting the action. Celestia lifted her head and said in a soft whisper, her voice cracking-
“Luna…..my sister….I am so sorry. I’m so sorry for not noticing your pain, for not seeing that you’re hurt, for not-“ Celestia’s head bowed again but she straightened back up. “For being so blind, forgive me for being so blind” small tears dropped down the sides of her checks as she looked at the moon. “I love you so much Luna, I will miss you everyday until your return…….i- i-“ Celestia’s breath caught in her throat as the sobbing start up again.
This truly was going to be…a very long night