Weight.
Spring Mist stood in the night sky. Luna was near him, separated only by a small glowing orb that was Mist’s star.
“Luna, I’m not going anywhere. Not for a long time,” Mist said with concern.
“Allow me this, Mist,” Luna retorted, her voice thick with pain and fear.
“Alright,” Mist conceded, “So what will you do with the star?”
“I shall keep it here,” Luna paused, “Now come.”
She walked through the Void, and Mist followed, leaving the newborn star to float amongst its new family. Luna conjured the door out and walked through with Mist. Luna did not stop once they were through, and continued down the stairs leading to her study.
She used her magic to pull the large cushion to the center of the room and conjure a smaller cushion for Mist. Luna settled herself down and got comfortable. Mist however, stood near his cushion, an odd feeling of unwillingness filling him, accompanied by slow realization. Luna looked at him with confusion.
“Mist. You can sit. You don’t need my permission.”
Mist stood, his mind processing what he had seen and what had been said. Pieces of a puzzle began to fit together snugly, creating a series of images and ideas. He looked down at the crystal around his neck, back in the direction of the room he was just in, out of a window, and finally back to Luna.
“Mist?” she asked with concern.
“You made them both, everything,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Everything. You made everything. Everything that led me here, to where I am in my life. Everything changed, because of you.”
“What do you mean, Mist?”
“Did you know that there is a meteor shower when you cry? There was a rather impressive one after I told you my story.”
Luna shied away. “Yes… Your story… it saddened me…”
“And you created Umbra, and the meteor that landed in the forest. That is why this-" he pointed to the medallion around his neck, "-is in the shape of my cutie mark. A gift from an immortal.”
Luna remained silent. A stoic expression, much like her sister’s, adorned her face. Mist continued speaking, undaunted.
“Why? Why me, Luna?”
The mask broke and Luna rose from her cushion, tears beginning to form, “Do you recall when you asked me why I am so sad? Why I cry?”
“I do. Both times. Once you flew off, the other you refused to answer.”
“Yes… Would… would you still like an answer?”
“Of course, Luna.”
“Come with me,” she led him out to the balcony. She continued, “Look out. That is my night, as close to me as a mother is to her child, an artist to his sculpture, the heart to the body. Now look down. There you see our ponies. A city. Calm and quiet, silent. In the light of the sun, ponies are active, happy, working. But under my moon, they sleep, stay within the confines of their homes. With the exception of guards and the astronomers, how many ponies do you think stay awake into the later hours and enjoy the night?”
“I’m sure there are a fair few,” Mist lied, “Many, I’d wager.”
“There are not. And you would lose that wager. Nopony enjoys the night. Nopony stays awake just to appreciate the stars. Even those who are awake resent the fact and yearn for a ‘normal’ life in the daylight. Spring Mist, you are the only pony in Everfree who does exactly that: enjoys the night, appreciates it.”
“I hardly think I’m the only one. You said it yourself, there are the astronomers – ponies who have dedicated their lives to the night.”
“And how many are there? Six, seven? And they work in the tower. You shirked your responsibilities as guard of Everfree in order to pursue your interest. Name one other pony who would do the same.”
Mist could not. He knew that the astronomers loved their work, but with the exception of perhaps Caramel Tart, he could think of nopony who would so brazenly disregard one life in favor of another. Mist hung his head.
Luna nodded slowly and solemnly, “Precisely. And that is why you are here. Why I gave you that meteor, why the star is in the sky – inspiration, if you will – and why I want you working closely with my sister and I. I do not care to lose such a treasure.”
“I’m hardly that special. Surely you will meet other ponies like me the future.”
“But I know you now. I don’t want the future when I have now.”
“Then what about everything else… the… affection?”
“Again, I am not allowed to act how I wish?”
“I suppose you are, but it is still nice to have answers…”
“Yes, but not everything has a satisfactory answer. I just felt it was the right thing to do.”
Mist stared into the night, mind reeling. “I… don’t really know what to think, Luna. This is a lot for me. So many things are happening. I can scarcely believe it has been just over a week. It feels so much longer.”
“As long as you are happy, that is what matters.”
Mist looked at Luna, “But are you happy?”
Luna hung her head and looked away, “I don’t know. I hardly remember what happiness feels like anymore. I just want to be appreciated, adored like my sister is, loved like she is.” She lowered herself, falling to her knees, tears reforming and darkening her coat.
Mist stood, unsure of what to do. Crying. Mist, do something. He lowered himself to her level, and put a hoof under her muzzle, lifting it to look her in the eyes. He held that gaze before speaking, “Luna, nothing I say can make you happy. Only you can do that. But I want you to know that you are adored, loved, just as much as your sister. Perhaps not by as many ponies, but those few who do love you and your night are more certain and passionate about it than any other could be.”
“I’m just so afraid of being alone and unwanted.”
“You are not unwanted, and you never have to be alone. You seem to be making an effort to have ponies in your life, so you won’t be alone for much longer.”
“But they will eventually leave me, you will eventually leave me. I am doomed to lose those around me. And where will I be when you finally depart this world? Alone, again.”
“Then you find new ponies. Friends and family come and go. All you can do is remember them and move on. That is life, living no matter what.”
“I just never want that to happen. I don’t want to lose ponies.”
“It is unavoidable.” Mist, do it. You want to do it. “But would it help if I said that I would stay as long as you wish, as long as I can?”
“I… I think it might.”
“Then it is settled: I will stay for as long as I possibly can. And don’t think of what comes at the end. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.” Mist didn’t think about the consequences or the implications of what was said. He gave in, just feeling… right.
Luna looked at Mist, tears staining her face, and smiled. That true smile. Happiness. “Thank you, Spring Mist. I will… try to not think about… the end. Just enjoy the moment.”
“Good. That’s more like it.” Mist grinned back at Luna, an overt and silly grin. The situation needed some picking up, and Mist was more than willing to take up the mantle. “Come now. Let’s dry those tears and do some work for a change.”
“I agree.” Luna perked up, startling Mist with the rapid change in demeanor, “You do seem to have the remarkable ability to not do what you are supposed to. First as a guard and now as an astronomer.”
“It’s not my fault!” Mist retorted, mocking offence, “I can’t help it if the night is irresistible and I have pony Princesses involving themselves in my life. I mean, really. I was just happy doing what I had done for years, then lo-and-behold two Princesses start manipulating the universe to work in my favor. Mostly. I still don’t understand what you two see in me, and I suspect I never will.”
“I don’t know about my sister, but I think you deserve more than you have, if only as a ‘thank you’ for enjoying my night.”
The two ponies walked back into the study, closing the door to the balcony behind them. “Still,” Mist said, “I don’t understand it.”
“You don’t have to. Just accept it.”
“Fine. I concede. No use looking a gift horse in the mouth.” Mists chuckled.
Luna responded with a chuckle of her own, as once again, the two ponies were caught in a bout of laughter. Once it died down, they moved over to the cushions and each took their respective seats. Luna’s horn glowed and several books floated off of the shelves near the desk. They landed in front of the pair with a thud. Mist looked at Luna with slight confusion.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Work!” Luna responded, “You are going to tell me about the stars.”
“That's a bit backwards. You know the stars better than anypony.”
“True, but I know them as only I can. I want to know them as you do.”
Mist shrugged, “Very well, where shall we begin?”
Luna smiled and picked up a book. Opening it to first page, Mist began to read.
“A Comprehensive Study of the Night Sky, Volume One. Author’s notes. For as long as history has been recorded, ponies have had an insatiable hunger for information regarding the universe, to understand…”
Hours passed as the two ponies poured over the books, and eventually the pair’s tired eyes could stay open no longer. They drifted off into a slumber, the events of the night draining them both.
****************
The light of dawn entered through an open window, spilling into the room. Mist blinked in the light, momentarily awoken. He lifted his head to look around through blurry eyes. Somehow, in his exhausted state, he closed the window, cutting out the light. With the glare gone, he could see more clearly. He had somehow migrated off of his cushion and onto the larger one. Mist looked around, but could not see immediately see Luna. Confused, Mist blinked and became aware that he was unusually warm. Looking slightly down, Mist noticed the mass of blue next to him.
His head rushed when the realization hit him. Don’t panic, Mist. Don’t move. Relax. You’re tired, just go back to sleep. Mist could not win the argument, and his tired mind ultimately decided that nothing was amiss. Slowly, he drifted back into slumber, a final and singular word flashing though his mind.
Warm.