Her life felt quite surreal, these days.
In the mornings, she ate with her sister and conversed with her about the various topics of the day, enjoying the rare time spent with family. She rested for most of the day, gathering her strength for the coming night, and woke in the early evening, to prepare the castle and take up her sister's mantle. As Equestria fell asleep, she would walk the dream world, helping her citizens rest easy.
And finally, when her duties were done, she would dive to the depths of her sister’s mind, and kiss the mare that was not her sister on the shores of a dying ocean.
She knew it was wrong. She was not sure she knew why anymore—had long stopped asking those questions—but she was not foolish enough to think it was right. But she was tired and lonely, and if she found solace in strange places, then who was the world to judge?
And, well. While Celestia played the part of the demure, blushing Princess well, her counterpart clearly had no problems flaunting her body. And what a body it wa—
“Ah, Luna! Just in time for breakfast.”
The Diarch of the Night blushed slightly as her sister, whose body she had in some way just been thinking about, held out a plate of pear pancakes to her with a radiant smile.
Nope! Different pony, different pony, different pony…
She repeated her mantra silently in her head as she accepted the plate, returning her sisters grin.
“Thank you, ‘Tia.”
Celestia rolled her eyes at the familiar nickname.
“Sure thing, ‘Lulu’,” she replied sticking out her tongue.
Luna scowled back playfully, swiping at her sister half-heartedly with a hoof, missing completely. The two siblings quickly settled into a companionable silence as they ate, simply enjoying the other's company. Eventually, however, Luna yawned and stood up.
“The meal was delicious, Sister, but I fear I must take my leave of you now. My mattress calls me,” she said with a tired grin, before she began to leave.
“Ah, Luna, wait just a second?”
Luna blinked. Celestia sounded almost hesitant, a rare thing for her sister indeed. She sat back down, frowning (Damn it all!) slightly, before she schooled her face into a more neutral expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh no, no! Nothing has happened,” Celestia waved a hoof, chuckling a little nervously, but began chewing on her lip slightly, “Well, nothing new.”
Definitely not normal. Much to her annoyance, Luna began to frown again. “What is it, ‘Tia?”
Celestia stopped fidgeting, and with a sigh looked down at her now empty plate.
“It’s about Daybreaker.”
Luna could have sworn that for a brief moment, the blood in her veins turned to solid ice. Her sister had obviously misinterpreted her wide-eyed look, chuckling awkwardly once more and glancing to the side. She held up a hoof to forestall a question that, unbeknownst to her, the panicking Luna would never have asked.
“I know, I know—my response the last time we talked was more than a little stubborn. But you were right,” Celestia said, her face turning serious, “I have been too obstinate by half. I should have trusted your judgement from the start, but as I said,” she grimaced, “Daybreaker scares me.”
She turned slightly, looking Luna straight in the eyes.
“I am giving you permission, Luna, to deal with her as you see fit. I am still not sure I can face her, but if you tell me that that is what I should do after meeting her yourself, then I shall. All I ask,” she stated, still staring at her with utmost seriousness, “is that you be careful. Daybreaker is not a foe you can underestimate. Do you understand?”
Luna stared at her sister, trying desperately to ignore the swirling feeling in her gut that threatened to send her breakfast right back up again. “I understand,” she said hoarsely.
Celestia sagged, a great weight falling from her shoulders as she sighed with relief. “Thank you, Luna,” she whispered, and with a grateful smile at her sister, left to begin her day.
It was a long time before Luna could move from her seat.
The skies were clear today, no storm in sight, and yet Luna could feel the tension in the air once more. Or perhaps that was just her nerves.
Daybreaker smiled at her entrance, but it fell slightly when she saw the look on the smaller mare’s face.
“What has happened.”
Luna explained, spilling her wretched feelings into the heavy air as Daybreaker listened silently. By the time she had finished, she was weeping, and her voice was scratchy and raw. The taller mare remained silent.
Luna bit her lip, then took a deep breath, and pulled herself up.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
The words sounded strangely small on this vast empty world, but there was a finality to them that seemed to linger. Daybreaker did not so much as blink. Eventually, after a long pause, she opened her mouth.
“I see,” was the only response given. The wind whistled quietly, the flames murmured gently, the sea swelled on to the shore, and Luna waited desperately for something, anything more.
Eventually, it came.
“One day,” Daybreaker began, seemingly unconcerned at the loss of her lover, “you will slip. Or Celestia will. And when that happens, you will find your way to me.”
She smiled.
“You will be back, someday.” Her smile widened. “I’m patient. I can wait.”
Luna stared. And then, with a muffled sob, she was gone.
Daybreaker sighed, and shifted her body towards the ocean, head craned up to gaze at the sun.
Her mane swirled and crackled.
The wind howled.
The sea swelled.
Time passed. How much time, she did not know. She did not particularly care. She was, after all, very patient.
There was a shift.
Ever so slightly, the corners of her mouth twitched upwards in a smile.
She opened her mouth.
“You can stop hiding.”
fin