In tragic romance novels, heartbreak was always described as worse than what Luna felt now. Wasn't it supposed to be more acute, more piercing? Instead, there was this...dull ache in her ribs, as if she'd been struck with a blunted sword edge. A constant throb, pulsing with every step she took.
She’d never felt this before. Every tragic romance novel in the world could not have prepared her.
But what only made it worse was that she shouldn’t have been feeling it at all.
It was hard to imagine that only an hour ago, she had been happy and content, overflowing with love and joy. It seemed like a distant memory now, as if she’d been dreaming and had just woken up to the bitterness of reality.
Miraculously, the path Luna was currently taking through the crystal hallways remained empty and silent. In some corner of her mind yet untouched by pain, the Princess was grateful for this. She didn’t think she could bear wandering across another, who would no doubt comment on her distraught appearance.
She was very obviously distraught--it would take a blind pony to miss that. Tears streaking her face, head hanging low, ears flat against her neck…the ache was driving her mad.
She wanted to scream, to sob loudly, to let everypony know of her misery.
But…she didn’t.
The hall remained quiet--the only sound was the soft clatter of her hooves against the floor.
Her mind focused dully on the quiet repetition, mapping out words to the noise. Eventually, all the sentences running through her mind merged into one word: duty.
You have no choice.
All too soon, Luna reached the door to Sombra’s chambers…and that was when she realized she didn’t know what to say.
She couldn’t even justify this to herself, how could she do it for somepony else? Panic welled in her core, almost overpowering the stabbing pain still digging at her.
For a minute, Luna contemplated running. Turning tail and fleeing back to her chambers, leaving the matter unspoken.
Perhaps…perhaps she actually could get away with that. After all, how would anypony ever find out? Sombra didn’t have to know about the conversation that just took place…
Maybe this would work.
…Oh, who was she trying to fool? That was an unrealistic dream.
Somepony would find out, it didn't matter who. The news would spread till finally it reached Sombra's ears. He would be hurt, that much was certain. Hurt that she was hiding such a thing from him, that she was trying to distance herself while keeping up the pretense of being just as close as before. She didn't want to see him hurt...and knowing that it would be she who caused his pain? The idea was too much to bear.
You have no choice.
The young Princess took a deep breath, lifting a wing to wipe the remaining tears from her face, and finally worked up the fortitude to knock on the door.
It opened almost immediately, bathing her and the darkened hallway in a warm glow.
“Luna?”
The Princess’s heart gave another throb as Sombra’s face lit up at the sight of her, “Hello, my dear. I thought you’d gone.”
“Well, y-yes,” Luna stuttered, “I had. But now…we…well, we, um, we…um, w-we, um…” She cursed her stumbling tongue.
“Here, come in,” Sombra stepped back to admit entrance. Luna’s heart shrank further, but she trotted forlornly in.
“Now,” the King said, letting the door swing closed behind them, “what is—oh! Luna, you’re so pale. Is something wrong?”
“No,” Luna replied, wanting to throw up at the sweet concern in his voice. Just half an hour before, it would’ve made her blush and smile. Now it made her stomach twist into even more knots. “Well, yes. It’s…well…I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes?” Sombra took a seat on one of the decorative couches in the room, gesturing for her to sit next to him. Luna’s limbs moved automatically, lowering her slowly onto the cushions as well, even as the shards grew sharper and dug deeper. Sombra patted her hoof gently, giving her a smile that didn’t quite mask the concern in his eyes.
“Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be,” Luna whispered, wincing at every quaver in her voice. “Please.”
“Luna?” Sombra frowned. He tucked a hoof beneath her chin, slowly lifting her head. He was gentle, so sweet that Luna wanted to scream. “Oh, my dear, you’re trembling. Please tell me what’s wrong.”
“My heart’s been…” Luna trailed off. Her heart had been throbbing, aching, shattering, “…sinking. And…we…well, we can’t go on.”
“What?” Sombra’s worried frown shifted to one of puzzlement. “Is this some joke? Luna, I appreciate your sense of humor, but this isn’t very funny.”
“I wish it was a joke,” Luna said numbly, standing up and taking a few paces forwards, as if the air would be easier to breathe the further away she was from him. “But…we…can't love each other anymore. We have to stop.”
“…what?” Luna didn’t dare to look at Sombra’s face.
You have no choice.
“But what of the marriage? Both of them? Luna, what is happening?”
“Purely political,” the night-bringer said bleakly. “And…nothing else.”
“Oh, Luna,” the King said helplessly. “What did I do? Where did I go wrong?”
“No, please!” Luna begged, turning around and almost turning taking a step towards him. She barely managed to stop herself and the stallion stared at her hopelessly, as if he’d seen her involuntary twitch. “It’s not you. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Then who was it?” Sombra asked, an odd edge to his voice. “What was it? You were so happy…we were so happy. What could’ve changed your mind?”
Luna looked away, unable to take his piercing gaze. She bit back the name that hovered on the tip of her tongue, hoping against hope he would take her silence as a suitable answer.
“…Celestia.”
His tone made it clear he was not asking a question—he was stating a fact. Luna squeezed her eyes shut, as if closing them would make everything go away.
“It is her,” he pressed, “isn’t it? This was all her.” Apparently, he couldn’t just sit with the realization. He needed confirmation. Luna bit her lip, hard enough to pierce the skin. A trickle of blood ran down her lip, dropping to the floor below.
Yes, her mind screamed. It was her. I don’t want this. Don’t listen to her.
“…why?” Sombra sounded nearly angry. "Why would she do this?"
In spite of her best efforts, tears spilled from Luna's eyes, trickling down her face.
“I’m immortal,” she said, feeling her breath hitch. The next sob was strangled, coming out as a painful cough. “I’m going to outlive you. I…can’t do that,” her voice became a high whisper. “Please don’t make me do that.”
“But that doesn’t have to happen,” Sombra urged, sounding desperate. “There still might be a way. I don’t have to die! There has to be a spell, or—”
“No.” Luna shook her head. She should have been excited, eager to look for a solution, but she couldn't summon the energy. Her chest throbbed.
“Luna…please,” Sombra begged. “Don’t give up on me.” The Night Princess shook her head wearily, backing towards the door.
“I have to leave,” she said, hating herself for saying it. “Goodbye, Sombra.”
“Please!” the King’s last words echoed into the darkened hallway as the door swung shut.
Luna wanted to scream.
But all that escaped her throat was another gasping sob as she fled the hallway.