3.

Luna had slept in Celestia's room again. They had spent the last night cuddling tenderly, both of them enjoying the longed for sense of touch between them. Some things just couldn't be said and needed to take place with loving embraces. Words were powerful, for a kingdom could rise or fall on a single one, but when kingdoms are hearts, a touch can say a lot. It was a tender moment to fall asleep last night and Celestia had never felt better waking up. The guilt she felt the thousand winters before had not vanished, but she didn't feel powerless, it was like she knew the answer to a question they couldn't ask.

Celestia awoke early with Luna cradled in her embrace. She snoozed peacefully as her form rose and fell softly in the twilight. It still seemed dreamlike that she had spent a thousand years, watching and hoping for the pony lying beside her right now and she actually existed. Time has a strange of making a distance seem farther, both mentally and emotionally. She kept her sister sacred in heart the entire time, never taking her for granted or treating her like a chore, but there were some times where Celestia questioned if she was real or not. A pony who only exists in a lenses starts feeling like a figment of one's imagination after about 500 years.

Yet here she was, in the flesh. She nuzzled her sister, gently caressing Luna's face with her own.

"Wake up sweetie..." she said softly.

Luna stirred and fluttered her eyes open, smiling at her big sister while she laid in her arms. She yawned. It was exceptionally cute. But not as cute as when she nuzzled her sister back immediately afterwards.

"I love thee Tia."

"I love you too Lulu. Did you sleep well?"

"I did, dearest sister. I had the most wonderful dream..." Luna stretched in a way that was less cute than the nuzzle, but more cute than the yawn.

"Oh?

"Mmhmm! Yet it shall be my secret. Shall we go and bring about the day?" asked with small, timid smile.

"Oh my. You can share it with me. I won't tell anypony!" Celestia replied. Luna was definitely not the same pony she was yesterday.

"Thou hast but one hint. Thou wast present! Now hurry up Tia, do not keep the day waiting!" she announced jumping out of bed playfully and running up the stairs.

When Celestia made her way to the top the stairs she saw an extremely proud Luna standing in position, ready to begin the ceremony. It touched her heart and made her tingle with glee. Even though her sister's return was of great political, moral and magical importance, it meant something different to Celestia. It meant never having to be alone, it meant having somepony to go through the thick and thin with and above all else...

It meant having her best friend back.

No matter what happened in life, she would always have this one moment with Luna. No matter what happened during the tribulations of the day, they'd have the special moment where they brought about a new day.

And maybe Luna would continue sleeping in her chambers. Despite it's implications, it kept them close and Celestia saw no true objection to it.

Cadance poked her head up like the day before just as they finished.

"Oh good morning Cadance," Celestia greeted.

"Well met fair Cadance," Luna parroted.

"Heya Celetia. So you're not going to need me to help raise the sun or moon anymore now that Luna's back, right?"

"I'm afraid not. I do thank you for your service though."

"Of course. It was an honour to serve Canterlot in the absence of the true princess," Cadance replied, quite rehearsed. She threw a wink at Luna. Cadance turned around and began to go back down the stairs. "Oh by way the Princess Luna, give me like a week to move out."

Luna shot a very 'how the hay did she know' look at Celestia. She never said anything to Cadance about taking her room back and neither had Celestia. Almost as if on cue, Cadance called out again.

"Oh by the way again, these walls are like paper thin, I can hear everything!" she chimed from the depths of her chambers.

Luna turned blazing red while Celestia only faintly flushed with a smile.

"Yes don't worry, we will have that fixed when you move in," Celestia said, rubbing Luna's mane as she buried her face into the floor.

They decided perhaps it would be best to get some breakfast. Luna wondered what else Cadance heard. She winced at the thought of Cadance hearing them cry together for hours on end. Luna hoped that she was more tactful than that. She was a princess after all. Still, more things bothered her about Cadance.

"If i may trouble thee with an inquiry..." Luna asked rhetorically.

"Of course..."

"What purpose does Cadance serve exactly? I would prefer the longer version this time."

Celestia let out a silent sigh.

"Oh my, where to start...? First of all she is by title a Grand Princess of Canterlot. She restored the dual-monarchy we have..."

"Her? She is of an equivalent title of thou? She is is a young mare."

"She may be, but her heart is pure and her rule is just. She is loved dearly by our ponies."

Luna was hurt by that last statement. She knew Celestia wasn't trying to leave a biting remark, but she couldn't help from reading into it. Her last decree wasn't well received by anypony. A solemn look overcame Luna's face.

"Oh Luna, I didn't mean it like that..." Celestia said thoughtfully.

"I know..." Luna was sad. Cadance seemed like the perfect replacement, she was well-loved, something that Luna could never accomplish. "Tell me sister, is she now the princess of the night? I presume so for she hath taken my title and bed."

"Of course not. There is only one princess of the night and I'm talking to her." Celestia gave her a warm smile. "Let us ask her to join us for breakfast. There we can discuss your most triumphant return, to your title and sleeping chambers!" Celestia said enthusiastically. Her pompous proclamation provided the perturbed princess with peace of preconscious.

Luna and Celestia had met up with Cadance at the Royal Cafe. A quiet restaurant, privately owned by the royalty. It served only the most important ponies in the castle. While not in possession of the cleverest name, it was the finest cafe in Equestria. Gourmet dishes of great intricacy and delicacy, these meals, no, works of art were painstakingly crafted by the greatest chefs of the kingdom.

"May I have the Pain Perdu Ensemble with fresh strawberries and pomegranate." Celestia politely requested to the waiter. He silently wrote down the princess's order.

"And for you?" he asked Cadance quietly and respectfully.

"The usual," she replied with a heart warming smile.

"Ah yes, the Strawberry Breakfast Bruschetta Finis. Excellent choice madame. Most becoming," he said graciously. He turned to Luna. "And for--"

"Thy princess of the night desires the finest of all waffles," Luna said cutting him off with an endearing amount of arrogance.. She was frustrated with the menu. She could barely identify half the items on the menu calling it 'A gross perversion of the simplest of meals.'

"Of course, of course. You will be served momentarily. Please enjoy your time here your majesties." With that he scurried off.

"So Luna, I take it that you like waffles," Cadance mused. She was happy to see Luna so lively. She was confused by the crying coming from Celestia's room the night before last, but after hearing two distinct voices, she assumed it to be Luna. Or for Celestia to have found a special somepony. She was always urging the her to do so.

Anyways, after the crying and not seeing them for an entire day afterward, she started to worry a great deal. Many things could have gone wrong, but seeing Luna angrily demand waffles from the world's greatest chefs put her at ease.  

"Why of course fair Cadance. Tis a delicacy!" Luna announced.

"Yes Cadance, do you know of the subtle greatness of waffles?" Celestia added.

They all chuckled and laughed lightly at that. Luna felt good talking to Cadance, she was friendly and easy to get along with. Yet the natural rivalry between them kept their conversation polite and distanced. Neither of them truly spoke their mind.

"Spare me, can thou really hearest us from thy chambers?" Luna inquired

"Uhmm!" Cadance blushed pinker than usual. "I can, but only when you're really loud and it's completely silent. I can put a sound barrier up though."

"I think that is a wonderful idea Cadance. I'm sure you'd appreciate the two-way silence as well," Celestia interjected. She shot a considerate glance at Luna.

As the time drifted by, their conversations became more serious in nature. Luna was brought up to speed on the state of affairs in Equestria. She winced at the mention of Princess Rosetta and that she would most likely want to meet Luna before too long. Cadance also offered to step down from her title to make way for Luna as soon as she could square away the current dealings she had on a royal level. The room was obviously mentioned and submitted. All while enjoying the most delicious waffles in Equestria.

Luna finished the breakfast with extremely high spirits. She felt like completely regained her old life back in her opinion. Sure there were some new customs she had to learn and some bureaucracy she had to sign her way through, but as long as she had Celestia, all would be well. She anxiously waited for Celestia to announce what next was on their list of royal duties. The emotion and light breakfasts were nice, but Luna was ready to get her hooves dirty and stand by her sister on the throne.

"Well my sister, I'm sure you probably want to get back to your natural sleep schedule. Nothing lulls to sleep quite as well as a fully belly!" Celestia suggested. "Feel free to stay in my chambers. It was been... most wonderful." Celestia blushed shyly, her voice getting quieter as she finished that thought.

"Oh... yes... of course." Luna was disappointed. She was hoping to spend more time with Celestia before going back to her nocturnal sleep patterns. It was crucial that she watch over the sanctity of the night while Celestia was asleep, so she had always lived on a nocturnal clock. Part of her was hoping that Celestia would continue taking power over day and night, but it was but a fleeting fancy. She needed to be there during the night. It was a simple concept that had lonely consequences. Nopony was awake during the depths of the night. But it was still better than what she had already faced. Anyways she'd always see Celestia every day during their ceremony.

So Luna retired to Celestia's chambers and fell into a deep sleep.

*

Whiteness.

An infinite white void.

Luna stared into the all too familiar scene. She was certain that this was the horror that the abyss itself gazed into.

Soon the ringing returned as well and that brought certainty to her suspicions.

Desperate she cried out and stamped and made as much noise possible.

She heard nothing but the ringing. She was trapped again.

She began to run futilely.

For an eternity she ran away from it.

And then she began to cry.

Until she forgot how to be calm.

And then she tried to kill herself.

Over and over again she dived at the ground on her neck, she couldn't break it.

She landed on her head, trying to break her skull open. It wouldn't crack.

She tried to hold her breath and suffocate herself. She didn't need air.

She tried to kick herself in the heart. She was too weak.

If only she could open her eyes and see the world, then would she be able to finally end it.

But her eyes were sealed shut.

In the faint distance she heard her sister.

She was begging her to stop.

Luna didn't care. She just wanted it to be over.

As she was about to hit the ground one last time, she opened her eyes and hung herself.

Wake up sweetie...

*

When she awoke, she awoke erratically, thrashing about under the covers. A warm presence held her back and calmed her. Luna turned around to see her most beloved pony. It was Celestia. She must had crawled into bed while Luna was asleep but she wasn't about to complain. She cuddled up close to her whimpering. It had felt so real.

"Was it Nightmare Moon again?" Celestia's tone was quiet, loving and concerned.

"T'was not that nightmare, but the white one," Luna cried, sobbing into Celestia's chest. She still couldn't differentiate that specific dream from reality. It was a reoccurring dream that happened almost three times a week. Even though she had it often and knew it well, it still didn't save her from it. She faced the horror of death 12 times in that dream and each time it left her in a state of panic and disbelief.

Celestia squeezed her little sister and stroked her mane until the crying stopped. After a few moments of convulsing Luna calmed down.

"Now now, Lulu... it's going to be alright."

"Please do not part sister... I need you... I'm... not strong enough yet..." Luna was starting to realize the wear she must be having on her sister. She was the ruler of Equestria and here she was, seemingly foal sitting her little sister. Still, nothing made her feel better than Celestia's magic warmth.

"I promise, I need but a moment longer and you'll be free of me."

"Of course, stay as long as you want, but I'd hate for you to miss your surprise." Celestia winked at her.

"Thou hast a surprise for thee?"

Celestia cocked her head towards the observatory. Luna slowly walked up the stairs and saw a truly wondrous night sight. Bright and colourful nebulae littered the sky like massive, immovable clouds. Every single star shone it's at it's brightest, even making the dimmer ones stand out and bee seen. As she walked up the stairs, magical lights dimly illuminated the floor and furniture appeared in a stylish and showy star storm. Each chair and couch appeared before her as one of her many favourite constellations and took a relative form, materializing in the form of shifting galaxies. A small circular bookcase rose from the center of the room.

Lenses and telescopes similar to that of Celestia's personal observatory magically moved to a perfect viewing distance and followed her around intuitively. Never being in the way and always being where she wanted them, almost as if they could read her mind. She just stood there in awe at the magnificent display of magic.

"Do you like it?" asked Celestia as she quietly walked up the stairs, admiring her own work.

"Thou made all of this?"

Celestia simply gave her a reassuring smile.

"From here you will see every pony of the night. Unlike 1000 years ago, some of our subjects have become quite the night owl."

"My first pledge to you is to not let history repeat itself. You will never be alone again, and if you are let me know." Celestia looked straight into Luna's eyes. She glowed like a star.

"You are the most wonderful sister anypony could ever ask for... I know now, that someday this will be all behind us."

Celestia retired to her chambers as Luna lost herself in the night sky. She remembered all those long years ago when she herself painted the sky. Celestia had kept her imagining exactly the same. Not a star out of place and not a nebula out of hue. It was an adventure into her memories as she remembered the stories of the heroes and heroines of the stars. Only the greatest ponies of history and even some that weren't, could find their way in the eternal memory of the sky.  Cadance walked up into the observatory quietly from her bedroom.

"Cadance, should thou not be sleeping? Tis dark and an early morning will ensure tasks are handled," Luna asked wearily without tearing her gaze.

"Tia, told me of what is was like before you're sealing." Hearing her use her personal nickname for Celestia and then talk about her sealing so casually made her cringe. "She said most ponies slept throughout the beautiful nights you crafted and I think that's wrong." She made a gesture towards the ceiling. "I just wanted to let you know that even though I can't stay up all night, I'll still stay up a little bit to make sure and admire it." Cadance put on the warmest, friendliest smile she could muster.

Something about Cadance seemed horribly prompted, forced and insincere. She was doing nothing wrong and generally speaking, she was being extremely friendly and pleasant, yet something rubbed Luna the wrong way about her. She was being too nice to her, like she was taking pity on her. Or maybe Celestia put her up to it in an attempt to make Luna feel welcome, which while noble, made Luna feel even more pitiful. She would rather have ponies come to her because of her, not because they think she desired pity. It was insulting. She'd play along with the charade though.

"Thou art truly kind to me. I thank thee for thy patronage," Luna muttered back coldly. It was one of her more common responses.

Cadance couldn't help but sense Luna's tone was bitter, forced and insincere. She was trying her hardest to be friendly to the princess, but was met with resistance masked by false courtesy, something all too common with royalty and the court. Oh well. Cadance knew she just had to try harder. Once Luna let down her walls, she was certain they would be good friends.

"Of course. So it's safe to assume that you're the expert on all this star stuff, right?"

That was an understatement. Luna had built the entire night sky as it was today. She was a novice like Cadance was somepony who cared about what she talking about. Oh well. If Luna ignored her enough, maybe she'd get fed up and see the real Cadance for who she is. It's not like she wanted to hate Cadance, she was completely ready to befriend and love the real Cadance once they could bond on honest terms instead of through these pseudo connections.

"Thou could sayest that..."

Cadance got up close to her and followed her gaze around the sky, to the slight annoyance of Luna. It was amazing to say the least. She had never seen the night sky in such colour and vivid detail. The enormous clouds of space portrayed depth that both expanded and belittled the mind.

"What is that one?" Cadance said, pointing to a darker nebula. Luna rolled her eyes.

Normally a question like that is difficult to answer in a simple exchange. The sky is a big place and usually the inquirer needs to point out some sort of reference in order to identify the object in question, but both their eyes lit up as a marker appeared on the dome. Cadance dared not move her hoof and after holding it there for a second, the nebula was outlined and next to it a short summary explaining it's origins. The Horse Head Nebula. The bookcase spun around and dispensed a book onto the short table next to it. They looked at each other in amazement.

"Woah..."

"Indeed... Celestia has been quite busy, has she not...?"

"I want one..."

The magic imbued in that room was truly outstanding. Luna couldn't wrap her head around all the possible spells at work. It was so stylistic yet practical. The glowing designs in the floor, the magically appearing furniture and now the dome was some sort of magical encyclopedia.

Even in light of the moment it couldn't take Luna's mind off the insincere pony standing next to her. Luna couldn't ignore Cadance for long. It seemed odd that Cadance had lived here for years and never saw this display while Celestia was making it or after it was done. It was right above her room and she didn't take Cadance to be an imbecile. Maybe the reaction could have been faked, but if it was, it fooled Luna. The gleam in her eyes, the expression on her face, she couldn't deny Cadance's sincerity.

Cadance had worked on that reaction for years now. She was just happy that Luna believed it.