Darkness.

No... not just darkness... also light.

Light on the walls... and a floor.

The floor; she wasn't on the floor.

She was lying on something... a bed; her bed.

She must be in her room.

But how did she-

...the dream... was it...

Luna felt at her throat, hooves shaking.

No, no bruises. No pain. It was... it was just a dream.

A horrible, horrible dream.

No, not a dream... some of it... some of it had happened. Roebuck had been real...

Had been real. Not anymore.

Her fault... it was all her fault.

Luna's mind raced; her body ached. She shifted her weight, trying to learn forward.

Her head; she could feel it pulsing, throbbing. The pain made her cringe. Her limbs were stiff.

Still, she fought again to rise.

But something resisted. Something was weighing her down.

A wing; a large, white wing laid across her chest.  She turned her head.

Celestia... it was Celestia.

Luna huddled closer to her sister.

She rested her head at Celestia's side, hidden beneath a winged veil. It made her fell safe, and secure; yet her mind would not rest. Memories of the nightmare still lingered, playing upon her thoughts. Fear dwelt in her heart, raced in her conscience. She could not bear another dream like the last; she must stay awake.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

Luna listened to the sound of her sister's heart. It was strong, and firm; full of kindness, overflowing with compassion;

reminding her of the heart she once had.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

Luna's eyes began to grow heavy.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

She fought against fatigue, fought against sleep.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

Her visions slowly narrowed, eyes closing.

Thump-thump... thump-thump... thump-thump...

Her breathing slowed; slightly, she stretched.

Thump-thump... thump-thump...

Her body relaxed... her mind fell at ease...

Thump-thump...

Thump-thump...

Thump-thump...

•••

The smell of lavender and nightshade filled her senses with delight. Luna breathed deeply; a smile spreading upon her face. The garden was alive with the flickering of lightning bugs, dancing to the sweet melody of nature's chirps and hums. She walked among the large pine trees, taking in the fresh scent of their needles.

"Luna! Luna?" a voice in the distance called. Her heart jumped. She could not see his face, but even so, she identified the voice. It could only belong to one colt.

"Luna, where are you?" She turned to her left, in the direction of the voice. Luna tried to speak, but could only manage a whisper.

"Roebuck?"

"Luna?" the voice questioned. It chuckled, speaking in a playful tone. "Come now, quit hiding! I'd much rather see you! Luna?"

"Roebuck! I... I am here!" Her voice quivered, heart racing. She felt a warmth growing inside her, the beating of her heart grew louder. Luna stepped again towards the voice.

"Luna, where are you? Come now, you know I don't care for filly games."

She began to move towards the voice; her limbs were weak, but on she trotted. The voice was so near, yet she couldn't find its posessor.

"I am here! Roebuck! Roebuck!"

Luna could hear his voice, shouting her name in the distance; yet it only grew farther and farther away, fading from her ears.

"Please! Roebuck! Come back! I'm sorry! I'm... Roebuck! Please... please, don't leave me here... don't leave me."

•••

"Please, don't leave me..."

Whispering these words, Luna opened her eyes; she had been in the garden mere seconds ago.

A blanket covered her, damp with sweat. Her body was shaking as cold chills pierced her skin. There was a nuzzling at her mane, and a soft voice begging at her ear.

"Luna? Luna, please... can you hear me? Please, Luna..."

"Cel-..." Luna tried to speak; her throat was dry and sore, permitting only whispers. "Celestia?" Using every bit of strength, she rolled herself over to face her sister.

Their gaze met. Luna could see the worry in Celestia's eyes, embellished by a faint pink tinge and stark, red lines. The signs of a mourning heart.

"Please, tell me you are well!" She gazed intently at Luna, looking for any signs of life; anything which would ease her worry.

"I... I am now." Celestia nuzzled her neck in affection; Luna returned the gesture. Neither spoke, but laid together, content in the embrace of a sister.

Both had undergone their own ordeals in the past four days. Luna's dreams had taken both a great physical and mental toll. Her body was dehydrated and nutritionally deprived; her mental state had prevented any intake of food. The risk of Luna choking on an item was too great for Celestia to give her  consent; it had not yet been a necessary danger. Sleep deprived, Luna's body had weakened further, along with her mental constitution.

Celestia, too, had undergone physical and psychological stress since learning of her sister's condition. She could vividly remember the moment she had received the news. The weather had been particularly suitable that day; bright, fragrant, and full of nature's beauty. She expressed her wish to take lunch in the garden.. The smell of Summer had been light, but wonderful to her senses. It was in this ecstasy, this pure delight, which Celestia had heard the shouts of a palace attendant. In a matter of moments, her world had changed from a place of pleasure, to a realm of pain.

It was noon before Luna had been discovered. The palace attendants, and Celestia, herself, were used to not seeing or hearing a word from Luna, with the exception being meal times. She was normally  studying documents in the library, pouring over a novel, or meditating in solitude, therefore taking her meals in these respective places. Yet, on this day, she was not to be found in any of these locations. Some time later, the attendant who served Luna's meals decided to check her personal quarters; it was there, upon her bed, that Luna laid. Her mind was gone; she gave no response to the attendant's actions. Luna would simply repeat the same words, time and again;

"I'm so sorry my love... I'm so sorry."

Since that time, Celestia had laid at Luna's side. She remained awake all day, and through most of the night, doing what she could to make Luna comfortable. Yet, it frustrated her terribly; there was nothing she could do to truly help her sister. Magic was too unpredictable, too much of a risk without knowing what had caused Luna's condition. The medical staff had agreed; Luna's recovery was a matter of time and patience. And so Celestia would wait by her sister's side, wiping the sweat from her face and enveloping her with a sister's love. It was all she could do; lay, wait, and  hope.

Now, Celestia could once more look into the familiar eyes of her sister, which filled her heart with joyous relief. Gone was the stare which looked to some infinite place, the empty eyes of a fleshy shell. They held a spark of life, understanding, intelligence... and sorrow.

"Luna, my dear sister... how did this happen to you? Who is this lover you have spoken of?"

"Spoken of?" Luna croaked. Celestia only now regained her sense; she had forgotten, in her excitement, Luna's physical condition. She quickly used her magic to bring her a cup of tea, and a light tray of foods to calm her hunger. Luna took the cup graciously, drinking it all in one, large swig.

My dream, she thought... just like my dream.

Celestia offered her cakes, but Luna no longer held interest. It, too, only reminded her of the terrible vision.

"Sister, it has been four days; you must east something."  Luna wore a look of confusion; she glanced at  Celestia.

"Four days?"

"Yes, sister. You have lain in bed for several days, wearing only an empty gaze..." Celestia's voice wavered; she stopped, taking time to breath, regaining her composure and strength. She took a sip of tea, slightly shaking.

" You would not respond to my words; would not look into my eyes. Luna... you repeated the words 'I'm sorry, my love.' What does this mean? Do you remember anything, dear sister?"

Luna turned away from Celestia, and looked at the ceiling above. Vivid images of her dreams returned to mind; they played over and over again. She could see Roebuck; hear his chastising voice. Her throat tightened as his words stabbed at her conscience.

Die, die; die from your grief; die from your shame.

"I remember speaking no such thing... but... their meaning to me is clear. You remember, not long ago, when I spoke with you upon the balcony... of Roebuck?"

Celestia quietly recalled her sister's demeanor. "Yes, I remember."

Luna closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

"I told you about my dreams; how he haunted my mind both day and night. Many times, I have dreamt of him, Celestia; but never have my dreams been this vivid. Even... even in the early days of his passing, I had strong dreams, yet they never did this to me."

"What has caused them to become so powerful, then, sister?" Celestia questioned. Again, there was silence. Luna did not answer her question, but rather posed another.

"How did you cope with your mother's passing, Celestia?"

It was not the answer Celestia had hoped for; nor was it a subject she wished to discuss. Yet, she would not provoke her sister. Lightly, she sighed.

"We have spoken of this before-"

"Yet we have never spoken of it in detail..." Luna stated, turning again towards Celestia. "Please, sister, do not take my words with malice. I only mean-"

"I understand," Celestia interrupted. She removed herself from Luna's bed. Using her magic, she gave Luna a cup of tea and delicacies from a tray. "I too have a desire to know your thoughts; yet now is not the time. You are physically and mentally weak from your ordeal... as am I, sister." Celestia replaced Luna's damp, sweaty blanket with a fresh sheet as she spoke. "I ask for you to prolong your questions until we are both in a better condition. And, please," Celestia looked longingly into her sister's eyes. "Promise me you will also reveal your heart, Luna. Not only about your dreams... but also your feelings for... him. I do not wish for my sister to carry such a burden alone," she said, and smiled; "that is why you have a sister."

Again, Luna hesitated. She did not answer the question, but again posed her own; " Would you stay with me, Sister? I do not wish... to be left alone." Celestia frowned; why was her sister so hesitant? She did not care for the secrecy; yet she also knew Luna was fatigued, and needed to recover from her traumatic experience. What she needed now were not questions, but instead a loving and caring sister.

"I would not abandon you, Luna. You are my sister; the one I love most in this world. Without you at my side, I am not sure what I would do." And so she laid on Luna's bed, watching over her sister as she indulged the cakes and treats which sat beside her. It was not long before Celestia slept, resting her weary heart for the first time in many days.

Luna, however, did not rest as easily. She could not help but feel some guilt at her intended deception. She wanted to pour out her heart to Celestia; to explain the truth about her relationship with Roebuck. She wished to correct the lies, and apologize for the deceit. But fear, fear held her back. A fear of shame; a fear of rejection; a fear of losing her only sister.

How was she to say to her; I have killed my lover with grief, and my child with selfish desire?