The Stars That Circle the Moon - Three

The Stars That Circle the Moon

Entry Three: The Second Best Thing

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Luna was many things.

Stupid was not one of them. Neither was blind.

So as she, Twilight, and her sister (in that order) sat around a table on one of the higher castle balconies and enjoyed a small brew of tea in the early pre-dawn hours, Luna could just feel it. Twilight's gaze rarely left Celestia's, straying away only when she levitated the porcelain cup to take a meek sip; yet, even then, it seemed the unicorn's eyes still somehow managed to be fixed to her mentor's one way or another. It was, well... Obnoxious, to say the least. The conversation centered around the typical routine of filling Celestia in with the details of Twilight's studies, the Sun Goddess sometimes adding her ever-sapient, effortlessly philosophical two cents. The young scholar, of course, gobbled up the princess's words like a servant in desperate need for her master's acceptance and assurance.

Must I be so grim?

Luna quietly scolded herself for the comparison, but the darker side of her mind seemed to merely shrug and move on, continuing its private barrage of snide remarks. Perhaps she was jumping to rash conclusions, as she often times did. Perhaps her jealousy (she undetectably grimaced, the word going down with a sour taste) was toying with her sense of judgement. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was absolutely, positively, definitely nothing to worry about. No, ma'am. Nothing wrong here. Move along.

A small, nervous giggle escaped Twilight. Celestia beamed back down at her, an ivory tower shining with pride.

Perhaps my suspicions were correct.

Luna's aura enveloped the tea, the unintentional malice behind the action almost accidentally crushing the porcelain in its forceful grip. She watched the pair sharply as she levitated the cup to her lips. The liquid seemed to swell in her mouth, leaving her throat no other option but to reluctantly and uncomfortably choke it down. What was the purpose of her even being present? Her sister and her marefriend (what a revolting word) appeared to have enough company within themselves and, to be frank, she preferred coffee over the odd, too-natural thinness of tea. Now you're merely making petty excuses, her thoughts interrupted, snarky as ever.

So, she did what she always had done when things weren't going her way.

She fled. And she sulked.

The dainty teacup landed on the table with a petite clink! as the Princess of the Night cleared her throat in a similarly subtle fashion. "If thou wilt excuse me," she announced, rising up from the chair and attempting to remain as stoic as possible. "I do believe I must tend to a small number of duties that seemed to have slipped my mind."

Celestia immediately gave her an all-too knowing look; a quick, imperceivable, discerning flash of grave understanding. With a small lump caught in her throat, she knew the elder one's mind was already unsheathing the blade in preparation for the duel of words the two of them were sure to have once her student left.

"The sun is set to rise very soon, Luna," Celestia chided, her words hoof-picked and precise. "Surely these things can wait until the night court, once you've rested." She raised an eyebrow, as if saying, I know you better than you know yourself, sister.

"I'm afraid these matters are of great importance, and I have been regrettably procrastinating." Two can play at this game, Celestia.

"Very well, then." The Sun Princess sipped her tea, an air of  polite modesty surrounding the gesture, although her eyes never stopped burning directly into Luna's. "Duty calls. I, of all ponies, would be the one to understand." She smiled a smile that was so knowing and condescending and presumptuous and oh i just want to blast that smile clear off thy face and make thee eat it and-

"You'll be back before I have to leave, right?" Blissfully unaware of the hidden dialect between the sisters, Twilight suddenly appeared slightly dejected. Her voice seemed to gently plead, throwing a box of guilt on top of the heavy load Luna was already carrying.

The younger princess's expression softened at the words, the unicorn's eyes never failing to completely puncture her composure. She reached down and nuzzled her for good measure, whispering a gentle, "Of course." Turning to Celestia, she gave a curt nod and flared her wings, taking off into twinkling, dark early morning sky.

Luna wasn't much of a flyer, only apt to feeling the soaring weightlessness when the need arose for it, one of those times being right now. Scouring the outskirts of the castle, she settled for a peculiarly small lake that appeared private enough. She landed with a tiny thud as her wings kicked up a torrent of dirt. Even in the dark, the water was stunningly crystal clear, her reflection peering back up at her with hollow eyes.

She looked...

Pathetic.

Sighing, she attempted to collect herself. Uncertainty clawed at her gut like a fat, black monster, the whispers of her doubt skewing her sense of clarity. Did Twilight Sparkle look at her with the same shimmering, radiant gleam as she did Celestia? Was the unicorn harboring and feeding a hidden, abstruse love for her mentor? It seemed plausible; the unconditional admiration, all the years they've shared together, Celestia's sense of compassion and benevolence despite her supremacy. It was only natural that, after the personal closeness they shared, that the student would inevitably fall in love with the teacher.

Especially one as beautiful and pure and perfect as Celestia.

Luna hung her head.

Old habits were certainly hard to break.

A slew of small, round pebbles were strewn around her hooves. Grasping one with her magic, she tossed it recklessly at the water, as if the lake had been the cause of all her ailments. It landed with a gurgling wet thlump! She never did understand the art of skipping stones. As a filly, every time she attempted, it would always just break the surface of the water and sink down into its depths; it was disheartening back then, but just seemed juvenile now. Celestia, on the other hoof, could most likely make a pebble skip for miles before it was consumed. She knew exactly how hard to toss it and exactly when to cease her magic to make it jump.

Of course she did.

She could do anything.

Luna's aura gripped another one of the tiny rocks, eyeing the water critically. She drew the pebble back like an archer preparing a bow. Flinging it forward, she let go of her magic and-

A thought collided with her brain.

Her pupils dilated. Her heart began to hammer. Her breathing stopped.

What if Twilight was only with her because she couldn't be with Celestia?

The pebble hit the surface of the water, and disappeared underneath the surface.

Luna's ears lowered limply, the realization sinking in like her failed rocks descending to the bottom of the lake. Her theory made an unsettlingly large amount of sense, the possibility of it being true appearing greater and greater as her mind cut deeper into its core. Second fiddle, a dark, familiar voice mocked from the abyss of her thoughts. Green eyes flashed once, then vanished. You're merely the second best thing. Second, second, second.

Luna shook her head violently, then chucked another stone in the same manner.

The atmosphere subtly appeared brighter, the water glistening with the golden streaks of the rising, infant sun. It peeked its rounded head slowly above the horizon and turned the sky into a carefully blended canvas of color. Her sister was raising her attuned celestial body, Twilight no doubt right by her side and watching the spectacle intently, her mind alive with the awe of a starstruck filly.

Celestia would always have her way; it may as well have been a sacred law. She could hear it clear as day (why couldn't it be as clear as night?): her sister on a podium far above her subjects, peering down on them like the proud ruler she was. 'I, Princess Celestia of Equestria,' she would say, regality suffocating every word. 'Hereby decree that I now automatically take possession of anything that may make Luna even the slightest bit happy!' And the crowd would cheer, cheer, cheer.

A second reflection projected itself from the water.

Speak of the devil.

"Luna?" Celestia's voice drafted to her ears, but she remained motionless and detached, her eyes never leaving the flat lake. When no response was given, she heard the elder one sigh.

Luna gave in. "What is it, Celestia?" The words came out like a harsh gust of wind.

"Don't play coy, sister." She sounded exasperated, as if she had just finished arguing with a particularly stubborn ambassador and a last-minute pile of work was added on her desk immediately after that. But upon looking at the miserable state of her sibling, her bitterness suddenly dissolved. "You've always worn your heart on your hoof."

"What of it?"

"I know exactly what you're feeling, Lulu." The Sun Goddess smiled down; not the cheeky, disdainful smile of earlier, but one meant to instill comfort.

"Humor me then, Tia." Luna's tendency to speak before thinking took over, her wit thwarting consideration. "Since thou art all-knowing and wise, please, enlighten me."

Celestia was unfazed, the concerned-yet-placid look still on her face. Luna had expected this though, her sister having dealt with her instability and overt emotional outbursts for longer than even she could recall. The elder princess tenderly draped a protective, nursing wing over her, hindering the younger one's strong-willed defenses. She gave a defeated sigh and nestled in the embrace, feeling like a humiliated child.

Celestia was gentle. Luna was brash.

That's how it always was.

"Listen closely, little one," Celestia said, the words sounding stern but landing with sympathy. "I will not say much, so take of it what you will."

Luna nodded against her fur.

She continued. "I can't say I agree with or even understand how your thoughts lead you down these self-afflicting and imprudent roads. Although, I must hand it to you, you possess quite the imagination." There was a slight tickle of laughter at that. "Twilight Sparkle is my student and my friend, and that is all. Do you truly believe I would betray you, especially in matters of the heart?"

Luna opened her mouth to protest, but the words fell short. She suddenly felt a horrific sort of stupidity crawling on her skin.

Celestia looked off into the distance, flecks of the sun illuminating her face. She went on, her voice thoughtful. "Yes, we care for each other deeply, but you mistake that for romantic love. She's simply a little passionate and overzealous, which sounds an awful lot like somepony I happen to know." She smiled down at her sister, whose dark cheeks were tinted pink in a blush.

"So, I had nothing to fret over all along." Luna sighed, an odd sensation of relief and embarrassment flooding in. "Is Twilight Sparkle still here?"

"She's at the castle, but you'd better hurry. She must return soon."

Luna wiggled herself out of her sibling's embrace, wings flared and prepping for flight. "I must admit, I feel incredibly foalish." For personal precaution, she added: "Thou did not speakest to her about this issue, correct?"

"No, I didn't tell her." Celestia laughed. "Your secret is safe with me."

At the sound of the genuine, kind-hearted laughter, Luna reflected on the image she once had of her sister on the podium, her subjects chanting and cheering...

She shuddered.

Returning to the Sun Goddess's side, a leech of guilt sucked and gnawed at her mind. She gave the strong, white neck a brief nuzzle. "I'm..." She huffed. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." Celestia grinned, motioning towards the castle. "Now, go. Don't keep her waiting."

Luna returned the smile, taking off to where Twilight Sparkle would surely be expecting her, and only her.