Hey!

This chapter is one of the many turning points, although it may not be obvious. Luna loses one of the things she loved most, and now that Staria finally have time and strength to be with her sisters, she's the only one who wants to be. Poor sisters. And where's Celestia in all of this? Drowning in her duties, of course!

To clarify a few things: a few years have one by since they started to rule, but we're still not quite so close to Nightmare Moon. Less than ten chapters, but still.

That said...enjoy~

...She watched as her sister's unhappiness grew...

Staria did her best to act as she always did, to accept her sisters' newfound closeness –and, consequently, her growing distance with Luna. She was a firm believer that, if something could not be changed, then there was no point in mulling over it eternally. Besides, a small part of it knew everything would get better as soon as Luna got the hang of her duties –as soon as she could take care of it, and lighten Star's burden. They would have more time once it happened, this much was certain; Tia was the workaholic one, not her.

But Luna had taken a liking to the day, to being in the spotlight with their sister. And she looked so happy about it, too…Staria felt guilty for wanting to strip her sister of such joy. If Luna assumed the entirety of her duties, then she would no longer have time with Tia. She'd no longer be out of the Sun, would no longer be with their ponies…Could she handle it? Could she deal with the same burden she'd been carrying for the past few months now? Only one way to know. Besides it was bound to happen, and she believed Luna was ready. No point in delaying the unavoidable.

Staria blinked once, twice, until everything came into focus again. Lately, her sight had started to turn blurry before the end of the night –and each time it happened a little sooner. Rising with the moon was becoming harder and harder, especially with the arrival of winter. The Nights lasted longer, and she couldn't handle it.

Reluctantly, she acknowledged that she worked too much. Luna had yelled at Celestia for not delegating, but she was doing exactly the same, and she could not go on. I'm working too much. I wanted to spare Luna a bit longer, but…there's no escaping it. I can't fulfil both my duties and hers forever.

Unable to take any real joy in the conclusion, Staria lowered the last stars from the sky and went to do the last of her duties for the Night. She'd catch Luna as soon as she raised the Moon. The youngest knew Staria would not fulfil her duties forever, of course; but accepting her duties meant giving up on the life she'd started to love by Celestia's side.

The next night, Luna fulfilled all of her duties for the first time since she took the crown.

And yet, it changed little to nothing. At night, Luna now locked herself in her room, lost in their ponies' dreams as though she valued them more than she did reality –and perhaps she did. Because, with her newly acquired duties, she now slept while the rest of the castle lived, and she could no longer see their ponies –could no longer appreciate the reverence and admiration they had for her. What is far from the eyes often grows far from the heart as well; Luna became moody and reserved, keeping to herself instead of going to her sisters –whom she no longer had time to see, or barely. She now understood how Staria felt each night –exhausted to the bone, unable to keep her eyes open until the end of breakfast, utterly alone- and she also realized none of them could actually take the time to be together, be it at dawn or at twilight. Some nights, Staria managed to catch a few words with her, making desperate small talks in an attempt to stay close to her, and the small smile and softening features she'd get in answer were enough to keep her going. She joked a bit sometimes, her sarcastic character awakening for a short while, and while she never actually managed to make her laugh anymore, And when, for once, she felt well enough to catch breakfast with her sisters –she'd discovered a nasty surprise.

"Guard?"

"Your Highness?"

"Where are Celestia and Luna? Weren't we supposed to take breakfast together?"

"I apologise your Highness, but Princess Celestia stopped taking her breakfasts here a while ago. She has them in her office. And Princess Luna usually doesn't take breakfast." Because Celestia always ends up alone, she thought, her heart twisting painfully in her chest. What's the point of having breakfast together if we're never there. But still, despite the sorrow she felt at knowing they wouldn't take breakfast together anymore, in front of the guard, she kept her composure. She was a princess. She couldn't show any weakness.

"…I see."

"Should I fetch them for you, Princess?"

"It won't be necessary. I shall return to my duties, now."

Alone in her room, Staria wondered. Was Luna only going through a phase, which wouldn't last? But how would she grow out of it –if neither of her sisters had time for her? What would happen to them if they no longer had time?

Time.

How ironical that, despite ruling over the very forces that commanded the passing of time, they desperately didn't have enough of it.

XxxX

You know what I'm going to say~