Woopsie. I kinda forgot about updating. Sorry! I'll still post the next chapter Friday or Saturday, don't worry. If I don't forget.
Anyway, this chapter is short (500 words or so) and...well, you'll see. Read. Whatever.
Enjoy!
…Long was the Shadow she cast…
"Star?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you play with me?"
"I'm busy, Luna."
"You're always busy."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"That's because I have a lot of work to do."
"Like?"
"Finishing whatever Tia didn't manage to the day before, raising the thousands of Stars, while managing the ponies' sleep, dealing with the different crisis while you both sleep, reading the Night Guards' reports and overseeing the patrols, dealing with ambassadors arriving in the middle of the night –and there are quite a few, contrary to what you may believe- finding the lost ponies and guiding them back home, checking regularly on you both so you have a restful sleep, then lowering the Stars back, overseeing the transition between the Night teams and the day teams, and then somewhat making myself presentable should we have an important reunion at dawn. By that time, it's usually morning already, and then, the last thing on my to-do list is to go to sleep."
"…"
"…"
"…And where do Tia and I fit in that schedule?"
"You fit now, don't you?"
"You're not giving me your full attention."
"Because I can't."
"See? Neither Tia nor I fit in your schedule."
"I don't fit in Tia's schedule, either."
"Wrong. Your sleeping time takes over whatever time she makes for you."
"Same for you both, then. You're sleeping when I have time."
"You don't have time. I wouldn't be standing there talking to your back if you had some."
"Another time, Luna."
"And there you go again. Lately that's all you seem to say, 'another time, Luna' and that other time never happens."
"I-"
"I get it, you're busy now and you can't help it. I'll just keep trying until you have time."
"Luna…"
"Goodnight, Sister."
The young mare turned tail and left the room with a quiet scoff, one that did not quite hide her disappointment.
For the first time in a long while, Staria felt like the worst being in the universe.
…
"Tia?"
"What is it?"
"Will you play with me?"
"I'm busy, Luna."
"You're always busy."
"The kingdom won't rule itself, you know."
"Can't you take a break?"
"I'm taking one now."
"You're still working."
"I'm reading reports."
"How is that taking a break?"
"After being in a meeting with troublesome ambassadors for three hours, Sister, reading boring reports is pure heaven."
"…I don't get you."
"You'll get it once you're old enough."
"I am old enough!"
"Clearly not. Don't you have duties to do too, Luna?"
"You're just trying to get rid of me."
"I have another meeting in a few minutes, so you'll have to leave soon, anyway."
"Already!?"
"Such is the life of rulers, Luna."
"…"
"…"
"…Had I known ruling meant forsaking your family, I'd have refused the crown."
"Luna! I'm not-"
"You are. But I get it; the Kingdom comes first. I guess I'll just have to deal with it."
"Sister…"
"Goodnight, Celestia."
She was the princess of the Sun, the great ruler of Equestria, a powerful Alicorn; she was used to being a leader, to taking the right decision and to never regret it.
But for the first time since she started ruling, Celestia felt guilty.
XxxX
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