Hey,

Heartbreak, heartbreak and oh, more heartbreak!

Hope you'll enjoy this~

…And neither had she loved her as she deserved…

Knowing Luna would no longer come to her was a hard blow in itself. But discovering she had gone to their sister instead felt like a dagger piercing her heart.

"It's so hard, Sister…"

"Don't worry, Luna. You'll get used to it."

"I'm supposed to do it every night…I'm so tired. How do you even do it, Tia?"

"Practice makes it easier. Just trust me, little Moonbeam."

Luna merely let her head rest on her sister's shoulder. It had taken everything she had to ask Celestia for advice –she couldn't remember the last time they had had a true sisterly conversation. Being the eldest, Celestia had matured before any of them, and the resulting gap had deeply affected both her and Staria –but she was just beginning to understand that, though she had stopped playing with them, she was still her sister. And she would always be there for her no matter what.

The same applied to Staria too, but right now, it hurt the small filly to think about her. Their bond had always been deeper than hers and Celestia's…she was still in the process of mourning the loss of her playful sister, her partner in crime. It would take her time to accept. In the same time, she would rediscover her elder sister, and asking for her help with the Moon was the best way to go. Staria did not have time for her anyway, and raising the Stars was vastly different from raising the Moon, whereas the Sun was quite similar. She couldn't deny it.

Besides, spending the day outside, watching over their ponies, being recognised by them…it was an experience she wouldn't quite forget. She understood why her sister enjoyed basking in their attention so much; it was so…breathtaking. Being revered, adored and respected…They deserved it, after all. All three of them. But was it worth the distance slowly increasing between them three? Was it worth the strange seriousness that had taken over both Celestia and Staria? She knew it was called 'growing up', but…it wasn't fun. Luna understood, of course. Rulers were responsible for the kingdom, for the ponies' well-being; they did not have time to play. But to live for others without living for themselves…She wasn't quite ready to take that step, and a part of her wished they had never taken the crown.

Her young mind still had trouble understanding everything, even if ruling had definitely made her grow up. It would take many years before she fully understood everything, from the responsibilities ruling entailed to the changes all of them were experiencing. But for now, she was just a very young mare who desperately needed to sleep after yet another attempt at rising the Moon correctly. Her eyes slowly shut and she gave in to sleep, under the watchful eyes of her sisters –one gently stroking her mane while looking at the window, the other secretly observing, heartbroken, how she had spectacularly failed as a sister.

Once upon a time, Luna would have come to her for advice. They'd have discussed the soothing beauty of the Night sky, and talk endlessly until morning. But now…now, she went to Celestia for that. She raised the Moon and then slept like a normal pony to be with Celestia the next day, leaving Staria alone to watch over the ponies' sleep. The middle sister viciously tried to wipe her jealousy away, to no avail. Was it so wrong that she missed her sisters? That she felt left out, left behind? The young mare turned away from Celestia's room with a defeated sigh. She'd come first to Luna's room, and when she hadn't found her, she'd come to Celestia's –if only to ask if she knew where their sister was. A part of her wished she hadn't come.

She had known, of course. She had known that Luna was steadily growing closer to Celestia. And she should have been glad they were getting close. But it was happening at the cost of the complicity they once shared. One sister for another, and obviously she wasn't the better one. Maybe she was exaggerating, she thought. Maybe Luna just wanted to get closer to Celestia but without leaving her. After all, raising the Moon wasn't so different from raising the Sun; wasn't it normal that she sought Celestia out and not her? It did not change anything. They'd still have their night-gazing nights, they would still be together. The bonds would only strengthen between the three of them. Even if she didn't see them as much as they saw each other. Even if nothing could silence the small voice of doubt whispering in her mind that this was only the beginning.

She'd tried so hard to stay awake until dawn…to raise and lower the stars faster so she would have time to join her sisters this time. But when she stumbled upon the two so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't even feel her presence, and looking so at ease with each other…Staria felt it wouldn't be right to disturb them. This moment was theirs, and she didn't belong. It was a truth that hurt more than she was willing to admit. And she was honest with herself…she didn't even know how to cut in anymore. She felt like a stranger, watching a group of friends from afar and wondering how she'd be received if she joined in. She was an outsider, not daring to enter the other world. But they were sisters, damnit! They belonged in the same world! Just what was wrong with her…? Why was she so reluctant…?

The answer lied in what she could not accept: that she didn't know her sisters as well as she used to. Being up all night, she barely ever saw Celestia anymore, and since Luna had decided to sleep the night away…She couldn't even remember the last time she truly last talked to either of them. And she was too much of a coward to dare stepping in, fearing she'd intrude on something sacred that she wasn't meant to be a part of. Maybe, back then, if only she'd fought for it…maybe this would have been avoided.

But as it stood, Staria merely crushed her rising agony and told herself that things weren't as bad as she made them out to be. She had to be positive. But there was one thing she couldn't deny.

There was a time where she was close to her sisters. But that time was long gone.

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