Hey!

A longer chapter, for once. One of the most heartbreaking I had to write, but not the first and not the last. Luna believes their ponies do not care for the night, and her sorrow and fear deepen. It'll turn to anger soon.

On another note, there might not be another chapter until the 22nd of April. Sorry, everyone deserves a break once in a while~

Enjoy!

…But such is the way of the limelight…

"Happy Summer solstice!"

"Hurray!"

Dawn rose in the sky, the first dawn of summer. Below them, the ponies laughed and sang as the night faded away, leaving the palace and the whole city glowing in a glorious light. Celestia chatted away with a couple of nobles, laughing and smiling as she went, while Staria and Luna both tried their best to look awake –and happy. But as everyone tried to catch the Sun princess' attention, they both decided to call it a night –er, a day, rather, or something- to find a much deserved sleep after all the last time preparation they had to do for the solstice.

Solstice they would barely enjoy, as it seemed.

"I just don't get it." Staria turned to her sister. Luna was looking at the crowd below, a heavy frown marring her beautiful features. It had been a long, long time since her sister last openly spoke with her. And while she wanted nothing but to rejoice for this unexpected but pleasant surprise, she could not shake the unease she now felt whenever she was in her sisters' presence. But, nevertheless, the older mare approached her.

"What is it, Sister?"

"Why is it that we celebrate the day," and she gestured at the bright sky above, before facing her sister, "but never the night?" Staria smiled mischievously, a tiny part of herself, broken and discarded a long time ago, timidly flared to life again.

"Oh, because we love what makes us trip and fall like the fools we are..."

But only silence answered her. Luna's gaze stayed resolutely fixed on the dispersing crowd below, fading away to their homes with the fading sun. Soon, they would let the night fall –and their ponies would hide from its peaceful embrace in their houses, waiting for the new day. A fact Luna could not help but mull over in her head, and wonder why, why, why. Staria's smile vanished upon seeing her face. Luna did not laugh; she did not even turn around to face her. She should not have been surprised; Luna's laugh had become even more rarely seen than the crystal empire itself, and that was saying something.

"…Luna?" She suddenly realised her sister was really looking for an answer –desperately needed one, perhaps for a while now. And where had she been to give her one, to appease the growing pain in her eyes?

Staria felt her heart break a little. How could Luna ask herself such a thing?

"We do celebrate the night too, Luna," she said, attempting to pacify her. "The summer solstice celebrates both." But Luna only shook her head.

"No, it doesn't. Our ponies only wait anxiously for the sun to rise. They don't care about the night, they just want it to end." Luna turned away from her, a heavy frown on her features.

"That's not true, sister. I can assure you the ponies love our night just as much as they love the day."

"Then why do they sleep as soon as it falls?" There was no real anger in her voice, merely frustration, confusion, and…and something else Staria did not quite recognise.

Something darker, that she vowed to extinguish before it could progress further.

"Everyone needs to sleep. The night is gentler, calmer than the day; it is suited for rest and sleep, whereas the sun is made for noises and activities. Besides, we can't see in the dark. Can you imagine what it would be to work in the fields, or anywhere, when you can't see what you're doing with your own hooves? You'd fall on your own head because you can't see anything." It was a tentative try at humour, one she'd hope would bring a smile to her face and make her forget about her insecurity –but no such luck.

"You work at night, and sleep during the day. Can't they light up lanterns and such?" Now that was downright ridiculous.

"The amount needed would be far too big, Luna. And far too costly."

"Then the night is made to be unknown and feared?" Luna asked –and Staria could see tears shimmering in her eyes. "Will no one ever know the quiet beauty of the night –and its softer light? Why are there even princesses of the Night if we're not celebrated?"

Staria's heart broke a bit more with each word. Truthfully, she'd often asked herself the same question…without really finding an answer. But, deep down, she knew the night was as valued as the day –that the night's light wasn't the lesser light. This conviction stemmed from her instincts, her own feelings; she could not explain it. So how could she make Luna understand?

"Of course not, Luna. Day and Night are the two faces of the same coin. Without one, the other disappear."

"Then we're just that? Just a stepping stone for the sun?"

"No. Our ponies celebrate us as much as they celebrate Celestia. It's just more discreet."

"But Why? I just don't get it." Staria kneeled beside her.

"Because it is the very nature of the Night, Sister. And so it is ours. We cannot stand in the spotlight like Celestia does." Luna's head dropped a few inches.

"So we cannot rule as she does…or be loved as she is…"

"They love us too, Luna, but they can't be awake all the time. Is it so strange that their love for the day is much more obvious –as it is when they truly live?"

An uncomfortable silence stretched between the two. The words felt bitter on her tongue, as though she'd just crushed Luna's hopes –instead of speaking the truth. It was true, wasn't it? The day was more important to them than the night –they just slept, and while it was necessary, it was not living. It had to be this way, right?

Right?

"…I don't like it." Luna whispered, looking away. Staria gently rose from the bed to stand by her side, nuzzling her cheek.

"You don't have to. As long as you and I know the true beauty of the night, then we'll be alright." Staria smiled at her, but Luna did not look up.

"Yeah…maybe…" Staria's smile disappeared. What was wrong?

"…Luna?" Still her sister did not look at her. Instead, she focused her sorrow-filled eyes towards the Moon, shining softly over the sleeping land. She closed her eyes.

"It may be so, but…" Staria was filled with dread. Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it…

"…but?" The youngest alicorn turned to her sister, eyes shining bright through the tears that did not quite want to fall.

"….But I still wish things were different, that's all."

Luna slipped away from her, ears hung low and tail brushing the ground. The door closed quietly behind her, and she realised her words hadn't been enough to reassure her, to comfort her. Once, she'd have taken time to think and take her words as the truth, as something worth acknowledging and understanding. Suddenly she was forced to acknowledge a painful truth, one she'd ignored for so long.

When had her words stopped ringing true?

XxxX

Review, as always~