A Crown Made of Air

Part 4, Chapter 30

Moonlight

Moonlight could tell the exact moment her heart stopped beating.

She was standing in the middle of the room, the Wind God presenting her to a group of gods as if she were a nice jar. That was how Moonlight had felt all night; like she was some pretty ornament worth noticing but not worthy of being seen too closely. Guests skipped past her, letting their eyes wander through her, but they would always turn aside to talk to the Wind God. No one really cared about Moonlight, they were seeking the favor of the next ruler of The Heavens, not of some princess who was merely a pawn in a chess game.

But when Sky entered the great hall, Moonlight felt her eyes brimming with tears. Sky resembled Destiny almost perfectly, every single detail- from the gloves to the mask to the hair- matching the ones of a butterfly. Only the eyes of someone who had known her for an entire lifetime could notice the difference. It was hidden in Sky's gait- how she strode confidently instead of slinking sensually as Destiny did- in her way of craning her neck searching for somebody. For me, she is looking for me.

Moonlight would have leaped for Sky right there, in a palace crammed with dancing couples. She couldn't think about protocol with a sister she hadn't seen in weeks. Sky's eyes bulged in recognition, her mouth gaping open. But there was something that made her halt. Or someone.

Only then did Moonlight realize that someone's arm was blocking Sky, preventing her from running toward Moonlight. It belonged to... a Lynx. Moonlight narrowed her eyes, tilting her head curiously. Why was there a lynx in a masquerade taking place in the sky? From his face concealed by whiskers and fur to his dark cloak trimming the ground, he sure knew how to make an entrance. And Sky didn't seem angry at him for keeping his arm in front of her, she seemed resigned.

Moonlight turned her gaze to Akio, who pointed to the corridor. She didn't hesitate. She swiftly tipped her chin in agreement. Moonlight considered coming up with some lame excuse to withdraw, but it wasn't needed. The Wind God was hardly paying her any mind, rapt in conversation with the Goddess of Curiosity, who shoot questions at him like someone might shoot daggers.

As a precautious measure, Moonlight lifted her skirt to tread gingerly out of the dancing scene. Without a sound, she tried to imagine herself as a delicate swan slipping into the shadows. Except a delicate swan didn't have blistering feet. Her heels ached like hell. How did Destiny wear them every single day? She would have to ask her.

When Moonlight reached the hallway, after making sure there was no one else in sight except three figures, she leaped into Sky's arms. She could feel herself shaking, her sobs taking control of her body. Sky hugged her back fiercely, squeezing her tight. Moonlight clung to her neck, refusing to let her go. After weeks without knowing anything about the other, finally, they were reunited at last. It felt like being underwater, in some other dimension where every color, every line blurred into the next. Or maybe that was because of Moonlight's eyes brimming with tears.

"Sun, I..." She tried to speak but was choking on too many emotions.

"Moon, are you really here?" Sky drew back, only to grip Moonlight's shoulders. "I'm so sorry, for everything-"

"No, I'm the one who's sorry," Moonlight interrupted Sky. There was a knot on her throat she needed to unravel. "You were right, Sun. I shouldn't have run away from Cloudiness, not when Acantha took a crown she never deserved. I should have stood by you so we could find a way to knock her out."

"Acantha isn't a problem anymore. She is no longer at Cloud Castle." Sky explained.

"That means you are the rightful queen," Moonlight realized, her lips parting in a smile. She knew how much Sky wanted to be queen; she had been dreaming about her coronation since they were children. And Moonlight couldn't think of anyone more deserving of such honor. "I should have never claimed Cloudiness should be afraid of you. Cloudiness is lucky to have you."