Luna's Secret (A DWU Short Story)

Chapter Five

I wasn't sure whether or not I should've been worried about Alex...

After his sudden, unexplained departure, I was again left alone with my thoughts and meditations.

I elaborated more on my observances towards my sister, etching them into the moon dust. And yet, my thoughts were fixed on my unanswered questions about that mysterious and kind stallion.

An idea came to mind:

"Yes, I will write some positive things about Alex."

I made a clearing next to Celestia's qualities, and sat down. Lifting my stone, I prepared myself to write my observances of Alex.

1) Alex is kind. He has plenty to share, and has not hesitated to do so. He is respectful and modest.

2)

I paused... I couldn't think of anything else.

My eyebrows furrowed, and I stood up. Was that really all I could say on Alex's behalf? I couldn't help but feel a little guilty about that.

Here, I had given him equal thoughts to my sister, far deeper and more intimate. And yet, when I found it time for myself to really reflect on the stallion's heart behind his bright brown eyes, I was coming up short!

I questioned myself: "How much do I REALLY know about Alex?"

I stared down at my tiny, incomplete list. At first, I found consolation in the fact that the list wasn't empty, and consisted of something deep...

But then I looked at my sister's list, and how detailed and personal it had become (even though it pained me to write it and later accept it). I realized that this single entry about Alex and all that he was really amounted to nothing in a grander scheme.

I suddenly felt as if I had led myself into a premature fantasy. It was embarrassing to think again about the different ways I had fantasized about him.

Another thought came to me:

I read the two lists again. I noticed that, while both lists began with 'Alex/Celestia is...', Alex's list felt present and recent, while Celestia's felt more distance, in the past.

My eyes rose up, and I stared down at the land of Equestria. She was down there somewhere. I felt it. I knew it. Nopony else had the power to keep both the sun and moon in motion.

She'd probably forgotten. Forgotten about me. Forgotten about Nightmare Moon. Maybe even that she'd had a sister.

It had been so long since that fateful night. Why hadn't she reached out to me? Or brought me back yet? Shouldn't her forgetfulness also result in forgiveness?

These thoughts were quickly followed by questions:

Had she forgotten?

Am I forgiven?

Is she happier without me?

Has my banishment made her life easier?

Am I remembered at all?

What is she doing?

Does she hate me?

Does she want to see me suffer for my past wrongdoings?

Will I ever see home again?

The noises came again. I knew them well.

Alex had returned!

In front of me, his blue box began to appear.

Wind.

Wind began to rush past me, though it should've been impossible! The moon dust was blown into the air, and my list was carried away with it. Lost forever.

The door to the box opened, and out he stumbled and fell. I rushed to him. The doors closed as I approached. Holding him in my arms, I noticed two things:

1) He was unconscious.

2) He had a smooth curved black line on the right side of his face, starting between his eye and temple and going down to the middle of his jawline.

I ran my hoof along the black line. It felt rough and burned. It was a scar.

I lifted him with my magic onto my back, and carried him down into my cave, which now felt more like home than my home.

I laid him down, sitting by him and cradling his head. He looked peacefully asleep.

I found myself staring down at him, closely observing his facial features, trying to discern what it was about him that caused him to hold such a prevalent place in my mind; my foremost thoughts.

However, upon seeing all of the same things I had originally expressed a liking for, I began to see that whatever it was that was drawing me to him wasn't on the surface.

He began to stir, moaning softly as if just waking up. I adjusted my legs underneath him to raise his head. He opened his heavy eyelids. He swallowed dryly, looking around. His eyes quickly met mine.

"Luna?" He asked, his voice hoarse and dull from a numbing pain.

"Yes. It is I." I said softly.

He cleared his throat, "Do you have my cooler?"

"Yes."

"Bring me some ice, please?"

I got it for him, setting his head down gently. I hurried back with it, putting his head back on my lap with the cooler within my reach.

"Sorry that I cannot have you lie any other way. I've nothing else to prop your head on."

"It's fine." He said.

I scooped some ice from the cooler. He took it and popped it into his mouth, chewing it and swallowing.

"What happened to you?" I asked, concerned for him in his weak state.

"I... I was attacked by an old enemy." He said, tilting his head towards my stomach.

"Don't strain yourself." I instructed.

"Mhmm. I know." He closed his eyes,

"Tell me...ur story." He tried to say, but an involuntary guttural noise muffled out the second to last word, making it sound like 'uh'.

"You wish me to tell you a story? I'm afraid I know not many. Only those from when I was young."

"No," He said, "Tell me your story."

At first, I did not understand what he was asking, until I remembered what I had been preparing to tell him during his las visit, back when he so abruptly had to leave.

I nodded, "Alright."

I took in a breath, and began to tell my story...