The Fall of a Sun

Chapter 2: Daily Duties

It had been a couple nights since Celestia's most recent nightmare, but when she woke up to start her daily list of duties, it was easy to see, that night was not peaceful.

"Sister, what's wrong? Was it another nightmare?" The younger sibling leapt up to her very tired sister.

"Luna, I'm fine, honestly. It was just a dream. Nothing more, I swear. Last night was just a bit... rough is all." The tall princess reassured her sister. Dark bags under her eyes, the weary look on her face, and almost completely dried tear streaks that had marked her pretty white face said differently.

"Just FINE Tia?! You are clearly lacking sleep and you keep getting migraines from the nightmares. Sister, I'm worried about your health." Luna looked at Celestia with pure love and concern for her.

"Why haven't you told me what the nightmares are about?" Luna's eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity. What was her beloved sister been keeping a secret for so long?

"Luna, I'm okay. Now, excuse me, I have a very busy schedule today." As the Alicorn walked off to eat something, she seemed disturbed at Luna's question. Why did Luna have to ask? Why hasn't Luna been entering her nightmares? Is their friendship faltering once again? So many questions filled the monarch's mind.

"Ugh. I feel a headache coming on. I just need to be positive, clear minded,"

Celestia looked at the clock.

"and on time."
***
Something was off about Celestia's attitude. She was more... touchy today than usual. Had Luna pushed too far? Maybe not. She didn't have to ask but it would be more polite then to spy on her sister's dreams.

"Perhaps I will stay up a bit longer today and visit some of the ponies. Play skipping rope with the fillies or have afternoon tea with some of the big Canterlot Hot Shots like that Fancy Pants stallion, he was quite the gentlecolt I dare say." Luna thought of all the activities she could do with all of the ponies. She and her sister had planned a visit to Miss Sparkle's in three days time.

"I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MY EXCITMENT!" Her voice echoed across the large banquet room and bounced back to her dark blue ears.

"Oops." A sheepish grin came across the pony's face.

"Luna! What have I told you about using the Royal Canterlot Voice?!" A fiery mane and flushed red face with angry orchid eyes popped into the room.

"I know, I know sis! 'Twas an accident! Sorry!"

Tiberius appeared upon Luna's black crown. "She is REALLY moody today. Come on, let's go "hang out" with our dear subjects!" So the opossum and princess trotted off for another adventure.
***
Luna walked outside the castle, full with energy ready to go out and to get to know what was going on inside the kingdom in the subjects' point of view.

"I just love meeting more ponies who don't care if I'm a princess of the night or that I was Nightmare Moon. All they want to do is hang out with Luna!"

"Luna!" A light blue unicorn with indigo, azure, and blue hair wearing a black cape called to the peppy princess from the side.

"Syrena? Is that you?" Luna walked over, intrigued by the shouting mare.

"Luna! Oh how great it is to see you! How have you been the past couple of days?" A light blue hoof wrapped around the princess's neck. "Listen, I'm working undercover, apparently somepony stole a bag of 48 karats per golden potato. This is a serious crime they committed so call me you know..."

"Oh, um. I've been doing great, Maria! Although I think not the same for my older sister."

"What happened?"

"Well she's been off for a while because of these nightmares she's been having."

So the two mares walked around Canterlot, catching up with each other's lives.
***
"So just go into her dreams to find out!"

"But Syren- err... Maria, it's not that simple. She's my sister and-"

"And what?! She's your SISTER!" The strange mare interrupted. "You should worry about her nightmares more than looking into her diary... If she has one. I mean, come on! You are the Princess of the Night and Protector of Dreams, so go do your job. Hey, I thought I saw a burlap bag with a glint of met- that has to be him. Sorry, gotta go. Thanks for the update talk. Go find out what's wrong yourself if she won't tell you!"

*ZZZZAP!* Then Luna's friend had gone off to chase the Tater-Tot Thief.

"Ha ha! Oh Maria, you are quite the spectacle indeed. Oh look at the time! Afternoon tea started eight minutes ago!"

A trace of dust was what was left of the star gazing princess as she dashed off for another exciting talk.
***
As Princess of the Sun and Day, it was Celestia's duty to supervise her ponies. Sadness filled the elder pony as she watched her sister race off to visit more of her fans. Why did Luna have so much more energy and time then her? How come Luna had more "fans" than her?

"Stop it! You're acting vain! That mustn't happen." Had jealousy finally caught up to her?

"Besides, your subjects need your presence. Now, off to visit Cloudsdale's preparations for the winter weather."

As the bright white pony flew up into the sky, a little weight fell on her shoulders that had gone unnoticed. In fact it was a feeling...

Envy.