Archive of Our Own ^beta

(The words below feel as if they have been written with a sense of hesitant finality. It's predecessors were all pages on pages of ink that have been crushed, rewritten, and trashed yet again. Who knows which attempt this particular one is, but at least its existence means that the writer succeeded in some way.)

Aether:

I'm not really one for letters, or words in general. You've always been the more outspoken of us, the more sweet, the more eager to talk. I've always been apologetic for having you speak for the two of us, and I'm sure you'd noticed. You always seemed so happy when I did decide to verbalise my thoughts, and I really appreciated those times you encouraged me to, more than you'll ever realise. Another thing you knew about me, was that despite my constant silence and aloofness, I spoke when I felt that I had to convey my feelings through my voice. So, since I have so many things to say to you, but not the time to talk to you face to face, I've decided to write it all down here. If When the chance comes where we get time, maybe this won't even be necessary.

I know that you will probably never tell me this outright, but I still want to ask you: What happened to you, Aether? What transgressions have you suffered by the hands of Celestia? What made the one who I thought would rather never take another breath than carry out revenge for their own sake, do exactly that? To me, you're doing the same thing that They did and would do again. Do you know how much it pains me to make this comparison? How I wish I could take those words back and say with sincerity that I don't mean it? Maybe you, yourself understand how your actions look to my eyes, and are also suffering this agony with me, possibly even far longer than me. Please, I'm begging you, brother. Tell me, enlighten me, teach me, show me. Let me, with my own judgement, witness the crimes they have committed, to earn your ire. Let me, who would have gladly followed beside you if I were there, find out from your mouth, or your actions, or anything from you. I...I'm so confused by you, Aether.

(A sigh is let out from the writer, a mix of frustration, defeat, resignation and–. Their grip on the pen tightens, and they force away that thought, not allowing themselves to finish it. Glossy eyes blink rapidly, and their pen once again resumes its journey across the paper. Their pace is less rushed then before, but barely any less desperate.)

I keep catching myself from doing the things we did together. I find myself craving those looks we shared, those playful shoves and nudges, the way our hands learned to fit together after decades of holding our hands, the way we instinctually sought each other out for comfort and for warmth. I want to return to those days where we wandered the worlds at each other's sides, the days where we burned our dinners over the campfires and slept hungry but never alone. I wish we could just do all of it together again, where only you and me mattered. We were home. Without you, I can never know home anymore, and it's eating away at me. What happened to us against the worlds, Aether? Why did you leave me behind like this? Was it something I did?

.....I think I should stop here, at least for now. I'll write more for you later. I miss you, Brother. I miss us, so much.

With love, Your sister
Lumine

(A hand shakes as they pen the last letter, all the while choking down their sobs. They're struck once again with a heart-wrenching longing and loneliness, but noting that they also feel a smallest bit...less empty. Not full, never full, but..better. They contemplate disposing of this letter too, and whether to start yet again on another fresh piece of paper. But somehow, the mistakes in this letter bother the writer less than the others had. A gentle snore can be heard in the background as their decision was made, and they fold it gently into 3 and place it into a blank envelope with barely shaking hands. It is then tucked away into a dark corner, where only someone who has known them for eons would know to look. They huff lightly as they retreat towards their sleeping companion, letting her....it? resume their peaceful slumber, resigning themselves to ruminate over their situation in solitude.)