Sisters in Spirit

Featuring: 1785 Khaalida, I125 Eisling

“You have been here a lot this moon,” Khaalida commented softly, looking over the city of Queensbreak spread below her. She had felt the presence arrive moments before, and had a feeling that she would return again tonight. It was the reason that Khaali had asked for Eisling to come to the tower, but the other mare had yet to arrive.

Synnove stepped closer, beside Khaalida to look over the city. “It is easier, this time of year,” Synnove murmured. “Plus… I have been looking for my loved ones for so long. How can I resist visiting as much as possible?”

Khaalida smiled slightly. “I feel I would be the same,” Khaali admitted. “Even if it's just in spirit. Have you seen Cyrenne?”

Synnove gave a grin. “Cyrenne is beside herself. First she was stuck with Eisling and myself, the troublemakers we were. Then she helped raise you, and now she's stuck with those three youngsters?” Synnove chuckled and shook her head. “They will be a force to be reckoned with when they get older.”

Khaalida nodded with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I sometimes regret that I was never as youthful as they are. I knew my destiny from a young age, and well. I worked for that, and dealt with my vast magic. Feriae is young and very powerful, but she handles it better than I ever did. I fought against the magic, I didn’t want it. Feriae just accepts it and even thrives in it.”

Synnove nodded her head then replied. “Feriae doesn’t have the same responsibility that we felt. We both had the weight of our crowns. I fought it, but in the end… We both have a queen’s spirit.”

The opening of the tower door behind them put a pause to the conversation as Eisling ventured out.

“Synnove,” Eisling gasped in surprise.

“Hello again, sister,” Synnove said warmly as Eisling approached. The trio stood together at the edge of the tower, looking over the city.

“You are looking better,” Synnove said.

Eisling looked between Khaalida and Synnove, as if not believing the pair knew each other until then. But she shook her head and responded to Synnove’s question.

“Your visit helped… settle me,” Eisling admitted. “I feel like now that I have stopped devoting every waking moment to searching that I am closer to Ludivine now.”

As Eisling stood beside the two mares, one from her past, one from her present she felt a strange sense of awe. Synnove and Khaalida were similar in many ways, and Eisling was proud to know both of the star blessed queens.

“What will you do come spring?” Synnove asked, and Khaalida looked over in surprise.

“I’ve decided to stay through the winter, if you will have me,” Eisling admitted and Khaalida nodded.

“Of course. You are always welcome, sister,” Khaalida said with a smile, and this time Eisling realized it didn’t make her hackles raise to be referred to as Khaalida’s sister.

They were, by spirit and through Cyrenne.

“Thank you… sister,” Eisling finally said, her voice a bit thick with emotion.

Synnove smiled proudly looking between her two spirit sisters. “I’m glad you have each other,” Synnove said.

Eisling looked at Synnove as if suddenly coming to a realization.

“Who do you have, Synnove? Who looks after you now? Cyrenne and Aurelion are both here. Who is left?” Eisling asked.

Synnove smiled slightly. “Asta, my blood sister, and I have reconciled. I am now a grandmother as well,” Synnove revealed.

Eisling, who hadn’t seen Synnove for many moons before she was reborn, was surprised. “I guess more time had passed than I realized. Your son found a good mate?”

Synnove laughed. “His exact opposite, but she keeps him on the tip of his hooves. And their daughter is a strong mare, a very good heir should the time come for that. Valora has grown since you were last there. We are now finding our previous glory again.”

Eisling smiled and nodded at that. She was pleased; while she had traveled with Synnove to Valora it had been when Synnove was retaking her throne. The once glowing star city had been a mess, and she was glad to hear it was returning to its former state.

“I would like for our children to meet, Khaalida. Even if only in spirit,” Synnove said with a smile, and Khaalida nodded enthusiastically.

“They are half siblings after all,” Khaalida said with some amusement.

“Have you seen Aurelion?” Eisling asked, curious.

“Once, but not since then. He doesn’t know about our meetings,” Synnove said with a conspiratorial glance at Khaalida who grinned.

Eisling shook her head and laughed.

“What a world we live in,” Eisling murmured, and the others laughed as well.

Khaalida’s familiar hopped up on the half-wall of the tower, and let out a long meow. Looking over the city, the starlight was fading, turning toward the warmer hues of dawn.

“I guess that is my cue to go,” Synnove said with a sigh.

Her muzzle brushed Eisling’s cheek and Eisling felt a chill go through her. It was not a true contact, Synnove was here as a spirit of course, but it was the closest that Eisling had come to Synnove in a long time and it was appreciated.

“I will see you both again,” Synnove promised. “Even if it is just in spirit.”

Eisling and Khaalida watched as Synnove faded away, like the darkness giving way to dawn.

“Would you mind telling me more about you two growing up?” Khaalida asked.

Eisling looked over, surprised by the question. “Why?” Eisling asked, curious.

Khaalida smiled softly. “She was a destined queen, like myself. I had accepted it, but Synn… Synn got to live a different life. And when she is here, she normally doesn’t have time to tell me all about her childhood. But I feel like our lives are somehow linked, even worlds apart. And well… I’m merely curious as well,” Khaalida admitted.

Eisling chuckled. “Fine. But later, you did insist I get up before dawn,” Eisling replied.

Khaalida snorted. “Sure, like you would have wanted to miss this,” Khaali said with a smirk.

Eisling shook her head. “Fine, waking me up for spirit visits is acceptable. Any other time maybe not,” Eisling admitted.

The two mares laughed as they headed back inside, their bond stronger now than it ever had.

They were sisters in something other than blood. They were sisters in spirit.