Tidbits of Mast and Sail

Chapters

Twister
Wednesday Mornings*
Star Tending
Noctambulist
Sunday Courting
Whistling
Dolphin
"Wait... what?"
Looking Into Infinity
Key
Paraphernalia
Sloth
Tempest's Harbor

Twister

Steam billowed from Twilight's mouth as she panted. It came out in quick bursts, meshing in with the white background, dissipating into the air. A bead of sweat dripped from her hairline, caressing the hills and valleys of her face before welling on her chin and dropping to the snowy ground.

A rather strong storm, courtesy of Cloudsdale, had swept through Canterlot the night before, coating the entire city with inches of fresh, pure snow. The city's rooftops sparkled like jewelry, replacing its sharp, pointed skyline with something more rounded and natural. Cozy, inviting pillars of lazy, gray smoke rose from white-capped chimneys.

Out in the Palace Gardens, however, the scene was different. Devoid of buildings and only a hooffull of statues and fountains, few colors stood out besides a blinding world of white. The color that filled Twilight's vision wasn't the same however, replaced by a lush, dark blue.

Steam from one's breathing embraced the steam from another's as Luna gasped for breath. “That... was some very good flying. You were moving much faster than last time we met for lessons.”

“Just... excited, I guess.” Twilight smiled.

“Excited for a flying lesson with an old, slow mare like myself?” Luna put a hoof to her chest, “I'm flattered, Twilight.” Yet, an odd but familiar twitch made her heart beat faster, a golden warmth growing from within like the soft glow of the rising sun.

“Old? Slow?” The grin was stuck on Twilight's face. “I was behind you most the time.”

“Yes, well, while I said you were flying faster today, I never said you were particularly fast in general.” Luna stuck her tongue out. Her amused expression didn't last as it was promptly greeted by a magically-flung wave of powdery snow.

When it settled, the lunar triarch looked like she had been some sort of bluish baked good, covered in rapidly-melting powdered sugar. Giggles from Twilight gave away the culprit. The glow receeded to make room for newfound energy. “You'll pay for this!”

But as the older mare began balling together a chunk of snow, Twilight took off into the sky. Did she just listen? I can catch her easily in the air. Luna abandoned her snowball and chased after her, looking to make up ground. However, she was starting to get worried where the other alicorn was heading, off the mountain and towards the nearby edge of White Tail Woods.

As she nearing in, Luna eying her tail among other things to grab onto, she crossed over the beginnings of the woods, bare, snow-covered trees beneath them. With a flash of magic and a plume of white, Luna was caught off-guard as compacted powder hit her in the stomach and sent her up into the air. For a few hectic moments, the world turned into a blur, the sky's hues melting in with the rest of the world. By the time she recovered, the other pony was gone.

Dipping down towards the ground, Luna searched for her on hoof. “Twilight?” she called. “Come on out so I can see you, so we can finish this fair and square.”

A lavender-tinted spray of snow kicked her in the face, accompanied by giggling and a defiant “Never!”

Trying her best to wipe her face clean, Luna swung her head around, trying to spot her playful assailant. “Haha, very funny, Twilight. But it's cowardly, running away and hiding like this!” She took another step forward, eyes scanning the barren landscape. Something behind her crackled and snapped, causing the dark-blue alicorn to whip around. “Ah-ha!”

Nothing was there save for more timber and snow. Speaking of snow, it happened not even a second later where a magically-crafted pillar of the assaulting substance smacked Luna in the rump, sending her face first into the ground.

“Ow!” Luna rubbed her flanks with a hoof gingerly. “That was against the rules! You can't do that!”

“Can't I?” Another plume of snow hit her on one side of the body, and a third sweeping her hooves out from beneath her, sending Luna down again.

Luna tried her best to rise back to her hooves, before another shift of compacted powder sent her sprawling.

“Give it up, Luna.”

“No- oof!”

“What if I say please?”

“Of course not!”

“I think you're forgetting who's winning here.” Thud.

Luna rolled around on her back in the snow, trying to command her weary body back up. “Y-You're not winning!”

A light blanket of tiny flakes covered her coat in response. “Well, you're clearly losing.”

Wobbling on her hooves, Luna shook off her layers of white, revealing the lost shades of dark blue. “Come on, just give it up already,” the giggling voice rang out. “I promise I'll make your defeat quick and harmless.”

“Neve- ugh!” A wall of snow took the worn pony to the forest floor for the umpteenth time.

“I can keep this up all day.”

Tongue lolling out in the most unregal manner, Luna laid in a bed of powder, letting the cool pricks of snowflakes blow over her. Licking her chapped lips, she considered her options. She could either give up, sacrificing her pride to Twilight, or she could try to get back up. No, that'd probably result in another dignity-bruising tumble. What if...

The princess nearly facehoofed, if she could will her limbs to allow it. Magic! Of course! No muscles required. With a quick glow of light, Luna converted the snow to her side, a white whirlwind rose into the sky. She let her eyes scan as much of her surroundings as she could, letting her mini twister blow aside snowbanks and dead branches.

And then, well, her magical conjure died. Peetered out. Lost all its health points. The snow scattered harmlessly to the ground, much of it coating the dark mare.

“You're a silly pony,” Twilight called, amusement far from subtle in her tone, “Do you forget that as an alicorn and the element of magic, I can block its flow from your horn?”

Crap.

“Still though, that reminds me... It's not exactly fair to keep toying with you like this, as much fun as its been.” A giggle only helped compound her point. “Time to put you out of your misery.”

A little, niggling sensation gripped the back of Luna's brain. This nervous, anxious, afraid tingling that told her she did not like whatever devious scheme the giggling pony had in mind. What would she do? Bury her in snow? Make her say something horrible and embarrassing? That was probably it. She knew that was it, it had to be! Ever since the coronation, the purple pony had been increasingly, inexplicably, intensely fascinated with her. Why, Luna never really cared, and why would she? For a pony with few admirers, she didn't want to squander one with careless and naturally awkward questioning.

“Make it quick,” Luna grumbled.

“Hmm... How about no?” As the echoes rang, lumps of aura-lit snow covered her body. She really was burying her alive! Squirming and thrashing, Luna tried her best to escape, but to no avail. The previously harmless substance had succeeded in rooting her body to the ground. All squirming was in vain, sealed down as if the snow were a vise. Closing her eyes, she took in a quick breath and waited.

It never came. Opening her eyes a moment later, Luna found herself covered up to her neck in a glimmering sheet of white. “Huh? You're not burying me?”

“Of course not!” With a small flash and a blur, Twilight appeared in the air before her like she was made of dust. Smirking, she added, “Chameleon spell. I'm surprised you didn't realize.”

Luna groaned. Stupid.

“Aw, it's okay, don't be sad! You were still fun to play with.” Twilight stepped up and over Luna, staring down at her, victory shining in her eyes.

“I don't like to be played with,” Luna replied grumpily, frowning and crinkling her nose. “Just do whatever you want, and make it quick.”

“Whatever I want?” Twilight's expression lit up. She tapped a hoof to her chin, tongue hanging out slightly as she contemplated her options. It was quite cute, Luna realized, seeing the smaller alicorn making various faces as she thought. Yet, its value was diminished because, ever the competitor, she had lost.

Twilight abruptly sat down, squashing all the breath out of the other mare as she hit her square in the stomach. “Well, I do have a few things on my mind...”

“You... You do realize you're-” Luna fought between gasps, “you're sitting on me... right?”

Twilight looked down at her for only the briefest of seconds, as if she forgot the other pony was there. “Oh, yes, I do. Now, what to do, what do...”

“How- how about getting off me?”

“Hmm, what was that?”

“How about getting- getting off me?”

“Come again?”

“G-get off.”

“One more time?”

“Get off!” Luna found herself quivering with exertion, breathing even quicker under her vocal strain. Twilight looked down at her and stared. She looked very serious, neither a smile nor a frown on her face, a neutral expression that scrutinized and wondered.

“No.” Thump. One chest came down and squeezed any remaining air from the other.

Luna gasped. Or, well, tried to, but what came out was a whining, squealing attempt to suck air into her quashed lungs. “Why... Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can.” Twilight's studying face continued.

“Don't you think- think this is a little odd?”

“No. Do you?”

“Of course!” Luna almost hurt herself with her outburst, neck crooking upward and painfully. “You're laying on top of me!”

“So? I don't mind, I'm quite comfortable.” Twilight shrugged casually, as if the whole incident were completely commonplace.

Beginning to adapt to breathing under the newfound weight, Luna exclaimed, “I'm not just some pillow! I'm a pony, a princess! I am not for sitting on, even by another member of royalty.”

“Aww, that's too bad.” The sarcasm grated against Luna's eardrums. “I won. So I get to do as I please. Since you're comfortable, I'm comfortable around you, and also very tired from our flying, you seem like a wonderful pillow to rest on.”

“But... but...” Luna squirmed, both mentally and physically.

“Hey! Don't do that!” Twilight giggled uncontrolably. “That tickles!”

“Wait.” A piece snapped into place in Luna's mind. “You're comfortable around me?” Around the most awkward pony in Canterlot? Around a pony that hasn't had a friend in two thousand years? Around a mare who got so uncomfortable around crowds of ponies that she hid in her room during the Grand Galloping Gala? Her? This... This cannot be!

“Well, of course.” Twilight giggled again. “Luna, sometimes you can be so dense.”

“Dense?” Luna stiffened. “I am not dense! I am very smart and capable, I'll have you know!”

“Sure, sure!” Twilight smiled. “Yet, for a pony as socially-inept as me, even I thought the little hints were obvious enough.”

“Hints? What hints? Is this another game?”

At that, a small blush lit the lavender face as it giggled once more. “Sort of.”

Luna wanted to groan in agony, to give a verbal lashing to the other mare for her ambiguity, but something about the scene didn't rest well with her. This cold, shivering, goose-bumping ripple crawled its way up and down her coat, drips of persperation left in its wake. “P-please, no... no more games.”

“Aww, c'mon! I promise this will be the last one! You'll like it, it doesn't hurt. Pretty please?” With a lower lip jutting out, pupils expanding to incredible size, and an intense gaze, Twilight plead straight into the other pony's soul.

Luna opened her mouth, but no words came. As much as she hated to admit it, refusing something so adorable was out of the question. “Fine,” the words feebly slid from her mouth.

The plea dissolved into honest, glowing warmth and joy, enough to melt the snow for miles around. But then, as quick as it appeared, it retracted again for the same, wondering gaze, accompanied by a new set of head-twisting, umm'ing and uhh'ing, and occasional tints of color to the cheeks. Darn. Her smiling, happy expression was woefully cute. Wait, what?

The crawling sensation moved quicker, sowing beads of sweat from her pores, causing jitters to shake her hooves. Heat rose from the depths of her being, and soon she found it insufferable to be in her own skin, an oven baking her brain and disabling her thought process.

Twilight giggled, not like before, however. Much higher, much more shrill, nervous even. She wasn't even attempting to hide her flourishing blush. Just a small, unsure smile and impatient eyes.

Luna felt nauseous. What was wrong? What was making her so jittery? What was even happening? The world felt tipsy, colors combining together in gradient messes, the blue specks of her revealed coat melding with Twilight's lavender.

More anxiety and laughter. Impatient eyes. Hungry, yet scared.

Luna slammed her eyes shut. She wanted this to go away, far, far away. She wanted to be back in her room, studying past economics or indulging in a treatise by Volmaire. She wanted...

With an inward gasp, she discovered that she did not know what she wanted. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. Her body felt like it was boiling. The heat she felt throughout her system was amplified by Twilight, the snow now melted and their thermodynamics fed off one another, between a direct bond of legs, stomachs, and chests.

A thought clawed its way free. The snow is gone! Escape!

...But, don't escape. Something, something else rose up as well, easily and gaily above the fires of panic. Accept it, what you've felt deep down but never had the courage to even realize. Let it happen.

Luna let her eyes loosen. Twilight's face was inches a way, quiet, still, studying. Watching. It was curious, worried, hopeful, and worried again.

Like a cornered animal, a side of her snarled and revolted at the haze of confusion. It didn't know what it was attacking, but its claws were still bared and slashing at the air. But the haze and the warmth continued its approach, undeterred, covering and submerging the beast. Sedated, it dropped like a discarded coat.

She couldn't explain why, but Luna felt an instinctive impulse to smile. Some welling of happiness creaked through her panic, fear, sweat, and perplexion and shifted the ends of her lips upward. Hardly a true, brimming smile, but it was enough.

Twilight returned the gesture, the worry and curiosity gone, hope crashing through into action. She lowered her head down, so close it took up all of Luna's sight and scope. Eyes closing, heart pounding, thoughts stopping, Luna felt paralyzed. And yet, she couldn't find it in her to keep up the fight, to panic and thrash. Like a thunderclap, the world snapped back into reality as one pair of lips pressed the other.

-~-

Heaving, Luna gasped for air. How long had they been there on the ground, screaming their inner thoughts through near-silent, mingling tongues? She feigned to find an answer, and honestly didn't care for one. What does such a silly thing as time matter about anyway? The world seemed to float on the edge of a feather, stress and worry dissipating like the steamy breath coming from her mouth.

A gleam flashed in Twilight's eyes. She too was panting, and Luna could feel her chest rise and fall with her own, relishing the very touch. “Th-that was a nice game,” Luna uttered.

Twilight giggled, now coming out bubbly and glowing. “I knew you'd enjoy it. Would you like to play again some other time?” Luna nodded quickly without a single thought, eliciting another spurt of laughter.

“Who- who won, though?” Luna wondered aloud.

Twilight smiled, letting herself slump on the other mare. “We did, Luna.” She nuzzled her cheek. “We did.”

Wednesday Mornings*

Steam billowed and vanished into the air, as Fluttershy cooled down her cup of tea. Settling down on a blanket, she glanced over at the pony beside her. Twilight smiled back, before glancing off into the glowing horizon. Spectrums of warm reds and oranges melded with cool purples and blues in the birth of a new day. Nestled upon an outcrop in the heath, the two settled down with a book apiece and a teapot. Fluttershy loved Wednesday mornings.

Skimming through the pages, she found her spot from the night before, turning it over and laying it down. Twilight's eyes darted over and were fixed on the mortal sin. Fluttershy noticed this as well, and set down her teacup.

“Oh, is something the matter, Twilight?”

“Hmm?” The other mare pretended to just be looking up from her own novel, Cansteed. “Oh, well, it's just that you left your book open, pages down. It's horrible for the spine and the bindings, and could lead to pages just falling right out... And you know how I am about that kind of stuff.”

“Oh, of course!” Fluttershy snatched her storybook up as if it were about to catch on fire. “I'm sorry.”

Twilight smiled. “It's fine, it's just something that bugs me when ponies do it.” Watching the pegasus shrink back, she added, “But you've already fixed it, so no harm done!”

Fluttershy managed to return through a wall of hair. “Are you sure? What if something broke?”

“I'm sure. It takes months of mistreatment to damage a book like that.” Twilight tried to smile encouragingly. “Now, how about you stop worrying over the books?” She took a quick taste of her drink. “This is really good, Fluttershy. Where did you get it from?”

“Oh, the tea?” Fluttershy brightened, guilt evaporating from her shoulders. “I bought it from a vendor in town, who said she got it from Canterlot.”

“Jasmine Leaf?”

“The nice green mare with the brown eyes?”

“That's the one.” Twilight nodded.

“Oh, then yes, that was her. She said it was called 'Ashen Noble,' grown somewhere out east.” Fluttershy was particularly fond of the blend, enough of a bite with a hint of citrus.

“Hmm, I might have Spike go out and buy it for me sometime.”

Fluttershy nodded, then turned to her book. It was a fairytale, one she had always loved since she was a filly. Normally she didn't read stories like this, but today felt different. Sure, Twilight and her always enjoyed Wednesday mornings trying a new blend of tea and delving in their own stories, sharing eachother's company. But this morning felt...different.

Perhaps it was the fresh air, or the new location, or maybe the miraculous view, but something was placing her under a passive spell, that warmed her soul from its depths, spurting to the surface with bursts of energy and smiles. Of course, the energy and smiling was uniquely her own, from the occasional gentle flight into the dawn sky on the way over, or the grin when she glanced over at the unicorn, but it was still a few notches up from where she usually was.

The words on the pages fell into the mental background as the pegasus pondered. Was it the dawning sun? It looked wonderfully beautiful this morning, Celestia must've been happy when she woke up. Or was it just enjoying the friendship of Twilight, the silent bond that passed in the silent air between their silent mouths, as if their souls supported and lifted the other into a new height of happiness and well-being?

“Fluttershy?”

Eyes widening as she snapped from her daze, the mare in question glanced over to Twilight. “Yes?”

“I just wanted to say thank you for convincing me to come out all this way this morning. It's been a hectic week so far, and it's great to know I have a friend who cares enough to get me to relax and enjoy something so simple as a morning read.”

Dimples rose on Fluttershy's face as her grin grew. “Oh, you're welcome, Twilight. I think we all need times like these to see what's truly important.”

Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but then shut it in favor of her own wide smile. Nodding, she took a sip of her tea and returned to her book.

Following suit, Fluttershy looked back to the ink-scribbled pages, as the golden rays of the sun hoisted themselves over the horizon, bathing the two in a warmth that would last for days on end.

Star Tending

“Whitestorm, I'm afraid that my meeting tonight with the Vukodlak emissaries will have to be postponed, please notify them.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. May I ask why, in case they wish to know?”

“Monthly star tending. I'm sure they'll understand, being creatures of the night.”

“I would agree. Is that all, Your Highness?”

“Yes. You may go.”

As soon as the robe-ridden unicorn exited, a long sigh was released, followed by a roll of the neck and the creaking of joints. It was a long day at the office, with no less than half a dozen fires to put out. In one case of a chef's apprentice, it was literal. Decompression was needed- nay, required. Ruling a nation, even when splitting the work with another, had many demands. It demanded patience, intellect, creativity, diligence, and a long list of other attributes. It also required time off.

Sitting back on her bed, she kicked off her greaves and let herself fall backwards, glad to be rid of such uncomfortable hoofwear. She stretched her limbs to their maximum, moaning in relief. Her crown and gorget floated to a shelf, discarded like annoying odds and ends. Au naturel, the weary princess was finally at peace.

Musn't fall asleep though, since it would be a shame to miss star tending. Luna let her mind wander as she slumped on the bed, slowly nestling within the covers. If Twilight truly intends to help maintain the night as part of her duties, she'll need a teacher who isn't napping the day away.

The infant alicorn had been allowed some time to adjust to her new surroundings, but now both Celestia and Luna agreed she needed to start learning how to rule. Dusk court was slowly coming into being, with the oversight of arcane policy and scientific research already hers.

Celestia had deferred instructing Twilight on the art of statecraft onto her sister. Why, she could only guess, although a niggling thought told her it was yet another esteem-boosting tactic by the sun goddess. Regardless, when night court was held, Twilight would stay with her and observe. Afterwards, there would be solo tutoring and studying, usually over dinner. Ironically enough, Night Court was held in the day, with all issues falling under Luna's area of jurisdiction coming to her, often of the economic sort. Luna thought that sleeping at night would be a nice, subtle way to show that she was just like any other pony, not some power-grabbing god who aimed to submerge the world in eternal darkness once again. Celestia had found the plan “a tad extreme” and the notion ridiculous that anypony could still see her that way, but ultimately did nothing to stop it.

As spring gave way to summer, they eventual began taking their meals and lectures outside, where the natural warmth under the warm and cool wash of hues in the sky proved better atmosphere than a stuffy study room. Often, towards the end of each session, Twilight would switch her focus to the rapidly-advancing glimmers of stars. At first, it was merely curious. What star was Luna's favorite, whether or not she planned out any of the constellations, why some were different colors, etc. But then, as time went on, it became answer of how stars were made, how they were brought into the sky, and all other sorts of questions on how Luna's magic worked with them. In the last two weeks, the workings of Equestria was not even discussed. Stars were the main topic, with bits of casual chatter thrown in now and then. Luna didn't mind at all, since in all honesty there wasn't much more Twilight could learn except from hooves-on experience. Yet every morning, Twilight still waited there beside her seat at Night Court, a small smile on her face.

Four nights ago, Twilight admitted that stargazing was one of her favorite activities, a calming ritual of sorts that she had done since she was a filly. She went on about how there was something soothing to see so many small blips of light remain constantly and continually in the same spot, a sense of normalcy that evaded all of life's curves and dips. Touched, Luna offered to let her help with star tending, the very process that kept the stars in their place in the sky. It was a minor part of cosmical duties, but given some practice, Luna said that she could even do it herself one day.

Met with an emotional, cheerful hug, Twilight agreed. It was a date, she proclaimed with glee. Then, with a massive fluster, she took her words back, admitting it wasn't, even though it was, but Luna would know what she meant.

The older alicorn merely laughed and shook her head, telling her that she didn't understand, asking whether she was being asked out on a date or not. Teasingly, she added in that dinner would be prepared for them, and with it taking place on Luna's private balcony under the stars, it could be a prospective place for one. Twilight, at a loss for an answer, quickly excused herself and left.

A tickling sensation formed in Luna's side. It was soft at first, but began to grow in strength. Giggling, she rolled over exclaiming, “stop it!” Wrestling her way through blankets, she opened her eyes to find one embarrassed pony standing at the edge of her bed.

“Twilight? What are you doing in here?”

“I- umm, I am so sorry, Luna. It's just that, well, you told me to arrive at nine, and so I did. After knocking on your door and waiting for awhile, I decided to open the door. I promise I wasn't meaning to intrude, but I thought maybe you were already on the balcony. Then I saw you were asleep and I didn't know what to do so-”

“Wait.” Luna held her hoof in the air, yawning. She rubbed her eyes, asking, “What time is it?”

“Nearly ten.” Twilight gulped, shifting a stack of notecards in the air beside her. For notes, no doubt.

“And... And you arrived at nine? Twilight, why didn't you wake me up earlier?”

“I-I tried to,” she admitted, fumbling with each syllable. “I tried calling your name and poking you, but that didn't work. S-so I sat around and thought-”

“So you watched me sleep for awhile before deciding to tickle me awake, is that it?” A smile grew around the corners of her lips.

“No!” Twilight responded immediately, flustered.

Luna nodded slowly. “Sure. So you say.” Getting up from the bed, she started walking over towards the balcony doors. “Regardless, we have some stars to tend to. Unless you have anything else to say, we should get started.”

“I do.”

Stopping in her tracks, Luna turned around slowly. Twilight was seeming quite on edge tonight, and this did little to refute that point. Delaying her lesson on star tending? What could be more important than that?

Pulling out one of her index cards, face still very flustered and voice shaky, she began to read aloud:

“Hi Luna, I've been thinking about what you said a few nights ago and-”

Oh my. By the stars, this is adorable. Luna shook her head, trying her best to stop from snickering. It would crush the poor girl's heart. Still, the smile that overtook her face came with lightning speed.

“- it sounded very nice. And I thought, because we both like the stars-”

Glancing up from her card, Twilight noticed the amused facial expression Luna could not hope to contain, and blushed even more. The aura around her cards flicked and faltered, and she did not get through even a couple more words before her magic collapsed completely, dropping a dozen cards onto the floor, scattering them everywhere.

Quickly fumbling for them on the ground, Twilight muttered, “Umm, I-I'm so sorry I didn't mean to I just got scared and I dropped them and-”

Sighing, Luna stepped up before her. “Twilight?”

The mare in question looked up, rising to her hooves. “Y-y-yes?”

“You're cute.” With that, she leaned in and pecked her on the lips.

Twilight recoiled for a moment, eyes wide, comprehension reduced to dust. Then, slowly, the facts began to click into place. Her voice was quiet and unsure. “I... I-umm... I don't have a card for that.”

Luna burst into laughter, holding her aching chest with a hoof. She was afraid it might put a damper on Twilight's spirits, but she could mend those if need be. This was too much.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she wrapped Twilight in a hug. Releasing her, she began to skip towards the balcony doors, saying, “Come on, Twilight, time for our date.”

Noctambulist

“What do you mean you didn't bring a sleeping bag?” Twilight asked. “I gave you Wild West's Guide to Camping with Friends days before we left, so you could bring all that you would possibly need.”

“I was to read that dusty old tome?” Luna replied, puzzled.

“Yes!” Twilight cried. “Why else would I ever possibly-” she shook her head and threw up her hooves. “Whatever. You're the elder princess, so you obviously know how to do things. I'm not about to let you freeze to death, though.” Laying down and sliding into a mammoth sleeping bag of her own, she scooted as far as she could to one side and glared up at Luna. “Get in.”

“What?” Luna recoiled. “I do not understand what you are asking of me-”

“Oh for the love of ponies! You know bucking well what I'm asking of you.” One of the nice perks about being a princess is that you could treat the others as you pleased in private. No more bowing, fancy titles, or self-control to keep your words in check. It took a little getting used to, but for dealing with the Lunar Goddess, it was pleasantly liberating. “It's warm, it's big, and it can fit both of us. Now either get in the bag or feel free to sleep outside, which I feel I should mention, is in the middle of a snow storm right now.”

“I-I really shouldn't,” Luna muttered, looking to the ground.

“For pony's sake,” Twilight sighed. “Fine, have a fun time napping on the floor, which should be freezing by now. But don't complain to me when you can't sleep, because I offered and you're too stubborn to accept anypony's help.”

“That's not true!”

“Oh?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Then enlighten me, O bringer of the moon. What sort of insanity are you suffering from that disables you from using even the simplest of logic?”

Luna's face eschewed into deliberation. “I...”

“Well, what?” Twilight demanded.

“I...” Her expression drooped to resignation. “Nevermind.” Exhaling, Luna walked towards the sleeping bag and worked her way in beside Twilight. She crossed her forelegs, hugging them tightly around her body. “There. Good night.”

Twilight let her shoulders relax and rolled over onto her back, staring straight up at the ceiling. “Finally,” she whispered to herself. Part of her really wished Rainbow Dash was still able to join them this weekend, instead of the stuck-up mule beside her. If only Cloudsdale held its yearly weather training on another weekend, then she would be in a tent with somepony who actually remembered to bring their own bag.

Originally, it had been just the five remaining elements going. Proposed by Fluttershy and Applejack, it was to be a final leisure trip to enjoy the outdoors before the long winter months would keep them all inside for much of the day. Fate and ill-fortune, however, seemed to have other plans.

Luna arrived in Ponyville to help plan the upcoming Nightmare Night festival. She had taken it on as a personal endeavor to help out the town, and freed up an entire week and a half in preparation. Understandably, she was more than a little disappointed when the town board managed to polish it all out in two consecutive meetings, the end result amounting to hardly more than the previous year's festival. It only took one frustrated, let down conversation with Twilight before she received an invitation to their weekend getaway.

At first, it appeared to be a fine idea. Luna was, most of the time, a reserved but kind mare. From working with her in Canterlot, Twilight understood she had a tendency to be stubborn and uncompromising, but there was often a level of pleasantness to counteract it. A level of friendly joking had formed between the two as they debated in private meetings and discussions, consistently venting any tension among them.

However, as a freak storm began dumping snow on them within the first few hours in White Tail Woods, Luna's warm disposition froze faster than the breath from their lungs. She was grouchy and irritable throughout their frantic rush to reach a decent camping spot, constantly complaining about the ineptitude of Ponyville's weather squad and the inability of their group to make a decision on where to camp. Were it not for Applejack's campfire stew that seemed to miraculously lift everypony's hearts among the frozen conditions, Twilight was tempted to give her a piece of her mind.

She didn't have to wait long though, as the moment they got into their tent, Luna let loose a quiet, “Oh.”

No use in crying over it now, Twilight reminded herself, closing her eyes. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day.

-~-

Tomorrow would have to wait.

Strands of hair tickling her nose was the first thing Twilight felt as she was roused from her slumber. The world smelled softly of bergamot and vanilla, a pleasant combination she could get used to but was nevertheless surprised. “Hmm?” she mumbled, blinking her eyes open and letting her senses fill in the dark world around her.

Hair was in her face and it smelled nice, that was already established. On top of that, tiny gusts of air were running across her chest, which upon further inspection was wonderfully warm. In fact, she was a lot warmer than she expected to be. Besides the very tips of her hooves, she was blissfully cozy. The sleeping bag was rather tight, though.

Wait.

Before her first camping trip, she had panicked and bought the most expensive bag she could find at the store. Sure, it cost a quarter of her monthly stipend, but she was assured it'd be enough to brave the elements. It was plush, lined with premium cotton, and most of all, gigantic.

“Luna?” Twilight mumbled instinctively. Alarm bells rang as her faculties recovered, trying to move her hooves. However, her forelegs were pinned to her sides, locked in by another mass pressed up against her.

“Luna?” Twilight asked again, louder than before. Managing to wrench a hoof free, she reached over to feel her way around. A light would be risky, she realized. I'd rather not wake Luna up with her like this, as it would make things... embarrassing.

To the best of her spatial abilities, it seemed to Twilight that Luna had slanted over towards her and draped her head over the other mare's chest, hooves wrapped around her in an embrace. In another situation, involving other ponies, she might have found it touching, but not here, not now.

Let's just forget this ever happened, shall we? Pushing with both forelegs, Twilight moved the older alicorn to her side of the bag. For a second, she thought she heard a whimper or a groan, but assumed it was just the wind outside. Luna was thousands of years old, not two. The whole situation made no sense to her, and decided to regard it as a freak accident as she settled in once again.

With any luck, I'll never have to talk about this for as long as I live, Twilight mused as she closed her eyes. As long as Luna keeps her hooves off me, that is.

-~-

Telling time is difficult from inside a tent. The moon isn't visible, and when it's completely dark out, a pony could never be sure whether the sun had just gone down or if it's about to come up. Such was the dilemma for Twilight Sparkle, interrupted from her slumber with the world still as dark as ink. She had no clue whether she had slept five minutes or five hours. But what she did know, was that a certain pony was, once again, right up beside her.

Instead of pushing Luna away once more, Twilight let herself simply lie there. Why? Why me? she asked nopony in particular. Why now? Is this some subconscious apology of Luna's?

Or maybe she's just cold? Twilight thought. I mean, I am much warmer like this. From a purely biological standpoint, it makes sense to sleep like this, to preserve body heat while the body is inactive.

Unable to further or counter her own musings, she lay silent. The forest was quiet under the steady fall of snow, even the wind dying down to submit to the pervasive silence. For all immediate purposes, she was alone with Luna, who was currently breathing softly against her chest.

Sighing, she began pushing the alicorn away. “Sorry,” she whispered, “but I'm not a pillow.” Luna struggled and protested in her sleep, but ended up on the other side of the bag nevertheless. With her personal space clear once more, Twilight shut her eyes and waited for sleep to claim her.

-~-

Again?

Rubbing her eyes, Twilight yawned. Still dark, she noted as she tried to look around. Unsurprisingly, a soft, groomed coat brushed up against her side. Vanilla and bergamot tinted the air. A breathing chest rose and fell with her own. Luna was back.

Part of her just wanted to give in. Yesterday's hiking was long and tiring, exhausting her mentally. All she wanted was to sleep until noon and let her pains simply float away. Logically, Luna made no difference to her plans as long as it wasn't uncomfortable. And to be honest, it wasn't. Physically, it was actually pretty nice.

Mentally, however, it was awkward. Yes, she and Luna may have been forming a mutual friendship over their duties as triarchs, but that was nowhere close to the bond that should allow this sort of predicament. It would be months away before they could even start to- No, she stopped herself. I'm not thinking about this, not now.

Forcing a few deep breaths, Twilight waited for her heart to return to it's normal pace. A twitch of anxiety wondered if it's rapid change would wake the other princess, who happened to have an ear on her chest. But the mare did not rise, resting peacefully.

As the moments passed as she lay still, Twilight's eyelids began to droop. It was all too inviting, the atmosphere of warmth and softness, of vanilla and bergamot. Luna's rhythmic breathing was lulling her to sleep. For a split-second, she wanted nothing more than to dissolve into unconsciousness and let the hours fly by.

No. I'm not about to snuggle Princess Luna in my sleep. Forcing herself to snap out of her comfortable drowsiness, Twilight freed her hooves from Luna's grasp. “I- I really am sorry,” Twilight whispered, “if this is some way of apologizing for earlier, then apology accepted.” She began to shove Luna along, the mare grumbling and fighting her every inch of the way.

“However,” she continued as she battled on, “I can't let you sleep on top of me. It's flattering, honestly, but I don't think it's a good idea.” Twilight found herself worked harder than she'd expect, moving Luna at a snail's pace. “I mean, yes, you're a very nice blanket and all, but I can't.”

Twilight chuckled as she batted away a flailing hoof. “Not exactly marefriend material if you ask me. Sure, you might be studious, intellectual, witty, and yes, even sweet at times, but too argumentative and stubborn for me. I prefer mares who are a little quieter.”

Nearing the other side, Twilight grinned. “Hah, nearly there. Now, just stay on your side and don't even think about-”

Whimpering, Luna latched onto one of Twilight's forelegs, pressing it close to herself. She nuzzled it and sighed contentedly.

“Or, you can do that,” Twilight muttered. Sighing, she scooted closer to Luna. “You're a persistent one, aren't you?” As her eyes started to adjust to the darkness, she noticed that Luna was smiling as she clung to her hoof. Rapidly discovering that she had no true misgivings, and now unable to find the willpower to pry herself away, Twilight admitted, “Oh, fine, I guess it couldn't hurt.”

Slowly, she lied down beside the other mare and put her free hoof over Luna's shoulder. “There. I did it. Goodnight, Luna.”

“Wh- what are you doing?” The new voice came out sleepy and softly, but there was no mistaking the surprise in it as well.

Opening her eyes, Twilight found herself face-to-face with a very confused Luna, squinting her eyes from rays of magical light. Yelping, she scrabbled away, continuing to push even as she reached the other side of the sleeping bag. Her heart was thumping inside her chest, chills scaling her spine and knots forming in her stomach.

“Twilight?” This time, Luna's voice was more serious and strained. “Why were you holding me in my sleep?”

“You started it!” Twilight cried in panic. Short breaths were pumping in and out of her nose, her skin becoming itchy and hot as she sweltered under Luna's gaze.

“What?” Luna's voice cracked. “How could I start something like this?”

“You- you kept snuggling me in your sleep!” Twilight could feel her face heating up. “Three times I pushed you off me.”

“You're right,” Luna admitted quietly, “I do have a tendency to cuddle when I'm asleep. It's a habit that goes back since I was a filly, but-” she raised her voice, “but that's not the point. You should have, oh I don't know, woken me up?”

Irritation surging forth, Twilight shuffled closer, poking Luna with an extended hoof. “Oh really? Is that what you would have done if you woke up with somepony sprawled over your chest? Or maybe, would you have wanted to just push that pony away and forget it ever happened, so you wouldn't make both ponies feel awkward?”

“No, I'd confront them about it and remind them of a little something known as personal space,” Luna hissed. “So, Twilight Sparkle, this is my personal space,” she sectioned off an invisible area with her hooves. “Stay out of it.”

“Aww, is that so?” Twilight brought herself right up against her, hes nose nearly touching Luna's. “Does this make you feel uncomfortable, huh? Well, deal with it. You've been a pain for the entire trip, forgetting your supplies, whining throughout our hike, and now robbing me of my sleep. So you know what? I think it's about time you feel what it's like to have to deal with a miserable, annoying pony.”

“Me?” Luna recoiled as far as the bag would let her. “You're the insufferable one. You have no right to be treating me like this. If I had it my way, I'd throw you in the dungeons this instant!”

“Oh yeah?” Twilight challenged her, purposely sliding even closer, just to annoy her even more.

“I would!” Luna insisted.

“Then do it!” Twilight challenged her bluff, waiting intently with unblinking eyes.

Luna remained silent, a scowl deepening across her face. She studied Twilight intently, eyes moving up and down as the seconds ticked by. Her face continued to darken as her silence advanced, until all Twilight could see was anger.

“What, too afraid?” Twilight prodded, “just do it-”

Swept up in a tangle of legs, Luna pressed her lips against Twilight's and kissed her. Twilight's irritation and displeasure towards the mare transformed into raw desire as she pressed back, locked in a battle over a single kiss. Hooves awkwardly tugged on hair, teeth smashed together, and their actions were completely disjointed as each attempted to dictate the tempo. Naturally, what resulted was a very sloppy kiss.

As the minutes waned, as the fires began to lessen, the energy levels dipped. Competition erased, the scores set to zero, constant flows of passion worked a comfortable rhythm that allowed both to enjoy the moment rather than fight over it. Shuddering with a contented sigh, Twilight pulled away first.

“Luna, I-”

“Shh.” Luna pushed Twilight onto her back and cuddled up against her, nuzzling her cheek. “I understand.”

“No, I just want to say that I'm sorry.” Twilight nuzzled her back. “For everything. For not waking you up, for being so-”

Luna picked up her head and kissed Twilight again, this time waiting until her muffled attempts at speech dissolved away. “Did you hear what I just said?” she asked in a soft, playful tone. “I understand. However, I am curious,” Luna continued, pressing up as close as she could, resting on Twilight's chest. “Why were you snuggled against me when I first woke up?”

“Oh, that,” Twilight murmured with a blush. “Umm, well, I was trying to push you away, but you kind of held on to my hoof and wouldn't let go. You nuzzled my leg and you were smiling, and- and you were being really cute. I couldn't say no.”

Luna giggled as she closed her eyes. “Well, as I always say, sleep reveals all.”

“Since when?” Twilight mumbled as she let her muscles relax and her eyelids shut.

“Right now.”

Twilight chuckled and placed a peck on her head. “Go to sleep, you silly pony. Be glad I'm actually letting you sleep on me this time.”

Luna sighed. “Oh, don't worry, I am.”

-~-

“Breakfast's on, everypony! Come and get-”

“Girls! Girls! Come look at what I found!”

Sunday Courting

The world is dark. The world is warm. The world is soft.

To Twilight, sleep was now secondary. Despite waking up moments earlier, moments like this were scarce and she wasn't about to lose it. Nuzzling into a more comfortable position, she closed her eyes and sighed.

The world rumbled. It shook and trembled, springs coiling and ready to spring. Earthquakes rippled around Twilight's hooves as the seismic activity continued to grow. A geyser of hot air blew over her air, the ground oscillating up and down. Then the world stretched itself out, ready to rend a force that could melt a pony in an instant.

A yawn squeaked into existence.

“Tw- Twilight?” muttered a very sleepy pony.

“Hmm?” She kept her eyes closed, but nosed herself closer.

“What time is it?”

“I don't know,” her voice was muffled. “Ask yourself.”

“Oh... right. It's umm... nine thirty-four.”

“Did you put the moon back?”

“I think so.” Hooves wrapped themselves around Twilight.

“Good job.” With a lethargic turn of the head, Twilight pecked somewhere in ear/cheek region. Perhaps it was even the jawline, but she couldn't tell.

“Don't do that,” erupted between a giggle. “You know that tickles.”

Twilight smiled, still keeping her eyelids shut. “Do I?”

“Yes you do.” The pout on her face flashed as clear as day in Twilight's mind. “And don't even think-”

Twilight jabbed a hoof into her side, rewarded by an outburst of laughter.

“That does it!” A foreign hoof tickled Twilight between the ribs.

“Okay, I'm sorry!” Twilight cried, her hindlegs flailing about as her forehooves kept a grapple on her opponent. “Truce!”

“I don't know...”

“P- please!”

The tickling subsided, replaced by an embrace that pulled her in. “Fine, even though you started it.”

“Thanks,” Twilight murmured, once again resuming her spot in the crook of a neck, nuzzling in.

“So, how's my Twi' this morning?” Soft lips kissed her cheek.

“Good.” Twilight smiled. “How's Luna?”

“She's good too. Also, a bit hungry.”

“She's always hungry.” Twilight giggled.

“Well, I can always eat those cinnamon waffles without you.”

Twilight blinked her eyes open, rolling on top of Luna into an upright position. “Don't you dare!”

“Why not?” Luna asked with a tilt of her head. “Court begins at noon, and we have to get up sometime.”

“Nooo,” Twilight whined, collapsing on Luna's chest. “I don't wanna go.”

“Oh? Whatever happened to the diligent, hard-working pony I know?”

“We've been going non-stop for a month now-”

“That's one way of putting it,” Luna interrupted, sticking out her tongue.

“Shush, you.” Twilight silenced her by clamping a hoof over her mouth. “You know what I mean. I'm just feeling run down, and I think some time to relax would do wonders.”

Pushing aside Twilight's hoof, Luna nodded. “I understand, but the problem is, Celestia is in the Griffon Republic right now. Somepony has to hold court each day.” She nuzzled the alicorn above her. “I wish I could do something, but my hooves are tied.”

“Fine.” Twilight sighed, resting her head on Luna's shoulder. “Do we have to get up right now, though?”

“I guess not,” Luna grumbled, looking away.

“Yes! Thank you!”

“Of course.”

Shuffling away, Twilight got off Luna and snuggled in beside her. Kissing her neck, she asked, “So, what do we do now?”

“I... might have a few ideas.” Luna replied.

-~-

“Oh, wow,” Twilight moaned.

“This... This is new,” Luna managed.

“I know, and it's so good.”

“Thanks, I'm trying to get better at this.”

“What book is it from?”

“No book. I made it up myself.”

“Oh, that makes it even better,” Twilight melted.

“By the stars, you really like my waffles, don't you?” Luna asked.

“Mhmm!” Twilight mumbled between a mouthful of golden fluffiness. Sitting beside Luna in their bed, they levitated their breakfast before themselves, topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

“Hold on, you got a little bit of cream on your cheek.” Luna lifted a napkin to Twilight's face and wiped away the blot away.

“Thanks!” The younger alicorn smiled and pecked her love on the cheek.

“Hey!” Luna recoiled. “Your lips are all sticky.”

Twilight eyed her, cheeks puffed out while chewing on another bite of her waffle, and winked. “Yup.”

Author's Note

Zero planning involved. 100% fluff intended.

Whistling

Author's Note

This a prompt written for the TwiLuna Prompt Tag Collab.

Whistling

"I mean... I can't. She's just– ugh." Twilight slouched back against the bar, words slurred.

"Why not, dear? It sounds soooo simple. Just... Just do it." Rarity sipped from a crystal glass beside her, half-filled with burgundy.

The two were slumped on the classy, silver-framed stools that lived beside a chic and modern bar, crafted from a black granite that glinted with flecks of white. The garden beyond hummed with the conversations and bickerings of Canterlot's elite, while the star above shined with humble glow of the moon and its starry companions. Blue-tinted lights fell over the clearing within the royal gardens, enough space to host dozens of ponies alongside entertainment, food, and of course, a full-sized bar. How they dragged the hunk of pristinely-sculpted rock, Twilight did not know, but that was the least of her worries.

The Blue Moon Social had been designed for the nobility to meet their rulers once again. With court being slimmed down, as three ponies divvied the workload between them, the nobility had complained. Of course they would. They appealed that they could not have time to meet with each one of her majesties, and thus felt left out. A bid for more face time, and thus, more influence. But their political weight and resources could not be dismissed so easily. Unfortunately, some small concessions had to be made.

She had gone in expecting to put up with the guests of the evening. But now, five, six – seven? No, it was definitely six – glasses of vintage wine under, her focus shifted drastically. She wanted to be noticed. She wanted to be heard. She was going to get what she wanted, and by Celestia's beard, she wouldn't let anypony or anything get in her way.

Words were one such thing. Such pointless, trivial little blots of meaning upon a canvas of the indescribable, unpredictable, indetermine lives they all lived in. They felt very much of out of place, and thus, unnecessary. Yes, words would have to go.

Luna walked by them both, shooting Twilight a grin as she went. Her hooves dragged through the grass, posture bent forward, stumbling from side to side. A wine glass wobbled in her grip.

"Now, Twilight!" Rarity hissed, prodding her along with a giggle.

"Okay, okay..." she steadied herself. Inhale a breath that quaked with tangible anixety, she placed a hoof to her mouth. This was it. Fate ended here, and faith took up the helm. A faith that one's wings would grow strong enough to fly while one fell towards the earth, hundreds of meters below.

Or the moon, should she be cast there in punishment. Oh well.

A whistle rose the murmur of the social, splitting the air like a thunderclap. It pierced the heavens with its high note, before swirling down into the lower frequencies.

Thankfully, few noticed, most being too intoxicated – either in their drinks or their scheming. However, Luna froze. Her head creaked around, trying to pick out the origin of the catcall.

As instructed, Twilight caught her eye and winked, before drawing a sultry glare down to Luna's flanks. She held it there, to make her desires all the more obvious. Not that she minded, anyway. They were toned and slender, adhering to a muscular curve that drove Twilight crazy. She bit her lower lip, a silent plead to entice her target.

Luna regarded her with the grace of a pogo stick on a speeding treadmill. Her cheeks lit up hotter than the sun, nearly fumbling over her own hooves as she attempted to turn around.

Twilight wished she hadn't, as the view was intoxicating. Drunk or not, she had no problem admitting to herself that she fancied the mare; she was clever, intellectual, kind, with a personality that appealed to her. Luna's klutzy nature was an unintended, extremely adorable bonus.

But with alcohol in her bloodstream, Twilight allowed another admittance of the starry alicorn: she was hot. No two ways about it, Twilight had sufficiently flung herself head over hooves for her, and Luna's lithe, appealing figure certainly played a role. Her own cheeks flustered as she imagined the ongoings betwixt the bedsheets–

Get a hold of yourself, she scolded her wandering and lecherous mind. She's coming over! – uh, oh shhhiit. I– I didn't quite plan for her to do this. What do I do?! I don't know how to pick up mares!"

"Twi– Twilight Sparkle!" Luna slurred as she stood before her. "Did... did you whistle at me?"

In the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Rarity far off in the distance. She must've escaped during her daydream. She was, in one sense of the phrase, all alone.

But if you play this right, you might not be come morning! her mind piped in.

Swallowing, Twilight put on her best assertive mask and prayed for the best. "Oh, well, of course."

"And why would you do such a thing?" Luna stepped forward, sipping from her glass.

Here it was. Do or die. Go time. Sweat beginning to bead along her hairline, Twilight, even in her drunken haze, knew she had to move fast. Her liquid courage, for all its potency, did not have the endurance to hold her up for much longer. The beams were already beginning to whine and creak.

"I liked what I saw."

Luna blushed harder, but her boldness fed off of Twilight's blunt, succinct tactics. "And what... what exactly did you see?" She closed in around her, her face less than a meter away.

Twilight's skin seemed to itch and burn with anxiety. She felt as if she couldn't bring the next sentence to bear, to be permanently locked away within the confines of a shy mind. But not tonight.

"Your butt." The incredibly crude reply caused Twilight to snicker. "I mean, it's very... alluring."

The two sat facing eachother, as Luna's hindlegs gave out and she plopped down on her afforementioned rear. Her cheeks had already reached their final color. The seconds passed. The gears appeared to tick inside the older alicorn's head, until finally her mouth edged open to speak.

"Would you like to... see it again?" Luna wondered, her voice small and tiny. "These nobles bore me, but– well, spending the rest of the night with you would be anything but."

Twilight nearly shot out of her seat, her puffed out wings projecting her from her spot against the bar. Her whisper was desperate and shuddered with desire. "Please."

Dolphin

Author's Note

This a prompt written for the TwiLuna Prompt Tag Collab.

Dolphin

There were times when fate forgot its designation, when each of life's tumblers clicked at the same time, when, for once, the governing heads of Equestria found themselves with a light workday. Each of the three handled it in their own special ways, and coincidentally on a spectrum of activity. Celestia preferred to shudder the walls in snoring sleep, while Luna, now unchained from the horrors of desk work, burst into play like a supernova. Twilight preferred a warm medium, a delightful bout of relaxation in the cozy company of a book. Rest for the body, energy for the mind.

However, seeing as she was willingly, romantically, and in very rare cases, physically chained to Luna, she had to compromise.

It had been a year ago when Celestia became disillusioned with her weight. Like her flanks weren't genetically meant to be that large, Twilight had scoffed at the time. It made no sense, and to top it off, her former mentor decided to install a pool for exercise. Right where her favorite reading spot was. "It puts less pressure on your joints!" they told her. "It'll keep you looking ages younger!" As if shearing away twenty years really meant anything. "You'll be the envy of stallions everywhere!" Hah. She wasn't already? Besides, her little tête-à-têtes with any handsome, young guard was Canterlot's biggest unkept secret.

And guess what? She hadn't even used it once. But the solar sissy would be damned if anypony got near it, even her own sister and prodigy.

Therefore, she had relented because of this, and willingly went through with Luna's plans. Curled up on a plush beach chair, enjoying the foreign feel of sunbathing while nose-deep in Brave New Stable, it seemed this was one of Lulu's better ideas. Much better than that whole incident with peanut butter, anyway.

"Twilight, you must come and relax with me for awhile!" Luna called, distant splashes heard over the rumbles of helicopters and whispers of hypnopædia.

"In a minute," she mumbled, trying to focus on the paintings of the savage reservation.

"You said that an hour ago!" Her partner whined.

"I– I know, I just have to get through this last part." She couldn't pull herself from the hungry quicksand of good literature. Carnage could rain from the heavens, manticores could establish a democracy within Manehattan, and Gummy could lead a band of revolutionary guerrillas to banish the evil grasp of cauliflower, but that would matter little until she finished a chapter.

"Twilight!" She could hear more splashes growing closer. A hoof clopped on what she presumed to be the marble-tiled edge of the pool. "Twilight, I want to enjoy this wonderful session of relaxation together. The stars have aligned for once – I promise on my moon that I only nudged them slightly – and we are in dire need of time together."

Twilight's reply was slow in coming. "Mhmmm. Hold on." A page flipped by her nose, with another pleasurable burst of book scent.

"Twiliiiiight. My heart withers, my soul threatens to tear itself apart! I cannot hope to continue on the treacherous path of life without your love-light to guide my lost soul! I require you immediately, as the flower does the sun. Oh cruel fate, what a mare have you cast upon me?" A thud hit the tiles.

Oh, for pony's sake. Twilight put down her book and gave Luna an unimpressed look. Only the midnight mare's head was visible, her wet, unenchanted, cyan mane falling over her face. But as soon as Twilight gazed upon her, a tiny smile grew on her features, like a puppy before a treat.

"Well, if you think the fates are cruel, you should see when somepony interrupts me from reading," Twilight warned her before going back to her novel.

But those words formed a funny itch in the back of the head. It wasn't as if Luna was a mischievous pony, right? She didn't prank the kitchen into submission, did she? She also didn't place anti-enchanting and blue-dyeing runes on Celestia's shampoo bottle, of course? No, no, of course not.

A splash of water hit her straight in the face, covering her and her beloved book. Her conscious shed a mighty tear then and there, as ink dripped away in unison.

The defender of diction released her former charge and rose from her seat, using one giant flap from her wings to launch herself towards the pool. Adjustments from her primary feathers gave her the accuracy of a laser-guided missile, coming down upon the giggling perpetrator.

But Luna was goddess of the moon, and the seas were her vassals. There was no better aquatic combatant. Luna, shortly after being pounced upon, jabbed a hoof between Twilight ribs. With the her partner paralyzed by laughter, Luna promptly dunked her under water.

Twilight arose from the great five-foot depths, coughing and sputtering, using a hoof to clear her mane-shrouded eyes. Luna was swimming away, but still clearly within striking distance. However, no matter what she tried, she couldn't bring herself to. A goofy grin captured her features.

"Luna, what are you wearing?"

The alicorn in question glanced down around her shoulders. Floaties were inflated around each leg, keeping her afloat while she paddled around the pool. "What, you mean these?"

"Yes," she cooed, followed by a giggle. "You do know those are just for foals, right?" She set off into the deeper end, swimming by her own accord. It was rather calming, the ripple and flow of water along her body, she decided.

Luna gasped in shock. "You know not what you speak! Mr. Dolphin is a rightful and reliable friend!" The decal of a dolphin adorned the sides of the floaties. "He allows Us–" she halted herself as an archaic tongue tried to set in amidst her emotions, "–me to enjoy the relaxation of swimming without tiring. I have no fear of failing to keep my head above water, but I would be devastated if a single session in the pool could disable my plans for the rest of the day!"

"Right." Twilight rolled her eyes as she drew close. She pecked her on the cheek. "I think it's cute."

Luna docked against a wall of the pool, allowing Twilight to rest her hooves on the shallow ledge of the floor before it dipped away. "Really?"

"Yes," she affirmed as she nuzzled her again. It was hard to resist.

"I do not understand..." Luna murmured. "Twilight, would you try these on? I am confused as to how they are attractive to another."

"Me?" Memories flashed through her head. Memories of coughing and flailing like a foal beneath the water before Celestia fished her out with a chuckle. Memories of having to take swimming lessons in gym class. Memories of putting those dreaded, plastic lumps of air on because she learned a little late. "Oh no, I possibly could–" But her brain came up with another interesting note of information. A delicious, wonderful thought. "–could... Could definitely be able to!"

Luna smiled and began to take them off in earnest, putting them on the edge of the pool. When she was done, she faced her partner. "Twilight, why have you not put them on yet? I would dearly like to know, and should they make you appear, as you put it, cute, then that would be a nice boon as well."

Twilight smiled at her, saccharine sweet. "Luna, I want you to know something."

Luna took a step closer, curiosity brimming in her eyes. "What is it, my dear?"

"I want you to know that I love you very, very much, and that despite whatever mischief you put me through, that will never change." She pecked her quickly, before whispering in her ear, "That, and you should never let your guard down."

A field of telekinesis took a hold of the poor alicorn and launched her across the pool.

"Wait... what?"

Author's Note

This a prompt written for the TwiLuna Prompt Tag Collab.

There. Here's my one saucy story for the year, time to go back to sadfics and fluff.

"Wait... what?"

Prompt: "Wait... what?"

Twilight and Luna shoved open the doors of Watering Hole Tavern, stumbling out into the dying street traffic of Canterlot. Their regalia discarded, they made somewhat unrecognizable ponies in the shroud of darkness. However, their mouths betrayed their stealth.

"Oh my gosh, yessssss," Twilight squealed, holding onto Luna's neck as they staggered down the sidewalk. "We totally should, like, like, yes."

Luna looked over at her, grinning like a drunk fool. ...Wait. Nevertheless, she slurred in ye olde butchered Equestrian all the same. "Twilight, tis thou... thou art the true genius of this most grand idea."

Twilight unhooked one of her forehooves and jammed it in Luna's mouth. "No no no, stop. I will not– I will not have that kind of tone, young missy." She decomposed into a fit of giggles, to which Luna couldn't help but join in with. "You are not going to speak Middle Equestrian. You hear me? Princess Luna is no snooty relic! She's speaking High Modern Equestrian! She's a strong, proud, beautiful mare!" She finished the last two words with a cry, throwing a hoof up into the air. Ponies nearby stared and gawked, but neither of them minded.

Luna smiled at her. "Wait... what?"

Twilight, still latched onto Luna with a hoof by her neck, spun in front of her. Placing her hooves on the alicorn's shoulders, she swayed but ultimately stood upright. Her mane was dappled over her eyes, which she shook away as she drew her face close to Luna's. "Listen to me, you. You are perfect, and nopony– NOPONY can say different. Because I said so. And what I say is right, because I'm, I'm a motherbucking Princess."

Luna snickered at her. "But Twilight, aren't we all Princesses?"

"Shush!" Twilight shook her head with as much stern steel as a nun with a yard stick. "Listen to me. You are..." Twilight remained silent for a moment, eyes studying Luna. She frowned. "...You are sooo pretty. Just look at you. Your mane is sooo pretty. Like, why can't I be as pretty as you?"

Luna tried to look at herself, but a hoof pulled her back to face Twilight.

"Look, so what if ponies sleep during the night, you don't! You do whatever the buck you want, you hear me!? What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to take anypony's crap! You... you raise the moon! Who else does that?" Twilight's voice rose high up into the sky. "You can probably pick up the entire palace with your magic!"

"I don't know–"

"You banished Discord! Like, that is pretty bucking awesome!"

"But didn't you–"

Twilight frowned again. "And your flanks are perfect. Like, why? How? Hoowwwwww do you do it? They're so toned and I bet they're firm and," she broke off into a sigh. "I just want to touch them, y'know?"

Luna smiled, too preoccupied to notice the heat flaring on her cheeks, among other places. "Wait... what?"

Twilight spun around Luna, giving her a heart slap on the rump. "Onward!" she proclaimed, pointing her hoof to the stars. "Onward to the palace, and uh... Civilization!"

Luna, now recovering, swaggered beside her. "Civilization?"

"Yeah!" Twilight cried. "Just like... like that song we heard back inside!"

Luna giggled, before belting out:

"The beating of a millions drums,"

"Duh duh, dunna duh duh!" Twilight added.

"The fire of a million guns,"

"Duh duh, dunna duh duh!"

"The mother of a million suns!"

"Duh duh, dunna duh duh!"

Twilight leaned close to Luna as they joined together on the street, with every eye on them:

"Civilization!"

-~-

Steamy breath whispered into her ear, "C'mere, you."

Twilight toppled onto Luna, driving them both onto the night-sky bed. Before Luna could so much as move, lips were pressed on hers, forcing her down. The lunar mare could hardly believe it, but she wasn't in a position to complain. She kissed back, weaving her hooves through Twilight's mane.

Their desperate making-out was interrupted by quick gasps for air, hot breath running down Luna's neck. Twilight was hungry, and with alcohol or without, Luna secretly admitted that she had no problem with whatever plans the librarian-cum-royalty had for her.

"Okay okay okay," Twilight giggled as she pulled away. "Can I just say how long I've been waiting for this?"

Luna's tongue lolled out like a dork. "For what?"

"You," Twilight claimed, running her hooves down Luna's side and stroking the base of her wings. She giggled again as Luna spasmed beneath her.

"Hah, hah..." Luna's vision rolled around the room before resettling on Twilight. "Wwhhat do you want with me?"

"Everything," Twilight purred, continuing her hooves along Luna's wings and to her flanks.

Luna could hardly contain herself. "Oh, by the stars..."

Outside the palace, on the high spire of a tower, Luna's window appeared pitch black. Then, in the blink of an eye, it flashed magenta.

"Twilight? What– what did you do?"

She giggled. "I just added another member to our party."

"Wait... what?"

Looking Into Infinity

Author's Note

A one-hour doodle that stemmed from some comic-reading and music by The Eden Project. Enjoy.

Looking Into Infinity

"Now... now I remember that one." A purple hoof pointed to the sky.

"Ah, yes, I created that when Astra was born," Luna snuggled closer.

"Twenty-four years..." Twilight murmured. "How did the time pass?"

Luna buried her nose into Twilight mane, which was webbed by ephemeral streams of pure magic, lacing up and down like a spider web. It smelled like autumn air, when the leaves were amber and the world was on the cusp of slumber, relaxed and happy.

Just as they were.

"Time always passes," Luna muttered, enjoying the cool bed of grass beneath them. "Just like the stars will always sparkle at night."

"Yes," Twilight planted a kiss on her head, "yes they do."

They continued to lie there. Somewhere beyond Canterlot, beyond Ponyville, beyond Manehattan, beyond the lands of Zebrica and Griffonia, beyond the mountains and the seas, they were two specks of life on a black sea of open plain. For on and on the grasses stretched, sparkling with the life of a world that hadn't been touched in thousands of years.

The plain paradise stretched for all horizons. The breeze was warm, batting the grasses left and right, waking the crickets and fireflies into action. They danced and sang, swirling sound and action into a fibre that this world rested upon. The grasses, the crickets, the fireflies, and the stars. This way could carry on for infinity, and the two souls would think no less of it. They would shine as brightly to the stars as they did to them.

"What took us so long to do this?" Twilight wondered, still gazing up into the night.

Luna shifted onto her back. "Well, raising a foal is never easy. Managing a nation is pretty hectic too. We were busy."

"Still." Twilight sighed. "It's not like we aren't busy now. I don't see why we couldn't have squeezed in an hour every month or so. It's just... this is so nice."

Luna reached over and found Twilight's hoof, placing her own on top of it. "It's fine. What matters is that we're here now together, not what could've happened years ago."

Twilight rested her head on Luna's shoulder. "I suppose you're right."

"I always am."

"As if." Twilight snorted.

Luna's whole body tensed up, preceded by a sharp intake of breath. Twilight was already primed and ready, the tip of her tongue sticking out, ready to poke her partner further.

But it could not hold. Luna relaxed again and placed a kiss on Twilight's cheek. With a sigh, she settled back in to her stargazing spot. "Very funny, Cutie Twi."

Twilight giggled. "Well, there's a name I haven't heard in a while."

Luna shifted around, rubbing up closer. "Well, I hope there's nothing wrong with that."

"Of course not."

"Good. It's simply that at this place, right now, it is between me and you." She turned her head to the side, locking their eyes together. "We've been waiting years for a time like this to come."

"I know." Twilight yawned.

Luna smiled. "Come here," she murmured, and magically drew Twilight in, wrapping about her with her wings.

"Sorry. I– I didn't mean to sound tired." Nevertheless, Twilight snuggled in, partially atop the midnight mare. "It's just that I've spent most of the day helping Astra with her university applications. I–" she yawned again, "– I didn't know they were so big these days."

"It's fine." Luna smirked and held her close. "I know she'll do just great."

"I hope so." Twilight breathed deeply. She studied the reflection of the sky in Luna's eyes, how the starlight danced upon her lips, how the moon shined along her cheeks. "This was a nice idea, Luna. We've had so much going on at home, that, well, it's almost easy to forget about moments like this with each other."

"Well, this is how we started out, if memory serves correct. Stargazing on your balcony." Luna smiled as she continued to watch the skies. "Sort of cheesy and cliché, but it worked."

Twilight nuzzled her. "Well, you know I'm a sucker for those sort of things."

Luna chuckled. "Yes... that was a bit of a surprise. I didn't know tacky love poems and chocolates would work so well."

"Or stargazing," Twilight added in.

"Yes, of course. Or stargazing." Luna kissed her head. "If all ponies sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently."

Twilight stiffened. "This... this isn't you being jealous, is it?"

"No, of course not." Luna wrapped her hug tighter. "You and Astra are more than enough love for me."

"Aw, Luna." Twilight relaxed and pecked her chin. "We try our best."

"I know, and it's wonderful. It's the other ponies in Equestria that I worry about. It's that with stargazing, when you look into infinity, you realize there are more important things than what ponies do all day."

"Such as?" Twilight asked.

"You."

Key

Author's Note

This a prompt written for the TwiLuna Prompt Tag Collab.

Key

"Gah!"

Twilight sprung away. She didn't get far, however. A sharp pull on her hoof dropped her like a sack of potatoes.

"Oof!"

Luna lurched up, her stomach having been crushed by Twilight's weight. Looking around, she tried to break free, only to find her forehooves immobile.

"Twilight?"

"Hey there, Luna..." Twilight trailed of sheepishly. She tried her best to look anywhere but her equine cushion.

"What– what are you doing here?" Luna, for her part, was doing her best keep her composure.

"I... I don't know."

Luna paused for a moment, the cogs in her head finally sputtering to life. Her eyes drifted from the bed and up towards Twilight. "Did we–"

"Maybe?" Twilight blurted out.

"So that's why you're–"

"–Yeah."

"But I can't remember anything."

"I can't either."

"Well, this is awkward."

"I know. But– no, nevermind..."

"What?–"

"–Nothing."

"Twilight–"

"–It's nothing."

"Fine."

The two laid there, avoiding each other's gaze. Luna looked up. To her surprise, her hooves were encased in magical hoofcuffs, bound by a magenta beam of magic.

"Did... did you do this?" Luna asked.

"I would think so. Although," she lifted up one of her own hooves with its own cuff, a navy band of energy connecting it to one of Luna's forelegs, "you did it too."

"Dammit," Luna murmured. "Do you remember the key you set?"

Twilight shook her head. "No." She focused her own magic on Luna's hoofcuffs. "I... I can't break the foreign magic deflection, either."

Luna scanned her own arcane work. "I– I must've made this myself. There's no way I can remember the combinations now."

"So, are we stuck here?" Twilight's voice quieted.

"I... I think so." Luna groaned. "Whip me with Orion's belt, I'm such a fool!"

Twilight's ears and cheeks tinted. "Well, I mean, if you want me to, I guess I wouldn't mind..."

"Huh?"

She flushed further. "N–n–nothing."

Luna sighed, fixing the young alicorn with a stare. The moments passed by, and Twilight began to shy away.

"You're hiding something," Luna surmised.

"What?" Twilight perked up, looking down at her.

"You keep muttering things and then denying it."

"I do not!"

Luna regarded her flatly. "What is it, Twilight?"

"N– nothing."

"See!" Luna jangled her forehooves about, in a pitiful effort to wave them. "There's that 'nothing' again."

"N– no!"

Luna paused for moment. "Was... was last night your first–"

"–No!" Twilight clamped her free hoof over Luna's mouth. Her face was beet-red. "No, it was– just no!"

Luna waggled an eyebrow at her.

"I mean it!" Twilight took her hoof off Luna's mouth and threatened her with it.

"Fine..." Luna sighed. "Then, that only leaves one more possibility." She gave the younger alicorn a sympathetic look. "You must be completely, maddeningly, uncontrollably smitten with me."

Twilight pressed her hoof into Luna's chest, leaning in close to her. "I– I– I am not!"

Luna nodded gravely. "I'm afraid to say this, but you are. All the tell-tale signs are there. The blushing, the stammering, the obvious exclusion of the fact that you would like to bed me again. It's plain to see."

"Luna!"

"Fortunately, I know just the key to unlock this conundrum. Come closer, Twilight, and I shall tell you."

Begrudgingly, Twilight drew nearer.

"Closer..."

Twilight was nearly breathing on her.

Luna sprung forward and kissed her. When she drew back, she found the wide-eyed, astonished Twilight Sparkle.

"Granted, I do not stammer or blush like you do, but... I fear I am sick too."

Paraphernalia

Author's Note

This a prompt written for the TwiLuna Prompt Tag Collab.

Paraphernalia

Down the darkening halls of Canterlot Palace, six silhouettes made their way over the marble floors. They laughed, they sang, and one lost its balance and tumbled into a set of armor, knocking it over.

"C'mon, RD, git up!" Applejack hollered.

"No. Nooo. No, I won't." RD crawled up against the wall and sat their, forelegs crossed. "You, you... You already beat me once tonight, but no more! I... I am not going to get up and let you start telling me around!" She belched, and then giggled at it.

Applejack closed in further. "Ah said git!" she hissed. "Jus' 'cuz we're here with Twilight don't mean wec'n make a mess!"

"So what?" Rainbow squinted at her. "It's... It's not like this place isn't full of, well, I'unno... servants and maids, right? It's not like nopony has evveeer knocked one of these down, right?"

The farmpony fumed. "Ah swear when we git back to our rooms I'mma tan yer hide–"

"She's coming!" Pinkie Pie cried out, as the other girls erupted into giggles and whispers.

"Who's comin'?" Applejack turned and asked.

"Twilight Sparkle!" A voice rang down the halls. With hooves clopping loudly on the tiles below, the Princess of the Night approached, in full regalia.

The pony in question headed out to meet her, as if the leader of their motley crew. Unlike the formal dignitary approaching, she had taken a much more relaxed route to her appearance. For instance, three shoes was so fresh and chic, and slanting one's crown gave off a bit of zest. To top it off, a bottle of hard liquor was swirling in her grip.

"What is this?" Luna demanded.

Twilight wobbled on her hooves and drew the bottle closer. She strained her eyes to read. "I... I think this is some sort of rum." She shrugged and giggled. "W– would you like any?"

"No. Twilight, I mean to ask why are you wandering through the halls like some sort of homeless drunkard?"

She swayed and rolled her eyes. "Because I'm drunk."

Pinkie Pie whooped in the background. "Yeah, girl! You tell her what's what!"

Luna stared her down and sized her up. For the seconds that passed, she kept her gaze fixated on the petty delinquent before her, unmoving.

"Humph. Very well," she spoke at last. "Come with me, Twilight. Alone." Without waiting for a response, she spun around and marched down the hall.

As Twilight followed her, she was trailed with a cacophony of snickers, whistles, and jeers. One voice loudly proclaimed, "Oh, Twilight's so getting in right now."

"Shut yer yap, RD!"

-~-

Luna led her into her own private chamber, closing the door behind Twilight. Floating her crown over to it's rightful stand, she mused, "You know, it isn't befitting of a leader to be weak before their own herd. Honestly, I have no clue–"

"Woah, is that a Brushie Brittany doll?!" Twilight charged over to an opened armoire, leaking out what lay inside. "I haven't seen one of these in, like, years!"

"No!" Luna yelped. With a flash of teleportation, she slammed the armoire doors shut. "Stay out!"

But it was too late. The vase had already fallen out of arm's reach. The clock had already ticked noon. Twilight already had the bright, fuschia doll in her grip, giggling contentedly. "I never had a clue you liked these," Twilight mumbled as she spun it around, evading Luna's every swipe.

"T– Twilight!" Luna stammered as her face flushed. "Put that down this instant!"

"But it's cuuute," Twilight protested.

"I said put that down!" Luna cried. Charging her horn, she plucked Twilight off the ground and started floating her over.

Twilight erupted with laugher. "Stop it, that– that tickles!" She fell on her back, flailing her limbs about. "Luna, Luna! Stop! I– I can't take this anymore!"

As she continued to be dragged, one kicked-out leg hit the armoire. Luna cried out, and her magic died. Twilight hit the ground with a thud.

Out spilled a dozen other, often rare and of the collectible variety, Brushie Brittany dolls.

As Twilight looked up, there were even more. High into the wardrobe, sitting in perfectly proportioned shelves, were dolls of all colors and editions. So surprised was she, that the original Brushie Brittany fell from her grasp.

After the initial shock passed, Luna swept the room with her telekinesis, grabbing every doll and slamming them shut behind the doors. She placed herself between Twilight and the armoire, guarding it from further threat.

Twilight could hold it in no longer. Laughter erupted from her stomach, tears coming from her eyes as she rolled on the ground. "I... I had no clue. Really! Honestly!"

"Let us be clear," Luna hissed, "you did not see anything."

Rising to her shaking hooves, Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes. "I don't know..."

"What? What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean, why... why should I have to do what you say? What do I get in return?"

Luna recoiled. "Are you attempting to blackmail me?"

Twilight giggled and swayed on her hooves. "No, of course not. It's just... You can't be the only one having all the fun. You and your dolls... heh."

Luna frowned. "Twilight, I'm afraid I don't understand. My–" she cast her eyes down and sighed, "–my Brushie Brittany dolls are merely for collection and admiration, not for playing as a foal would–"

"It's cute," Twilight blurted out. She leaned in close and jabbed a hoof into Luna's chest. "I never thought, y'know, the grand princess of the night and all would be brushing little dolls in her free time, but hey," Twilight shrugged, "I've certainly done worse."

Luna straightened up, getting right back in Twilight's face, trying her best block out the pervasive smell of alcohol. "Once again, I do not play–"

"But now that I think about it," Twilight gabbered on, shutting Luna off completely, "I think it's adorable. Y'know? Like, it's totally cute. Sooooo cute." She sighed and looked into Luna's eyes, head tilted and lips smirked. "Luna, why are you so cute?"

"P- Pardon?" Luna sputtered, face flushing.

"You heard me." Twilight closed in.

Luna's rump bumped up against the armoire. "I- I- I believe the alcohol has had some odd effects on you, Twilight. Would- would you like to sit down and, er, cool off?"

Twilight giggled, and ran a hoof along Luna's cheek. "You're the one who's heating up."

"I have no c– clue what you mean," Luna lied, her whole body on fire.

Twilight leaned in and nuzzled Luna's neck, earning a shiver from her. "C'mon, don't be coy. Relax. Just answer my question."

Luna sucked in a breath. Sweat was beginning to form along her hairline, and her heart was threatening to erupt from her ribcage. She looked around for an escape, somewhere, anywhere! Instead, however, she only found the expectant gaze of Twilight.

Luna gulped. "I– I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"Why– why you find me cute."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Would you like me to tell you? Come on, I've seen the looks you give me... Wouldn't it be nice to know I return your little crush?"

Luna didn't reply, her eyes fixated on the pony before her. She chewed at her lip, but no words would come out no matter how hard she tried. Not like she knew what was the right thing to say, either.

Twilight sighed. "Or, I suppose I could just kiss you now and get it over with." She waited patiently for a reply that never came. "So, what will it be?"

Luna stared at the ground. She could feel Twilight's breathing tickling her chin, where in another moment she would relish the sensation. There wasn't much she could register at the moment, as this drunken alicorn had managed to see right through her, grab her heart, and tempt her with it. Oddly enough, that left little room for second-guessing and doubts.

In a voice unlike the regal brick wall she usually donned, she whispered, "Can I have both?"

Looking up sheepishly, she found a genuine smile over Twilight's lips. She leaned in close, nuzzling her chin. "As long as you don't shut yourself in soon after, like your little doll collection."

Luna closed her eyes and nudged forward. "Deal."

Sloth

Author's Note

This prompt was a part of the MoonLight Prompt Tag Collab's Seven Deadly Sins Special.

Sloth

I trip on my own hoof, and fall down the stairs. I smash my face into the steps, my hooves and shoulders being run ragged over the jaws of the staircase. Gravity hauls the rest of my body over, bending my back like putty. My limbs flail uncontrollably, getting pulled and crushed underneath me. My hip lands on the edge of the base step, and I swear I hear something pop, before rolling forward like a ragdoll. Somewhere along the floor of Golden Oaks, I come to a stop. My thoughts become slow and lethargic. I’m reluctant to move.

Ow.

It wasn’t a particularly long thought, nothing compared to a wail of agony or even a cry of moderate pain. I react like somepony had pinched me, feeling the discomfort with mild disgust. The sensations, shooting through my body, grasping my face, flooding my mind, they are annoying. This floor is annoying, the stairs are annoying, being annoyed is annoying.

As I remain tangled along the floor, I groan, waiting for the sensations to throb away. I suppose I should get up and make sure that nothing is broken, but maybe it could wait a few minutes. The fact that moving could bring more irritating pain serves as a wonderful excuse.

It has been a week or so since I returned from Canterlot. I had been living there to keep up with my royal duties, but it was suggested that I recuperate at home for a while. Recuperating from what, exactly?

Luna.

A few days back, thinking that name would’ve made me tear up. Now… now I just don’t care. We were friends for a long time. By friends, I mean ponies that clearly had fallen in love with each other but were both too afraid to make a move. By a long time, I mean that Fluttershy had recommended that I ask her out.

I don’t know. She was sad, Celestia and her had just gotten into a huge fight, so I went to confront Luna. She mumbled some stuff about feeling underappreciated and worthless, and I tried to comfort her, to tell her how I felt for her.

Needless to say, she didn’t take it very well. I guess that’s not what she wanted. Emotions are dumb. So much for that love story. It’s all a bunch of lies, anyway. Why should years of admiration and respect matter if it can be choked out in a few minutes?

I shouldn’t even bother answering the question. It’s not worth it.

My right hindleg jolts in pain, and I grimace to keep it at bay.

I’m annoyed again. I would much rather go back to my numbness that had me swathed for the past– past... I don’t know how long.

I claw my way up, grunting and heaving as derelict muscles strain. Something in my hindleg feels odd, but I can stand on it, if barely. It’s probably not that bad then. The rest of me – my head, my chest, my shoulders – tingles with a steady stream of discomfort.

I charge my horn briefly and let loose a wave of analgesics. It was perhaps too much – I didn’t really bother to figure out the right dosage for a pony my size.

Limping into the kitchen, I look around. Dirty dishes are everywhere, cereal boxes strewn about. There’s a revolting smell coming from somewhere. The floor is crumbly and off-white, my hooves sticking as I make my way across.

Sitting down at the table, I sigh and zone out across the room. A clock on the wall reads four-thirty in the morning. Huh. I suppose that means I ate some time ago.

The last two days have been a fever dream, at best. Conscious, unconscious, it all meshes together like dirt in water. What’s left is a sludge that’s difficult to move through and oh-so-tempting to give up in.

I remember a lot of staring up at the ceiling. The plain, wooden scene, painted slightly different were it night or day. Time wasn’t much of an object. It was all a lot of staring until I grew tired, sleeping restlessly, and staring up at the ceiling again. Like a buoy, I dipped through the surface so often that I forgot where I was most of the time.

I can tell you, a voice whispers in my head.

Right, her again.

Perceptive as always, Twilight.

I feel a layer of grime begin to settle in over my body. If I ever decide to look into a mirror, I think my mane would be a modern art exhibit. The buildup of mucus in my tear ducts remains, and my mouth tastes stale and old.

Laying my head down on the table, I look out across the room. Cupboards are left open, tin cans sit idle and ajar, cold coffee rests in its pot.

Do you hate her? Nightmare interrupts.

Time passes.

Twilight, I’m waiting for an answer.

I don’t know.

Do you love her?

… I don’t know.

Come now, surely that weak heart of yours has something to say.

Not really.

Look at you. Rendered to a mess by our own Luna breaking your heart.

I suppose so. Don’t you have some fillies to scare, Nightmare?

I’m scaring one right now.

I sigh. Why are you here? Just let me be.

I simply wanted to see if there was any way I could assist you.

Right. I see. Evil, heartless exiles enjoy spending their free time helping others.

Do you doubt me?

Yeah.

With a flash and a pop, she’s sitting across the table from me. I drag my head across the wooden surface to get a decent look at her. Void black coat, sapphire, ethereal mane, piercing eyes, long, slim body, yep, everything except her champron, peytral, and boots. Au naturel, it seems.

Like what you see?

You’re still in my head?

Of course. How could I resist listening in on such inner turmoil?

Oh, good. I don’t think I’ve said a word for a few days, and I’m not really in the mood to change that.

A moment passes.

Does my charge still infect your thoughts? The look on her face is surprisingly earnest.

Yeah. I mean, I really did love her. I thought we could be together forever, as cheesy as that sounds. I wanted nothing more than to be with her any chance I had. And… hah.

Wait, why am I telling her this?

Oh, come now, don’t be so blind. Your heart is literally trying to tear itself apart, and whether you realize it or not, you’re begging to talk to somepony about it.

Probably.

Do you want her back? What if she hadn’t broken your heart?

I don’t know. ...Maybe? I’m not sure. If I could have her back, I don’t think I would. The memory is still there.

And yet, you still want to be loved.

Who doesn’t?

You know, Twilight, your little Luna isn’t the only one who can give you what you seek.

I ignore her, closing my eyes.

I could teach you so much.

I turn my head away.

Ponies think of me as entirely evil, but you know better, don’t you? All ponies have good in them. Even I. I can show you what you deserve.

My hooves press over my ears.

You’re so strong, so powerful, but even the best of us need a shoulder to rest on. Life hasn’t been kind recently. You’ve been used by your princesses so much, gaining little in return. I could give you more. Why not have that shoulder be somepony even stronger than you?

I clench my teeth together until they grind like millstones.

If love and support is what you seek, even I can give you it better than Luna could. Consider yourself lucky that you didn’t have to stoop so low as to her.

“Stop.” I mutter. My voice sounds like it’s being run through a rusty pipe.

Oh, isn’t that cute? We’re speaking now. Tell me, are these the first words you’ve said since she turned you away?

Sitting up straight, I glare at her. “Don’t you talk about her like that, you insect.”

Nightmare Moon rises from her seat. So you do still care about her? Come on, Twilight, make up your mind. It’s not polite to keep me waiting.

“What does it matter to you?” I snarl, kicking back my seat. The remnant pain in my leg roars back to life, before I suffocate it with another wash of painkillers.

She sashays over, looking down on me like an errant foal. You matter, of course. The power that you don’t even understand the depth of, I can help you unlock it. She pushes my chin up with a hoof, and brings her lips in close. All you have to do is let me in.

Her scent makes my knees buckle. What it is, I can hardly place. It’s like a venomous nectar, sweet, tempting, enslaving, and it preys on my weaknesses. I want to be taken, to be touched, to be empowered. I want her, my neurons scream.

The analgesics clouding my brain don’t make it much easier.

Her lips touch mine, and for a moment, I succumb to it. There is passion, deep within there. Her hooves hold my face gently, and the kiss is delivered with the utmost care. Her venom courses through my veins, slowing my heartbeat, warming my soul.

Then it burns. Like the unholy flames of Tartarus, it is unnatural in its creation and damnable in every sense of the word. I can feel it everywhere, running across me like a wildfire at the height of dry season. It scorches and chars, shrouding my eyes until they cry, raking my throat hoarse. Filth, detestment, and regret pile up faster than my euphoria can weave its webs.

Shoving her away, I break off from Nightmare Moon, spitting out whatever I can. The heat remains, bubbling up higher and higher, inches from spilling over. I am steaming, roaring, my tunnel vision focused on nothing but her. Horror and disgust creates balloon animals with my insides. Everything churns and screams and fights and wails, like a creature branded with sinful iron.

“You… You…” I pant. I raise a hoof, leveling it with her eyes. “I will make you burn for what you’ve done, for what you’ve said, you pathetic worm.” I spat out on the floor, ridding myself of the last of her infectious taste.

Nightmare Moon laughed. “I’m afraid it’s too late.”

Roaring, I swing a whip of magic at her, cleaving the table in two. Splinters burst like a grenade, spraying the room along with eldritch smoke. She pops across the room, giving me a coy smirk that, I now realize, had always been there.

My magic comes to me easier than it ever had before. No matter the quantity, it’s simply there, waiting to be sacrificed in droves like cult fanatics. With it, I let loose the strongest spell I know. Ira Solaris tears across the room, ripping up the linoleum tiles and floorboards beneath like grains of sand. Every glass object shatters and serves as shrapnel. The cabinets tear off their hinges, falling like twigs, the ceiling cracks and groans. A golden wave of energy scorches the air it rides upon as it flares out towards Nightmare Moon. It hits the back wall and goes straight through. Six feet in diameter, everything is scorched black.

A smoke detector blares.

I look around, stumbling from the drain, but she is nowhere. She is gone. The room is utterly destroyed, sink spraying water from its cleaved piping, a giant hole in both the wall and the floor.

My my, Twilight, what have you done here?

You… You were right there.

Hmm? Oh, Twilight, don’t be ridiculous. I’m banished, remember? Are we seeing things again?

As I fall back, all I can hear is her laughter, fading away into oblivion.

Tempest's Harbor

“I feel like such a dork.”

“Come now, it can't be that bad. Just tell me what's wrong.”

A wine bottle popped open with the help of a corkscrew.

“It's not that easy, Rares.”

“That, I can tell. You don't look as confident as you usually do.” The sloshing of wine sounded as two crystal, bulbous glasses were filled half way. “But, a pony doesn't knock on one's door in the middle of the night to annoy her friend with useless ambiguity, does she?”

Rainbow opened her eyes. “Ambi- what?”

“Ambiguity, or vagueness. What I mean is, you've been complaining for ten minutes now and haven't even gave me a clue about what's wrong.” The white unicorn sat across from her, lounging on a plush, violet méridienne, reclining back and swirling her goblet with a glowing grip.

“Oh, yeah, I guess I haven't.” Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head, leaning forward from a chair she grabbed in her hasty entrance. A polished and hoof-worked mahogany rococo coffee table separated them, a bottle of wine perched on top alongside two chunks of dark chocolate, resting in silvery foil. One glass remained untouched, sitting before the pegasus, lonesome and untaken. The deep red, liquid silk waited impatiently, staring at her with pleading, unseen eyes. She gulped, her throat starting to feel bare and parched from her earlier bouts of screaming and exclamations.

“So tell me.” Rarity smelled her drink indulgently, closing her eyes and smiling at the sensation. “Do feel free to drink from the glass I poured for you, I figured you could use it. It's a vintage from the hills outside Las Pegasus, almost as old as you are.”

“Uh huh.” Rainbow lifted her glass in the air, eying it for anything out of the normal. Satisfied, she tipped it towards her mouth and tasted it. She was no wine aficionado like the pony across from her, but she'd been to enough get-togethers with the unicorn to develop a taste for it. Nothing like her beloved whiskey or vodka, but for now it'd do.

The dry, lingersome taste was still dancing on her tastebuds as she dared to speak. “How do you deal with the guilt, Rarity?”

“Hmm? What guilt?” Rarity placed her glass down on the table, eyes watching her intensely even as her body remained relaxed.

“The guilt of...” Rainbow tried motioning with her hooves, but to no avail. “Hold on.” Grabbing her own goblet hurriedly, she took an unorthodox gulp and set it down gently enough to make Rarity cringe. “What I'm saying is, the guilt of telling somepony into you that you're not into them.” Her jaws snapped shut, after the huge, tiny stream of greased words were released like spat-out poison.

“Oh?” Rarity's eyebrow rose curiously. Then the rest of her face rose as well. “Oh. Well, who was it? It's a much different situation the more you know the pony.”

Crap. Rainbow felt her heart plummet further, mining into the bedrock. Restraining herself to a sip of her drink, as she had been lectured about dozens of times earlier, she let a shaky breath of air enter and exit her lungs. “B-Big Macintosh.”

Rarity didn't even attempt to block the amused, beseeching, craving smile rapidly forming on her face. Rainbow let her expression slip into a dour, sad, torn reality, devoid of her cardinal bravado and esteem. She could nearly hear the lashing of the unicorn's conscience as the smile ebbed away, substituted with concern and a determined glint in her eyes.

Drawing upon her glass for support, Rarity asked after a lengthy sip, “What happened?”

“I- I was crashing at AJ's after helping her roll the cider barrels in the basement.” A weak grin formed on Rainbow Dash's face. “She said she'd give me one of them once they were all ready in a month or two. Anyways, I was pretty wiped so I asked if I could stay in the barn for the night. Didn't want to have to fly all the way back to my house, I had a feeling I could pull something, and I figured I shouldn't risk it with the Trottingham Derby Qualifiers in a few weeks.”

Her smile vanished, “So yeah, I fell asleep pretty late in the afternoon, and I had a few hours of rest in me before...” Another layer of alcholic grease was required, emptying the last of her glass. Rarity filled it again without second thought. “...before Mac came in, dropping off some tools he forgot to put away. I gave him a hell of a scare when I popped out of the haystack, never thought a stallion could jump so high.” Her laugh came out feebly, wobbling like a dying dradle.

“Did he say anything to you?” Rarity asked, catching up with a generous draft of her drink. Wine flowed freely once again, the equalizer scored and the tallies even.

“Not at first.” Rainbow chewed the inside of her mouth, trying to decode what she wanted to say next. “I started, told him I was sorry for being a jerk and scaring him. Then, it got really quiet. He just didn't say anything back, just stood there in the middle of the barn staring at me like I was somepony he'd never seen before.”

Exhaling, Rainbow knew that the stakes were steepening. Two long, needing mouthfuls of merlot flowed down, quelling the aches and worries completely for brief moments, before the effects receded, leaving a small film of numbness over the wounds like the trail a snail leaves in the wake of its path. The more and more she drank, the more and more the analgesic accrued over her mental bruises and gashes, eliciting a small, shaky, welcome carelessness to smother a bubbling cauldron of emotions.

She stared at the ground, letting her mane flop down and shield her eyes from Rarity. “So, I got up from where I was, and starting asking him stuff. 'What's wrong, Big Mac? Something up?' And then he came out of it I guess, like he was dreaming or something. Back to his usual self, and we started talking for a bit. Nothing interesting really, just about what the cider's looking like this year and whatever.

“After a while though, we just sorta ran out of things to talk about. It was getting pretty dark out, so I tried hinting at needing some sleep. He seemed to get it, but instead he sat down next to me and said he-” the last few words had to be heaved out, her voice shaking with effort, “he needed to get something off his chest.” The last of her glass dissapeared to keep her going, loosening the vise-like grip guilt, shame, and embarrassment held over her.

“Do you want a minute?” Rarity asked politely, leaning over from her seat. “I know it's tough for you, so it's completely alright if you do, darling.”

Another heavy breath crawled slowly from Rainbow's mouth, lingering between them as the tension grew heavier. “No, it's okay.” She eyed her empty glass. “Could you just pour me a bit more?” Rarity nodded, the liquid flowing down into the crystal goblet for a third time.

A preliminary sip was required before she could continue. The taste of the wine itself was even starting to fall into the background, as menial as the soft glow of candles along the room's walls, or the rich ottoman rug under her hooves.

“It seemed to take years, just me and him sitting there, looking back at eachother. I was starting to feel uncomfortable with him staring me down for so long. But just as I was about to call him out on it, he whispered to me, so quiet I couldn't hear what he was saying. I asked him to speak louder, but he wouldn't say it again.”

After a quick gulp, she continued, “I was about to just get up and leave, perhaps go to Twi's house instead with him creeping me out, when he did it again. But this time, I- I heard him.”

“What did he say?” Rarity asked softly. She drained her remaining bit, keeping pace and emptying the last of the bottle as she got almost every last drop into her glass, refilling it once more.

“He told me he thought I was beautiful.” The words felt coarse and rough, scraping Rainbow's vocal chords. “You know how I am with that kinda stuff, Rares.” She looked up to her friend. “I didn't know what to do, I felt like my hooves were locked in place. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, like I had lost my wings mid-flight and I was heading straight for the ground.”

The sedative layers thickened. The more she thought about the next part, the more vocal grease she decided to add on. Staring abjectly at her glass for a moment, she noted it was only half full. Cloudy thoughts of whether or not she should keep having more barely reached her conscious, sent back to oblivion by lingering thrums of guilt.

“I just sat there, looking back at him because I didn't know what to do. What could I have done?” She shook her head, magenta eyes skimming the edges of the coffee table, unable to look back up. “And then, he started leaning in, getting closer and closer, his eyes closing, so close I could feel his breath on my face... And I just did nothing, sitting there completely still. He was right up before my face when something in me broke.”

Her goblet's level dropped further. “I got really scared and fell backwards, screaming at the top of my lungs. I didn't know what to do, I promise, Rarity. I didn't mean to do it.” She looked up, her expression yielding complete helplessness. “I just couldn't think of anything to do except to yell and get away. Yeah, it was really stupid, I could've just said no, or backed away, or put a hoof up, or...or something. I could've done something different. But I didn't.” Her voice fell. “I did the worst possible thing I could've done, and what hurt more was the look on his face after I yelled at him for...” she paused and shook her head. “Oh, I don't even know, I just know I yelled at him a lot. But when I was finally done, he looked at me like- like something in him just shriveled up and died.”

“Oh, Rainbow...” Rarity whispered, moving over on her elongated seat. She patted a hoof down next to her. “Come, sit down next to me.”

Without thinking, the pegasus obeyed, slumping down on the pillow-topped lounge chair. She drained the last of her third glass, setting it down on the table.

Rarity bit her lip. “How are you feeling?”

Rainbow Dash stared at her hooves. “I don't know. I came to you, Rarity, because I really don't know how I feel. You're the one who knows all about this sorta stuff. I thought maybe you could help me.”

“Oh no, darling, I couldn't possibly do that.” She put a white hoof on the cyan mare's shoulder. “You're the only one who knows, all I can do is help you get through it. If you want me to help, just tell me exactly how you feel.” Her voice massaged the tenuous air and scorched eardrums alike, akin to a soothing balm after a nasty burn.

Rainbow shut her eyes, voice creaky like aged floor boards, “But it's hard.”

“I know it is.” Rarity embraced the other pony, pulling her in close. “But you must, if you want to feel better. Trust me.”

Rainbow sighed, although finding small pockets of comfort in a much-needed hug. “I don't know what to say though. I'm not used to feeling...like this. Everything is so not sure. My feelings, I mean. They just aren't sure of what they are.”

“Like what?”

“I don't know!” Rainbow shook her hooves, voice twinged with anger as she glared up at Rarity. However, the flames quickly dampened as Rarity's hooves slithered away and her eyes widened in shock, the pegasus feeling shame wash over her. “Sorry, Rares... See what I mean?” Her voice cracked and shattered like stomped-on glass. “I just don't know.”

The soft touch a hoof returned, rubbing her back rhythmically. “Is there something I can do?”

Rainbow Dash kept her eyes to the floor, inspecting the geometric designs on the carpet, as her head started to feel a bit dizzy and her mind a touch cloudy. The last three glasses came crashing down, with the adrenaline and the energy giving in to Rarity's calming massage. “You- you have anymore wine? My throat's still scratchy and it's annoying the hell out of me.”

“Of course.” Rarity nodded and got up, leaving the room. Rainbow watched her go, and then let her thoughts overwhelm her. What was Big Mac thinking? Why would he even do something like that? It was sooo unfair, such a jerk, putting her in a spot like that. He couldn't have honestly expected that she would know what to say, would he? And, she didn't know what to say! Ha! He was wrong!

Why is she so angry at him? Yeah, that sappy romance stuff isn't her style, but that doesn't mean she can't handle it, right? She can handle anything, right? She's Rainbow Dash, fastest pony in Equestria, Element of Loyalty, part of Ponyville's awesome weather patrol, taker of midday naps on clouds, and... and... Oh, what's the use?

She's horrible. She definitely isn't the most in-tune with other ponies' feelings, but even she knew the confused venom and acid she threw at him. And he stood there and took it, for minutes on end. She just paced around the barn, stomping her hooves and pointing angrily at him, spit flying as her jaws kept gnawing and gnashing at his dignity and self-esteem. When it finally ended, when she had to force herself to breathe, his face was so...dominated and controlled by agony and depression. Forlorn eyes glazed over the ground, lips whispered a quick apology, and then the earth-rocking sprinting of hooves as he escaped.

How could anypony be so cruel? She didn't deserve friends. She didn't deserve anypony being nice to her. If she was somepony else, she'd kick Rainbow Dash in the flank so hard that she'd discover a new way to form a sonic rainboom. She just wanted to curl up into a ball and-

“Darling, are you okay?”

Glancing up, eyeing Rarity with another bottle and a corkscrew, she sniffed and rubbed her eyes with a hoof, wet to the touch. “Y-yeah, I'm fine.”

The unicorn sat down right next to her, coat rubbing against coat. “Are you sure, dear? You don't look it.”

“Just pour me some more, okay?”

Rarity nodded and pulled the cork out of the second bottle, filling up Rainbow's glass halfway. Then, with no hint or indication whatsoever, she reached over and pulled Rainbow Dash into a hug, holding her tightly. “It's not your fault, darling.”

The whisper entered her ears and went through to her mind, battering down the walls with ease and letting everything fall out. Rarity continued to rub her back, and then stroked her mane silently as the other pony began to shake and quiver, gasping sobs breathed into the unicorn's shoulder.

“It'll be alright. I promise.”

-~-

“Better?”

Rainbow Dash pulled her head away, looking up to Rarity through tear-blurred vision. Blinking a couple of times, she sniffed and nodded, but dare not break away from her grasp. Comforting, safe hooves still worked their passive magic.

“Good. It feels much nicer to get things out instead of keeping them inside, doesn't it?”

Another nod.

“Now, I have some wine and chocolate here. I must say, they are very tasty together, so why don't we relax for awhile?”

Another nod, this time quicker and eyes brighter.

Rainbow Dash groaned on the inside as Rarity let go of her. She'd never admit it, but the cared for, safe sensation of the embrace was exactly what she wanted. It was like a harbor to fall into during a tumultuous storm, one that had now died down a bit, yet still hung in the skies, wind whipping and the rain pouring down.

“Here you go.” Rarity held out the glass in front of her, which she took and sipped from delicately. Things had calmed down, but it still felt like the slightest shake could send her tumbling back down.

“Now, try a it with a bit of this.” A small piece of chocolate levitated over towards the pegasus, who ate it curiously with rinsing mouthful of merlot. “Good, isn't it?”

“Y-yeah,” Rainbow creaked at last, sounding as if she hadn't spoken in years. “It's nice.”

Rarity smiled. “I thought you'd like it. You're a lot more than you give off, Rainbow Dash.”

“Huh?” She looked over, unsure of whether being given a compliment or a challenge. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Look at you.” The unicorn chuckled. “You, Rainbow Dash, one of the fastest ponies in the air and a notorious party animal, reclining back and enjoying something so refined as dark chocolate and vintage wine.”

“And so what if I do?” A characteristic spark rallied to life in Rainbow's eyes, one that only Rarity noticed. “I can like both if I want to.”

“I never said you couldn't. We should really spend some more time together, I'm sure you'd love a trip to the spa, if only you'd leave your ego at the door.”

“Hey, hey, let's not go that far.” Rainbow leaned away from the other mare. “I said I can do wine and chocolate, not some frou-frou day trip.”

Rarity laughed. “Alright, Rainbow, if you insist. Wine and chocolate sounds lovely.”

The pegasus found herself grinning right back. She didn't know quite why, perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe it was genuine. She didn't care much though, because the uplifting mood had evaporated some of the weight from her shoulders. She felt like she could finally breathe again.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the two, neither knowing where to go next. Then, Rainbow had a funny thought. An amusing itch at the back of her brain. It was probably the alcohol, but she felt like she could say it now. She could say it without being crushed under tons of emotional weight, without having to descend back into the pit she came from, with somepony else there alongside her.

“You know what scared me the most?” She began, looking from the floor and then up to Rarity.

“What?”

“What scared me was how I can only see him as my friend, nothing else. And when he leaned in to kiss me, it was like I could feel any chance of having him as a friend ever again just snap, like a twig under my hoof. No more intense games of hoofball, no more genius pranks on AJ we would come up with, none of that.” She tapped a hoof to her chin, deciding on a whim to delve even further. “That, and I really didn't want him to kiss me... I- I've never kissed anypony else before, and I didn't want my first one to be like that.”

Rarity giggled. “Do I hear a romantic side to Rainbow Dash?”

Cyan cheeks flushed red. “No!” she sputtered.

“But you just said-”

Rainbow interrupted her angrily, “If you tell anypony, I'll-”

“You'll what?” Rarity challenged, smirking. “It's not a bad thing to admit it, darling. Everpony has some romantic aspiration in their life. Yes, even Applejack and Twilight do too, as far-flung as that might seem.”

Rainbow chewed over this information, wondering and thinking. “They do?”

“Oh heavens, yes.” Rarity nodded. “I can't tell you how many times I had to listen to Twilight bubble over last year's Winter Moon Celebration.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Let's just say our little 'egghead' has quite the interest in a certain princess... And it's not her beloved teacher, either.”

“Luna?” Rainbow's eyes widened. “No way! Wait until I tell-”

Rarity placed a hoof over her mouth and shook her head. “I'm afraid this is between you and me. You want me to keep a secret for you, and now you have to keep one for me.”

Rainbow Dash moved Rarity's hoof out of the way. “Fine, but still, how?”

“How?” Rarity threw her hooves up in the air. “I don't know. The girl just spent some alone time with her, and apparently something rubbed off on her. She's even started writing to her.”

“It...it can work like that?”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Yes, it really can. It happens quite often.”

“Even to you?” Rainbow didn't even try restraining her unbridled curiosity.

“Well, I mean, yes,” Rarity flustered, caught completely off-guard. “It has happened to me too.”

“When?”

“Rainbow! I'm not about to tell you! Some ladies like to keep their adorations private. Let's just say it's happened not too long ago.”

“Wow...” Rainbow caught herself, retreating back to the safety of her ego. “I mean, umm, that's cool, I guess.”

Rarity chuckled. “Like I said, you're a lot more than you give off.”

Warmth returned to her cheeks, yet not as severe as before. “Yeah, well, don't go telling everypony, alright?”

“I promise.”

“Thanks.” Rainbow leaned back and yawned.

“Oh dear, is it that late?” Rarity glanced at the clock. “Three-thirty, already?”

“Huh? Aw jeez, I'm sorry for keeping you up, Rares.” Rainbow sat back up straight, stretching her forelegs.

“No, no, it's quite alright.” Rarity smiled. “Anything for a friend.”

Rainbow returned the gesture sincerely. “Thanks, you really did help me feel better.”

“Did I?”

Rainbow Dash thought back to the warm, safe hug that held her while a stew of emotions raged and frothed, coming out in tears and sobs, the hooves the rubbed her back and ran through her mane as she let it all pour out, the caring, soothing voice that told it was all okay and that she'd be there for her. She realized, with a small start, that there was much to Rarity that she didn't give off either, including a profound, incredible amount of heartfelt care and passion for the ponies around her, an unwavering determination to help those truly in need. And, when she needed somepony the most, the unicorn did everything she could and more.

“Yeah,” Rainbow replied with a warm expression, “you did. I can't thank you enough, Rarity, you're wonderful- err, umm, I mean a great friend.”

Rainbow Dash's brain froze, a part of her conscious breaking off and high-tailing it for somewhere else, anywhere else. What the hell was that? Why, why, why would she ever say something like that? Frantically rummaging for an answer in her head, she found none.

“What?” Rarity stopped in her tracks, eyes widening.

“N-nothing. Forget it even happened.” Rainbow's skin began to crawl, itching like she had been thrown into poison ivy.

“No, tell me.” Rarity demanded, biting her lip.

“I can't!”

“Why not?”

“Because!” Rainbow found herself yelling. Not this again. Please, anything but this.

Sensing the growing pain, Rarity asked softly, “Rainbow Dash, you can tell me anything. I'll be here for you, no matter what.”

Heart jumping, for which Rainbow could not tell why, she let out a shaky breath. “I said...you were- were... Umm... Well, wonderful.” The last word came out like a whisper.

“Oh...” Rarity looked at the ground. It was impossible to tell her expression.

“I'm sorry,” Rainbow managed. “I- I don't know why I said it.”

“I believe I do.” Rarity's voice came out flowing on some weird energy, a distinct frequency the pegasus couldn't quite put her hoof on.

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.” Rarity looked up at her, the edges of her lips pointed upwards in a tiny grin.

Rainbow Dash felt fidgety and uncomfortable, impatient even. “Can you tell me?”

“Not exactly. I don't think you'd believe it.”

“Come on, tell me!” Annoyance drove her to raise her voice.

Unfazed, Rarity continued in her soft voice. “Could I show you?”

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash teetered for a second, uncomprehending. But, impatience drove her onwards. “Yeah, okay.”

Smiling, Rarity leaned in, getting closer and closer, her eyes closing, so close Rainbow could feel her breath on her face.

Something snapped.

In a good way. Mellow, golden waves of warmth wrapped around her, the screaming realization wresting its way out of her subconscious, its message relayed across her body, neurons firing in fury like a raging lightning storm. The pieces clicked together, and everything became one as the cogs of her mind continued on.

Rising forward on her own, she met Rarity halfway, bliss and happiness repairing the ugly wounds and scars of guilt. The tempest calmed, the waters subsided, and the sun rose from the clouds. And yet, Rainbow Dash did not venture out again. No, she stayed in harbor, where she felt she truly belonged.