One Autumn Evening
“The stars light up your way – even if you don’t believe in hope.”
For one lavender Unicorn, sleep was just a word that floated around her. She woke every night at around the same time after attempting to get a full night of sleep, her windows always open as she allowed the autumn breeze to nip at her perfectly silky smooth skin and to let her mane gently brush within the wind to bring out her beauty. Of course, it didn’t help. She had tried everything, keeping warm, keeping cool, nothing worked for this beautiful mare nor did she believe it ever would.
Waking in the late hours of the night, Twilight Sparkle woke from a light sleep, seeing the dark room around her illuminated by the moon light outside. Spike was asleep in his small bed, snoring peacefully as the gentle breeze from the open window blew through the house creating a comfortable feeling for Twilight. Climbing out of her bed, Twilight gazed up at the window to look at the stars, the starts twinkling back into her eyes which made a small smile come onto her face.
Walking out onto the balcony of her library home, she leaned against the cold steel railing, completely ignoring the freezing metal feeling beneath her hooves and upon her chest. Staring up at the bright moon that blended among the stars, she smiled with a gentle grace, before she began to hum a small delightful tune to herself. Closing her eyes, her horn glowed a soft purple color as it levitated a large book to her. Placing it upon the railing, she looked down at it. The title of the book emboldened and shining from the stars. It was beautiful, the stars created an amazing effect upon the book and the sky really made Twilight smile on this evening. It was an autumn night like no other, where the orange leaves from the trees blew within the air and scraped across the streets’ floor and into some gutters. Some leaves landed upon her balconies railing, before being blown along the channeling wind.
“Twilight?”
A quiet, soft voice was heard from above as Twilight looked through the book. Stopping and keeping her hoof on a page, the lavender Unicorn glanced up to see a midnight blue Alicorn with a beautiful mane that looked like it was made out of the stars. She hovered in front of Twilight with a face full of concern, wondering why she was up at this hour of the night. Ponyville was silent, no activity was in the streets other than the soft sound of the breeze that was heard from outside. Orange autumn leaves were scattered around on the streets of Ponyville as houses had no lights on, and were full of ponies that were fast asleep.
“Luna, what are you doing here?” Twilight smiled slightly, but yawned from her tiredness. Luna tilted her head as if to ask a question of her own.
“What art thou doing up at this time, Twilight?” She hovered in front of Twilight. Twilight simply looked away with a sigh, Luna again tilting her head in concern as if she had done something wrong. Luna wasn’t clear of what was up with Twilight.
With a frown, Twilight faced Luna yet again. Twilight levitated the book back into her darkened room, placing back on a small pile of books that lay beside her bed. The stars blinking, Twilight also blinked staring up at Luna’s beauty, completely silenced by it. Luna looked around, not entirely sure of what was going on.
“Art thou okay, Miss Twilight?” Luna asked, raising a hoof slightly. She didn’t use her royal Canterlot voice, knowing the consequences of using it. Twilight looked away with a bright pink blush, her ears lowering.
“Uh…yeah, Luna I wouldn’t suppose you’d spend time with me?” Twilight asked with a crispy tone to her voice, keeping quiet and also trying to shake off the growing blush upon her soft cheeks. Luna however agreed to do so, landing on the balcony, Luna hugged Twilight gently. The warm embrace that filled both lonely souls on this very evening, made both of the mares blush at least. Unfortunately with Luna, it was barely visible due to the dark tone of her coat which disallowed it to seep through.
“What seems to be the problem?” Luna asked before breaking away and walking into her home. Spike was seen fast asleep, Luna looked away from him making sure she was quiet enough. Sitting on the bed, Twilight joined her, Twilight finally answered with what her problem was.
“Over the past few night, I’ve been sleepless. I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work,” Twilight admitted, dipping her head down to face the bedsheets. However, Luna’s hoof made contact with Twilight’s shoulder. Twi soon looked up to face Luna, looking eye to eye with her.
“Thy cannot understand what it’s like to struggle with sleep at night, but thy can understand how it’s easy to struggle with sleep overall,” Luna responded, obviously trying to help the Unicorn the best she could. Twilight however was not completely amused, but she showed a small smile as a thanks.
“Oh – it’s okay, Luna. What normally helps you sleep during the day?” Twilight softly asked, looking back into her eyes with a tired smile. Luna began to think deeply, but soon remembering all the things that assisted her with sleep.
“Well, normally, sleeping with something or somepony thou love and cherish, normally helps sweeten the mood and helps me sleep,” Luna blinked. Twilight blushed at this, knowing the favor she needed from Luna. Unfortunately, she didn’t want to bother her and also she needed to guard the night.
“Well could…” Twilight began, but she didn’t finish. Luna leaned in, raising a brow. But Twilight unfortunately could not deliver the words that were meant to leave her mouth; all Luna did was gently pull her into another hug. Twilight blinking at this, not sure of why she was hugging her. Either way, it made her wonder why Luna was so affectionate over the recent minuets they had spent together.
“If you’re asking for thy to stay, thy shall,” Luna pulled away from Twilight, who now had a happy grin on her face, “a pony like you with such beauty, both exterior and inner, deserve the company thou need.”
“Thank you, Luna, it means a lot to me,” Twilight gently pulled Luna down next to her and pulled her into a warm cuddle. The warmth of both of them racing through them both, preventing the cold autumn breeze from nipping at their coat. The soft coat of Luna brushed against Twilight, as she nuzzled her cheek gently, Luna returned it.
Obviously being the princess of the night, Luna didn’t actually sleep. Luna just offered to watch over Twilight to help her sleep. As Twilight dozed off slowly into a deep sleep for the first time within a few days, Luna gently applied a loving kiss to Twilight’s head before wrapping her soft, feathery wing over her and pulling her head to her soft chest. Luna’s eyes closed as she enjoyed the soft, warm feeling of cuddling up to somepony for the first time in years. And Luna on that night stuck with Twilight, until she awoke the next morning.
