Sleepless Eternity

by NotATree

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Sad, Romance
Length: 12517

Eternity is a curse for those who remain alive.

The gift of immortality may be appealing for those who only know a mortal life, but to the immortal it can be a curse as they are forced to distance themselves from the world around them to avoid the pain of loss.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-22 23:39:56 UTC

The beginning of forever

My story like most stories starts not at birth, but at the onset of the great journey my life would take me on.

But first I should start at my technical beginning. I was born an oddity, a Pegasus colt born to unicorn parents. This didn’t stop them from loving me any less, but when it came to flight they could do little more than encourage me to do my best.

While flight took me longer to master than other pegasi I learned to love the freedom it gave me. The only thing that I every regretted was that my parents would never understand the freedom flight gave me, but then again they could use magic so I suppose we were even.

I grew up living a happy life and I was happy. In those days I had little to worry about other than finding my cutie mark and making my parents proud of me.

One of the few things I clearly remember from those days was getting my cutie mark. My carefree innocence would forever be broken and my life would change forever. These changes would not always be for the better, but I suppose nothing ever leads to eternal happiness.

It was a dark night filled with beautiful stars and Luna’s beautiful moon. The celebration of the winter solstice was in full swing and Princess Luna had outdone herself. I wandered around behind several tents and finally wandered into one that seemed secluded from the rest.

The contents of this tent would forever change my life and would earn me a cutie mark that night.

The tent was filled to the brim with every form of firework and explosive device my young mind had ever seen or could attempt to conceive. Now I was always a mischievous colt, but for some reason my mind seemed to go into autopilot.

When I say auto pilot I mean I decided to gather together as many of these expertly crafted explosives as my small body could carry and walk out of the tent as quickly and quietly as I could.

After much struggling and many silent prayers I felt that I was in a secluded enough area to have my fun.

I set up my fire flinging explosive delights and began to look for a way to ignite the fuse that I had managed to connect to all of the rockets. I quickly discovered to my delight that by striking my hoof on a rock I could create a small spark.

With this newfound knowledge I managed to light the fuse. Everything seemed to be going perfectly.

Everything began to go horribly wrong almost immediately after that thought. I noticed to late that the first rocket that would be ignited by the fuse had tipped drastically towards the other fireworks next to it.

I realized too late what this would mean for me. As this rocket launched itself towards the rest of the fireworks it caused an unplanned chain reaction that caused all of the other fireworks to begin to fire their respective payloads far from the safety of the night sky.

The world around me exploded. I was sent flying through the air in an uncontrollable arc that sent me straight into the largest tent in the festival.

Most ponies would probably be in shock or in pain. I was not most ponies apparently because all I could do was laugh.

That was until I realized where I was. I was surrounded by hundreds of other ponies including my parents who both seemed shocked and confused at the same time. I was slightly mortified by the stares of those around me.

Then I felt something happen to me. A tingling sensation and a shimmering light encompassed my body.

I looked around and everybody was still staring, but now everyone was smiling at me, but none seemed as happy as my parents who ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

I was confused for a moment before my father motioned towards my flank. Then I saw it, and I was overjoyed.

My cutie mark had appeared, and looking back it made perfect sense to me. On my flank was a small flame much like the one I had used to ignite my startling chain reaction.

To this day I have never forgotten the joy and the rush that can come from that blast. My special talent was explosives and I would embrace it.

=====================================================

My journey started years later.

I was not the youthful colt filled with ignorance of the world. My life took me far from my place of birth and while I visited my parents as often as I could I preferred the freedom that travel allowed me.

It also helped that my talents allowed me to find work wherever I went. Ponies always needed something turned to rubble or some fireworks to explode the night sky. I provided these services to the best of my abilities.

Not all of my work went towards peaceful endeavors during these times. Rising conflict between the princesses had caused a schism in the land of equestrian.

The followers of Princess Luna who now called herself Nightmare Moon and the followers of princess celestia were aimed towards a conflict in the near future and both side bought explosives from me.

I was not looking forward to seeing my work used against equestrians by other equestrians, but it was not my place to decide what the future would hold.

I was both greatly saddened when Luna was banished to the moon and relieved that my weapons would not reduce other equestrians to ash.

I did not pity Luna for her banishment because I believe pity is the worst thing you can give anypony. What I felt for Luna is sadness. I looked towards her moon which had become her prison and gave her my condolences.

Her sadness which had led to her downfall was caused by other pony’s fear of the night, and her night was beautiful. Or it was, after her banishment Celestia controlled the night and she was no artist.

The stars did not shine as bright and the nights suffered for the lack of Luna’s beautiful constellations that had been lost to her banishment. Her moon seemed to reflect her as it hung mournfully in the night.

As things returned to normal in equestrian I was left with a multitude of high explosive devices and no real use for them

besides extreme demolition projects.

Somehow during my travels I began exploring caverns and other long forgotten underground places.

These adventures became more and more prevalent when I began using some of my surplus explosives to blow through long forgotten entrances to crypts and temples buried and forgotten by ponies long past. It became a profitable venture as I found a few small treasures or jewels hidden within these dark places.

This adventuring would lead to the most significant thing that would happen in my life.

I was deep in a cave where I had discovered a large stone door that was covered in carvings of many dangerous beasts. What they represented was lost on me as I set up the charges that would reduce this obstacle to no more than dust and small pebbles.

The door was a warning. It was a warning to keep fools away from something that was not meant to be seen by the eyes of the living.

As the dust settled and I made my way through the door I walked down a series of empty tunnels that led me deeper and deeper into the ground. Unlike many pegasi I was not afraid of being underground. I may yearn for the sky, but I was not afraid of the darkness that surrounded me. I was confident I would see the sky again and that was all that mattered to me.

I finally walked into a large open room and as I walked towards the center I noticed a light. As I approached it I was overwhelmed with a sense that screamed power coming from this light.

Then it spoke to me.

What does the pony seek from this ancient place? None have sought this place out for eons, but I have watched, I have waited. Now I wish to leave this place and return to the after.

I was shocked and confused, “what are you?”

What am I the pony says. Why am I not a who pony? What makes me different from the pony? I have thought. I have life. I have will. I have everything but freedom. What am I the pony asks. I am the fire of life in all things. I am the silent one that watches the world from my prison. I am something and someone and at the same time I am everything and nothing. Does that answer the pony's question?

I realized that I would never get a straight answer from this creature so I simply replied, “No.”

Oh. Well it matters not, you have come and now you will free me from my bond and allow me to enter the after.

“The after,” I managed to ask the light.

Yes all eventually embrace the after.

“Why should I free you, what will you do for me?”

To you I will grant you my blessing. How it will manifest I cannot guess.

“A blessing?”

It will give you power in some way, but be warned something is always lost for something to be gained. This is how balance is maintained in this world.

I pondered power as I thought of what to do. I wanted power, but not for any real purpose. I just wanted it to feel powerful. And in the end I agreed to free the light.

It explained how to free it from the bonds this cave had it in. All I had to do was shatter a crystal in the center of the room. A swift buck to the crystal and it was fragmented like glass.

The light disappeared from the room in a sigh of immense relief. As it left It whispered something in my ear.

To you my blessing of power is given. For good or ill use it as you will.

I felt different.

I felt better.

That was the last day I aged. The last day I slept.

It took a long time to realize what had truly happened to me, but it was too late to change anything and part of me was afraid of what would happen to me.

After I watched those I loved wither around me while I stayed the same I realized that immortality was a curse for those who remained.

I continued on and lived my life, but now with a distance from those around me. I travelled endlessly so that my secret wouldn't be known to anypony.

After the first five hundred years I felt that I understood princess celestia in a way none of her subjects ever would. I did not make my condition known to her because I was unsure of how she would react.

This avoidance worked for the rest of that millennia, but then Luna returned.

A friend in the dark

I missed sleeping.

Sleep was a long distant memory.

My body was the problem there. Well my body is not to blame for my inability to sleep. My power is what affects my body. It does not let my body rest, and it keeps my body in perfect condition no matter the circumstances.

I have had plenty of time to test the limits of my body. After the first hundred years I began to attempt to end my life, but

nothing could overcome the power that had been given to me. That is not to say I cannot feel pain, but I cannot die.

No poison I have consumed, no height I have fallen, and no amount of blood lost has ever been enough to kill me.  After fifty years of trying I gave up and accepted my fate.

It was my fate that I would never know the calm of sleep again, or the sweet embrace of a beautiful dream. Instead I was eventually content to wander Equestria never staying in one place. I couldn’t watch those around me age and disappear.

Time stopped meaning much to me after a while. After you live to see cities rise and fall and deserts change to lush forests time is just another trivial matter that I could not be bothered to follow.

That was why I was surprised when Luna returned. I knew that she would be back after a thousand years, but I did not notice her return immediately. I heard second hand accounts and read newspaper articles about the “forgotten” princess’s return and the defeat of nightmare Moon.

  What I noticed first was the night. After so many years of looking up at a depressing night sky night after sleepless night was the beautiful sky from my youth had returned. After a thousand years the stars shone again and the moon drifted like a beautiful flower through the night sky. That is how I knew she returned.

I enjoyed drinking. I hadn’t truly gotten tipsy since my change, but I enjoyed the taste of potent liquors. The burn that consumed my throat and the fire that would hit my stomach were small ways for me to remember that I could still feel something.

The bartender came over and took my empty glass “I’m going to have to ask you to leave sir we’re closing for the night.”

“Sure” nodding my head I made my way out into the night. I took in a breath of fresh and I smiled as the sounds of canterlot washed over me. It had been a long time since my last stay here and I enjoyed this magical mountaintop city.

I stayed away from the castle and its inhabitants out of habit and quietly made my way through a secluded city park. I admired the night as was my custom.

“The night is beautiful again tonight,” I murmured to myself. Nopony can fault me for talking to myself after so many years. After a while you just start to let your thoughts come out.

“Thank you” said a voice from close behind me.

I froze. My mind began to attempt to understand what had been said to me. I turned slowly to see what phantom had crept behind me.

Behind me stood the princess of night herself in all of her dark glory. I looked at her and she seemed to be waiting for me to say something. I on the other hoof slowly examined her. She wore a breastplate and slippers made from what appeared to be silver. Her mane flowed behind her in a starry black mass. What I found most interesting was what I saw in her eyes. They seemed to scream loneness, and this was something I could relate to.

“You didn’t have to sneak up on my you know. I wouldn’t have run away.” She blinked at my words and seemed visible shocked that I could speak to her in such a calm manner.

“I… well I just wished to thank you for your complement of our I mean MY night.” I smiled at her struggling with modern equestrian. I suppose it is easier to adjust to something if you live through all the changes that it undergoes.

"Your modern equestrian is quite good princess. I could not have been an easy transition. I half expected to be blasted by The Royal Canterlot Voice, but I was pleasantly surprised.” She raised an eyebrow at me.

“It is good to have your nights back after a thousand years princess. Your sister may have been able to command the moon to rise and fall but she was not the artist that you are,” I continued.

It was at that moment that I decided to share my little oddity with her. I was sick of distancing myself from those around me. I was sick of the loneliness. We were not so different the princess and I. We both had felt loneliness for a long time, and maybe I could change that.

Before I she could say anything to me I continue, “I’m sorry they forgot you Luna, but it wasn’t the fault of your subjects. They live short lives. They are like matches, when lit they burn bright for a short time but eventually the burn out and fade and become forgotten. After a while all they could remember was the terror Nightmare brought them, and as generations past even that faded.” She could do no more than stare at me now confusion filling her eyes.

“I never forgot you though. How could I when all I had to do was look to the night sky to remember your defeat. A thousand years was a long time to stare at a sky filled with such sadness, but your return adds a small amount of respite to my endless existence.”

She was frozen on the spot I could sense fear in her, but I could also see curiosity. I turned around looked back at the sky and whispered, “so honestly I should be thanking you for your return Luna because your night is one of the very few things that can give me peace anymore.”

I turned back to her and she seemed to be attempting to examine my every detail she continued to stare for some time I was content to stand. I had plenty of time. Hell I had all the time in the world.

When she finally spoke she asked, “What are you?” this made me frown. I looked towards the moon and muttered “I am not a what. I can feel, I can love, and I can think.”  I looked her in the eyes and I said “I am a pony, but I have been cured of that last great terminal disease.”

I moved closer to her still staring into her eyes, “I live, but in the end the blight on all things known as life cannot kill me. I am a very old pony.”

“I was young and reckless and I played too close to the edge of life. I chose power over what I had and the consequence was to watch as the world around me crumbled and my family passed on and turned to dust.”

I broke my gaze from her eyes and began to turn around. I was selfish, and foolish. Why should a princess have to listen to me? I had to bear the weight of my problems. I began to walk away.

“Wait!” I stopped. I was not expecting her to say anything. I thought she was still in shock from my earlier outburst.

I turned to her and she looked at me not with fear or anger in her eyes, but with hope. What she hoped for I could not fathom, but I was glad that I could fight off the loneliness for a while longer. And at least she could understand the pain that comes with the passage of time.

“What is your name?” she whispered quietly.

“My name is Bright Spark” I whispered back.

“It is very nice to meet you Mr. Spark.” She said as she turned to gaze into her night sky. “You are a very interesting pony.”

“I discovered long ago that the older something gets the more somepony might find it interesting” I said while chuckling.

“No, I mean it” She said. “You have lived longer than most creatures in this world save alicorns and dragons can ever conceive of, and yet you still hold on to your sanity.”

“It wasn't easy, but as time passed I found that the easiest way to deal with my existence was to simply accept what had happened to me” I smiled and continued. “I realized that nothing was going to change and the only thing dwelling on the unfortunate side effects would cause was bitterness and frustration.”

“I wish I could have realized the truth in that before I tried to force ponies to love me” she said sadly.

“You made mistakes, and you paid for them” I said trying to comfort the now slightly depressed goddess of the night. “All you have to do is move on and allow yourself to be happy”

She stood up and took a deep breath. “You are right Bright Spark” she said as I continued to watch her. “Bright Spark?”

“Yes princess” I replied.

“I am tired of the loneliness in my life, and I am tired of being depressed.” She looked me in the eye “Meeting you has helped me realize that I am not the only one who has been alone”

“I’m glad I could he---“ I said before she cut me off.

“What We are trying to say… Er.. What I was trying to say is that... Iwouldliketobeabletocallyoumyfriendifthatisn’taproblembrightspark…”

“Just call me Spark princess” I smiled at her and said “I haven’t had an actual friend in a long time princess, but If you’ll have me I would enjoy being your friend”

“OH JOYOUS DAY, THEE HAS GREATLY BLESSED US WITH THINE FRIENSHIP, AND FROM NOW ON WE WOULD HAVE THY NOT REFER TO US BY OUR TITLE BUT RATHER WE WOULD HAVE YOU CALL US LUNA!!!”  She proclaimed loudly in The Royal Canterlot Voice while hugging me with enough force that would have crushed the largest of normal ponies.

“Luna” I choked out “I need air to talk”

“Oh I’m so sorry” she said “I haven’t been this happy in a long time.

I just laughed “I can tell this is going to be an interesting friendship.”

She smiled and seemed to bounce in circles around me. This is a very amusing sight even when it isn’t one of the all-powerful princesses of equestria doing the bouncing.

“I can’t wait to introduce you to my sister” she said while in mid bounce “I can’t wait to tell her that I have a friend!”

“That should be fun” you say putting a smile on your face.

On the other hand you might end up on the moon for some transgression or another… ’I really don’t want to spend a thousand year on the moon.’ You think to yourself.

Inevitable Confrontation

I’ve noticed something interesting this past week or so.

It seems as if time is going at a slower speed. I’m noticing more of what goes on around me. What’s more surprising is that I actually find myself caring about what goes on around me.

After several lifetimes spent in a persistent state of wanderlust and solitude I’m not used to actually holding a prolonged conversation with another pony. Then again she isn’t used to it either.

My newfound friendship with the very princess of the night herself has definitely caused some immediate changes in my existence. We have been spending quite a bit of time together. The only times we aren’t enjoying each other’s presence are when her duties as Mistress of the Night and Princess of Equestria come up.

It was during one of these absences that Celestia decided to investigate my presence.

I was enjoying a relaxing walk through a maze in the palace gardens. I had finally reached the center of the maze and in the calm silence I decided to take some time and meditate.

Meditation is one of the few ways I can feel at rest. The calmness that floods through me as I slow my breath and close my eyes is extremely relaxing. Meditation allows me to contemplate and focus on honing my other senses. After a few hundred years of this quiet meditation my senses are quiet acute. I have very good hearing and if I concentrate I can feel the vibrations through ground and the displacement of air around me.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised when several of Princess Celestia’s guards dropped from the sky around me.

I heard one of the guards take a breath and in order to begin speaking, but I interrupted him before he could say anything.

“What need did you have to bring five guards for one pony?” I said while keeping my eyes closed and relaxed. “I wasn’t aware that I was viewed as such a threat.”

The lead guard didn't respond to my questions, but this didn't surprise me.He merely informed me that “Princess Celestia requests your presence in the throne room immediately”

I shrugged in response and simply spread my wings in preparation to meet the goddess of the sun before I noticed that the guards surrounding me had become tense.

“We are to escort you to the princess” the guard in charge informed me simply. It seemed Celestia did not want to give me the opportunity to evade this meeting.

So I went with the guards. They were very professional, and they seemed to be very serious about making sure my audience with the Princess happened. I was fine with the guard’s actions, but I wasn’t quite sure what Celestia intended to do with me.

I was marched quickly through the palace and into the throne room where I observed celestia sitting regally upon her throne.

The guards moved out of the way so that I could make my way up to her. As I walked forward I felt her eyes on me, attempting to examine me. I reached my destination directly in front of the throne and looked up at the Goddess of the Sun.

I gazed into her eyes and she gazed into mine. We continued to stare at one another for quite some time. She seemed mildly surprised to find one of her subject’s that wasn’t afraid to look at her without immediately prostrating themselves immediately. I suppose when you can’t die it’s easier to feel calm around those that are technically above you. Luna seemed to actually

enjoy having someone who didn’t mind that she was a princess. I wasn’t sure what Celestia thought of it yet.

“Hello my little pony” She said after several moments of silence.

“Hello princess. May I ask why you requested my presence here?” I replied quickly.

“My younger sister has told me much about you, and I was interested to see if what she had said was true.” responded the sun goddess.

As she spoke I noticed the temperature in the room begin to slowly rise. That made me smile internally. If the princess wanted to play games I would let her play her games. She could make it as hot as she wanted and it would do little to affect me. The power inside of my body combined with my special talent had long ago rendered me immune to the effects of heat and fire, and over the years I had learned how to channel some of my power into some very interesting fire related tricks. So as Celestia attempted to exert her control over this situation through the power of the sun all she really succeeded in accomplishing was making things more uncomfortable for her guards.

I smiled at the princess “Oh it’s quite true your majesty. I am not one of your normal little ponies.” I chuckled and continued “Is it me or is it getting slightly warmer in here your highness, or do you intend to test my word by slowly roasting your guards inside their armor?”

This startled her. She narrowed her eyes at me and I felt the heat increase drastically.

I laughed. Not a chuckle. A full laugh that was audible throughout the entire throne room. Then I decided to show the Goddess before me that she wasn’t the only immortal that could play with fire.

I concentrated and I felt for the power within my body. I don’t consider the power to be magic in the same way that unicorns use magic. It did not come naturally to me at all in fact it took many years for me to get any control over any aspect of it besides the passive affects it offered, but over time I found that I could use the power to bring make fire. It took some concentration but I had practiced at it for a long time and now it came as almost a second nature to turn part of the power within me into an inferno of black flames that spread across my wings and through my mane and tail.

I now looked at Celestia again her expression was one of open shock. “What? Did you think you were the only one that could play this game?” I increased the size and intensity of the flames. “Do not think to frighten me princess” I stated coldly. “I am not one of your short lived children that flow quickly through this world. I Am Not Somepony Who Enjoys Being Trifled With!” I said loudly and clearly before I extinguished the flames that had been fanning from my body.

I kept my gaze fixed upon Celestia’s face which had lost some of its earlier confidence. I kept smiling as I heard one of her guards rushing at me from behind. She noticed it as well but was too late to stop her guard's attack.

I felt the cool metal enter my body as the guards lance impaled me. I felt as it entered and exited my body in one graceful motion. I stood there staring at the ruler of the land and while I was being impaled I did not flinch, I did not shake, and I did not move. I smiled.

“That stings a little” I said with no inflection that would suggest I felt any pain. It did hurt Just not badly. I had definitely felt worse over the years.

I turned to the guard who had rushed to kill the threat to his princess and smiled “I would really appreciate if you would pull that back out now.”

He shook visibly. I was surprised, but I suppose seeing somepony stand in front of you with a lance impaled through their body and not expressing any pain, fear, or anger might cause some inner turmoil.

I rolled my eyes and turned towards the princess “Would you mind having one of your guards pull this out.” I asked reasonably “It makes moving quite uncomfortable and it would be easier than having to remove it myself.”

She blinked still in a minor state of shock after what had happened. She opened her mouth to say something then closed it. She looked at one of the several guards standing around the throne and motioned for him to assist me.

He didn't show the same nervous behavior that his comrade had shown towards me and quickly grabbed the weapon and was about to pull it free of my body when the doors to the throne room were thrown open. Luna walked quickly into the room and began to address her sister.

“Celestia why were you trying to keep me out of our thrown room I had to force the guards to let me through and they told me that I was to be kept out on your or----“ she noticed me. Well she probably noticed that there was a lance impaling me that was being held by one of her sisters’ guards, but either way she froze.

The temperature in the room dropped drastically and the lights dimmed to a very low level. Luna was no longer frozen. She was walking slowly and angrily towards her sister. The guards stood frozen unable to decide what they should do.

Luna’s eyes narrowed as she closed the distance between the throne and herself. There was a flash and a discharge of magic throughout the room. As I looked around to see what had happened I realized that Luna had teleported all of the guards out of the throne room to an undisclosed location.

This left one angry moon goddess, one frozen sun goddess, and myself alone in the throne room.

Celestia managed to pull herself together quickly and attempted to talk to her enraged sibling but Luna silenced her with a look of pure rage.

Darkness radiated off of Luna and I knew that somepony needed to calm her down. Realizing that I would probably have to be that pony didn’t particularly thrill me…

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS SISTER? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” Luna raged at her sister.

“I can explain Luna. I called—“ celestia started before Luna cut her off.

“YOU CALLED MY ONE FRIEND INTO AN AUDIENCE THAT YOU HID FROM ME, AND UPON MY DISCOVERY OF THIS MEETING I FIND THAT HE HAS NOT ONLY BEEN ATTACKED, BUT THAT HE WAS ATTACKED BY ONE OF YOUR GUARDS!” Luna was showing no signs of calming herself.

I groaned quietly and wrapped my wing around the weapon and pulled it out of me. It was not a comfortable feeling. I felt as it moved roughly back through my body and winced a little. I hate having to do this kind of thing. It's annoying.

I looked back to Luna and Celestia and noticed that Luna was much closer to celestia than before. She was yelling something along the lines of ‘RAWR betrayal RAWR why RAWR how could you RAWR!!’ I wasn’t really paying that much attention to the words because the feeling of my body slowly knitting itself back together is very distracting. It somehow manages to go through phases of numbness and ultra- sensitivity rapidly. It itches and tickles at the same time. It’s a distressing feeling.

After a few seconds the sensations slowed to a point that I could focus again. I noticed that celestia was no longer frozen on her throne, but was standing and staring into Luna’s eyes. Both celestia’s and Luna’s eyes were bright white and it was quite an intense scene. I sighed and realized that I needed to hurry and try to stop this before either of them did anything more drastic.

I walked up to the two goddesses and tried to make my presence known but they either ignored me or where incapable of breaking from their staring contest. I decided that I should focus on Luna considering that she actually enjoyed my presence.

I moved so that I could speak into her ear and began talking quietly and calmly in hopes that I could diffuse this.

“Luna you need to calm down.” I whispered “Everything is fine, there’s nothing to get upset about”

When that didn’t work I realized that only something extremely drastic could possibly break the Luna’s concentration. I prayed to the two princesses I was standing next to and whispered into Luna’s ear again.

“Hey Luna, you’re really attractive when you get angry like this” I said with my eyes closed hoping that when I opened them I wouldn’t be alone on a cold ball of dirt in space. I hadn’t lied though. She was quite beautiful in general, but something about this show of power was quite attractive. Not that it mattered though I would have plenty of time to think of how attracted I was to this mare while I sat on her moon for a few thousand years.

The temperature’s return to normal broke me from my inner thoughts and I opened my eyes. Celestia stared at me confused while Luna looked at me very seriously.

I stayed where I was as Luna moved closer to me. We were inches apart from one another when she whispered “You think I’m attractive?”

My mind worked at speeds that it had never approached before. The truth was that yes I found her to be attractive, but I didn’t want to ruin the first friendship I had been a part of in several hundred years. I also did not want to lie to her, but I was afraid of what the truth might cause. I didn’t want her to resent me because I found her attractive. I mean who the hay wouldn't find her attractive she’s the goddess of the bucking night, the moon, and the stars. I can’t lie to her. I’m just glad it stopped her from doing something she would probably regret later.

My mind went through this in less than a second, but it was the longest second of my very long life.

I looked at Luna and whispered back to her “Yes.”

Luna blinked

I waited to be banished to my new life on the moon

Celestia stood there staring at me. It seemed like she was trying to stare into my soul. It was mildly unsettling.

I focused back on Luna.

She looked directly at me with in deep contemplation.

Then she kissed me.

It was at that moment that my mind decided to shut down for a second. I was frozen on the spot and Luna realized that I wasn’t returning the kiss. She pulled away and looked hurt.

That expression of sadness on her face broke me from my shock. I prepared myself for the thousandth time today and took the plunge.

I leaned forward and kissed her passionately. She returned it in the same way. My eyes were closed and I assumed hers were as well. This felt nice. It was nice in an unexpected way I didn’t realize Luna could ever feel this way towards me, and honestly I never thought I would be able to feel this way after so long by myself. I felt content.

The kiss continued and neither of us seemed intent on ending it.

“Ahem”

Celestia on the other may have other plans.

Reintroduction's and Romance

Celestia had to cough once more before Luna and I broke apart.

We both leaned back. She was blushing slightly and I image that I mirror her almost completely in that regard. We moved so that we were sitting next to each other so we could both look at Celestia who was currently keeping her emotions behind a perfectly blank face.

Luna leaned into me and spread one of her large wings around my back. I was glad that I was a rather large stallion; Celestia may be quite a bit larger than I was, but Luna was only slightly taller than me. I would always have to look up to her to look into her eyes, but I don’t think it will bother me that much.

Luna blushed slightly obviously wasn’t familiar with displaying affection towards anypony, and if I was being completely honest I wasn’t exactly experienced in this matter either. So I did what my instinct told me to do and I gently nuzzled the side of her neck. She blushed even deeper somehow and leaned into me more. Throughout all of this she was giving Celestia a look that dared her to say anything.

Celestia finally let her mask drop with a loud sigh and slumped down onto the throne in a defeated manner.

“I’m sorry” she said looking wearily at us.

I was quite surprised. I had expected a weary explanation on why a princess could not be in a relationship with some random immortal Pegasus, or why I was going to be spending the next several centuries inside of a very small cell that was located very far below ground. Call me a cynical bastard, but the last thing I expected was an apology.

Luna slowly pulled away from me and stood up, never taking her gaze from her sister. I stood as well, but when Luna began to move towards celestia I stayed where I was. This was something they would have to work out between themselves. I didn’t think Luna was going to need my help in this particular conversation… that and I may still be in shock from kissing the immortal moon goddess who had quickly become my friend, and now I guess we were more than friends.

I shook my head to clear it momentarily. It would be best if I paid attention to this discussion because it will probably concern me in some way.

Luna stood in front her sister who was unable to meet her eye. Luna leaned in very close to her sister so that she had to make eye contact. Then Luna moved in closer and nuzzled her sister affectionately. “I’m sorry too” she whispered.

I watched this scene unfold and felt as if I was intruding on them. I quietly turned to move farther away and give them more privacy.

I made it about ten hoofsteps away before I felt someone gliding quietly towards me. I watched as Luna sailed over my head and landed facing me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked me while leaning very close to me. I can’t say that it was uncomfortably close because I was quite comfortable with her being that close to me after our moment of discovery earlier.

I leaned forward as well so that our lips were barely touching “I was giving you two some privacy. It seemed like you had a lot you wanted to say to each other.” I said right before I kissed her again.

It wasn’t a long kiss, but it felt good. She broke away after a second and smiled.

Something about that smile filled me with a tingling sensation that reached every inch of my body.

“We do have a lot to talk about, but I need you to be there with me” she said as she nuzzled me gently.

“Okay” I replied quietly.

I saw Luna’s horn begin to glow, and the next thing I know we have teleported back to the throne.

‘Why did we have to teleport?’ I asked myself. If I hadn’t been leaning into Luna I would have fallen on my face. I hate teleporting, and anyone who isn’t a unicorn who has had the pleasure of the experience can probably understand why.

It leaves you dizzy, nauseous, and every muscle in your body becomes ridiculously tense as if you were about to impact a hard surface from a long fall. It is unpleasant to say the least, but I did my best to hide my discomfort because Luna wanted me here for some reason.

Celestia had taken a moment to compose herself and was now back on the throne. As Luna and I took our places she closed her eyes in preparation for what she was about to say.

“I seem to have over stepped the boundaries allowed to me as princess of equestria.” She said before taking a deep breath and releasing a long sigh. “It was not my place to attempt to interrogate you behind Luna’s back, and I should have trusted her judgment of you.”

“Yes you should have” Luna shot quickly she made to continue, but I nudged her and shook my head slightly. She relented and nodded for celestia to continue.

“I apologize for causing this confrontation. I should have had the wisdom to handle things differently, but instead it seems I acted as a foal.” She was looking directly at me now as she continued “While I may have used the wrong methods I have observed that you speak the truth my little pony. I do not understand how you have come to be as you are, but no normal pony could have survived that attack. For that matter no normal pony would have had the nerve to act as you did before the goddess of the sun and a room filled with her guards.” She said before giving me an unsettling smile.

“I apologize for reacting negatively princess I don’t suppose we could attempt new introductions?” I asked hopefully. I knew that if that Luna would be unhappy so long as her sister and I were at odds, so it was my job to try to make amends.

Celestia seemed to ponder the idea for a moment and I felt Luna’s wing on me again. Her wings are extremely soft, but I can’t concentrate on that feeling right now. Right now I had to solve this problem.

“Please call me Celestia. Luna has told me a bit about you Bright Spark, and after what happened earlier I am even more intrigued with you.” She said and broke into a small smile.

While I was surprised with her warm response I wasn’t going to question my good fortune in this case.

“Call me Spark prin—er  I mean Celestia” I said slightly embarrassed about slipping so quickly. I wasn’t quite comfortable with calling her by name yet, but I guess I’ll just have to deal with it.

“I can see that you and my dear sister have become… quite close Spark” she said. Her face had changed back into a serious mask as she continued “I am overjoyed that she has found someone to become close to after her long hiatus from equestria. I was becoming slightly worried that she would never find somepony to talk to beside me, and somehow she managed to find a very interesting pony at that.” She came forward and nuzzled Luna affectionately then turned towards me again. “I want you two to know that I have no issue with your romance, in fact I and extremely happy that Luna has somehow managed to find somepony with her long lifespan, but—“ She leaned so that she was only a fraction of an inch away from my ear and whispered loudly and forcefully “—if you hurt her I will find some way to make you suffer greatly…until you cease to exist.”

‘Well at least I saw that coming’ I thought cynically to myself before replying quite audibly and hopefully confidently “I wouldn’t think of hurting Luna.”

Luna rolled her eyes and said “You don’t have to threaten him Celly.”

I am quite proud of myself. I did not so much as flinch at Luna calling the immortal princess-god of the Sun by a pet name, but I suppose even godly sisters wouldn’t want to refer to each other by their full names while with each other while in private.

“I was just doing my duty as your sister Lulu” celestia said with a smirk

And that’s when I laughed. I mean I don’t think I can be blamed for that, but it probably wasn’t the smartest thing I could have done, but come on how was I not supposed to chuckle at Lulu.

Luna leaned down and poked me with her horn. Her very sharp horn. Haven’t I been I been stabbed enough times today. I thought being stabbed once was a pretty high number for one day, but apparently when the Goddess of the night sky becomes your friend that average rises drastically. It may not hurt that much but it was still not a fun feeling.

Somehow I think it hurt more than that stupid lance had, and that went all the way through me.

I responded to this sudden attack as only a true stallion could.

“Ouch?”

“Don’t be a baby, and don’t laugh at ponies with horns. They could decide to poke you” she said while smirking and holding back laughter of her own.

I just grunted in response, and noticed that celestia was just chuckling at my plight. So I did what any self-respecting stallion would do.

I stuck my tongue out at Luna. She promptly mirrored me and in the background I could hear celestia laughing at us.

Then I leaned in and kissed Luna. She responded fluidly as if this was all part of a grand master plan that we had been following this whole time.

I noticed that Celestia had stopped laughing

Luna’s wings wrapped around me forming a cocoon for the both of to share our affections for each other. We put our front hooves around each other’s necks and deepened the kiss while coming closer together.

There was a distinct lack of laughter from Celestia now.

We continued on like this for a little while before we came to our senses a little and withdrew while looking at one another sheepishly.

“Was that really necessary?” Celestia asked

“Yes” we both said without looking away from each other.

Celestia just sighed in defeat before talking again. “Well I suppose we’ll just have to find a room in the castle for you Spark.”

Luna turned towards her sister and said “He can share my quarters with me sister that won’t be a problem.”

“I don’t really need a room to be honest. It’s not like I’ll be doing any sleeping anytime soon.” I said reasonably.

“See Celly there’s no need to go to a huge fuss about a non-issue.” She said with a sly smirk.

Celestia opened her mouth to say something. Probably something about how it wouldn’t be proper for me to share a princess’s chambers with her.

Or maybe she wanted to tell Luna that there are plenty of nice small quiet rooms in the dungeon that I could stay in for as long as I needed.

I will never know what Celestia was going to say because Luna leaned closer into me and I watched as her horn became shrouded in magic.

Then we teleported away.

I really hate teleporting.

Bedroom activities

So I still dislike teleporting.

I really should have a talk with that with Luna. Actually if I did that I have a strange feeling that I would end up being teleported a lot more often.

I groaned and looked around the room we had appeared in. Judging by the various darkly shaded items, the large bed that was probably larger than a hoof boxing ring, and the large balcony with an amazing view of the city below I am going to go out on a limb and guess that this was Luna’s room. The full representation of the night sky on the ceiling may have given it away as well.

I was about to comment on the ceiling when I noticed that Luna was nowhere to be seen. I took another quick glance around the room to see if I had somehow missed a large alicorn in here somewhere. I noticed a desk in the far corner of the room that was covered in parchment and books, and there was an abacus lying on a pillow, but no Luna.

Then I heard a quite giggle from behind me.

I of course jumped around expecting to see Luna right behind me laughing at me, but all I found was a closed door that was probably a much more enjoyable way to enter the room compared to teleportation.

I heard the balcony doors slam shut behind me, and the room became much darker.

It was at that point that I realized that Luna had a few unexpected tricks up her horn. I didn’t know what game she was playing at, but if she wants to play I can make things interesting.

I noticed several candles placed around the room, and even better a chandelier ready to light this room up completely. I mean how she can hide in the shadows if I take away the shadows?

So I begin to concentrate. Lighting things on fire that aren’t part of my body requires a lot of concentration, and for this to work I would have to focus on all of the candles at the same time and light them at the same time. If I tried to light them one at a time Luna might catch on and change her tactics.

I took a deep breath, and just started imagining my power flowing in the form of heat energy out of my body. It spread around the wicks of each and every one of the candles waiting to ignite. I slowly exhaled, and then lit all of the candles which lit the room in a flare of light.

I quickly turned around to see a shocked Luna who seemed to have been merely seconds away from pouncing onto me from behind.

I just smile and stuck out my tongue at her for the second time today.

“How did you do that?” she asked me after recovering.

“Practice” I said with a perfect deadpan. “A lot of practice.”

“You keep breaking all the rules Sparky. You do know that right?” She asked with a smile.

“I wasn’t aware that there were any ‘rules’ I was supposed to be following” I said feigning innocence.

“Oh yes. You are one of a kind. You’re a thousand year old Pegasus preserved in the prime of his life, you appear to

have a mental control over fire, and you don’t seem to have any fear for the two supreme powers of this world.” She said that last part seductively leaning very close to my ear before continuing “you’ve even managed to seduce one of us.” After she had whispered that little tidbit she nibbled slightly on my ear. I shivered in enjoyment.

“I don’t really know if I seduced her.” I whispered back to her as I slowly nuzzled her “I honestly didn’t expect her to want somepony like me to be a romantic part of her life.”

She pulled back “Why would you assume that?”

“Well it’s not like I’m a regal noble stallion or some knight in shining armor. Believe me I look silly in armor, and well I didn't think a goddess would think of a Pegasus in a romantic way. I was quite resigned to enjoying your friendship, and I didn't want to jeopardize the most interesting thing that had happened to me over something I didn’t think was going to happen.

I looked up at Luna after I finished my little speech. Her eyes were wide and she looked like she was having trouble saying something.

Then she pulled me into a firm embrace with her beautiful wings. “I thought you already understood this.” She said as she increased the force of the embrace. “You aren’t just any normal pony. I don’t have to be Princess Luna with you. I can just be Luna. I don’t have to hide myself from you. I don’t have to think about you slowly growing older until you die and leave me alone.”

I pull away a little so that I could look at her.

“Don’t forget my dashing good looks, sharp wit, and the delightful charm” I responded with a large smile before kissing her quickly before she could stab me with her horn again.

After a moment she pulled back and said “So how does it feel to be the consort of a princess?” she was smiling so wide that it was infectious.

“Well it sounds like a much more regal title than Princess Luna’s coltfriend” replied sarcastically.

“Oh yes it is a very important role” she said with a devious smile “A princess’s consort has to do many important duties”

“What kind of duties Luna?” I asked cautiously.

“Oh well he or she would have to be seen in public with the princess on all formal occasions, they would have to act as the princess’s chief confidant, and of course they would have to attend to other various needs or wants she may have.” She said while her smile deepened and licked her lips

She then proceeded to levitate me with her magic and throw me onto her bed. She quickly joined me on the bed and leaned in again before she whispered “basically you are in charge of keeping your princess happy.”

Then we kissed again.

As we lay on her bed I had many thoughts creep into the back of my mind like ‘I have a feeling that Luna won’t be making this easy for me’ or ‘I wonder why Luna needs a bed in her chambers if she doesn’t sleep?’ and ‘I wonder why that abacus has its own pillow?’ that last one really intrigued me for some reason.

Luna noticed that I was deep in thought and ended the kiss. “I haven’t put too much pressure on you have I?” she asked quickly “I don’t really expect you to be on my beck and call or anything. That was just a joke”

I laughed “It’s not that Luna. I think I can handle public appearances if you actually want me by your side, and I will always be there if you need someone to talk to that’s not an issue at all.”

“Of course I want you by my side. Although we may have to have one of the royal beauticians do something to tame that wild mane of yours.” She said with a smirk before asking “what had you so lost in thought if those weren’t the issues.

“Well I was wondering why you have such a large bed in your room if you don’t sleep.” I replied simply.

For once Luna appeared flustered and she had a rather large blush showing underneath her dark coat.

“Well er you see we—I mean I require a bed for…” her blush intensified she fell silent. It was around that point that I understood the need for a bed.

I decided to avoid an awkward conversation that was best saved for the future by asking about the other interesting object inhabiting this room.

“I was also wondering why there was an abacus lying on a pillow over there.” I said quickly hoping this would take her mind off of its current line of thought.

It worked.

Her blush immediately faded to the point where she actually became slightly pale. She quickly used her magic to shove the abacus carefully under her bed. She then looked back at me sheepishly.

“Is there any particular reason you feel the need to hide your abacus?” I asked now more confused than ever.

“I can’t let her find it” She said in one of the most serious tones I had ever heard her utter.

“Who? Celestia?” I asked wondering why Luna would be so afraid of her sister discovering such a small thing.

“Yes, of course celestia” She said now checking the corners of the room making sure that nopony was hiding there.

“Luna, why would celestia care if you used an abacus?” I asked.

She just stared at the floor and mumbled something.

“What?” I asked trying to figure out what was going on here.

“I named it…” she said.

“…” I couldn’t really think of anything to say to that.

She sighed and made to explain “Well after my return to the castle I was quite reclusive, and I didn’t really know how to interact with other ponies anymore.” She took a deep breath “so I immersed myself in reading about all that I had missed in my absence. So while I was in the library I discovered an abacus and I was overjoyed because it was something that hadn’t changed after a thousand years.”

“And you found comfort in its normalcy” I guessed quickly

She nodded and continued “So after a while I may have become a little bit attached to this particular abacus… okay maybe a little more than attached to it. I would have one sided conversations with it and tuck it in to sleep at night…”

“Well why would that make you afraid of celestia?” I asked

“She found out about my… attachment to it.” She groaned “She began to use it as a way to pull her small pranks and jokes. Eventually I was able to convince her that it was just a phase of coping with the loneliness of my return”

“Was it just a phase?” I asked awkwardly.

“Well I can definitely tell you that I don’t feel lonely anymore” she said while her smile returned to her face.

"I’m glad I can help you with that. I don’t feel lonely anymore either, and I am extremely thankful for that.” I said while leaning into her warm body and giving her a quick nuzzle.

She just leaned back into me and returned to nuzzle.

“I could always help you prank celestia back if you want. I’m pretty proficient with fireworks and other interesting things.” I said with a smirk.

She turned to look at me with a smile that seemed to be filled with thoughts of revenge and said “Oh I would enjoy that greatly, I have some Ideas that should work quite well.”

I quickly reminded myself to never do anything to incur the wrath of Luna. Then I smiled at my now co-conspirator and laughed.

Elsewhere in the castle celestia felt a foreboding feeling rush through her.

Mental problems

I regret nothing.

Okay, maybe adding pink hair dye to all of Celestia’s hair products wasn’t the best of ideas to actually choose to go through with, but it was the perfect prank.

I probably should have realized that it wouldn’t have been hard for celestia to realize who had committed such a crime against the royal image.

It also probably didn’t help that Luna and I had been waiting outside of the royal bath for a very pink royal princess to emerge.

Giggling like foals and taking a picture definitely did not help our situation either. Celestia certainly hadn’t seen much humor in her current appearance. I’m not sure if I imagined it or not, but I could swear that I heard her teeth grind inside her mouth.

Luna and I had quickly stopped giggling at each other as Celestia’s eyes began to glow with magic.

She just grinned a twisted grin and said “Run”

I looked at Luna and she looked back at me.

We ran.

==========================================================================================

Well actually I ran she teleported.

I was running through the halls of the castle being chased by a pink princess from the depths of hell.

“What the buck Luna!!!” I shouted as I made a hard turn avoiding several magic projectiles of unknown power or effect.

“The one time I would appreciate being teleported, and you left me behind!” I shouted empty hall in front of me.

I need to find an exit soon or I’m going to figure out firsthoof what kind of interesting spells celestia has been learning over the years.

As luck would have it I finally found a balcony to launch myself off of. Or I would have launched myself off of it if I hadn’t felt one of celestia’s spells find its mark.

Nothing appeared to happen to me though. That was nothing I noticed until I barreled onto the balcony and spread my wings.

I realized as I was in the air soaring over the railing of the balcony that being hit by a wing paralysis spell was going to make my flight a very abrupt one.

Wing paralysis spells are often used to keep pegasi prisoners from ‘flying the coup’, but in my case it would send me on  very short flight and a very long fall over the edge of  canterlot castle and down the mountain it rested on.

Its times like these that I’m glad I can’t die.

It makes the normally stressful and horrifying prospect of falling to your inevitable death a much more relaxing and boring process.

I just hope I don’t land on somepony. That would be a horribly unfortunate experience for both of us.

I looked up at the balcony that I had jumped from and noticed that celestia was looking at my falling form with shock. Or at least I think it was shock, it was hard to tell while I was falling swiftly through the air away from her.

I turned around and watched as the ground rapidly approached me, well I guess I’m the one approaching it in this case.

I was happy to see that there was nothing of value beneath me that would be destroyed by my impact. I wonder how large an indent I’m going to make. I shrugged mentally and closed my eyes letting nature take control of the rest of my fall.

I estimated that I had roughly ten more seconds until I would be on the ground…or in the ground. I counted down in my head.

Five seconds

Two seconds

Zero seconds

That’s interesting. I don’t appear to be falling anymore.

I opened my eyes and was quite happy to see a certain dark coated alicorn using her magic to keep me aloft just above the ground. She was looking at me closely for some reason.

“What?” I asked.

“Why did you jump?” she asked quietly.

“Well after you left abruptly I had to find some way to escape the wrath of a vengeful pink sun goddess.”

“So You Jumped of a MOUNTAIN?” Luna was no longer being quiet.

“Well how was I supposed to know that she would winglock me?” I said defensively “I wasn’t planning on falling. I was planning on flying.”

She just stared at me.

“Besides” I continued “I would have been fine. I was more worried about landing on somepony.”

“Well maybe I was worried about you!” she snapped quickly.

“Luna, it’s okay I’m fine now, and I would have been okay even if you hadn’t caught me.”

She mumbled something that I couldn’t quite hear.

“What was that?” I questioned

“I’m sorry for leaving you behind.” She muttered

“It is fine Luna there’s no harm done.” I told her quietly “well except to my wings and Celestia’s coloration, but we can fix those issues later.”

She swept me into a big hug that seemed to thank me for forgiving her so easily. Then she whispered into my ear “I think it’s time to get back up to the castle.”

“Well without my wings working it’s going to be a long walk back up there.”

“Who said anything about walking” she grinned mischievously and tightened her grip on me while she gathered magic with her horn.

Realizing that I couldn’t escape my cruel fate I just sighed

“Buck…”

We appeared back inside of Luna’s chambers.

“…me” I finished before noticing that I didn’t appear to be experiencing the usual side effects that usually followed teleportation. I am not upset about this interesting revalation.

“Hmmm maybe that can be arranged” Luna whispered seductively in my ear before falling over in a fit of laughter.

‘Thank the stars my wings are locked to my side.’ I thought quietly as I managed to hold back a blush.

“So is there any way you can release my wings?” I asked hoping to change the topic of our conversation.

“Well the easiest way would be to have my sister remove her spell, but I don’t think it would be wise to ask her to do that for a little while.” She said.

“Not while she’s still pink” I chuckled before continuing “but couldn’t you just unlock them”

“It’s not just as simple as unlocking them Spark” Luna said while rolling her eyes.

“Why not” I asked Luna. ‘Because nothing can ever be a simple fix with you Bright. Everything has to be as convoluted and confusing as possible’ I thought to myself cynically.

“Because they aren’t physically locked” she said as if it were obvious.

“And that means what exactly?”

“It means that the spell is affecting your mind’s control over your flight skills.” She explained slowly.

“Well then couldn’t you just fix that…?” I asked hopefully.

I was afraid of what would become of me if I had to ask celestia to remove it from me. I was also a little pissed off that she had bucked with my mind.

Luna sighed before replying quickly “I could, but it would be uncomfortable for you.”

“I can stand a little pain Luna, besides I trust you.” I said with a smile.

“I didn’t say that it would be painful. I said it would be uncomfortable for you.” She looked at me waiting for me to ask the obvious question.

I of course obliged her “Well then how would it be uncomfortable for me oh wise and graceful goddess of the moon?”

My sarcasm would have been more enjoyable if I hadn’t received a hoof to the head for it. Normally something like that wouldn’t have phased me, but normally the ponies that hit me weren’t all powerful goddesses who controlled celestial bodies and wear extremely hard hoof boot regalia. Normally I would just shrug it off, but in this case I was left with a ringing sensation traveling through my head and a disgruntled looking moon princess glaring at me.

“Was that really necessary” I shook my head to try to get rid of the annoying ringing between my ears.

“I don’t enjoy being mocked. Especially by somepony I’m trying to help.” Her anger dropping quickly as she spoke “especially by somepony I care about.”

She had mumbled the last bit under her breath and I don’t think she wanted me to hear her.

“Luna” I tried to look her in the eye, but she was avoiding my gaze. I moved over to her and spread my wing over her back. When she felt me touch her she flinched and tried to move away, but I held her close to me with my wing and nuzzled her until she nuzzled me back.

“I’m sorry” we both said at the same time.

“No Luna you didn’t do anything wrong.” I said quickly before she could go on.

“I hit you…”

“I deserved it”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“Luna” I held her closer and tried to get her to look at me.

“Luna look at me” She finally moved her head so that she could look at me and I at her. “I’m not upset Luna I shouldn’t have poked fun of you, and I’m fine.”

“I still shouldn’t have reacted like that” she mumbled

“Luna that’s not the first time you’ve given me a hoof to the head.” I laughed “I’ve deserved it most of the time so what’s upsetting you right now”

“This time was different” she mumbled. She tried to pull away from me, but I just held her close to me let her relax again.

“How was this different” I questioned after she calmed down again.

“This time I was angry” she whispered dejectedly. “This time I didn’t even think about it.” Her volume was slowly increasing. “This time it wasn’t a playful hit or a quick shove”

She turned her head to me and looked me in the eye again. Her eyes were filled with her regret.

“If you had been a normal pony you would be dead.” Her eyes were watering now and she moved her head down to mine and moved her wings so that she was the one embracing me now.

“I don’t want to be a monster again Bright” she rasped “I don’t want to be that thing again.”

“You are not going to become her again Luna” I said confidently “You aren’t alone anymore Luna you have me, you have your sister, and you have a country that no longer simply fears the night”

She pulled me into a deeper embrace now as her wings cocooned us and her forehooves wrapped around my neck. I wrapped my forehooves around her and wished that my wingspan was large enough to do this to her.

“Thank you”

“Anytime princess anytime.”

“Please never call me princess again.” She groaned

“But you are still my princess Luna”

“No I am just Luna to you” she said seriously “I don’t want you to treat me like a princess I want you to treat me like normal Luna”

“I thought I had been doing that already” I said with a small laugh.

“And I appreciate it more than you could know” she sighed “but every time you call me princess it feels like the title gets in the way of everything”

“Okay Luna I won’t use your royal title if that makes things easier for you” I said with a smile.

“Thank you. It really does make me uncomfortable to rank myself higher than my special somepony” she said with a blush.

“It’s not going to change how others view you in relation to a common pony like me”

“I think we can safely presume that you are no regular pony” she said with her face a fraction away from mine.

“Hmmmm that’s true, but I’m still no goddess of darkness” I said with a smirk

She rolled her eyes groaned. Then she kissed me. It was a quick kiss, but it seemed to hold all of her previous frustration. When it ended we were both still holding each other staring into each other’s eyes. Neither of us moved for a while, but I finally broke the silence.

“So how can you fix my wings” I asked hoping that the solution would be relatively simple.

“We would have to break the barrier around your unconscious understanding of flight” she said evenly

“And that would involve…?” I seriously hoped she would say something along the lines of ‘a quick and mildly uncomfortable counter spell’.

“It would involve delving into your mind” she said “We would have to search your subconscious mind for the information that has been locked away and then remove it at the source”

“And how would we go about doing that” I skeptically asked as I gave up all hope for a simple solution.

“Well I would cast a spell that would allow us to examine your mind as if it were a physical place”

“You can do that” this wasn’t any form of magic I had ever heard of.

“Sometimes being the goddess of dreams can have its perks” her smile as she said this was seriously scaring me.

“And when you say we you mean that we will both be inside my mind? That doesn’t make any sense what would happen to our bodies if we were in my mind?”

“Nothing should happen to them at all. Everything that happens will be on the inside of your mind.” Her smile grew wider “besides once we’re inside your mind we can see what makes you tick”

“I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with the prospect of you invading my mind” I said nervously.

“Oh I wouldn’t think of it as an invasion” she said “in fact I would classify it as a peace keeping mission on my part.”

“How would that be keeping the peace?” I asked

“Easy I would be restoring your peace of mind” She started laughing hysterically. Meanwhile all I could do was groan sadly and curse myself for setting her up like that.

“Fine I suppose I can deal with you inside my mind” I paused to think for a moment “but you have to promise not to investigate things I don’t want you to see. You have to promise to let me decide what we do inside my mind”

“I promise”

“Then go ahead Luna let us see what it’s like inside my head”

Her horn began to glow with magic and she pointed it right at me. There was a bang and the room disappeared, and everything went black.