A Sparkle in the Sky

Celestia woke up in the middle of the night to and felt unbalanced.Something was off…What was it? Why was her neck hurting like crazy? And her arm?

Her eyes opened slowly and she saw the bump of indigo hair resting on her right arm. Twilight was facing her, asleep on the floor of her temporary bedroom, with nothing to keep her warm but the heat from Celestia’s body. So the child was curled up as close as she could get to Celestia, with her arms scrunched up to her chest. Celestia felt a sudden pang of discomfort, something was definetly off. Oh, yes that was it.  Her arm was hurting from holding Twilight’s large purple head in the crook of her elbow. She didnt know that a head could weigh that much, and it was quite disturbing. It must be from all that information the girl learned everyday.

At any rate, Celestia could not get over how cute Twilight looked.Her tiny mouth was slightly open, her eyes shut in a peaceful slumber, and her cheeks were squished in the most adorable way. Celestia didnt want to wake her. She couldnt anyway with how pleasant it was to feel this maternal instinct crawling up in her heart. She could feel it there, the emotions only a mother felt. It was trying to make its way into her heart and she wasnt pushing it away. Whatever this little girl was doing to her was more than welcome in her lonely life.

Celestia curled up with Twilight and put her long arm in a protective hold across the girls’ side.

Celestia tried not to think of the fuzziness of the pain in which the child was unknowingly inflicting on her and remembered what had happened that night.

Celestia listened to Twilight tell her story and was astounded  that Twilight actually met Luna.

The child was fascinated by her! IT was the most amazing feeling that Twilight was connected to Luna in such a huge way, that maybe there was a chance….And all those years were wasted between them because Luna didnt think anyone was interested in her….

Ugh, Celestia why! Why must you think of this now!

No, I wont let myself fall into this sad depression any longer. She made her choice. This is the best thing in which you can do for your little sister.

If only it wasnt so hard…

Celestia ignored her hearts discontent and looked at Twilight sleeping beside her. The two had fallen asleep after laughing so long they both got stomach cramps. Celestia could see the purple girls’ sorrows slowly seeping away, as her broken heart was being mended by the love and care Celestia offered. She had so much to give as it was.She missed out on so many relationships as it was because of her work. And when they fell asleep together it only felt nothing less than natural. And so calming...

A funny thought struck Celestia as she lay there, holding Twilight Sparkle in her arms. She hadnt fallen asleep on the floor in ages. That’s why her neck hurt so much. It had been such a long time since she slept with another human being that the thought was amusing to her now.

She really did sound like an old lady.

The last time she shared a room like this for a night was with….Luna. When they were kids…

Why  not Celestia? Go ahead and relive this memory, it was a happy one anyway.

Without a second thought or regret to pull her back to reality, or maybe it was because her brain was sliding into unconsciousness, she let herself remember at least this one time.

………………..

“Tia!Tia! The Moon, the Sun,It’s all happening! Wake up quick!”

Celestia lifted her sleepy head and yawned. “Finally, Ive been waiting forever!”

It was dark in the small bedroom the two sisters shared. Celestia and Luna, age ten and eight were fervently watching the stars from their square window from the second story of their house.

This room had the best view of the stars, and Luna and Celestia knew that tonight was a very special night.

Celestia had accidently fallen asleep on the floor, waiting for the blood moon to emerge from the sky. Her faithful sister had stayed up for both of them and made sure to wake Celestia just in time to see the moons color change.

“They say, that only every two thousand years are the stars and planets aligned perfectly above one another for this lunar eclipse.” Celestia spoke in a whisper, not wanting to wake their parents in the room next door.

Luna looked at her older sister with excitement in her eyes. “Really?!”

Celestia chuckled and put a finger on her lips to signal to Luna about her volume level. “Yes, Lulu. This specific Lunar eclipse wont happen again for another couple thousand of years. And the last time it did, legend says a man by the name of casaer wished upon the stars that he would have ultimate power, and twenty years later, he became a king!”

Luna gave a quiet gasp. “Tia, we have to wish upon a star!”

“Ok, when the moon reaches its peak in the sky in….” Celestia looked out of the window and studied the sky for a moment, putting a hand on her chin,”id say about five more minutes, the eclipse will reach its full peak and then we’ll wish together.”

Luna was ecstatic and bounced on her knees. “This will be the best star gazing night ever, I just know my wish will come true!”

Celestia giggled at her sister who had her two front teeth missing. She was adorable in every way. “Yes, if anyones wish is coming true tonight, its yours”

Luna giggled with her sister, and hugged her. Celestia wrapped her arms around Luna in a big sister embrace, and the two watched in silence as the moon was becoming more and more red.

It truly was an amazing sight. The moon was the closest to the earth as ever. Actually, the moon was the closest it had ever been to earth in recorded history. Only because this Lunar ecplise was so rare, thats probably why the moon was so close to the earth.

The sky was bright with a thousand lights from the stars as they welcomed the blood moon.

Finally, the moon became completely full of red color, and the Lunar eclipse was almost halfway done. Celestia turned Luna so that she faced her, and held on to both of her little sisters hands.

She looked right into Luna’s large striking teal blue eyes  and took a deep breath. “I wish...I could change the world when I grow up…”

Both sisters closed their eyes for a moment and waited. When nothing happened, they both giggled at their silliness of wishing upon a star.

It didnt matter if the wishes came true or not, the two sisters were having a special moment under the stars. A moment only they could share.

“I wish,” Luna spoke finally after settling down from her fit of laughter, “ That when we grow up, we can still be together like how we are now. “ Luna leaned against her older sister and put her head on her chest. Celestia kissed Lunas forehead gently and looked up at the stars.

“I hope our wishes come true…”

……………….

Well, one of those wishes came true anyway.

Celestia woke up again , but this time it was morning. The memory-dream she had the night before still swam around in her head, consuming her thoughts. The memory itself had happened over twenty years ago, but it was still so fresh in her mind, as if it had happened yesterday, that she didnt even wonder why she was lying on the carpet of Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom. She just smiled from the flashback of happy times with Luna.

Before everything changed…

The bad memories threatened to gain on Celestia and she reacted too quickly to grasp what her next actions were.

Celestia jerked her arm unintentionally and startled Twilight Sparkle awake.

The little girl gasped and her eyes shot open.

“Mommy!!!” Twilight yelled in a dazed voice, not realizing who she was sleeping next to.

Celestia brought Twilight closer to her and hastily tried to calm the little girl who had obviously been having a nightmare.

“Twilight! Twilight dear its me, its Celestia.”

Twilight squirmed until the voice she heard was recognized and she looked up at Celestia.

Her eyes were watery and swollen, and they still seemed to be half clogged with eye mucus from sleep.

Twilight put a hand on her little chest and closed her eyes again. “I - you scared me Im sorry, I-”

Celestia hushed Twilight by wiping her eyes with a sleeve from her blazer jacket.

“No dear, Im sorry that was completely my fault, I moved my arm and scared you, please forgive me.”

Twilight looked at Celestia as her heaving chest slowly calmed into a steady breathing pattern.

“How could you say that! Of course I forgive you!” Twilight squeezed her arms around Celestia’s side in an accepting way, to prove she was no longer rattled from being woken up.

Celestia was pleased and put on a soft grin.

“I have to leave to work in a couple of hours. Cadence is coming before I leave so, that gives us roughly two hours before Im gone all day.”

Twilight sighed and sat up, looking discouraged. “Well, at least its Cadence. Ill miss you though,”

Celestia was touched at how attached Twilight had become, and how she was just as equally attached to Twilight.

“Thank you dear, I will miss you too. “ She really meant it.

Twilight’s dampened spirit bounced right up into an upbeat one when she heard what Celestia said. She finally noticed that they were still laying on the ground of her new room and started to giggle.

“We fell asleep on the floor!” She cried out in a squeal of laughter.

Twilight brought her purple hand to Celestia’s and helped her up off the ground. Celestia had a bit of trouble getting up, she was as stiff as a brick! She was used to her plush mattress and baby soft sheets.

“Oh my neck…” The scientist grabbed at her neck sorely and tried to rub away the pain when her arm finally realized the misery it had endured for seven hours as well.

“My arm!” With her left hand, she vigorously massaged her right forearm and elbow, wincing as she did so. Ah, that felt better.

Twilight  tilted her head to the side and peered up at Celestia. “Did I do that?”

Celestia shook her head, finally feeling the pain subside.

“No dear, I am just old.”

Twilight nodded her head in agreement, it was the most possible explanation to the little girl and she accepted it without further questioning. Celestia gave a dirty look as the purple girl rushed to the tall wooden bookcase across the bean bag area of the room.

Im not really old….

Twilight pulled out the book on facts about astroids and comets and started to read it. She looked fairly engrossed in the science book and Celestia had to try to get used to the fact that she had an eight year old in her house who could also read at teenage reading levels.

It wasnt that hard since Celestia herself had been a child prodigy. At the age of twelve Celestia was noticed by the top school for young science minds in the whole world. She was too poor to pay tuition, but landed a huge scholarship grant and was able to attend until she was eighteen.

Twilgiht was just like herself at her age.

Some time went by while Twilight dove her head into the book, and Celestia quietly watched her while trying to clean up their mess of bean bags and pillows. Celestia figured it was  time to make some breakfast since she hadnt had any dinner last night.

I hope Twilight doesn’t  mind what a terrible cook I am….

Twenty minutes later Celestia called Twilight down to the kitchen to eat breakfast.

She was quite proud of the dish she had made today. It wasnt as bad as usual, and it sort of smelled like pancakes anyway.

Twilight showed up in the kitchen looking charged and ready for the day. She had combed her hair and washed up just like Celestia asked her to. She was such a good little girl.

Celestia beamed proudly at Twilight and gestured towards the fully arranged table.

“Pancakes!”

Twilight stood still. Her eyes just stared at the meal in front of her as if it would come out and attack her.

“Twilight, come and eat?” Said Celestia gingerly.

Twilight fixed  Celestia with an uncertain gaze and took a step towards the table.

“That’s it, come try it!” Celestia took a  forkful of the delicious looking pancakes and put a piece in her mouth.

In went the food, and out it came as soon as it reached its makers’ tastebuds.

“Agh! Oh my goodness what did I just make?!”

Twilights arm flew up to her  mouth to try and suppress her giggling.

Celestia ignored the laughing girl and ran to the sink to save her life. She pushed the water handle on high and slurped up as much water as she could.

That was the worst pancakes she had ever made! It cooked normally though, so why did she feel like her mouth was on fire!? She could honestly throw up, the taste was so bad.

At long last, the evil pancake taste simmered down to a mild throbbing in her mouth and she turned the running water off. She gasped for her first real breath in a good thirty seconds, and turned to face Twilight.

“Oh dear I seem to have gotten something wrong in cooking today….Twilight?”

Celestia looked around for the little girl, she was no longer standing where she was before.

Celestia made out a sound near the counter, and turned to see Twilight to her left, clearing the stove and island area of the dirty dishes.

“Ill need two clean non stick pans, a spatula, a whisk, and some flour, milk, dont forget a footstool cause I can’t reach, and not so much baking soda. Really, who uses like a whole cup of baking soda to make pancakes!”

Celestia’s mouth dropped open as she realized why the pancakes tasted so horrible.

That was baking soda? She could have sworn that was the flour! Or is flour the one that was odorless?

Oh well, at least she didn’t let Twilight take the first bite, the poor girl would have been scarred for life. Great, now Twilight knew how horrible Celestia was at cooking.

Twilight stopped for a moment and looked back at Celestia. She lifted her purple eyebrows lifted in expectation, “You didn’t know that was baking soda did you?”

Celestia stumbled to find words and just shrugged her shoulders. “I-no?”

Twilight laughed and threw her head back. “ Oh, you have so much to learn. Ok, well, back when I lived in downtown canterlot, uh, the poor side, I didn’t have much to eat. My mom never made breakfast because she either had a hangover or because she wasn’t even home in the mornings. So I learned to cook! Oh, and I had horrible cooking supplies by the way. I’m just assuming you have good ones here right?”

Celestia nodded dumbly. She couldn’t say anything , she was utterly dumbstruck.

Why did Twilight never cease to amaze her?

From when she met her on that bench in the park to  a week later, she was still surprising her everyday. Celestia only just realized that Twilight was talking to her again, and she was forced to break out of her trance.

“Uh yes I have the best pans in the top cabinet, let me get those for you.”

Celestia quickly brought out her pans and spatulas. Then, she grabbed the whisk out of the appliance drawer. Celestia stared at the thing and  pondered. “I was wondering what this was for anyway.”

Twilight rolled her eyes playfully and got the thing with her left hand.

“Thank you! Now, ill need some milk and flour, an egg, and some salt. Also, bring the baking soda back out. No never mind, there is so much in this measuring cup I could make toothpaste!”

Celestia frowned and played along with Twilight’s little game of teasing. “Oh please, Its not that bad!” She put her hands on her hips and pouted.

Twilight shook her finger in the air. “ No, it wasn’t  that bad Celestia. You only almost surpassed the average PH alkalinity level  in your body, which would have led to serious health problems due to your intake of baking soda.”

Celestia shot Twilight a look. One that said, If you weren’t so cute right now, I’d make you eat the pancakes youself!

Celestia went to her garage which was connected directly to the kitchen and found a small step stool which she almost never used. She only had it for some small things in her storage cabinets. other than that, she was so tall that nothing was out of her reach in her home.

But now she had  guest who was half her size, so it was good she still kept this thing around.

She opened the door and walked back into the house. She saw Twilight peeping over the counter on her tip toes, trying to get a good look at her supplies. Celestia set the stool under beside the little girl and positioned it so it was directly in the middle of the cooking area for easy access to all the materials she needed.

Twilight smiled and hopped up on the stool. “Oh look, Im tall now!”

Celestia chuckled and made sure she was perfectly balanced before leaning up against the marble countertop, and smirked at the little chef.

“So chef, tell me what else you need.”

Twilight held a finger in the air and said with confidence,”An apron!”

Celestia didn’t miss a beat, and went to her apron drawer. She pulled out the smallest one she could find and showed Twilight.

“Let me help you tie it.”

Celestia brought the strings of the bright and colorful apron around the little girls’ waist and tied it. It was much to big for her, but Twilight beamed with joy.

“I feel like a real cook now!”

Twilight’s smile made Celestia smile as well and they both shared a moment just looking into each others eyes. She really was a beautiful girl inside and out. Twilight was smart, and very funny in a dorky but cute way.

Celestia wondered what she was thinking…...

Twilight seemed happy, but underneath that happiness there was something missing. It was as if Twilight was remembering something that made her uncomfortable.

Celestia wanted only for Twilight to be happy. She would be a bad caretaker if she didn’t do something to cheer the girl up.

“Hey, why don’t you be the chef, Ill be the co-chef, and we can play kitchen!”

Twilight’s face lit up. “Alright!”

Celestia smiled, satisfied that she brought Twilight’s spirits up.

“Ok, well , youll need an apron too,” Twilight said while taking the mixing bowl Celestia had set out for her and adding some flour into it.

Celestia grabbed an apron and tied it around her waist and tightened the strap around her neck.

Twilight had grabbed the egg and cracked it flawlessly on the side of the bowl. Celestia suddenly felt this annoying, hard feeling stuck between her teeth.She picked at it with her tongue and realized it must have been a cracked egg shell. Yes. She was very glad Twilight hadnt taken a single bite of the pancakes.

Twilight spoke excitedly from her station.” From when I walked in I could smell the burning of the pancakes. But the reason why I didnt want to even come near those horrifying stack of who knows what, I realized that the disgusting smell was mostly from the baking soda. Sorry if I seemed a little freaked out at first.”

Celestia looked at Twilight with dismay, “How could you tell, and I couldnt!”

Twilight whisked the bowl which was full of salt, sugar, baking soda, milk and eggs now with polished expertise. “It takes experience. And lots of practice. “

Celestia rolled her eyes.

“Celestia?” Twilight asked, not looking up from what she was doing. Celestia looked over and almost lost her composure. Twilight had her tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth in concentration, her nose was scrunched slightly as her tiny arms worked the batter in the mixing bowl.

Celestia smiled softly and said, “Yes?”

“Can you turn the two front burners to medium level and put the two pans on the stove to heat up?”

Celestia nodded and followed orders immediately.

“Of course, chef.”

Twilight finished mixing the bowl and took the spatula to finish the job completely.

Celestia turned on the stove and let the pans heat for a minute or two before Twilight handed her a stick of butter and said, “You’ll need to spread this around the pan for the nice buttery taste at the end . Its so scrumcious!”

“Uh, scrumcious?”

“Scrumcious!” Twilight declared, putting her arm in the air, holding up the spatula while doing so.

“Ok, ok, Ill put the butter on.” Celestia spread the butter carefully, and tried to not let it burn too much before the batter even was poured into the pan.

Thankfully she didn’t have to wait much longer for Twilight to come off of her stool, bringing the bowl of mix with her, and handed it to Celestia.

“Now, slowly pour the batter at an even rate until the liquid starts to form to the pan and make sure its not too thick.”

Celestia nodded her head and put her mind to the task.

She slowly lifted the bowl and the spatula. She began to scrape the side of the bowl while tilting it over the first pan, and success! The mix poured itself into the pan and created an even circle shape .

She felt accomplished and set down the bowl on her marble stove counter with the spatula inside.

“I did it!” She announced excitedly.

Twilight peered over the stove and looked at the pancake cooking inside the bowl.

“Perfect su chef!”

“Thank you, Chef!”

Twilight hugged Celestia suddenly, which caught her by surprise.

“Oh!”

Twilight brought her face to meet Celestia’s, her tiny neck craning just to see her.

“Thank you. My mom never did this with me….”

And again the purple child had that melancholy look in her expression which made Celestia’s heart clench in her chest.

“Twilight, I…. I know i’ve only known you for a week now but- “ Celestia sighed and breathed in deep. “How… would you like to...um, how do I say this?” Celestia chuckled nervously.

Twilight was paying deep attention to Celestia until her purple eyes shot to the side and she broke the embrace. “ Hurry, or you’ll burn the pancake!”