Into The Night

***Part 1: The Hour After***

Twilight groans as she rolls on her side. It burned. It all burned. Every part of her body felt like little rocks crumbling as fire was being expelled from her mouth, nose, and eyes. As her mind began to piece itself back together, Twilight decides to start with the basics.

*I... M-My name... is... Twilight Sparkle... Where am I?*

Twilight shifts in the sheets of her bed as she tries to sit upright.

"Oh, you're awake! Good, princess." A soft, female voice says.

"L-Luna?" Twilight groans.

It was not Luna. Twilight frowns as her vision clears and a nurse comes into view. Twilight becomes more aware of her surroundings. She feel the sheets. It was not her bed, like she originally thought. It was a public hospital bed. The mattress was as hard as a rock, and the sheets felt like plastic. She looks to her right and to her left. She was in one of many hospital beds, but the rest were empty. The entire medical ward was empty save the nurse and herself.

"I am not Princess Luna." The nurse says. "She left just a few minutes ago. I believe it was something about preparing Hayseed Diner for some big event. Anyway, the princess brought you in here after you passed out."

"Ohhhh..." Twilight groans as she turns her attention back to the nurse. "What... What happened?"

The nurse glances over the notes on her clip board.

"It wasn't exactly a riddle to solve, sweetie." The nurse chuckles. "We ran some simple tests and found small, concentrated amounts of alcohol in your bloodstream. You passed out when your blood/alcohol levels reached high amounts in your reticular activating system. Alcohol levels quickly reached equilibrium throughout your brain. Pretty soon, you most control of your ability to function properly, and your memory recording functions were scrambled."

Twilight heard the nurse speaking science words, but she was still to far gone to understand a single one of them.

"W-What?"

The nurse chuckles as she puts the clip board away.

"You got hammered, sweetie." She says. "The amount of alcohol in your body wasn't a terribly large amount, but you have such a low tolerance of the stuff, that it screwed you over after the first sip."

Twilight nods slowly. She understood, that time.

"How... long was I asleep?" Twilight asks.

"You were out cold for about an hour. Technically, you are free to go, but I must advise you rest for a little while longer. Your basic motor functions may still be recovering from the sudden alcohol intake."

Twilight tries to roll of the bed and stand, but she only proves the nurse right. Twilight finds it extremely difficult to move her legs, and she falls back into the bed with a frustrating growl.

"Oh, don't you fret, Princess Twilight." The nurse says. "Your friends are in the lobby. They have been waiting to see you for some time, now. Since you are awake, I can now send them in."

With that being said, the nurse trots out of the ward and into the hallway. Twilight  watches as her mane before the pony is out of sight. Alone again, Twilight rolls onto her side.

*What was I thinking, drinking alcohol?* She asks herself. *What would my parents think if they knew what happened here?*

Twilight frowns as the thought of her parents enters her mind.

*What, the loving mother and father who didn't think their children's birth is worth celebrating? Yeah, right... They wouldn't care about this either... Shining drinks all the time. I've seen him at the local bar in Canterlot with his guard buddies. I'm sure Cadence lets him have fun often...*

Twilight's mind begins to wander as it pieces itself back together.

*Shining has beer all the time! How is it that when I have, like, a sip of some rare ale, I'm waking up in the hospital? I don't get it. I... I'm going to borrow this hospital's books on the brain. I need to know exactly what that stuff did to me.*

The door swings open, and five familiar faces appear. Twilight smiles as her friends approach her. The dull appearance of the room brightened at the sight of her colorful companions.

"Boy, Twilight, you sure do look like a right mess." Applejack states honestly. "How are ya' feelin', sugarcube?"

A small smile cracks along Twilight's lips as the orange mare hugs her tightly.

"I... I feel fine." Twilight says. "Just a few more minutes, and I'll be out of here."

"Oh, good thing too, darling." Rarity says sweetly. "Your big birthday bash begins in a few hours. It would be a shame if the birthday mare didn't look absolutely perfect."

Rainbow Dash, who was hovering above the bed, chuckles softly.

"I still can't believe Twi had her first drink, and I wasn't there to see it..." She say. "I mean, I knew Princess Luna had something crazy planned, but I didn't know she would take it that far."

Twilight eyes her friends as they nod collectivlly. She quickly shakes her head.

"No... No, you have the wrong idea. I'm not upset with Luna. She... She is just trying to make this my best day ever..."

"By poisoning ya'?" Applejack counters.

Twilight smacks her hoof against her head.

"No, she didn't 'poison' me. The nurse said I just have a very low tolerance of alcohol. I can drink a lot like most ponies can. If anything, I should be thanking Luna. Now, I know something knew about my body that I never knew before."

Pinkie Pie looks at Applejack and shrugs.

"She has a point." Pinkie giggles.

Twilight smiles as her pink friend sides with her.

*I wonder what her tolerance is...* She chuckles to herself.

"So, where is the next letter?" Twilight asks.

Twilight's questioned is answered by confused looks.

"None of us have a letter..." Fluttershy mutters. "We thought you might know."

Twilight had no idea of what to do. The nurse had mentioned the Hayseed Diner, but that even was hours away. What was she supposed to do?

"I'm afraid there is no letter from my sister, this time." A soothing voice says from the door.

Every pony's head spins towards the door to find Princess Celestia. The white mare folds her wings as she approaches the bed.

"What do you mean, princess?" Twilight asks.

Celestia just looks at her and smiles.

"Twilight, you and I have a private date to the spa."

***Part 2: Princess, My Princess***

When the warm water of the jacuzzi hits Twilight's wings, she lets out a low moan. She was no longer in Ponyville. She wasn't even in Equestria. Twilight enters a realm of bliss and good feelings as the warm water engulfs her. Celestia lets out a similar moan as she slides into the water with Twilight.

"Ahhhhhhh..." Celestia says, a huge grin forming on her face. "This is what it really feels like..."

Twilight cocks her head as she eyes the princess. Celestia's mane was already soaked. It looked as though t was dissolving in the water.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asks.

Celestia's eyes crack open as she chuckles.

"Being a princess, Twilight... This is what it should always feel like, warm waters melting your troubles away... No troublesome laws... No defense proposals... No war with the Changelings..."

*Wait, what?*

Twilight raises her hoof to ask her about that last statement, but Celestia was already moving on.

"Twilight, I am glad my sister was able to talk you into this. It has broken my heart over the years to watch you grow and age without a single birthday celebration. You... have grown into a fine mare, Twilight."

Twilight's cheeks flush bright red.

"T-Thank you, princess..." Twilight stutters.

Celestia doesn't stop there.

"Such qualities are hard to find in a mare these days... You are smart, incredibly brave, strong, and quite beautiful..."

Twilight's face felt hotter than the water she was sitting in, now. Celestia chuckles as she sees Twilight's blushing cheeks.

"It is easy to see why my sister fancies you, Twilight.

Twilight's heart skips a beat.

"W-What, princess?" She asks, fear rising in her voice. "What do you mean?"

Celestia gives her that signature warm, motherly smile.

"She fancies you, Twilight. She came to me today telling me she was in love with the most wonderful mare in all of Equestria... She even told me of the kiss you two shared in the brewery."

*I... I didn't imagine that? That was... real?!*

"Princess, I... I'm so sorry... Luna was helping me try new drinks, and I got really drunk, and-"

"Twilight," Celestia says in a commanding voice. "Please, calm yourself. There is no need to apologize. I am not angry or upset in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I am thrilled my sister has found love. Even more so, I am thrilled she has found love in you. There is no other pony in Equestria I would prefer her to be with."

Twilight's heart was still racing.

"She... loves me?"

Celestia nods as she slides deeper into the water.

"Yes, Twilight, more than you could imagine. After her first Nightmare Night in Ponyville, the night you helped her make friends, you stole her heart. She told me the story every time we would sit down to eat. She told me all about the 'purple filly wearing a beard'." Celestia quotes. "She is crazy for you, Twilight."

Twilight could hardly beileve her ears. Her chest was pounding so furiously, she could felt it vibrating in her head.

"I take it from your expression that you didn't know...?" Celestia asks softly.

Twilight shakes her head. She couldn't meet Celestia's gaze. Her eyes drift to the motionless water.

"No... I... I just thought she was doing this to... be nice, to be friendly... I had no idea she was doing all of this for me because she... loves me."

"How do you feel about her?" Celestia asks.

Twilight finally looks up at meets Celestia's gaze.

"I... I don't know... I like her... She is a great pony, but... I've never loved anypony before... Not like this..."

Celestia nods her head slowly.

"I understand, Twilight. Such feelings for another pony can be overwhelming. My sister has had many lovers in the past, but she has never slept with a mare. I believe you have changed something in her, Twilight."

Twilight cocks her head in confusion.

"What? How?"

Celestia closes her eyes and leans further back into the warm water. It was as if she was recalling old memories.

"In her youth, Luna was an... eager pony. She would sleep with any dashing stallion she fancied. It was mostly the palace staff she targeted, guards and servants. Most of the staff was eager to please her as well. She didn't care about who she went to bed with. She changed lovers as easily as the servants changed the dirty sheets on her bed. Now, something is different... You are the first mare she has ever fallen for. I believe she sees more in you, Twilight. She fancies you for your the friendship and companionship you can offer her, not just the pleasure."

The red was returning to Twilight's cheeks. She knew about sex. She had done her studying. Now, images of Princess Luna spreading her legs for her flashed in her mind like a motion picture. Celestia chuckles as she stands to exit the pool, almost as though she was reading Twilight's thoughts.

"Come, Twilight." She coaxes sweetly. "You will have plenty of time to think things over during our massage..."

***To Be Continued***