Into The Night

***Part 1: The Faithful Student***

Twilight holds her breath for several seconds. When she feels her lungs are about to burst, she exhales slowly, letting out a long breath and sending a frosty cloud into the air. Twilight shifts her hooves nervously, cracking and scattering the carpet of leaves beneath her. The cracks and snaps make her ears twitch.

*It's alright, Twilight...* She thinks to herself. *You can do this... If you can put up with Discord at the gala, you can attend your own birthday party...*

She looks up at the red sky. The sun was setting in the west, lighting the sky on fire as it descends. From the east, the moon was rising. The red sky begins to fade into a soft, dark blue. Then, the stars appear. Like jewels and gems in the sky, the stars shine brightly.

"Hey, Twi, are you ready to go?" Rainbow Dash asks, giving her a gentle nudge.

Twilight glances at the pegasus as her mind returns to reality. She looks at Rainbow Dash, then at the rest of her closest friends. Tears begin to swell in her eyes. Twilight lunges forward and throws her hooves around Rainbow Dash. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie quickly join the group hug. The dams in Twilight's eyes finally burst, and tears roll down her cheeks.

"You... are the best friends any mare could hope for..." Twilight says shakily. "Thank you..."

Rainbow Dash, beginning to get a little emotional herself, quickly pulls away to hide her tears.

"Twilight, you are the greatest thing to have happened to all of us." Rarity says softly. "Without you, who knows where we would be?"

The sun was now gone, and the moon shines brightly on its pedestal in the sky. There were no clouds to hide its beauty this time.

"I'm ready." Twilight says with confidence.

"To the Hayseed Diner it is, then." Applejack says with a wave of her hat.

Rarity giggles as she throws a scarf around Twilight's neck.

"Yes, darling," She chimes. "The celebration of your life awaits!"

The six friends travel together into the heart of Ponyville. They weren't alone in their quest. It seemed every other pony in the community had the same idea. This was going to be a big party. Twilight could feel it, literally. She could feel the low-humming base from three blocks away as they approached the diner. Bright spot lights were lighting up the sky.

"Whoa..." Rainbow gasps. "Princess Luna really went all out, didn't she?"

*Just for me...* Twilight's chest flutters happily. *She loves me... I can't wait to see her...*

"Let's get going." Twilight says excitedly.

The six mares approach the door. Two Royal Guards stood outside, greeting ponies as they walk inside. When they see Twilight approaching, both guards snap to attention, startling Twilight.

"Happy birthday, Princess Twilight." They both say in unison as she passes by them.

The moment, Twilight's hoof sets inside the diner, everything stops. I mean 'everything'. The music softens until it is silent, and ponies who were engaged I their own conversations turn their attention to the door. Twilight's hooves feel cold, and her face feels hot. Unsure of what to do, she waves her hoof.

"Uh... Hi..."

*'Hi'? Really? That's all you can say? Say something!*

"Uh..." Twilight groans as her words fail her.

Luckily, Rarity was by her side.

"I'll take care of this, darling." She whispers to Twilight.

Rarity clears her throat as she steps forward. Twilight felt a sense of relief as some of the attention left her.

"May I have every pony's attention, please?" Rarity asks sweetly. "Thank you. Now, I'm sure you all know exactly why we are here. To put what we all know into words, we are here to celebrate the life of a very special filly we all know and love. To put it simply, we are here because it-"

"IT'S TWILIGHT'S BIRTHDAY!" Pinkie Pie yells, cutting Rarity off.

The crowd of ponies erupts into a deafening roar, breaking the deathly silence.

"Sorry..." Pinkie Pie says, smiling sheepishly and avoiding Rarity's glare.

Now that the party had resumed, Twilight and her friends were free to advance further into the fray. The entire diner had been emptied of all tables and chairs, turning the eatery into a dance floor. The only places to sit remained at the bar in the back corner.

"Well, darling, now that we are here, what is our first move?" Rarity asks.

Twilight scans the crowd. There was so much going on at the same time, that she had no idea of where to begin. Twilight knew what she wanted. She wanted to see Princess Luna, but it was obvious the she wasn't at the diner.

"You girls go ahead." Twilight says. "Go have fun. I'll catch up with you later."

The ponies exchange strange looks, but none of the object.

"Sure thing, Twilight." Applejack says. "Come on, y'all. Let's show these party animals a good time."

Twilight watches as her friends melt into the crowd. Even Fluttershy was eager to reach the dance floor. Twilight feels a sense of relief when she realizes the bare is not present. At last, Twilight's wandering gaze reaches the bar in the back corner.

*Well... I guess it is time for a drink...*

***Part 2: The Proclamation***

Twilight sips very slowly on a lite beer. With each drop of alcohol that passed through her lips, the thundering music grew a little softer. It was as though her ears were filling up with wax, blocking out the sound.

"Good evening, princess." A distant voice says. "Are we having a good time?"

Twilight looks up. Standing in front of her, on the other side of the bar, was the manager of the Ponyville Brewery.

"Froth?" Twilight asks. "What are you doing here?"

The stallion shrugs as he continues cleaning out a used mug.

"Me? I'm catering the birthday party of the Princess of Friendship. What about you?"

Twilight giggles as her cheeks blush bright red.

"I'm enjoying the birthday party of the Princess of Friendship." Twilight replies. "You wouldn't have happened to have seen Princess Luna around have you?"

To Twilight's disappointment, Froth shakes his head.

"I'm afraid not, princess. Though, after what happened at the brewery office, I'm sure she will show up to make sure you doing drink anything you shouldn't, but I can do that until she does get here. Are ya' feeling light-headed yet?"

Twilight has to take a moment to think his question over. After confirming that her head was not spinning in circles, she shakes her head."

"Not yet..." Twilight says. "This stuff isn't nearly as strong as the ale Princess Luna asked me to try.

"That's a Kraut Casket 88." Froth says. "It is nothing special, as far as drinks go, but it has a sweeter and more pleasurable taste than most beers do.

Twilight takes another sip.

"I like it." Twilight agrees.

Froth lets out a hearty chuckle as he slides a drink down the bar top to another pony at the far end.

"There may be hope for you yet, princess." He says with a warm smile. "Ah... It looks like your 'plus one' has arrived."

*What?* Twilight thinks to herself.

Two dark, blue wings drape over her as a pair of lips grazes against her left ear.

"Happy birthday, Twilight Sparkle..." A soft voice whispers.

"Luna?!" Twilight gasps as she spins around in her seat. "I just knew you would make it!"

Twilight happily throws her hooves around the princess and pulls her into a deep embrace.

"My, Twilight..." Luna chuckles. "Thou seems very excited to see me. Such a reaction was not expected after our last confrontation."

Twilight's smile melts, and her hooves grow cold.

*She means the kiss...*

Luna sets something on the floor behind her as she takes the seat next to Twilight's.

"Oh, princess..." Twilight stammers. "I... I am so sorry about that... It... I mean, I was drunk because of the alcohol, and-"

Twilight is silenced by Luna's hoof on her lips.

"Shhhhh..." Luna hushes her. "Do not blame your actions on alcohol, Twilight. Drinks have a strange way of making ponies do strange things. Drinks lower social and emotional barriers that keep us from doing and saying what we want to do and say. Thou kissed me because you were doing what your heart wanted."

Twilight slowly begins to relax as Luna's left wind drapes over her back.

"I suppose my sister has told thou of how I feel?" Luna whispers to her.

Twilight hesitates before nodding her head.

"Yes... She told me you... love me. Do you?"

Luna waves Froth down. She was signaling for him to give her a drink.

"It... is complicated..." Luna mutters.

Twilight's ears fold down. Any small feelings of hope began deteriorating. Luna notices the fearful look on Twilight's face.

"Oh no, Twilight," She says quickly. "Do not take what I said as a 'no'. I... I have very... strong feelings for you, but I must be careful of those feelings..."

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

Luna takes a long sip from the mug Froth delivered to her.

"Twilight, I have never felt so strongly for any pony before... Whenever I think about thou, I feel as though I am drinking heavily... I like these feelings, but I am not used to them... My heart feels heavy with yearning and dread. Twilight, the things thou does to me..."

Luna takes another swig from her ale as she leans toward's the shaking mare. Luna stops when her lips are a breath away from Twilight's.

"Thou makes me feel like a princess again..." She whispers in Twilight's ear.

Luna pulls away smiling, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky. Twilight can't help but smile back at her, but Luna's smile fades.

"There... is another issue, one that is far more troubling..."

"What is it, princess?"

Luna waves her hoof, gesturing towards the entire crowd of partying ponies.

"Them..." Luna mutters. "The public... My sister my support you and I, but what of the ponies of Equestria? What if they learn of their princesses engaging in scandalous activities with one another?"

Twilight could see Luna's point. It would cause quite a roar in the media. She could see the headlines.

*Princess Luna and Princess Twilight: Royal Affaire!*

"Thou has a cleaver look thine eye, Twilight." Luna says. "Does thou have a plan?"

The gears in Twilight's head were spinning rapidly. Even with the buzz on alcohol tingling in her hooves, she was determined to find a solution. After several minutes of silent planning, Twilight came to no solution. Every idea she came up with ended with public shame and tears. She looks up at Luna and shakes her head. Luna sighs as she takes another long sip from her drink.

"That is alright, Twilight." She says. "I already have a solution, but 'tis not one thou wil like."

Twilight cocks her head. Very intrigued, she sits forward in her seat.

"What is it, Luna?" Twilight asks.

Luna smiles sadly as she looks into Twilight's eyes.

"Tell me, Twilight Sparkle... Has thou ever been to the moon?"

***To Be Continued***