Dancing in the Twilight

Slowly, Twilight regained consciousness. Though she kept her eyes shut, she could hear the birds chirping, and could feel the sunlight seeping through the stained glass windows. She gathered that it was probably around early morning.

Twilight rolled over in her bed, and found herself face to face with a sleeping Moon Dancer.

Twilight, never being very good at emotionally stressful situations, simply looked at her sleeping marefriend. When her brain began to function once more, her cheeks began to redden. Their muzzles were nearly touching, and Twilight could feel Moon Dancer's warm breath on her face.

As if things couldn't get any worse, Moon Dancer chose that time to wake up.

As Moon Dancer opened her eyes, she reacted in much the same way Twilight did. She simply stared, and soon began to blush. After a few more moments, which felt like eternity to the two mares, both realized they had been staring into each others eyes for far to long, and, the warmth on their faces intensifying, quickly got up.

Both mare's tried to speak, and both mares failed miserably.

"Oh, hey, Tw-Twilight! Um, g-good morning! Uh, um..."

"M-moon Dancer! Uh, h-hi! Um, d-did y-you sleep well? I-I mean, uh..."

Twilight tried to think the situation through, but was to busy thinking about how she literally shared a bed with her marefriend.

Moon Dancer tried to think the situation through as well, but was to busy mentally hitting herself. She knew that something awkward like this would happen, so why did she do it? In what world was that a rational idea?

"S-sorry Twilight, I, uh, got a bit scared last night, and, um, thought I would, you know..."

"O-oh, um, well, uh, n-no need to a-apologize, M-Moon Dancer! I, um, it was nice! I mean, um, not implying anything or, um, anything, uh..."

Both mares quickly realized that clear communication would be impossible, and simply stopped talking as they began to tidy up the room.

When both mares had calmed down enough to speak clearly, Twilight decided to ask.

"Moon Dancer, why were you in my bed?"

Moon Dancer sighed. There was no avoiding this. "Well, like I said, I got scared. I haven't really slept anywhere besides my own home, and I guess the unfamiliar bed got me jumping at shadows. All the stories surrounding this place doesn't help either."

Twilight nodded. The castle could get creepy, especially at night. It had scared her friends out of their wits, reducing them to screaming and running from their own shadows. They had all been terrified.

Well, all of them except Pinkie.

"It's fine. Nothing to be ashamed of," said Twilight.

Moon Dancer let out a breath. She hadn't been sure how Twilight would react. In retrospect, it had probably been the stupidest, riskiest, most illogical thing she had ever done, and she had expected it to come back and bite her in her flank.

Luckily, she was marefriends with the literal princess of love and tolerance.

As they walked through the Everfree forest on their way back to Ponyville, Moon Dancer looked back on her relationship with Twilight. It had started with a certain awe, as when they were fillies Moon Dancer idolized Twilight, going as far as to copy her mane style. Then, when Twilight didn't go to her party, she began to feel resentment and anger towards her. Then, when she and Twilight reconciled, she began to feel happiness and, more recently, love. It was so odd seeing how much her feelings toward the purple alicorn had changed.

Beside her, Twilight was thinking similar thoughts. She had felt so bad for abandoning her old friends, and felt especially guilty when she had seen the effect her actions had on Moon Dancer. Moon Dancer had shut herself of from the world, all because Twilight hadn't given them any thought. She had felt so happy when she and her friends were able to make amends.

Then, Moon Dancer had confessed her love to Twilight.

It was a surreal feeling, to say the least, having your friend confess their love to you. First, there was the confusion. Then, the looking back, wondering when it started. It wasn't exactly an everyday experience.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

Some time later, they arrived at Twilight's castle in Ponyville.

"Thanks for the date Twilight, it was amazing," said Moon Dancer as she began to prepare her things. "I best be of to Canterlot."

"Anytime Moon Dancer. I'll walk you to the train station." replied Twilight.

As they walked, Moon Dancer decided to ask Twilight a question. "Hey, Twilight? Do you enjoy my company?"

Twilight looked at Moon Dancer. "Of course. You're smart, interesting, and talented. Why wouldn't I?"

Moon Dancer looked down. "It's just, I'm nothing special. You forgot my party, after all.

Twilight stopped walking, and so did Moon Dancer. It seemed that Moon Dancer still had insecurities about Twilight not attending her party. "Moon Dancer, me not attending your party was not your fault. It's my fault." Twilight put a hoof on Moon Dancer's shoulder. "You are special, Moon Dancer. Don't ever believe otherwise."

Moon Dancer smiled. "Thanks, Twilight."

Twilight smiled back. "Come on, we can't miss your train."

They arrived at the train station with a few minutes to spare. Everypony was beginning to board the train as Twilight and Moon Dancer said their goodbyes.

"Thanks again for everything, Twilight. It's been a great time," said Moon Dancer.

"You don't have to thank me so many times, Moon Dancer," came Twilight's reply.

They shared a quick hug as the conductor gave a final call. Moon Dancer pulled back and began to quickly trot toward the train before turning back around.

She went to Twilight and gave her a kiss. It was just a quick a peck on the lips, but just as exhilarating.

"I love you, Twilight."

After a moment of shock, Twilight responded.

"I love you too, Moon Dancer."