Raid Partners

Luna awoke to the clatter of plates, and a familiar smell. It felt like so long ago when she got the peaceful, morning wake up that came with the scent, when it was only yesterday. Unlike yesterday, she could feel the pony who was supposed to be beside her slide back into bed. “M-morning, Luna.”

Luna smiles “Pancakes again? I love your pancakes.”

Button smiled at her as he sat down beside her, shifting a little bit while trying to get comfortable on the large comforter. He didn’t want to let Luna know that he hadn’t slept well last night, not while thoughts of what he’d done swam in his head. Well, that, and how uncomfortable the bed was. “I know you do, and after yesterday, I thought you deserved them.”

Luna sat up and smiled, her mane falling into her eyes as she took the plate. “Mmm, How did you get into the kitchen without the chefs stopping you, mine stallion?”

Button fidgeted for a moment in his pajama pants, and Epona t-shirt. “Well, they didn’t want to let me touch it, but apparently telling them that you’re dating a princess will get them to open up. It was a lot harder to keep them from trying to help after that to be honest.”

Luna giggles before blowing her mane out of her eyes and took a big bite. “Mmmm, sorry about that mine, stallion. Will your Mother be returned today?”

Button shook his head with a groan, now wondering how in Equestria he was going to explain to his mom that he was moving to Canterlot a semester out from graduation. “No. She’ll be back on Monday, so we have three more days until then.”

Luna nodded and chewed for a few moments “Shall we do shopping for our apartment today then?”

Button bit into his cheek, glancing at Luna’s still bruised eye for a moment, before softly saying, “Whatever you want to do, Luna.”

“Well my bed seems to be keeping you from resting, I think at very least we should find our new bed today.” Luna smiled, pressing her hand into the overly soft mattress. “Maybe a quarter cloud bed instead of half?”

Button pressed his hand into it as he frowned, his spirits sinking even lower as she tried to be so kind. “If you like it Luna, I can get used to it. I promise.”

Luna wrapped her arms around his shoulders “Button… you are mine stallion my… coltfriend? I want us both to be comfortable in our home.”

Button fidgeted again as he felt her bosom against his back. He had hoped the night’s rest and making her pancakes would let him ease up, but he’d also forgotten about just how amazing she was. That thought luckily gave him an out, and he reached back to squeeze her hand. “Hey, as long as I’m with you, I’ll always be comfy.”

Luna nuzzled the top of his head. “Please? We can go looking for our kitchen too!” She stretched her arms over her head before getting up. “Mmm being awake in the day is interesting… Listen I need to speak with Celestia. It won’t take long and then we can go shopping.”

Button nodded in agreement, finally getting himself to relax as he wrapped an arm around her. “Alright, though, do you… do you think you’ll need me to come again? I promise to keep my hands to myself this time.”

“If you want to come, of course you may. I need to speak to her about the moon. I think if she allows me to handle the night sky she will be able to better rest, even if I am… not exactly the Princess of the night right now.” Luna smiled sadly. “With you and her and Twilight Sparkle, I am certain I will become who Luna … who I want to be.”

Button paused for a moment, before he leaned forward, and pressed his lips firmly to Luna’s. He kept the kiss there for a long while, his hands on the sides of her face to make sure she knew how close he was, even as his tongue clumsily pressed against hers. When he pulled away, he whispered, “You will always be my dear princess, Luna, and… and I wish I’d never said those things I did yesterday. You did nothing to deserve them.”

“It’s alright Button, I know i’m a bit broken but you’ll help put me back together.” Luna brushed her lips to Button’s, before turning to her closet and choosing a long dark blue gown. “One of my simpler ones. Do you think it would be good for shopping?”

Button looked at it a little distractedly, his mind turning over how to respond. What he wanted to say put butterflies into his stomach, but he also felt like it was the truth, which only scared him more. Then again, she still deserved the truth, above anything else. “Y-yeah, and… Luna, I-I’m not going anywhere. If there’s anything I can do to make you happy, just… just tell me, okay?”

Luna smiled before shedding her portal shirt and boxers and sliding her gown on over her head. “Of course. Now shall we go find Celestia? Hopefully she made it to her bed…”

Button Mash blushed brightly as he got a full, unmasked look at his beloved, but like before, it didn’t cause him to get hard, much to his surprise. It helped though for getting changed into his slacks from yesterday. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Luna reached out to grasp his hand with a small smile.

Button squeezed her hand back, and the two took off down the halls, hand in hand. The castle staff tried to keep their voices low enough to make sure they weren’t noticed, but failed miserably. The pain and fear that had nestled into Button’s chest from yesterday grew as they walked, listening to how unbelievable it was for Princess Luna to be with such a plain looking commoner. When they mentioned him even just being an earth pony, it made it all the worse, even though he tried to hide his pain.

Luna smiled down at him and squeezed his hand at every comment, flicking her ears to show she could hear what they were saying. She smirked, and in front of a small group of nobles she stopped and bent down, bringing her lips to Button’s in a firm, yet chaste, kiss.

It doesn’t really help Button though, and while in Luna’s day, such a show might have shut them up, showing the nobles that she did indeed like the stallion, it no longer was so effective. Just like how the tournament needed more, so did the nobles, with them scoffing and rolling their eyes, merely thinking the princess was going through some weird, rebellious stage. And once more, not nearly quietly enough were these statements made.

Luna’s nostrils flared as she turned to them. “Dost thou have words to say to our face?”

The nobles openly jumped slightly at the words, before one of them, Upper Crust, bowed deeply to her. He had been one of the nobles to enjoy the more open castle policies that had been implemented as of late in an ill-fated attempt to get Luna to see more ponies, as most of the tended to be like him. “Of course not, your highness. We were merely discussing a few matters we’d been hearing around town. Nothing that would concern you.”

“Tis funny, as we could swear we heard words discussing our chosen paramour.” Luna’s lips pressed firmly together.

Before any of the ponies assembled could respond, an older, stuffier voice sounded off from further down the hallway. “Now, Princess Luna, I’m certain no noble would be foolish enough to do that. Besides, only the worst of ponies participate in a practice as wasteful as gossip.”

The nobles turned towards the voice, and paled at the sight of Kibitz. They were fine with trading bluffs to clear their name with a princess, or to garner their favor, but the advisor was a whole different matter. He had no scruples with evicting people from the castle and making sure they never came back. As such, the nobles quickly scattered with rushed apologies following them.

Luna smiled. “Good morning Kibitz, and thank you. Have you met my new colt friend? This is Button Mash. Button, this is Kibitz. He is the keeper of time for my sister, and hopefully myself.”

Kibitz raised an eyebrow to the young stallion. “Unfortunately, I must sleep, otherwise I might. As for your colt friend, I have no opinions, other than him having caused quite a commotion yesterday, and today for that matter.” His more neutral expression changed to a slight scowl, despite him straightening himself now. “Speaking of which, as your sister thought you might need to finish talking to her, I have painstakingly made a time now for you to talk to her. She is in her chambers, and I recommend you hurry.”

Luna nodded and tugged Button’s hand. “Come on Kibitz. Making time in Tia’s schedule hardly ever happens. I think we had better teleport.”

He called off, “Thank you,” just before Luna’s horn glowed, and the two disappeared. When they came back to reality, poor Button Mash hit his knees while Celestia’s eyebrows raised, and her own horn glowed, creating a coating around Button’s ears with her magic. “I… had somewhat wished he wouldn’t be here when we talked.”

“He promised to keep his hands… what was it? Ah, yes. Keep his hands to himself. And.. I am going to need you both to start healing as well as Twilight.” Luna shook her head. “I do not believe he has teleported before.”

Celestia smiled as she took another sip of her coffee. “No, I don’t believe so either.” She then put down her cup, and pursed her lips. “And while your points are valid, they are none of the concerns I thought of for him being here. I sense no real malice in him, only youthful confusion that led to him harming you. However, i have silenced him from our conversation for a reason.”

“What is it, Tia?” Luna sat beside her, taking a cup of coffee in her own hands. “Ah, thank you for having this ready for me.”

“I needed it myself.” She took another, long, deep sip of her coffee, more for courage than anything else, before putting it to the side, and turning to her sister. “He is young, and I didn’t want to overload him with this thought. We’re lucky he hasn’t seemed to realize that we’re… well, we were a thing, in the commotion of yesterday.”

“He knows.” Luna said simply taking a sip of her coffee. “I was...was heart broken Celestia. I needed somepony to talk with about what happened after all… So he knows that we were lovers. And I think he realizes that we may become so again as the years pass.” She rubbed her fingertips on her mug. “We are immortal after all, and he is a mortal stallion.”

Celestia glanced at Button, who had at this point sat back, seemingly content to sit there. “I think you overestimate him there. The idea of another outliving you isn’t easy to grasp, not until shown. He probably just thinks about how you’re a princess, and he is a commoner.” She took another sip of coffee, filing in her mind the mortality issue for later. “And… I don’t blame you for talking to him. I’m even happy to hear that, especially since it may help us if we ever decide to truly consider the thought I do not wish for him to hear.”

“What do you mean, sister?” Luna cocked her head puzzled.

Celestia squeezed her mug as she bit into her lip. She had no idea how this would go. “Well, you see… I should have told you sooner. Let you know who I loved before then, because, end of the day, or even end of the year, you and I are as close as two ponies are. Or, at least, we once more, and part of why I haven’t been able to sleep is because I feel like I stabbed another part of me when I hurt you.”

Luna closed her eyes with a slow release of breath. “...Tia, I still love you… I know that you know that and that you still love me… But you are also with Twilight and now that I have found Button… In the end I think it will matter little. We are ponies and no pony is perfect. An-and I think it is alright… alright that we can love more than just each other. Tis this fair?”

Celestia nodded. “It is perfectly fair, my dear sister, and… honestly, less selfish than what I have been thinking about.”

“What is it that you have been thinking about Tia?” Luna cocked her head before placing her hand over Celestia’s.

Celestia swallowed hard, and looked away. “I haven’t talked to Twilight about it, as it’s only recently come to my mind with yesterday’s events, but, I was thinking… hoping that, if all parties are willing, we can go from loving only others, to…” She swallowed hard again, though it did little to clear her throat. “To maybe loving all of each other.”

“You talk of the four of us? All together?” Luna considered putting her hand to her chin “We would need a specially made bed we think.”

A small giggle managed to pass its way through Celestia’s mouth as she shook her head. “I’m happy that you can be so calm about this.”

Luna blushed. “W-well I… may have had a crush on Twilight Sparkle… Just a small one! I was happy with her as my best friend, and did not wish to risk that friendship.”

Celestia nodded, and squeezed Luna’s hand. “And I doubt Twilight did not, to some degree, share in your feelings. You two had grown close afterall. However,” she said as he gaze turned to Button Mash, “how would he handle it? From what I’ve seen, he barely can keep himself from tearing apart at the seams with just you.”

“Uncover his ears, let’s talk with him.” Luna smiled her ears perked up.

Celestia shook her head. “Not now. I need to talk to Twilight, and I want you to talk to him alone when you do it. That way, when you decide to try to bring him into that sort of relationship, it is without distraction. Just you and him, and nothing else.”

Luna nodded. “I agree that is the best choice. Now… there was one thing I did want to discuss with you. Something serious.”

Celestia gestured towards Button, before simply dispelling her enchantments anyways. She wouldn’t have brought him if he wasn’t allowed to hear this. “What is it, sister?”

“You did not get to rem sleep for longer than five minutes last night Tia. You are so exhausted that it is keeping you from getting any restful slumber. I know that you have temporarily dethroned me, but I’d like you to consider allowing me to guide the night sky.” Luna tapped her fingertips against the top of her mug, pulling her hand back from on top of Celestia’s.

Celestia hesitates for a moment, before merely nodding. She needs the rest, and there are no two ways about it. Not only that, but she could delegate many of the other duties of the night to the night guardsponies. Just the thought of getting all of that sleep made her almost pass out. “I would be overjoyed if you would do that, Luna.”

Luna smiled, her shoulders slumping in relief. “I’m relieved you’ll allow me to do this I’ve missed guiding the night for even the few days I haven’t.”

Celestia smiled back, before reaching over, and hugging her sister. “It’s my pleasure.”

Button, for his part, finally found a reason to speak, even if it meant interrupting any further incestuous actions they may have made. That, or because he wanted that. “I-if there’s nothing else to discuss, we do need to get going if we want to start shopping between rush hours.”

Luna clapped her hands together. “Ah yes! Tia, I have need of moneys so as to get a new bed and a kitchen!”

Celestia nodded in return, shooing Luna and Button away. “Yes, yes. However, as others still believe you princess, you merely need to go to the treasury for whatever funds you may need.”

“Then that is where we shall go! Come along Button.” Luna gave Celestia a kiss on her cheek. “Have a good day, sister.”

Celestia waved the two of them away, smiling as she said, “You as well!” Once they were gone though, her smile quickly faded. She’d noticed the abrupt end to their hug, and knew Button was the real wild card amongst the three. And this didn’t help her fears at all.