1001 Cuddly Nights

Chapters

Night 2: Rescue
Night 7: Affection
Night 41: Castle
Night 53: Nightmare
Night 70: Magic
Night 108: Confession
Nights 313-315: Sick
Night 1001: Legend

Night 2: Rescue

Groaning, you scrunch up your face and flip over onto your side. It had been a long night thus far, and despite a crippling need for sleep, you were no closer to unconsciousness than you were an hour ago.

Feeling somewhat cold from your close proximity to the biting wind and oppressive snowfall just outside your window, you bring in your limbs towards the center of your body and pull your comforter up over your head. After a few moments, your shivers subside and you allow yourself yet another sigh.

Suddenly, there is a gentle rapping at your door. It doesn’t startle you too much, given that you’re awake and alert. “Hellooo?” a soft voice calls through your door.

Now rather excited, you sit up quickly. “Yes? Uh, wh-who is it?”

Your door opens slowly and an indigo pony muzzle pops through the grasp. “It’s the princess of good dreams and cuddles! Can I come in?”

Princess Luna had visited you once last week. She was, if she was to be believed at least, a magical pony princess from another world with control over the moon, stars, and dream magic. While working on new magic with a powerful pony wizard- Lord Swirlystar, or something like that- she crossed into your world.

Her dream magic seemed to lead her toward you; like usual, you were struggling to go to sleep. Evidently, you were also a source of powerful magic which allowed Luna an easy route back to her world and filled Luna with a sense of, as she put it, ‘regeneration’.

After you woke up well-rested in the morning, you had been sure that your experience talking and cuddling with an adorable pony princess had been a dream. Or, you did, until you read the note that she had placed on your desk promising to be back whenever you needed help sleeping. It was, as she explained, her duty to help others achieve peaceful sleep.

You didn’t think too much of her explanation, since you were still in disbelief and didn’t expect to ever see her again. And yet, here she was again, an excited smile playing on her lips.

You sit up and yawn. “Welcome back, Luna! Come on in and turn on the lights for me.”

Princess Luna’s blue aura surrounds the lightswitch and the lights snap on quickly. The door swings open the rest of the way and Luna trots into the room joyously. “How have you been!? I could feel your sleep frustration from all the way back in Equestria.”

“Tired. I’m tired,” you groan. “And sleep eludes me.” Your arms wrap around yourself in an attempt to ward off the cold air in your apartment.

“You look cold, too,” Luna cooes. “My recommendation is that you find somepony to snuggle with. That should help you warm up and get to sleep.”

Despite your severe lethargy, you’re able to crack a smile. “O-oh no. There’s no pony who could possibly fit that description, though! Especially not one that will give me pleasant dreams and is super soft.”

Princess Luna lets out a faux gasp and places an adorned hoof over her mouth. “W-wait a second, I fit those descriptors!” Kicking her silver shoes off and removing her crown and headpiece, she places a single hoof up onto your bed. A fiendish smile graces her features as she asks, “Could I come and hold you?”

“Well, I suppose so,” you sigh, rolling on your side. “Just be gentle, please.”

The sheets rumble over your body and your mattress sags gently as Luna climbs aboard it and slinks under the covers. You can feel her warmth on your back as she scoots slowly towards you. Eventually, you feel her smooth, soft coat make contact with you, and she snakes a hoof around your midsection. When it reaches the mattress, she squeezes you tightly against her and snickers. “No...No...No! You need tight cuddles to warm you up!” she purrs, rubbing her muzzle against the crook of your neck.

The motion causes the fine hairs of her coat to rub back and forth across your neck, delivering a deep tingling sensation on your skin. You shiver gently in delight, the warmth of her body penetrating into the cavity under the covers and her touch delivering tantalizing impressions on different points of your body.

“You’re so tense,” she whispers softly, her previously playful tone now gone. “Just relax.”

You realize that Luna’s entry under the covers has indeed caused your muscles to tense up, and with some effort you follow her instructions, lengthening your limbs fully and releasing tension.

Immediately, Princess Luna modifies her strategy, loosening her hold on you but shifting her body downward to complement your form better. She now presses more closely against you, a hoof inserted between your knees and her tummy against your lower back.

The comfort and warmth begin slowly assaulting the fortress of your mind, and you can feel sleep slowly approaching. “Luna? Your Highness? Could you get the lights?”

“Of course!” a tinkling noise briefly emanates from behind your head and the lights click off. “I do my best work under cover of darkness, anyway.” As if to accentuate her point, Princess Luna’s wing wraps itself around you under the covers, her silky feathers conforming tightly to your body as if controlled by a vacuum.

The hoof on your midsection moves itself up to your chest and begins rubbing in very gentle circles; the other moves its way to the top of your head and rubs your scalp in an intricate pattern.

You smile and can’t help but arch your neck backward gently under the pleasurable assault. You let out a blissful sigh. “How is it that you know exactly what to do to cuddle a person to sleep?” you ask the darkness, the ever-present feeling of Luna’s soft touch ensuring a response.

Princess Luna hums deeply from her chest, the reverberations shivering through your back and into your torso. She gives you a brief, affectionate squeeze and moves her head forward, which slides her muzzle deeper into the groove of your neck. “I’m just very skilled at my job,” she tells you. “Sleep, night, dreams, and the like. Cuddling is no different.”

When Luna is finished speaking, you notice that her muzzle’s new position means that you can feel the air from her breaths; cool, fresh inhalations, followed by warm and inviting exhalations, wash across your neck and jaw.

The gentle, hypnotizing rhythm pushes you deeper into a state of relaxation and you know that soon you’ll slip away. “Princess Luna?”

“Yes, dear?” she asks, her hooves still rubbing you in a gentle, comforting cycle.

“Thanks a bunch…”

Princess Luna doesn’t reply verbally, instead opting to nuzzle you.

“I-I’m gonna go to bed now,” you slur.

“See you soon, friend,” she wishes you in a farewell.

Night 7: Affection

You are slumped back on your basement couch, watching the beginning scenes of a mediocre action film. Sleep didn’t look like it was in the cards tonight. The room is dark, and you feel rather cozy and secure as the changing colors on the TV screen flicker across you and cast quickly-morphing shadows across the room.

You hear the door to the basement open. Immediately, you smile. That was either Luna, or a home invader coming to murder you.

You don’t move. After all, even if it were a home invader, it’s unlikely that you’d be able to prevent your death at this point.

Princess Luna glides around the couch, standing aside it as she marvels at your television. “How fascinating! What is that?”

“Good evening to you too, Princess Luna,” you cast at her. “It’s called a television.”

“Well, I know that,” Princess Luna scoffs, sticking her tongue out at you. “The magical crystals we use in ours give a much better image quality than this.” She gestures dismissively to your apparatus. “I was asking about the movie.”

You frown. There is certainly more to these ponies than first meets the eye, it seems. “Oh. I, uh, I’m not sure. It’s some war movie I got for Christmas a few years ago. I just put it in to pass the time until I can sleep.”

“Violence is your sleep aid?” She asks intently. Her tone softens. “Did you not have faith that I would show up to help?”

“I-I did, it’s just, you know, I wasn’t sure. You don’t always show up when I need y...when I’m having trouble sleeping.”

Princess Luna frowns and blinks. “I’ve been doing better recently though, haven’t I?”

You ponder the question for a moment. “Yeah, I think so. Three out of the last five nights you’ve been here.”

“Now it is four of six,” she grins. Her neck turns as the sounds of soldiers deploying into trucks to head out into the war zone begins to pipe up from the television. “Well, I wouldn’t want to ruin your movie time…” she tells you, eyes fixated on the television. “Instead of cuddling in bed, maybe we could snuggle here instead and watch the movie?”

You can’t make out very many of Luna’s features in the darkness, but you can see the silhouette of her frame tense up as you ask your next question. “Ah, interested in the movie, are we?”

Luna sputters for a moment. “I-I just thought that maybe you would want to finish it, is all.”

“Well, I don’t care either way, now that you’re here. However, you’re the princess, so I think that maybe you should call the shots.”

Her body remains still, but the dark blotches that are her ears perk up. She turns her head to you and you can see her grin mischievously. “You’re right! I am a princess, so I can do what I want- and I say that we snuggle here.”

You gently pat the soft fabric next to you and Princess Luna gingerly steps up onto the couch, swinging her backside around and sitting on her haunches next to you. Looking down at you, she waits intently.

“What?” you ask her with a knowing grin as she uses her magic to remove her metal regalia.

Pouting, she scoots over so that her side is in contact with yours.

“Ooooh, the snuggling. Ya coulda just said so,” you tease, leaning your head against her upper leg. “Actually, hold on, I’ll get us some blankets.”

Princess Luna’s magic pushes you back to the couch when you try to stand. “Allow me,” she offers, her aura opening up a pair of cabinets nearby and floating a soft blanket over to cover your legs and her front hooves.

You think for a moment. “Wait, how did you know where my blankets were?”

Luna turns her head so she can avoid meeting her gaze. “Well, to tell you the truth I explored your house a few times before I left, but while you were still asleep. Since I’ll be spending lots of time here, I thought it wise to, you know, familiarize myself with our surroundings.”

“...You snuck around my house while I was asleep to look through my cabinets?”

“H-hey,” Luna pouts defensively, smacking a front hoof against the couch gently. “I am a princess, remember? That means I can do what I want!”

You narrow your eyes at first, but after a few seconds Luna’s innocent defense and the first sounds of gunfire from the movie make you relax and smile. “I guess you’re right, your highness. My home is yours.” You wrap your right arm around the princess’ body, just below her wings, and pull her more tightly against you.

“Yes,” she spouts confidently. “That is correct. Thank you for your understanding, lowly servant.”

You almost pinch Luna on the flank in retaliation for her comedic belittling, but think better of it. Princesses, after all, also likely have power to assign capital punishment.

As you settle into the snuggling session, the first sensation that overtakes you is Luna’s warmth. You hadn’t noticed you were cold before, but a soft heat now radiates into your body through its interface with Luna. You rotate yourself a few degrees, just to open up more surface area to the calming, pleasant coziness.

In response to your movement, Princess Luna hums gently and rests the side of her head atop yours. “Are we comfortable, Snuggles?”

You actually rather liked her new pet name for you, although you’d never tell her that directly. “Hmmm, very,” you purr into her coat without protesting. Gently, you give her a tight squeeze.

It’s hard to pet her coat in this position, but your right arm is able to brush up and down against her silken fur and the soft feathers of her wings. The feeling they leave hangs upon your skin like a ghost.

Without thinking and as if possessed, you let your right hand, which is wrapped around the far side of Luna’s body, drift down to her hoof. Your fingers wrap around it and lift it up a few inches from the couch, holding it adoringly.

Luna’s head shifts, but she doesn’t remove it from its position atop yours. “What is that?” Her tone is impossible to read.

“I-it’s something that humans do when we want to show affection,” you explain, your speech jittering around the whole time. You’re so nervous that you almost retract your hand. “It’s called ‘holding hands’, b-but since you don’t have hands, I-I thought I’d hold your hoof.”

“Holding my hoof shows affection?” Luna asks softly. Her right front hoof remains flush against your hand.

Inadvertently, you tighten your grip. “Y-yes.”

“Oh.” Princess Luna presses her hoof more deeply into your palm. “Then why aren’t you holding my other front hoof, too?”

“Uh...what?”

Princess Luna leans back into you, using you to support some of her weight as she lifts her other front hoof and paws at your left hand with it. You flip it over, and she moves her hoof into it, allowing your fingers to close around it and caress the soft fur where a normal horse’s fetlock would be.

“You do adore your princess, don’t you?” she teases. “I work very hard to help you sleep; surely that is worth two held hooves?”

You can feel yourself blush, although it’s hidden by the darkness. “Yes, I would say so, your highness.” Her indigo coat, which is effectively black under the low light, now blocks most of your vision, since Luna’s position has changed. You place your cheek against the downy, warm darkness and rub against it.

Tentatively, you inhale, and Luna’s scent comes to you. It is remarkably pleasant and you can even make out hints of lavender; calming and drowse-inducing. As your head rests against her withers and your fingers gently run over Luna’s hooves, you can hear the gentle tingling of her magic grasp the remote and turn down the volume of the movie, until it can barely be heard at all. Instead, all you can make out are the sounds of your own exhalations, Luna’s slow, deep breaths, and the quiet ambience of snuggling; the scratching of your fingers against her coat and the soft ruffling of her feathers.

“If I fall asleep,” you mumble, “will you carry me up to my bed, Luna?”

She yawns. “C-can we just sleep here?” she asks you.

You squeeze her hooves affectionately. “You’re the Princess.”

She lets out a happy little squee. “I am. Sleep here it is.” Gently, she pushes you to a lying position on the couch and rests her head on your chest. She brings her hooves up gently to rest there, as well. “Please hold my hooves, too,” she asks in a way which almost sounds like pleading.

Gently, you bring your hands down and wrap them around her front hooves.

Princess Luna sighs happily. “I do so enjoy affection.”

Night 41: Castle

You stumble down the stairs, bleary-eyed and once again unable to sleep. Turning the corner into your kitchen, you see Princess Luna. Her head is lost in the depths of your refrigerator.

You weren’t surprised. Luna had been spending more and more time with you, which you rather appreciated. After all, it meant more cuddles and better sleep for you. You had both become very comfortable with each others’ presence, hence Luna’s rooting around for food.

Luna removes her head from the refrigerator, her head pointed upward as she uses her magic to chug at least a quarter of a gallon of milk. Eventually, she removes her lips from the plastic jug. “Ahhhh.”

Noticing you in the corner of her eye, She turns at you and smiles, some milk left on her muzzle. “There you are! Want any milk to help you sleep?” She shakes the jug tantalizingly with her magic aura.

“Warm milk is supposed to help you sleep, and no, I do not want any of that milk, since you were just drinking directly from it. It’s your milk now.”

Princess Luna places the jug back in the refrigerator. “Oooooh,” she mocks, shaking a hoof in the air. “Look at me, the big, scary human afraid of catching pony cooties. As if you weren’t already infected from cuddling close to me almost every night.” She then burps rather loudly and wipes the milk off of her muzzle with a hoof. “Excuse me.”

Perhaps there was such a thing as being too comfortable in each others’ presence.

“Alright, well, what’s your plan for tonight?” you ask.

“My plan? Why is it that I have to have the plan?”

“Because you’re the magical pony princess of cuddles that’s here to fix my sleep, remember? So, what? Cuddle outside with some blankets? Snuggle together and watch another movie?”

Luna tilts her head curiously at you. “What’s wrong with your bed?”

“Ugh, I’m just sick of that thing right now,” you huff. “Never does me any good.”

“Well, I could just cuddle you on the kitchen floor. That way we don’t have to go anywhere,” Luna suggests, closing the fridge door with her magic and flopping down on her side onto the tile. She grimaces.

“Little cold down there, eh?” you scoff knowingly.

“Y-yeah, just a little,” she replies, wincing and she stands back up. “I’m okay with another movie night, but we have to make snacks first.”

“What? Why?”

“We never have snacks! I simply cannot truly enjoy a movie and a good snuggling without snacks.”

“Alright, fine, we’ll make some popcorn, and-”

“No, I mean like snacks. Stuff that I’d be ashamed for ponies to see me eat. Like pancakes with chocolate and peanut butter mixed in, and cheese dip with ten kinds of cheese. Real snuggling food, do you understand?"

“That sounds disgusting,” you question. Suddenly, your eyes light up. “Why don’t we build a fort!?”

“A fort?” Luna asks. “Will conquering your enemies and building symbols of military domination in their lands help you to sleep?”

“Not like that,” you begin explaining, smiling at the vestiges of Luna’s long exile appearing once again in her understanding. “Like a miniature fort for cuddling. Y’know, out of pillows and blankets and things.”

Her eyes appear to sparkle. “Oh! Well, that sounds very nice as well! Perhaps we should make the fort in that alcove?” she suggests, pointing toward a nook in the wall between your kitchen and living room, left by the architect for some unknown reason. “Less space means that we’d have to cuddle much closer."

You regard Luna carefully, highly impressed with her critical thinking. “I like the way you think, Your Highness.”

A few minutes later and you have made a line of cushions covering the ground, leaving a two-foot gap between the two walls and a good five feet in length of cuddling space, all covered by a blanket roof. The entrance is hidden, obscured by yet more cushions.

Luna climbs in gingerly. There is not enough room in the fort for her to turn around, so when she reaches the end of the fort, a very short portion of her flowing, starry tail still hangs out. “I am Princess Luna, sovereign of this very comfortable symbol of military prowess!” she crows triumphantly from inside. “Now if only a gallant knight was to enter into my service and protect this fiefdom!”

Taking that as your cue, you wiggle your way awkwardly into the tight space, your side butting up against Luna’s. “Have no fear, your highness, I am here to pledge myself to your cause in exchange for land rights and coin.”

“Excellent!” Luna gasps, clopping her hooves together in the low light. “Now, we must bring up the drawbridge!” Her horn lights up, plugging the fort entrance with a couch cushion. When the magical aura is extinguished, you are both left in almost complete darkness.

You wrap an arm around Luna; the contact of your hand with her far side causes her to giggle and flare up her wings. “How in Equestria are we going to be able to cuddle at all in this small space?” she asks you.

“This isn’t Equestria,” you tell her, rolling her on her side and pulling her tightly against you. “Welcome to Earth.”

Luna chuckles a little and wiggles her hips to find the perfect position. “I don’t think I’ve let you be the big spoon before,” she muses, placing one of her hooves over the hand rubbing her tummy. “I suppose this is your lucky day, brave knight.”

You nuzzle her cheek from behind and give her a squeeze. “C’mon, I know you like being cuddled too, instead of just doing all of the cuddling.”

She wiggles her hips slightly and presses her body back against yours affectionately. “Yeah, I do. To be honest, I like being the little spoon more than I do anything else.”

You half-chuckle, half-hum as you weasel your left leg in between her back hooves and groan softly in contentment. “Can you wrap one of those blankets around us?”

Luna’s horn lights up softly, bathing you both in a gentle blue light as a brand new blanket gently lays itself over you both. Then, just as before, a calming pitch black falls around you.

"It is a little cramped in here," you muse, squirming a little as you adjust your body against hers and wrap your arms more tightly around her barrel. "We better cuddle tighter!"

“Mmmm,” she hums softly, shimmying in ecstasy as your hand runs through her chest floof. “Comfortable!”

The next night, Luna enters your room carrying a glass of milk in her magical aura. "I brought you some warm milk!"

"Thank you," you coo back at her, taking it and chugging it down quickly.

When you're finished, you look back up at the Princess of the Night, who is grinning gleefully. You crinkle up your nose and look down at the glass, then at her. "Wait...is...is this the milk from-"

Princess Luna immediately bursts out laughing, and wipes a tear away from her eye as she struggles to regain her breath. "Y-y-you have pony cooties n-now!"

"Oh yeah?" you bellow, standing up in bed. "Well, if I'm going down with the deadly infection, I'm taking you with me!"

Jumping off of the bed, you tackle Luna to the ground and begin tickling under her front legs.

"No!" she cries, cackling maniacally and squirming as you move your hands down and dance them across her tummy.

"I can't help it!" you growl while grinning, your eyes widening maddeningly. "Violent tickle assaults are a symptom of pony cootie infection!"

Night 53: Nightmare

You hear a set of hooves clopping down the stairs to your basement. Looking over your shoulder, you see a large pony enter your basement.

You squint briefly at the black-coated figure. Nonetheless, the pony looks familar. “...Luna?”

“I am no Luna,” the imposing figure begins, flashing you a grin filled with razor-sharp chompers. “I am Nightmare Moon: Queen of Equestria!”

Despite this pony’s similarities to Princess Luna, you eye her teeth nervously. You’re not panicking though. Ponies don’t eat meat...right?

“Now,” she bellows regally, “I shall strike terror into your heart by snuggling you into submission for hours and hours!” Showing her pearly whites again, she lets out a hearty, evil laugh.

You relax immediately upon hearing the word ‘snuggling’. “Are you sure that will work, Your Highness?” you ask her. “I actually kind of like snuggling. Doesn’t sound like that will strike much fear into my heart.” You get up and waltz over toward her.

Her muzzle scrunches up and ‘Nightmare Moon' looks around the room frantically with her slitted eyes. “W-well, I just won’t snuggle you then!” she protests, turning her back on you.

“Aw, but don’t you wanna?” you ask, running your hand up her back. “I bet you could use a hug.”

“I...I could,” she whimpers softly. “Being an evil queen is simply so demanding…”

“Or, maybe you’d like a hoof massage, or a back rub, or for me to brush your mane, instead?” you ask with a knowing grin.

Her ears perk up immediately. “Yes! I demand that you provide those services to your queen!”

“Right this way, oh frightful one,” you ingratiate, bending over and holding out a hand toward the couch.

Defiantly and powerfully, ‘Nightmare Moon’ strides to the couch and sits on it as if it were a throne, her body facing parallel to the direction of the furniture. Sitting beside her cross legged, you pick up one of her hooves between your hands and begin to roll over it gently with your fingers. “Thank you for taking mercy on me, your highness,” you tease, nonetheless delivering your thanks with a sincere tone. “I was afraid you would have me killed, or thrown in a dungeon, or even that you’d eat me.”

Her lips spread wide to display a faux-sinister grin filled with sharp teeth. “Oh, I wouldn’t thank me yet, knave,” she hissed playfully, daintily holding her hoof out while you worked on it. “Your fate is still uncertain. Although…” she sighs blissfully as you run your thumbs in circles around two tight areas, pressing in gently. “...At this rate, you have nothing to worry about.”

When you are satisfied that her hoof was taken care of, you switch to the other. “So tell me, your highness, how do you look so absolutely beautiful but maintain that evil, threatening aesthetic at the same time?”

‘Nightmare Moon’ gasps slightly and you can make out a blush beginning to form across her dark face. “H-how dare you mock your queen!? I shall not dignify such an unfair question with a response!”

“Nothing mocking about the question, Your Highness. Please forgive it- I was just overcome by your intimidatingly pretty form.”

Her whole face becomes bright red and she sputters twice before remaining silent. You let yourself smile for a moment before getting back to work on her hoof, slowly moving your hands upward until they reach her mid-leg.

“Enough,” she declares, seemingly having gotten over her embarrassment. A brush pops into existence in front of your eyes, and you grab it quickly. “My mane requires attention.”

As ‘evil’ Luna turns around such that her back and mane are within your grasp, you scoot forward to sit just a hair’s breadth from her. Grinning mischievously, you bring a hand up to lift her dark, undulating mane away from her and run the brush through it softly. Luna, you by this point know, rather enjoys having her many brushed and played with during your cuddling sessions.

Nightmare Moon hums softly and arches her head back as you run the brush through her mane, every once in awhile letting out a soft, relaxed sigh.

After a few moments, you place the brush down on the floor. Nightmare Moon groans slightly in disapproval when she doesn’t feel any brush strokes for several seconds. She soon shuts up, though, when you begin kneading the tight area of her back between her wings. She hisses softly as you work upwards from there and to the base of her neck along her silky coat. Her mane runs across your hands and arms, leaving ghostly impressions upon the skin.

You run your hands softly up and down the center of her back, rubbing it gently in a bid to relax her. It seems to be working well enough; her posture has collapsed into a pitiful form, and she whines softly every now and again in bliss.

Lifting your hands off of her back and placing them onto her wings, you coax them out gently by stroking softly along the main feathers. When she flares them out, you gently run hooked fingers through them to fluff them up. “Are you pleased with my work, Your Highness?”

Nightmare Moon folds her wings and turns around again to face you. “I am contented by your performance, yes. Before I banish you to your quarters in the dungeon, I believe you are deserving of a reward. While it is most uncommon, I shall allow you the honor of snuggling up with your queen.”

“Oh, no thanks, most powerful Nightmare Moon.”

Her eyes had both been closed in a confident expectation of cuddles, but one peeked open upon hearing this. “I...you what?”

“You don’t have to bother yourself with rewarding me. I was just happy to be of service to my favorite queen in the world!”

Nightmare Moon’s lower lip began to quiver slightly. “W-w-well then i-it’s an order that you have to snuggle me!”

You bow deeply before collapsing on your back on the couch. “As my queen wishes!”

Collapsing on you, Nightmare Moon nuzzles your neck and begins choking on sobs. She breathes heavy, laden breaths onto your skin as she tries to gain control of herself. “Wh-why are you so nice to me?” she sniffles.

“Because I like you, Princess,” you tell her honestly, lightly kissing the top of her head. You smile as her ears perk up in response. “By the way, I enjoy the new look you used tonight. Interesting roleplay tactic.”

The impostor villain wipes her tears on your chest and pulls her limbs in closer to herself. “J-just be quiet and hold me, already,” she demands, her voice still wavering.

“Sure thing, Your Highness.”

Night 70: Magic

“...You think that magic can make our cuddling more fun?”

“I sure do,” Princess Luna calmly asserts, nudging your chin twice with her muzzle. “C’mon, at least let me try it!”

“I don’t know...from your stories it seems that a lot can go wrong when magic is involved. Equestria seems like it’s always in danger.”

“We are in a controlled environment! It’s just me here,” she pouts, pushing you gently back against the couch cushions and climbing to hover over you.

“That is what concerns me,” you mumble skeptically.

“What?” she spits quickly back at you.

“What?” you reply just as quickly.

“Did you just insinuate that our magical faculties were lacking!?” Princess Luna half asks, half accuses, glowering down at you.

“Uh…” you fumble, searching desperately for a verbal escape as Luna’s piercing eyes slowly narrow. “...You look very pretty today.”

“It is too late for that!” she pouts, sitting down on your lap and scowling angrily at you.

“N-no, I’m serious! Did you do something new with your makeup?”

Luna’s features soften momentarily. “I did, actually! I can’t believe you noticed; my new eyeliner is a few shades darker and-” Suddenly, Luna’s scowl returns, and she shakes her head, growling. “You crafty wretch! You almost had me there!”

Weakly, you smile up at her. “Can’t blame me for trying.”

“No, but I can certainly punish you,” Princess Luna teases, smiling devilishly as she brings a hoof up to boop you on the nose. Her horn is surrounded by an indigo glow as her wicked grin grows wider.

You try to wiggle out of her grasp, but she has you pinned firmly enough down that only a burst of effort could free you. Unwilling to potentially hurt your pony cuddle buddy, you settle for pleading. “Princess, l-let’s be reasonable about this. Can we at least talk it out?”

“This is a slight variation on a relatively simple piece of magic,” she pontificates. It was unclear if she was ignoring or obliging you. “It has a complicated name, but foals in Equestria often call it ‘Want it, Need it’.”

You cringe in expectation of being hit with magic, but are surprised to see the tendrils of color flow downward and surround Luna. After a moment of undulation, the aura dissipates and Princess Luna’s smile becomes more genuine. She looks gently at you, as if expecting something.

You look her up and down. “Woah, Princess, when did you become so...fluffy?” You feel your heart begin to race as you stare at the floofy blue barrel in front of you.

“I’ve always been fluffy,” she winks. “Isn’t that why I’m such a good cuddler?”

You snake your arms around her barrel and pull your face into her fluff. Inhaling gently, you let out a quiet, muffled groan of approval. “Since when are you like, this aromatic?” You squeeze her tightly against you, inhaling deeply again.

Snickering, Luna nuzzles the top of your head. “Let go of me for a moment, won’t you?”

Your breath catches in your throat and you look up immediately to meet Luna’s gaze, heartbreak shooting from your eyes. “B-b-but…”

Luna leans backward, straining your grip. You lean forward quickly in a desperate attempt to halt her movement.

"NO, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME LUNA!"

Luna falls forward against your torso, laughing heartily. A flash emanates from her horn and you suddenly feel slightly less enamored with holding her. After a few more moments, Luna’s breath begins to catch. “I-I-I’m sorry,” she groans, wiping an eye. “I couldn’t keep it up, it was too weird.”

You blink a few times and slowly retract your hug. “What did you just do to me?”

“Nothing,” she grinned. “I just made me the most wantable, needable object you’ve ever come across. Things could’ve gotten a lot more embarrassing for you, so I called it early.” Wiggling back to lie lengthwise along the couch, she yawns. “Come snuggle me.”

Still feeling a bit weird about everything that transpired, you crawl over to rest your torso against her back. You wrap your arms around her midsection and bury your nose into her mane in a ritual that you had become very familiar with.

Sighing, Princess Luna tilts her head back to deepen your contact. “Is...is it okay if I try one last spell?”

You groan audibly. “Luna…”

“Please!? I promise you’ll like this one!”

You make a noise that sounds like a cross between a growl and a choke. “Okay, fine. But just one, and it better not be anything wacky.”

You hear her magic warm up again, and a flash signals the development of a new situation. “All done. Take a look!”

Luna’s voice sounded far away. Curious, you peek out from behind Luna’s mane to find, standing on your carpet five feet from the couch, Princess Luna.

Fear grips your heart and you lurch upward, looking down at the form next to you on the couch. Unexpectedly, it too is Princess Luna. You look back and forth between the Lunas rapidly. “You cloned yourself?”

“Goodness no!” the further away Luna tells you. “Cloning magic only ever leads to defective copies and serious instances of identity theft and financial fraud. This is more of a...splitting of the essence and mind.”

“I can only really control one of me at once,” couch Luna explains. “I have to concentrate on one form at a time, switching back and forth as I so please. It’s a little mentally arduous, but can be useful...sometimes.”

You furrow your brow as you ponder the philosophical implications of such a scenario. Quickly giving up, you stare dumbly at a blank space on the carpet between the ponies.

“Well?” the carpet Luna asks impatiently. Are you going to snuggle me, or not?”

You look down to the couch Luna, who looks back with a cocked brow. “You should listen to me, you know. I am a good cuddler.”

“I...I’m already cuddling you?” you meekly offer to the distant Luna, reclining again to tightly hold couch Luna against you.

“You just don’t get it,” Luna says as she trots over to the couch, shaking her head. “I thought you were more creative!" She clambers over you, wiggling roughly against you and inserting herself in the space between you and the couch. Her wings wrap around your back and onto the other Luna that you are holding. Slowly, her hoof dances over your shoulder, arm, and neck.

“A cuddle sandwich, with only me!” little spoon Luna comments. “I don’t have to share you! How does it feel?”

You close your eyes and smile, burying your face into little spoon Luna’s mane. “Really nice. Really, really nice.”

Big spoon Luna pulls you even tighter against her as little spoon Luna pushes back gently against you, effectively squeezing you in a two-pony cuddle hug.

“You were right,” you sigh softly. “I do like this. Thanks, Luna.”

Another magical pop is heard, and a third Luna clambers on top of the pile to kiss your exposed cheek. “You’re welcome!”

You blush vividly red at the action, squirming slightly in surprise as the scent of three Lunas overpowers you. Surrounded now on all sides, a comfortable warmth swirls around your limbs.

The new Luna laughs, nuzzling into the crook of your neck. “Embarrassed?”

“Y-you got me by surprise, that’s all! I’m totally not embarrassed!”

The Lunas coordinate their next statement.

“Uh!”

“Huh!”

“Suuuuuuuuure!”

Night 108: Confession

You lay warm and snug in your bed, with Luna snuggled up beside you. Her head lies on your chest, her mane gently brushing across your chest as it moves in an otherworldly fashion. Smiling, you move a hand up to rub gently between her ears. Her soft mane runs between your fingers like water as her ears flick downward to make room.

Sighing blissfully, Princess Luna rubs her cheek rather hard across your chest and tightens her grip on your torso.

“I’m really glad we met, Luna,” you tell her softly, concerned that even normal volume could ruin the moment.

Luna makes a short, high, and quiet groan and squeezes you again. “I am too,” she mumbles softly into your shirt.

“Talking and cuddling with you keeps me looking forward to tomorrow,” you continue honestly. “It’s made my life so much happier.”

“Mine too,” she hums, wiggling upward to nestle her muzzle against your neck. She exhales softly, warming your neck and sending a tickling sensation down your spine. “I can’t help but smile when it’s time to come over for the day.”

“I haven’t had trouble sleeping in a long time. I’m so lucky you stumbled upon me by accident.”

You can feel Luna’s eyelashes brush across your neck as her eyes open suddenly. She fidgets slightly against you and loosens her grip.

“...Are you alright, Your Most Cuddly Highness?”

“Y-yes,” she replies, her voice catching a little bit. “A-all is well.”

“It doesn’t sound like it,” you respond, frowning in concern. “Are you in an uncomfortable position?”

“N-no, I’m fine!” she asserts brusquely, accentuating her statement with an irritable huff.

“Alright.”

A few moments later you feel a strange sensation against the side of your chest. Angling your neck slightly, you see Luna trembling.

She takes in a sharp breath and begins quietly sobbing into your chest.

Feeling heartbroken, you launch into action, running a hand gently up and down her back. “Shhh...shhh...It’s okay, Luna. I’m here.”

That turns on the waterworks, and Luna rolls on top of you, obscuring her face entirely in your shirt as she begins to audibly cry. Holding her tightly, you continue to rub her back gently.

She looks up after more than a minute, her mascara and eyeshadow leaving colored trails down her face. “I-I...I’m a bad pony!”

Wrapping your arms tightly around her, you sit her up on your lap facing you. “Luna, look at me.”

Slowly, her bloodshot eyes flicker up to look into yours.

“You are not a bad pony. You’re a great friend, a very good pony, and a pretty princess, too.”

Luna bites her lip. “I-I have something I need to tell you, b-b-but you’re going to hate me when I do.”

“There’s just about nothing you could say that would make me hate you,” you answer earnestly.

Luna bows her head again, tears dripping down onto your lap. “I...lied to you.”

“Lied about what?” you cajole, still rubbing her back gently.

“I...I didn’t find you by accident. I looked for you.”

“Oh?” you ask, your interest suddenly piqued. “What do you mean?”

She looks back up into your eyes. “This wasn’t an accident. I just couldn’t spend my nights alone anymore and...I used magic to find a cuddle buddy that was lonely and had a hard time sleeping. The trail led me to your world, and you. I-I’m so sorry.”

“You’re sorry that you were lonely and wanted a cuddle buddy? And that you told just a little fib because you weren’t sure I’d be okay with it?”

Luna purses her lips and stares at you curiously. “You’re not mad?”

“I’m thrilled!” you tell her, a beaming smile taking over your face. “You always wanted to be besties and cuddle pals with me! Me! It wasn't an accident!”

Luna smiles too. “I’m sorry for lying.”

“You were forgiven long before you even confessed,” you inform her, using your thumbs to gently wipe the tears and the mascara from under her eyes. “Tell me though, cuddling here doesn’t actually help you recharge your magic, does it?”

“No,” Luna giggles. “It was actually a rather silly bit of reasoning. I can’t believe you didn’t see through it.”

“I don’t know anything about magic,” you offer as a defense.

“Still,” she retorts, booping you on your nose.

“Does this mean that you can spend every night here snuggling? Y’know, since you don’t have to pretend it’s just to help me sleep, and all?”

Princess Luna’s eyes light up. “Yes! I’ll move some of my stuff here tomorrow!”

“Awesome! Now, what do you say that we charge up your magic with some cuddles, hmm?”

A clear conscience giving her new freedom, Luna tackles you into the bed, laughing as she wraps her hooves around you.

Nights 313-315: Sick

As you walk down the hallway to your bedroom, a loud sneeze startles you. Leaping around, you crouch instinctively in a defensive position, facing your attacker.

Princess Luna stands in the doorway to your bathroom, her makeup and other toiletries visible on the counter. She’s shaking lightly and leaning against the frame, looking at you with tired, almost lifeless eyes. She sniffles once. “I’m sick,” she chokes out.

“Oh, my poor little pony,” you lament, your fright quickly forgotten. The adrenaline coursing through your veins allows you to quickly close the gap between you and her, and you place the back of your hand on her forehead. “You’ve got a terrible fever!” you declare, noting that her normally impeccably kept mane was knotted, split, and had stopped its magical flowing entirely. “Let me take your temperature.”

Princess Luna brings a tissue over to her face using her magic and blows her nose weakly and ineffectively, practically choking as she balls the used kleenex up and throws it in the general direction of the trash can. It lands harmlessly on the tile floor. “Don’t leave me…” she croaks pitifully.

You sigh. “Why don’t you go lie down on the bed? I promise I’ll be there in a second.”

“Noooooo,” she whines. “I’ve been lying there all day and I feel all gross going back.”

“Alright, alright,” you relent, wrapping an arm around her neck to steady her. “Let’s go to the living room and get you situated, then.”

Luna staggers down the hall with you, leaning roughly against your torso and clearing her throat several times. “Everything hurts.”

“I know, I know,” you soothe. “I promise we’ll get you fixed up.” Walking her over to the couch, you sit her down.

“Errrghh,” Luna groans, beginning to shiver profusely. “The leather is cold…”

Nabbing a blanket from a nearby chair, you spread it out and tuck Luna in it, running your hands behind her back and flanks to make sure she is securely snuggled down.

She still shivers, although much less than before. “You touched my butt,” she says, the hint of a smile on her face as she looks up at you.

“Your flank, and it’s only because I’m your nurse,” you reply. “If you want, I can take the blanket away,” you tease, reaching down toward her.

Luna crumples inward. “No! Leave it!”

“I’m glad you’re well enough to joke,” you muse, going to the kitchen to pick up some drugs and a thermometer.

Returning a few moments later, you slip the thermometer under Luna’s tongue. “105 degrees!? You’re running a six-and-a-half degree fever!”

“Four degrees,” she weakly corrects, closing her eyes and smacking her lips to clear the feeling of the thermometer from her mouth. “Ponies have body temperatures of 101 degrees.”

You roll your eyes. “That’s still not ideal.” You pour out some green liquid into a cup. “Take some of this flu medicine; it should help your congestion and fever.

Luna doubles over and lets out several deep, hacking coughs onto your carpet.

“...and the cough,” you add.

Luna snatches the medicine from you and downs it in one gulp. Immediately, she profusely gags and coughs several times.

“Please do not throw up on my couch.”

“That tastes terrible,” she groans, her head flopping backward onto the top of your couch.

“Yeah, I know,” you apologize, stuffing a pillow under her neck. “But it’ll help you feel better, I promise. Drink some of that water I got you; it’ll wash the taste away and besides, it’s important to stay hydrated.”

As Luna drinks, you take a seat next to her and scoot close so your side is touching hers. She looks over at you wearily, but her crinkled eyes betray a touch of curiosity. “Thank you for helping me,” she says. “But...aren’t you worried I’m going to get you sick?”

You let out a scoff, heartily dismissing the idea. “Of course not. You’re a pony, so whatever virus you got can’t infect me. Besides, I’d be helping you even if I could get sick. That’s what friends and loved ones do.”

“So am I a friend, or a loved one?” she asks, the tired smile coming back to her face.

“Can’t a man love his friends? Especially his cuddle buddies?”

Luna’s head collapses over to rest on your shoulder, and she closes her eyes. “Yes...but I can’t help but notice you said ‘cuddle buddies’, with an ‘s’. That better have been a slip of the tongue.”

“Just you, my dear,” you assure her, running your fingers through her disheveled mane. You reach down to the table with your other hand to pick up a small blob of vapor rub, and begin rubbing it on her fluffy chest in gentle circles. “Although, remember that time that Celestia came over to visit?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Luna groans. You can feel her face contort uncomfortably as the memory comes back to her.

“There we are, tangled up in cuddling knots, and from the hallway I just hear, ‘Luna! Luuuuuunnaaaaaa!’”

“She is so embarrassing,” Luna cringed. “I had mentioned you a few times and she knew I was spending most nights away from the castle, but I hardly thought that she would come and surprise us like that.”

“She was very sweet,” you say with a mischievous grin.

Princess Luna smacks your chest with a hoof, although with far less vitality and force than you are used to when you misbehave around her. “I’m still very mad at you both about that.”

“Well, you were so adamant that there was nothing romantic going on, it seemed perfectly fair that she’d want to have her own turn cuddling me.”

“She knows just how to get under my skin and press my buttons,” Luna growls. “Even though we’re not together, she knew I’d be jealous.”

“And why is that?” you ask, nuzzling her horn. “Hm?”

“I don’t have to answer your questions,” she huffs. “I’m a princess!”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, one cuddling session with your sister was enough,” you explain honestly. “She’s a little too alpha for my taste. Bruised a couple of ribs, although I will say she was very huggable and smelled nice.”

“That was probably all the cake she eats. Gives her a little extra for somepony to hug…” Luna mopes, looking down at her much leaner form hidden underneath the blanket.

“It was nice of her to make me a duke! But, don’t worry,” you tell her, wrapping your arm around her and holding her far hoof. “You smell even better.”

“Really?”

You plunge your nose into Luna’s mane and inhale, taking a moment to think. “Yes, really. Even when you’re sick, it’s no contest. Plus, we can just hold each other like this- I don’t get little spooned halfway to oblivion.”

Luna giggles gently and places her other hoof over your hand, patting it gently. “I’m glad.”

“Were you here all day?”

“Just about. Celestia knows I’m ill and is taking care of things in Equestria. I thought I might catch you early, but I just got worse and worse as the day progressed.”

“Sorry Lulu, I was at work.”

“Well,” Luna says, nudging you over onto your back with her muzzle, “you can make it up to me by cuddling. Cuddling fights the flu, you know.”

“Really?”

“Probably,” she shrugs, resting her head on your chest and letting the rest of her body lie limp like a comforter over yours. Gently, you reach up with your hands and begin to gently rub Luna’s swollen neck, eliciting some deep purrs from her. Her hooves wrap around your neck and pull her close against you as you work.

Minutes later, beginning to doze off, you are awoken with a start as Luna sneezes loudly and wetly into your neck.

“...Sorry,” she moans, sniffling.

“I’m going to pretend that never happened.”

Two days later, you lie incapacitated under the covers of your bed, looking at the ceiling with bleary eyes and a slack jaw.

“I have your soup,” Luna sing-songs as she walks into the room, placing a small tray on the nightstand. “How do you feel, my brave knight?”

“Please kill me,” you plead meekly at the ceiling.

“I can’t very well do that. Then you’ll be cold, and that doesn’t make for good cuddling.”

You continue to stare at the ceiling, motionless.

“C’mon,” Luna encourages, her pretty face entering your vision as she leans over you and looks into your eyes with her own deep, rich blue ones. “A bit of gallows humor is good for one’s spirits.”

You wait a few moments before your eyes slowly scrunch in displeasure. “Not if one is actually headed for the gallows...I spoke with your friend Twilight Sparkle, and also Alexander the Great today...Do you know he’s actually Chinese?”

“A little febrile delirium is good for morale, too,” Luna assures herself. Looking down at you with empathy, she soon slides under the covers and sidles up next to you, wrapping a hoof around your midsection and nuzzling your cheek. “My hero...You got sick because you were taking care of me…”

“Hey...yeah,” you groan, your sore throat turning every word into agony. “...This is all your fault.”

“You were the one who said you wouldn’t get sick. Besides…” Luna presses her lips to your cheek in an affectionate, wet kiss and humming into your skin for several seconds before breaking away. “...I think it was very brave, regardless.”

A cocky smile slowly spreads across your face before a jolt of lightning courses through your body, causing you to tense up and wince. “Erghh...Do we have anything for aches? Every muscle in my body hurts.”

“No pills for aches besides the ones you took earlier, and the bottle says to not take more than six a day.”

“How many have I had today?”

“Ten.”

You inhale a shaky breath slowly and let it out with great effort. “Grrrrrreaaaaat.”

“I have something for you though,” Luna says. Sitting up and straddling you, she begins running her hooves over your chest in tight, pressurized circles. “A little massage might help.”

You wince under the pain, but it soon subsides to a dull, somewhat pleasurable ache. You slowly close your eyes and hum as her hooves dance upward from your pectorals to your neck and shoulders. You shiver as they then run down your arms, leaving a trail of comfort in their wake. When she finishes, you sigh and open your eyes to look up gratefully at her.

Except that her face is close to yours, surprising you. She nuzzles your nose as she rubs the top of your head gently for a few moments.

“Okay,” she purrs in a very nurse-like manner, “time to flip you around.”

“Wait, I-”

Luna uses her magic to quickly flip you face down, causing you to let out a grunt of pain.

“Are you okay?” she asks quickly.

“My sinuses,” you moan.

“Oh, you’re fine,” Luna dismisses, stepping off of the bed to thoroughly rub your calves and hamstrings as you recover from the shock of being flipped over suddenly.

After a few minutes of that, she straddles your hips again and sits on your rear end, masterfully using her hooves to work out the knots under your shoulder blades.

You let out a pleasurable, monotone moan every several seconds as Luna works the aches out of your muscles, also savoring the comfortable feeling of her weight resting against you.

When Luna is confident she has finished, she collapses on top of your back in a cuddle, placing her muzzle next to your ear. “Did that help?” she whispers.

“Definitely,” you sigh into your pillow. “B-but can you cuddle me a different way?”

“Really? But this is one of your favorite positions!” she pleads, wiggling side to side gently in the manner you enjoyed so much.

“Usually, but my airway is so blocked up I’m worried I’m gonna choke.”

Luna flips over on her back and floats you to rest on her chest. “There, better?”

“Mmmhmmm,” you sigh into her barrel, already half asleep as you wrap your legs around hers and your arms around her torso.

Luna soothingly runs her hooves up and down your back. One of your ears hears Luna humming a soft melody, while the other hears the rhythmic, calming beating of her heart. Soon, both sounds lull you to sleep.

Night 1001: Legend

Like so many other nights before, you lie on your side spooning Princess Luna. Everything about the night seems the same as it usually does; the sounds of her breathing and her happy sighs are just so, her calming, familiar scent is the same as it is every night, and her tail teases your legs like normal. Even your fingers dance over her cutie mark in the same, practiced pattern as always, tracing out the blotches and the crescent moon with a memorized precision.

Still, this night felt different.

“You are a very pretty and very cuddly pony, Princess Luna.”

“And you are a very predictable flatterer,” she responds in a teasing manner, pressing her body back against yours in a cue to tighten your grip around her. “What is it that you want this time, hm? A massage? To watch one of those silly documentaries you like so much? Come on, out with it.”

“No no, I’m quite happy after you gave me those solid gold bits for my birthday last week. Although, if you’re offering, I wouldn’t mind another cuddle session with your sister.”

Luna chuckles softly. “I think we both know you’d much rather cuddle me.”

You nuzzle her ear. “You know me too well, Princess,” you whisper.

“Alright, well, how about we flip, and you can be the little spoon?”

“That sounds like a plan to me,” you say, releasing your grip on her and flipping onto your other side.

Luna flips as well, wrapping her hooves around you and slipping a back leg in between yours. She jostles for position, finally bringing her body in close and tight against your back and burying her muzzle in the back of your neck, where she lets out warm breaths that tease your skin. “We’ve been cuddle buddies for a long time, you know.”

“I know, and yet we’ve only ever spent two or three nights cuddling in your castle.”

“I like it here better. Less pressure. Everything is more intimate and cozy.”

“Can’t argue with that,” you say, bringing up a hand to hold her hoof.

Luna sighed like a filly talking to her school crush, rubbing her cheek against your neck. “I’ve gotten so used to it that I can’t imagine life without snuggling you.”

“Better get used to the idea. You’re like a billion years old, I’ve only got a hundred to live, if I’m lucky.”

“Fifteen hundred and change...and believe me, there is a difference between being ‘immortal’ as ponies think of it and truly being...eternal.”

“Either way you’re old,” you tease. “Still, I understand. Don’t be sad when I’m gone, okay? It’ll be a happy day when I meet my maker- I’ll be on to bigger and better things.”

“Even better than cuddling me?” she asks, faux disappointment in her voice

“A true and final fulfillment. Everything will be...perfect. I bet I’ll still miss you though- even though you sneezed on me that one time.”

“You’re one to talk- you puked on my royal slippers last month! I had to have them cleaned and polished by some very confused guards!”

You chuckle evilly. “I would have loved to have seen the look on their faces. Sorry about that, by the way. I will not be eating Chilean sea bass again any time soon.”

“Well, I’m worried about losing you a lot sooner than you were talking about. You’re going to go and marry a human one day, and then what about me? I doubt your wife will let me come over and snuggle with you both.”

“Probably not, but maybe I’ll have a super cool wife that’s okay with a cuddle puddle involving a magical pony princess. Even if she's not cool with it, it’s better that way- you don’t have to cuddle me when I get all gross and old.”

Luna squeezes you tightly against her. “I’ll never think of you as gross. You’re my best friend in the world.”

“Well, you’ll find some handsome horse to marry too, one day. And then we’ll both have someone, or somepony, to cuddle every night.”

“Promise you’ll still think of me once in a while when you cuddle?” she pleads.

“I promise. I wouldn’t worry about that happening anytime soon, though; if the last few years are any indication, my skills for courting the ladies leave much to be desired.”

Princess Luna giggles. “Well, you got a beautiful princess who is also a skilled cuddler to make her second residence with you, so that’s got to count for something.”

You flip around and rest your nose against the tip of her muzzle, staring into those deep pools of blue you know and love. “Maybe, but all you ponies are so cuddle-hungry that it’s a little different. That goes double for you, miss ‘I’m not going to let him go even if he really needs to go to the bathroom’.”

“Well, okay,” she smiles.

“We have plenty of cuddling nights like this left,” you assure her softly, running a hand through her mane. Your eyes light up in sudden inspiration. “But, if it’ll make you feel better, I can make a little catalog of our best experiences.”
Princess Luna tilts her head. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve been doing this so long that we have all sorts of great stories. I remember a lot of them; I can get to work writing them down in a book, and even add to it when we get new ones. That way, when the day does come, you can always read it and think of all the comfortable nights we spent together.”

Luna smiles broadly; a more genuine, loving smile than you’d ever seen on her face before. “I’d love that. I’ll make my own record for you to read.”

“It’s a deal.”

“I love you, my brave cuddle knight,” Luna whispers, closing her eyes and nestling her muzzle into your chest.

You kiss her once on the forehead. “I love you too, Princess Luna...Now, let’s get some shut eye.”

Author's Note

I started writing this story in early January because I got a giant Luna plushie to cuddle (which is totally awesome, btw)- and it was just a classic piece of cuddle trash.

As I kept writing, it morphed into something a little more than my usual escapist garbage; it became a reflection on the growth of a relationship, the capacity of cuddling to heal and comfort, and the ability of romance to take many forms- even semi-platonic ones, oddly enough.

I forget who it is, but one of the better writers on this site has as their bio, "Stories about ponies are stories about people." Wise words indeed.

Next up, a comedic Applejack story with absolutely zero redeeming value. Keep an eye out!