Cathartic Release

by ultra1437

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle, Tirek, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Adventure, Violence
Length: 4951

Tirek's defeat would've come so much easier if Celestia chose someone other than Discord initially.

Not porn, I swear, but that name was too good not to use. Blame this entirely on Knight of Cerebus for the idea.

Tirek's return could have been handled better with exactly one change in choice. Celestia shouldn't have sent Discord to take on Tirek, she should've sent Twilight and Luna, though they've got their own distractions.

Published 2018-03-25 18:10:12 UTC
Last updated 2018-03-25 18:10:12 UTC

Stressed No More

Celestia shot up in bed with a gasp, panting like she’d run a marathon.

The doors to her bedroom flew open as Luna practically threw herself through them. “Sister, are you alright?”

Celestia held a hoof to her face. “I’ve just had the most terrible dream.”

“Why do you think I’m here? You know as well as I that it was not a dream, but a vision!”

Celestia rolled to her hooves. “Then we haven’t much time. The stronger he becomes, the more we are all in danger.”

Calling an emergency princess meeting, Celestia and Luna met Cadance and Twilight minutes later, both princesses groggy and dishevelled. “Lord Tirek has found a way to escape Tartarus.”

“Lord Tirek? Why do I know that name...” Twilight groused, still trying to wake up.

Celestia sat down next to Twilight. “He is Scorpan’s brother. They both had come to Equestria from a far-off land, with the goal of stealing Equestrian magic. Scorpan had found friends easily, including a young Starswirl the Bearded, and gave up that goal. Tirek refused to give up, and Scorpan informed Luna and I to his actions and intent not long after. Scorpan was left free, but his brother was imprisoned in Tartarus for his crimes.”

Twilight nodded. “And he’s escaped?”

Luna copied her sister, sitting between Cadance and Twilight. “Yes. He has managed to escape Tartarus, and we believe it was when Cerberus left his post.”

Twilight looked over to Luna and cocked her head. “But wasn’t that almost a year ago?”

Luna put a hoof on the table, staring hard into it. “His time in Tartarus left him severely weakened. The vision that Celestia saw may very well have been his first victim.”

“Vision?” Twilight noticed in the corner of her vision that Cadance’s eyes were shut, and she wasn’t following the conversation.

Celestia’s ears lay back. “I have a kind of… precognition. It’s never concrete enough that I can pinpoint exactly where it is happening. These visions always come to me when Equestria is in terrible danger.”

“So he is a threat?”

“Very much so, Twilight.” Celestia’s eyes were hard. “If we do not stop him soon, I fear for Equestria’s very existence.”

“Then I’ll stop him!” Twilight’s hoof slammed down on the tile in front of her.

“No, Twilight.” Celestia laid a hoof on her shoulder. “As much faith as I have in you, you alone likely will not be enough to stop him by the time you find him.” She looked to Luna. “Luna, you and Twilight go. Stop him now, before he can grow stronger.”

“Are you sure, sister?” Luna cocked an eyebrow, shuffling her wings.

Celestia smiled confidently, nodding once. “Absolutely. I would trust nopony else.”

Luna’s smile was soft, but her eyes were hard. “Thank you, sister. We shall see it done.” She stood and a wing helped Twilight to her hooves. “Come, Twilight. We have much to prepare.”

“What for? Doesn’t Princess Celestia know where he is?”

Celestia shook her head. “No, unfortunately. Like I said, I did not see his location, just him attacking his victim.”

“Could you… give a description? Maybe we can find out where that way?”

“That… might work! Great idea, Twilight.” Celestia missed Twilight’s blush as she pulled over a parchment and started listing off the victim’s details and what little of the surroundings she could see, including the cutie mark that disappeared during the attack before passing it to Luna.

“Thank you, sister. It will be much help.”

Celestia pointed to Twilight. “No, thank Twilight for that idea. If I happen to have another, I will write it down and send it to you, too.”

“Alright. Let’s get going, Twilight.”

“Okay.” She followed Luna out of the room.

“And let’s get you back to bed, Cadance.” Celestia’s horn lit, and the pink sleeping princess floated onto Celestia’s back as she stood and left. Cadance instinctually curled her forelegs around Celestia’s barrel, snuggling into the back of her neck. ‘Luna, Twilight, I wish you the best of luck in finding and stopping Tirek before he can hurt many more ponies.’

“How do we stop him, Princess Luna? Should I go gather my friends and the Elements?” Twilight asked, trotting along to keep up with Luna’s swift stride.

Luna shook her head, not stopping. “Unfortunately, Twilight, as much as I would like to say yes, I’m afraid that wouldn’t be a wise decision.”

“But… why not?”

“My sister and I tried before to reason with him before imprisoning him in Tartarus, Twilight.” Luna looked back to Twilight. “If he did not listen to reason then, why would he now, especially after attacking ponies?”

Twilight raised a hoof and opened her mouth. “I…” Her ears pinned back and the hoof fell to the floor.

Luna stopped as her eyes left Twilight’s, looking down to the floor. “I’m sorry, Twilight. Not everything can be fixed with friendship, no matter how much we wish to.”

“But… I’m the Princes of Friendship. Shouldn’t I at least try?”

Luna shook her head. “No, Twilight. Talking with him will only give him an opening to strike out and try to take your magic or your life.” Luna looked up just as two tears started trailing down Twilight’s cheeks.

“Princess…” Her vision blurred, a wetness falling down her cheek.

Luna turned back and sat down next to Twilight. A wing opened, hovering over Twilight’s back before she spoke, “Twilight. If you are truly set on giving him a chance to surrender, then you can ask once when we find–”

Luna was cut off by Twilight’s exclaimed, “Thank you!” as she leaned into Luna.

The wing snapped around Twilight, holding her close. “Just once, Twilight. If he does not surrender…” Luna quirked an eyebrow.

“Then…”

“Then we do it my way.” Luna’s wing hugged her tighter, and a hoof joined it. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but I am not getting my hopes up for him. He has shown his colors before, and I do not expect his time in Tartarus to have changed him.”

“Alright.” Twilight’s ears pinned back again.

“You do not have to like it, Twilight Sparkle, but I would rather take no chances of you getting hurt. I wish there was some other way myself, but if he does not surrender, then we must take him down.” Luna’s grip tightened, pulling Twilight more bodily against herself. Luna’s natural scent made its way to her nose, and she sighed happily.

Twilight found herself nuzzling into Luna’s neck and after a few seconds realized what she was doing. “Oh, sorry, Princess Luna! I didn’t mean–” Twilight pushed back, her face heating up as blood rushed across her face.

“Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle. I am not offended.” Luna looked down, slightly more purple. “Truth be told, I am flattered you think I am so soft. I’m often told my sister is the best cuddler.”

“O-oh!” Twilight blinked. “I-I mean… she’s great and all at it, but…” She couldn’t meet Luna’s eyes, looking anywhere else, but at Luna.

“But what, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna drew her attention again, eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

“N-nevermind.” Twilight shook her head, gently pushing her way free. “Let’s… just find Tirek and get this over with.”

“Alright.” Luna’s wing closed softly She stood and led Twilight to the barracks to begin starting a search party.

It took a day to narrow down several locations, and Luna and Twilight had started searching personally for him, flying over every major city by night. Luna knew his magical signature, but because it was so weak, she could only sense it if it was close.

“Twilight?” Luna asked as they soared over Manehattan. Nothing tugged at her horn the entire night.

“Yes?”

“I do not think he is here.” Luna angle down to land on a road leading out of the city.

“That’s alright, Luna. We’ll find him.” Twilight followed, keeping right on Luna’s heels.

Alighting gently, she stepped off the road and sat down on the grass. “I’m sure we will, Twilight. I wish to find him soon lest he grow too powerful.” Her head dipped down to stare at her hooves.

Twilight landed and copied her, sitting next to Luna. “So do I. If he is not here, then we’ll try another city tomorrow.”

Luna felt a hoof and wing wrap around herself, and she leaned into the comforting touch. “Yes, tomorrow we shall go elsewhere, but that gives him that much more time to attack our citizens…”

“Yeah…” Twilight’s head dipped as well, looking back over to Manehattan.

They stayed like that for several minutes, Luna leaning into Twilight’s embrace. She felt her eyes drooping as Twilight’s warmth suffused into her, and she hummed contentedly.

“L-Luna?”

“Mmmyes?” Luna slurred, starting to fall asleep, leaning further into the warmth at her side.

“You’re getting… heavy.” Twilight’s voice sounded strained, like she was exerting herself.

“O-oh!” She snapped back to awareness, pulling away from Twilight. “I’m sorry!” Both ponies blushed profusely as they slid apart.

“No, Luna. It was my–” Twilight looked away, starting to apologize.

The tips of Luna’s ears burned as she confessed to Twilight, “Twilight. Twas my fault. Your hugs are so warm and cuddly, I could not help but start to fall asleep.”

“See? It is my fault!” Twilight exclaimed, wings flying wide open for a second. Taking a few seconds to calm down, she added, “You looked like you needed a hug.”

“I did.” Luna smiled softly. “Thank you for that.”

“But–”

“Twilight.” Luna scooted back over and laid a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Thank you. I did need that hug. Tia reminds me sometimes I have a tendency to think of only the worst in a situation, and she wants me to ‘knock it off’ as it were, and to ‘think on the bright side.’”

Twilight gulped before revealing, “I have that same problem sometimes. I can’t help it.”

Luna struck upon an idea. “Then… maybe we can work on it together? Keep each other from spiralling that direction?”

Twilight’s eyes gleamed as she looked up. “You think it would work?”

Luna sidled up to Twilight, wrapping a wing around the smaller mare. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Twilight nodded. “I… would like to try. Besides, you’re very soft too, and I wouldn’t turn down hugs.” ‘And maybe more.’

“Alright. Thank you, Twilight.” A cold breeze washed over them, and Twilight shuffled closer, deeper into Luna’s embrace.

A few days of searching later, they had narrowed down all the major metropolitan cities in Equestria down to one, Vanhoover. Celestia had another vision, in almost the exact same place, so Tirek wasn’t teleporting around the country yet to be harder to find.

Luna lead Twilight in a screaming flight over the city that night. Over her shoulder, she spied Twilight following with her head down, a frown on her face.

“Something doesn’t feel right tonight. He may be here.” Twilight spoke over the wind shear.

“He is.” A small tug on her horn told her that they were close, that he was near. “We’ve almost found him, Twilight. I feel his presence.” Luna got Twilight’s attention over the wind shear.

“Right.” Luna looked into Twilight’s eyes, the friendly caring princess’s eyes now cold and hardened. Resolved to do her duty.

“Remember, you–” Luna started to remind her.

“Get one chance to offer him to surrender, yes.” Twilight replied back, her voice stern.

Luna nodded. “If he does not, then we will have to use force.”

Luna’s horn tugged her down. Almost straight down. Realizing they were almost right on top of Tirek, she pulled back into a three-quarter loop, aiming straight down. She spied several ponies out and about, one of them seemed to have collapsed, but another was using his hands to–

Hands. Ponies didn’t have hands. Or six limbs outside a pegasus, counting their wings.

“Tirek!” Luna boomed, aiming to slam down nearby.

The creature turned skyward, looking Luna in the eyes. ‘Found you!’ Luna thought, recognizing them.

He shoved the drained pony away, shrugging his cloak off. It wouldn’t help any longer.

She slammed down onto the street, the sound of road pavers giving way and crunching to gravel beneath her hooves and stirring up a cloud of dust.

As it cleared, he chuckled as Luna stalked forward, wings splayed aggressively. “If it isn’t little Princess Moona. Where’s your sister? Too busy to try and tag-team me?”

“Unfortunately. She does have a country to run, you know. In her place, I have brought another, whom I wager would kick your hide back to Tartarus alone.” She kept her distance, knowing Tirek might try to pull a fast one. He was weak, not stupid.

“Oh? Who might that be? I thought your precious other princess was in the Crystal Empire. You have nopony else to fight at your side against me. I would drain them in an instant!”

Luna smirked as her wings fell, “Princess Twilight Sparkle, would you kindly?”

Twilight walked up, standing next to Luna for the first time in days, despite working closely together. “Would I kindly what?”

“There’s a fourth princess?” Tirek shrieked, drowning out Luna’s reply. His eyes were wide, and his gaunt face paled.

“Please, introduce yourself, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna gestured to Tirek.

Twilight quirked an eyebrow. “I thought you said don’t talk to him.”

Luna’s ears folded back. “I did, but I meant more during the fight than before.”

Tirek’s cowering slowed, and he looked between the bickering princesses.

“Oh. You should’ve been more clear then.” Twilight shot back, her wings flaring as Luna’s had after landing.

“I’ll just be on my way–” Tirek started, twiddling his thumbs together.

Both ponies turned on him. “You stay right there!” they roared.

Tirek wisely decided not to push the issue.

“Then you should’ve been more clear, Luna.” She frowned, before turning to Tirek.

Smiling brightly, she greeted him, “Hello, Lord Tirek, I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship!”

Luna almost hit her head with a hoof at Twilight’s cheery demeanor.

Tirek almost recoiled, “Ugh, princess of friendship! What a laugh. Just like that other princess, what was her domain, love?”

“Oh, you mean Cadance!” Twilight’s smile was bright, and disgusted Tirek to no end. “She’s my sister in law!”

“Spare me the story, please.”

That seemed to have an effect, as Twilight’s ears pinned back and she took half a step back. “Oh. Sorry.”

“Are we still going to fight?” The second the words left Tirek’s mouth, he knew he had made a mistake, and he gulped.

Twilight glared at him. “I will only ask this once. Do you surrender? Will you willingly return to Tartarus, or do we have to force the issue?”

His hackles raised and he pointed directly between Twilight’s eyes. “Never will I return to that place! You’ll have to kill me first!”

Twilight looked over to Luna. “Well, you were right. He didn’t.”

Luna nodded. “Then…”

“Your plan it is. Let’s take him down,” Twilight replied. Luna launched skyward as Twilight charged him on hoof.

As she closed, he was a whole lot bigger than she thought, almost Celestia’s size.

His head came down and she had to stop or impale herself on his horns. Luna swooped down, intent on dropping right on his back.

An orange ball of magic formed between the horns, before blasting Twilight’s direction. Luna diverted course, “Twilight!”

Twilight’s wings beat, and a dust cloud kicked up followed a flash of light and the ball rocketing out the back of the dust cloud into the distance.

Twilight winked into existence right in front of Luna, just in time for Luna to catch her. Twilight’s eyes were wide, and her blood pounded in her veins.

“Twilight?” Luna called, a hoof stroking along the younger alicorn’s back. “Stay with me, Twilight.”

“I could’ve…” reached Luna’s ears. She pulled back higher into the sky. An arc of lightning lanced past them from below, and Luna started to weave through the sky.

“Yes, but you did what you should have. Avoiding getting hit is one the best thing you can do.”

“But…” Twilight trembled in her grip.

“I would rather you be unable to hit him, and avoid the hit yourself. I know I can take anything he can dish out.”

Luna’s hoof pulled Twilight’s head to look her in the eyes. “Twilight, I need you to be strong for me, alright? Back me up with spells, but don’t get close unless you have to.”

“R-right.” She realized she was still in Luna’s grip. “Sorry!”

“Tis no problem, Twilight.” Luna set her down on a rooftop and charged the centaur.

He roared as another bolt of lightning lanced from his horns. It struck Luna, but she was unfazed by the attack. Landing at a gallop, she slammed into him bodily, knocking him from his hooves.

Twilight took several seconds to catch her breath before peeking over as Luna slammed into him.

Both pony and centaur lashed out, grabbing, pulling, punching and kicking whatever they could reach. Tirek’s larger size and extra grappling limbs gave him an advantage in striking at Luna, but Luna wasn’t afraid to throw magic behind her strikes. With each hit struck on him, Tirek seemed to shrink little by little.

“Enough of this!” He roared, pushing her away. His horns charged another attack, a lance of fire streaming out and washing over Luna.

She covered herself with a wing, her magic protecting the feathers from burning away. Twilight’s magic created a barrier that the flame washed over instead of Luna.

He panted as the fire died off. The wing protecting Luna whipped away the smoke surrounding her as the barrier faded. He shouted, “Why won’t you go down!” Another spell, a smattering of elements left him. Electricity, fire, ice, and rock all pummelled Luna again. She cried out in pain, and Twilight sprung to the air.

This time, when the dust cleared, Luna did not rise. Twilight saw red and cried out, “Luna!”

He roared, “Finally! Now to take care of the other one.”

Twilight slammed into his hindlegs, taking them out from underneath him and he collapsed to his side. Using that momentum, she spun and kicked his chest. She felt something give with a crunch and he coughed. Thinking quickly, she sent up a bolt of magic, letting it explode into a red flare, something that any local authority would recognize as a distress call from a unicorn.

She continued pummelling him, pelting his hide with blow after blow. “You hurt Luna! You hurt my friend!”

He curled in on himself as the blows rained. She spared no inch of his hide, and he knew that surrendering to this mare may have been the better choice, now. He shrunk more and more as his body consumed magic to heal his injuries. “Stop, stop! Please!” He cried out.

She was lifted away bodily, two blue forelegs wrapping around her barrel. She struggled, lashing out toward Tirek. “Let me go! He hurt Luna!”

“Twilight.” Luna’s voice reached her ears and she froze. “Twilight, calm down. You won.”

Her head turned, and she looked to see Luna was unharmed, if dusty. “W-what? I saw you didn’t get up and I…”

She pulled Twilight against her again. “I know. He got me pretty good, but I knew you had my back.”

A small cough broke their moment and they both looked to Tirek. He was curled up, one large bruise forming over his body from Twilight’s summary beating. He did his best to keep from moving, but even breathing hurt.

Luna set Twilight down, but kept a hoof around her as she asked, “Do you surrender now, Tirek? Or do we need to keep going?”

He squeaked and curled up tighter.

Local policeponies arrived soon after, and helped Luna and Twilight apprehend him properly. Luna and Twilight oversaw his return to Tartarus.

“So, what was that all about? I get hit and wake up to you beating him bloody.” Luna kept her distance.

“Let’s go back to Canterlot first, please?” Twilight came closer, a hoof brushing along Luna’s side to help dishevel the dust and dirt in her coat.

Luna nodded, and both ponies took off, side by side.

Several hours later, dawn was near as both ponies touched down on Luna’s balcony. Luna unlocked her door and let Twilight in before following. Her magic lit several magic crystals along the walls, lighting up her room for Twilight to see properly.

Twilight looked around Luna’s room, a stark difference from what she expected. The room was brightly colored, almost like the sky during the day. Up on the ceiling was something she expected to see, though, as the night sky reflected across it, stars twinkling and constellations easy to pick out among all the stars that she could see.

Sitting down, Twilight sighed. “Alright.”

Luna’s horn lit and she tossed a cushion over to Twilight before sitting on one herself. “If you truly do not wish to tell me, I will respect that decision.” Her frown betrayed her feelings on the thought of Twilight not explaining her actions.

“No! No. You deserve to know.” Twilight gratefully took the cushion and sat down on it. She felt her blood starting to pound in her veins as her heart started to race.

Luna sat still, the only motion from her coming from her mane and tail. She did not stare at Twilight, rather over her shoulder, waiting for Twilight to continue.

Twilight opened her mouth, but no sound came out. “I…”

Luna’s patience seemed infinite to Twilight.

“When… you hugged me the other day, and I…” Twilight felt like her face was on fire, sure her blush was visible to Luna.

“When you cuddled me back?” Luna asked, looking Twilight in the eyes.

“Yes. That.” She took a deep breath before letting it out her nose, steeling herself.

She looked Luna in the eyes as she felt her blush intensify more, the tips of her ears burning. Barely above a squeak, she whispered, “I love you.”

Luna’s composure broke. Her eyes widened in shock. “Truly?”

“When you went down during the fight, I panicked!” Twilight yelled, her hooves coming up to cover her face.

Luna stood, her cushion muffling her hooves. “You love me?”

Twilight nodded, hooves still over her eyes.

“How do you know it’s love and not a crush?” Luna silently stepped over.

“Cadance won’t stop bugging me to tell you.” Her wings sprung forward and helped cover her face, but Luna saw two tears drip down to the cushion. “And now I have, and you probably don’t–”

She swept a wing around Twilight, pulling a squeak from Twilight as she rested against Luna’s side. “Shh. I share your feelings, Twilight. Maybe not as intensely, but I was hoping… to work up the courage to ask you out one day.” Luna’s head came down, nuzzling between Twilight’s wings and pushing her hooves away from her face.

“R-really?” Twilight rested against Luna’s side eagerly.

“Twilight, you are an amazing mare. If you say you love me truly, it would do me a disservice to not reveal my own feelings in return.” Luna looked away, ears falling back.

“Y-you don’t have to feel obligat–”

Luna squeezed her tighter. “Hush. I am not obliging you. You cannot fathom how relieved I am, and how ecstatic I am that you love me too.”

Twilight ‘eep!’ed as a foreleg joined the wing, holding her against Luna’s soft fur. Luna’s scent made its way to her nose, and she sighed happily.

“I wish to see where this… where us goes. You are so very precious to me, and to my sister. Not in quite the same way, but still very precious.” The wingtip reached under Twilight’s chin and lifted her head to look into Luna’s eyes. “So, how about this: If it doesn’t work out, I want there to be no hard feelings between us. I want us to remain friends.”

Twilight’s heart leapt into her throat. “You… really want to go out with me?”

“Certainly.” Luna smiled brightly. “You blush so adorably, I can’t help but want to see more of it.”

Twilight had the decency to blush just a little harder before she launched herself against Luna’s side. “Oh, thank you! Thank you, thank you thankyouthankyouthankyou!” Twilight’s hooves flew around Luna and she squeezed as tight as she could. Her muzzle pressed into Luna’s fur, kissing her neck softly.

Luna was surprised by the crushing hug and soft lips on her neck, but hugged her back eagerly. After a minute, they broke apart, Luna yawned, despite her companion’s excitedness. “Now, Twilight, would you like to stay here tonight and cuddle with me?”

Luna’s wing was swept from Twilight’s back as her own sprung open.

Luna chuckled. “I do not mean anything untoward, but it has been a long night and I am quite tired. I would very much enjoy your warmth, cuddling against me. If you do not want to, I will not push.”

“No! No, I would love to!” Twilight’s hooves flew around Luna’s neck again. “I was just surprised is all.”

“Then, let’s get cleaned up first. T’would be a bad idea to go to bed so dirty and dusty, lest it settle in our coats and become that much harder to remove.”

Twilight nodded, suddenly keenly aware of how dirty she was. “Meet back here in a bit?”

Luna leaned down, nuzzling the top of Twilight’s head. “Don’t rush through your cleaning, Twilight. I’m not going anywhere.”

As she pulled back, Twilight’s head snapped up and her lips met Luna’s softly. She pulled away after a second, but Luna pressed forward, reconnecting their lips.

Luna felt just how soft Twilight’s lips were, as her muzzle pressed more firmly against Twilight’s. Twilight, meanwhile, lost herself in Luna’s eyes as they kissed. The kiss was soft, but tinged with shared passion.

“Wow…” Twilight giggled as she pulled back.

Luna stayed silent, but smiled softly. Her heart fluttered, beating harder with just how much Twilight’s passion fuelled her own.

Luna stood, offering Twilight a hoof to help her new girlfriend up. Twilight accepted the helping hoof, smiling brightly.

“Now, meet me back here in a bit, alright? I want to cuddle with you.”

“Right!” Twilight shot off, running out of the room at a full sprint.

Luna yelled after her before the door could shut, “Come back clean!”

A quick shower later saw Twilight return to Luna’s tower. The lights were out, but the curtains were open and let the plentiful moonlight in.

The door was open, so she stepped through. “Luna?”

“Right here, Twilight,” Luna replied, stepping out of the bathroom.

She positively shimmered in the moonlight, and Twilight shivered as Luna walked over. “Cold?” Luna purred, sidling up to Twilight.

“N-no.” Twilight replied, pressing against her girlfriend. “You just look so stunning I couldn’t help but shiver in anticipation.”

“Oh?” Luna’s head tilted slightly.

Twilight looked away. “Y-yeah.”

“Well, let’s get some rest.”

Twilight nodded. Luna led Twilight to the bed, scooping the smaller mare up in her magic before laying down. Twilight found herself laying on Luna belly-to-belly, with two hooves wrapped around her back. One slid up the back of her neck and pulled her head down for her lips to meet Luna’s again in a short, chaste kiss.

The hoof pulled her head down further, pressing her muzzle into Luna’s neck. “Goodnight, Twilight. I love you. Rest well…” Luna breathed into Twilight’s ear.

Luna’s words rung through Twilight’s head, and her spirits soared at three words she’d always wanted to hear from Luna. “Goodnight, Luna. I love you too.” Luna tucked them both in with a blanket before gently holding her girlfriend.

Twilight’s eyes closed, and Luna felt her heartbeat slow, off to sleep in short order.

Luna felt her eyes drooping as Twilight’s warmth seeped into her. ‘Tia can raise the sun and set the moon this morning. She’ll understand.’ Closing them entirely, she fell asleep in less than a minute, both ponies cuddling into each other just that little bit more subconsciously.

The door to Luna’s room opened and Celestia stepped inside. “Lu, it’s time to… oh.” She spied a large lump on Luna’s bed. Far too big to be just her sister. Curiosity getting the better of her, she snuck closer and spied on whom her sister was cuddled up to.

‘Is that… Twilight?’ Celestia’s eyebrows raised in surprise.

The mare in question snored adorably, nosing into Luna’s neck gently.

‘It is! I’ll take care of the moon for her. They look like they need the rest.’ Celestia felt a giggle rising in her chest, and quickly made her way from the room, silently shutting and locking the door.

Once safely away, Celestia let her giggle free. Her heart soared and she couldn’t help but to hop around in place a little in excitement. She laughed genuinely, snorting once and smiling like her sun. Taking a minute to calm herself, she set about lowering the moon and raising the sun.

Stepping out to start her day, she looked to her sister’s bedroom door. ‘Congratulations, Lu. Treat her well.’

Author's Note

Oneshot! Knight of Cerebus inspired this with a conversation we had on the Twilestia Discord server.

So, KoC, this is all for you, buddy. Even if you think I'm a filthy heathen for writing the ship.

Wrote this basically in one night, with minimal editing. Let me know what you guys think! I've got several other things to start, including finishing the current arc for Troubleshooters.