Solstice jumped out of her trace like state to her horn slightly vibration and glowing lavender. She tensed up and her wing jolted off of Aura.

“Whats wrong?” Aura asked, jumping up to her hooves.

Solstice sighed and stood up, shaking her head. “Its my mother. She made this spell that’s like a call. Itll light my horn up in her magic and itll vibrate. Shes calling me home for something.” Solstice put her hoof to her head and rubbed slightly.

“Is it painful?” Aura asked.

“No, just annoying and it makes my horn numb.” Solstice sighed as she dropped her hoof to the ground.

Solstice looked down and sat back down. Her horn finally shut off and she let out a soft breath.

“We can leave if we need to.” Aura said with a reassuring smile.

Solstice nodded and stood back up. She followed Aura back out of the caven and into the cave. It felt like it took forever to exit the cave. The sky was now dark and stars sparkled. Solstice looked up to the sky and smiled.

“Ive always loved Luna’s stars.” She said.

Aura looked up and smiled, finally looking back down, her face quickly falling.

“You okay?” Aura asked.

Aura nodded and looked back to Solstice and smiled. “Just remembered something is all, nothing to worry about.”

Solstice didn’t really believe her, but nodded anyway, deciding not to press the issue. She didn’t really know this mare anyway.
The rest of the walk was quiet, Solstice caught herself glimpsing at Aura anytime she could get away with it. She felt herself smile sinserily for the first time in a long time. She looked up to the sky again, seeing a single star shinging brighter then the others. She looked back down to Aura and nudged her flank with her nose, running away as Aura turned around. Solstice leaned down on her forelegs, her own flank in the air, a smirk on her face.

Aura looked at her with a confused look, holding one hoof up in the air. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not ready to go home after all. Why not play around?” Solstice asked, getting back up all the way.

“Play around? Were grown.” Aura said.

“So.” Solstice as she walked back up to Aura and nudged her chest and trotted the other way.

Aura smiled and ran after her, Solstice running a bit faster to stay ahead.

The night air flowing through her maine was relaxing, and she was actually laughing, actually having fun. For once, she had no worries or cares.

Finally Aura caught up, grabbing Solstice by her back legs, the two falling to the ground and tumbling until they rolled to the bottom of a hill, Aura falling just the right way to land on top of Solstice, their noses touching. The two mares blushing, and giggling awkwardly.

“Um, maybe we should get you home.” Aura said as she lifted herself up and shuck a bit.

Solstice got up and stretched her wings, giving them a flap. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

The rest of the walk was relaxing. The two laughed together and talked about random things that came to mind. Finally, the castle came into view, the moon high in the sky coming around the trees. Solstice’s face fell, as she looked down to her hooves. She stopped walking and just stood for a few minutes. Her mind was telling her she needed to get back, but her heart said to run.

Aura looked back to Solstice, seeing her standing still she walked back to her. “Solstice?”

Solstice looked up and sighed. “To tell you the truth, I don’t want to go back in there.”

Aura looked back to the castle and back to Solstice. She looked down for a second in thought, and finally looking back up. “Well, come with me for the night then. I have an extra room.”

Solstice smiled a bit and sighed. “As much as I love that idea, I don’t know.”

“Come on, whats one night?” Aura asked.

“My mother will have my head, that’s what.” Solstice said with a small laugh.

Aura shuck her head. “You’ve got to learn that she doesn’t run your life as much as you think she does. If she gets mad, then just tell her you just needed some air.”

Solstice thought for a moment. Would that even work? Both of her mother’s are two of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria, they could easily find her if they wanted to, so why haven’t they yet? Were they giving her some space?

Solstice looked up and smiled. “Ok, I guess that could work. I mean, they could have easily found me by now if they wanted to.”

Aura smiled as she walked twords Ponyville. “Well, lets go.”

Solstice followed. They walked through the market, and through most of the residental houses. Aura led her out of the main town square and out past the city line. There was a few houses out here but not very many. Aura led her to a small house, it was a bit worn down, but it gave it a old charm. Solstice could tell it had been lived in for a while. Aura opened the door with her magic and led Solstice in.

When Solstice walked in she saw another pony on the couch. She was a lighter shade of pink, almost white. Her maine and tail was a purple color, almost a pale purple. The unicorn turned her head. “Aura, whos this?”

“This is Solstice Crescent.” Aura smiled, closing the door.

“Princess?” The older mare asked.

“Please, don’t use my title. Im just here to have some time to myself. Aura invited me, I hope im not imposing.” Solstice said.

“Of course. Stay as long as you need to.” She smiled.

Aura nodded her head twords the hall, leading Solstice to the spare room. “Its small, but its comfortable.”

“I love it. Thank you.” Solstice said as she walked over to the bed and climbed in.

“Ill leave you to get some sleep.” Aura said as she closed the door and walked to her own bed.

Aura walked back to her room and laid down on her own bed. She laid her head down and thought of the night. It was nothing that she was expecting, and with the princess? Just wow. But, what was this feeling down in her chest? Solstice was very sweet and a bit scarastic. But Aura had a good time with her and was happy with her. But why did she have this nagging thought that nothing would move beyond friendship?

Aura tossed and turned for hours, finally sitting up and jumping to her hooves. “Maybe some water will help.”

Aura opened her door and walked down the hall, stopping as she passed Solstice’s room. She opened the door slightly, seeing the alicorn sleeping peacefully. Aura bit her bottom lip before walking in, and closing the door slowly. She walked over to the bed, seeing the other side empty. She tested the waters by gently tapping the bed. Nothing. Aura smiled as she climbed into bed with Solstice, laying down next to her and getting under the covers. She slipped a leg over Solstice’s side and laid down, feeling herself slowly drift off to sleep.

Author's Note

Here's the new chapter! Hope you all like it!