The Light of the Night

11:59 pm

That’s what the electronic numbers read while she sat upon the bed; the sheets hadn’t even been moved in hours. Twilight Sparkle, dressed in nothing but a violet silk robe covering her body from the neckline to her ankles, her glasses left on the counter just inches from where she could see the clock… At least from a near-sighted position. Twilight Sparkle’s hair hung loosely, the scrunchy she’d wear to keep her hair together having been put away earlier. It would be mere seconds until tomorrow, the end of a rather long day dwindling to an end. But what a day that it turned out to be, so much that had happened and yet somehow she recalled so much…

She remembered the darkness… The cold, mysterious, frightening aura of blackness that cramped her so much she could scarcely breathe. She remembered being so alone, so afraid, so vulnerable… The same as she felt in every nightmare she had in ages. And in each of those dreams, which crept against her subconscious mind, it all lead up to her… Midnight Sparkle, a representation of all her negative frustration, the polar opposite of who Twilight Sparkle could be without friends or support. The very same ‘Twilight Sparkle’… Whom she herself created, and for what? Science?

It had felt as if it were so long ago, when Midnight Sparkle would haunt her dreams. The visions she’d force her to watch, the sounds in her head she couldn’t block out, all the pain she brought on her… Mentally… Spiritually… Physically. As Twilight Sparkle wrapped her arms around her body, her fingers brushing against the thin layer of silk, it wasn’t so much to keep her warm from the cold air streaming from the air vents, the air conditioning brushing against her by the slow moving fan on the ceiling nor from the cold of winter that leaked out a bit from outside the house. No… She brushed her hands along the marks she carried from every experience she had with Midnight Sparkle… Her arms… Her legs… Her stomach… Everywhere.

Twilight Sparkle deeply sighed, her breath flowing from her mouth, the hot air visible in the cold. She silently turned toward the other side of the room, seeing the amulet hanging loosely along the handle to her closet, an amulet which she invented herself a long time ago. Twilight extended her left arm out as if she were trying to reach for the amulet while still lying on the still-made comfort of her bed. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to reach deep with her very subconscious, digging deep for some ‘sixth sense’ while opening one eye. Her body strained and shuddered, as her gaze never left the amulet, as if expecting it to move… By an inch… Maybe lift itself off… To be drawn to her will…

But several seconds went by, and still… Nothing. Twilight Sparkle sadly lowered her arm, her mouth forming into a frown as if what she tried to do was in vain.

“It’s true… It’s all true…” Twilight confirmed, to herself. “It really is gone…”

Twilight Sparkle turned her head slowly back to the digital clock on the counter, the hour reading…

12:01 am

It was officially tomorrow, as it was a minute ago. Twilight Sparkle had been awake for most of the night, spending every waking hour deep in some form of shock trying to process yesterday’s turn of events. But it wasn’t so much the thought of Midnight Sparkle, who’s presence had not been felt for some time. Nor was Twilight truly in shock that the magic which she had carried for what seemed like only for a short time was suddenly out of reach, unable to be conjured. No, something else was on Twilight’s mind… Just as well, it’s been on the minds of her friends since that one fateful encounter.

A creak is heard as Twilight Sparkle turns to the bedroom door, which is slowly pushed open as the thin crack of the light emanating from the hallway lights grows bigger. A shadow overcasts toward Twilight Sparkle, as a figure stands along the open doorway with two objects in their grip. Twilight Sparkle shifts herself toward the bedside counter, reaching for her glasses and puts them over her eyes, so she could see. Low and behold, there she was…

Sunset Shimmer, one of Twilight Sparkle’s very good friends… And the love of her life. Sunset Shimmer had been there for Twilight Sparkle while she was enduring her every waking nightmares, struggling to keep them to herself yet Sunset persisted on understand what she went through. And somehow, if it hadn’t been for Sunset, Twilight Sparkle would never have found her true happiness when she realized how incomplete she’d be without Sunset, the other half of herself she never knew she needed. The woman who would be willing to risk everything for Twilight’s wellbeing, to share her conflicts knowing they have trod similar roads, and no matter what the costs, they stood together against Midnight and drove the demoness away… No matter the costs.

“Hello, babe,” Sunset Shimmer flirted, with a warm smile.

“Hey Sunset,” Twilight Sparkle replied, with a small smile.

Sunset Shimmer made her way into the bedroom, holding two mugs of a steaming liquid, by the hint of the aroma it was hot chocolate, one sweet cupful for Sunset’s… Sweet. She strolls toward the bedroom, barefoot, wearing nothing but red silky lingerie, both bra and panties… To be specific, “Spanish Red”, as Rarity would call the color. Over the chest area she wore her signature leather jacket. And yet Sunset walked around the house this way, so shamelessly… Not like there was anyone else in the house, not for this hour.

Since yesterday, their friends had gone back to their separate homes to rest off from that stressful day. Twilight had been living independently in her own house since her time at Crystal Prep, all the money her parents used to initially pay for her tuition was more than enough to help pay for her own room and board. She’d keep tabs on her parents every now and then, they’d have light conversations following the casual ‘Hello’… But she never told her parents ‘everything’. Now it was Twilight and Sunset, who initially would come over from her own apartment but had been staying with Twilight from learning about her dreams… To finally confronting Twilight’s inner demons… And to the biggest news of Twilight’s life.

The moment when Sunset Shimmer, unceremoniously, proposed to Twilight Sparkle, so they could always be together during their most trying hour… And Twilight said yes. They still could not believe they went through with it… But it was the best decision they ever made.

Sunset stands toward the right side of the bed, handing one of the mugs toward Twilight Sparkle.

“Be careful. It’s still hot.”

Twilight nodded with a smile, as she cautiously wrapped her fingers along the warm handle, carefully taking it from Sunset’s hand. As Sunset worked her way to her side of the bed, Twilight Sparkle cautiously lifted the coffee cup to her lips, blew the hot steam lightly to lessen the heat, and slowly lifted the cup taking small sips. The smooth warm chocolate slid down her throat, she could feel the scolding, yet creamy substance go down. She could also taste the smooth creamy marshmallows Sunset had added in; she loved when Sunset added an extra layer of flavor. As she gently placed the mug onto a potholder on the counter, so as not to leave any marks on the furniture, she turned towards Sunset, as she sat on the bed and faced her, a smirk forms on her face.

There was hot chocolate mustache on Twilight’s upper lip, Sunset merely chuckled as she shook her head. Motioning Twilight with a finger, the two girls lean toward each other… As Sunset Shimmer plants a kiss upon her lover’s lips, tracing her tongue against the upper lip cleaning off the chocolate of her lips. All while Twilight explored Sunset with her own tongue, enjoying the taste from the love of her life. Eventually their lips part ways, as they both sigh in satisfaction.

“Delicious,” Sunset whispered.

“Hmm… But you taste better,” Twilight replied.

“… Such a flatterer.”

The two girls lean on the bed frame, their necks nestled gently on the big pillows so as not to strain any muscles. Their eyes looked forward toward the open doorway, but they weren’t so much looking toward anything specific. Instead, they were both deep in their thoughts, so much on their minds.

“You know, Twi,” Sunset spoke, breaking the silence. “I can get used to this.”

“My thoughts exactly Sunset,” Twilight nodded. “It almost feels too good to be true; sometimes, I’m wonder if I’m still dreaming.”

“Just think… As soon as we graduate high school and when we officially tie the knot, we can end all our nights this way. I’ll bet Rarity is already planning designs for wedding gowns.”

“We still have college to get through of course.”

“I’m not too worried… I’m married to practically a prodigy in academics, and I’m no slouch myself. Besides, after everything else, school’s just another walk in the park.”

Twilight chuckled, shaking her head. Still, Sunset Shimmer wasn’t entirely wrong. She had been attending school in two different worlds; acknowledging the schooling she finished in her own world. If anything, Sunset merely said that just so they could work together on their ‘homework’, but as they say… Two heads are better than one. Sunset places her own mug on the other counter, shifting her jacket down her shoulders and cast it aside along the floor. Then she turns her head towards her lover.

“So… Have you been thinking about what I proposed?” Sunset asked.

“Of course, I’ve thought of it for hours,” Twilight answered, nervously. “But Sunset, I hope you won’t mind if I ask… Do you really think we’re ready for this?”

“Ready for Marriage? You mean you’re having second thoughts?”

“Oh no, absolutely not,” Twilight shook her head. “You know I’m all for it, Sunset. I said you would make me the happiest girl in the world, and I meant every word of it. We can elope in Las Pegasus or Baltimare and I’ll still agree to marry you.”

“I know you would… But that’s not what’s worrying you, is it?”

Twilight Sparkle released a deep sigh, they’ve had conversation just like this long before they proposed. Usually Sunset had this way of knowing when Twilight Sparkle had secrets, and Sunset had this ‘gift’ of reading people’s thoughts… In which case, it was ‘literally’ not ‘figuratively’. Either way, Twilight knew Sunset would press for answers, especially along this one ‘particular’ subject. Another proposal Sunset offered, one that not only surprised Twilight… But all their friends.

“I thought about you said...” Twilight continued. “About raising a child… With you.”

Sunset Shimmer nodded, as Twilight understood just what the former meant to say. Sunset wasn’t upset for Twilight’s hesitance in her tone, quite the opposite in fact. Sunset knew such a request did came out of the blue and it occurred as suddenly as Sunset’s proposal to marry Twilight, sort of a ‘heat of the moment’ in fact. She also knew that this topic was something they still needed to talk about since no decision has been fully made.

“Before we can move forward on any plans,” Twilight began. “I just want to know one thing and I need you to be honest with me, not just as my friend… But my bride-to-be. Why is it so important to you that we should have a child?”

“To tell you the truth, it’s not so much about what I want,” Sunset admits. “I know you still have a lot on your mind; I know you’re still thinking about Midnight Sparkle.”

“… Guilty,” Twilight nodded. “I haven’t seen or heard from Midnight Sparkle since that trip into the inner corners of my mind. Yet I still have this gut feeling, in either my head or my heart, that Midnight Sparkle is far from gone. And I don’t even need magic to even have this feeling… But look at me, I’m rambling again…”

“No… No it’s okay,” Sunset assured. “I do understand… Really. I’ve kind of had this sense of her presence too.”

If there was one thing that both of these girls can agree with, Midnight Sparkle’s role in their lives still played a large part of their upbringing. The times she tried to drive a wedge between them, the pain she put each other through, and that eerie voice tickling their ears… It’s like a being a soldier back from the war, haunted by the memories of their actions and the visions of a world they thrust themselves upon. They didn’t need to see or hear Midnight Sparkle so long as memories of her actions still reside within their minds.

“Sunset, we barely survived against Midnight Sparkle,” Twilight continued on. “For weeks and months, she tortured me, abused me… Violated me, under the worst circumstances. And the steps I was willing to take just to make it all go away… How can I possibly raise a child, boy or girl, if I could barely take care of myself?”

“I hear what you’re saying,” Sunset replied, understandingly. “For me, it wouldn’t matter what kind of child we’d have, but I just want you to know… I wouldn’t make such a proposition if I didn’t believe we couldn’t do this together. It’s not something we ‘have’ to do, right away. I’m willing to wait… But I figured if we can at least start by planting a tiny seed, a subtle idea for what the things we could do, someday I’d like for us to raise a family together.”

“But if Midnight Sparkle could—”

“Never mind about Midnight Sparkle, no call is made because of what she says. In the end, it’s our story, whether we proceed or not. It’s our decision, that I won’t push for if you’re not ready. Besides, we may not have truly defeated the creature, but I do know she must be weak.”

Twilight nodded as Sunset spoke, she remembered that last encounter very well. It was a losing battle for Twilight Sparkle, one sided even given Midnight’s brutal assault against every defense Twilight could put together. Twilight was merely stalling that time, hoping to wait for the others so they could take her out together. But just when Midnight had her way, just when she doomed to succumb to the darkness, to lose control of herself forever, that’s when she appeared… Daydream Shimmer, whereas Midnight Sparkle represented darkness it was Daydream who represented the light in Sunset’s heart. It was she who drove Midnight Sparkle away, preventing her from going forward with her wicked ordeal… The reason why the magic for the two girls was lost.

“We only managed to get away in the end because of her,” Twilight spoke, referring to Sunset’s other form. “Otherwise, I doubt I would’ve survived…”

“Daydream Shimmer…” Sunset nodded. “When I was asleep, I swear I felt ‘her’ how somehow she had found you and freed you from the darkness. It’s funny, I spent years back in Equestria studying all forms of magic, but even then for her to take an identity of her own just as Midnight Sparkle did… I still don’t understand how that’s possible. But I’m glad she was there when I couldn’t be.”

“It only proves I couldn’t defeat monsters on my own,” Twilight confirmed. “I needed ‘you’ to save me… Twice. Raising a child is nothing like practicing magic or facing the monster of the week. It’s not something I don’t think I could do by myself.”

“You won’t ever be alone, Twilight. I said that whatever we do, we accomplish it together. We are a team, you and me.”

Twilight had no reason to doubt Sunset Shimmer, her fierce determination and promise of a brighter tomorrow is what makes her a great leader. Twilight can always depend on Sunset when there are things beyond Twilight’s control. She wouldn’t be the girl… No, the ‘woman’ that Twilight is today without Sunset Shimmer. Sunset will always be with her, no matter what Twilight would say otherwise.

“How would we even do it?” Twilight asked. “Having a child, I mean. I know ‘how’, I know two women together can but it’s a process. A painful one too… But I’ll be willing to take a chance, just to let you know.”

“And so would I,” Sunset added. “Course, there are ‘other’ ways. We can adopt a child… Or there’s always foster care. Either way, we can have a child, boy or girl, maybe both, and we wouldn’t have to go through the miracle of birth… If you don’t want to.”

“We could… But honestly, I’m not so sure. I’m not sure how the child would feel, though I don’t mind having ‘two’… Definitely no more than ‘three’. After all, we could never replace their parents despite them initially giving them up… And I don’t want them to feel we are getting ‘paid’ to love them. If I do want to share a child with you, to feed them, nurse them, and provide a roof over our heads, I want it to be ‘genuine’.”

“Now that I think about it… They would say we might be too young to take the responsibility of raising a child, we’re not exactly young adults just yet.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. It wasn’t entirely realistic for two teenage girls to simply walking into any form of orphanage and simply pick a child that they would want. There are procedures, a complex legal procedure with many documents they’d have to sign. And these two girls were barely on the final years of high school, along with their friends. If they were to make such a commitment, they knew that they needed to determine a means where they can still have what they want. What they’d need is an expert’s opinion… And Sunset looked up, as if an idea popped in her head.

“There is one other option,” Sunset spoke.

Twilight turned toward Sunset, curious by what the red-and-yellow haired girl lying beside her meant. Leaning off the side of the bed, Sunset stepped toward her bag, which she brought with her earlier and left at the foot of the dresser. Opening the bag, Sunset Shimmer takes out her journal which she carried with her since her days in Equestria, the symbol of her cutie mark on the cover. Turning towards an empty page, taking a pen from the bag too, she proceeds to write a note as Twilight approaches Sunset Shimmer, her robe brushing over the floor.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

If this message is received, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Twilight of this world, myself included, have successfully warded off Midnight Sparkle. Not a trace of her has been seen or heard from since, that’s all well and good. But she’s not why I’m writing to you now. There is another matter that I – No, ‘we’ would like to share with you, and we’d love to hear from your opinion. So, with your permission, I’d like to arrange for us a quick visit back to Equestria, so we can discuss this face-to-face.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Your faithful student,
Sunset Shimmer

As soon as she signed her name, Sunset Shimmer closed the book before turning towards Twilight Sparkle.

“Do you think she’ll respond?” Twilight asked. “The ‘other’ Twilight, I mean.”

“Difficult to say,” Sunset shrugged. “The time differences between here and Equestria is tricky to determine. Don’t forget that the Twilight in that world is the Princess of Friendship, no doubt she and her friends there are extraordinarily busy, keeping the peace amongst their fellow ponies there. She didn’t exactly answer that last note I sent out a while back.”

“Oh yes, I suppose your right. Still, hard to believe, that she’s not only a Princess in that world, but a Pony… Like ‘you’.”

“Heh… Well, we are ‘similar’ in terms of our upbringing and talents, but we are ‘very’ different ponies. But don’t worry, my teacher’s not one to overlook an emergency amongst friends. She’ll answer eventually.”

As Sunset spoke, she puts the book on the dressing room counter, just slightly along the edge but not enough so it would tip over.

“Now we wait,” Sunset spoke, returning to the bed. “Might take a week at the latest, but maybe we’ll be lucky if we receive a response in the morning.”

“Yes, I suppose,” Twilight replied, brushing her hair back. “In the meantime, maybe there’s a way we could… ‘Pass the time’.”

“You sure?” Sunset asked, inquisitively. “It is very late…”

“True… We do need our good few hours of sleep, being young and all.”

Sunset looks at Twilight Sparkle as she raises the sheets along the bed. But Twilight Sparkle did not move where she stood, as the light from the hallway illuminated her figure. Her fingers grip along the strap keeping her robe together, twirling in a somewhat teasing manner. Sunset didn’t have to be a mind reader to know where this was going.

“But as your future wife, I see no reason for a deadline or schedules,” Twilight points out. “I’m willing to put that aside, if we can make our own time.”

Twilight smiled as she slowly untied the knot holding the ribbon together. Her robe splits ever so slowly revealing the violet skin… Until the robe is so loose, she lets it fall to the floor granting Sunset Shimmer with a beautiful sight. Even with the scars along her body, the healed wounds permanent across her own canvas, Twilight Sparkle was still a vision of beauty. From the size of her cups, nothing too big but just right, and even the little opening below the waist, the surrounding region cleanly shaved. Sunset Shimmer admired every inch of that figure.

“You’ve gotten bolder,” Sunset smirked.

“What can I say?” Twilight smiled. “You’ve been the one to help me out of my own shell; to love myself more as you do for me. Thought I’d return the favor.”

“Come here, you,” Sunset whispered.

Smiling, Twilight approached Sunset Shimmer who stood up and the two girls were face-to-face. They didn’t know who made the first move, Twilight or Sunset, but they both leaned in for a tender kiss, their hands wrapped around each other. They explored each other’s frames, Sunset’s hands brushing along Twilight’s face, and Twilight’s hands massaging Sunset’s partly bare back. The contact from Twilight’s cups, brushing against hers made Sunset hard as Twilight slowly unhooked the straps from behind, allowing the bra to slip down to the floor. The two moaned passionately, their breasts bumping into each other, their nipples getting harder. They were so into it, the two girls fell back onto the bed laughing as they bounced on the mattress, as Sunset lifted the sheets over the two to continue their night of passionate love.

Unbeknownst to the two girls, while they were enjoying themselves, a faint glow radiated off Sunset’s journal… A response was finally being sent… But they were far too into it. After everything that these two had endured, with the thought of raising a family clasped firmly in their minds… They earned this enchanted evening.

It would have to wait until dawn…