Something Halloween

Twilight Sparkle blinked her eyes which felt like they were full of sand. She tried to focus on the Pony Society paperwork, but the neat columns of numbers devolved into a meaningless jumble. She levitated up a cup of coffee and grimaced when she tasted it. Cold. How long had she been at this? The mare looked at the clock on the wall in front of her and groaned a little. Was it even worth going home at this point? She'd barely get to sleep an hour before having to get up again. Another interview - one for which she had to look presentable. These were becoming more and more difficult lately.

"One hour is better than zero," she murmured to herself and stood up. The paperwork wouldn't go anywhere, Twilight knew this very well. In fact, there would probably be even more of it waiting on her desk tomorrow. Except that she had promised Anon to help him with some algorithms, so Pony Society would have to wait until Friday, making the pile even bigger.

As she ambled through the dark, quiet building, Twilight tried to plan out her day differently. Who knew, maybe she'd magically find a few more hours of time in there somewhere? Maybe, if she got through the interview before lunch, then grabbed a smoothie or something on her way to the car and drank it while driving home, she could help Anon in the afternoon. If she got lucky, she might get the code in order and then she and Anon could have dinner together. The mare smiled at the thought. Just the two of them, on the couch, eating - well, whatever was easy to eat out of your hoof - nuzzling. Perhaps a kiss or two. In fact, Twilight decided, even if she was done sooner than expected with Anon's software problem, she wouldn't come back to the Pony Society tomorrow. Things could look after themselves for one evening. She'd check her emails from home and then turn in early. Lack of sleep was slowly killing her and that was impossible, because she was an alicorn. In any case, it certainly wasn't pleasant.

She made it all the way to her car and climbed up into the driver's seat with some difficulty. She sat still for a second or two and rested her eyes. A moment later she jerked upright with a small gasp. She'd nearly dozed off in the car! She'd never hear the end of it from Anon if he found her in the Pony Society parking lot, sleeping on the wheel again! Out of desperation the mare hoofed herself right on the muzzle. It stung, but it also woke her up enough to drive.

"Just a couple of minutes. The streets are empty anyway, so I'll be home real soon."

Of course it never went according to plan, Twilight thought bitterly as she rode the elevator up. Every. Single. Damned. Semaphore! They had conspired to turn red just as she was approaching them. A five minute commute had turned into a half-hour struggle to stay awake. Her head, her ears, her tail - it was all hanging limply. If her wings were big enough yet, they'd be dragging on the floor.

"Buck this..." she sighed sadly.

She would have to do something - make some changes in her life. Juggling a full-time job at the Pony Society with another full time job at her and Anon's company, not to mention a budding diplomatic career, was quickly becoming impossible for one single pony. A pony who had to sleep. An old idea surfaced again, but this time Twilight considered it rather than simply shooting it down. She'd read something completely bonkers in one of the old magic journals in the Canterlot spellbook library.

Supposedly there was a book on sleep magic. Supposedly there was a spell.

It was crazy dangerous, but she wouldn't have to do it for long. She was training her replacement for the Pony Society, so her involvement in that organization should be reduced to near zero, soon. She had a very good feeling about this particular young lady. Fresh out of college, but incredibly smart. Majored in political science, with a minor in philosophy. Curious and eager to learn. Twilight was paying her about twice what she'd get anywhere else and training her in running the world's biggest pony rights organization. Where did you get a better deal than that? It was an unspoken agreement between Twilight and her that the girl would take over day to day business, at least for a few years while she figured out her goals in life. That'd give Twilight back about six to ten hours every day. She just had to slog through the next few months. It was worth it!

The mare shook her head as the elevator dinged up on the top floor. She wasn't seriously considering doing some advanced, tricky, dangerous magic just so she could find a bit more time for paperwork, was she? The door slid open and thoughts of dusty old spells flew from her mind when her eyes alighted on Anon.

Despite how bone-weary she was, Twilight smiled. He was sitting against the wall on the floor near the elevator door. There was a rose which had slipped from his fingers when he had fallen asleep. His cell phone was beside his hand. The elevator ding hadn't woken him up, so Twilight crept forward as quietly as she could until she was standing as near as possible without actually touching. She leaned her head that last fraction of an inch and pressed her muzzle gently against Anon's cheek. Almost automatically his arms came up to wrap around her withers.

He had apparently been waiting up for her and fell asleep. He even had a rose! It was at the same time incredibly sweet and quite foolish. He should have gone to bed. Heh... she should have been to bed hours ago! She gave the man a gentle lick on his face.

"Come on, let's go to bed. I'm sorry I'm so late."

Anon didn't entirely wake up, but his fingers found her ears and started massaging. "Mmm, hi Tw'lig'," he mumbled.

His skillful technique, perfected over the years of them living together, quickly melted her brain into a warm, pink mess. The alicorn had barely enough self-control to nudge her lover with a hoof. "Come on. Up on your feet. Bed. Now."

It worked and Anon slowly lifted himself. He put a hand on her back for support and she stiffened her legs to take his weight. She was quite used to it and Anon knew how strong she was, so the motion was probably automatic. She levitated up his phone, but it took an incredible effort of will to hold it steady, so she just put it on the shoe cabinet. This way at least she wouldn't step on it when she had to leave.

That reminded her and she brought out her own handheld. Oh, her saddlebags were still on her back! Now that she had her phone, nothing else in them was important so she just unbuckled the strap and let them slip off. She looked at the screen and almost groaned. The interview was at ten, which meant she'd have to get up at eight to shower and get ready. These days that included makeup, so better make that seven thirty. Hardly any time left for warm Anon-snuggles. The mare quickened her steps and brought Anon to the bedroom. She tugged at his pants and he began clumsily unbuckling them. There was the faintest of tickles down between her legs, but she was far too tired for anything tonight. It'd have to wait for tomorrow, Twilight thought sadly. This time, Anon was only undressing so he'd sleep more comfortably.

As soon as his pants were down Anon started on his sweatshirt and Twilight poked him with a snout in his stomach to get him to sit on the bed. Time was of the essence here, so she lifted his legs and - with a skill born of practice - yanked off his socks. The shirt landed on her head and she inhaled deeply, relishing the scent that was pure Anon. Maybe she could delay sleep for ten more minutes?

The man broke the spell by yawning, which quickly infected her as well. No, she wasn't getting enough sleep and she needed every minute she could grab. "Scooch over, let me up," she whispered.

Anon obediently made room and she climbed right into his lap. He pulled the blanket around them both and Twilight wiggled her back as close against the warm human belly as she could.

"Mmm. Warm human. Love... human..." The last thing she was dimly aware were arms snaking around her barrel and a very gentle kiss on her ear. Stupid paperwork, keeping her away from this...