Rainbow Dash sprang up in her bed, with her heart thumping and sweat dripping down her body. This was not a new occurence to her, and it had been happening the past few nights for several nights in a row. Rainbow Dash whimpered and then groaned. She could barely remember her nightmares, just the terror and fear she felt in them.
"I-I just want to sleep," she muttered to nopony in particular, as she was alone in her room like every night. Her room was cold and mostly empty, adding a greater sense of loneliness and greatly enhancing her fear. Surely somepony could help her.
And then she remembered somepony that could help her.
Luna, the former princess of the night.
"I-I shouldn't d-disturb her...she's retired for a reason," Rainbow told herself, ending with a sigh. Deep down, however, she knew that Luna was the same accepting and kind pony from before that would gladly help her. Rainbow then got lost in thoughts about Luna. Luna's calm demeanor, Luna's gentle smile, the mane that glistened like a thousand stars...
Rainbow shook her head.
"D-Dash, don't think like that," she scolded herself. She somehow had weirded herself out with those thoughts, and yet she felt a little...warmer. As if thinking about Luna...made her happy.
She stood up and looked out her window. Snowflakes were falling down rapidly, and her eyes could hardly keep up. Looking at the winter wonderland outside, she hit a realization.
"Silver Shoals...is so far away," she muttered in defeat. She began to retreat back to her bed when she heard a knock at her door. She groaned, wondering who would even be knocking at her door this late.
As she walked to the door, she heard hooves outside shuffling. She slung open the door and prepared a barrage of insults and questions, she realized who it was.
Luna herself.
Luna was dressed in a warm brown winter coat, with a black scarf and black snow boots. She also donned purple earmuffs, and also had her defining features, at least to Rainbow: that gentle smile and twinkling mane.
Luna felt a bit worried, as she did not know whether or not she had disturbed Rainbow's sleep.
"Greetings, Rainbow! I know it is a bit late for the former princess of the night to just show up on your doorstep," she finished with a chuckle, hoping Rainbow would laugh too.
Rainbow let out a little chuckle too, no longer annoyed.
"Oh no, it's fine. I was just woken up by-"
Rainbow paused. She just...couldn't bring herself to say it at that moment.
"Oh, nevermind that, why are you here?" Rainbow asked, sounding puzzled.
Luna's heart started beating a bit faster. The truth was that she was lonely that night, and wanted somepony to talk to. Rainbow had been the first to come to her mind, as she felt she had feelings for Rainbow. Luna was worried of sounding weird, however, and decided to tell a little lie going off of Rainbow's previous unfinished statement.
"I-I just had a feeling, y'know? Have you been having any nightmares lately?" she asked. Luna had never really lied before, so she hoped Rainbow wouldn't be suspicious.
Rainbow Dash let out a sigh under her breath.
"Yeah...you should come in and we can talk," she said.
Luna gladly stepped inside, and was happy with the fact Rainbow's house was a lot warmer than the harsh weather outside. She took off her winter clothing and set it neatly on the nearby clothes rack, and embraced the warmth of Rainbow's house.
"I'll go make some hot chocolate, you can...go sit on my bed I guess?" Rainbow had to hide back a blush while mentally cursing herself.
Luna let out a cheery smile, hiding back a blush herself.
"Thank you! Hot chocolate is one of my favorite drinks, as long as you make sure to add plenty of marshmallows," Luna remarked.
"I will!" replied Rainbow cheerfully.
Rainbow thought more about Luna as she prepared the hot chocolate for Luna, choosing not to have any for herself. Why did she feel so...happy thinking about Luna and talking with her? Rainbow sat the cup on a silver tray and carried the tray with her mouth into her bedroom.
Luna was lying on the bed reading a book, and she looked up at Rainbow with a smile.
"I see why you like these Daring Do books! Maybe you should invite me over for a bookclub night," she said with a short giggle, and she once again hide to hide back a blush.
Rainbow's heart skipped a beat. She felt happy thinking of spending a night of reading with Luna. She set the hot chocolate tray on the bed. Luna's horn lit up with a majestic blue and she used her magic to lift the cup.
"So...tell me about these nightmares," Luna said in a gentle tone. Luna realized that talking to Rainbow indeed made her...comfortable.
Rainbow sat on her bed next to Luna.
"I-I wake up sweating from them, and they're terrifying, but I can never remember them," Rainbow whimpered. Luna could tell Rainbow, by the tone of her voic, was very disturbed and frightened about these nightmares.
Luna took a sip of her hot chocolate and smiled.
"Well, I shall stay for tonight and watch over your dreams...if you want me to, that is," Luna said with a comforting smile. Luna felt warm and cozy, and not just from the hot chocolate. She wished her and Rainbow could be together more often.
Rainbow smiled back, and it felt like her heart had melted. She realized what this feeling was. This happiness...it was love.
She loved Luna.
Luna began to think about her feelings towards Rainbow.
She loved Rainbow.
Luna spoke.
"D-Dash, I lied a little tiny bit earlier...I didn't come here because I thought you were having nightmares," she stated meekly.
"You...didn't?" questioned Rainbow.
"N-no, I came because I was lonely t-tonight and I wanted somepony to talk to. And I thought of you f-first, cause I kinda like talking to and being around you, especially since I don't have royal duties and stuff anymore," she stated.
The two stared warmly at each other for a few seconds. They both debated their next words. They spoke the same three words at the same exact time.
"I love you," they said meekly to each other, their words in sync.
"Y-you do? Truely?" asked Luna with a slight tear in her eye.
"If you do," replied Rainbow with a grin.
"Of course I do!" exclaimed Luna, with a smile brighter than the sun.
The two approached each other close and gave each other a light kiss. They both blushed, but smiled.
Luna moved the hot chocolate tray over to Rainbow's night stand using her magic. The two crawled under the covers and Luna grabbed the Daring Do book with her magic.
"How would you like to snuggle and read some Daring Do?" questioned Luna lovingly to her new marefriend.
"I would like that a lot," said Rainbow.
Luna snuggled Rainbow under her wing. She then spoke.
"Okay, Dashie," she said with a smile.
Author's Note
Well, this is rare: a LunaDash fanfic! Takes place between Season 9 Episode 25 and 26. Might do some sequels/continuations. And yes, Luna canonically lives in Silver Shoals after Episode 25. Dashie just moves in with her.
