Author's Note

Okay, okay, okay... First of all, sorry I disappeared. TMI but my fiance cheated on me and I had to move out, sorta lost my motivation for a long time but IM BACK BABY. Secondly, some of you are about to be very upset with me. You may have noticed a certain.. love triangle situation happening, this chapter has the resolution of said triangle (sorry if you're disappointed in it but I didn't wanna drag it out and I went with the one that felt right) Hope you guys enjoy, and keep tuning in if you can stand to, our journey isn't over!

Chapter 24: All is Fair, In Love and War

Indigo was lounging on the wall when the carriage appeared on the horizon. The blue banner that floated before it drew her attention.

Quick as lightning, she scrambled down from her post and rode into the citadel at high speed. The guards threw open the throne room doors for her as she approached. “Commander,” she called out. “Commander! Our Princess of the Night approaches.”

Sunset startled upright at the announcement, she turned to the nearest guard. “Collect a company to meet High Commander Luna's carriage. Escort her here.” She turned to Indigo, “go to the houses of healing and speak to King Thorax. Ask him to join us if he is able, he should be here to see the Night Princess. When you've finished with that find the rest of my companions and Captain Spitfire. I'm going to see about putting some food together.”

There is no time for them to pull together a proper welcome feast but Sunset does her best. She has the cooks put together a decent meal and King Thorax joins her, leaning heavily on his cane. He and his people are still recovering, Luna will understand.

They've spent the past several days working to repair and reinforce what they can. The Changeling's attacked in much the same way that Sunset and her men did, sneaking through in the darkness of the tunnels. She's sweaty and rumpled and tired, hopefully the High Commander will forgive her. It's hard to be put together when the visit comes without warning.

When the gates are opened and Luna's carriage pulls into the citadel, Sunset is there to meet her. The door swings open and Luna steps out, her armor gleaming in the midday sun. She smiles widely.

Sunset bows, “welcome, High Commander Luna.”

“Ah,” Luna greets, “there's my Red Knight. I was worried we weren't friends anymore when you didn't ride out to meet me,” she teased.

Sunset rises, eyebrows raising playfully. “Never, my Princess. I merely wanted to ensure as proper a welcome as I could manage.” She grins widely, “are you hungry?”

“I am, as is my guest.”

“Guest?”

The door of the carriage opens again, and a familiar form emerges.

Sunset sucks in a sharp breath, “Twilight?”

There's a palpable tension in the air all through dinner. Twilight seems to be trying to bore a hole in Sunset's skull with her stare. Sunset ignores it as best she can, giving Luna a rundown of their assault and subsequent victory in Thicket.

“You've done an admirable job, Commander,” Luna says. “And King Thorax, I'm very glad that you're still with us.”

“As am I, your highness.” Thicket says, nodding. “Your Dark Regiment is an impressive force, their Commander, especially so.”

Luna nods, pushing her plate away as she stands. “Why don't you and I speak privately? I have a few ideas about how we can ensure the further safety of your kingdom and by extension, ours.”

The king follows Luna out of the hall and toward his office, as they leave, Sunset's companions also scurry away. In only a few moments, Sunset is left alone with Twilight. The other girl does not speak, still trying to bore holes in her head.

“So,” Sunset says awkwardly, “how are you?”

Twilight's face pinches, “you don't look nearly as happy to see me as you did the princess.”

Sunset's stomach twists, “of course I'm glad to see you, my lady.” She places a gentle hand over one of Twilight's on the table. “I was so worried that your father would force you to marry that Spruce boy, it pained me to think of you so unhappy.” Twilight does not look convinced.

“But do you love me, Sunset Shimmer? Do you want to marry me? It is not wrong to say that we hardly know one another.”

Sunset burns with indignation, “I lost a damn tournament because I wanted to make sure you didn't marry him! Your father had me arrested. I'm only fighting now because he's out for my head and the only way I could avoid the noose was for Luna to send me here.”

Twilight's brows raise to her hairline. “Oh, so it's Luna now? And it was your own arrogance that got you arrested Sunset. You were impersonating a noble.”

“I was. Does that change how you see me? Do you no longer have an interest now that you know I have no title?”

“No. It changes nothing, not for me. But I do doubt your feelings, you are different now than you were.” Twilight shakes her head. “Your dedication is an admirable quality, but I feel that you will never be so dedicated to me as you are to her.”

Sunset sits back in her chair, stunned. “You're jealous... of my dedication... to Luna?”

Twilight scoffs, releasing her hand and standing. “Do not act like it is not a reasonable fear, Sunset. You are devoted to her, you sat through an entire dinner with her sweaty and exhausted. I doubt she would have been angry had you left us alone with the King. I care for you, and I believe that I could love you. Can you love me? More than you do her? She saved your life, she gave you the opportunity to earn your freedom. Can the fledgling feelings you had for me compare to the immense weight of your loyalty to her?” She leaves the hall, and a astonished Sunset Shimmer behind.

When Sunset returns to her room in the castle, Luna is waiting for her. It is somewhat disconcerting, to walk right into the very thing that is playing on your mind. “Luna,” she greets, “how did your meeting with King Thorax go?”

The princess of the night smiles, “well, thank you. But, that is not why I am here.”

Sunset really hopes this conversation is going somewhere besides her feelings. “Oh?”

Luna hums, patting the seat next to her on Sunset's bed. “Your Twilight is troubled by something, I thought bringing her here to see you might soothe her. It seems to have done the opposite. I admit, I am not well versed in romance but it does not bode well that she was not pleased to see you.”

Sunset finds herself desperately wishing she could sink through the floor. Twilight has just accused her of being enamored with Luna. Not directly of course, she had said words like loyalty and devotion, but the sentiment was there. Because, well, she's not not enamored with Luna. Luna is a semi-ageless princess, and Sunset's friend. And she's Sunset's commanding officer, her savior, of course she admires Luna. It only makes sense.

“Twilight is... not comfortable with my... loyalty to the crown,” she finally says.

Luna cringes, “your loyalty to me, you mean.”

Sunset is certain that her expression is giving her away. “Something like that.”

She can see Luna breathing deeply, like she's searching for her nerve. What follows is a surprise. “I am not opposed to the idea,” Luna says, face just slightly redder than normal.

A startled sound is jerked from Sunset's throat and she promptly topples off the bed. She lands hard on her back, armor clanking. Her breath is forced from her lungs and she wheezes. Luna giggles at her. Offering her a helping hand as she staggers to her feet.

“Please forgive my bluntness,” Luna blushes. “I did not think the idea would be so... repulsive to you...”

“It's not!” Sunset yelps. Her face burns at Luna's raised eyebrows. “I'm sorry, it's- it's not repulsive. I just... I had never truly considered it a possibility.” She swallows hard at the look in Luna's eyes. “You're my Princess, my High Commander, I am here to serve you. Never in my wildest, fever dreams would I ever think that someone like me might interest you. I am still, in the eyes of Canterlot, a criminal. I am serving out my sentence, trying to earn my freedom. The heart of the most noble woman in Canterlot is not something I would ever set my eyes on.”

“And yet you were caught in your lies before because you were courting Twilight,” she points out. “You risked much trying to impress Lord Night. Am I truly too far outside your reach?”

All the breath she's managed to regain leaves Sunset's body. When she had first seen Twilight she had been floored, drowning in her desire to speak to her. It had been a pleasantly uncomfortable feeling, like she had covered in warm towels after an icy bath. Now, staring into Luna's eyes, seeing the fierceness in her gaze. It feels like she's been lit aflame from within. Her heart is hammering in her ribs, as if trying to escape. She has no doubt that if it managed to do so, it would land on the floor at Luna's feet.

“I am bound to you, High Commander,” she says softly. “Not just by my oath to you, but by the friendship that we have grown together. My plight is this: Twilight or you, it matters not. I have no title, I have no fortune; desperate and devoted as I might be, I have nothing to offer. Before, I was convinced that my heart would be enough but... it would be foolish to offer you a heart that might still cease to beat.”

Luna stared at her for a long time, saying nothing, before Sunset eventually continued.

“I have many battles left to win, our victories have changed the tide but we have not beaten them yet. I will not have either of you love me, not while I may not return to you. If I die, I would rather leave grieving friends than a mourning lover.”

“But, if you had to choose,” Luna pressed, taking Sunset's hands in her own. “If it had to be one or the other?”

Sunset swallowed hard, she hated to hurt either of them. How could she choose? The girl who had caught her heart strings at first glance? Or the woman with whom she had grown a friendship that she'd only just repaired? The choice pained her, but it was also easy. Far easier than it had any right to be.

“Twilight is lovely. She caught my attention and she would make someone a wonderful wife, if they could handle her.”

Luna's face crumpled, “of course. Twilight is young and her mind is keen, she would make quite the adventure-”

“But,” Sunset interrupted, “Twilight would not have a lover who is so dedicated to another. And, Luna, I am the Red Knight. Before anything else, I am your Commander. I am your red right hand. Before I am anything, I am yours. And I always will be, in whatever capacity you desire me. For Princess and country is my oath... but mostly for Princess.”

The Princess of the Night seized her in an embrace. “I would not have you if you are only saying this because you are my knight.”

Sunset shook her head, “I was your friend first. My feelings about you do not change my priorities. That is why Twilight is so upset, I fear. She knew before you even arrived that no one would ever take priority over you.”

It was a revelation to them both. And yet it felt obvious. Sunset cared for Twilight, she cared for her friends, she cared for her soldiers. But... Luna came before everything. Luna's orders, what Luna might want, always was first on Sunset's mind. No wonder Twilight had felt so snubbed.

Later, Sunset would seek her out and apologize. And Twilight would accept, because she was as noble as Sunset in that way. She was hurt, and disappointed, but she was kind before all else. “All is fair in love and war,” she said teasingly when they parted ways. “You likely wouldn't have been able to keep up with me anyway.”