And Then There Was That One Time That I Wiped Out An Entire Civilization

Notes: N/A

Twilight Sparkle blinked slowly, her lithe body merely a highlighted shadow against the darkness of night. Her eyes were dilated to the point where their lavender irises were no more than the thinnest of stripes across the rim of black. She breathed quickly, like a scared animal, and her hooves tingled in the anticipation of being caught, of being seen in this fragile state.

“I can’t be seen,” she told herself softly, “I can’t turn back now. Not with all that I went through to get here.”

The unicorn mare’s words lingered in the air, laced with regret, but she still slunk forward with the agility of the slyest fox in the forest. Her hooves clopped quietly on the polished tiles as she went on her way.

Twilight Sparkle was not the type of pony to keep secrets to herself or hold back her opinions, but given the scenario, tonight was a different story. She felt like an entirely different mare, one with many years of hiding and lying under her belt. She felt like what she was doing tonight, in these tall, looming walls, was right-

-no, she knew it was right. Never before had her heart beat so furiously at the thought of looking upon her heart’s desire, inhaling it’s sweet scent and basking in it’s warmth.

“I must.”

She leaped up the grand stairway, the path gilded and glowing as if in the daylight. Her movements were subtle enough that she was not questioned by the passersby- though there were so few at this hour, so it didn’t exactly matter-  but merely regarded as the flittering of the moonlight on the paint.

Twilight Sparkle felt tears pool up in her eyes as the flight of stairs ended, and a hallway opened up for her. She yearned to touch the alicorn’s silky fur, burrow into the depths of her mane, and rest. The mental journey for them both would be long and difficult- she was a bright unicorn, intelligent beyond her years, and knew this well- but for herself, the physical adventure was almost at its completion. A sweet smile, like zap-apple marmalade fresh out of the container, graced her lips as she leaped up the stairway, two steps at a time.

Finally, she reached the gilded door of her master, her mentor, her everything. It seemed as majestic as ever despite the lack of sunlight. Within the pure white doors was the faithful co-ruler of Equestria, the queen of everything associated with daytime and warmth. Celestia, the all-powerful goddess and supreme beauty of the land. Twilight would have drooled if she were a lower-level pony.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, which let out a surprised gasp that morphed into a high-pitched squeal. The lavender mare cursed under her breath and slid into the room, hoping she hadn’t woken the royal. To her great satisfaction, Celestia hadn’t stirred.

Delighted yet dignified, Twilight Sparkle climbed into the bed of the alicorn. It was simply divine, and she instantly felt her hooves sinking into the mattress, which was most likely filled with the softest pegasus down. Before she could take another step, she found herself dragged through a tunnel of sheets and a fleece blanket before being dropped in a pool of shadow.

Her horn glowed a pale magenta, and she grinned as her surroundings began to glow before her. A wall of white was in front of her, with a dusty gray pillow beneath her rump, and above her head... a disgruntled magical being.

Celestia’s mane was a mess, and her crown (most likely forgotten by the princess) was lopsided and hung at the very edge of her ear. Dark circles were below her eyes, which were miniature, purple suns themselves and gave off a light of their own. “Twilight?” she asked, as if speaking through a thick haze.

She almost didn’t speak, but her inner student won out. “Yes, Princess Celestia?” she said softly.

Celestia blinked once, as if she were thinking of a suitable punishment behind her heavy eyelids. She smirked devilishly, and Twilight Sparkle swooned. She was forever grateful that the midnight covered up her expression.

“You silly filly.” Celestia murmured, her yellow horn glowing. She picked up Twilight in a swish of telekinetic magic and snuggled her up to her body, wrapping her long, slender hooves around the unicorn. “Cadance may be the Element of Love, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell when a pony’s seeing hearts.”

Twilight blushed deeply. She said nothing to her mentor.

“I feel I should confess something to you, my dearest student.” The force of which she said “dearest” made Twilight Sparkle’s heart heave, and she braced for what she had to say. “I...”

“...Yes?”

“I love you too, Twilight. With all my heart.”