//------------------------------// // 349. Umm by Ragabash // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// by Ragabash *** It was a great day for Twilight Sparkle, as it was the day where she stopped being a filly and was officially a mare. While this day was big, her birthday party wasn't. Aside from her family, there was only her mentor, Princess Celestia, and her former foalsitter, Princess Cadence. Normally, there would also be high-ranking members of Celestia's court, since Twilight was her protege, that occasion wasn't just big on a personal level, but she knew that her student preferred something smaller. It was pretty early and Twilight received all of her presents. It was everything she could have wanted, which, typically of her, was mostly books. However, there was something else she wanted, specifically from the princess. So, in a moment, when all other guests were busy talking with each other and she could be alone with her, she turned to her mentor. “Umm...,” she began. “Yes, Twilight?” Celestia replied with a smile. “...Nothing.” What she wanted was something simple, something she got a lot when she was a little filly. But it was weird to ask for it, now that she was an adult. In the end, she didn't have the heart to do it. A few hours later, another opportunity arose. Twilight was a bit discouraged now, but felt that she had to try it. So, when the other guests were looking through old photos of her, she took the princess aside. “Umm...,” she began. “Yes, Twilight?” Celestia replied with a smile. The unicorn hesitated. “...Nothing.” What she wanted from her, she often got when she began her study under Celestia. The castle was strange and intimidating and her still unfamiliar bedroom, far away from her family, lonely. Only the princess' warmth and closeness made it bearable. But she couldn't ask for it now. She was an adult mare now, a far shot from the filly that was nearly torn apart by homesickness on her first night here. Later, when the party was over, she and Celestia bid the guests farewell. Her parents had asked her, if she wanted to stay with them for the night, but she refused. Back then, this would have been unthinkable. When all the guests were gone, Twilight again turned to her mentor. By now, she had practically given up, but something still told her to try again. “Umm...” she began, yet again. “Yes, Twilight?” Celestia replied with the same smile as before. The unicorn hesitated even longer this time. But there was no use, it was now or never. “...You see... I... Nothing.” “I don't think there is 'nothing', Twilight. When you try to say something three times, it's obvious that there is 'something'. I have to wonder what that 'something' is.” More important than the “what” was the “why”. No grown pony asked for something like that. What would the princess think? Would she jump to wrong conclusions? Or even worse, the right ones? “Why don't you just say what you have on your mind? I'm sure that you feel much better when you get it off your chest.” As much as she didn't want to admit it, Twilight knew that she was right. She still hesitated, trying to reassure herself, while the princess waited partially. “Can... Can I sleep with you tonight?” she finally asked. Celestia seemed surprised at her request, which gave the unicorn a bad feeling. But then she smiled warmly and answered: “Yes, Twilight.”