//------------------------------// // 31-40 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise // Story: 100 Moments of Twilit Skies and Lunar Paradise // by Quill Copy //------------------------------// 31.Stars Luna woke slowly, eyes flickering open and was met with the familiar ocean that was the night sky. Hesitating for a moment she turned to awaken her lover. The unicorn groaned in protest before asking “What is it…?” “Gaze skyward, what dost thou note?” “The stars?” “Indeed, and what does that mean to thee?” Twilight frowned, still very much asleep, “That you remembered to put them up?” she paused before adding, “They’re very pretty… can I go back to sleep now?” “Twilight, beloved, thou canst see the stars.” Luna explained patently “‘T means that somepony has awayed with our tent.” 32.Beast “This isn’t going to work.” The creature regarded Twilight with eyes far too intelligent for a mere animal. “I can’t have you walking in while me and Luna are… busy.” The pure black lion’s golden eyes were impossibly deep, and its nod made the silver sheen of its mane gleam. “So let’s make a deal.” Leo seemed to grin, the constellation of his namesake that adorned his cheek twisting slightly. “I’ll stop kicking you off the bed if you stop walking in on us.” His grin widened, showing his alabaster fangs. All had gone according to the sly beast’s plan. 33.Expectations Luna had been mentally prepared for most things she’d encountered after the elements freed her. She’d known that her sister would forgive and accept her; she had anticipated that Equestria would not share Celestia’s enthusiasm. She wasn't even surprised to learn about the worlds various advances. Impressed, yes. But not surprised. The one thing that didn't meet her expectations was that defiant and terrifyingly-powerful unicorn. Twilight Sparkle was not a battle hungry warrior, nor a power-crazed mage, but a scholar. A kind-hearted, gentle pony who’s only desire was to learn. Luna had never been happier to have her expectations crushed. 34.Moon ‘I would give you the moon.’ an absolutely meaningless promise between lovers. Nopony, regardless of power or prestige, could truly promise the moon. Nopony but one. Nopony but Luna. And she had. Twilight could still remember the princess’s exact words. “Twilight Sparkle, thou, some time ago, robbed me of mine heart and, in return, granted me thy’n. Now I stand before thee with an offering of all else I possess: wouldst thou do me the honour of claiming thy place at mine side, as Consort of the Night?” She had replied by shouting yes while hopping around like a schoolfilly. 35.Hold_Her Twilight Sparkle cried, it was the near quite, shuddering, rivers of tears that come from somepony desperately trying not to. It killed Luna to watch. “Twili-” “It hurts,” she drew a shuddering breath “it hurts so much…” she choked on a sob “make it stop…” she turned to face the older mare. “please.” Luna hesitated. It would be easy really, a few altered memories some tweaked ideas, and Twilight wouldn’t even know that she should be grieving. No. Stepping forward she touched her horn to her lover’s, enveloped her in powerful wings, and held her. Twilight stopped fighting the tears. 36.Eyes The blood soaked dreamscape; the all too realistic corpses of her friends; the sinister chuckle of the being responsible. All horrifying. And all paled when compared to those painfully familiar eyes. The irises of gentle teal that she knew so very well, defiled by the draconic slithers of black meant to be pupils. Twilight screamed. Her eyes shot open and her breath caught in her throat as she finally, escaped her nightmare. “Twilight, beloved!?” ‘There they are, those same eyes.’ Silently scolding herself for such a cruel thought Twilight offered a sad smile. “Sorry Luna, just a… just a Nightmare.” 37.Precious_Treasure Being an immortal, near divine, and – until recently – warring diarch came with an impressive collection of ‘souvenirs’ and, although somewhat worn from a thousand years of neglect, Luna’s was nothing short of incredible. Armour, weapons and even bones taken as trophies from vanquished foes lay scattered between towers of gems and monuments of solid gold, either claimed by right of conquest or received as gifts. The personal treasury of the Lunar Princess was truly staggering. But as she stood there, amongst her ancient wealth, she found that nothing she possessed could compare to the awed unicorn that stood beside her. 38.Abandoned “You abandoned me!” Twilight’s indignant accusation echoed throughout the palace as she staggered into the personal chambers of the lunar diarch. “Thou exaggerates.” “I exaggerates not!” she huffed, collapsing unceremoniously on the royal bed, “You know what Cadence gets like once she starts drinking, and you left me there to deal with her on my own!” “‘Twas amusing no?” “NO! I was this close to talking her out of invading The Badlands when Celestia showed up!” “Oh dear…” “So I locked the drunken pair of them in the war room and I think their playing poker with the Equestrian map.” 39.Wishes “I can hear them…” Luna broke the content silence that had enveloped the stargazing pair. “Hear what?” came the rightfully confused reply. “The wishes that ponies plead from mine stars.” She smiled something bittersweet before adding, “It pains me that I mayn’t grant them.” Twilight wasn’t sure how to respond so instead, she leaded into her lover and offered a nuzzle in way of comfort. “Often times, before the diarchy, Discord and I would away whilst Tia slept to play genie.” “Discord?” “We were inseparable, us three … but Tia may never forgive him for choosing chaos rather than her.” 40.Rank “Luna, you could at least try being civil to them!” “Those things are blood-lusting swine! I shan't have them in mine court!” The thestral guard on watch made certain not to notice the argument. “Equestria and The Gryphon Kingdoms have been allies for centuries! You can’t refuse them without causing an international incident!” “Then let there be an ‘incident’! Those hen-cubs shall know their place!!” The guard remained stoically indifferent to the brash – and blatantly speciesist – declarations that rang from within the royal quarters. After all anypony of his rank knew when to be little deaf or a little blind.