Since hearing of Luna's past, the parts that her Mom had talked around in the few months Sunset had lived with them, Sunset had a better understanding of the woman. There were times when she seemed a little withdrawn or melancholic that made sense now.
It had been a few days now, since the truth came out. Sunset had finally figured out how she was going to approach Luna. Her aunt was home this evening, it seemed she wasn't in a gaming mood as her lair in the basement wasn't blaring with the sounds of electronic gunfire. In fact it seemed like she was in simply listening to music.
Sunset approached the door to the basement and knocked. It had been a ground rule from the word go; Luna's room and the basement were invitation only. Waiting, she thought back to her first visit to the basement.
-*-
“Are you doing anything right now?” Luna asked. She had a habit of appearing that made Sunset jump in surprise. She knew that the woman was happy for her to be in the house, but she still found the younger sister to be mysterious.
“No, not really. I've been reading.” Sunset marked her place and put the book down, The Outsiders was both a school literature assignment and an interesting read. “Do you want something?”
Luna looked around and then turned to Sunset. “It occurred to me, you have been here a few weeks now and I've not let you visit the basement.” She looked a little guilty for that.
“I respect your privacy, but I do kind of wonder what you've got down there.” Sunset had to admit she was curious. Luna had made no secret of her love of comic books, gaming and other nerdy pass-times. Things Sunset liked too, but had abandoned when she left Equestria.
“Alright then. Come and take a look.” Luna pointed to the door to her basement. She went first, leading Sunset down some stairs. Posters adorned the wall on the stairs, films and TV mingled with games, comics and cartoons. At the bottom of the stairs Luna held out a hand. “Welcome to the Luna Cave.” She smiled and let Sunset into the room.
There were shelves upon shelves loaded with books, DVDs, games and CDs. Models and figures filled other spaces on the shelves, gaming miniatures and Gundam figures fought for space with LEGO and Zoids. A couch had a huge collection of plushies from anime and games across the back and balanced on a low bookcase against the sofa.
Near the back of the room was a large table, the entire surface was an adventuring map and the chairs around it spoke of gaming nights. In the corner was a full suit of armour, great-helm, sword, shield and all. The surcoat had a livery Sunset had once encountered deep in a forbidden area of Canterlot palace.
At the head of the room was a very large TV flanked with cabinets filled with any gaming system and media player one could care to mention.
“What do you think?” Luna asked, almost nervous from Sunset's silence.
“This is amazing...” Was all Sunset could say. No idea where to even start.
-*-
What had followed was a fun afternoon of Luna introducing Sunset to video games, cartoons and
roleplaying worlds. She was still catching up with some of the anime and cartoon series she'd started watching with her aunt. Hopefully times would be as good now as then.
“Hey Sunset.” Luna had opened the door, the music was quieter so she must have turned it down a little.
“Hi Auntie Luna, I was wondering if we could talk?” Sunset hoped the music meant that Luna wasn't gaming this afternoon.
“Sure thing.” Luna moved aside to let Sunset down to the basement. When she reached the couch she dropped onto it and let Sunset take a seat too. To Sunset she seemed a little subdued, quieter, downcast even. “What d'you want to talk about?”
Sunset settled a moment and thought about how to start. “I uh, I guess it is about what Mom said and how... ill you were.” She said, hoping that this wasn't an off-limits topic.
“I was far from my right mind you know.” Luna said, shifting so her feet were on the couch too, she was sat facing Sunset now. “I've never been that bad since, but I still have phases of a sadness I just can't shake. I guess that explains to you why two grown women share a home right?”
“Honestly, it never seemed weird to me. You're sisters, so it was logical that two single sisters share. Company at the very least.” Sunset shrugged. “I just think that you are pretty incredible to come back from that, to keep on fighting.” She grabbed her arms, holding her elbows. “I know the feeling. Mom kind of accidentally stopped me...” Sunset paused and screwed her eyes shut. “She caught me on the night I really would have jumped.”
“Good.” Luna leaned in and dragged Sunset into a hug. “I like having a niece. One of the things that tells me that carrying on is worth it.” Sunset returned the embrace. “Was it during all that Mystable mess?” She felt the teen nod. “I remember seeing you around the school. It hurt to see someone moving about the place looking like I had.” She ruffled the red and gold hair. “I wasn't sure how to help you though. I thought it might overstep the mark. So I worked on finding out the true culprit. I never considered you to be the source.”
“I was a bully before though.” Sunset said, a hitch in her voice. She was enjoying the hug. Luna hadn't been as tactile in her affection before. Like she wasn't positive on how close to get.
“You changed.” Luna said simply. “When we were teenagers Celestia was part of the problem I faced. Now she is my best friend and all that came from her decision to change. Okay, it took a rainbow blast of friendship into a crater for you and the very real risk of losing me for Celestia. But you were very much working to change just as she had.” Luna made sure she looked Sunset in the eye. “So I know you were never going to be the bully again.”
Sunset sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “I wanted to come and say how awesome you are and that it is good to know someone will get me... But instead you made me feel better.”
“Kiddo, you made me feel better too.” She settled them so that they were still hugging but a little more comfortable on the couch. “I also find music helps a lot. Want to keep me company?”
“Sure.” Sunset, glad of the acceptance, the hug and the company, smiled and closed her eyes as the music played. She really did have an awesome auntie.
-*-
Celestia, later in the day and wondering where her family had gotten too, ventured into the basement. Music was drifting from the slightly ajar door and she wandered down the stairs, not concerned but definitely curious. She snapped a quick photo with her phone at what she saw. Her Mother would love to see it.
Sunset and Luna had drifted off together on the couch. Cuddled up and each holding one of the plush toys that lived on the back of the couch. Celestia had at first been worried about introducing someone else to their little family unit. Though without a doubt it had been the right choice.
Comic books and gaming are geeky, not nerdy. I know that because if I was a nerd, my grades would be better.
Aside from that, wonderful chapter. I wonder how this Luna would react to the news that she almost took over a country in the other world. Twice.
I wonder what type of anime Luna likes?
best chapter so far loved it and I WANT THE LUNA CAVE FOR MY SELF
you should do a chapter of them watching some anime to gether and commenting on it (i say either magical madoka or kill la kill)
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My Anime likes are somewhat dated! I like the classics and setting Luna at early thirties (I'm not quite there yet but it looms ever closer) means favourites will fit in. Personal likes are Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, The Big O, Martian Successor Nadesico, Urusei Yatsura and Ah! My Goddess. I'm going to make Luna a firm fan of Sailor Moon, Fullmetal Alchemist and Azumanga Daioh and then pester my teen-aged sister to explain current trends.
I booked out of keeping up when Naruto and Bleach were in vogue, Death Note was new and One Piece episodes were still only in double figures!
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I would recommend Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha or any of the Gundam series. I also have found Highschoo DxD to be good but that can be pretty adult at times.
7746306 fair enough thoe you should check those anime out your self as thats the real reason i said them :P
7746288 That cave is the kind any gamer would want. All it needs is a set up for a PC to be plugged in and it's set!
WANT!!!
Actually brought a tear to my eye here- good job, yo that's pretty hard to do nowadays
This was yet another very well made a very good chapter i loved every single bit of this.
7746306 Considerating that Sunset went "Anime Magical Girl" with her Daydream Shimmer mode in the Friendship Games, it would be really interesting the comments that Luna could do if she was a fan of Sailor Moon (specially if she could rope Sunset into it! )
It would be nice if Luna was a fan of PlanetES!
7746306 What about Dragon Ball? And I would highly recommend Fairy Tail.
i demand a picture of this moment. lol we need pic or it didn't happen they fell asleep on the couch of awesomeness
I loved this chapter, it seems nice that Luna and Sunset have things in common. I can't wait for more
Up to a chapter during the happened with Anon-A-miss.
Regards
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Nervy from the Oxford English Dictionary.
I make my best efforts to keep things from getting too Anglicised, hence Mom and not Mum, but some things will slip through. I never knew it was peculiar to the UK.
We need to have a holiday chapter like Thanksgiving or Christmas next.
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Well, I have never celebrated either, but I'll have a go at something!
No gaming PC. You have failed to meet the minimum requirements for a proper nerd nest.
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Now that is in the bedroom for easy "roll from bed to PC" action.
7769307 I approve.
I really love your interpretation of Luna. I am considering adapting a few elements such as the love of gaming for my own interpretation in the future.
This by my favorite chapter this side story.
So:
-Luna almost comitted suicide in her past
-Spent a lot of time in few hospitals after that
-She now has melanholy moods from time to time, keeps fighting on, happy to have Sunset around
-Lives with her sister, she doesn't have boyfriend
This all rises a question: "Is Lula infertile, like Celestia?" That will explain so much!
7803500 it is implied that she like women inthe first story
FWIW, I wouldn't have suspected Sunset for the Anon-y-Miss thing anyway. Sunset is capable of a false flag op of that magnitude but it didn't have any clear target. Sunset was always methodical and precise to the point of having hints of some behavioural disorder. What Anon-y-Miss seemed to be was some talented mimic attempting to set up an operation that looked like it was Sunset's doing but lacking her particular identifying characteristics.
That aside, Luna is in many ways been in a similar situation to Sunset's. For her it was Celestia who made things worse, for Sunset it was the rest of the HuMane Six.
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Not implied, outright stated.
Luna plays 40k doesn't she
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If she does bet she's night lords or Raven Guard or maybe eldar idk.
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Besides the fact it obviously pointing at sunset and nobody in their right mind would leave a calling card like that on purpose so it had to be a frame job.
Nice name.
I like her taste of what she has in her collection.
Doesn't seem weird at all, my neighbors next to me happen to be the same except their daughters husband and child live with them.
Awwww
Luna has an awesome setup in the basement, and in terms of interest I somewhat relate to her. That is I love comic books, cartoons, toys, and games like Luna but I'm a newbie when it comes to video games and roleplay games.
Most I've done with video games is watch walkthroughs on YouTube, so far my favorites are Luigi's Mansion and the sequels. I can't try playing them until I get a place of my own anyway, since there's no room for a console in my parents' apartment.
With roleplay games I've been wanting to try Dungeons and Dragons, but I'm not sure where to find a group I can easily get to (LOVED the movie that came out this year though). I haven't decided what kind of character I want to be anyway.
Basically when it comes to games I'm more into board games, card games, and computer games (via Steam). Humongous Entertainment (Putt-Putt, Freddi Fish, Pajama Sam, Spy Fox, etc) and Zoombinis mostly, but I love watching walkthroughs of others like Nancy Drew, toon-based (Looney Tunes, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, etc), Disney, and Grim Fandango. Actually I would like to play Nancy Drew games, but the ones I want to play first aren't available for Apple/Mac computers.