//------------------------------//
// False Start 
// Story: Fairytale Bliss 
// by fallen starr 
//------------------------------//

Morning light peaked in the castle windows, the sunrays promising a bright, cheerful day. Though it was earlier than her normal wake-up time, Twilight found herself roused and ready to tackle what the day held. Her sleep that night had been deep – she couldn’t even remember her dreams! That was rare for her. With thoughts of smiley-face pancakes, she trotted off to the dining hall Celestia used for breakfast. 

There she was met, not with a soft smile and welcoming wing, but narrowed eyes and a grimace. Princess Luna sat at the table, seeming to glare at her breakfast. Celestia was nowhere in sight. Cautiously, Twilight ventured further into the room. With a sigh, Luna speared her fork through the middle of the stack of pancakes. “This is the eighty-second day in a row Celestia has made pancakes for breakfast. Out of those, I have had this same strawberry and banana combination twenty one. I am tiring of this ritual. Perhaps I should speak with her about the menu.”

“Um, yeah!” Twilight knew she was a princess, that she was, even if only technically, equal to Luna. Still, she couldn’t help but feel the other mare astronomically outranked her. Being privy to any sort of personal information regarding any imperfection in Luna and Celestia’s relationship still sat her on edge. “You’re up late.”

“Hm, yes. I wanted to continue our conversation from yesternight. I plan on ‘sleeping in’, as it were.” As if to emphasize the point, Luna yawned. “Now, I believe, as you said, we were getting to the good part.”
Twilight blushed but nodded. “I’m sorry, I realize that is actually your life. I guess I got caught up.”

The room was silent as Luna gathered her thoughts. Then she looked up at Twilight, a frown gracing her face. “You were concerned about manipulation. That was not the case with Sombra and I. It sounds strange to you, I know. You did not know him, only the clinging, greedy apparition that was left behind. He could have been good. He saw the darkness in me, I believe. At the very least, he saw the terrible rift already forming between Celestia and myself. It was some days after our starlit dinner. At that point, I had been in the Crystal Empire for nearly a month.”

The day was sunny and bright and light filtered through the curtains in Luna’s quarters. After tossing a few more times and no less than three annoyed huffs, she finally left her bed. It would be a long night tonight, but getting up was better than being annoyed at the sun. She wondered the corridors, greeting the ponies who greeted her, looking for the grey coated unicorn. She found him at a desk with a small party of councilors. They hushed when she walked into the room, not that she could blame them. She would not wish to divulge all secrets to an ally either. 

“Ah, Luna.” Sombra’s eyes sparkled and his frown flipped up into a smile. “It is early yet for you to be awake.” He quickly dismissed the ponies around him. Once they were alone, he sat back in his chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“The sun,” Luna answered. 

Sombra laughed. “Ah, yes. No matter, stronger curtains will be hung in your sleeping quarters. However, this is the perfect time for us to discuss something.”

Luna’s ears perked up and she straightened her back. “What is it?”

He sat completely still for a moment. Then, with a sharp intake of break, he leaned forward. “I have enjoyed your presence in my home over the last month. We are very similar, you and I.” He paused, swallowing. “I thought, perhaps, we could find something better than this treaty we are working out.”

Luna’s heart was fluttering. Small remarks and gentle touches aside, this was the first time Sombra had vocalized his intent. “What better way?” Luna asked, and she thanked the goddess that her voice did not shake. 

“I thought we could join our nations through marriage. It would be a boon to both and, forestalling any major grievances, we could have total control of trade. Between the two of us, we produce everything ponies need to survive.”

Politics. Plain, boring, logical. “I understand your desire to strengthen your country, Sombra. However, I believe I will decline the offer. Equestria stands in a golden age of its own currently.” She swallowed. “My month’s stay ends tomorrow. I will sign our treaty as it stands.”

Sombra tapped on the table with his hoof.”

“Wait,” Twilight leaned forward, her half eaten pancake forgotten. “I thought you said he wasn’t manipulating you? It sounds like he was.”

Luna closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “He loved me, Twilight Sparkle. However, I am tired. We shall finish my tale tomorrow.” Then she stood and walked out, Twilight watching after her. 

With a shrug, Twilight finished her breakfast and decided to wonder to the castle. She didn’t think of any particular place, but her hooves took her to the public portion of the palace gardens. There she sat beneath a tree, watching foals throw snowballs at each other. She tried to ignore the couples roaming the frosted landscape, but soon found her mind wondering what it had been like to be friendly with Sombra. 

Had he been genuinely warm toward her? How much affect did he have on Luna become Nightmare Moon? When did he turn dark? Why hadn’t his love stopped him from turning dark? If he knew she and Celestia were growing apart, why didn’t he try to fix it?

With a concentrated look, Twilight teleported a notebook and pen to her side and began writing notes on the story and the questions she had. This was supposed to help her, but so far, she hadn’t seen where this story aligned with the relationship between Flash and herself. After all, Flash wasn’t a new leader. Flash had never even dealt with the temptation of dark magic. He had never had to come up with a plan for a treaty. 

Those were all things Twilight had done. She frowned. A new page in her notebook was quickly written with Twilight – Sombra and Flash – Luna? Was she meant to be Sombra in this story?

After a moment, her head hit her hoof. “Of course not. These are real events. Luna is just trying to help me, not give an allegory.” With a sigh, she poofed her notebook back to her bedside table and stood, shaking out her legs. She was just considering what to do next when her stomach grumbled. “Lunch it is, then.” She trotted off toward the food district. She knew just the café she wanted to go to.

The wind picked up on the way there, preparing for the snow storm the pegasi had planned for later that night