//------------------------------// // Part 3: Moonlight Meeting // Story: Playing Pretend // by Cardinal Dan Productions //------------------------------// Spike didn’t get a wink of sleep that night. In his bed, clutching onto his covers, he stared up at the ceiling as he replayed the evening’s events over and over again in his mind. His thoughts, no matter how far they ran, always came back to the kiss he shared with Celestia. The taste of her tongue still lingered in his mouth, prompting him to focus on it and nothing else. He thought about the kiss some more, then he wondered what might have happened after if she invited him up to her room. Her dress was so tantalizing. It drew his gaze like a moth to flame, tempting him to caress her shapely form. Suddenly, a low growl shattered his train of thought, and his lustful vision left him. It was the dragon’s stomach. Despite the large dinner that had been set for their fake date, Spike had barely touched his food out of nervousness. Figuring there was no point in sitting in bed if his stomach was just going to berate him for neglecting to eat, he threw off the covered and shuffled his way across the room, opening the door and stepping out into the corridor. The rest of the palace was dark and quiet. Only a faint light could be seen at the far end of the hall. Spike investigated, quietly creeping down the hall until he reached an open door. It was Twilight’s office, and inside, the princess sat asleep at her desk. She snored softly with her head resting across her folded arms. The light Spike saw came from a flickering candle on the edge of the desk. The dragon approached the desk and pitched the wick, snuffing out the flame before tapping Twilight on the shoulder. “Pssst... Twilight.” The princess stirred and let out a soft groan as she raised her head, glancing upward at him. “Hmmmm... Spike? Wha...” A long yawn escaped her lips. “What time is it?” Truthfully, he didn’t know for sure, but he took her hand and helped the princess up. “It’s late. Come on, Twilight, I’ll help you to your room.” Twilight looked exhausted, but her eyes darted back to her desk and the mountain of papers and other documents that needed her attention. “But... My work...” Spike pulled on her hand, guiding her towards the door. “It can wait until tomorrow, Twilight. You need to get some real sleep.” He got no more protests from her after that. Step by step, he escorted the princess down the corridor, to the place where her bed was waiting to welcome her. Once she was safely on the mattress, Spike laid the comforter over her and began to quietly back out of the room. “Mmmmm... Thank you, Spike...” Then, her gentle snoring resumed. Princess Twilight was out in an instant and sound asleep. Satisfied with his work, Spike returned to his previous mission: food. The kitchen was only a short walk away, and after all he had endured that evening, the hungry dragon felt like he had earned a full belly. It wouldn’t be the first time he had snuck onto the kitchen for a late-night snack, so he felt no sense of remorse. Spike floated across the floor, drawn to the fridge by his growling stomach. Only the natural light that came from the shining moon allowed him to see the environment around him and navigate the kitchen, marking his path to the fridge. “Finally...” He grasped the handle and pulled the door open. Spike was welcomed by a blast of cool air and artificial light that poured into the rest of the room. Without hesitation, he took a jug of milk and set it on the counter beside him. A big bowl of cereal was what he needed to get his mind off of Celestia and satisfy his hunger. With a ceramic bowl on one hand and a box of cornflakes in the other, Spike filled the container to its rim and more. Before he could add the milk, however, the dragon froze as a mare cleared her throat. “Ehem...” It must have been Twilight, wondering why he was still up. “I didn’t expect you to be eating so soon after your date with my sister...” Spike’s ears twitched, and he spun around to find Princess Luna leaning against the doorframe, her arms folded across her chest. She looked so casual, the complete opposite of Celestia, dressed in jeans and a loose-fitting shirt. When he didn’t respond, the princess of the night welcomed herself inside and approached the island counter in the center of the kitchen. When Spike found the courage to speak, he set the bowl of cereal down and shut the fridge door. “I didn’t actually eat. I couldn’t...” Luna grinned as she found a barstool and sat down. “Yes... Father has that kind of effect on dinner guests, but I’ll bet you’re wondering why I’m really here.” Spike poured the milk onto the cereal and joined her at the island with the bowl and spoon in his hands. “The thought crossed my mind, yeah.” The princess placed her arms on the counter and leaned forward, her eyes burning into his. “I want to know what’s going on between you and Celestia. My sister has higher standards than this, so what is it?” Spike frowned at that last comment. “Alright... First of all, I just got pulled into it. The whole thing was Celestia’s idea. It’s over anyway, so what does it matter?” Luna pursed her lips as she studied his expression. “Hmm... I seem to recall something different, Spike. I believe there was a proposal for a second date and... a kiss.” Spike’s eyes lit up, and he nearly spit out a mouthful of cereal. “Ho-How did you know about that?” She shrugged her shoulders innocently as she toyed with a piece of lint she found in one of her pockets. “The palace walls are thinner than you think.” Then, she flicked the lint away and leaned across the table, coming within breathing distance to Spike. The dragon held still, afraid of what might happen next, but no violent enough or threat of any kind came. “I suggest you speak at a whisper if you want to keep your private affairs... private...” Then, the gap closed, and Spike found himself mouth to mouth with Princess Luna. She initiated the kiss, pressing her lips into his and moaning ever so softly. All of Spike’s senses were heightened by the sexually charged touch, and his scales tingled with anticipation. Unlike his kiss with Celestia, there was no explosion in his chest, but his entire body shook his excitement. When what must have been the longest minute of his life passed, Luna pulled away, severing the kiss. She eyed his dumb-struck expression and sloppily wiped an arm across her lips. “Mmmm... Not bad at all...” Luna placed her hands on the counter top and prepared to stand, but Spike reached out and grabbed onto her wrist, holding her back. “Wait, what was that?! You’re just going to do something like that and... and leave?!” The princess looked at him, then his hand on her arm, then back at him. “Don’t take this personally, Spike. My sister obviously enjoyed herself, and I needed to see what all the fuss was about.” One good pull was enough to rip herself free of his grasp, and she began to make her way to the door she entered from. Spike felt frustration swelling in his chest. The mischievous princess had raised far more questions than she answered, and she was getting away! “Good night, Spike.” She looked back at him one final time and fired a subtle ‘wink’ his way. “I’ll be seeing more of you, yeah?” Then, she was gone. Spike scrambled to his feet and dashed for the door to catch her. He burst through the door and into the corridor, but there was no trace of Princess Luna. The mare had vanished. Briefly, Spike wondered if he had imagined the whole thing. Luna wouldn’t just appear in Twilight’s palace for a few minutes and vanish into thin air. The kiss felt so real, though... Spike felt the urge to reach out to Celestia and talk to her, but it was far too late. The elder princess was fast asleep, no doubt. The dragon let out a groan as he returned to the kitchen and stared at the bowl of cereal he had prepared with disgust. He no longer had an appetite and felt increasingly confused. After dumping the bowl, Spike returned to his room and threw himself onto his bed, wanting so badly for the night to end and the sun to rise. ***Up Next: The Morning After***