Luna giddily bounced through the halls of Canterlot castle, her alert spell having just gone off, informing her that Twilight Sparkle was at last, asleep. The night had grown late by now, nearing midnight even, making Luna assume the studious mare had gotten caught up in some sort of late night reading session, which would explain why she was only getting to bed now. Still, though the lateness had played hell on Luna’s nerves, she did have to admit that the extra few hours of planning had done wonders for the dream she had in the works.
The dream Luna had constructed would start with a trip through a seemingly endless library, where Twilight would find numerous books of ancient and forgotten knowledge. Then, after she had wandered for a bit, the dream would shift and the purple pony would find herself in an art museum filled with every bit of art that Luna knew had been destroyed by the passage of time. The alicorn had even gone out of her way to craft the dream art museum to have tiny descriptions of each of the pieces, telling the dreamer anything they might want to know about the art itself.
It had taken a while, but Luna was absolutely certain that the amazing mare would love this dream even more than the last ones Luna had crafted for her.
Luna spared only a brief nod to her guards before slipping into her room and all but leaping under the covers, flicking off the lights and sealing the door with a burst of magic.
As she settled into a comfortable position her smile faltered, and the mare couldn't help but berate herself for her cowardice. This was after all, another night spent planning a dream for Twilight, and not a night where Luna actually managed to tell the other alicorn how she felt.
Her return had not been as easy as Celestia had wanted and Luna’s crush on her sister’s former protege hadn't helped matters. The dark alicorn had trouble making friends, and struggling with feelings she didn't have the strength to give voice hadn't helped in that regard.
She sighed, closing her eyes and taking some small modicum of joy in the fact that at least her crush would have another wonderful dream, if nothing else.
With a spark of magic the mare was whisked off to the land of dreams, the long hall of doors instantly appearing before her. The floor, walls and ceiling were all the off white of polished marble, signalling that she had begun, as always, in the Canterlot dreamscape. A quick scan of her magic told her that nopony in Equestria was currently experiencing a nightmare worthy of her attention. With a wide, manic grin Luna began to move in the direction of Ponyville, where her goal lay in quiet slumber.
With a wide smile on her face the princess sprinted down the hall, knowing instinctively where the other alicorn’s dream lay and making a beeline for the purple door.
“This dream is going to be the best one yet I just know it!” Luna exclaimed happily, bounding down the hall.
The intricately woven carpet beneath her hooves wore away, turning into a beaten brown path the same color and feel of Ponyville’s roads, signalling that she was drawing close to her goal. Gone was the off white walls, replaced by the path beneath her hooves, the doors on either side, a wide open night sky above, and trees beyond the doors.
The doors began to become more familiar as Luna sprinted down the hall. The first one she remembered was a blue door with a rainbow in the center of which, meaning Rainbow Dash was asleep. Further from that there was a pink door with a butterfly at the front, signalling that Fluttershy was asleep as well. Luna could have rattled off the name of every dreaming pony she passed by after only giving a faint glance at their door, the last week and a half making her very familiar with Ponyville’s residents.
None of which mattered to the princess of the night at the moment, all that she truly cared about was getting to Twilight’s dream and ensuring that lovely, kind, and amazing mare got the best dream possible, everything else was secondary. Luna smiled sadly, happy that even if they couldn't be together Luna could still make the mare of her dreams happy even if it was just in her dreams.
The alicorn’s smile grew as she noticed the familiar purple door approaching in the distance. Her hooves pumped faster and the excited alicorn slid to a halt in front of the door to her crush’s dream. It was the same as yesterday and every day before that, the door being the soft purple of Twilight’s fur while a single star sat at the centre of which. Luna giggled excitedly, unable to hide her enthusiasm now that she was so close to her goal.
Lighting her horn she quickly ran through the dream spell she had cooked up during a rather uneventful night of courtly proceedings. With a firm nod the alicorn felt confident that everything was just as she wanted it, and that all she had to do was walk into the dream, cast the spell, and watch as Twilight Sparkle had the best dream of her life.
Luna threw open the door to the dream and leaped into the darkness which signalled a so far dreamless sleep. Though odd, it wasn't' completely out of the norm for Twilight to not dream, as she had a habit of overworking herself and leaving her brain too exhausted to even come up with something.
It's a good thing I’m here than. Luna thought to herself, pride welling in her chest at the knowledge that she would be the reason Twilight Sparkle got a restful sleep.
The door slammed shut behind her, signalling that the dream was secure and ready for the mistress of the night to work her literal magic.
With an eager grin Luna lit her horn and cast her spell, dancing on her hoof tips as she eagerly awaited Twilight’s no doubt shocked expression when she the spell started working. A second later, and that enthusiasm started to bleed away, replaced by a panic borne of doubt. Nothing had happened, making the mare wonder if the spell had failed somehow. If the spell did as it was supposed to they should be in a quiet, idyllic library, not the cold void of dremalessness.
Just as Luna was about to light her horn in an attempt to cast the spell again a sudden light erupted from the darkness, signalling that the mare was waking up, or something had gone wrong.
Surprised by the light’s sudden appearance Luna reared back in surprise, only for thick bands of purple to appear from all around her, binding her limbs and holding her aloft.
“What is the meaning of this?” She yelled, finding hers limbs unresponsive and her magic fizzling uselessly.
“Relax, it will just take a second.” A voice whispered.
“Twilight?”
The light grew, and for a moment Luna considered using her magic to simply tear herself out of the dream, but the concern in Twilight’s voice made Luna stop. Was this simply a practical joke? Or maybe the purple alicorn had disliked the dreams Luna had brought so much that this was some sort of revenge?
The dark alicorn sighed, falling limp in the strange circle of purple string. “So be it I suppose.” She muttered darkly, accepting whatever may befall her.
Yet when the light hit finally hit her there was no pain, no discomfort, there was simply the dream one minute, then there wasn't.
Blinking rapidly, Luna looked around, noticing the familiar color of crystal that marked this room as part of Twilight’s castle. Luna’s head swiveled this way and that, finding that she was indeed in a room somewhere in the purple alicorn’s castle, though where exactly she did not know. Her limbs were still held in the strings of purple that were in turn bound to a thin gold circle that hovered around her.
It almost looked like a dreamcatcher?
Luna couldn't help but laugh despite the strange circumstances, the sheer ridiculousness of it all tickling her funny bone as she realized just how truly ironic it was for a dream walker to be caught in a dreamcatcher.
“I’m glad you are enjoying my little surprise.” Twilight remarked, stepping out of the shadows directly in front of the bound alicorn, a smirk on her face.
Tugging her limbs, Luna found that they no longer had any real hold on her, and she could easily escape, if she so wished with even her magic easily coming to her call. “Being caught by a dreamcatcher, you have a most amusing sense of irony Twilight Sparkle.” Luna sighed suddenly. “I take it you did not like the dreams I brought you then.”
Twilight smiled faintly, stepping closer to the alicorn. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I am curious as to why you have become so hellbent on giving me such dreams in the first place though.”
Luna blushed, pulling a hoof out of her ‘bindings’ long enough to scratch her cheek awkwardly. “I don't suppose you would believe me if I told you were about to have a nightmare, would you?”
Twilight giggled. “I’m afraid not. I haven't had a nightmare in years and I don't see a reason as to why tonight would be the night that would change.” She smirked coyly. “I was actually having a wonderful dream before it ended rather suddenly.”
The darker alicorn raised an eyebrow at the remark as there had only been one thing in that dream after all. A blush slowly spread across Luna’s face and she stared into Twilight’s eyes, trying to ascertain what exactly the mysterious mare was hinting at. Twilight had evidently taken lessons from Celestia though, as her face betrayed no emotion other then slight amusement and a coy, teasing look in her eye.
“Hmm, and I don't suppose you would believe me if I told you that this is just something I do for all ponies.” Luna half asked, half stated.
Twilight shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I checked.”
“Fi.” Luna cursed, a small smile growing across her face.
“Well whatever your reasons.” Twilight blushed suddenly, biting her lip and looking up at the alicorn. “One good turn deserves another, right?”
“That depends.” Luna started, watching as the other mare walked up to her in a seductive manner, hips swaying as their eyes locked together. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure, what do you desire?” Twilight whispered huskily, stopping only when she was mere inches from Luna’s ‘bound’ form.
“Well…” Luna coughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. “I do kind of well…” The mare gulped, glancing down at Twilight.
When their gaze met once more Luna knew and in that moment a bit of the awkwardness that had plagued her seemed to leave her, making both mares blush.
“I know what you mean. I feel the same way.” Twilight whispered, taking another step closer, her lips mere inches from Luna’s. “Would a kiss make for a worthy reward?”
Luna smirked. “Should I expect a reward for every dream, or…?”
Twilight giggled. “Why don't we start with one and see where that takes us.”
“Deal.”
The two ponies leaned forward, their lips meeting in the middle, while their worries and cares were left behind, forgotten amidst the tender caress of each other’s lips.