He remembered how he couldn’t sleep the first night he arrived at Ponyville, which led him to the park he was currently at for a walk. It must be fate, meeting Princess Luna that same night.
Sombra sat on the bench as usual, waiting for a certain mare of the night to arrive. It was their own routine ever since they met during that fateful night. Sombra would go to a certain spot in the park where most of the residents don't step a hoof and waited every night at nine o’clock. He didn’t mind staying up late for his friend.
His green eyes moved to the moon, spotting a silhouette of a pegasus.
No, wait, that pegasus had a horn.
That’s definitely an alicorn.
No, that’s Luna! Sombra thought, smiling.
“Hello, Sombra!” Luna greeted when she landed, walking up to where Sombra was sitting, formalities aside.
“Hello again, Luna,” Sombra smiled, making space for her to sit. “How was your day?”
“It was alright. I slept through the morning as usual. Dream duties are not as easy as it sounds,” Luna informed, looking slightly proud.
Sombra chuckled a bit. How adorable.
“I can tell,”
“And how was your day?” Luna turned to him, a small smile on her muzzle.
“It was just like every other day. Except, these three fillies - they called themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders - asked me to help them earn their cutie mark. Told me perhaps I can earn mine, too, since I do not have one of my own,” Sombra said, looking a bit confused as he added, “They were quite horrified by the idea of not having a cutie mark as adults, although I do not see what the problem is...”
“They will get their cutie marks one day,” Luna said in a confident tone. She turned to him. “Would you like to come to the castle one day?”
He was taken aback by the sudden question. “Why I -” he paused, then replied, “I don’t think it’s necessary. I am quite content with us seeing each other like this.”
“It won’t be that bad!” She looked to her left before adding, “Sooner or later you’re going to have to move in to the castle.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’ll ever. What makes you say that?” Sombra asked, oblivious. Luna stared in disbelief before sighing in disappointment.
“Nevermind,” Luna said. Obviously, Rarity's flirting methods hadn't worked.
“What? Was there a hidden meaning behind it?” Sombra asked, panicking a bit. Why had Luna looked so disappointed?
“Don’t worry about it, Sombra,” Luna said, turning to him.
“No, no, I must know. What was the hidden meaning?” Sombra said, getting closer to her without realizing.
There was silence before the mare let out an ‘umm…’ and put a hoof on his muzzle, pushing him lightly.
“Oh - !” Sombra backed away quickly, checking his breath after stammering out a, “My apologies.”
“It’s quite alright,” Luna responded, glad that her coat was dark enough to hide the blush on her cheeks.
Now there was an awkward silence, Sombra internally yelling at himself about why he had gone so close to the mare’s face and made her feel uncomfortable while Luna asked herself about what the hell was she feeling? These butterflies in her chest…
“I’m truly sorry if I had made you feel uncomfortable, Luna,” Sombra said quickly, turning to the mare.
“It’s alright, really,” Luna smiled reassuringly at him.
“Are you sure? You can tell if it’s not -” Sombra was interrupted.
“Sombra,” Luna said his name in a stern voice, making him feel quite… ‘Tingly’? Was it? She then continued in a softer tone. “It’s alright. I’m not mad.”
“Well, if you - if you insist.” Sombra stuttered.
Silence. Nopony said a word. Breaking the silence, Luna said, “My sister wants to reform Discord.”
“Discord? The Lord of Chaos?” Sombra said, slightly shocked.
“The one and only,” Luna nodded. “You’ve heard of him?”
“Yes, from Twilight,” Sombra responded. “I heard he’s quite hoof-ful.”
“Oh, he is, trust me. My sister and I had a hard time defeating him the first time, I can only imagine how hard it is for Twilight Sparkle and her friends,” Luna then muttered, “And to think my sister had, as ponies these days say, dated him…”
“Dated?” Sombra repeated the word, looking at Luna for confirmation. She nodded. “I can hardly believe it…”
“As was I when they first announced it.” Luna said.
“If they had a relationship once, how did Discord…?” Sombra trailed off, not knowing how to word it out.
“I don’t know,” Luna shrugged. “He just… Snapped, you could say. Odd, really, he never seemed like the type to cause that much trouble. Loves pranks, but never went as far as he had.”
“So you have no idea why he became the way he was?”
“No.” Luna shook her head.
Sombra nodded and let out a ‘hmm’, thinking about how he was once evil himself. “I’m sure he can be reformed.”
Luna looked at him, slightly surprised. “Truly?”
“If I can be reformed, why can’t the Lord of Chaos himself?”
“It’s Discord.” said Luna flatly.
“Well, you might have a point, but give him a chance, Luna. Who knows? Perhaps it is possible.” Sombra placed a hoof on one of the mare’s hooves.
“Hmm, I guess I’ll trust my sister’s decisions for now…” Luna said doubtfully.
Sombra smiled and moved his hoof away.
It felt peaceful. The cold night breeze made their mane sway. Sombra closed his eyes and took a few breaths, enjoying the moment. Luna looked at the stallion next to her.
A small smile formed on her muzzle, seeing how peaceful he looked. The longer she stared at him, the more attractive he looked. Luna looked away before her mind wandered too deep. She had thought of courting him once or twice, but never did because of how nervous she felt and the fear and embarrassment of rejection.
What if it changes their relationship? What if it ruins it?
Sombra was the only pony other than her sister that Luna felt truly comfortable talking to. Sure, there were other ponies she had befriended but most of them were either dead or young foals. You can’t talk to dead ponies. Foals wouldn’t really understand half the things she says, either. There were the bat ponies but most of them treated her like she’s a goddess and a few even feared her. Talking to her sister can be a bit of a bore sometimes.
It was all work and stay positive with Celestia. Sure, she can talk about what troubles her but her sister was already busy with her duties and she didn’t want to add more on Celestia’s plate. Sombra, on the other hoof, wasn’t too busy. She can relate to him a lot, such as how they felt trying to fit in and such. He was a lot more patient and easy-going, more open and relaxed than anypony she’s met.
It was honestly better to stay as friends than risking it. But how long will they stay as friends? Sombra isn’t exactly immortal like she is. By the time she told him her feelings, he would probably be on his deathbed.
So Luna tried pushing the anxiety away and tried her luck.
“Sombra, there is something I would like to confess,” Luna said without looking at him. She could feel her face heat up.
“What are the odds? I, too, have something I would like to confess to you,” Sombra smiled, looking at her. “I will let you go first.”
“Right,” Luna took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
She turned to him and made eye contact. “Sombra… Recently I have… Grown feelings for you.”
She watched those green eyes widen. Did he feel repulsed by her? Does he feel the need to get away? She noticed him going a bit red.
“Truly?” he asked, almost a whisper.
“Yes.” Luna nodded, struggling to keep a brave face on.
“Why, that’s what I wanted to confess,” Sombra said. Luna’s eyes widened, her heart beating fast. “I have feelings for you, too.”
“Really..?” Luna said, a grin slowly making her way to her muzzle.
“Yes, really,” Sombra held her hooves. “This may sound cheesy, but you are the most amazing mare I’ve met. I’ve been wanting to be more than friends lately and perhaps we could…”
Luna gasped softly. “Are you… Suggesting a courtship?”
“Yes,” Sombra said after a short pause, smiling softly. “Yes, I am.”
Luna wanted to fly high to the sky and make a few loops but controlled herself. She smiled back at him. “Then I accept.”
The mare leaned in and kissed the stallion softly.
And he returned it.