//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirty Nine: When Night Calms Down // Story: That One Time: Celestia and Luna Married the Mane Six // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Chapter Thirty Nine: When Night Calms Down Written by TheCrimsonDM It was a late evening and Twilight stood in front of the door leading to her room. It would be the first time she’d slept in it in years. She wasn’t scared of sleeping in there. Still something was keeping her from actually going into it. Her heart was preventing her from taking another step in.  A sky blue wing laid over her back causing her to look over to see Rainbow Dash looking at her. “Sup?” Twilight smiled. “Hi.” “Nervous?” “No, why would I be nervous?” Rainbow Dash glanced back and forth making sure they were both alone before saying, “I am.” Twilight smiled. “I… I guess I am too.” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Me and some of the girls are going to be playing some board games. Want to join us?” Twilight smiled at her. “I’d enjoy that… hey, Rainbow Dash.” “Yeah, Twi?” “I’m sorry for scaring you earlier.” “And I’m sorry for kicking you in the face.” They shared a nervous laugh as they made their way toward the end of the hall where Pinkie’s room was. “Well… I’m going to be honest. You are kinda attractive…” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Well we’re getting married tomorrow so just save your interest until after that, then you can try and get me, tiger.” Twilight laughed again. “I think I’m supposed to call you that.” “No, I’m Champ. You can be tiger, or as Pinkie said, Twiggle Wiggle.” Twilight balked. “Please not that one.” “Whatever you say, Twiggle Wiggle.” Twilight groaned but she was happy as could be. Once in Pinkie’s room she realized all of her friends were in there. Rarity was sitting there putting on some lipstick while staring in a small pocket sized mirror. “Oh, Twiggle Wiggle, you joined us. Tonight is our improvised bachelorette party.” Applejack added. “We decided to avoid any cider, uh… no drunk ponies tonight.” Fluttershy smiled. “Also I might um… not be so safe around Cider.” Rarity replied. “Darling, safe is one thing, your sharp little fangs are another altogether.” Applejack laughed. “At least she didn’t actually succeed in trying to kiss everypony, Pinkie on the other hoof.” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down. “I did that, oh me, me, I kissed everypony!” Rainbow Dash led Twilight to a nice comfortable seat on the floor and walked over to where Fluttershy was. She nuzzled the side of her cheek. “Cheer up, Shy. You didn’t actually succeed in taking me.” Fluttershy was blushing furiously. “I’m so sorry.” “Don’t sweat it, I am irresistible.” Twilight swallowed. “Um… Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked up at her. “Y-yes?” “I… I’m sorry too. I really liked the kiss, but you deserve to be treated better than that.” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh no, I like being treated as a pet, so long as you don’t forget I’m a pony too it’s okay.” Twilight smiled. “Um… and the kiss?” Fluttershy’s cheeks went more pink. “I… like that too.” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Looks like you two are going to be doing the same thing Applejack and Rarity will.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Darling, that’s entirely different. My Apple Pie is my first and primary concern. Luna, as much as I love her, is still second.” Applejack smiled. “That might change down the road, but fer now, ayep. Me and Rares before all of y’all.” Twilight let out a sigh. “Well at least I didn’t take Rainbow Dash’s virginity. That way she can still give it to Celestia… that was your plan right?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened as every eye in the room turned to her. “I’m, like, totally not a virgin.” Rarity gasped. Applejack snickered, laughed and then fell onto her back laughing so hard she was crying. Fluttershy mouthed silently to herself and Pinkie Pie was giggling from her place in the corner where she was putting the finishing touches on some cupcakes. Rarity exclaimed, “YOU’RE A VIRGIN!” Rainbow Dash groaned. “No, I’m not.” She shot a glare at Twilight. Twilight shrugged. “Sorry… I didn’t know that was a secret.” Rainbow Dash covered her face with a hoof. “Look, romance is weird okay. ‘Nuff said.” Rarity was clapping her hooves together. “Oh this is so exciting, both Twinkle Sprinkle and Rainy Dashy will be losing their innocence tomorrow!” Rainbow Dash laid down. “Thanks, Twilight. I try to cheer you up, you embarrass me.” Twilight rubbed a hoof at the back of her head. “Sorry.” *** Celestia stood in front of the fire in her room. A single document hung in the air before her held aloft in her golden aura. It had a copy number of two hundred and sixty six out of two hundred and sixty six. It was the last copy, the final copy of this law. She could toss it into the flames. It would be gone, and then she could cancel the whole entire affair. Life would go back to reasonable, back to calm, back to silence, and back to loneliness.  She must have sat there for a couple of hours staring at the document as the fire crackled and spread its warmth in the room. Nothing had really changed yet it somehow felt a lot darker in here than normal. A lot quieter than usual. Emptier than it should be. She felt lonely in here all by herself. Looking back to the bed she recalled how warm Twilight was next to her. She hated to admit it but lying next to her like that… it was one of the most amazing experiences she’d had in many, many years. The warmth she received from the tiny alicorn, the love and gentleness of her. Even waking up to Twilight dry humping her in her sleep was funny enough to give her a smile to keep even this late at night and all by her lonesome. Looking a little beyond that she recalled how cute Rainbow Dash was lying there writing a letter to her to help calm her nerves. How Rainbow Dash had shared some of her own concerns. Then again at the bed where she might have moved a little too fast but the little prismatic pony had shown such restraint it was worthy of an honor. Pinkie with her wonderful baking skills. Even with her being upset about the destruction of her dining room it had been so many years since she had seen Twilight having so much fun playing with somepony. In fact even Twilight was a foal she never played with other foals like that. Pinkie brought out a part of Twilight Celestia had never thought she’d ever see again… an innocent and playful part. Seeing Fluttershy with Luna was a real treat as well. The way Luna looked snuggling up close to the yellow pegasus was endearing and the way Luna smiled looking at her made Celestia’s heart soar. They were such a surprisingly good match. Rarity had a regal aura of her already, and her understanding of fashion was very interesting. Celestia had long since lost touch with that part of the world, allowing for her servants to help her decide what would be appropriate fashion appeal. In fact she didn’t even bother wearing dresses to the Gala most times anymore, not until Rarity appeared and made the thought of wearing a dress fun and new again. She didn’t just make something she thought would look good on the mare, she made things that spoke to Celestia’s soul. Applejack was a real family pony and had a quiet sense of calm and power to her. She was always somepony she wanted to really sit down with and get to know better on a personal level. The only reason she hadn’t before was because she knew Twilight would interfere out of her obsession… but that might change now. Celestia let out a quiet sigh. “How long have you been there?” Luna stepped out of the shadows and took a seat nearby. “Awhile. Long enough to know you haven’t burned the last copy of the law yet.” Celestia looked at it. “I… is this something you really want?” “Sister, you know that I want this. Let me ask you; is this something that you really want?” Celestia looked at her.  Luna continued. “I know I may have scared you into thinking I might go crazy or something if I didn’t get my marriage. I apologize for that. I didn’t think you’d even think about the possibility if I had brought it up in normal conversation. So I took drastic measures to see if you’d give this a chance.” Celestia looked back at the law. “I… agree with your sentiment. If you had just asked me about it, I would have not only disagreed, I might have grown distant and stern on the subject.” Luna smiled. “I still want this, so I will take care of everypony involved if need be. If you want to back out, if this is too much for you, nopony will force you to do this.” Celestia let out a sigh. “But the law-“ Luna’s horn lit up and a dark blue aura surrounded the document. It went flying into the fire and burned up as if it were an unwanted letter. “What law?” Celestia stared back at her. “Luna! What did you do?” “I gave you the choice.” Celestia could feel her breathing growing fast. “Luna, if you do that, they might turn you down. They could say no now. What if they don’t want to marry you?” Luna shook her head. “I love them, sister. And if you truly love something, you have to be ready to let it go. I know you understand this better than most.” “So… you’ve been prepared for them to not marry you the entire time?” Luna smiled. “This law, that was just part of the game with you. To see you work towards destroying it and stopping the marriage. Which I could then make my moves to try and secure the marriage for us. It was fun, but I would never be so cruel as to lock anypony into a marriage they did not want. Not even if they had been eaten by a cake monster only to be pooped out by it later.” Celestia laughed at the memory. “I’m sorry.” Luna smiled. “It’s fine. We haven’t had so much fun together since I returned. You’ve always treated me so carefully, and cautiously. Seeing you play jokes on me, try to manipulate things against me, it was honestly fun. It felt like we were sisters again.” Celestia’s smile faded. “I’m… have I really been that terrible?” Luna reached out with a hoof. “No, you have been wonderful, perhaps too much so. I am not your child, nor am I your fragile lover, I am your sister and I wish to be your equal. That means sometimes we will fight, sometimes we will play jokes on one another, sometimes we will manipulate ponies into doing our bidding to spite one another. That’s just what sisters do.” Celestia nodded. “Luna… thank you.” Luna shook her head. “No, thank you, sister. Even if the marriages are canceled tomorrow I will still be able to feel like this castle won’t be so lonely with you in it.” Celestia smiled. “I… I do want to marry them. It sounds fun. Besides, it will make sure that Equestria will have a safety net that will last for an eternity. A bunch of immortal princesses that can defeat evil with the powers of friendship, harmony and love… I would feel safe in that world.” Luna nodded. “Of course, and besides. What would be the alternative, put Twilight in charge?” she laughed. “I fear as nice as she is, she is about as stable in a leadership position as Discord follows the natural order. We might as well put him in charge again.” Celestia shivered. “No thank you. It was fun for a century or two but no.” Luna laughed. “Then the alternative is either rule forever ourselves or get a group of immortals that will be able to keep each other sane. No single pony should ever have to rule Equestria alone. That is my belief.” Celestia nodded. “That is one thing I can agree on.” Celestia yawned and stood up on tired legs. She wobbled a little and felt her sister lean by her side to support her. Together they walked to the bed where Luna helped Celestia into bed and covered her up. It was still so cold in here, still lonely without Twilight.  Luna turned to leave. “Have good dreams.” Celestia spoke in nearly a whisper. “Luna… please don’t leave me alone.” Luna looked back at her. “What do you want me to hold you or something?” Celestia nodded. Luna laughed but came to her side and crawled into the bed with her. “Okay, but do not tell our brides we did such a thing. The pink one already thinks we are doing far more than hugging in private. Not that I'm opposed to such ideas mind you.” Celestia closed her eyes. “I’m sorry… it’s just so lonely without my Twilight here.” Luna squeezed Celestia closer to her. “This is something that I can understand. Let us comfort each other then. For tonight will be the last night we will ever have to sleep alone again.” As the fire behind them died down, Celestia was able to drift off to the wonderful world of dreams. Inside of which she was able to find the most beautiful lavender alicorn. One with whom she could imagine sharing a nice cottage in the countryside. One where she could return to after a hard day's work to find a loving wife with a hot meal and a tender kiss waiting for her. It was a dream, but it was a lovely dream she wouldn’t change for the world.