//------------------------------//
// A Tense Lunch 
// Story: Visiting Twilight 
// by StormLuna 
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While they were headed to Moonlight and Twilight's house, her parents couldn't help but notice how close the two truly were.  They were walking ahead of them and were talking about what they were planning on having for supper and then what they could do that evening since her parents were there.  One thing that did frustrate Velvet though was that Twilight had called Moonlight "mom" three times while they were right there within earshot. 

Once the four arrived at their house, Velvet was examining the tree and wondered how it was that they could have a spare room.  She had a feeling that the unicorns had perfected the way they made their homes into an art of some sort but still, despite the tree being the largest residential one, there was no way it would have the room that their house did up in Canterlot.

When Moonlight opened the door Twilight said, "Mom, dad, welcome to our home.  How about you come in and I'll show you to the spare room." 

Velvet did smile some that Twilight was still calling her mom.  The two headed in and Twilight led them to the spare room.  The room was not huge by any means but the bed was large enough for them to sleep in.  Once the two saw where they would be sleeping they thanked Twilight and then Velvet asked, "Twilight, where is your restroom?  I really need to go." 

Twilight led her directly across the hall and said, "Well there are two.  This one has a shower in it while the one downstairs is just your basic bathroom, it has a toilet and a sink." 

Both of her parents were shocked that they managed to have two restrooms in their tree home.  Of course outside of the palace where the queen lived, it was hollowed out of what was the largest tree in the community.  After Velvet finished using the restroom the two followed Twilight back downstairs.  Moonlight asked, "Twilight sweetie, did you show them their room?"

"I did mom, I did." 

Velvet sighed in frustration because while she knew it was the culture involving the mares that fled down there to have a mom there along with their biological mom, it wasn't something that was normal in Equestria.  It was getting close to noon so Moonlight asked, "Night Light, Velvet, you are our guests.  What would you like for lunch?"

Both of Twilight's parents knew that the choices would likely be very small and they knew next to nothing about Unicornian cuisine.  Night Light asked, "I don't know?  What do you have?"

Moonlight replied, "Well we could have plum sandwiches, sliced apple sandwiches, blueberry sandwiches, strawberry sandwiches or blackberry sandwiches." 

The two gave her nervous smiles as none of that was part of an Equestrian's diet but did not want to hurt Moonlight's feelings because that would likely anger Twilight.  The two looked at one another before Night Light said, "I suppose we'll go with the sliced apple sandwiches." 

Twilight chimed in, "That sounds good and then we can have some cider with it." 

Moonlight exclaimed, "That sounds wonderful Twilight."  She then turned to the two and added, "I want to warn you though, our apples and our cider is more tart than your standard Equestrian apples." 

The two gave them a nervous smile before they were led into the dining room and sat down.  Once Twilight and Moonlight headed into the kitchen, Night Light asked, "So honey, what do you think of it here so far?"

Velvet responded quietly so she wouldn't be heard, "I'm going to be honest, the choices in food around here seem so small and for noon, it is not all that light.  I know you're probably considering moving here to be with Twilight but I don't know if I could adjust here and besides, Twilight seems to see Moonlight as more of a mom than me and I don't think I could handle that, well that and I know she'd never move in with us." 

Night Light agreed, "You're probably right.  I have a feeling that they live in this big of a tree because Twilight is a princess and I will admit it, I would miss Canterlot after a while."  He lowered his voice to a whisper, "To be honest, I'd probably rather live out the rest of my days sorting cherries than live here." 

Velvet snickered, "You had fun doing that didn't you?"

"I did but I know in the end I'd rather live in Canterlot because we do have friends there." 





Velvet was about to agree when Twilight and Moonlight arrived in the dining room with their lunch.  Moonlight was levitating the sandwiches while Twilight was levitating the cider.  Once they sat everything down Moonlight said, "Alright, lunch is served.  I hope you two like it." 

When Velvet bit into her sandwich, she scrunched her eyes closed and laid her ears flat.  Never before had she tasted anything so tart before in her life.  Twilight saw this and laughed, "You know mom, your reaction is the same as mine was when I first ate the apples here.  I wasn't a fan of it at first but after a few months, I got used to it and now I love it!" 

After finishing that first bite, she gave Twilight a smile, "I can imagine but thanks for fixing these Moonlight, we both really appreciate it."  She then nudged her husband and said, "Right dear?"

Night Light finished his first bite and added, "Yeah and this is actually pretty good."

The two then tasted their cider and while Night Light only gave a minimal reaction to it, Velvet again gave the reaction to how one would for overly tart foods and drinks.  Again Twilight snickered, "Don't worry, if you choose to move down here you'll grow used to it.  If not that, there are other fruits down here that aren't quite as tart!"

Velvet gave them a nervous smile because from the way Twilight made it sound, it sounded like all the food in Unicornia was likely very tart, more tart than anything in Equestria.  Moonlight then decided she wanted to know more about their lives, "So, what are your lives like up in Canterlot?"

Night Light began, "Well I'm an accountant and I make quite a bit of money off of that, especially during tax season.  When I'm not working, I do catch the occasional buckball game...." 

Velvet nudged him, "Occasional?  Please, you go to every single home game and even some road games!"

Buckball had yet to become big outside of the remote desert towns when Twilight left so she asked, "What's buckball?"

Night Light replied, "It is a game that requires one earth pony, one unicorn and one pegasus.  The earth pony tries to kick the ball into a basket the unicorn is levitating and the pegasus tries to stop the ball from going in.  It is really fun to watch."

Velvet sighed, "For you and your friends."  She paused before adding, "Well I mostly hang out with my friends.  We'll go shopping, have lunch every day at one of the local restaurants and when I'm not spending time with them, I am at home cleaning up his messes and making sure the laundry and dishes get done." 

Moonlight had a slight look of disapproval on her face as she asked, "I'm assuming you two are quite wealthy?"

"Well I wouldn't say wealthy but we can enjoy some things that other ponies can't afford to."  replied Velvet. 

Twilight knew about Moonlight's past and that her family was never able to partake in such activities and felt like her mother was boasting a bit about what she now viewed as a life of opulence.  Twilight sighed, "You can but when I was in Ponyville, the not so well off ponies did enjoy their lives despite not being able to go out to the diner every single day or go shopping all the time." 

Velvet felt a bit of hostility in Twilight's voice and realized that perhaps it was not the best thing to bring up their financial situation in the way that she did.  She then wanted to know some things.  "Moonlight, before Twilight came to Unicornia, what was life like for you?"

Moonlight replied, "Well when I first got here I was taken in by a mare named Iris Dawn until I had been here long enough that I felt like I could take young mares who fled here in myself.  First there was Sunset Shimmer and then there was Twilight here."  She gave Twilight a smile before adding, "And her and I grew closer than any other mother/daughter pair ever did and that is why I really hope she won't ever go through what I did, feel like she can take her own in." 

Twilight got up, gave her a hug and said, "Don't worry about that mom.  Unless you decide I should do what you did, I'm not going anywhere!" 

Moonlight returned the embrace, "And I wouldn't have it any other way!" 

Velvet watched their interaction and sighed in frustration.  She knew that it was customary for the younger mares to be taken in but it seemed like Twilight and Moonlight were much closer than what sounded like was the norm.  To her it seemed like they had bonded more in the way that a biological mother and daughter would.  She couldn't say anything though because she didn't want to lose Twilight's love and knew that she might if she got upset. 

Velvet did want to ask something though, "Twilight, I know you like it here but with the tyrant sealed away in limbo, could you ever see yourself moving back to......" 

Twilight sharply cut her off, "No mom, I will not move back to Equestria.  I told you this after we took care of the tyrant, Unicornia is my home, I see Moonlight as just as much of a mom as you and before you ask, I have no desire to go up there to visit.  If you want to visit me, you'll have to come here." 

Both Moonlight and Night Light could tell that there were hostilities flowing between the two and that was not something either wanted to see.  Night Light nudged his wife and said, "Honey, you know Twilight loves it here and Moonlight means a lot to her so I don't know why you asked." 

Moonlight agreed, "I agree with your husband and remember how she was when we got the tyrant sealed away?  She wanted to get out of Canterlot so quickly because it brought back too many bad memories for her." 

Twilight agreed, "It does mom and to be honest, despite me knowing the threat is gone, I still feel safer here.  This is where my good memories are and who is to say Luna won't go back on her word and free the tyrant?  If she did so, you know she'd come after me, especially once Luna learned the magic to restore her horn and heal her." 

Velvet countered, "Twilight, I don't see Princess Luna doing......" 

Twilight threw hooves up in the air, got up and headed up towards her bedroom.  Moonlight gave Velvet a deep scowl, "Look, just drop it.  Twilight went through a lot and she is clearly still scared that the tyrant could get her.  I don't know Luna much of any but Twilight does and for all you know, she could feel bad for banishing her sister and free her and given that the tyrant was not only going after her when she escaped but dared come here to capture her, she knows she will always be safe here."  

Velvet sighed, "Can't a mother hope?"

Moonlight replied, "Yes you can but Twilight is going to do what she feels is in her best interests."  She then heard quiet sobbing coming from upstairs and added, "Now I need to go and check on our daughter because she is clearly upset." 





Moonlight rushed upstairs and found Twilight curled up in a ball on her bed.  She walked in and said, "Twilight, I'm sorry she upset you like that.  I should have stopped her when I saw she was upsetting you." 

Twilight reached her legs out for an embrace before saying, "It's alright mom, it is something that I really needed to hear.  At least I know now that she would rather I be back in Canterlot and be scared that Luna would free her sister than be here where I'm safe....and with you, the pony I'm closest to, the one I think of as more of a mom than anypony else." 

Moonlight embraced her and thanked her, "Well I'm glad you see me that way."  She pulled back, looked into Twilight's eyes and asked, "What about your father?  He seems really laid back and more accepting of our ways." 

Twilight smiled, "Oh he has always been more laid back and before I went off to the school for gifted unicorns, I was always his little princess and chances are he is probably happy I ran off to safety." 

Moonlight suggested, "I know you and your other mother have hostilities going on right now but how about we go back downstairs." 

Twilight nodded and got off of her bed before following Moonlight back down.  Her mother had upset her a lot but she then remembered how much strength she showed when they captured Celestia and thought to herself, "Come on Twilight, you have to be strong like you were back then.  You can't let mom upset you like that!" 





Once Moonlight headed upstairs Night Light sighed in frustration, "Honey, you can't bring up things like that to her.  You know for a fact that she likes it here and that she will not leave Unicornia."

Velvet sighed, "I know but she could at least come and visit!  Celestia has been locked away in limbo and I highly doubt Princess Luna free her.  What she did was horribly wrong and Luna was very upset with her." 

Night Light replied, "That may be true or it may not be true.  All I know is that Twilight is happy here, she is a princess here and the last thing she needs is to be stressed out."

"Alright, I get it.  Twilight is happy, safe and is a princess but I still wish she would come and visit." 

Velvet was going to make an additional comment until Moonlight and Twilight returned to the dining room.  Moonlight addressed Velvet, "Do you think you could just drop Twilight going back to Equestria?  She is a full grown mare, she is happy here and who is to say Luna will keep the tyrant locked away?"

Night Light commented, "Honey, she does make a good point." 

Velvet replied, "I know, I know."  She then turned to Twilight and continued, "I guess I just miss the days when you'd come and visit.  I miss the days when you, your brother, your father and I would go out and look at all the 'pretties' as you called them on Hearth's Warming Eve.  I guess it hurts to see you living a life where we have to travel to see you." 

Twilight gave her a smile, "Mom, you'll always have those memories and I'll always hold those old times dear but things happened that ruined Equestria for me, things happened that caused me to rather never return.  I just wish you'd understand that." 

Velvet sat their quietly for a good minute before replying, "Ok Twilight, I understand.  I guess I can understand that you view Moonlight as another mom and would rather stay here."  She saw Night Light giving her a smile and added, "I'm happy for you Twilight.  I know it may not seem like it but I really am, I'm happy that you're safe and you have somepony who cares deeply about you." 

Twilight got up and embraced her, "Thanks mom.  That is all I wanted to hear, that you're happy for me." 

Moonlight had a smile on her face as it seemed that Twilight and her biological mother had at least reconciled some.  She then offered a suggestion, "Well now that this is taken care of and lunch is done, what do you say we go for a walk.  I can show you two some of the places we go to gather food." 

Twilight's parents agreed in unison as the four headed out into the deeper parts of the forest where the citizens went to gather food.  That particular part of the forest was even darker than it was in town.  That part of the forest unnerved Velvet quite a bit but as she watched Twilight and how happy she seemed to be strolling through it, she truly began to realize that Twilight was indeed in the right place, the place that made her happy.