Luna liked the soft light of her lanterns in her office. It was not only less glaring than the sunlight, but it also left a certain atmosphere of foreboding that helped her position as Head of Discipline. In contrast, it was a safe space without too many stimuli for a student who needed a quite, cool and dark space to ground themselves.
It was without question that Sunset could come and go as she needed.
Working at her desk, the click of the door handle caught Luna's attention. A wide eyed Sunset walked in stiffly her hands clenched into her jacket.
“Sunset?” Luna observed the girl push the door shut and drop her bag to the floor.
“TwilightaskedmeonadateandIsaidyesbutnowIamfreakingoutabouteverythingthatcouldgowrong.” Sunset babbled all in one breath, gasping one in too quickly, followed by another. Luna had caught the gist. She left her seat and gently put her arms around her niece.
“Breath in,” Luna said, she ran her thumb up and down Sunset's arm. “One, two, three, four, five.” Sunset did as she was told. “Breath out. One, two, three, four, five.” She felt Sunset breathing carefully. “We'll sit on the couch.” Luna guided the girl across and sat her down, keeping an arm around her shoulders.
“Thanks.” Sunset said, still counting her breaths in and and out.
“From what I could gather, you and Twilight have a date?” Luna was internally thrilled for the girl, but it was clear that a truck-load of possibilities had dropped on her head.
Sunset nodded.
“But you are worried that if it doesn't work out you will spoil an important friendship?” Luna asked, gentle and careful. The nod from Sunset was tearful. “Sweetheart, that is unfortunately a risk anyone takes, but I don't think Twilight would ever stop being your friend.”
“What if I break her heart?” Sunset spoke with such a tiny voice, tears had gathered in her eyes.
“Don't say that.” Luna embraced her niece and held her close. “You could never do that on purpose Sunset. I would say that you couldn't even by accident.”
“I ruin everything good though.” Sunset's voice cracked and her tears fell.
“Hush, you have not ruined this family you were brought into. You improved it.” Luna wondered if now was the time for an emergency pill, kept in the office if Sunset truly needed one, or to call her sister in. “You gave Celestia the chance to be a mother, you have made me an aunt. You proved to us both that we could have the lives we had thought beyond us.” Settling the red-gold head beneath her chin to hopefully help Sunset ground herself.
“Can't shut up my brain.” Sunset grumbled, sniffing a little as she calmed down in Luna's embrace.
“I know what you mean sweetheart. Do you need a pill?” The older of the pair leaned back on the couch, bringing her niece with her. Cuddling with her family always helped Luna and she had found that Sunset also benefited from that type of contact. She felt the girl shake her head.
“No, this is helping.” Sunset kept close, simply breathing. Comfort in the arms of someone who loved her, loved her unconditionally. Someone who understood a spiral like this, who had and still did live with the issues that created these emotions.
Luna didn't speak, she just carried on holding her niece, after a while she could hear the teen's breathing even out. “Feeling a little better?”
“Yeah.” Sunset sounded a little more confident. “It was a bit much. For a moment there.” She remained cuddled close to Luna, indulging in the love and care.
“It can be, I sometimes spiral over Chrys, but she is patient and understanding.” Luna spoke softly, not wanting to create too much noise while Sunset fully calmed down.
“Even now?” Sunset looked up to her aunt, she hadn't thought that Luna would still have moments of doubt in her relationship.
“Even now, I can think myself into an unhappy corner.” Luna had a wry smile, “But I have hands to pull me out and you do too.” She nudged her shoulder against Sunset's. “Nicer subjects now missy. Who is planning the first date?”
“Twilight asked me out, so she said that she'll plan our first official date.” Sunset smiled at the thought and the recent event of the scholarly girl asking her on said date. Now that her racing thoughts had been calmed down, she was able to look forward to the date and be very happy about this change in her relationship with the girl.
-*-
Still buzzing from actually asking Sunset out, Twilight walked to her locker, she and Sunset had parted ways a little after she had asked. With a task still to complete, Twilight hadn't minded and was even more motivated to create the playlist. Visions of dancing with Sunset at the wedding making it nowhere near a chore.
With the end of the school day soon, Twilight practically skipped from the building. “Spike? Spike. Come on boy.” She called her faithful friend, stood at the statue. She had important date ideas to brainstorm and needed to get home.
“Twilight,” Spike ran over with a yip. “Did Sunset tell you I nearly got that darn squirrel?” The purple pup wagged his tail. “I was real close this time!”
“Sorry Spike, I distracted her a little. She didn't say.” Twilight was still smiling, they walked from the school and down the street. Spike trotted along beside her.
“It was a crafty one so it managed to get away.” Spike continued his story, “I took a tumble, but it was no big deal.”
“I asked Sunset on a date.” Twilight said, far enough from the school that no one could overhear her.
“Wait what?” Spike stopped in his tracks. “Really?” Twilight was beaming ear to ear.
“I saw a chance and just grabbed it!” Twilight laughed. “She said yes!”
“Oh wow! Way to go Twi'!” Spike jumped up and barked happily. “We gotta get home to tell mom!”
With plans already coming together in her head, Twilight had a skip in her step as she walked home.