//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine // Story: Against the night // by Senorita-De-La-Nieve //------------------------------// Luna stared at the things on the table the way a farmer would a poisonous snake, or the way a firefighter may stare down a flammable object. She gulped as she saw what they were; A letter from Twilight's brother, another letter from her parents, one from Celestia, the seal still intact, and a newspaper, face down on the table. She gulped and looked at Twilight, who's mane was askew and sticking out in every which way. Twilight smiled nervously and Luna offered a reassuring one in return. "Don't worry Twi, it won't be as bad as you think" she said, then turned back to the table, taking another tentative step before adding silently to herself, I hope. The first letter she picked up was the letter from Twilight's parents. The familiar blue glow of her magic enveloped the scroll and brought it close as she unfurled it and began to read. Twilight it started sharply, and Luna nearly winced at the force behind that word alone. The impression on the parchment was quiet clear, and had nearly tore through the material. Twilight. We saw the paper, and we must say we are both thrilled and concerned. For one thing, you never said you had found yourself a Marefriend, and we're your parents, we should be kept in the loop about such things. But, the paper. What we saw in the paper shocked us. When you went to Ponyville to continue your studies we didn't know you'd be partying with Canterlot's most elite Princess, uh, don't tell Celestia we said that, but, anyway, we're a little worried about whether or not you're really taking your studies seriously. We're coming to Ponyville, and before you say anything or send a letter back, you can't stop us. Hopefully your Marefriend, Princess Luna, is still there when we get there, because she and I are going to have words, and I don't care if she IS an all powerful goddess. Hell hath no fury like that of a mother and father, or something. Anyways, we're heading out as soon as we send this, we should be there by nightfall. Oh, and your brother's coming too, he said he'll send you a letter as well. Hoping to see you soon your parents, Midnight and Dusk. Luna gulped and set the letter back on the table. That one scared her. Her sister could make threats and give her 'That Look' but a talking to from her marefriend's parents? To be quiet honest she'd rather be staring down the jaws of a Hydra without her horn or her wings. Twilight stepped closer and ran a hoof comfortingly down Luna's back, to which Luna was very grateful. She looked at her and smiled. "Well, I guess it can only get better... right?" she smiled hopefully and Twilight looked down at the letters from Celestia and Shining Armor. She gripped one in her lavender field and levitated it to Luna. "Read that one" she said simply, and Luna gripped it in her own magical aura, ignoring the tingling sensations of pure magics rubbing together in favour of remaining focused and in reality. She unfurled the scroll, and was met by a rather neat cursive writing lightly applied to the parchment, which comforted her slightly. But the way Twilight had said 'read this' was not. Twi, I just saw the paper. Mom and Dad are furious, they say they might bring you back to Canterlot, they say that they're coming to Ponyville and they want to force me along and all ah! Damn it! The letter was cut off by a large purple stain that covered some of the writing, and a large ink splotch where the quill was laid on the paper. Luna became confused, and didn't take this as a good sign. Mom and dad are arguing, dad just threw that expensive vase you brought him last year for his birthday. Pieces are everywhere Twi. Right, I'm coming to Ponyville too, dad's forcing me. And I don't feel like getting into an argument with him just yet, Dad's already threatening to have the stars ripped from the sky if he must to get Luna to... well... I'll let him explain personally. Just, be col Twi, okay I'll be there for support. And if Luna is there too I'm sure we can all stand up to them. But you are still my sister, so Luna and I will be having the standard brother-lover talk. See you soon sis. Bye. She put the letter down, and Twilight nodded. "Yeah, its bad. My parents and my brother. Luna, what are we going to do?" she stared at the thinking, elegant form of Luna, eyes glued to the table and she smiled and turned to Twilight, placing a hoof on her cheek. "Well, first, we're going to read the letter from Celestia, then the paper, and then we're both going to go upstairs, have a shower, and then get some coffee because my head really hurts" she giggled and Twilight smiled as Luna playfully shook her. "But Luna, what if.." she began, but was cut off by Luna's hoof over her lips. "No, no 'what if's, we're going to take this one little step at a time, and we'll be together for whatever comes out way, okay?" she smiled at Twilight, and Twilight returned the loving smile, leaning up t peck Luna on the cheek. Luna smiled at her and then turned to the letter from Celestia, prompting Twilight to turn to said letter from Celestia and sigh as she picks it up, much like a prisoner's sigh right before facing an execution or a firing squad. She unfurled the letter with painfully slow precise movements of the magical field, and both Luna and Twilight began to read. Dearest Sister. I am shocked, quite honestly, at your behavior during your 'personal days off' a Royal, no matter what their reputation should uphold oneself with the highest regard for public image. And they should of course try to keep their private life, well, private. That being said, I hope you realize that I could not write that last part with a straight face. I would be rather hypocritical of me to scold you wen not last month I was photographed eating cake by Gabby Gums. But, that is one thing. Being photographed dancing provocatively, with my personal student, is cause for uproar. This is the biggest scandal since Cadence and Shining armor's 'affair' came to the public attention. That being said, they are making some particularly nasty swings at you, AND Twilight. They call her a... well... let's not say what they said, I'm sure you have read it, or are going to read it soon. I would like to come to Ponyville, to see if any of the malicious rumors are true. And I require to have a little chat with my faithful student. Wishing you both all the best, and hoping to see you soon, your sister Princess Celestia. P.S Twilight, I know you read this. Twilight let out an audible gulp as she dropped the letter, her eyelids twitching manically. "Well, I had a good run" she turned to Luna with that same manic expression, and Luna raised an eyebrow, taking a tentative step back. "When she banishes me, could you visit from time to time?" she asked with a giggle, and Luna shook her head. "Twilight, she won't banish you. Not right away. It would be me first. But, anyway, let's read the paper, just so we know what we're up against" she reasoned, to be honest she just wanted to see what kind of rumors they had been saying about them both. She flipped the newspaper over, and was immediately rewarded with an image of her and Twilight, for lack of a better word, grinding together on the dance floor at the party. Her heart instantly dropped. Her fear, apprehension, anger and dis-belief was matched only by her admiration tat the photographer and the journalist had managed to write this article in less than 12 hours. She gulped down her feelings and turned to Twilight, who was already reading wit flattened ears. Luna turned back to the article and began to scan her eyes across the words. PONYVILLE’S PARTY PRINCESS One of Canterlot's Regal Princesses, Luna to be precise, was photographed with Celestia's personal protogé Twilight Sparkle in the early hours of this morning, as they were partying the night away during one of Princess Luna's 'personal days' The image and news comes as shocking revelation, that one of our Princesses feels it is appropriate to take days off whenever she wishes, and spend the time dancing and partying with her recent concubine. Although we are not here to insult merely convey the news, and this may be one of the biggest scandals in Equestrian history. Just how loyal is Twilight Sparkle to her teacher? Well, in his reporter's eyes, not very loyal at all if she allows herself t be seduced by the Lady, oh, sorry, we mean, 'Princess' of the night. It seems that even though Luna may be back, she is trying to undermine Celestia's personal court right from under her nose, starting with the Students. Whatever's next, the Solar Council? Will she sleep with every politician in Canterlot just to get ahead? Well, all this reporter has to say is Cadence, 'keep an eye on your man' >Story continues page 3 Luna saw red, crimson, blackness, fire, all the things associated with rage. She saw Twilight trying to hold back tears at the insults, and for the first time since she had been back, she did something she had never done., nor had she dreamed of doing. She lost control. With nothing else to direct her rage at, she transformed into a Goddess of War, full armor, sword strapped to her side. Her black and blue outfit glinted in the sunset, offset by her obsidian black cat. She then let forth a bellow in the Royal Canterlot Voice. "OF ALL THE UNEDUCATED, WORTHLESS, VILE, VINDICTIVE CRETINS TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE!! THIS PONY CLEARLY HAS NO SENSE OF MORALS!! HIS WORDS DRIP WITH ALL TE POISON OF THE BITE OF A HYDRA!! I SHOULD REND HIS VERY SOUL FROM HIS BODY AND BANISH IT TO AN ETERNITY, NOT ON THE MOON, BUT TO THE BOILING SURFACE OF THE SUN FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS!!" She leveled her horn at the table and paper and let out a spell of high intensity darkness, Twilight felt afraid just watching the spell be cast, let alone how it vaporized the table and left a 5 foot wide crater in the ground. The shock-wave from the impact, along with the force of The Voice, pushed Twilight back a good 10 feet from where she once stood. Luna was panting, so hard that steam flew from her nostrils. She fired the beam again and cut down into the floor, small blue flames dancing along the wood. Luna finally calmed herself and closed her eyes, sinking to the floor and transforming back into the standard blue Princess. She let out a faint sob. Twilight gulped and trotted, warily, towards her marefriend, placing a hoof on her shoulder and tenderly nuzzling her cheek. Luna turned and let out another wracking sob, throwing her hooves around Twilight and allowing herself to let her sadness go. "I-I'm so suh-sorry Twilight..." she sniffed and Twilight stroked through her mane. "Princess, it's alright, it'll be okay" she calmly spoke into Luna's ear, and Luna eventually calmed herself down. Although Twilight would never admit it, seeing Luna in such a state only worsened her fear and paranoia. How many ponies, who didn't know the full story, would now believe the press's version point blank? She shook her head lightly to dispel such thoughts, before pulling away and smiling. "Luna" she spoke softly, prompting Luna to stare deeply into those Lavender eyes as though they held the answers. "Why don't you go for a shower, while I make some coffee?" she smiled and wiped away some of Luna's tears. The Princess chuckled and nodded, looking down at the ground. "A shower would be nice..." she admitted, and Twilight clapped her hooves, startling the Princess. "Right then, I'll make the coffee, you take a shower, we'll drink the coffee, I'll take a shower and then we'll..... we'll..." she trailed off with a cough and Luna nodded. "Baby steps" Twilight said, and Luna looked up with a smile, noding. "Well, the prospect of a shower is tempting..." she said with a smile, and Twilight smiled as well, smoothing her mane to its signature style. She had slipped back into control. "Excellent, let's do it" she clapped her hooves together and trotted into the kitchen. Luna giggled and turned away, walking towards and up the stairs. She stepped into the shower and let the water wash over her mane and wash away her troubles. For a moment she forgot that her sister was coming to talk to her and Twilight. She forgot she was meeting Twilight's parents. She forgot that she was going to meet Shining Armor in an informal setting. All there was was the soothing water and the fragrant smell of shampoo, coffee, and, was that apple pie? She was snapped out of the trance-inducing smells by clattering plates and Spike's calls of pain. Twilight walked into the kitchen to find Spike making breakfast. He tuned to look at Twilight and motions into he living room. "Uh, Twi, did Luna kinda blow up the library?" he asked and Twilight turned back to the living room, chuckling and nodding. "Kinda, yeah. She read the paper" she stated simply, and Spike snorted. "Oh so next time I accidentally burn a book by sneezing I can use that as an excuse, huh?" He chuckled as he spoke and Twilight fixed him with a loo. "Spike, she read the article that that reporter wrote about us dancing" She said and Spike shrugged. "Still, blowing up a library is not the answer. What did she want to take revenge on the books?" he chuckled again and received a light smack on his head from Twilight. "Hush you, or I'll take away your morning 'lie ins'" she raised her hooves to make quotation marks. "For a week" she threatened and Spike made a zipping motion over his mouth. Twilight nodded in victory. "Good, now, I'm meant to make some coffee, how do I do that?" she asked herself. And Spike forcefully closed his lips. He so wanted to make a quip, but, when he thought about it, a few seconds of laughs wasn't worth a whole week of waking up early. He wouldn't risk it. "Do I add the coffee to the water then boil it? Or boil the water first?" she reached up into the cupboards to get a pan or a kettle, with Spike struggling to hold back laughter at her naivety. "And when do I add the milk?" she got out the kettle and a pot fell to the floor, hitting Spike's foot with a *CLANG*. Spike yelped in pain and Twilight rushed to him. "Oh my gosh, are you okay? I didn't mean to..." she said, but Spike waved it off. "No, I'm fine, but I have to say something, first of all the fact that you don't know how to make coffee is both hilarious and very sad, Twilight. I honestly don't know how you survive when I'm not here, secondly, you boil the water, add the beans, then the sugar, then the milk" he smiled and Twilight blinked at him, clicking her tongue. "I know how to make sandwiches" she said, trying to preserve what little of her dignity remained, but Spike simply chuckled. "Yeah, you know, someday I need to teach you how to cook" He said as he got an apple pie out of the oven and laid it on the table to cool. He walked back into the living room and ignored the crater, and the remnants of their best table, and a single piece of paper that hadn't been burned. He walked to the base of the stairs and called up to the Princess taking a shower. "Luna! Breakfast! Apple Pie's cooling down!" He was about to walk back into the kitchen when there was a knock on the door. He furrowed his brow and walked towards the door, Twilight poking her head out of the kitchen as the kettle boiled on the stove. "Spike? Who is it?" she asked, and Spike opened the door, coming face to face with four figures in the doorway. Three were unicorns, one was muscular, but held a gentle smile for the dragon, two tones blue hair similar to that of the local village DJ, another with purple and white hair similar to Twilight's, and the third being pure blue with striking gold eyes. He held the demeanor of an authority figure, yet his presence was overshadowed by the fourth at the door. Towering nearly to the oak door frame, bathed in rays of golden sunlight, her mane flowing on an invisible breeze, was the Princess of the Sun herself. Spike gulped and turned to Twilight. "Uh, if I tell you will you freak out?" he asked and Twilight walked out of the kitchen, stopping dead when she saw the figures. She gulped hard and her eye twitched. Celestia, Armor and Midnight smiled, Dusk, however, did not. He simply regarded his daughter with a cold stare, making Twilight's knees feel like jello, and her stomach do a knot. Then, as if Lady Luck decided that it was not enough for her to be staring down her father, mother, brother, and her teacher and ruler, who should decide to descend from the shower but her marefriend, Princess Luna. "Twilight? I heard noises, are you alri-" she too stopped dead when she saw the figures. Celestia's smile disappeared, and so did Armor's. Midnight still had her smile, and she looked between all the figures standing there, while Spike did the same, but did not wear a smile. "Well" Midnight said, shattering the tension somewhat. "I think this is going to be a most interesting afternoon.." Well, I did it. I wrote a chapter for you. Enjoy it. Because I will not write one for another month.