//------------------------------// // Book 3 - Chapter LXIII // Story: The Sunset Trilogy // by ocalhoun //------------------------------// Book 3: Equestria Abides Chapter 29 Twilight found herself at the very top of the fortress. The night's sea breeze was cool and soothing, but the big stones beneath her were still giving off a little of their heat from the day. The night sky was crisp and clear... not that it was easy to tell of course, seeing as how it was still empty. Still, she was glad to be up here where it was calm and cool, especially after her overindulgence at the party down below... It was getting very late, and many of the ponies had gone off to seek their (or maybe somepony else's?) beds, but a die-hard group remained down below... she could barely hear their music from up here... she wondered if they would stay up all night. At any rate, she was sure she wouldn't be bothered way up here. The only one who came up here sometimes was Gozwin, who used the roof as a shortcut to get to his ambassadorial suite on the top floor... it was handy that the fortress had been built with a griffon-sized suite at the top... but given its origins, it was hardly surprising. Still, Gozwin had retired hours ago... and surely was asleep by now, so she had the cool rooftop to herself, and she had to admit that it felt pretty good after all that cider she drank. The chill quiet was broken, even if slightly, by the sound of flapping wings. She turned around just in time to see Apollo come in for a landing. “There you are! I've been looking everywhere!” “Is something wrong?” She asked. Surely he wouldn't be searching all over for her unless something was happening. “Well, no... I... uh...” He seemed to be at a loss for what to say all the sudden... a state she didn't often get to see him in. She cocked her head to the side. “What is it?” “I wanted... well... I wanted somepony to talk to.” She tilted her head even a little further over, which given her current state was a little bit disorienting. He saw it and continued, “Somepony to talk to who doesn't do the whole leader-worship thing... I don't like giving autographs!” Twilight got it then. Sure, there were lots of ponies down there to talk to... but she had gotten quite enough of the hero-worship herself... more than she could stomach, really... including a few autographs of her own. It was part of the reason she had teleported up here in the first place... and with Sunny already in bed, she was probably the only pony in the whole town Apollo could have a normal conversation with. He smiled, settling down next to her. “You think we did the right thing with Black Diamond?” Truthfully, Twilight had her own misgivings about that... but what choice did they have really? “We did the only thing... and believe me, better ponies have been sent to the moon!” She giggled a little, not that she had intended to. “I miss it.” Apollo said simply. When she didn't seem to understand, he clarified a little, “The moon, I mean.” “Oh, it's still right over there!” She pointed over at the horizon where the moon still stayed solidly in place, even after years. “You know what I mean,” he said with a sigh. “I just always kind of liked it for some reason, you know?” “I know...” Twilight admitted, “I miss the night sky a lot too...” she sighed again, “I miss a lot of things.” She turned to look at him, and unexpectedly found herself all too close, looking right into his eyes. She could smell he had probably had a few too many ciders as well... but the eyes... She was sure she had noticed what a vivid blue they were at some point... but right now it really seemed like the first time. She was being absorbed into them... they were just that amazing... Suddenly, their noses touched, and Twilight realized just how close they had gotten to... well something. She quickly jerked away, just at the same moment he did, but it was too late to keep things from getting more than a little awkward. “Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to...” She cut it off there... she really didn't want to mention what it was she didn't mean to do. “I, um... it's getting chilly up here... I think we better go in.” He smiled... he seemed more comfortable with this kind of thing, that is if they were having a this kind of thing... “Well come on,” he said, “I'll find us something warm to drink.” He hiccuped a little. “something warm and not alcoholic.” It sounded nice... it really did. Maybe a nice mug of cocoa... but she knew the invitation for what it really was... didn't she? She looked over at him, still looking back at her expectantly... and somehow, she was okay with that. Remembering back to their first visit of the roof, she wandered out loud, even though she hadn't really meant to, “want to take the fun way down?” He smiled at her as if he had been expecting that the whole time and quickly trotted up to the edge of the roof, waiting for her. “Hop on!” he called back with a wink. * * * A slightly wobbly pegasus ride and several vows to only ride sober ponies from now on later, Twilight found herself in her own library, enjoying a cup of hot tea more than she usually would. The library was technically public to everypony in the town... but of course its main inhabitant was Twilight Sparkle. Come to think of it, there was nowhere else she would rather be right now... surrounded by all her favorite books and a few comfortable chairs, enjoying the tea Apollo had brought, which she was really enjoying, even if her original request for cocoa had turned out to be impossible – apparently, there was none left in the entire town. She was sitting next to Apollo yet again, on a small couch she had spent countless hours reading on before. Looking back on it, she was pretty sure they were sitting much closer together than really needed, not that she noticed at the moment. They were busy telling each other the stories of what happened earlier in the day, each filling the other in on the parts they had missed. Before she knew it, Twilight found herself face to face with Apollo again, drawing closer... where had that come from? She was sure they were just talking normally a minute ago, but now... Before she knew it, Apollo closed what little gap remained, making contact with a tiny, brief, but unmistakable kiss. Twilight pulled back a little, eyes wide in shock... had that really just happened? Apollo was a good friend, yes... but just a friend... ... right? Coming out of her shock a little she saw him, also pulled back away, looking as bashful as possible, a blush visible on his cheeks. He looked ready to apologize profusely. That was what pushed her over the edge, really, she thought. He was just so cute like that! She couldn't resist any more... She glomped the unsuspecting pegasus, pinning him back against the couch in a sudden embrace and locking their lips together before he could protest. His eyes registered a brief moment of complete shock, but soon went half-lidded in pleasure as he began to return both the kiss and the embrace, wrapping his hooves around her back. After some amount of time – Twilight wasn't sure if it was fifteen seconds or most of an eternity... it seemed like both in different ways – she sat up, separating from him a little. At the moment, she couldn't imagine how she had possibly lived for years with this colt without doing this... the things she had been missing out on! ... Speaking of which... Maybe it was the cider talking, but somehow it didn't seem too forward when she grabbed him by the shoulders and leaned back, pulling him on top of her on her side of the couch this time. She lightly bit her lower lip and gave him the most bedroom of eyes... That bought her another shocked look, followed by another adorable blush, but the pegasus wings quickly springing up in the background made things clear enough how he really felt. She pulled him down for another kiss, and once again wondered how she had lived for so long without this. * * * Twilight laid on the couch cushions next to Apollo, still wrapped closely together. Her breathing was quickly returning to normal, and the cool sweat drying... she could probably use a shower after that... but there Apollo was, right next to her, already dozing off with his hooves wrapped around her. How had she not noticed before how adorable he could be? Sure, she had admired him before, he really was a great colt... but why hadn't she noticed this cute side before? Slowly, lulled by the rhythm of his breathing, she drifted off to sleep... and she had the strangest dream... there were stars and a moon... and somehow she was the stars, and she kept wanting to wrap herself around and all over the moon... It was very peaceful, and yet somehow felt very real, like she could feel every bit of it. * * *