Twilight found the Everfree Forest oddly familiar. The plants and trees looked just as the same as the ones she saw the first time she ventured into the dense underbrush. That familiarity was strangely comforting to Twilight as she followed the path into the forest. She quickly realized she was following the same path she had when she and her friends had first ventured into the Everfree Forest. The sun made it easier to navigate and she and Spike arrived at the stone building in question just as the sun was beginning to set. It was then Twilight and Spike saw something they weren't expecting. Star Swirl stepped out of the temple as they approached, he wore his traditional clothes but he was still shaved. Acompanying him was a familiar face.
"Hey Twilight, isn't that-"
"Shh Spike!" Twilight hushed him and motioned to crouch behind a bush near the path. Twilight was truly surprised. Walking side by side with Star Swirl was none other than Princess Luna. They walked along the path and went back the way Twilight and Spike had been coming. Twilight did her best to remain still as they passed. Thankfully, they didn't seem to see her.
"What is she doing with him?" Spike asked once the two were out of earshot.
Twilight was wondering that question herself. "Star Swirl was connected with the royal family. He said he was Celestia's student. And her... her mother's." Twilight remembered what Star Swirl had said, what seemed like ages ago when really it was only a few hours ago to her. Her perception of time had been thrown for a loop, she did her best not to dwell on it.
Twilight crept through the bushes to follow the two. Both she and Spike did their best to stay out of sight. Star Swirl and Luna walked to the ravine but instead of taking the bridge across, they turned and walked along the edge. Eventually, Twilight started to smell brine for some reason as she followed quietly. The two walked parrallel with the ravine until they reached another cliff in front of them. They turned right and walked along that edge as well. Twilight looked over the cliff to see the ocean. Which ocean, she wasn't sure but far below her was the smallest outcroppings of a beach and the ravine poured out into a small isthmus. Ahead of her, Star Swirl and Luna stopped and looked at the ocean. Twilight and Spike hid in a bush nearby and listened in quietly, trying to discern any reason the two might be together.
"Your sister does a good job." Star Swirl said as he watched the sun set on the waves.
Luna's gaze dropped a bit. "I'm really lucky to have a sister like Celestia."
Star Swirl picked up on her sister's subtle change in mood. "Your job is important too. Both of you working together, you keep Equestria in balance. A state of harmony." Star Swirl explained.
"I know, it's just... I wish we had more than just the night." Luna said.
"Hey now." Star Swirl said in a confident and reassuringly firm tone. "We have all the time we need. When I'm with you Luna, the night might as well last forever." he said to her. That made Luna giggle a bit. Twilight's eyes went wide as the two snuggle up closely together. Her jaw dropped as she watched the two innocently kiss. Spike blinked a couple times.
The sun went down as the two's lips parted and for a brief moment, they stared into each others eyes as stars filled the skies.
"It's time for you to shine." Star Swirl said. Luna walked to the edge of the cliff. In a ritual similar to Celestia's during the Summer Sun Celebration, Luna spread her wings wide, took off the ground for a moment as the moon raised behind her into the night sky. Star Swirl applauded as the shimmering orb lit up the night sky, its reflection turning the waves silver along their crests.
"Marvelous." he remarked as she descended. "Nopony lights up the night like you do."
Luna smiled back at him, the slightest hint of sadness in her eyes. "I just wish more ponies could see it."
"I'm sure a few of them do. Like me. Remember how we met?"
Luna giggled again slightly. "You were staying up so late, I couldn't help but notice."
Star Swirl smiled again and nuzzeled her, pressing his face against hers and locking eyes in the moonlight. "I feel asleep at my desk, you came into my dreams..." he kissed her again. "And I didn't want to wake up." he said as they released.
"You know, my sister can actually move the sun AND the moon on her own." Luna said.
"Oh, your parents have told me a lot about you two. I don't doubt you both have amazing capabilities." Star Swirl assured her.
"What I was getting at was, maybe we could spend a whole day together?" Luna said.
"We'll... we'll talk about it." Star Swirl said, sounding a little less confident. But neither of them spoke again as they gazed at the stars, Luna's head resting underneath Star Swirl's. Twilight and Spike were both quiet as they watched the two of them for the longest time just sitting together, holding each other, speaking volumes but saying not a word that could be heard, the language of true love.
"Looks like things just got a lot more complicated." Spike said. Twilight couldn't have agreed more.