//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Lavender Stars in a Dark Night Sky // by Arpeggio //------------------------------// Having made her way back to her bedroom, Twilight settled down into bed, not feeling hungry. Her stomach plaguing her with a continuous knot of pent up feeling that she did not understand. Her chest fluttered all day and she was having a wonderful time, but it had stopped. As soon as she had left Luna in her room after saying good night she developed this knot and her heart’s happy song had gone quiet. But, before Twilight could make any hypotheses as to why her feelings were this way, she heard the same noise she had heard nights past; a quiet mumble getting louder, quieter and then louder again. It was making her curiosity overpower her confusion. Twilight made her way to the source of the noise, only to find herself walking the familiar path back to Luna’s room. The noise was getting steadily louder, and Twilight eventually realised what the noise was, but also, more importantly, which melancholy stricken mare was making it. Slowly and delicately, Twilight opened the door to the Princess of the Night’s chambers and her suspicions were confirmed with a heart tearing cry from the room. “Why?” Luna sobbed. “Why can’t I do this?” Her cries of devastation making Twilight shudder with empathy for the fragile immortal. “Why!? “ Luna’s sadness had piqued Twilight’s concern, so she knocked on the door. “Princess? It’s me, Twilight.” Luna went dead silent as Twilight made her way in. However, as Twilight entered the room and was privy to the hope destroying sight of a devastated Luna. Twilight had seen Celestia upset, and that had scared her. What she saw before her then had terrified her. Luna was in a pitiful state, she was screaming in a broken voice with tears streaming down her face, her mane roughed up and her body trembling with silent rage and despair. She was looking straight at Twilight, pleading for her to leave so she might be spared some shame. “Oh Luna..." Twilight sighed, tears forming in her own eyes from the sight. No she told herself, I need to be strong.. for her. Luna closed her eyes as her lip began quivering again, she bit down to halt the oncoming flood of emotion, but to no avail. "I.. I-I" Luna tried to speak, but the words would not come, only more tears. Twilight's fears and sadness forced her to do something she would be too scared to do in any other situation. "It's okay, just let the tears go..." Twilight comforted Luna as she rushed forward, embracing her and holding her tight. Luna felt a brief sliver of happiness through the pain, the despair and the fear. "Oh Twilight..!" Luna finally found the strength to speak "You're the only one who's ever appreciated me, and I can't lose you! I can't, I just can't!" Luna continued to sob into the purple unicorn's mane as she held her tight. "Luna, w-what are you talking about..?" Twilight stammered out, feeling her own tears come forth. "W-When you... you go back to P-Ponyville.. you'll forget me.. j-just like everyone else!" Luna screamed as she clutched Twilight tighter through her emotional agony. "Luna..." Twilight pulled back and looked her in the eye "I could never forget you...You create the most beautiful sights I've ever seen, and you make them every night. I've spent most of my life admiring your night... I will never forget you, I can't." Twilight was petrified, yet her emotions were in complete control; perfect order and harmony amongst chaos. Luna was absolutely awestruck, but disbelieving. She wanted to believe what Twilight said, she wanted it more than her own existence, but at the same time could she really trust her feelings? Was this a cruel trick orchestrated by her wishful imagination? "Twilight..." Luna whispered, her tears slowing with the anticipation of what horrifying truth might be revealed and her question answered. Twilight moved closer and closed her eyes slightly, whispering "No words, you have no idea what you mean to me." Twilight then slowly leant in and smiled softly as her lips stroked Luna's. Luna did not move a muscle as the sweet and pure Unicorn's lips were caressing her own, their warmth radiating like a soothing glass of warm milk. Luna's heart was racing, and her mind competing too. She was unsure if this was true, if this was her final wall between herself and madness breaking, or if she was dead. But, she quickly realised, she didn't care. She just wanted this moment to last. Before meant nothing to her, after was yet to be defined; there was just now, that beautiful, wonderful and perfect moment where she realised just how much she and Twilight loved each other. They held each other, stroking one another's manes and catching their partner's tears and kissing for what felt like hours. As Twilight slowly pulled away she opened her eyes, looking into those eyes. Those deep, glistening, perfect green eyes. Luna smiled softly with not a care in the world, just her tongue stroking her lips to savour the flavour of Twilight's soft lips. Twilight smiled gently as a single tear fell out of her eye, whispering "I love you...so much." Luna put her hoof on Twilights and pulled her towards the bed, so they might hold each other. As they were lying down side by side, hoof in hoof and hearts soaring, Luna shed more tears and whispered, in a breaking voice sore from screaming, "I love you too, Twilight... so very, very much." There, they held each other and smiled as the moon lit their faces for the other to gaze upon. Their lips met one more time before they shared a glance at the moon, holding one another tight with their love for one another protecting them from anything that might ever threaten their happiness.