//------------------------------// // The beginning of a new night // Story: Love Is Magic // by TwinkleSparkle //------------------------------// It all started in a marvelous summer day in Canterlot. The sun was shining, bathing the whole land of Equestria with the warm beams. The sky was clear; everything was just beautiful here at the great capital of Equestria, especially on the vast mountain on top of which the magnificent royal palace of the two sisters stood upon. Twilight was summoned by Princess Celestia to come to the castle for a matter that was described to be of major importance. Being the ever-faithful student that she was, she didn't hesitate for a moment to obey the orders. She also thought that it would be a great opportunity to see Princess Luna. As it has been a while since she last saw her. They had a very good friendship together for a while now after that Nightmare night when she was introduced to Ponyville. She arrived at the Princess’ study and knocked. After hearing the Princess bid her “Enter”, she pushed the huge oaken door open, and strode in. Her gaze roamed the room, taking in the high, molded ceiling, which amused her to think that, even here, the castles architects couldn't set aside their dreams of grand halls and tall towers. She moved on to the bookshelves lining the walls, which ran down both sides of the room, terminating at the outside wall of the chamber on the left side and the window which faced –conveniently enough –toward Ponyville. Next was the large table that, on first glance, appeared to be carved from a single block of marble. Magical examination, however, revealed that it was merely so exactly crafted, that the pieces fit together with no gap or visible line between them. Stationed atop this massive masterpiece was a map of Equestria and its immediately abutting neighbors, held down at the corners with paperweights that matched the cutie mark of their owner. As for said owner, she was seated at her desk, a maple mammoth emblazoned on the front side with her cutie mark, which rested at the end of the right-hoof set of shelves, allowing the Princess to meditate on the outside world when Royal Duties stymied even one as old as she. At present, a scroll was suspended in the golden glow of her magic, causing her to furrow her brow in concentration. “Good morning, your highness.” Twilight said. “Oh! Twilight! Good morning. I didn't notice you entering.” Twilight furrowed her brow in thought. She could have sworn the Princess had invited her in, hadn’t she? “But Princess, didn’t you ask me to come in?” Princess Celestia frowned at her for a moment, and then her gaze brightened, a smile flashing onto her face, and a small laugh slipping out. “I must have been so engrossed in my work; I gave the automatic response for when someone knocks on my door. I guess that’s what happens when one is giving the same response to the same stimulus for centuries!” “I hope I didn't interrupt you.” "No, not at all." “So Princess, what was it you needed my help for?” Princess Celestia levitated a wooden box full of scrolls and put it on her desk. Then she took one of the scrolls and opened and placed it on the desk for both of them to read. Twilight looked at the scroll which was filled with some strange symbols. She noticed some familiar figures which were that of the old Crystal language. She was studying that language since they discovered some historical archives under the Crystal Palace. So far, however, the language’s secrets were stubbornly refusing to reveal themselves. Twilight raised her face to the princess and said with a confused look. “What is that Princess?” “These scrolls had been sent to me by your brother from the Crystal Empire. They found it in one of the temples and they think that these have some important secrets about the magic of the Crystal heart.” “I see. But why hadn’t they translated it before they sent it.” “Well, they tried to find anypony to translate it. But King Sombra’s spell had erased all their memory about this language. It also made them unable to relearn any of it due to the remains of the dark magic’s spirit.” “Mmm, so it’s up to us to translate all these scrolls if we want to know about the Crystal magic.” “I know this is a hard task. But I have faith in you my student. And I know that you will be able to do it.” “This is so exciting. I would be a part of discovering a whole new civilization. This is like a dream come true.” “I knew you would enjoy it. Now let’s get to work. We have a lot to do.” It was late in the day when Twilight left the study. She was exhausted from the working with the princess. As she was walking in the hallway that leads to the front gates of the palace, she met Princess Luna. But this time she felt something strange about it. She felt her heart bound faster. She felt butterflies in her stomach, and heat building up in her core. It wasn't the first time she felt like that when she was around the Princess. She was annoyed with these feelings and didn’t know what they were. But these feelings started some months after the second Nightmare night she spent with the Princess. But that day it was stronger. Even the way she looked at the princess was different. She noticed how beautiful her body was. She admired each and every single detail about the princess of the night. But she collected herself when she saw the dark mare approaching her. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Luna said. “Hello, Princess Luna” Replied Twilight, bowing formally. “You don't have to do this Twilight. After all, we're friends.” Twilight quickly straightened, a blush adorning her cheeks. “Sorry about that. It's the habit.” Luna giggled a bit then said. “It's okay. I see you have just had a tough session.” “Yeah, Princess Celestia is trying to push me to my limits. But I can't say I don't enjoy it.” “You always do give your all when learning something new.” Princess Luna said as she escorted her friend to the main gates of the palace. “Well, it’s always good to have a good challenge every now and then. So, how is life going around with you?” “Well, the normal royal duties you know, politics, duties, formalities, balls, aristocracy, raising the moon. It’s just the same every day. Sometimes it bores me but I'm getting used to it.” “Wow, and I thought I'm the one with the busy life.” Twilight said with a little laugh. “Do you even get any time to rest?” “After I get the moon raised. That is my time to become just Luna. I spend the night listening to music and reading. But Friday nights are my gaming nights, which are my favorite.” There was then a pause of silence. Luna looked at Twilight with a strange look which made the unicorn feel rather uncomfortable. Was there something on her face? Was her mane messy? Those worries soon faded as she lost herself looking into Luna’s eyes. But she pulled herself out from the awkward situation anyways. “Princess Luna, are you okay?” “Yes, yes I'm fine.” Luna said as she got back to herself. Blushing a little but tried to hide it from her little friend. “So how is Ponyville?” “Good, nothing unusual. The rodeo is coming to town and Applejack is practicing. She says that this year the competition is tough because a lot of really good competitors are coming from Appleoosa. But she is aiming for the blue ribbons as always. You know how serious she gets when it comes to rodeo.” “She is really one of the best I've ever seen when it comes to rodeo.” “Yes, she is. So, won't you come and pay Ponyville a visit any time soon?” “I’ll try to do so the nearest chance I get.” They've already reached the gates by that time. “Well, I better get going.” Twilight said. “I hope to see you again soon.” “I hope so too.” “Well, I'll have to say goodbye now.” “Have a nice day.” Twilight was just about to leave when she heard Luna calling her. “Twilight, Wait!” “Yes princess.” She turned back to find Princess Luna looking down at her hooves, rubbing one against the other’s fetlock in an uncharacteristic display of anxiety. “There is something I've been trying to tell you about for a while now. B-but I've never had the courage to say it.” Now Twilight’s curiosity was well and truly peaked. “Go ahead princess.” “Well, I don't know how to say this. But since that night when we were together in Ponyville, I started to have some strange feelings. Something that I thought I would never feel again. But you've revived it in my heart.” “Princess, I don't understand. What is that feeling?” The princess let out a sigh, and then she gazed almost lost into her lover twilight's eyes almost taking in every color and essence in her eyes, saying the magical words that could turn everything upside down. “Twilight Sparkle, I'm in love with you.” Luna said these words and there was a moment like everything was paused in the world. Then the princess of the night took the wind as fast as she could. While Twilight stood there speechless, frozen like a statue, trying to understand the thing that had just happened. She had two different feelings, one of huge awkward feeling and anxiety. And the other was a little feeling of happiness to hear that from her princess. The young lavender unicorn gathered herself a little and managed to sit on a small bench in the Royal Gardens. She just let a long gaze to the vast space. She had millions of thoughts in her head. But the more she tried to sort this situation out, the more questions rose to her, and the more awkward she felt. At last she just gave up and put her head in her hooves. She just sat there, lost in her thoughts and unaware of anything around her. All she had in mind now was to sort out that situation. But she knew it wasn't a mathematical equation or something mental. It was something new to her, an inner fight between her feelings for the princess as her ruler and mentor’s sister. And these other feelings she had for the princess and tried to ignore, the new feelings toward Luna as another mare, one who, despite her age, was still youthful in both mind and body. “I just don't know what to do.” Twilight said to herself. “I mean I don't have anything against Luna. She is smart, funny, joyful to be around, in addition to her gorgeous beauty, and her dark sparkling mane that is breathtaking.” “What am I saying? Could I be..... No, no, no, no. I can't be holding feelings for her, except being her friend of course. Yes, that’s right. We're just friends.” “But what about these feelings I've had about her lately? I mean, I’ve read some romantic novels. And according to them, all the symptoms I’m feelings indicates a feeling of love towards Luna. ” “But she is my princess. I can’t have a romantic affair with my princess, can I? And why am I starting to actually like the idea of me being with Lulu?” “Did I just think of her as Lulu? Oh great, now even I disagree with myself. That’s it, I give up.” She went silent for a minute, trying to gather her thoughts to come up with something to settle this down. But as she was doing that, she felt a gentle hoof landing on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Luna. Twilight’s face went frozen like she had just encountered a monster. “I knew that I would find you here.” Luna said to the little unicorn with a genuine smile. There was a moment of silence. Twilight’s mind was as blank and frozen as her face. She didn't know what to say or how to respond to Luna. But Luna went on. “Listen, I know it was shocking to you. And I know you weren't prepared for this. But I kept it away for too long. And I thought that this was the time to say it. I'll completely understand if you didn't have the same feelings towards me.” Twilight sat there with a million words to say. But not a single one had the courage to come from her mouth. She knew she had to say something. But every time she tried to speak, words would melt at the tip of her tongue. But she gathered every last drop of courage in her cells and said. “Luna, I- I. You just shocked me with these words. And I really didn't have the time to think this straight. Luna, I really am-” She was interrupted by the look on the alicorn’s face. She saw, for the first time of her life, tears coming out of Luna’s eyes. Her heart was about to be broken into two halves. That’s when everything became clear. Her blank mind gave the room for her heart to say the final words. And she chose to let her heart get control to settle this down for the last time. “I really am in love with you Luna.” Luna’s muzzle broke into a wide smile. Her mane sparkled more than before. Twilight also had a nice shy smile between her red cheeks. They looked at one another, watching for some small sign, a clue of how to proceed. Unknowingly, their lips were drawing closer and closer together. Their lips met and they melted into the kiss, their lips molding to each other’s whims. Where one shifted, the other complied, with no break between the seal they’d created. After a time, their lips slowly parted. Twilight found herself leaning forward, her head on Luna's chest, their forelimbs around each other in a sweet embrace. “Luna.” Twilight said. "Yes?" “ I've been thinking for a response to what you've said for the last hour or two and couldn't come up with anything. But your eyes gave me the answer I needed. Thank you.” Luna looked to her, and responded with another deep kiss. Then they turned to watch Celestia’s sun melting down the horizon, signaling the end of the day and the beginning of a new night. With a new magic in possess, that magic was the most powerful magic of all time, the magic of love.