//------------------------------// // Phase Two // Story: Between Day and Night // by Davesknd //------------------------------// Celestia rubbed her cheek against her students one more time and returned to an upright position. Even the princess had a slight blush on her face now. Her gaze returned to Luna’s masterpiece once again. The princess of the night had apparently ordered the pegasi to increase the humidity in the higher parts of the atmosphere just enough to not produce clouds and add some instant-rainbow. The result was incredible: Around the radiant white disk of the moon was a completely round rainbow. While the darkness only allowed 4 colours to be seen, it was incredible to behold. Celestia just had to thank her in the morning, both for this view and for the idea to have Twilight around to share it. Her most faithful student. Her new friend. “CHRRRR” And the sleeping pony that was currently using her as a pillow. The princess couldn’t help but chuckle at the lavender mare. “You have grown so quickly, Twilight. I can still remember you as a filly, jumping happily in circle after I accepted you into the school. And now look at you... you are the Element of Magic, you charged Nightmare Moon, you defeated Discord, you vanquished an Ursa Minor, stood up to three dragons, travelled to the gates of Tartarus... and you grew exceptionally beautiful.” Celestia let out a sigh and looked up “I really do admire you, Twilight. You have done so much for me. And I am afraid that you will never know half of it. Because that half is something I could never impose on you.” A hint of sadness invaded Celestia’s features. “But that is my role... soon... much sooner than I expected... will be the day when you won’t need my guidance anymore. Sure, I will always be your friend, but I know how life goes. You will find somepony, find happiness. One day, there will be no place for me in your life. And I am not selfish enough to hope that this day may never come...” A shiver ran down the princess’s spine. The night felt cold, her crown felt heavy and the only warmth came from beneath her wing. “And now look at me... the god-princess of ponydom is rambling to a sleeping filly. As much as I enjoy our closeness, I should get you inside.” The princess gently nudged Twilight. She earned a grumble and a slight shifting. “Oh... you want the hard way, my dear?” Celestia asked playfully and removed her wing. Twilight felt the cold around her and grabbed for her blanket. She found the princess’s mane and rolled over, covering herself. Celestia burst into laughter. After calming down, she moved her head over Twilight’s and whispered into her ear. “Twilight, wake up, we just discovered a new wing in the library! It’s full of old books!” The princess had to admit that she did not expect the reaction she witnessed. The pony by her side started to drool and awoke, moaning “BOOOOOKS!” like a zombie pony. Twilight’s eyes opened slowly. She was not sure why, but she could smell old parchment and book cover-leather. As soon as she could see a little, her eyes almost popped out and she was wide awake. Princess Celestia’s features were illuminated by a bright moon behind her. A rainbow halo surrounded her head, adding just enough to make the view breathtaking. Twilight’s jar dropped at the sheer beauty before her. She felt small and insignificant. “Twilight? Are you all right?” Celestia asked with a hint of worry. The lavender pony blinked a few times. A light blush invaded her cheeks. “I’m sorry, princess, I was... distracted...” “It’s all right. You are tired. Let’s get inside.” The princess offered gently “I have better blankets in there.” Twilight looked at herself, still partially covered in the princess long mane. Her blush went from pink to crimson. “I’m so sorry, princess! I didn’t mean to...” “You better be sorry, my little pony.” Celestia interrupted her student abruptly. Twilight swallowed. “You are supposed to call me Celestia.” The princess giggled and rose. “Come, we should get some sleep.” Twilight nodded and got up herself. She followed Celestia quietly, rather confused with herself. Yes, the princess was beautiful! There were whole sections in the Canterlot library dedicated to that! She herself had always enjoyed looking at Celestia. Who didn’t? But tonight was... different. With the distance between them slowly fading, the unicorn discovered something different than simple admiration of aesthetics. Something comparable to the way Spike looked at Rarity. The unicorn pushed the thoughts aside and yawned. The princess was right: Twilight needed some sleep. She followed the alicorn into her room and slowly moved towards the door. She walked slower than usual, partially due to the tiredness, but mostly because she didn’t want to leave. Celestia gaze drifted to her pupil. Her own words echoed inside of her head, but this time, she closed in a different way. *Not tonight!* “Twilight?” she said gently. Twilight turned around. “Yes, prin--- erm... Celestia?” “Twilight, I think I want to have a sleepover.” Celestia said with a smile. “Excuse me?” “You are tired and your room is quite a walk from here. Why don’t you stay? We can talk a little before sleeping and have breakfast” The princess announced. Twilight mouth opened slowly. She was somewhere between “What” and “Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes-etc.”. “But... can we do that? Wouldn’t that look weird? To the guards, I mean?” the unicorn argued, while a voice in her head demanded that she shut up. “They have given up on gossiping long ago. I am rather boring, I fear...” Celestia admitted. Twilight tilted her head slightly. “Did I look bored all afternoon? And I think that being a paragon of... basically everything... is not a bad thing!” “You can be so silly, Twilight.” The princess said with a giggle “Now get some sleep. You can sleep in my bed.” Twilight’s gazed upon Celestia’s bed. For a moment the surroundings vanished and there was nothing but her and the wonderful piece of furniture. It was huge, soft and she could hear its siren’s song: “Twilight! Twilight! Come to bed!” Weird... the bed sounded like Spike’s. “I will take the couch.” The princess added. In a heartbeat, Twilight was wide awake. She looked over to Celestia. “I will not make you sleep on the couch, princess! I’ll sleep on the couch!” “Oh, come on Twilight. I think I can handle a night on the couch.” “It is YOUR bed, princess!” “And I gladly have you sleep in it. It’s common hospitality.” “And it’s common etiquette to not force your princess out of her bed... unless it’s on fire!” Celestia rolled her eyes. “I read Lipizzaner Knigge’s book too. But, please, you are my guest, sleep in the bed.” “I am also your pupil and your subject!” “Then I can order you to sleep in the bed!” “If you do, you might as well get the guards and arrest me for treason!” Twilight finally said in defiance and glowered at the princess. Apparently her short nap had not dissolved the alcohol in her blood yet. Celestia’s eyes turned to slits. “You leave me no other choice, my pupil!” She took a step towards Twilight! And Vanished in a flash of light! Twilight spun around and found the princess reappearing on the couch. “And this is why you are still the learner and I am the teacher!” Celestia said in a mock-Nightmare Moon voice. “That is not fair...” Twilight lamented. “Life rarely is! MUAHAHAHA!” Celestia added, still in evil tyrant voice. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the trauma of fighting for her dear life against an evil goddess, but the last comment fanned the flames of defiance yet again. “Fine! You won, Daymare Sun! You sleep on the couch.” Twilight answered in a sullen tone and lay down where she stood “And I will sleep on the floor!” “Twilight! Come, I was kidding. Don’t do that!” Celestia pleaded. “No! I will not have a sleeping place comfier than yours!” The unicorn insisted. There was another bright flash and the princess appeared before her. “Neither will I! I shall sleep on the floor too!” “Fine!” “Fine!” Both mares held their head high in victory. Ten seconds passed: Both burst into a fit of laughter. As she calmed down, Celestia gave Twilight a gentle nuzzle. “I really like it when you stand up for yourself...” she said softly. “You like it when I defy you?” “No... I like it when you treat me like your equal.” Twilight blushed lightly, not sure why. “How about we call it a draw and both sleep in the bed?” the princess suggested “It is big enough.” Twilight blushed deeper. The bed looked even more comfy right now...