//------------------------------// // The Bright Side // Story: The Night Lasts Forever // by MasterFrasca //------------------------------// “Just take me home,” Twilight sobbed again, falling to the ground with her hooves covering her eyes. This future had finally broken her, and suddenly, I felt a pang of regret even bringing up the idea of showing her what the future held. I was the reason se had seen any of this, and I felt terrible for suggesting it now. “Please, let me go home,” she whimpered once more, shuddering uncontrollably. I sat down next to her, and put my wing gently over her small trembling body, trying to calm her down from the breakdown. “It’s ok Twilight, you don’t have to see anymore,” I consoled her, pulling her into a tight hug. “We’re going to take you home as soon as we can.” I looked up at the Doctor and plainly said, “Doctor, You and the other Luna go back and fetch the TARDIS. I’m going to stay here and try to calm down Twilight.” The Doctor simply nodded and then both of them were gone with a pop as the Future Luna teleported both of them back to her room. I sat resolute next to Twilight, who by now had her head buried deep into my side. She was still sobbing a good bit, and I just let her cry, getting to despair out of her system. I knew that right now, nothing I could say or do would help her to stop. The ponies around us just glanced oddly at us as they walked past, not bothering to stop to see what had this pony bent so out of shape. Even though I felt terrible at causing all of this, their cold looks reminded me of why I had done it: Twilight needed to know the consequences, no matter how terrible. “I don’t want Pinkie Pie gone,” Twilight managed to sputter in between sobs,, “and I don’t want Fluttershy to go insane, and I don’t want Applejack to be a Drunk, and I don’t want Celestia to be a Tyrant. I don’t want any of this. Not now. Not ever.” “It won’t be Twilight,” I softly replied, noticing she had calmed down a bit. “I promise you it won’t, but you need to do your parts when time calls you.” “Cross your heart?” She asked, taking her head out from my side and looking directly at me. “Hope to fly,” I continued on the phrase I had heard Pinkie use now and again. She finished the phrase together with me, “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” We both smiled at each other, as she realized I had made a Pinkie Promise to help her in any way I could, and I realized that she made a Pinkie Promise to stay in Equestria with me. “I think it’s been years since I heard that phrase uttered by anyone, Princess,” a voice said from behind us. “Ever since Rainbow Dash moved away with those Wonderbolts, I didn’t think anypony knew what that meant.” Turning my head towards the stranger, I instantly recognized who the voice had belonged to. “Rarity?” Twilight asked, not believing that it was the same fashion-obsessed pony she knew under the tattered straw hat that this Rarity was wearing. “Twilight!” Rarity gasped, finally recognizing who the other voice I was talking with. “Oh dear Celestia how I’ve missed you so, Twilight.” Twilight jumped up with renewed energy, and the two ran at each other, running straight into a big bear hug. I smiled, happy to see that Twilight had something to look forward to right now. “Oh, Rarity,” Twilight started again, obviously glad to see a sane friend after all the disturbing futures, “I’m so glad you didn’t end up like the others.” Her spirits took a sudden but only slight downturn as she continued on. The layer of grime tells me that the fashionista I once knew doesn’t exist anymore. How have things gone for you in the Twenty years I’ve been missing?” “Well, Twilight,” Rarity started with a sigh, “Things have been tough. I’ve been trying to deal with Pinkie’s Death, Celestia bless her soul, and Fluttershy’s and Applejack’s conditions, along with trying to stay sane and off the sauce myself. The Carrousel Boutique hasn’t made many huge sales lately, but I manage to keep the place more or less presentable. “I’ve also been trying to help Sweetie Belle along, because Apple Bloom has had to take over nearly all of the duties of the farm due to Applejack’s new destructive habit. Scootaloo and she are always trying to help out whenever they can, but sometimes even they need a little help. The Boutique is still open for business, but I spend most of my days over at the Apple Family Orchards, helping Apple Bloom and her brother out the best I can.” “I guess that explains the dirt,” Twilight said solemnly, looking down at her hooves. “I need to go back and change this.” “If only that were possible, Twilight,” Rarity responded and, before Twilight could explain that she was serious, continued, “I would love nothing more than to stay and chat, but Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are expecting me in the fields. Come over to the Boutique and well catch up, Twilight.” “Of course Rarity,” Twilight responded half-sincerely, “I’ll see you tonight.” Rarity left with a broad smile plastered on her face, and Twilight waved to her as she vanished back into the silent crowd bustling through the streets. “Luna,” Twilight started, still staring off into the place where Rarity disappeared in the moving bodies, “I’m glad you show me this. I wanted to travel through space and time itself with the Doctor and his magical box, all to see how I fit in with the rest of the universe. Now though, I realize that my place is right here in Equestria. “I didn’t think I mattered that much to my friends, much less the entirety of Equestria . I thought it wouldn’t matter if I left never to return. I thought my friends were strong enough to go it alone, but I see now that is far from the truth. I need to go home. I need to tell my friends that I love them, and I would never leave them. Thank you so much, Luna. Thank you.” She grabbed me with her two front hooves and pulled me in for a hug. I was surprised by the sudden movement, but I relaxed and returned the favor when I saw that she was finally smiling since we came here. It was as if time itself stood still at that moment. The hug stretched out into minutes, then hours as it seemed to go on forever. Finally after what had to have been over a decade or two, she loosened her grip but didn’t let go completely. Leaning in close, she whispered in my ear, “You know, ever since I saw you in that field, I think I may have had something special for you in my heart. I was confused then, because…well…I had always been told that a mare and a stallion would get together, not two mares. I went with the Doctor because he had the TARDIS, and he wasn’t a mare… What I think I’m trying to say is, Luna, I—” The last few words were drowned out by a noise that I knew all too well. This wouldn’t be the first time it interrupted something. Without even knowing what Twilight had said, I pulled her in and suddenly gave her a huge kiss, just like the night when she let me stay in the Library. I wasn’t drunk this time, though. I did this in an effort to mostly spite the Doctor, but I regretted it as soon as I started. I knew that any second, she would push away and my love would have been forever ruined by a stupid impulse over trying to win her heart. She didn’t pull away, though. After a few seconds into the kiss, Twilight wrapped her hooves around me and kissed me back. I was so surprised by this when I opened my mouth a little in surprise. Twilight took this opportunity to stick her tongue deeply into my mouth, sending a wave of ecstasy over me. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening after all that she had been through. I didn’t want it to end, and I closed my eyes as I wrestled Twilights tongue with my own. I was in heaven, and I didn’t want to ever leave. “Are you two lovebirds quite done yet?” The Doctors voice asked, pulling me out from my trance-like state. Twilight instantly stopped kissing me and blushed, suddenly alert knowing that we were being watched. The Doctor, however, seemed unmoved by this act and simply said, “We need to get out of here before this world collapses above our heads. This is a projection of the TARDIS and I’m not sure how much longer she can take it!” “Lets get a move on! Allons-y!”