Luna stood on one of the castle parapets and looked up at the night sky. Aecorum’s re-coronation had gone wonderfully; the ponies actually accepted him much quicker than Luna thought they would, even though Aecorum still had a lot of work ahead of him. She sighed contentedly and smiled as somepony walked softly towards her.
“I had forgotten how clear the stars were from up here.” Luna turned and smiled when she saw Aecorum standing beside her.
“Aecorum...I cannot tell you how happy all of this has made me. My world is complete again.”
Aecorum smiled and looked up at the moon. “I never thought I would be here again. My crown seems much heavier than it used to be.” They stood in silence for a moment before Aecorum’s face fell and he turned to face her. “Luna…There is something I have wanted to tell you for a long time…”
Luna’s eyes filled with concern at Aecorum’s somber expression “What is it?”
Aecorum swallowed a lump in his throat “I…I should have told you years ago, but…I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Aecorum sighed and took a step towards the edge “I was afraid of what you would have said, afraid of what Tia would have said, afraid…Afraid of how our friendship would have changed, and afraid…Of how it would not. My fear kept me from telling you, and…” Luna took a step towards him and he continued “That is why I sealed myself in that cave, why I blamed myself for what happened. I was…I was certain that if I had told you before, you would never have been consumed by darkness.”
Luna put a hoof on Aecorum’s shoulder “Aecorum…” She swallowed a lump in her own throat “What…Did you want to tell me?”
Aecorum turned towards her and took a deep breath “I…Luna, you are the most beautiful creature in existence. The night, your night, is so much more wonderful to me than any day could ever be. Luna…” He took another deep breath “I love you. I love you with all of my heart, all of my soul, every part of me. There is nothing I would not do to make you happy, no sacrifice I would not make to see you smile, hear you laugh…To be with you.”
Luna gasped “You…Love me?”
Aecorum nodded and bit his lip “I understand if you do not feel the same way, but…You should know that I have been in love with you since the moment I met you.”
“Ae-Aecorum…” Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes and she smiled “I…I never dreamed you…Ever felt that way about me. I thought…I thought it was Tia.”
Aecorum turned away “I am sorry, I should not have said anything, I am…Gods I am such a fool!” He sighed “I will just…Go back to my study and we can forget this.”
He started to walk away but Luna put a hoof on his cheek and looked him in the eye. They stared at each other in silence until understanding finally dawned in Aecorum’s eyes as he realized that the special shine in Luna’s eyes was the same as the one he had seen countless times in the mirror. He hesitantly leaned his head closer to Luna’s and slowly wrapped a wing around her shoulders. Luna returned the gesture and as their heads drew closer they closed their eyes and in an instant that seemed to last for a lifetime, their lips met. After a second they pulled back and Aecorum’s smile grew broader with each second.
Tears of joy started to flow down his face as he laughed and picked Luna up with his hooves, spinning her around in a crushing yet gentle hug. Luna had never heard him laugh with that much heart or joy and she started laughing along with him, their voices ringing across the castle walls and into the night. Suddenly Aecorum stopped spinning and lowered Luna’s head to the ground as if they were dancing. Their smiles were warm and Aecorum kissed Luna again, both of them leaning into the kiss and enjoying every fleeting moment with their entire being.
Aecorum’s ears pricked up and he pulled away from Luna as music started to play. They looked around for a second before Aecorum saw Celestia standing on her balcony, her horn aglow as a harp on her balcony started playing a sweet melody. Celestia’s face was lit up with the warmest, happiest smile Luna and Aecorum had ever seen, and Aecorum nodded to her with gratitude lining his face. Celestia nodded in return and turned to go back inside as Aecorum tenderly grabbed Luna’s hoof. Luna laughed and they started dancing to the tune of Celestia’s instrument, neither one with a single thought besides each other.
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