Runes
by Pearple Prose
"Lunaaaaa..." a sweet voice sang playfully. "Come to bed, you silly mare!"
I looked up from my desk to see Twilight poking her head around the door to my office, the endless rows of books lining the walls making it seem as if she were calling to me from the top of a deep pit. I rubbed at my tired eyes and smiled at her such that my fangs poked through my lips. Twilight loved that smile of mine.
"My apologies, love," I said, rising to my hooves and wincing as an old injury on my leg burned briefly, "I just had a few papers to finish."
"You always have papers to finish." Twilight curled her lip into a devilish and mildly flirty pout.
"Queens often do."
"You never used to have papers to finish," Twilight said, pushing the lacquered door open fully and sashaying her way into the room. Her long and graceful silks drifted across the carpet behind her. "So that begs the question: are there just more papers, or are you just getting old and tubby?"
I winced. "Ouch. Thank you for hurting my feelings, dearest."
"Someone has to keep you humble, Your Majesty." She stuck her tongue out at me.
I swept my eyes across the remaining paperwork and took in none of it. "Is this because of my commenting on your posterior the other night?"
Twilight sniffed. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
"It's not my fault you're so sensitive." I flicked a long, black wing at her rump and relished the sharp eek! that followed. "See? It's a hair trigger down there."
"That was a low blow." She smothered a smile and shot me a glare.
"So we're equal, then." I stuck my tongue out, and got a playful slap in return.
"Yeah, yeah." Twilight turned away and glanced across the bookshelves idly. Her damp mane was tied up messily, and she smelled of lavender. She had just come out of the shower, apparently. "How long are you going to be, Luna?"
I swept a wing across my desk. "Strangely enough, I just finished." I stepped up behind my lover and lowered my head down to nibble at her ear and listen to her hum and laugh in delight.
I enjoyed these brief pleasures in this uncertain world of ours.
"You have so many books in this old castle," Twilight said distantly. I trailed kisses down her neck. "I'm an egghead, and even I don't know what half of these books are about."
"I'm a busy mare," I said. My mane of stars brushed against Twilight's cheek. "And I'm quite the dabbler, as well."
"Or maybe you're just a hoarder."
I snorted. "Please. I prefer 'collector.'"
Twilight giggled. "Well, you're quite the avid collector, then." She sighed. "I remember when I first saw the library here. I couldn't believe my eyes. So many books!" I heard her giggle to herself. "Spike wasn't impressed at all, though. Silly dragon."
Immediately, the moment shattered, and I recoiled as cold terror swept down my spine. Twilight didn't notice - her eyes were strained shut in concentration. "Wait... No, that was... Who's Spike? You were with me... right?"
Twilight shook her head and opened her eyes again. "Luna?" She looked back at me and her eyes widened. "Luna, what's wrong?"
I blinked and realised that I had opened my wings and beared my teeth on reflex, and forced myself to stand normally despite the mild horror turning in my gut. "My apologies. Something you said just... brought back memories."
Twilight blinked. "Oh. It's alright." She looked up at me in concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You look tense."
I glanced over at a mirror on my desk and stared briefly into my own reptilian eyes, then turned and walked to the door. "I'm sure, dear. Shall we go to bed?"
But when I turned around, Twilight was still peering at the shelves. "Mhm. Just a minute."
"Twilight."
"Yeah, I heard you."
I stepped toward her. "Twilight, can you please-"
"Hey," she said, "Did you know this book is in the wrong place?" And she lifted a hoof and tugged a very particular hardback out of its place.
There was a loud crash and clunk of moving machinery, and the bookshelf that Twilight had been facing slid backwards and to the side. Ethereal light bathed Twilight in a silver hue as she stared disbelievingly into the hidden corridor.
"Ah," I said, striding across the room towards her. "I was rather hoping you wouldn't find that."
"Luna..." Twilight breathed. "What is this?"
I stood behind her and followed her gaze up to the huge magic circle, inlaid with glowing runes that shifted and turned even as we watched. "It's..." I wasn't sure what to tell her.
"No, wait, I can read these. This is... a containment field?"
My injured leg twitched as I stared at my magical creation. "Exactly that."
"But... What's it for? And why was it hidden here?"
"Twilight." I lay my hoof on her shoulder. "We should go to sleep. I'll tell you all about it in the morning."
Twilight didn't move. I called her name again: "Twilight?"
I heard her giggle. "So, is this your little secret, then?" she said, in a sultry tone.
"What?"
"Don't you try and lie to me, Lulu." My leg twitched again. "I know you've been squeamish about something. Is this it?"
"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," I said with forced cheeriness.
"What happens if I do this?" She put her hoof directly in the middle of the circle. "Ooh, it's warm."
"I'd very much rather you didn't."
"Oh?" She was loving every minute of this. It would normally be endearing, but right now it just fed my greatest fears. "Then what happens if I do this?"
Her horn glowed. I didn't even have time to throw her out of the way before the seal came undone and golden, heavenly magic exploded into the room. I only just managed to avert my eyes as the power washed over me like a divine wave, and my horn burned black as I reforged the circle and banished the energy back to whence it came.
The damage had already been done.
"L-Luna?" A tiny voice spoke. Twilight stared at the seal and didn't turn around. I couldn't see her face.
I didn't answer at first. I instead stepped aside and closed the hidden passageway, the weathered bookshelf sliding serenely back into place as if nothing had happened.
"Luna? What happened? Where are you?"
"I'm here, Twilight."
She turned and looked at me. "You... You're not Luna," she stammered, stepping away from me. Her eyes were wide and terrified. "You're..."
I felt the condemnation smash my heart in two. "Twilight, please."
"Oh no." She took another step away from me. "This isn't right. We stopped you. You're gone. Why are you here. Please let me go."
"It's all going to be okay." I stepped towards her gently, keeping my voice soft and calming. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Where are my friends? Where am I? I just want to go home." She was curled up on the floor, now, breathing in and out and in and out and in and she was hyperventilating and she was crying and all I wanted to do was scream in purest rage.
But I didn't. Instead, I curled up around my broken lover, and stroked her mane until she was sobbing quietly into my midnight coat.
"Princess Celestia? Is that you?" she whispered.
It hurt. Oh by the gods, it hurt.
"I'm here, Twilight. It'll all be okay."
I took a deep breath, and brushed my hoof against the runes set into the back of Twilight's head.
I'll get it right someday.