Lulu couldn't sleep. She stood out on the balcony adjacent to Luna's bedroom, her feet bare against the cold ground, Rarity had been kind enough to fashion a nighty for her, on top of her regular clothing. Slippers designed for human feet, however, were a total anomaly to ponies. She didn't mind, the air was cold but not too cold. She overlooked Canterlot and the rest of Equestria, wondering where Luna was right now. Behind her, various clothes and memorabilia from anything and everything, were scattered about the room. Video games, magazines, comics, books, DVD cases, you name it, Luna had it. At least the pony version of it. Die Hard? Yep. Bruce Winny. She had also ever so lovingly scattered her stuff around her bedroom floor in a wonderfully disorganised chaotic mess.
As she gazed out at the starry sky she couldn't help but worry. About Luna. About Celeste her sister. They never got on very well but still. She missed her. "Family is family," she muttered. "And god knows what she thinks I'm doing or where I am." She twisted her face and scratched her chin. "And god knows how Luna's doing right now too... am I being selfish?" she wondered out loud.
"Of course you're not." A calm voice stated from behind. Lulu spun around quick as a flash, scared half to death of the sudden noise.
"Oh it's you Celes- uh, princess," she stammered, sighing with relief. "Sorry about the, um... mess," she mumbled as she glanced around the floor.
Celestia smiled. "Please Lulu just call me Celestia, or Tia. We're friends."
Lulu smiled sheepishly and apologised. "S-sorry."
"Oh no need to, I should apologise for startling you, and trust me." She laughed as she gestured to the mess. "I've seen worse." She winked.
Lulu felt more at ease for a brief moment, but that was quickly shattered by the princess's next words.
"But really." The White One narrowed her eyes. "Of course you're not being selfish, if anypony is, it would be Luna. She's too hot headed for her own good."
The human shook her head. "I don't think so, prin- Celestia," she said, "I think she's rightfully worried about being alone." She felt a fire inside her she hadn't felt before. Her jaw clenched. and her hands balled into fists. "I mean, you did send her to the moon for 1000 years, you should be lucky she even talks to you anymore, just because she felt left out and rejected by her own kingdom, and her own people." She glared at the princess with a stony expression. "Her own sister."
Celestia stared at her. Her face unreadable. A great white rock, full of immeasurable power.
Lulu realised what she had just said and her face very quickly softened. "Oh. Oh geez I'm sorry, I don't-" Her voice broke and wavered.
The princess held a hoof up to silence her, lowering her head, pointing her horn directly at the human.
"Oh god this is it, this is the end, death, or stoneification, approaches," thought Lulu as she squeezed her eyes shut, her hands jammed to her sides.
"You're right."
Lulu slowly opened her eyes and blinked. "Scuse me?" she squeaked.
Celestia chuckled. A hollow sound. "You're right. I did banish her to the moon. I should have reasoned with her more." She raised her head and looked at Lulu with a great sadness in her eyes. "I was not the best sister I could have been, and I regret that decision every single day.
"But you... you make my sister happier than I ever could. and clearly, you aren't afraid to fight for her."
The princess flourished her wings and knelt down, her nose almost touching the floor. "And for that I am grateful, and I bow to you out of respect."
"I... I don't know what to say, Celestia," Lulu mumbled, feeling uncomfortable. She was definitely not qualified to deal with an all powerful god creature like Celestia literally kneeling to her out of respect. "Is this what the hobbits felt?" she thought as Celestia looked her in the eyes.
"You don't need to say anything, Lulu," stated Celestia, her eyes soft and welcoming. "You make my beloved sister so happy, I could kiss you myself." She paused, a smile twitced at the corner of her mouth as she saw the human start to blush.
"I, uh..." Lulu stammered.
"But I won't," Celestia joked as she elegantly rose to her full height again, "out of fear that Luna might see and suspect I was 'trying to steal you away' or some such."
Lulu started to laugh. "She would probably think that, yeah."
The two of them smiled at each other. "There isn't much of the night remaining, you should get some sleep," said Celestia, "busy day tomorrow."
Lulu nodded. "I know." She turned to look over at Equestria again, her nighty flowing in the light breeze. "I'm just worried, Celestia." She glanced back at the princess, who nodded solemnly. Her brow furrowed as she made to get into bed.
"I know." Celestia ignited her horn and used her magic to tuck the human's bed covers in. "Hush now, get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah." Lulu yawned. "Big day..."
Just before she left, Celestia turned and looked at the human, just barely drifting off to sleep and stated, quite plainly, "If you ever speak to me like that again you will regret it." She flashed a toothy smile as Lulu bolted upright in bed. "I'm joking, I swear. Goodnight Lulu."
Lulu nodded and clutched the covers to her chest. "Night," she whispered. Her eyes wide in abject terror as the door closed, she laid her head back down and was suddenly extremely grateful she had fallen for, and was friends with, a powerful god creature that could rival Celestia's tomfoolery.
As her head hit the pillow her eyelids drooped. "Must've been... more tired than I thought..." she mumbled, as she drifted off into a deep slumber.
***
Upon waking, Lulu buried herself into her soft, warm sheets. She yawned and rubbed the remainders of sleep from her eyes as she sat up and gazed out the window at the sun pouring its golden rays over the sleepy world. She swung her legs overt he side of the bed, noting the conspicuous pony shaped indent by her side. Luna had come to bed at some point, but she couldn't for the life of her remember when. "Where is she now?" she thought as she slowly stood and went towards the open window and the balcony. As she stood and watched the world wake up, she started to hear it wake up too. Not just the birds in the treetops and the vale, but the townsfolk of Canterlot in the streets below. Ponies setting up stalls, children on their way to school. She smiled and laughed softly to herself.
"Such a peaceful world. You wouldn't think the end of everything they know would rock up every now and then."
The sound of flapping wings caught her attention. Not regular wings, as she'd grown accustomed to from her time in Equestria, but something altogether unnatural.
She backed up as the flapping grew closer. Was it a large bird? Philomena, Celestia's pet phoenix perhaps? "No, it's bigger," she thought as her hand found the edge of the bed. She braced herself for whatever it was. "Surely it wasn't a random pony flying straight to the princess's window? There must be guards that prevent ponies from doing that."
With a sigh she realised it must be Luna coming back and calmed herself. She straightened her nighty down and swept a messy strand pf hair out of her face as a dark shadow appeared on the balcony. Her nose twitched as she could smell the tint of singed hair and her smile faltered.
Before her was definitely not Luna. A tall, dark grey pony with black hair instead stood. His cutie mark was obstructed by the black as night armour he wore. He regarded her with green, serpentine eyes that held a hint of contempt.
Lulu stared at his wings. Leathery, bat-like appendages grew in place of the usual feathery wings. She took a step back as he barked in a gruff voice with a strange accent.
"My lady needs you."
She clutched her ears as his voice pierced through her, like a cold mist it chilled her to the bone. "I-" she started before the strange pony cut her off.
"Night is finished now, I cannot stay. Go to her study, my lady tells me to say. My queen needs you."
He hissed the last sentence at her as he flapped his wings and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Lulu stood bewildered. "Did he have a Transylvanian accent?" she murmured, "and queen? I thought Luna was a princess..." Her eyes widened. She gulped and started to get dressed. "Oh hang on," she paused to think. "Where was Luna's study again? Fourth door on the left after the second flight of stairs going down?" She pondered. "of dow three flights of stairs and second door on the right?" Her face twisted with anxiety.
A knock at the door startled her and interrupted her thoughts.
"Lady Lulu?" Came a familiar voice. Lulu breathed a sigh of relief as she recognised Pennyworth, Celestia's head butler. "May I come in, ma'am?"
Lulu cleared her throat. Nobody had ever called her 'lady' before. "Uh, yea- yes please."
The door swung open, revealing a tall, thin pony with a waxed moustache and narrow eyes. He tutted at the mess and smiled at the human at the centre of it. "Thirty years I've served this household you know, and no matter how many tims I've told her she never tidies up after herself." He chuckled. His voice was warm and kind, like an old grandfather. prim and proper but stern and firm at the same time. "Now, my dear, Princess Celestia has asked me to accompany you to-"
"Luna's study, yeah," Lulu replied without thinking about it.
Pennyworth raised his eyebrows. "A gift of foresight, miss?"
Lulu blushed and mumbled an apology. "Somebody already told me." She gestured to the window.
At this Pennyworth crossed the room and peered outside. His nostrils flared as he peered observed the world and smelled something burning.
"A pegasus but with, like, bat wings?" Lulu offered.
He scowled. "Ah. I see you've met the old guard." He turned to face her. "Unsavoury characters, I don't know why the princess tolerates them."
"What are they?"
"Dark pegasi, simply put. An amalgamation of a Pegasus infused with dark magic. Created originally to serve-" He hesitated and sighed. "To serve Nightmare Moon."
Lulu tensed up. Every time she'd asked Luna about 'The Nightmare' Luna clammed up and wouldn't go into detail. "Oh... I see."
Pennyworth nodded. "Unsavoury yes, but loyal to a fault. They worship their princess, their 'queen' with unwavering fanaticism. However being creatures of the night, they cannot exist for long periods of time, hence the burning smell."
The human's eyes widened.
"Yes, any longer and whoever you spoke to must have been about to burst into flames," Pennyworth continued. "Now." he pawed at the ground with a hoof, inspecting a fine speck of dust. "Now I've taken up far too much of your time already, this old goat does like to waffle on." He smiled and gestured to the door. "Shall we?"
Lulu scrambled forwards to join him. "Would you mind if I ask you some questions about the princesses, and this castle?" she hesitantly asked.
Pennyworth beamed. The creases under his eyes tripled in number as he did so. "I'd be more than happy to give you a brief tour as we walk. Always happy to see the youth take an interest in history."
She smiled at him as they set off.
The old pony gestured upwards. "Now, this castle is about as old as Equestria itself..."
***
"Which brings us to where we are today." Pennyworth finished as they stood outside Luna's study.
Lulu couldn't help but gaze up in wonder at the historied paintings and walls around them. She realised that she hadn't actually a single clue about any of pony history, and desperately wished she'd brought a pen and paper.
"Thank you for that tour, Mr Pennyworth."
"Oh pish," Pennyworth waved a hoof. "Thank you for letting me give it. Not enough ponies care about the past these days, it's nice to see a change."
He smiled at her and gave a small bow. "It has been a privilege talking with you, Miss Lulu. One day we shall have to converse on human history."
She nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, definitely." She curtsied, making the old pony chuckle.
"Such decorum, my lady." He rapped his hoof on the door. "The princess is surely in good company."
Celestia's voice came from inside. "Yes?"
Pennyworth's smile faded as he resumed his proper duties. "Pennyworth, ma'am. The lady Lulu awaits, as requested."
"Send her in, please Pennyworth." Her voice was soft and kind.
He nodded and opened the door. He bowed to Lulu before ushering her in. "It has been a pleasure, Miss Lulu. I hope we meet again soon."
"Me too, Mr Pennyworth."
With a curt nod, the old pony turned and trotted away. Lulu turned into the room and squinted in the light. At first she couldn't make out much, but as her eyes adjusted she saw Luna beaming at her, a large suitcase clearly stuffed to the brim at her side. She grinned uncontrollably as she patted the seat next to her.
"Whaaat's going on, Luna?" Lulu asked as she crossed the room, still squinting a touch from the brilliant light in the middle of the room. She sat and placed her hand on Luna's outstretched hoof.
The princess quivered in excitement. "We found a way to take you home!" she squealed.
Lulu's eyes widened. "Wait, really? And you're okay with it?"
Luna nodded vigorously. "Aha!" She calmed herself and looked Lulu in the eyes. "For you, my sweetie, anything."
The human giggled and gave the pony's face a light shove in embarrassment.
Celestia cleared her throat. "Yes, Lulu, we did." She gestured to the bright light at the centre of the room. "I asked Twilight Sparkle what she knew about portals and dimensions and the like." She paused. "She cast a spell and created that light. She tells me if you were to step through it, you would return to your world, approximately seven minutes after you left the first time."
Lulu gaped. "Seven. Minutes? So it would be like I haven't even been gone?"
Celestia nodded. "Precisely."
The princess next to her nudged her and wiggled her eyebrows at the suitcase. "I've already packed our things. I'm ready when you are." She bit her lip to keep from beaming so much.
Lulu's eyes welled with tears. Luna's smile faltered as she went to embrace her friend. "Is this not what you wanted, Lulu?" she asked as she stroked the human's hair.
"Of course it is, it's just nerves," the girl sniffed. "And relief. I'm so glad you're okay with this."
Princess Luna smiled. Her eyes twinkled in the light. "I've realised how stupid I've been. I... think I love you, Lulu. You're my best friend, my other half, and I want to be with you, as long as you'll have me."
Lulu gasped. "Of course I do, you silly filly!" She threw her arms around the pony and kissed her on the nose. "Of course I want you to be with me, I think I love you too. I'm so happy you'll get to meet my-" She stopped. her mouth trembled. "Did we just get engaged?" She asked quietly.
Luna's smile broadened, if such a thing were possible. "I think we did." They hugged. They kissed. A deep, long passionate kiss. Their foreheads touched and
Celestia cleared her throat as her eyes welled up with tears of joy. "I am so proud of both of you two." She rubbed her eyes. "You've grown so much since you've known each other." She extended her hoof to Lulu, who grasped it and smiled. She shook. "You're a part of the family now, Lulu."
Lulu cried as she rubbed her nose and gazed at the glowing portal still in front of them. "Shall we then, sweetie?" she asked as she took Luna's hoof in her hand.
The princess sniffed and smiled. "Yes let's." They took at step together. Lulu cast a look back at Celestia, who smiled and waved. She waved back.
"Deep breath" she thought as light engulfed them.
***
In the portal, time seemed to slow down, still they pushed through, as if moving through jelly or a thick mire. Everything went dark for a brief moment, before colour exploded into their vision. They cried out together as they tumbled forwards onto a soft surface.
Lulu looked around and laughed. She was in her bedroom again, there was Mr Bubbles her stuffed Big Daddy, there was her video games and her DVDs. She breathed in and gazed at the familiar sights.
The princess groggily rose to her feet and looked around. Her mouth turned upwards in a smile as they looked around together. Then they started to laugh.
Luna and Lulu embraced, just as the latter heard the familiar jingle of keys in their house's door. She quickly stood and ran to the door. "Celeste?" she called out.
"Yeeahh?" Came a voice form below. It was without a doubt her older sister.
"Come here!" lulu shouted, struggling to hide the excitement in her voice.
Luna stood and flourished her wings as she straightened her crown. She felt nervous, but an excited kind of nervous.
"I forgot something," Celeste shouted up. "I'm not staying long I just came to-"
"Just come here you idiot!" Lulu almost screamed, biting her lip in anticipation. She heard her sister sigh and heard her footsteps on the stairs.
"I'm gonna be late this had better..." Celeste rounded the corner to Lulu's room. She froze and stared at the pony. "Be... important."
Lulu looked back and forth between them, suddenly feeling extremely anxious. "Uh, Celeste, this is... Luna," she mumbled quietly.
The princess bowed and flashed a smile at Celeste. "A true pleasure, Lulu has told me so much about you."
Celeste was frozen. She shook her head and stared at Lulu. "Okay, I'm gonna cancel my plans. And you, missy," she jabbed a finger at her sister. "Have got some explaining to do."
"Fair," mumbled Lulu, who looked at the ground awkwardly. She glanced at Luna who just smiled back. "I have no idea if she feels as awkward as I do, but holy dicks this is gonna get messy quickly I think" she thought as Celeste punched in some words on her phone to her friend.
The elder sister beckoned them down the stairs and into the living room. She gestured to the sofa and sat down in her chair.
Lulu and Luna took a seat as Celeste placed her fingers on her lips. "Okay," she sighed. "Explain this then."
And with that, Lulu began to tell her sister everything. About the website, getting sucked through a portal, spending months and possibly years in Equestria, all their time together. Their plans for the future, which caused Celeste's eyebrows to almost hit the ceiling. And everything and anything up until that point.
The elder sister didn't say anything, she just listened, and looked back and forth between them. She listened.
And listened.
And listened, to her batshit crazy little sister, who had apparently had wondrous adventures in other worlds these days. She laughed as they took turns explaining parts. It was cute, she thought. Her phone buzzed and buzzed but she just continued listening.