//------------------------------// // 18: Even Short Times are Sweet // Story: Twilight, Good Night // by Carapace //------------------------------// Standing before the Princess of the Night, after hearing the old story of Nightmare Moon so many times before, felt so surreal. At least, it had until she became friends with Luna, the pony, and came to know her as such. Still, the way Luna stood before her, blinking and working her mouth, struggling to find words, was disconcerting to say the least. Deep blue wings rustled, her ethereal, starry tail flicked. But no matter where Twilight tried to look, she found herself drawn back to Luna’s eyes. Those teal eyes bored into her, confusion clear in their gaze. I really should’ve sent word ahead, Twilight scolded herself. I didn’t even think of how Luna might react to me just appearing out of the blue. Or how she might take finding that I’ve been investigating her past. Twilight made the first move. Stepping around the table, she approached Luna with a bright smile. “Good evening, Luna,” she greeted again, bowing her head just slightly. Not quite a full bow, but enough to show respect. The little wince that crossed Luna’s muzzle nearly made her giggle. “Good evening, my friend,” Luna replied, arching a brow. “I thought I insisted that we not stand on ceremony.” “Just checking to see if you were paying attention!” Twilight replied, her voice full of false innocence. “I see.” Her eyes narrowed. “You mean to tease me then?” Twilight simply grinned, happily swishing her tail. She did her very best to hold back a bout of laughter at the way Luna scrunched up her muzzle. Snorting, Luna stomped her hoof and brought down a crack of lightning in a mock show of power. “You shall rue this night, Twilight Sparkle!” she cried, fighting against the upward tugging of her lips. “You shall know the power of the Princess of the Night, and witness the full brunt of her wrath! Ponyville shall fall under an age of pranks and mischief the likes of which none have seen!” Silence fell over the pair as Luna’s proclamation hung in the air, along with the scent of ozone. Her teeth bit into her lip. Twilight strained to fight against the laughter that threatened to bubble forth, the dramatic pose and flair of Luna’s wings did nothing to help the matter. “I think,” she began, her voice straining, “I’m going to have to concede this battle of silliness and playful banter. You’ve got far more experience in both regards.” “Silliness?” Luna parroted, bringing a hoof to her chest. “I am wounded, Twilight Sparkle! Dramatic, one might say! Flamboyant, maybe! Perhaps even a might eccentric—” “You call yourself eccentric?” Twilight cut in, a wry grin crossing her muzzle. “Tia claims that ponies our age are allowed our eccentricities, do not distract me from my rebuttal!” She fixed Twilight with a scowl that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Luna made to speak again, but hesitated, furrowing her brow. “Oh, confound it! I have lost my place!” Her hoof came down upon the stone floor with a sharp clop. “You were scolding me for calling your antics ‘silliness’.” “Ah, yes, thank you.” Clearing her throat, Luna took up her pose again. “Silly? Such a word is an insult to my deeds!” With her piece said, she gave a rather crooked smile and set her hoof on the floor. “I, er, appreciate your indulging me. There was a bit of… awkwardness, I think.” Cringing, Twilight let her ears droop. “I’m more to blame for that. I didn’t exactly leave Ponyville in the most organized fashion when I came up to discuss a project with Princess Celestia, let alone make mention to you.” Luna ground her hoof into the floor, mumbling something under her breath. She made to speak up, but stopped short and shook her head. Still hesitating. Reach out, change the subject. Chewing on her lip, Twilight racked her brain. Something she’ll like, something to show you didn’t forget her on—oh! Her tail swished, a bright smile split her muzzle as she turned her gaze skyward, playing that she was surveying the sky. “You’ve made a beautiful sky again,” she said, her eyes fixated on the hexagonal constellation—the Founders Six. “I think you’ve ruined each of us for loving daytime.” “I-I’m sorry?” Luna blinked, cocking her head in confusion. “It was not my intent to render my sister’s daytime sky inadequate—t’is a fine work, the sky always such a splendrous shade of blue, like an ocean one can just get lost in as they stare—” Twilight hid a giggle behind a hoof. “It’s a figure of speech, Luna! I mean we all liked it a lot! Each of us has a new appreciation for it.” Wings ruffled, Luna’s midnight blue feathers fluffed. “Truly?” “Luna, you got Pinkie stop to bouncing for a whole five minutes.” She stepped closer, within hoof’s reach of her stunned friend. “The experience was surreal. Like watching a master painter start with a blank canvas and work until the entire space was covered by the most perfect scenery…” She had to stop a moment to stifle another bout of giggles at the line of pink tinging Luna’s cheeks. The ancient princess shifted her weight, almost hopping from one set of hooves to the other. It was cute, in a way. Like how Fluttershy wasn’t quite comfortable in the face of a crowd of photographers. But, at the same time, quite curious. Twilight had a pair of books in her saddlebags that showed a love and deep respect for how Luna crafted the night sky. Centuries before her banishment, Luna’s “canvas” could put artists to shame, even rendering them to weep in frustration as they struggled to do it justice. So what caused such a reaction? Had a thousand years of isolation and being the subject of fear made her forget those days? Or was there something else? “The Night Court’s influence was at its peak fifteen-hundred years ago, and waned three centuries before Luna’s fall.” Could that be it? Twilight brought a hoof to her chin. Losing influence, slowly feeling as though ponies had lost their love for her night? Three centuries of that would, logically, give that feeling to an immortal, but add in a thousand years of those thoughts festering… She shuddered to think just how far Luna could have taken the notion. Far enough to become Nightmare Moon, and far enough to stay in that state of mind until her return. Shaking herself out of her lapse, Twilight gave a coy smile. “Rarity’s almost shut herself inside her boutique since that night. Something about ‘sudden inspiration’—” she reared back on her hind hooves, throwing a foreleg across her forehead “—for one of her dresses.” A strangled squeak sounded from Luna’s throat. “R-Really?” Her eyes were alight with joy, her wings flared out, ready to take flight through the ocean of stars she so lovingly dotted the sky with. “Fair Rarity wishes to make a dress inspired by my…” she trailed off, licking her lips. Almost as quick as the raw emotion came, it was gone, hidden behind a mask of propriety and a small smile. “I am quite honored,” she said, her tone seemed forced, as though she were holding back a jubilant cry. “Perhaps I shall inquire as to whether she might allow me to see her creation before she presents it to the community.” “I think you’ll find that Rarity would be ecstatic. But I’ll mention it to her, just to be safe.” Happy to see Luna’s shift in mood, Twilight waved a hoof toward the table. “Would you like to sit and talk? Or would you rather talk elsewhere?” Luna blinked. “I believe I would prefer to talk and walk, as it were. I am, admittedly, late for Night Court.” She snorted, her eyes flitted to the side. “Not that I shall be waited on,” she muttered. Twilight winced, her thoughts again harkened back to Princess Celestia’s claim that the Night Court’s influence waned long ago. All Luna had were the memories. Change it again. Or offer something. Her ears perked up. “I could stay with you, if you’d like,” she said. “We could discuss… well, anything you’d like, really.” Rather than give a quick, happy affirmative, Luna hummed, tapping her hoof on the floor. “I would like to say yes. However, should I keep you to myself the entirety of the evening, I have no doubt you will be quite exhausted come morning.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “And if you are anything less than bright eye and bushy tailed for my sister’s dawn, the both of us shall have to endure her piteous wailing of how I am trying to steal away her favored student.” “Oh, come on. She wouldn’t be that bad!” Twilight retorted, her amused smile a contrast to her words. “You are correct,” Luna deadpanned, her brows flatlined, “she would be worse.” This time Twilight couldn’t bring her hoof up in time to stifle the laughter that bubbled forth. The mere notion of Princess Celestia pouting and lamenting her “betrayal” of the day in favor of Luna’s nights more than enough to send her into peals of mirth. The way she’d pulled Twilight into her embrace and made mock proclamation that she’d have to hold her in Canterlot just a few hours prior only accentuated it. “I suppose—” she managed to say before succumbing to another fit of laughter “—Princess Celestia is given to a bit of drama now and again.” “Now and again?” Luna repeated, scoffing. “I truly wonder if my sister chose to adopt some of my mannerism to fill a void left in my absence—I now find myself in the odd place of dealing with one who uses my own humor to poke and prod.” Though her words were biting, a fond smile made its way across her muzzle. She shook her head. “And how ironic that it is now I who complain to my friend that I am burdened with such a mischievous sister.” With a small chuckle of her own, Luna turned toward the door, glancing at Twilight out of the corner of her eye. “Perhaps, that is my punishment for being such a naughty little princess at those meetings ages ago—when the Founders Six first asked us to take the Dual Throne.” Another shake of her head sent her starry mane trailing from side to side. “But that is for another night. You, my studious friend, should away to bed and ready for an early rise. If it is acceptable, I would walk you to your room.” Filing the aside mention of the Founders for later, Twilight nodded and totted to her side. “I’d like that quite a lot.” “Splendid! Lead the way, Twilight Sparkle.” Cerulean magic engulfed the door handle and pulled it open, ushering her out into the candlelit hall. The pair trotted out together, passed the Night Guard sentries along the way—all of whom snapped to attention and saluted with their spears as Princess Luna trotted by. Twilight’s gaze flitted to a pair of dark-coated unicorns, their hard gazes seemed a bit softer upon her, more appraising than the usual stony stares. And yet, not as mischievous as the three from Ponyville or as cordial with her as the Day Guard. Curious, she thought, recalling her younger days when the Night Guards would pick her up, carry her out of the library, plop her down in front of a bemused Princess Celestia, and tattle on her with fanged grins and gleaming eyes. Like they found catching her staying out too late a game—and they were running up the score. These guards, on the other hoof, seemed to look at her in a manner akin to Princess Celestia on her most recent birthday. Surely it hadn’t been that long since they’d seen her. She hadn’t grown much since her fifteenth birthday, unless she actually had lost some weight. Shrugging, she turned to address Luna again. “So, Princess Celestia mentioned you had other plans tonight?” Luna’s ear flicked toward her. “Verily.” She nodded, a small smile playing upon her lips. “I chose to venture out and attempt to… extend an olive branch, if you will.” Ignoring her slight hesitation, Twilight tilted her head. “Oh? You’ve been arguing with somepony?” “No, not so much arguing as I have been a bit cold toward her, looking down my nose as if she were beneath me. And her lover, by extension.” The smile turned a bit sheepish, she ducked her head low. “Fortunately, my niece is either very forgiving, or far too kind for her own good.” Twilight gasped, a hoof leapt to her mouth. “Cadence?” she breathed. “You haven’t been—I’m sorry, but what did Cadence do to upset you enough to warrant that?” The smile fled from Luna’s face. “Nothing.” Her tone was bitter, her eyes downcast. “Yet another example of my jealousy getting the best of me, I fear.” Sighing, she stopped in place and flicked her tail. “It took a rather long time for me to come to terms with why I was angry, even longer to find reason to go speak with her.” Brows knit together in concern, Twilight turned and stepped closer, placing a hoof upon her shoulder. “I’m not exactly privy to whatever you were feeling toward her, and I wouldn’t dream of making you talk about it in the middle of the hall—” her eyes flitted to the guards again. “My guards will not betray a word of our conversation,” Luna replied with an amused snort. “They may be my naughty foals in gilded dress, but they are loyal to a fault, perhaps overly so.” Giving another sigh, she raised her head and brought a hoof up to touch Twilight’s. “T’was silly of me, and unfair to Cadence. But, for a time, I felt… replaced.” It took a moment for Twilight to connect the dots. Her ears swiveled back to lay against her scalp, her kind smile fell. “I’m… not quite certain I understand how that might feel.” “Nor should you ever find yourself in that place. T’is not a pleasant thing, jealousy. Especially when it sours a relationship with family.” Slowly, she stood, letting Twilight’s hoof slide down her leg and fall to the floor. Luna forced a smile. “Bah! Do not worry over my failings, Twilight. I have established some semblance of a relationship with Cadence, and had the chance to speak in a less formal setting with your brother—I would say that is good progress, would you agree?” She made to reply, concern for her newfound friend and favorite former foalsitter at the forefront of her mind. But the smile on Luna’s muzzle made her stop short. It wasn’t a happy smile. It was as fake as the smile Twilight gave her friends when she tried to convince them she wasn’t panicking over an assignment, or Rarity’s when she was up against the wall on a deadline and had only just started working on a dress. Or Shining, that time he thought he’d offended Cadence so much that she’d break up with him, but tried his best to be excited for Twilight’s science fair award. Misdirection. Not as subtle as Rarity or Shining, but the intent was there. Just as it was each time the less pleasant aspects of Luna’s past seemed to come up in conversation. All the more reason to keep the actual subject of her research under wraps until she found something of substance. Twilight returned Luna’s strained smile with a genuine one of her own.  “I’m happy you’ve made an effort with Cadence, then. Even more so that you get along with Shining and her now.” She reared up and caught Luna in a gentle hug around her neck, then drew back to meet her eyes. “Maybe we could spend time with them someday. The four of us, like when you came to visit my friends.” Snorting, Luna nodded and wrapped a hoof around Twilight. “I would not be averse to it. They are a lovely couple, and were quite amicable as we chatted over dinner. Although,” she said, a wry grin crossed her muzzle, “we seem to be falling into habit that you invite me places, while I have yet to invite you to stay in my home—this surprise visit does not count.” All but shrinking away, Twilight gave an awkward chuckle. “Er, perhaps we can talk over the next couple of days and plan something out?” “I would like that very much. Now, no more delays. Let us get you to bed before my dear sister decides to come carry you away so I cannot cajole you into becoming my acolyte, or whatever silly notion she has. The dark side, perhaps.” “The dark side?” she parroted, raising her brow as they resumed their walk. “Perhaps, but I’d have to weigh the benefits in order to assess my options.” Luna simply smiled. “My sister has cake, but I have cookies.” The pair stayed on more pleasant topics for the remainder of their walk. Both giggling as Twilight told a story of Spike finding himself clad in the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ latest attempt at fashion designing, his cheeks flushed red as Rarity coaxed the four into a picture. Luna seemed particularly interested in how each of the girls went about their respective days, while still finding time to talk and spend time together. Almost as though she were taking mental notes on the subject. What a thought! Twilight could only laugh to herself as they turned down the corridor, seeing the duality of the castle’s décor—on one side night, on the other day, and then hallways branching to the north and south for Cadence and herself, respectively. For the first time, Twilight noticed how curious it was that the smaller hallway her room was located in was almost exactly in the middle of those that housed the Royal Sisters. Whether by coincidence or design, she wasn’t entirely certain. Still, quite convenient for when she did stay in the castle. As they came to the end of the hall, they stopped outside a door that bore Twilight’s starburst cutie mark. “Ah, so this is where you stayed,” Luna said. “I’d not come down this way before.” Twilight gave a nod. “Before I was old enough to live on my own, I’d stay here on nights my lessons ended a bit later.” She reached out and touched the wooden door, fondly tracing over the imprint of her cutie mark. “I guess Princess Celestia kept it as it was and had it repurposed for my visits since I made the move to Ponyville.” “That does make sense. Well, thank you for allowing me to accompany you. The talk was quite enjoyable.” “It was nice catching up again! Have a good night in court, Luna.” Again, Twilight caught her in a hug, holding her a bit tighter and longer than before. After a second’s hesitation, Luna returned the hug, though with a hint of trepidation in her touch. She drew back, her gaze locked at some point on the floor. “I believe I shall have a much better night than previously thought,” she muttered, then shook her head and met Twilight’s eyes. With a smile, she released her hold and began trotting back down the hallway. “We will meet again on the morrow, Twilight Sparkle. Enjoy your dreams.” Twilight tilted her head. “Er, Luna? I think you mean to wish me ‘sweet dreams—to ward away nightmares, right?” Luna simply chuckled, and called back over her shoulder. “No, Twilight Sparkle. I said exactly what I meant.” Without another word, she turned the corner and made her way toward the Throne Room, leaving Twilight to her thoughts. Confused, Twilight stepped into her room and went through her nightly routine—brushing her teeth, drinking a glass of water, and setting her bags on the nightstand before she slipped into bed. All the while, Luna’s choice in wording nagged at her, poking from the back of her mind until she succumbed to sleep. The next morning, she would awaken from the sweetest dream she’d ever experienced.