Thunder
“Wow...” was the only ting Sweetie Belle could say.
“I take it, it was a satisfying bedtime story” Luna said giggling.
“That was so cool!” a wide eyed Sweetie Belle answered. “Did you really go into the depths of Tartarus? What happened?”
Luna smiled and said. “That is a story for another time. Now I believe it is time for bed.”
As if on cue Sweetie Belle yawned.
Luna chuckled and whispered “goodnight little one”, before she magically turned of the candles and climbed into her own bed.
That night a violent unscheduled thunderstorm had rolled in over Canterlot. It would later be proved that the newly appointed weather manager had messed up his paperwork.
BANG!!
Sweetie Belle shot awake at the sound, she frantically looked around to identify the source of the noise. But before she could gather her thoughts, there was a bright flash followed by another.
BANG!!
Outside Sweetie Belle could hear the raindrops slamming against the window, and then another flash and a loud.
BANG!!
Sweetie Belle curled up and buried herself under the dune. She wasn't proud of it, but she was very afraid of thunder. Usually when she was scared, she would go to Rarity´s room and curl up next to her big sister. Oh. How she missed Rarity right now.
In the bed next to the terrified filly, the princess of the night was sleeping soundly, but her peaceful slumber was interrupted by a little white unicorn tugging her mane. Luna turned to look at Sweetie Belle and was about to ask what it was she wanted, when she was rudely interrupted by a loud.
BANG!!
Followed by a whimper from the filly who was now covering on the floor. “Does the thunderstorm scare you Sweetie?” Luna asked.
Sweetie Belle nodded and almost whispered, “yes.” Sweetie Belle looked into the floor, as she didn't know how the princess would react to her next question, but eventually she gathered the courage to ask. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Luna was certainly surprised at the filly´s request, but before she could really contemplate it, there was another.
BANG!!
Followed by another frightened whimper from the filly, a look at Sweetie Belle´s terrified expression and the decision was made. “Of course you can Sweetie, climb on up,” Luna patted the spot next to herself on the bed.
Sweetie Belle didn't hesitate to climb up under the covers and snuggle up next to her favourite princess.
Luna was taken aback by the sudden closeness, but found it pleasant and as such, did not complain.
Sweetie Belle lay comfortably pressed against the alicorn´s chest, listening to soothing sound of Luna´s heartbeat.
Luna lay awake watching the sleeping filly´s chest move up and down in a steady rhythm, just enjoying the little ball of warmth pressed against her chest, as she herself drifted of to sleep.
It was a couple of hours past midday when Sweetie Belle slowly returned to the realm of the waken, she blinked a few times to clear the sleep from her eyes. Despite her vision now being clear, the only thing she could see was dark blue. Upon further inspection Sweetie Belle found herself covered by a snoring feathery blanket, which she strongly suspected to be the wing of a caring alicorn.
Luna soon joined Sweetie Belle in the waken realm, as the princess felt something stir under her wing, she lifted the dune and looked down her body to find out what it was. At first glance Luna couldn't find anything out of the ordinary, but then noticed the absence of a certain filly, Sweetie Belle was gone, that is, until she moved her previously disturbed wing and found the little unicorn staring grumpily up at her. Luna just smiled sheepishly.
Sweetie Belle smirked, right before she jumped assaulting the alicorn´s neck in a bear hug and saying “Good morning Luna!”
After recovering from the initial surprise, Luna managed to say “good morning little one. Do you want to go get some breakfast.”
Sweetie Belle looked at the bedside clock and said “It isn't really breakfast any more, is it?”
“With my sleep schedule, it is” Luna answered.
The filly contemplated this and said “I suppose so.”
And so the princess and her guest headed for the dining hall.
Sweetie Belle soon found out that breakfast at the castle, was nothing like breakfast at home. The filly had barely placed herself on the decorated regular-pony-sized chair set up next to Luna´s somewhat larger one, before a servant was all over her, ensuring that her seating accommodations were satisfactory. After Sweetie Belle for the third time had reassured the servant, that the royal guest was indeed satisfied with the arrangement, - in fact Sweetie Belle had never been seated in something quite this fancy – the servant finally relaxed enough to take her order, Sweetie Belle could see out of the corner of her eye that the princess was already busy ordering her meal with another servant.
“So what's for breakfast?” Sweetie Belle asked the servant.
“Anything you may please ma'am, the royal kitchen goes to great lengths to fulfil the desires of our honourable princesses and whoever they may invite to dine with them.” the servant answered. He couldn't help but sound a little proud when he got to tell about his work, which he obviously took great pride in.
Sweetie Belle was slightly taken aback by the way he addressed her, nopony had ever called her ma'am before.
Being hungry, the filly ordered her all time favourite, pancakes.
The castle cooks clearly not being used to servicing foals, had prepared a portion large enough to feed two adult ponies (or one hungry princess). The pancakes were not merely stacked, like any commoner would be satisfied with. No, they were folded neatly on the middle and put in a long line half overlapping each other. On a separate platter was – put in different bowls – a grand assortment of toppings. Marble syrup, sugar, several different kinds of marmalade and a number of things Sweetie Belle had never seen before. Over all it was quite a stunning meal.
After indulging herself till she could barely stand, Sweetie Belle had to leave the other half on the plate.
On Luna´s suggestion the two of them went on a stroll on the castle gardens, to help digest the wast amounts of food Sweetie Belle had ingested.
Thinking of the ginormous portion Sweetie Belle couldn't help but ask, “Do you eat like that every day?”
Luna smiled and nodded “yes. The staff are doing great job, are they not?”
“They sure are.” Sweetie Belle said and accidentally thought out loud. “So that's probably why princess Celestia has looked larger, on her more recent visits in Ponyville.” Sweetie Belle immediately covered her mouth with her fronthoofs when she realised that she had said that out loud. But the expected scolding never came. Instead Luna started laughing loudly, a melodious and highly contagious laughter, and they were both rolling on their backs laughing.
Luna was the first to recover from her laughing fit. Still laying on her back Luna dried the tears from her eyes and said, “Don't be embarrassed, because it's true, Celestia is getting fat. I have told her, but she refuses to acknowledge it. I suppose she will find out herself at some point.”
The rest of the day and most of the night, was spend talking, playing games and practising magic.
They would spend the last hours of sunlight playing games like hide and seek, Luna was able to produce a number of illusions looking like herself to spice up the game a little. In the night they retreated to Luna´s chambers to practise magic like the did the previous day.
That night Sweetie Belle didn't sleep in her own bed, instead she curled up to Luna, like a foal would do to its mother. Through the days conversations Luna had learned that Sweetie Belle did not have a mother. Both her parents had tragically died in a fire when she was very little, and she had been raised by her big sister, with whom she now lived.
It was late afternoon when Sweetie Belle woke up alone, she sat up in bed and looked around for the princess, and found Luna sitting at her desk bend over some paperwork.
Luna heard something moving on the bed, and turned around to see that the filly had awoken.
Sweetie Belle yawned loudly, Luna grinned “she is so adorable” the night princess thought.
“Good morning little one” Luna said from her place at the table.
“Good morning Luna” the sleepy filly answered.
“I took the liberty of ordering you some breakfast” Luna said, and gestured with a hoof towards the night stand, where a plate of waffles with syrup and jam was placed. “Your chariot will pick you up soon, I'm sure your sister misses you, and is probably exited to hear about your stay here.”
“Aww... do I have to go home already?” Sweetie Belle asked sadly.
“Yes you do, you have school tomorrow.”
“Do I have to go?” Sweetie Belle complained.
“Do you remember what I told you about learning?” Luna asked.
“Yes I do” Sweetie Belle looked defeated as she recalled Luna´s lesson on the importance of acquiring knowledge.
“Good” Luna said. Satisfied that her lecture had been understood. “Now I don't want to hear another word about not going to school” Luna said sternly. “Are we clear?” she asked in the same strict tone.
“Yes ma'am!” Sweetie Belle said and made a mock salute.
An hour later a chariot arrived in the castle courtyard to bring Sweetie Belle back to Ponyville.
Sweetie Belle said her goodbyes to the princess with promises of coming back to visit the next weekend for more games and magic study.
After hugging the night princess goodbye one last time, Sweetie Belle got in the royal transport, and took of to Ponyville.
During the flight Sweetie Belle reflected on her weekend spend in the company of the princess, she had had a great time, and was ecstatic at the fact that she was now finally able to use her magic. And Luna had said that they had barely scratched the surface, with the right training, any unicorn could become a powerful magician, regardless of what their special talent may be.
As Ponyville came into view Sweetie Belle started mentally preparing herself for the endless torrent of questions she would get from her no doubt exited sister, if anything involved high society and especially royalty, Rarity was sure to be all over it.
And right she was. As soon as they landed Rarity was at the door, ready to greet her little sister. Sweetie Belle got of the transport and thanked the guards for the ride, to which they smiled proudly enjoying the praise.
Sweetie Belle ran over to hug her sister, a hug Rarity gladly returned. They both walked inside and shut the door, as the guards took off again, headed back to the castle.