A Shining Lunar Experience

by Jensettiman

Chapter Three: A New Dawn

Morning rose slowly over Equestria. A gentle breeze rolled through the trees, shaking off the night's drops of dew. Squirrels and birds rubbed their eyes as they stepped out of their nests and holes, allowing their face to be warmed up by the orange light that arose in the horizon.

"Good morning, Equestria," the solar princess smiled as she dimmed the glow around her horn. She opened her eyes and gazed upon the view from the balcony outside the top floor. A wide area of yellow, blue and green stretched from end to end, sprinkled with various hints of the season's other colours. She hummed lowly.

A moment later, the sound of hoofsteps were heard behind her. Celestia turned around and smiled as she recognized her sister's face.

"A good morning to you, Tia," the dark blue princess greeted and bowed.

"Good morning to you too, Luna," Celestia smiled back and nodded. "Returning to your chambers, I guess?"

The nightly princess shook her head. "Not yet," she replied. "Last night was not among the longest, thus, I am not yet tired." She walked up next to her solar princess and cast a look over the Everfree Forest.

"Fall is coming to an end, Luna," Celestia said and turned the same way as her sister. "Winter will be upon us. And when that happens, you will have to rest as much as you can. Nights will be long."

The dark blue alicorn let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "I know, Tia," she replied lowly. "It is how it has been for the last several millennia. I just don't like it, is all."

Celestia moved her eyes to Luna and cocked an eyebrow. "Don't like it?" she asked. "What do you mean by that, sister?"

Luna looked back into the solar princess' greyish magenta eyes. "I do not enjoy the winter," she said.

Celestia's expression grew more curious. "What is there not to like?" she questioned further. "It isn't the cold, is it? Or is it the long nights you have to take care of?"

Luna shook her head once again. "No, it is not," she said. She looked back over the forest. "It is the snow that bothers me."

The solar princess' lips turned to a slight frown. "Is that it?" she asked. "You don't like snow?"

Luna nodded.

Celestia let out a sigh and turned to the back of the balcony. "You're tired, Luna," she said. "I know you are. Go get your rest now." She stepped into the room and closed the door gently behind her. I know something is bothering her, she thought to herself. It isn't like her to say something like that. Especially about her favourite season... She looked over her shoulder. What secrets do you hold, my sister? The solar princess shook her head and walked away.

Meanwhile, in the middle of PonyVille, the sounds of rapid hoofsteps and books banging against the floor were to be heard from the tree library.

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Twilight!" the grumpy purple dragon exclaimed. "Do you really have to do this now? I'm trying to sleep!"

"Sorry, Spike..!" Twilight panted. "But the Princess wanted me to file a report on the book of the Everfree's biology, and I can't find it!" The unicorn turned her attention around frantically, scouting the shelves for said book.

"Do whatever you want..." Spike muttered and turned back to the stairs. "You'll find me in the bed."

Twilight turned her look to her assistant. "Spi-ike!" she growled, "You gotta help me! You can start with that pile over there."

Spike stopped in the middle of the stairs and groaned lowly. "Fiiine..." he muttered and stumbled back down the stairs.

At the same moment, a series of knocks were heard on the door.

"Who could that be?" Spike asked curiously and took a step towards the door.

"No!" Twilight shouted and darted after him. "It could be the Princess!"

Spike cocked an eyebrow. "And?" he questioned.

"She might be angry about the missing report!" Twilight replied quickly. "Don't open the door, she might think we're not home."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Twilight..." he said. "Princess Celestia is the least likely pony to make a fuss about something that small." He patted Twilight on the head. "And there's no point in pretending we're not here. She has definetely already heard your panicking. Besides, wouldn't it be rude not to answer her door calls?"

The purple unicorn glared at the dragon. She thought of more spells than there are stellar constellations known to ponykind that she could use on him. But she knew he was right. She let out a long sigh in defeat and walked over to the door.

Come on, Twilight, she thought to herself. There's nothing to be afraid of... Just smile and remain calm. She put her hoof on the handle and opened the door slowly.

"Twilight..?" a voice on the other side said lowly.

"Eep!" Twilight screamed and slammed the door shut as the first she noticed was a set of white hooves.

"Oww!" the visitor yelled and hit the ground. "What in the name of Equestria was THAT for?! It's me!"

Twilight froze. She could barely breathe as a sudden realization came to mind.

The voice was male.

She quickly reopened the door and put a hoof to her gasping mouth as she saw her brother lying on the ground with a hoof to his nose. "Oh dear Celestia!" she exclaimed and ran out. "I'm so sorry, Shining! I thought you were somepony else!"

Shining kept rubbing his nose gently for a couple of seconds before he looked back up at the purple mare before him.

"On your nerves about Celestia as always?" he asked with a slight grin on his muzzle.

"Umm..." Twilight started and looked away as she scratched the back of her head. "Yeah... I guess I am a bit stressed." She gave off a slight chuckle.

Shining chuckled with her before he cleared his throat. "So," he said. "Would you mind helping me up?"

"Oh, of course!" Twilight replied quickly with an apologetic nod and reached out a hoof.

"So..." Shining started once again and pulled himself up. "Please, tell me. What is it now that is shaking you? Have you lost a scroll or something?"

"You can say that," Twilight nodded. "I got a report I have to write for the Princess. But I can't for the life of me find the darn book I'm supposed to base the report on!"

The white unicorn tilted his head. "And you're sure nopony has it?" he asked.

Twilight shook her head. "Who would that be, then?"

"Oh, I don't know," Shining said. "Perhaps a stallion whose sister mistakenly gave him the wrong book for his studies?" The stallion opened his saddlebag and levitated out a book. He held the label in front of his sister to read.

Canterlot Library
Biology
Forest, Everfree

Twilight stared at the book for a long while, so long that Spike felt the need to slap her back to reality.

"Oh, sorry..!" she said lowly and put her attention back on her brother.

"This the book you were after?" Shining questioned.

"Yeah," Twilight smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Shining."

The stallion nodded back and placed the book in the purple dragon's hands. "Glad I could help," he said back. He then cast a quick look at the clock tower nearby. "Well, I guess I should be on my way back to the barracks. I just decided to swing by to return the book."

"Wait!" Twilight replied. "Wouldn't you like to come in for a bit? We hardly see each other, you know."

The stallion turned back and looked at Twilight. "Well, if you have the time," he said. "I don't want to interru-"

"Of course I have the time!" Twilight interrupted. "Please, come on in!"

Shining nodded and accepted the mare's invitation. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him before he placed his saddlebag by the coatrack.

It didn't take long before the air of the library was filled with the sweet scent of tea and wild berries. Twilight carried in a tea pot and cups and placed them on the table Shining had sat down by.

"Would you like some cookies?" she asked. "Spike made a bunch the other day."

"Eh, no thanks," Shining replied politely. "Maybe some other time."

Twilight smiled back and sat down in front of her brother. "So tell me," she said. "How are things back in Canterlot? Anything special happenings planned yet?"

Shining put a hoof to his chin and looked up as he pondered the question. "Not as far as I can remember," he said and shook his head.

Twilight nodded back. "Well then," she said and levitated the tea pot. "Shall I pour in for you?"

"Oh yes please," Shining said back and replied. "It smells good!"

"Yeah," Twilight smiled back. "Zecora helped me into the Everfree forest's most fragrant part. And you wouldn't believe it, but it has the best wildberries I have ever encountered! So she and I picked a basketful each before we went over to her cabin, where she showed me this herbal brew. Zecora said it's been used as a stress reliever where she comes from."

Shining chuckled lightly and took a swig of the lightly pink liquid. "Mmm..." he hummed lowly. "This is pretty good. And seeing as I usually don't drink tea..."

Twilight giggled back. "Maybe you would like to take a jug back to your troop and share?" she asked. "I'm sure they would like something to soothe their minds after a long day. Do you agree?"

Shining nodded back. "Of course, Twily," he smiled. "If it would be no trouble for you, of course."

"Not at all, Shining," Twilight chuckled and brought a jug to the table, which she then uncorked. "I'll just ask Spike to rekindle the fire. I got a whole cauldron full of this stuff."

"Splendid," Shining smiled and took another swig. He then let out a deep sigh.

Twilight looked up at him. "Anything wrong, Shining?" she asked.

"There was one thing..." Shining said lowly.

The mare tilted her head slightly. "What is it?" she questioned curiously.

Shining scratched the back of his head. "There was something going on last night," he said lowly. "I just don't really know what to make of it."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. "What happened?"

The stallion cleared his throat and focused his cerulean eyes on his sister's. "Last night, after the day's training was over, I got into a little chat with Princess Luna. We had a laugh about each other's work. And then, when I was about to leave for the barracks, Luna stopped me and asked if I would like to come in to her room." Shining took another swig of the tea. "I thought she wanted assistance with something. Or perhaps a talk in privacy, not entirely sure."

"Hold on," Twilight interrupted. "Princess Luna invited you in?"

The stallion nodded.

"What happened then?" Twilight continued.

Shining lowered his head. "I don't know if I should tell," he said back lowly.

Twilight frowned. "Why not?" she asked.

Shining began shuddering slightly. "I don't know if you'll take it lightly, is all," he said.

"Shiny..." Twilight sighed. "You can tell me. I promise I won't think any less of you." She smiled warmly. "You're my BBBFF. Nothing will change that."

Shining looked up. "Promise?" he asked.

Twilight nodded. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Shining nodded back. "Alright then," he said and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. "Luna wanted to give me a shoulder massage to help me relax. Of course, I thought that was really nice of her. So I sat down and let her get on with her offer. We kept talking. What we talked about, I don't remember. Whatever."

Twilight nodded back. "Go on," she said and kept her attention to her brother.

"So anyway," Shining continued. "She was ridding me of some stress. I was a bit sleepy, so I took the opportunity to rest my eyes. And that's when I felt it.

"Felt what?" Twilight asked curiously.

"A warm gust of air blowing over my neck," Shining answered. "I didn't realize immediately, but the princess had leaned in and rested her head on the back of mine."

"O...kay?" Twilight said back confused. "Why would she do that? Was she tired as well?"

"No, that wasn't the case," Shining said. "She had something she was constantly thinking about. Something she couldn't get off her mind."

"Huh," Twilight said and took a sip of the now lukewarm tea. "I didn't know Princess Luna was troubled. Did she tell you what it was?"

Shining nodded back with a slight smile. "She's been having an eye out for somepony."

Twilight's ears perked up. "Luna has the sweets on somepony? Who?"

"A young stallion in the guard," Shining said and looked deep into Twilight's violet eyes. "She's been feeling like that for quite some time, she said. She even let me know who it was." Shining blushed lightly. "Helpful as I am, I decided to help put her mind at ease. She hesitated a bit, but eventually found the courage to express her love for him."

Twilight smiled warmly. "So you two went to the barracks to find him," she said.

Shining shook his head. "He was in the room."

"Weren't you two alone?" Twilight asked and cocked an eyebrow.

The stallion nodded.

Twilight looked at Shining with a hanging jaw. "Are you telling me..." she started.

Shining nodded again.

"I kissed Princess Luna."

Author's Note:

Author: James aka Jensettiman
Proofreader: Ryan aka Drgnwolf

Comments

[alexanderhunt88]

Da-dum!

[Burnasius]

And off for more Love from the Princess of the Night. Shining Armor, you lucky stallion.

[Jensettiman]

3582554 I take it you are enjoying the new segment?

[Burnasius]

3582599

Well, I have been thinking of this pair-up, and plan to use such in a future project.

[Jensettiman]

3582692 Sounds like a good plan