A Lunar Sunset

by ed-stoneman

10 - The Fallout

Luna stormed out to her car. Celestia knew full well that she wanted nothing to do with the church. The whole idea was preposterous. Slamming the car door, Luna let out a primal scream of frustration and laid her head on the steering wheel. Once she got her breathing back under control, she started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, seeing Celestia step out of the cafe in her rearview mirror.

Pulling her phone out of the cup holder, she noticed a text message. Her nerves settled somewhat she she read, and then re-read Sunsets message. Her thumb hovered over the option to reply and then stopped. She replayed the conversations from last night over and over in her head as she pulled up to a traffic light.

------------------------

As the last of the girls left her house, Sunset heard her phone ring. She walked back into the kitchen and picked up her coffee mug and the phone with a smile.

“Good morning Luna.”

“Good morning Sunset. I do hope that I am not interrupting your breakfast with your friends.”

“Nope, they just left. Is everything okay? You sound a little off.”

“I’ve had a… difficult morning. I had breakfast with my sister and it was quite… eventful.”

“I have a fresh pot of coffee with your name on it if you want to talk about it.”

“That would be most appreciated. I am about ten minutes away if that is okay with you?”

“The door is unlocked and the coffee will be ready when you get here.”

“Thank you Sunset. I will see you soon.”

“See you soon.”

Sunset hung up the phone and realized that she was grinning. Luna had a rough morning, and she had called Sunset. She couldn’t stop herself from feeling a little warm inside that Luna had called her when she needed someone.

Sunset started another pot of coffee and began putting dishes away while she waited for her guest. The girl couldn’t stop herself from watching the clock while she put the remains of breakfast away.

True to her timeframe, less than ten minutes later there was a knock at the door, before it opened and Luna walked into the kitchen. Sunsets heart sank when she saw that Luna looked like she had shrunken in on herself. The older woman was hunched over and looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Without a word, Sunset walked up to her and held her arms out. Luna very nearly flung herself into the embrace and buried her chin into the hollow of Sunsets neck. She was shaking slightly as her arms tightened around the girl. Sunsets hands found themselves gently stroking Lunas back and hair while she made gentle noises to reassure the older woman.

“I’ve got you. I’m right here.”

She felt Luna nod her head into her collarbone before gently pulling back from the embrace. Luna had gone from look like she was going to cry, to being outright in tears.

“Come on, I have fresh coffee, and a comfortable couch just for you.”

Luna nodded again, sniffling this time as she wiped her eyes. She accepted the mug that Sunset handed her before gently guiding her to the living room. Sunset sat on one end of the couch. There was only the briefest moment of conflict in the dark eyes of the older woman before she sat immediately next to Sunset, curling her legs under herself and leaning against the reassuring presence of the redhead.

Sunset draped her free arm over Luna and pulled her in close. Luna pressed herself closer while holding her coffee with both hands and taking a sip.

“I’m sorry to barge in on you like this Sunset. I really shouldn’t have imposed.”

Sunset sighed lightly.

“Luna, if this is going to work between you and I, I want you to know that I am here for you even when times get a little tough. A relationship is a team. You and me against the world, okay?”

Luna nodded silently, staring into the darkness of her coffee cup.

“Now, what happened that has you all upset this morning?”

Luna took a deep breath.

“My idiot sister.”

Sunset snorted in laughter.

“You may as well start from the beginning on this one.”

“She woke me up this morning.”

“That is a punishable offense by itself, but I think there is more to it.”

“You’re right. She invited me to breakfast at Doughnut Joes, it was clearly an attempt to dig for information on whatever I learned about magic from you yesterday. She got a piece of my mind for that. Then she had the gall to ask me to come back to the church.”

Sunsets eyes widened. She knew what those people had done to Luna. While Celestia didn’t know the full extent, she was sure that Luna had made her desire to not be associated with them abundantly clear.

“She and I have spoken several times on the subject, but she tries every couple of years to get me to go back to them. She insists that I would be ‘So Happy’ if I returned to those people. HA!”

The bitterness, pain, and anger were more than clear to Sunset.

“I walked out after telling her my exact feelings on the matter.”

Sunset hugged Luna closer to her side.

“I’m sorry Luna. I know it sounds hollow, but I can only guess what it does to you after everything you’ve been through because of them.”

Luna nodded. There wasn’t much that could be said on the matter that wouldn’t reopen old wounds.

“Can I offer a suggestion, or are you not ready to hear that yet?”

Luna looked up to Sunset in shock.

“Nobody has ever asked me that before. I… I think I am open to a suggestion.”

Sunset smiled softly down at the woman in her arms.

“I suggest a movie, more coffee, and taking your mind off of this whole mess.”

Luna thought for a moment and then responded with a grin that bordered on homicidal.

“Yes, but the movie needs to have explosions. Lots of them. And maybe popcorn?”

Luna looked hopefully at the younger woman.

Sunset laughed with all of her body.

“I think I have just the thing. Popcorn is in the cabinet above the coffee maker. If you get me a refill, I will get the movie.”

Luna got up off of the sofa.

“Deal.”

-------------------

Luna was content. Instead of one film with lots of explosions, they had watched three. And ordered pizza. By the end of the first film, Sunset was laying across the couch, and Luna had her back pressed to the younger womans chest while she sa between her legs. At the end of the third, they had snuggled under a warm blanket as the sun began to set. Luna felt Sunset running her fingers idly through her dark hair as the credits started.

Luna looked up at Sunset.

“This is nice.”

Sunset made an affirmative noise and laced her free hand through Lunas, clasping their fingers together.

“Are you feeling better than this morning?”

“Yes, I think I am indeed.”

“Good. Though I think that one more thing needs to happen.”

“Oh? And what is that?”

“Get your shoes, we are off to get some ice cream!”

Sunset shouted the last part with joy. While her sweet tooth was nowhere near the caliber of Pinkie Pie, she did enjoy a treat now and again, and her happiness at the prospect was infectious for Luna.

Lunas shoes were barely on her feet before Sunset was standing by the garage door tapping her foot in impatience. The administrator saw the look on Sunsets face and shot her a wicked grin before walking to meet her with exaggerated slowness.

“Ugh! You are impossible!”

“Yes, but it is part of my charm. Besides, I am still accompanying you on this quest for frozen confections. Even after you made me get off of my nice and comfortable Sunset-Pillow.”

Luna stuck her tongue out at the redhead before giggling.

Sunset stalked to the car and fired up the engine, waiting for Luna to get into the passenger seat. Once the older woman was in and buckled, Sunset tore out of the driveway with a vengeance - a girl on a mission.

In record time, they pulled up to Sugarcube Corner, Luna having to forcefully peel her hands from their death-grip on the dash.

“That was for making me wait. And you had better not have cracked my dashboard.”

Luna glared. Sunset smiled. They both walked in.

The store was mostly empty, it being a school night, the only patrons were a few other couples enjoying an evening coffee or dessert before returning home.

“Oh hello Sunset dear! And Luna, why I haven’t seen you in AGES! How are you both this evening, what can I get you?”

Mrs. Cake was ecstatic to see both women.

“Hi Mrs. Cake. We are both doing well thanks. Could I please have a double fudge sundae and a triple espresso?”

“Of course dearie. Luna, this one could give you a run for your money in the coffee consumption department.”

The baker laughed at her own joke.

“Oh I’m sure she could. I assume that you still have the best cheesecake in town?”

“That award hasn’t left this shop in twenty years, and you should know better than to even question that.”

“Wonderful, may I please have a slice, and a regular cup of coffee?”

Mrs. Cake nodded and handed them an order card for the table.

“I haven’t seen you two in so long, tonight is on the house.”

Luna was shocked.

“Are you quite sure, Mrs. Cake? We would be happy to-”

“Now don’t even think about it. Go on. Scoot. I’ll be right out with your treats.”

Luna looked abashed as the elderly woman cut her off with the refusal to be paid. Just to spite her though, Luna put a $10 bill into the tip jar while her back was turned, before making their way to one of the open tables.

Moments later, their host came with coffee and treats.

“Here you go dears. Now Luna, I have never known you to spend social time with students, are you finally coming out of your shell? We’ve missed seeing you around here in the mornings.”

It was true that Luna had been a regular customer of the Cake family for quite some time, but as her life began to get more and more busy, her indulgence in the Cakes confections had dwindled.

“Sunset Shimmer has been helping me with a special project for the school, and we decided to take a brief break for the evening. Though I will make it a point to stop by more often. I nearly forgot just how lovely your coffee is.”

Mrs. Cake smiled at the compliment and left the ladies to their sweets.

“Cheesecake? How metropolitan of you Luna.”

The vice-principal rolled her eyes.

“I will have you know that this is the best cheesecake in Canterlot, and the Cake family has jealously guarded the recipe for two decades. Here, try a bite.”

Luna cut a small portion off of her slice and held her fork out to Sunset to take the bite.

“Mmm. Oh my goodness. That is probably the best thing that I have ever tasted.”

The dark haired woman smiled.

“With age, comes experience.”

Both women shared a laugh at the sentiment, and companionably finished their desserts before walking back to the car and heading back to Sunset’s house

“Thank you for the dessert Sunset, it was the perfect ending to the day. I’m very glad that I decided to call you after the fiasco this morning.”

“That's what I’m here for Luna. Like I said this morning, If this relationship is going to work, we need to be here for one another. Besides, it also means that I got to spend the day curled up on the sofa with my girlfriend.”

Luna blushed.

“I suppose that we are dating, aren’t we? I never really considered the ‘girlfriend’ idea.”

“Does that make you uncomfortable?”

“No, I don’t think it does. Quite the opposite in fact.”

“I’m glad. But, I think that this day might need to come to an end, we both have school tomorrow morning, and I don’t know about you, but the morning of a student starts far too early for my liking.”

Luna nodded and moved to grab her jacket.

“Yes, the life of an administrator starts earlier than most students, so I suppose that I must be going. Thank you again for a lovely day Sunset. Perhaps we can have dinner this week?”

Luna raised her eyebrows in hope with the question.

“Count on it.”

Sunset moved in to hug her girlfriend, but Luna quickly pressed her lips to the younger womans. If they were dating, then Luna was damn well going to enjoy a kiss or two. And the shocked look on Sunsets face was worth it.

“Goodnight Sunset Shimmer, I will see you in the morning.”

Sunset could only grin and wave, her capacity for speech having abandoned her with the surprise kiss.

Author's Note:

Holy crow! Another update!

Thanks for being patient everyone, life has been SUCH a mess lately, but things are improving. I should hopefully be back to a semi-regular writing schedule here soon, and we can have more regular updates.

In the meantime, ENJOY!

Comments

[livinthelife]

That was too fucking adorable for words to express.

[diablo4000]

I like this chapter, but again i stress Luna finally reveals what was doen to er by that group.
Because Celestia is going to keep this up and will further and further the rip between them.

Or make her have anervous break down.

[ed-stoneman]

8554829
Thanks!

[ed-stoneman]

8554855
When the time comes, it will be addressed. Not to worry.

[ed-stoneman]

8556889
Please see the door. Not going to argue about my writing choices. At the end of the day this is all fiction.

[shy sad jaded shard]

Well shoot now I must wait and I just started this a little bit ago

[ed-stoneman]

8560267
The good news is that I'm about halfway through the next chapter. I hope to get a little more done when I get home from work