Short Shorts

by Coranth

46. "There is something missing..."

That night, as Daniel and Celestia lay in their bed, neither found they could sleep; both groaned softly, restless, tossing and turning. Such was the case for quite some time, until finally Daniel gently stroked his beloved mare's neck. "Mmmh... Celly? Are you awake?" asked he.

A sigh of frustration was the response that the Princess Pony returned until she finally answered, "I am. I... I don't understand it, Daniel! Why can't I sleep? Court was fine today; there were no pressing issues with negotiating the trades of rarer minerals from our allies... I don't understand! I just can't sleep! It's... it's like... there's something missing..."

As Daniel moved to stroke and caress his beloved mare - in an attempt to soothe and quiet her restless mind - the answer as to what was 'missing' was revealed unto them both; there came a flash of purple light as with a displacement of air, a lavender pony mare teleported into the room. "Twilight..." Celestia breathed softly, for it was indeed her faithful student. Twilight Sparkle.

Though she was usually an orderly and relatively composed mare, now Twilight Sparkle appeared anything but composed as she made her way over to the restless pair within the bed; the lavender mare's mane was unkempt from tossing and turning, she had awful bags beneath her eyes and her muzzle was wet, stained with tears of frustration. "I... I..." - she sniffled - "I couldn't sleep, Princess... I... I needed... I needed to..."

Wordlessly, Celestia nodded and then - as Daniel temporarily left the bed - the Princess of the Sun nicker-called to her... to her... her... "Daughter?" called she, softly. "Sweetheart, come be with your mama, now... There's a good filly..." Hiccuping softly - sniffling, struggling to hold within yet more tears of frustration - the poor little pony complied, hopping into bed and snuggling foal-like against her mentor's - no, her mother's - barrel. A moment later, Daniel rejoined them in the bed, and then... and then...

"Oh...!" Celestia breathed softly as she and Daniel held Twilight close, stroking and soothing her with wing, hoof and hand. Finally... finally something clicked within her mind: this was the reason for her and Daniel's restlessness! Twilight had been the reason why they'd been unable to sleep. Her daughter was what had been missing. Her daughter... As she nickered softly to Twilight - her Twilight! - and nuzzled her gently, the ancient pony instincts within her - instincts which had been screaming, "Foal is not here! Where is foal! Find foal!" - finally quieted.

Likewise, as she felt Cele-- Celest-- Celesti - no, Mama! - nuzzle her and stroke her, and felt her Papa doing the same, the ancient pony instincts within Twilight Sparkle - instincts which had been screaming, "Mama and Papa are not here! Find Mama and Papa! Safe with Mama and Papa!" finally stilled as the little mare wriggled and cooed happily, soft whimpers escaping her as she bathed in their affectionate touch! Mama and Papa wouldn't yell at her or make her cry. Mama and Papa would never hurt her. She was safe in Papa's hands and under Mama's wing... As her parents continued to softly touch, kiss, and caress her everywhere with hand, hoof and wing, little Twily giggled, wriggled, and stretched happily. And then, her eyes widened - a gasp escaping her - as softly, her Mama started to sing...

"You come from far away
With pictures in your eyes
Of coffee shops and morning streets
In the blue and silent sunrise

But night is the cathedral
Where we recognized the sign
We strangers know each other now
As part of the whole design

Oh, hold me like a baby
That will not fall asleep
Curl me up inside you
And let me hear you through the heat, oh..."

The song was called "Gypsy"; written by a woman named Suzanne Vega. Daniel had introduced Celestia to her albums when they'd been on Earth and Celestia had fallen in love with the gentle woman's folk songs, one of which she now sung to Twilight. By the time the song was done - the final note fading unto silence - the little lavender pony mare was asleep, her breathing deep and easy.

During the daylight hours, both knew that she would once again be Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, and Librarian of Ponyville... but at night she was theirs. She was their adopted Daughter and neither Daniel nor Celestia could ever conceive of their lives without her in it, especially cuddled between them in their bed.

Woe befall any pony whom felt differently about this odd relationship the three shared because - as far as Daniel and Celestia were concerned - Twilight Sparkle was meant to be there; was meant to be with them, and Twilight, they knew, felt and thought the same despite how embarrassed she felt when she would wake of a morning. With time, they knew, the embarrassment would fade. Gently folding an arm and a foreleg over her body, Celestia and Daniel followed their daughter into her dreams...

Comments

[Seraph973]

Ad sweet as this is, I wonder what Twilight's real parents think of this.

[Coranth]

2626911 Don't know. In Canon we don't get to see much of them.

[Taliesin of the Forest]

2627274 WHY MUST YOU TORTURE ME WITH FEELS!!!!

[Coranth]

2627447 It's not you I'm trying to torture; it is Jaydex... Mwah-hah-hah!

[Zamairiac]

Buck...My Heart!

I must go and listen to badass music now...otherwise my heart will implode

I hope you're happy