Now was when I picked Twilight up and deposited her onto the bed. I looked and saw that it was seven in the morning, very early. The sun was just barely coming up now, but even so I saw movement and activity out of the window. I left Twilight a note saying that I’ll be back soon, in case she woke up, as I left the Library. I wanted to let her friends know she’s alright.

The second I turned around after I closed the door I saw something I wasn’t expecting. What few people that were out and about, and had noticed me, were bowing. I honestly never liked it when people bowed to me.

“Now why are you doing such a silly thing as bowing? I can’t be Princess of a land that wants me dead.” I said, it was true. That title was void, for now at least.

“We aren’t bowing to you because you’re a Princess, we’re bowing to you out of respect. You helped save the town.” One of them said as they all stood straight again.

“Respect?” I said. They simply nodded and went back to doing what they were doing. I was rooted to the spot.

So, this is what true respect feels like. I had forgotten, what little respect I ever got in Canterlot was fake or from fear. I couldn’t help but smile as I set off to sweet apple acres. It was the only home of the elements that I knew the location of, and chances are Applejack would be the only one awake.

I passed a few more people on the way, some of them bowed and other simply inclined their heads in my direction. I can’t help but remember how they all recognize me instantly. I wasn’t wearing any regalia, my outfit was casual at best and I even had my hair up.

Oh wait, they were all here for those nightmare nights I visited...

I stopped, not even realizing that I had almost run into an apple tree. Something crossed my mind that shocked me. Canterlot was my home, it was where I lived and where my sister was. But I never felt at home there.

Ponyville is the only place I’ve ever felt at home since my return... And now, seeing everyone smile at me with true respect and friendliness...

Well, it’s something to think about. I heard a very faint thud combined with a grunt followed by several smaller thumps. That could only be Applejack. Most apple farmers would climb the trees or use ladders and pick apples by hand. Applejack, though, she picked apples in one of the most unorthodox ways I’ve ever seen. She calls it ‘Applebucking’, if memory serves. I’ve never seen it myself, but that changed as I saw the country girl at it.

With a grunt, the girl planted her feet in front of the large trees. There were a few baskets seemingly scattered about the ground randomly. Then, with a grunted “Hah!” she roundhouse kicked the tree solidly in the trunk. The entire tree shook and a second later there was a series of thumps as apples fell down into the baskets. She caught one while it was falling and scared the hell out of me by tossing it my way.

“You look hungry.” She said, putting her hands on her hips as I nearly fumbled the thing. She wore leather pants and a tank that left her abdomen exposed. She chuckled at my expression, which was very confused, and sat down on the grass.

“Go on then, dig in.” She urged. I looked down at the glorious red orb and did as I was told. It was deliciously juicy and perfectly firm. I could never get enough Apple family apples. She laughed when I ate it down to the stem and flicked it away. She fell backwards onto her back and adjusted her stetson before adopting a more comfortable pose.

“Go on and have a sit-down if you’d like, I got a feeling you wanna talk to me.” She said. I sat down against the tree she was using as shade and let my hair down so I could lean my head against the trunk more comfortably.

“Well I just came by to let you know that Twilight’s doing alright.” I said. She lifted the top of her stetson with a finger to look at me before grinning and letting it fall back over here exposed eye.

“Thank you kindly for that, it’s good to know she’s not a wreck right now.” She started. “I can only imagine how it was... When we found her in the forest she wasn’t herself... It was like there was no Twilight in that head of hers, she was just stumbling around cryin’... Applebloom, my little sister, found her when she was running an errand to Zecora’s and we all rushed to get her.” She continued, her grin instantly falling. I could see how it pained her to remember her friend in that state.

“She was so messed up and hurt, and her wings... Those beautiful wings of hers were in tatters. If the three of you hadn’t have killed all of those bastards then they would have had the entire village to face for what they did to her...” She said. Now that I didn’t doubt.

“After she woke up, she just laid there in her bed. We all thought she was comatose, but her eyes were open an’ she just silently cried... She was like that for two days, not even eating until late at night that second day. I think that wasn’t long before you got here. And that reminds me, do you have any idea why she trusted you to stay with her instead of us or even Spike?” She finished suddenly, sitting up and staring at me.

I had been wondering the same thing too.

“I have no idea, though it might have been because I didn’t have anywhere else to go... Or maybe she thought I knew what she was going through.” I replied after a few moments of thought. She stared at me for a few more seconds before she sighed, shook her head and got back to her feet.

“Well ask her for me, for all of us. Let her know that no matter what we’re always there for her, alright?” She asked as she quickly loaded the full baskets onto a cart.

“Of course.” I said, getting to my feet as well. She picked up the front of the cart and started pushing it, which was a massive feat of strength. She stopped, though, just as I turned around.

“Oh an’ Luna? Don’t worry about tellin’ the others. Only Pinkie’d be up yet and she’ll be mighty busy. I’ll let them all know.” She said. I turned to look at her and smiled, nodded my thanks and started back towards the Library raising a hand in farewell.

When I got back I went straight up the stairs to check on Twilight. I found her sitting up and looking out of the window. She hadn’t noticed me yet and I got a good look at her. I couldn’t see her face, but the way the early morning sun shone in the dark room gave her a glowing presence. Even her tattered wings looked strangely beautiful as they were splayed across the bed.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” I asked her. She turned to look at me and I almost sighed in relief. She looked tired, not shattered anymore. She smiled weakly at me and spoke.

“Tired... Tired and hungry...” She replied. I chuckled and walked up to her.

“That’ll happen when you explode on a group of vampire bandits after only recently recovering from an immense hardship and having just had someone drink some of your blood.” I said, fixing her hair a little bit since it looked like a tornado had been through it. She looked down at her lap and was silent, though she spoke very softly after a moment of it.

“Luna?” She said. Her tone was indiscernible, I had no idea what to expect of her next words.

“Yes?” I replied, stopping and looking at her. I was surprised by a pair of wings and arms wrapping around me. I looked down to see her face buried in my chest.

“Thank you... For being there for me... I... I didn’t send you away because you had nowhere to go... and... you said you’ve killed a lot before....” She said so softly I could barely hear it. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her. I had that kind of spot on.

“You are a friend, and a very dear one to me. I wouldn’t dream of just leaving you alone. I was afraid I wasn’t good enough, actually, seeing you looking so platonic.” I explained. She giggled ever so slightly and that made me grin wide. She looked up at me and I gently grabbed her face.

“You are incredibly strong and powerful, both mentally and otherwise. I would have done anything to have such fortitude when I was first introduced to such violence. I was a wreck for a week when I made my first kill. You, on the other hand, killed over twenty and you’re already doing better. That isn’t a bad thing, alright?” I said. I actually surprised myself there, since when was I so good at talking to people?

My grin returned when she smiled and giggled.

“Well, I may not be Spike but I can probably throw something together. You said you were hungry and I wouldn’t mind eating.” I said. She nodded and hesitantly let go of me. “I’ll be right back.” I continued.

I returned a few minutes later with a few BLT sandwiches. Simple, but hey there was leftover bacon and lettuce and a bunch of tomatoes. It was the first thing that came to mind. We ate in silence and I noticed she barely finished her second sandwich with how tired she was.

“I’ll save the rest of these for lunch, you need to rest now.” I said, moving the plates aside and using my magic to clean up the crumbs on the bed. She mumbled something, but in her sleep it came out as an incoherent jumble of sounds. I giggled and sat down on the bed next to her again as she lay there.

“Dream sweetly, and sleep well.” I said. I don’t know why I did it, but I kissed her on the forehead. Her lips twitched in a tired smile and she was asleep.

That was really odd, I’ve only ever been that affectionate with my sister and even then only barely... I decided to think about it later as I picked up the plates of sandwiches and made my way back downstairs. I sat down on the couch again and looked around. Normally, this is about the time where I would do my early morning routine, but there was no room outside and I didn’t want to do it inside and wake Twilight.

Then I remembered I was in a Library, I always loved reading. I had picked a rather boring book, though, and that coupled with good food in my stomach made me fall asleep with the book still in my hand.

It was only a nap, but I still dreamed. It was in the same place as last night’s, but it wasn’t raining blood and it was only Twilight and I. She still had fangs, but she wasn’t feeding on me.

The music was soft and slow, the two of us meandering along in an equally slow dance. She had her head rested against me and I had my cheek resting on her head. It was a strange feeling, being this close to someone, even if it was just a dream.

I wouldn’t give that up for the world, though, and that thought genuinely intrigued me.

Author's Notes:

hey what happened guys? At first you were commenting like crazy and now the comment section is barren. I love hearing feedback, be it good or bad, as long as it has premise.
I still think it's too soon to go full Twiluna, so for now it'll just be major friendshipping. next chapter should be more progression in the storyline instead of having so much Twilight