"The Night in Question (Twilight x Moondancer)" By JeffMango (https://pastebin.com/u/JeffMango) URL: https://pastebin.com/PvUjMKPz Created on: Saturday 12th of August 2017 01:43:33 AM CDT Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 10:46:10 PM UTC >You are Twilight Sparkle >You wake up late, you eyes straining against the mid-afternoon light filtering through your blinds >Groaning, you sit up and rub your face while your left hand searches for your glasses >When you force your eyes open, you’re greeted by the same bedroom: trash all over the floor, piles of books, manga, and discarded drawings, and an ever-present layer of dust over everything >For a bit, you consider getting out of bed, then think better of it >After all, it’s not like there’s any point >You tuck your legs under yourself and curl into a ball, surrounded by stuffed animals “Morning, guys…” you say to them >The toys just stare back, not responding “Hope you’re all doing okay.” >A couple of your sapphire dragon plushies got knocked over while you slept, so you stand them back up and adjust their wings >Outside, cars whir and scream past each other on the freeway, the blaring of their horns pounding into your skull >Not feeling like facing another empty day, you flop back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling >How long has it been since you left this place? >The last time you went for groceries was sometime in April >It’s June now, and you don’t think you’ve left the house anywhere in that time >You roll over onto your stomach, your breath whistling out of you in a huff >Two months in here… >Somehow, it doesn’t feel anywhere near that long >And at the same time, it feels like you’ve been stuck in this shitty apartment for years >Eventually, your stomach starts to hurt so bad that you have to get up >You grab the leftovers of the pizza you ordered yesterday, finding them congealed and cold, but still force a few bites down >When breakfast is done, you wash it down with some tapwater, then plunk yourself down at your “computer desk” >Really, it’s just a stack of a few boxes you never bothered unpacking when you moved in, with a metal folding-chair to sit in >You flip your laptop open, eyes straining as the white light greets them >It’s pretty much the same way every day has started for you, for the past two years… >Evening slowly settles in outside, and you amuse yourself as you usually do >For a few hours, you argue philosophical interpretations of your favorite anime (today’s topic: Moral Relativism in Madoka Magica), then try and work on your actual research >Which basically involves chewing on a pencil while trying to make sense of Information Theory >Eventually you give up, and just lean back in your chair, staring at the ceiling again >It’s amazing how quickly time passes when you do your best to ignore it >At around 10 o’clock, your Skype finally pings for an incoming notification >You know who it is immediately, without even needing to read the note; there’s only one person in your friends list >Whoever this person is, you only know them from their internet monicker, DarkWolfXX >They’ve assured you multiple times that the name is purely ironic, but you still love to give them shit for it >Anyway, this person — who we’ll refer to as Dark here, to keep things easy — has been your only human contact for the past year >Not that occasional Skype PM’s are human contact, but it’s the closest thing you have >You met them (her, you’re pretty sure, from the way they type — there’s a certain typing style that only women lapse into, usually focusing on lots of extra terminal letters and excessive smilies) on some trash forum, and the two of you got in this huge discussion about how brilliant Power Ponies: Generation NEXT was, from a shipping perspective >Their message reads nothing more than a simple [heyy], as expected >She’s more than a little awkward, and can barely maintain a conversation half the time, let alone initiate one [hey] [what’s up?] >[not much, just orderedd breakfast] [woke up late?] >[yeahhhhh : (] >[u?] [should probably get some food. haven’t done shit all day.] >[haha awww :’(((] >Dark has this weird habit of starting all her sentences with “haha” whenever she’s trying to express any sentiment other than nerd-rage >You think it’s some sort of weird coping mechanism >Or maybe just her overwhelming awkwardness making itself manifest >You get lost in pondering that, for a moment, until you realize that the sweatpants you’ve been wearing for the past week have started to itch [i’ll brb] >[kk] >You stand up from the computer, stretch, and walk over to your closet, sliding the pants off and tossing them into the heap of dirty laundry you maintain in a sort of homeostasis next to your bed >When you open the closet to grab some new clothes, the Present is sitting there amongst your piles of belongings >It sits on top a stack of superhero t-shirts, as if it were sitting atop an altar >You try to avoid looking at it but, as always, your eyes scan over the white rapping and the dainty red bow (well, it used to be red; time has faded it to an ugly brown), even if just for a moment >You grab some new pants, throw them on, then turn away from the closet [hey, back] >[heyy : )] >… >[so how r u?] [eh] >[not good?] [not really] >[haha that’s too bad : (] >… >[can i helpp? :/] [don’t think so. sorry for being mopey.] >[hahahaha no! totally okay : )] >[i just wanna make sure ur doing ok] [i’ll be fine. think i’m going to drink tonight.] >[haha okay. sounds fun! lemme know if you want to stream anything] [no thanks] >[haha aww, okay :( ] >You pause for a moment, holding your hands over the keyboard [i’d like to talk to you, though, if that’s okay] >[oh yeahh! totally : ) ] >… >[i like talking 2 u] [same. would you be alright doing a videochat though?] >You’re not sure why you’re so desperate to get this person in videochat >Since the two of you started PM-ing, you’ve wanted it to go down >Probably because that would make you feel, at least for a little bit, like you had a real friend >Like she, or he, or whatever they are on the other end, is really with you >[ummm… I dunno : ( sorry] >… >[you would think i’m gross] >… [i wouldn’t] [please?] >… [i understand if you don’t want to. but please think about it.] >[okayy i will] [alright] >… [brb gonna grab booze] >You get up from the desk again, walking into your apartment’s kitchen >Inside the fridge, you have: half a hershey bar, three bottles of ketchup, a half-eaten package of hotdogs, eight cans of off-brand cola, and a mostly-full bottle of vodka >You grab the bottle and a can of cola, and trudge back into your room >To your relief, Dark is still online [back] >Immediately, she responds >[heyy] >[u wanna talk noww?] [yeah] >[cool! i’m ready whenever u r ! :)] [alright thanks] >You don’t own any cups, so you just drink directly from the bottle >The vodka is ungodly; bitter and acrid, it slips down the back of your thrown, burning everything as it descends >Immediately you chug the can of soda >It washes a bit of the awful flavor away, but the burning still lingers in the back of your throat, making you hack >[u still there?] [yeah, was trying the vodka i got] >[ooooh. how is?] [it’s fucking terrible] >[haha awwwww :( poor midnight] >Yeah, Midnight is your screenname; you’re not proud, and it’s one of the reasons you never give Dark any shit [i’ll be fine] [but yeah, i have a really stupid question for you. am i…] >You hesitate, trying to figure out what to type [am i a bad person?] >… >[no?] >[y do u ask? ur like my best friend lol : )] >Another defense mechanism [no reason. just feeling really guilty today] >[lol awww : (( why is that?] [not sure. just remembering some bad stuff i’ve done.] >[like wut?] [it’s stupid. i let down a good friend a long time ago. i miss her really bad and i don’t know what to do.] >Dark is silent for a very long time >[oh] >[maybe you should take to her?] [i’m way too scared. plus she probably hates me now.] >[maybe. i had someone let me down really bad when i was in hs. i hatedd her for a really long time] [what made you stop hating her?] >[i don’t know really :/ ] >[i just kind of realized i missed her a lot] [guess we’ve got that in common] [missing people, i mean] >[yeahh! it’s why we’re such good friends lol :)] [hah, yeah] [i can see that] >[heyy can i say something to u now?] [of course] >Typing that was harder than it should have been >You shake your head, realizing that the vodka is hitting you much harder than you thought it would >A tiny sheen of sweat is breaking out on the back of your neck, and your body feels loose, floaty, and weirdly warm >… >… >[i’m really glad we’re friends] [same] >[no i mean really glad] >[ (would it be weird if i start drinking too? it would be almost like we’re at a party together!) ] [ha, go ahead] >[okay, brb! :) ] >While she goes out, you pour yourself a little more vodka >This one goes down easier, but only because you’re face is starting to get too numb to taste it >You flop backwards in your chair, audibly going “bleh” >A ping sounds from your Skype >[heyy, back! my parentss only have wine in the house lol. it’s so gross! XP ] [wine is okay] >[it makes me cough. but imma still drink so we can be drinking buddiess! XD ] [hah, sounds good] >… >[whoa i’m already kinda tipsy] [ha, same though] >[okay since i’m drinkin you can’t make fun of me for the dumb things i say, okay?? ;) ] [i’ll try my best] >[okay because] >… >[i’m gonna tell you something really personal] [go ahead] >[ur my best friend] >… [same, if i’m being honest] [i don’t really have anyone else] [you can be weird a lot of the time but you really get me and i appreciate that a lot] >[haha yeah i’m weird :P but so are u!] >[and i’m glad i’m ur best friend too… i’ve never been anyone’s best friend before] [awesome!] >A tiny smile is starting to spread across your face >It’s the first time you’ve felt anything — that real chest-heavy sort of feeling, not just general “Bleh I feel X” — in longer than you’re willing to try and remember >Dark starts typing, and she continues typing for a very long time >[heyyyy so i’m actually kinda ddrunk now XD] [eyyy same] >[so i’m gonna ask more dumb questions!] [ha, go ahead] >… >[r u a girl?] [oh, yeah. you?] .[i am too :) ] >… >[can i say one more weird thingg?] [ha of course] >[i kinda think i have a crush on u…] >… [for real?] >[yeah… sorry, i know that’s weird XD] >[but ur really smart and the way you type makes me think ur pretty cute] [haha, wow] >[sorry if that was weird to say] [no, that’s totally fine! just really surprising, lol. nobody’s ever had a crush on me before] >[well, sorry the first person to say it had to be another girl XD] >… >[unless that’s okay w/ you?] [of course it’s okay. i spent like half my day yesterday writing about marevelous eating out zap] >[haha, right! :)] >… [i think i’m okay doing video chat w/ u, if you still want to] [yeah!] >You’re grinning like an idiot now >Partially from the booze, and partially because talking to Dark is actually making you feel human >You click the video-chat icon, and the swirling call icon appears >Feeling strangely giddy, you tuck your legs under yourself and quickly arrange your hair, hoping you don’t look awful >You probably do, but the booze is giving you levels of confidence that your tiny frame is hardly equipped for >The call pauses, not yet going through through >Dark messages you >[one moment, just putting on a sweater so you don’t have to see my boobs XD] [that wouldn’t bother me tbh] >[haha for real?] [yeah…] >[because i can leave it off if you want ;) ] >Holy shit, why is this turning you on? [go ahead if you want] >[okay!] >And then she accepts the video call >You clamp your hands together between your thighs, trying hard not to start shaking with excitement >The call goes through >And for a moment, you’re not able to process what you’re seeing >Your first thought it “whoa, she looks a LOT like Moondancer” >And then you realize that, of course, that’s Moondancer >She’s sitting in a room that’s, somehow, even messier than yours: the walls are plastered with anime and Power Ponies posters, piles of trash and shelves full of figures form a sort of maze across the floor behind her >Moondancer stares back at you, her mouth agape with shock >And she’s naked from the waist up, her breasts hanging like cherry-topped, D-sized scoops of vanilla icecream against her chest >”T-T-Twilight? Is t-that you?” >Something about hearing that stutter again sends chills down your spine “Uh… hey, Moon.” >For a moment, the two of you can only stare at each other >Then Moondancer yelps, blushing, and cups her hands over her breasts >”A-Ah! I’m s-sorry… I should g-go…” >She turns her body sideways, keeping one hand over her tits, and tries to hang up the call “Wait! No!” >She pauses “I’m sorry! The friend I was talking about was you!” >You hang your head, tears and words both seeming to spill out of you “Please don’t leave. I miss you so much. I’m… I’m so sorry, for everything…” >Moondancer’s eyes drop >”Why d-did you do it?” “I don’t know. That day… it just wasn’t a good day for me. I didn’t want to see anyone. I’m sorry it had to be on your birthday.” >”N-not the party. I d-don’t care about the party. You n-n-never called me, or wrote to me, or… or anything. Why not?” “I was afraid. I knew I hurt you. And I didn’t want to face it.” >You hold your head in your hands, trying to keep your voice steady as tears spill down your face >When you glance back up at the screen, you can see that Moondancer’s crying too >”You w-were my only friend. And you j-just stopped t-t-talking to me… that h-hurt more than anything.” “I know. I’m so sorry, Moon. I really am. I…” >You pick up your laptop and drunk-stagger over to the closet, throwing its door open “I still have the present I was going to give you. If it’ll change anything… I mean, I know it won’t but… if you want… I can give it to you…” >Moondancer is silent “Please, Moon. I know you might not be able to forgive me, but… I want to see you again.” >Moondancer sighs >”I c-c-can’t believe I fell for you twice…” “Twice?” >”I’ve had a c-c-crush on you since we were eight y-y-y-years old. When you left, it k-killed me.” “I’m so sorry.” >You’re crying so hard you can barely see the screen “I promise, Moon. If you come back, I won’t leave again. I promise.” >You hug the laptop against your chest “I just want to see you again. Please?” >Moondancer raises her face >You can see that it’s drenched in tears, and marred with tiny acne scars >But there’s a beauty in her that you never realized how badly you missed >She smiles >”Okay. W-w-where should I meet you?” >You send her your address, and she goes off to ask her parents for cab money >The moment she logs offline, you slump backwards in your chair, your head spinning >The tears are falling still, but they’re driven by relief now, instead of pain >You try to scoop some of the more offensive trash — stuff with rotting food in it, mostly — off the floor and stuff it into your overflowing trashcan >Then you run into the bathroom, run some water over your face, then pull the drawers open and scrabble through the half-used tubes of toothpaste and worn-down bars of soap in search of any perfume >There’s none, of course >Eventually you give up, and just collapse into a spot by the door, holding the still-wrapped present in your lap >There’s a solid centimeter of dust on it now, which you brush away with your fingertips >The dust spirals up into the air, swirling and eddying in little currents until it drops back to the carpet >And then you hear a knock on the door behind you >You jump to your feet so quickly that you forget how drunk you are, and go tumbling back to the floor, ending up in a heap amongst the trash >Groaning, you stumble back upwards and pull the door open >Moondancer is standing there, looking almost exactly how you remember her >She’s still wearing that same stupid sweater, and hasn’t figured out anything to do with her hair other than trying it in an awkward pigtail above her head, such that loose bangs still hang in her face >”H-hey…” “Hey.” >About a half-second of staring passes before the two of you throw your arms around each other >The force of her hug is enough to topple you backwards, and the both of you go tumbling to the ground, landing in a heap amongst piles of books, food trash, and the ever-present piles of clothes >Everything is a blur, for a moment, as you squeeze Moondancer’s scrawny body against yourself and bury your face in her hair >She smells good; not perfume-good, but a sort of musty, human good >More than anything, she smells, feels, and sounds like a real human being >The simple, primal joy of human contact floods through you, and for a few minutes you can do nothing but cling to her like a child >When the two of you finally break apart, you both sit up, smiling sheepishly at each other >Moondancer awkwardly lays her hand against yours, as if she’s not sure if it’s alright to actually hold it >So you make the move for her, grabbing her hand and lacing your fingers against hers >She squeezes your palm, scooting closer to you >After the drama earlier, it’s hard to find anything to talk about >”I, um…” “Yeah?” >”I d-don’t think I brought enough money for the t-trip back…” “We’ll worry about that later.” >You scoot close enough to lean against her, resting your head on her sweater-cushioned shoulder “For now, you can stay the night, okay?” >”F-for real?” “Of course, for real.” >You raise your head to look her in the eye, and find her staring back at you >And the kiss just sort of… happens >There’s a weird sort of inevitability in some kisses; the moment you meet Moondancer’s gaze, you knew it was going to happen >Blame it on booze, on being repressed, on whatever; you knew it was happening, and there was nothing you could to do stop it >Moondancer’s mouth and yours gently bump together; neither of you have any idea how to actually kiss, so you just sort of touch lips for a few seconds >Then she hugs you, nuzzling her face into your messy hair >”You c-c-can’t ever leave me again, okay?” “Never.” >”You p-promised. You h-h-have to stay with me.” >She pulls away, looking you in the eye >You can see new tears leaking from behind her glasses >”So s-s-say it one more time. P-promise you won’t leave.” “I promise.” >You grab both of her hands and squeeze them against your chest “I’m not gonna leave you, Moon.” >You kiss her again >Your bed is hardly big enough to hold her, you, and all your stuffed animals >So you have to snuggle together in order to fit on it, not that you really mind >There’s so much visceral comfort in touching her, and having her touch you >Hours pass, and the two of you just talk >About cartoons, about what you’ve been up to lately (not very much), what you tried to do, how you failed… >Everything comes spilling out >Eventually you get to the point where you’ve said everything you feel like you could say, and the booze has completely worn off >So you flop backwards into bed, exhausted, and Moondancer lays herself next to you >She lays her head on your chest, sighing in content >”D-do you, um… you mentioned you had the p-present?” “Oh, yeah.” >You get up from bed to grab the package, then place it in her lap >Moondancer’s fingers are jittery with excitement as she peels the paper off, revealing a worn cardboard box >Inside the box sits a locket on a (fake) golden chain, glittering dully in your dark bedroom >It’s nothing impressive; just a ten-dollar Best Friends Forever locket you got from the local CanterMart >Hanging from the chain is a golden circlet with Best Friends embroidered on it in Comic Sans >And below that, held in the locket by a panel of glass, is a terrible drawing you did of Moondancer >Her eyes are huge in some awful faux-anime style, and her hair hangs edgily over one side of her face >All in all, it’s a terrible gift, and anyone should feel insulted by receiving it >Moondancer’s so delighted, she starts to cry >Immediately, she clips the locket around her neck and pulls you into a hug >”T-thank you! T-T-Thank you, thank you, thank you…” >She buries her face against your chest, her entire body shuddering with sobs >”I’m s-s-s-so happy… m-missed you so bad… s-s-so happy…” >You squeeze her back, planting kisses down her face until you eventually reach her mouth >And the two of you stay like that, wrapped together and trading kisses as your tears spill onto each other’s faces >There’s no way of knowing if the promise you made to Moondancer will come true >In fact, there’s no way of knowing anything that’ll happen with the two of you >Right now, the world is a blur of warmth, of the smell and taste of the girl you thought you lost, and so you’re not particularly concerned with the future >Because right now, you have someone else >And for now, that’s all you need The End