Mad wanderings of a darkened heart.

Big Bang Mixup Fringe Fanfic

lule_bell — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 07:01:22 GMT

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Author: lule_bell

Fandom: Fringe

Pairing: Astrid Farnsworth/Olivia Dunham

Word Count: 10,067

Rating/Warnings: Femslash

Summary: Astrid travels through Olivia's mind, hoping to release Olivia from the pain she's holding on to.

Mix: The History Books Forgot About Us

Track Listing:
1. Hardest of Hearts - Florence + The Machine
2. Nothing - The Script
3. Bone Will Break Metal - Ginger Ninja
4. Steal Your Heart - Augustana
5. Passing Afternoon - Iron and Wine
6. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
7. Fingers - Great Northern
8. Samson - Regina Spektor

( Link to Mix )

Story: ( The History Books Forgot About Us )

Art: immortality

Notes: Much love and twirls to my beta lo_duclavier

"Birth and death are doors through which you pass from one dream to another... Each existence is a dream within a dream, is it not?"
Paramhansa Yogananda (Divine Romance)

To Begin

Walter’s therapy is unconventional, to say the least. But somehow he manages to convince Olivia to lay down on a cold metal table and hooks her up to various electrodes, before injecting her with his latest concoction. He covers her ears with a pair of old headphones and turns the volume up, drowning out any other sound. Olivia tries to fight the effects of the drugs but eventually they win and she sinks into a deep unconsciousness.

There’s nothing but blackness, here in the darkest parts of her mind. Threads of sporadic thoughts of created from non existent love, dance in front of her, visions of people now gone and intense emotion build up until she turns and back into the black. Someone covers her ears with a pair of old headphones and turns the volume up on a song that sounds vaguely familiar; she thought Walter’s music knowledge didn’t include modern pop songs. Olivia takes a deep breath and lets herself fade into the music. That’s all that’s here, here in her mind: there’s nothing to guide her, no pictures she can see, but she can hear Walter’s music selections, playing on an infinite loop. She’s not sure what to do so she decides to wait but for what, she doesn't know.

//

“Walter? I brought you a danish...” Astrid’s voice hovers throughout the lab and Walter raises his head when she says danish.

“Wonderful dear. You didn’t happen to bring a --?”

He stops and beams when she hands him a cafe latte, peppered in cinnamon.

“Ah. Thank you.”

Astrid’s smile faded when she saw Olivia laying on the table. She walks over to Olivia and grips the table edges tightly with both hands. Her mouth forms a small o and she sucks in a shaking breath just before she stretches out her hand and pinches Olivia’s blouse between her thumb and finger. Astrid licks her bottom lip and asks: “Walter?”

Walter walks up behind her, the danish and coffee forgotten for the moment, and puts a delicate hand on Astrid’s shoulder. “It’s alright, dear,” he says kindly. “It’s an experiment. I turned her into music.”

Astrid turns her attention from Olivia to Walter, but doesn’t take her hand away from Olivia’s shoulder. “Um. What?”

“Not literally of course,” he says quickly. “Although that would make for a fantastic experiment,” he gestures to Olivia’s body. She seems to be breathing normally; she looks as if she is sleeping, but for the electrodes glued to her scalp. “Just her brain wave patterns,” Walter continues, “and even those aren’t music exactly.”

“I don’t understand,” Astrid says with a look of confusion across her face.

“It’s based on music therapy, you see,” Walter says simply, as if that explains everything. But it doesn't and Astrid grows increasingly concerned and frustrated. She puts her head in her hands but doesn't try to get out from underneath the hand that Walter has on her shoulder. She takes a slow, deep breath before:

“Why would you do that, Walter?”

There’s a pause and Walter hesitates, as if he’s never thought of needing to explain his actions to anyone before this moment. Relenting, he finally finds his voice:

“Not only will it help Agent Dunham to relax and detoxify her body but I’m hoping that it will also help her to recover from all of her recent traumas,” he eyes Astrid, pausing until she looks back up at him before continuing. “I want her to discover deeper, more intimate emotions. I want her to be able to release herself into a new and healthy relationship.”

Astrid misses the look Walter gives her entirely. “You’re really invested in Olivia’s love life, aren’t you?” Astrid asks mirthlessly and Walter’s hand falls from her shoulder.

He walks around to the other side of the metal table, fidgeting with dials and knobs that really don’t need to be fidgeted with. Astrid knows, she always knows, but she makes no move towards Walter and instead, remains where she is, by Olivia’s side. She runs her thumb over Olivia’s wrist gently, a move that doesn't go unnoticed by Walter.

“Of course I am!” he says somewhat defensively but Astrid is barely listening at this point. She’s watching Olivia as her chest rises and falls with each breath. Her face is soft and Astrid resists the urge to stroke the side of her cheek, focusing more on Olivia’s hands, squeezing them tightly, wondering if Olivia could recognize her touch.

“Instead of simply having Agent Dunham listen to music,” Walter continues, “I’m trying to turn the deepest parts of her subconscious into music. I’m hoping that it will flush out all of the nasties that’s been building up inside of her mind. The ones that keep her from truly living, so that she can be happy.”

Astrid looks up at him then with a softer expression on her face; she has tears in her eyes. Walter returned her look with a slightly embarrassed smile and probably would have reached out for Astrid’s hand if the machine monitoring Olivia’s vitals didn’t start screaming their warning bells then.

“What’s wrong?” Astrid asks, trying not to panic.

“There’s a problem,” Walter says as Olivia’s face starts to jerk and she clenches her hands into fists. Her face tenses: it looks as if her peaceful sleep has turned into a nightmare.

Walter pulls one of Olivia’s eyelids up and open, flicking it with his penlight. He grabs one of the print outs and as the warning bell’s screams begin to scream louder, he looks up at Astrid with delight and satisfaction.

“I surmise that’s she’s in a very comfortable place right now! That her mind will meld with the music and that if we don’t pull her out soon, she’ll die.” He walks over to Astrid with a syringe in his hand and before she can protest, he rolls up her sleeve and injects something into her arm.

“Walter!” Astrid says, wide-eyed and more than a little afraid.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a bit of LSD.”

Astrid looked at him incredulously as Walter moves another metal table over, lining it up so it stands adjacent to Olivia’s and helps her to lay down.

“Astrid, you’ll go in after her,” Walter says naturally and Astrid feels like she should be surprised, but she’s not, which doesn't surprise her either. “The LSD will suppress the ego and with the right piece of music,” he grabs a vinyl record laying on a nearby shelf and puts it on the record player, “along with some strategically placed electrodes will put the two of you together.”

“You mean...?” Astrid asks as Walter puts a pair of headphones over her head but glares at them when they won’t quite make it over her hair.

“No dear,” he adjusts the length of the headphones, “you’re not entering her brain exactly. The two of you will find each other, somewhere, on another plane of existence, fueled by music and emotional responses of the brain. They may feel better than what she’s feeling in her present life so you’ll need to convince her that life is better than music-fueled imaginings. A tough task ahead but best of luck to you, Astro.”

A sudden blast of music drowns out Walter’s voice and all she sees is a brilliant white light.

//

The Hardest of Hearts

The whisky haze is so thick, Astrid can barely see where she is, let alone where she's going, but she continues to walk, one foot in front of the other, all the way down this hall. There are empty bottles everywhere, of multiple sizes and colours, but all of them lay scattered across the floor, simply discarded after their contents had been emptied. The room reeks of whisky - old and stale, as if no one has been in or out for days. No one probably has and there's nothing to do but wander down the winding corridor that leads to no where.

She breathes in whisky soaked air and suddenly, she feels light headed and nauseous. This is just the beginning, Astrid knows. Things aren't going to get easier for her or for Olivia, but nevertheless, she's determined to find Olivia and bring her home. Refocusing her efforts, Astrid carries herself forward, pushing through as best she can, trying to block out the doubt she feels.

Lingering thoughts of uncertainty, float through her mind and even though these thoughts don't stop her legs from moving, her steps become more and more hesitant. Is all of this really worth it? an unknown voice asks her. She chooses to ignore it and nearly trips over an empty bottle; it bounces down the corridor out of sight. Astrid puffs her chest out and keeps walking. She needs to do this, she wants to do this. She loves Olivia and seeing her day after day in so much pain is almost too difficult for Astrid to bare.

But is she really worth it? The same voice demands of her. Astrid tries not to let the voice and its questions shake her, to compromise her resolve, but the voice gets the better of her and she beings to wonder: is Olivia Dunham really worth all of this? A bizarre experiment conducted by a mad scientist who's primary concern is always his stomach, a drug induced state fueled by music on another plane of existence - there are other ways to meet people, the voice tells her sardonically. Astrid rolls her eyes. She knows who it belongs to now and chides herself for not recognizing it sooner.

"You think that's going to stop me? That you're going to stop me?" she wishes harshly to no one. "You're wrong. You're wrong, Olivia."

Astrid presses on, not caring about all the reasons not to. It's not about rescuing Olivia, it's not about saving her, it's about showing her that life is worth living and that happiness is something anyone can have. She holds her head up a little higher and even though the whisky haze is thicker now than ever before, she's not afraid of Olivia's fears. She's not afraid of the alcohol, not afraid of this thick haze or the voice that attacks her ears with its negativity. Olivia might be a tough nut to crack, the hardest of hearts to win over, but she's worth the effort. Of that, Astrid is certain.

Astrid comes to the end of the corridor where a wooden door with a silver knob. There's no doubt in her mind as she pushes the door open and steps inside.

//

Nothing:

The brown drink has a stronger hold on Olivia than she wants to admit. Half way through the bottle, she rests her head on her hand, letting her light curls fall and obstruct her view. She closes her eyes against the pain in her head, but even in the black it hurts. Pain is something of a constant in her life. Physical, emotional, all the various pains a person can go through, all blend together after awhile and the only thing that really numbs it is whisky. Except that's not all it brings.

The bottle made her feel better about herself, that her experiences were normal, that she was and always had been a normal woman from an untroubled past. It was a lie, of course, but the bottle made her believe that it was true; it was the only comfort she had at any rate. The bottle felt perfect in her hand, slim and cool. It would never leave her, never betray her: her constant compassion loves her more than she loves herself and for now, that's enough. She smiles a little as the physical pain begins to wain, but in the black her smile begins to fade as all the unpleasant events she's ever experienced come back to her.

Although the pain is numbing, the whisky forces her to re-live all of her darkest moments, the things that drove her to drink to begin with, descending on her. Voices from a distant past grow louder with each drop she swallows, but she drinks more and more, thinking that eventually the black will just take her away from both the pain and the incessant voices.

Outside, a young woman in a red dress with white polka dots and white lace trim wonders where she is and what she should do. The street she's standing on is dark, but for the solitary street light and its sickly orange glow. She shivers; her lace gloves do nothing to keep her warm. She looks up from beneath the large brim of her hat and realizes that there's only one building on this street with their lights on. She starts for that building and for some reason, she isn't at all surprised to see Olivia Dunham, Private Eye in block letters over the window. She pushes the door open to indeed find a self-loathing version of the woman sitting beside a nearly finished bottle of whiskey.

"You okay, boss?" Astrid hears herself asking. Astrid hears herself asking; she should be surprised, but she's not—nothing ever surprises her anymore.

Olivia rolls her head over in her hand and looks at Astrid. Her cherry-red lipstick is smudged; the same colour is all over the glass beside her. Astrid suspects that at some point, Olivia abandoned the glass altogether.

Olivia watches as Esther takes out her hat pin and places her hat on a hat rack neatly. She folds her lace gloves and puts them in her pocket before wandering over to Olivia. She grips the bottle of whisky by its neck and pushes it over to the other side of the desk. Esther leans forward and pushes one of Olivia's curls off the side of her face and behind her ear.

"You here to take care of me?"

"Do you need taking care of?" Astrid asks even though she already knows the answer to the question; Olivia knows it too.

Olivia sits up and but doesn't make eye contact with Astrid. "I can't ask you to do that," she says sadly. "It's not fair to you and I can't see why you would choose that for yourself."

Astrid moves around the desk and pushes Olivia's chair back. She kneels down in front of Olivia and puts the palm of her hand on Olivia's cheek, gently turning Olivia's head to face her. Olivia swallows heavily and leans her head against Astrid's. Astrid strokes the side of Olivia's face with her thumb and closes her eyes.

"You know," Astrid says after awhile. "I want to be here. I want to be with you."

Olivia pulls back but Astrid keeps her hand on Olivia's cheek. She covers Astrid's hand with her own. "I do like it when you come around," she says, smiling softly.

Astrid grins and stands up, pulling Olivia up to standing carefully; she lets Olivia brace against her when she needs to.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up." Astrid pulls a white, lace-trimmed handkerchief from her pocket wipes the tear stains off of Olivia's cheeks. When she's finished, Astrid moves the handkerchief over Olivia's lips, cleaning off the last of her lipstick, while Olivia gently runs her hand up Astrid’s side until her thumb rests on the space between her ribcage and her girdle..

"You know I can't do anything without you."

Astrid smiles, choosing not to take Olivia's statement as drunk talk. She's finished cleaning Olivia up, so she takes her by the hand and leads her over to the office cot. She sits Olivia down on the edge of the bed and begins to undress her slowly. Astrid's hands caress the side of Olivia's body as she unhooks various pieces of delicate fabric. Leaving her in only a chemise, French knickers, and stockings, Astrid lays Olivia down on the bed.

"Call me if you need anything. I'll be here."

Astrid runs her hand down the side of Olivia's face as Olivia closes her eyes and settles back into the safety of the finally-quiet black.

//

Bone Will Break Metal

Olivia sleeps, finally, floating through the black, in between whisky-soaked dreams that try to convince her of another world where love surrounds her and tries to grab her and won't let go. But it's as if she's covered in oil and just slips out of her saviour's grasp and gently floats away.

There’s a kind of peace that sets in around her: cold yet comfortable and she relishes in the quiet, blissful dark. She hopes that she’ll wake up sober, even though the chances of that are unlikely, she still dares to hope and in her dreams, she finds herself completely clearheaded and capable of having the most pleasant of conversations with anyone at all. There’s something else that’s poking at her too: something she can’t quite put her finger on. It’s familiar yet distant all at the same time. ... happiness? No, that can’t be it. How on earth would being sober actually increase her happiness? It seemed stupid, crazy even and she scoffed at herself for being so ridiculous. Yet, she could see it all so clearly.

It’s a regular day. Gene is in her pen, chewing contentedly on her cud and the lab is silent, but for two women who are dancing around the room, wrapped up in each other’s arms. They’re being silly but neither cares. There’s a sense of freedom about them. Their smiles, their laughter, all of it is real and heartfelt. Their feelings are infectious and as their joy rises up to the ceiling, it all becomes too much for Olivia and the walls start to melt.

Everything begins to degrade, breaking down to dust; dirt and grime hit the floor with horrible sounds that make Olivia cringe. The look on her face makes Astrid ask “what?”, as though she can’t really see what’s going on around them. Her voice just echos as she too disappears, leaving Olivia standing in a mess of her own making, alone and helpless.

The room is very black - quiet and still; there’s no door, no window, no sunlight. She feels like she’s being crushed in silence and there’s no relief or course of action she can take to save herself from her situation so she lays her head down against the gritty, cold cement floor and closes her eyes.

Sleep taking her firmly, Olivia leaves the two of them there, alone but together in a special dream world, before she residing herself to the black as Astrid makes do by herself, spending the rest of the night doing nothing at all.

Astrid sits on the side of Olivia’s cot and runs her hand over the side of Olivia’s face. Her motions have subsided and she’s finally beginning to settle down. Moments ago, it looked as if she was having a nightmare. Her face was contorted tightly and the muscles in her cheeks spammed at random. She gasped in her sleep and mumbled something Astrid couldn’t understand. Astrid sat by her, stroking her face, whispering to her softly, hoping that her presence would somehow calm Olivia down. It seemed to have worked. Now, it looks as if Olivia’s escaped whatever was after her and she relaxes against the pillows as Astrid pulls the blankets up, closer to Olivia’s chin. Astrid lets her hand linger against Olivia’s jaw, hoping that she can now sleep off her intoxication.

Astrid finally decides that it’s safe to leave Olivia’s side, but she is unwilling to leave Olivia directly. Reluctantly, Astrid gets up from Olivia’s cot and starts to busy herself around Olivia’s private eye office. Now that Olivia is sleeping peacefully, Astrid starts to peek through old case files, hoping to find something that would give her some clue as to what she can do for Olivia, for her state, aside from what she’s already doing. It’s late and she hasn’t found anything of use. She’s about to give up when she pulls open the very bottom of Olivia’s desk drawer and finds exactly what she’s looking for.

It’s a mess - empty shot glasses, dirty with a brown amber are tipped over, clinking against a half-empty bottle of whisky that stands next to an empty bottle. Astrid bends over to pick up the bottle when she sees them: several pictures of lovers now past. The edges of the pictures are frayed, as if someone’s been handling them on a daily basis. Their colour faded to a yellowy-black sometime ago and a few are stained with alcohol. Astrid only recognizes a few of the faces that stare back at her but she runs her fingers over every one of them, hoping that their memories will transfer to her somehow so she might begin to combat the ugly emotions they stir up in Olivia.

Flipping them over, their blank backsides offer no further clues, save for one. This particular picture is that of a man: a square jaw line and focused eyes. This picture has the most fraying and the most yellowing. It also has the biggest whisky stain. It’s clearly Olivia’s favourite, the one she holds most of the time. It’s of the one that got away. The one who still visits her at night and whispers They all left you for a reason... the same reason that I left you... you’re damaged... broken... why bother... have another drink...

It’s around that time that Astrid realizes nothing is going to change unless she’s the one to do it. She realizes that it’s up to Olivia, ultimately, if she is going to change her life, but Astrid so desperately wants to show her that life really is beautiful, that despite all of the scary, dark things that they encounter, despite all of the trauma that people experience in their lives, she can be happy, she can love and be loved, and get everything that she deserves. The problem, Astrid realizes, as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, is trying to convince Olivia that all of that is true.

She’s suddenly frustrated--aggravated and needing to fight. Astrid stands up, and starts marching from one side of the room to the other, Olivia’s pictures still in hand. She’s trying to be quiet, but it’s difficult. She wants to wake Olivia up and she scream at Olivia: Stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop making excuses. If you want your life to be better, than put the bottle down and make it better.

Her frustration grows with each step she takes. Astrid wants to shake Olivia, scream at her until she understands and changes, but she knows that it’s for not. It’s all up to Olivia and the only thing that she can do is stand by her as her friend, until she’s ready to be something more.

Astrid sighs, suddenly tired, drained of all her energy. She turns her head and eyes the cot that Olivia is laying so peacefully in. She puts her head in her hands, letting the picture flutter from her grasp and hit the floor. She doesn't care about them; it’s all about her. Rising her head with a deep breath, Astrid picks herself up, picks the picture up on the floor and walks back to Olivia’s desk. Astrid puts the pictures back were they were. She wants to take the bottles from her desk too, but she knows that it would be too much for Olivia if she did that right now. Instead, Astrid shuts the desk drawer, hiding all of Olivia’s past lovers in darkness and away from her sight. Olivia is going to be a tough fight, Astrid is well aware of that point, but her resolve is strong. She walks over to Olivia and watches her sleep.

Astrid crosses her arms over her chest; she’s like water on a stone and Olivia’s the stone. It’s about love, about survival. It’s now or never, but the decision has already been made. Astrid closes her eyes and Olivia Dunham’s Private Eye Office is gone and she’s floating, weightless, through nothing. Everything is black, but there are hints of gray. She keeps her eyes open, looking for something that would tell her where to go next. It feels like hours, until, finally, she finds what she’s looking for.

There’s something shiny, bright yellow and orange, like a sunset on a summer’s night. That’s it, Astrid thinks. She focuses all of her energy on the spot and wills herself closer to the sliver of light. She closes her eyes and without looking, Astrid dives headfirst into the colour. It’s bright and warm. She free-falls through the air and lands with her feet flat on the ground. She only has a few moments to catch her breath and size up the situation she’s in now. A crowd of people on a busy street, Olivia is no where to be found. Astrid has no idea what to do. Her eyes won’t stop moving. They dart from one side of the street to the other until she finally spots the person she’s searching for. It’s only a few second before she breaks into a run, chasing Olivia through the swarms of surrounding people.

//

Steal Your Heart

Astrid has only a few moments to decide where she is and exactly what she has to do. It’s a busy city in the downtown core. Tall buildings filled with offices and coffee shops on every corner that promise the fastest, cheapest pick-me-ups. Everything here is up and alive, but it’s a different kind of life. A hustle and bustle of strangers doing very important things which makes Astrid feel somewhat uncomfortable. Even though she looks just like everyone else, she’s not like everyone else at all.

Astrid has never felt uncomfortable in her own skin. She has always been a very self-assured person, even when she started working in Fringe division, case after disturbing case, never bothered her or made her falter. She has her father and even though she can't tell him what is going on, she knows that he is always there for her. They can’t talk about the disturbing cases they see day in and day out, but at least she has a warm house and a second heartbeat to go home too. Despite their difficulties, Astrid and her father have always had a good relationship, strained at times, but they love each other and he supports his daughter as all good fathers do.

It occurs to Astrid suddenly that Olivia probably doesn't have that for herself. She doesn't know much about Olivia’s childhood, as in, Olivia hasn’t told her that much directly, but what she managed to piece together on her own makes Astrid think that, despite how strong Olivia seems on the outside, the more she was breaking down on the inside and that probably had a direct link to Olivia’s drinking problem.

Of course, these are just assumptions, but assumptions are the only thing that Astrid can arm herself with right now. A way to reach Olivia, should she catch up to her, is to go through her childhood and help her become okay with her traumatic past. Finally, after all this time and strict observation, Astrid has a plan and a way of which to deal with her difficult colleague. The only way Astrid will be able to reach Olivia is if she could catch her and then convince her, somehow. Armed with only assumptions, Astrid takes her place along side the crowd of people and searches for Olivia.

Surrounded by thousands of people it’s difficult to spot Olivia from where she is. She surveys her location: a busy city street, filled with people going about their everyday lives. Finally, Astrid spots her and the second their eyes meet, Olivia turns on her tail and runs in the opposite direction. Astrid doesn't even hesitate: she breaks into the fastest run she’s ever ran and bolts after Olivia. Dodging people and weaving in and out of the assorted hustle and bustle of the city street, Astrid is on her trail.

It’s a chase. Through crowds of people in busy streets. She calls out Olivia’s name, but her voice is drowning in the sea of commotion that surrounds her. She’s not running out of fear but out of necessity: this is Astrid’s test. If she can keep up, if she can catch Olivia, she’ll have won her over. Astrid never slows down. Olivia is faster than Astrid had originally anticipated but then again, Astrid can’t remember the last time she could run as fast as she is. She maneuvers around the people who don’t seem realize what’s going on at a pace that she can’t control. The sun around them starts to set and the buildings around them begin to fade into the dusk, but neither woman is about to slow down.

Finally Olivia’s within reach and Astrid stretches out her hand. She’s running so fast, she can’t keep her balance. It’s now or never. Just reach out and stretch.... she makes contact but suddenly Astrid is tumbling to the ground. She hits the pavement with an oomph and rolls a few feet before finally coming to a stop. She has scratches all over her face and for a moment she just lays there, letting the setting sun take its final glance around the city. Huffing and puffing, Astrid wonders where Olivia is now and whether or not she should stand up and brush the gravel off of her back and cheeks and knees.

She’s being hoisted to her feet and the sound of Olivia’s voice comes up from behind her. “There you go,” Olivia says and she starts to brush off the bits of debris that still cling to Astrid stubbornly.

“Mhm,” Astrid says, holding her temple in her hand as she squints at Olivia.

There’s a look on Olivia’s face - a slight smirk and an arch of her eyebrow; she seems impressed with Astrid.

“I didn’t think you could keep up with me.”

“I couldn’t, apparently.”

Olivia almost laughs. She walks behind Astrid, picking bits of grime out of her hair.

Astrid suddenly stands up a little straighter. “Wait.” Olivia stops what she’s doing before Astrid continues. “Did you think that I was going to give up on you?” Astrid grabs on to Olivia’s wrist and pulls her around to face her.

There’s a new look in Olivia’s eyes. Something kind of sad, a longing for something. “I wasn’t sure,” she answers finally.

“I’m never going to give up on you, Olivia,” Astrid pinches Olivia’s chin gently and moves her head so the two can look into each other’s eyes. Astrid searches Olivia’s face and waits until Olivia finally makes eye contact with her.

Olivia takes a deep breath and looks back at Astrid. Her expression changes slightly, as if she’s starting to realize that maybe there’s something here after all, something worth fighting for, rather than fighting against. But the traumas of her past are still too strong and Olivia’s face cringes.

Astrid goes to take Olivia by the shoulders but, Olivia moves out of her grasp and there’s a sudden pain in Astrid’s head. She cringes and covers her head with her hand, using the other to guide herself to the safety of the ground. Apparently she hit her head harder than Astrid thought because all she can see is black and the pain grows with intensity. Olivia is still here, her hands wrapped around Astrid’s shoulders, guiding her head to the ground. Olivia hovers over top of Astrid, stroking her face with her hands.

“Shh,” Astrid hears Olivia say. “It’s going to be alright.”

She would have enjoyed this if the situation had been different, but the world around Astrid grows black and there’s nothing but the pain in her head as she passes into oblivion.

//

Passing Afternoon

The rain outside is unrelenting. Lightening lights up the dark grey skies and thunder shakes the house. Rachel Dunham runs out from her bedroom squealing and dives into the safety of her sister’s arms, shaking.

“Rachel,” Olivia says scoldingly. “It’s just a storm. You’re fine.”

Her younger sister continues to shake and a gleam of sympathy hits Olivia and she puts a protective hand on the side of Rachel’s face. “C’mon now,” she says, sounding older than the young teenager she is. “Don’t let him hear you.”

Rachel sucks in a deep breath. She’s suddenly plagued by a more frightening thought than the storm outside. She lays against her sister’s knee and squeezes her favourite doll against her chest, hoping that both would go away soon.

Neither girl notices a young woman standing silently in the corner of their living room. Her clothes match the mood outside: a grey pant suit and a black tie; her thick curls poke out from beneath her bowler hat.

Another jolt of lightening catches them off guard and Rachel clings to her sister, clamping her eyes shut against the sound of the thunder.

“It’s so loud!” The younger girl exclaims.

Olivia scoffs. “Not loud enough,” she mumbles.

It’s only then that Astrid hears what Olivia is referring to. Somewhere, deep in the house, are two people arguing. There voices rise up above the rain that hits the roof and it sounds as if the woman’s voice is winning the argument. Then something cracks and it’s Olivia’s turn to tense up and grip her sister tightly for support. Neither girl is breathing as lightening strikes again and the sound of thunder cracks over top of the house.

“Olivia?” Rachel asks softly, slowly releasing her grasp.

“Yeah?” Olivia answers.

“Do you ever think it will stop?”

Before Olivia can answer, the door of the living room flies open and hits the opposite wall with a loud bang, making both girls jump. Their step father stands in the door way, out of breath and with clenched fists. Rachel sits upright and Olivia can’t take her eyes off of him. It’s clear that she’s watching him, surveying the situation, quickly weighing all of her options, depending on what he’s going to do next.

He starts after the girls and Astrid can’t do anything to help Olivia, that would be breaking the rules, but still it’s difficult to watch the little girl push her sister off of her and bolt out of the room and out the front door. Rachel jumps behind the couch, plugging her ears against the crashing and the banging and the thunder that looms around her. The front door swings open in the wind and Olivia runs, barefoot, into the storm. Her step-father’s voice is lost with another crash of thunder.

Hoping her mother and sister will be alright, Astrid follows Olivia into the street. She runs until she finds Olivia: a soaking-wet, standing beneath a tree with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Olivia’s head is down and she doesn't see as Astrid approaches her. She’s not crying, it’s just water on her cheeks, yet she stands with her head down and her long locks clumping around her ears and shoulders.

She had always been a bright and precocious child, which gave Olivia the inherent role of protector. It had always been her job to protect her sister. Her mother could take care of herself - this was the life she chose, the life she chose for herself and for her daughters, but it wasn’t something that Olivia wanted to reside herself to. If she could distract her step-father long enough, Rachel had the chance to hide. He hadn’t yet figured out her pattern: eventually he would come looking for her, apologize, and coax her back to the house with the promise to never to do it again. Olivia knew they were hollow promises, but it was better than sleeping outside in the dark, by herself.

“You know,” Astrid says gently, approaching Olivia slowly and with her hands up in a defenseless position. “You don’t have to go back there, if you don’t want to.”

The girl gives a sad smile. “What? You’re going to take me away from all of this? Become my new mommy?” she asks mirthlessly.

“No,” Astrid says shaking her head. “I just mean that you’re stronger than all of this. You’re the one that’s going to survive, go on to do great things with your life. You just have to hold on.”

The girl doesn't respond at first. She looks down at her hands and starts playing with the stray ends of her hair. “This is just what I’ve been through, you know?”

“I know,” Astrid says nodding. “I know these... memories,” she waves her hands around to indicate the area they are standing in, “are still very real for you, that I’m so proud of you for surviving it. You’re a survivor, Olivia.” Astrid is close enough to take the girl’s hands in her own. “I love that about you. It’s what gives you your spirt, but at some point, you have to make peace with it.”

Olivia looks up at Astrid, directly into her eyes. She searches them for a moment; neither blinks. After a moment, Olivia nods her head and squeezes Astrid’s hands. She takes a deep, shaky breath and is suddenly enveloped in Astrid’s arms. Astrid holds her against her chest tightly.

“It’s okay, baby,” she whispers. “You’re going to be okay.”

Olivia lets herself be held by Astrid for a few moments and then she pulls away from Astrid. “I think the rain is starting to let up,” she says and there’s a soft smile playing on her cheeks.

“Are you ready to go back, then?” Astrid asks.

Olivia nods. “Yes. I’m ready. You can come with me too, if you want,”

Astrid smiles. “I’d like that.”

“Okay,” Olivia says. “But, why don’t you wait a few minutes?”

Astrid looks a little confused and Olivia tries to explain further.

“Just, let me go first, then come after me a few minutes later. I’ll be in there, you just have to find me.”

Astrid nods and watches as Olivia slips past her, heading back to her house. The rain has all but stopped and the sky above them is starting to clear up. Astrid watches as Olivia disappears into her house and waits for a few minutes before she stands up and follows her inside.

//

Skinny Love

The house is nothing like Astrid expected. It’s different, everything is different. The interior is smaller and not nearly as old-looking as it should be. The rooms are too close together; there’s not enough space to make this a house. It’s an apartment, or a condo, and there’s probably only one person living in it. It dawns on Astrid suddenly: this is Olivia’s apartment in Boston but there’s no lights on and nothing to indicate that she’s at home. Astrid wanders into the kitchen. A pot sits on the stove top, screaming for release. Astrid takes it off and pours its contents into a nearby tea pot and turns the stove off.

“Ah, sorry,” a voice behind Astrid makes her jump. “I was just getting ready and I couldn’t get back in time.”

“Ready for what?” Astrid asks Olivia, who’s standing in the doorway wearing only sweatpants and a t-shirt. Her hair is hanging loosely over her chest and she has her arms folded over her chest. She looks quite pretty, relaxed and barefooted.

Olivia shrugs and looks at Astrid shyly. “I’d ask if I can make you a cup of tea but --”

Astrid laughs even though there’s nothing comical about the situation. “I think I’ve got it under control. What do you take in it?”

“Just a bit of honey. It’s on the top shelf in the cupboard there.”

Astrid finds it without a problem. She makes up two cups and follows Olivia into her living room. The two sit down and Olivia brings her knees up to her chest. She looks away from Astrid, biting her thumb nail nervously.

This is the first time Astrid has ever seen the cool and calm FBI agent looking so lost and vulnerable and suddenly she realizes this is exactly why Olivia is acting this way: letting people in has always been something Olivia struggled with. Her first priority is to protect the scared little girl who sill resides deep in her heart and she still can’t quite find the balance between protecting someone and living her life.

“It’s just...” Olivia starts.

“Just what?” Astrid asks as patiently as possible. She wants to slide over to Olivia, to hold her and tell her that this is a safe place, but she can’t push Olivia too quickly - she has to be allowed the time to come out of her shell when she decides that she is ready. Neither has any problem with the silence starts to permeate the air.

“Just...” Olivia says slowly, and Astrid knows that this is the first time she’s actually saying it out loud. “This is.... Love that's too skinny to survive. It's not properly fleshed out, and is doomed to failure.”

Astrid traces the rim of her mug with her finger. She looks lost in thought with a confused and almost hurt expression on her face. She opens her mouth hesitantly but closes it again before looking up at Olivia, who looks back at Astrid, bracing herself for the inevitable. “You think we’re doomed to failure?”

Olivia closes her eyes and shakes her head. She knew exactly what Astrid was going to ask and she doesn't blame her for it. Olivia leans forward and sets her mug back down on the coffee table. “Not us, no.” She stands up and pulls her arms into her chest to protect herself and walks away from the table and from Astrid.

“Look, Olivia,” Astrid stands up and goes to her. She grabs Olivia by the elbows and forces her to stand still for once. “We can give up and go home or we can stay here and try, try and fight for what we really want.”

Olivia takes in a shaking breath. Her head falls forward and strands of hair cover her face on both sides. “What is it that you really want?” she asks Astrid softly.

When she gets no response from Astrid, Olivia looks up to see a loving smile made out of kindness and compassion on her face. Astrid doesn't say anything. She just looks at Olivia and just lets everything between them melt down until it’s nothing but drops of microscopic water that seeps into the floor and washes away. Then finally, she stands up on her tip toes and reaches up, kissing Olivia slowly and softly on the mouth.

If Olivia’s surprised, she doesn't show it. Instead she closes her eyes and leans into Astrid; there’s a hint of reciprocal pressure. It fills Astrid with hope and she deepens their kiss until it’s full on, full force.

It ends naturally and Astrid sets back down on flat feet. Neither woman says anything to the other but when Olivia opens her eyes and looks at Astrid, there’s a distinctly happy smile playing on the corners of her mouth. She turns and pulls Astrid in a different direction. Astrid doesn't move right away. She simply lets Olivia walk off but after a few moments, she follows her to where ever the two of them are destined to go.

//

Fingers

The bathroom is softly lit: candles flicker and their shadows bounce off of the surrounding walls. Condensation drips off of every surface and Astrid can feel the sweat starting to bead on her forehead as she steps into the bathroom. There’s someone in the water already, but she can’t quite make out who that someone is until she approaches, naked, and steps into the warm water.

The bathtub is huge: big and wide with ample room for two. Bubbles cover the surface of the water and build up like mountains of soft foam. The water is hot, but not uncomfortable. Astrid sits down and pools it in her hands and washes her face. Getting more and more comfortable with the temperature, she brings her legs up to her chest and wraps her arms around herself, resting her chin on her knees. She’s hot and the parts of her not in the water have sweat dripping down them. The heat is making her sleepy and she closes her eyes for a few seconds. She wakes up hours later to find Olivia’s green eyes staring back at her.

Astrid unfolds her legs and suddenly they’re sitting knee to knee. Neither says a word; the only movement is from the shadows that dance across the walls. They would be distracting if it wasn’t for the look Astrid sees in Olivia’s eyes. She’s desperate to keep Astrid’s attention, to keep her focus and the second she sees that it’s waning, Olivia panics. Her hands fly up from beneath the water’s surface so fast they startle Astrid and she gasps as Olivia locks her hands around Astrid’s cheeks and fixes her gaze on Astrid’s. Olivia leans in, her lips part slightly and Astrid can feel a cool breeze rush over her mouth. She’s convinced that Olivia is about to kiss her, so she closes her eyes, swallows the lump that’s suddenly sitting in her throat and waits.

Expectedly, Astrid takes a breath in and slowly out. With it comes all the hope and fear that’s been building up inside of her and for one perfect, simple moment, she lives in pure perfection. The moment passes her by in an excruciatingly slow pace and when nothing happens, when Olivia doesn't kiss her after all, Astrid opens her eyes, confused and slightly terrified. Olivia let’s go of Astrid’s face suddenly and she touches the end of Astrid’s nose with the tip of her index finger.

“Boop,” she says, gently bopping Astrid on the nose.

Startled, Astrid blinks and tries to wipe off the bubbly wet that’s found itself a new home with her already wet hands. She looks at her hands with frustration before turning her attention back to a smiling Olivia. “Boop?” she asks and Olivia merely laughs as if this has always been a game to her.

“Boop,” Olivia says, doing it again. This time her smile is beyond happiness. She’s positively elated and that melts Astrid’s frustration down until she can’t even remember that she was ever frustrated at all.

A cheeky grin plays up on Astrid’s cheeks and she scoops up as many silky bubbles and aims them at Olivia’s nose. They don’t go too far and Olivia simply dodges them but on the next round, Astrid scoops the bubbles up in her hands, takes a deep breath, and blows them into the air. They fall back down to the water like fluffy snow flakes, peppering the bathroom walls and getting stuck in Astrid’s curls.

Olivia bursts out laughing at the sight and clasps her own hands together and blows as many bubbles as she can into the air, squealing like a child. They take turns: each one blowing more and more bubbles into the air and laughing at the random places where they fall. But now, Olivia changes the game. Instead of blowing her own bubbles into the air, she tries to catch Astrid’s bubbles with the tips of her fingers and Astrid lets her play for a few moments before she leans in and grabs Olivia by the wrist. She looks squarely into Olivia’s eyes and blows the bubbles off of Olivia’s finger tip with one breath. It hovers above them gently before landing on the water’s surface. Neither woman sees it. Astrid’s fingers stroke Olivia’s lightly and now, there’s no joking, no laughing, both are deadly serious and neither one is breathing. The intensity builds up between them and this time, Astrid’s convinced that Olivia’s lips are parting for her and she leans in to finally kiss her.

This time Olivia doesn't look away, she holds Astrid’s gaze with her own but it’s all too much for Olivia and she pulls back, pulls out of Astrid’s grip, leaving Astrid to find solace in the edges of the bathtub. Searching for a nearby bottle of water, Olivia clearly needs space and even though Astrid is happy to give it to her, she’s beginning to feel frustrated and impatient.

Reading Astrid’s mood, Olivia turns so that her upper body is completely visible to Astrid and when she feels Astrid’s eyes raking over her body, Olivia takes a large swig of water, ravenously gulping down the cool liquid. Olivia can feel Astrid’s eyes tracing her body from belly up, watching how her shoulders and arms are as she holds up the bottle, how her breasts rise and fall with each breath and how her stomach distends with each drop she swallows.

Astrid suddenly realizes that Olivia isn’t drinking at all any more. She’s letting the water run out of the bottle, down her chin, neck and chest; she shivers when the water hits her warm belly. Astrid licks her lips when Olivia’s nipples turn into hard points and it’s all she can do to keep from leaning into Olivia’s space and drink all of the water off of her body.

“Your eyes are too loud,” Olivia says cryptically as she pours more cool water over her warm body.

Astrid doesn't answer: she’s tired of playing games and is about ready to stand up and walk away, out of this imaginary bathtub and back into the real world, the frustration re-building inside of her, when Olivia reaches out and touches Astrid on the arm with her finger tips.

“No, don’t. Please stay,” Olivia says with a quiet desperation that instantly makes Astrid reconsider.

She reaches out and strokes Olivia’s face with the back of her fingers and Olivia falls forward into Astrid’s arms. Astrid rests her chin on the top of Olivia’s head and runs her hands over Olivia’s back. There are scars there and they mar the light cream of her skin and Astrid presses her hand against each one, as if that alone can heal the past. Olivia closes her eyes against the pressure and breathes softly until Astrid thinks she’s fallen asleep.

Suddenly, Olivia shifts her position and moves from Astrid’s shoulder and presses the tips of her fingers against the wall behind Astrid’s head and kisses her. The water starts crashing around them and some even spills out of the tub on to the floor. Astrid opens her legs allowing Olivia to settle down between them, never breaking contact. Olivia shifts her weight again, but this time on to one hand and slides the other down Astrid’s body and between her legs. Astrid breaks contact with Olivia to gasp, but it doesn't last long as Olivia quickly catches her lips again.

Unwelcome reality starts to creep up on Astrid and Olivia parts her gently and slides two fingers into her. They’ve never been together so Astrid can’t understand why she would be here now, with Olivia, in this bath. She can’t tell whether or not she’s dreaming, if Olivia’s dreaming, or if this is something different all together but here she is, lying beneath Olivia, moving in synch with Olivia’s lips and undulating against her touch. But reality vanishes around her as she comes and clenches around Olivia’s fingers, crying out into the dark room; the candle light flickers against the walls and everything is suddenly calm and quiet once more.

They lay there like that for a few minutes with no voices or thoughts between them. The last of the bubbles dissipate and are now apart of the chilling water. Olivia motions to Astrid and as the last of the candle light flickers out, the two move, one after another, out of the bath, out of the room, and float away with the music as the next song begins to play.

//

Samson

Astrid doesn't know how she got here. She closed her eyes there and opens them up in here. Here she is fully clothed and this is a simple room filled with books of all shapes and sizes. Some books are placed neatly on bookshelves while others are stacked on top of each other in piles against walls; there is no dust on any of them.

Astrid steps forward, towards the nearest self and runs her finger over a cracked leather spine. The writing is worn off but she pulls it off the shelf anyway and thumbs through it. It’s not written in English, but she recognizes the language. Some passages are highlighted in orange with hand written notes in the margins. She puts the book back on the shelf and goes for another. It’s the same as the first and so is the third, fourth and fifth book. Every book she touches is in a different language all with highlighted passages, all in orange, and all with hand written notes in the margins. She suspects that all the books in this room are the same and as she looks around, it’s only now that she notices a figure sitting on a fainting couch near a window, their back to her.

It’s Olivia. She’s bent over, with her head in her hands with an open book beside her; an orange highlighter is on the floor. Astrid bends over to pick it up and lays it down on the book gently. She doesn't want to disturb Olivia so she sits down quietly and waits. The room is too still and for a moment, Astrid’s attention shifts from a silent Olivia to the book between them. Astrid picks it up and begins to read. It’s in English and she recognizes the text immediately. She reads a few passages and the notes that Olivia has written. She sighs and puts the book back down.

“Are they all --?” she asks, unable to keep silent any longer.

“-- the same,” Olivia finishes for her, not bothering to look up.

Astrid grimaces and lets out another sigh, but this one is longer, heavier and makes Olivia sit up and take notice.

“Astrid,” Olivia said sadly and unable to turn and make eye contact. “There’s nothing here that ... supports us. I’m afraid... I’m afraid the present will deny us and that history will forget about us. That we’ll never be mentioned anywhere.... that no one will listen, no matter what we do.” It seems difficult for Olivia to speak, for her to get her ideas out, for her to articulate them completely, but Astrid understands finally, understands everything.

Astrid reaches out and takes Olivia’s hand in hers. She smiles at Olivia with love and compassion, a smile that’s matched by the look in her eyes. She stretches out her hand, chocolate mixed with cream, and offers Olivia something - peace of mind.

“The only history that matters is the history that you write yourself. The history that pushes you forward. What makes you who you are, who you want to be. There’s nothing wrong with that and there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Astrid uses her other hand and turns Olivia’s face to hers. She closes her eyes softly and kisses Olivia gently on the lips.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Olivia repeats Astrid’s words with shaking confidence. There are tears in her eyes and she touches Astrid’s hand with her own. She nods her head and suddenly and Astrid can see that she believes everything that Astrid’s been saying and now there’s nothing but joy. Olivia falls into Astrid, lips crashing on lips, with a full-on force, full-on passion she’s never felt before and Astrid realizes that it’s over and as she takes Olivia further into her arms, her legs swinging up on the couch, (where) they lay together, breathless but happy.

//

To End

The music ends, stopping abruptly. The grey she's been swimming in turns to white and then one thousand other colours all at once as she opens herself and breathes into the familiar comfort of Walter's lab. She can feel Walter bustling around the lab, somewhere behind her, mumbling to himself about cherry cheese danishes. Olivia smiles. She lulls her head to one side and finds Astrid sleeping beside her on the adjacent table. She has a look of peace and tranquility on her face that makes Olivia blush slightly, but she's unsure why.

Olivia pulls herself to standing and peels the electrodes from her skin before walking over to Astrid. She puts a hand on Astrid's: they rise and fall with each breath Astrid takes. Astrid's eyes flutter open.

"Hey you," Olivia says kindly, squeezing Astrid's hand tighter.

"Hey," she says sleepily. "You okay?" She has the sudden desire to stretch her arms over her head.

"Yeah," Olivia says honestly. She pauses for a moment, taking all of Astrid in before: "You wanna get out of here? Go home?"

Astrid grips Olivia's hand tightly and Olivia helps her sit up. "Go home?" Astrid asks. She's still groggy from sleep, but Olivia is ready to bust out of the lab with Astrid in tow.

"Yeah," Olivia says, her green eyes shining brightly.

"Who's home?" Astrid asks, still confused.

Olivia laughs and pulls Astrid by the hand off the table and towards the door, sneaking past Walter, who's busying himself with a stack of pastries and an ancient looking book, the two women clearly forgotten. Nearly giddy, she leads Astrid away. There's only one home to go to.

//

"No more alcohol," Astrid eyes the half-empty bottles Olivia collected and put next to the recycling bin. Astrid is making her dinner - Olivia has no idea what, but it doesn't matter. She loves watching Astrid move around the kitchen and it's a nice change from her usual take-out menu. It's a nice feeling, having another warm body around the house and Olivia allows herself this quiet moment of contentedness to seep in and let it be. She nods at Astrid's request, ready to accept that this is her life, like it or not, and that she is responsible for everything that happens in it.

Olivia stands and comes up behind Astrid, wrapping her arms around her waist and nuzzled the skin just under her earlobe.

"Thank you for helping me do this. For being here with me."

Astrid nods. She's enjoying the feeling of Olivia's solid arms around her as Olivia sweeps her hands over Astrid's skin. "It's up to you though," she says.

"I know," Olivia says, and it's true, she does know and she does understand the implications that all this brings. She turns Astrid to face her and kisses her everywhere: on the cheeks, lips and nose as her hands run up Astrid's arms and soon, Astrid is sitting on the table with her legs wrapped around the back of Olivia's knees. Olivia slides her hands down her body, laying Astrid down on the table.

They're dinner is overcooking slowly but all of that is lost as clothes come off and hit the floor, knocking over one of the empty bottles that stands by the recycling bin. This won't be easy, the right thing never is, but there are new feelings building up in Olivia: hope and joy and those are stronger, more powerful emotions than fear and despair are; she feels like sunshine, here with Astrid. It's not over, not at all. This is only the beginning, the beginning of a new history that they can write together, entirely out of love.

~End

lule_bell — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:43:32 GMT

“You still haven’t paid me yet!” Esther exclaimed, standing in the doorway of Olivia’s office, exasperated by the lack of monetary compensation.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll quit.”

“I don’t have any money, but I don’t want you to quit.”

“So what are you proposing --”

Olivia didn’t let her finish: her lips came crashing down on Esther’s but, Esther didn’t resist. She deepened their kiss, gripping Olivia tightly, sinking deep on to her lips.

Olivia hoisted Esther on to the desk, pushing her skirt up over her knees and spreading her legs. Esther moaned and shoved Olivia’s head between her legs.

“You still gonna quit?” Olivia asked when it was all over.

“What? Who said anything about quitting? I’ll be here first thing Monday morning!”

nothing to read here, folks

lule_bell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:18:33 GMT

“You still haven’t paid me yet!” Esther exclaimed, standing in the doorway of Olivia’s office, exasperated by both her work load and the lack of monetary compensation.

Olivia leaned over her wooden desk and pulled open the bottom drawer, lifting a bottle of whisky in Esther’s direction.

“C’mon doll,” she said pouring herself a glass. “I’ll pay you in brown.”

“It’s not funny! Dunham, you owe me and I’m not leaving here until you pay me.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll quit.”

“Look, I don’t have any money, but I don’t want you to quit.”

“So what exactly are you proposing --”

Olivia didn’t let her finish her sentence: her lips came crashing down on Esther’s. To her surprise, Esther didn’t resist. She deepened their kiss; Olivia gasped slightly when Esther’s hands found their way to the top of Olivia’s hip and moved down. Esther gripped Olivia tightly, sinking deep on to her lips.

Olivia hoisted Esther on to the desk, pushing her skirt up over her knees and spreading her legs with a carefully placed hand. Esther broke their kiss with a moan and put her hand on the top of Olivia’s head as she got down on her knees between Esther’s legs.

“You better now, doll face?” she asked, licking her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue.

“Yeah,” Esther said as she finished rearranging herself. “Mh! Yes, I suppose I am.”

“You still gonna quit?”

“What? Who said anything about quitting? I’ll be here first thing Monday morning!”

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

lule_bell — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:36:37 GMT

Title: Midnight
Word Count: 1051
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Characters: Princess Luna, Princess Celestia
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): None
Summary At one point she hated night and everything it represented but now Princess Luna dances between the stars.

At one point, she hated night, hated that the other ponies slept through it and ignoring her in the process. When she was a filly, her parents, the King and Queen of Equestria told her and her older sister, Celestia, that they had two different, yet exceptionally important responsibilities in the kingdom.

Their mother and father were two beautiful alicorns. The Queen, white with golden pink hair was the embodiment of a summer’s sunrise, wrapped a grand feathered wing around her eldest daughter’s shoulders and taught her all about raising the sun. Wide-eyed and eager, Celestia naturally excelled at her new task and with her mother’s guiding hoof beside her, it wasn’t long before she raised the sun all by herself and a cutie mark of a brilliant sun appeared on her flank.

Unfortunately, Luna didn’t have the same luck with her own responsibility. Raising the moon proved much more difficult for her than what Celestia seemed to be going through. Even though her her father, a brilliant navy blue alicorn with a mane made up of sparkling stars and heavenly bodies, was a patient and kind teacher, it took years before Luna managed to raise the moon by herself. Although her family was proud of her and Celestia particularly liked the crescent moon cutie mark that finally appeared on her flank, Luna couldn’t help but feel as if her parents were mistaken, as if she wasn’t meant to raise the moon at all.

All her life, she had been trained for this moment - the moment when she would raise the moon by herself and everyone would hail her as Princess Luna of Equestira. Everything would fall into place, make sense and bind her to where she belonged. But all she felt was shame and regret, living life in her older sister’s shadow and those feelings were compounded when she realized that no one but her father ever knew how beautiful the midnight moon was. Her mother and sister and all of the other ponies in Equestria slept through the night. There were songs and poems written about sunrises, daylight and sunsets, but few were ever about night and the moon. She was frustrated and dejected: she worked so hard and even though her parents and sister tried to calm her down, Luna had difficulty accepting that whether or not any pony saw her beautiful moon, she was still good at what she did. Defeated, her sadness turned into anger, growing inside of her until she snapped and became Nightmare Moon. But that was a lifetime ago, and now, free from her lonesome prison, she could appreciate night by herself and without the need for anyone else’s approval.

Midnight was her favourite time. She blended seamlessly with the dark blue sky as she danced between the stars. Where once she saw only pain and anguish in the night sky, she realized now how beautiful night really was. Shooting stars and The Northern Lights were there all for her and she completed the scene by hanging the moon in the center of the sky. Night was her beautiful secret, her perfect creation. She smiled happily as she bended between the few wisps of clouds that hung in the night sky. As an alicorn, she could have easily dispelled the clouds, but chose not to: it was far more fun to play in and around clouds than it was to play in air. Besides, air had its own purpose: nothing felt better than the feeling of air as it rushed through her sparkling mane. She used her tail as a rudder so she was still able to control herself but at the same time, she let her body free fall, the clouds, breaking her fall.

When she was a child, she would have given anything to trade places with her sister. The sun seemed so much more bright and beautiful than the cold grey stare of the moon. But she finally realized that this was exactly where she was meant to be: hanging the moon in the sky, drifting through the night air. This was where she loved to be. Relief set in when she realized that her father had been right all along and her cutie mark wasn’t a mistake after all. She spent the whole night flying through the sky, well passed midnight, until something caught her eye.

A white flash leaped into the air from the palace in Canterlot and immediately, Luna knew that it was her sister, Celestia, but it was far too early for her to be raising the sun.
“How now, Princess?” Luna’s voice thundered through the air when they were close enough to talk with each other.

“Good evening little sister,” Celestia said happily. She kicked the air as her wings pumped, breathing white puffs into the cold night air. “I was hoping that perhaps we could lower the moon and raise the sun together.”

“Together? Why art thou interested in such an activity with us?” Luna asked, unable to keep the suspicion out of her voice but was happy Celestia either missed it or ignored it completely.

“Because our mother and father meant for us to rule Equstria together and I would like very much for you to teach me how to lower the moon.”

Luna was shocked, hesitant about sharing her nighttime secrets with anyone, even her sister. But Luna thought for a moment and suddenly she realized that was exactly what she wanted all along.

“And perhaps then,” Luna said slowly, “you can teach us how to raise the sun.”
Princess Celestia beamed at her younger sister and nodded her head. She kicked the air enthusiastically and without another word, the two Royal Sisters of Equestria climbed the night sky and danced between the stars. Luna’s beautiful moon was replaced by a gorgeous sun that lit up all of Equestria. Like every morning before that morning, Princess Celestia raised the sun for her kingdom, but this morning was different. This morning she had the help of her beloved younger sister, who finally found her place by lowering the moon with a grace and skill unlike any other and even though few ponies knew that this morning was truly different, all that mattered was that they both found their places in the sky.

Fringe Fanfiction

lule_bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:21:35 GMT

Title: Victory Cheer
Word Count: 155
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Fringe
Pairings (if any): Peter/Olivia, Olivia/Lincoln
Prompt: The Hero Dies
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): Amber Verse, AU, Major character death, Spoilers for Fringe 4.08.
Summary: The war is won but at the expensive of one.

After the storm, after everything finally stopped, stopped moving, stopped running, and they could all finally catch their breaths, the they realized they were one short. One lay fallen, somewhere near the last and final explosion, bleeding and gasping for air.

As if the world moved in slow motion sequences, a cry rang out, from two different people in unison and when they reached her broken, bleeding body, she shot Peter in the heart by asking for Lincoln.

He slunk away, trying to understand what just happened, and Lincoln leaned over her body, held her hand, and kissed her forehead tenderly as she died. Peter watched, helpless and heartbroken; pieces of his own soul died with her, unwanted and unappreciated.

The battle was over, won at long last, but came at the expense of Olivia’s death and two men were left to float aimlessly through the void after the storm and after everything finally stopped.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

lule_bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:13:40 GMT

Title: Rainbow Dash's Adventure Time
Prompt: Knickers in a Twist
Word Count: 1127
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Characters: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): None
Summary: Rainbow Dash rushes off to have an adventure with Scootaloo, much to the chagrin of Applejack, who must pick all the apples on Sweet Apple Acres before nightfall.

Scootaloo raced to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping to find her friend Apple Bloom home and without any farm work to do. As she approached the farm, she could hear two ponies in between the apple trees.

“That’s it, Rainbow! Shake the branches --”

“Like this?”

“You got it! There we go, now they’re commin’ down!”

Rainbow Dash flew around the tops of the trees. She was flying so fast the apples were falling down and Applejack was galloping in circles around the tree trunk catching the falling apples.

“What are you guys doing?”

“Hey there Scoot,” Applejack said, glancing at Scootaloo but didn’t stop galloping. “Rainbow Dash is helpin’ me get those high apples down from the tree tops.”

“You can’t buck them down?”

“They’re too high up for me to buck ‘em down.”

“Oh, well I was hoping Apple Bloom was home. I have this new knight’s costume I wanted to play with,” Scootaloo said excitedly, pulling the costume out of a bag she brought.

“Wow! This stuff is awesome!” Rainbow Dash stopped flying around the trees and swooped down from the tree tops and snatched up Scootaloo’s knight’s costume.

Applejack set the barrel of apples down and eyed Rainbow Dash warily but returned her attention to Scootaloo. “Awe, I’m sorry sugar cube. Apple Bloom and Granny Smith went into Ponyville to sell some appletastic treats they made this mornin’.”

“Oh, okay,” Scootaloo said sadly, bending her head down and looking at her hooves. “I guess I’ll go then.”

“Go? Why?” Rainbow Dash flew back to Applejack and Scootaloo, dressed from head to toe in Scootaloo’s costume. “I thought we were just going to get this game started up!”

“What? You guys wanna play with me?” Scootaloo looked as if she couldn’t understand a word Rainbow Dash had said.

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dashed quickly. “Uh, Rainbow?”

“That’s right, kid! There’s an adventure out there and us three are going to go find it!”

Scootaloo looked as if all of her dreams had just come true. “Oh boy!”

Applejack was starting to panic. She needed to get all the apples off the tree tops before nightfall and they still had a lot of work left to do. “You know, Rainbow --” 
“That’s Commander Hurricane to you!” Rainbow Dash said obstinately, thrusting her play sword into the air heroically.

Applejack suppressed a sigh for Scootaloo’s sake.

“Which character am I, Rainbow-- I mean Commander Hurricane?”

“You,” she said thrusting a shield on to Scootaloo’s hoof, “are my warrior in training, Swift Scooter!”

Scootaloo stood up taller, wide eyed and with an expression of pure joy on her face. “I’m ready to serve you, sir!” She exclaimed loudly and her expression changed from happy to serious.

“Commander,” Applejack said with more severity than Scootaloo had ever heard before. “We need to get these apples on the tree tops picked before nightfall and I need you to help me with that before we play.”

“Hey now, don’t get your stirrups in a knot!” Rainbow Dash said to Applejack, mocking her accent and sticking her tongue out. “We have lots of time before that!” She grabbed a nearby saddle and plopped it on Applejack’s back. “But for now my noble steed, there’s an adventure to be had!”

Rainbow Dash took off into the distance, blowing leaves off all the nearby apple trees and Scootaloo took off after her, galloping as fast as she could, fluttering her little wings.

Rainbow Dash halted suddenly and hovered in front of a huffing and puffing Scootaloo. “Warrior in Training!”

Scootaloo stood at attention. “Yes, sir!”

“There’s an adventure to be had --”

“Rainbow Dash!”

Applejack’s tone made both ponies stop and look at her.

“You promised me to help me with the apples today.”

“Yeah, yeah, AJ, look --”

“Don’t tell me to look, Rainbow! You made a promise and you have to keep it!”

Rainbow Dash landed and walked up to Applejack, looking directly at her.

“I haven’t broken my promise, Applejack.”

“Not yet, anyway,” Applejack narrowed her eyes and it looked as if Rainbow Dash was about to blow up at her friend.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Scootaloo interjected with a look of excitement on her face. “This is the fight we need to fight, Commander Hurricane!” Scootaloo said, hurrying over to the other two ponies, who stopped arguing long enough to listen to what she had to say.
“What do you mean, Scoot?”

“Yeah, you got an idea, kid?”

“Rainbow Dash, you promised to help Applejack collect all the apples by nightfall. I think that’s a job for Commander Hurricane’s army!”

Applejack’s mouth dropped open but a slow smile peaked on the corner’s of her mouth. “Now that would be a fantastic adventure, Commander Hurricane.”

Rainbow Dash stared at the two for a moment and then puffed her chest up and raised her sword into the air. “It sure is!” she cried. “Army, we have a new enemy to defeat and that enemy is nightfall! We have but a few short hours before nightfall falls. Is there any questions?”

“No sir!” Scootaloo and Applejack cried out in unison.

“Then, charge!”

The three raced back to Sweet Apple Acres, finding the apple barrels beneath the trees exactly like they left them. Without talking, the three ponies took immediate action. Rainbow Dash flew up to the tree tops, flying around in circles so fast that the wind she made blew the apples down from the trees. The leaves tore off the tree tops too but as long as Applejack had all of the apples picked on time, she didn’t care about the leaves. Scootaloo ran from the tree trunks to collect the apples that bounced out of the barrels and with her help, Applejack collected all of the apples by nightfall. Tired but proud of the work they accomplished together, Applejack smiled at Rainbow Dash.

“I reckon this is something you can report to Princess Celestia, Commander,” Applejack said, winking happily.

“AJ, I think you’re right.”

Dear Princess Celestia: today I learned that there’s always time to have fun and play with your friends, but even more rewarding if you do it after all the work you promised to help out with is done first.

Your commander in chief, Rainbow Dash.

“C’mon Rainbow Dash - I mean Commander Hurricane - Applejack says we can go play adventure time now!” Scootaloo cried, racing past Rainbow Dash with her plastic shield on her back.

“Yeah, let’s go, Commander! Your Warrior in Training needs you!” Applejack said happily as broke into a full gallop, catching up to Scootaloo.

“I’m right behind you!” Rainbow Dash puffed her chest up again, sung her sword around in the air and charged into the forest after the two other ponies.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

lule_bell — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:02:23 GMT

Title: Princess Luna's Ballet
Prompt: Athena
Word Count: 1157
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): None
Summary: As she brings out the moon, Princess Luna notices that she has an audience in Twilight Sparkle.

Midnight holy; the sky was nothing without her beauty. She bended and swirled into the night air, climbing high into the sky, dodging clouds and behind her was a trail of stars, followed by the moon’s brilliance. She peaked at the perfect point and hung the moon in the night sky, making it complete and whole and beautiful. Then suddenly changed direction, plummeting back down to Equestria, wings spread and wind rushing over her body, she was doing the job she was born to do and despite a time when jealousy reigned in her heart, she was now doing the thing that made her whole and complete. She smiled happily and closed her eyes, swooping over the earth and blowing apart the grass and flowers and instead of flying back to Canterlot, she circulated around the rest of Equestria, looking for a pony who she considered to be her friend.

//

Long after Spike went to sleep, Twilight Sparkle stayed up, studying at her desk in front of her open window, content as the night sky soon filled with a glorious full moon. Twilight was busy writing - she decided on a topic for her latest research project and she had papers stacked neatly in an ordered manner on her desk corner. She paused for a moment: she loved watching Princess Luna raise the moon.

WHOO! came a voice behind her and Twilight smiled. “I’m getting back to work, Owloysius. You don’t have to yell.”

“Mayhap he was talking to us. Why do you insist on watching us, Twilight Sparkle?”

A voice behind her made her jump and Twilight turned to see a beautiful alicorn with her wings spread out on her balcony. A deep indigo, Princess Luna blended seamlessly into the night sky; the moon’s glow made her flowing mane shimmer and sparkle like stars.

Twilight dropped her head immediately when she saw Princess Celestia’s younger sister standing in front of her. “Good evening, Princess. What brings you here?”

Princess Luna folded her wings and jumped into Twilight’s bedroom through the window, blowing all of her papers into the air. Twilight grimaced in horror as they all floated to the ground, gulping back the urge to rescue them from the floor.

“We stated our intentions when we first arrived,” Princess Luna said

“Oh... right!” Twilight said, slightly embarrassed. She scratched her head, tearing her eyes away from the fallen papers reluctantly. “Um... what was the question?”

Princess Luna narrowed her eyes but Twilight interjected before the princess could say anything.

“Oh right! I remember now.” Twilight cleared her throat. “Um... I like watching you raise the moon while I study. You’re usually the only other pony who’s up late as late as I am.”

Carefully avoiding Spike’s bed, Princess Luna wondered towards the bookshelf that Twilight kept in her room. Her horn glowed and a book on pre-classical unicorn magic hovered in front of her.

“You see us as entertainment?” she asked as she read.

Twilight’s eyes went wide and her mouth dry. “Oh no, Princess! I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to...”

“Tis a jest!” Princess Luna looked back at Twilight smiling. “Did you find us amusing?”

Twilight swallowed the lump of panic she had in her throat. “Oh... oh yes, Princess. It was very funny.” She tried to laugh but it came out as a sigh of relief and she turned her attention away from the Princess for a moment and focused on the mess that lay strewn on the wooden floor. Using her magic, she collected all of her papers; they glowed purple as the hovered in front of her and Twilight tried to decide which paper went where.

“I should really start numbering these...” she muttered to herself.

“Or thou could utilize the Numbering Spell,” Princess Luna said, still standing in front of Twilight’s bookshelf.

“Oh, yes, I could, but I find that it doesn't work as well as the Ordering Spell.”

“Mayhap thou shouldest combine them.”

“Oh, I never thought of that before. But I don’t know the Numbering Spell so well... I’d have to research it.”

The princess walked over to Twilight’s owl perch. “Thine owl?”

“Yes, that’s Owloysius.”

WHOO the bird squawked and fluttered on to Princess Luna’s raised hoof. She smiled softly and stretched her hoof out so he could land back on his perch.

“Did you know, Twilight Sparkle? Owls were the beloved pets of Lola the Logical?”

“That was Clover the Clever’s student, wasn’t it? I have her book on pre-modern unicorn magic downstairs in the library.”

The Princess smiled happily. “An owl befitting his master, I see.”

Twilight beamed at the compliment.

“Now, Twilight Sparkle. Tell us why thou likest to watch us raise the moon every night.”

“Uh...” Twilight stammered. “Honestly Princess, I think you’re very beautiful when you raise the moon.”

“Really?” Princess Luna turned to Twilight and looked at her wide-eyed and happy. She paused for a moment in thought and suddenly looked very sad. “There was a time once, when we would have taken that as an insult rather than the complement that it is.”

“Well, luckily that time is gone now,” Twilight said reassuringly. She went over to Princess Luna, and touched her shoulder gently with her own hoof.

Princess Luna was taken aback by the touch but relaxed after a moment and enjoyed the contact.

“Princess, may I ask you a question?” Twilight asked after a moment passed.

“Thou mayest.”

“Why did you come here tonight?”

The question threw Princess Luna momentarily and she hesitated before saying: “We wished to visit our friend, the one who is gifted in magic. Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight blushed and looked away from the princess. “You consider me to be your friend?”

“We do.”

“Well, then I consider you to be my friend too, Princess.”

“That pleases us greatly. If thou is so kind, mayhap we can visit thou on a regular basis if it pleases thou.”

“Oh, it would please me greatly, Princess, but if I may ask a small favour?”

“Thou mayest!” Princess Luna said eagerly, stepping forward, closer to Twilight and smiling happily.

“Maybe next time, you could use the front door?” Twilight gestured to her papers that still lay scattered along the floor. Princess Luna took a step back and realized that some of them now had hoof prints all over them. She laughed softly, which made Twilight smile.

“Perhaps next time, we shall teach our dear friend how to use the Numbering Spell!”

“That would be wonderful, Princess.”

“Then, we shall bid you farewell until the next night we meet again, Twilight Sparkle. Fare thee well!”

With that, Princess Luna leaped through the open window, spreading her wings wide and flew into the night, but not before a dark blue glow highlighted all of Twilight’s papers and laid themselves back magically on her desk in proper order.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

lule_bell — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:35:44 GMT

Title: Scootaloo's Flying Lesson
Prompt: Kerfuffle
Word Count: 1026
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
Characters: Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): None
Summary: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy try to teach Scootaloo how to fly.

Scootaloo strapped on her purple helmet and using all the strength she had in her tiny wings, she stepped, hopped and launched herself into the air. She landed on her beloved scooter and it took off like a shot down the road into Ponyville. Dodging around flower beds and around various Ponyville inhabitants, Scootaloo headed towards the Sweet Apple Acres. Narrowing her eyes, she kicked her scooter into high gear and was suddenly flying through the air, minus the scooter. Rolling through multiple summersaults, Scootaloo finally landed at the hooves of a shy, sunshine yellow pony.

“Oh, I’m sorry I was in your way, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said meekly as she picked herself up off of the ground. “Are you alright?”

“Uh, yeah. I think so,” Scootaloo touched her helmeted-head with her hoof.

A voiced hovered above them: “Got yourself into a bit of a kerfuffle, didn’t cha, kid?” Scootaloo and Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow Dash in states of sheer confusion.

“What?” she squawked. “I know words!”

“I fell off my scooter after I hit... what was it even?” Scootaloo turned back to find a small pebble laying on the otherwise flat ground. “A pebble?!” she screeched. Fluttershy clenched her eyes shut and covered her ears while Rainbow Dash fell out of the sky and on to her back, laughing hysterically.

“Wow squirt,” she said when she could finally breath again. “You really need to learn how to fly.”

Scootaloo didn’t say anything at first. She knitted her brow and looked at her scooter, laying a few feet away from her. “Learn... how to fly?” she asked timidly, flapping her feather wings slightly.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash insisted as Fluttershy looked on curiously. “There’s nothing like it kid! The wind through your mane, racing birds, and dodging clouds. It’s the best, isn’t it Fluttershy?”

“Oh!” Fluttershy said, surprised that Rainbow Dash had even asked her. “Um, yes.”

“You see, kid? It’s time to learn to fly!”

Before either of Scootaloo or Fluttershy could say anything else, Rainbow Dash scooped them both up and carried them into the nearby field.

//

Dropped on to her hooves, Scootaloo suddenly realized that the Rainbow Dash was going to help learn how to fly. She turned back just in time to see Fluttershy doing her own summersault on the ground with Rainbow Dash hovering over top of her saying: “You do have your own set of wings too, you know!”

“Okay!” Scootaloo said bounding over to the other two ponies. “I’m ready! What’s first?” She started flapping her wings eagerly.

“First!” Rainbow Dash said turning her full attention to Scootaloo and away from an embarrassed looking Fluttershy. “We do some wing strengthening exercises! Ready? Follow me!” Rainbow Dash finally landed and squatting on all fours, she flapped her wings rhythmically. “And a one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four! How are you both doing?”

“I’m ready!” Scootaloo said as Fluttershy gave two tiny flaps and smiled triumphantly.

“Okay, now,” Rainbow Dash said, coming up behind Scootaloo and pushing her from behind. “You’re going to run and as you run, you’re going to step, hop, then flap to launch yourself into the air and Fluttershy is going to be tough on you, right Fluttershy?”

“Oh!” Fluttershy said startled. “Yes, um... step, hop and flap. Just like that.”

“Alright,” Scootaloo said slowly and before she could say anything else, Rainbow Dash was pushing her from behind.

“Step, hop and flap! Step, hop, and -- I don’t see any flapping!”

Scootaloo repeated the sequence over and over in her head, like a mantra, listening carefully to Rainbow Dash’s orders and Fluttershy’s encouragement.

“Um... that’s it, Scoot. Just like that... oh you missed the hop that time. Keep trying, that’s it! You’re doing it--- oh no, you forgot to flap. Now, that’s very important for flying. You need to climb into the air with flapping. Now, I’m not the best flyer in the world, but even I know the importance of flapping, right, Rainbow?”

“C’mon kid!” Rainbow Dash said straining beneath Scootaloo.

“Step, hop and flap. There! You did it that time! Keep going, just like that!” Fluttershy said excitedly.

“That’s it, squirt!” Rainbow Dash cried and suddenly Scootaloo was lifting into the air on her own.

“Ahh!” she cried when she realized that Rainbow Dash wasn’t behind her anymore.

“No, that’s just it, Scootaloo!” Fluttershy said gently, hovering above the ground beside Scootaloo for emotional support as she slowly climbed into the air higher and higher.
Then suddenly Scootaloo felt it: the air moved over her wings and suddenly she could feel herself rising into the air and if felt amazing.

“That’s it! That’s it, squirt! Now flap your wings to climb!” Rainbow Dash called out as Fluttershy hovered in front of Scootaloo.

“You’re doing much much much better now!” Fluttershy yelled out as loud as she possibly could.

Flapping her wings, Scootaloo continued to climb and a surge of happiness

This is is! This is how I’m going to get my Cutie Mark! It’s finally going to happen! she thought. She glanced behind her to find Rainbow Dash doing 360s in the air but out of the corner of her eye, Scootaloo saw something glinting, something shiny, and when her eyes fixed on it she realized it was her scooter. Her beloved blue and red scooter, the thing that made her soar faster than her wings ever did, was left behind on the ground and suddenly she was tumbling out of the air, hitting the ground in one large oomph.

“What happened, kid?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering over the ground.

“You were doing so well. Did we push you too hard?” Fluttershy whispered, looking rather ashamed of herself.

“Nope, not at all. You both helped me realize exactly how I’m meant to fly. Thanks girls, but I think for right now, it’s going to be me and my scooter!”

And with that, Scootaloo took off towards the road where she fell down, repositioned her scooter with her mouth and launched herself into the air.

Fringe: Esther/Olivia

lule_bell — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:49:32 GMT

Title: Incentive
Word Count: 504
Rating: R
Original/Fandom: Fringe
Pairings (if any): Esther Figglesworth/Olivia Dunham
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): Femslash
Summary: With nothing to pay her, Olivia Dunham must convince Esther Figglesworth to say with her private eye practice.
Author's Note A late Christmas present for my darling lo_duclavier

It was the first job she had where she slept with her boss.

“You still haven’t paid me yet!” Esther exclaimed, standing in the doorway of Olivia’s office, exasperated by both her work load and the lack of monetary compensation, or any compensation for that matter.

Olivia leaned over her wooden desk and pulled open the bottom drawer, lifting a bottle of whisky in Esther’s direction.

“C’mon doll,” she said pouring herself a glass. “I’ll pay you in brown.”

“It’s not funny!” Esther protested, approaching Olivia with suddenly new found confidence. She leaned over the desk with both hands holding on to either side of the corners. “Dunham, you owe me and I’m not leaving here until you pay me.”

“Or what?”

Esther swallowed. “Or I’ll quit.”

Olivia paused before swallowing, holding Esther’s gaze. They two remained locked in a hard stare for a few moments before Olivia gulped down her drink and cocked her head to one side. “Okay, you win.”

Esther stood up slowly, opening her body as she followed Olivia coming around the corner so they were standing face to face. Olivia took Esther by the shoulders and kissed her square on the lips. Esther pulled back from Olivia, looking at her in wide-eyed shock.

“You're drunk.”

Olivia shrugged, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe. Look, I don’t have any money, but I don’t want you to quit.”

Esther looked at her quizzically. “So what exactly are you proposing --”

Olivia didn’t let her finish her sentence: her lips came crashing down on Esther’s. She tasted sweet, like cherries in springtime. To her surprise, Esther didn’t resist. To the contrary, Esther deepened their kiss and Olivia gasped slightly when Esther’s hands found their way to the top of Olivia’s hip and moved down, over her bottom. She gripped Olivia tightly and sunk her small frame between Olivia’s shoulders and deep on to her lips.

Quickly regaining control and without breaking their kiss, Olivia hoisted Esther on to the desk, pushing her skirt up over her knees and spreading her legs with a carefully placed hand. Esther broke their kiss with a moan and put her hand on the top of Olivia’s head as she got down on her knees between Esther’s legs.
With every stroke, with every brush, Esther moaned until her moans grew louder and her breathing faster; she arched her back and cried out, releasing everything she was holding on to. When she recovered, Esther pushed her skirt back down over her knee and stepped back from Olivia’s smirking face.

“You better now, doll face?” she asked, licking her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue.

“Yeah,” Esther said as she finished rearranging herself. “Mh! Yes, I suppose I am.”

"You still gonna quit on me?" Olivia asked watching as Esther moved towards the door.

“What? Who said anything about quitting? I’ll be here first thing Monday morning!” And with that, she turned and waltzed out of Olivia’s office happily.

It was the first job she had where she slept with her boss, but none of that mattered so long as she was getting paid.

Original Work - An Artist's Date: Evening Bath

lule_bell — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:57:14 GMT

Title: Evening Bath
When: January 3rd, 2012
Description: A trip to a Japanese public bath house.
Rating: PG
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): Original Work

On January 3rd, 2012, I went to a public bath house for an evening bath in Kuttari, 20 minutes west of my town in Tokachi, Hokkaido.

Sun streams in from the big windows, peppered by condensation and fog, lighting the open baths. It’s muggy, of course, and loud, the sound of rushing water floods my ears as I make my way over to the showers.

Seated on a pink plastic stool, I fill my bucket and wash my hair, my body and ignore the darting glances of the other naked women as they wonder what a foreigner is doing at a bath house. Finished, I don’t bother pinning my hair up. I love the feeling of hot water floating through my hair and the water washing over my body. Massage shower first for my shoulders, followed by the Jacuzzi beds for my aching hip and then the bubble pool. The outside bath is next.

I love floating in the outside hot pool: close to the river, it offers a perfect view of the night moon. Peaceful and content, this is the place where I feel truly alive, happy and healthy. Romancing the moon, she romances me back and before we part ways and I re-dress and drive home, I offer her a short poem of heartfelt thanks.

V (2009) Fanfic - Erica/Jack

lule_bell — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:25:49 GMT

Title: Season of the Heart
Author: lulebell
Fandom: V (2009)
Paring: Jack/Erica
Word Count: 848
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This is my last fic of 2011, for serenitymeimei who asked for "Watching Christmas classics on TV in the middle of a snow storm". Hope you enjoy!

“It’s really coming down now,” Father Jack said absently as he pulled Erica’s curtains closed. He let his hands linger, feeling the heavy cloth in his hands and wondered who was wondering the streets this Christmas, lost in a gloomy snow storm, addicted to Anna’s bliss. He looked up to see Erica grimacing uncomfortably as she set a bowl of hot soup down on the table top.

“Come eat,” she said and disappeared back into her dark kitchen in search of some bowls.

“What’s this?” Jack asked as he pulled a chair out from the table.

“It’s cold out,” Erica said when she returned, setting two large soup bowls and some spoons down, one for him and one for her. “We’ve got to keep warm somehow,” she raised a playful eyebrow at him and he exchanged a shy smile. It was a nice look on her - calm and relaxed, as she was usually stressed with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jack looked up at Erica, watching her as she settled herself in at the table.

“Ready to eat?” she asked smiling.

It might have been the Christmas season that changed her outlook, or it might have been the fact that she had company this night. Whatever the reason, Jack felt a warmth in his chest rise and envelop around him and it was all because of her.

“Absolutely,” he said, but before he could offer a meal-time Grace, the whole house went dark. Erica stood up, going for the breaker switch while he made his way to the living room window, peaking out through the curtains.

“Power’s out,” she called from the other side of the room.

“Looks like it’s out on the whole block too,” Jack said, walking back to the table.

“Well, we can eat our soup in the dark, or I have some old movies on my computer. The battery could last us a few hours.”

“Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Do you have any Christmas movies?” he asked hopefully.

“I think I do! Why don’t you go set us up on the couch and I’ll get my computer.”

Jack carefully carried the two bowls of soup to the coffee table and fluffed up the pillows before Erica returned, plopping down beside him and clicking various files on her laptop.

“What....? What is this?” Jack asked slowly once the movie began.

“Hey!” Erica said, slapping his leg playfully. Jack feigned injury and both of them were laughing. “This movie happens to be a classic.”

“Yeah... the story is a classic but I don’t know how I feel about singing mops.”

“They’re not mops, they’re Muppets and shush! You’re going to miss the music.”

She leaned back against the couch and into his already-outstretched arms. He wrapped his arms around her comfortably. The house was dark and quiet, except for the sound of falling snow. Her hands were cold as they found his, but she found them more than willing to squeeze hers tightly soon grew warm. Jack never go of her and as the movie played on, through song after song, the Christmas spirit was not lost on either of them: they were together, holding hands, and as simple as that may have been, it was all either of them really needed.

There was something about the power of touch: their world had shifted dramatically, been taken and uprooted and was left standing on it’s head. Despite all the confusion, all of the fear that followed them and everyone else around through their daily lives, they hadn’t forgotten what it was to be human. Humans laughed, loved and expressed themselves through touch. And though their touches were moderate, chaste at best, they were always filled with the promise of what </em>could be</em> and most importantly, their touch was a sign that Erica felt safe with Jack. For every reason she had not to be safe, she was, there on that Christmas Eve, curled up in his arms, exactly where she wanted to be and giving in to that feeling, Erica fell fast asleep.

Long after the battery died, the two sat huddled together against the invading cold, taking a stance against the invading forces that would oppose them. Erica shivered in her sleep and each time she did, Jack pulled her closer against his chest and the blanket tighter around her shoulders until she slept comfortably and peacefully. He refused to sleep, refused to back down from this place he vowed to protect with everything he had. Long into the night and hours before dawn, he felt himself give way to her and gently, Jack kissed her on the side of her head, half on her hair and half on her skin. He looked down at Erica to see her smiling in her sleep and nestling herself further into the crook of his shoulder. Jack kissed her again and held her close: he would do his best for her, for love, and make it their Christmas.

Writerverse Challenge 10 - Days of the Week Haiku

lule_bell — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:52:59 GMT

Sunday:

If I don't get the
laundry done, I won't have clothes
for the next few days.

Monday:

These kids are so loud
I drank all of my coffee
Hurry up, four o'clock.

Tuesday:

I'm in the office
Stealing all of the bandwidth
Time for some TV.

Wendesday:

Dyslexia sucks
I still cannot spell that word
Best English teacher

Thursday:

Time for ballet class
Mediation through music
Leap, jump! Watch me soar.

Friday:

Finally Friday
Please let this day go quickly
One more freaking day.

Saturday:

Slept in and now there's
no time for laundry
But still there's Sunday.

V (2009) Fanfic - Erica/Jack

lule_bell — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:18:01 GMT

Title: Inspiration
Author: lulebell
Fandom: V (2009)
Paring: Jack/Erica
Word Count: 770
Rating: PG
Author's Note: For serenitymeimei

She had nothing, he even less.

//

The basement was freezing cold; he could almost see his breath. He blew on his hands, trying to keep them warm as he wrote a Christmas Eve sermon no one would ever hear. He left it unfinished, blaming the chill for his lack of inspiration. Folding the paper, he tucked it into his pocket and looked around the barren walls. There was nothing that would make anyone believe that it was Christmas time - no lights, no tree, no presents and even though that wasn’t the point for Father Jack, they still gave spirit to the season.

Normally, he would spend Christmas Eve with his infirmly partitioners, but since he no longer had partitioners, he couldn’t think of any where to go. He paused for a moment, debating. There was a home where he could go this Christmas Eve, one home that probably had more cheer than the cold basement where he stood and there he would find some sought after company. Friendship, love and companionship made the very essence of Christmas and with that, he made his decision to go quietly, hoping that no one could hear his thoughts.

//

He arrived at Erica’s house expecting to find... something, some kind of Christmas decorations adorning her home, but Father Jack was greeted with nothing but darkness. He hesitated before he pushed open the unlocked door, not bothering to knock. Even though it was dangerous for her to do so, she probably kept the door unlocked in case Tyler found his way home.

“Erica?” he called out into the darkness, stepping into her house and finding it just as cold and dark as the outside world.

She had a Christmas tree but it was only half decorated and had a few unwrapped boxes sitting on the counter beside two empty whisky bottles. Pensively, Jack closed his eyes. The odds of finding a sober Erica were starting to dwindle and suddenly he half wished he stayed in the basement.

He ventured into her dark living room further and was about to leave when he spotted a lump of blankets on the couch; she was warm when he touched her back and Jack didn’t take his hand off her right away. Instead, he squeezed Erica’s shoulder and sighed. He turned to leave when something caught his hand and he turned back to find a groggy Erica staring up at him.

“Hey,” he whispered and knelt down beside her. She had a look of confusion on her face that quickly changed to pain.

“I was hoping you were Tyler.”
“You haven’t heard from him?”

Erica scoffed. “No, I heard from him.” She sat up and angrily eyed the unwrapped boxes beneath the barren Christmas tree. Erica rubbed her face between her hands and pushed her hair back over her head, looking at Jack. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted your opinion your opinion on a sermon I was writing,” he answered softly, standing up and putting his hands on his hips, debating on turning the lights on. He answered honestly but his answer still made her laugh.

She looked up at him with a bemused expression on her face. “Well,” she said standing up and pulling a blanket around her shoulders. “Thanks for dropping by.”

Erica was going to leave him there in her dark living room (why should the both be miserable together?) when Jack reached out and grabbed her by the elbow.

“Hey,” he said, his voice hovering between anger and desperation. “I really did come here for more than just the sermon.”

Erica waited for him to continue and as he released her arm, he looked up and locked on to her eyes.

“I came here because I wanted to be with you.”

Her face softened then and she looked about ready to cry. Jack pulled her into his arms and held her closely before the two of them folded into each other and fell, landing on her couch. She sighed softly and was soon asleep.

Jack cradled Erica in his arms and slouching down on the couch, he gently pressed his lips to her temple feeling content and happy. He stared at the unlit Christmas tree but suddenly knew that this is exactly where he was meant to be. Maybe in the morning he would finish that sermon, and maybe even read it to Erica. His time with her on her couch had been enough to inspire him because, he thought, it’s true - where ever you find love, it’s Christmas.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic Fic

lule_bell — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:49:50 GMT

Title: Mending Hearts
Word Count: 1122
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic
Characters Princess Luna, Princess Celestia
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/RPF etc): None
Summary: Princess Luna contemplates her banishment before returning home and discussing the matter with her sister, Princess Celestia.

The princess was without her throne that day. Alone and forgotten, she pawed at the grey dust beneath her feet and tried not to look up at the earth for the thousandth time in an hour. She didn’t know what year it was specifically, but she had an approximate idea; if it wasn’t for the sun’s cycle, she would have lost track of all time. She was used to seeing her former home like that by now, hovering gently in front of her - a giant ball of green and blue, perfect and serene in all its infinite glory. It’s where she used to be... where she should be... where she wasn’t.

The bitterness and resentment that resided in her heart over shadowed her suddenly and she looked away, angry and exasperated. The hurt grew exponentially in her heart, spreading to every inch of her body, replacing hurt with anger. She turned from the earth that hung so beautifully in the dark sky and charged towards the nearest rock, picking up speed with every step and lowering her head in anticipation. Her horn pierced the rock first and it shattered into hundreds of pieces, each flying around her body as she broke through the rest of the rock. When she stopped charging, she ruffled her wings, shaking the dust from her feathers, and realized that the rock was broken. She turned back to see its destruction, careful to not focus on Earth for any particular length of time.
The rock did nothing to alleviate her anger so she turned to a new rock and charged at it, breaking it too.

Over and over, she charged at rock after rock until she was out of breath and her horn was raw, red and bloody. Her wings stung and she was rapidly blinking dust from her eyes. She stood among the destruction that lay strewn around her, the debris that she created but when she looked back up, the earth was still hanging there, beautiful and clam as it ever was. She bent her head to the ground as she regained her breath but she was tired and weakened from her self-induced injuries and with nothing left to hold herself together, tears ran down her face and dripped on her hooves.

Her sister had been right to send her here, to banish her here. She needed to be alone with her thoughts in a place where she couldn’t hurt any pony, high up on her beloved moon. She had been away from Equestria for so long - nearly one thousand years and she wondered whether anyone remembered her or just the stories that she authored. She wanted, craved, approval from every pony but especially from her older sister, the one who could raise the sun with her powerful magic, the one who was worshiped by all of Equestria for her beautiful days. But what of the younger princess?

Dark and mysterious, Princess Luna only appeared at night, a shadowy figure that frightened young fillies and colts, giving them nightmares and horror stories. She was nothing like Celestia and nothing she did ever brought her closer to being like Celestia. Luna thought about her sister, how she would sometimes stay up throughout the night when the other ponies slept just so she could see what kind of night Luna brought. Luna shook her head in shame: it wasn’t enough for the younger sister and a flash of anger tore through her once more. This time she let out a sharp cry: she yelled continuously until her lungs here hoarse and she could only cough. Weakly, she let her legs give out from underneath her and she collapsed on her belly, weeping.

Luna lay on the moon’s surface until the next sun cycle. She opened one eye weakly but lifted her head when she realized how significant this particular cycle was: she had been imprisoned for almost one thousand years and as she looked around her, she sat up and closed her eyes once more. Concentrating all of her inner strength, all of the magic that still resided deep inside her soul, she felt the stars’ power and new that soon, Nightmare Moon would rise again.

//

“How now dear sister?!” Luna’s voice thundered throughout Celestia’s chamber. Looking up from her latest friendship report, Celestia smiled, genuinely happy to see her younger sister.

“Hello, little sister. How are you this evening?”

“Oh, we are fine!” Luna said but she didn’t come into the chamber.

“I saw you raise the moon tonight. It was beautiful.”

“We thank thou, dear sister, as we too prefer the glow of a full moon to that of any other moon!” Luna trotted her front hooves but still didn’t move from her spot outside the chamber.

“My favourite though has always been the stars, like far away diamonds on a black blanket.”

“The stars are very important to us!” Luna said proudly and Celestia knew immediately what she was referring too.

“I know, they are apart of your soul.”

Luna looked at Celestia and thought for a moment. “Yes... we do agree with thine statement!”

“Is there something bothering you?” Celestia asked after a moment of silence between the two.

“Oh...” Luna said slowly, lowering the tone of her voice slightly. “Are we disturbing thou?!”

“No, never. I’m just want to make sure that you’re alright.”

“Well...” Luna bellowed hesitantly and Celestia smiled again, wondering how her sister could bellow so but still be unsure of herself. “We were wondering,” Luna continued. “Why did thou forgivest us so easily?”

Celestia looked surprised by the question. She put her letter aside and trotted over towards Luna. “You are my dear sister and for too long we were apart. I had always hoped that one day you and and I would rule Equestria together, as we were meant to do. That was my dream from the moment you left Equestria.”

Luna thought for a moment and then walked over to the grand window in the center of the room. Using her magic, Luna pushed the window outwards and let some of the cool night air circulate throughout the room. She felt her sister come up behind her and neither of them said anything for a few moments - they just stared up at the moon.
“Tis different,” Luna whispered as quietly as she could in her Royal Voice. “From this side!”

Celestia raised an eye brow but didn’t say anything.

“We are happy we can see it!”

Celestia smiled and leaned her head against Luna’s.

“As am I, little sister. As am I.”

Fringe - Some Days, This Show Is Ick

lule_bell — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:29:14 GMT

Top Ten (in no particular order) "This show is disgusting" *pops another potato chip* Moments from Fringe

This was from the pilot, like a few minutes into the show and HOLY CRAP! That dude’s face just melted off! I remember thinking “what the heck is with JJ Abrams and airplane disasters -- AND OH MY GOD THAT GUY’S FACE JUST FELL OFF HIS FACE... oooh my popcorn is ready!”

AND

Those worm things from Snakehead. These reminded me of Flukeworm from The X-Files all those years ago. Like ew to the max. I distinctly remember thinking "oh my god! What the hell is that?" with wide eyes as I popped yet another potato chip into my mouth, chewing and swallowing despite my horror.

I actually think that Marionette was a really beautiful love story but some people were creeped out by it, I do believe.

Hmm! Bacon!

Braaaaaaains! *lurches back to the fridge in search of pie*

Seriously, Snakehead is just icky! *takes another handful of Dill Pickle chips*

The monster's larvae. *takes a big gulp of tea while Astrid searches for her bucket*

I hope that monster's breath was somewhat fresh... oh and that Walter doesn't die... time for ice cream!

What is that?! *crunch crunch* I can't hear over the sound of my own crunching!

Those look like Japanese plum gummy candies! Only giant... and not quite dead... I wonder if 7-11 is still open....

Writer's Block: American Censorship Day!

lule_bell — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:56:42 GMT

It freaks me out that more people aren't freaked out by this.

GO HERE http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-internet-control-bill-now AND SIGN THE PETITION

Pimping

lule_bell — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:55:13 GMT

We are a creative writing group for all those that love to write and love to help others write. Prose, poetry, screen-writing ranging from fanfiction to original fiction to RPF to everything in between. See our FAQ & Rules to learn more!

http://writerverse.livejournal.com/profile

RPF Big Bang - Better Days, Part I

lule_bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:05:41 GMT

RPF Big Bang - Better Days, Part II.II

lule_bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:03:39 GMT

TITLE: Better Days
AUTHOR NAME: lulebell
ARTIST NAME: lediablaa
BETA: lo_duclavier
FANDOM: Misc. actors
GENRE: Femslash
PAIRING: Anna Torv / Elizabeth Mitchell
WORD COUNT & Rating: Part One, PG - 1948 Words
Part Two, R - 11,124 words
Part Three, PG - 2573 words
WARNINGS: Femslash, explicit sex
SUMMARY: Anna Torv, Elizabeth Mitchell, one glorious night and a unicorn: No matter how good an actress you are, reality is always quick to surface. If only fantasies were real!

LINK TO FIC: ( Part One )

( Part Two, One )
( Part Two, Two )
( Part Three )
LINK TO ART: ( Here )

Somewhere between the living room and the bedroom, they lost all of their clothes, leaving the strewn haphazardly on the floor, a treasure trail in their wake. The bedroom was dark but softly lit by light of the moon; shadows danced on the walls as they walked in, hands pressed into hands, bodies touching in intimate ways and lips caressing lips.

Somewhere between the living room and the bedroom, they lost all of their clothes, leaving the strewn haphazardly on the floor, a treasure trail in their wake. The bedroom was dark but softly lit by light of the moon; shadows danced on the walls as they walked in, hands pressed into hands, bodies touching in intimate ways and lips caressing lips.

In a whirlwind of pushes and pulls, Elizabeth hit Anna's bed with the back of her knees and she fell backwards, hitting the feather down blankets with a soft ooph. Hair sprawled out beneath her head, Elizabeth looked up at Anna with wide eyes and she pushed herself across the bed with her feet, guiding Anna on top of her with her hands. She griped Anna by her outstretched wrist and as Anna's hair fell around her ears and cascaded down the front of her head, Elizabeth's hand slid up Anna's wrist to her palm. Their fingers interlaced and the two formed a small bridge, made out of flesh and bone. Settling herself on to Elizabeth's hips, Anna linked her legs behind her in a V-shape. In turn, Elizabeth gathered her legs up around Anna and pushed her forwards, down on to her own body.

Suddenly afraid that she would fall, Elizabeth released Anna's hand and caught her by both shoulders. Elizabeth held her there and for a moment, neither of them moved and neither of them spoke. They simply looked at each other, all over each other, until Anna leaned down and kissed Elizabeth on the mouth softly. Opening her mouth slightly, Elizabeth allowed Anna's tongue to slip inside and soon, Elizabeth moved her hand to the side of Anna's face, holding her to their kiss, while Anna shifted, rolling off of Elizabeth slightly and on to her left side.

Elizabeth followed Anna, rolling over her, touching the side of her face, and eventually Elizabeth was on top of her the same way Anna had been. Only this time, Elizabeth didn't give them any opportunity to wait. The time for lingering touches and searing glances was over and Elizabeth took control by kissing Anna's face - her lips and mouth, cheeks and chin - not a single space of Anna's face went untouched. Expertly, Elizabeth slid her hand down Anna's body, while the opposite hand kept her upright and steady, resting gently against Anna's body.

Her hand stretched down Anna's puckering skin, touching her everywhere and not bothering to stop or rest at any particular part. Frantic and unrelenting, Elizabeth's lips matched her hand's pace in an unyielding display of ferocity, until the pressure was almost too much and Anna gasped, pulling away from Elizabeth's touch. She gripped Elizabeth's wrist tightly and forced her to stop her onslaught. Panting, Anna found Elizabeth's eyes with her own and rubbed her thumb against her pulse point, trying to get her to calm down.

Slowly, Elizabeth sat up and Anna followed her, tucking her flyaway strands behind her ears and pulling on her earlobes gently and kissing her softly. Moving from her lips, Anna kissed the corners of Elizabeth's mouth, trailing down her neck and across her collar bone. From her clavicle, Anna kissed Elizabeth's chest, her hands found their way to Elizabeth's perfect breasts and squeezed them together gently. She pressed her face into the top of Elizabeth's chest and let the right breast fall back to its natural position. Anna kissed Elizabeth's left breast over and over, alternating between using her lips and rubbing her nose against the soft skin. With two fingers, Anna squeezed, Elizabeth's already-hard nipple and applied more and more pressure, which made Elizabeth moan deeper and louder.

Lulling her head back, Elizabeth's chest rose and fell more and more rapidly and she cried out when Anna leaned in and grazed her teeth across the delicate flesh, flicking the tip with her tongue. Elizabeth whimpered and gripped the back of Anna's head, holding her to her breast. With the opposite hand, Anna massaged Elizabeth's left breast, gripping the underside, pushing and pulling the flesh between her fingers. Suddenly, Anna switched sides: her mouth latched on to the opposite nipple while her left hand rubbed and caressed Elizabeth's left breast. Anna listened to Elizabeth's moans adding more and more pressure, alternating from breast to breast. Elizabeth kept her head back, her eyes squeezed closed and her hand on the back of Anna's head, never hoping she'd stop.

Keeping her hands on Elizabeth's breasts, Anna kissed her way down Elizabeth's body, to her stomach on both hips, and when she reached the top of Elizabeth's thigh, Anna pushed her back against the pillows and blankets, while she rested on her stomach between Elizabeth's spread legs. Elizabeth ran her fingers through Anna's hair, toying with her blonde strands that fell away from Anna's ears and Anna rolled her head into Elizabeth's hand without thinking. She rested her head on the top of Elizabeth's thigh, enjoying the feel of her hands in her hair. She took a deep breath and blew Elizabeth's curls, running her own fingers through Elizabeth's delicate hair, smiling when Elizabeth began to giggle. Anna did it again and again until Elizabeth's laugh grew louder and louder. She was laughing so hard that Anna nearly fell off of her, but she stopped suddenly when Anna ran her finger across her labia, making Elizabeth gasp and grip the side of Anna's head tighter. Anna smirked and despite liking Elizabeth’s reaction, she stopped suddenly, sitting up and grinning from ear to ear.

“Just, hurry up already.”

Anna grinned and lifted an eyebrow, silently eyeing Elizabeth’s command, before she bent her head and went to work.

Anna took one finger and stretched her knuckle across Elizabeth’s delicate folds, delighting in her sudden shift. With her her heels, Elizabeth pulled herself down and elevated her hips; the angle gave Anna more access and she slid her mouth into Elizabeth, tasting the excitement that beaded on her skin.

Elizabeth moaned as Anna’s tongue traced the outside of her labia. Anna moved from the left side to the right, skipping over the middle with her tongue, but still let her finger do all the work. The sounds Elizabeth made was beyond anything Anna had ever heard before and nothing like she had ever imagined and she relished in it completely.

Switching back and forth grew wary for Elizabeth and she stopped Anna from moving by placing her hands firmly on either side of Anna’s head. Elizabeth ran her hands through Anna’s hair and rubbed her thumbs over Anna’s ears; she finally stopped moving and focused on Elizabeth’s center.

Anna slid her finger into Elizabeth, just past her fingernail and touched Elizabeth’s clitoris with the tip of her tongue. Elizabeth gasped sharply, sucking in a breath and releasing an entirely new sound. Anna smiled into Elizabeth’s folds. Gently, she took the sensitive nub between her lips and sucked on it eagerly as she pushed her finger deeper inside Elizabeth, enjoying the cries she made and lapping up the thick cream that expelled itself from her body.

Elizabeth tightened her legs, moving them up and crossing them over Anna’s back while tightening the grip she had around Anna’s head. Arching her back, Elizabeth gave the loudest, most powerful scream of the night as her inner muscles clamped around Anna’s finger and a hot, white creamed flowed out of her body and into Anna’s mouth. Anna smiled, listening to the cries that were brought on by her own doing; she couldn’t help feeling proud of herself.

Sliding up Elizabeth’s body, Anna found Elizabeth’s face and with two hands on either side of her head, drew her lover in for a passionate kiss before settling down on the pillows beside her. Slowly, Elizabeth’s breath returned to normal and she lulled her head over sleepily and looked at Anna with shinning eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but the only sound she could produce was a soft sigh before she lay her head on Anna’s shoulder, smiling as Anna wrapped her arms around her and held her tight as Elizabeth drifted off to sleep.

//

They laid together, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, drifting in and out of sleep in Anna’s overstuffed bed, when Anna looked up at Elizabeth and realized that she was thinking about something. Elizabeth had a huge smile over her face and her eyes were shining.

“What?” Anna said, making Elizabeth take notice and after she realized that Anna had been watching her the whole time, the smiled faded and she look slightly embarrassed.

“Nothing,” said quickly.

“There was something going on. I could see it all over your face.”

“I... I was thinking...” Elizabeth answered slowly; she looked at Anna and made eye contact but looked away quickly.

“You were thinking about what?” Anna asked stared at Elizabeth and didn’t let go of her hand.

Elizabeth laughed and shook her head, looking away from Anna. “No, it’s silly.”

“C’mon,” Anna said, playfully tugging at Elizabeth’s arm, “out with it!” She propped herself up on to her side and supported her head with the opposite hand.

Elizabeth looked back at Anna and smiled sheepishly. “Alright,” she closed her eyes before she started and opened them to find Anna’s eager smile. “I was thinking

“After one night? Wow... you must have enjoyed yourself more than you let on,” Anna said teasingly, looking rather proud of herself.

Elizabeth laughed, smiling at the memories. “It’s more than that,” she said shyly, looking up at Anna with soft eyes. Anna realized she was serious and her smile faded.
“Tell me.”

“I... I was thinking about a place... a place where you and I could be together... where we could meet in secret and just... just be together... Some place magical, with towers and princess and unicorns...” Elizabeth trailed off, waiting for a response. But Anna only bit her lip and narrowed her eyes, not completely understanding what Elizabeth was saying.

“You could be the sorceress... we could travel together, at night, with nothing but the mood lighting our path...” she trailed off and smiled uncomfortably and all of a sudden she felt uncomfortable and wished that she hadn’t said anything at all.

“Are... are you saying that I... that I bewitched you...?”

Elizabeth looked at Anna sharply and suddenly, her eyes welled with tears and she swallowed everything that she was holding on to, unable to say anything at all.

“Hey,” Anna said kindly as she reached her hand out and wiped away the few droplets that started to scatter across Elizabeth’s face. “None of that.”

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, thankful for the touches that peppered her face and skin.

Anna didn’t say anything, she just kissed Elizabeth’s face all over until there was nothing left but smiles and the sound of delighted laughter. Anna pulled Elizabeth’s hand up to her mouth and kissed it lightly.

"I think you're still drunk," Anna said, amused and touched at the thought of such an offer. She kissed each of Elizabeth’s knuckles, one by one.

"Maybe," Elizabeth laughed. "I'm a bit of a light weight. I don't normally drink that much, so it's possible."

They were quiet for awhile; a cool breeze came in from the open window, and Elizabeth pulled the blanket up around Anna to keep her warm. "Thank you," she whispered demurely and then after awhile, she murmured: "you know, it does sound nice."

"What?" Elizabeth asked, sitting up and putting her hand behind her head for support.

"That... that place. It does sound really nice," Anna leaned over and kissed the end of Elizabeth's nose.

"Yeah," Elizabeth said smiling. "I think so too."

She lay her head back down on the pillows beside Anna’s shoulder and fell asleep in her warm embrace.

//

Suddenly and fully awake, Anna woke up with a beautiful woman lying beside her, and realized that she needed something more, that their time together wasn’t finished and that, even though they were late into the night, they still had all the time in the world. She leaned over and kissed Elizabeth’s face all over, rubbing her hands down her body and squeezing her breasts along the way. She was a slightly afraid that Elizabeth would just push her away, content on sleeping through the brewing storm outside, but was happy when Elizabeth started waking up and returning her kisses.

“Hey,” she said sleepily. She opened her eyes to the shadows on Anna’s face. Waking up, Elizabeth sat up but was immediately reduced to confusion when Anna grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her from the bed. She opened her mouth to protest but the only sound that came out was “wha---?”

Anna laughed, pulling herself off of the bed, not letting go of Elizabeth’s wrist. She tugged at her partner. “C’mon,” she said, still smiling.

“Where are we going?” Elizabeth sounded exasperated. Her cheeks were pink and her breasts were flushed, glowing with a rose hue, as they rose and fell with each breath.

Anna dropped Elizabeth’s wrist but her smirk didn’t fade. “Don’t you trust me?” she asked. She lifted her eyebrow and Elizabeth nearly melted in front of her.

“I....” the flush from her breasts travelled up her neck and settled on her already-pinked cheeks.

“Just trust me.”

Anna walked away from the bed and towards a nearby door, disappearing out of sight. Soon, a rush of water and a heavy head of steam floated out of the door that Anna left partially open. Elizabeth waited a few seconds, so as not to seem too eager; she held the corner of the down duvet with her thumb and forefinger, rubbing it in circles. It was soft, like Anna’s skin, but hard, like her nipples as they pressed into the side of her leg. Elizabeth closed her eyes and imagined the feel of Anna’s fingers sliding across her labia and as slight as the touch had been, the memory of it made her shiver. Her body bended unconsciously and she opened her eyes to find Anna’s bedroom full of steam and a curious scent coming from the shower. Elizabeth took a deep breath and followed the trail into the bathroom after her.

//

She was soaking wet, water running off of her head, down her shoulders, making two little waterfalls over her breasts, disappearing somewhere around her knees, after traveling off her stomach. Her blonde hair filled with water and she gathered it up in one long twist of hair over her shoulder. She adjusted the water and pretended not to notice Elizabeth standing behind her, leaning up against the wall.
There was no bathtub in Anna’s bathroom. Instead, she had one large shower, comfortable enough for two, even with the tiled seat that jetted out from the corner. The shower head was large and round with several different massage settings built in. She had every kind of shampoo, conditioner and body wash known to man on a hanging plastic rack over the shower’s neck. The shower door slid open and closed and had several frosted stripes on key points of the glass, making it difficult for anyone to see anything more than short teases of the shower’s occupant. It was a grand and beautiful unit, but the lack of a proper bathtub was disappointing to Elizabeth and it registered on her face clearly.

“You don’t have a bathtub.”

Anna turned the water on and adjusted it to suit them both. “No. Never really like taking a bath all that much.” She turned to Elizabeth, approaching her slowly, slinking her body across the floor and into Elizabeth’s arms. Anna kissed her along the jaw line to her ear lobe and down the side of her neck.

“I’m guessing you prefer a bath then?” Anna switched to the other side of Elizabeth’s face, but not before she pressed another kiss against Elizabeth’s lips. She tilted her head back, giving Anna full access to the soft spot under her ear and across from her jaw. “Mhm,” Elizabeth breathed.

“Well,” Anna said, taking Elizabeth by the hand and leading her to the shower. “I’ll just have to make sure you get used to them.”

She turned Elizabeth around, leaning her against the titles gently, her head in the rising team. Elizabeth closed her eyes against the heat, relishing in the feeling of Anna’s hands on her back as they moved up and down her spine expertly. She groaned when Anna began to pepper her back with light kisses as her hands wrapped around her body and started squeezing her breasts with different degrees of pressure. Elizabeth lulled her head back, her ear scrapping against Anna’s, and she gasped when Anna kissed the delicate skin beneath her ear.

“You know...” Elizabeth said when she could, “it’s not that I don’t like showers....”

“What is it then?” Anna asked, only slightly interested in the conversation; her mouth was too busy working Elizabeth’s flesh into a goose-puckering frenzy of need.

“...I... I think it’s because I don’t have anyone to share them with....” Elizabeth closed her eyes, not bothering to continue her sentence.

“Oh, well, if you’re looking for a new shower buddy, I would be happy to accommodate you.”

“I could get used to this.”

Anna smiled and took Elizabeth by the hand the two of them slid the shower door open and into the pouring water. It was hot, but not too hot. Anna held Elizabeth’s hand in the water. “Is that too hot for you baby?” Anna whispered into her ear. She rubbed her hand over Elizabeth’s and the water tickled her skin as Anna left droplets over her pale skin. A thick head of steam was moving from the shower stall across the ceiling, fogging up the mirror and made beads of sweat that traveled along the back of their necks and down their spines.

Despite the heavy heat, Elizabeth shivered in Anna’s arms. “Um, no. It’s nice, actually.”

“I figured it would be too hot for you,” Anna said as she wrapped her arms around Elizabeth tighter, leaving one hand under her breast and stroking her skin with her thumb.

“I do like hot showers, on the occasion, I mean.” Elizabeth took a step forward and into the shower. She let the water soak into her hair before she turned around and pulled Anna into the shower with their hands still joined.

“Hmm.” Anna dipped her head back under the running faucet, pushing the water off of her face with her hands. She looked out the corner of her eye and smiled a little when she saw Elizabeth watching the water cascade down her body. “Then it should be just perfect for you.”

Anna looked up at Elizabeth out of the corner of her eye and smiled when Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pushed herself up off of the wall and stepped into the shower. The shower wasn’t that large, but it was somewhat comfortable enough for two with a curiously convenient seat that jetted out from the corner. Anna pressed Elizabeth up against the tiled wall and laid a set of furious kisses on her face, finding her way to Elizabeth’s mouth without any hesitation. Elizabeth’s hands found Anna’s breasts and she squeezed and massaged them as Anna’s tongue slipped into Elizabeth’s mouth. Anna moaned into Elizabeth’s mouth and Elizabeth pressed her thumbs into Anna’s nipples, forcing her to arch her back and break their kiss.

They both laughed and Elizabeth put her hand up against the side of Anna’s head. She ran her hand around the back of Anna’s neck and pulled her in for another kiss, only this time her hands didn’t go for her breasts, but over her shoulders and down her spine, running a hand over her bum and cupping it gently.

Anna’s breasts pressed into Elizabeth’s and she lay her head on Elizabeth’s shoulder and as she rubbed Anna’s backside, Anna slipped her hands behind Elizabeth, crisscrossing them behind her body, and tracing the outline of her bum with her fingers. She reached down further and finally reached the part that she so desired, and when she stroked it again, all of the sensations and the memories came flooding back to Elizabeth and she cried out loudly, gripping Anna tightly.

Anna smiled into Elizabeth’s shoulder. She closed her eyes against the heat and back spray of the hot water and leaned into Elizabeth further, until she could slide a single finger deep inside of her.

Elizabeth’s reaction was something completely unexpected to Anna: she didn’t cry out, she didn’t say anything at all. Her grip merely tightened around Anna as her inner muscles contracted and an something new entirely coated Anna’s finger. She pulled it out slowly, opening her eyes long enough to watch as the slick washed down the drain with the rest of the shower.

She was falling suddenly and it took her a few seconds to realize that she wasn’t falling at all: Elizabeth was pushing her back on to the corner seat and the moment she was seated, Elizabeth was pulling her knees apart, and resting on her toes between them. She pushed Anna’s feet up so they were resting against her bum and she rounded her back against into the corner, gripping the wet edges as best she could.

“It’s a good thing this shower seat is so big,” she mumbled as she ran a hand over Elizabeth’s wet head.

Despite the water’s heat, she shivered as she felt Elizabeth’s caress her delicate skin. Elizabeth smiled in return, but she was too focused on the task at hand to say anything in response. She ran two fingers over Anna’s labia and despite the water that ran down her body, Anna was visibly wet, waiting in anticipation for Elizabeth to make her next move. She shifted uncomfortable on her wet seat, but as Elizabeth replaced her fingers with her tongue, Anna stopped shifting all together. She moaned out loud as Elizabeth pushed her curls to the side with her fingers and flicked her tongue over her thick folds. Anna gripped the back of Elizabeth’s head, holding her tightly, as she finally found the bundle of nerves and massaged it gently with the tip of her tongue.

Anna’s moans were louder than the rushing water and even though she still had water running down her body, she could feel each of Elizabeth’s strokes, prods, and touches as clearly as if she were laying dry on her bed. Elizabeth listened carefully to each sound the other woman made, and as they grew more and more frantic, she plunged two fingers deep inside of her, while keeping a tight seal around her clitoris with her lips, relishing in the feel of Anna’s inner muscles contracting around her fingers tightly. Elizabeth licked around her swollen folds hungrily, tasting nothing but sweetness.

Elizabeth half expected Anna to rest after her first orgasm but she was wrong. Instead, she found herself being pushed backwards as Anna put her heels against Elizabeth’s shoulders, pushing her out of the shower stall and down on to the bathroom floor. She lay on a thick matt and she pushed herself up on to her elbows, watching as Anna turned the water off and side stepped out of the shower. She hung on to the shower stall’s walls and grinned from ear to ear as Elizabeth pulled on leg up and rested her foot on the floor.

Anna didn’t say anything. She kneeled down beside Elizabeth and wiped the excess water off of her with a nearby towel. After she was somewhat dry, Anna curled herself up against Elizabeth’s form, pulling her as close as she could possibly get, not caring that they were still on the bathroom floor with nothing but the rain starting to rage outside.

//

As the water slowly evaporated in the bathroom, dark clouds swirled around outside and overtop of Anna’s house and thunder boomed in the distance. The air turned very cold as the wind picked up and tossed around various bits of debris that littered the quiet street in the deep of night. Completely obscured by the angry clouds, the moon missed out on witnessing two women curled up together on a cooling bathroom floor. The open window in the bathroom let the cold wind blow in; Elizabeth shivered in Anna’s arms. Her skin puckered and she drew her legs up to her chest instinctively. Releasing Elizabeth for a moment, Anna stood up and walked over to the window, pulling it closed and drawing the wooden shutters closed. There was nothing but the sound of rain hitting the window. They were the only two left in the whole world.

Alone but together, Elizabeth still lay on her back in quiet anticipation, as Anna came back to her, laying down beside her and wrapping Elizabeth up in her arms. Even though they both knew that the rest would come, there was nothing but this moment. She relished in the feeling of Anna's hands as they climbed up her skin, stroking her leg from ankle to to kneecap. Elizabeth bent her leg and enjoyed supporting Anna's weight as she rested her chin on Elizabeth's knee. She stroked the wet strands that fell from behind Anna's ear, toying with them between two fingers.

Her darkened hair made her green eyes even brighter and suddenly, she was more beautiful than she had been before. Overcome with emotion, Elizabeth took in a sharp breath and her eyes filled with tears. She sat up quickly and gripped the sides of Anna's face with both hands and pulled her into for a kiss, silence anything that would have slipped out otherwise, ruining the moment and the night altogether.

Elizabeth pulled back slowly, letting out the breath she was holding in, casting her eyes downwards as she ran a finger over Anna's chin. She could feel the question bubbling up up inside of Anna and Elizabeth wanted to answer, wanted to explain, wanted to put her heart out knowing it was safe - but it wasn't. The risk was too great, the pain would be unbearable that threatened to steal the breath out of her very soul. Her head tipped forward from an invisible force and she rested her forehead against Anna's chest.

Anna wrapped her arms around Elizabeth's back and pulled her in tightly resting her chin on the top of Elizabeth's head and rocked her from side to side. The mood changed dramatically and even though she had been enjoying their time together, a profound fear was building up in her mind. She waited for Elizabeth to say something bus she didn't. The only sound was the night rain against the outside window.

//

Anna found the thickest towel she had - the one that she saved for especially cold days, the one she used when she felt like the world would never again be warm and the distant land of her childhood seemed nothing more than the memory of some now-forgotten dream of better days - and wrapped it around Elizabeth’s shoulders snugly. They were both still wet and naked: two sorry sights on an even sorrier night, curled up against a cold and damp bathroom wall. She wanted to say something but felt that it wasn’t the time or the place. Everything had been perfect - their meeting, the timing, their mutual feelings for each other - had all gone according to some unseen plan of perfection but buckled and crumbled down at the last seconds and Anna had no idea why.

Glancing at Elizabeth from the corner of her eye, Anna saw a woman sitting in fright of everything around her. She had the sudden urge to explain herself and to explain her actions and to apologize for too much too soon, when a surprisingly cold hand touched her arm and for a moment, Anna thought that Elizabeth could hear her thinking.

“This isn’t your fault.”

“What isn’t?”

“This.”

Elizabeth’s cryptic answer gave Anna nothing but more questions and more feelings of loss and confusion. Again, she felt the need to ask but this time, she didn’t know if she could hold it back or not, and in the end her heart won over her head and she found the question asked before she could take it back.

“What is it then?”

Elizabeth almost laughed and had she, it would certainly have broken the tension and put Anna at ease, but she didn’t. It hurt when she swallowed her laughter in one big gulp and to compensate for the sudden pain in her chest, she reached out and squeezed Anna’s hand tightly.

“I’m sorry for being like this,” Elizabeth said sheepishly, embarrassed for making such a fuss and annoyed by the fact that this wasn’t the first time her heart ran away with her head.

“You still haven’t told me what’s going on, what you’re thinking about. You look like you’re about to cry,” Anna said, suddenly angry and frustrated by Elizabeth’s lack of trust; her anger quickly turned into fear when she realized exactly what the problem was: this had all been a mistake. This had all come too fast and too strong. Anna was suddenly convinced that Elizabeth was having second thoughts about their coupling and now it was too late to take any of it back. Their night played out in her head like a movie with no sound and she was hopeless to do anything but watch in quiet silence as her mind’s eye played back what should have been happy memories and instead, she felt sick to her stomach. They’re relationship had gone from being happy and fun to sexy and loving to broken and cold all in a matter of moments. Anna looked up at Elizabeth, but she refused to make contact. Instead, she stared directly ahead of her, and when Anna looked away, everything was confirmed, and solid in her head. Elizabeth didn’t trust her, and Anna couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. But at the same time, she felt angry and betrayed. She thought that their coupling had been one mutual passion but apparently, her partner didn’t feel the same way.

Anna felt as if someone kicked her hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her as her crumpled body bounced off the cold concrete of despair. She drew her hands up to her face and ran them over her skin, pushing the expelling tears down her cheeks, letting them dissolve into the drying damp that still peppered her flushed features. Like an iron ball, she was left plunging over a cliff, only to hit the fast-approaching water with a pain she could hardly describe, let alone bear, and she sunk to the cold bottom, alone.

“Hey,” Elizabeth said suddenly, gripping Anna by the arm, lacing her fingers together and pulling her back up to the surface. Anna gasped aloud, pulling in precious breath that reminded her body to fight, fight for life and love and them, for the two who still lay together entwined on the bathroom floor. Elizabeth tugged at Anna’s arm and she was hurled back into the moment by the desperate and concerned look in Elizabeth’s eyes.

“Why don’t you trust me?” The question caught them both off guard: Elizabeth because she heard it and Anna because she asked.

“I... I do trust you. That’s not the issue at all --” Elizabeth said slowly but she was cut off by Anna’s voice.

“If you did,” she said sitting up fully and taking Elizabeth’s head between both hands and looking at her squarely in the eyes. “Because if you did you would have told me already.”

Elizabeth swallowed and Anna released Elizabeth from her grip. “No, you don’t understand. I really do trust you. I wouldn’t have even come with you if I didn’t. I wanted to be here, with you. Don’t you see that? Don’t you understand that?”

Anna opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. She looked down quickly and then back up, waiting for Elizabeth to continue.

“It’s just...” Elizabeth stopped to take a deep breath and to collect her thoughts. “It’s just that I’m scared that I’d... fall for you.”

The room was quiet again. Neither woman looked at each other; the tiles in the bathroom much more interesting than the potential heart break that Anna offered Elizabeth.

“Darling,” Anna started, still not looking up at Elizabeth. “I --”

“No,” Elizabeth said quickly, shaking her head fast and the movement caught Anna’s attention and she finally looked up at the woman in front of her. “It’s okay, really. I... this happens to me on the occasion... I just... I fall too easily, I guess.”

Anna smiled softly. “It’s not that I can’t...” she trailed off because there was nothing she could say, nothing at all that would make it better. Elizabeth swallowed and tried to look away but the gaze Anna held on her was so strong and so powerful that she couldn’t help but meet Anna’s eye with her own. Green locked and held on to blue for what seemed like an eternity until Elizabeth’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears and Anna finally released Elizabeth and let her look away and turn so she could rest her back against the bathroom wall and hug her knees into her chest.

“...It’s just that I’m afraid to,” Anna admitted quietly, so quietly that Elizabeth had to strain to hear her and the sudden declaration had Elizabeth go from staring at the floor, to straining to hear Anna correctly to turning sharply in utter amazement. Elizabeth’s expression changing from sadness to shock and surprise and she had no idea what to say. She never expected Anna to return her feelings. Not that she thought she was just a one night stand, the two of them had too much chemistry with each other for their relationship to just be a one time thing, but she hardly expected Anna to match her own feelings.

Now it was Anna’s turn to not make eye contact and she started playing with carpet fibers on the bath matt she was sitting on. Elizabeth had no idea what to say: she felt like a well of sheer joy was bubbling up inside of her, and even though Anna didn’t come right out and return her feelings, there was potential there. Potential for something great and never-ending. She swallowed, feeling her dry throat click and she gave a little cough to clear it out. Elizabeth took in a deep breath and released it slowly. With the breath came all of the fear and frustration that she was holding on to and the only thing left to do was laugh.

Elizabeth laughed and laughed, the light and happy sound filling the bathroom, silencing all of the negative emotions that were floating around, finally putting fear and anxiety to bed. The situation wasn’t funny, far from it. Elizabeth’s laughter was the release of all the tension she was holding on to and the joy of their coupling reached her again, all of the memories of their recent trysts came back to her and there was nothing but a blinding happiness deep in her heart. The look on Anna’s face wasn’t helping, as she clearly didn’t understand what Elizabeth was laughing at and the look only made her laugh harder. Nearly doubled over from laughter, Elizabeth pulled Anna into her arms and held on to her as she laughed and laughed. Anna pulled back with a quizzical expression on her face and the more Elizabeth laughed, the more Anna began to smile and like an infection that spread rapidly, she was soon laughing too.

“Look,” Anna said finally when the two started to calm down. “You can tell me anything, anything at all. Because there’s a chance that I’ll say yes.” They smiled at each other and kissed each other slowly and sweetly, with everything that they were both feeling overflowing in a kind of ecstasy neither had ever experienced before.

“Sorry,” Elizabeth said honestly and sheepishly. She honestly hadn’t meant for that conversation to go the way it had, but she couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. “I think that we both need to get some sleep.”

Anna nodded. “This floor is not as comfortable now as it was before.”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth said agreeing. “Plus, I think your bed is much warmer than this bathroom is. Neither of us want to get sick.”

“What? You don’t want me to play nurse for you?” Anna said coyly as the two stood up. Anna wrapped her arm around Elizabeth’s waist, keeping her upright and steady as they swayed back to Anna’s bedroom and her empty bed.

Elizabeth smiled and rubbed her fingers on the bridge of her nose. “I have a feeling that your going to have to be my nurse in the morning, regardless.”

//

As the wind died off, as the trees finally quit their violent shaking, and as the heavy rain relaxed into a soft pitter patter, the two women on the bathroom floor picked themselves up and followed each other back to the safety and warmth of a familiar bed that held so much promise and so much love. All of their words were finished, all their emotions expressed and out and as they fell into bed together, they were both asleep immediately and with no other regrets. The clouds above them parted slowly and soon the moon exchanged places with the sun, rousing all who had slept throughout the hot and sticky dusk and the violent storm that finally released all of the earth’s tensions as the storm cleared, allowing everyone a sigh of much needed relief, as the sun rose, feeding the beginning of the day.

//

Elizabeth woke up groggy, unfocused and slightly confused; she had a splitting headache. She turned over in the unfamiliar bed, rubbing her fingers over her temples and the bridge of her nose, suddenly realizing that the empty space beside her had been slept in. There was a light coming from the open bathroom and she pulled the blanket up over her head, shielding her eyes from the brightness. The sheets smelled like sex and suddenly she was fully awake and remembered everything about the night before. She heard footsteps and the bed shifted as someone sat down beside her and peeled the blankets back.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Anna smiled at Elizabeth and leaned into her, kissing her on the tip of her nose. Anna’s eyes glinted and she wrinkled her nose just before she deepened their kiss. When they pulled back from each other, Anna stroked the side of Elizabeth’s face and pulled her into her chest, laying them both down on the bed.

“What happened?” Elizabeth asked. She shifted down until she found a comfortable spot on Anna’s chest, relaxing against her breast. The question was unnecessary: Elizabeth remembered exactly what happened the night before, every moment and ever detail of their coupling but something compelled her to ask the question anyway. A thousand minutes passed in a few seconds, each of them showed their strain on Anna’s face and even though she wasn’t looking directly at Anna, Elizabeth could feel her panic. It ripped through Anna’s body and made her want to jump up and runaway suddenly, but instead, she took in a sharp breath, one that Elizabeth felt rumble beneath her chest, and gripped Elizabeth tightly, pulling her closer to her body; she readjusted her chin on top of Elizabeth’s head, searching for a response.

“You had to much to drink last night,” Anna answered finally, bracing herself for the reply.

“... drink...” Elizabeth mumbled. She ran a hand over the side of her face, delaying the inevitable.

“Whisky, I think,” Anna replied, stalling for precious time.

“That was you. I don’t drink whisky.”

“Oh, right. Vodka and Redbull then?”

“That sounds more likely.”

Elizabeth sat up, getting off of Anna and swinging her legs over the bed’s edge, squinting against the light in the apartment. She sighed heavily and looked back at Anna’s worried face, feeling suddenly sympathetic. Gripping Anna’s hand, Elizabeth ran her fingers over the side of Anna’s face, tracing her body’s outline all the way down to her hip. She smiled, genuinely bright and happy. “I... I don’t want you to think that last night was only because of some alcohol induced stupor because it wasn’t,” she said honestly.

Anna laughed lightly, nervously, guardedly, trying to make it sound as though that never crossed her mind. “I don’t think that.”

Elizabeth smiled mirthlessly and rolled her eyes, she sat up and looked at Anna deadly serious. “Don’t lie to me.”

Taken aback slightly, Anna tried to break away from Elizabeth’s eye contact but she couldn’t.

Elizabeth turned around and slid over the down duvet towards Anna, who looked almost startled. She reached out and grabbed one of Anna’s hands. “I’m serious,” she said. Her blue eyes welled with tears and she sucked in an unexpected breath. “I wanted to be there. I wanted to be with you and I wanted you.” Here eyes were were so blue and deep that Anna felt as if she were lost, swimming through a world where it was just the two of them and no one else.

“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered, sitting up and resting her forehead against Elizabeth’s. Something welled up inside of her - a deep sadness that came out of no where and settle itself in her chest, just beneath her throat. She could feel it and she could taste it: a sick desperation that she didn’t recognize that made her eyes brim with tears. She tried to swallow it down but it wouldn’t go and suddenly she threw her arms up and over Elizabeth’s shoulders and pulled her in, not for a hug, but to keep her there, snug and secure against her breast. She held Elizabeth tightly, squeezing her eyes shut; the sick feeling made its way up her throat and she expelled it from her body with a gasp.

She wanted to tell Elizabeth but the memories of their night together still hung over her head and their conversation still lingered in her mind and she felt hesitant for the first time that they were together. To combat the feeling that welled up in the pit of her stomach and slowly traveled upwards to her throat, Anna squeezed back and bent over, finding Elizabeth’s lips with her own. When she released Elizabeth finally, she swallowed everything inside of her, gulping it down with a certain expertise she perfected over the years.

“I’ll make you breakfast,” Anna offered, her nose wrinkling slightly as a coy grin made its way across her face.

Elizabeth smiled and stretched, arching her back and pushing her breasts up the ceiling. “That sounds lovely,” she said, sighing happily and watching as Anna got out of bed and made a bee-line for her closet, pulling out a few things, but leaving it open for Elizabeth, in case she didn’t want to wear the same clothes she had been last night.

“I don’t think that the pants will fit you, but you never know. Anyway, you can bring whatever you borrow back anytime,” Anna said sheepishly. “My door is always open for you.” She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Elizabeth alone to get dressed, and when Elizabeth joined Anna, they ate breakfast together, coffee for her, toast for her other, just like any other couple. Neither of them refused to give into the inevitability that hung over their heads, that soon they would be separated by the cruelty of day and would be forced to go about their routine activities as if nothing had ever happened and neither of them had fallen in love with each other.

RPF Big Bang - Better Days, Part II.I

lule_bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:59:58 GMT

RPF Big Bang - Better Days, Part III

lule_bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:54:17 GMT

RPF Big Bang Art - Anna Torv / Elizabeth Mitchell

lule_bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:53:55 GMT

Fic: Looking For Peter Bishop (Fringe/V Crossover)

lule_bell — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:06:47 GMT

Title: Looking For Peter Bishop
Author: lule-bell
Fandom: Fringe / V (2009) Crossover
Pairing: Olivia Dunham/Erica Evans (implied), Olivia Dunham/Peter Bishop (implied)
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 1083
Summary: Convinced there's something missing in her life, Orange Olivia Dunahm asks Erica Evans to help her find it.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Fringe 4.02 One Day in October. Beta thanks to the lovely lo_duclavier

Orange AU Verse:

She drove for hours in the dead of night only to arrive at Erica's house apprehensive and anxious, banging on the door before she was actually ready too. A few lights inside of the house flicked on before Erica answered the door, sleepy-eyed and angry.

"Hey," Olivia said nervously, wishing she had brought something along with her, like a bottle of whiskey, that could have been used as a peace offering.

"Hey," Erica said, trying to keep the surprise out of her voice. "What are you doing here?"

Olivia took a deep breath, debating on whether or not she should ask to come in first. She moved to take a step forward, but Erica stiffened and the door she was leaning against inched shut. Olivia stopped and swallowed, trying to find her voice.

"I... I need your help."

"Really?" Erica said flatly. "You show up at my doorstep after months of no contact expecting me to drop everything and help you at three o'clock in the morning?"

Olivia licked her lips and tried to speak. "I... I feel like there's something missing... in my life."

"Something that I didn't fill in for you?" Erica hadn't meant to say it, but it slipped out and was there nonetheless.

Olivia cocked her head to the side and clicked her tongue. "That's not what I meant," she waved her hands to emphasize her confusion. "Look, I can't explain it and I didn't know who else to ask."

There was a brief moment of sympathy on Erica's face, and much to Olivia's relief, she pulled the door open and allowed Olivia to enter her home.

"Tell me more about this... feeling," Erica said when the two were in her kitchen with two very hot mugs of tea in hand.

Olivia stared at the liquid cooling in her much. "I don't know... I don't know what this is..."

Erica learned early on in their relationship that it was never a good idea to push Olivia Dunham, so she stayed as quiet as possible, allowing Olivia the time to think and collect her thoughts.

"It's like there's something missing," Olivia continued hesitantly. "What if, in all of this craziness, in all of these multiple universes and all of our doubles, what if..." she trailed off and wondering eyes finally settled on Erica as she gathered up all of her strength. "What if he's out there?"

Erica looked wary, if not confused. "Who's he?" she asked slowly and a look of panic swept over Olivia's face.

"Erica, don't, please. Just, don't."

Erica sucked her lips into her mouth and crossed her arms over her chest. "So, what do you want me to do?"

Olivia thought for a moment, her hands wrapped around her tea mug tightly. She had never been one for tea; she only ever drank it when she was with Erica. "I'm going to have to find him... I ... I don't know how, though. Or where, but there's got to be something, somehow?" Olivia looked at Erica desperately and Erica was suddenly wanting to help her anyway she could.

//

"You haven't told me about her."

"I think you already know everything there is to know."

Erica paused for a moment, thinking; she focused on the drive back to Boston, eyes shifting from mirrors, to her console, to Olivia in the passenger seat, and back to the never-ending road in front of them.

"Can you get her to help you?"

Olivia stared at the dark shapes that rushed past them as Erica sped them away.

"I think that this is something I need to do alone."

"Like always."

Olivia puffed air through her nose and tried not to smile.

"You know me too well."

"I knew you'd turn up eventually?"

"Even at three o'clock in the morning?"

"Especially at three AM."

//

Upon her soul was an indelible mark that would never be erased.

//

Somewhere between the tank, yet another dosage of cortexiphan and some other unidentifiable drug Walter had on hand, she felt herself float up and away, letting go of everything that kept her anchored to this universe, including the loving face of the one person who made her second guess every decision she made in the last few hours, and slip between universes.

//

I'm supposed to bring you back.

Not yet, it's not time.

But I need you.

No, you really don't. See? You can't feel my touch. It's not time yet, Olivia Dunham.

No, wait! Don't go! It took me so long to find you.

You have someone now. Trust her. She'll help you through this, but you've got to trust her.

And then?

Only time will tell.

//

Erica was there when the tank doors flew open and a drowned, disheveled Olivia emerged, gasping for breath and clawing at the electrodes on her face. She wrapped a towel around Olivia's shoulders and wrapping her arms around Olivia's waist, trying to keep her upright and steady.

"Calm down. Calm down. It's alright," Erica said over and over into Olivia's trembling ear. "It's alright. I'm here."

Slowly, Olivia stopped shaking and her breathing returned to normal. Erica pushed Olivia off of her shoulder gently.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I found him," Olivia breathed.

"And?"

Olivia swallowed. “I couldn’t save him.” She pulled away from Erica for a moment, her hands still wrapped around Erica’s elbows for support. “He said it wasn’t time.”

Erica nodded and pulled Olivia back into her chest. “C’mon,” she said. “Let’s get you into something warm and dry.”

//

“I didn’t save him... I couldn’t save him,” Olivia pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.

“But he said it’s okay,” Erica offered slowly, stretching her hand across the table and gripping Olivia’s forearm.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Olivia said after a quiet moment, looking up at Erica finally and smiling.

Erica smiled back and stood up, heading for the stairs to her upstairs bedroom. “You can stay as long as you need to, you know.”

“Thanks,” Olivia said, standing up and heading towards the door. “But I think I’ll be heading back to Boston tonight.”

“Hey, Erica? Thanks for everything.”

Erica nodded and turned away from the front door and Olivia, heading down towards her bedroom. “This time, don’t stay away too long.”

O/P Ficathon - Five Times

lule_bell — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:26:11 GMT

Title: Five Times
Fandom: Fringe
Pairing: Olivia/Peter
Rating: 14A
Word Count: 1627
Summary: Yellow Verse, The five times Peter Bishop proposed to Olivia Dunham and the one time she said yes.
Author's Note: Written for the 2011 op_ficathon for the lovely sam_carter_1013 who requested: Spontaneity, love, relationship, AU or canon. Not OoC. Fluff or happy ending appreciated. Also, I'm terribly sorry it's so late. Hope you enjoy!

Yellow Verse

2011

He failed miserably. But that was almost to be expected - he never finished anything in his life, always abandoning it halfway though, forgetting about the people who depended upon him and his actions. Why should this time be different from any other? He buried his head in his hands and let the tears flow freely from his eyes, blurring his vision as they dropped one by one on his shoes. He owed her an apology, and he did try, but it wasn’t enough, and now she was gone. They were both gone and he was left weeping in a garden.

//

She ventured to the Bishop’s house, bottle of whisky in hand and a mended heart. Her feelings were on the rise: she couldn’t get him out of her mind and even though that made her weep before, somewhere along the line, she changed her mind. Peter was all she thought about, he was the only thing that made her smile and Olivia was serious when she said that Peter belonged with her. It was the memories of him that helped pull her back from the other side. Knocking at his door, she wasn’t surprised when Peter invited her in, or when they fell into each other, lips on lips, hands on soft bodies, into his bed.

//

Their first date wasn’t traditional by any established means, but given their history together, given the unpleasantness the two faced day in and day out, they hardly needed a darkened theater or a quiet restaurant to get to know each other.

Olivia woke up beside Peter completely naked and wrapped up in several blankets that twisted around her like an awkward cocoon. She relaxed against the pillows and blinked away the remaining sleep as Peter rolled over and slid his hands through the blankets in search of Olivia, but was met with a wall of blankets that prevented him from searching any further. Olivia laughed as Peter punched the obstructing fabric and she kicked the blankets off her body, giving Peter full and unquestionable access to her body.

“Hey,” he said, rubbing his nose against hers.

“Morning,” she answered; he could feel her smile when she kissed him. He could still taste last night’s whisky and he licked her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

“You know what the best part of waking up with you is?” he asked.

“What?” Olivia asked with no hesitation. Her smile faded into a curious smirk and she squinted at him, even though he wasn’t far from her at all.

“I already know what kind of coffee you drink,” Peter said smartly, rather proud of himself.

“Oh,” Olivia said and a full smile stretched across her delicate face. “I suppose that would save time.”

“Not to mention the conversations that Walter tries to have with them.”

Olivia was slightly taken aback and she quickly adverted her eyes from Peter’s gaze; her smile faded and Peter immediately regretted what he said.

“Olivia,” he said quickly, watching her eyes and pulling her closer to him, even though she resisted. “Hey, that’s not what I meant --”

Olivia looked at him then and something changed - he could see it in her eyes - where there was anger, there was now something else... he didn’t want to label it but it felt warm and safe and he realized suddenly that she wasn’t mad at all.

“Peter, of course that’s what you meant,” Olivia sounded slightly exasperated and Peter had a sudden look of confusion on his face. “Of course you’ve had other women here. Do you think that I lived like a nun before you?” Olivia smiled and kissed Peter’s confusion away. “Besides, the important thing is that we’re together now.”

A wide smiled returned to Peter’s face, stretching the corners of his mouth upright, and he pressed her against his chest tightly, happy that she followed his directions willingly.

“So, no regrets?”

Olivia laughed and the sound filled Peter with a joy he never felt before. “No, no regrets.”

2012

He had everything planned out: grand and beautiful with all of the cliche things that girls in the world want when someone proposes, there was no chance that she’d ever say no, except that she did. Not in so many words but the pained look on her face spoke volumes as she sucked in a deep breath and bit down on her bottom lip, looking at every direction but his. His heart sank deep into his stomach and slowly he put the ring back in its box and the box back into his pocket. He rose to his feet, fighting back tears.

“I’m sorry Peter.”

He shook his head and his voice cracked when he said “It’s fine”.

She didn’t believe him any more than he believed himself and when she tried to bring it up three days later, he smiled with that goofy, boyish grin that she fell in love with, silencing her with a kiss.

“It’s alright, Olivia. Really, it is.”

She still didn’t believe him but he was starting to convince her and somehow she knew that he wasn’t finished asking her.

2013

Olivia expected Peter’s proposal to keep popping up, that his feelings never changed and that he honestly wanted her as his wife, but there was something nibbling in the back of her head that kept her from saying yes.

“Things aren’t just going to be suddenly better if we’re married.”

Peter shrugged and shot his mouth off before thinking, letting anger and frustration get the best of him. “It can’t get much worse.”

He had meant it as a joke but the look on Olivia’s face meant that she didn’t take it that way. She looked up at him with sad green eyes and her chin began to tremble.

“What if it does?” she asked with a voice so soft, he barely heard her.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, Peter,” Olivia gasped. Her voice choked with tears and her head fell on to his chest. Her shoulders shook and he could feel her tears seeping through his shirt. She didn’t say anything else and it was all he could do to keep himself from falling into despair with her. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing. Instead, he combed his fingers through her hair, wishing that he could take her pain away, that he could protect her from all of the evils that they faced together on a daily basis. But he couldn’t - all he could do was hold her while she cried.

2014

Olivia was like a stone and Peter was like water - eventually he would wear her down. She was surrounded by a moat, these protective walls made out of stone. He couldn’t get through, she wouldn’t let him in, but he refused to go anywhere, do anything, except protect her from afar, for one day, he knew, that eventually, she would let him in.

2015

She still had reservations about actually marrying him, but he thought that things might have been turning around when Olivia suggested that they move in together. Not into her apartment or into the Bishop’s old house, but into a place of their own, somewhere they could be together, after a long day’s night, and he could make her breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This particular dinner began like all the others: Olivia walked into their house, following the smell of something delicious into the kitchen, only to find Peter covered in meat sauce and swearing at the stove top.

“Did the burner do something bad to you?” she asked, making him jump and look embarrassed. as she waltzed over to him, scraping her finger down his face and licking the sauce off of her finger, smirking the whole time.

He was leaning against the counter in the kitchen trying to look relaxed and failing miserably. Olivia smirked and looked down at the floor. She looked back up at Peter and crossed her arms over her chest. He noticed the movement and burst into a smile - not one out of joy, but one that protected himself from all the world’s disappointments.

“What?” he asked her.

Olivia shrugged but her smirk didn’t fall and she kept her arms where they were. “Nothing.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, still watching her. He turned his attention then to what was left of their dinner. “You ready to eat?”

“Yeah,” she said, but Olivia didn’t move. She had a sudden realization, there in their kitchen, watching him try to clean meat sauce off of the countertop and shirt with the same dirty rag: That’s the guy I’m going to marry.

2016

Peter asked Olivia five times, each time knowing that she would say no but she surprised him when she finally said yes.

“You look shocked,” Olivia said smiling, amused by Peter’s reaction, who stood blinking rapidly at her.

“Reasonably so, I hope,” he said when he could finally speak again.

Olivia laughed and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her in close and sealed her promise with a kiss that deepened until hands were flying and their clothing hit the floor and they were laying together naked in his bed.

//

Simple and without much public celebration, they were wed, and that night, they went back to their apartment, their new home together as husband and wife. Peter closed his eyes as he drew her near, feeling her weight press into him. His breath caught in his throat and for a moment, just held Olivia tightly in his arms. And despite of all the stresses they had in their lives, all of the absurdities and painful events that surrounded them, they were happy together.

Ten My Little Pony Drabbles

lule_bell — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:46:02 GMT

Title: Late Nights
Author: lulebell
Fandom: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Characters: Princess Luna/Twilight Sparkle Friendship
Word Count: 10 Drabbles at 100 Words Each
Rating: G
Summary: Staying up to study, Twilight Sparkle watches her raise the moon and befriends a reluctant Princess Luna.
Author's Notes: Written for fictionland's prompt drabble bingo, with the following prompts: full moon, midnight, tea, strawberries, hours, library, nightmares, ache, candle light, dreams.

Her beautiful, elegant and regal older sister brought the sun down and as she watched, Princess Luna swallowed all of her nerves and worry and just hoped. She spread her wings and as Princess Celestia floated back down to earth, Luna launched herself into the air, pulling the moon up behind her. She pushed all of her anxiety down and concentrated on the task at hand.

Bright, round and silver, Luna hung the moon behind a single cloud wisp and flew back to earth. She looked up at the beautiful moon and was actually proud of what she had done.

“It’s beautiful,” said a voice behind her.

Startled, Luna turned to find Twilight Sparkle staring up at the moon.

“It’s not as pretty as the sun...” Luna said, trailing off.

“Oh, no!” Twilight exclaimed. “It’s just as beautiful, but in a different way.”

“Really?” Luna asked.

“Really,” Twilight insisted.

“Twilight, why are you up? It’s midnight.”

“Oh, I was studying and I saw you raising the moon so I came out to watch you.”

Luna blushed and Twilight suddenly asked: “Princess Luna, would you join me for a cup of tea?”

“I’d like that,” Luna smiled and followed Twilight home.

“Do you live here?” Luna asked when they arrived at the library.

“Ever since I came here from Canterlot.”

“My sister told me you’re her best student,” Luna said absently Twilight made tea.

“Really? She said that?” Twilight gasped. She turned so fast, she knocked the tea pot on the floor. “Oh, whoops.”

“Here, let me help you,” Luna trotted over; her horn started glowing a pale blue and with Twilight’s help, the tea was cleaned up. “Is there any left?”

“No,” Twilight said sadly.

Luna’s horn started glowing again and there were two new cups of hot, fresh tea.

“Strawberry! My favourite,” Twilight exclaimed, drinking it all.

Luna smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Can you make any other flavours?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Luna said shyly. “We have some time before Celestia will raise the sun, do you want me to teach you?”

“Yes!” Twilight cried excitedly.

“Okay,” Luna said smiling, “Do you have a book on tea?”

“Of course!” Twilight trotted over to a nearby shelf, pulling out book after book. One fell open at Luna’s hooves.

“This is the legend of Nightmare Moon,” she said slowly. “Is this how you knew? About Nightmare Moon? About... me?”

Twilight gulped. “Um.. I was studying when I found the legend and I realized what was going to happen...” she trailed off, realizing that Luna was hanging her head; two silver tears rolled down Luna’s muzzle. “Oh, I’m sorry!” Twilight said, stretching out her forearm and wrapping it around Luna’s back. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t,” Luna said sadly. “I spent so many hours being jealous of my sister that I forgot what makes me special and what my own talents are,” she said, glancing at her flank.

“I’m glad you finally did.”

“Only after your help.”

Twilight smiled and looked at the clock. “When will Princess Celestia raise the sun?”

“In a couple hours,” Luna answered. “Do you want to watch?”

“I would love to but,” Twilight yawned. “I need to get some sleep.”

“Alright... do you mind if I look at some of your books? It’s been awhile since I was in a library.”

“Yeah, sure,” Twilight said, yawning again. “Good night, Princess Luna.”

“Good night, Twilight Sparkle and thank you,” Luna said smiling.

Twilight was asleep before she her head hit her pillow as Luna pulled out a book at random and began reading.

The younger sister became resentful... one fateful day, the younger sister refused to lower the moon... the bitterness in the young one’s heart transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon!

Luna read Twilight’s Elements of Harmony regretfully, hanging her head in shame. Tears rolled off her muzzle until a voice made her jump.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight said hesitantly. “We all make mistakes - it doesn't matter what you did, it only matters what you do now.”

Luna sniffed and kept her head lowered. “Even if those mistakes turned you into a nightmare?”

“But, you’re not a nightmare now.”

“It just hurts so much!” Luna said remorsefully. “I can’t take back what I did...”

“No, you can’t,” Twilight said stepping forward. “But you can go out and raise the moon and the stars and then lower them for your sister to raise the sun. That’s something that only you can do, Princess Luna, and if you always do your best, every pony will take notice.”

Luna smiled. “Twilight Sparkle, you are a very wise pony.”

Twilight grinned, covering her mouth with her hove. “Really? Spike says I’m cheesy.”

Luna laughed and shook her head no. “I have to go.”

Luna left Twilight’s library and spread her wings with a grace and confidence she never felt before. Kicking off, she soared into the sky and with all of the unicorn magic she had inside of her, she lowered the moon and put out each of the stars. Twilight watched Luna from below until she couldn’t see Luna at all - just the wisps of light that went out one by one, like candle light flickering out in the wind. Luna disappeared and sky’s colour changed from blue to pink as Princess Celestia soared into the sky, raising the sun for morning.

Yawning, Twilight turned towards the library. “Wow, that’s the last time I stay up late,” she said.

“Morning Twilight!” Spike said when she walked through the door. “Sleep well?”

Twilight yawned again. “I was up again too late... how about you, Spike?”

“I had this fantastic dream!” he said happily. “I dreamt that Princess Luna was here making all sorts of yummy teas.”

“Oh, Spike...” Twilight laughed but yawned again. “I think I’m going to go have a morning nap. Good night, Spike.”

“Good morning, Twilight!” he laughed and she rolled her eyes, asleep before her head hit the pillow.