That was unexpected. Princess Luna had just admitted to not being honest with Twilight? The unicorn blinked before turning her attention to the princess, who avoided her questioning gaze. "You two have overcome your recent... hardship and made up, have you not?"
"Yes, we have," Twilight said simply, waiting for Luna to continue. She still wasn't sure how to feel about what was to come.
"That's good to hear. You see... Your relationship was foretold in the stars. I will be the first to say that I did harbor a certain... fondness... for you, Twilight Sparkle. And that is why I was upset that it was not I that had gained your affections. I came to accept it as time went on, but the two of you did not know of one another's own feelings, and it seemed like neither of you would do anything about it no matter how much time passed."
Pinkie's mind was still stuck on the part where Luna had said she did have feelings for Twilight. She was caught between wanting to say "I told you so!" and being protective of her marefriend, who sat right next to the pony that'd wanted her affections almost as long as she had.
Princess Luna continued. "So... The nightmares... They were of my creation."
"Aha! I knew it!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. She sank back down in her chair from the heated look Twilight shot her way.
"Please continue, Princess Luna." Twilight wasn't happy either, but she wanted to hear more. After all, the nightmares had been plaguing her day and night, bringing her to tears on more than one occasion. Maybe Luna had a good reason for it, however horrible a thing it is to do.
"It was the only way I could think of to push you into the embrace of your lover. It was also a bit of a... test... to make sure that the object of your affections was deserving of them. And from the looks of things now, it appears that all has worked out and you did not need me in the first place. It was selfish of me."
Pinkie sulked from her side of the table, but had learned her lesson and didn't speak up. Twilight looked back at Luna. "I'm honestly very... surprised right now. I'd never have guessed you'd do something like this, Luna. Does this mean that Princess Celestia was in on it as well?"
"No, of course not. She would never have approved of it had she known. My sister did believe the only way to rid you of your nightmares was to separate the two of you, and that is only because she trusts me so completely in this regard—my being the Princess of the Night and all."
"I see..." Twilight said after a while. She wished she was sitting next to Pinkie at that moment, so she could hold her hoof and will herself to stay strong. "I appreciate that you would go to such lengths for me, Princess... but I think you've taken it too far, and I don't know if I can forgive you for that."
The older mare's head dropped. "I understand, Twilight Sparkle. It'd have been foolish of me to believe otherwise. In any case... I truly am glad that you're happy with your special somepony, and I can promise that I will no longer interfere."
Luna gave Twilight a sad little smile before standing up and stretching her wings. "I shall take my leave, then. I must get some rest if I am to raise the moon when the time comes."
Pinkie leaned over the table toward Twilight as Luna trotted to the door. She whispered, "You're not gonna stop her?"
Twilight stared at her marefriend in surprise. "Why would I? Pinkie, she could have ruined our relationship and for all I know, I could've fallen for her instead. I thought you didn't like that idea either."
Pinkie shook her head before placing her hoof over Twilight's—the gesture she'd been wanting earlier. "No, of course I don't like it. But if it were me in her horseshoes, I would want you to come after me. Even if I knew nothing would come of it. And, you know... I could turn a blind eye if you, um... hug her. Just once."
