Smiling, I took a sip from the sweet wine before putting the glass back down. “You know, we really should do this again sometime. The normal place is quite nice, but I rather like this one.” I said and took in the restaurant.
It wasn't the best place in town, but I had done my research. It was pretty nice, just under the line where you needed months of wait to get a reservation. A week in advance had been more than enough.
The food had been great as well, if in rather small portions. Why was it that you paid more for less food?
Seriously, we would probably need to take a tour past the kitchen when we got back for a bit of a late night snack. Which was fun in and of itself.
“It is.” Luna agreed from across the small table. I had managed to get her to tone it down a bit. I mean, she was still model-level hot, but normal model-level attractive, not literally godlike unlike her previous attempt at looking like a unicorn.
I, on the other hand, was almost identical, just under a illusion. My coat had taken on more of a grey color and my mark was now a metal ring. I'm still not entirely sure why Luna picked that one, but she just grinned and said I would find out at a later time.
Not entirely sure what she meant with that.
Raising a hoof, I called down the waitress for the bill before turning back to Luna. “So, Miss Starfall, what would you like to do next? There is a play at the theater. I think it is a classic of some sort so we probably haven't both seen it yet. Otherwise, we could take a walk through the park.”
Luna smiled and tilted her head in thought. “Perhaps a stroll through the park would be nice. Luna's moon will be full tonight and I understand that the stars are going to be extra sparkling.”
I grinned at that. “You don't say. What a lucky coincidence.”
“It is indeed.”
“The check, Miss.” The waitress said as she deposited it on the table. “I hope that you have enjoyed your evening?”
Luna smiled. “We have indeed, thank you.” she said and the waitress moved off with a smile as Luna checked the bill.
“Starfall, if I may?” I said and reached to take it with my magic but she resisted.
“You may not. I will cover the cost of our dinner.”
The hell you are.
“It is tradition that the guy pay-”
“Everything I have read of the subject say that the mare should...”
We both blinked at each other before Luna chuckled. “Cultural difference?”
I nodded. “It seems that way.” before I raised an eyebrow. “...Take turns?”
She seemed to consider it before she nodded. “Very well. I will start.” she said and pulled a small pouch of bits from her dress.
...Not entirely sure where she hid that.
Leaving the restaurant a couple of minutes later, we started down the street and I shrugged, adjusting my suit jacket.
Actually getting dressed now was a bit strange after so long without any clothes. Felt odd. Still, it had started to get chilly, especially in the evenings so I was rather thankful for the extra protection. I couldn't wait for my coat to get thicker when winter started proper.
Fuck cold.
I glanced aside at my date as we slowly walked along the street. She looked completely unbothered by the cool wind even in her thin dress.
Even looking like a unicorn, she wasn't really one. It could be a subzero snowstorm and she wouldn't bat an eye.
“You know...” I said as we entered the dark park, glancing around that nobody was in hearing range. “I don't think I ever asked exactly what makes your mane move normally.”
Luna blinked at me and then smiled. “It is actually quite simple. Would you like to make a guess?” she asked as she slowed down to smell at a flower bed before turning back to me.
I frowned in thought and pawed at the paved path in thought. “Well... you and your sister are the only ones who have it. Not... the third one.” I answered, keeping things as generic as I could in case somepony overheard us. “So not something inherent to the special subspecies. Unless you and your sister are different from the third one?”
“We are not. Simply different aspects.” Luna clarified, watching me with a faint smile.
“Hmm.” I slowly said as I frowned in thought. “When you returned, it was different. It changed to it's current state over months.”
“It did.”
We slowly moved through the park as I mulled over that little problem. “Twilight Sparkle is magically powerful. How would she rate compared to yourself?”
Luna looked thoughtful. “Without the elements, she might equal perhaps a third of my power. But she is not yet fully grown and not yet...” she said before she frowned, "As she is currently, she is likely to end up with half the magical energy that I have when she reach her full potential.”
I nodded and made up my mind. “The effect on your mane is a power release mechanism. A safe way to burn off excess magic.”
That earned me a nuzzle in reward as she smiled. “A oversimplification, but essentially, yes. We expect Cadence will need to use the same kind of magical release during the next hundred or so years as she comes fully into her power. It is not strictly necessary, but it does make things easier in the long run.”
Feeling rather pleased about figuring it out, I nuzzled her back. “Cool. Now you just need to tell me how you almost always manage to keep it from getting in the way.”
That got an amused snort from her. “Not as difficult as you think. I simply...”
There was a rustle and an earth pony burst out of the brushes in front of us, a knife in his hoof, a scarf tied over his face and a hat pulled down over his head. He was wearing both jacket and pants, covering his mark as well.
“Give me the money!” he growled at us.
Luna and I just froze and stared at him in surprise before I blinked and grinned, charging up a shield spell so I could cast it at a moment's notice. “Seriously? You have got to be the unluckiest guy in Equestria. You really should just put that knife down.” I said and carefully shifted a bit closer to Luna, keeping him in my field of vision as I did my best to glance around.
Distraction for a bigger ambush?
“I mean it!” He threatened. “Give it to me or the mare ge...”
There was a faint and quickly growing buzzing sound before Skitter hit him from the side like a changeling-sized wrecking ball.
The next second she was joined by five other night guards who piled onto the would-be robber and I took a step back in surprise. I knew Skitter had been following us, I spotted her once earlier and I had suspected there were more guards keeping a eye on us, but I didn't think there were that many.
“...Told you.” I finally said, letting go of the magic I had been gathering.
That's literally the unluckiest thing that could happen.
At least he was honest about it.
if mares are the ones that pay why does the robber grab the mare then ask the stallion for monies?
Is the punchline 'my OC, Donut Steel?'
I am also in favor of fluffier ponies.
That was stupid
You done goofed, pal!
Yup. Also, someone please draw that!
Obligatory 'I came in like a wrecking ball' comment
You done messed up, A-A-ron
6791486 FLUUUUUUFFFFFEH PONIES!
That he is, that he is.
6791699 Now to diverge from cannon and have Flufflepuff make a cameo.
This almost sounds like a self-insert. Heck, this is pretty good. I already faved it, though.
To be fair, it's not like he could have known
6791988 Yes, he could. He picked a lone couple, but didn't check if there were any witnesses nearby. Missed such a crowd.
6792020 Well, I'm kinda assuming the guard weren't exactly in plain sight if Page was only suspecting their presence.
Does it, perhaps, look like a metal stud?
6792038 Metal ring. Meant to be a metal ring.
6791719 so freaking true to the max Lolol
That was funny, "I came in like a wrecking ball!" When I read ... Like a changeling-sized wrecking ball, that song started to sing in my head.
I'm on my phone, someone link Alucard's 'you dun goofed' line.
Skitter used wreaking ball... it was super effective!
Tango done! Good job boys the charges are protected.
Kolchak whispering into his taperecorder: "Karl Kolchak of the Chicacolt Independent News Service here! I've just seen the most remarkable thing. While searching for the elusive and mysterious Mare Do Well among the rooftops of Canterlot, I happened across a mugging that went horribly wrong...for the mugger. A pair of unicorns where just walking down--"
*the reporter was interrupted at that point by six Lunar Guards*
Fox: "Sculley! You're not going to believe this but---"
*the EBI agent was interrupted at that point by eight Lunar Guards*
Sculley: "Fox? Where are you? Fox? Fox? Oh, for the love of Celestia, now what?"
*Sculley got up from her table at the restaurant to search for her partner...*
Blank Page enjoyed his date with Luna immensely. But after time, he did become a little puzzled and concerned. After all, it was the lack of ponies enjoying the night life that had triggered the Nightmare Moon event over a thousand years ago. He certainly hoped that Luna wouldn't begin to notice how few ponies seemed to be out and about this time of night.
...And throughout the remainder of the night, as an unidentified couple walked along their wanderings to enjoy the evening together, approximately half of the Canterlot nightlife...just...disappeared....
the guard went Minority Report on his sorry flank.
GETTTTT DUNNNKED!
memeshappen.com/media/created/Oh-shit-nooo-That39s-fucked-up-meme-12455.jpg
So useful this picture is!
6872523
Useful indeed. Can I use it?
6872523 Was there anything attached to the ring?
6872523 Omg, that picture! Yoink!
When Skitter came in like a changeling-sized wrecking ball. I was like, "And Skitter yelled, "Cannon baalll!! " 'bam'. And then the other body-guards were like, "Dog pile! "Nailed it.
7330649
I do not understand such... randomness and choice of words.
6792570 I gotchu fam:
I had the same thought, but then tirek happened.
7363870 Blame the animating or writing staff...
They aren't particularly in-line with each other and contradictions happens from time to time.
7774183 We Pegasi are, the greater race, i can't say the same for the Unicorns, but... they're better than Earthies.
GET FUCKED ROBBER!!!!
6791432
Exactly. Way too many contradictions in canon for the whole 'matriarchal social shift' idea to ever quite fit right in fanfics.
I find it hard to believe that THE element of magic will only be halv as powerfull as luna at her full potential.
7918517
Let's compare.
Luna---Move the moon. Mass of 7.35 x 10²² kilograms.The moon's mass is only 1.2 percent of Earth's. Thus, it would take the mass of 81 moons to equal the mass of Earth.
Twilight---Fire an orbital friendship cannon.
I think it makes some sense.
Wow.......I don't feel bad for that robber at all..HE TRIED TO ROB LUNA!!!!! ALSO KNOWN AS BEST PONY/PRINCESS!!!!!!! 5000 YEARS ON ZEH SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7950780 if Celestia hears about it then probably 10,000 years
6791432
1. Probably think mares are easier to overpower.
2. Might think the female is less likely to resist.
Either way, trying to mug some pony in what is essentially the guard capital of the country just screams stupid.
6792827
Pokemon reference?
7918517
Honestly, I think she's comparing Twilight's unicorn potential. Meaning this Luna knows of Twilight's future.
8752269
Interestingly, and if I recall correctly, Starswirl was explicitly mentioned to be at least as powerful as an Alicorn. He's still a unicorn, too. Now, that doesn't mean that Alicorns didn't win the lottery when it comes to power, though. And Starswirl the Bearded was a legend in his own right even a thousand years ago, before his disappearance.
Hell, Celestia and Luna were taught by him.
9075697
It is his magnificent beard. That is his magical release!
this reminds me of several stories where Celestia went incognito, making herself look like a white unicorn with a pink mane, and calling herself "sunny skies".
Fancy looks and fancy cooks
Yes, yes you will
Oh this poor guy
9501710
BronyWriter’s "Princess Celestia Gets Mugged" does come to mind, yes.
Always wondered way their manes were constantly flowing like that. Great way to explain it.