//------------------------------//
// Princess Luna 
// Story: Princess Luna and the Night Mares 
// by Rara 
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I hadn't said a word, apart from the running mental commentary of OH MY GOOOSH IT'S A REAL LIVE PRINCESS WHAT SHOULD I DO WHAT SHOULD I DO, but the Princess turned as if she knew I was there. Well, I figured, she probably had some crazy alicorn magic that alerted her whenever nosy foals come barging into her private garden (because even I had figured out by now that that's exactly what this place was). Or maybe, I thought with the sensible half of my brain, maybe she just heard me stomping around the hedges like a drunken dragon. 

In any case, now she was looking at me. And standing up. And walking toward me. Uh-oh. My legs suddenly remembered their manners, and without consulting my brain, decided that now was a good time to prostrate myself before her. I collapsed to the ground on my knees, but I couldn't help peeking up at her as she approached. 

Princess Luna was the most elegant, beautiful, graceful pony I had ever seen in my young life, and I immediately idolized her for that. There were no ponies like her back in my hometown. She was so regal, and her face didn't betray any emotions except- Well, now she was sort of smirking, and was that a snigger I heard escape her lips? She raised a silver-shod hoof in front of her mouth, and appeared to compose herself. She smiled at me. I loved her for that. If it had been my secret garden that somepony blundered into, they'd be hoofing it out of there with their tail ablaze at this point. But she wasn't mad- Or at least, she didn't look mad, and that was something.  When she spoke, it was gently, without malice or anger.

"What are you doing in here, little one? Didn't you see the signs posted, or did you get lost?" She took my hoof and pulled me upright. "We should get you back to your parents." 

I stammered, trying not to look in her sympathetic eyes. "I, I, I didn't see any signs, ma'am. I mean, Your Majesty."

She twisted her face in a way that, on an ordinary pony, would suggest that she was trying not to laugh. "Princess Luna will do just fine. Where are your parents?" 

I dug one hoof in the grass, awkwardly avoiding her gaze. "Well, actually I'm here on a field trip. The, um, the truth is that I left my group on purpose. I came in here to get some peace and quiet- but I swear I didn't see any signs!" 

Princess Luna laid a foreleg across my shoulders and clucked sympathetically. "Oh, you poor little thing. You can't let bullies get to you, you know. When you run away, it just makes them think-" 

I interrupted, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. Interrupting a princess was bad, obviously, but misleading her to think I was a victim of bullying was probably some kind of special crime that would get me thrown off of a castle wall or something. "No, no, don't get the wrong idea, Your Princess- I mean, Princess Luna! I left because I just don't like flowers very much."

This must have pushed her over the edge, because the Princess burst into peals of laughter. I stood there as she sat down on the grass next to me, one foreleg still around my shoulders, and laughed as if my Cutie Mark declared me the world's greatest comedian. I just stood there awkwardly, wondering if I should be laughing or not. Was it rude, not to laugh when royalty did? Or would it be rude to join in? The niceties of etiquette were too much for me, and I decided to forget about it. I was already in pretty deep muck, I figured, so nothing I did now could make it any worse.

"Princess Luna?" I nudged her gently, and slowly her laughter subsided into the occasional guffaw and snort. She wiped her eyes and smiled at me. 

"Sorry about that. It's just that you came in here looking as though hell-hounds were dogging your hoofsteps, and it turns out that you just don't care for the flowers! It's too rich." 

I sort of appreciated how that would seem funny, but I didn't crack a smile. I was about to risk my neck here. "So... does that mean I'm not in trouble for trespassing?" 

Princess Luna shook her head emphatically. "Oh, no, of course not! I was sitting here brooding and wallowing in the past, and you appear and give me some much-needed relief! If anything, I should thank you. What's your name, little one?"

I was floored. What was she talking about? I had ditched my group, trespassed on a private area, and disturbed the Princess in her secret garden. I ought to be horsewhipped, not thanked! But she was smiling, and I didn't want to seem ungrateful, so I answered. "My name's Jigsaw."

She patted me on the head, and finally released me from her half-embrace. I edged away as politely as possible, but she wasn't going to let me go that easily. "You can stay here as long as you need, Jigsaw. I think I could use a little company."

I nodded uncertainly. "That's really nice of you, Princess Luna." 

She waved a hoof. "Just Luna is fine."

I cast about wildly for something to say, but my mind was blank. Luna didn't notice my panic, and continued to speak. "Come over and sit with my, won't you?"

Oh, no. I found myself being guided over to the trellis where Luna had been relaxing when I arrived. I cast about wildly for excuses to escape. Sorry Princess, but I need to get back to the group after all. I'm suddenly very interested in botany. Sorry Princess, but I need to go wash my mane. Sorry Princess, but I hear my mother calling. Gotta go! I couldn't think of anything, so allowed myself to be marehandled. She sat me down on the carved, mossy stone bench, and settled herself next to me. "Where do you come from, Jigsaw?"

I was starting to calm down, realizing that Princess Luna- despite any nasty rumors or dark past, was a very nice pony. And maybe it was just my imagination, but she seemed a bit lonely. I answered her. 

"Well, I'm from Haywood. Do you know where that is?" She nodded. "Oh, OK, I wasn't sure that you would. It's a pretty dinky town. I always wished I lived in an old city like Canterlot. It's got so much history!"

My words seemed to give Luna an idea. She was silent for a moment, then smiled. "Here, Jigsaw, look at this." She picked up a book from the other side of the bench and slid it over to me.  

"This is an old book that I just found in my personal collection. It's over a thousand years old, and tells a fascinating story. Do you like history, Jigsaw? I've been dying to show this to someone ever since I rediscovered it this morning." 

The book had already captured my attention. It was obviously ancient, and the pages were covered in gilded illustrations that caught the afternoon sun and shimmered enticingly. A sentence on the page caught my eye. "Every pony in Equestria was plagued by nightmares unceasing, and Weaver did not falter in her duties, but doubled and redoubled her efforts until nopony could sleep for fear of the Mares."

I looked up at Princess Luna eagerly. "I love history! This book is so pretty, Princess! Do you really want to show it to me?" 

Luna was pleased with my reaction. Her horn glimmered faintly, and the book rose into the air and floated in front of us. The pages rippled and fluttered themselves back to the beginning, and the Princess looked at me. Her expression was serious now, and I felt my enthusiasm tempered by apprehension. 

"This story is true, but not many ponies know it. I like you, Jigsaw- you seem like a good-hearted foal, but I need to know if you can handle hearing a story like this. It's not pleasant, although it does have a happy ending, and many ponies suffered before the matter was resolved. I had a hoof in these events myself, and I am not proud of the crimes I committed. Do you still want to see it?" 

I nodded vigorously. I really, really wanted to know it now. Luna turned to the book and took a deep breath. 

"All right, then. This," she turned the first page, "is the story of the Night Mares."