//------------------------------// // Arc 1 - Chapter 4 // Story: The Lunar Millennium // by Sasha Nein //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Luna now understood why the room she was in was for guests. At the crack of dawn the sun beat mercilessly onto the bed and into her eyes. Groaning and rolling over, she decided she probably would never get used to sleeping at night. Pulling her pillow over her head, she buried herself in search of a few more elusive Z’s. Sleep eluded her, however. The blankets itched, the pillow was lumpy and the straw stuffed mattress jabbed at her soft belly. It was as if everything conspired against her, and she was well aware that her new body was much more sensitive. Not that she didn’t feel anything as an alicorn, but it was just that now even the straw beneath her could become a lethal instrument to her demise. The price for leading an undercover life in a commoner’s house, she feared. Luna immediately regretted the thought, thinking back on the tasty dinner and gracious company the previous evening. It wasn’t their fault they lived hundreds of years before spring mattresses and feather stuffed pillows existed, or that they were playing host to a disguised, pampered princess. The sun was oblivious to the mare’s discomfort as it happily warmed the thick blankets she was hiding under. Luna refused to admit defeat though, maintaining her cocoon shield from the rapidly warming world. She almost succeeded, her mind drifting back into unconsciousness as she drooled onto the mattress. A dream began to work its tendrils into her mind’s eye. Somepony was knocking on the door, it was very loud, and very annoying. She couldn’t move to make them go away for some reason though, it was starting to get more than just annoying. Then it stopped. Luna fell back into a comfortable doze in her dream. She was floating in a comfortable half awake state when the knocking returned, only this time it was a pound! The disguised alicorn jerked up and awake with a moan as a small, feminine voice echoed through the door. “Daddy says that I can come in and make you get up if you’re not out in five minutes! I hope you’re still asleep because I’d really like to jump on your lazy head!” Silence. Luna plopped back down on her primitive bed in sluggish relief. She cracked her eyes open, instantly regretting she still wasn’t under her pillow. Groaning she rolled over... and off the bed. She hit the floor with blankety thump and a yelp. Luna stumbled upright, promptly tangling her legs in the blanket further and falling back over with another loud whump! She lay there, blinking and trying to figure out what was going on. She groaned again. Why was she even awake this early? Clearly somepony needed to adjust their operational clock, and it definitely wasn’t her. There was a knock on the door, causing Luna to refocus on getting up. “Um, just a moment,” she called. It took her a moment to get to her hooves, but she was still unable to move forward. With a frustrated growl she grabbed the blanket with her magic and yanked. That was a mistake, and down she went again. The door cracked open and Ginger popped her head in. Her brow furrowed as she took in the seemingly empty room, but it quickly quirked upwards as she saw the blanket trail leading off the far side of the bed. Granite galloped in and pounced on the bed. “Hey lazy he— Hey, where’d she go?” Luna struggled to her hooves again, eliciting a shriek from the filly as she scrambled backwards, and a chuckle from Ginger. “I’ll find you a comb, dear,” she said. Pulling the filly back, she closed the door and left Luna to untangle herself. Carefully removing the blanket from around her withers, Luna stepped out of the end wrapped around her hooves. She lifted a hoof to her mane and found it to be frizzed in every direction possible. The groggy unicorn heaved a sigh and sat on the bed. Frizzy manes, morning sun in her eyes, loud fillies... She never had to deal with these sorts of things before and was finding them to be quite unpleasant. Thankfully Ginger returned promptly with a comb in her teeth and sat down on the bed next to her. “I suppose you aren’t much of a morning pony,” the motherly mare chuckled. She began pulling the comb through Luna’s mane, eliciting a yelp from the disguised alicorn. Luna grit her teeth and shook her head. “Not really. I usually- I mean, at the Academy, there were classes, but none quite this early in the morning.” She chuckled sheepishly. “I guess I got used to staying up all night to read and study that I forgot what early mornings were like.” Granite poked her head back in. She watched the two mares for a moment before stepping inside and sitting on her haunches at the foot of the bed. “Copper has decided to go into town and look for work today,” Ginger began. “I’ll be taking Granite to school after breakfast and will be gone all day, working. Did you have any specific plans, miss Clover?” “I had a few ideas that I’d like to run by both you and Copper. Perhaps over breakfast?” Ginger nodded before turning and addressing her child. “Granite, you had best go get your things ready, we might have to hurry out the door after breakfast.” Luna’s curiosity piqued, she wondered what the young ponies were taught in an earth pony school. “I am curious,” she began hesitantly, all too aware of Granite’s prejudice the night before. “What are the curriculums for fillies and colts these days?” “Cur-rick-ulams?” Granite echoed, fumbling the large word. She gave the unicorn an appraising look. “Well, whatever they are, they’re definitely better than yours!” Ginger frowned, opening her mouth to no doubt reprimand Granite for her condescending  tone. Luna cut her off before she could speak. “What makes you so sure about that, filly?” she challenged. “I’m still in school and learning, of course,” Granite responded promptly. “So whatever it is, we do a better job at teaching than you unicorns because we don’t kick students out!” “Granite,” Ginger reprimanded sharply. “We do not speak to guests like that! Apologize to Miss Clover, now.” The filly frowned, but she mumbled, “sorry,” before slinking away. “I want you and your bag waiting at the table when we come out, Granite.” Ginger called after the filly. She gave Luna an apologetic glance. “I am very sorry for her behaviour, Miss Clover. I’m afraid we don’t see many unicorns. All she knows is what her peers and other adults tell her.” “I understand,” was all Luna said in reply. It made sense that, this being a town full of earth ponies, there’d be some prejudices against the other races. What was surprising was just how deep it ran. It might be worth asking when was the last time a unicorn lived, or even visited, in this town. Ginger nodded. “I need to go get breakfast ready. There’s some fresh water in the basin out back you can use to wash up.” She smiled. “I’ll see about getting enough water so you and Copper can take proper baths tonight. You must want one after spending all those days on the road.” Considering she was used to bathing everyday, Luna could certainly go for a nice, warm bath. She could feel the dirt matting her coat, accumulated from days of travel and sleeping on the ground. The bedsheets she used last night were probably filthy. “That would be most appreciative,” she replied. Giving a wistful sigh, she muttered under her breath. “A bath would feel quite exquisite.” Ginger patted Luna’s mane appreciatively. “You certainly do clean up nicely. I think we’re done here.” The mares got up, Luna thanking the mare for her help as she left. As the door closed, Luna turned her eyes to the unruly blanket on the floor. “It’s just you and me now, buddy,” she said, narrowing her eyes as she magicked it up. She laid it carefully out across the bed, tucking it neatly around the mattress. “No funny business now.” After vowing revenge for her dignity, Luna exited the guest room and made for the kitchen. Her transformed body informing her of the newly acquired sensation of hunger. She could still technically not eat and get away with it, but with all the complexities she had implemented into her disguise there was little reason in ignoring her newfound feelings in comfort. Ginger was busy in the kitchen, a pan on the stove with something sizzling in it. Luna walked passed the mare, heading outside and to the basin. It still wasn’t anywhere close to a real bath, but it would have to do. She spent a few minutes washing her hooves and face. If she went through with what she was planning, then she would need to have the best appearance possible. The water in the basin was cold and murky. It should probably be dumped, but she wasn’t sure if that would be proper or not. Heading back inside, she sat at the table. “Ginger, the water out in the basin could perhaps use changing. I’m afraid that between Copper and I washing off days worth of grime has taken its toll.” The mare didn’t turn away from her cooking. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to draw an extra bucket of water from the well to replace it. It’s not supposed to rain for a few more days.” “Is the well nearby?” “It’s in the center of town, so not too far away. The whole town shares the one well.” Luna was well aware of how many ancient towns dealt with water. Often, whoever founded the town dug a well, and that was the main source of water for everyone. Digging new wells wasn’t something that was done, except perhaps for far outlying homes. Cooking, cleaning, washing, all of it came from water from the well. “I don’t want to impose,” she started. “If it’s too much trouble, then forget about the bath tonight.” She turned away from the stove. “Oh it’s no problem. You’re a guest here, it’s up to us to provide. Though if you wanted to help me carry the water, I certainly won’t say no.” She removed the pan from the stove, dumping the contents onto a plate and setting it on the table. “Copper, Granite, breakfast!” she shouted. Lowering her voice, she continued. “Go on, eat up. Breakfast is a very informal thing around here.” The plate was full of eggs, with a few vegetables mixed in. Luna scooped herself a portion, digging in. Within short order the entire family was sitting and eating. Ginger swallowed, turning to look at Luna. “So you had something you wanted to ask Copper and I?” Chewing a few more times, Luna nodded. “Yes. I wanted to first off thank you for opening your home to me.” Holding up a hoof to forestall either of them from responding, she continued. “But I don’t want to be a burden.” She sighed. “I’m afraid that I must ask you if I may continue living here. The sad part about life in an Academy is that it does not prepare you for anything outside of a life in academia. My knowledge of real world skills is quite limited. Thus, I’m not comfortable moving out on my own just yet. I wouldn’t even know where to start. “Yet I do not want to burden you with taking care of me. To that end, I’d like to find a job around here. I wish to pull my own weight and contribute, rather than just be a freeloader. However, I’m not familiar with this town, so I need some advice on where to start.” The table was silent when she finished. Even Granite was looking at her, no longer eating. Luna’s eyes darted around as her ears slowly folded back. “Did I say something wrong?” “No, you didn’t,” Ginger said. “I am surprised that you wish to contribute.” Luna could tell that there was more to that statement. “But?” she prodded. Copper sighed, setting down his fork. “But I’m not sure how feasible that is.” “What do you mean? Surely there’s a job somewhere I can work.” “It’s not that,” he responded. “Ponies’ views here are different from those in Canterlot. Unicorns are not highly regarded and you’ll most likely have difficulty finding a job.” A silence permeated the room. Then, Luna cleared her throat. “I still have to try.” If all the ponies in town acted like Granite towards her, then she would certainly have an uphill battle in front of her. But the mere thought of repaying Copper and Ginger’s kindness by doing nothing galled her. She was their princess, she was supposed to be there for them and not the other way around. They were taking her into their home, feeding her and giving her a place to stay. Such an act required her to repay them somehow. The least she could do is get a job and earn her keep. This would also allow her to integrate into the town. She needed to learn more about this place, and this period in history she was in. If she could get the townsponies to trust her, she could learn quite a lot. It also wouldn’t help her situation if she was despised by the town for when she started experimenting. If there was any chance of getting home, she would need to garner their trust, not be labeled as a witch or some such nonsense. Copper shared a look with his wife. “If you insist on doing this, then I’ll accompany you around town today. We’ll look for a job for you.” Luna shook her head, “I don’t want to keep you from your family.” He shook his head. “It’s not an issue. I need a job myself, so this works for both of us.” “Very well,” she said with a nod. “Thank you, again, for indulging a lost unicorn.” “You’re very welcome.” Ginger smiled. “Just, don’t get your hopes up too much, yet. And don’t be discouraged if you don’t find anything today, either.” “It’s settled then,” Copperhoof said. Luna got a sneaking suspicion that it was more for the benefit of Ginger than herself, as if they had some conversation she was not privy to, but her inquiry was cut off as Copper continued. “I’ll prepare your saddlebags for the day if you would help clean up breakfast, Clover.” There was a bustle of activity as the mares cleaned away the dishes. Copper ushered his daughter to the door before moving to gather supplies for Luna. Ginger began gathering the plates and taking them out back and setting them on the ledge next to the basin. Luna followed carrying the rest. “We’ll just have to do dishes this evening,” Ginger sighed. “I need to get Granite out the door and myself to work. You two should really get moving while the day is young.” The motherly mare bustled Granite out the door just as Copper came back around from the bedrooms carrying an extra pair of saddlebags in his mouth. He spat them out at Luna’s feet, the adjusted the pair on his own flanks. “These are for you, Clover.” Copper said, watching her magic them up. “Everypony needs a pair out here.” The saddlebags were simple, but made well. They even had padding on the inside so they wouldn’t chafe with prolonged use. Luna nodded her thanks as she put them on. She hadn’t used a pair of saddlebags in years, but she could attest to their usefulness. Just because she had magic didn’t mean she wanted to use it carrying necessities all day. They stepped outside, Copper carefully closing the door before shrugging his shoulders and stepping out into the dirt street. “Alright then, let’s go.” Luna walked beside Copper, taking a moment to look around. Copper and Ginger seemed to live in a neighborhood of sorts. All around were other houses. Ponies were starting their day, mares and stallions wandering about. She noticed that most of them would stop what they were doing and stare at her. She did her best to ignore the looks. If she wanted a job, she didn’t need to alienate the townsponies. It was disconcerting, the looks on their faces seemed as though they couldn’t decide between a glaring or staring quizzically. They marched from the suburb along with a steady stream of inbound ponies into town. There weren’t a lot of them, but they were busy. Most of them were wearing saddlebags, some carrying larger tools like axes or pickaxes. Even a lot of the mares carried heavy gear with them, labeling them as mine workers as well. This was certainly a town where everypony carried their weight. Some mares would stick around home, especially those with young foals, but many seemed to have joined the workforce. Luna wondered about the gender equality, were the mares paid as much as the stallions? Either way, she decided it probably was a rough wage for such back breaking labor. The smell of fresh bread and sweet toppings drew Luna out of her reverie. Copper approached a wide, low building on the edge of the town proper. A delightful smell wafted out the door as they stepped inside. Copper approached the large counter containing the bakery’s goods. A mare arranging their selection into the display shelves stood up at their approach. As her gaze slid across them she frowned at Luna, but her smile quickly returned as she focused on Copper. “Hello, sir! What can I get ya?” “Is Puff Pastry around?” The mare nodded. “She’s in the back, finishing up a batch of scones.” “Think you could tell her that Copperhoof is here to see her?” “Certainly.” With another glance at the unicorn, the mare cantered into the kitchens. They stood silently for a moment. Luna glanced around, feeling awkward and out of place. There wasn’t much room in the bakery for customers. The wall in front of the door was covered in papers featuring ads and news. Underneath the windows were a couple of tables with chairs for ponies to eat. What caught her eye the most was the chalked menu above and behind the counter, displaying what all the bakery could offer in flowery script. Copper leaned against the counter as he waited. A small hint of a smile was on his muzzle. The kitchen doors banged open and a rather large earth pony mare barreled out with her storefront apprentice in tow. She was cream colored with a beige mane and some kind of pastry for a cutie mark. Surprising Luna again with their agility, the large earth pony mare scooted around the counter and pulled Copperhoof into a tight hug. The disguised alicorn had to hold back a snicker as Copper was helpless in the mare’s grip. “Oooh, Copper! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?” The large mare fretted breathlessly and she crushed Copperhoof in her hug. “It’s been too long! Have you been to see your Ginger and little Granite yet? That little filly is going to be a mare before much longer, I hope you realize that.” “Miss Puff,” Copper managed to gasp, “Please...” “Oh!” Puff Pastry released the stallion and he unceremoniously collapsed onto the floor. “I’m so sorry!” Her red face paled slightly as she continued, “You know I forget myself when I get excited.” She paused, then pointed a hoof accusingly at Copper as he chuckled on the floor. “You knew that would happen! Copper you scoundrel!” Copperhoof got to his hooves and hugged the mare. “It’s good to see you too, Miss Puff. And before you ask, yes I’ve seen Ginger. I made it in last night.” “Well then,” Puff huffed good naturedly. Her eyes fell on Luna, her expression not betraying anything. She released Copperhoof from his hug. “Who is this now?” “Puff, this is Clover.” Copperhoof introduced, beckoning Luna forward. “Now be nice, I picked her up on my way home, she needed a place to stay.” Luna stepped forward and offered a hoof, a polite smile on her features. “Madam.” Puff Pastry straightened and her eyes hardened, but she returned the hoof bump before turning to Copperhoof. “Copper, dear, I know that your time in Canterlot exposed you to many things, but are you sure bringing her here was wise?” “Puff!” Copper exclaimed, giving the homely mare a disapproving glare. “I couldn’t leave the mare standing out in the rain. Besides, she did save me when I got thrown out of the palace. I owe her, Puff.” Puff bustled back behind the counter. “Copper, you do know what this means, right? You know how everypony in town is going to look at her, and by extension you. Just the fact that you two are out walking together will spawn all kinds of gossip. Especially after you’ve been gone for so long. Ponies will talk. Some might even question your faithfulness to Ginger.” Luna’s ears flattened as the large mare continued, cutting off Copper’s protest. “I only want you to think about what you’re doing. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I trust your loyalty. But you had best be careful not to lose your way, or livelihood, with whatever you think you’re doing.” Copperhoof frowned. “It is good that you bring that up, actually. This mare needs work, Puff.” Puff Pastry gave Copper a flat stare. “Copper, you know that I always need help. Anypony recommended by you would be worth it. But I can’t. As soon as word gets out that I’ve got a unicorn working here, I’ll lose all my business.” “Puff!” Copper exclaimed again. “I thought you—” “Did you not hear what I said?” Puff interrupted. “If I hire her, I’ll be closing these doors within a month. I’m sorry Copper, but it’s just not worth it.” She frowned, looking at him. “I’m not even sure I can hire you. Not once everypony else gets talking.” Luna was about to speak, before she thought better of it. Anything she could say wouldn’t help. It might even make things worse. As much as she wanted to help Copper, she was only being a burden right now. If this town really was so against her that even a mare like Puff, who seemed to know Copper quite well, would turn him down, perhaps she had made a mistake. “Copper...” Luna interceded. “She makes a good point.” Copperhoof turned sharply to face Luna. “What point is that, Clover?” “About me being here, with you,” she explained. “I’ve seen the looks from the other ponies around town. My presence is only going to hurt you and your family. I healed you back in Canterlot. In return, you fed me and gave me a place to sleep from the rain. Any debt you had to me has been paid in full, and then some.” Luna paused before adding, “I think it’s best if I take my leave, let you get on with your life without me complicating things.” Both Copper and Puff stared at her, the mare nodding slightly in agreement, the stallion wide-eyed. “I think that’s wise, Clover,” Puff said. “Absolutely not!” Copper denied. “What do you plan on doing? If the townsponies don’t like you living with me, if you try and live alone they’ll run you out of town in a week. Where are you doing to go? What are you going to do?” He poked her with a hoof. “You said it yourself. You don’t know how to function outside the Academy.” He gave her a hard look. “I cannot, in good conscience, let you just wander around alone. You wouldn’t last. No, you’re staying with me and my family. At least until you can stand on your own four hooves.” “Copper, I can’t just—” “You can and you will.” Luna stared silently at the stallion. She could just leave, he couldn’t stop her. She didn’t have to explain that she was more than capable of surviving on her own and that she would be okay. He wouldn’t believe her anyway... Yet, she hesitated. The stallion’s intense stare battered her newfound resolve. “I refuse to let you walk away when I’ve promised to find you work,” Copper said stubbornly. He glanced away, muttering, “I don’t kick ponies out for petty reasons.” The disguised alicorn winced. She recalled all too clearly why Copperhoof had been ‘relieved’ of service at the castle. Still, she wasn’t helping him at all by staying here. Luna stood, indecisive, as she tried to weigh the options before her. She’d never been the best with ponies, but honor and integrity were things she could understand. If she left Copper now he would blame himself, or at the very least feel like he failed in some way. She glanced at the round mare behind the counter, but received nothing but a stern gaze. Copper was almost glaring at her himself. Luna glanced out at the town, remembering her reasons to come in the first place: To find a way to get home. Being in a mining town could possibly provide her with many of the materials she would need. That, coupled with the large forest surrounding them... Yes, she would stay, she decided. If things became really bad, she could always reimburse Copper and his family. For an alicorn of her caliber it was foal’s play to form enough bits for a middle class family to live comfortably for a long time. “Very well,” Luna finally said, with a nod of her head. “We shall continue to job search.” Copper smiled. “That’s what I wanted to hear.” He turned towards Puff. “Thank you for welcoming me back so warmly. Rest assured, I’ll be back sometime for one of your delicious pastries. However, Clover and I must continue job hunting.” Puff reached under the counter, pulling out two hunks of dough with some sort of glaze over them. She slid them across the counter towards Copper. “Here. Consider it a welcome home present.” The stallion picked up the treats, giving one to Luna. “Thanks, Puff.” “Don’t mention it.” She turned to go back into the kitchen, but paused, looking over her shoulder. “Take care of yourself, Copper.” With that, she headed through the door. Copper took a bite of his pastry. “Come on, Clover. There’s plenty of other places to try for a job.” Luna took a bite of her own pastry. It was sweet, but not overly so. The glaze added a smoothness to it while the pastry was crisp and flaky. Taking a second bite, she nodded. “Indeed. You know this town, so I shall follow.” Together, they left the bakery. The downtown wasn’t exceptionally large, but it was still sizable and had everything that a town needed with extra. Surely it wouldn’t be too difficult to find a job, even for a unicorn. Seven hours and eighteen rejections later, Luna was cursing herself for even thinking about getting a job. Some of the rejections, like at the tailors, were similar to Puff’s; kind, but resolute in not wanting to hire her, or Copper by association. Most of them simply said no. A few turned them away as soon as they’d gotten in the door. Those were the ones that Copper glared at. Currently, they were sitting just outside the eighteenth rejection, a blacksmith’s shop on the edge of town. Copper explained it was so the noise and smoke didn’t bother anypony. Luna had tried to explain that she had no skills anywhere near suited to working in a blacksmith’s shop. Her cohort had insisted on trying, saything that Anvil owed him. They’d barely gotten in the door before they were thrown out. Anvil had spat at her, calling her multiple racial epithets and said he didn’t even want her in his shop. Copper had tried to protest, but Anvil had simply closed his door, locking it and changing the sign over to “Closed.” Luna wiped some saliva off her cheek. “Well, that was unpleasant.” Even Copper’s unflagging enthusiasm was failing. “I’m sorry, Clover. I had no idea Anvil would act like that.” She flicked her hoof, sending the spit into the dirt. “It’s fine. Trying to find a job in this town seems to have been a fool’s errand.” Copper slammed a hoof into the ground. “I had thought that maybe this place had changed in the time I was away.” He paused for a moment, kicking his hoof at a loose rock. “I guess I was wrong.” Luna set a calming hoof on his shoulder. “It’ll all work out, Copper. I’ll figure out something.” In truth, she was beginning to revise her plans. There wasn’t much town left, if they didn’t find anything, she was just going to leave. Perhaps go visit the zebras. That should be far enough away from Celestia to allow for magic in her work without drawing attention. The zebras should also have many of the ingredients and components she required. She wouldn’t leave without paying back Copper and his family. She’d be able to conjure up enough bits for them to live comfortably for some time. Perhaps be able to afford a decent education for Granite. She’d have to leave quietly, in the night. They couldn’t be given the chance to ask questions. Copper would surely try to stop her if he knew, she didn’t want to have to reveal anything about herself if it could be avoided. Copper flicked another rock away with his hoof, then straightened. “Listen, since we’re all the way out here, you feel like accompanying me on one more errand?” “I don’t see why not. There’s still some time left in the day, although I don’t feel like trying for another job today,” Luna responded. She couldn’t deny, the constant rejection and glares were testing her tolerance. “Oh, it’s a job, but it’ll be for me,” Copper said. He began cantering down the road towards the mountain. “We’re going to the mines. We might not get you a job today, but they never turn down willing stallions in the shaft.” “Then you should get a job there. I’ll wait outside so as to not attract trouble for you.” “It doesn’t matter,” the earth pony laughed. “Rocky is an ass to everypony. Just so long as you’re strong or useful, he’ll put you to work. I think they’ve even got a few pegasi down there, grounded for some reason or another, in the same boat as you.” Luna said nothing, content to think about her own plans. They walked half a mile outside of town before the mining operation came into view as they came over a rise in the landscape. The disguised alicorn let out a small gasp as she took in the scope of their mining operation. A long valley stretched out before them, filled with all manner of mining apparatus. It was little wonder Hollow Shades was so busy, this mine was huge! They must be the biggest exporter to the rest of Equestria at this point in time. Ponies moved to and fro like ants in a hive, each with purpose and a quota to meet before the day ended. There were large cranes dotting the landscape, working as elevators to the shafts below. Many were being operated by teams of ponies as they hauled up or let down raw ores and ponies. At first glance it looked like chaos, but if one observed long enough, it was extremely organized chaos. A well oiled machine doing what it did best: work. Various other buildings, scaffolding and refineries dotted the work zone. She noticed a large road filled with ponies hauling materials away from town back towards the rest of Equestria. They must have bypassed it completely on their way in, Copper most likely favoring a secluded route into town. “Quite the sight, isn’t it?” Copper said, breaking Luna out of her impressed reverie. Luna smirked. “Indeed.” She cantered forward, eager to peek down one of the elevator shafts. Copper galloped up behind her. “Woah, hold on! We’ve gotta head to the offices first, they won’t take kindly to civilians running around the operation. Ponies without hardhats get the boot quick.” Reluctantly, Luna let the stallion regain the lead. He skirted the edge of the valley, making for the closest cluster of buildings. He approached the nearest shack which sported a sign: Main Office. Luna eyed the walls suspiciously, unsure of how they were still holding up the roof. They paused as a pony began shouting inside. Copper rolled his eyes and continued forward. “Definitely no change here, I wonder what’s going on today.” Just as they reached the door, it burst open and a pony stormed out, bringing with him clarity to the words being shouted. “... Just get it done!” Ignoring each other, Copper and the stallion stepped by each other, exchanging positions as the disgruntled miner grumbled with frustration.  “Sometimes I wonder if that bucker wasn’t born with a hardhat instead of a skull.” He ignored Luna, which was fine with her, as she stepped in behind Copperhoof. A large earth pony sat behind a desk piled high with papers. Behind him were numerous file cabinets and boxes. Drawers were open and papers sticking out everywhere. The entire office was a mess. The stallion was frowning down at something on his desk. “Damned idiot...” At the sound of their hoofsteps on the wooden floor, he looked up. “The answer is still no you buc—” He cut off upon seeing who it was. “Oh. Who are you two and what can I do for you?” Copper smiled. “Still the same old fart, aren’t you Rocky.” Rocky’s eyes narrowed for a moment. “I know you...” The silence stretched on while Copper refused to say anything. Finally his eyes widened. “By Celestia’s pink underpants!” he swore. “Copperhoof!” Luna raised an eyebrow at the miner’s colorful language, it wasn’t every day she was privy to ponies swearing to her sister. Most ponies held their tongues around her and her sister. While she suspected she should be offended, but it was almost a thrill, something new and exciting. Besides, Tia wore green underpants whenever she wore a dress to a state function, which made the swear more entertaining. The two stallions were exchanging a vigorous hoofshake. “How many years has it been? Six? What brings you back here?” “Things didn’t end up working out too well in Canterlot, so I’m back here. I got in yesterday. What brings me here specifically is that I need a job. You got any openings down in the shaft?” Rocky chuckled. “Oh we’ve got plenty of openings, most of them shored up and waiting for strong workers to pick away at them.” The large stallion peered intently at Copper. “Your time in the capital didn’t soften you none, did it?” “Not one bit,” Copper replied. He lifted up a hoof, flexing. “I’m still strong enough to swing a pickaxe and haul the raw ore.” “Good.” The stallion began shuffling through his papers. “Hold on. Let me find the form you need to fill out, as well as the waivers to sign. Usual stuff, saying you know the dangers that come with mining.” “Yeah, I know. I did use to work here.” “Even better. Then we can skip orientation and tomorrow morning your flank will be picking away at the rocks.” He was still looking through the papers, multiple stacks being disturbed and papers sliding onto the floor. “I know it’s around here somewhere.” The large stallion continued to rummage as he spoke again. “If you show me you’ve not lost any of your mining smarts, you might be looking at a promotion right quick, Copper. We’ve got a few positions that need a good head.” Luna resisted the urge to grate her teeth together. This office was a complete disaster. How did he ever find anything in this mess? Surely the mine was more organized than this. She felt like Twilight had rubbed off on her more than she was willing to admit. The Princess of the Night knew she wasn’t the most patient of ponies, but this was ridiculous. This pony had nothing labeled, the filing cabinets looked terribly neglected. Judging by the dirt smudges on everything, this pony regularly went walking around the mining site then came in here and put his dirty hooves all over the papers. Finally, after several minutes of him shuffling around, her patience shattered. Stamping a hoof on the floor, she shouted. “Enough!” The outburst attracted the attention of both stallions in the room. Her horn lit up, the glow causing both of them to shuffle backwards. The various papers lifted off the floor, the desk, and out of the cabinets. Faster than either stallion could comprehend, the detritus swarmed around the room. Luna cast quick glances at everything as it passed her eyes. Forms, files, production schedules, receipts, and more were revealed to her. Quickly and efficiently she organized everything into stacks. Soon the papers began sliding back into the cabinets, neat and orderly. Within two minutes, the office was spotless, not a paper out of place. Rocky’s desk was cleaned off, with the exception of the very files and forms he was looking for. Luna huffed. “There. I believe the forms you wanted are now located in the drawer labeled ‘waivers.’ Do try and keep things organized.” Rocky and Copper were both staring at her, blinking. As soon as they had realized that she wasn’t doing anything untoward with her magic, they had both calmed down and watched the spectacle. Rocky had moved over to the side of the room with Copper. Realizing she was done, Rocky retook his place behind his desk. His wide eyes stared at the newly organized office. Cautiously he opened a drawer, seeing all the files in neat little holders. “Damn...” he whispered. Turning back around, he ignored Copper, staring at Luna. “Wanna be a secretary?” Luna blinked. “Erm, what?” “I said, you wanna be a secretary? That little organizing thing you did, you can do it again?” At Luna’s cautious nod, he continued. “And can you organize other things, like schedules?” Again, she nodded. Working with Twilight had forced her to learn schedules and timetables, as the little alicorn loved them dearly. “Then, mare, you’ve got a job as my secretary.” “But... I’m a unicorn. Won’t that impact your business?” He snorted. “Unicorn, pegasus, earth pony, I don’t care. If you can work, and work hard, then I’ll give you a job. In your case, if you can keep things organized around here, I don’t rightly care if you’re a damned alicorn. You’ve got a job.” Luna nearly choked at the alicorn bit. Managing to retain her composure, she held out a hoof. “Well then. It seems you have not only have another miner, but a secretary as well.” Rocky shook her hoof. “You both start tomorrow. 8 a.m. Sharp! Now fill out these forms, sign the waivers, and be back here tomorrow.” He pushed a small stack of papers towards Copper. It only took him a moment to gather another stack, which he sent to Luna. “What’s your name?” he asked her. “Clover,” she replied, already taking a quill and filling out the form. “Well Clover, I look forward to working with you.” Luna smiled. “I look forward to having a job.” Copper chuckled, giving her back a sharp slap. “See Clover? I told you we’d find you something.” She snorted, but couldn’t help but smirk. “I think I found this one myself.” They spent fifteen minutes filling out the forms. Luna insisted on actually reading over the waiver, rather than just signing it like Copper did. It was mostly about all the dangers inherent to mining, and how you could potentially die a violent death. Or get trapped and die a slow death. Rather grim reading, but she could see where it would be prudent to inform the workers about what could happen. With a flourish, she signed the final line, handing the waiver over to Rocky. He accepted it, placing it into a drawer behind him. She made a note to make sure he’d placed it in the right drawer once she started the next day. They said their goodbyes, heading back into town. Copper had a spring in his step and a smile on his muzzle. His good mood was infectious, and she soon found herself smiling as well. They reached Copper’s home, the stallion tossing open the door. “Ginger! I’ve got some good news!” A small voice answered him from further inside the house. “Daddy!” Granite came barreling out of the kitchen and jumped at Copper. After a laugh and embrace, Granite continued, “Mommy’s not home yet.” “Where is she?” Copper asked. “Still at work. She took a break to walk me home from school, then had to go back.” Luna followed Copper as he stepped into the kitchen while Granite spoke. The filly had several papers spread out on the table. Scrambling up onto a chair, the filly took up one of the papers in her mouth, presenting it to Copper. It looked like math to the princess. “Shee?” she proclaimed proudly. “Ahm armursht done!” Copperhoof grinned and took the paper, but his thoughts still seemed elsewhere. “At work? I didn’t know she had a job,” he commented. Granite nodded. “She got one last year. Said I was old enough to stay home without her being around to watch me.” The smile slowly slipped off of Copper’s face. “Oh. Well, do you know when she’ll be home?” “Soon,” was all the filly said. Copper looked lost for a moment. Luna felt pity for him. He was clearly struggling with something. Perhaps it was the news that Ginger had a job. Having his wife absent wasn’t something he expected. Whatever the case, it wasn’t her place to pry into family business. She could, however, help him out. “What are you working on, Granite?” she asked the filly. “Math.” The reply was terse, and probably only delivered because her father was standing right there. “You know, I’m pretty good at math. Do you need any help?” Maybe not the best approach, but she was looking for something that Granite was willing to open up on with her. “Not from you.” “Well, how about your dad?” She nudged the stallion, hoping he would get the hint. “Oh, yes. Here, let me help you with that, Granite.” He sat down next to the filly, pulling one of the sheets over and taking a look at it. The filly gave Luna a hard look, but it was quickly replaced with eagerness that was no doubt stimulated by the stallion sitting next to her. The filly was almost finished and probably didn’t need help, but even she could see the two ponies should spend some time bonding. As the father and daughter got to work, Luna quietly slipped out of the room. The princess sat down in the living room. The house was missing most of the modern amenities she was used to, like magazines. There were a few books lying around, though in this age, books were a rarity. Before the advent of trains and reliable ways to get from town to town, most books were only sold in one area. Picking one up, she saw that it was a history of Hollow Shades. Intrigued, she opened it up. Maybe it would contain a hint as to how the ‘earth ponies forever’ mentality got so ingrained into this town. Some time later, as the sun was slipping below the horizon, the front door opened. Ginger came inside, wiping her hooves on the mat. “I’m so sorry I’m late, Granite.” She spotted Luna sitting on the couch. “Oh, Miss Clover. You’re back already.” “Mommy!” A grey blur shot out of the kitchen, latching onto Ginger. The mare stumbled backwards a step. “Hello Granite. You been keeping out of trouble while I was at work?” “Uh huh. Daddy even helped me with my homework.” Ginger set the filly down. “Did he now? I’ll bet he was a big help. Why don’t you go play outside. I need to start dinner.” “Okay!” The giggling filly scrambled back though the house. A second later, a door opened then slammed closed. “So, how was the job search?” Ginger asked. “Successful,” Luna replied, setting the book down. “Really? Where did you get a job?” “Copper and I both got jobs down at the mine.” “The mines?” Ginger cast a worried glance at her husband who cleaning up Granite’s mess. “Are you sure you’re suited to working down in the shaft?” Luna laughed. “Oh no. Copper’s a miner. The foreman, Rocky, hired me as his secretary.” She winked at Ginger. “I’m afraid my hooves are a little too delicate to be swinging a pickaxe all day.” The other mare shared her laugh. “Well it’s good that you found a job. I’m afraid that I thought you wouldn’t be able to find one.” “Oh we got rejected eighteen times. But it all worked out in the end.” Ginger opened a closet, pulling out a long rod. She set it across her back, sliding two pails onto each end of the rod. “I’m glad it did. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to visit the well and gather some water. I did promise you and Copper baths tonight.” Luna got off the couch. “I can go with you. Do you have more pails?” “In the closet. But this is the only carrying rod I have.” The princess looked into the closet, seeing at least a dozen more pails. At her raised eyebrow, Ginger spoke up. “The roof leaks, sometimes. I haven’t had a chance to get it fixed, so I bought a few more pails to collect the water.” Luna shrugged, picking up the entire stack with her magic. “I suppose we should get started, then.” “Are you sure you can handle all that?” “I’m sure.” She gestured towards the door. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner I get a bath. And the sooner we can eat dinner.” “Right.” Ginger took the rod off her back, holding it in a hoof as she stepped through the door. Once she was outside, she placed the rod back in its place. Luna followed, closing the door behind her. “Lead on,” Luna said. The cool evening air washed over the two mares as they trotted down the subdued street towards the well. There were other ponies still out and about. Some, still grimey from their days in the mines, were heading home. Others were moving towards the well just like them, intent on finishing their evening chores before bed. Ponies stopped to stare, and in some cases, glare at the unicorn levitating a dozen buckets in her magic as she quickly trotted behind Ginger towards a small square. As they approached, it dawned on Luna that this was a community well, and most of the homes had been built around the thing for easy access. She wondered how many others were around town. “Here dear,” Ginger called, snapping Luna out of her reverie. Luna set her buckets down, lining them up alongside the well. She watched as the earth pony mare kicked the stop out of the well winch and allowed a large pail to descend. When there was a splash, Ginger then began applying a powerful hoof to a paddle attached to a curious rotor much like that of a sewing spindle. It began to wind up the rope and bucket as she watched. Ingenious, but crude, in Luna’s opinion. They were able to fill two of their buckets with the pail before it was emptied. Luna carefully moved them back from the well and slid two empty ones into their place. She continued to watch Ginger, who was focused on pumping the pail back up out of the well. The mares repeated this process twice more before Ginger paused and panted, “I don’t usually do this many buckets.” “Is the well usually this deep? Or have there been water shortages this year?” “Wells are fairly deep,” Ginger said, resuming her work. “It’s one of the reasons we don’t bathe as often as you unicorns are wont to do.” Luna hesitated for a moment, debating whether to broach the topic she was thinking of. Ginger was a proud mare from what she’d observed so far, and may not take it well. “I can help you, if you don’t mind.” Ginger stiffened and redoubled her efforts. “That’s quite alright dear, earth po—” She stopped, turning to the unicorn with a questioning glare. They stood for a moment, Luna deeming it unwise to break the silence. Eventually, Ginger turned away and resumed winding the crank with a shake of her head. “I do not understand why you are here. Unicorns are never polite or are willing to offer their services, not even if they want something in return.” Ginger paused, then turned back to stare into Luna’s eyes. “Who are you? Why come here?” Luna didn’t reply to the other mare. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, it was that she didn’t have an answer ready for those questions. She had her cover story of Clover the lost little unicorn, that’s who she was. As for the why, it was because she needed to get out of Canterlot, and Copper simply provided the most convenient route. That wasn’t something she would tell Ginger, though. Once she thought about it, however, it did seem ponies would find it odd for a unicorn to be out here, especially alone. There were probably many places she could have gone in Canterlot. It was just that being so close to her sister was out of the question. There was no telling what could happen if she was revealed. Ginger didn’t say anything, nor ask another question, seeming content to let the unicorn think about her answer. After nearly a minute, she leaned against the crank, panting. Luna seized the opportunity to lend a helping hoof. Gently, she set a hoof on the crank, giving Ginger a slight push out of the way. The mare retreated, not saying a word. Luna gave the crank a critical look before pulling a pin attaching it to the bar over the well. Laying aside the contraption and grasping the bar in her magic, she quickly began rotating it much faster than the earth pony had been. In a fraction of the time, the full bucket had been retrieved back to the surface, emptied into two more pails, and was on its way back down again. Luna made sure to speed up the process, but not put any undue strain on the bar or rope holding the bucket. Having either of those break would not help any reputation she might have with the town. It was only as she was resecuring the pin to the crank, every bucket full of water, that she turned and faced Ginger. “To answer your questions, I am Clover, a unicorn formerly of the Academy. I grew up in a rigid academic system, leaving me with lots of theoretical knowledge, but very little practical knowledge of how the world works. So when I find myself facing my toughest lesson of all, being thrown into the real world and having to adapt, and survive, I know that I need help.” She paused a moment, organizing the filled buckets into rows and columns while collecting her thoughts. “As for why I’m here?” She shrugged. “I don’t really have a reason. I have nowhere else to go, no family to take me in. I had no friends at the Academy, merely acquaintances. What I need most is time. Time to think, to know what it is that I want to do next. Until I know that, I shall merely assist you and Copper, both of you have already been unduly kind to me.” She gathered up most of the buckets in her magic, leaving four for Ginger to carry. The mare didn’t say anything, simply placing the buckets back on the rod, which she lifted onto her back. Together, they trekked back through town, the few ponies still out staring at Luna and the buckets she was carrying. They arrived back at the house, leaving most of the buckets by the back door. Ginger moved to open the door, pausing with her hoof on the handle. “I’m not sure what to think about you, Clover. I feel like part of me should be angry, my husband bringing home some strange mare he met while he was away. For all I know, he could have cheated on me with you.” Luna opened her muzzle to assure Ginger that her fears were unfounded. She and Copper had never done anything like that. Ginger’s hoof moved from the handle to in front of her, cutting her off. “I know that’s not true. Copper would never do something like that, and you seem nice enough.” She sighed. “I’m willing to trust you, Clover. My husband does, and after seeing you these last two days, I’ll agree to share our home with you. However... Life here is hard, certainly much harder than the life you’re used to back at the Academy I’m sure.” At this, her eyes ran over Luna’s physique. “Even beyond the work, which you will have to do, ponies around here all help each other, you’ll have to prove to the townsponies that you are not a dead weight. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that unicorns are not exactly welcome here. That’s something that you’ll have to face, as will Copper and I. Just having you in our home could invite social trouble for the two of us.” Luna grimaced. “I understand, and thank you. I promise not to be a burden.” Ginger smiled, opening the door and maneuvering her buckets inside. “We will see. I imagine you’ll find things to be rather difficult when you cannot rely on your magic as often as you are used to. Today will have to be an exception. “Come,” she continued, “the bathtub is in our bedroom. We can take the water in there.” The two mares barely registered the stallion in the kitchen as they marched through the house. Luna caught a glimpse of the stallion dicing up some sort of vegetable. She wondered how easy it was for Copper to fall back into his household routine after being away for so long. Still, earth ponies didn’t change unless they had to. Ginger probably hadn’t ever even redecorated since he had been away. Entering the bedroom where Copper and Ginger slept, Luna put her buckets down as her fellow mare shrugged off her yoke and went to a corner in the room. She began digging items out of a large— Luna blinked. It was the tub, turned storage container. After placing a few oddities, a dress and framed paintings on the bed, Ginger began tugging on the basin. Stepping forward to help, Luna realized that the tub, ironically, was made of copper and proving to be a chore for the earth pony mare. Grinning, Luna stepped forward and grasped a side of the tub. “Less magic you say? Well it’s a good thing you have the strongest unicorn this side of Hollow Shades!” The tub began to slowly grind across the floor as they tugged. “You’re the only unicorn in Hollow Shades,” Ginger panted. “Did I also mention I was the handsomest, prettiest, toughest and smartest?” Luna joked, emphasising each of her adjectives with a jerk on the stubborn basin. Ginger narrowed her eyes. “A pity that unicorn still can’t find a way to move this thing easier,” she snarked. To be honest, Luna was rather surprised at how little of her actual strength her wards were allowing her to use. She stopped pulling, frowning at the tub as Ginger leaned against the side of it and raised an eyebrow. Igniting her horn, Luna summoned a burst of magic and hauled the tub into the middle of the floor in a single go. Her eyes widened in panic as she watched Ginger, her hooves still hooked inside the tub, be flung inside the thing and make a ringing thunk as it stopped. Luna stood silently for a moment, her eyes wide as she tried to comprehend what had happened. Then Ginger sat up, rubbing her head. Luna rushed forward. “Ginger! I am so sorry! I just—” She was cut short as the earth pony burst out laughing. “Well that’s one way to move a tub,” the mare giggled. Luna, lost for words once again, simply stood at the edge of the tub staring at a chuckling Ginger. Her relief finally found it’s way out in chuckle of its own as Ginger burst into a new fit of giggles as she pointed at the dumbfound unicorn. “Truly you are one of a kind.” After a few more laughs Ginger climbed out of the tub and produced a rag. Wetting it, she proceeded to wipe down the copper basin. “You know,” she mused. “We should have just let Copper pull the thing out. Stallions like showing off like... that.” Ginger trailed off with a small frown, but she quickly turned back to the unicorn and flashed a smile. “Well, enjoy your bath!” “Oh I couldn’t,” Luna said quickly. “You first.” Ginger smirked, giving Luna a knowing smirk. “I insist, and I very much doubt Copper will even think about bathing before the both of us have a chance.” Luna opened her mouth to protest again, but the mare’s reasoning was sound. It would just be simpler to bathe quickly without making a fuss. That, and the fact that the mare had turned away and was already pouring buckets of water into the tub. “Alright then, I won’t be long.” Grabbing a bucket in her magic, Luna began to pour it into the tub before she paused. “Do we not warm the water first?” “Warm water?” Ginger scoffed. “Sure, if you want to wait two or three hours before you bathe. I’m sure the stove has a few embers left, we’ll just get it stoked and roaring again in a jiffy!” The mare smiled sympathetically. “Maybe next time, dear.” With that, Ginger left the bedroom, pulling the door closed with a gentle thud. Luna, for her part, stood staring at the bath water with a frown. She dipped in a hoof, immediately pulling it out with a gasp. It was freezing! She had already used far too much magic moving the tub, but cold water for a bath was completely unacceptable. She ignited her horn once again, allowing tendrils to bleed into the water. Just this once, next time she would use the fire, she promised. Once steam began to rise, she cut the flow of magic and tested the water again. It was perfect! Ignoring the pinging of her new mental magic meter, she stepped into the water and splayed out on her back with a sigh. They say you never know what you were missing until it was gone. In this case, an actual bath felt like heaven. As a Princess, she was used to just going into her private baths and bathing whenever she wanted. To have gone as many days as she had without one was something she hadn’t had to do in a long time. Using a hoof, she swirled the water, watching as flecks of dirt peeled off, turning to mud. The water itself was quickly turning brown. It would be a battle to see how long she could enjoy the warm water before it became too dark to stand. Deciding to do her soaking before dirtying up the water, Luna leaned back with a sigh and closed her eyes. Just a couple of minutes, then she’d clean up and refresh the water. Letting her mind wander, she thought about what Ginger had said earlier. Now that she did think about it, the mare had been somewhat aloof from her rather long departed husband. She pursed her lips. Perhaps there was more to what Ginger was saying back at the well than the mare was letting on to. Despite her obvious relief at having her husband back, there was also something else there, a reluctance of some kind. Perhaps it would be a good idea to do some investigating. She can’t risk using her powers to observe the family’s dreams, that was alicorn magic and something that Celestia could pick up on. So perhaps a more mundane solution would be best. There was one spell she could use, and it wouldn’t tax her too much, not over an area only the size of the house. Still idly swirling a hoof through the water, she lit up her horn. The spell itself was somewhat complex, even if the energy involved wasn’t much. Slowly, she extended her senses out around her, specifically her hearing. Remote viewing was possible, but she didn’t need to see. The sound of the swishing water got more and more distant while sounds like the crackling fire in the kitchen grew louder. She could hear Granite in her bedroom. The filly wasn’t speaking, but there was the sound of a quill on parchment. Copper was in the kitchen, a knife chopping something while a bubbling sound had to be a pot of boiling water on the stove. The only one she couldn’t hear was Ginger. Her ears twitched as she picked up a small sigh from the living room. That could only be the mare of the house. Soft hoof falls signalled her getting up and heading towards the kitchen. Luna narrowed the focus of her spell, concentrating on just that room. “Copper, we need to talk.” Ginger’s voice was strong. The chopping cut out. “Sure, hon. What is it? Oh! Did you get Clover setup in the bath?” “I did, but that’s not what we need to talk about.” There was some shuffling around, a chair scraping across the floor. Either Ginger was getting settled, or Copper. Or both of them. Perhaps Copper could sense that this wasn’t the type of conversation he should remain standing and chopping for. Ginger sighed again. “I don’t really know how to say this, so I’m just going to be blunt. Copper, why did you bring Clover home with you?” “I guess... Because I felt sorry for her.” “What do you mean?” “Well, I told you how she and I met. She took care of me and healed me before she even knew my name. I owe her after that.” The sound of clattering cups indicated that somepony, likely Copper, was rooting through the cabinet, getting something to drink from. “And you repaid her by giving her a place to sleep out of the rain. So why bring her home?” “Like I said, I felt sorry for her. She has no knowledge of how things are. Still really doesn’t, truth be told. She has no family, no money. She just looked like she needed a new start somewhere.” “That’s the only reason?” “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” There was a pregnant pause. “What are you getting at?” “Did you sleep with Clover, Copper?” Luna choked, and heard Copper do the same. She had told Ginger that nothing like that had happened between them. If Ginger had a nickname, Indirect wasn’t it. “Is that why you brought her back?” “Wha-? Ginger! Is that what this is about?” A sharp clang sounded as a cup hit the table. “I promise you, Ginger. I never slept with Clover.” “Nor anypony else while you were away?” Ginger’s voice hitched a bit. Luna felt sorry for the mare, having to ask something like that to her husband. It was her fault, too, for being here and causing those doubts in Ginger. She couldn’t blame the mare for her doubts, her husband was followed home by some young, pretty unicorn he met while away. If their positions had been reversed, Luna would have the same doubts. “Ginger, you know me better than that. I pined for you while I was away, I missed you, I love you.” Luna heard a chair scrape and hoofsteps before Copper continued. “I did not cheat on you. The thought never crossed my mind.” A quiet sob met Luna’s ears. “I’m sorry Copper. I know you wouldn’t do that to me, but... But that doesn’t keep me from worrying.” “Especially after I brought Clover home,” Copper finished. There was the sound of clopping hooves for a moment. “It’s okay, Ginger. I don’t blame you for worrying, and asking me. I’d rather you ask me then let your worry eat at you.” “I’m sorry,” Ginger repeated, her voice now muffled. “But you come home with this pretty, young unicorn in tow after so many years. I...” “Shh. It’s okay, Ginger. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. There is nothing to apologize for. If anything, it’s my fault.” They didn’t speak after that. Luna canceled her spell after a minute, letting the couple have their privacy again. She felt bad for being the cause of such doubts in Ginger’s mind. To cause such friction amongst the family, even for a moment, was not something she meant to do. Perhaps someday, she’d find a way to make it up to them all. For now, she’d have to keep taking advantage of their hospitality. Somewhere like this was the best place for her, far away from Celestia where she could think and work in peace. Luna relaxed in the bathtub for another ten minutes, until the water started to get cold. Rather than heat it up again, she washed herself off, turning the water a deep brown. When she stepped out of the tub, she felt clean for the first time in a week. The tub had no way to drain itself, beyond a spigot at the bottom, and draining the tub all over Ginger and Copper’s bedroom seemed like a bad idea. Grabbing one of the buckets, she opened the window and began tossing out the old bathwater. What was left inside the tub was a dirty patina of grime. With a look of disgust, she scraped the inside of the tub, setting what came out inside one of the empty buckets. It took her several passes with her magic, but she got it all, the interior of the tub being clean once more. She could go get Ginger, or Copper, let them know she was done, but perhaps she could do a little more. A smile formed on her face. Yes, there was indeed something she could do. Humming to herself, she emptied buckets of water into the tub until it was full. With a wave of her magic, she heated it up until it was steaming. Only then did she go to the door into the room and open it. “Copper, Ginger, the tub’s ready for you,” she called out. There was a clattering from the kitchen. “Be right there,” Copper called out. The stallion came down the hallway, stepping passed her and into the room. “Just let me empty the tub and then I can-” He stopped talking when he saw the tub, the clear water with steam rising off of it filling it up. “What?” Luna smiled. “There’s some perks to having magic.” Ginger came through the door. “Need a hoof changing the water?” she asked. Wordlessly, Copper just pointed to the tub. When Ginger saw what was inside, she turned and looked at Luna, raising an eyebrow. Luna just shrugged, nodding. “Go on, enjoy your bath, Copper.” Copper looked over at his wife, a smile coming to his face. “Hey, Clover, think you can do me a favor?” he asked. “Of course, anything.” “Stir the pot on the stove every few minutes.” Ginger gave her husband a confused look. “Is there any reason I cannot stir the pot?” The stallion wrapped his arms around the mare, giving her a peck on the cheek. “Because you and I have some catching up to do.” Ginger giggled. “I... Well, in that case you best get to catching up, Mister.” Luna quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. It was good to see that they had forgiven each other so quickly. They might even be able to grow closer as a couple from this experience. If the looks they were giving each other just now were any indication, they would be very close in just a few minutes. She was about to walk away, let the two ponies have some peace, when Granite came down the hallway, carrying a piece of paper. “What are you doing here?” the filly asked. “I was taking a bath.” She showed off her now clean coat. “Is daddy in there?” Luna nodded. “He is, but-” The filly tried to get past her and to the door. “I want to show him something.” She reached down and grabbed Granite. “That’s not a good idea right now.” The last thing she, and probably her parents, wanted was for the filly to walk in on their quality time. “Hey! Put me down!” “I tell you what,” she told the struggling filly. “Why don’t we go into the kitchen and you can show me what it is you have to show your daddy.” “Like I’d show you. You’re just a unicorn!” “I’ll, um, I’ll give you my dessert tonight!” Granite stopped squirming. “You promise?” “Promise. But you have to promise to come with me into the kitchen and wait until your parents come out.” The filly put a hoof to her chin while still dangling in the air. “Deal. Now put me down.” Carefully, Luna set her down on the floor. Granite gave her an odd look, but she walked away, towards the kitchen. The disguised alicorn breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s a crisis averted,” she muttered. Now all she had to deal with was a filly who didn’t like her. “This should be fun.”