//------------------------------// // Part Two: The Student, the Teacher and the Stallion. // Story: The Elements of Lunar Harmony // by Paganbrony //------------------------------// The Elements of Lunar Harmony Part Two: The Student, the Teacher and the Stallion. Light faded in the land of Equestria as princess Celestia, divine ruler, dutifully lowered her sun from the sky and began to raise the moon in its place. However this was not a happy event on this occasion due largely to the one responsible for raising/lowering the moon her sister Princess Luna, was nowhere to be found despite an exhaustive search by the palace guards. As the stars appeared and the moon settled in place Celestia sighed, her sister was probably half way to Appleloosa by now. Luna was worrying at the best of times but she’d made the decision to take a student for the sole purpose of getting to know her and her friends unsettled Celestia greatly. Luna was inexperienced at dealing with modern society and this in turn had prevented her from understanding modern conventions and situations. Her tendency to ignite a situation with her antisocial manner had caused more than a few problems in recent times for Celestia. Celestia stared off into the night and prayed to her mother for Luna's safety, and for all the ponies in Appleloosa, but most importantly the current focus of her sister’s attention the unsuspecting mare called Trixie. Spellbinder who incidentally was listening decided not to intervene since she knew what lay ahead and it was probably best not to give her eldest daughter nightmares, some things are better left unsaid she thought. Far away from Canterlot between it and the frontier town of Appleloosa, princess Luna having left the castle with a rudimentary plan had forgotten a most important thing, at the very least a description of this Trixie or indeed any information beyond her name? It was here that Luna also remembered she would be recognized immediately upon her arrival and since most ponies still ran screaming away from her it was going to be problematic. She tried to feel hopeful that they would gladly rush to help their princess find her would be student and future friend, but as Celestia had rightly guessed Luna was woefully unprepared for what lay ahead. (Historical Note: Appleloosa at this point was a burgeoning boom town but with little to offer beyond the main street and apple orchard and the rail-head.) It was almost midnight when Luna landed in Appleloosa a little out of breath since it had been a while since she’d flown such a distance, and the late hour showed as the only lights on the main street came from the windows of the saloon. The sign above dubbed it 'The Salt Block', having never been in a saloon before and having mistimed her arrival by her impetuous dash from the castle Luna ventured forth towards the light. Inside the only two ponies were at the bar itself an old prospector hung off the end his eyes fixated on the nearly empty bottle in front of him. Sat at the bar also was a young stallion wearing a Stetson with a brown waistcoat, his hay colored coat and honey colored mane were offset by his green eyes which like the elder pony at the bar were focused on his drink. His face told a tale of heartbreak and excessive drinking, probably what locally was known as Appleloosian 'southern' comfort. Timidly the lunar princess approached the bar but as she did the stallion caught sight of something reflected in his half empty glass (or half full depending on your outlook) as she drew level to him, he turned in surprise and promptly slipped from his stool as his body unmoved for hours failed to function and he headed face first to the floor. The stallion didn't move a muscle, instead of contact with a hard wood floor he felt like he was suddenly as light as a feather? Slowly he opened his eyes and while his vision was impaired it seemed like he was floating in mid air while being confronted with a larger than most midnight blue mare. He shook his head and blinked, nope he was on the money and to make matters worse as his eyes focused he realized that what he thought was a unicorn had wings? Luna carefully set him down and to his credit he kept his footing although a little unsteadily, she took a moment to blush as she considered his obvious good looks but hurriedly dismissed those thoughts as she felt unfamiliar feelings whilst looking at him. “Would you be as kind as to tell me if there is a mare named Trixie in this town?” The stallion flinched at the name then nodded slowly as he answered. “Uh sure, that witch lives round these here parts.” Luna cocked an eyebrow at the witch comment but she’d gotten distracted looking at the young handsome stallion and so ignored it as she hesitated slightly before shyly asking his name. “Why certainly miss, its Braeburn... Ah mean my name is Braeburn Apple… W-welcome to Appleloosa!!! He called out the name of the town as he said it, in doing so he awkwardly kicked his legs causing him to nearly fall over again. Luna felt confident since this pony hadn't started screaming or run away, she couldn't help but smile at her good fortune at finding some pony who knew her soon to be student, and so far everything was going according to plan. “But she ain't here, least not till tomorrow, Miss Trixie and Dr Quinn went to learn some of the medicinal and spiritual...” The stallion hiccuped as he struggled to remember what Dr Quinn a lovely city mare who was the town’s physician had said prior to the door slamming in his face. “…They are studying the lore of the local buffalo.” Seeing the mare’s eye twitch he quickly added, “But they should be back tomorrow...” Luna didn’t like the sound of returning with empty hooves to the palace after she’d come all this way… “Very well, I shall require a quiet room to stay in until her return.” She paused slightly noting the cornered look of 'why me' on the admittedly handsome if a little inebriated stallion, thoughts of what Celestia would suggest she should do ran through her mind... “To avoid pomp and circumstance you understand!” Braeburn nodded slowly still trying to focus, unsure what it was that made him feel really uncomfortable about the large blue mare. “Well if you just put some bits in the jar on the bar ah can grab a room key for you since ah know the landlord?” It occurred to Luna this stallion hadn’t recognized her as a princess and not sure what to do next she went quiet. Luna's eyes dropped to the floor as did her mood, Braeburn took her silence for poverty and swallowed before without thinking replied the same way any member of the apple family would. “Ah have a room set aside upstairs for me since the owner didn't think ah'd be too safe if ah walked home, your welcome to stay in mah bed, if you'd like?” Luna felt her heart skip a beat, had he just propositioned her? Stuttering slightly and blushing heavily she began talking really fast, “M-my sister warned me that ponies are more forward nowadays, are you asking me to stay with you tonight? But we've just met? I mean the process has to be more complicated than that surely? I mean is romance truly dead or is it because relationships have evolved that much in a thousand years?” “Evolved? Ah didn't think bout it like... NO, ah mean no... Ah didn't mean that! Ah meant you can stay in ma room instead of me...” Braeburn's heart stopped as the mare looked hurt and hid her face behind her mane like a school filly, the way she did reminded him of his cousin Applejack's friend, that yellow pegasi, despite himself he smiled before he remembered the mare in front of him. “Ah uh that is, ah doubt you would want me.... ah'm just a simple pony…” As he continued to bluster he noticed her peeking from under her mane. “...Um shall ah t-take you to the room?” Luna shyly nodded before following the unsteady and now especially uncomfortable stallion up the stairs at the end of the bar that led to the private rooms for weekly rentals or even for whole nights. The old prospector had stayed quiet throughout the whole exchange and now found his hooves as he skipped from the bar all the way home happy since this story of a Princess slumming it with Braeburn would net him years worth of free drinks for the telling to new arrivals in town. (Historical Note: Many of the towns folk’s diaries show prior to the next morning repeatedly made references to the total lack of common sense Braeburn generally displayed when in search of a special some-pony, however after word spread of his 'conquest' it was declared open season on him by mares and stallions everywhere since only a lover of epic talent and 'proportions' would be chosen by a princess right?) (Additional Historical Note: Casapony the greatest lover in Equestria upon hearing of Braeburn's new found reputation swore an oath he would challenge the upstart and defend his title, let it be noted however that on his way he choose to climb just one more ladder with rose in teeth as a warm up, its said what he saw through the window convinced him not only to retire but to teach stallion's self help courses while also writing his first book entitled: How Classical and Electro changed my life). Princess Celestia spent a lonely night in her Canterlot castle, in the morning she raised her sun and prayed for the safety of her little sister. The sister in question was quite safe but as for her companion Braeburn it was a different story, having awoken late he had found himself in bed but far from alone as he’d expected. Instead he was led on his side underneath a blanket with a large blue hoof pinning him to the mattress. “Uh excuse me... uh...” “Mmmmmmmm?” Luna opened her eyes a fraction, it was light outside and as the embodiment of the night this greatly displeased her before she realised that her stuffed Cerberus was talking. Her memory came back as she realized her fore hooves were wrapped around what appeared to be a very startled looking young stallion. At the same time, as he turned his head slightly Braeburn saw in greater detail the mare who was spooning him, Luna's memory of the previous night was untouched by liquor and innocent of the ways of love and lust so Luna failed to understand the process his mind was now going through. Inside Braeburn's mind: Instinctive First Thought: “IN BED WITH FEMALE...” Reaction in part to long dry spell: ”YYYYEEEEEHAWWWWWW AH SCORED!!!!!!” Second Thought: “OH MA GAWD SHE'S AN ALLICORN!!! THAT MEANS A PRINCESS!!!” Reaction: “AH SCORED A PRINCESS!!!” Realization: “WAIT, ONLY TWO PRINCESSES IN EQUESTRIA, ONE NICE, ONE NOT SO NICE... ” At this point Braeburns memory of last night refused to fill him before the rest of his brain kicked in the door and told him to run screaming. Several minutes passed before Luna gave up waiting for Braeburn to regain consciousness so she climbed over him out of the small bed, the room was sparse and had basic furniture so it would do while she waited for the stallion to wake up. The moon princess walked to the one small window in the room and looked out onto the main street, without any clue how to begin looking for this student of hers she glanced at Braeburn's prone form whilst blushing slightly. As they had reached the room last night and just as Celestia did on occasion he'd passed out shivering with alcohol poisoning. So Luna had done what she always did for her sister at these times, which was to get him into bed and use the warmth of her embrace to soothe him while she stroked his mane, but tired from her journey she had relaxed too much and she'd fallen asleep next to him. The royal court would call it scandalous behavior for a Princess but she didn't care she had innocently enjoyed the company even if he was passed out. As afternoon came around so did Braeburn, as he took in his surroundings he couldn't help but notice the giant blue Allicorn sat reading an old farming magazine wearing a Stetson, his Stetson!. “Princess Luna?” Braeburn shivered a little as she turned to look at him. “Um ah plum don't know what to say, ah'm awful sorry bout me being indisposed an all”. “Is there anything you would like say food or maybe a tour of the town?” (What would a princess want the morning after... …Braeburn hesitated he still couldn't remember what had happened…) “I am fine, a young maid came by earlier she was most helpful once she'd stopped screaming.” Luna grinned sheepishly as Braeburn wondered if the saloons maid named Pillow Feather had recovered yet. “Can you fetch the mare named Trixie for me?” Braeburn rolled off the bed and in true if wobbly gentle colt fashion bowed and then spoke. “Princess Luna, ah'm not the type to go disrespecting another but about last night ah was wondering if ah'd done or said anything improper ah don't rightly remember.” Luna stared at him blankly, “about the mare Trixie?” “No... Ah mean what happened last night between us.” Luna broke into laughter as she recalled his drunken complaints about decency and how it wasn't right to stay in the same room as a single mare before passing out. However she missed the searching and confused look from Braeburn and happily replied. “A most interesting experience getting into such a small bed with you especially since you had me up against the wall for most of the night.” Her slightly suspect use of modern language shone through as despite her efforts she forgot to add things like ‘moving about in your sleep’ or ‘while you were passed out’ at the end. Braeburn’s soul nearly departed at the ‘against the wall’ comment, here was a princess (a living goddess) who had just spent the night with him now acting all coy, and to top it off now she wanted him to run errands? Then it occurred to him, maybe what she was doing was testing him to see if he would make a good consort? She didn't seem upset he passed out so he must have done well, but what if he refused her? Would he survive? Did he want to be a kept stallion? On the other hoof he thought, he could be set for life! “I'll go immediately”, Braeburn turned to leave his mind in turmoil, but as he reached the door he turned slightly and in a small voice asked, “Uh princess could ah have ma hat back please?” Appleloosa was as busy as always but for just one pony in a crowd Braeburn realized he might as well have been a hundred hooves high for all the stares he was getting and the moment he turned to confront them they just smiled and walked away. “Dang it” he muttered as he headed to Dr Quinn's place, ever since that damnable blue trickster had shown up in town she'd caused bar fights, brawls in the street, explosions and not too mention upset the mayor with her attitude towards helping other ponies in need (or lack of), which was why she had ended up staying with Dr Quinn as punishment for her brazenly unhelpful and antagonistic way's. Now Braeburn was a princess’s plaything all because Trixie had been so hard to find! He fumed, as he stomped over to the front door of the doctor’s office just at the end of the high street it opened and the familiar blue coat and silver mane appeared in front of him. Upon seeing him the blue mare rolled her eyes and with a flick of her mane addressed him sternly but with a whiff of dismissal. “I thought the Dr Quinn made her feelings on your presence around here quite obvious, or are you as thick headed as that mare of a cousin of yours Applejack?” “You leave ma cousin outta this y’hear, ever since you found that out you’ve been giving me heck about it, you gotta problem go deal with her.” “Tut tut so angry, careful you might bruise easily, little apple.” Braeburn snorted at the pet name she'd given him, but readied himself in anticipation of the now routine barrage of objects Trixie would pelt him with without warning for the fun of it. “Ah'm here for you.” Trixie stopped levitating several objects behind him which fell to the floor as she fixed him with a look of shock followed by pure anger, her face flushed crimson as she began to seethe and ethereal power built up around her. “Y-you think you can just come around here and say it like that!” “Huh, what do y...” “You dare attempt to trifle with an innocent mare’s heart! Trixie has waited for you to say something for months and that is the best you can come up with after failing to score Dr Quinn only the other day!”. Braeburn panicked as he caught up with what she was saying. “Wait does that… …You mean YOU have a crush on me?” “…YOU INSENSITIVE BASTARD!!!” Trixie screamed as she summoned all her power into one blast before walking back indoors, ignoring as she did the smoking ruin behind her in the street, so tranquil until mere seconds ago. Moments later as an elderly couple passed a brand new smoking crater in the street they remarked on who would collect the town betting pool on how long it would take Braeburn to get desperate or foolhardy enough to try dating Trixie. The explosion was heard across Appleloosa and it didn't take long for Luna to investigate considering the large pillar of smoke on the other side of town, although it upset her the local ponies immediately saw a correlation between Moon princess and explosion and responded accordingly by screaming then running away!. Luna muttered to herself as she followed the smoke right up to the edge of the crater. “Urrrgghh” “Ah Braeburn good… Uh Braeburn are you OK? Did you find the one called Trixie?” Out of the crater a hoof pointed at the front door before collapsing back down, Luna looked down at the once again prone Braeburn and wondered what exactly her mother Spellbinder had made this generation of stallion's out of? …Although she had to admit he was cute. “He will be fine”. “Aaahhhhhhh”, Luna jumped in fright as a powder blue unicorn mare sat nonchalantly beside her. “Y-You will announce yourself when ...so close”, Luna's heart was beating so fast Trixie could actually hear it. “So what can Trixie do for you?”