//------------------------------// // 34 Worry // Story: For science // by Znegil //------------------------------// I stood inside my simple but effective lab rooms. "That is so cool AJ, thanks a lot. With a few tables and some cabinets, I'll be ready to go." Applejack looked tired but also very proud. "Yeah, we did pretty good. I will visit you once everything is finished and you're working here." "Come with me to the library. I'm sure Celestia's money is here." "It's not that urgent.", she replied. "I know, but I like to pay my debts as fast as possible." Together we walked inside the library to meet my smiling marefriend. "Our new bed and closet has arrived.", she said. "I already brought them to our room and sorted your dresses into the closet." "That's great news.", I answered. "This will be the first night I can sleep fully stretched out. You will look a bit lost in this giant bed, have the bits from Celestia arrived?" Twilight pointed towards a huge bag in the corner of the room. Curious I walked to it and opened it to look inside. "Wow... that's so much money. What are these coins, they are twice as big as the others?" "That's a twenty-bit coin. Without these it would be impossible to buy expensive goods, can you imagine carrying hundreds of coins?", Twily told me. I lifted the heavy bag on the table. "So Applejack, how much for two days of work from the best builder in town?", I asked her. She got very bashful all the sudden. "I don't know, whatever you think..." "No Applejack, we both don't know about such services, so we decided to let you decide.", I replied. "So please, how much?" She sighed. "50 bits." "Okay." I counted five of the big coins and gave them to her. "No, that's 100. That's way to much.", she pushed them back in panic. "I know it's 100. I talked to Twilight before and knowing how humble you are, we decided that double the amount you would ask for would be a fair price." I put the coins into her hooves again. "Do you think the carpenter would have asked for less than this if he had built my lab, honest Applejack?" "No.", she mumbled. "Well, then thank you once again for your great help with my lab. I'm really thankful for it." I drew her into a hug. She was fairly surprised by it but hugged me back. "I have to thank you two for being there for me. It helped to talk about all this.", she replied. "That's what friends are for Applejack.", Twilight told her as she ruffled her mane. "Could you tell the others we will meet you all in Canterlot for the Gala? We go there tomorrow morning so I can introduce Stella to my family." "Will do.", she said and waved goodbye as she left. "The lab is completed?", Twilight asked me. "At least the rooms. I will have to get a few tables and..." The front door opened again. "Twilight, Twilight!", Spike shouted while he ran inside holding a scroll. "A letter from the princess." "That's uncommon. I hope nothing bad has happened.", said Twilight while she levitated the scroll towards her. "My dearest student.", she started to read. "I have a favor to ask from both of you. I start to worry for Luna. She isn't making any progress in finding new friends and instead is isolating herself more and more. Today she told me she would not attend the Gala because she is to uncomfortable among my subjects. I don't want to see her sad and depressed again, this time I will not ignore the warning signs. She was so much happier when we had visited you for dinner. She seemed to get along with Stella in particular, maybe because she never experienced Nightmare Moon. I ask you to spend some time with her and bring her in a better mood if possible. You wrote to me you will come to Canterlot tomorrow, could you please come tonight? I will tell Luna I wanted to accompany you to dinner this evening, but an important meeting with an ambassador came up. I'm sure she will agree to keep you company instead. I'm awaiting your response. Princess Celestia" "Poor Luna, of course we will help, right?", I asked my marefriend. "Of course. Spike take a letter." Like always Spike produced a scroll and quill from behind his back... I really needed to ask him how he did that. "Dear Princess Celestia, we are more than happy to help Princess Luna, and we are looking forward to keeping her company. We will leave for Canterlot right away. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkle Spike immediately did send the letter. "Seems like we have to pack right now.", Twilight said. So we hurried upstairs to pack a suitcase, mostly with some of my dresses and both of our dresses for the Gala. ... We sat on the train to Canterlot. "Are there any fun activities we could do with Luna?", I asked. "The Canterlot library is HUGE. We could spend so much time in there." I looked at her, unsure if she was joking. "What? I had so much fun reading in there." "Well, reading is fun. But I had other activities in mind, you know... nightlife in Canterlot." "Sorry, I concentrated on my studies, nightlife wasn't my thing." "Canterlot is quite big, right? Isn't there some tourist information center?", I asked her. "There is an information center. I remember going there when I was a little filly. 'Since mom won't tell me where babies come from, what better place than an information center?' I had thought back then. It turned out they didn't want to give me that information either.", she said smiling. "The library was the far better place to get information about that. Although, I have to admit these diagrams had been quite confusing back then." "Good thing we explored so much of our bodies lately, if you have any more questions we can experiment as much as you want.", I told her with a grin. "Stella, don't say such things in public." She flushed and looked around to see if anyone noticed. "You're so cute when you're bashful.", I replied and kissed her softly but persistent, she resisted only for a moment before she gave into it. Once we separated she had that dreamy look in her eyes that I loved so much. "We will visit the information center and ask about fun activities.", I told her. "I think what we did just now was very fun.", she answered smiling. "So we will kiss Luna all night?", I asked with a smirk. Her face went crimson instantly. "Oh right, I forgot we were talking about Luna before."