Luna struggled to wake herself up. Now, for those who knew, that would not be an unusual occurrence, quite the opposite in fact. No, what made this particular awakening different was the fact that the sun was high in the sky still... or was it again? Luna wasn't sure, but she was sure that her sister was torturing her for one misdeed or another.
"C-close the curtain..." the azure alicorn mumbles out, her hoof coming up to cover her head with a blanket.
"LUNA!!" came an extremely loud shout from somewhere off to the side. The mare in question shot up quickly, all traces of her being tired wiped from her mind.
"What happened?!" Luna asked quickly, her head on a swivel for any dangers. Soon enough, however, her eyes focused on the room full of ponies (and a changeling and dragon) and she began to calm down as her situation becomes a little more clear.
"How long was I out?" the mare asks, a hoof to her muzzle to cover a massive yawn.
"About a day or so, Sister," Celestia said as she looked around the massive room at everyone that had gathered, "And it would seem that the down time has done wonders for you."
"What do you mean, Celestia?" Luna asks, "I feel no different than I normally would. Well, beyond being a bit more tired than usual."
"Um... Maybe you should look in the mirror, Princess," Rainbow Dash spoke up from her place, hovering slightly above everyone, "You definitely look different now."
"What do you mean?" Luna asked, "What does she mean?"
"You really do need to see," Twilight said excitedly, a slightly manic gleam in her eyes as she spoke, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen if for myself!"
"Oh no," Spike said from where he was sitting by Rarity, "Might want to get ready, Luna, she's going to be on a research binge in a bit!"
Twilight pouted good naturedly as she mumbled, "Only a little..."
Everyone got a chuckle out of that, but Luna moved to get out of bed, the mare landing beside it and noting that everything seemed a bit shorter than usual...
"A mirror, please," Luna said in a soft voice that carried over the giggles all the same. Lighting her horn, Celestia conjured one, a smile on her face as she did so. Looking herself over, the Night Alicorn marveled at what she saw. It was herself, and she could clearly tell that... but she was only just slightly shorter than her sister now, the tip of her horn stopping just shy of Celestia's. Her coat was now a deeper, more pleasing shade of blue, and her magic felt stronger than ever. Perhaps the most startling change, however, was her mane and tail. Before, they sat all but lifeless on her head and flank, but now they flowed with power, as if pushed along by a nonexistent breeze.
"I... Is... that me?" Luna asked in disbelief.
"Hay yeah it is!" Rainbow spoke up, "Lookin' good, Princess!!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity spoke up, looking scandalized at the brash pegasus' outburst, "That is not the way one speaks to Royalty! Have some respect!"
"What?" Rainbow asked, looking to the fashionista, "She's gorgeous, not just cute now..."
Luna, remembering Rainbow Dash's nightmare, blushes slightly at the praise and looks over to her. The Pegasus saw the look and blushed herself before looking away slightly and smiling.
"I mean that," she says, an uncharacteristically shy tone in her voice.
"I know you did," Luna said in response, "I meant what I told you as well. If you'll have me."
Everyone seemed to take this as a clue and left the two to themselves for a while. And while nothing physical happened between the two during that first day, Luna and Rainbow Dash had the start of a wonderful relationship.
-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-
Later on, after Luna and Rainbow Dash had parted for the evening, the Night Princess had found herself musing before attempting to begin her normal duties.
"Is there anything you require, Princess?" Asked one of her guards as she looked out over the still empty Night Court.
"Nay, good sir," Luna says with a smile, "Just musing to myself."
"Nothing bad, I hope," the guards says with a slight smile.
"Simply thinking on how I made it to where I am tonight," Luna says as she lights her horn, preparing herself to ease the dreams of her subjects.
"And I would not change it for the world," she says, a flash of light signaling the start of her duties... and the beginning of a beautiful night.