She folded her wings as she landed. "Princess Luna?" It wasn't normal for her to be bid to land on somepony's balcony like that, but that is what Luna had asked for. "Are you there?" She dared not press past the fabric that seperated the balcony from the interior.
Luna stepped from behind the cloth, her own wings unfurled, height at its maximum. "What a curious missive I received."
"Oh?" Twilight tilted her head a little, oblivious to the power pose being given to her. "What was it about?"
"It would appear somepony thinks they can do my job for me, as if I were incapable." Her fore-right hoof pawed at the ground with clear agitation.
Twilight's eyes went wide. "Oh, no! I didn't mean that!"
"Then what did'st though mean? We thought better of you!" The scowl on her face made Twilight wither back against the rail of the balcony.
"It's for medical purposes, to help ponies!" she squeaked, pointing a hoof out between the railings down towards Ponyville. "It will only be a few nights, I assure."
"What manner of 'medical purpose' requires the assumption of mine duties?" Luna set a metal-clad hoof against her chest, eyes boring holes into Twilight with her intense gaze.
"Since you asked." She forced herself upright and cleared her throat as a sheet of paper unfurled in her magic. "Bone spurs, an excess collection of calcium in undesirable placements causes aetheric interference in affected unicorns." She pointed a hoof up at two glowing pictures of a healthy and diseased horn side by side. "We have collected six ponies with the condition."
Luna's anger tripped over itself, not expecting a demonstration. "I... see? What does this unfortunate condition have to do with my moon?!"
"It has been noted that going through the motions of lifting the moon has restorative properties on those affected by this disease." Twilight pointed at the sick horn, then over at the healthy. "I would help these ponies. This was not meant as a challenge on your authority, I assure."
"Then you have made a critical error." She reached out and casually booped Twilight on her snoot. "You would allow inexperienced foals to handle the moon without my presence to assure it goes well? How foalish. Not a pony other than myself has attempted this feat in countless moons, leaving mine sister aside." She suddenly paused, brow raising. "You did not invite her to this, did you?"
"No! No, of course not." Twilight waved her forehooves wildly in denial, imagining how well it'd go if she had asked Celestia for help with moving the moon. "I would be honored to have your assistance, if you're offering it? I thought a little vacation may be... welcomed?"
"Of all ponies, you should know better than most how unnerving it is to set one's duties aside." She strode out past Twilight, looking down towards Ponyville. "I would meet these would-be moon wakers. We have much to do to ensure this proceeds properly."
"I... of course, yes. Of course." She rubbed at her chin with a hoof lightly. "When would you want to visit?"
"Your missive made it clear you intended to take this responsibility for several days. You will have to put me up for the duration." She spread her wings. "I will fetch the chariot and meet you there." She strode firmly from the balcony without a moment's hesitation, leaving Twilight behind.
"That... could have been worse." Twilight just had to deal with hosting Luna and whatever guards she brought. No problem... right?
Spike worried his fingers together as he fidgeted in place. "So, um... you see?"
"I do not," admitted Rarity with a gentle smile. "What has you in knots, Spike? You look quite beside yourself, dear."
Spike lifted his shoulders as he took a slow breath. "Right..." He would do it like Moondancer did... That could resolve everything. "I... considered the... professionals and cons and, um.... I would like... to date you."
Rarity blinked softly in surprise. Never had she expected Spike to actually just out and say it. "Professionals?"
It was Spike's turn to blink owlishly. "Pros! Pros and cons! Would you like to date?"
Rarity smiled gently, fighting the titter that wanted to rise. "Dearest Spike, dear dear Spike..." She reached for him, brushing one of her cheeks with her hoof. "I think the world of you."
"Is... that a yes?" he asked hopefully, even as it felt like the pit of spikes was being opened beneath him, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Spike... I will always love you... but not... not that way." She leaned in and smooched his iron-stiff forehead. "One day you will find a better mare than me, one with room for you in her heart."
He was falling. Everything was spinning. "But..." Tears stung at his eyes. "I..."
"You were a perfect gentlepony," she assured gently. "It's not you, Spike. You are a dear and darling dragon who deserves all the love in the world."
"So why not you!" he blurted, face suddenly red, but not entirely in embarrassment. A new rage was suddenly lit that confused even him. "Why not me!? I... I've been trying to woo you, for years!"
"And we will remain the best of friends, I do hope, but it... will not be that way, dearest Spike. I know you're hurting right now... but I hope you forgive me, eventually."
"Why didn't you say anything?!" Spike took a step back, almost stumbling over his own stiff limbs. "You knew. You knew the whole time, didn't you? You knew and..."
"And I still love you... I never wanted to face this very moment, of hurting your precious heart. You deserve so much better."
Spike suddenly twirled away from her, his arms crossed. "Fine! Just... fine! So you don't care if I see somepony else, right?"
Rarity tilted her head, blinking lightly. "Whyever would I? I would only celebrate your happiness, dear. Please bring them by so I can see you two together."
"Fine!" It was becoming his favorite word. He stormed from the boutique, tears leaving a trail behind him. His romance was officially ended.
Rarity let out the breath she had been holding. "Oh dear..."
Moon Dancer was seated beside Sunburst, both working on the particulars of the ritual. "We'll want them seated like this." She gestured to a diagram.
"With the strongest starting here and working clockwise," agreed Sunburst, making a slow circular motion with a hoof. "We'll need to measure everyone's strength to get the placement right."
The door suddenly slammed open behind them, making both jump in shock. There was Spike running across the small room, his eyes red and puffy. "I made up my mind!" he blurted, his voice uneven and shaking. "I would be... honored... to date you."
Sunburst glanced towards Moon, who Spike was looking at. "Uh..."
Moon, on the other hoof, had her eyes meeting Spike's gaze. She could see herself being echoed back at her. Was that how hurt she had appeared? Was that what it was like? She reached out a hoof and set it on Spike's shoulder. "You made your move."
"And she said no," he confessed, trembling. "She said never..."
"Then I cannot say yes." Moon shook her head firmly. "You do not need a girlfriend, not right now. You need a friend."
"How about two?"meekly ventured Sunburst, smiling awkwardly.
"Two is good." Moon smiled gently. "Spike, may I be your friend?"
"You're... turning me down too?"
"No! No... I'm not denying you. I'm just not accepting it, yet..." Her horn glowed, a book emerging from her pocket. "Rebounds have a statistically low chance of success, and you are rebounding... I suppose I was rebounding too... Spike, can we heal, together, and then, only then... try dating?" She reached a hoof forward. "I think you're worth waiting for."
Spike's eyes darted between the offered hoof and the glass-framed face of the pony offering it. "I... um... I mean..." He blinked, new tears forced free. "You're not saying no? Promise you're not saying no."
"I am not saying no," she restated with a slow nod. "I'm just saving yes for when we're a little less... of a mess."
"Can I have a hug?" he asked with a tiny voice.
Moon made a come-hither motion silently at Sunburst and reached with the other hoof. Soon all three of them were in a hug. There were injuries to recover from.
The ponies were gathered. Arranged in a circle, the ponies hoping to have their horns cleared sat patiently.
"Are we starting soon?" asked Snips, glancing around nervously. Mostly patiently.
Luna pointed at him directly. "The time will not be right for another five minutes. Still thyself, for this is a rare honor being given to you."
Fancy Pants nodded properly. "Too right. I never imagined I'd be raising the moon. This is a deep honor and one I thank you for, Luna. We'll do our best to get it right."
"I will be here in case that fails, have no fear." She smiled with confidence, hoof on her chest. "Do your best and follow the directions given." She reached out with a wing, gently nudging Sunburst in position a little inch. "Mmm, yes. I think you are all prepared."
Twilight clopped her forehooves together. "Excellent. Starlight and I are here to see after your well-being, just as Luna will keep her attention on the moon's progress. Together, we should be able to reasonably assure that all will go well, or not at all."
Sassy Saddles, one of those chosen, was looking a little more nervous. "This won't get in the way of my duties, I hope? I'd hate to put a pin in my work just because of some silly desire to do magic better." She looked up at her own long horn. "I always had 'enough', I suppose..."
Sunburst looked across towards her. "You've adapted to work with what you had, because you had no choice. You could have had so much more."
"Yes..." She didn't look completely convinced, nervousness rising visibly.
Snips reached over, standing next to her. "Hey, it's not so, you know, bad. Just think of all the cool things we'll be able to do once we're done."
Sassy smiled at the little colt. "You are young enough yet to still be stitching your dress, so to speak."
"I never wore no dress." Snips tilted his head with obvious confusion.
Twilight coughed into a hoof softly. "She means you're still learning how you do things. I will gladly assist any successfully treated ponies to remedial magic training once we've completed this treatment path. It would be cruel to clear up the problem and leave you with a horn you don't know how to use."
"Been there," sighed out Sunburst, looking up at his horn that had looked like Twilight's for a while. "No fun. I'll be working on it too, with you all. Let's improve ourselves."
"Hear hear," agreed Fancy Pants, puffing out his chest and sitting up straight. "I'm ready to begin."
Luna brought down a hoof with a ring of metal on stone. "It is time. Raise your horns as one and focus on where the moon resides, just below the horizon." She lifted her other hoof to point into the sunset. "Reach with your magic, not to the moon itself, but the ideal of the moon. Harmonize with its concept and feel your magic attach as you focus on that point."
They had already been told all that, but having Luna speaking the instructions as it was needed seemed to be calming and helping. They closed their eyes, heads turned towards where the moon would soon be. Their horns began to glow, one after the other, forming a circle of glimmering light that spread out, slowly overtaking their entire formation.
"Everything's looking right," muttered Twilight, watching it intensely, her own magic carefully feeling around, looking for imperfections that could cause calamity. "You're doing great, everypony."