Princess Celestia let out a fond sigh as she cut into her piece of cake. It was just another day running an entire nation. And while it was a duty that she greatly enjoyed, thanks largely to how happy her subjects were, a goddess still enjoyed a break from her duties like the one she was taking right now. Her particular favorite spot was a small table in a garden-like area.
"Mind if I join you?" A voice asked. Celestia turned to the source, and found Nightmare Moon smiling at her. "I'd have asked Luna, but she's usually sleeping right about now. Even though I've mostly taken over bestowing sleep upon our subjects, she still likes to go through the dreamscape sometimes."
"She does take sleep seriously." Celestia giggled as Nightmare Moon took a seat across from her. "So how nervous is everyone when you walk the castle's halls?"
"They've gotten used to me." Nightmare Moon said with a shrug. "Probably because I'm not wearing armor and have a dress on instead." She then smiled and tapped the crown she was wearing. "Or maybe it just helps that I traded in my helmet for a crown instead."
"I do hope that you haven't gotten rid of your armor." Celestia said with a warm smile. "The warrior princess look certainly suites you well."
"You look quite fierce in armor as well." Nightmare Moon replied with a smile in return. "I saw some pictures of you in your armor after the Royal Wedding Rumble, as the papers called it." She then let out a fond sigh. "Look at the two of us. Sitting here, taking a snack break, and chatting like we've been good friends all our lives."
"And all it took was you trying to usurp my throne." Celestia giggled. "You know, it's odd. Many wonderful things happened in our lives because of each other. I gained a student that's like a daughter to me, and I also met the boy who promised to reunite me Luna. You became your own person, and gained the friendship of the same people who had defeated you."
"I also now have a sweet room in the castle." Nightmare Moon smirked. "I'm guessing you're taking a break from your royal duties?"
"Indeed I am." Celestia smiled. "Honestly, some days I'm tempted to just send all the paperwork to Twilight. Knowing her, she'd have a field day handling it all. And she'd be able to finish it within minutes given how smart she is. But enough about my daily grind. How have you been doing?"
"Eh. I've pretty much got a day off everyday." Nightmare Moon said with a shrug. "The major responsibility I've got is making sure our subjects all have sweet dreams and a peaceful sleep. So, yeah, I've got most of my days pretty much free to do what I want."
"I see." Celestia said with a slightly dejected look on her face. "That must be nice. Waking up as late as you want, and not having anything to worry about. The only moments to myself are when I'm having a meal, or taking a small break like this one before something inevitably pops up." The solar princess let out a sigh. "Sometimes I wish that I could have at least one day where I don't have to do anything except just raise the sun. I goddess I may be, but that doesn't make me tireless."
"Well then," Nightmare Moon said with a confident smile. "Allow me to make your wish come true."
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked.
"I'm saying that I could take over your duties for a day!" Nightmare Moon proudly declared. "If things get really bad, I'll call you for help. Besides, you deserve a day off! Just announce that you'll be taking a day off and that I'll be in charge of things."
"I. . . I just don't know." Celestia sighed. "It's pretty tiring, you know. And you have to read everything so carefully. Plus, it's straining having to smile so much."
"Celestia." Nightmare Moon said as she placed a hand on Celestia's shoulder. "You know I'm not one to back down easily. Besides, it'd be good for our subjects to see more of me in the waking world."
"Well, when you put it like that," Celestia relented. "Alright then You can start as soon as tomorrow. Hope you can wake up early to raise the sun."
"Sweet!" Nightmare Moon grinned. "You could even wake up in the evening tomorrow just to see Luna more! Well, I've gotta get going! Enjoy your day off tomorrow, Celly!"
"I honestly hope I can." Celestia said hopefully as she went back to her royal duties that were left for the day. Night soon fell, and Celestia got ready for bed. Holding the Optimus Prime plushie given to her by Burst Stream close to her chest. "Here's hoping that the sun makes me rise tomorrow, and not the other way around." And the sun goddess shut off the lights as she drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Celestia stirred in bed as she felt something warm hitting her face. The solar princess opened one of her eyes, and saw that the morning was greeting her. A pleasantly surprised smile on her face as she stretched her arms and wings. Letting out a content sigh as she took note of the time indicated on her clock.
"So far, so good." Celestia said with a smile before she heard a knock on her door. "Come in!" She was surprised yet again when she saw Nightmare Moon come in with a breakfast tray. "Hello, Moon. You didn't tell me my day off came with room service."
"Just a little bonus I threw in last-minute." Nightmare Moon chuckled. She set the tray at Celestia's side. "It's just as beautiful, you know. The sunrise in comparison to the sunset. To think, I'd have taken away something so beautiful if I'd brought about eternal night. Raising the sun this morning? It made me really glad that I failed."
"You and me both." Celestia said with a playful jab to Nightmare Moon's shoulder. "Good luck out there!"
"Thanks, Celly." Nightmare Moon said with a smile as she got up to leave. "Oh! And before I forget, I slipped a little something extra into your breakfast. You can thank me later."
Celestia was puzzled as to what Nightmare Moon had meant, but it soon became clear when Celestia spied a small piece of chocolate cake as she removed the dome covering her tray. A warm smile on her face as she happily devoured it and the rest of her breakfast.
Meanwhile, Nightmare Moon was sitting on the throne. Right about now was when Celestia would hold her court, and hear the petitions and requests of citizens that required her audience. For the most part, things were running smoothly. Most of the people that stopped by to see her actually asked her is she could give them any sleeping advice. To which she happily gave them the tips necessary for a restful slumber. Some teachers even asked is she could visit their schools so the students could ask her about dreams. In short, Nightmare Moon was having a lot of fun. Until Blueblood showed up, that is.
'How a brat like him is related to Celestia, I'll never know.' Nightmare Moon thought with a frown that she quickly hid away with a neutral expression. 'Still, I might as well try to be civil. Though I don't think Celestia would mind if I cut-off this jerk.'
"Ah, Princess Nightmare Moon." Blueblood said with his trademark grin. "Just the lady I was looking for."
"This court is for important matters and citizens that have requests that need my approval." Nightmare Moon replied calmly. "I sincerely hope you have something worthwhile to propose?"
"In fact, I do." Blueblood said smugly. "What better time to court you, than court?"
"I. . . beg your pardon?" Nightmare Moon asked in disbelief. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you DID just tell me that you came to court me, right?"
"Of course!" Blueblood said triumphantly. "You must be having so many lonely nights without Burst Stream. I first thought he and you were a good pair. But now that you're officially a princess? Well, I think it's fair to say you could have done better than a commoner such as him."
'You straight-up said that I wasn't worth your time before I was officially crowned, and you think that's supposed to make me swoon?' Nightmare Moon thought with a frown as she listened to Blueblood's proposal. 'But that's not even the best part. You just insulted the man I loved with all my heart, asshole.'
"Can't you just picture it?" Blueblood said with an arrogant smile. "The two of us as the ultimate royal couple! You and I would be the talk of the whole nation! And think of the bloodline! Surely any children we'd produce would be without equal. And," Blueblood smirked as he took in Nightmare Moon's figure. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind a man to keep you warm all night long. A body like yours truly is divine. It would be a shame to let it go unattended."
"I'll have it attended when a real man is present." Nightmare Moon replied with a smirk as she saw Blueblood's reaction! "Because from what I've heard from the maids, you're anything but boyfriend material. I doubt you could even pay a girl to put up with you." 'Oh, I'm going to enjoy destroying this royal pain in the neck!' "And Burst Stream pleased me more than you can imagine by opening his heart to me before I was even crowned. Plus, with all the times he's shared a bed with me, it's safe to say he has a lot more experience sleeping with a woman than you do." And Blueblood left the room crying.
"Your highness?" One of the guards said as he turned to face Nightmare Moon. An approving smile on his face. "I've been waiting for someone to let that prince have it for too long."
"THANK YOU!" The other guards chorused with tears of joy! "BLUEBRAT'S BEEN BEATEN DOWN!"
"Oh, it was my pleasure." Nightmare Moon giggled. "It felt quite satisfying bashing Blueblood." She then noticed there were no further appointments gathered in line. "Well, that was short but sweet. I wonder what Celestia's up to right now?"
"It's about time I purchased one of these." Celestia said with a smile as she walked out of a gaming store with a console in her hands. "To think that all this time, I haven't been able to get a gaming console. Maybe Moon can play a few rounds of some multiplayer games when I get back."
The day soon drew to a close, and Celestia teleported back to the castle. When she arrived, the first thing she did was make her way to Nightmare Moon's location.
"Hey, Moon! I'm back!" Celestia greeted. "How was you day in the sun?"
"It was pretty fun, actually." Nightmare Moon smiled. "Apparently, I'm becoming a hit with the kids. I've got a few visits to school scheduled in the future. So how was your day off?"
"It was amazing!" Celestia exclaimed in joy! "And I got a little something that we can both enjoy." Celestia presented the console, a Nintendo Switch, proudly. "I heard Luna freaking out about this, so I decided it might be a good idea to grab it while I was free today."
"Well what are we waiting for?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Let's hook this sucker up!" And for the rest of the night, the pair of princesses gamed until they couldn't keep their eyes open. Nightmare Moon resting her head against Celestia's shoulder.
"Good night Moon." Celestia said warmly as she tried to move. But apparently, Nightmare Moon had decided to make a pillow out of her. A small pout on the Princess of Dreams' face while Celestia tried to remove her self. 'Oh, that's just adorable!' And so not to disturb Nightmare Moon, Celestia moved herself and Moon to her bed. The pair drifting off to sleep.