Chapter 10:
Perhaps I should explain myself. My name's Omega, I lived with Alpha. He asked me to take over the narration right now. I was a little confused by what he meant, but I went with it. I'm a simple maroon unicorn with an orange mane, a Victorian '0' as my cutie mark. I was surprisingly never made fun of for it. I'm a computer programmer by trade, although my favorite past time is setting up systems. I just never really got into it, I suppose.
Anyways, I'm not one for big flashy introductions like some ponies, instead I think I prefer to get right into the story. Whereas Alpha's was him so far meeting Twilight and royally bucking up with her, this is my story. It's simple, it's not very long, and it's fun. It begins at the banquet. I was, somehow, sitting next to Princess Luna.
“Omega! It has been so long since I have seen you!” Luna said, remembering our meeting so long ago.
“Yes, it is nice to see the Princess of the Night again. I thought you were going to keep in contact?”
“Oh, well, I never really got your address, and your name wasn't much to go off of, so I didn't really know where to look...heh” She seemed somewhat nervous. At the time I had no idea why.
“Really? Must've forgotten to give it to you, did you ask around at all?”
“Yes, I did. But, I couldn't find anything. Do you live in Ponyville?”
Ah, that must be it. “No, actually. I was with Alpha visiting some of his family. I just tagged along because it's awfully lonely in Canterborough at times, and I needed a well deserved vacation.”
“A well deserved? Do you not go on many vacations?”
“No, not really. I tend to work a lot. My job demands of it.”
She pretended to not remember what I did, but I easily saw through the veil. But I played along anyways, more fun that way. “Oh, yes. Err, it's been a little while, what do you do again?”
“I'm a computer programmer, you know all those fancy computers? I write software for them.”
“Oh! I see! A colt of impressive skill sets, it seems.”
She's always a flatterer. “Yes, I would say so myself. But, I have noticed a severe lack of computers in Canterlot. Do you know the cause of this?”
“Sister, it seems, does not take well to technology. She doesn't outright ban them, but it's public that she doesn't like them, and because of that most ponies are too scared to set up any shops that sell them. I have offered my blessing, though. I have extended a reach to offer my personal protection to any shop that will be brave enough to set up in those fields. Sister says that she doesn't want Canterlot to turn into an industrialized mess of a city like Phillydelphia.”
“Phillydelphia isn't that bad. They make a lot of really cool gadgets!”
“We know! Err, sorry, I tend to resort to the Royal We when excited, but I've told her time and time again that we wouldn't need to industrialize. Cities like Phillydelphia would produce all of our goods, we would just modernize. We would set up a computer network.”
“You know, I do have ideas on how to set up a whole outlying system of communications that doesn't require magics. You have all those plumbing infrastructures, right? The ones that Princess Celestia so embraced a few years back?” Luna nodded, and I continued talking. “Just run wires with thick insulation through them. We don't need to drill new holes, although that would bolster the economy. It wouldn't affect the outlying appearance of Canterlot, and would still allow for modern computerized systems.”
“I don't know, maybe she's just concerned about the place of magic in a modern world?”
“Well, ponies don't need to replace magic. A lot of ponies have very specialized magics, most don't do well for communication, so that's where this system comes in. Magic will always have it's place. I mean, it's so advanced, it's almost magic anyways.”
“This is true, but what about ponies that don't want to adapt?”
“Then they don't have to use it. It's entirely opt in. You just flush a special wire down the toilet, and wait a little while, and some specialized magics will grab it and connect you.”
“Well, this plan sounds like it could work. But, I don't believe now is the time to talk about it, no matter how interesting it is.”
I had realized she's right, dinner is no place to talk about a complete overhaul of the current communications industry. “So, then, Princess, what do you propose we chat about?”
Luna blushed, quite visibility considering the color of her coat. “Perhaps we could talk about life? My life has been quite boring as of late, I urge to hear exciting stories about brave and hansom ponies such as yourself.” Well, there goes any nod of subtlety.
“Oh, my life isn't exciting. All I've done so far is program computers, and get in occasional disputes with Alpha. I took a trip to Canterlot a little while ago, I was kinda surprised I didn't see you.”
“Oh, yes. I've been busy lately, but I think I'll be fine soon. There was unfortunately a threat made to Canterlot, so I have to be extra careful and watchful. But, enough about that, what were you in Canterlot for?”
“Oh, my boss sent me on a trip here. I still don't know why, but at least I got a signed picture of you.” I chuckled, not out of insincerity, but out of the fact that I'm talking to the mare I have a picture of.
“An autographed picture? I never signed any.”
Luna put on a false grin as I realized my picture was a fake. “So, my picture was a fake?”
“Unfortunately, but I can see about getting you a real one.” She smiled at the end of the sentence. It was wonderful.
We continued chatting and flirting back and forth for the rest of the dinner. It felt like hours, it was wonderful. The entire time, though, Luna seemed, uncomfortable, nervous even. I had tried to divine what's wrong, but I couldn't. Besides, any magic would put her at a suspicion. Then it hit me.
I was walking out, about to go catch up to Alpha, when Luna tapped my shoulder. The blush on her seemed too intense to belong to anypony but a royal alicorn. She was even more nervous than before, it seems. “Yes, Princess Luna?”
“Omega, I was wondering, if you, err, I...err.” She couldn't finish a sentence she was so nervous! It wouldn't surprise me if she nervoused all over the place right there. “Ilikeyouwillyougoonadatewithme?” That came out so fast it took me a moment to comprehend it. The brief pause was enough time for Luna's mind to interpret my answer, and start walking away, with her head hung low. Princess Celestia shot me a cruel stare.
“Luna, wait.” She perked up at this, as if she knew what I was going to say. “I never said no. In fact, I'd love to! It just took me a moment to transpose what you said.” I finished it with a giggle. Her mood visibly brightened, and Princess Celestia smiled, and tended to whatever she was doing at the moment. I sighed a breath of relief.
“Re-really?”
“Yes. I'm gonna be honest with you here, I liked you since the day we met in Ponyville, I just wasn't really sure if I would ever be able to...you know...”
Luna nodded. “I can be quite intimidating at times. But, once you really get to know me I'm just another pony that loves fun! Albeit, I'm royalty, but that's just a side thing.” She couldn't stop smiling. “Perhaps we could go out tonight? I know of this wonderful movie theatre down in Ponyville. Perhaps we could attend a showing right after I raise the moon?”
“I'd love to. When do you have to raise the moon?”
“In about a minute, come, you can watch.”
Luna led me out to a balcony not too far away from the dining hall. She informed me that this was here so she could raise the moon if she got caught up in there in the evening. Everything was so beautiful and majestic. The lights from Canterlot lit up in the most spectacular way. I could see why Princess Celestia didn't want the city industrialized. I look over towards Luna, who had on a gentle, yet graceful smile. Her horn glowed softly, I looked back and saw the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. Turning back, Luna spoke to me. “Beautiful, isn't it? Sister always produces the most amazing sunsets on important days.” It was. I looked over towards the eastern horizon, and saw the stars starting to poke up around the valleys. “If you look down there, it's Ponyville.” She pointed to a faint light in the horizon. “Takes a long way by train, but by air it's such a short trip.” Her horn glowed with more vibrancy, and her wings spread out. Her cutie mark started glowing. She was obviously very in tune with her moon. With one final jolt, as blast of light purple magic shot out towards the skyline. The moon poked it's nose up. This was by far the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I was so enthralled by it, I failed to notice the other celestial being approaching behind.
“It's a great honor, you know.” I turned back to see Princess Celestia. Oddly enough, she was without any of her usual jewelry and trinkets. She spoke with a calming grace and a caring smile. “Watching a Princess raise her body like that. Luna must really like you.”
The Moon blushed at those words, which set off a giggle in the Sun. “Of course I do, Sister. Else I wouldn't have brought him here.” Luna took a step closer to me.
“I'm glad. He comes from a noble bloodline, that unicorn.” Me? Noble bloodline? “I'm honestly surprised he's not living in Canterlot as nobility.”
“I have royal blood in me?”
“Not royal blood, but noble blood. You could join the ranks of nobility in here if you so choose.”
I thought it over for a minute. “No thank you, Princess. I like my quiet life in Canterborough. Although it'll likely change with Princess Luna here, I'd rather not be with those...”
Luna chuckled. “With those prudes? I understand, I do not like them either. Although for future reference you may call me just Luna, if you wish.”
I smiled at it. “Alright, Luna.”
Princess Celestia looked at the moon for a moment. “It's getting late, shouldn't you two be off to your...movie?” She chuckled, and left us there. I heard her say something about young love.
“She's right, but I don't think we'll make it by chariot. If I flew there personally, I'd be there within ten minutes.”
“But I can't fly, I don't have any wings.” I lamented.
Luna grinned. “Then perhaps you'll have to ride with me?” Luna said as she unfurled her wings, and gestured for me to hop on.
I nervously climbed on top, and held her around her neck. “It's not that scary, I've heard.” A quick giggle and we were off.
I've always loved flying, definitely one of my favorite activities. I swear I was a pegasi in my past life. Luna jumped off the balcony, and quickly flapped her wings. Gaining altitude, we also picked up speed rather quickly. It was so amazing, my eyes watered. Since she had a few minutes, she decided to pitch through the city streets to amaze me. We ducked through a tight alleyway, eliciting awe from the ground ponies. Onto a main street, we darted right through before finding the edge of Canterlot and gliding into a dive. It must've lasted a long time, although, before I knew it, we were gently gliding at a rather fast rate. “You seem comfortable, not you first time flying I take it?” She yelled back at me.
“No! I love flying!” She smirked, and dove into Ponyville. We stopped off just outside the town, prepared to hoof it the rest of the way.
“Ponyville!”
“Yes, there is this fantastic movie theatre just this way.” Most ponies that were out at this hour shot Luna a familiar, friendly smile. Approaching the movie theatre, we looked up. The only movie playing. 'Tales Of a Canterlot Assassin'. Oh, boy. We bought our tickets, which had a severe discount for some reason, and went inside. Stopping for popcorn was fun, because the pony serving it to us was kinda...off.
“I think that popcorn pony was serving us something...strange.” Luna said as she prodded the popcorn. She readjusted in her seat, obviously not designed to fit an alicorn of her stature. Not she was fat, she was just...larger. Skinny, though. I'm gonna stop describing her before I get smacked. “I hear this movie was good.” She said, just as it started. It wasn't. I've seen a lot of movies, but this was no where near good. We came out laughing our flanks off at the movie's attempt to be serious. But it's hard to take it seriously when the mane character is saying 'Ah, buck it! I love you, Gent Flankkicker!' and that pony is being played by Derpy Hooves. I'll give you that she's a really good actor, just not in serious movies.
“Oh my...remember that part where he said that line? That was hysterical!” We both fell over laughing outside, as a Royal Chariot landed in front of us. Luna raised an eyebrow, then lowered it.
“Perhaps we should take the chariot back, believe it or not, the trip here was rather taxing.” Luna said.
“Is that a fat joke?” I teased. Ah, yes. Self deprecating humor.
We both stepped on the chariot, and sat flank to flank. It was a long ride, about 3 hours due to the slow nature of the guard ponies, so we had a lot of time to talk. We didn't talk much, though. Luna quickly fell asleep on my shoulder, she was that tired. When we arrived back in Canterlot, Luna excused herself, she had to go watch out over the city. I was sent back off to my hotel room. Man, what a night.