A Long Time Ago...
Princess Flurry Heart stared almost dumbfounded at the elderly Princess of the Night and Dreams standing in the doorway of the old EUP cabin, who gave her a soft smile.
"Heh, it has been quite a long time since I have been called that, child," Luna said.
Flurry smiled back.
"I'm sure it's been an equally long time since anyone has called me 'child'," she replied.
Luna stepped aside, inviting the younger alicorn inside.
"Come in, come in, out of the cold, your highness. I'm sure there's quite a bit that we can learn from each other."
Flurry stepped into the cabin, and Luna closed the door behind her.
It was largely as she remembered it from the last time this cabin was staffed by a Crystal Guard. Luna had done very little in renovations, except for keeping up maintenance, ensuring it stayed livable and the interior was suitably shielded from the outside elements.
"I'm afraid I can only offer you tea, milk, or water. I only asked for the most basic necessities from your guard. I apologize for the subterfuge, but I didn't want word to spread that I was up here before the time was right," Luna told her as she sat down next to the crackling fireplace.
"I'm fine, thank you, but I don't understand. You've been up here all this time?" Flurry asked, stepping up to the fireplace and it's inviting warmth.
"That entirely depends on what you mean by "all this time," Luna began, sipping at her tea. "For the past... Forty years or so, and I will explain why, but first let's talk about why you have come all the way up here. I can only assume it has to do with that worsening weather that is not moving from above the Empire."
Flurry nodded, sitting down across from Luna.
"I've been having recurring nightmares for weeks now, to the point where I'm convinced it's a premonition. I've gotten so worried that Spike told me you were up here when I told him I needed a dreamwalker to help me consider what it is, and what I can possibly do about it," Flurry explained. Luna nodded in understanding.
"Yes, Spike was one of the very few I told when I came up here. He made arrangements for monthly supply runs up here, only the bare necessities, so as to not place any unneeded strain on your city's populace."
"Everypony I talked to believed you vanished after... After Celestia..."
Princess Luna nodded, and Flurry didn't need to complete her sentence.
"Seeing my sister pass was one of the hardest days of my life, and it led to the loneliest days. I quickly grew incredibly restless, and decided to leave Silver Shoals. I spent the next few decades traveling, to every corner of Equestria and beyond; the dragon lands, Griffonstone, Maretania, Antleria, Abyssinia, Farasi... I went everywhere, pondering what was in store for me... And how long I had left."
Flurry didn't say anything, choosing to listen intently, assuming that Luna had more to say.
"I never truly accepted that my responsibility to Equestria ended along with my sister's when Princess Twilight took over. Not when I spent a millennium rightfully imprisoned for my crimes. I always felt that resuming my duties of tending to the moon and dreamwalking were not enough for repentance. So towards the end of my travels, I also began to have premonitions, and that is what drove me up here."
"You too?" Flurry asked. Luna nodded.
"And I am hoping that we can help each other with them. So, tell me, how have things been down in the valley? Down in the city?" Luna asked.
Flurry ruffled her wings momentarily.
"For the most part, unbearably dull. Mom was right. I've spent years upon years wishing for something exciting, and now... With everything that's been happening... I want to go back to dull. Be careful what you wish for and all, I guess. Can I assume you've heard what happened to Cloudsdale?" Flurry asked.
Luna nodded solemnly.
"Ponies have let small differences and arguments get to them, and have let them become greater divisions. They have slowly forgotten everything that Princess Twilight and her friends have taught them. Even the other kingdoms across Equus are beginning to distance themselves from us and each other once again. My greatest fear is that Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow did ultimately succeed in the long term," Luna reflected.
"Canterlot has become unbearably overpopulated when Cloudsdale collapsed on it six months ago. The last report I received is that conflict is inevitable. How can we possibly stop something like that?" Flurry asked.
"We should look to what has brought us together, Princess; our premonitions. How spent are you from the climb? It has been some time since I have performed spells like this, but the more in need of rest you are, the easier this will be," Luna told her.
Flurry looked at the oak and bronze clock on the wall above the fireplace; it was late afternoon, and alteration spell keeping the cold at bay or not, she felt she could nod off if she got comfortable enough.
"I think I could take a nap, yes," she told the Princess of the Night.
Luna motioned to the couch against the front wall as she got to her hooves. The Crystal Princess made her way over to it, stretching out on it, getting as comfortable as she could. Luna made her way over to a modest twin bed in the back corner. She slowly laid down, bringing her head to rest on the single pillow, and closed her eyes as she began to concentrate.
The only sounds were the cracking of the fireplace, and the howling wind outside as both ponies attempted to slow their breathing, and relax as much as possible.
"Somnum," she whispered, her horn beginning to glow. As Flurry began to feel more and more drowsy, falling into a deep slumber, a single mote of light left the very tip of Luna's horn, slowly floating across the cabin over to where the Crystal Princess slept on the couch, and softly landed on her forehead, connecting the two alicorns in the world of dreams...