The fading light of day saw Rarity milling about her bedroom. She was by far not retiring for the evening, certainly not so early. But while she awaited company, she shuffled about. It wasn’t about picking something out to wear; hardly was this ever the issue for her. But as she paced, she saw it again and again out of the corner of her eye.
The hilt with its sweeps and curls spiraling around an elegant handle was fetching to behold. She couldn’t deny herself that. It was the real reason she’d purchased the thing, after all. Oh she’d never intended to actually use it. But its pristine design—alongside the fact that all the most famous nobles throughout history had their fancy household swords, of course—had filled her with covetous desire.
Finding herself off in the corner of her room, she stood before it now. Pegs held it feet above her on the wall, forcing her to look up to it. In a way, she supposed she’d been looking up to it the whole time—to what it represented: status and the odd bit of heroics.
Just like the stories she loved reading, with the dashing, daring sort who’d leap at the first sign of trouble, blade at the ready. And here, she found herself as though in the middle of one of those very stories. And it wasn’t so easy. It wasn’t so cut and dry, pun notwithstanding.
Her horn’s magic brought it down to her level. She felt its weight in her hooves, how it dragged at her shoulders. Oh, it had been easy enough to wear on her belt and prance around what she thought was undue panic at the time. Anything to wear a fancy costume and play at being one of those heroes.
She pushed it open. The blade was red. Burning, bloody, bright, slick as gore crimson. A gulp sounded in the quiet room as she recalled how it earned its hue.
It had been just as easy to brandish this thing against Nightmare Moon. In theory, of course. She was going to be the ruin of all Equestria; someone had to point a hardened steel tip at her throat. Would that it had been someone else, who actually knew how to use one of these things. Rarity kicked herself for not looking into fencing lessons since Summer Sun.
Closing the weapon back up, she held it to her chest. It was cold and it was heavy, and even from here she could just barely feel the fuzzy interference with her magic. It was the perfect tool for facing a magical creature. One halfway decent jab, and a fighter was safe from spellcraft for a few seconds.
Her eyes crinkled, brows tightening. Pinkie was now one such magical creature, growing wings, conjuring tools out of thin air, fading away into darkness. Rarity asked herself: if it came down to it, could she brandish this weapon again?
Under better circumstances? Certainly. But how seldom did beggars get the choice? She could prostrate herself for a thousand days, moving only along scraping knees, begging the hands of fate to not have to point this thing at a dear friend. And she’d never be heard. For fate was cruel. Something her other dear friend could attest to.
Rarity relinquished the blade, placing it back onto its display. After all, this had been all she’d ever wanted: a fancy item to call her own, that she might be able to play pretend at being a noble hero from higher society. Perhaps she would steer clear of those pulpy fantasy adventures for a while.
Unless they had a juicy romantic element, of course. She wouldn’t deny herself all her simple pleasures. How could she, when the characters on the cover wore shirts that cut so deep along their chests? At least she was honest about her love of trashy pulp. Besides, a very dashing stallion once said that it takes very good taste to understand bad taste.
There came a knock on her front door below. Her friends were here. She checked her hair one last time before putting on a smile and heading down.
“You mean to tell me, that after all that, we’re stuck on the sidelines waiting for the princesses to do the hard part?” Rainbow Dash was flustered as Fluttershy relayed it to the group.
“We’re still involved.” insisted Fluttershy as they loped along through town. “We’re just… the second part. Still integral, but coming later.”
“Pinkie is our friend, not theirs.” blurted Dash. “We should be there for her too when it goes down.”
“She’s every bit Luna’s friend as she is ours.” called Rarity from behind them. She thought, very briefly, of mentioning that she might be moreso hers than theirs, in fact. But she hadn’t the time to decide if she felt they’d likely be getting back together, or if this was even appropriate to say at all.
“Besides,” interjected Fluttershy before Rainbow could bristle up at that, “I like it better this way. I don’t think I could fight Pinkie. She’s much too sweet.”
Rarity looked at her. She thought again of the sword. Her gaze fell to the cobbles she paced along.
“And just why couldn’t Luna come tell us this herself?” Rainbow went on.
“To be fair, do you even want to see her right now?” asked Fluttershy.
“Nope.” said Rainbow with an upturn of her proud nose.
“Then there you go.” Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “Anyway, the big knight lady said she was staying at Canterlot castle. And that she was attending another royal meeting. She said it was to keep up appearances.”
Rainbow relinquished a most disgusted, offended scoff. “Keeping up appearances? Oh brother.”
“I mean.” mutter Applejack. “Isn’t that kinda what we’re doin’ right now?”
“It totally is not.” said Rainbow defensively. “We are having a calm, fun night out on the town to unwind from a stressful situation that we did not cause.”
“The keeping up of appearances is simply a consolation prize then, is it?” Rarity grinned like a mischievous cat up to no good when Rainbow stared daggers back at her over her shoulder.
“Guess I can’t blame her.” mumbled AJ. “We did kinda cold shoulder her. I’d give us some space too if I was her.”
“Shoulda thought about that before lying.” Rainbow looked to Applejack for a little confirmation. “That’s your thing, right? You care about that?”
“Is it really lying if she kept something from us?” Fluttershy’s voice intoned a genuine curiosity for their thoughts, and less a continued defense of the alicorn of the hour.
“Way I see it,” replied Applejack, “that’s basically lying; just indirectly.”
“I hate to say it, but it’s also not the first time she’s done that.” Rarity gestured and fidgeted in thought. “There was that incident with our little sisters, and their friend, Scootaloo.”
“B-but she didn’t let anything bad happen to them. She’s actually very good with kids; I’ve seen it.” Fluttershy pondered a moment. “You know, I kind of imagine she’d make a good mom.”
“There’s a scary thought.” mused Rainbow. Fluttershy bopped her on the shoulder.
“You’re right to be upset with her. I certainly am. But there’s no need to be so nasty about it, Rainbow.” Fluttershy huffed, looking the other way. They let her brood.
“Well, uh. Flutters ain’t wrong.” said Applejack in a tone of tepid fairness. “About the thing with kids, I mean. I dunno about the mom stuff, but she was real sweet with Applebloom. Little rascal keeps askin’ if ‘auntie Luna’ can come babysit.” She pondered. “Ya know, Trixie’s real fond of Luna too.”
“Can we ever forgive her?” blurted Rarity aloud. She hadn’t meant it harshly. And she hoped it didn’t come out so either. “I don’t think she’s a bad person; not truly. She just needs to realize we need her to be more open with us, you know?”
Fluttershy shivered. She’d had enough of her openness the other day. And as she realized she had no intention of telling the girls even half of what she heard, something clicked. Perhaps she then understood why Luna had wanted to keep them at a certain amount of distance from all of this. Shaking out of it, she said: “T-time heals all wounds, I suppose.”
“You girls can do what you want.” said Rainbow, meaning it every bit as harshly as Rarity hadn’t. “I won’t judge ya none if you do, but I might never talk to her again.”
Rolling her eyes, Fluttershy leaned over into her space. Biting intonation crept in as she asked: “Just like how you were never talking to Gilda again after she went berserk on two of your best friends? I’m pretty sure that’s how you worded it.”
“That is so super beyond different.” she insisted defensively. “Gilda got angry and told me I had to choose between friends, so I did. Luna didn’t let us know when she got a guess about our friend who went missing.”
“She did a little more than that, as I recall.” chimed in Rarity. “I believe Fluttershy and Pinkie told me something about tossing a literal child into a hedge? Really now, Rainbow. You can forgive such abuse, but not a bit of subterfuge?”
“It’s different,” she swore, “she’s… Gilda is different now, really. She’s changed.”
Rarity looked toward Fluttershy. The gal nodded. “Then perhaps when Luna shows you she’s changed, you’ll give her a second chance like Gilda.”
Rainbow looked back at her a moment, saying nothing. Then she turned her gaze ahead.
Rarity felt the sting; perhaps she’d struck a nerve. She tried to change the subject. “Really though, I can’t imagine seeing the same play only days later. I had thought you weren’t one for such arts.”
“I’m trying to support Gilda in this. I want her to stay in my life this time.” Glancing back, Rainbow added: “Besides, Pinkie wrote it, right? So in a way, I’m actually supporting two of my friends for the price of one.”
Applejack decided to speak up. “Look, gals. Let’s all just try our best to be there for Pinkie and Luna both tomorrow. And after Pinkie is safe, we can decide how we want Luna to fix things at our own pace. But the rescue comes first, no matter what. We are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It’s our responsibility.”
The other three quietly felt at the accessories of incredible power gripping their necks. They’d all elected to hide them beneath scarves or the collars of the coats they wore against the brisk wind. But they were there. And they were heavy.
Luna donned the Element of Magic. The two moon stones, new and full, clinked gently in place and she paced over to a mirror. It was astonishing what power could be hiding in such little, unassuming things. Moreso, she could hardly believe her eyes. The mare that looked back at her was all but a complete stranger to her now.
This was hardly how she wanted to find out that the queen had ordered her old armor recovered from the site of her greatly exaggerated demise. But then, she knew her sister could be quite sentimental. Her wanting every keepsake to remember someone she thought to be gone wasn’t very difficult to believe.
What surprised her, mostly, was how painstakingly the set had been restored. Luna and her friends had left every piece and plate a charred ruin. Left being the opportune word there. She saw no point in even trying to salvage them for so much as reminders. Yet here she stood, as she had so long ago, in armor that gleamed freshly, unscathed, unscratched.
What a pretty lie clean armor made for.
“Tell me again,” she said aloud, “why am I wearing this?” She didn’t look for an answer, but waited on one while staring at the enchanted bluish metal.
Twilight came into the mirror’s frame beside her, seemingly in awe of the legend come back to life. “Firstly, to make sure it fits for tomorrow. We figured you’d want some protection.” She rested one wing over Luna’s shoulders, sweeping her hoof out. “And secondly, imagine how impressive you’ll look. One of Equestria’s earliest guardians, risen anew in shining armor.”
Luna stared ahead rather blankly. “I don’t see what your older brother has to do with this.”
Twilight gave her a churlish look. “When did you get so funny?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” said Luna flatly. “I’ve always been hilarious.”
Amused purple eyes went for a roll. “Anyway, you do have him to thank, actually. He did a lot of work restoring the enchanted armor pieces.”
Turning to her at last, Luna gaped. “Is that so?”
“Protection magic is his specialty.” chirped Twilight. Her horn glowed, bringing over a cloak, affixing it round her shoulders.
The thing was huge and black, billowing out all around Luna in massive pleated peaks. She lifted a portion, watching the golden hem line shimmer. “Isn’t this a bit much?”
“We want to make a good impression on Conradine.” She could see the worries creasing across Luna’s face. “Hey, hey, this is actually a very small, symbolic event. Purely to show our kingdoms are staying on such excellent terms. There will only be a few leaders from neighboring provinces, they’ll kiss her rings, it will all be over before you know it.”
“And then I get to sleep.” said Luna. She leaned back into the mirror and looked at her weary eyes. She really needed a good night’s rest. Desperately so.
“On a nice soft guest bed with a goose down pillow.” Twilight pat her shoulders. Peering at the setting sun through the nearest window, she announced: “Come now. She’ll be arriving soon.”
The dark of night had encroached, and the play was over. Plenty of folk were milling about the square, so showrunners allowed a guitarist to play while they struck the stage. He was an earth stallion in a pinkish beige coat, like that of raspberry champagne. He had eyes like cherries, and thick, wavy hair the color of dark grapes. The girls recognized his voice, marking him for the undead bard a few nights prior.
Surprise of surprises, however, a powder blue unicorn with silvery locks sat beside him, squeezing away on a concertina. Rarity nodded over at her. “Did you know she could do that?”
Applejack shook her head. “I mean I saw it when we were stowin’ her things in the guest room. She said it was useful for getting attention in noisy bazaars. I didn’t know she was actually good at it.”
Rainbow and Fluttershy brought Gilda over. Dash was excitedly spouting off. “It was another killer performance, girl. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
Fluttershy nodded to Rarity and Applejack. “You remember our other friends.”
“Yeah, hey you two.” Gilda snapped her claw, trying to remember. “Rare and AJ, right? I think we only met once before, but Dash has told me all about ya. Nice to see ya.”
“Well, howdy and how do?” chuckled Applejack shaking hoof in claw. “This sure is different than last time.”
“Woof, yeah.” Gilda pointed over to where Trixie was concentrating, trying to keep up with the strums of the guitar. “I uh, had a chat with her the other night. I’m trying to clear up hard feelings where I can. Guess I have a ways to go.”
“You’ll get there.” assured Fluttershy. When Gilda looked over, she let the griffin have a warm little smile. “It just takes time.”
Rarity took back the griffin’s attention. She held her claw with both her hooves and firmly shook. “I am most charmed, miss Gilda of Griffinstone. I’m pleased as punch to have been so lucky to see a new star being born.”
Gilda laughed rather nervously, claws combing down any errant feathers ruffling up. “I dunno about all that. I mean, I think I’m pretty good, but I did only just start.”
“And what a strong start it is. You’re already quite good at your accent.”
“Snrk.” Gilda covered her beak to stifle a snicker. “I guess mimicking people to mess with them had some good use after all.” She let the stiff chuckles quickly subside. “Really though, I’ll own up to it, I was kinda imitating you. Well, you and Luna.”
“Oh you’re so bad, do go on.” Rarity playfully waved a halting gesture. “Really though, I’m glad to have provided some small inspiration.”
The song closed out. Trixie wiped her brow, but gave the guitarist a churlish look. “If I had known we were going straight into the deep end, I would have warmed up. I’m sure Granny Smith would have loved that.”
“Nah she wouldn’t have neither.” called Applejack, cupping her hoof to her mouth. A little laughter bubbled over the milling crowd.
“Thank you, thank you.” said the guitarist waving at them. He placed his hoof to his chest. “My name is Calypso, but my friends call me Cal. And this here is my new friend, Trixie.”
“The Great and Powerful!” yelled Trixie, bowing for the crowd’s hoots and hollers. If she didn’t know better, she might just think they’d missed her loud personality in the relatively quiet town.
“We are both so humbled to…” He looked over at Trixie. “Well, alright, I am so humbled the crew has let us have the stage after tonight’s show. Does anyone have a request?”
“Oh!” squawked Gilda, wings splaying out. She hopped up into the air. “I think I have one. There’s something I wanna try.”
“Well how can we deny the star?” chuckled Calypso. “And a vampire, besides.”
Gilda flew over, landing on the edge of the stage between the two of them. She brought them into a huddle and whispered.
Trixie scoffed, as though offended. “Of course I know that one. One doesn’t pick up a squeezebox instrument without learning it at some point.”
Calypso leaned back, chuckling heartily. He set his guitar aside and hopped off the ledge to where his pack was. He rummaged for a moment before producing two bottles. Both had been imbibed from, here and there, the swirling contents filling them around halfway. With a wink, he said: “I’ll wear the white wine. I think the vampire should wear the red.”
Gilda hopped down and bounced in place, giddy as a chick. She rose into a pose like a prancing lion, then slowly, carefully, very carefully, placed the bottle on her head. Her tongue stuck out with extreme concentration as it wobbled ever so slightly.
Above them, Trixie began to slowly pump out the notes. Cal began the basic steps, Gilda trying to mirror him across from her. He told her: “Try to stay relaxed. Keep a good bend in your knees, don’t be too stiff.”
As Trixie picked up the pace, onlookers clapped in the gaps between notes, clicking twice on the beat. Sweat ruffled Gilda’s feathers as she swayed side to side, watching Cal’s every move. When the music began to crescendo, he pushed up into his back hooves. She rose onto her paws, sticking her talons way out at her sides, hoping it might help. She managed to halfway follow his two legged jig for a time.
That’s when he sank down onto his knees.
Gilda took a deep, deep breath, and held it. She pushed one paw back behind herself, tail swaying antsily. Then all her weight was on one knee. And the bottle fell. She fell over after it, claws snatching again and again, desperate to keep it from crashing to the ground. Barely, just barely, she managed to thud onto her back, bottle clung to her chest in desperate talons. She peered down. It was undamaged. Air sighed out of her in a gust.
“Aw.” went the crowd, even as Trixie kept playing.
“Hey, she still did pretty darn well for a first attempt.” said Cal. He took the bottle from her and set both aside, then hoisted her onto her feet. Lifting her claw, he added: “Let’s hear it for Ponyville’s own star to be!”
Gilda sheepishly accepted their cheers, wandering back through the amenable crowd. As she went she shook the odd hoof, greeted a smile here and there, met a couple strangers. The parting crowd and shifting path led her to a daffodil yellow pegasus.
Calypso hopped back onto the stage as Trixie finished out. He took up his guitar, assured her she’d know this one, and started off without any further ado.
Fluttershy presented her hoof for Gilda. “May I have this dance?”
Luna blinked at the claw she’d been offered. It was growing late, and her cheeks were plenty warmed by wine. ‘Over before you know it’ had yet to pass. So she looked up, meeting aqua eyes sparkling in the rising light of moon. “I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t beg, dear, it’s demeaning.” Queen Atavia Conradine chuckled. It was a low, hearty sound. The plumage rippling over her head was white and speckled black, fading to leopard spots. Most striking of all, her beak and talons were blue, so bright in hue they practically glowed on the veranda she’d found Luna stealing away to. “I asked if I might share a dance with you.”
Sleepily, she looked her up and down. Under better circumstances, she wouldn’t see any harm. Then she noticed the crown; it was made of an onyx-like metal, black and glossy, and topped by pale blue gems. Propping back onto the rail, she said: “Meaning your grace no disrespect, but there are certainly better partners for dance than one such as I. Princess Twilight, for one, has been practicing her steps.” She pondered a moment. “I wouldn’t ask her brother though.”
“He a bad dancer, is he?” she asked her, churlish brow raising.
“As I’ve seen, his rhythm is fine.” Luna admitted. “He merely struggles to mind his heartier stature. Many of his steps go wider than he means to, and at times he even has to compensate for the extra distance he’s put between his partner and himself.”
Again, Atavia chuckled, It was a warm and inviting noise. And again, she wasn’t leaving her side any time soon, so it seemed. “You’re awfully tall yourself. You don’t have this trouble?”
“As your question pertains to my superior skill as a dancer than he, yes.” Luna nodded quite confidently. She wasn’t sure why she spoke so dryly and blithely and bordering on wryly. Then she realized, again, her cheeks were quite warm for good reason. Several glasses of good reason, in fact. Earlier she’d indulged in one way, so tonight she did so again in another. “I am indeed the better dancer, a claim I’d stake wealth upon, had I any.”
“I’m afraid I don’t take bets, my lady. But I do love seeing the results of bold claims.” Again, the queen offered her dainty blue claw. And again, Luna sluggishly looked at it as though it were poisonous to the touch. Perhaps the bright color didn’t help in that regard. Smiling pleasantly enough, Atavia hid her disappointment and pushed her long black skirts to one side and sat herself upon the veranda railing. “I can tell you think to pass me off to nobility. That, no longer being one yourself, you shouldn’t ordain to touch me. But would it surprise you to know I don’t care about that, and that I actually find you quite interesting?”
Luna thought about earlier. At Celestia’s insistence, Luna had done her best to regale the griffin queen. She’d hung on every word. Luna found that alarming. “I should think that of every word that might describe me, ‘interesting’ might be the most apt.”
“Oh stop, you’re simply incorrigible.” Her smile pushed against her gleaming eyes.
“Aptly put once more, your grace. You’ve a knack for description.” Luna lifted her helm a touch and ran the back of her hoof against the exposed brow beneath. It was terribly hot. She wished she’d denied Twilight when she tried to give her that blasted cloak; the thing was unbearably thick crushed velvet.
“Really, though, I mean it. You are by far the most interesting person I’ve met at one of these.” Her spotted tail swished this way and that.
“Is that so?” Luna swallowed thickly.
Atavia nodded most emphatically. “Your queen and I have this small get together two or three times a year. Sometimes here. Sometimes at Griffinstone. Yet each time, it is unbelievably dull.” She rolled her eyes. “The same ponies and griffins are always showing up, telling the same stories about themselves over and over.”
“And I haven’t the capacity to speak at great length about myself? That’s not how I recall dinner going, when you were sat across from me.” Luna thought back to how her thick paws seemed to reach over a little too far whenever she’d made her laugh. Surely that was terrible manners for a monarch.
A change of music wafted from back within the hall, and she clapped her claws together. “Oh, I quite enjoy this song.” She stuck her blue talon out once more. “May I please have this dance at least? I will beg. It will get embarrassing for us both. I’m a very ugly crier.”
“Snrk.” Luna held back her laughter as best she could, shaking her head. At long last, she placed her hoof into that claw, and said: “You know something, your grace, so am I.”
They shifted about the hall to the rhythm. Luna remembered the steps as best she could. Step two three and one two three now side two three. She nearly stumbled and fell completely over herself when suddenly, out of the blue, Atavia asked her: “Tell me Luna. You’ve no place in the courts now, but how do you feel about courtship?”
“I—okay, wow.” She tried to get back into step and not suddenly yank her head this way and that to make sure no one else just heard that. Surely if she did, it would only draw attention. “Atavia—your grace, I mean, that’s—”
“Too forward of me? Well, I did match you cup for cup. I hope you’ll forgive me. In time, of course. Right now I don’t care.” She twirled under her hoof and laughed as she came back in.
Luna made a quick note to stop agreeing to dances. This kept happening. “Forward to say the least of it. We’ve only just met.”
“My dear, you act as though I proposed.” As Luna dipped her, she gently poked her on the nose with her pointing claw.
“M-meaning you no disrespect, your grace—”
“Please, enough formalities. It would mean so much to me to hear my name on your lips.”
Luna cleared her throat. “Meaning you no disrespect, Atavia, I think there are rather a number of reasons this would not work out.”
Atavia fluttered her eyelashes as the music slowed and so did they. “You strike me as far too proud to let a little something like scandal get in the way of your affections. And I know I am a sight to behold.”
“Y-you are.” Luna quickly interjected.
Her aqua eyes narrowed, squeezed by her coy and knowing smile. “You flatter me. I’d love you to keep flattering me. But something tells me there’s a chapter you aim to write in that story Cadance was blathering about earlier.”
Luna cradled her for another rolling dip, trying not to seem terribly humdrum. “She tell you all that, did she?”
“You should know by now.” said Atavia, shrewd but playful as she backed away on the step and met Luna’s touch once more. “That mare can’t keep her mouth shut on the matters of the heart.”
“Clearly.” Luna couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
Atavia nodded for her to go on. “So, tell me then. This mare must be something really special to have won the eye of such an enticing and intriguing creature.”
Luna stammered. She thought on this. Then she saw those sparkling aqua eyes, pleasant and determined to have an answer. “To put it simply, Atavia, she… really gets me. She makes me feel more understood than I think anybody ever has. She sees me for who I am, not what I am. She… always knows how to make me laugh, even when we’re both having a bad day.”
“Goodness me.” chirruped Atavia. “It all must be true. That’s the brightest I’ve seen you smile this entire time.”
It was only when she said it Luna realized she was, in fact, grinning wide. All cups aside, she did feel genuinely happy as she spoke about Pinkie. She let a laugh escape her. Then another. “You know, it really is. And we’re only finding more things in common day by day.”
Atavia reached up and pecked her on the cheek. “Then take her back, Luna. Woo her. Cherish her always.”
“I…” Luna watched her press her face into her chest. The queen was by far more petite than she; the poor gal shouldn’t have tried to match her cup for cup. Patting her back, she told the queen: “I will most certainly try. Thank you, Atavia.”
The door pushed in and a tune wafted in from two tired fliers humming away. They’d stayed up much too late. The light stumbling also meant they should have left the bottles for dancing. Their wings were laid over one another’s shoulders, and they swayed gently, so gently, to the melody of songs they only half remembered. One hoof and one claw bumped into the two far sides of the door frame.
Fluttershy and Gilda looked at the frame, then each other, abashed. The owner of the cottage stepped aside and ushered forth. “Guests first, I insist.”
“Oh, well, thank you kindly.” Gilda shuffled in.
Fluttershy ambled in shortly after, door closing behind her. She made her way across the living area and leaned upon the entrance to the kitchen. Turning her head about, she asked: “I could make us some tea if you like? Maybe some coffee?”
Gilda made her way over to the couch and tumbled right over onto it across her back. After clicking on the lamp on a nearby end table, she held her claw up to her beak as she yawned. “Thanks, but I think I’m gonna go ahead and catch some shuteye.”
Her eyes fluttered close and Fluttershy had to make them open. “Hmm, I think I should too. Big day tomorrow.” She peered over and watched Gilda stretch out every limb as far as they’d reach before pulling the blanket over herself. “You have a lovely singing voice, by the way.”
“Hey, thanks again for letting me crash here. I know I’ve been a pain in the—” She paused, her eyes shooting open. She gaped at her as she ambled across the living room, giggling mischievously. “Hang on, you said what now?”
Fluttershy lingered in the corridor’s entrance. The only light in the room was a warm lamp bulb turning her daffodil coat to goldenrod, her lilac mane to rosy pink. Her big teal eyes sparkled like sapphires. “I had a lot of fun tonight. I think I needed it. And for what it’s worth, Gilda, I think I like the new you. I hope you stay this way, and keep on growing.”
Gilda watched her fade into the hallway, beyond which lay her bedroom. She couldn't think of anything to say to all that, so she’d elected to say nothing. Or so she convinced herself. What exactly could she say to that? The back of her claw went to her forehead and she wondered when exactly she’d gone so soft.
Another yawn escaped her. Turning over onto her side, she cradled her head with a throw pillow, deciding to simply let it go for now. Come morning, she’d probably forget this entire exchange, and she’d be right back to managing some chores around the house while Fluttershy went off to take care of Element business.
Soon enough, Gilda was dozing soundly.
A door creaked into a dark room. Celestia slipped in. The only light pouring in was the soft luminescence of the moon. She couldn’t help but smirk, seeing how her sister still loved having it nicely visible through her window. Despite everything, this was still her little Luna. After allowing herself a quick laugh, she paced across the room.
“Hey, Luna, I’ll be gone in a second. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you humoring me tonight. You did so well!” She sat on the edge of the bed. “All the griffins loved you—oh, especially Atavia. I don’t know what you said, but you certainly charmed her; she would not stop gushing about you.”
The queen guffawed. Then she let out a hooting sigh, wiping away a single tear at the corner of her eye. She really needed that laugh. Leaning back, she peered out at the moon. “At any rate, I know you don’t want anything to do with all this high society elbow rubbing. So… it really means a lot to me you put up with this for my sake.” She shook her head. “I know things between us haven’t been spectacular since you got back. I guess I… I mean, I know you have your new life.”
Celestia leaned forward and twiddled her fidgeting hooves. Luna didn’t answer her. But she didn’t hold that against her, knowing how difficult things have been for her lately. If anything, she appreciated her sister not letting her frustrations bubble up and over onto her. Maybe she was getting better.
“I’m very sorry if I’ve come across overbearing with how often and how aggressively I’ve tried to reach out to you and pull you back into my life. I imagine that must have been very frustrating for you. I should have let you come to me on your own terms—you even said as much at the Gala, and of course, I’ve been too selfish to just wait patiently and let that happen. That’s on me. It’s just been hard, having waited so long to have you back, only to be told I need to wait even longer.” She looked up. “That’s not an excuse for my behavior, however.”
The queen closed her eyes and opened them again. She sat with her thoughts for a long, quiet moment. Maybe this was too much from her? After all, the two of them had already had one awfully difficult conversation that day. Perhaps a second one, albeit far more awkward than painful, was a bridge too far for the poor thing.
Celestia pushed herself onto her feet. “Anyway, that’s enough of my digression. I’ll get out of your hair. I just wanted to say I appreciated you tonight, and that… well, I meant what I said earlier. You’re still my little sister, and I love you with all my heart.”
She leaned over to brush some of that powder blue mane aside. That’s when she finally noticed that Luna’s eyes weren’t just covered, they were shut tight. She completely and utterly passed out. In all likeliness, she hadn’t heard a word her big sister just said.
Celestia snickered and shook her head. Glad thing none were there to see such an embarrassing display. Far more softly, she whispered: “Goodnight.”
Then, she finally let the creature rest.