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// Chapter 3: Under the rug 
// Story: The good of the many 
// by Dafaddah 
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Princess Luna and Princess Celestia entered the ante-chamber below the thrones in the Great Hall of the Herd. Once inside Luna came to stop, shuddering in pent up fright. Her sister approached and held her in a reassuring hug until the younger Princess's trembling ceased. "You were very brave," said Celestia. "That was an excellent start and I'm very proud of you!"

Luna wished she felt the same. "I don't think I really made such a good impression," she said looking down. "I didn't say anything regal, and I certainly didn't carry myself like a princess in front of all these ponies."

"I wouldn't place a wager on that, your highness," said the voice of an oldish sounding mare. Luna looked up to see the Minister of Science Hoofing approaching with the slow and dignified pace of a unicorn of her years. She felt the heat of shame upon her face when she recalled what she had said and done to this mare when she was still Nightmare Moon.

"We greatly regret what We did to you while We were reigning as Nightmare Moon, Minister Hoofing. And We are glad to see that you have regained your voice," said Luna. She bowed her head and waited for what she expected would be a severe retort from the grand old dame. To her utter surprise she heard both Minister Hoofing and her sister chuckling! Was she indeed such a laughingstock? She felt the heat of resentment beginning, when a touch from Celestia's hoof made her look up to see her sister smiling at her with genuine warmth and not with derision.  Luna was relieved, but inwardly scolded herself to have again let anger get the better of her. I must nevermore go down that path! she vowed.

"My dearest Luna," said Celestia, "we no longer use the royal 'We' in common discourse, and certainly not with old friends such as Minister Hoofing, do we now Sunset?"

"Certainly not, Celestia dear," replied the old mare with a smile.  Luna was shocked at the easy familiarity between her sister, a ruling Princess, and her subject. "And as to our last meeting Princess Luna, well I must admit that I did not spare Nightmare Moon from my well reputed tongue lashing. I could tell that there was somepony other than merely a tyrant living in that head when you punished my insolence not by terminating me summarily as I expected, but by going straight to the source of the irritation! On my return from that audience there was no shortage of ponies in my ministry who were quite delighted that you chose to take away my most dangerous weapon!" She laughed again. "Imaging how shocked they were when my condition repaired itself only a few days later," she added, showing a glint of steel in her dark eyes.

Luna smiled weakly. I must not make an enemy of this old mare, she thought. Aloud she said: "We... I mean, I... thank you for you open-mindednes Minister Hoofing."

"Please do call me Sunset your Highness, despite appearances you are actually older than I am after all!" retorted the unicorn. She turned back to Celestia. "My word but it's quite refreshing to be the youngster of the group for a change!"

Luna laughed heartily, as she had not done in public for countless years. She began to feel some affection for this mare! "Of course, Sunset, and please call me Luna...  when we are in private circumstances, of course," she quickly amended, again causing her sister and the Minister to titter like fillies. "Even though I have shared the rule of Equestria before, so many things are different now, and I know I have much to learn. But I pledge that I will do my best!" she concluded bravely.

"This brings me to the reason I asked Minister Hoofing to join us here," announced Celestia. "We have prepared a plan to re-introduce you to the ponies, government and media of Equestria. We will go over this plan together to see if it meets your approval, and Sunset will help prepare you accordingly. Do you agree to this proposal, Luna?" 

The younger Princess felt as if she had been relieved of a great weight. To get such advice would help speed her back into Equestrian society, while avoiding too many embarrassing faux-pas. It might even give her the chance to get to know some common ponies again, maybe even make a few friends! "I think that I would like that very much, and I thank you both for your efforts on my behalf," she said to her sister and the old unicorn mare. All three mares smiled in mutual satisfaction at the agreement until Luna assumed a thoughtful look. "By the way, what is the 'media'?"