//------------------------------// // Big Night // Story: To Call the Moon My Own // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------//                        This was it. Tony was finishing up with Applejack on their last barrel of apples. The bucking days led to stocking them or readying them for sales. Today was cool but that still didn't mean he wasn't sopping wet with his own sweat. While the feeling was typical, he would clean himself extra for any lingering odors. With the last barrel stacked they were done.                       " Alright, see ya AJ", Tony panted. He made a bolt for the door even with his sore muscles.                       " Tony!", Applejack called. He skidded to a halt, and she galloped up to him. She flipped off her stetson and revealed a rather large bag with bulges resting on her head. " Ya almost fergot yer pay".                        Tony glanced curiously as he grabbed the bag. It had a certain heft to it, like a bag of coins. When he undid the string keeping it closed there was familiar shine. The bag held countless gold coins.                         " 200 bits", Applejack said proudly. " Don't let it go t' waste with that marefriend a yers ya hear?". Tony was in complete shock as he stared at the bag of money. He didn't expect to get gold!                        " I...I-I don't know what to say", he managed to say. Applejack smirked and put a hoof on his stomach.                       " How 'bout,'Thanks AJ'", she chuckled. Tony's shock turned into happiness as a huge smile came on.                        He closed the bag and gave Applejack a huge hug. " Thank you", he said. " Thank you Applejack".                       Applejack chuckled. " Okay, alright, helpin' me is thanks enough", she smiled as she broke away. " Now get on home, ya smell somethin' mighty fierce".                       He took it both as a compliment and a word of advice. With a gleeful nod he ran out the door and straight out of Sweet Apple Acres. He saw Big Mac hauling back the unsold apples, since he wasn't gonna just sit around all day. He greeted him with a slight nod as he ran past him. The library in sight, he did a small cartwheel and jumped to his platform. He was getting his strength back, but still no rites.                         The first thing he did was yank his clothes off and run into the shower. When he turned both knobs however, cold water poured out. He muffled a yell as he threw himself out of the shower. If there was one thing a Loki'irian hated most, it was cold. It was second to their hatred for technology, but again they endured.                       He reluctantly got back in and started washing himself. Twilight had taken the initiative to buy more masculine shampoos, as opposed to the more mare smelling ones. Rainbow busted his balls about it for a whole day. The one she bought was supposed to be mint scented along with the body wash. At least it was a smell he liked. Every inch of him was lathered, scrubbed, rinsed and repeated twice. When his freezing shower was over he spun the knobs to turn off the water.                      He walked into his room with a towel that came down just above his knees. Pony towels weren't that big after all. He scavenged into his dresser for something nice to wear. It would be a cool night, so a long sleeve was in order. And the new jeans Rarity made and the glorious trousers he got at last. He made a mental note to give her any of the money that remained. Pulling on his blue shirt with black sleeves he walked over to the mirror. His hair was a wild, wet mess. And it would stay that way, he never did his hair. Unless the occasion called for it of course.  Knock Knock!                      " Tony, you in there?", his roomate Spike called.                       " Yeah", Tony called back. " Come in". He was hopping to get his shoe on when he hit his shin against the bed. " Fffffffuuuuuu...."                      " What you got ants in your pants?", Spike chuckled. Tony ignored the pain, because really he had endured worse. Spike noticed his unusually matching outfit. " Where are you going?".                       " Well, I made plans with somepony", he kept it vague still. Even the Nera'ak didn't need to know. " And she's not from around here so I offered to show her around".                       Thankfully the amateur wasn't informed relationship-wise. " Oh, that's cool I guess", he shrugged. " Hey I wanted to know if you could come with me tomorrow to help Rarity dig up some gems".                        " Isn't that your thing?", he grunted as he pulled on the other shoe. Spike scratched the back of his head nervously.                      " Yeah well, tomorrow's kind of a big day", he admitted. " Tomorrow me and Twilight are having the anniversary of me hatching".                      Now he understood. He did the same with Nyla, celebrate the day she hatched. He could see the doubt in the young Nera'aks eyes, it wasn't something he was used to ignoring. To say no would be like saying no to Nyla if she wanted to fly around all day. It was the least he could do for a species from his home.                        He smiled softly. " Sure Spike", he said. " It's the least I can do for you guys". The dragon's beaming smile came back.                      " Thanks Tony!", he gave him a high five. It was strange that he knew how to do that, given there were only ponies around. " Have a good time later!".                      The pitters of his claws against the wood faded into the hallway. After seeing the Nera'ak again a thought occured to him. Nyla was still on Earth. He had forced her to stay in the cave that served as her cover and home when he went to find Netu'ung. Now though, he didn't know what was she doing. He couldn't Ina speak with her, and he couldn't sense her anywhere. She was probably worried about him, not that she ever wasn't. She knew full well what a grown Signa could do, but he was still victorious. When they got back he would need to tell her, or else she would join their minds again.                      " Ready to go already?", he heard Dan's voice from the doorway. His lifelong friend strolled in with his T-shirt and bootleg shorts.                      " How do I look?", Tony raised his arms.                      " Pretty good. Guess I rubbed off on ya", Dan teased. Tony rolled his eyes again. " Gonna fix that hair?".                     " Nope". It was Dan's turn to roll his eyes. He sat down on the bed, and Tony did the same. " What is it?".                     " Just thinkin'", he shrugged. If there was anything Tony knew, it was that Dan always, always, thought before doing or saying something important. " Do you think we'll get back to Earth?".                        There it was. Like a bomb in the middle of a gunfight. " Honestly, I don't know", Tony sighed. " Celestia and Luna said they'd do their best to find us a way back. Its only been, what, a week? Give'em some time". So he's still hell bent over Rody                       Dan was a little unsure of what he was going to say next. Tony still wanted to go home, for the same reason that would leave him with a pointless existence.                        " And if we can't go back? What then?", he pushed further.                        Tony put his hand on Dan's shoulder, misinterpreting his reasons. " We're going back. Even if I have to make the spell myself", he assured him.                       Dan nodded as Tony withdrew his arm. " Sure". He was disappointed that he still wanted to go home. He stood up and put on a feigned smile. " See ya later Tony. Have a great time".                      Tony nodded and ran out of his room once again. He opened and slammed the door shut out of the library. Twilight looked up from her book at the desk.                      Dan was coming down the stairs. " Where's Tony going in such a rush?", she questioned. Dan sighed, then brought back his usual smile.                       " Just doing something with a mare he met", he smirked. " Nothing big".                      " Luna? Luna?", Celestia called to her sister.                      Her sister wasn't in her usual office that night. She wasn't in the chef's kitchen either. Celestia snickered when she remembered the time she caught Luna shoveling ice cream into her mouth. It had been a thousand years, and she never did taste it before. Now she was climbing the steps to her sisters chambers. She could have just teleported but she wanted to know why her sister was acting strangely. The set of indigo doors stood before her. She could hear Luna, talking to herself?                     " Luna? Is everything alright?". The mumbling ceased immediately and the doors opened in a a dull blue aura.                           Luna stood up from her bed when her sister entered. The sun sister knew something was wrong from the start. To begin, her mane wasn't its usual flowing, majestic self. Instead it swung about like a regular ponies mane. The second was the sad frown she had on. And, the sheets were on the floor. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, since Luna moved a lot when she slept. She did it since they shared a bed when they were fillies.                      What made it significant now was the fact that it was like that when she was in disarray. That only meant some heavy thinking for a troubling situation.                      " Good night sister", she even had a glumness in her voice.                       " What's wrong Lulu?", Celestia got out of her regal talk and went back to sister mode. " What's wrong?".                      Luna sighed and looked off to the side. Celestia followed her gaze, drawing her to Luna's dresser and mirror. It was what was on it that drew her interest. She went closer to it, bringing Luna back from her thoughts.                       " Uh, um, its nothing Celly", she forced a smile as she teleported the object of interest into her drawer. She hoped Celestia would fall for it, since she only used the sun princess' nickname when she was in a good mood.                       Too bad for her, Celestia became suspicious. " What was that?", she asked. Luna looked away again, fidgeting slightly. Celestia looked to the only other place that she could have hidden it. Her horn glowed a bright yellow as she opened the drawer and searched through it.                     " Hey!", Luna shouted as she used her own magic to get the object away from her sister. The two magically battled for possession of the item, Luna struggling to keep up with her elder. " Put it down!".                     " Not until you let me see!", she yelled back. Celestia used a side spell and teleported the object into her hoof.  Luna yelled as she tackled her sister. " Just let me see Luna!".                     " Just give it back sister!", Luna retaliated as she wrestled the item back into her hooves.                              The two rolled around fighting for the object. When they stopped Celestia was on top with her hooves on either side of it, while Luna used hers to cover it. Luna toppled her sister onto her back and tried yanking it away from her.                       " You're acting like a filly Lulu!", Celestia grunted as they rolled around some more.                            " So are you!", Luna shot back as she tried submissioning Celestia's forelegs free of it. The elder had had enough already.                      She finally yanked the item free from her little sister's powerful grip. When she did she activated her horn and encased the darker alicorn in the gold aura. Luna was held in the air by her sister's magic, her own being cut off at the moment.                     " No fair!", she shouted. Celestia fixed her mane and smiled victoriously.  Now to see what all that was about                     When she looked into her hooves she was surprised, shocked, and curious. Lying flat on her hoof was the device Dan put on Tony in the Everfree. An iPod, or as she remembered. She looked back up to Luna, who had slightly crimson tinted cheeks when she saw her sister recognize it.                       " Is this...isn't this, Tony's?", she asked. She lowered Luna gently onto the ground now that she was relaxed, but embarassed. The alicorn nodded once she was able to move. " What is it doing here?".                          Luna could hear the tone in Celestia's voice. " Tony...gave it, to me", she mumbled. " Could you give it back?".                     When she took a step forward Celestia brought her hoof back. " Not until you tell me what's wrong", Celestia held back the smirk that started forming. Luna huffed with annoyance and some embarassment.                      " A few night's ago I went to speak to Tony about the iPod losing power", she began. Celestia nodded to tell she was following. " And, we decided to meet in Ponyville for tonight".                       Celestia's muzzle grew a small grin, while on the inside she was dying to tease her little sister. Now though, something was wrong. " So what's troubling you?".                     Luna sighed and summoned the stack of papers in the air beside them. " Night court hearings, Lunar requests, tax collection, complaints, costs for the new recruits", she listed the various papers. " I hadn't expected this much work tonight. And I'm not sure I can make it tonight".                      The stack teleported into her office to await her hoof. Luna trudged her way to the door before Celestia lifted her back over. " Oh you're going Lulu", the elder sister smirked.                      " But my duties-"                     " Will be taken care of", Celestia raised a hoof. " Now get yourself ready, you look like a mess". Luna didn't appreciate the comment, but she certainly did appreciate the favor.                      Luna wrapped her sister in a bonecrushing hug. " Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!", she babbled as her mane came back to life.  She always was the...stronger one...with hugs                       " Okay! I can't breathe!", Celestia announced. Luna laughed nervously as she set her down. " Now get going, before Tony thinks you're not coming".                       Luna giddily squeed as she ran into her bathroom. Celestia herself was excited for her. It had been thousands of years since Luna last courted somepony. Another smirk came across her muzzle. If in fact this was the first of many visits to Ponyville. She could hear Luna humming to herself in the shower, making her feel that much better for what she's done.                       Tony waited patiently for her. He hadn't specified a location, to which he facepalmed upon realization. Right now all he could do was wait, wait for her. His leg shook of its own accord, displaying how nervous he really was. If that wasn't enough the thoughts in his mind conjured up every bad scenario in his mind.  What if she's bored the whole time? What if she doesn't want to go to any of the restaurants? What if I run out of money? What if-                     " Tony?". He knew that voice, full of confidence yet gentle. He turned around and saw her, a slight glow about her. And that smile, it was enough to make his heart flutter about.                       " H-Hey Luna!", he stammered slightly. She returned the smile and gave him a quick hug. " Y-You look, nice".                      She looked over him and his clothes. " You look, nice, as well", she smiled.                       " So um, let's go", he said. She nodded and walked beside him into town. It was only now he realized how she came up to about his shoulder. Celestia was slightly taller than him, but he was still growing. " This is Ponyville's Town Square".                      There were a few ponies walking around, most likely going home after a long day of work. Many of the small stands were still open, others closing up. His mind shot around for something, anything, to talk about.                      " So, how's Canterlot since you got back?", he questioned.                      " Its just as any other", she replied. " I have my duties to night court and other paperwork". That got Tony thinking.                     " Then shouldn't you be there now?". She smiled, getting his heart to be faster.                     " I thought you wanted me to be here?", she teased.                      " N-No! I mean, yeah I wanted to see you, its just-..." Luna's giggling made him stop, then blush profusely.                      " I'm joking Tony", she giggled. " Celestia offered to take my position again for the night". He made another mental note to thank her. " So what did you have in mind?".                      It was early in the night, so of course Tony was hungry. " Well, do you want to grab something to eat?", he asked. She nodded.                       " It would be a good way to start", she chuckled. He laughed a bit with her.                       " There's a diner I saw in town. We'll eat there". He took her further into the small town, where Applejack had taken him yesterday.                      Along the way they talked about various things, the weather, they spotted some things of interest, Tony told a joke or two. Some needed an explanation, but he got her to laugh no less. What surprised him most was that she knew some clever jokes as well. He would have to use them when him and Dan were having a joke contest.                      The topic strayed several times, from some of the knicknacks of a store, to the constellations in the sky. Many of the names were in old Equuish, which sounded very similar to Latin. Then they came to the topic of music, mostly because of his present to her. She really liked Usher, and some Maroon 5. Dan's mixes were really catchy too. He had years of experience so he knew what went with what. The establishment came into view just down the road. There were some ponies outside with someone else. When they went to sit down many of the ponies bowed to Luna. But there was something in the way they did it. He had seen it too many times. Fear.                     Not fear of him, they had already gotten used to him. He could see Berry Punch, Colgate, and Cherilee and some other ponies he knew. Their fear came when they bowed to Luna. And her reaction got to him. Her ears drooped a bit as she told them to rise. They took their seat and a waiter came quickly.                      " Your majesty", he bowed immediately. " What would you like?".                       " A cup of chamomile tea, and the finest pasta with garlic marinara", she quickly ordered. Tony was starting to doubt she wasn't around here.                      " And you, sir?". Tony glanced at the menu quickly, not much for him to exactly enjoy.                      " Just some vegetable soup", he said. The waiter scribbled them down and galloped back inside.                       Tony glanced at Luna who was messing with a napkin. She was saddened a bit, and he didn't like it one bit. Gently he reached across the table and put his hand on her shoulder. She was a little surprised from the sudden touch, and she picked her head up to look at him.                      " What's wrong?", he asked with a gentle voice.                       She dropped her head down and put her hoof on his hand. Tony fought the gasp down from the action, even if her horseshoe was seperating them.                      " I had thought the ponies would have warmed up to me by now", she sighed sadly. " I guess I was wrong".                      " What do you mean?", Tony asked as he dropped his hand from her. She hung her head in shame, not wanting to reveal the whole story.                      " A long time ago", she finally started. " My sister and I had a quarrel. I had grown jealous of all the attention the ponies gave her day, while they ignored my night. My resentment took control of me, and I transformed into Nightmare Moon. Celestia had no choice but to send me to the moon when I threatened to bring eternal night. When I returned, the ponies were afraid of me. Even after Nightmare Night, they still see me as the Nightmare".                     She looked to be on the verge of tears. After hearing her story, Tony felt connected even deeper. She had gone through what he did, to a degree. It wasn't her fault, just like what he did wasn't his. The anger and jealousy just overpowered her.                      " Luna", he said while grasping her hoof. " It wasn't your fault".                     She gasped and looked to him. " How can you say that? Of course it was my fault, I almost brought eternal night to Equestria", she blamed herself. When she lowered her head again Tony guided it back with his thumb and index finger.                      " Luna, I'm sure it wasn't your fault. You just weren't in the right mind", he repeated what Dan said to him all those years ago. " You couldn't control yourself, and Nightmare Moon took over. You didn't mean for it to happen, but Nightmare did. It was her fault, not yours".                     Unlike his reaction when the tragedy occured, Luna sniffled a little and smiled. " Thank you, Tony", she said through watery eyes. " No pony's ever said that to me before". Tony smiled and brushed a tear threatening to fall.                     " Your welcome. I'd hate to see a friend down", he softly smiled. " Now no pouting, your night's just starting".                     She giggled softly and her beautiful smile came back. " Of course", she giggled.                      The meals came and Tony did everything he could to make her smile. He had to force the food not to fly out of his mouth on certain jokes, dirty and clever. The ponies around them be damned, she couldn't possibly be the Nightmare she said she was. Often they would view the night, which Luna fixed for her less experienced sister. The full moon was behind him, but he saw it in her eyes. The reflection giving her the goddess appearance she had with or without.                      The bill came out to 120 bits. A small dent for her, but he needed to save some for Rarity. He paid the fee and Luna joined him further into the town. Their first stop was one of the places Applejack suggested, the bowling alley. Now, when Tony was young he rarely went out. Mostly because of his training with/without Nyla.                     But when Luna said she didn't know how to bowl, his jaw dropped. " You've never bowled before?!", he hopped in the air much like Pinkie would.                     " With royal duties I rarely have the time to myself", she reminded him.                     " Well, come on, I'll show you", he laughed nervously. They entered the building and Tony could hear the heavy spheres being rolled and pins being dropped.                    Luna glanced curiously at the other ponies cheering for one who knocked all the pins down. After Tony paid for a lane he brought her over and put their names overhead. The scoreboard came up and the bowling balls rolled out for use. Instead of three holes like normal, two slits opened parallel from each other. The only logical thing it could be used for was teeth, as the other ponies were doing. He could still grip it, but he would need to be careful.                    " I'll go first, and you'll get into it in no time", Tony assured her. She sat down on one of the chairs and watched.                             He brought the ball just below his eyesight, trying to get a good aim. Luna curiously watched, unsure of why he didn't just roll it already. He walked slowly and took a few quick steps then swung his arm out from under him. The ball rocketed down the lane until it smashed into the pins.                     " Crap", he muttered. Two pins, on either side of the edge, remained. " But you get it right? Just roll it down like them". He pointed to the other ponies enjoying themselves.                    " What is the point of this game?", she questioned as she walked to the ball dispenser.                      " See those pins? Do your best to knock them all down in one shot", he explained. He grabbed another ball to finish off his turn, sinking the pin on the right. " Ready?".                     Luna was unsure, but she felt that way during the spider toss. She bit onto the handle for the ball and walked to where Tony was. She turned her head back to him, in response he nodded, and she repeated his motions. Bringing her head around she walked forward then took a few quick steps and swung her head forward.                     The familiar sound of pins being knocked down came. For her first time she was pretty good, since only three pins remained. " Blast", she mumbled.                     " C'mon Luna, you still got one more shot", Tony called from his seat. She bit another ball and repeated the process. The three pins didn't stand a chance as they shot into the pit.                      The scoreboard displayed the spare sign. " Ha! I've done it!", she declared happily.                      " Beating me already. Are you sure this isn't your first time?", Tony laughed. Luna smirked playfully as he walked up for his turn.                       " Perhaps it is because I am simply better than you", she teased. Tony shot his own smirk at her.                       " As if", he chuckled. " Watch and learn".                        Pulling his arm back he beamed the ball down the line. Except, he threw it wrong aaaaaaand...                       " Is it supposed to fall into the sides?", Luna taunted from her seat. Tony dropped his head still in his release position.                        " I can still put some points on the board", he grinned. This time he angled it straight for the center. The pins bounced around until every single one fell into the pit. " Spare! Ha!".                       The ponies nearby who had been talking or finished with their game came to see. Seeing the Lunar princess was a shock, but they recognized the pretend human.                       " Your move madam", Tony grinned, taking his seat. Luna huffed and grabbed another ball with determination. She powerfully craned her neck around and shot the ball ahead.                      Tony's jaw dropped as Luna brought forth her own strike, putting her in the lead. She sauntered back victoriously. The next ball didn't give her a strike, thankfully, but it did open the gap between their scores.                      " I believe it's your turn, sir", she taunted back. The ponies 'ooh'd' at her comment. Tony smiled, fixed his collar, and went for his turn.                      They played each round with the goal of beating each other. Tony and Luna exhanged taunts when either failed to get a strike, spare, or hit any in the first place. Sometimes Tony even feigned a sneeze when she rolled it, throwing her off. It wasn't a big deal, since when he went up she tied his shoes together when he went for a roll. He lost his balance and flopped onto his face, corrodedly rolling the ball into the gutter.                    On the last frame Tony scored a spare and one strike, putting him at 292 points. " Top that", he smirked. Luna gladly accepted the challenge and took the spot.                     Her first roll ended in a strike. The second ended the same way, putting her just behind him. As if to show off she closed her eyes for the third roll, and repeated her motions.  Strike.                     The now large crowd of ponies cheered her on after the win, 298-292, Luna. Tony smiled in defeat as the ponies gathered around Luna telling her how awesome she was and how close their game was. The two together left laughing from the alley.                     " You so cheated on that fifth frame", Tony chuckled.                      " You started it when you 'sneezed'", she made the quotation marks with her hooves. Tony laughed a little as he walked with Luna.                      Luna gazed at the sky. The moon hung near the horizon, signaling the night's soon end. She didn't want it to end yet. She was having so much fun with Tony, and she wanted to have more. But he would need to sleep, and so did she. Besides, she was already asking a lot from Celestia by being out with him.                     " Um, Luna". Tony's stammer started to return, even after his banter with her before. " Its getting late...actually its getting early. And I know you have to go, but, I wanted to know if...we could, do this again, sometime".                      She kept her composure, and nodded with a large smile. " Yes, we'll do this again Tony", she smiled. She gave him a hug, long like the first time. " I had much fun with you".                     He returned the hug, but barely. His mind went wack while she hugged him, and he enjoyed every last second of it. Luna could hear his heat beating as fast as it did last time she hugged him. She herself could feel her own heart racing, something she hadn't felt in thousands of years. There was one last thing she had in mind, to do something special for him like he did with her.                     Tony went numb. Totally, and completely, blissfully, numb. There he was, a beautiful mare with her hooves around him, and her lips pressed gently against his. It was even better than hugging her, way better. He closed his eyes and gently returned it, pressing his lips against her soft ones. Nothing else mattered at that point, just her. He raised his hand and stroked her luminescent mane.                      Sadly, she backed away for breath. They both panted as they stared into each other's eyes. " See you soon. Luna", Tony smiled. Luna gave him another peck on the lips and got back on her hooves.                      " And you as well, Tony". She spread her wings and took flight. Tony watched her fly off towards Canterlot, until she blended in with the sky and stars.                       Tony started his trek back to the library, a huge smile across his face.