“Of course, sister. Penumbra, Eclipse, Poe, let’s move.” Luna removed the three magic chains from their bodies and let them stand up. As they turned left to start walking away, Luna yelled, “on the double!”
“Yes sir!”
They trotted across the slippery gold tile with ease as their lunar commander hovered over them, issuing orders to keep moving on. As they turned the corner, Luna lowered her altitude and then began to run alongside them. “Ok, you three may stop for now,” she ordered when they reached the opposite corner of the tub a minute later.
Almost immediately, her three guards dropped to their knees and started begging for forgiveness.
“We’re sorry! Peeps talked us into it.”
“He said Luna would be there and she might need protection.”
“I just have bad ha-ha-ha-biiiiiiits…”
Luna raised a hoof and in one swoop, smacked the three faces of her employees. “Get a grip on yourselves, Lunar Guards. Stop sniveling like little twerps and own up to your actions. Did you see Celestia’s crew? They took it like real soldiers, with dignity and respect.”
Each after rubbing their face for a moment, sat on their haunches and looked directly at their Princess. “Yes, we’re sorry Princess Luna,” they said in unison.
“That’s more like it. And now, for your punishment. I decree you three to… a group hug.”
“NO! Not a gr- wait.”
“Did she just-“
“I think she did.”
“Shh, let her finish.”
“You don’t know how happy I am to know my own guards were spying on me,” Luna said giddily, giggling as she did. And she couldn’t help but laugh a little harder when they exchanged looks with one another, confused as ever. “Everypony is always looking at Celestia. Everypony always looks up to Celestia. But today I was proven that even after everything, I still have a loyal team.” She pulled them into a spine popping hug.
“Princess, I’m,” Penumbra managed to say under her intense hug, “extremely confused.”
“Right, I imagine you are, Penumbra. And might I say, I’m a little surprised to see you were here. Are you-“
“Yes.”
“Right. Well, let me explain. Earlier today I had been searching through my old trunks and shelves, looking for a gift for our newly inducted Princess, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia had informed me just an hour earlier that she had sent the book to her protégé, giving me no time to prepare. I was in my study room, far from my chambers, so I had to take a mad dash through the hall. And what did I see?
“Not one of my own royal guard. All Solar Security, not one of you three or any of my guard for that matter. And, perhaps I wouldn’t be too bothered by this if I knew you were going to take the night shift and they only the day, but Celestia has guards for the night as well. And it became clear to me that Celestia had given orders, behind my back, that they were only to work nights while I was away on work.”
“The fiend!”
“How horrifying!”
“So that’s why they had bigger paychecks…”
Luna leaned in close and whispered, “So, this is what we’re going to do…”