Wintergreen was a storm of emotions. She was grateful that Orange Blossom had confirmed her brother would attend, but somewhat resentful that she hadn't been told earlier. Good news should always be given immediately, she felt. And above all was the agitation and the fluttering heart that came from knowing that Passion Fruit would be in her home! She was eager for this to happen, but she was also afraid that he would turn her away. Why did Orange Blossom have to tell her as she was about to retire for the evening? How was she supposed to fall asleep now?
Twist's only comfort was the fact that her grandfather was sitting beside her, so she wrapped her forelegs around him as tightly as she could. Their speed kept increasing, the blackouts were more frequent, and the images that were visible when they could see were strange and disturbing. And yet during all of this, their host and guide was sitting there singing to himself! Why wasn't the boat slowing down? Where were they going? How could all of this possibly fit inside the candy factory anyway? And how was it that the boat had enough seats for everypony still on the tour, but none for the foals and guardians who had already left? Had the factory owner somehow known what was going to happen?
Darkness again, and then there was nothing beneath her fore-hooves. Light suddenly returned in the form of stars overhead shining through gaps in dark clouds. She was alone in the boat, which was somehow on a perfectly still pond instead of the mysterious subterranean waterway. The boat was no longer moving, but she hadn't felt it slowing down. She heard a regular series of light splashes behind her that were obviously coming closer. She turned but couldn't quite make out the dark figure that was approaching until clouds parted and moonlight began shining down. Casually strolling across the surface of the water was Luna, Princess of the Night.
“I apologize for the intrusion, Twist. Based on what I saw, however, I imagine my presence is not entirely unwelcome.” Luna's voice was quiet and measured, nothing like the reports of her first visit to Ponyville.
Twist found herself recalling things she had heard and read. It was nothing taught in the classroom, but there were stories that foals told each other, and hints in very old books. “If you're here, Princess Luna, then this is a dream.”
Luna gave a small smile and stepped into the boat with hooves that were somehow dry. “You are as intelligent as Twilight Sparkle said you were.” She settled into the backwards-facing seat that the eccentric candy mogul had been sitting in just moments before.
“Miss Twilight told you about me?” The filly could hardly believe her ears.
“Not directly. She wrote a letter to my sister. Twilight was seeking royal wisdom, and I volunteered to offer what I could.”
“You volunteered? I'm honored, Princess, but I don't understand why.”
“Several reasons. I have what I believe to be a relevant perspective. Also, my talent as a dream walker makes it easier for me to make a personal appearance without needing to involve or inconvenience others. Finally, while my sister and I love all the ponies of Equestria, the foals of Ponyville are especially dear to me.”
“Thank you, Princess. I hardly know what to say. I suppose that seems silly to someone like you.”
Luna smiled again. “Say whatever you like, Twist. Haven't you noticed? In your dreams, everything sounds exactly as you intend it.”
Twist's mouth dropped open in surprise. “Wait, is that true? Soup. Salad. Molasses! SASSY! This is wonderful, Princess!”
The princess had to laugh at her new friend's joy and enthusiasm. “There are certain advantages to the dream world, yes. Sometimes pieces of a dream can even be taken with you back to the waking world, making the waking world better for you. For example, you will remember this conversation even if you forget everything else you have dreamed this night.”
“Is it true what they say about dreams? Now that I know that I'm in one, I can do what I want?”
Luna continued to be amused. “Try it out.”
Twist closed her eyes in concentration. When she opened them, she was back in school. As usual, she was in the front row. None of the other students were present, but then neither was her teacher; Princess Luna was sitting behind Miss Cheerilee's desk. She was also wearing dark-framed glasses that matched her mane, even though Twist didn't recall imagining that detail. There were other unexpected touches as well: the chalkboard had “Miss Luna” written on it in large letters, and on the desk was a mug that read “THE HOMEWORK HAS BEEN DOUBLED.”
Twist looked around. “It seems like it worked. Mostly, anyway.”
Luna pushed her glasses down with a hoof and winked over the top of the frames. “The rest was me.” With that, she reached under the teacher's desk and brought out a globe of the moon, which she placed just to the side of the mug. “I'm going to tell you a story. You've probably heard a version of it before, so note-taking is optional.”
Twist scooted her desk a little closer and propped her chin on her hooves. Luna took a deep breath, looked to the side, turned back, and removed her glasses. The playfulness was gone.
“When I was much younger, there was no question in my mind that I was loved. Celestia and I freed Equestria from Discord's whims. We stopped Sombra's attempts at conquest, and although it was displaced in time, we were able to prevent the destruction of the Crystal Empire. We were celebrated. The love we had – the love I had – for the ponies of Equestria was returned.”
Luna had let her gaze wander, but she brought her eyes back to Twist and saw that the filly was hanging on her every word. The princess kept her attention on her audience and continued speaking, although with her volume reduced somewhat. “Equestria was at peace. Peace brings contentment, which can bring forgetfulness. It can lead to taking things for granted. Today, ponies such as our mutual friend Twilight Sparkle are very appreciative of the night sky. They study it, they chart it, they love the night for what it is. Back then, the population was lower, and admirers were fewer. Much fewer. I felt... it seemed to me... that I was no longer loved. I grew resentful.”
Mere seconds of silence seemed to drag on. Twist prompted the alicorn. “And then?”
“Then I made the mistake of keeping it to myself. If I had spoken to my sister, I would have learned what I know now – that even then, there were paintings and poems inspired by the night. I was appreciated, even though I didn't realize it. The nature of ponies is to sleep at night, but I couldn't accept this simple fact. I was hurt when nopony intended to cause pain. And so I began listening to... others.”
Twist whispered, “And that's when you became Nightmare Moon.” She was in awe. It was one thing to know the tale, but it was something completely different to hear it first-hoof.
Luna nodded. “Imagine being a prisoner behind your own eyes, forced to observe as another uses your mouth to speak, uses your hooves to strike, uses your magic to attack all that you love. Being contained was a relief compared to that. A thousand years in what Twilight calls 'suspended animation'. I may have dreamed during that time. Not long after Nightmare Moon was freed from captivity, I was freed from the nightmare. Since then, I realized something I had not known before, which is the lesson I want to impart now.”
Twist was enthralled, but managed to speak. “What is it, Princess?”
“When you love and are loved by another, enjoy the things that you like, but learn to accept what you do not. Nopony is perfect. Despite what some might tell you, even my sister has her flaws. But I love her just the same. As I love even the ponies who always go indoors at sundown and are in bed soon after.”
Twist rubbed her chin and mused about what she had just been told. “Learn to accept things you don't like about your special somepony... or anyone else you love.”
“Exactly. It is a lesson I am still teaching myself.”
“You shouldn't try to change somepony.”
“Correct. Ponies can change themselves if they truly want to, but you cannot make another change for you.”
The desks vanished and Twist trotted across the now empty floor of the classroom to give the princess a hug. “You don't need to change, Princess Luna. I love your night sky, and I've read some of Twilight's books about it. I also love that you came to me in my dream to help me.” The classroom itself began to fade into nothingness, as neither dreamer felt it was necessary any longer.
Luna stroked a hoof through Twist's mane. “You are very welcome, little one. And thank you, too.”
“What for?”
“Listening to me, taking my lesson to heart, and reminding me that I am loved.”
Twist blushed a little. “You're welcome, Princess. When will I see you again?”
“I will be in Ponyville for Nightmare Night again, but I think I can arrange a visit sooner than that.”
“I'd like that.”
“So would I, Twist. So would I.”
When Twist woke up and greeted her parents at breakfast, she discovered that for the first time, controlling her lisp was almost effortless.