//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Garden Party // by MyLittlePonyTales //------------------------------// “What do you mean by that?” Luna was intrigued by this strange pony. “It's nothing...just that I often found myself place on the outskirts of the crowd during any time of social activity. Like I wasn't even there. So, recently, I've decided to just “fly solo”, as it were.” “I see.” replied Luna. Before her exile, she had been somewhat of an outcast as well. She wasn't the social butterfly that her sister ones, and she often felt pushed aside, unnoticed in the light of her sister's glory. “So, what is it that you do here? I mean, if I'm not being too forward in asking. It's just that I haven't seen you at any of the public event's Celestia has attended recently. I just...you know, wondered why.” “Isn't it obvious? Most ponies still consider me a threat to Celestia and all of Equestria. After everything that happened with Nightmare Moon though, I don't really blame them. Whatever they think of me, I've brought upon myself.” She looked away from ShadowMist, gazing over the beautiful garden. It was so peaceful here. And yet, even with all it's tranquility, it was still such a lonely place. “You seem to...do that a lot.” ShadowMist observed. “Do what?” said Luna, quickly turning back to face her, her train of thought broken. “You just...all of a sudden start staring off at nothing. Not that there's anything wrong with it. I mean, I do that all the time. Just...not generally when I'm talking with somepony.” “Oh my goodness, I've been so rude!” Luna exclaimed. “No, I mean—” “Would you—would you like to see the castle?” Luna blurted. “If—if that is what you wish, your majesty.” ShadowMist replied as though touring the castle would be more of a duty than a pleasure. “Well, if you don't want to, we don't have to.” Luna said quickly. “I am your guest, Princess Luna. Whatever you say we shall do, than that is what we shall do.” Luna seemed slightly flustered by this. “Whatever you want to do is what we'll do. We should do something that you'll enjoy. Something—something that normal ponies like to do.” Well, normal ponies actually liked to spend time with their friends and family. ShadowMist lacked the former and didn't live close enough to her family for the latter. “Normal ponies like tours of castles.” ShadowMist said. “Do you want to tour the castle?” Luna asked. “Yes.” ShadowMist replied flatly. Debating with Luna was getting them no where. Besides, she thought that a tour of the castle might actually be somewhat fun, and anyway, it was something to do. “Come along then.” said Luna, leading the way to the door. ShadowMist followed, slightly nervous. It was one thing to be friends with another pony. But when that pony was a princess, things were entirely different. * * * They spent the next couple of hours exploring the castle, more than actually having a tour of it. It seemed to ShadowMist that Luna knew about as much about the castle as she herself did. However, having a private tour of the castle with one of its princesses was a once in lifetime opportunity, and she was happy to oblige. She was also enjoying the time she got to spend with Luna. It seemed that Celestia and Luna, sisters though they were, had nearly opposite personalities. After sometime of going through room after room and hallway after hallway and climbing various staircases, ShadowMist realized that it was nearly sunset. “Luna.” ShadowMist said, and Luna paused, turning to look back at her. “Thank you for the tour. Today was...a lot of fun. But it's...it's probably getting a little late. I have to fly home before the sun sets...flying in the dark isn't the most safe or fun thing in the world.” “Oh, of course! I should have thought of that.” Luna turned and headed back down the way they had come. When they reached the bottom of the spiral staircase, Luna looked around at the many doors and hallways leading to different places in the castle. “Do you—do you know which way to go?” ShadowMist asked tentatively. “Well, I...no, not—not entirely.” Luna stammered, nervously stamping a hoof up and down on the ground. “I know the way.” offered ShadowMist, heading down one of the many hallways. She paused, waiting for Luna to follow.