//------------------------------// // Presents // Story: Sweet, Solemn, Sad // by Shingo //------------------------------// For the most part, Princess Luna had three main responsibilities: raise/lower the moon, visit the dreams of troubled ponies, and hold Night Court. Controlling the moon took a matter of minutes while Night Court most of the time barely lasted two hours due to the few who attended. Dream walking took very little time because in every dream, time was distorted. An hour within a dream would only be a minute in reality. Besides going over government documents that spilled over from the Day Court, Luna was usually left alone to her own devices for the majority of the night. Her time was spent exploring Canterlot’s night life, teaching herself new skills, and recently with a particular pony. Luna sat at her throne with her hoof rapidly tapping the ground. Night Court had seen an abnormal number of visitors and all of them wanted Luna to speak to them. A green earth pony was standing at the base of her throne and droning on and on. Luna would hear bits and pieces of his speech but her attention was focused on a clock above the room’s entrance. The pony in front of Luna coughed. “Your Highness,” he said. “Do you have any objections to my plans?” “Hmm?” Luna looked down at the pony. He had a dejected look on his face. “Oh, oh! Um, your proposal has many layers to it, and it will take a bit of time for me to come to a complete decision.” The pony smiled before bowing. He turned and headed towards the exit. “You had no idea what he was talking about do you?” the guard standing to the right of the throne asked. “I heard fragments of his speech,” Luna admitted. “And I wasn’t lying to him, it will take time to come to a decision.” “Sure it will.” The other guard rolled his eyes. “Anyways, that’s the last of the visitors for Night Court.” “YES!” Luna’s voice boomed with the Royal Canterlot Voice. She hopped out of the throne and ran to the exit. “Well, gentlecolts, it’s been a pleasure but I have somewhere to be.” “Wait!” Luna stopped in her place. “Your Highness, you have one other task before you’re free to go.” “I’m pretty sure the dreamers of Equestria will be fine for a single night.” Luna turned around. “Besides, today is special.” “We are aware,” the left guard said. “But just as it is our duty to stand at your side during Night Court, it is your duty to check on the dreamers of the country.” “Fine,” Luna sighed. “But I’m sure that they’ll be fine.” Luna closed her eyes. She took a deep breath before her ethereal mane and tail started flickering like a fire. Her eyes opened and they were glowing a light shade of blue. Luna turned her head around the room. She stopped and the blue in her eyes darkened. Her mane and tail returned to their normal state and her eyes returned to their normal colours. She clenched her teeth together. “Fantastic,” she mumbled. “Gentlecolts, could one of you get me the Cone of Silence? It should be behind throne.” The guard on the right side of the throne looked behind it. He shuffled around before returning with a large silver cone. He tossed it in the air and Luna caught in in her magical grip. She placed the cone over her head and face. The guards heard her take a deep breath before they saw the cone shake violently. They watched with wide eyed curiosity as the cone vibrated on Luna’s head. The cone stopped vibrating and Luna removed it from herself. She placed it beside her with a calm expression on her face. “Thank you. Now, you two are relieved of your duties for the night. Farewell.” Luna lit up her horn. Her mane and tail grew in size and wrapped themselves around her. When her body was completely covered, the cocoon made out of her mane and tail shrank. It kept shrinking until it faded away with a gentle twinkle of light. “What was that about?” the right guard asked. His companion shrugged in response. * A small flicker of light appeared in a dark expanse. It grew into a sparkling cocoon made out of purples and dark blues. The cocoon unraveled itself leaving Luna in her original state. “Okay,” she whispered to herself. “Find the dreamer, deal with their problem, and then head straight to her. It shouldn’t be too hard.” Luna started walking with her hooves echoing on a nonexistent stone floor. “Hello!” she called. “I am Princess Luna, guardian of dreams. You have no need to be afraid.” A spotlight turned on a few feet away from her. Sitting in the center of it was a pink earth pony mare with her head down. Luna’s eyes widened and she ran towards the mare. “Pinkie!” She stopped in front of Pinkie. “What’s wrong? What terrible thing is haunting you?” Pinkie raised her head. She opened her eyes and a bright red ribbon appeared on her chest. A smile that was too big for her appeared on her face. “Hi Lulu!” she happily said. “Happy Birthday!” “Pinkie, dear, now isn’t really the time to…” Luna stopped when she saw the ribbon. “Why are you wearing a ribbon?” “Because that’s what you’re supposed to wrap presents in,” Pinkie answered. “Well, you’re supposed to put wrapping paper on them first, but I think I’d look silly wearing both wrapping paper and a bow. Don’t you?” “I don’t understand,” Luna said dumfounded. “My magic told me that there was a dreamer out there who was troubled, but you seem perfectly fine.” “I am troubled!” Pinkie waved her forelegs in a frantic manner. “And you’re causing it. You haven’t opened the present I’ve given you.” “As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I cannot take your present with me back to reality.” “Your present is waiting for you back there.” Pinkie stood up. She placed a hoof under Luna’s chin. “And there’s more waiting for you.” “More?” Pinkie gently pulled Luna to her level. She brought a hoof over her ear and started whispering. Luna’s eyes widened and her wings flared opened. Her face had a gentle blush on her face as she pulled herself back up. “I… I…” Pinkie placed a hoof on Luna’s lips. “Shh,” she said. “All you have to do is accept all of the presents I’m giving you.” “I can do that.” “Great!” Pinkie cheered. “I’ll wake up and I’ll give them to you.” She took a few steps back away from Luna before her body faded to dust. The spot light turned off leaving Luna alone in darkness. The blush was still on her face and her wings were still flared out. She shook her head before an eager smile replaced the blush. Luna’s horn lit up causing her mane and tail to wrap themselves around her. Her cocoon once again shrunk and faded away with a twinkle of light.