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// Epilogue: A Night Out 
// Story: Second Chance 
// by Subject 19 
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Matthew and Luna were having dinner in one of Canterlot’s finest restaurants, the Starlight. Throughout the dinner though, many ponies were shooting the commander dirty looks. Halfway through the meal, Matthew finally decided to ask Luna about it.
“Why exactly do these ponies appear to be pissed off at me?” he asked, quiet enough so nopony around them could hear.
“Let’s just say the press hasn’t been holding you in the highest regards lately,” Luna nervously replied. Matthew frowned at this, but allowed the princess to continue. “They’re trying to blame you for Forte’s death, even though they can’t prove it. When the Prench pushed all the way to Ponyville, the newspapers were doubtful of your abilities and I think some ponies still are.”
“Celestia made it very clear to the everpony that Forte’s death was unconfirmed, but the Equestrian military had nothing to do with it and that includes me. I’ve read what they’ve all said about me.” Matthew’s frown grew deeper as he remembered the numerous articles focused on making him look like a psychopath. “The publicity I have been getting, a good deal of which is untrue, and the rest of it ill considered, has done me more harm than good. You think they’d be more grateful considering I saved this kingdom from a fucking invasion.”
“Well you could always be more involved with the public and attend some of the celebrations that are coming up,” Luna suggested, hoping the stallion sitting across the table from her would agree. “That would certainly help how other ponies think about you.”
“I don’t care enough to go out of my way to make these ponies like me and even if I did, I’ve got more important problems to deal with.”
“Don’t worry about it so much,” Luna urged. “If the changelings are planning an attack, we’ll be ready for them.”
“It’s not the changelings that I’m worried about,” Matthew stated. “It’s the possibility that Starswirl could be the one getting ready for an attack.” For the first time Luna could see fear in the gray pony’s eyes. Though it was well disguised, Luna could see through his mask. “There would be absolutely no way for me to predict when or how he would attack us. That scares me.”
“The odds that Starswirl is still alive are about a million to one,” the night princess reassured. “For now you should just relax for a little and enjoy our victory.”
“Victory? Luna, this war is not over just yet. As long as there is still another player involved this war is still going. And make no mistake; we can still lose this war.”
The rest of the dinner went by quickly, the two ponies talking about nothing in particular the rest of the time. Luna made sure to avoid talking about anything related to work. After all, the whole point of this night out of the castle was to help Matthew relax and not worry too much about the recent events. Though Matthew would never admit it to anypony other than Luna, he had enjoyed having dinner with the young princess.
On the way back to the castle, Luna decided to bring up Matthew’s past. “You said that when we had beaten Prance you would talk to me about your past.”
As Luna had expected, Matthew’s soft smile immediately fell. “You've seen most of my dreams, you should know quite enough already.”
“I’ve only seen the memories that are plaguing you,” she clarified. “I want to know your whole story, which means not just the things you’re not proud of.”
The black maned stallion sighed. “It would be easier to just show you than to try and explain everything. How about I show you when you visit me in my dreams tonight?”
Luna smiled, happy that Matthew was finally willing to open up to her. “That sounds perfect.”
When the time came to show Luna his past, he would make sure he only showed what was necessary. There were some parts of Matthew’s past he didn’t want anypony to know about and he intended to keep it that way. Matthew let a smile return to his face. Finding the kingdom’s unknown enemy could wait until tomorrow. He was having a nice evening with the alicorn and he was more relaxed now than he had ever been in quite a long time.