Strobeshot trotted through the double swinging doors of the Canterlot Chronicle’s city office and straight up to the editor-in-chief’s office. “Here they are, boss. Straight out of the dark room.”
The grizzled blue furred earth pony with a black mane turned on the photographer. “How many times do I have to tell you…? Don’t call me boss. Now, let’s see what you’ve got.”
The younger, somewhat skinny unicorn lifted a flap on his camera bag and spread a series of six photos across the desk. “When the moon didn’t move after about ten last night I started taking a series of pictures using the castle’s clock tower in the foreground as a reference. You can see that the moon just hung in the same place until just after four in the morning when it abruptly jumped across the sky, then set normally.”
The editor examined the photos for a moment. “Any reports of abnormal events last night?”
“Except for a slightly higher tide than normal… nothing. I asked Typesetter at the city desk, but there have been no stories about unusual activities.”
The earth pony slid a picture across the desk. “You didn’t over expose the negatives, did you?”
“Come on, you know me. When did I ever screw up a photo?”
“Never that I recall.” He returned his focus to the pictures. “Call me crazy, but does the moon look… brighter than normal?”
“You’re not crazy,” Strobeshot replied.
The editor flipped a call button on his intercom box. “Edwina?”
“Yeah, boss?” came the reply
“Get a hold of Burnwood and Woodstein. Have them check their sources and see if they can dig up anything about the crazy moon last night; and tell them I want it on my desk BEFORE tomorrow’s weekly press conference.”
“Right away, Boss!”
“Think Luna was asleep at the switch last night, boss?” Strobeshot asked.
“I don’t think anything; I don’t assume anything,” the editor intoned. “I just ask questions. AND DON’T CALL ME BOSS.”
“How come Edwina gets away with it?” the photographer complained.
“She’s worked here longer than anypony else, including me. That gives her the right to call me anything she wants.”
**********
“Your majesty. I’m afraid that Princess Luna is still not answering her door. We’ve knocked several times but the door remains locked with a magical seal.”
Celestia looked up from her breakfast. In front of her was the morning report along with a list of calendar items that needed attending to during her day court session. The chambermaid who stood before her was one of the more senior of the castle staff and was often looked upon as an informal ‘house mother,’
“If the door is magically sealed, then my sister must be inside; and if she is inside, she is most likely asleep. It is daylight after all.”
“Yes… but it is normally her habit to join you for breakfast before going to sleep.”
“Granted, but if she had a busy night, then she might have decided to forego a morning meal.” She smiled at the matronly pony. “Not to worry. I will ‘peek’ in on her later this morning and make sure she is alright.”
“Yes, your highness.” As the chambermaid left the alicorn considered the implications. She hoped Luna had been careful to use her magic to prevent conception. While the galloping of small hooves was a desirable outcome, Celestia did not feel that her sister was quite ready for that kind of responsibility.
**********
Big Macintosh leisurely looked around the darkened room. Not a sliver of light shown other than the soft glow cast by the murals lining the walls. It was a perfect room for the Princess of the Night. Perfectly furnished, perfectly decorated, perfectly tenanted. He looked at the soft beauty of Luna, the peaceful, perfect face and mane, the incredible scent of a mare in the full bloom of love. He knew without a shadow of a doubt he was home as much as with Luna as he was at Sweet Apple acres.
She shifted in her sleep, gently nuzzling her head under his chin. Her horn passed close to the farmer’s face but he felt no danger; no sense of threat. They had made love at least five times before the princess finally drifted off into a pleasant sleep. Even after she had closed her eyes the stallion had been unable to sleep. Yes, he was tired, but his mind would not shut down. He watched her through the night and marveled at how a simple pony such as himself could have won the heart of the most beautiful mare in all Equestria.
He wondered what it would be like if she were his bride, what their foals would be like, or even their grand-foals, if he were fortunate to live so long. It worried him that the princess would live far beyond his own years, not so much for himself, but for what Celestia had told him. How could he possibly keep a heart as full of love as hers was from breaking?
In the far distance he thought he could hear a rooster crow. He chuckled to himself, thinking that some pony in Canterlot had a secret stash of chickens. Exhausted at last, Big Macintosh fell asleep his head nestled against the princess’s neck, never realizing in his last moments of wakefulness that her own eyes had opened.
Luna lay beside the farm pony and watched the slow rise and fall of his chest. She rose and delicately slipped out of bed and went into her bathroom. When she finished her business, she quietly stood in front of a full length mirror and examined herself. She was amazed to see the image that starred back at her. She had grown significantly in size and now rivaled Big Macintosh in height. She still wasn’t as tall as her sister, but she felt stronger, more energized than she had in an eon. Was this what love did to a pony? She had never before lay with anypony. Big Mac was her first… her only love and the effect surprised, and frightened her a little. What would Celestia say?
Almost as if on cue there came a soft rapping at the door to her room. Slipping into a sheer night robe, Luna went to the door, released her privacy spell and opened it a crack. Her sister looked back at her, a knowing gaze on her face.
“Morning Tia,” she greeted her quietly. “Give me a second, would you?”
The Princess of the Sun nodded and Luna stepped back from the door. Using her magic, she drew a set of heavy curtains around her bed then brought up the lights in her sitting room and opened the door.
Celestia entered and looked around. “Is he still here?” she whispered conspiratorially.
“He? Whoever doth thou mean, sister?”
The white furred alicorn simply smiled at Luna’s feigned ignorance. “Oh please, Lulu. I have eyes, after all… and a nose.”
The Night Princess nickered softly. “He’s asleep on the bed, poor dear. I think I wore him out.”
“How many times did you take pleasure in each other’s company?” Celestia whispered.
“How CAN you ask such a question?” Luna replied pretending shock while keeping her voice low. “And if you must know, it was five.”
“FIVE! I’m jealous. My first time with Starswirl he only managed to make love three times before exhausting himself.” Celestia paused and examined her sister. “You’ve changed! There are a lot more stars in your mane and tail and you’re more than a little taller.”
Luna gracefully turned in front of her sister. “Do you think so?”
“I know so,” the white alicorn replied. “You’re also walking funny,” she added a knowing grin on her face.”
“That’s because I’m sore in places I never knew could be sore.”
“That is to be expected. I remember waking up after my first experience with Starswirl. I was sore as all get out but forgot about it when I saw my mane and tail had changed from light pink to their current pastel rainbow hue.” Celestia’s expression took on a slightly more serious air. “I hope you cast the proper, precautionary spells.”
Luna nodded. “I had just finished when you came to the door.” She glanced over toward the bed. “As much as I love Big Macintosh, the last thing he and I need right now is to sire a foal or two. There will be time enough for that later.”
“Yes, there will be.” the Sun Princess whispered, looking down at the floor for a moment.
Sensing her sister’s momentary unhappiness, Luna stepped forward and crossed her horn with Celestia’s, sending a brief flash of energy between them. The white alicorn looked up and smiled.
“After all that frolicking you must be famished.”
The blue-furred alicorn nodded. “Definitely,” she whispered. “But I don’t want to leave Mackintosh alone in my room. What if he wakes up?”
“I already have that covered.” The doors to Luna’s room opened and a matching pair of oak tea service carts rolled in under their own power. They were filled with every kind of breakfast delicacy imaginable. Both princesses took seats on nearby cushions and allowed the enchanted carts to serve them. They talked softly for hours, occasionally interrupted by the gentle snores of an exhausted farm pony.
**********
“Tintapper! Tintapper! Where are you, you lazy roustabout?” Shadow Starlight searched around the armory looking for the metalsmith. Across her back she carried a canvas cargo bag that clanked slightly when it bumped against anything. She was already in a bad mood. After getting up at an indecently early hour and taking the milk train all the way to Ponyville she had been stood up by her ‘alleged’ student. Big Macintosh Apple had said to return in the morning and she had, only to find him gone and his sister unable, or unwilling to account for his absence. If this was a typical example of his behavior, he would make a very poor knight indeed. Added to her frustration was the discovery that the strap on her ceremonial dress helmet was broken and needed replacement. This was the last time she would lend anything to that airhead, Goldenheart. “TINTAPPER!”
“I’m right behind you Shadow… You don’t have to shout.”
She turned and found herself face to face with a copper-furred unicorn with a gray mane, muzzle and tail. A few slightly singed spots on his fur spoke volumes about his profession, working the forge. “Good you’re here.”
“I think I just told you that myself,” he replied with a deadpan expression. “Now, what do you need?”
She lay the bag on the floor and unbuttoned it, gently lifting her helmet out with her magic and holding it for him to see. “I need to get this fixed and my armor burnished in time for the Autumn Equinox.”
“Rush job?”
“Yes… I have to officially sponsor a new candidate for knighthood.”
Tintapper looked at the helmet and nodded to himself. “I can have this ready for you in about two and a half weeks.”
“Two and a half… Didn’t I say this was a RUSH job?”
“Take a number. It’s the Autumn Equinox and I already have about fifty rush jobs ahead of you; and that’s not counting the extra work Princess Celestia gave me just this morning,” the metalsmith said pointing a hoof at his worktable.
Shadow Starlight glanced over casually, then did a double-take. “Is that a... horse collar?
“Yes. Same one I fixed up a couple of months ago. She wants me to clean off the sweat stains, buff it up, give it a nice coat of varnish, oil the leather and put a few augmentation spells on it so it will stay looking like new no matter what it’s used for. On top of that I have to get it done this afternoon, so like I said, take a number.”
The guard pony didn’t respond, starring instead at Tintapper’s current project. She recognized it immediately, even before spotting the small, engraved apple just behind the horns. “Big Macintosh.”
The metalsmith turned. “Did you say something?”
“Uh… no! I was just wondering who it belongs to.”
Tintapper snorted. “Don’t know, don’t care. But, if you believe the rumor mill, then one of our princesses has a special somepony she’s seeing on the side.”
“One of the princesses?” Shadow Starlight felt her heart drop through her chest. She had suspected that a member of the court was playing around with Big Mac’s affections… but one of the princesses? She had already convinced herself the naïve farm pony needed somepony to protect him from the intrigues of the court… but… this… this… this was unbelievable. “One of the PRINCESSES? WHO… WHICH ONE?”
“For Celestia’s sake…don’t yell. I may have been pounding an anvil for most of my life but I’m not deaf.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t know, but if I were to guess, I’d say Luna.”
Shadow looked across at the metalsmith. “Why Luna?”
“Because her sister is practically married to Equestria. She doesn’t have time for a special somepony.” Tintapper looked over at Shadow Starlight. “You sound a bit upset. Anything wrong?”
“No,” the guards pony lied. “Nothing’s wrong. I just made some assumptions that turned out to be totally wrong.”
“That’s the problem with assumptions. You can’t build anything lasting on them.” The metalsmith looked sympathetically at Shadow Starlight. She reminded him more than a little of his own daughter, or more precisely what his daughter would have been like if she and her mother had not died during the great storm of aught five. He sighed. “I’ll tell you what, promise to treat me to dinner at the Canterlot Lounge after the Autumn Equinox and I can have your armor ready by Tuesday.”
Shadow thought about it for a moment, then gave Tintapper a soft smile. “It’s a deal.” The ebon maned unicorn turned to leave. “See you Tuesday.”
The door closed firmly behind her. The metalsmith looked at his reflection in a polished shield that hung on the wall. “You’re getting to be a softy, you old stallion.” With a quick grumble he turned back to his work.”
**********
“BOSS…BOSS… STOP THE PRESSES! I’VE GOT YOUR NEW HEADLINE FOR THE MORNING PAPER!!
The editor of the Canterlot Chronicle whirled on his employee. “STROBESHOT! IF YOU CALL ME ‘BOSS’ JUST ONE MORE TIME, YOU’RE FIRED!”
“Okay… Don’t get your tail in a knot. Just look at this.” He tossed a photo onto the editor’s desk and grinned. The blue-furred earth pony pick it up and studied it for a moment, then looked at his photographer.
“What exactly am I looking at here?”
“Just the scoop of the year, that’s all.”
“I don’t see a scoop here, kid. Just a medium range shot of Canterlot castle.”
“Okay, maybe you need to take a closer look.” He switched out the picture with one that was blown up from the previous image. “Look at the window. Here, the one next to the balcony!”
The editor studied it once more. “All I see is a red and blue blob in the window. It could be anything!”
“Alright, let’s try this one more time.” He plopped a third photo down in front of the earth pony. “On this one I was using a 100x zoom lens.”
“I don’t like having my time wasted, Strobeshot.”
“Just look at the picture, bos…sir.”
The editor looked, then picked up the photograph and studied it closer. “I recognize Princess Luna alright, though she looks a bit… off. Who’s this red-furred stallion standing next to her in the window?”
“I checked with Burnwood. He says it’s that farmer who saved Luna’s life last winter. You know, the one they’re giving a knighthood to in a couple of weeks.”
“So, you’ve scored a photo of the Princess and her savior standing next to each other. Just why is this the scoop of the year?”
“It’s because that balcony and window lead straight into Princess Luna’s private bedchamber. And see! Look at the way she’s nuzzling against him.”
“I can see,” the earth pony muttered. “Wait… how’d you get a shot of Princess Luna’s private window? That’s in one of the tallest towers of the castle.”
“Woodstein asked me to hire a tethered balloon and stake out the castle. I spend half the day up there before getting these shots.”
“Interesting work, kid, but unless there’s a story to go with this, it’s just tabloid grist. I can’t use it.”
“Burnwood and Woodstein are writing it now. They have a couple of inside sources that say Luna has a special somepony in her life and it’s him.”
“Now this IS interesting. I can see it now, ‘The Princess and the Plow Pony.’ Should sell a lot of papers, providing the story can be confirmed. You might even have earned your first byline kid.”
Strobeshot grinned from ear to ear. “Gee… Thanks-Boss.”
“OR NOT! NOWGETHELLOUTTAMYOFFICE!”
The unicorn quickly retreated, leaving his photos on the editor’s desk. The earth pony picked up the last one and punched a button on his intercom. “Edwina…, get me layout. We’re redoing page one.”
“Right away, boss.”