When I woke up today, I kinda forgot where I was. I skipped over to the window, expecting to see the forest, but instead seeing the 'hustle and bustle' of the city. In fact, I can see Everfree Forest from my window - it is the green splodge in the distance.
Once I remembered, I sighed, and tried to make my way towards the dining room. But as soon as I opened the door, I found a maid standing there, just about to knock on the door.
"Oh." She immediately bowed. "Good morning, your highness." I closed my eyes - I don't really like it when people call me your highness. Tia does, but I find it...I just don't like it. I don't know why - I just do.
"Good morning. May I help you?" I asked her, gesturing for her to stand up and smiling.
"Oh, I have your breakfast here, your highness." She brought out a tray with pancakes, orange juice, tea, toast and fruit on it.
"Oh, why thank you. And please, call me Luna," I said, taking the tray with my magic.
The maid shook her head. "Oh, I couldn't do that."
"Well, at least Princess Luna, then." I was determined to get at least this pony to call me by my first name.
"Um...Ok, Princess." She lowered her head, as if scared by my impending reaction.
I smiled at the pony in front of me. Sometimes, the fact that ponies see us as all powerful beings and are therefore frightened of us makes me laugh. Not in a horrible way though. I just mean that they have no idea about who we really are, as actual ponies.
I stared at the mare for a while, until she raised her head and said, "I'm sorry, Princess. What do-"
"Well, you know my name, but I, I do not know yours."
She looked shocked. I suppose she didn't think I wanted to know her name. "I am Star Darling."
I held out my hoof for her to shake. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Star Darling. I hope that in time we may become close friends."
Star Darling stared at the offering in disbelief, then carefully shook it.
She does seem quite nice. She has a lovely black and grey mane, and a pure white coat. An amazing colour scheme. The only bit of colour on her are her eyes - they are a lovely bright green.
She left soon after that, and I was left alone to...eat, I suppose, but I knew I couldn't. I was too upset. Well, at least I had gotten out of walking around the castle looking for where the dining room was; I had no idea where it was. I still don't.
Eventually, I walked out of my room, and found Tia, who was standing on her balcony, grinning at the view. She had a perfect view of the centre of Canterlot, which I think she chose especially. I also think that the reason I can see Everfree Forest (it's a pathetic view, but it's still a view) is because of her as well. It's nice, thinking that she's trying to make me as happy as she can.
Anyway, I walked into her room, and she immediately heard my hoofsteps, and turned around.
"Luna! How did you sleep?"
"Great." I realised that it was the truth but I didn't really want to admit it.
"Isn't it wonderful?" she said, gesturing to the view. I walked up to her so that I was standing on the balcony next to her, and I looked out.
Some would say that it is a wonderful view - from there you could see Canterlot market, a lot cleaner, tidier and more sophisticated than the average market (just like everything in Canterlot), as well as many of the rich bouquets. However, I prefer a more natural view - trees and flowers and stuff like that. But I guess it wasn't that bad.
"Err...yeah," I said, as a quick reply. I've known Tia all my life and if you don't agree with her...well, you're screwed. She can get quite...aggressive sometimes.
I left soon after that, and just walked out of the castle. I didn't really have a set destination - I was just walking. Walking for the sake of walking. And getting away from Tia.
As I walked down the roads, I did attract some attention from the citizens. Of course I would - I am a princess after all, and you don't usually see a princess just walking down the street.
Many ponies did stare, and a few foals said, "Mummy, it's Luna!" to be quickly hushed by their parents. I just smiled and carried on walking.
Eventually, I found myself near Gem's house and I thought that I might as well pay him a visit, so I began walking towards his abode.
Being rich, his parents have one of the biggest houses in Canterlot, and it is home to Gemini, Andromeda (his sister), Taurus and Orion (his brothers), as well as Mr and Mrs Nocte. It is quite close to Canterlot Castle, luckily (again, must have been one of Celestia's designs) but just outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. Mr Nocte does something impressive for a company - I'm not entirely sure what. Gem, Taurus and Mr Nocte have all told me before, but I can never remember.
As I walked up to the door, it flung open and I was face to face with Mrs Nocte, Gem's mother.
"Luna, darling!" she said. I love Gem's mum - she's always so friendly and welcoming to me. It might have been because I was a princess. Even so, like everypony I have ever met, she used to call me 'Your Highness' and 'Princess' but as soon as I asked her to call me by my name, she had done so.
"Good morning, Mrs Nocte," I said, smiling at her.
She immediately ushered me in, and called for Gem. She sat me down and offered me all the food she had in the house. Soon after that, Gem ran in, skidding a bit across the floor when he stopped. "Luna," he said, slightly out breath.
His mum left soon after that, saying "I'll leave you two alone" as she left.
"How are you?" he asked me. "How was your first night?"
"It was fine."
"Just fine? Not great? Not bad? Just fine?" he inquired, giving me his questioning look.
I smiled. "Just fine."
He laughed, and after that, we walked out into the garden for a bit.
His garden. It is amazing. Words cannot describe the feeling you get when you walk through it. The beauty of the flowers and the trees and the bushes leave you speechless. I remember the first time I walked through it - I was unable to say a word for about 3 hours. Gem was laughing throughout them. The garden is his mother's pride and joy, and Gem himself loves it as well. It's one of the few joys I have in Canterlot, and if I have to be here, at least this garden is here too.
Gem decided that I shouldn't be walking around private land on my first day of living in Canterlot, and immediately told me that we were going to 'hit the city' - those were his exact words. Now, I'm not sure how much you know about me, but I do not hit the town. That is not something I do. And Monoceros Gemini III knows this. Very well. But before I could disagree, he somehow had me outside his gates and walking towards the centre of the city.
It was about this time when I realised that I should probably give Canterlot a try - I had always said that the city was not for me and never really given it a second glance. It was always Tia's favourite and therefore, I had never liked it. There are other reasons for me not liking Canterlot, but to tell the truth, I can't remember any of them.
Therefore, I went with Gem, hoping that he would at least make me like his city a little bit more than I do now.
We walked around a few shops, and again, ponies stopped and stared at us, mainly at me, but this time, a small filly with a pink and lilac mane and white coat ran up to me and said, "Are you Princess Luna?"
I knelt down, smiling and said, "Yes, I am."
She then asked, "You made the night, didn't you?"
"I did, yes."
"It's very pretty."
Soon after that, her mother ran up and ushered her away, apologising for her daughter's interrogation. I told her it was ok, and as she was going away, I quickly ran up to them and asked for their names.
"My name is Candy Cane," the filly replied.
"Well, thank you, Candy Cane, for what you said. It meant a lot to me." She immediately smiled at me, and let her mother usher her away, but not without waving me goodbye.
I stood in that spot, staring at that little filly being lead through the crowds, and I smiled. I turned and I saw Gem smiling as well.
A few moments after that, the royal guards came running into the square. It turns out that I am not allowed to walk around Canterlot without a guard, especially without telling anypony that I was actually going. They immediately lead me back to the castle, thanking Gem for looking after me, and I had to follow. I said goodbye and he waited until I was safely in the castle before going home himself.
I've been sitting on my bed, thinking about that filly who praised me on my night. It does make me feel happy, the fact that the children of my land appreciate my work, and tell me about it. I don't think I ever will forget little Candy Cane - no matter how long I live, she will always have a place in my heart.