Princess Luna, for it was indeed she, nodded; and then turned and walked away. She paused only long enough to gesture for Applejack to follow before continuing to walk away at a steady pace. Applejack hesitated, but then did so.
Together the two walked, the princess of the night and the farmer. Though Luna wore no disguise other than her cloak, nopony seemed to notice that they were in the presence of royalty. They walked through the city and into a deserted park, where the trees were thick and the world was dark. Luna seemed to relax a bit as she stepped out of the sun.
Applejack finally broke the silence. “Is there a reason you're not, like, disguised more?” she asked.
“It is somewhat of a joke,” Luna admitted. “I don’t disguise myself, and yet I often avoid detection. Things are often best hidden in plain sight. Much like my practice of placing new constellations in the sky and waiting for somepony to notice them.”
Applejack paused. “How often do you do that?”
“Once every year.”
“And how many ponies have noticed?” Applejack asked with some trepidation. As much as she loved late night picnics looking at stars, she hadn't exactly memorized the Astronomer's Almanac of all Things Astronomy or anything. She certainly didn’t know of any new or recent constellations.
Luna frowned ever so slightly. “So far? Five, counting Twilight Sparkle.”
Applejack flinched. It had been two years since Luna had returned.
Luna didn't seem to notice. “It hurts to give of yourself and receive nothing for your efforts,” she remarked.
Applejack tensed, but then relaxed. “So you know how I feel, then, I guess,” she mumbled.
Luna lay down on the ground and gestured with a nod that Applejack should join her. Applejack hesitantly did so; it was so surreal to see royalty acting like a normal pony. “Perhaps,” Luna said. “I imagine your feelings have something to do with the dreams you've been having of late?”
Applejack shot to her hooves. “Y- you've seen those?” she stammered.
Luna shrugged, undisturbed at her outburst. “I have seen a lot of things, Applejack.”
“Yeah, but... Those are my nightmares!” Painful as the nightmares had been, Applejack couldn't help but feel somewhat violated. Flashbacks began running through her head. Rainbow pushing her away when she leaned in for a kiss, laughing at her as she fell sprawled out on the ground. Rainbow ripping up all of her letters. Rainbow kicking sand on her picnic, on the food she'd lovingly prepared.
Luna's voice broke her out of her mental torture. “Much of what I've seen and conquered can only be seen in nightmares,” Luna said simply. “Perhaps that is why I find myself drawn to them; I alone control the night and everything that in it is, and when something causes my little ponies pain, I feel it is my duty to…”
“What if it's another pony?” Applejack blurted.
Luna raised an eyebrow, wordlessly asking for more information, but other than that gave no other reaction.
“What if it's another pony? What if you love another pony, but sh- they don't even look at you? They mock you? They tear down your best efforts and make light of everythin' and poke fun at your lovin' words...” She dropped to the ground. “It just ain't fair.”
Luna merely nodded, apparently unsurprised that Applejack had just confessed to being in love with another mare. “It is different, giving of yourself and giving yourself. You did the second, and that is the most painful of all.”
Applejack nodded.
“I confused the two,” Luna admitted. “My night was ignored, but I interpreted that as me being shunned. In my blindness I did things...” Her voice trailed off, and she opened her eyes and met Applejack's gaze. “But we are not speaking of me, are we?”
Applejack shook her head.
Luna sighed. “The thing is... Please do not do anything rash, Applejack.”
“Huh?”
“You have the bits for a ticket on a ship to go far away, I know. And I am forbidden to interfere with the waking affairs of our ponies—if you run, you can still make the last boarding call—but I know enough to know that running away will solve nothing.”
“So what should I do?” Applejack challenged.
Luna gave a wry smile. “I cannot interfere, remember? But years of experience means I can tell you this: you will not mend your heart on your own.”
Applejack bit her lip.
Luna smiled and tossed her head. She bit her cloak and flipped it over her head, and it dissolved into inky shadows and disappeared. She spread her wings and took off, shrinking away into the bright sky, and leaving a pondering Applejack behind.