//------------------------------//
// Fillydelphia 
// Story: Luna's Night Out 
// by Pinkamena666 
//------------------------------//

9:00am
Luna stood at the Hoofington border. Pepper Mint, Violet, and Cauliflower stood in front of her. The majority of the townsfolk were also watching.
"I guess this is farewell for now." said Luna. "Thank you, girls. For everything."
"It was nothing." said Cauliflower, almost bashfully.
"No, it's everything." said Luna, taking a step forward. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
Violet smiled. "Glad we could help.
Luna gave a slight nod and turned.
"I guess I'll move on to Fillydelphia next."
Luna took a step forward.
"Wait." said Pepper Mint. Luna stopped and turned around to face her. "I wanna come with you."
Luna couldn't help but smile.
"Really?" she asked.
"Of course." said Pepper Mint with a smile. "I could help. If others see you with another, they may immediately think you're good and you won't have to go through all this again."
"She does have a point." said Cauliflower. "I would go with you, but..." She poked Pepper Mint's wing. "I can't fly."
"Hey, watch it." said Pepper Mint softly, side-stepping away from Cauliflower.
Luna smiled.
"Ready?" she asked.
"You bet." said Pepper Mint, flapping her wings once.
Luna took one last look at Cauliflower and Violet before taking off into the sky. Pepper Mint followed.
"I hope you find what you're looking for, Princess." said Cauliflower, watching Luna and Pepper Mint fly off towards Fillydelphia.



9:20am
Luna and Pepper Mint soared through the sky, the wind rushing through their mane. Pepper Mint looked over at Luna. She couldn't believe she was in the presence of royalty. I mean, this was Princess Luna. Princess. She was psyched. She couldn't help but smile. Luna noticed.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing." said Pepper Mint.



9:35am
They soon landed outside of Fillydelphia.
"Are you ready for this?" Pepper Mint asked.
"I don't know, Pepper." said Luna, sounding a bit sad.
"What are you talking about?" Pepper Mint asked, stepping in front of Luna. "This is all you've talked about. You're one step closer to achieving your dream. Don't pass it up."
Luna took a deep breath.
"You're right." she said. "Let's go."
Pepper Mint followed Luna as she made her way towards the town's entrance. She was nervous that she would receive the same reaction as before. But she hoped that her new friends were right; that seeing her with another will make others not afraid of her. This was not the case. The first pony who saw her screamed.
"RUN!" she yelled. "IT'S NIGHTMARE MOON! AND SHE'S GOT A FRIEND!"
All the ponies screamed and ran inside their homes, locking the doors behind them and slamming the blinds shut. Luna and Pepper Mint stood near the town's exit and looked around. There wasn't a pony anywhere in the streets. Luna looked at the windows of nearby houses and could see ponies peering out, watching them.
"They all ran away again." said Luna, looking at Pepper Mint.
"Well, say something." Pepper urged.
"I can't speak loudly without yelling." Luna explained. "I still find myself speaking in the royal Canterlot voice."
"The what now?" Pepper Mint asked, confused.
"It's how we princesses used to address our subjects a thousand years ago." Luna continued to explain. "We would talk in a booming voice so all could hear. But I'm afraid, given the circumstances of our current situation, I would only succeed in scaring them."
"Yeah, probably." Pepper Mint agreed. She let out a sigh. "So, what now?"
"I don't know." said Luna sadly, walking forward.
Pepper Mint followed. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Luna. Luna sighed and hung her head, closing her eyes.
"Don't worry, Princess." Pepper said soothingly. "We'll find a way."



10:15am
Later that day, Luna and Pepper Mint sat in a motel room. The pony at the front desk didn't bother to check them in. She just slid the key across the counter and ducked back down. Luna lay on the bed, head resting on the pillow. Pepper sat in a chair nearby and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Luna." said Pepper.
"Don't be." said Luna, without moving. "It's not your fault."
Pepper Mint got up from the chair and went to the door.
"I'll be right back." said Pepper. "I'm going for a walk."
Luna said nothing. Pepper Mint waited for an answer. When she didn't get one she left, closing the door behind her. She looked to her left and noticed a pony slowly leaving her room and closing her door. She stopped and looked over at Pepper Mint. She stood frozen in fear.
"Uh..." said Pepper Mint. "Hi."
The pony said nothing. She was a white pony with a blue mane.
"Please don't run." said Pepper Mint. "All the others do."
"I c-can't imagine w-why." said the pony.
Pepper sighed.
"Look. If you want to run away like the others, go right ahead. Or you could be the first to see the new Princess Of The Night for yourself. I'll let you decide. I won't force you."
"Has she really changed?" the pony asked.
Pepper nodded her head towards the door to say 'see for yourself'. The pony hesitated for a second before slowly moving towards the door. Pepper Mint stepped aside as the pony stood in front of the door. The pony slowly opened the door and saw Luna laying on the bed. She looked over at Pepper. She nodded and the pony nodded back. She opened the door some more and headed inside. Every fiber in her body kept telling her that this was a bad idea. But she didn't listen. She had to see this for herself. She circled the bed and stood next to Luna, whose eyes were closed.
"Uh..." said the pony. "princess?"
Luna slowly opened her eyes.
"Who are you?" asked Luna, sounding tired.
"I'm Sapphire." said the pony.
"Sapphire." Luna repeated. "That's a pretty name."
"Thanks." said Sapphire. "You don't seem all... you know?"
"Because I'm not, Sapphire. Though every pony thinks I am."
Sapphire thought about an idea for a second before suggesting it.
"Maybe I could help."
"How?" asked Luna.
"Lots of ponies know me. I could spread the word."
A smile appeared on Luna's face.
"That would be nice."
"All right, then." said Sapphire, smiling back.
She made her way to the door.
"Sapphire?" Luna asked.
Sapphire stopped and turned around.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Sapphire smiled again.
"Don't mention it."
She left the room and closed the door. Pepper Mint was still standing in the same spot.
"So, how'd it go?" she asked.
"Really well, actually." answered Sapphire. "I'm Sapphire by the way."
"Pepper Mint. Shall we start letting others know?"
"Absolutely." said Sapphire, feeling proud of herself.



10:35am
Sapphire and Pepper Mint stood in the streets of Fillydelphia. Things had calmed down outside and ponies were walking about again.
"It's a good thing no pony knows you're with the princess." Sapphire whispered.
"I know." Pepper agreed. "Or else this would not work at all."
"Ready?" asked Sapphire.
Pepper nodded. Sapphire cleared her throat.
"Have you heard about the princess?" Sapphire asked a bit loudly so others could hear.
"What about her?" Pepper asked, also loudly.
"I heard she's nice now."
"Really?" asked Pepper. "Yous sure?"
"Yeah. I know someone who's seen her and she says she's really nice."
"Is that so?"
"You bet." said Sapphire. "I was thinking of seeing her later."
"Really?" asked Pepper Mint. "Where is she?"
"At the motel. Room 4."
"Cool." said Pepper. "I'll visit her later as well."
The two walked away and headed for a shoppe. There were tables with umbrellas near the shoppe as well as chairs. Pepper and Sapphire sat down at one of the tables. Almost at the same time, two others sat down at a nearby table.
"Did you hear?" one of them asked.
"Hear what?" the other one asked.
"The princess has changed. She's good now."
Pepper and Sapphire smiled slightly. The plan had worked.
"No kidding." said the other pony. "I gotta tell the others."
The ponies got up and left.
"The power of rumors." said Sapphire.
"It worked perfectly." said Pepper. "Nice job."
"I've been known to spread a few rumors here and there. Nothing hurtful, mind you. But funny nonetheless."
She let out a soft giggle. Pepper responded with a smile and turned her gaze to the ponies walking by. She could hear them talking about the fast-spreading rumor about the Princess. They had done it. By using the skill of rumor spreading, they had succeeded in redeeming Luna's reputation in Fillydelphia.



11:00am
Luna got up from bed when she heard a knock on her door. It opened slightly and Pepper and Sapphire entered.
"I think there's something you should see, princess." said Sapphire.
"What?" Luna asked softly.
"You really do." said Pepper.
Luna slowly walked passed them and opened the door. The hall was filled with ponies from the town.
"Hey, princess." said one of the ponies in front. "I'm Azure."
"Luna." said Luna with a smile.
Luna looked down the hall. The line of ponies went outside. Every pony wanted to get to know the new princess. Pepper and Sapphire gave each other a smile as if to say 'good job and it's been a pleasure working with you'. Azure went up to Luna and hugged her. Luna hugged back. She was one step closer to achieving her dream.