//------------------------------//
// A Night in, and a Day Out 
// Story: They Never Knew 
// by SilverEyedWolf 
//------------------------------//

The three of us left Celestia with her coffee, the princess flush and pouring over the letters she’d received earlier.

I’d never thought about how warm another’s hand could be, and now that I was holding on to two of the loveliest women I knew. I wasn’t really thinking of what was likely coming, mostly because I wasn’t able to think.

All I was able to concentrate on was the feeling of Ditzy leaning against my arm, and Luna leading us through the castle. Every now and then I’d look down at Ditzy’s blushing face, or forward at Luna’s red ears; the rest of her face was blocked by her long, dark hair.

A large wooden door opened and closed, and we were suddenly in what was obviously Luna’s bedchambers. The walls were lined in what seemed to be dark blue velvet, and the ceiling was painted black with sparkling stars dotted throughout. A moon was setting on one border, where the ceiling met the wall. I walked over to a set of thick curtains and pulled one aside, confirming my suspicions; the moon on the ceiling was in the same area, and in the same phase as the real moon.

“It gets a little bright when the moon is full,” Luna said as she walked over to a wardrobe, placing a hand on the dark, old wood as she took her shoes off. “I wouldn’t be comfortable staying in here without it though; I’d have to go sleep on the roof.”

“Got used to sleeping under the stars?” I asked, releasing the curtains.
“I got used to sleeping with the stars,” she muttered as she struggled with her stockings. “They were my companions, and I couldn’t abandon them. Whether they would notice it or not, I couldn’t,” she paused for a second, pulling adamantly on her stocking.

I walked over and picked her up, setting her on the nearby bed. She gasped when my hands touched her, and she giggled madly as I moved her through the air, a small “oomph” accompanying her landing. The blush had never left her cheeks, and now returned to its brilliance.

I looked at Ditzy and patted the bed beside Luna, and she smiled and nodded. Kicking off her own shoes, she joined us over at the bed, then nervously took Luna’s hand. Smiling, I ran my hand up Luna’s leg, to the top of her stocking.

“You couldn’t what, Luna?” I asked, smiling gently as I hooked my finger under the offending article of clothing. She gasped and shivered as I slowly pulled the sock over the knee, down her calf.

“I-I couldn’t stand to sleep without th-them. I tri-tried when I first got back, but I coul-couldn’t get any good sleep.”

I noticed that she only seemed to stutter when someone was touching her. Still smiling slightly, I ran my hand from the top of her foot, over her calf, to just over her knee. Beneath her dress I saw my 
hand traveling, just barely moving the loose fabric.

Instead of stuttering with her words, her breath itself seemed to flicker. Noting the tension in her shoulders and neck, I removed my hand and took hers. “Luna if you’re not ready for this…?”

“I’m ready,” she said quickly, then smiled shyly. “I’m just nervous. In dreams I can be whoever I wish, act however I want. But I’ve never… had a flesh partner…” She gazed up into her ceiling, shining with artificial starlight. “I’ve don’t even remember giving any thought to my… sexuality before I got back…”

I lifted a hand to her cheek, stroking it softly. “We’re here for you too, Luna.” I looked over to Ditzy, who was nodding slowly. “While this will hopefully be just as fun for us, this is also for you. We will do as you wish, as quickly as you wish.” I smiled, although it felt more like a smirk. “Or, I will, at least,” I said teasingly, running my free hand over Ditzy’s thigh.

This earned me a giggle and a smile, as well as a finally relaxed princess. She looked between us, than pulled Ditzy and me a little closer for a hug.

Or half a hug, since I was still on the floor. Instead of the cheek touch Ditzy received, I got a faceful of cleavage. Giggling, Ditzy pushed her face away from Luna’s and pushed my head away.

“We were having a meaningful moment, pervert,” she joked, laughing.

“Luna’s fault,” I pointed out. “Besides, where were you a few hours ago?” I tapped my chin, pretending to think. “Oh, right, same spot. Followed by Celestia, if I remember right?”

“Almost needed a snorkel in there,” she chimed brightly. Luna snorted, and we all leapt off the cliff into a sea of laughter.

After we stopped and the tears had been wiped away, we sat where we were and just smiled at each other. Then Luna lifted a foot in my direction, twirling her ankle in the air. “You know, I’ve still one sock on…”

Smiling, I lifted my hand to grasp her heel and ankle, cupping her foot and running my remaining hand over her calf. She still shivered slightly under my touch, but instead of hitching, her breathing slowed. Crossing her legs, Ditzy sat behind Luna and slowly stroked her bare arms and shoulders.

Sighing a little, Luna sagged back slowly, until Ditzy was half supporting her weight. Her arms rested on either side of Ditzy’s lap, and her head rested in the hollow that lay between Ditzy’s shoulder and her neck. She was staring dreamily up into the painted sky, smiling.

“It’s like,” she started suddenly, speaking softly while I removed her sock, “…Like a warm river massage, if that makes sense. Like a warm river, pushing over your sorest muscles.”
Running my hands over her bare legs, watching Ditzy run her own hands from Luna’s wrists to her collarbone, I thought I understood what she was talking about.

“Well,” Ditzy said softly, into Luna’s hair, “I think a river would cover a little more ground…”
When she touched Luna’s collar again, instead of running her hands back down Luna’s arms, she slowly traveled straight down, hands skirting over the front of Luna’s dress.

………………………………………………….


A teapot steamed in the morning air, as did our cups. Warm bread and pastry sat in baskets lined with white cloth, and the entire thing sat on a wire and glass table littered with condiments and additives.

Luna sipped at her cup, filled with amber tea and a drip of honey. A soft, and very short, terry cloth robe covered her smooth skin, bare flesh prickled with goose bumps from the cold air. She didn’t seem to mind at all though; we just enjoyed the sunrise together.

“You’re sure no one can see this terrace?” I asked again, the first since we’d exited the doors from Luna’s room. I fidgeted in my seat, nudity covered only by a pair of shorts.

“No one but the woman sleeping in the bed behind us,” She said, smiling. “And I get the feeling she’d only enjoy the view.”

“It’s very nice of you to show off so much for her,” I remarked, motioning to the mostly backless chair she’d faced away from the doors. “Moons do seem to suit you well.”
She laughed lightly, setting her cup down. “Oh yes, queen of the moons I am. That’s the only thing the people below my patio see, surely.”

“Who is under us, to deserve our princess’s blessings so freely?” I asked. I didn’t think she was being serious until she smirked and answered.

“Celestia, of course.”

Struggling to keep my face straight, I set down my own cup and joined her gaze to the horizon, where the sun was starting to break over the horizon.

“Do you still get jealous of Celestia’s sun?” I asked her, surprising both of us. She took the last of her tea slowly, then refilled from our pot before answering.

“Of course I am. But, I’m not angry about it anymore. I think.” She gazed upwards, at the last of the stars still speckling what was left of the now orange night. “I feel much lighter now, than I ever did before.”

Chuckling, she used an unoccupied hand to push at her chest. “Even with these infernal things getting in my way.”

“Were you so much younger when you were sent away?” I asked. I’d thought she was fully grown when she ruled with Celestia one thousand years ago, and that surely would’ve meant she was fully… developed at the time.

“Something about being used to the moon’s atmosphere, and coming back to this one,” she told me, stirring in her honey. “The doctors who examined me after I got back, and Twi’s group helped me get rid of Nightmare Moon, told me that I was quite lucky that none of the rest of my body was reacting the same way.

“You remember when I came back, I was prepubescent again?” I nodded. “They say that also had something to do with it. Hormones in overdrive to return my body to its previous state and all that, but they didn’t quite stop when they should have, or they were more potent than usual, or something.”

“Were you not like this when you were up there?”

“No, I was mostly in an artificial stasis. I could only wait for so long without driving myself insane, so I put myself to sleep after I’d done as much exploring as I could. The moon’s really not very interesting, so I was really only awake for a few years before I went into stasis, and a few months after was when the spell broke.”

I picked up one of the sandwiches that had come with the tea, inspecting it closely before popping it into my mouth.

“Why did you wake up?” I asked, wiping the crumbs on the side of my thigh.

“You know I can travel through dreams. Celly knows how to travel into mine. And before you ask, I was indeed traveling through dreams while I was up there. Mostly trying to help free my name from Nightmare Moon, trying to help people forget her and her deeds.”

I nodded, smiling at her knowledge of my mind. I drained my cup, setting it down unfilled. “Have you spoke about all of this with Celestia too?”

“And a few others,” she said absently, looking down into the castle grounds. Glancing over, I saw what looked to be a small flock of dots, all gathered around a slightly bigger one.

“A field trip,” Luna told me. “Scheduled for Monday, but moved up to Sunday to make it a day trip. I dare say you may know some of the children, as they’re all from Ponyville. Scheduled to run through our Labyrinth, then walk around the Marble Fields later. Our statuary collection,” she told me, my face betraying my confusion.

I stood, stretching myself upwards and enjoying the sun on my mostly bare skin. “Speaking of schedules…”

Luna smiled faintly, forlornly. “Stuff to do over the weekend, I suppose?”

“Shopping trips and the like, I assume,” I said, standing behind her and resting a hand on her shoulder. She reached up and squeezed it, still watching the sun rise. “It’s not really anything we’ve planned, honestly. I’m not sure what everyone’s plans are, only that we’re supposed to make a weekend of it.”

“Hmm…” Luna hummed to herself, scratching her chin and staring at the horizon, where the sun had just cleared the ground. She smiled to herself, then stood.

“You know, Spike, I haven’t really gotten around to touring the town again,” Luna said, gazing at the roofs rising outside the castle’s walls. “I don’t have a large amount of things that need to be done today…”

Ditzy stumbled onto the balcony, much less dressed than Luna and I. She moved over to the table we sat at, rubbing her eyes and muttering about how chilly it was. Sitting heavily at the table, she pulled my cup over to her, sipping before frowning and pouring a dollop of honey and milk into the cup.

“Sweetie…” I started, chucking a bit. “Are you feeling a bit… well, cold?”

She nodded sleepily, dipping a lock of hair into the cup. Leaning forward, I squeezed at the hair with a napkin, then gently took the cup away.

“C’mon then, let’s go get you some clothes,” Luna said, standing from the table. “A few of my shirts may well do for you.” She ushered Ditzy from the table, and I let my hand run over Ditzy’s ribs and side as she passed.

I sipped at Luna’s tea, mine ruined, and enjoyed the sun as I waited for the two women to return. After a few minutes, Ditzy stepped back onto the balcony, hair brushed and pulled back into a ponytail now. She wore a largish, baggy purple shirt over a pair of tight jeans. Luna followed her, her hair pulled back in the same fashion. She had her own blue top, halfway between too long to be a shirt, but too short to be a dress. Under this she’d pulled on a pair of soft, white cotton pants. Both remained barefoot.

Ditzy retook her chair, looking slightly more awake with a damp face and actual clothes. Sipping at my tea, she looked off into the distance as Luna took her own chair. Reaching over I took first one of Ditzy’s, then one of Luna’s hands. They smiled warmly, and reached across the table and grasped each other’s hands for a minute.

Letting go, we all reached for a pastry and ate slowly, returning to the discussion Luna and I had been in the middle of.

“So Luna, I believe you were trying to hint something before Nudie showed up?” I asked, teasing ignored for another piece of breakfast.

She sighed, smiling. “Spike, would it be trouble for me to tag along? It’s been awhile since the last time I walked the city, and honestly, it sounds much more fun than sitting in the castle pretending to work all day.”

“I dunno Luna,” I said solemnly. “I mean, this was supposed to be a lover’s weekend, not just…” I was interrupted by a muffin flecked with blueberries, shoved rudely into my face.

“We’d be honored, Luna,” Ditzy said, over my theatrical choking. “Not only if you joined us for our visit to the city, but…” She blushed and trailed off.

Swallowing the food in my face, I nodded, reaching for Luna’s cup again. Inches from my fingertips, Luna picked it up and drained it, smiling as I whimpered pitifully.

Rolling her eyes, Ditzy pushed my own cup back my way, then the teapot when I made a face at the overly light tea.

Drinking deeply, I breathed in as loud as I could, then sighed heavily. “What she said,” I croaked through the wet crumbs in my throat.

Luna’s giggled subsided, and she once again lifted from her chair, giving both me and Ditzy a large hug.

“Well, if we’re all done with breakfast then, let’s see if Twilight and Rarity are awake yet,” Luna proclaimed as she waved a hand over the table, dismissing the food. “A nice and early start is essential for a full day, after all,” she giggled as she took Ditzy’s hand and flounced through the balcony doors.

“Ladies?” I called after them. “Maybe I could get some clothes first?”

……………………………………………

Twilight peeked through the door when the three of us knocked, me the only one dressed in the clothes we’d worn last night, now wrinkly from a night on the floor. She opened the door the rest of the way when she saw who it was, dressed in wet hair and another robe, this one well past the knees of the wearer.

Seated at our old meal table, Rarity wore exactly the same outfit, pulling her robe neck more closed as Twilight closed the door. Breakfast was still set out, and Rarity was in the middle of a plate of eggs.

“I suppose that means you two aren’t ready to get out yet,” Luna asked through an affected pout.

“Of course not Luna,” I said, passing into a nearby room. “Look at their hair; they’ve been a bit busy this morning.” I looked back into Twilight’s red face. “Showering and whatnot.”

Shutting the door, I grinned as I looked around what used to be my room. Slightly smaller than the room Twilight occupied at the library, it held little in the way of furnishings. A bed with a table next to it. Small bookshelf next to the closet, now empty. Lacy, gently wafting curtains over the window.
Sliding open the closet door, I took out some of my older clothes, looking them over and trying to decide if I’d rather wear what I had on now, or some of these older items.

Picking out a shirt that seemed okay and a pair of jeans, I swapped them and the clothes I had been wearing. Snagging a pair of shoes, I rejoined the rest of our company in the living room, where everyone had taken a seat, and the new couple had regained normal clothes.

Twilight had apparently dressed Rarity; the seamstress wore a plain white shirt with brown pants, and was looking mortified at being caught in the wooly, argyle brown and green vest over the shirt.
“But Rarity, it’s much too cold to just go around in that thin shirt,” Twilight groused, large purple and green baggy sweater on over blue jeans. “If you don’t wear that, you’ll have to look through my sweaters again.”

Luna and Ditzy looked on from the couch, apparently thoroughly entertained.

“C’mon Spike,” Luna called, gesturing me over. “I think it’s about to get good.”
Rarity shuddered slightly and stopped pulling at the vest. “No, no,” she muttered. “I’ll… stick with this, thank you dear.” She smiled at Twilight, awkwardly.

Twilight looked into Rarity’s eyes, sadly. “I’m sure Luna could find something better you could wear, if you want to go up to her room…”

Rarity was already shaking her head. “Maybe, but it…” She blushed, looking around the room before returning to Twilight. “It wouldn’t smell like you…”

Twilight joined her blush, then walked over to hug Rarity. Pulling away slightly, Twilight looked abashedly at the vest. “This old thing is kind of ugly, huh?” she asked, smiling.

“No, I’m just picky,” Rarity grinned.

“I don’t have anything much better than Twilight’s wardrobe,” Luna said, startling the two. “But you’re welcome to look, if you wish.”

Rarity looked over the extremely comfortably dressed women on the couch, then giggled and shook her head.

“No, thank you Luna, but I think I’ll just get over it,” she told the Princess. “Besides, this really is quite warm, and very cozy…”

Twilight giggled and kissed her lightly, then tugged her back into the hug.

“So, are we finishing breakfast, or leaving?” I asked from the table, croissant halfway in my face.
I had to run from the room, a hail of assorted items escorting me out.

………………………………………………

The garden on the side of the castle we left from was full of minor nobles, walking through the greenery and apparently in meetings of varying importance; we even came across a man wailing and gesticulating heavily at a darkly tanned man dressed in scaly leathers, the man returning many of the gestures and grunting a thick stream of base words.

Some stopped to greet Luna, a few openly gawking at her clothes and company. Giving only ‘hello’s and waves, she ignored everything else as she walked us through the garden and out into Canterlot proper.

Out in the square full of stalls, directly outside the wall, Luna giggled and turned towards one of the stalls, looking at the foreign wares. “I’ve never gotten out of the castle that easily. Maybe I need to wear these clothes more often…”

“Maybe you should always bring a guard with you,” I deadpanned, looking over several pretty, but worthless crystals.
“Oh, I forgot you were trained,” Luna said, turning away from the market and starting down the street it was situated on. Tugging on Twilight’s sleeve, we followed the Princess away, into the city proper.

“Any ideas for where to go?” Ditzy asked, looking at the shops running the sides of the street.

“Depends,” I said, eyeing a wand covered in intricate silver wire displayed in a window. “Shopping, tourist things, foods… what are we looking for?”

“I could do with some exotic materials, if we could swing by a clothing store?” Rarity said, looking over a tiara in the same window. “Maybe something shimmery?”

Twilight glanced over the window, eyes sliding over the precious metals and to the other side of the street, where Luna and Ditzy were looking into a children’s clothing store. “I would like to find a store to buy stock for the library. The selection is fair, but the more diverse the selection, the more readers... We have a depressing number of books on farming and knitting…”

Watching the other two women go into the store alone, I shifted nervously. “You two okay on your own? I’m sure you already have a store in mind, and you can show Rarity where the clothes stores are…”

Twilight had already taken hold of Rarity’s hand, and was waving at me over her shoulder. Feeling distinctly ditched, I laughed to myself and ducked into the store across the way.

Ditzy had somehow acquired a hand basket full of clothes already, looking over little girl’s dresses. Pulling out the item on top, I gazed at the bright yellow dress covered in red flower print.

“Ditzy?” I said, grabbing her attention. “I really hope these aren’t for Dinky. I’m not entirely sure, but I don’t know that she would like this one.” Reaching in, I pulled out several other offending items. “Or this one, this one, oh lord where’d you even get this…”

Taking them back, Ditzy looked them over before sighing, stuffing them back onto the rack.
Reaching in, I found a stormy gray piece with cornflower accents. Ditzy reached for it, but I shook my head.

“This one’s good. I think. I like it,” I offered, shrugging. “Luna, what do you…?”

Looking around, I saw her over at the section apparently for depressed teenage girls, looking meditatively at a black shirt with silver chains hanging all over it, red gashes striking seemingly randomly across the fabric. It was very small, and exceedingly low cut.

Walking over, I gently took the item from her and guided her back over to Ditzy, who had tripled the amount of clothes in her basket. Looking at the six items, we all agreed that, though cute, they were not too cute. Pushing the both of them, I paid the clerk and gladly exited the store, Luna still looking forlornly at the small forest of black clothes.

Walking further down the street, it took two hours and seven stores to see Twilight again, holding a small book and pointing a store out to Rarity, who was already bogged down with flat, thick boxes.

Waving them down, we convened in front of a small café. Sitting at one of the outside tables, we set all of our packages down in a sixth seat, while we filled the rest of the table.

“Everyone doing alright?” I asked the table. “No bankruptcy, back strain, or pickpockets?”

Twilight happily showed me the ordering catalogue she was holding, pointing out the bulk and rare item sales. Rarity had her own, much smaller catalogue, along with her special purchases.

“Some rare cloths, some… specialty materials,” was all she would say, a small wink accompanying her words. “Nothing to talk about, in polite company.”

Waving away our looks, she sipped at the coffee she’d ordered. Luna leaned over, and stage whispered, “Sex stuff, right?”

Rarity sputtered into her cup, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard Luna. Satisfied, her eyes darted around as she nodded. “Certain customers have offered me much more than reasonable commissions, and I wouldn’t pass up on designing something fashionable just because it was… for private purpose.”

Twilight blushed lightly, then whispered into Rarity’s ear. Rarity flushed red and slapped her arm lightly, frowning severely at Twilight while the librarian giggled.

Ditzy endeavored to pull out the clothes bought for Dinky, and hastily asked Rarity and Twilight’s opinions.

While they dissolved into their own conversation, I looked over at Luna, sitting and smiling around the table. She was absentmindedly playing with a silver bracelet Ditzy had picked out, three charms dangling off of it. One was a round goldstone, one an emerald the rough shape of a kite, and the last a blue and purple fire opal, shaped into an oval. I reached down and touched my own bracelet, the shrunken sword swinging heavily on my wrist.

Looking around the table, I sighed and leaned back in my chair, sipping a cooled soda drink. Someone touched my hand, and I absentmindedly wrapped my fingers around hers, feeling Ditzy’s thin fingers and smooth nails.

Looking over, I saw her smiling into her teacup… that both hands were on. Looking over further, I followed an arm back up into a familiar face, one grinning widely at me.

“Hullo, Spike,” Spitfire said, shaking my hand awkwardly. Blushing, I shook back and quickly let go, swatting at Twilight under the table. She immediately stopped laughing and glared at me. A second later a small foot impacted the bottom of my chair, and she winced heavily.

“Hello Spitfire,” I’d said while this was going on. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, is there something wrong with the Wonderbolts?”

“Day off,” she said, pulling a chair over from another table. “How about you bunch? Taking a weekend?” She looked over the table again, taking in Twilight and Rarity, staring at Luna almost suspiciously. “Seems a little lady-heavy there Spike. Too much testosterone, or estrogen?”

I snorted and looked pointedly at her chest. “Speaking of testosterone, how’s your dating scene these days?”

She scowled for a second, before her face broke into a wide grin with a chuckle. “I guess that shows me. My dating life is fine, though as always it would be better if the dogs would leave me be.” Twilight’s jaw had tightened while Rarity and Ditzy’s dropped. Luna merely chuckled, gaining another suspicious look from Spitfire.

“Okay, I know two people here, and you two,” an accusatory finger to Ditzy, then Rarity, “I assume to be a date and a friend. But you,” she pointed to Luna, “Are tickling my familiar nerves. Who’re you, Ms. Fifth wheel?”

I scowled and was about to say something, until Luna smiled. Taking a small breath through her nose, she opened her mouth to speak as she took the hairband from her ponytail.

“AND WHO ARE THOU MORTAL, TO QUESTION ME!?” The Royal Voice spilled forth, a solid torrent of pure noise. Twilight and I had clapped our hands over our date’s ears, Twilight wincing at the aural onslaught. “WE KNOW NOT YOUR FACE, PITIFUL FOOL. THE NEXT TIME OUR PRESENCE IS QUESTIONED, YOU WILL KNOW OUR DUNGEONS FIRSTHAND. NOW, TELL US thy name, if you would please,” Luna finished sweetly.

Spitfire’s hair stood on end, as if that were any different than a minute ago, and her eyes were as wide as her back was straight. “Spitfire, ma’am.”

Luna held her hand out, smiling. “Hello Spitfire. I am Luna, Princess of the Night.”

Slowly, Spitfire took Luna’s hand, shaking it slowly up and down. Slumping hard into her chair, Spitfire regained her grin. “Sorry we’ve never met, Princess,” shook out of her throat. “I guess I’ve been busy with the group. Should’ve made time though, won’t…”

“Shush Spitfire,” Luna said, tone playful. “It’s okay. I’ve heard of the Wonderbolts, I’m sure that a team of that quality needs much practice.”

“No, I mean…” Spitfire looked around the table, and I nodded at her. Reaching up to her neckline, she rubbed between her collarbones, revealing the same sun that shown on the door of the restaurant we’d eaten at last night.

“Darklighter,” Luna said, surprised. “I’d thought I’d met most of them. You must be part of the flight team, then?”

Spitfire smirked. “Leading member, ma’am. Second best flier on the team, best leader they could have.”

Luna nodded, smiling. “I’m glad to have met you. If you like, we were taking a small coffee break from shopping, I can buy you a…”

A piercing whistle sounded from up the street, and a grey haired girl waved at Spitfire.

Grinning, she stood and bowed quickly to Luna. “Thank you ma’am, but I have…” Another loud whistle, and a grinning Spitfire quickly took off towards the young woman.

We watched her go, bemused. I burst into laughter, and Twilight joined me shortly. Twilight took out a large golden coin, tossing it to me. Catching it, I saw Ditzy’s confused look.

“I told her Spitfire was a sub,” I said, and Twilight nodded. Rarity blushed as Luna nodded sagely. Ditzy kept her confused gaze, and I pulled her over to place my lips on her forehead. “Nothing dear. Is everyone rested enough to continue?”

We sat another seven minutes, fiddling with our bags before we paid our tab and set off again. We stuck together this time, hitting the major shopping centers as we traveled through town.

Luna likely bought the least, keeping to only a few things for the rest of us. Twilight easily spent the most, most of it having to be sent back to the library. Rarity might have rivaled her, although it’s hard to be sure, since she kept most of her prices under wraps, and a lot of her purchases went straight to her store.

At the end of the day, we’d bought too much to carry, and hired a carriage to port our stuff and us back to the castle. We all jumbled in, Ditzy on my lap in the four-person carriage. After an embarrassing and bumpy ride back to the castle, we all piled out of the carriage, everyone red-faced and Ditzy fidgeting awkwardly.

After toting all of our stuff off the carriage and into the entryway of the castle, and paying the cabby, we all returned to our rooms for a minute before once again converging in an almost abandoned kitchen, having a small dinner filled with talk of the day’s conquests. Halfway through Celestia showed up, a weary smile on her face as we cooked her a fresh plate and regaled her with our day’s events, including Spitfire and Twilight’s books.

“I know she can be a bit crude, but it’s still rude to Royal Voice at people, Luna,” Celestia chuckled between bites.

“But, she was extremely rude first!” Luna protested, sticking her lip forward and widening her eyes in a magnificent pout.

“Called Luna a fifth wheel,” I confirmed, sipping from my cup. I reached over for a refill as Celestia frowned. “She shaped up once she figured out who Luna was, though.”

Celestia muttered something to herself, then started back on her food. She spoke between bites, filling Luna in on what had transpired during the day courts, and warned her of a certain Unicorn that had been turned away multiple times.

“He’ll probably show up again for you, he’s being a stubborn fool,” Celestia said. “Wants… something about how his neighbor’s farm in encroaching on his own farm, some boundary debate I’ve had with him a hundred times.”

“I’m surprised the guards still allow him through…” Luna growled.

“You know that I’ve made it so that everyone gets a say in anything they need a say in. His neighbor’s never shown up, and the only other person who might have a problem with him is me.” Celestia shrugged.

“Nonetheless…” Luna muttered, cracking her knuckles ominously. After a moment she winced, rubbing her hands gingerly. Celestia laughed and leaned over to hug her sister, then leaned back in her chair.

“I think today’s going to have an early night for me. I’ll see you all in the morning. Goodnight, my dear ones,” she sighed as she stood. Standing, we each gave her a brief hug, Ditzy once again lingering slightly too long, and then she was gone, away to her room.

Peeking into the sky, Luna checked a clock, then shrugged to herself. Pulling a long, slender wand from the air, she pointed it straight up, holding it in front of her chest as she closed her eyes. Glowing for a minute, the wand seemed to hum as Luna’s eyes tightened, screwed up in concentration.

With a sharp breath, Luna’s wand flashed and her eyes opened, a small smile flashing across her face as well.

“With that friends, I’m afraid I must depart,” Luna said, smiling sadly. “With the moon on its way, Night Courts will be starting soon, and I’ll have actual responsibilities again. I’d like a shower first, and I need a change.”

Looking around the table, I took Ditzy’s hand and stood as well. “I think we’d join you Luna. For the walk back to the room!” I said, realizing how that might have sounded. “With Twilight and Rarity in our old quarters, I figured we’d best stay out of the way…”

Luna laughed and nodded, hugging Twilight and Rarity goodnight through their blushes.

“I guess we’ll see you in the morning then, girls,” I said, pecking Twilight’s forehead as I passed her. “See you later.”

Waving, we let the door close as we left the two alone.

“We’re molesting Luna in the shower, right?” Ditzy asked, earning a glance from the ruler in question.

“Of course,” I retorted, receiving my own wide eyes. “I don’t know what else you would have expected,” I said apologetically to her.

“The citizenry conspire against me,” She muttered, wrapping an arm apiece around the both of us. 
“Very well then. We’ll let this one injustice stand.”

Ditzy’s arm met mine as we both wrapped around the waist of the Princess, and we smiled each other as we marched towards Luna’s room.