You sit in the garden of Canterlot Castle with Luna, smiling softly. The garden’s grand fountain centerpiece gushes majestically before you. A moderate breeze rustles the leaves of the foliage and cools you off.
You sigh contentedly.
Luna turns her head to face you. She smiles, and you smile back. “Thou sleepest quite a long time. Awake, and rise that you may join me in the breaking of fast.”
Your mind feels a little groggy. “Wha…what?”
“The day is past! It is once again the night,” Luna continues. “Awake and come to the refectory.”
Your head shoots up and you find yourself alone in Luna’s bedroom.
You slowly get up and stumble down the long hallway to the dining hall. It had been about ten days since you began your new schedule as Luna’s snuggling…assistant, and you were still very unused to a foreign actor in your dreams. In fact, it made you somewhat uncomfortable. There are some things in your head which you don’t want to be misconstrued.
You open the doors to the grandiose, large hall where the meals are served and pass two guards, who only show a passing interest in you as you enter. While you weren’t certain that they knew exactly why the Princess kept you around, her clear orders to treat you as an honored public servant gave you free reign in the castle, and an occasional nod or grunt of recognition from a passing night guard.
You arrive at the far end of the table, and sit on Luna’s left. Seated at the head, she gnaws at what you’ve learned is her favorite breakfast: mixed vegetables and apples, with an accompaniment of the classically medieval beer cheese soup. She raises her head to greet you, her eyes shimmering and a grin on her muzzle.
“Good Evening,” she begins. “I trust thou hast rested contentfully.”
“I have, Princess,” you reply as you take a few small pastries from a platter. “And you?”
“Oh, like never before. Verily, dear compatriot, the plan to entice you into our service was a great one.”
Before you can reply, you feel something on your leg. You look down to see a fairly large possum scaling its way up; you promptly freak out, standing up and launching the possum in the air.
Luna catches it, and brings it into a warm nuzzle. “There thou art!”
You breathe heavily before crying out, “WHAT IS THAT?”
“This,” Luna replies, slightly peeved, “is our royal pet companion, Tiberius Flavius Artemisius Imperatus. Thou may call him ‘Tibbles’ for short, if thou willst.”
You didn’t know Luna had a pet, but seeing him aft very friendly toward Luna helps you regain your confidence, and you sit again. “I think I’ll just call him Tiberius.”
Luna chuckes and places the Latin ‘Emperor’ on the table. He scampers over to you, and you give him a quick pet.
“Busy day today, Princess?”
Luna groans. “So very much to do in so little time! We certainly cannot handle the work for long.” She turns her attention to Tiberius briefly. “Fly, Tibbles, we must finish our feasting.”
Tiberius scampers off to some unknown locale, unnerving one of the guards at the door.
You begin to speak. “Luna, have you ever perhaps considered just taking a day off?”
Luna cocks her head. “A ‘Day Off’? Of what speakest thou?”
“A day when you don’t work.”
Luna jumps to her hooves. “We can simply declare this ‘Day of Off’ at any time?”
You nod, but before you can open your mouth to expound upon the dangers of abusing this ability and the importance of a functioning government in a social contract-based society, Luna is already dragging you down the hallway back towards her room.
“Oh what joy!” Luna exclaims. “Guard, we are taking a day of off. Please inform our scheduling wench!”
“We shall partake in the video games!” Luna announces, her royal attire discarded, a hoodie donned, and her flowing mane tied back into a pony tail. Turns out, despite despising most aspects of modern culture present upon her return, she quite enjoys video games. “We command thou to snuggle us as we begin,” comes the next proclamation, as she promptly and unceremoniously flings herself on top of you.
“Uh…Princess?” You choke out. “Can we try a better position?”
Luna rolls her eyes. “Such an abrupt change is not appreciated, but very well.”
You squirm your way out from under her and sit up with your back against the backboard. You wrap your forehooves around her midsection and pull her towards you, your back legs resting on either side of her. You take the time to run a hoof through her mane and rub behind one of hear ears.
“Oh!” Luna exclaims, “This is a most superior position! We enjoy the feeling of safety, thank y-“ Luna is cut off by a camper in her video game. “WILLST THOU ENGAGE IN COMBAT WITH THINE PRINCESS, WHELP? DOST THOU EVEN PARTAKE IN THE RAISING OF WEIGHTS TO DEVELOP ENDURANCE?”
A few hours passed and the Princess had tired herself out, and you two had decided to take a stroll in the real-world version of the castle gardens. You two walked slowly, sides touching and chatting warmly.
“Wow, Princess,” you let out a hearty laugh, “I had no idea being in charge during the night could be so interesting!”
Luna chuckles, “Indeed,” she replies, before letting out a soft sight.
“Something the matter?”
“Well, it seems that We are no longer given the responsibilities that We once were.”
“You mean….since….” You knew you had to tread carefully around Luna on this subject, “You came back to rule again?”
Luna stops walking, her face scrunched up in confusion. “We do not think so. Our sister was more than happy to incorporate us in the ruling of the nation with all haste upon our…return.” Luna winces. “We knew nopony, and yet were given a full share of trust as if we had never left. Alas, as time goes on, and we have made acquaintances of many and friends of several…We have been receiving less and less to do. We have never even presided over court! We suppose it is not unreasonable; We do not understand much of what occurs in this era.”
“Really, Princess? I thought you said you had much to do today?”
Luna scoffs. “There are always dangerous beasts to be vanquished and laws to enforce when the sun descends. We do not, however, know how to rule; it is perhaps best to leave those things to Celestia, although we would be speaking untruth if we were to say we do not yearn for the days in which our words carried authority.”
You detect an emotion in her voice as she says this. It is not melancholy, but closer to resignation. Whatever it is, you don’t like it. “I can teach you how to rule again, Luna.”
She looks at you with shimmering, skeptical eyes. “And why dost thou believe thou canst instruct me, plebian?”
You smile, “Because I can vanquish a princess!”
You tackle Luna to the ground and violently tickle her. She laughs boisterously as your hooves pinch her joints and rub her belly. “HAHAHAHAAAAA…DE…HA…DESIST KNAVE!”
After a few minutes of a powerful tickle war, Luna finally relents the punishment she dished out on you after gaining the upper hoof and collapses on the ground next to you. You look up at the huge, softly glowing moon through the branches of the garden’s willow tree as fireflies dance above your head.
“Canst thou truly teach us to rule again?” Luna whispers to you.
“What kind of a servant would I be if I couldn’t?”
You aren’t looking at her face, but you know a grin pops up as Luna continues, “Even though thou cannot vanquish a weak and vulnerable princess in a conflict of tickles?” She lets out a few not so subtle snickers after completing her question.
You ignore her. “We’re going to make Celestia’s wisdom pale in comparison to yours, Luna. First things first, I should get you brushed up on current events. Have you heard about the economic conflict between the agricultural sector and the confectionary market?”
“We have heard rumblings of discontent among the peons, but know no further than this.”
“It’s a classic conflict between land-based economic producers and specialized firms. How much do you know about free-market labor theory?”
Luna chuckles derisively. “We know much more than thou! In the past, we employed thousands of serfs to tend our vassalage!”
Your heart sinks in your chest. You forgot that Luna hails from a feudal society and has no knowledge of modern economics or comparative government.
“We also coined our own currency, with the moon present upon both sides. When we needed more, we simply made more! When one makes the money, they can continue to do so without any negative repercussions!”
This may take a while.
Golden beams of sunlight filter in through the grand hall of Canterlot castle and noble and rich ponies clad in all manner of beautiful and complex clothing awaited the opening of the daily court. Guards stood at full attention at all entrances to the hall. The banner of the two sisters swayed lightly in the natural air current of the room.
In the foyer beyond, you stand next to Princess Luna. “Are you ready?”
Luna turns to you and flashes a smile. She’s become so much more confident under your tutelage in the past several days, and you both know that she’s prepared for what is ahead.
From the next room, you hear a Revaille and a courier announce, “Presenting, the most majestic Princess Celestia of Equestria!” The hoof-pounding and cheers that follow can be heard without issue, even through the thick wooden doors. “I wish you all a good morning,” you hear Celestia say, “and I am prepared to take your petitions.”
In front of your door, more trumpets sound. Luna draws herself up straight. A guard announces, “Now entering, her Highness, Princess Luna of Equestria!”
Dead silence reigns as Luna throws open the doors and struts confidently into the court. You follow behind her, next to the captain of the night guard.
Every pair of eyes in the room follows your party as it progresses into the chamber. You even catch a glimpse of the normally stoic Celestia, with her jaw completely agape.
As you and the night captain make your way to the special seats normally delegated to the courtiers and advisors of Princess Celestia, Luna stands before the court on the stage. With a polished, practiced modern vernacular, she explains her presence. “Under the provisions of the Marena Carta, I hereby assert my delegated right to sit in full judgment and ruling at the day court of Equestria, alongside her Highness Celestia.”
Another second or two passes before the crowd present absolutely erupts in thunderous applause. Luna beams as she beings taking bows and addressing nearby subjects.
Princess Celestia finally recovers during Luna’s celebration and fanfare and calls over her Chancellor, Quantitative Easing. “Who is that pony?” she asks her advisor, pointing directly at you.
“I am not sure, Princess. I haven’t seen him before.”
“Please find out who he is,” Celestia commands cooly. “I should like to speak with him.”