//------------------------------// // Morning After // Story: Ponyville Gala // by Lunarus Solaris Nexus //------------------------------// It was just after dawn when a series of rapid knocks came at Luna's door. The Princess glanced at the mirror off to her right as she rose from her bed at the center of the room. Her mane was in a mess, not quite tangled but certainly not regal. The knocks continued and Luna called for the one knocking to give her a moment. From the vanity table, she levitated a bright red hair tie. Though not her favorite color, she thought clashed well with her much darker colors. She pulled the majority of her midnight purple mane back and quickly tied it back in a pony tail. Satisfied that she looked somewhat presentable, she trotted over to the door and pulled the handle. The second the door opened she was attacked by two little foals, viciously flying up and hugging her around the neck and pelting her with affection. "Hello little ones!" Luna said being knocked back on her haunches from the onslaught. "Good Morning Princess!" Gale said with glee as the Princess nuzzled both her and Astral. "Good morning to you as well. Could you not wait for your parents to wake you up?" "We wanted to have breakfast with you Auntie." Astral told her as she let them down. She noticed Astral was still holding a plush toy of herself. She was honestly taken back that he still had it. "I bet Dad wouldn't care." "I'm sure he would. But in this case it is better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission." "What's that mean?" Gale asked. "Worry not about it." Luna took notice that Gale was still in her pajamas. "Go get ready for breakfast you two. I will alert your parents of our plans." "Okay Princess!" they say together before running across the hall to their room. Princess Luna made sure they got into their room before finding a quill and ink to pen a message. Even with Rarity's keen insight on things needed in a design, a few things were skipped out on. She had a quill and ink on her vanity, but paper of any kind was lacking. That is except for a couple of napkins that were with her midnight snack of jam doughnuts and wine. One glass, just to unwind a tad after the festivities. She took two napkins and put down a quick note to both sets of parents. Half way done with the note, she figured that perhaps it'd be wise to allow them some time to unwind today as well. She quickly added that she'd look after the children until the afternoon for them, letting them have a day to indulge themselves. As she moved past their doors, she slipped the notes under the doors but left the, untouched. She knew better than to wake ponies on vacation; it was just a matter of respect. Across from the Nexus' door, the children's flew open as Gale tried shoving her way past Astral, still giggling at something said or done in the room. "Come now young ones. Breakfast will be served any minute." Princess Luna said motioning the children to follow her. "Last one down's a rotten phoenix egg!" Astral exclaimed, getting a head start, only to trip at the raised section where Luna and her sister's rooms were. Gale caught up before he could get on his hoofs and passed him with her tongue out. Astral called her a cheater before finally gaining his footing and trying to catch up. Princess Luna began a quick trot to try keep up with the foals. This was going to be along day. "Well that was nice of her." Dust said brushing out her bed head. "Yeah it was." Nexus agreed stepping out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. "Though I'm concerned." "What about? Luna's watched Astral and Gale before. "Never at the same time though. Astral's a hand full and so's Gale from what Ephi's told me." "Well I'm sure she can handle them for one day. After all, it gives us a chance to try out the spa." "Dust I told you, I don't do spas. There isn't much I can do there without something in my legs going haywire." "Why not? Maybe they could file down your horn?" "And why does that matter at all? They don't grow like claws. They get longer with age but eventually just stop." "Well I've heard that it feels nice. It's kind of like a massage. OOO! You could do that too!" "I don't like ponies touching me Dust, you know that." "You hug Princess Luna all the time Lunar. And Astral wouldn't exist if that was true." "There are few ponies I can deal with in my personal space Dust." "Just try it Lunar." "What's the problem with it anyways Colonel?" Hestaria said walk in the open front door. "Not like they're going to try and give you a happy ending." "If they did he wouldn't have to tell them to stop." Ephialtes said following his wife. "Dust would take his pistols and shoot them herself." "I'd honestly let her." Nexus replied. "I just don't like ponies in my space is all. Y'all are really the only exceptions to that." "Y'all? I think this town's rubbin' off on ya." Ephialtes joked. "My mom's from here you prick. She kind of passed down the mannerisms I feel." "Southern hospitality she calls it." Dust commented. "Redneck mentality's what Dad called it." Nexus added with a chuckle. Everypony else chuckled with him. "So what are you going to do with the day?" Dust asked her Husband. "Cause we're going to the spa." "And I'm dragging Ephi along." Hestaria said. "If you're my friend then you'll save me from this." Ephi said. "Sorry man. You're on your own. I've got a few things I need to do anyways." "Like?" Dust asked. "Checking on Raven Wing for one. Maybe see if I can find Aunt June." "You sure you want to see her?" Dust asked putting down the hair brush. "She wasn't exactly happy with you the last time you saw her." "After the whole… Accident with your cosine…" Hestaria started with hesitation. "It's alright Stari. I came to terms with that a long time ago." Nexus said letting out a sigh. "It's been five years and all. She may not have forgiven me but maybe she'll talk to me instead of shout." "Well, good luck then Colonel." the bat pony said offering a slight smile. "I'm sure I'll need it." Feeling confident he was tucked away, Nexus removed the towel around his waist and threw on his Evening Guard Ball Cap. "I'll be off then. See y'all for lunch?" "Yup." Dust said giving her husband a quick peck on the lips. "See you soon Honey." Nexus smiled and made his way out the door. As he walked, he felt a small pit in his stomach from what he'd just said. Yes his Aunt June lived in Ponyville, yes he was ready to try and talk to her, but she wasn't in town this week. Real estate was her business and she was going to Canterlot to finish the papers for a house in Ponyville. His mother was letting her stay with her while she was in town. He was hoping Dust didn't realize she was the one that told him about it. Though after yesterday he was certainly hopeful that she wouldn't. He took the elevator down to the foyer and was quick to find Rarity. She was talking to a few ponies in orange jackets about something that he only caught the jist of. "-and be sure to keep it out of the flower beds this time!" she scolded before waving them off. She turned and greeted Nexus with what he was now assuming her ignore-what-I-was-just doing-I'm-happy-as-can-be! Smile. "Good Morning Senator. Is everything alright? After the tiff Twilight told me about I was worried." "I'm honestly not sure. She's happier this morning and seems to not care or remember the whole thing." "Well perhaps you should be thankful. So speaking of Dust," The two of them began walking out of the main castle gates and into the early morning sun. "I've run out of sapphires but I'm almost done with the chest." Finally some good news. "So when do you think you'll have it done by?" "Somewhere between Thursday and Friday, and that's rushing it Dear." "No need to rush through it. True quality can't be rushed." "Well then… I'm glad to hear it. Oh, and before I forget." Nexus heard her horn light up and saw her levitating a magazine off of a stand they were passing. He didn't get much chance to read the title but he saw a large diamond on the cover. "I was glancing through this to find something interesting and I found this." She flipped through the pages and stopped on a model in an antique style dress and some jewelry. "What'd you think?" "I don't think it's really Dust's style." Nexus said confused. "No, I mean that!" she eagerly pointed to one of the pieces of jewelry on the model. Nexus, now knowing what he was looking for, let out a low whistle as he sized up the accessory. "Those are some big rocks." Nexus said impressed. "I'm guessing it won't be cheap?" "Absolutely not. It is up to you if you wish to get one for her." Nexus sighed, with the hell he caught last night it wouldn't hurt his chances of getting out of the dog house. And he wasn't exactly short on bits. "Yeah. I think she'd love it." "Good, because I already ordered two!" "Two? Really?" "What? It's a fabulous piece and I'd be insane not to get one for myself!" "I guess I get it." A thought suddenly crosses Nexus' mind while looking at the gems. "Actually, think I could make a modification?" "What kind of modifications?" Rarity asked tilting her head as the idea started taking shape in Nexus' mind. Across town, the Moon Princess was at play with two foals in a park outside the town itself but far from the limits. The park was connected to a one room school house, out in the current season. Princess Luna ran from Astral Wind in a game of tag while Night n' Gale hung from the monkey bars to avoid being tagged as the Princess ran under her. Gale dropped down and ran in the other direction and Luna came to a stop. Astral tagged her giggling and ran away as she tried to catch her breath. The colt looked back and saw his 'Aunt' laying on her belly panting. He cautiously moved over to make sure he didn't get tagged while still concerned for the Princess. "Auntie Luna?" he said. Princess Luna took a breath and steadied her pounding heart. "I'm…. I'm fine. The two of you are hard to keep up with. I am over a thousand years old after all." "Do you wanna keep playing Princess Woona?" Gale asked. "I… *sigh* I will be ready in a few minutes. Why don't you two tell me what you did last night. Did Ms. Pie give you a good time?" "Yeah she did!" Gale said happily. "We went on the bouncy house, the upside down mirror house and even your castle!" "It was not just my old castle. Tia lived there with me too." "Yeah, it wasn't very scary though." Astral added. "Scary? Why would it be scary?" the Princess asked her 'nephew' "It's what Zecora was doing." "Oh, I had forgotten about that. It was never meant to be scary. Our castle was made by The Great Mother as a place for us to play and live. When she left the physical world it became more. But there is much you have not seen on that tour." "Can you show us Auntie Luna!?" Astral said putting his hoofs on Luna to try and get face to face with her. "Yeah will you!?" Gale exclaimed getting on her other side. Well it couldn't hurt could it? "Okay. But if you would please give me some more time to catch my breath before I fly you there?" "Okay Princess." Gale said giving her a hug. "Yes Auntie." Astral replied slightly disappointed. "Well let's not stop here. What else did you do last night with Ms. Pie?"