//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14 
// Story: Normal Life 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

Smiling, I took a sip from the sweet wine before putting the glass back down. “You know, we really should do this again sometime. The normal place is quite nice, but I rather like this one.” I said and took in the restaurant.

It wasn't the best place in town, but I had done my research. It was pretty nice, just under the line where you needed months of wait to get a reservation. A week in advance had been more than enough.

The food had been great as well, if in rather small portions. Why was it that you paid more for less food?

Seriously, we would probably need to take a tour past the kitchen when we got back for a bit of a late night snack. Which was fun in and of itself.

“It is.” Luna agreed from across the small table. I had managed to get her to tone it down a bit. I mean, she was still model-level hot, but normal model-level attractive, not literally godlike unlike her previous attempt at looking like a unicorn.

I, on the other hand, was almost identical, just under a illusion. My coat had taken on more of a grey color and my mark was now a metal ring. I'm still not entirely sure why Luna picked that one, but she just grinned and said I would find out at a later time.

Not entirely sure what she meant with that.

Raising a hoof, I called down the waitress for the bill before turning back to Luna. “So, Miss Starfall, what would you like to do next? There is a play at the theater. I think it is a classic of some sort so we probably haven't both seen it yet. Otherwise, we could take a walk through the park.”

Luna smiled and tilted her head in thought. “Perhaps a stroll through the park would be nice. Luna's moon will be full tonight and I understand that the stars are going to be extra sparkling.”

I grinned at that. “You don't say. What a lucky coincidence.”

“It is indeed.”

“The check, Miss.” The waitress said as she deposited it on the table. “I hope that you have enjoyed your evening?”

Luna smiled. “We have indeed, thank you.” she said and the waitress moved off with a smile as Luna checked the bill.

“Starfall, if I may?” I said and reached to take it with my magic but she resisted.

“You may not. I will cover the cost of our dinner.”

The hell you are.

“It is tradition that the guy pay-”

“Everything I have read of the subject say that the mare should...”

We both blinked at each other before Luna chuckled. “Cultural difference?”

I nodded. “It seems that way.” before I raised an eyebrow. “...Take turns?”

She seemed to consider it before she nodded. “Very well. I will start.” she said and pulled a small pouch of bits from her dress.

...Not entirely sure where she hid that.

Leaving the restaurant a couple of minutes later, we started down the street and I shrugged, adjusting my suit jacket.

Actually getting dressed now was a bit strange after so long without any clothes. Felt odd. Still, it had started to get chilly, especially in the evenings so I was rather thankful for the extra protection. I couldn't wait for my coat to get thicker when winter started proper.

Fuck cold.

I glanced aside at my date as we slowly walked along the street. She looked completely unbothered by the cool wind even in her thin dress.

Even looking like a unicorn, she wasn't really one. It could be a subzero snowstorm and she wouldn't bat an eye.

“You know...” I said as we entered the dark park, glancing around that nobody was in hearing range. “I don't think I ever asked exactly what makes your mane move normally.”

Luna blinked at me and then smiled. “It is actually quite simple. Would you like to make a guess?” she asked as she slowed down to smell at a flower bed before turning back to me.

I frowned in thought and pawed at the paved path in thought. “Well... you and your sister are the only ones who have it. Not... the third one.” I answered, keeping things as generic as I could in case somepony overheard us. “So not something inherent to the special subspecies. Unless you and your sister are different from the third one?”

“We are not. Simply different aspects.” Luna clarified, watching me with a faint smile.

“Hmm.” I slowly said as I frowned in thought. “When you returned, it was different. It changed to it's current state over months.”

“It did.”

We slowly moved through the park as I mulled over that little problem. “Twilight Sparkle is magically powerful. How would she rate compared to yourself?”

Luna looked thoughtful. “Without the elements, she might equal perhaps a third of my power. But she is not yet fully grown and not yet...” she said before she frowned, "As she is currently, she is likely to end up with half the magical energy that I have when she reach her full potential.”

I nodded and made up my mind. “The effect on your mane is a power release mechanism. A safe way to burn off excess magic.”

That earned me a nuzzle in reward as she smiled. “A oversimplification, but essentially, yes. We expect Cadence will need to use the same kind of magical release during the next hundred or so years as she comes fully into her power. It is not strictly necessary, but it does make things easier in the long run.”

Feeling rather pleased about figuring it out, I nuzzled her back. “Cool. Now you just need to tell me how you almost always manage to keep it from getting in the way.”

That got an amused snort from her. “Not as difficult as you think. I simply...”

There was a rustle and an earth pony burst out of the brushes in front of us, a knife in his hoof, a scarf tied over his face and a hat pulled down over his head. He was wearing both jacket and pants, covering his mark as well.

“Give me the money!” he growled at us.

Luna and I just froze and stared at him in surprise before I blinked and grinned, charging up a shield spell so I could cast it at a moment's notice. “Seriously? You have got to be the unluckiest guy in Equestria. You really should just put that knife down.” I said and carefully shifted a bit closer to Luna, keeping him in my field of vision as I did my best to glance around.

Distraction for a bigger ambush?

“I mean it!” He threatened. “Give it to me or the mare ge...”

There was a faint and quickly growing buzzing sound before Skitter hit him from the side like a changeling-sized wrecking ball.

The next second she was joined by five other night guards who piled onto the would-be robber and I took a step back in surprise. I knew Skitter had been following us, I spotted her once earlier and I had suspected there were more guards keeping a eye on us, but I didn't think there were that many.

“...Told you.” I finally said, letting go of the magic I had been gathering.