//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: A Bartender's moon // by The Lutece twins //------------------------------// Luna sniffles, not knowing to the fact she's changed back. Joe looks at her with worry. "Um, Luna?" He asked. Luna looks up at him and nuzzles his cheek. "Yes?" She asked. "You, um... turned back into a pony." He pointed out. Luna gasps and looks at herself. "Oh...who's gonna care anyway?" She asked. She smiles and Joe. "I don't care unless you're here with me." She said as she lays her head on his chest. "Um, Luna, if people see you while you're a pony, their going to call the police, who will then get the government, who will come an take you away from me." He added. "What do you mean take me from you? Sound kinda like you like me...more than a friend." she winks her eye at him and pecks his cheek. Joe blushes. "Th-that's not what I mean, I mean that they will take you away from me for good and probably find a way on how you're alive." He said. "I know what you meant, Joe." She giggles and nuzzles him some more. "Could you, turn back into a human so that no trouble can happen?" He asked. Luna sighs and turns back. "Fine. I hate this..." She grumbled. "I know, how about you turn back when we get home." He said. "I wish I could go home..." She sniffed, looking at the shirt. "I wish everything would just go back to normal...I wish i wasn't so selfish before I became Nightmare Moon and maybe I might have never changed...I wish so many wishes I can't fix..." She sniffed. Joe pulls Luna into a hug. Luna smiles a bit, hugging back with a blush as her tail begins to wag. Joe looks over at Chris. "We should probably put him in a chair, and probably have an ice pack for his head." He said. "Maybe in a little bit, I'm snuggling." She said as she nuzzles Joes chest and smiles, wrapping her arms around his neck. Joe smiles. "Okay." He said. Luna wraps her tail around his legs. "You're the first friend I have had in so many years, Joe...I...I like you..a lot." She said, blushing and burying her face into his chest. Joe is somewhat surprised and blushes slightly. "I... I like you too, Luna." He said. Luna sighs and pulls away. "But it's wrong to fall in...like another species that way..." she turns away and looks down. "Why would you even like a monster like me anyway..." she sighs, still gazing at the shirt. "You're not a monster, Luna. You're a person, or in this case, pony who is in dire needs of a friend." Joe said. "But I am a monster...I...can we just go...home...Joe... " She sniffed, gripping his jacket tightly. Joe nods. "Let me just fill the car up and then we will go." He said. Chris mumbles and gets up. "What happened?" He asked. "Okay." Luna said. Joe notices that Chris is awake. "Hey man, you alright?" He asked. Chris sees Luna and rubs his eyes. "Woah..." he said. "I'll...just be in the...the car..." Luna said. Joe nods at Luna. "Okay, I'll be out shortly." Joe said. He looks at Chris and holds out his hand to help him up. "You alright?" He asked. "She's...she's..." Chris said, taking Joe's hand and stands up. Luna sits in the car, watching Joe, imagining herself with him, but fails to see it ever happening. Joe has a slight look of confusion. "She's, what?" He asked. "N-nothing..." Chris said. Joe raises an eyebrow, before shrugging. "Anyway, I'm gonna refuel the car and take Luna home, she's not exactly feeling well." He said. "Okay, cool." Chris said. Luna pulls her knee up to her chest, rocking back and forth slightly, her mind aching from so much stress. Joe has an idea. He walks to the fridge and grabs a couple of pint ice creams. "Hey Chris, I'm gonna buy some of these." He said. "Just take em...I can't even think right now..." Chris said, rubbing his head. "Tia...I'm sorry..." She mumbles to herself. "I'm sorry I'm not the sister you wanted...I screwed up...Why am I so useless..." She sniffed. "Are you sure man, I can pay for these." Joe said. "Just...get back to that wonderful mare of yours." Chris smiles a little without realising what he said. Luna shakes a little, wanting only to be in Joe's arms as of now. She looks out the window to see if he's even coming out. Joe deadpans. "Don't. Tell. Anyone." He said, before walking out the door with the ice creams. Luna cries to herself silently in the car, wishing for everything to back to how they used to be, repeatedly apologizing to Celestia out loud. Joe notices Luna crying. He has a look over worry on his face. He opens the door. "Luna?" He asked. "Why must everything go wrong for me...what's the point of being princess when I can't even be there for my subjects...like they even cared about my night...I'm pretty much a useless nopony..." She sniffed. Joe places the ice cream next to Luna and places a hand on her shoulder. "Luna, your not a useless someone, you have people who care about you." He said. "Nobody cares about me...I don't see why you do..." She sniffed, looking down. "You got... ice cream?" She asked. Joe nods. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I got a few." He said. "I don't...know what to say...nopony has been so generous to me..." She said, somewhat shocked. Joe smiles. "I couldn't let you be sad, I had to cheer you up." He said. Luna smiles. "You always do." She said. She gets out and hugs him. "You always cheer me up, even if its for a moment, it's nice to have a smile." She nuzzles his chest. "You make me happier than I've ever been...even through all my stress. I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad to call you my friend." She smiles up at him. Joe hugs back. "And I'm glad to call you friend too Luna." He said. Luna keeps the hug going, but wishes she could be more than friends as she stares mutely at her hands. "I'm here for you, Luna." Joe said. Luna slowly reaches for Joe's hand and links their fingers, then wraps her other arm around his and lays her head on his shoulder, blushing. Joe warmly smiles at her. "Can we go home now, Joe?" She asked. Joe looks over at the gas pump and notices that it stopped. He nods. "Yes, let me put the gas nozzle back and we'll go." He said. Luna gets back in the car. Joe puts the gas nozzle back in the pump and enters the car. He sees Luna staring at the ice cream quite hungrily. "You can eat the ice cream if you want, I got it for you." He said. Luna notices she doesnt have a spoon so she lets her horn show and conjures one from nothing. "Thanks." She said happily. She starts eating, making her horn disappear and leans on Joe as she eats. "Why are you so nice to me?" She asked. "You remind me, of my wife. In fact, the same seat that I found you on, was the same seat I found her on. You bring me, happiness. Happiness that I havn't had ever since... ever since the accident." He said with sadness, looking down. "Aww, is it my turn to hold you?" She said as she pulls Joe close and rests her head on his, gently stroking his hair. Joe hugs back. "I'm sorry if I got sad, it just hurts so much." He said. "Joe, You've been helping me be happy the whole time I have been here...I only want to return the favor." She said as she kisses his cheek and blushes. Joe is surprised and blushes. Smiles and hugs Luna slightly tighter. "I'm here for you and you're here for me. Everything will be okay as long as we have each other..." She said, before pausing. "...I...made that seem like we're a couple..." She said. Joe laughs a little. "That it did." He said. "I wish we were..." she mumbles to herself. "What was that Luna?" He asked. Luna doesn't say anything, but only blushes. "Is something wrong?" He asked. Luna sighs. "I...I want to be a couple...but I know I can...you still love her...it'd be wrong. Plus I'll end up leaving you anway when Tia comes to get me, if he does. Knowing her she won't let you come with..." She sniffed. "Luna, if you want to be with me as a couple, then I wouldn't mind." Joe said. "But..how can you just say yes? I...it doesn't make sense...why to me...of everybody..." She said in confusion. "Anything to make you happy, Luna." Joe said. "Joe I...Im flattered...but a mare like me isn't worth your time..." She said. "Luna don't say that, you can be with whoever you want.". Joe said. Luna lays her head on Joe's shoulder. Joe smiles as he looks at her. "Thanks for everything, Joe." She said, smiling. "Hey, I couldn't leave you back at the bar." He said. Luna curls her tail around his arm. "You're a wonderful stall...human..." She giggled. Joe wraps a arm around her. Luna smiles. Joe turns on the radio and the news comes on. Luna smiles up at Joe, keepng close to him. Joe smiles back at Luna. "Okay, I'm sure we've all had our share of hearing crazy things in our lives," began the male voice on the stereo, "But I find this incredibly hard to believe!" He said. "Yes, John, it certainly is!" came the second voice of a young female. "Well, from what we've seen was caught on camera at a local Kwik Trip gas station! What appears to be a tailed woman turns into a horse, crying onto her friend's chest!" She said. Joe's eyes widen and he looks at the radio in shock. "Why are there voices in your car... and how do they know about what happened?" Luna asked. "That's called a radio, it uses energy like waves to travel to the satellites in space to radio stations around the world. Others use giant towers to send out the waves." Joe said. "In other words, the station turns the sound into music, which the satallites read and send it to your radio system if you're on the currect coded currency, where your system then makes it back into sound?" She asked. Joe looks at Luna in amazement. "Wow, that's... that's amazing." He said. Luna giggles. "Thanks!" She said. "But now we have to lay low, because everyone knows about you now." He said. "And the vehicle they left in has gone southbound on Freedom road!" The female news teller said. "So much for that...why will it be bad if they find me? Why are you trying to hide me? I-is there something wrong with me?" Luna asked. Joe looks at Luna, slightly shocked. "What, no! I'm not trying to hide you, nor is there anything wrong with you. And it will be bad that they... they... I don't want to say it." He said. "What are we going to do Joe?" She asked as she looks down and runs her fingers through her tail. Joe sighs. "I... I don't know." He said. "Let's just go home..." Luna said, smiling at him. Joe nods. "Okay." He said. "I...I just want...You to hold me..." She said. Joe gives Luna a warm smile. "Okay." He said as he wraps a arm around her again. Luna hugs his arm, nuzzling his chest. Joe lightly rubs Luna's mane as he turns the car down his homes street. "Joe?" She asked. Joe looks at her. "Hmm, yes?" He asked. "Do your sun and moon rise and fall on their own?" She asked. "Well, yea. The planet revolves around the sun, and the moon revolves around the planet. Does yours?" He asked. Luna shakes her head. "Me and Tia had to raise and lower the moon at the start of every day and night." She said. Joe looks at her in surprise. "Wait, you and your sister move the sun and moon on your home world!?" He asked. Luna nods slightly. "I raise and lower th mooon and she raises and lowers the sun. You raise my spirits and lower my sadness though." She said as she kisses Joe on the cheek and nuzzles him, curling her tail tighter around his arm. Joe blushes slightly as he drives the car into his homes driveway. "And you the same." He said. Luna hugs Joe tight. "I know I'm not your wfe Joe, but since you agreed we'll b a couple, I'll try my best not to be such a downer...couples are supposed to be happy...right?" She asked, letting go of him and holding one of his hands. Joe smiles and nods. "Yep!" He said. Luna nuzzles Joe once more before getting out. Joe turns the car off and gets out as well. As he was about to close the door, he notices that Luna left the rest of her ice cream in the car. He grabs the bag and closes the door. He walks up to the front door with his keys in hand. "You almost forgot your ice cream." He said. "Oops, silly me." She said as she smiles and takes it, gazing into Joe's eyes. Joe smiles as he looks at Luna, before opening the door. "After you." He said. "No, you." She said. "Are you sure?" He asked. "How about this?" Luna said. She takes his hand in hers, pausing or a moment to allow the feel of his caring soul course through her veins before walking in with him. She she then closes the door, sets her ice cream down on the end table next to it and leans on Joe, smiling as she changes back to her equine form. Joe runs a hand through Luna's mane while smiling. Luna smiles and leans her head into his hand, gazing up into his eyes. "I love you Joe." She said. "I love you too, Luna." He said. Luna nuzzles her cheek into Joe's chest then flops onto her back in the middle of the floor. "I request belly rubs!" She demanded. Joe laughs. "Yes your highness!" He said, giving a small salute before rubbing Luna's belly. Luna gives a slight moan of relaxation and lays falt on the floor. "I haven't had one of these in over fifteen hundred years..." She sighed happily. Joe smiles. "You look so cute like that." He said. "Cute?" She giggled. "I don't know about cute..I'm quite old...being thousands of years old...how old are you?" She asked. "Well, I'm 31." He said. Luna giggles. "I forget how old I am, but im far older than you." She said. She pecks his cheek, enjoying the belly rubbing and wraps her forelegs around him, pulling him close. "Looks at us! Cuddling on the floor!" She said as she turns onto her side and snuggles into Joe. Joe grabs Luna into a hug. Luna smiles, accepting it without hesitation. "I've never cuddled on the floor before." She giggled. "Same here." Joe said. Luna teleports them onto the couch. "Much better!" She said, snuggling close to Joe. Joe leans his head on Luna. Luna lays her wings out over him and wraps her tail around his right leg, smiling. "I've got me a special somepony. Somebody in this case since you're not a pony, but still." She said as she nuzzles his neck, being careful of her horn. "And your my special somebody." He said as he boops Luna on the nose with a finger. Luna giggles and smiles at him. "I could just fall asleep." She said. She closes her eyes as she lays half on him. Joe smiles and grabs the t.v. remote from the table next to them and turns the t.v. on. Luna wraps her wings around Joe and closes her eyes. "Mind If I take a nap on you Joe?" She asked. Joe looks over at her and nods. "Sure if you want." He said. Luna smiles and kisses his cheek, a bit closer to this lips this time. "Thanks for everything Joe." She yawned. She curls up in his arms and falls asleep. Joe smiles at her and flips through the channels. Luna has a smile on her face as she sleeps. The news channel comes on, a helicopter is shown flying above Joe's home. Joe's eyes widen and he drops the remote. "Oh shit!" He yells. Luna is startled awake. "Wh-what's wrong, Joe!?" She asked. Job as a grim look on his face. "The... the news people are just outside the house." He said. Luna peers outside the window. "All I see is some big white flying contraption..." She said. "And there it is folks!" Says the news anchor man on screen. "That's... that's the news helicopter. I... I think you s-should get away from the window, Luna." Joe said. "How is it flying without wings..." Luna asks, moving towards the window intsead, mesmorized by somehting so unbelievable. ""Look at that! Seems they're getting in for a closer look!" Says the anchor woman as the helicopter flies in closer. "Oh, I see! It has a rotary engine which spins blades at such a speed the downwards force of air pushes the thing up! But what kind of power without magic would be needed to achieve such a feat!?" Luna asked in amazement. "Well, it uses a type of fuel to work, like my car, but a different type." Joe said. "Why is it so loud?" She asked. ""Well, we're getting calls and messages telling us this is apparently the cartoon character, Princess Luna, from the hit girls t.v show, My Little Pony!" says the anchor woman. Luna turns around, shocked. "T-t.v show? What is she talking about!? How does she know me!? How am...how do they know about me!?" She yelled, staring in shock at the t.v. "Wait, what!?" Joe yelled. Luna watches the T.V, seeing her own image pop up to compare to that of her on camera. "They...you...know about me..." She said, scared. "How the hell do they know about you?" He asked. Suddenly the screeching of tires could be heard outisde. "Joe...I don't like this..." She said as she stays right next to Joe and puts a hoof in his hand. Joe holds her. "I don't like this either." He said. There came knocking and a lot of chatter from outside the door. Joe's head starts to shake as he slowly looks at the door. "J-Joe...don't open it...what if they take me away like you said? I don't know if my magic will work on them...like I even want to hurt them at all..." Luna sniffed. Joe looks at her. "Don't worry, I will never let them take you." He promised. "What are we gonna do, Joe?" She asked. She looks at the door as the knocking continues, causing her to sigh. "Just go open it...the knocking is giving me a headache..." She said. Joe nods shakily. He stands up and slowly makes his way to the door. His hand shakes as he opens it. "Hi there!" said a voice all too familiar to Luna through the snapping of photos and chitter chattering of the press behind her. "Joe, who is it?" Luna asked as she peeks over to look from the living room. Joe sees a woman standing there, but is somewhat having trouble seeing due to the many flashes of the cameras. "Would you mind coming in so I can close the door." He said. "Sure!" Replied the woman, allowing in only two of the many camera men. "Where's Luna?" She asked. Luna walks back into the living room, her heart pounding in her chest. Joe closes the door, but doesn't look at the women. "First let me ask you this. Who are you?" He asked. "I am Lauren Faust. I am the lead developer of the T.V show, My Litle Pony! And it seems to be Luna just so happens to be here as I have seen and heard on the news." The women said. M-mother!? Luna thinks to herself. How can that be, she's been gone for several millenia! Nor is she human! she thought. Joe still doesn't turn around. "Are you here to take her away? Because if you are, I won't let her go so easily." He said. "Take her away? Oh, please! I only wish to see her! It's not everyday your cartoon creations become real!" Lauren said happily. What does she mean...cartoon creations? I'm as real as ever, not from a T.V show! Luna thought. Joe is slightly angry. "Is that all she is to you, a cartoon?" He asked. "Well, I never said she was! If she's real, she's real! I was simply implying I never thought that something I made would have actually ever existed...I guess I should have worded that better...so...can I see her? Please?" Lauren asked. Joe finally turns around, closes his eyes and sighs. "Fine." He said. "Thanks!" Lauren said with glee. She smiles as she slowly walks into the living room, whereas the camera men were trynig to rush in for a good story to put of the front cover of the magazine as well as money in their pockets. She sees Luna standing there in the middle of the room. "L-Luna? I-is that really you?" She asked, taking a step forward. "Who are you? Why do you sound just like my mother?" Luna asked, taking a step back. "How is it you know of us and Equestria?" She asked again. Laura sighs heavily. "I uh...can see...there's going to be a lot...a LOT of questions being asked." She said. Luna furrows her brow in slight annoyance. Joe sighs again. "I'll make some coffee." He said, walking towards the kitchen. Luna trots after Joe. "Joe...I don't like these people in our house...the woman...she's making me uncomfortable...she has the same name and voice as my mother!" she whispers to him, sounding scared. Joe runs a hand through her mane. "I know, but if we can show that you mean no harm to these people, the government won't come after us and take you away. Which means that you can stay with me." He pointed out. "She said they're not here to take me. I just feel rather uncomfortable right now..." She said. "Everything alright, Luna?" Lauren asked. Joe looks at her. "She's just really uncomfortable with all this." He said. Luna looks down, nodding. Lauren sighs. "Luna...I know I remind you of your mother, and it must be comfusing how we have a T.V show of you ponies...but I just couldn't help it when I saw you on the news..." She said. She gently reaches out and lightly rubs Luna's mane. "Mother's been gone for a very long time..." Luna sniffed. She looks to Joe for a hug. "Oh, come here." He said, pulling Luna into a hug. Luna hugs Joe back, fighting back the tears. "I miss her..." She sniffed. Joe lightly runs his hand through her mane. "Shhh, it's okay." He said. He looks at Lauren. "Can you give her a minute." He said. Lauren nods. "Of course." She said, before walking away. A tear slips down Luna's cheek as she tightens her hug. "I love you Joe...I don't want to screw up with you like I did everypony else I've known..I'm not even worthy of being your marefriend..." She sniffed. Joe looks at her with worry. "Luna, don't say that, you know that I love you as much as you love me." He said. Luna smiles a bit. Joe hugs Luna slightly tighter. "I'm here for you, Luna." He added. "I love you so much, Joe." She said as she kisses his cheek, right at the corner of his lips. Joe smiles. "I love you too, Luna." He said. Luna nuzzles his chest happily, smiling now. "I want to be with you forever..." She said, wrapping her wings around him. "Same here." He said. Luna wags her tail a bit a she stays close in his arms. Joe warmly smiles at her. "You can tell them they can come in again." She said as she rests her head under his chin. "Just don't let go of me, okay, Joe? And can you scratch my ear?" She asked. Joe nods. "Sure." He said as he does what she asked. He looks up at the other room. "Okay, you can come in now!" He said. Lauren comes in again but without the camera crew. "Aww look at you two hugging that's so cute!" She said. Luna smiles, wrapping her wings more around Joe, smiling up into his eyes. "Of course, he's my special somepony." She said happily, kissing his cheek. "Oh...well that's nice!" Lauren said. "It really is." Luna said. Joe smiles down at Luna. "It is nice." He said. "So, you two are dating?" Lauren asked. Luna nods. "That is correct and I'm glad I'm with Joe, I love him so much." She said. "And I love you too, Luna." He said. "But I love you more!" Luna said, nuzzling his chest. "Joe you're so kind to her. Treat her well. Luna deserves only the best." Lauren said. Luna blushes slightly and hugs Joe tighter. Joe has a look of determination. "I will, I will make sure that no one will harm her." He promised. Lauren nods. "So how did you get here anyway, Luna?" She asked. "I don't know honestly. I just went to bed one night and I woke up her...but it's not really all that bad I guess...I do have Joe to love and have him hold me." Luna smiles, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Can we go back to the couch Joe?" She asked. Joe nods. "Sure." He said. Luna teleports them to the couch and she moves to lay half on top of him, wrapping her tail and wings around him. "I love it so much when you hold me, Joe." She said. Joe smiles. "Anything to make you happy." He said. Luna moves him to lay down on the bed and she lays on top, curling up in his arms with her head on his chest. "Should I just come back another time?" Lauren asked. Joe looks at Luna. "Would you like that Luna?" He asked. "For now yes. I'd like to be alone while we cuddle ." Luna said, kissing his neck. "When wuold it be alright for me to come back?" Lauren asked. "How does half an hour sound Luna?" Joe asked. "That's fine." Luna said. "Alright. I guess I'll just go out for a quick bite then! " Lauren smiles and rubs Luna's mane before leaving. Luna looks to Joe, then quickly pecks his lips before burying her face into his chest, blushing alizarin crimson. Joe hugs her. Luna hugs back. "Sorry about that, Joe..." She said. "It's okay Luna." He said. Luna curls up more in his arms, letting her wings drape at her sides. "You're so much more confortable than my bed at home." She said, nuzzling his chest. Joe chuckles and slowly runs a hand through her mane. "I'll take that as a compliment." He said. "It is a compliment, my love." She said, smiling at him. "I'm too comfortable to want to move. Could you hold me a bit tighter?" She asked. Joe nods and does what she says. Luna smiles more and let's out a relaxing sigh. "I love loving you." She said happily. Joe smiles. "And I love loving you too, Luna." He said. Luna rubs his cheek lightly with a hoof, smiling back at him and slowly locks her lips with his, kissing lightly. Joe's eyes widen in surprise, before relaxing. Luna wraps her hooves around his neck, kissing passionately with closed eyes. Joe closes his eyes as well, and slowly runs a hand through Luna's mane again. Luna gives a content sigh as she kisses. A memory appears in his head about his wife, causing a tear to fall from his face. Luna feels the tear soak into the fur on her cheek. "Joe?" she asks, pulling away. "What's wrong?" She asked. Joe notices that his cheek was wet from the tear. "It's... it's nothing." He said. "Joe." Luna says firmly. "As your marefriend it is my duty to keep you happy. Please tell me what's wrong..." She said as she wipes his tear away. "It was a memory of my wife. A memory of my wife popped into my mind as we were kissing. I didn't know why." Joe said. "I'm sorry, Joe. But...you're quite the kisser." Luna said, blushing. Joe blushes as well. "Th-Thank you." He said. "I love you." She said. "I love you too." He said. "You humans are like monkeys, but with no fur. Why is that?" She asked. "Well, I don't know much about it, but we did look like monkeys millions of years ago, but evolution happened and over time, the monkeys evolved into humans and we became the dominant species." He said. "Interesting. So your species used to be likes apes but evolved without all that hair? Well...most of it anyway." She said. "Well, there are also some people who believe that man was created by one person, or god." Joe said. "Is that so?" She asked as she lays herself more comfortably on Joe. He scratches behind Luna's ear. "Yep, but to me, I don't exactly care. Let people believe what they believe in." He said. Luna giggles and leans into his hand. "Joe? What is it that makes you...love me? Not saying you shouldn't...it's just that I've never really been used to such affection..." She said. "Well, your nice, friendly, you like the night sky, even though you are the princess of the night, and we both have had a traumatic past that we don't exactly want to talk about. And... and your beautiful too." Joe said. "Joe...do...do you really think so, honey?" She asked. Joe nods. "I do." He said. Luna blushes deeply and hugs Joe tight. "I love you so much Joe!" She said happily. Joe hugs back. "I love you too." He said. Luna smiles at Joe and nuzzles his chest. Joe smiles as well and runs a hand through her mane. Luna smiles wider and hugs his arm, trapping it in her hooves. Joe smiles at her. Luna looks at him with a dreamy look. "If only you knew just how much I really love you Joe." She said, nuzzling his cheek. "If you love me so much, why don't we get married?" He asked. Luna giggles. "I really do love you, Joe, but we've only known each other for a day...I don't think I can commit to that yet." She said, kissing Joe's cheek. "But I really do love you Joe." She said, cuddling in his arms. Joe chuckles and gives a kiss on her cheek. "I need something fluffy..." She said. She taps her chin with a hoof and gets an idea. "I know!" She yelled. She lights her horn and with a spark she reaches under Joe and pulls out a light blue tail similar in style to Rainbow Dash. "This'll do! I hope you don't mind having a tail, Joe." She said, snuggling the tail. "Oh, it feels a little weird, but anything to make you happy." Joe said. Luna giggles and nuzzles the tail. "Can you give it a wag? I'm curious if you can move it." She said. Joe tries to move it and it moves a little. Luna giggles. "You tickled my chin a bit." She giggled. "Oop, sorry." He said. "It's no problem, Joe." She said, cuddling his tail. Joe smiles as he scratches behind Luna's ear again. Luna smiles and leans into his hand. "My special somepony." She said happily. "My special someone." Joe said happily. "I love your tail!" She said, nuzzling it close. Joe smiles. "And I love you, Luna." He said. "I know you do Joe." She said, nuzzling his cheek. "And I am very grateful. So what do you think about the tail?" She asked. "I like it, thank you Luna." He said. Luna smiles. "I guess you'll want to test it out or somthing, instead of me keeping it captive!" She giggles and sits up. Joe smiles and sits up as well. "Becareful, your tail will shift your balance when you stand." She said, kissing Joe lightly on the cheek. As he stood his balance shifted, causing him to wave his arms. "Woah!" He yelled, before standing straight. Luna giggles at his silliness. "See?" She said. She stands as well and helps him up straight. Joe uses a hand to hold on to her. "Thanks." He thanked. Luna smiles and kisses his cheek. "It's my job to help you, Joe. What kind of a marefriend would I be if I didn't?" She asked, kissing his cheek again. Joe chuckles slightly. "That's true." He said. "First try getting a feel for you tail by moving it in different directions." She said. Joe nods and looks at his new tail. He tries the move the tail in different directions, only getting it to move slightly in different directions. "Its a start." She said, wrapping her tail around his. "I'll make it disappear if you want...or do you want to keep it?" She asked. Joe has an idea. "How about this, I can keep it when we're home and stuff, but when we go out, we make it disappear to hide it." He stated. "That'd work." Luna said, swaying her tail left and right, causing Joe's to move with hers. "Feel the muscles, how they work?" She asked. Joe nods. "I do. Even though it feels weird, it's almost like I've had it all my life." He said. "Is that good..or bad?" She asked in confusion. "It's a good thing." He said. She smiles. "Good!" She said happily. Luna smiles up at Joe, getting lost in his eyes and lets out a dreamy sigh. "I love you Joe." She said. Joe warmly smiles at her. "I love you too, Luna." He said. "Not as much as I love you." she sighed happily. Joe smiles. "Well, we shouldn't keep Lauren and the reporters waiting." He said. "But I haven't finished cuddling..." Luna whined. Joe smiles and picks Luna up. "You can continue cuddling if you want." He said. "How are you carrying me?" She asked. Joe shrugs. "Let's just say, the last jobs I had, had me carry heavy boxes ranging from fifty to one hundred pounds." He said. "I weigh over two hundred." She said. "I've been also staying in shape as well. I have my own little gym here, it's not much, but it works." Joe said. "Okay then." Luna said. She smiles and wraps her forelegs around his neck and lays her head on his chest. "I see your tail is wagging." She said. Joe smiles "It means I'm happy to be with you." He said. "I'm happy to be with you too." She said. She smiles and pecks his cheek. "Are you wagging it or is it doing it on it's own?" She asked. "I'm doing it." He said. "Awe, suddenly got the hang of it, huh?" She asked, smiling at him. Joe nods. "Yep." He said. Luna catches his tail in her magic and holds in to her chest. "My tail now!" She said, smirking. Joe laughs. "You really like my tail, don't you?" He asked. Luna nods. Joe smiles as he notices Lauren sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee and the reporters standing in the kitchen. "When did you get back?" Luna asked as she holds back onto Joe around his neck. "Just a minute ago." Lauren said, smiling. Joe smiles as well. "I see that you got yourself some coffee. I was going to get some for you." He said. "See." Lauren said, taking a sip of it. "And you've gotten yourself a tail." She said. "Mine." Luna said, hugging it. "I can thank Luna for it." He said. "I assumed she had something to do with it...but what about the ears?" Lauren asked. Luna was too busy snuggling Joe's tail to notice. Joe raises an eyebrow. "Ears?" He asked. Luna smiles as she continues to snuggle his tail. Joe raises a hand to his head and feels pointy ears. His eyes widen slightly. "Um, Luna?" He said. "Yes, love?" She asked and looks up at Joe and sees the ears. "Oh..." She said in surprise. "It seems like we may have a little problem." He said. "But they're cute!" Luna said. "Gaah, if only I can see them." He said. Luna conjures up a mirror. "Here you go love!" She said. "So you two are a couple?" Lauren asked. Joe looks and sees a pair of dark blue ears on his head, causing them to twitch, before looking at Lauren. "I guess you can say that I'm her special somepony." He said. Luna nods and snuggles in Joe's arms. Joe smiles down at her. Luna kisses Joe a few times on the neck. "So Luna...how do you think you'll get back to Equestria?" Lauren asked. "I don't know, really, but if I can't...then at least I have Joe to be with while I'm here on your planet." Luna said, smiling at Luna. "Words cannot express my love for this human." She said happily. "Same here for my love for you, Luna." Joe said. "Please don't put me down." Luna whispered in Joe's ear, before holding him tighter. "But...if you're all real, how would Celestia feel to know you wont come back?" Lauren asked. "Well..." Luna said, looking down. "I don't know..." She sniffed. Joe tries to cheer Luna up by scratching behind her ear. Luna leans her head into Joe's hand. "Joe...what if I can't go back?" She asked sadly. "I'll be here for you, I promise." Joe promises. Luna smiles. "I know you will, Joe. I know you will." She yawned. She turns to lay on her side in his arms and ends up falling asleep. Joe slowly sits on the couch, so as to not disturb Luna. And warmly smiles at her. Luna smiles, sleeping peacefully. "That's so cute!" Lauren said. Joe nods. "Indeed it is." He said. Luna gives off a slight, cat like purr as she sleeps. Joe yawns and starts to nod off, when a knock on the door came, jarring him from his stupor. Luna snorts and wakes up from the noise. "Joe...whoes at the door?" She asked. Joe carefully places Luna next to him and stands up. "I'll go see." He said. Luna hugs his tail quick. "Okay Joe." She said. Lauren takes a peek outside. As Joe walks towards the door, he looks at Lauren. "Lauren, are you expecting anyone?" He asked. "No actually." Lauren said. "Who is it, honey?" Luna asked. As Joe opens the door, he notices a women with colorful hair, wearing a beautiful white dress with a symbol of the sun was standing at the door, along with a teenage girl wearing a purple jacket and pants with a symbol of a starburst with five other starbursts surrounding it with a purple dog was busy writing away on a notepad and a guy with blue hair wearing a white jacket and pants with a symbol of a starburst shield on the left side of the jacket. "Um, may I help you?" He asked. "We are looking for my dear sister...Princess Luna." The colored hair women said. "Celestia!?" Luna muttered in shock. TO BE CONTINUED