The girl struggled as hard as she could. She fought. She cried. She even bit. But he was bigger, stronger. His hands were hard as hooves, leaving bruises on her wrists as he dragged her down the old wooden stairs to the cellar below. She choked on the musty smell as he threw her onto the earthen floor. Daylight glinted on forgotten preserves, long spoiled and useless, surrounding her on ancient wooden shelves that lined the walls.
He reached up, pulled the old door closed against the sunlight. Then, slowly, he began to descend the stairs. Unbuckling, pulling his belt free.
Then, before her punishment truly began, her tormentor shimmered like a mirage. His calloused hands, his grey shirt, his beet-red face, all fading into mist. She was on her feet in an instant, gasping for breath, looking around her for whatever new enemy may have presented itself. Yet, there was none. The cellar was empty, its dust and mold forming the sunlight filtering down through the slots in the door above into swirling shafts of gold. From all around, a voice spoke to her, melodic and kind, unlike any other.
**Be at ease, young one. I am a friend.**
Wiping the tears away with a fist, she grabbed a glass jar. A bottle would have been better, but it would do. She opened her mouth to retort, even as she readied to smash the jar against the filthy concrete wall beside her. Then, she froze, eyes widening in sheer wonder.
The very walls of the cellar faded, shifted, drifted away like mist. Gliding majestically though them was the single most beautiful creature she had ever seen. The alicorn’s coat was the color of cobalt, with eyes shining with compassion and power. Her horn glowed azure, casting the last of the nightmare away. She was an angel of the night and soothing shadows, her wings spread out as though to encompass the very sky.
Sunset closed her mouth, unconsciously growing to her adult height. “I’m dreaming,” she said.
“Yes.” The goddess figure landed before her, looked at her quizzically. “I am Luna. I am the guide and guardian of dreams and nightmares.”
Sunset looked her up and down again. “Wow,” she breathed.
“Forgive me, but you… I do not believe I have seen one such as you before. From where do you come? I do not recognize you, nor even your species.”
“I… Oh, right. Yeah, I’m, um, I’m in a transitional period.” As she spoke, her body melted from its bipedal form into its more recent pony shape. Now on four hooves again, she looked herself over, obviously not displeased. “Huh.”
The newcomer’s expression was one of concern. “And… your dream, it seemed not merely a fear but a—”
“Yeah, bad times.” Sunset nodded. “I’m usually a pretty lucid dreamer. But lately, I guess it’s all the excitement, all the changes. Dream time’s out of control.” She shrugged. “No worries, I’ll get it back.”
The alicorn meanwhile, was nodding in realization. “But of course, I should have known. You are Twilight’s new friend!”
“Sure, you would know that. And I mean, I gotta say,” she trotted around Luna a little, “I’m not sure where I came up with you, but… wow.” Her voice was a little unsteady. “Not that I’m usually into quadrupeds, but, damn, if I were…” she paused, considering. “Maybe I’m adjusting faster than I thought. Like, crazy fast. Or maybe, some of the change from crossing over is neurological? So I’m more pony-wired? Hm.”
The alicorn started to reply, then reconsidered, her eyes shining. “There may be something in what you say,” she said instead.
“Sure! That makes perfect sense. So anyway, whatever the cause, I hit catharsis. I interrupted my flashback with a… God damn, fucking beautiful alter ego to bounce ideas off of.” She nodded. “Cool. Go team me.”
Her alter ego seemed pleased. “Think you so?”
“Okay, that’s just cute. But yeah, seriously. Amazing eyes, sexy voice, and then there’s those wings… again, I wouldn’t have thought I was the type, but wow. And holy shit,” she shook her head in awe. “That ass. Oh. My fucking. God.”
Her dream alter ego blinked, somewhere between blushing and stifling laughter.
“Indeed?”
“Oh, hell the fuck yes,” Sunset breathed.
The alicorn’s wings fluttered slightly, then she took a fortifying breath and made them still.
“Well,” she said, “as I am your guide, what would you know? What questions have you for me?”
“Um. Okay, questions,” Sunset muttered. Then, “Okay, I’m looking at a fresh start in Equestria. A new life. A new shot at everything.”
“Yes?”
“How do I do that? I mean, I’ve got the ultimate opportunity. I don’t want to blow it. Where do I start?”
“You could begin by trusting Twilight Sparkle,” The alicorn answered. “She is a good pony, and a good friend. She truly wants to help.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
“Yet, before even that, perhaps you should trust yourself.”
Sunset a raised an eyebrow. “Did you seriously just say that?”
The alicorn held up a hoof. “Please, hear me out. So many others have emphasized that they see something worthwhile in you, have they not? I merely suggest that perhaps they are right.”
“Maybe. But the person they think I am, that’s not… I mean, I want to be, sure, but... look, I’m Sunset,” she said, pacing around. “That’s not just when I was found. That’s been my whole life. I’m the one who touches a situation, and it’s either falling down, or it’s already fallen. The tower in flames, the lightning just struck. If I come in, things are coming to a close. I enter at the end.” She sighed. “Or I bring it.” She looked down. “And after me, comes ruin,” she said quietly. “Darkness always follows Sunset.”
“Yet, such a name need not have such a meaning. Consider Twilight Sparkle.”
“Yeah. A student of the sun, right? So, what follows the sun? Twilight. And she does sparkle. In a good way, I mean. She’s an amazing lady.” She shook her head. “But we’ve got different contexts, different lives. And that changes everything.”
“Then it sounds as though you have already chosen your solution.”
Sunset looked up again. “Yeah, part of it, anyway. This is a magic world. And Naming, like capital-N-naming, is a deep magic in most of the books I’ve ever read, deeper than spells. Pervasive. Subtle, but powerful. It identifies children, sometimes even helps shape them, even as they shape their name in return. And if you Name something with intent, it can give you power over it.”
“You have studied well.”
Sunset nodded. “Thanks. So, if Naming something gives you power over it, and Naming a child helps them focus their identity, then Naming yourself should grant you new power over yourself, right? A tool to re-shape your life. To become who you know yourself to be, who you want to be… even who you ought to have been.”
She looked away, running her hoof along her striped mane. “And that’s what I need right now. Not just a new start, but a new start on my own terms. It’s not enough to just change my address, or even my outer shape.”
Her eyes narrowed in determination. “I’ve got to follow through. I’ve got to define myself. I have to. Not my past. Not other people. Me.” She paused, then, “Does that make sense?”
The dream guide nodded. “It does, indeed.” Then, she considered the unicorn before her. “If I may ask, what shall your new name be?”
“Well, I always liked the ‘Shimmer’ part. I mean, sure, I always felt before like I was insubstantial, just a mirage that couldn’t matter. But ‘shimmer’ can also imply a motion of light. And more than that, a transformation. It’s a good name, and I want to really live up to its potential. My potential.”
“I like Shimmer as well. But what of your first name?”
“Well., I haven’t had many friends over the years,” Shimmer admitted. “But the few I’ve had, they called me Sunny. And I… really liked that. But I want to be a bringer of light, not its ending. Sounds cheesy, I know, but…”
“So, Sunrise?”
A rueful smile. “Yeah.”
“Sunrise Shimmer,” Luna said, as though tasting the name. “Yes. I agree: it suits well your fiery spirit.”
Sunrise smiled. “Aw, thanks.” Then, a new thought occurred to her. “Hey, do you think changing it will be hard? I don’t even know how that works here.”
“Well, who have you met by name, besides Twilight?”
“Um, well, nobody, really. Sure, we toured Ponyville, but she was seriously guarding my space. Like, a few people waved to her – I mean, ponies – but they were all like, ‘Oh, hey, Twilight… zip!’” she said, making a fleeing motion. “So, I think she’d kinda spread the word, made sure I got introduced to pony society one baby step at a time.”
“Then simply tell Twilight,” Luna smiled. “And I would say tell her why, as well. She will appreciate your reasoning. And when you are ready, no doubt you will be introduced by your new name. Your true name.”
“You know,” the unicorn reflected, “I think I’m ready now. This was probably the last thing I needed to do, just, you know, figuring myself out. Look,” Sunrise went over to her guide. “This may seem silly, but… well, no, it doesn’t.” reaching out, she embraced Luna in a fierce hug. After a second, Luna embraced her, as well.
“Thank you,” Sunrise said into the alicorn’s mane. “For listening, the feedback, everything.”
“It was my pleasure,” Luna smiled. “And thank you, as well.”
“Sure.”
After a moment, they separated again. Sunrise looked at Luna again, drinking in the vision of her: her eyes, her smile, the way she stood, even her scent. She was so beautiful it hurt. Sunrise shook her head in true regret.
“Wow,” she sighed. “There is just no fucking justice.”
“Because I am dream?
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, some things cannot be helped, I am afraid. Incidentally, Twilight gave you books to help your transition, I assume?”
“Sure.”
“Have you read about the governing body yet, or of Equestrian ancient history?”
“Not yet. I figured I’d start with modern stuff. You know, more immediate concerns.”
Luna nodded. “Yet you realize, she will want to introduce you to her fellow princesses eventually.”
Sunrise winced, ran a hoof along her mohawk. “Yeah, good point. I’ll start boning up. She’s pretty awesome, I don’t want to embarrass her.”
“You will not.” Luna glanced around them. “But it seems as though you are waking. I must go.”
“Yeah. Take care. Maybe I’ll dream you up again sometime?”
Luna’s smile was amused. “Mayhap.”
Then, the last vestiges of sleep were cast off, and Sunrise Shimmer opened her eyes with a smile.
Sunrise stretched, yawned, and rolled over onto the floor. She could hear someone trotting down the hall, past the door. Twilight was already up, of course, and full of cheerful energy.
Sunrise shook her head. Morning people. Too weird.
She enjoyed her shower (unicorns apparently had showers, as well as pancakes, which was awesome), less so the rest of her toiletry. Seriously, how the fuck did these people grip anything with hooves? Twilight said it was just muscle control and practice, but each leg seemed to end in something more like hard rubber than chitin or whatever hooves were made of back home.
Keratin, she corrected herself. Which is flexible, I guess. Like fingernails. Still, how ridiculous is this, it’s a fucking toothbrush…
The good news was, her hair seemed to have decided it was just going to stay an upright stripe, with minimal management. Good thing. A little bizarre, but if that meant not having to buzz-cut the sides of her head regularly – with hooves – she was all in favor.
Meanwhile, a toothbrush was still her nemesis. She stared at where it rested by the sink.
A fucking toothbrush.
Seriously.
At the same time, Twilight seemed to be running on the assumption that Sunrise loved apples. Which, okay, yeah she did. And not just for their effects on her teeth and breath, though for right now that was sure as hell part of the equation, since this brave new world was full of hope, and joy, and light, and magic, and absolutely no fucking thumbs…!
She sighed. Not that Twilight really needed thumbs, anyway. Or hooves, for that matter…
A new thought struck Sunrise as she stared at herself in the mirror. Maybe Twilight would be willing to teach her magic! She grinned at her reflection, thrilled at the thought.
The sun streamed in pleasantly as she exited her bathroom and finished off her hair. Then she grabbed a nice apple with rosy cheeks between her hooves, and took a bite.
Oh, that was so fucking good!
Then again, everything seemed to taste better on this side of the mirror. At least, everything vegetarian. Sunrise hadn’t wanted meat since arriving, and since everypony else was all veg all the way, she’d figured no sense in worrying about it.
Also, she’d noticed nobody swore around here. Sure, they’d say things like ‘hay’ and ‘feathering.’ But when she’d been out with Twilight there had been a couple of shopkeepers who had stared at her like they’d never heard the word ‘fuck’ before.
Sunrise swallowed, the sweetness of the apple forgotten. In her dream, she’d said she didn’t want to embarrass Twilight. But in reality, she had to admit: she already had. Twilight had played it off, but there was no getting around how those other ponies had acted, or how Twilight had to have felt about it. Which was not cool.
Up until now, if her life’d had a narrator, they’d better be ready to use the word “motherfucker” almost constantly. But now, she was here. When she’d been Sunset, she’d sworn like a sailor. As Sunrise, she would stop. And she would learn everything she could about Equestria and its people.
Today, she resolved as she donned her cloak. Right now.
“Well, you’re looking chipper this morning,” Twilight smiled as Sunrise exited her room.
“I reached a resolution,” Sunrise grinned. “Couple of them, actually.” She closed her door, then turned to her friend with eager eyes. “Tell you over breakfast?”
“That would be great! Plus, you can meet Spike.”
“Looking forward to it!”
A short time later, they were at the door to the kitchen.
“So, is Spike, like, your boyfriend?” Images of badass biker ponies cuddling with Twilight danced across her mind.
Twilight chuckled. “Not even close.”
A second later, the door was open, and Twilight watched as her friend’s eyes widened in wonder.
“Oh my god, this is so fucking awesome!”
Dammit.
...Some of Your Illusions Must Be Stripped Away
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It was another beautiful morning in Canterlot. No meetings to attend, no documents to review, no audiences to grant, no appearances to make. Not yet, anyway. Like the pause after a lightning stroke, early mornings were a moment of introspective calm before the light suspended in the sky’s canvas was interrupted by an explosion of nerve-jarring noise.
Or, by bureaucracy.
Whichever.
But for now, it was still calm and quiet. Celestia hummed to herself as she set the long table. Pancakes for her, pancakes for Luna. Knives. Forks. Spoons. Glasses. Juice. Fruit bowl. Windows open, chairs at the ready. The breeze that wafted through smelled of early blossoms, and carried bird songs from nearby trees.
Maybe, maybe today?
Maybe?
It had been a wonderful sunrise. For the last few months, Celestia had taken to playing music while she rose the sun, conducting the colors of the early morning to match the works of the great composers. Wolfgang Amadeus Pinkmane, Ludmane Von Beetroot, Friesian Mendelssohn, and of course Danube Ingram and Will Andalusian. It had added a new joy, not just to the act of rising the sun, but the sunrises themselves.
But this morning – or perhaps late last night – somepony had slipped a record of improvisational jazz onto her gramophone. Not to be outdone, of course, Celestia had gamely worked the sun’s ascension around its structureless beauty. Even now, she smiled at the thought.
How utterly and unexpectedly delightful.
But more than that, if it was who she hoped it was – who it almost had to be – then the record’s portents were even better. For in that case it meant that, after so long, that same somepony was starting to play again!
Celestia knew she would have to do something in return. One dares not ignore such an invitation, or there might never be another. But what? Something mild, certainly. Luna had been so withdrawn ever since her return, except for her excursions out for Nightmare Nights…
The Princess of the Sun paused.
Then again, it might have been Twilight, she considered. Hm.
Such a thing was unlikely, to be sure. Twilight almost never played jokes; it simply wasn’t an interest she had. But just the same, best to be certain before planning any return pranks, no matter how gentle.
Meanwhile, the pancakes were extra yummy. Chocolate, with Luna’s favorite berries on their faces. In the hopes that maybe, just maybe, today would be the—
The massive doors opened easily as her sister entered, exhausted as always.
Celestia felt her ears and tail droop, but only for an instant. With the practice of centuries, she became chipper again.
“Good morning, dear sister!”
Luna managed a tired smile. “Good morning.”
Celestia stared.
Luna’s bleary eyes focused on the table for a moment. “Oh, pancakes!”
“Yes,” Celestia said, barely daring to breathe.
“Chocolate and snozzberries.”
Celestia was beside herself with glee. “I… just wanted to remind you how special you are to me.”
Luna’s smile was exhausted, but genuine. “Thank you, dear one. But I need no reminding. I know.”
“And it is my pleasure to show you,” Celestia smiled eagerly, sitting down.
Luna seemed uncertain. “Oh, I, well…”
Celestia’s smile faltered.
Luna glanced at her, and quickly sat down across from her. “I suppose I can manage to share pancakes with you,” she smiled again. Then she sighed, still smiling, as her head drooped slightly.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Sister?”
Luna’s head jerked up. “Oh! Yes. Forgive me. Tired.”
“You know, if you really need to sleep…”
“Not… not at all,” Luna said, shaking her head to clear it. “I am certain that a few moments spent with my sister over the breakfast she prepared for me will not be remiss.” She raised a forkful to her lips in the glow of her magic, took a bite. She closed her eyes and sighed with contentment. “Mmm, that is good.”
Celestia beamed. “Oh, I’m so glad you think so—”
Luna’s face hit the pancakes with a resounding splat!
“…Luna?”
Celestia glanced around them. The room seemed empty. Then she leaned towards her sister again.
“Luna?”
Softly, the Princess of the Night began to snore.
Celestia cocked her head, examining her sister carefully. I… think we should start doing this earlier, somehow, she decided. Perhaps you can take an hour’s break from the dreamers once a week or so, and I can interrupt my sleep to meet you.
She sighed. All this time, I thought you were simply ignoring me. When in truth, I just never realized how exhausted you must be by the night’s end. Curious that I never saw that before. Yet again, my self-centeredness made me blind to your needs, my dear one. Foolish, foolish Celestia…
More snores. Soft, petite, ladylike snores.
Celestia chuckled. Gently, lovingly, she lifted her sister’s head, wiped the confection from her face.
Even under such ministrations, Luna scarcely stirred.
Celestia shook her head, a gentle smile playing across her muzzle. “Oh, Celestia, you greatest of all fools,” she whispered. In a flash of light, the sisters were both in Luna’s chambers, the Moon Princess being carefully lowered into bed by the glow of Celestia’s will. Luna rolled over slightly, curling into herself, even as a golden glow covered her with blankets. Then, another flash, and Celestia was back in the breakfast hall.
Sitting down to her own meal, she considered the day’s happenings. The jazz record. And then… still exhausted, yes, but still in a much better mood than I have seen her in such a long time, especially in the morning hours. She smiled, took another bite. She’s healing, Celestia thought happily. At long last, Luna is healing. She isn’t emotionally hobbled from what I did, at least not forever. She blinked away the tears, then gave up and let them fall in sheer relief from a fear she had barely allowed herself to acknowledge. Oh, my dearest! I didn’t scar you. I didn’t destroy your heart. You’re going to be alright!
Sooner than she expected, though, she ran out of tears. I must find a way to thank Twilight! she thought. Whatever happened last night to bring this on, surely she must be at the center of it. She smiled at the thought of her beloved friend and former student. Indeed, who else could it be?
“Are you sure you don’t want my help?” Twilight asked eagerly. “You know, the cataloguing system is probably different than where you come from. I’d be happy to help you find whatever you need!”
“Not yet,” said Sunrise. “I’m reading what you gave me first. I just set up here because it’s a library. Best place to read.”
Twilight gave a delighted grin. “Oh, it so is!” she exclaimed. Then, “Okay. Well, in that case, Spike and I have some business to take care of. And if you’re sure, then while we’re out I’ll let everypony know you’re ready to meet them.”
Sunrise smiled. “I’m sure.”
“Okay! Well, we’d better get going. We’ll be back in a few hours, let me know if you have any questions then.”
Sunrise nodded to the table where she’d set up, with books stacked next to a notepad and pencil. “I’ll make a list.”
Twilight grinned. “Perfect! I’ll see you then.”
They said their good-byes, and Twilight and Spike (seriously, a dragon hatchling, how cool was that?) took their leave. Once the library doors had closed, Sunrise contentedly trotted back over to her table, then paused. Then frowned. Just how the feathering fuck was she supposed to take notes with hooves?
After a moment, she shrugged. Screw it, she thought. We’ll just discuss everything when she gets back. Including me asking for magic lessons. She sat down, staring at her hooves. And hoof lessons. Because, God damn.
Still, she was learning. She could flex her hooves enough to hold a book, turn pages. Taking the hint from her unconscious, she picked up the book on recent history.
“So, what do you think?” Twilight asked as Spike opened the palace main doors.
He gave a magnanimous smile. “Yeah, she can stay.”
No sooner had they begun to cross the threshold than they both heard the unmistakable voice of Sunrise Shimmer from behind them:
“What the actual FUCK?!?”
Without a word, Spike leaped upon Twilight’s back as she teleported back to the library. There was Sunrise, standing on two legs, back against a bookcase. Before her, a copy of Recent Events and Important Figures of Equestria was open and face-down on the floor. Her chair was upended beside her; on her face, a look of sheer dismay.
Cautiously, Twilight took a step forward. “Sunrise?” she asked. “You okay?”
Spike peered at her, equally concerned. “What’s wrong?”
Sunrise stared at them. “I made a pass at Princess Luna last night,” she whimpered. “And not in a good way.”
Sunrise paused, apprehension seizing her anew as she walked through the great hall towards the throne room. By day, the palace had been inviting. Sunrise had been presented to Princess Celestia as a new citizen of Equestria, had managed to bow without looking too awkward, and then they’d even chatted a little afterwards.
Then Sunrise had stayed and toured the place, with Twilight playing the delighted tour guide in the ultimate living, breathing museum of Equestria. Every now and then, Twilight had also dropped idle comments about how fair and understanding Luna was, what a great pony she could be, and so on. So by the time they’d left, Sunrise had been feeling almost relaxed about seeing Luna again. It would be a chance to apologize and explain herself. And in the abstract, it had seemed pretty plausible that Sunrise could just straighten things out between them, and they could start over.
But now, it was night.
The palace had changed with the setting of the sun, not that the changes were bad. The stained glass, devoid of daylight’s illumination, had deepened from brilliant pastels to gorgeous jewel colors. Most of the interior lighting was through an ambient magical light, giving the stone corridors a comfortable, soft feel. Sconces full of fresh lavender lined the hall, complementing the assortment of banners, heraldry, and works of art to be found throughout its beautifully sculpted corridors. The palace had changed its face, becoming if anything more soothing, more inviting.
There were also fewer ponies about at night, something else Sunrise didn’t mind. There were occasional pony guards walking as sentries, nodding to Twilight and her guest as they passed one another, search lights mounted on their helms for when they patrolled hallways unused during the night. Even the guards stationed along the main hall seemed just a little more chill somehow, even at attention.
To Sunrise, there was exactly nothing about the palace that was sinister or intimidating at night. If anything, it practically begged to be explored all over again. By day, it may have been the world’s most awesome museum… but now, at night, it felt like a home. A massive, intricate home, full of enough memories to last a hundred lifetimes and enough discoveries waiting to be made to last a hundred more.
But in a sense, that was the problem: it wasn’t her home. It was Princess Luna’s home that Sunrise was venturing deeper and deeper into. Sunrise had been dreading this meeting for days now. And with every reluctant step she took, she was becoming more aware of just how much an intruder she truly was.
Until, at last, the entryway to the throne room itself stood before them.
The massive double doors had been open throughout the day. There had been so much traffic, there had been no sense in closing them. But by night, they were kept closed by default. They were only opened for a pony who arrived for one of Her Dark Majesty’s rare audiences. Then, to allow privacy, closed after them.
Sealing the occupants inside.
“Wait, I… Twilight, I don’t think I can do this!” Fidgeting where she was, she glanced at Twilight with every sign of a mare about to make a break for it.
“Sunrise, relax. It’ll be fine.”
“Easy for you to say, you grew up with these people!”
A few of the younger guards lining the walls glanced her way. But only for an instant. Then, their gaze was forward again, ever at attention.
“Ponies,” Sunrise amended. “You grew up with these ponies.”
“Not Luna,” Twilight pointed out. “When we first met, we were kinda enemies, actually.”
“Enemies?” Sunrise squeaked.
“Long story. She got better.” At Sunrise’s dubious look, Twilight put a hoof on her withers, adding, “Look, you’re just nervous. It’ll be fine. And besides, Celestia liked you. And you liked her, right?”
“Well, sure. Celestia’s awesome,” Sunrise said sincerely. “She’s a peach.”
A few guards blinked. Apparently, comparing Her Bright Majesty to peaches was unusual.
“…Sooooo?” Twilight prompted.
“So, I didn’t sexually harass all over Celestia! I did on Luna!” Wincing, she covered her face with her hooves. “Christ, I must have completely humiliated her. I can only imagine how embarrassed she must have been, and she was there to help me… hell, she did help me, even though I was being a total douche canoe…”
Twilight looked upwards, feeling a little uncomfortable. “Um, Luna doesn’t humiliate too easily, actually—”
“It still wasn’t cool!”
“She’s actually a very understanding pony—”
“I mean, I totally sexualized her!”
“And I’m sure if you just take a step back—”
“TWILIGHT, I PRACTICALLY OFFERED TO WEAR HER ASS LIKE A HAT!”
Sunrise’s voice echoed perfectly throughout the great hall.
Twilight stared.
The guards stared.
Then, with difficulty, the guards pulled their eyes and faces forward again. We’re at attention, their demeanors seemed to say, we’re at attention, we’re not listening, not one word, because, holy crap, we are soooo at attention right now…
“That’s… an interesting image,” Twilight managed.
Sunrise rolled her eyes. “The point is,” she said, “I already screwed this up. Why would she even want to see me?”
Twilight shrugged. “She didn’t seem upset at the idea. If anything, she seemed pleased.”
“Right, the princess who’s been ruling since before recorded history has poise. I’m shocked.”
Twilight’s look became thoughtful. “Alright,” she said patiently. “Let’s take this from a different angle. You go through those doors. You talk to her. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Worst case scenario? She’s so angry and hurt that she doesn’t want to ever see me again, but she’s obliged to because I’m a new citizen. So my being here just rubs it in. And I just make everything worse by forcing myself into her space in a closed throne room.”
“Aaaand best case?”
Sunrise’s head dropped. “She incinerates me with a bolt from the blue.”
“Um, yeah… Luna doesn’t do that.”
Sunrise looked up at her, eyes pleading. “Maybe she could make an exception?”
Twilight chuckled, put a wing around her friend, and began gently guiding her towards the throne room doors again.
“Come on,” she said. “You’ve put this off long enough. Besides, she’s got royal duties, dreamers to guide… you don’t really want to keep her waiting, do you?”
Sunrise sighed again. “No…”
Mercifully, there was no fanfare in the Court of Night. The door guards simply opened the doors for the two mares. Then the pair entered, the portal closing silently behind them.
Still, it was a long walk to the throne. Longer than it had seemed earlier that day.
Sunrise kept her head down for most of it, trying to put together something, anything to say to this magnificent mare. It wasn’t until she heard Twilight Sparkle say, “Princess Luna, please allow me to formally present Sunrise Shimmer,” that she realized she had reached the dais and was out of time.
She bowed. “Princess Luna.” Meanwhile, her mind raced. Think, you fool, think…!
“Of course,” she heard Luna say. “I am glad to see you again.”
Out of sheer reflex, Sunrise looked up, and immediately fell into those sapphire blue eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. Every carefully constructed phrase she might have composed flew away from her.
Don’t just stare at her! Sunrise thought. Say something, you idiot!
“Me, too,” she managed.
Schmuck!
Twilight, meanwhile, was looking from Luna to Sunrise, and back again. Seconds passed, and no one spoke. They just kept… looking at each other. What in Equestria was going on here?
After careful and methodical consideration, Twilight cleared her throat. “Um, Luna, would you excuse me please?”
“Of course,” the monarch said distractedly.
Twilight made her withdrawal as unobtrusively as possible.
“I was hoping to speak to you again,” Luna said as she descended at last. “But you have had no need of me in your dreams of late, and I did not wish to intrude.”
“Yeah, about that,” said Sunrise, looking away at last. “Look, I am really, really sorry. I totally should never have said those things. It’s just that I thought I was still dreaming, so I wasn’t thinking of you as a person, and wow, that is seriously not how I wanted to say that—”
“Sunrise,” said Luna gently. “Please, do not apologize. If anyone should be sorry, it is I.”
Sunrise cocked an eyebrow. “Um, as I recall it was me who was being all creepy and stuff.”
But the alicorn shook her head. “Nay. You spoke from the heart. Without knowing who I was, nor what role in praxis I hold, you praised my beauty in the most sincere and heartfelt manner possible.” She shrugged a little. “I grant you, your phrasing took me aback somewhat…”
“Then, you’re not hurt?” Relief flooded through Sunrise.
“Whyever would I be?”
“Um,” Sunrise paused. Explaining why what she said was dickish was not a place she wanted to be. Still, Luna had asked. Sunrise took a deep breath and said, “Well, where I come from, talking to a female like I was, especially if you’ve just met, it’s… not a good thing. It’s, um, considered a form of assault, actually.”
Luna’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed?”
“Yeah. It’s a recent understanding, but… it’s like you’re demeaning her, treating her like a sexual object with your words. From a guy especially, but a lot of times even from a female.”
She ran a hoof along her mane. “In fact, if it’s from a male, even basic compliments can be hurtful unless they’re among friends, just because certain words and phrases have been weaponized by assholes for so long. Either to intimidate, or to imply that a female’s looks are all she’s got.”
Luna was nodding. “I think I understand. Twilight once shared with me a little of what your home world is like, and the position that females held in that society for so long.
“However,” she smiled, “I think it safe to say that Equestria is in no danger of becoming a patriarchy. Moreover, while I do not doubt that such verbal attacks may happen here, they would seem to be quite rare. And I assure you, they have never happened to me.”
Sunrise gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I guess they wouldn’t.”
“So, now is my turn, I think. Unless there was more?” When Sunrise shook her head, Luna continued. “Very well. When you first spoke to me so freely, and identified me as a construct of your dream, I had at first thought to correct you. Yet, I did not. That was a deception on my part, and a poor way to begin our friendship. Moreover, I now find that because of this you have labored under the misconception that you had done me harm. I therefore sincerely apologize. For the deception, and especially for your needless concern. I am truly sorry.”
Sunrise tilted her head slightly. “Then, if you don’t mind my asking…?”
“Why did I allow the error to continue?”
Sunrise nodded.
“Put simply, I didn’t want you to stop.” Luna’s smile was sad as she went on, “When has anypony besides my sister seen me, not as a princess, however terrible or just, nor as some great shadowy creature to be feared, but simply as Luna? Only in the most recent of times, and rarely even then. Further, when has any made bold to even have such thoughts as you did, unfettered by my station or power? Much less given voice to them as two ponies might speak to one another, heart to heart, as equals?”
The princess shook her head. “Once. Once only, when I was young enough that by today’s standards I was still a child. When chaos was king, and magic ran loose in the world.”
Sunrise took a tiny step forward. “What was his name?”
Luna shrugged. “I don’t think I ever knew. It didn’t matter, really. I was young, and in any case uninterested.”
“How come?”
“He was male.” Luna smiled again. “My mind and eye have always been drawn to the beauty of a mare, never a stallion.”
Sunrise blinked. Then swallowed.
“Still, though I allowed a deception of circumstance to continue,” Luna went on, “Please, do not think my duplicity worse than it was. I did not lie. I am dream.”
“Wait, I don’t understand,” Sunrise frowned “You’re… real. I mean, you’re standing here with me now.”
“Dreams are real,” Luna said. “And I am dream, as well as nightmare. And shadow. Even as my sister is light and fire. And yet, I am also flesh and blood.”
“I’m… yeah, sorry, I still don’t understand.”
“And I have no answer to give you,” the princess said softly. “In sooth, there may be none. My sister says I was born from mortal womb, as she was. Yet she and I were born different from other ponies, and only became more so as the years went by. Even from each other.” She looked away. “But it remains that I never meant to deceive you. Truly. I just…” She lapsed into silence.
After several moments of uncomfortable quiet, Sunrise spoke.
“Princess?”
The alicorn looked at the floor.
“Luna?”
Mustering all her courage, Sunrise went up to Luna, put a gentle hoof on her withers.
“Hey. I didn’t lie either,” she said gently. “Any of it. I meant every single word. I just wish I’d said it better, is all.”
When Luna didn’t move, Sunrise took another half-step forward, bringing them closer. “Listen, there’s a play where I come from, about a king and his family during Hearth’s Warming Eve, and, well, there’s a part where he looks at Eleonore of Aquitaine, the most legendary woman of his age, and says something like, ‘The most beautiful creature I had ever seen, and I walked right up and touched her. Where in the world did I find the courage to do that?’”
“And what did she say?” Luna whispered.
“She said, ‘In my eyes.’”
Hesitantly, Luna raised her eyes to meet Sunrise’s.
Sunrise smiled. “Yeah,” she said. “Those eyes, right there.” She sighed, gently touching Luna’s cheek. “God, you are so beautiful.”
Despite herself, Luna smiled as well.
“As art thou.”
Neither of them had intended to move. And for a moment, neither of them did. Technically, Luna was in motion first, but not by much, and they both met one another in a rush of forelegs and wings.
For a time, they simply stood in a tight embrace, holding one another, pressing against one another. Sunrise could feel Luna’s heartbeat, could feel herself sway, lightheaded, as she and Luna held one another for balance as well as…
Almost against her will, Sunrise nibbled gently on Luna’s neck. The alicorn made a small noise, squeezing her tighter.
“Is this okay?” Sunrise asked into her blue mane.
“I… think so…” Luna breathed.
“Should I stop?”
“…no…”
Another nibble. Another little noise. Still holding one another, their hooves began to wander.
“Mmm, wait,” Luna sighed at last, gently pushing on Sunrise.
Sunrise took a breathless step back, landing again on four hooves. “Right, stopping.”
“Nay, I only mean…” There was a gleam in Luna’s eye as she reached for the clasp on Sunrise’s cloak. “Thou hast me at disadvantage, with so much of thine own beauty yet concealed.”
Sunrise stood, eyes closed, heart pounding, as Luna gently undid the clasp. Slowly, slowly, Luna guided the cloak down her back. Sunrise could taste Luna’s breath as the leather fell away from her, Luna’s forelimbs caressing along her sides, her hooves reaching Sunrise’s flanks.
Then, Luna’s startled gasp.
Sunrise snapped her eyes open to see Luna, her own eyes wide with shock, stumbling back.
“What, no, it can’t—”
“Luna, what—”
“But in dream, thou had—”
Realization and dismay struck Sunrise as one. “No, wait, it’s okay—”
The princess’ breathing was fast and terrified. “Nay! I wouldn’t have – I would never—”
Sunrise stepped towards her. “Wait, please—”
“No!” Luna’s rear hooves struck the stairs of the throne’s dais, and her wings instinctively unfurled to their full length for balance as Sunrise’s cry filled the room.
“Don’t leave me!”
Silence.
Again, neither mare moved. Luna, at the very foot of her dais, wings outstretched, forehoof raised as if to retreat. Sunrise, several paces before her, one hoof reaching out to her.
As Sunrise saw the confusion and uncertainty in Luna’s eyes, so did Luna see the panic and pain in hers.
“I won’t,” said Luna. Slowly, her wings folded in again.
This time, it was Sunrise who broke eye contact. She moved her head aside and down, eyes squeezed shut.
“No,” she said in an uneven voice. “That was unfair. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. If you need to go, go.” She swallowed again. “Or, really, this is your place. I should be the one to leave.”
“I remain. Please, stay with me.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I choose to,” said Luna. “If thou allows it.”
Sunrise swallowed. Then, eyes still closed, she nodded.
“Please, Sunrise, how can I help thee?”
Sunrise only shook her head.
Luna sat where she was, ready to wait however long it took to be able to help, even if it was only through noiseless company. Several moments passed. Sunrise took in a long, calming breath, then released it. At last, her voice no longer shaking, she spoke.
“Okay,” Sunrise said at last. “Before we cover anything else, I’m eighteen.”
Luna frowned in confusion, but said nothing.
“I understand the freak-out, though. Seriously. I mean, when I was fourteen… well, there was another girl, about my age. We weren’t together exactly, but we liked each other and it had been a seriously bad time for both of us. We both needed it, or at least we thought we did.
“Anyway, um… humans wear clothes all the time, basically, and they have hair only in certain places. They have manes, sort of, and then when they hit puberty they get hair under their arms and over their genitals. For females, it’s fashionable to shave their underarms. And we both had. It was kind of a big deal for us, like a rite of passage. But, um, she’d also shaved her vagina. And I didn’t know that. Hell, I’d never even heard of it being done.”
“So, when you saw her unclothed…”
“Yeah, I totally lost my shit.” Sunrise pressed her hoof to her forehead. “I mean, yeah, we were both kids, but to me… that was the mark of a child. And the idea of having… well… needless to say, I freaked out, and we didn’t do anything.”
She shook her head. “Anyway. If I’d been thinking tonight, I would have said something. Or hung up my cloak. Hell, one of the reasons I got the damn thing was so ponies would stop staring at my ass as I walked by.”
She sighed, adding, “Irony is a bitch.”
Luna gave a wry smile. “It is, indeed.”
“But I wasn’t thinking. I just saw you, and… well, anyway.” She shrugged. “Among ponies, I guess you don’t get extra hair or whatever else. You get cutie marks. Except that instead of indicating physical maturity, they show a kind of psychological maturity. When you get your cutie mark it means that, on some deep and fundamental level, you know who you are. More than just what you’re ‘supposed’ to do, more even than your special talent, though it’s that, too. It shows what, for you, gives your life the most meaning. One of Equestria’s ancient philosophers referred to it as ‘that which feeds the pony soul.’ Which I gotta say, is pretty awesome.
“But humans don’t get cutie marks. I never got one. Hell, I might never get one. Most humans go through their whole lives without ever gaining that kind of insight. But it remains, I’m of age. I just don’t have the mark to prove it. And if that’s s deal breaker, then, yeah, that sucks. But we’re still cool. At least,” she added, looking at Luna for the first time since she began speaking, “I hope we are?”
Luna smiled. “Of course we are.”
Sunrise’s shoulders sagged a little in relief.
“Look,” she said, running her hoof along her mohawk, “I hate saying this. I mean, I really hate saying this. But, maybe we took things a little too fast tonight.”
Luna nodded. “I think perhaps we did. Though in most ways it is difficult to regret this evening, I am sorry for the pain that I caused you.”
“Man, that wasn’t your fault. Like I said, I know what it’s like.”
“Just the same.”
They embraced again, though with a great deal less passion. Still, there was a mutual shudder as they parted.
Sunrise gave a mischievous smile. “So. You seeing anypony?”
Luna blinked. “No.”
“Would you like to?”
The princess took in a delighted breath.
“Yes.” Her smile was radiant. “Yes, I would.”
“Tia, help me!”
Celestia bolted upright in an instant, horn glowing with power and fury, ready to defend against all comers.
“Who? What? Where? When?” she demanded, eyes still straining to focus. “Where are they? Alert the guards! Is Twilight—”
A frantic Luna was hovering her, wings outstretched, staring down at her with wide eyes.
“I have a date,” she said.
“Oh.” Celestia wavered for a moment between sleep and wakefulness, the glow in her horn subsiding. Her head hit the pillow for a second. Then her eyes snapped open, completely focused as she jackknifed up again.
“What?”
“I. Have. A date,” Luna repeated. She landed on the bed in front of her sister, her voice a little unsteady. “After I am done guiding the dreamers, I am to visit her. She has welcomed me into her dreams each night, until we determine a better time and place to meet in person.” Then, grabbing Celestia by the shoulders, demanding, “Tia, what do I do? Thou has to help me!”
“What… but…”
“Do I bring gifts? Flowers? No, I can’t bring flowers, she’ll be dreaming…”
“Luna, wait, slow down…”
“Well, technically I could, but is this courtship? Oh, ancestors before us, be this courtship?”
“Luna, listen to me!”
“Am I courting her? Is she courting me? How do I know? Does she? What’s supposed to happen next?”
Laughing and exasperated, Celestia finally grabbed Luna’s shoulders in return, demanding, “How in Equestria’s name would I know?!?”
They stared at one another for a moment, and then collapsed into several minutes of mutual laughter.
“So, a date,” said Celestia at last, her head falling against a pillow. “As in… a marefriend.”
“So t’would seem,” Luna affirmed, collapsing on the cushions beside her. “I confess, I am still contemplating the ramifications these events portend.”
“So, still processing.”
“I believe I said that.”
“Mmm.” Celestia glanced at her sister. “So, is she pretty?”
Luna buried her face in another pillow between them, curling up slightly. “Yes.”
Celestia rolled over, her eyes teasing. “How pretty is she?”
Luna held the pillow tightly, with even more curling. “Her loveliness is unparalleled.”
Tia’s look was amused. “So, more beautiful than me, then? I’m shocked.”
Luna peeked past the pillow to give her a knowing look. “Sisters have their own category.”
“Ah. I had forgotten.” Celestia leaned back contentedly, eyes closed.
Luna stared at her over the pillow, exasperated. “Have you truly no advice for me at all?”
Celestia gave a helpless shrug. “Take your time?”
“Yes,” Luna cleared her throat a little. “We… already covered that.”
“Then, dearest, I fear I do not. Perhaps you could read a book on the subject—?”
Luna made a frustrated sound, bringing her pillow down on her sister’s face with a fwump! “Augh. You sound like Twilight. Or she sounds like you.” She rose. “Regardless, you are both impossible.”
“So it would seem,” came Celestia’s pillow-muffled reply.
“In any case,” Luna said. “My own conundrum notwithstanding, I must yet guide the dreamers this night. Shall I see you in the morning?”
Celestia smiled as she moved the pillow under her own head. “Only if you’re not too tired.”
Luna walked towards the apartment door, pausing only to give a small prance of delight on her way. Celestia watched her with growing happiness until she reached the door. Then:
“So, does this mystery mare have a name?”
“You what?!?”
“I’ve got a date,” Sunrise repeated, enjoying the moment. “Unicorns do that, right?”
“Well, sure, but… with Luna?” Astonishment and delight continued to war across Twilight’s face, with delight slowly but inevitably winning.
“We’re meeting when she gets off work,” Sunrise explained. “I dream lucid, so it’ll be like stopping by my place on her way home. We’ll figure out other stuff we can do together as we go.”
With the initial shock wearing off, Twilight seemed even happier about the arrangement than Sunrise. “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh!” she exclaimed, happily prancing around her friend.
“Yeah,” beamed Sunrise. “Kinda my thought.”
“This is so, so, so awesome! I am so happy for you! Both of you!”
“Well, let’s not get carried away, it’s not like we’re sending out invitations yet…”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Invitations?” she squeed.
“And she’s off,” Sunrise chuckled.
After several more moments of Twilight doing aerial loop-the-loops and bounding around the castle’s great hall like a foal, Sunrise broke into her thoughts again.
“So, um, I do have a favor to ask…”
With a single wing-assisted leap, Twilight was before her. “What? What is it? What can I do?”
“Well,” Sunrise demurred with a smile, “Gosh, I dunno, I don’t want to impose…”
Frantically, Twilight grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Tell me!”
“Well, I’m kinda new to this whole… ‘romance’ thing,” Sunrise admitted, drawing out the moment. “Sooooo, I don’t suppose you’d know anypony who, you know, might have a few books on the subject—”
Twilight took in a long, overjoyed breath.
“Yes!” She exclaimed. “Yes, I do! Well,” she amended as they continued walking, “I mean, I haven’t read any of them myself, which implies a whole category of research into relationships I’ve been neglecting up until now, come to think of it, but I’m certain I saw a few here and there, and I know some are pretty old, but some are more recent, and the older ones can help give a historical context to the current cultural norms and expectations—
“Oh,” she brightened even more, “and, you know what we can do? We can write a paper compiling our findings, composing a ‘works cited’ sheet of everything the library has on the subject – cross-referenced by date and subjects covered of course – and then I can order some more books as we determine what holes there might be in the data my library currently has available…”
Sunrise grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
When they reached the great doors, Sunrise whinnied and pranced a little herself. When she saw Twilight watching her with a knowing smile, she blushed a little. Then, laughing, they crossed the threshold together into the outer castle.
Sunrise did not see the twin lines of guards behind them, exchanging glances of surprise and speculation. She only heard the massive portal close as she and Twilight left the great hall. Shortly thereafter, she was in the streets of Canterlot.
Sunrise stood for a moment, her friend by her side, looking out into a night filled with promise.
Then they exchanged another smile, and began their journey back to Ponyville.
