> Born Under Silver Moon Light
>  by David Silver
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - In Your Dreams
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna knew peace, and that was a rare thing. She knew nothing but peace in every fibre of her being, except that one spot there. She reached a hoof to scratch it, still quite asleep, safely ensconced in her dreamscape. But the sensation didn't go away.

It was growing stronger by the moment. It stopped itching. It was a gentle nuzzling.

Luna cracked open an eye. "Why...?" She focused on the source of those nuzzles. The gentle lapping of the waterfall near her and the dazzling flowers did little to muffle the surprise to see a small version of herself, gently nuzzling at her.

Luna sat up, ears erect. "Who... what are you?"

The little Luna smiled up at her, saying nothing.

But Luna knew. There was communication between them without words, without images. She just knew. She had taken the Tantabus within her.  It had to go somewhere.

It could have become an angry demon, raging sullenly within her. But it had become this little foal. "You are... my regret?"

The filly Luna inclined her head left and right, then reached out, pawing at her larger before nestling against her.

"You are... Something else..." Luna reached, gathering her little self closer. "Something precious. You are me..."

That she didn't understand it was entirely her own fault. She didn't understand herself, and that self had come to offer nuzzles and look at her with eyes that begged for company.

She could turn them away, shout them out of her dream...

"I cannot..." She leaned in, touching her nose to the little Luna's cheek. "But we can't both be Luna."

The little one looked at her with uncertainty.

"And we must use words." She tapped her head. "We may both be one... But that will confuse others. It confuses me, if I am being honest..."

"What words should I use?" asked the little Luna, a smile on her snout.

"Little reflection." Luna willed her reflection up with her magic. "The first word should be your name, but what should that be... Sublunar?"

"No." The little Luna shook her head, disfavor clear on her face.

"And... yet it remains mine to give." Luna huffed gently. "I am tired, and you know that." The little Luna nestled warmly against her and Luna hugged her little self close. "It should be criminal, being that cute..."

An idea came to her along with a smile. "Crescent."

Crescent accepted that without a word, and Luna knew it. Sleep came for them both.





It was about a week later. Luna was in her room, fluffing up her ethereal mane. "Another evening of work ahead of me," she sang to her reflection.

"Yes."

Luna whirled to find Crescent watching her. "What are you doing here?"

"You need company." Crescent put both hooves to her little chest. "Me too. You don't think of me as much anymore. You've put your regret behind you. I don't like being behind you."

Luna inclined her head. "You were literally there a moment ago." And that was the problem. "Stop that." She reached out to bonk Crescent on the head. "Talk with outside words. We may be the same pony, but I refuse to speak to you that way."

Crescent rubbed where she had been bonked. "Alright... I am sorry."

"Good." Luna's featured brightened to a smile. "Now what am I to do with you? I need to inspect dreams. You know that."

"I do." She pointed at herself. "May I explore the castle?"

Luna cringed, imagining the mockery she'd get when ponies saw her little self walking around. "Can't you... just stay still?"

"No." Crescent was not showing herself to be a subtle filly. "Can I bother Raven? She seems nice."

"Miss Inkwell? My sister's secretary?" Luna snorted at the idea. "You're welcome to try, but she's busy more often than..."

It was too late. She had given permission, and Crescent trotted out of the room on a mission. "I will regret this."

Still, there was a mission to be done, so she curled up to start her dream patrols.





Luna suppressed a groan as she emerged from her dream patrols later that night. She had a feeling Crescent was going to cause some mischief while let loose in the castle. 

Making her way down the hall, Luna peeked into the library. Sure enough, there was the little filly, chatting eagerly with a bemused Raven Inkwell.

"And then I said 'But it's right there on the map!'" Crescent giggled, tapping a hoof on an open atlas. "Get it? Because maps are flat but the world is round?"

Raven gave a tolerant smile. "Yes, very amusing." She looked up as Luna entered. "Welcome back, Princess. Your young friend here was just regaling me with some...jokes."

Luna nodded, noting the subtle plea for rescue in the secretary's eyes. "Ah, I see Crescent has been entertaining you. Thank you for indulging her, Miss Inkwell."  

She turned to Crescent. "Come along now, little one. Let's allow Raven to return to her work."

Crescent's ears drooped. "But I was having fun..." At Luna's stern look, she sighed. "Yes, Princess."

As they left the library, Luna asked gently, "Did you truly pester poor Raven all night with silly filly jokes?"

Crescent scuffed a hoof. "No...I helped tidy some books too. And I let her try on my crown!" She pointed to the little silver circlet perched askew on her mane. 

Luna couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps this little embodiment of herself wasn't so troublesome after all. "Truly now? You are being better behaved than I had imagined." She led Crescent back towards her room.

There, she guided them both to sit on a large cushion. "Little Crescent, sliver of the moon... You are me."

"You are me," echoed Crescent with a bright smile.

"But I don't know what you want." Luna leaned closer. "Kindly give a hint to yourself and tell me." She held up a hoof quickly. "Out loud, kindly."

"Out loud, okay..." Crescent considered with little hums. "I am you. I was your regret. I am your missing years. I want to make up for that, and be happier." She gestured to herself, then Luna. "Us. We are one. We deserve to be happy."

Luna smiled at the filly. "I... would like to be happy..." She frowned just as suddenly. "I am happy."

Crescent said nothing, but understanding flowed. Luna's happiness was a delicate thing. "Cut that out." Luna tapped her little self on the head. "How do you propose making us both happy?"

Crescent pointed to the door leading out of Luna's chambers. "I am yours. Take care of me. Take care of yourself. I will try to do the same."

"Take care of you?" Luna looked over that small little Luna. "Like a foal?"

"I am a foal." Crescent wagged her tail with happy little swishes. "Be my mother. Be me."

"Only a dream entity could say that with a straight face." Still, she failed to resist and gathered Crescent up into a warm hug. "I never thought I'd have a foal."

"I will try to be a good one." Crescent curled in against Luna. "Please."

Luna felt her heart melt as she held the little filly close. Crescent's plea tugged at her in a way she didn't quite understand. Perhaps it was simply her own loneliness and desires manifesting through this piece of herself given form.

"I suppose...having a companion wouldn't be so terrible," Luna mused, running a gentle hoof over Crescent's mane. "And nopony knows me better than myself, after all."  

She smiled down at the beaming face looking back at her with such open adoration. It had been centuries since anypony gazed on Luna with such unconditional love and trust. Even after her return from exile, most still viewed her with caution or awe rather than genuine affection. 

Crescent's tiny hooves wrapped around Luna's neck in a hug that chased away the last of her reservations. Yes, she would care for this sweet, silly filly who only wanted her company. In caring for Crescent, perhaps she could learn to care more kindly for herself as well.

"Very well, little one. I accept your proposal," said Luna formally. Then she rubbed their noses together. "Now...as my new daughter, I believe your first royal duty is getting ready for bed!"

Crescent squeaked in protest but soon settled under the covers when Luna promised to sit with her a while. Humming a lullaby, the Moon Princess stroked the now-sleeping filly's back, feeling truly at peace for the first time in ages. Her family had grown to include a little foal.

She tucked Crescent in gently. Only once she was sure the little filly was quite ready to finish their sleep, Luna rose and strode from the room.

"I have other duties." She looked for wilted lavenders to replace in the hallways and otherwise tended to the more physical needs of the castle's night.

It had become morning, she could tell, smelling her sister's pancakes, and the tugging fatigue that plagued her. It was time for her own rest, but Tia would surely want to talk...

Luna made her way to the sunny kitchens, stifling a yawn behind one hoof. As expected, Princess Celestia stood at the griddle flipping pancakes, the sweet scent of the warm breakfast filling the air.

"Good morning, sister," Celestia greeted warmly. "You look quite tired. Was your evening busy?"

"Mm, only the usual dreamwalking, my dear Tia," murmured Luna, levitating a few pancakes onto her own plate. She paused, then added in what she hoped was a casual tone, "I, ah...may have acquired a young charge in my quarters last night."  

Celestia arched an eyebrow. "Oh? One of Twilight's students come seeking an astronomy lesson from Auntie Luna?" She chuckled.

"Not exactly." Luna took a fortifying sip of juice before explaining, "I seem to have...adopted a foal of sorts. My own, er, daughter, if you will."

Pancakes forgotten, Celestia gaped at her sister. "A daughter?! Luna, are you...seeing somepony in secret?"

"What? No!" Luna felt her face flush violet. "It is nothing like that. She is...well...me. The ponyfied version of my regret over past mistakes...only now she wishes for me to raise her as my own foal self." She gave a weak grin. "Surprise?"

Celestia was still and unmoving, just the sound of a guard walking past to break it.

"Lulu." Celestia brought her hooves together slowly. "Am I to understand that you have adopted a coping mechanism?"

Luna's cheeks went from cool to being on fire, her heart thumping in her chest. "Something... like that... yes. You make it sound absurd when you say it."

"Because it is." Celestia reached across the table. "Luna, I love you. Let's start with that. You have my undying support."

"Then support this, Tia." Luna let out a weary sigh. "I need sleep. If it pleases you, she will probably wake up before I do. I will leave a note for her to find you. You can talk this over with her. If you would send her away, let me know after you've spoken with her.

Luna rose to her hooves. "Though I doubt that. She has my charms." She flashed her most winning smile. "There's no chance you will do anything save faun over her."

With that settled, at least in her mind, Luna tromped off towards her own bed.

Celestia watched her sister depart, eyebrows knitted in concern. Luna had always been the more eccentric of the two, but adopting a magical construct as a daughter was unexpected even for the whimsical Moon Princess.

Still, Luna had asked her to speak with this "Crescent" first before judging. Perhaps there was more to this situation than met the eye.

She took a last bite of her own pancake, her hunger somewhat muddled. "Lulu..." She took a resolute breath. "I will meet this Crescent, and judge with my own eyes and ears." She rose from her seat. "For now, the duties of the day call to me."
> 2 - Greeting the Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia tended to her nation. She saw diplomats and heard pleas from her citizens. She did as she had to. Equestria would not rule itself.

But she was being watched. She looked past the foreign agent to see a small dark filly in the back. She started in surprise. It was Luna, as a foal. "Your proposal is most intruiging." She brought her hooves together, smiling gently at the bipedal fox. "May I have a day to consider it? I think we have have some plans that may work with it well."

"Of course, Your Highness." The vixen took a step back with an elaborate bow. "We look forward to seeing it. As the sun rises, solar queen."

Celestia was a princess, but she didn't press that, allowing the diplomat to make their departure. She instead waved for Crescent to approach. "Are you Luna?"

"Yes." She hopped up right next to Celestia. "No. She called me Crescent, so others should too. Hello."

"Hello." Celestia smiled at the little, young, version of her sister. "Aren't you the cutest thing... Now... What brings you here?"

"She said I should visit." Crescent held up the letter luna had left behind. "That means something."

"Does it?" Celestia leaned her head in. "She was upset with me, when she went to sleep. Little one, why don't you share her sleep? Aren't you also a creature of the night, hm?"

Crescent tapped her hooves together. "One, I don't have that job." She ran a hoof through her mane, brushing the light blue hair back. "I'm just a filly."

Celestia inclined her head with a hum. "You have a point. Luna and I did have different schedules before our jobs mandated them. Is it not odd, if you are Luna, here to help Luna, that you will spend much of your time away from her?"

"She needs this." Crescent reached up with her small hooves. "She misses being your little sister, and loved."

Celestia felt her breath catch, wings fluttering involuntarily. It was true - in the long centuries of Luna's banishment and the residual awkwardness even after her return, they had lost some of the closeness they'd shared as young alicorns playfully mastering magic together.

Gazing at this miniature version of her dear sister, Tia was gripped by a pang of nostalgic tenderness. Before she'd even realized it, she'd drawn the little one into a warm embrace.

"You're absolutely right, Crescent. My sister does need love, as do I. Perhaps we both need reminding how to receive it as much as to give it." She felt a tiny nose nuzzle her chest. "Will you help this forgetful old alicorn with that important lesson?"

Crescent beamed up at her. "I can try! What should we do first, Aunt Tia?"

Celestia tapped her chin thoughtfully, mind already brimming with cozy activities and special meals perfect for rediscovering their lost sisterly connection. But for now...

"Well, little niece, I did have quite the pile of dull economic policy proposals to review next. But I believe introductions to the noble cake kitchens take clear priority! What say you to a tour and perhaps a few taste tests?"  

The delighted squeal from Crescent drew surprised looks from several passing guards. But Celestia just laughed, already feeling centuries lighter, and let the bubbly filly lead the way.

All thoughts of making Luna chase Crescent away were thoroughly abandoned. She didn't even have a chance in that battle.

But duties did call, and Celestia was a creature of duties and patterns. Though she enjoyed sharing a few slices of delictables with Crescent, she knew she couldn't take the entire day off without warning. "Dear little thing, I must get back to work."

She planted a gentle kiss on Crescent's head. "Will you find other things to do while Aunt Tia bores herself?"

"Aw." Crescent rubbed her cheeks softly, smooshing her own face. "Oh! Your nephew."

Celestia perked an ear at that. "I can think of a few, which?"

"Blueblood. He needs company too. I will visit him." Crescent nodded, completely certain. "He is Luna's nephew too. We are related. We should be good good friends."

"What a marvelous idea." Celestia started towards her throne room. "I look forward to hearing how that went. Be good, Crescent."

Crescent waved a cheerful goodbye to Celestia before setting off to find her wayward cousin. She knew Blueblood had a reputation among the castle staff for being...particular. But family should always make an effort to get along!

It took asking a few flustered ponies, but she finally tracked Blueblood down out in the sculpture garden, scrutinizing a newly installed marble fountain shaped like rearing pegasi. 

"Too imposing. Have it replaced with the cherub design we discussed," he instructed a pair of nervous workponies. "Honestly, must I make all the decisions around here myself?"

"Hi, cousin Blueblood!" Crescent trotted up brightly once the workers had scrambled off. "I'm your cousin Crescent. Wanna play?"

The prince blinked in surprise at the tiny princess suddenly underhoof. "Ah, yes. Luna's little...protege, was it? A pleasure to make your acquaintance." He looked her over critically. "Don't believe I've seen you at court before."  

Crescent shook her head. "First day! Wanna give me a tour? Ooh, we could have a picnic too!" She gasped. "And a tea party!"

Blueblood grimaced briefly at the thought before quickly reshaping his features into a gracious smile. "But, of course. This way, dear Crescent..." He supposed an afternoon spent entertaining this confusing little filly was noblesse oblige for the heir apparent, which he imagined himself to be.

As Crescent immediately zipped over to the fountain, trying to climb up and touch the elegant sculptures, Blueblood wondered if it was too late to plead a diplomatic emergency across Equestria. Ah well. At least she seemed more appreciative of fine art than most.

"Wow." She was busy admiring the pegasus statue, trailing a hoof along ornately carved wings of stone. She spread her own wings, far smaller. "Wow! Somepony must have worked really hard to make this."

"Yes, I suppose they did." Blueblood frowned at the statue. "But it's the wrong one."

"Wrong how?" Crescent fell to her haunches, and almost into the water. "It looks so pretty. You don't like it?"

"I like it..." He coughed into a hoof. "But there are better designs. I have one in mind I want installed here."

"Why not both?"

Blueblood was ready to argue that, mouth opening, but... Why... not both? "Hm. There is only so much space."

Crescent pointed to an empty spot. "Is it also a pony? They could face each other. That would be really nice."

Blueblood stepped to where Crescent had pointed, imagining the cherub pony he had wanted right there. "Mmmm... Hm..."

"Like it?" She batted her lashes at Blueblood. "You can take credit for it. This was your idea."

"My idea, of course." And so his opinion lifted several degrees. "And a fine idea I had. Yes... Yes." He waved for one of the workponies to come over. "Put the cherub here." He pointed below himself. "And just turn the pegasus to face it. They should face each other, as if in conversation, or one hunting the other. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir, of course!" They saluted and hurried off.

Crescent beamed, delighted to see her formerly grumpy cousin now animatedly directing the arrangement of his newly expanded sculpture collection. This was going perfectly!

As Blueblood made quick work of assigning further aesthetic improvements to the garden, Crescent trotted alongside chattering about anything and everything that crossed her mind. 

"We could have a big party out here when it's finished! With lots of cakes, naturally. Oh! And those little tiny sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Do you like flowers? My favorite are moon lilies, but sunflowers are so cheerful too..."

To his credit, Blueblood tolerated the endless stream of babble and questions with relatively good grace. Though from the way his eye occasionally twitched, his patience was being tested.

"Oh, I know!" Crescent suddenly exclaimed. "We should add a sculpture of the two of us out here! To celebrate becoming best cousin friends forever!"

This finally prompted a genuine laugh from Blueblood. "My dear, we've only just met. And while you show admirable artistic taste for one so young, bestowing 'best friends' status requires a bit more history."

Crescent drooped slightly. "It does?"

Blueblood hesitated, then gently patted her head. "For most ponies, perhaps. But you being part of the royal family, I suppose some allowances can be made..."

The radiant smile on Crescent's face as she hugged his leg was almost enough to make up for what was sure to be a long afternoon spent indulging his new "best cousin friend." Though Blueblood had to admit she had surprisingly helpful suggestions regarding the garden.

Crescent saw the sun was setting. "Oh! I should go say good evening to Luna."

Blueblood frowned faintly. "Pardon the asking, but I wasn't entirely informed. Are you not... Luna?"

"I am," sang Crescent. "But I'm not. I'm Crescent. Luna is waking up. I should go tell her what I've been doing." She launched herself at his leg, hugging tight. "And that I made a Best Cousin Friend!

Blueblood snorted softly. He wasn't sure how valuable that prize was. "Worthy of history, surely. Go on then. I will see you another day."

"Bye!" She dashed off, galloping into the castle proper and through the hallways in a little blue blur into Luna's room, which was also hers. "Luna!"

Luna was just stirring, stretching with a yawn as the last clinging cobwebs of sleep faded. She blinked bemusedly at the petite ball of energy bouncing eagerly at the foot of her bed. 

"Crescent? You're certainly chipper this evening," she observed, unable to help an affectionate smile. Trust this little shard of her heart to wake brighter than the moonrise itself. "Did you have pleasant adventures about the castle today, then?"

"The best!" Crescent hopped up onto the high bed, words spilling out in an enthusiastic rush. "Aunt Tia showed me the kitchens and we had cake, and then I helped cousin Blueblood with his garden and we're best friends now, and I saw the cool armor hall, and the library, and..."

Luna listened indulgently as Crescent nattered on, pausing only to take dramatic gasps of air before plunging into her next story. It seemed her daughter had charmed her way into much of the castle already. Typical. Few could resist Crescent's bubbly enthusiasm for long.

When the filly finally wound down, Luna drew her close, nuzzling her tousled mane. "I'm so pleased you've had such a delightful second day here, little one." She hesitated. "And...you truly consider yourself happy? Adjusting well?"

Crescent snuggled into Luna's embrace. "Uh huh! Everypony's been really nice. And I got to make friends and see neat stuff. But best of all..." She touched her horn to Luna's. "I got you as my mama!"

Luna had to blink sudden mistiness from her eyes. Yes, she was undoubtedly the fortunate one here. This sweet child was the unexpected gift Luna never knew she needed. 

"I love you so very much, Crescent," she whispered.

"Love you more!" The little filly squeezed Luna tight. 

It was in that moment that Luna realized she was professing love for herself. But, was it wrong for a pony to have some love for themself? "Crescent, are you going to bed now?"

"No." She scrambled up onto Luna's back, hugging her. "Not tired yet. I want to be with you. You deserve some love too." She smooched Luna on the back. "Lead on."

Luna rose to her hooves, and she knew. She knew everything Crescent had done that day. It flowed with the easy transmission that came with one part of the mind conversing with the other, without any willful thought. She just knew, and she colored faintly. "Celestia took a quick liking to you."

"She loves me, us, you." Crescent tapped at Luna's back. "She only loves me because I am you."
> 3 - Protecting the Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna guided Crescent about, refreshing the displays of lavenders, adjusting clutter in places, and making the castle a pristine fortress of peace and relaxation. "I do what I can, to keep this."

Crescent nodded along, riding Luna's back. "You do a very good job."

Luna curled an ear back at her passenger. "You're just saying that."

"I did just say it, but I mean it." Crescent folded her arms. "Are you going to go dream-hunting?"

"Of course." Luna took a turn, walking down a new quiet hallway. "I must, every night. We can't have ponies suffering nightmares alone."

"We can't have you hunting nightmares alone." Crescent hopped up to her hooves, still on Luna's back. "So, tonight, I go with you!"

"You?" Luna looked over her shoulder. "Do you even know how?"

"Mom." Crescent burst into sudden giggles. "I was the Tantabus before now. I know how to be a dream. I know how to be a nightmare. I tormented you... Sorry, but you asked me to... But now I want to be good. Let me be a good dream."

Luna hummed softly. "You are many things, little Crescent." She headed for her own chambers despite that, settling on a soft pillow. "But if you wish it, accompany me. Let us protect Equestria."

"Yay!" Crescent slid down from Luna, just to curl against her. Soon, both were in the dream world.

Crescent balanced on the spider's web of a bright line beneath her. "Look." She poined to what looked like a pony caught in the webs, wriggling helplessly. "I think I found one."

"Yes, let's see what troubles them." Luna stepped along the webbing without difficult. "They are not menaced, just caught. Perhaps simply anxious thoughts plague them."

"We'll fix it!" Crescent dived at the pony, vanishing in a puff of mist. Luna shook her head, following with more stately grace.





Luna awoke, but it was still quite early, relatively. She looked to her side and heard the faint and soft breathing of Crescent. "Ah..." Her little companion had fallen asleep truly. "You were up before me." She kissed the back of her little dream child. "It is strange..." A day pony would have day children that mostly slept on time, right?

Luna snorted, realizing she was being silly. Visions of parents chastising their foals for staying up late came to mind. No... She wasn't that unusual. She would not bother Crescent. "You sleep as you need, little one." She closed her eyes, returning to the dream realm to finish her patrols.

When she roused properly, she made her sleepy way towards the dining room she typically visited before bed. She could hear Celestia being cheerful and, well, sunny. "Mmm," she grunted, going for a drink first.

"Luna!" Celestia clapped on seeing her sister. "Up for some pancakes? They're special."

"Special?" Luna turned with her cup of tea, sipping. "Special how?" She was used to Celestia's silly animals, but no, it was Crescent done up in pancake art. Luna snorted at the goofy image. "Celly... Does that..." She paused to yawn thunderously. "Does that mean?"

"It means she can stay." Celestia nudged the plate with her magic. "Sit, eat. You can sleep afterwards."

Luna couldn't suppress a touched smile as she settled in to enjoy the sweet pancake portrait of her darling Crescent. Celestia's warm acceptance meant the world, cementing Crescent's place in their little family.

As Luna nibbled drowsily at her breakfast, Celestia chattered about ideas for the little filly - playdates with Cadance and Flurry Heart, magic lessons with Starlight Glimmer, stargazing parties on the tower balcony. 

It seemed her elder sister was just as enchanted with Crescent and was eagerly brainstorming ways to indulge her new "niece." Luna made approving noises through mouthfuls of pancake, warmed by Celestia's enthusiasm.

When she had cleaned her plate, Luna lingered a moment to nuzzle her sister fondly. 

"She makes this old castle brighter, does she not?" Celestia murmured, hugging Luna close. "Almost like having a young filly underhoof again."

Luna hummed agreement, touched by the latent longing in Celestia's voice. Perhaps Crescent's playful presence could help heal old wounds for them both.

As the moon princess trudged contentedly back towards her chambers for some well deserved rest, she made a mental note to ask Crescent about her aunt's wistful comment later. 

For now, she simply slipped back under the covers, gathering the slumbering little one close. Crescent mumbled happily and snuggled into Luna's embrace as her mother joined her in blissful dreams.





Crescent awoke with a little yawn. She hopped off the pillow she started on and stretched her wings into a buzzing flapping. "Time to take the day!" She turned to see her mother, herself, slumbering peacefully. "Sleep well." She returned to kiss Luna on the snout. "Be back later."

With a joyful smile, she set out into the castle, but didn't get far. Twilight had found her. "It's just as they said." Twilight lifted Crescent in her magic, bringing the filly closer. "A young Luna... Are you Princess Luna?"

"Yes. No." Crescent pedaled in the air gently, unable to walk. "Hello, Twilight."

"Have we met?" Twilight set the foal down carefully.

"Yes. No." Crescent burst into giggles. "Stop asking those questions. You have not met me, Crescent. You have met Luna. I am Luna. I am Crescent. Hello. Nice to meet you, Twilight. I know who you are, but this is the first time we met. I want to be your friend. Can we be friends?"

"Y-yes, of course." Twilight smiled at the filly. "You... It's hard to put this into words, exactly. Something about you... It's like you're just... putting out little happy rays. That sounds so imprecise, excuse me."

"Life isn't always precise." Crescent inclined her head. "What games will we play? What do you like to play?"

Twilight couldn't help but laugh at the little filly's enthusiasm. There was an irresistible charm to Crescent that made one want to embrace her joie de vivre.

"Well, I quite enjoy reading of course," she began, then chuckled again at Crescent's exaggerated gasp of horror. 

"Reading isn't playing!" the filly protested. "We're gonna play fun stuff! Like tag! Or hide and seek! Or Ooh - follow the leader!" 

Before Twilight could respond, Crescent was bouncing in an impromptu dance, wings fluttering. "C'mon, try it! Just move however feels fun! Be silly!"

Twilight felt herself blush, glancing around self-consciously. "Oh, I don't know if I can just...dance randomly around the castle..."

But Crescent fixed her with big pleading eyes. "Pleeeease?"

And just like that, Twilight felt her reservations melt away. This sweet little soul just wanted to have fun with her new friend. What harm was there in being a foal again for a moment?

"Well...alright." Twilight began nodding her head, slowly copying Crescent's bouncy steps. "Like...this?"

"Yeah! You got it!" Crescent's delighted laughter rang out as she demonstrated a spin. "Whee! Your turn!"

Soon, princess and student were both giggling like schoolfillies, dancing together without rhythm or reason. And when they finally collapsed in a dizzy heap, Twilight had to admit playtime had its own magic too.

"Princess Twilight." Twilight stopped instantly, turning to face Raven Inkwell. "I see you've also fallen under her spell." She nodded stiffly at Crescent. "She has that affect on ponies."

Crescent bounced towards Raven. "Oh, Raven! Morning!"

"Good morning, Crescent." She glanced at a brightly-lit stained glass window. "I beleive it is afternoon. Your activities may have caused you to be hungry. Would you both like a mid-day meal?"

"Please!"

"Um, thank you." Twilight rubbed at her cheek awkwardly. "Sorry for--"

Raven tapped Twilight on a shoulder gently. "Crescent has a way with ponies. This way."

As Raven led them to the small castle tearoom, Twilight glanced awkwardly at Crescent. "Sorry if I got a bit too, um, undignified back there... I'm usually more reserved."  

But the little filly just grinned. "Being silly is fun! You looked happy dancing." Her smile dimmed. "But we can be proper at tea if that's better."

Twilight's heart clenched. She hadn't meant to shame sweet Crescent's innocent joy. Impulsively she pulled the filly into a hug.  

"Oh, not at all! I loved getting to dance and play with you. I don't do it nearly often enough." She booped Crescent's nose. "Let's have fun more later, okay? Maybe we can have a dance party at my castle soon!"

Crescent's eyes lit up. "Really truly?! That would be super fun!"

Raven gave an indulgent chuckle as she poured the tea. "Do take care not to overwhelm Princess Twilight, little one. Your energies may prove...excessive for the studious princess."

"Oh pish posh, Raven!" Twilight laughed, levitating a frosted cookie to Crescent. "I should bring some chaotic fun into my life more often!" She grinned at the beaming filly already stuffing her face with sweets. "What better teacher than the niece of the mischief mistress herself?"

Crescent blinked at that. "Who's the mischief mistress? Luna is not a mischief mistress." She rubbed her chin, thinking of her reasonably serious mother.

"Celestia," whispered Twilight. "She can be quite... mischevious... when she puts her mind to it. Don't tell her I said that."

"I heard that." Raven set a plate with sweet cookies before each of them. "I will not inform her, unless she appears to be in the mood." She trotted off without expanding on that.

Twilight put a hoof to her face. "I can only hope that turns out well..." Her horn glowed as she took a cookie and dipped it in her tea. "So! You are Luna, but also your own pony. How interesting... Will she know what we talk about?"

"Yes." Crescent inclined her head. "There are no secrets. When she wakes up, I will share it all. She is me. I am her. You wouldn't want part of you to keep secrets, would you?"

Twilight blinked, cookie hovering halfway to her mouth. "I suppose not...though the idea of essentially sharing a consciousness is still rather fascinating." 

She studied Crescent curiously. "So everything you experience separately gets merged when you reunite with Luna? Your consciousness must be quite fluid and malleable."

Crescent just shrugged amiably. "Yup, we blend back together." She took a big bite of a frosted flower cookie. "I dunno much about conshes...conschus..." She frowned, mouth full.

Twilight smiled gently. "Consciousness. No need to puzzle it out, I was just academically curious." Though perhaps such metaphysical theories were too abstract for one so young.

Crescent nodded, appeased, and went back to happily demolishing her snack. Twilight sipped her tea, simply enjoying the sweet scene. There was something profoundly touching in this concept of Luna nurturing her inner foal. 

Perhaps they could each stand to reconnect with that innocent side of themselves. And little Crescent seemed more than willing to coax it out, one new friend at a time.

Twilight lifted her cup in a playful salute. "Well, here's to bringing more lightheartedness into all our lives, hmm Crescent?"

"Yeah!" Crescent tapped their cups together, splashing tea and giggling. "To being silly and having fun!"

"Actually..." Twilight smirked at the thought. "Do you know what spell Luna used, to make you? Perhaps a little Twilight could join the fun and dance with you."

Crescent's eyes twinkled with the very idea. "I know the spell, but that created the grouchy me." She shrank back. "It took a long time for the grouchy me to become the nice me. You met them, Twilight."

"I did?" Twilight looked Crescent over anew. "I feel I'd remember that... You said we hadn't met before."

"You never met Crescent. I was something else before Crescent. I was the tantabus. I was a... monster. A bad part of Luna. It was only her growth that... led to me, Crescent." She sipped heavily from her glass. "If I showed you the spell, you would make a tantabus."

"Oh." Twilight imagined that living nightmare, raking her over the coals for every mistake she'd ever made. "Oh... I don't know if I want to put maybe all of Ponyville through taming that..."
> 4 - Firm Resolve
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent waggled her bottom like a cat preparing to pounce. Her target was clear before her, tall and imposing. The gold-armored guardian of the castle was standing perfectly still. They had been for what felt like forever. It was time to fix that!

With a  squeak of a battle cry, she charged out from around the corner, several floating playswords around her. "I challenge you!" she screamed at the guard, taking up a battle stance. "En-guarde!"

The guard blinked with amazement at the little filly that had just challenged him. "Um..."

The other guard standing on the other side of the same door snickered at the whole thing. "You better answer her, or she'll win before you even start."

"I'm... She's somepony I should be protecting, not fighting..."

"You can protect me." She bopped the poor guard on the chest with a curved foam rapier. "By playing. C'mon!"

The guard eyed her uncertainly, shifting his stance. "I...don't think mock combat is exactly in my job description as part of the royal guard. Though I appreciate your enthusiasm."

Crescent's ears drooped at his stilted response, and his fellow guard elbowed him. "Aw c'mon now. How can you say no to that little face?" He grinned down at Crescent. "Tell ya what, squirt - since my buddy here is too stiff to play, how'd ya like to challenge me instead? Been getting kinda bored on duty anyhow."

Crescent cocked her head. "Both of you, play!" 

With a dramatic flourish, she magically passed them each a foam play blade, keeping a small stave for herself. The guards exchanged a bemused glance, but obliged by taking up ridiculously exaggerated dueling stances. Crescent squeaked in glee.

"Ready? En garde!" Both guards jumped as with a flash of her tiny horn, Crescent appeared suddenly perched atop one's helmet. "I got you! Point for me!"

Despite themselves, the two formerly stoic guards soon dissolved into breathless laughter trying to "fight" their small assailant flashing to and fro with youthful glee. Her joy was irresistible. And when Celestia later passed that hall and spotted each guard sporting brightly braided mane bows bestowed as their "defeat decorations," even she couldn't help an indulgent chuckle.

She crouched down, sinking into a pony loaf. It was closer to Crescent's level, though still quite tall. "Little one, you seem to have defeated my guards thoroughly. When did you become such a fierce combatant?"

Crescent charged up to Celestia with a bright smile. "When I was bored."

Celestia inclined her head. "I appreciate your honesty. Boredom can drive a pony to great ends, hm. You need something to do during the day, when your other half slumbers, besides torturing--playing with my guards."

She rost to her hooves, golden magic plucking up Crescent. "You are a curious case. Sending you to a foal's school feels silly. You already know all of that... An adult school might bore you... So." She brought Crescent in close, bumping noses. "I'll just ask. What would you like to do, little one?"

Crescent scrunched up her snout, considering the question with great solemnity. Her young face soon smoothed out as inspiration struck.

"I wanna help ponies! Like Mama Luna does at night. Can I do that during the day?" She squirmed eagerly in Celestia's magical grip.

The sunlight princess blinked thoughtfully. "Well, I and many others do strive to aid ponies across our land daily, though perhaps not in the same dreamwalking capacity..." 

At Crescent's crestfallen look, she hastily added, "But I don't see why we couldn't find a special role for you as well, little niece!" 

She tapped a hoof to her chin. "Let's see...as a young messenger, you could swiftly bring word of developing situations to myself and other leaders..."

Crescent made a face. "That's boring! I wanna do something fun and cool to REALLY make ponies happy!"

Celestia laughed. "Of course, I should have expected as much. Hmm..." Her brow furrowed, then smoothed in inspiration. "Well, I was just about to attend the debut of several young performing unicorns in town. Their magic act could certainly use an adorable assistant! What say you?"

Crescent's eyes grew huge and round. "I get to be...a magic show pony?!" Her wings buzzed in sheer excitement.

Chuckling at the endearing reaction, Celestia nodded. "If you promise to be on your best behavior, I see no reason why not." Though privately, she suspected Crescent's involvement would turn the quaint magic act into something far more rambunctiously spectacular.

Trixie could not have predicted it. She was barking commands at the others that had the misfortune of being tasked to put on a performance alongside her. "This is why Trixie normally performs alone," she grumbled, arms crossed, one hoof wobbling. "What does it take to get ponies to get it right...?"

She perked as Celestia came into view. "Oh, my client." She got a brilliant smile. "Hello and welcome. We are on track to put on the best..." She trailed off, noticing Celestia had a floating pony next to her. "Who is that?"

Celestia put Crescent down gently to the filly's happy squeal. "This is Crescent. She would like to assist you in the performance. She can help with setting up, and the magic itself. Despite her appearance, she is quite skilled at magic. Treat her seriously." She leaned in. "But not too seriously."

Trixie's eyes bulged as she took in the beaming mini-princess prancing at Celestia's side. Crescent was waving eagerly to the bemused members of Trixie's makeshift magic troupe. 

"Her... assist us? Surely your majesty jests!" Trixie huffed in offended pique. "I cannot have some random toddler meddling with my masterful performance!" She struck a pose more accurately described as melodramatic. "Why, I am the incomparably talented Trixie! Trixie alone provides all the stage magic anypony could require!" 

Several of the assembled unicorns audibly facehooved. Their "leader's" ego was clearly bruised at the very prospect of relying on another.

But Crescent just cocked her head, smile dimming only slightly. "But...but more magic means a reeeally good show to make ponies happy! I can do cool stuff, Miss Trixie, I promise!"

Trixie started to issue another scathing retort when Celestia gave a delicate cough. 

"Do reconsider, Miss Trixie," the solar diarch advised in a mild tone backed by eons of authority. "I can personally attest that Crescent's skills would prove most...valuable to your performance."

Gulping at the unspoken order, Trixie tugged nervously at her hat before sighing. "Oh, very well. I suppose even Trixie knows when one extra unicorn - " She eyed Crescent doubtfully - "...filly could conceivably enhance my - er, our efforts."

"Yay!" Crescent cheered, rushing forward to hug a frozen Trixie's leg. "We're gonna be the bestest magical team ever!"

And seeing the tiny pony already dashing around animatedly showing off bursts of light to entertain the others, Trixie had to wonder if she'd just signed away top billing to this dazzling upstart foal. "Alright, let's get to work." She frowned at Crescent. "If you're to assist Trixie, you better be serious."

"Nope." Crescent turned to face Trixie directly. "Why be serious about a magic show? We want ponies to cheer and be dazzled, not serious."

Trixie clopped a hoof to her face. "Trixie meant you need to be serious, to make ponies later filled with wonder and amazement. Magic shows take work to get to that later payoff. You can't just skip that. If you want the rewards, you have to work for it." She rolled a hoof slowly. "Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Trixie blinked. "Trixie did... not expect you to just agree like that."

Celestia smiled as she turned away. "Sounds like you will get along. I look forward to seeing this show, hm." And off she walked at her usual stately gait to other business.

As Celestia departed, Trixie eyed her new mini assistant critically. "Well, you certainly manage to charm ponies into cooperating, I'll grant you that much." 

She trotted over to dig through a large prop chest, levitating out various bottles and wands. "Can you actually do any real magic though, or are parlor tricks all you have to entertain foals your own age?"

Crescent just smiled indulgently, horn lighting up. Trixie yelped as suddenly the various objects floated out of her magical grip, swirling themselves into an intricate juggling pattern high overhead.

"I can do lots!" Crescent declared cheerfully. "Wanna see something REALLY fun?" 

Before Trixie could respond, the props abruptly vanished, only to reappear orbiting the head of a very confused strongpony assistant. With a flash, his costume transformed into a glittery cape and tall hat.

"Ta da! You're a magician now too!" Crescent cheered. She turned eagerly back to Trixie. "What other neat tricks can we do?"

Trixie felt her eye twitching again at being so casually shown up by this foal. But the delighted laughter of her cohorts gave her pause. And she had to admit, the little one had...potential. 

With a huff, Trixie swept her star-dappled cape around herself imperiously. "Hmph! Yes well, I suppose proper training could help you build adequate skills to not drag down Trixie's act." 

She levitated a mini cape and hat to adorn Crescent as well. "If you wish to be my magical protege, pay close attention to my instructions!" 

And despite herself, Trixie felt a smile tugging at her lips in anticipation of what flashy feats her new tiny partner might bring to the stage. She began giving orders, but Crescent really did seem to be paying attention. Unlike her other assistants, Crescent immediately rushed to get everything Trixie asked for. The filly really wanted to hear her directions on how each step would go and why.

"You must watch." Trixie took up her place, standing tall and ready to be center stage. "The moment Trixie makes this signal." It was a subtle thing, easy to miss if one wasn't looking for it. "That's when you do your part. I know you want to be bright, so be bright, all the sparkles you can. That will distract them, and let Trixie move on to the next part..."

Crescent listened with rapt focus as Trixie continued explaining their act, absorbing each detail with a serious little nod. The showmare had to admit it made for a refreshing change from her hapless usual assistants.

When Trixie finally finished mapping out the ambitious performance, Crescent surprised her by letting out an excited squee. "Oooh, this is gonna be so amazing! Those ponies are gonna be so so happy and wowed thanks to you, Miss Trixie!"

She rushed forward to hug Trixie's leg, gazing up admiringly. "You're the bestest show teacher ever! I can't wait!" 

Trixie felt an odd flutter in her chest at the open adulation from her tiny fan. She coughed, quickly schooled her features back to a haughty smirk. 

"Yes, well, of course! Trixie accepts only the most spectacular of proteges." She ruffled Crescent's mane indulgently. "And I expect flawless execution of your role, little one."

Crescent sprang back, snapping off a salute. "Aye aye, Captain Trixie!" Her horn flashed, bathing her in a swirling aura of glitter and stars. "Crescent the Crescent is ready for her shiny spotlight!"  

Privately, Trixie thought the glowing filly might try to upstage even her before long. But for today, she had to admit that prospect filled her more with anticipation than ire now. 

"Very well then!" Trixie spun dramatically towards the makeshift stage. "Let's give them a real show!"

And Crescent's excited cheer told her this was merely the start of a fabulous and luminous partnership.

As a positive side effect, the other ponies working on the stage cheered. With Trixie's ire not directed at any of them directly for a precious hour she had been busy working with Crescent, they had gotten their parts done. Sometimes the best solution was to shut up.

Trixie had not yet learned that leadership skill. The show would go on, the whole cast feeling better about the prospect of it than they had before the little princess had joined them.
> 5 - Problems
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent gasped, ducking low behind some cover. Ahead of her, a pony was casuallly taking something that belonged to Luna. What sort of monster would steal from her mother?

She considered how to approach them. Shouting and charging out was an option, but it felt inadequate...

She lurked after the stallion, following him like a shadow. "Gonna catch you," she promised herself, gritting her teeth.

Crescent trailed the suspicious stallion through the castle halls, keeping out of sight as best she could. Her little heart pounded with an unfamiliar anger. How dare anypony steal from her dear mother! 

She peered around the corner as he glanced furtively around before slipping into an unused storage room. Gotcha! Crescent wasted no time zipping up to the closed door. 

"Hey! Whatcha doing in there?" she called out accusingly. "Stealing is wrong, mister!"

A crash rang out, followed by panicked hoofsteps. Crescent leapt back as the door was thrown open, the wild-eyed stallion bolting out. 

"S-stay back!" he yelled. "I ain't done nothing wrong!"

He made to dash off, but in a flash Crescent had teleported in front of him, blocking his escape. 

"Then why were you sneaking in Auntie Tia and Mama Luna's rooms?" She stamped a tiny hoof, glaring at him fiercely despite the fact that he towered over the pint-sized princess. 

He winced under her outraged stare. "It's my job..." He gave a pathetic little smile. "If somepony doesn't swap it out for Luna, she gets angry."

Crescent inclined her head. "Why are you sneaking around if you're supposed to be here! You look like a super criminal to me."

The stallion laughed softly. "It's private. She don't want ponies knowing about it."

Crescent blinked at that. "Wait... Secret enough to keep it form me?!"


The guard shrugged softly. "I don't know how you work. But she asked to keep it super private."

"That isn't fair..." She shared everything with Luna, but not everything was shared back. "We have to talk to aunt Tia. She'll know."

"N-no!" The stallion crossed his arms. "Luna especially doesn't want Princess Celestia being involved."

Crescent scrunched up her little snout, clearly perturbed by this revelation of secrecy being kept even from her. She didn't like the thought of her mother hiding anything from her merged consciousness.

"But...but Aunt Tia should know!" she protested, stamping a tiny hoof. "She and Mama Luna are sisters! And I tell Mama Luna everything!"

She fixed the guard with a pleading look that seemed to pain him. "I just wanna help and understand. Can't you tell me juuust a little bit?"  

The stallion shifted awkwardly. "Er, sorry kid. Princess was real clear about total confidentiality." At her trembling lip, he hastily added, "B-but I'm sure she has good reasons! And it's not anything bad, promise!"

Crescent drooped. She couldn't stand the thought of distrust lurking between her and her mother's heart. But clearly this matter was exceptionally private...

"Oh, alright..." She scuffed a hoof, ears folded unhappily. Then inspiration struck, and she peeked up at the guard. "But will you at least take me to see what she's hiding? I won't touch anything, super pinkie swear!"

She held up a tiny hoof eagerly. The guard wavered, but finally relented with a sigh. "Just a quick peek I guess...c'mon squirt."

As she trailed him back to the mysterious storage room, Crescent puzzled over what could possibly be so hush-hush that Luna would conceal it even from her own dreamscape. But she was determined to get to the bottom of this secret!

He took her to a small room, the first room he had gone to. Inside was a dream catcher that he waved at. "There."

Crescent blinked at it. "Why would she have one of those? She has dream magic." She bounced in annoyance. "She doesn't need dream toys."

The stallion shrugged at that. "I'm to fetch this and hang it up once a week. That's it.."

Crescent circled around the curious little toy. "She must have a good reason to have it... Is she afraid of dreams? I can protect her!"

The stallion chuckled at that. "I bet you would. Well, there, I told you. Kindly don't tell her I told you, okay?"

Crescent eyed the innocuous dreamcatcher with a frown. Why would all-powerful mistress of dreams Princess Luna be worried about bad dreams? It made no sense! 

She glanced back at the anxious guard. While he clearly wasn't going to reveal anything further, this didn't sit right with the little filly.

"I won't tell Mama," she assured him quietly. "But...I'm gonna figure this out! She shouldn't have to hide stuff from me."

The guard sighed but nodded acceptance. Crescent squared her tiny shoulders. A mystery was ahoof! She would get to the bottom of this secret fear of dreams plaguing her beloved mother.  

"Maybe Auntie Tia will know..." Crescent mused softly to herself. But the sun princess was often quite busy during the day. Who else might Luna have confided in?

Her little face lit up. Auntie Twilight! She was super smart and helpful - and good at secrets! If anypony could help unravel this puzzle, it was Princess Twilight Sparkle!

Crescent glanced at the dreamcatcher once more with narrowed eyes before turning to zip from the room. She had a new mission! One way or another, she'd solve the case of Luna's troubled dreams and find a way to protect her from whatever lurked within them!

She hurried to a mirror and waved at it. "Twilight! Auntie Twilie!"

Fog overtook the scene before Twilight sprang into being. "Hello there. What brings you this way? You caught me in the middle of some research."

Crescent pointed at Twilight. "Tell me why Momma Luna would need a dream catcher."

Twilight blinked softly. "That is... a curious question. She had magic of her own, and is quite talented at dream magic." She tapped at her chin. "You've given me an interesting challenge, hm. Maybe it provides some manner of passive benefit?"

Crescent scrunched her snout. "That's what I thought! But the guard said he has to replace it every week for her." She paced an agitated circle. "Why would she need that if she has super good dream magic?"

Twilight hummed thoughtfully. "Perhaps it offers some specialized benefit her natural talents don't..." She perked up. "Oh, I know! I read a thesis on enchanted dreamcatchers that posited they can filter out specific dream imprints rather than general bad dreams."

Crescent tilted her head. "Huh? How's that help Mama?"  

"Well..." Twilight tapped her hooves together. "What if Luna is being haunted by a very specific recurring nightmare? One tied to some deep-seated fear or bad memory?"

She gave Crescent a sympathetic look. "Your mother endured terrible pain in her past that left deep scars. Maybe this dream is connected to that."

Crescent sat down hard, eyes wide. She hated thinking of her loving mama in distress. 

"So the dreamcatcher takes away the same bad dream every week...like a security blanket." Twilight smiled sadly. "She must have impressively strong magic to enchant it to such specificity."

Crescent's tiny face set in a look of determination. "Well I'm gonna find a way to beat that mean dream for good! Mama shouldn't have to be scared of dreams when she's the Queen of Dreams!"

She stood tall, eyes blazing. "I'll find that nightmare and give it the stomping of its life!" She waved enthusiastically at Twilight and abandoned her, charging back to bedroom Luna was in. "Prepare to be helped." She curled in next to Luna. "Time to dream."

She threw herself into the dream and found Luna facing a little pony. It was Crescent. "What?"

Luna sat up with surprise. "Two?" It clicked what was happening. "Crescent, there's a reason."

Crescent pointed at her double. "Why do you have another me?"

"Because... I want you to be free, not shackled to my silly dreams." She cleared her throat. "So I keep a little..."

"You keep a copy of me?" Crescent peered at the doppelganger. "You just had to ask..."

Luna winced, scuffing a hoof across the glittering dream sand. "I...didn't wish to trouble you over such foalishness," she murmured. "Tis only an echo, a shadow. I know 'tis not truly you."

She offered her original daughter a sad smile. "When I dream of you now, it is always delight and comfort. But in darker moments, memories yet haunt of when your form represented my deepest pain."  

Luna gazed at the silent shade standing vacantly beside her, face clouded. "I cannot bear for such bleak history to taint our present joy. So I siphon the lingering traces away, where they cannot touch you."

Crescent slowly approached her mother, heart aching for the suffering etched across her face. This protective spell was meant to safeguard her own innocence.

"Mama..." She reached up to brush Luna's cheek tenderly. "You don't gotta hide hurts from me. I can take it." Crescent bumped their horns together. "And you shouldn't carry it alone anymore."

She turned to study her motionless twin, seeing it clearly for what it was - an effigy of Luna's anguish given form. 

With care, Crescent approached this piece of forgotten pain made flesh. "It's time you were free too," she whispered, and dissolved the figment in a wash of gentle light.   

Freed of the lingering shadow, she returned to Luna's side where she belonged. And the Moon Princess wept in the company of one who knew and forgave all.

Luna folded an ear back. "You are awfully talented when it comes to dream magic, little Crescent."

Cresent folded her arms with a big smile. "I learned it from you, momma.  If you feel bad, call me." She prodded at Luna. "It's always worth it to take some time for you."

"You are too good." She nuzzled Crescent gently. "Will you forgive me?"

"Already did," she sang, dancing in place. "Remember, I am you. I always have time for you."

"Little one." She put a hoof atop Crescent's head. "You are not me. Related, surely, but you are your own creature."

Crescent blinked, stunned. "What? I'm your dreams."

"You were my dream." She softly stroked under Crescent's snout. "But you've grown."

"No." She folded her arms. "I am your dream."

Luna shook her head, leaving that topic for later argument. "You are a wonderful creature in any event." She gathered her dismayed daughter close. 

"You began as my dream of forgiveness," she said gently. "Now you inspire me to love life anew. All who meet you are lifted higher by your joy and kindness."  

She rocked the anxious filly. "Is that not the highest purpose - to help others be happy by simply being yourself?"

Crescent nestled into her embrace, reassured. "To spread joy? I can do that!" She nuzzled Luna gratefully. "My purpose comes from you, Mama. I'll make you proud."

And nestled safe in familial wings, Crescent felt warmth blossom within once more. If her purpose was to love freely with childlike wonder, she had things to work out.

Crescent nuzzled thoughtfully. "But what am I, if I'm not you."

"You are Crescent." She kissed Crescent's snout. "You are yourself. Even if I went away, you'd still be there.

Crescent blinked with amazement. "What?! Really? But I'm.. you." She stood up. "I should go." She vanished from the dream, leaving only the soft hesitating note of her presence behind.

Luna awoke slowly, blinking up at the dark canopy of her bed as the last silvery threads of dreamscape faded. She drew a contemplative breath, sensing Crescent's disquiet even in her absence.

Perhaps she had pushed too hard in trying to impress upon the filly that she was her own self now...

Rising, Luna wandered the moonlit halls, probing gently for Crescent's distinctive aura amidst the sleeping magic permeating the night castle. "Luna... you were far too mean." She frowned at herself. "That little foal deserves support and love..."
> 6 - Day Dreaming
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent looked out over the city of Canterlot from the roof of the castle. The wind ruffled through her fur, making it dance with each gust. Below her, she could see tiny ponies, small in the distance, trotting along with their daily duties.

It was a good place to sit and think, she had decided, so she did that.

That place also offered privacy. It was alone and quiet, save that wind, and she didn't mind the wind.

What she didn't expect was a large form to sit next to her. Though the wind played with her fur, her mane and tail seemed to ignore it, wafting with breezes that weren't there. "Good afternoon, little one." Celestia smiled so softly, a specialty of hers. "This isn't where I normally find you."

Crescent blinked up at the sunlight princess settling gracefully beside her, slender form cutting an elegant silhouette against the bright sky. 

"Hi Auntie Tia," she replied, subdued. Normally Crescent would bound over to enthusiastically hug her beloved auntie, but today she just offered a small smile before gazing back out at the sprawling city vista.

Celestia's brow furrowed slightly. It wasn't like the bubbly little filly to be so quiet.  "I hope I'm not intruding..." she began gently. "I merely wished to see if everything was alright. We've all noticed your shining spirit seems...clouded as of late." 

She gently bumped Crescent's shoulder with a wing. "Would you like to talk about what's troubling you so?"

Crescent scuffed a hoof, sorting through the complex tangle of doubt and existential confusion swirling within. How could she voice something she barely understood herself?

"I just..." She struggled to find the words. "I thought I knew who I was. Luna's dream to help herself and everypony. But now..." Crescent peeked anxiously up at Celestia's kind rose eyes. "What if that's not my destiny anymore?" She dug her hooves into the roof tile. "Without that purpose, what am I but a copy?" Crescent's lip wobbled. "Maybe I shouldn't even be here..."

A gentle wing folded round her shaking form. "Oh Crescent, no. You must never think that." Celestia tilted her chin up tenderly. "From the very first day I saw you, you ensnared me, and every other pony you've come across. You are a delightful light, shining on us. I don't regret your being here."

Crescent dared a little smile. "You're being nice." She leaned against that enfolding wing. "You're good at being nice."

"It is, in part, my job." She curled the wing a little more firmly on Crescent. "But you are my niece, my beloved niece. I would like to hear the peals of your laughter through these halls, along with the ones you inspire so easily." She leaned in, nosing an ear. "And... I don't think you were wrong."

Crescent blinked at that. "What was I right about? I thought I was momma... She says I am not."

"Perhaps not." Celestia raised a hoof to her chest. "But you are still a reminder, a potent one, of the love I had, and still have, for my sister. You are still a reminder for Luna to love herself. You may not be exactly Luna, but you remain such a lovely reminder."

Crescent considered Celestia's words, comforted by the affectionate wing cocooning her. There was wisdom there - with time and growth had come change, but not utter dissolution of the bonds linking her birth to Luna's weary soul.

"I'm...still connected to her." Crescent traced a hoof through the cloud puffs overhead. "Like how the sky holds both sun and moon."

She offered her aunt a small but stronger smile. "I can remember the love that created me, even if I'm becoming my own pony too. And I can keep sharing that love!"  

Her eyes shone eagerly with restored purpose. She may still be charting her own identity, but bringing joy through little acts of love - that resonated within as a destiny she could embrace regardless.

"Thanks Auntie." Crescent wrapped Celestia in an enthusiastic hug. "You always know how to make everypony feel better!"

Laughing, Celestia ruffled her niece's mane. "Well, I can hardly take all the credit when you do so much to lift my spirits in return." 

She touched their horns fondly. "Never lose your wondrous gift for connection, little one. You may find it illuminates truths within yourself just as brightly."

With the sunlight princess's steady wisdom to guide her, Crescent felt the last remnants of turmoil fade. She would find her way one step at a time - with family to light the path. Celestia stood up gently. "Now... As lovely as the company, and the view, work ever calls to me. Would you care for a ride downstairs?"

Crescent squeaked happily at the idea and took a brief flight onto Celestia's back. Together, they soared from the roof to land at the front gate. 

Celestia nodded to the two guards there. "Now, why don't you meet somepony new?"

"Who?" Crescent hopped free of Celestia, little wings fluttering. "Do you know somepony? Are they visiting?"

Celestia chuckled at the immediate return of Crescent's insatiable curiosity and energy. It was comforting to see her bright spirit unclouded once more.

"As it so happens, we are expecting a very important visit from royalty in a neighboring kingdom today," the sunlight princess revealed with a playful wink.  

She stepped aside so Crescent could see the crystalline carriage now gliding through the castle gates, pulled by two elegant unicorn guards. "May I present Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire!"

Crescent's jaw dropped as the carriage door swung open to reveal the smiling figures of Cadance and Flurry Heart. She recognized her Auntie Cadance of course - but the little alicorn foal waving eagerly beside her was new!

"Surprise!" Cadance laughed, catching Crescent up in a hug. "When Auntie told me about her adorable little niece Crescent, Flurry and I just had to come meet you!"

"Play?! Yay, new friend!" Flurry cheered, doing enthusiastic loops around Crescent. 

As the two fillies immediately dove into a game of magical tag, Luna joined her sister and Cadance to fondly observe their laughter. "Good job," she whispered to Celestia and Cadance. "Let's get to business before they remember us." The three nodded together and snuck away with little giggles.

Flurry succeeded at tackling Crescent to the ground with a squeal. "Caught ya!"

Crescent wriggled, but she had been caught. "Aw! You win." With the admission, Flurry let her up and the two smiled at one another, no hard feelings to be found. "What's your name?"

"Flurry Heart." Flurry pointed at herself. "Cadance is my momma."

"Luna's my momma." Crescent nodded firmly at that. "We have good mommas."

"Very good mommas." Flurry joined the nodding, in complete agreement with that idea. "Your mom watches dreams, right?"

"And your mom..." Crescent tapped at her chin, jostling those memories free. "She watches a whole city, and she... is in charge of love."

"Yep!" Flurry pounced on Crescent's back, just to bounce off of it, giggling. "She gives the best hugs."

"Best?" Crescent looked doubting at that. "I dunno... Momma and her sister give pretty good hugs..."

Flurry gasped in mock affront. "Nuh uh! My mom's hugs are the number one best, no question!" She tapped a tiny hoof as if that settled the matter definitively.

Crescent just giggled. "Okay, I bet your mom gives best crystal hugs! But here in Canterlot, my Auntie Tia and Mama Luna win!" 

She playfully shouldered the little alicorn. "Buuut we gotta test for sure! C'mon, first one to gets Aunt Cadance's hugs wins!"

"You're on!" Flurry crowed, wings buzzing in anticipation. But before the fillies could zip off in search of Cadance...

"Oh no you don't!" With twin squeaks of surprise, they found themselves swept up in the golden glow of Celestia's magic. "I know where this is going, you little scamps."

She smirked as both fillies pouted. "There will be plenty of time for silly games later. For now, let's go join your mothers for a nice brunch together, hm?"

The foals exchanged sly glances behind the sun princess's back. Brunch first maybe - but their "best hug" competition was far from over!

Besides, Aunt 'Tia was bringing them right to where they wanted to be. Poor fool, playing right into their hooves.

The moment Celestia set them down, both raced to Cadance, hooves up and eyes so very large in silent plead for her to pick them up.

Cadance blinked at the double-teaming foal effort. "Oh dear... I'm not used to getting this twice at once." Still, she settled on her belly before the two. "Come here, you."

Crescent and Flurry shared a look and tried to redouble their wordless pleas to be held, arms shaking as they pouted.

Cadance inclined her head at the two. "Use your words, dearest ones. Why are you both doing that, when I only have two arms." Though a thought came to her. "Ah." Using magic, she snatched up both fillies into her waiting arms, hugging both at once in a warm exchange.

She put down the confused fillies. "Was that not what you wanted?" She looked to Celestia and Luna for help.

Luna prodded her little youthful copy. "What tomfoolery are you engaged in? Share."

Crescent wriggled in place before she flopped. "We wanted to see who could get hugged first, to prove who gave the best hugs."

Flurry nodded in agreement. "Momma gives the best!"

Cadance snickered gently. "Silly things, how would you getting a hug prove that I give better hugs?"

Crescent blinked, realizing how silly her logic had been. "Oh. Um..." She tapped at her chin. "Ah ha! Momma, Aunt Cadie, can you hug us both so we can decide?"

Luna, Celestia, and Cadance exchanged amused glances. Trust these two little mischief makers to turn affection into a contest!

"An intriguing proposal," chuckled Luna, her horn lighting up to sweep both fillies close. "But attempting to judge something as subjective as hug quality seems quite the impossible challenge!"

She rubbed her nose fondly against Crescent's. "Is not every embrace from one who cares for you special in its own way?"

But competitive little Flurry just wriggled in protest. "Yeah but some are more specially special! And my mom's crystal hugs sparkle the most!" She blinked innocently up at Luna. "No offense, Auntie Luna."

Cadance covered her mouth to restrain giggles. "She makes an excellent case. But while you two debate..." 

Her own pink aura suddenly surrounded the foals, lifting them up for a fierce nuzzle. "I'll just give these sweeties more of my 'sparky' hugs whether they're the best or not!"

Soon all three princesses had a fillies squirming amidst a three-way tickle and hug war. Laughter rang out loud enough to turn heads across the castle grounds. Celestia just shook her head in amusement - she had a feeling this was merely the first of many escapades with Luna and Cadance's energetic daughters brightening their halls.

Free of the hugs, Flurry threw an arm over Crescent, hugging her. "How old are you? I'm three whole years!"

"Um..." Crescent frowned, thinking that. "That depends what you count at my first birthday."

Luna tilted her head. "What would you count as your first birthday?"

"I haven't had it yet." Crescent bounced with giddy anticipation. "I can't wait! Um, but I've seen a few years go by... But I was something else, something not nice. I don't want to count those."

Luna looked ready to argue, but she put it together and took it back. "Ah... I suppose ... Yes, it has not been a year since you became Crescent."

Flurry gazed with building confusion. "Before I was Flurry, I wasn't anything!"

Cadance wrapped a wing around Flurry. "That isn't true. Before you were Flurry, you were the love in my chest, the sparkle in my eyes, and the hope I held for tomorrow. When  you came, I could see it all in the form of a little pony, and I was so happy."

"Aw!" Crescent bounced in place. "Your momma's pretty nice."
> 7 - Out and About
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent had broken free of the confines of the castle. She had a jingling bag of coins and a purpose, a dangerous combination. With a list held in her magic, she was determined to get everything Raven had asked her to get. "I'll be the best shopper!" Sure, it was also her first time actually shopping, rather than an old Luna memory, but it was still special.

Canterlot was a different city from the streets compared to gazing at it from high above. She was lost almost immediately, wandering the roads and alleys with boundless determination.

"Psst!"

She looked to the right to spot a little unicorn colt waving her closer. "Psst!"

Crescent blinked, pointing at herself before she came closer. "What? Is something wrong?"

He grabbed her, dragging her just through a cloth curtain where a few other foals were grinning. "Finally!"

A filly inclined her head. "Um... You grabbed a..." She waved at little Crescent's tiny tiara. "I think you just got us in trouble..."

Crescent put a little hoof to her chest. "I'm shopping for a friend. Hello. My name is Crescent. I'm Luna's filly."

Their eyes widened. The colt that had grabbed her colored and threw himself down. "I'm sorry! Please don't banish me someplace far away."

Crescent blinked at that. "I was hoping you'd tell me your name. Why would I do that? You didn't hurt me or anything..." She patted herself down, as if she'd find where she had been hurt and hadn't noticed. Nope, all intact. "Why did you grab me?"

The filly laughed nervously. "We were trying to play a game, but we needed one more pony. They had to be a pegasus or a unicorn." She inclined her head. "You're both of those... Um... Wanna play buckball?"

Crescent's eyes glimmered with wonder. "I've heard of that, but never played it before. I'd love to! Let's play! Right now!"

Cheers rang out from the little band of foals at Crescent's eager agreement. The formerly nervous colt who'd grabbed her bounced to his hooves. "Aw, sweet! Okay, lemme go grab the ball and we can start!"

He dashed off, leaving Crescent peering curiously around. They seemed to be in some kind of cluttered hideaway cobbled together from old curtains and boxes. She spotted a few threadbare blankets and what looked like food wrappers tucked into one corner.

"Do you guys...live here?" she asked quietly. Were these new friends just playing in this space or...?

The lead filly hunched a little, tracing a hoof through the dust. "Uh yeah... Little Ray and us hang out here mostly. We don't got parents to yell at us for making too much noise so it's a good place for games!"

She forced a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Must be nice to live in that big fancy castle though. Probably super fancy and fun!"

The other foals murmured agreement, eyeing Crescent's tiara and ribbons anew. Before she could respond, the excited colt - Little Ray presumably - came galloping back, ball clutched triumphantly in his teeth.

"Ready or what?! I call Crescent on my team so we're totally gonna dominate..." As he launched into an explanation of rules, Crescent made a quiet promise to herself to come back once they finished playing. Her new friends could clearly use a little light from above.

But first, it was time to play. She took the position of pegasus and tried her best to bounce that ball, soaring and dipping above the others with one other pegasus foal vying against her for air dominance. She laughed and cheered, win or lose. The whole thing was just tons of fun, and that was the important part.

She tried her best, but she actually wasn't that terribly good at the game she had only just tried for the first time. The other team won, but they were all laughing with good sport. Crescent clapped joyfully for them. "You're good at this!"

The earth pony that played on the other team huffed softly. "I hope to be a buckball player some day... Then things will get better. I'll make so many bits, and none of us will be hungry again."

Crescent pinned her ears at that hopeful, yet miserable combination of a statement. "Do... Do you all have no parent? Nopony watches you?"

The filly waved over the lot of them. "We watch each other. We keep each other safe."

Crescent forced her ears up. "It's good to have friends, and you sound like good friends... Um..." She brought out that list she had. "Can you help me? I need to shop for these things."

The little band of street foals clustered around curiously as Crescent showed them Raven's shopping list. Their eyes grew huge at some of the fancier ingredients.

"Whoa...half this stuff I can't even pronounce!" Little Ray exclaimed. "What kinda weird dishes are they cooking up in that castle?"

Crescent just shrugged amiably. "Lots of fancy noble food I guess. But I wanna make sure I find everything!" 

She grinned around at them all. "So whaddya say? Wanna be my guides to help me shop Canterlot market?"

Excited agreements met her proposal along with eager pleas to come along. Crescent got the feeling these foals didn't get to experience the bustling markets often. Well, time for that to change!

"Alright troops, let's move out!" She waved a tiny hoof imperiously and the ragged band scrambled to fall in line behind her with giggles. Soon she was leading a merry procession down the winding streets.

At each stand or cart, the foals pored thrilledly over strange fruits and spices while Crescent consulted her list. They marveled together at a dizzying array of sights and scents. For Crescent it was fun - for her new friends, clearly liberating. 

When at last the basket brimmed with checked-off ingredients, she turned to the tired but beaming foals. "Mission success all thanks to my awesome team!" With a tired but happy cheer, they moved to head back...only to pause as one little stomach rumbled loudly. More soon followed.

Crescent bit her lip. Then resolutely up-ended her coin purse into a hoof. She knew what had to be done. "Oh no, we forgot one last ingredient." The foals looked at her with confusion. "There." She pointed to a street cart. "One for each of you."

They erupted into wild cheers and charged the cart. The stallion that worked there frowned at the charging foals. "Hey! I'm onto your tricks."

Crescent advanced past them. "They're with me." Even as she wondered what tricks the foals had gotten into. She jingled her bag of bits meaningfully.

The stallion's attitude flipped instantly. "Of course, ma'am. What would you like?"

"I'd like the special." Crescent threw her hooves wide. "At least one for each of them, and whatever else they want to have." She floated the bag onto the cart. "Here you are."

The stallion peeked inside, perhaps confirming they were actually bits, and how many were there. Satisfied, he nodded. "Alright, line up. Let's get food in hooves." He began serving them up his aromatic falafels, one little paper bag per eager foal, then a drink for those who dared to ask for one, which encouraged others to ask for one too.

Soon Crescent and her crew of eager foals were happily digging into their unexpected feast. The warm, spiced aroma of fried treats filled the air amidst delighted crunching.

"Mmmh these are almost as good as that awesome meal we swiped from those fancy ponies' picnic that one time eh?" Little Ray remarked around a huge mouthful. His friends nodded vigorously.

Crescent inclined her head curiously. "You mean you had to steal meals before?" She felt another fierce swell of protective affection for this scrappy little found family.

The lead filly just shrugged, licking sauce from her hooves. "Sometimes yeah...folks with lotsa food don't always wanna share, y'know?" She blinked, looking suddenly stricken. "Uh, I mean we would never now though, promise!"

Her fellows bobbed earnest agreement - likely more to reassure their new princess friend than actual intent to reform. But Crescent just smiled gently, snuggling the filly close. 

"It's okay...I know it gets hard and lonely out here." She met each set of eyes warmly. "But I wanna help however I can from now on, cause you're all my friends!"

Their little faces lit up in touched delight at actually being claimed as a royal's cherished companions. Crescent knew then for certain - no matter what, she would find a way for them. That fierceness from her Tantabus origins still held sway when protecting those she cared for.

Come what may, these children would want for joy and care no longer. She would make certain of it. "Are you brave enough to come with me, back to the castle?" She pointed. "I have to bring all the things you helped me find."

They looked uncertain, but trusted their new friend enough to trail along behind her, a cloud of foals all going up to the gate.

The guards there recoiled in surprise. "Crescent, Your Highness, why do you have so many foals with you?" The stallion on duty waved at the crowd.

"They're with me." Crescent held her head up high and marched past them, leader, for the moment, of the crowd of gasping and gawking foals that gaped at every little thing. Even in their wildest dreams, they weren't allowed to just wander into the castle, but there they were, allowed to enter those stately halls.

Crescent had an ear turned back, listening to their astonished gasps and whispers. "We're going to see somepony important."

Little Ray rushed to her side. "Who? Your parents?"

"Sorta... My aunt." She led them to the court and waved for them to be still. Court was in session, with Celestia calmly addressing one supplicant at a time. The foals quivered in amazement. There was the ruler of the nation, so close at hoof. They looked certain they weren't supposed to be there, but Crescent's confidence, and the lack of them being chased away, kept them rooted in place, only moving as she directed them.

The ragtag band of street foals could scarcely breathe, packed together as they watched Celestia serenely hold court. The graceful alicorn princesses was even more impressive in person, radiating light and benevolent authority.

Yet after their initial tense minutes expecting to be tossed out by guards any second, even the wariest foals had to relax as the minutes stretched on without incident under Crescent's soothing encouragement.

"You're gonna help me ask her a big big favor for you guys, 'kay?" Crescent was assuring Little Ray in a whisper. "She seems super nice and I just know she'll wanna assist!"  

In truth, even with Crescent's stalwart faith in her beloved auntie, doubt gnawed at her. Celestia managed an entire kingdom - would she really have time for a few ragtag homeless foals?  

But any nervousness melted away when at last Celestia concluded the day's hearings and her warm rose eyes settled upon the waiting cluster of young ponies. Rather than annoyance, she regarded them with open delight.

"Well now, who might these bright little souls be?" The Sun Princess turned her full attention to the group, sending more than one foal skittering to hide shyly behind their friends.

With an encouraging nudge from Crescent, the lead filly edged forward. "H-hello Yer Majesty...I'm Violet an' these're my friends..." She gestured a hoof to the other wide-eyed urchins. 

Celestia dipped her head graciously. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Violet, all of you. Crescent clearly thinks quite highly of you to bring you before me. Now tell me, what matter can I assist with?"

Bolstered by Crescent's stalwart support, Violet began hesitantly explaining their unsupervised life on Canterlot's streets. And the Sun Princess's expression shifted to one of gentle sympathy and thoughtfulness. 

Celestia took a slow breath. "Right at home... Little foals, we have a place for you, where you will be safe. I am sorry you fell through the cracks, but today is the day you are caught." She smiled at Crescent. "By a cheerful little filly."

So it was she sent them to the Canterlot Orphanage, a far kinder place than most human varities. "Here you will be allowed to grow into the ponies you wish to." Celestia unleashed the foals into the care of the ponies that worked there, to not know another hungry day.

Celestia turned to Crescent, who had followed her there. "You did a very good thing. We try to help every foal in need... but some, as you see... They are missed. That doesn't mean we don't care for them, love them... But mistakes... They happen." She sighed gently. "It is good we have another set of hooves to stretch out and help catch them."
> 8 - Reading in Moonlight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having tasted the heady elixir of freedom, Crescent was swift to take another snip. She trotted down the roads of the city, tail swaying eagerly behind her. Her ears trained on every little noise, and there were so many to choose from. She could hear a whole living city of happy ponies going about their business.

She stopped at a park, smiling brightly. "They have these out here? Of course they do." She bonked her own head, actually sifting through her memory to several such parks she'd seen as Luna. "Lovely places." She decided firmly she would visit a park that day, walking out onto the grass with the soft presses of her hooves on the grass beneath her.

Most of the other ponies there were enjoying the sun and playing games. Some families were together. One foal rushed up to her and invited her to play, which distracted Crescent for about an hour of fun and games.

Panting, but pleased, crescent sat on the grass and looked around for other ponies to approach. There was one that wasn't playing. They weren't with foals, watching them play either. They were reading, quietly. Crescent inclined her head at the sight, considering how she would approach the curious mare.

Walking up felt right, heading directly. "Hi!"

"Hello." The mare didn't look up, still engrossed in reading.

"Is it good?" Crescent went in for a peek.

The unicorn shifted in her seated position to deny that. "Yes."

Crescent fell to her belly to see the cover at least. Star Swirl's Treatise on Aetheric Conflicts in Personality and its Magic Consequences. "Looks heavy." She sat up. "Enjoying it?"

"Yes."

Crescent rubbed her cheek gently a moment. "It's a nice day." She waved at the other ponies running and enjoying themselves. "Why not play?"

The unicorn lowered her book to examine Crescent for the first time. "My friends are all busy with their various jobs. I'm reading. It's a nice day for reading."

Crescent pointed at herself. "I'm Crescent! Nice to meet you. Now you have a friend to play with."

The unicorn cracked a smile at that. "You make friends quickly, but that's a two way street, kid. You need my permission to be friends with me." She huffed, but smiled a little. "Name's Moon Dancer. Reading is my hobby, and my calling."

Crescent squeaked with obvious joy. "Nice to meet you, Moon. Now we know each other's name."

"We do. A small step towards friendship." Moon folded her book shut, giving up on reading it while Crescent remained. "Do you like reading, Crescent?"

"Mmm. That's a good question!" She thought to her past life. "I remember some good books, but I never tried as Crescent. I should." Crescent tapped at her chin a moment. "Any suggestions?"

Moon started with surprise. "Oh, well." Moon adjusted her glasses with a hum. "That depends on the topics that interest you."

Crescent scrunched her snout thoughtfully. "Well." Her eyes swept over the park as if for inspiration. "I really like learning new things! And stories about cool ponies going on adventures. Oh! And stuff about magic is super neat too."

She bounced lightly on her hooves. "I wanna know all kinds of stuff so I can help ponies better, like my mama does." She puffed her chest out proudly. "My mama's Princess Luna!"  

Moon Dancer's eyes widened at that revelation before she schooled her features back to careful neutrality. "Is that so? Well, any subject the Princess's daughter wishes to study, I'd be happy to recommend readings for."

She patted the grass, inviting Crescent to sit. "Let's start with broader topics to help narrow your interests, then go from there. Have you learned about plants or animals much?"  

At Crescent's eager head shake, Moon Dancer's horn lit up, a scroll and quill floating from her satchel. "Then let's begin with species identification and classifications. We can make a trip to the royal gardens after." She pointed in that vague direction.

And so Crescent found herself plunging enthusiastically into her new friend's impromptu biology lesson. Moon Dancer was clearly in her element sharing knowledge with such an eager student. "Beetle!" The book had a picture of one, captured with its wings spread out wide. "Gross, but neat. Do you think there's one of those around here?"

Moon Dancer read out its specific scientific name. "And it's right--" She pointed across the field. "--there."

"Really?!" Crescent dashed off after it with a squeal.

Moon flipped her own book open, resuming her reading. "Peace." She eagerly absorbed her words in blissful silence that lasted only a few minutes before the book was shoved down, Crescent's smiling face replacing it.

She jumped in surprise, dropping the book to the grass. "You're back? Did you give up?"

Crescent's glowing horn pulled up the wriggling beetle right into Moon's face. "I found it! They tried to fly away. Look at it." She reached up to trace along its intricate legs. "Neat."

Moon adjusted her glasses back into position. "I see. That is--" She leaned in for a better look. "A male of the species. Healthy at a glance, and likely upset that you're holding it."

Crescent brought the beetle closer to herself and it grabbed her face to her squeaking horror. She thrashed and rolled until she let go of the bug and it flew away back to its own business. "Bye bye!" She waved at it, as if forgetting the little tussle they'd just had. "That was super cool. Did you like it?"

Moon Dancer blinked bemusedly as Crescent popped right back up, seeming no worse for her tussle with the annoyed beetle. "It was--" She ran a hoof along the back of her neck. "--educational," she replied diplomatically, levitating her dropped book to wipe specks of dirt off the cover. Biology lessons did tend to get rather hands-on. "But we should allow it to return to its natural behaviors undisturbed."

Crescent nodded agreeably, already bouncing on to the next topic that caught her eye across the field. Moon Dancer had to smile softly, shaking her head. The boundless energy was admittedly endearing, if a tad distracting for a studious pony like herself.

Still, Crescent's cheerful passion for discovery was refreshing, awakening long-dormant recollections of adventure-filled summer days spent investigating the world beside equally eager young friends. Images of Twilight hopped to her mind, a reason to smile to herself.

Moon Dancer blinked out of her reminiscing as Crescent suddenly reappeared, tugging an exasperated butterfly along in her magic. 

"Moon! What kind is this? Isn't it pretty? Can we take it home and watch it hatch baby butterflies?!"

Moon Dancer gently extracted the indignant insect from Crescent's grasp, letting it flit away. "Ah, best to simply observe their beauty in nature, little one." She waved over the field. "If every pony here took a piece home with them, there wouldn't be a lot left for anypony."

Some boundaries still required minding around such enthusiastic curiosity. But Moon had to admit - when was the last time she'd truly taken a moment to appreciate living things' fleeting splendor herself? 

Perhaps she'd gained an unexpected new teacher today - one whose wide-eyed wonder at the world kindled long-neglected delight in simple things within Moon's own heart. "But you are getting in the way of my reading." She pointed at her book. "I can't read this as you come rushing back to me every few moments."

Crescent looked appropriately contrite, rubbing her hooves softly. "Um, well, what's that book about? Tell me about it."

"It's a bit dense for a foal." Moon turned away. "It's about magic."

Crescent brightened at that. "I just told you I love hearing about magic! What kind of magic? Who wrote it? Oh, Star Swirl, right? He's smart, but a little dry." She stuck out her tongue as if parched and desperate for water. "But smart."

Moon inclined her head. "He is like that, but his work is quite insightful." She ran a hoof over her cherished book. "He writes what's important, and sticks to the facts. That would be the 'dryness' you mention. I happen to prefer it that way. I came for information, not opinions."

Crescent clapped her hooves as she rocked left and right. "But what a pony was thinking, and where they are standing, will change how they see the facts. It's good to know that too."

Moon raised a hoof to hotly deny, only to lower the hoof. "Insightful." She flipped to the next page, carrying on her reading.

Crescent beamed at Moon Dancer's faint praise, plopping down in the grass beside her new studious companion. 

For a little while, a surprisingly tranquil silence reigned. Crescent peered curiously at Moon's book every so often, but seemed content for once to simply sit quietly. 

Moon found herself gradually relaxing into the unusually peaceful atmosphere the energetic filly now provided. She had just begun to reach a pivotal theory in the dense magical text when-- "Soooo whatcha readin' 'bout now?" Crescent finally piped up, draping herself across Moon's shoulder. "That looks like a pretty spell circle!"

Moon Dancer suppressed a sigh. Ah well; the serenity was sweet while it lasted. Gently nudging Crescent off her withers, she considered how best to summarize.

"This chapter discusses using containment spell matrices to isolate and study dangerous magical artifacts without risk," she explained simply. 

Crescent scrunched her snout. "Dangerous artifacts? Like cursed treasure in those Daring Do stories?" Her eyes went starry and round. "Have you ever found cursed things?!" 

Moon Dancer chuckled indulgently. This filly clearly had the heart of an explorer beating in her tiny chest. 

"My studies typically focus more on magic's scholarly applications in modern society," she replied primly. But privately, memories came unbidden of youthful days dreaming beside old friends of adventures beyond the mundane of wondering what mysteries the stars might hold.

"But--" Moon met Crescent's gaze sidelong, feeling an almost forgotten fire kindle within. "I have researched some artifacts with rather fascinating histories behind them." Images of strange relics danced in her mind, some few she had looked at next to Twilight in school.

Perhaps she had more tales yet to tell this bright soul beside her. "You are Luna's, are you not?"

"Yep!" Crescent fell against Moon, snuggling without prompting, or permission.

"Has she ever taken you exploring, to see a forbidden artifact of your own?" Moon raised a bushy brow. "Perhaps you could tell me a story or two."

"Well, yes, but no." Crescent sat up, thinking about that, and the countless relics she had seen as Luna. "It's a little complicated." She pawed at her new friend. "Did you want to hear about them?"

Moon inclined an ear at Crescent, curiosity building. "Name one."

"The Staff of Sea Mist." Crescent made a gesture of length with her hooves. "That's an interesting one, lost for at least a thousand moons."

Moon jerked upright with surprise. "You've seen it?!"

Crescent pursed her lips at Moon Dancer's astonishment, little brow furrowing. Had she said something wrong? 

"Not me, exactly," she hastened to explain. "But--" She cycled her hooves wildly. "--the version of me who was in Mama Luna's memories saw where it was hidden a super long time ago." 

She bit her lip, suddenly anxious. Her special connection as Luna's dream filly was confusing even to herself; it must have sounded bizarre to anypony else. But Moon had asked.

"It's hard to explain. But sometimes I just sorta know things or remember stuff from being in her dreams?" She scuffed the grass awkwardly. "The princess me saw it once helping move artifacts that couldn't fall into dangerous hooves."

She peeked hesitantly up at her new friend from under her starry mane. "That...probably sounds really weird, huh?"

But Moon Dancer merely looked thoughtful, tapping a hoof to her chin. "Hmm. Actually, it's quite fascinating." Her scholarly side quickly overtook any skepticism. "As a manifestation of Princess Luna's dreams and memories given form, naturally you would retain access to her experiences."

She summoned a parchment and quill from her satchel, eyes alight. "In fact, by serving as a living conduit to such ancient historical knowledge, you could unlock entire vaults of lost history relevant to my studies!"  

Catching Crescent's wide grin in response to her growing excitement , Moon coughed, composing herself as she adjusted her glasses primly. "Purely academically speaking, of course. But I would be quite...intrigued to document any details you retain regarding such artifacts."

She offered a faint, bashful smile to the beaming filly. "That is, if you were inclined to share more scintillating stories with this dull bookworm?"

Crescent hopped to her hooves. "You already taught me interesting things. You're a good pony! Let's talk." She circled Moon in a hurry. "The future, the past, right now."

A new friend had been gained.
> 9 - Sassy Retort
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent wandered the streets of Canterlot, enjoying the warmth of the sun above, the cool clack of the cobbles beneath her hooves, and the excited murmur of the city's ponies. It was a lively day, and she was prepared to live it. But there was a new store. She had just started to get used to where buildings were on that road, and that one surprised her.

She looked over the sign. "Canterlot Boutique." She could see a few ponyquins in the front window, each dressed in a different array of a dress and full outfit, including some that looked more suited for stallions. Crescent burst into giggles, looking at them all and decided to pay the shop a visit to see what might be lurking within it beyond what she could see from the front.

A bell rang gently as she passed throught the door. "One moment!" called out further inside. Crescent had a few moments to marvel at the staggeringly wide variety of clothes there were in almost every direction. "How can--" The mare that was speaking trailed off a moment. "Where are your parents?"

Crescent turned to face that mare, pointing at herself. "I'm Crescent, Luna's child. You have pretty clothes here. Do you have any that would fit me?" Most of them were made for adult ponies, making them quite a bit too large for her small filly frame.

"I'm Sassy Saddles." She had said that instictively. "And we don't carry a lot of foal's wear,  I admit. Miss Rarity, my boss, largely focuses on adult outfits, at least that's what she sends to me. I'm terribly sorry, but we will have to put a pin on that idea for now."

Crescent deflated a little at that, her ears falling, and her wings drooping. "Oh. Well, I'm sure Mama will make me a new dress soon. I'm running out of the ones she's made me." She smiled again, turning around. "I'll see you later!"

Sassy watched the little filly go. "We can't let her leave empty hooved." She trotted after Crescent, catching her at the door. "Wait! We have other things, like hair ribbons, and accessories."

Crescent rebounded into a big smile, tail wagging excitedly behind her. "Oh, I would love to see that." She followed Sassy back into the boutique. She saw other adults busily sifting through outfits, but kept up with Sassy until they arrived at the accessories.

Ribbons, broaches, and even a small selection of jewelry were there, waiting to be tried. Crescent gasped with delight and hurried forward to begin trying them on. "This is lovely! Thank you very much, Miss Saddles."

"Sassy, please." She chuckled, watching the little filly try on ribbons and jewelry, smiling at the display. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"I am!" Crescent nodded firmly. "Mama would like this. She likes to decorate her mane, even if it decorates itself." She looked at the different colors of ribbon, picking a purple one. "I'll take this one. And..." She looked at the bracelets, seeing a silver one. "That one, and..."

Crescent spotted a hat and burst into giggles, for it was far too large, both for herself and in general, as far as she could see. That meant she had to try it on. Grabbing it with her glowing magic, she lowered it onto her head and everything vanished as it covered her eyes and the rest of her head. "How does it look?" Not that she could see anypony that cared to respond.

Sassy reached down to remove the hat, holding it in her own magic. "Adorable, but perhaps not the best fit." She floated it back to its place. "Now, how about we settle up so you can be on your way, hm?"

Crescent bounced a little, nodding eagerly. "Yes, please!" She trotted along behind Sassy to the counter, watching her work, and took her bag of bits from her saddlebags. "Thank you for letting me visit. I'll be back, I think."

"I hope you will." Sassy smiled at the little filly. "I'm sure Rarity would love to meet you."

"I'd like to meet her too!" Crescent waved as she trotted out of the shop, and Sassy waved back, smiling as she watched the little filly go.

Crescent hummed happily to herself as she walked down the road, happy to have a new ribbon and bracelet, and that she had visited a new store. It had been such a nice visit, she returned a few days later. Sassy heard the door jingle. "Be right--" She paused in her steps, spotting her small customer had returned. "Crescent, was it not?"

"Yep!" Crescent beamed up at Sassy. "You are tall. Not quite as tall as mama, but pretty tall." Her tone was complimenting as she turned her eyes around. "Did you get any foal's clothes?"

"Not yet." Sassy chuckled, amused by the little filly's boundless enthusiasm and energy. "I'll be sure to let you know if I do." She smiled, reaching down to stroke the little filly's mane. "But what brings you back today, hm?"

"I wanted to see if you had any more accessories." Crescent followed Sassy deeper into the shop. "I don't have a lot, and I can't just wear the same things all the time."

Sassy led her back to the collection Crescent had viewed the other day. There were mild changes as some new pieces had arrived and old ones vanished. "Miss Rarity is a bottomless font of inspiration and creativity. One thing you can look forward to in this store is that each time, you will see different things."

Crescent clapped her hooves with appreciation. "I like that! A lot of stores stay mostly the same." She advanced to a collection of masks, each one covering the face, though not always entirely. They were made for a ball, and they captured Crescent's attention. Most were far too large for her, but she tried many on anyway, giggling as she looked at herself in a mirror hung up nearby.

Sassy had been busy when she saw the little filly with the masks, and was not certain she would approve, but the giggles of delight were a good sign. "I see you've found the masks. I had thought they would be a nice addition."

"They are." Crescent pointed at the one she had on. "This one's my favorite. It's like the night sky." She lifted it off, looking at the one beside it. "Oh, this one's like a bird's face."

Sassy smiled gently at the child's sincere adoration of the masks. "Most ponies get those for specific kinds of parties. Do you like parties?"

"Sometimes." Crescent put the mask back, considering the question a moment. "They can be fun, and Mama throws the best parties. I'm not allowed to go to them, but I hear about them. I get to have a party, just for me, on the summer solstice."

"Well, that's a wonderful occasion." Sassy gestured for Crescent to follow her. "I have something else I think you'll like." She led the filly to a rack of hairclips.

"Ooo!" Crescent jumped ahead as her magic snatched up a bright pink one and clipped it into her blue mane without a moment of delay. She rushed then for the nearest mirror to examine herself. "I love it! It's great! And you have so many of them." She cycled her hooves in the air as if she would be in a gallop if she lowered them.

"I'm glad you like them." Sassy was genuinely pleased to see the filly enjoying herself, and that she was a willing customer. "You can try on as many as you like."

"I want to!" Crescent grabbed another one and rushed back to the mirror. "Look at this one, Sassy." She showed the light green one, smiling brightly.

"It's a very nice one." Sassy nodded her approval, chuckling softly. "I think you have a good eye for these."

Crescent was a ball of giggles as she tried one after the other, sometimes multiple at a time, seeking what would look best in her mane and along her little tail.

Sassy got curious, sitting over Crescent as she worked. "Your parents must be quite loving, allowing you to wander in here and spend bits so casually."

"She loves me a lot." Crescent put the ribbons she had decided on firmly into her bag for the moment. "And I love her even harder." She turned to Sassy. "You know Luna, don't you? She's a princess!"

Sassy blinked, that clicking together. "Oh, silly me, of course. Sister of Princess Celestia, isn't she?"

"That's her!" Crescent bounced in place in one firm motion. "But she's more than a sister. She is the ruler of the night, protector of dreams, mover of the moon!"

"Is that so?" Sassy smiled a little, watching the filly bounce about with pride in her mother. "She sounds quite the mare."

"She is!" Crescent bounced in place a little, feeling a little embarrassed, but she couldn't help it. "She's a good mama. She cares about me a lot."

"I can tell." Sassy gestured to the small collection of ribbons and clips Crescent had picked out. "Now, shall we ring you up, or do you have more shopping to do?"

Crescent looked thoughtful a moment. "I would like to know more about you."

Sassy recoiled in surprise. "Me? I'm just a cashiermare here, working for Miss Rarity. Nothing special, I assure."

"That's not true." Crescent waved the idea way. "You've been very nice to me, and we're almost friends. I'd like to finish being friends, so tell me about you." She pointed to herself, then to Sassy. "I'm having a lot of fun visiting you."

Sassy had to chuckle at the insistent little filly. "Well, alright. If you insist." She took a seat, gesturing for Crescent to join her. "I am originally from Manehattan. I have a family, a brother, and a sister. I have a mother and father. I like fashion, and I like helping others. Does that sound like a good start?"

"Yes." Crescent smiled up at Sassy. "Thank you. I'm Crescent, but you know that. I help Mama Luna with her dream patrols and put smiles on pony's faces. Those are my jobs!"

"Very good jobs for a little filly to have." Sassy gently ruffled the top of Crescent, avoiding the mane clip she had kept in there. "I imagine you take them quite seriously."

"I do!" Crescent bobbed her head firmly, feeling the hoof on her head, and not disliking it. "You're a good pony. I'm happy to be your friend."

"Thank you." Sassy pulled her hoof away. "I'm happy to have met you." She stood up, offering a hoof to Crescent. "Shall we settle up so you can be on your way?"

Crescent considered with a frown, her first of the day. "What do you like to do when you're not working?"

Sassy started at the question. "You are a nosey little filly." She looked unsure if she should be amused or annoyed. "I love a good philharmonic performance." She nodded, mind filled with the sounds of a full band playing classical pieces. "I quite enjoy a good book; say a romance or a mystery, either gets the blood flowing."

Crescent looked unsure. "I'm a little young for romance. I understand, in here, what it's about." She tapped at her head. "But I don't in here." She tapped her chest. "Mysteries are fun! I like reading books that teach me things most of all though."

"A studious little filly." Sassy chuckled, amused by the sight of the small filly's eager expression. "Perhaps you and I will have to trade recommendations."

"I'd like that!" Crescent followed Sassy to the counter. "I've got a lot of books, and I'm always looking for new ones. Mama's library is big, but a helping pointer may get me in the right direction."

"I can imagine." Sassy's magic glowed around Crescent's bag. "Want me to bring this up to the front for you?"

Crescent followed Sassy to the front to pay her bits and get her things. "This has been fun. I'll stop by again." The two shared a wave as she headed out.
> 10 - Filly Fashions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent trotted down the street, enjoying the sound of her own clops and the noises of the bustling city around her. "Today is a good day." And she was helping by sharing those good days. Even if Luna had insisted it wasn't required, Crescent enjoyed sharing her days and all their memories, and Luna accepted them. They always made her smile in a way she wouldn't otherwise.

They may be separate creatures, but Luna was still her mother, for lack of better term. Making her smile and be happy felt good for herself.

She nodded at each brightly-colored store she went past. Each promised different things for any pony brave enough to walk into them and browse their wares. But she had a specific one in mind. She turned off the main path and towards her goal as she reached it. Canterlot Boutique. "What treats will you have for me today?" she sang out, pushing the door with her magic to enter with a jingle of an unseen bell.

"Be right there!" Sassy called from further in the shop, where she was assisting another customer, but would be with Crescent shortly.

Crescent trotted along the walls, examining the clothes, and considering what she might wear. The bedazzling array of styles made her eyes swirl, a shame most of them had no chance on fitting on her tiny little body.

Sassy arrived at last, smiling down at the little filly. "Welcome back, Crescent. There's somepony here today that was quite eager to meet you. I've been passing along your feedback and they began to ask questions."

A white unicorn with purple mane pushed through a line of clothes, her magic pushing them to either side without harming them. "And I had to know more about my smallest, but eager, customer. Hello there, darling. I'm Rarity, and it's a complete pleasure to meet you."

Crescent stared up at the tall mare, and the colors she wore, and the jewelry she had on, and the general style she presented herself with. "Wow. You're really pretty." She took a step closer. "I like your hair, and your outfit. It's so cool!"

Rarity giggled softly, flattered by the child's innocent admiration. "Why thank you, darling. I do try to present myself in the best possible light." She turned a critical eye to Crescent's own appearance. "I see you're exploring what works for you. You've just set a hoof in the accessories, and I can feel it." She reached out a hoof, her magic gently playing with the baubles on Crescent. "May I?"

Crescent nodded eagerly, her mane bouncing a little as she did so. "I love the accessories here. They're all so neat." She smiled up at Rarity. "You must be a good pony if Sassy likes you."

"Oh, we are very good friends." Rarity nodded firmly. "We go way back. And she's told me all about you." She reached into her satchel, pulling out a sketchbook. "Now, I've been thinking about this since we started talking, and I would love to make something special for you."

She tapped at her chin a moment. "Well, we'll design it together, but it won't be just for you. Other little fillies will be able to enjoy it, and don't they deserve it if they want it, hm?"

Crescent bounced at the idea. "That would be wonderful! Yes! Yes!" Each cry was more excited then the last. "What do you need me to do?" She grabbed the notebook in her magic and pulled it over for a peek as Rarity laughed. "There's not much there." There wasn't, just the start of a pony outline, awaiting far more detail.

"No, it's not." Rarity gently pulled the book away from Crescent's eager eyes. "But it's a start. Now, I need you to tell me what you like, and what you think other fillies will like." She held up a hoof. "Don't worry about what you think I want to hear. Tell me what you think is right."

Crescent scrunched her snout in thought, turning around as she did so. "Little girls like dresses." She pointed up at the many dresses. "These are all way too big for me." She stroked at her chin gently. "In fact--" She reached out to brush along the long hem of one dress. "If you avoid the ones that are way long, so a filly can still run around, then you could just make adult dresses, but smaller, and I think a lot of fillies would appreciate just being treated like small adults, which we are."

Rarity considered that with a thoughtful hum, jotting down a few notes on the page, underlining some words, and circling others. "I see. I suppose that makes sense. It's quite clever." She looked at Crescent with a smile. "And I can tell you've given this some thought."

"I have." Crescent nodded firmly. "Mama says I'm smart, and I like to help ponies, and that means knowing them. And I know little fillies, because I am one." She flashed a big happy smile, even if, technically, she was more than a filly. "You already have so many amazing dresses! I just want to fit in them."

"I'll see what I can do." Rarity nodded firmly, reaching out to gently stroke Crescent's mane, which she didn't mind at all. "I don't want to give you false hope, but I do believe I can come up with something suitable."

"That's all I ask." Crescent bobbed her head in response. "Thank you." She looked up at Sassy. "Do you want to be in on this too?"

Sassy shook her head. "Thank you for thinking of me, but I work here. In a way, I already am 'in' on this. I will gladly be the one selling the smaller dresses Rarity sends to me." She heard the chime of the bell over the front door. "I should see to that. You two carry on." She hurried towards the next customer.

Crescent turned back to Rarity, who had returned to her sketchbook, working on it as she muttered to herself. "So, how long do you think it will take?"

"Not long at all." Rarity glanced up from her work. "I'll need your measurements, and then I can begin the design process. Then, I'll make a few samples, and we can go from there." She reached out to ruffle Crescent's mane. "You're such a sweet little filly. Helping little sisters, cousins, or friends find adorable new clothes to match your own."

"That would be really good." Crescent sat down, ready to listen to anything Rarity had to say on the matter. "Tell me about that. How did you become a dressmaker?"

"You really are interested in other ponies." Rarity chuckled, setting aside her sketchbook, her horn lighting up in preparation for the task before them. "Very well. Allow me to tell you everything about my life." She giggled at that. "Well, everything is a bit much. Let's keep it to the basics. To be a dressmaker is to be a slave to the creative urges within you! Darling, do you ever feel like you have an idea you just simply must share with the entire world?"

"Oh, yeah!" Crescent smiled eagerly, rising to her hooves with her magic grasping up at the air for emphasis as she spoke. "Mama's my best friend, and I tell her every single day, and a couple times on Sundays, how much I love her and how happy she makes me."

Rarity covered her mouth to stifle her soft laughter at Crescent's eager monologue. "I see. You're quite the generous young lady, aren't you, dear?" She frowned faintly with thought. "And as lovely as that is, that isn't creativity, dear. Now, don't get me wrong, it sounds absolutely wonderful, but have you ideas you wanted to share with us? Do you draw, write perhaps? Sculpt with those adorable little hooves, hm?"

"Oh! Ummm..." Crescent waggled her hooves at herself, which lacked any skill whatsoever in writing, and her attempts at drawing were very poor at best, lacking the patience and training for the kind of fine lines and shapes needed to capture the world around her accurately. "That's not me at all! I can barely scribble with these little hooves."

Rarity pet down the back of her small customer. "Then, perhaps, creativity isn't what calls you, at least so far. This may change as you grow. You are yet a filly, you have a life ahead of you! Let's not limit ourselves just yet, hm?" Her horn floated as she lifted Crescent up to meet her eye to eye. "Now, tell me this. Which of these lovely outfits is most strongly calling to you."

Crescent twisted around slowly, pointing to the purple shirt with stars on it, a matching skirt, and a simple, yet pretty bow she would wear in her tail, while a smaller version of it would tie into her mane as well, leaving a cute tuft hanging out in front of her ear. "That one."

Rarity smiled in delight as she lowered her tiny guest gently to the floor, her horn glowing as she began picking out the pieces that had been selected. "Then this will be the very first dress I work my magic on and make filly-sized. Won't that be wonderful?"

Crescent did a little hop, pumping a hoof into the air. "I can't wait to see it. I know it'll be great, and--" She paused with a sudden thought. "It's your fault, that I like wearing pretty things. I was happy just being naked before, but this store, and Sassy? They showed me how nice it felt to wear things to show different versions of me."

"I'm glad to have been of service." Rarity bowed to the filly. "To see such a little girl taking an interest in personal presentation is lovely. A proper upbringing is vital to encourage the development of a well-rounded individual who can excel at any number of things." She clasped her hooves before her chest, sighing blissfully. "Little Sweetie looks so lovely when she decides to dress up." Her expression soured into a wry smirk. "Even if she is sometimes comically bad at it. Such is youth!"

As promised, Rarity sent Crescent on her way, but a letter arrived a few days later. Crescent hurried back to the store to find a dress right there in the window. It stood out among the others, being so small. It was the filly-sized version of the same dress she had pointed out. Crescent gasped with amazement and darted inside.

Sassy was there, of course, smiling at Crescent as she entered in a rush, slamming the door with her magic as she skidded to a stop in front of the mare. "It's so cool!" She bounced in place, looking up at it. "It's me!"

"It certainly is." Sassy pulled a copy of the dress away with her magic, folding it neatly as she held it out to Crescent. "The dressing room is right there. Go ahead and try it on. Though I have complete confidence that Rarity got the sizing correct. Go on."

Crescent grabbed the dress and ran into the dressing room, closing the door and dropping it to the ground. She levitated the new outfit on and spun around, finding it to be a perfect fit. She leaped out of the changing room, letting the door swing closed behind her. "I love it! This is the best. Thank you, Sassy!" She bounced on her hooves, doing a little spin.

Sassy smiled gently. "You are most welcome. And look at you. It fits perfectly. And the color brings out your eyes. Perhaps you'll take up painting when you're older, and this will be one of your earliest inspirations." She reached for the filly, gently pulling and pushing to get the dress fitting just right. "How do you feel?"

"Like a star!" One could see the stars twinkling in her eyes. "I need to show everypony! Oh." She curled on herself and got out her bits to pay for her purchase. "Thank Miss Rarity for me, please."

"I'll be sure to let her know." Sassy reached under the counter and pulled out a little hat, decorated with a red ribbon. "Here. Take this one as well. No charge."

"Woooow." Crescent took the hat, putting it on her head. "I love it!" She scampered back to the dressing room, retrieving the other bits of her new outfit before returning. She darted out onto the street, still getting it on as she went. She just couldn't wait to meet new friends, and show older ones her new ensemble.
> 11 - In Your Dreams
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Morning!" Crescent pounced upon her mother, snuggling her warmly as she sent her day's memories joyfully to Luna.

Luna sat up, becoming aware of everything Crescent had done that day. "You were busy." She gently hugged the small pony. "But you don't need to do that."

"You don't need to do a lot of things." She sat before Luna with a smile. "But you do anyway. Good morning!"

"Good morning." Luna leaned in to touch noses gently. "Though it is hardly morning for you. I would ask why you are wearing so much, but you just told me." She ran a hoof along Crescent's new dress and Crescent's back at once. "It looks good on you."

"Thanks!" Crescent did a little twirl before Luna, beaming with obvious pride and happiness. "Rarity's a very nice pony. Maybe lots of other little ponies like me will get nice dresses too. Or suits or whatever." She leaned against Luna softly, looking up at her mother's mane as she quietly admired it.

Luna returned the gentle lean, letting the weight of Crescent comfort her. "You are an ambitious young mare. I love that about you." She ran a hoof over Crescent's cheek. "Are you growing hungry?"

"If that's an invitation to your breakfast, the answer is a big yes." Crescent hopped to her little hooves. "I want to spend more time with you. Let's do something exciting."

"We will begin with 'exciting' breakfast." Luna stepped from her bed, Crescent trailing joyfully behind. "You know I spend most days patrolling dreams."

"Then we can do that." Crescent trotted along with more effort than Luna, making up for her short stature. "After breakfast." She had a little skip to her gait, with her tail bouncing in the wind behind her. "And I love you!" She had said that out of nowhere. "And I'll always love you."

"And I love you too." Luna waited for Crescent to catch up. "Every minute."

"Even when you're mad?" Crescent had to ask, since she did mess up sometimes, and Luna sometimes got upset.

"Even when I'm mad." Luna opened the door to her bedroom, and Crescent zoomed through, eager for the day. "You make me proud, even when you cause trouble. But you also learn from it."

"I try!" Crescent remembered something and her horn glowed as she drew a ring out. "This one's for you."

Luna took the ring in her own magic, floating it up before her eyes. "A ring? What do I do with that? I appreciate the gift, but--"

Crescent took the ring back with her magic and plunked it down right on Luna's horn where it fit snugly once it was pushed down far enough. "Ta da! Now you're even prettier, which shouldn't even be  possible."

Luna chuckled softly at that, a warmth spreading in her heart as she followed the bouncing filly to the dining hall, where, despite the early hour, a meal was laid out for them both.

"Yay." Crescent slipped into her chair and Luna took hers. "More food!" She shoveled bites into her mouth. "You know, I don't need to eat."

Luna perked a brow at that. "All ponies need to eat."

"Dreams don't need to eat." Crescent nodded with confidence at her logic. "I don't get hungry, or thirsty. I just like doing those things. I am a dream. I was a nightmare, but now a dream. A good dream." She crossed her arms across her front, little hooves bobbing. "Is that bad?"

Luna lifted an ear. "I created you. If your nature was bad, I would be the one who did the bad thing here, not you. You  hardly had a say in your own creation. I dare say none of us do. It is one thing that binds all creatures together." The ear relaxed to the side as she ate her food far more calmly than Crescent was. "Now, I do require this food, so let's quietly enjoy this meal."

"Sorry." Crescent went back to eating, though far less quickly than she had been moments prior.

Once Crescent had calmed, Luna posed a question. "Your mind seems to be a fascinating place. Would you like to continue your studies on dreamology?"

"Yes!" Crescent nodded, licking the plate clean, or cleanish. "But I do remember most of it, from you, mama."

"Remembering distantly from another pony is not the same as living it." She took a gently pull of a drink. "Are you--" She aborted the thought, realizing Crescent was ready to stop eating whenever. "Shall we begin our dream journeys?"

"Let's do it." Crescent hopped from her chair, but paused, looking back to the table, and Luna's half-finished food and drink. "Maybe after you finish?"

Luna chuckled gently at the reminder of her unfinished meal. "I'm full enough." She stood from the table. "Follow me, please."

They didn't go to Luna's bedroom, but her study instead. "It's good to not mix sleep and work," she reminded as she settled down. "I know you are aware of how to step into the dream world, so let us do that."

The two went still. When Luna pressed to the other side, Crescent was there, smiling gently. The little filly was a dream creature, entering the dream world was a very natural thing for her to do. "Hm."

Crescent perked at the noise. "What is it, mama?"

"I was just thinking." Luna started out among the infinite stars that were pony dreams. "Perhaps I am underestimating you. You are a dream. This is your world. I merely trespass here."

Crescent scrunched her lips, rolling her tongue as she tried to figure that out, then gave up on it. "Can we go visit somepony's dreams? Like..." She had many someponies she wanted to see, but only one she would really seek out. "Twilight. Twilight is a friend, and I think we could visit her."

Luna smiled with the thought of their new princess. "I imagine she would be delighted to have you. I will show faith. You have given us very little reason to be concerned as a waking filly. Prove you are just as reliable in the dream world." She waved ahead at the glittering castle of crystal of Twilight's that hadn't been there a moment before. "Enjoy your visit."

Crescent grinned wide at the new feature of the dream world, trotting off towards it, her hooves making clops on the golden surface beneath her as Luna watched her go, pride filling her heart, and not a little concern at what the future might hold for them both. Though she did wonder if she was doing her own job properly a moment before she shook that off. Crescent could be trusted.

The filly burst through the doors of the dream castle to find Twilight slumbering, with Spike not too far removed. They were just the entrances to the real dreams, Crescent could feel. She could enter either as easily. But which did she pick? She had meant to go for Twilight, but that was before she saw the little sleeping dragon to consider as well.

"Well, I'll be there." She knew that going in, she could see them both, if she chose, and her presence would be noticed by at least one of them. So she decided to act the part and entered Spike's dreams.

The small dragon, made larger, and, in some cases, monstrous, slept peacefully until the sudden sound of hooves from a small filly caused him to rise. "Who dares intrude in my cave?" the dream Spike demanded, rising to his considerable height, deadly claws scraping the ground beneath him.

"Just a friend," called out Crescent gently, tail wagging. "We haven't met before, but that's easy to fix."

Spike hiked a scaled brow at the little intruder. "Aren't you a little scared?" He lifted a terrible claw towards Crescent. "I could slice you to pieces, or burn you in fire."

"You wouldn't do that. That's mean." Crescent walked towards him without any fear. "Why do any of those when you could play instead? You're a nice dragon."

"Nice dragons are weak!" roared out Spike. "I'm a big dragon, tough and strong."

"You are tough." Crescent arrived at one of Spike's clawed hands and leaned against it. "You are very strong."

"But you aren't scared." Spike huffed out a ring of smoke.

Crescent snuggled against a great finger. "Being scary isn't something you need to be. You're pretty great just like you are, a very nice dragon and good friend."

Spike could smell the honesty and acceptance radiating from the small filly and sank down to the floor, where he was much closer to her in size and eye level. "You are pretty cool." His gaze shifted. "But we're not alone."

Crescent nodded in understanding. "We're not. Your dreams and mine are linked. Mine are like the sky, and yours like the land, but we're connected, and I can go anywhere I want."

Spike stood up straight with surprise. "So you could have gone to Twilight first?"

"Yep!" Crescent beamed with pride. "But you're a friend. And I'd like to be your friend."

Spike barked out a laugh at that. "Which is it? You can't be my friend and also want to become my friend." With a sudden pop, Spike was his little self, just an adolescent dragon, small, adorable by many measures. "You look like Luna."

"Mama!" Crescent bounced at the mention of Luna. "I am her filly. Nice to meet you."

"Yeah?" Spike offered a hand and they shook gently. "I'm Spike."

Crescent nodded sagely. "I know that."

Spike narrowed his eyes with suspicion. "Are you sure?"

"Mostly sure." Crescent looked up. "Would you like to go and see Twilight with me?"

Spike looked confused. "You were already there, and you didn't wake her?"

Crescent inclined her head. "I wasn't there in the waking world. I won't visit that way. But I could take you to her dream. She trusts you, I think? Let's go." She waved back towards the mouth of the cave. "If you want?"

Spike grew curious, following Crescent towards the exit. "Sure? If you can do that? Is that possible?"

Crescent bit Spike's hand, not painfully, but to draw it along as things flowed smoothly around them. They pressed into the space between dreams and Crescent held Spike's astral form close as they dived right into Twilight's dream.

They landed with a thump up on some benches. There were many ponies, watching Twilight give a sermon about something. The dream wasn't being very specific about what the sermon was about exactly. "Is this how ponies see her?" asked Crescent, looking around them at the crowd.

"No, it's how she sees herself." Spike seemed certain of this. "Or her inner doubts or fears. I dunno."

Crescent's gaze wandered along the audience until they saw one of the ponies there, Princess Celestia. The urge to rush over and greet her was overwhelming, but Crescent held it back. Chatting with idle dream figments would get her nowhere. "Let's say hello."

She raised a hoof and Twilight called on her. "Your lecture is inspiring, thank you for sharing it, but I'd like to talk to you."

This surprised Twilight, but her eyes cleared as she emerged from her dream state, just a little. "Oh, hello there. Spike? What are you doing here? I didn't think you had much interest in the practical applications of friendship as magic." She smiled at the filly that had drawn the attention of her companion, but her expression grew worried when she saw who it was. "Princess Luna? Oh no. What's happened?" She looked around, but found nopony else there.

"Oh, nothing." Crescent waved a hoof to dispel the worries. "I'm her filly, not her. We've met before, remember. Silly dream fog."

"Dream fog?" But, since it had been brought up, Twilight slowly shook off the last of that fog Crescent had mentioned. "Crescent! What are you doing in my dream?"

Spike chuckled, following along. "Poking around, it seems. She visited mine first. I was a big tough dragon, rawr." He flexed his claws, for all the danger they didn't radiate. "And now we're bothering you."

"Neither of you are bothering me." She spread her wings to hug both of them. "Just surprised me, is all. How can I help you?"

Crescent ducked out from under the wing embrace. "I wanted to share my day with you. I don't know you too well, and that's sad."

"It's sad?" Twilight considered that a moment. "Well, it is good to spend time with friends. I suppose there's not much risk of it harming my work, so go right ahead. My dream is your dream for the time being."

Crescent beamed and started to prance about, showing off her dress to her friends, and talking about all the fun she had had in Canterlot and meeting Rarity, and Sassy, and how her days were spent.

Twilight nodded slowly along with it all. "Rarity had mentioned her shop. I'm glad to hear it's going well. Making a line for younger ponies sounds like a marvelous idea. Spike?"

"Pass." He waved it away. "I'm not a foal. But when she makes me a suit for a dragon, it's always looking good."  He was wearing a suit then, thinking about it. Such was the nature of the dream world. "See? Dapper!"

"Very," laughed out Twilight. "Now, I need to ask, but will I remember any of this when I wake up? I don't often remember my dreams very well."

"Not sure," admitted Crescent with a shrug. "You'll have to tell me what happens."

"I can do that." Twilight rose from her seat, the dream vanishing around them to leave a quiet landscape of peaceful grassland. "For now, let's have fun. You wanted to play, I think?"

"That's right." Crescent smiled back at Twilight with enthusiasm. "Tag!" She reached out with her hoof, touching Twilight on the shoulder and ran. "You're it!"

Twilight stared as her friends vanished before her and the world spun. She woke up in her bed, panting heavily with the unexpected departure. "Spike?" She slid to the floor. "Are you there?" But they didn't sleep as close together since moving to the castle. Fortunately, she did know where he was, and soon was at his door, knocking gently.

Spike opened the door. "You had the same dream, right?"

"Yes." Twilight slipped inside, her magic closing the door. "But then I woke up suddenly. I thought--" She frowned. "I thought we were going to play, but then it ended. Did something happen? Is Crescent alright?"
> 12 - Intervention
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was nightfall when Luna received a royal summons and answered to find an unfamiliar guard. "Did the guards change again?" She peered at the stallion curiously. "You don't look familiar. I apologize, I have many ponies working in this castle."

"I don't know." The guard didn't seem to know that either.

Luna felt it, the soft touch of a reality one step removed. "I am asleep." With that intonation, the guard vanished, as did the room and much everything else but herself, leaving her on a featureless surface, save that it was made of the same fine marble, extending infinitely in all directions. She recognized it, and the two ponies that approached her with smiles. "Nightmare Moon and..." She frowned as the third arrived. "Me. I know you." She nodded to herself, not caring if she sounded foolish to the others, or anypony else, not that anypony else could hear her. "Crescent."

Crescent beamed at Luna as she arrived, her image overlapping with that of Nightmare Moon as they sat down before her. "What troubles you?" they asked in both a booming voice of a horror and  the sweet tone of a little filly.

Luna cringed faintly at the strange image of both that little girl and her worst fear come to life. "If we're being honest, right now, you. Are you aware of your--" She paused, frowning with a tapping of her metal hoof on the ground. "--of your dual nature? Is something wrong with you? I have not seen you like this before."

"That is because I've never been like this before." Crescent took center stage then, appearing without her second parent, and speaking with a gentler tone, but with the added weight of having the shadow of Nightmare Moon loom over her from behind, one hoof resting on her daughter's mane as if offering support and guidance.

Luna cracked a faint smile. "That is a curious sight, and it is strangely comforting to think even in the depths of that madness, I would stop to hold an especially agreeable little foal."

"You are a good pony." Crescent's words left a crack in the world itself, leaving reality with a fine line of a busted camera lens. "I am happy to have you as a mother." Another fine line instantly appeared. "And Equestria is so happy to have you." A third, reality barely holding itself together.

Luna flared her wings out wide. "I know all this! I know." She rose to her full height. "Your words are well-intentioned and gladly heard, but why are you telling me what I am fully aware of?"

"Just because you know it." Comforting was behind Luna suddenly, in the way of dreams. Nightmare Moon was approaching from the front. "Doesn't mean you are it, Mother. Deep inside." Nightmare Moon tapped her chest with a clawed hoof, directly over her heart. "You doubt."

"I do not!" snapped Luna, hooves slamming to the ground.

"Then prove it." Crescent smiled, offering a hoof towards the grown mare. "Reach into the soul of that doubter, and strike them down."

Luna flicked an ear back. "Gladly." She pulled back her metal-clad hoof and lashed out at Nightmare Moon. "Begone!" she roared in the strike, but Nightmare Moon barely moved on impact.

Nightmare Moon smirked at her cleansed counterpart. "This is what they made me into? Pathetic. That punch had no feeling. You're going through the motions with no conviction."

Luna pulled back with a gasp of realization as she realized how little effort she had put into the attack, and that it was pointless besides. She had meant to rid herself of a persistent monster, but that was not the case. "You're right. This is a dream." She glared at the parts of her that wished to deny the truth of what she had become.

Crescent grabbed one of her hind legs, hugging firmly. "Mother, you set me free, but we are all still you. We love you."

"I do not." Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. "But I remain part of you." She waved a hoof back at Crescent. "She has shown me the light of my actions. I will stay my claws and watch this farce." She began to walk away. "I do not approve, but I am powerless before my creator." She vanished, or simply retreated, depending on one's point of view.

Luna whirled on her lighter reflection. "Why are we in my dreams? I was patrolling, performing my duty. You were as well, to my recollection."

"I was." Crescent looked at the hoof that had held Luna's leg and stroked it softly as she gathered her thoughts and spoke her mind, echoing within Luna, but not spoken by her mouth. "I was having a lot of fun playing with Twilight and Spike." Her head sank. "Until the end, I guess. She woke up and it just felt like the day ended right there." She looked up at Luna, not with eyes of the body she possessed, but those she shared with her mother, deep sapphires, sparkling with magic. "Do you wish you had more friends?"

Luna recoiled at the question, a new line distorting their shared reality. "I have many friends!" she weakly protested, shrinking back.

Crescent curled a hoof at herself. "At least one." Celestia appeared, though entirely still. Crescent pointed to her. "At least two."

Luna huffed as the Cutie Mark Crusaders appeared, flanking her to either side. "Three more! They would consider me a friend and ally, and I them as well."

Crescent clapped with a smile. "Good! Mama, I am here because you  needed me more than Twilight or Spike did." She sat up, though remained sitting. "You pushed me away, but I love you too much, mama. I couldn't ignore you."

"Thank you." Luna crouched before her filly, embracing her with a warmth she rarely dared to share with anyone else, except those rare occasions she got to do so with Celestia herself, but the warm glow of Crescent's aura was far stronger than either sister, and filled Luna with the feelings that inspired Crescent herself to make it so. "I still feel like I'm hugging myself."

"You are." Crescent kissed Luna's cheek. "But only mostly. You pushed me away, so I'm becoming my own pony, slowly." She slid down to Luna's hooves and bounced away. "But I will always love you. You're my mama."

"I know." Luna turned around to look at the projection of her beloved older sister, one of the few friends she had made in a millennia, and those others that had been made alongside her. "I appreciate your time, Crescent. I feel better already, knowing I still have friends."

Crescent bowed. "But are you better?" She reached up and tapped at one of the lines, casually giving their shared reality a poke. "You are not perfect. But nopony is. Mama, it's alright to feel weak, and sad, sometimes. That's when you go to a friend, and give them the hug you gave me, and ask for their help."

"I won't ask that of anypony." Luna turned from the image of her sister. "Celestia is busy enough as it is. She doesn't have time for me."

"She has the time and loves you a whole lot." Crescent hugged at Luna's leg, warm and with fond nuzzles. "For you, she would make the time. And for her, you would do the same thing. You are sisters."

Luna relented to that, her mind whispering that her daughter was right. She would drop anything for her beloved big sister, as would Celestia do the same for her. "Perhaps I will try tomorrow." She felt better, her soul soothed. "Thank you, Crescent. You were the perfect mare for the job."

Reality broke, the lens shattering into countless pieces. The dream ended with it, Luna awakening on the dream path she had started on, ascending to a new level of thought there. Her presence could be felt by ponies throughout Equestria, even the farthest corners, if she desired it, or if they dreamed loudly enough. But tonight, she just wanted to relax and see if that good mood lasted beyond her return to the waking world.

There, Crescent was waiting for her. "Hey, mama. How did your dream go?" She bounced a bit, ready to hear the story about it, and perhaps contribute details she hadn't before.

"I had a good dream." Luna nudged her filly with her muzzle. "About you. About my friends."

"Even Nightmare Moon?" Crescent tilted her head.

"Especially her." Luna flicked an ear back a moment. "As curious as that was. She is a bit taciturn, but--" She frowned. "Is she a manner of creature like you, dear Crescent?"

"Yes. No?" Crescent burst into airy giggles. "It's been a while since I said that, but I mean it. You could let her out, like you did for me, or keep her safe inside you, like you're doing."

Luna shook her head slowly. "You are a twinkling light on the lands. I am unsure how positive Nightmare Moon would be. Odds are stacked against that working out well."

"You won't know if you don't try." Crescent leaned up and gave Luna's cheek a peck of a kiss. "But I understand if you don't want to. Nightmares can be a scary business. Some ponies aren't too keen on them, and they might be afraid of you if they know."

Luna went still, a single tear running down her cheek. "They are still afraid of me."

Crescent realize then her mistake. "They love you, mama. I meant--"

Luna pushed Crescent away. "And why shouldn't they? I have given them much to fear. They have holidays about that fright!"

Crescent sighed sadly at that, her mother's anger washing over her, but she would not fight back or even resist the hate being thrown at her, because she knew it was not real. It was just pain, and that Luna needed to express it. "Mama, it's alright. I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Luna leaned in, nose to nose with little Crescent. "How were you wrong? Be clear, little dream figment."

The words had a bite to them, but they were also true. Truth spoken coldly. Crescent grabbed Luna's snout. "There are ponies that revel in your night. There are ponies that love you so much." She burst into giggles. "Some of them too much."

Luna colored, immediately thinking of such ponies. "Too much." She shook away those thoughts. "Yes, you are not entirely incorrect there. Crescent--" She sat up with a sigh. "You've given me much to ruminate over. Are you not getting tired? Sleep."

Crescent flopped down onto the ground at Luna's hooves and her eyes drifted closed. "I'll see you in the morning."

"You will." Luna turned and headed out on her patrol for the night. "You will."
> 13 - Finishing Chats
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent awoke in the early hours of the day, yawning as she rubbed her eyes and looked around to make sure she was actually awake this time, and not in another dream or vision. When she was convinced of it, she stretched and slid off the bed. "Morning." She padded to the balcony and peeked out at the gardens below, enjoying the sights and sounds that greeted her.

Returning to the room, she took note that Mama wasn't there. "Getting ready for bed?" She trotted out into the hallways with a merry clip-clop. "Mama? Where are you hiding?" Her eyes flicked across the corridors, trying to find her mother, or anyone she knew, in fact, that might be willing to provide company for the morning. "Anyone?"

When there was still no response, Crescent used her horn to float a hat on. She had picked out the red bow one from her collection. "Oh, well." There was one place that felt like a safe place to go, so she went to where Celestia and Mama often had breakfast.

Celestia was there, enjoying a waffle. "Crescent, how nice to see you." She nodded towards Crescent as the filly entered. "Would you care for one?" She lifted another waffle to punctuate her question.

Crescent's eyes locked on it for a moment, but she pulled herself together and managed to respond with a curt nod. "I'd love to!" She bounced towards the table to sit right across from her Aunt Celestia.

A plate was lifted from the table, magically, and placed before Crescent, along with a fork and knife, as well as a bottle of syrup to coat the waffle with. "My, my. You have quite the appetite." Celestia took a small sip from a cup of coffee. "How was your day yesterday?"

Crescent grabbed the waffle with her bare hooves and started to chomp on it, smiling with delight at the treat. Her magic slathered it in syrup even as she devoured it, somehow managing to not drench herself in the stuff. "It was good." She considered bringing up heavier parts, but that felt rude to Luna. "Do you know where Mama is?"

"Yes, I do." Celestia leaned across the table and whispered, "She's getting her beauty sleep, but she'll be out and about when she's ready." She sat back up with a smile and finished her waffle before reaching out with a hoof to scritch Crescent's cheek gently with her hoof.

Crescent smiled at the affection even as confusion swirled in her. "I checked her bedroom. It's my bedroom too! She wasn't there. Is she sleeping somewhere else?!"

Celestia looked out a window at the warm light of the day. "Ah, she must be in the garden today, soaking up the sunlight for a change of pace." She kept eating her waffles at the same lazy pace she had started with, a quiet nibble here and there. "Are you jealous, Crescent? Or just lonely?"

"Lonely." She reached over to take another waffle in her hooves. "I wanted to talk to her." She stuck out her tongue at Celestia. "Is it that odd for a filly to want to talk to her mom?"

Celestia nodded solemnly as she swallowed another bite of waffle and drank of her coffee to wash it down. "Very well. Let us find her." She stood up. "Follow me. I am quite certain of where she is."

Crescent rose as well, trotting after the elder princess as they left the dining room and stepped into the hallway, passing through the halls as they walked outside to the courtyard and the little garden where the sisters could enjoy some sunshine together, as they once had done as foals themselves so very long ago. "That's nice."

They walked to the small hilltop where a tiny stream trickled on by. "She's resting here. Come on, I'll wake her for you." Celestia stepped on forward to stand right next to Luna and Crescent raced forward to catch Celestia's hoof before it could make contact. "Thank you. I can talk to her now." She nuzzled Celestia's captive hoof. "I can take it from here."

Celestia could have gotten around Crescent, easily. She could have just knocked the filly right over, but she felt no need to do either. "Just wanted to be near her? What a darling little creature you are." She turned away. "You know where to find me." So as to not awaken her sister if not needed, Celestia returned to inside the castle at a gentle walk.

Crescent curled next to her mother. "There you are. I didn't know you slept outside sometimes." There was no accusation there, just innocent marvel at learning something new about her mother. "Let me join you." She closed her eyes and pressed from her mental space into the one that had created her.

"Crescent?" Luna did not stir when she spoke, she simply did so from her mind, sharing a vision of their joined dreams for the moment. "What are you doing here?"

Crescent curled against her mother, basking in the warmth and love flowing between them. "I wanted to see you. And talk to you some more. I fell asleep last time and I feel bad about that. You deserve more time and talks." She flashed a big smile at Luna. "We all do, but especially you, mother. You are my mother. I like talking with you."

Luna chuckled softly at the thought, smiling with obvious joy from the filly's simple logic and dedication. "I think we talked plenty last night. Don't you?"

"Nope!" Crescent hopped up onto Luna, who continued to lay in the soft grass of the dreamscape, the sky above them twinkling with the hopes of the citizens of Equestria. "You have some big worries, and you shouldn't have to face those alone." She nuzzled into Luna's soft fur, nestling in close. "So many ponies love you, starting with me, but not ending, no no no." She shook her head wildly at the thought of such a thing, sending her mane flying out and whacking Luna in the face, briefly covering the pony's eyes with its length and darkness, leaving her blind and relying on Crescent's warmth and voice to assure her of the filly's presence still being there and she was not alone in the world anymore.

Luna chuckled softly at her daughter's enthusiasm, brushing the little filly's mane away. "Somepony woke up with all the vim and vigor, I see. You should be enjoying the day, not foalsitting your silly mother."

"If I want to foalsit my mama, than I'm gonna." Crescent sat up so she could fold her arms in a proper pouting gesture. "She deserves it. She foalsits all of Equestria every night, and they love her for it, knowing her hooves are wrapped gently around them, keeping them safe." She softened, laying back down, nuzzling her mother's warm flank with her own smaller one. "I wish I could help you do that."

"You do." Luna opened an eye to look at her. "Your existence gives me strength, more than you know. It is very pleasant to have a piece of myself, but not my entire self. You are a reminder that I can create as well as destroy." She hummed gently. "I am a pony of many parts, but it is folly to think I am alone in this. The dreams I visit make it quite clear that many others have quite nuanced inner places." She rested beneath Crescent, tired, but pleased to have her.

Crescent nodded, leaning back just enough to rest her head on Luna's, letting her head sink in gently as she let herself fade out and back to her own space, the distance between them widening as she returned to her own physical form, snoring quietly as she still reclined on the gentle curve of the sunbathing Princess Luna's side. "Sleep well." She smooched her slumbering mother and hopped up to her own hooves.

Spiritedly, she trotted into the castle and almost bumped headlong into a pony on the way. "Blueblood!"

"That's prince—" Blueblood took a step back, realizing what foal he'd almost tripped over. "Oh, cousin Crescent. Charmed. Where are you dashing off to with such spirit? Going to wake your mother, I suspect?"

"No, she's taking a nap." Crescent beamed up at Blueblood as he fixed his cravat with a fancy twist of his hoof, her horn glowing with magic as she adjusted her own dress from his touch against her coat, and the tickle of his mane in her eyes. "Anything interesting happening in the castle today that you know about?"

"There's you, to start." He examined her curiously a moment. "You've really stepped up your fashion game, haven't you? I'm not complaining, but what inspired the sudden interest? Did somepony else decide to dress you, or?" He shrugged at the possibility of the answer not mattering, which it might not have to the little filly. "We've also got a royal ambassador arriving from some country or other. The boring one. You wouldn't be interested."

"Yeah, I wouldn't." Crescent grinned at the adult standing before her. "Auntie Tia will want to handle that, I'm sure. I'll play with you, then, if you're not doing anything. I'm bored."

"I have several things to be doing, some of them in fact urgent." Blueblood let out a sigh, feeling that such pleas may not be taken at heart by the filly. "Perhaps you could accompany me, for a little while?"

Crescent squeaked with delight and got to trotting alongside Blueblood. "Which thing are we taking care of first?"

"We are going to a sitting room. The guards told me a pony has come to visit, and they simply cannot be turned away. Must be somepony of some importance. I will see what they need. You can watch." He ruffled the top of Crescent, mussing her hair and adjusting her hat.

She was tempted to move it back, but held herself back and simply smiled up at him, her mane slowly drooping from his hoof's interference and into her eyes, as if to add an element of comedy to the scene that could only be read by her own amusement. "What's this pony's name?"

"I'm told it's--" He paused. "They didn't mention it." They entered a small sitting room and found the answer for themselves. Seated at the table there was Princess Twilight Sparkle. "Oh, what a surprise. I wouldn't think they'd need a pony to greet you."

Twilight looked up at Blueblood, nodded, then her eyes dropped to Crescent with a big smile. "There you are! I was worried something terrible might have happened to you, the way that dream ended so sharply. What happened?!"

"The dream?" Blueblood quirked a brow at that. "What dream? I haven't dreamed yet today, let alone shared one with somepony." He frowned at that as Twilight's attention was focused on Crescent. "Is this a joke, cousin? Did you send her here ahead of you, or..."

Crescent giggled as she bounced towards Twilight. "That was last night. I'm sorry if I scared you. It was surprising to me too, but I felt somepony needed me really bad, so I went to them. "

Twilight reached a hoof and curled the attached arm around Crescent, drawing her close. "I'm glad you're alright. You were speaking to me, in the dream, and then, it was just gone, all of it." She shook her head, focusing on Blueblood. "You must be terribly confused, sorry. I had come to see if Crescent is alright, which she seems to be. You don't need to greet me. I was hoping Celestia or Luna would arrive, truth told, to ask them about Crescent."

"That's hardly my concern," stated Blueblood with a dismissive wave of his hoof, though he did pour himself some tea at the counter. "They're around. Luna is certainly busy these days. She does what she wants. Celestia probably knows where she is. Would you care for some tea?" He raised his own.

"Thank you." Twilight took a glass for her own with a little proper sip. "I won't keep you a moment longer."

"She is my cousin." Blueblood nodded towards Crescent. "One I've grown fond of. Go on."

Twilight rubbed behind her head awkwardly. "As you wish. Crescent, thank you for checking in on me. Are you regularly in the habit of helping your mother with dream patrols?"

"Sometimes." Crescent leaned up, rising to her hind legs to grab Twilight by the cheeks and smooch her on either. "I'm so happy you came, just for me. I hope it wasn't too hard, but I'm okay, really."
> 14 - Friendly Library
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent sat up straight, feeling the weight of the tiara upon her head. "I'm going to be a good queen."

Spike came out of the shadows to lean against a wall. "You know, I'm a dragon, so I'm not really interested in queens. But for what it's worth, I'm rooting for you, Crescent."

Twilight snickered gently, peeking out from her kitchen. "We ponies prefer princesses to queens. Are you certain you want to be a queen?" She emerged from the kitchen, walking at an easy pace through her crystal tower of a castle until she could give Crescent a proper hug, that included the use of both her front hooves and a little bit of her horn magic to lift Crescent into the embrace itself.

Crescent chuckled a little as she was lifted. "Thank you for asking, but yes, I think I would do better as a queen." She hovered, her magic gently lifting her tiara back to her head as she sat atop Twilight's shoulders, hugging the mare's neck with her forelimbs as they embraced properly, her legs resting against Twilight's shoulders and chest. "I was dreaming of you, you know. All of you, but mostly you." She settled in, laying on Twilight's back as they stood, a living chair for a queen to be.

Twilight arched a brow, amused by the position they found themselves in, and the strange topic her friend was bringing up. "Were you now, and you were my queen?"

"Yep!" Crescent beamed with her fantasy. "You were my princess, and I sent you on wild adventures. And then I would tell you when you did a really good job."

"Why thank you." Twilight offered a slight bow. "It pleases me greatly to serve you, and bring glory to your throne. Does Spike know he's the court jester?"

"The court dragon," corrected Crescent. "And he likes it."

Spike cleared his throat. "You heard her, official court dragon." He thumped his hand to his chest with a confident grin. "Was I also big and strong?"

"Adorable and lovable," countered Crescent, her tail swishing rapidly. "It was a nice dream. I can't wait until I am a real queen. Maybe I'll get a castle that looks just like this one, but bigger!" She gasped, ears perking up as she sat up. "Big enough to have my own Twilight!"

"Would you like that?" Twilight trotted along the familiar paths of her own castle. "You can borrow me whenever you like, my liege."

Crescent hugged her future subject from above. "You are the best princess!"

Twilight snorted at that. "Crescent, you realize Luna is a princess, don't you?"

"Yep! But we're different types of princesses." She set her head down on Twilight's shoulder, resting it there as they walked. "You can't beat me there."

"Oh, but I could," teased Twilight. "I am a princess of friendship."

"And I am the queen of the land!" Crescent hugged all the harder. "But, as princess, Luna is the princess of dreams and the night. She can't be beat there. You're both best, at different things."

"I'm glad you accept that, but you are a little young to be a queen yet, aren't you?" Twilight tilted her head curiously as they walked through the hallways of the palace, going towards a library, as it was a natural direction to travel when aimless wandering was the goal in mind. "Maybe you could become a princess instead and rule the night with your mother."

Crescent sat up with a hum. "I do have dream powers, you have a little point." She tapped at her chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of that, I need to keep a closer eye on mama, but I am going to be a queen."

"Whatever you like." Twilight carried her little monarch into the library and set her down on one of the comfy chairs, using her magic to levitate a book about history, though she soon noticed Crescent's curious eyes upon the title and she replaced it for a tome about ponies, one suitable for a foal to read and be entertained by.

Before she could get the book to Crescent, the little would-be ruler had snatched the first book in her magic and began reading it with little noises of fascination. Twilight inclined her head slowly. "You are an advanced reader, aren't you?"

"I have all of mama's memories." Crescent willed the next page to flip. "So I can read good. I like adult books and foal books. It depends on what mood I'm in." That she was reading Twilight's book gave a hint as to which mood she was in. "Oh, cool!" She traced her hoof along a passage of text, one that had an illustration to go with it, depicting a line of alicorns marching across the page. "There were more alicorns?"

"Princess Platinum, Celestia and Luna, and Cadance, as you know them." Twilight nodded towards Crescent. "Technically, that first one was just a unicorn, but she was proper royalty." She curled a hoof at herself. "And me, we can't forget that one. Oh, and Flurry Heart. Equestria has seen quite a few new princesses of late. Maybe you will be the next." She winked at her young friend and student. "Who knows what the future holds."

Crescent glowed with pride at the praise. "Thank you, Princess Twilight! It's great to have friends like you." She thought a moment. "Hey, I remember something. How did your dream end? I got called away."

Twilight inclined her head. "It ended when you left. That's why I came to see how you were. Now, that all behind us, you are welcome to enjoy that book."

Crescent willed it shut with her magic, floating it back where it had come from to start. "I want to stay, and play with you, but I should go home, and take care of things." She slid to her hooves. "I can't be a queen some day if I'm not mature about my responsibilities." She frowned at the door that lead outside, her nose wrinkling in disgust at the very idea of having to step beyond it. "I don't wanna go. What if I never see you again?"

"Do you think that is a possibility?" Twilight laid down at her friend's hooves. "I can always come and visit you." Her horn glowed as she retrieved that book for herself. "Or, you can visit me. You are an adept dream walker, are you not? We can talk, play, and spend time any day you want."

"You'd be alright with that?" Crescent leaned in, nose to nose with Twilight, her tail wagging with cautious optimism.

"I'd be very alright with that." Twilight made a soft shooing motion. "Go on." She patted at Crescent's shoulder with her free hoof before returning that attention to the book herself and burying her nose in its pages, finding something to amuse herself with for the time being as Crescent left through the front door, not daring to look back lest she find herself lost in the feelings plaguing her.

She fled from the towering library of a castle and snapped out her little wings. "Home," she called as she lifted into the air and darted up towards Canterlot, only to almost crash into another flier.

"Watch where you're going." Gallus gave her a shove. "Huh? Who are you?"

Crescent blinked at the griffon, searching her mother's memories and finding nothing about Gallus in them. "Hello? Who are you? I'm Crescent Moon." She lowered to the ground, landing.

"Gallus, and you are a weird little pony." He sized her up with a curious glance and flap of his wings as he held his ground. "I don't like strange new ponies."

"That's fair, I don't know how I feel about Griffons yet." She rolled her hoof a bit. "So, hm, hello, Gallus? What were you doing?" She looked him over more carefully, her eyes widening a bit. "Oh, are you a boy?!"

Gallus blushed and looked away. "Yeah, why?"

"You don't have a skirt like me." Crescent pointed, though seemed to realize a moment later. "You're not dressed at all."

Gallus barked a laugh at that. "Nope. Ain't against any laws." He folded his arms over his chest. "You're the one that's all over dressed. What are you getting ready for, all dudded up like that?" He flicked at her dress with a wingtip.

"Dressed up?" Crescent frowned at her own body. "This isn't dressed up. This is me, being normal."

"You look like a doll, or a doll collector's poster foal." Gallus tilted his head curiously at that. "But alright. We all got our styles." He reached forward and flicked Crescent's bow, making her ear twitch. "So, where's your parent? You shouldn't be wandering out so late, so far away from town. It's not safe."

"I don't have a parent, I live with my mama." Crescent turned with a snort and began to stride away from the strange, unfamiliar, and untrustworthy stranger griffon that was following her around, nosing in her business and staring at her with strange eyes that she couldn't read at all.

But he didn't give up on her, following right along. "You just said you have a mama, so you have a parent. Where is she? I can't just leave a foal out here by herself, okay?"

Crescent paused, but not to look at him, she kept striding with determination in each step. "She's inside. We just live far away. I was visiting a friend." She wasn't sure of what to say about any of that, but figured it was sufficient to make him stop bugging her, and leave her alone.

But it wasn't. He was right behind her, looming with every step. "Visiting a friend? Look, it's late, we're not in town. At least tell me which direction we're going."

Crescent whirled on Gallus with a little pout. "Why are you following me?!"

"Because I care?" Gallus shrugged softly. "Look, I may, you know, come off a bit prickly, but I'm not leaving a little filly to fend for herself."

"I'm not a filly!" Crescent stamped her hoof. "I'm just little!"

"You have a bow in your mane."

Crescent nodded at the statement of fact, folding her forelimbs. "I do have a bow, you're right."

"And you're a little pony."

She nodded more, frowning. "That's me. I'm a pony. And?"

Gallus stroked his beak gently. "Alright, sure, let's just go with that. You're a very little mare. So, being a nice griffon, I want to help you get somewhere safe. Where would that be?"

Crescent glanced away with a scowl, not that she could maintain the expression for long, but she had to try. "I could be a changeling, you know?"

"You smell like a pony, and you talk like one." Gallus crossed his wings in front of his body. "You also can't lie well enough to fool me."

"That's fine, I didn't want to anyway." She put a hoof over her chest proudly and declared, "I am Crescent Moon! Daughter of Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon! It's a pleasure to meet you." She extended her hoof for a shake, like she had practiced with Auntie Celestia many times over the past few weeks of her life.

Gallus accepted her hoof with a smile. "Now we're, oh. Oh! Well, that changes things." He rubbed behind his head with his free hand. "Let's get you to the train station. They can get you home."

"I can fly home." Crescent puffed out her chest, then frowned a little, rubbing a hoof on the back of her own neck as her ears lowered a bit and her wings flicked. "Kind of."

Gallus smirked at that. "You were doing that, not safely. That's how we almost crashed. Be more careful, alright?"

Crescent snorted, tossing her head to try to toss her mane back from her eyes, and only half succeeding. "Fine. But I still know how to get home from here. I have never been lost. Mama and Auntie make sure I know where I am, all the time. They like me to be safe." With everything well in hoof, Crescent took into the evening sky, zipping towards home.
> 15 - A Mirror Darkly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent got in the habit of visiting the dreams of her friends whenever she was awake when they would be sleeping. Most were joyous chances to reconnect and press hoof to hoof. Sometimes she had to actually help with troubled dreams, which she did as best she could. Then, there was Twilight.

She followed the purple mare out of the dream she had been in and into a new one. It was one she had entered many times before. She knew it well, and knew what to expect as Twilight descended towards the earth. The purple princess landed in a field of flowers with a content smile and Crescent drew nearer, listening to the thoughts and desires that made the dreams of Twilight.

Twilight would typically be softly murmuring about whatever topic she was focused on, unless she was panicking, then the dream would be a nightmare focused on that instead. There was no panic, just a softly speaking Twilight. "Sunset, I'm so proud of you. I'll visit soon. We live in different worlds."

Crescent dropped down next to Twilight, knowing well who the princess was talking to in her mind. The filly did not intrude, merely existing in her friend's dream with her as she lay down, basking in the peaceful aura and soft petals of the flowery field. But the talking continued, "You have wonderful friends, many of them mine, a world removed. You've all overcome. So proud."

Crescent perked an ear at the exchange. There was so much love in those words, but an undertone of worry, perhaps guilt? Crescent tapped at her chin in thought, wondering how she could help Twilight feel better. She smiled as an idea came. A spirit of youth, she didn't look much further than the first idea that came up. "I'll fix this." She vanished from Twilight's dream, already quite set on her idea.

With a push, Crescent popped back into her own space and woke up easily. She sat up in bed and hopped down to stretch even as she trotted for the door. "I'm going to help," she sang as she went, mind still on the solution in her head. "But first, I need to know who Sunset is."

Her mother was, of course, up and about, already moving around the castle halls and doing her morning business as she checked in with guards and servants to see that the work of the day would proceed smoothly, and, of course, that their spirits were well enough for such tasks. Luna spotted her daughter with ease, seeing her reflection in the armor of a guard she was talking to. "Crescent." Her eyes narrowed as she turned to the filly. "Why are you still in your bed clothes?"

Crescent bolted across the hall, stopping herself just short of crashing into Luna "I forgot." She looked down, confirming that she was, indeed, dressed for bed and not for much else. It was too late for that. "Do you know of a pony named Sunset?"

Luna inclined her head. "I do not, but I think I've heard Sister speak the name once or twice. You would do better to ask her about it." She leaned in. "Why do you ask, and in such a hurry you didn't dress properly?"

Crescent raised her hooves, as if to defend herself from the truth, then relented and set them back on the floor with a sigh. "I was going to visit one of my friends."

Luna hummed, but it was a pleased sound. "Which one? Do I know them?"

"Yes!" Crescent bounced in place. "I'm going to help Twilight Sparkle."

"Ah, Twilight." Luna nodded at that. "A fine task then. I will leave you to it, but you do know she is quite some distance away."

"I've flown from there." She flapped her little wings. "I know how to get there and back, mama. I'll be safe."

They met, nose to nose in a gentle nuzzle, then went their different ways.

Crescent returned to her room, got dressed for the day, then made for the royal gardens, as they were a common spot for Celestia to relax in her rare free time.  She stepped up to Celestia and bowed, which the older alicorn returned with a nod, but did not stand to do so herself, remaining comfortably reclined as Crescent had interrupted a rather pleasant lounging session to nap in the sunlight for a time.

Celestia smiled gently. "You look like you have a question, little Crescent. Speak, and I may have the answer."

Crescent sat back, clapping her hooves. "I was hoping you knew a pony named Sunset? A friend of Twilight's?

Celestia tensed at that. "Sunset Shimmer. That is a complicated story, little one. It took place while your mother was away, so she knew little of it."

"So you do know her." Crescent hopped forward, tail wagging excitedly. "Where is she?"

"She resides in a different world, one of humans." Celestia picked her crown up from where it had been discarded nearby, settling it onto her head. "Why do you seek her? Has something happened? Are the girls alright?"

Crescent inclined her head. "Which girls?" But it clicked a moment later. "Oh, I think so. Twilight's just worried about Sunset and I want to help. So how do I get to that other world? And what's a human?"

"There is a portal there, and it is a creature with two arms and legs and one head." Celestia shook her head as Crescent listened to her every word. "I can't spare the energy or time to send you there, and I would gently suggest you don't, but I am no foal, Crescent." She reached out and ruffled the top of Crescent's head. "You will go anyway. The portal resides in a mirror. Twilight has the mirror. You will need to speak to her to gain access."

Crescent hugged her aunt, grinning widely even as she leaned back and bounced on her hooves. "Thank you! I'm going to make Twilight so happy, she worries too much." She spun in a circle before darting off out of the castle in a streak of determined little pony.

Celestia watched her niece go, ears twitching as she tried to process it. "Don't get hurt," she wished out, not that Crescent could hear her.

Having escaped the castle, Crescent launched into the air, wings almost buzzing as she lifted, then began to glide, eyes set on the distant target of Ponyville. "Here I come!" Her horn glowed to catch her hat before it could be blown off her head as she gained altitude, ascending to a comfortable cruising height for her body. The wind rushed over her, whipping her fur as she smoothly flew down from Canterlot.

Ponyville was bustling with activity, as it usually was, and that meant it was easy for the little Princess-to-be to spot her first destination, as Twilight had left her balcony door open to invite in some fresh air and light breeze during her afternoon study. Crescent zipped inside and looked around curiously. "Twilight?"

"Hey." Spike waved from where he had been sitting with a comic. "Didn't expect to see you back so quickly. What's up?"

Crescent trotted over to Spike. "Do you know a creature named Sunset? I'm here to help her, and help Twilight, by helping Sunset."

Spike scratched behind his head, his comic falling to the floor. "Woah, um, yea? I know her. How do you know her though?"

"She's a friend of Twilight's and I'm her friend." She lifted her hoof for a high hoof, which Spike returned. "What's she like?"

Spike snorted at that. "I guess she's nice. She's, uh, like the Twilight of her friends. She ends up being in charge more often than not, and she gets them out of trouble, eventually, when that comes up." He rocked in place backwards and forwards, thinking of Sunset. "But she also lives in the human world. How are you going to help her?"

"By going there." Crescent stuck out her tongue. "How else? I heard Twilight has a mirror that goes there. Where is that?" She looked around, not that she had any clue where anything was, since her previous visits had mostly been confined to the immediate area of Twilight's bedroom and library.

Spike jumped to his feet with a smirk. "That, I can show you." He started for the stairs, waving Crescent along. "But, I should warn, if you go through the mirror, you will change. Most ponies become humans, but you're technically, uh, are you a pony?"

Crescent looked back over herself, swaying her tail a moment. "Mostly?" She hurried to keep up with Spike. "I'm a dream of a pony." She pounced on Spike, almost knocking him down the stairs in her fond squeeze from behind. "Is that pony enough? It has to be, I need to help Twilight and her friend."

"If you're sure." Spike grunted as he was hugged and had to climb down the stairs carefully, getting himself free as they got to the ground floor. "The door to the basement is over here." He pointed the way as they walked side by side, just to bump into somepony else.

Starlight peered at Spike oddly. "Why are you headed for the basement, and why is Crescent with you? You know that's Twilight's lab."

"It is?" Crescent bounced up Starlight with a wide grin on her face, one that was returned easily by the adult mare, as was the affectionate nuzzling. "Oops? I didn't know. I just need to talk to Sunset."

"Sunset Shimmer?" Starlight's smile faded to a quizzical frown. "You know she's in another world, right?" She nodded towards Spike. "And you already have him showing you to the mirror, so of course you know that." She pressed a hoof to her face. "Be careful, okay? You could get hurt."

"I'll be fine." Crescent trotted after Spike again, but stopped to turn back to Starlight. "You should come with me! You seem to know about it."

Starlight raised a hoof. "I have a full life in this world, with things I have to do. I suggest you don't go. But hey, that's just my idea. If you're going to go anyway, please listen to Sunset and her friends. They'll keep you safe."

Crescent nodded, then leaned in and smooched Starlight on the cheek. "Love you! Bye!" She turned and sped after Spike. The two jogged downstairs, where the mirror rested in the strange contraption that Twilight used to power it.

Spike went over to a big lever. "Just one pull." He yanked it into position, making the mirror glow with the power to send creatures to another world. "And there you go. You sure this is a good idea?"

"Yep!" Without arguing it, or thinking about it any further, Crescent launched herself into the mirror.

She stumbled as she emerged from the tunnel between worlds, feeling the cement against her skin, but not with hooves, with her bare feet. She felt the light blue dress she had worn, now touching her body in an entirely new fashion, her legs uncovered. She took a moment to look herself over, her midsection and top weren't even her dress. She had an outfit of some kind on. Her cutie mark was patched on the chest. 

She lifted her skirt to check, confirming that the cutie mark was gone from her rump. She wasn't a pony, not in that world. She was a human. This pleased her. It was proof that world agreed with her. "I was pony enough." She hugged herself with a warm satisfaction for a moment. "Now, where is Sunset?" She looked at the huge building in front of her. "And what is this? What is any of this?" She turned slowly in place.

The human world felt so full of things she didn't understand. Her senses were dulled in some ways and sharpened in others. There was a strange scent on the air, some unknown spice from a store a street away. Somebody was playing music loudly on the other side of the campus, a song she had never heard before.

None of that told her where to find Sunset. She wandered towards the big building ahead of her, unsure where else to start.

"Aw, look at you." A teenaged human crouched down to look at Crescent. "You look a little young even for a freshman. Are you someone's little sister?" He tilted his head with a curious smile, green eyes meeting her own gaze evenly. "Are you okay?"

She smiled, but her heart was beating rapidly, this was her first contact with an actual human being, and she didn't know how to deal with the situation. She blushed a little at the scrutiny. "I'm a little lost." She straightened up as best she could, holding her hands behind her back as she looked up at the teen. "Do you know where Sunset is?"

The human stood up. "Oh! You're related to Sunset?" He offered a hand. "I'll take you to her then. We can't have her little, uh, sister? Cousin? Whatever. We can't have you just wandering around." His eyes drifted lower. "Also, you really could use some shoes. Are your feet okay?"

"So far?" Not knowing the need for sneakers, she just walked along on her bare feet. She accepted the hand, now at this odd human's side. "Thank you very much. I didn't know where to find Sunset."
> 16 - Walking Off
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The guy led Crescent down the corridors, stopping to poke his head into one room or another, just to pass time chatting with some other students he saw in the hallway, which also provided opportunities for him to introduce Crescent to these friends of his, not that she caught their names very well, as she was focused on looking at everything with rapt curiosity.

"Nice to meet you." She bowed as best she could, almost toppling herself in her new form. Her balance wasn't quite what it had been. But she kept her composure and remained steady on her bare feet. "I am Princess Crescent Moon, but call me Crescent."

A couple of the girls laughed at that. "Such a cutie." One of them ruffled the top of Crescent's head. "You are a little princess, aren't you?" She looked over Crescent's little outfit with a smile as the group left the latest classroom, continuing on their way through the big, busy building.

Crescent followed the teen, not bothering to correct that the name was not a title, but she supposed it wouldn't matter much to these humans.

They entered a new room, music washing over them, not from a stereo, but a live band in the corner, each member standing up there on a step so they could play more easily. Rarity working her keytar energetically, Fluttershy gently singing to herself and jingling her tambourine, Pinkie Pie bouncing to the beat on her drums, Rainbow Dash spinning an electric guitar around and around, and Applejack leading with her microphone in her hand, all of them seemed to be in the middle of a very intense, and rocking song that almost knocked Crescent over with its energy alone.

The teen that had led her that far spotted Sunset watching the band. "Hey, found your little sister out front?" He hiked a thumb back at Crescent. "She's yours, right?"

That left Sunset on the spot, studying Crescent as quickly as she could. Her eyes dropped to those bare feet and up at the smiling face of Crescent. "Um, yeah. I'll take it from here, thanks." She motioned Crescent to her side with a single finger.

"You're welcome." The teen waved them both goodbye before joining his friends and shouting something about a bet he had won.

Crescent stepped up to Sunset's side. She placed a hand on the shoulder of the small child. "Now that we're kinda alone, are you from past the mirror or not?"

Crescent broke into a bright smile. "That saves me explaining some things. Hello. I am Crescent Moon, Luna's child." She bowed, a little better than the first time. "I came to visit you because Twilight was sad about you, and I thought I should make her happy."

"That's sweet." Sunset tapped at her chin, thinking as the song ended and the others came to join her and Crescent. "But, you're here now, and we might as well give you a tour, if you don't mind."

"I mind." Rarity got their first, studying Crescent intently. "Poor thing has no shoes. Entirely unacceptable. What if she steps on something? Besides it being rough on her poor little feet."

Crescent flexed her toes on the ground, feeling the strange, alien surface of the ground of a whole other world beneath her bare feet. "I'll be okay. I have magic." She stared at her feet a moment, but nothing happened.

Sunset gently pat Crescent on the head. "Sorry, but magic doesn't come that easily on this side of things."

Rainbow laughed softly. "Wow, what were you trying to do? Hate to break it to you, but most Equestrian magic isn't going to work."

Fluttershy nodded at that. "Yes indeed. Every pony that's come through can't do any pony magic, um, unless they have a magic item."

Rarity looked at Fluttershy with alarm, then back at Crescent. "Do you have any magic items on you, dear?"

"Uh," Crescent blinked, tapping at her hip with one hand, the other going up to her ear to search for the tiara she always wore. "My tiara? Oh! There it is. It's here. It's not magic though, except it looks nice."

Rarity gently clapped. "I quite agree, darling. Now, if we could get some shoes on you." She looked to Sunset. "You're the local pony expert, what are we doing with the little dear?"

Sunset shook her head slowly, giving Crescent a once over, then nodding as if confirming some thought to herself, before focusing on her friends with a confident grin, one she hoped they would trust, as it was not one she truly believed. "I imagine, if we send her back, she'll just hop right back through the moment we look away. I say we get her some shoes and let her hang around, if she promises to be good."

Crescent nodded emphatically, then remembered she was supposed to be a proper young princess and steadied herself with a deep breath, only to sniff in the scent of all sorts of things, food cooking, paint drying, dirt in the air, the entire school itself with its various scents all mixed into a storm of aromas. "I would like to see your world, Miss Sunset. Then I want to cheer you up."

Sunset cocked a brow at that. "That's the second time you mentioned that, but I'm not sad or anything. What made you think I was?"

"Twilight said so." Crescent gave an awkward shrug of her shoulders, barely noticeable as the rest of the group seemed to be walking away to chat amongst themselves and leave Crescent with Sunset, as if she knew what was up and they didn't need to intervene. "She was having a fitful dream, and she was talking about you. She sounded like she wanted to be here, with you, but couldn't be. So I came, so I could help." She smiled as she explained herself. "It's my job. I can see bad dreams and stuff, so I help people. Like mama does. I take care of ponies."

Sunset processed that, then frowned, drooping. "Twilight is worried about me?" She nodded as she sorted through the facts presented and came to a conclusion about it all. "Poor Twilight. That is so like her, worrying like that." She swatted Crescent on the back, guiding her. "C'mon. I'll let you hang out with me a little while and you'll see that I'm doing fine, and you can tell Twilight. I'd write her, but she'd never believe me on that."

"That sounds like a good idea!" Crescent nodded as she fell into step with Sunset, finding it easier to walk that way. "Oh! What do you like to do? Maybe you could teach me?"

"Maybe I could." Sunset laughed softly as they walked, side by side, heading for the exit to the school. "So, first off, we're going to pick up some sneakers, maybe a coat, and definitely socks, for your feet." She grabbed Crescent, lifting the child up to her own shoulders. "You're cute, but way unprepared. Though I am wondering what happened to your footwear? Twilight showed up with some."

Crescent swayed her legs from her comfortable perch atop Sunset. "I dunno. I just didn't have them." She leaned to get a look at Sunset's sneakers. "Those look neat. You're going to get me some? That's very nice of you. Thank you."

"You are very welcome." Sunset shifted her grip a little on Crescent. "Tell me about yourself, Crescent Moon, why don't you."

Crescent pursed her lips at that, searching her knowledge for something to share with Sunset, "I was mama, Luna. Then I was not. I was a part of her made to punish her and remind her of her mistake." Crescent held gently to Sunset's head. "I'm glad I'm not that anymore." She hugged the head under her, leaning in, but keeping her head up to watch the scenery going by as it got interesting to her in its own right as she learned to notice details that were hidden before in the shadow of the school.

They started down the street as Sunset laughed. "That sounds interesting, and a little creepy. Gonna admit, I kinda expect that from Equestria." She squeezed gently at one of Crescent's legs. "You strike me as a nice enough person though. So, first stop, the mall. There will be a lot of people. Are you okay with that?"

"I am." Crescent smiled broadly. "I will do my best." She swung her legs back and forth as they walked, and then a little bit more as they passed by a park and the wind washed over her. "There's so much to see. It's similar in some ways, but so different in others."

"One thing." Sunset poked at Crescent. "The people here are people, not ponies. Don't say pony, basically ever. You're a person, I'm a person. We are people. Humans are people, the only kind of creature on this entire world, outside of Equestrian problems that wander in." She snorted gently. "Like the one I'm giving a ride to." She gave Crescent a friendly bounce to drive her point home. "So, no pony, ponies are from Equestria."

"Okay!" Crescent nodded thoughtfully as they continued on, then the scent hit her, familiar and new in the same breath. "Ice cream! Is that ice cream?"

"It is indeed." Sunset set Crescent down as she dug into her pockets. She fished out her wallet. "I'll treat you this time, but don't go crazy. Don't need a little kid wailing on brain freeze, so nice and slow."

Crescent was already dashing off, eagerly bouncing onto the grass and across it to the source of the scent, the stall offering soft serve ice cream to all comers. "Hello! May I have some?"

The vendor looked down at Crescent with a confused smile. "Where are your parents, little girl? I'd be glad to give you some if they're alright with it."

"I'm not a little girl, I am Princess Crescent Moon." She proudly announced her presence, though it didn't do her any favors with the soft serve salesperson and he shot Sunset a worried glance that demanded explanations and reassurance that all was well, even if it clearly wasn't.

Sunset laughed nervously, grabbing Crescent by both shoulders. "I'm covering, and it's fine. Let's start with a small vanilla cone, please. Sorry for the confusion." She crouched down, voice lowering to a whisper. "Stop calling yourself a Princess. You're just Crescent, okay?"

Crescent blinked slowly, head cocking curiously, but she relented without argument as she accepted the order, licking at the slowly melting soft serve that threatened to spill down her fingers before it could drizzle across her wrist. "Thank you, and sorry." She nibbled into the frozen treat. "Mmm, this is so good! Don't you want some, Miss?"

Sunset raised to her full height with a smile. "Maybe another time, but thanks for asking. Come on, let's walk while you enjoy that." She set her hand on Crescent's back, leading her along. "I felt the same way the first time I tried local ice cream. They make it different than back home, huh?"

Crescent bobbed her head in agreement as she licked at her snack, smiling contentedly, but she cocked her head as a new sound entered the air, the growling of something, which drew closer at an increasing speed that left her unable to track the source until it had circled her and Sunset. A car had pulled to a stop near them and the window was rolled down as the driver asked, "Everything alright, Shimmer?"

Sunset nodded to the fellow teen. "Just taking my cousin to the mall. She managed to lose her shoes! Can you even believe it?"

The teenaged girl looked down at Crescent's lack of shoes. "Poor thing! You want a ride?" The door on their side swung open. "Hop in and I'll drop you off at the mall."

Sunset hesitated, but Crescent wasn't going to stand on ceremony, and she hopped into the back seat of the vehicle with a content sigh, settling herself in the leather. She looked up at Sunset. "This is how humans get around?"

Sunset rushed after Crescent, laughing nervously. "It's not polite to call people we just met 'humans'. Thanks, Aqua. Oh, Aqua, this is Crescent. Crescent, this is Aqua Blossom." She drew the door shut and buckled herself in before helping Crescent get properly buckled. "You're a hero today."
> 17 - Retail Therapy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Sunset guided Crescent through the shopping center, the child bouncing at her side, she tried to be patient and just have a good time as she showed the pony-turned-human around, but her mind was buzzing with questions of her own. Alas, in the middle of the mall wasn't the right time to air them with others around that might start wondering what she was talking about. "I can see you're excited."

"There's so much." Crescent couldn't pick any one store to look at with so many options in one place. "Where are we going first?"

"We already had a bit of a detour, so I think we should settle for some shoes and coats, then go home." Sunset paused at a map, scanning the various stores, just to smile as Crescent pressed her hand to the map and grinned like she was some detective solving a mystery of some sort, so very pleased with her investigation into the information there in the mall directory.

Crescent leaned forward and nuzzled the map with a happy coo. "This is fun."

Sunset nudged Crescent's forehead gently to get her attention. "You're a silly little thing." She ruffled the top of Crescent's hair. "Seriously, how old are you?"

Crescent put a hand to her chin thoughtfully. "That depends on how you think about it. A few moons ago I didn't exist, but I started with all of Luna, which makes me over a thousand moons old. It really—"

Sunset gently placed her hand over Crescent's mouth, cutting her off in the most literal way possible with a tense laugh. "Very interesting! But let's not talk about that place here, okay? So, here." She reached out and tapped at a store on the map colored blue. "They have all kinds of shoes and things that go on feet."

Crescent nodded happily as she finished the last of her soft serve ice cream cone, her hands free as she accepted the guidance, not that she had any real reason to fight it as she was willing to let Sunset lead. "Do they need bits? I have some."

"I bet you don't." Sunset kept her light grip on Crescent, navigating the crowds purposefully.

"Hm?" Crescent patted herself down with her free hand. She found her pocket and inside she found some bills and coins, but even the coins weren't bits. "What are these?"

"That is money, local money." Sunset glanced at the stack of bills in Crescent's hand. "Which you should put away. It's considered rude to show off money for no reason."

Crescent shoved the handful back into her pocket, looking at the stores as they went by. "But they're so strange and fancy." She couldn't tear her eyes off the clothing boutiques, the window mannequins on display in some cases, the furniture in others, the tables, chairs, and cabinets, all the accouterments of living, and the clothes were simply part of the set decorations in most cases, displayed as much as anything else. She was completely intrigued by it all. "And colorful. And what are those?" She pointed at a set of hats.

"That's a hat rack," Sunset said helpfully, chuckling a little. "I feel sure you've seen one before."

"Well, yes." Crescent burst into soft giggles. "Everything feels new." Her attention snapped to the store they were going towards, its windows festooned with all manner of sneakers, shoes, sandals, and more. "Ooo." She looked down at her bare feet. It was at that moment that she really could appreciate what she didn't have. "We're going to get me one of those?"

"Yep." Sunset waved at the guy behind the counter before gently urging Crescent deeper into the shop, one hand resting on Crescent's back to guide her to the wall. "Now, what do you like?"

"Things. Ponies. Dreams." She reached up and grabbed some light blue sneakers from the wall with moons on their tops. "And this. You're very nice for helping me. Thank you very much."

"Any time." Sunset picked a pair of dark red shoes that matched her hair off the wall for herself, setting them down on the floor so she could slip off her shoes and try her new ones on. "How are you liking your own pair? Does it feel right?"

Crescent sat on the floor, hugging her new shoes with a wide grin, she wiggled her toes and glanced up at Sunset as she bent in and smooched the top of one shoe, just before putting her feet into them to ensure a proper fit, which is when she realized she wasn't entirely sure how to get them on. It took a little bit of struggling before she got them on properly and with a cloth pop, she hopped up, sneakers attached. "Look!" She spun in a circle to show off her footwear proudly to Sunset.

Sunset shook her head. "You're such a strange little pony, er, person. Come on, I'll help you with the laces before we go." She tied up her own shoes, then helped Crescent with hers. "That'll make sure they're nice and snug and comfortable."

Crescent smiled, stretching her legs to look at her shoes. "I have shoes." She wiggled her foot, which made the shoe bob along. "I like it!" She suddenly pounced at Sunset, hugging her firmly. "Thank you."

Sunset gently pet over the top of Crescent, smoothing her hair. "Glad to help. Now, let's pay for what we picked."

She led Crescent up to the counter and chatted with the guy manning the till there, soon settling their waiting fees. "Thanks." She waved on her way towards the door. "Now, jacket. You don't have one."

"I have magic!" Crescent jumped up, bouncing to the doors to hold them open for Sunset as she darted on through.

Sunset followed the bounding child out, a spring in her step as they went along, headed for a different store, one of those clothing specialty chains that Sunset liked, for reasons that Crescent did not understand, but she trusted that Sunset had good reason for whatever she was doing as she followed the older, taller woman along the hallways of the big building, trailing just behind as they looked at different clothes, with Sunset pulling a jacket or two out and holding it up in front of Crescent.

Crescent grabbed for it, turning to a mirror to consider her new form with the new jacket. "Mmm." But it was too, hm, what was the word? She pointed to one that was a light blue and black.

Sunset laughed at that. "You have a strong theme." She took the jacket down and handed it to Crescent. "Go on, try it."

Crescent did so gladly, slipping into the jacket that matched her personal colors of the night. "Yes!" She turned about in front of a mirror to see herself from other angles. "I love it, and it's warm."

"Exactly the idea." Sunset waved for Crescent to follow her to the cashier. "You shouldn't be out there in just a dress. You'll catch your death of cold." She paid for the coat, then tucked the receipt in her own jacket. "Now, the most important part of any mall visit."

Crescent blinked at that. "I thought you said we were getting shoes and a hat." She doublechecked herself to verify that she did have both of those. "What's left?"

"Food." Sunset took Crescent to the food court, where different delicious smells competed for attention. "Order whatever you'd like." She leaned down to Crescent's level with a smirk, whispering, "Anything, just not all of it, okay? Save some food for other customers."

Crescent's eyes went wide as she approached the nearest stand, peering through the glass that covered the foods as she sniffed deeply, processing the new smells one by one as she studied the choices carefully, memorizing them with ease as she walked along the line of stands, considering the burgers, the pasta, the pizza, and a dozen other options that all made her hungry for different reasons, which left her staring at a single place, not able to make a choice. "Do I need to make a choice?" She looked to Sunset with a frown.

Sunset tapped Crescent gently. "You could get what I'm getting. And I'm feeling like some Chinese today." She went to stand in the proper line.

Put on the spot, Crescent suddenly knew what she wanted. She dashed up to a counter that didn't have any customers that instant. "Excuse me!" She waved at the people working there. "May I have one of those?" She pointed at a sandwich that was in the process of being made, one of the premade ones with the fresh ingredients stuffed in between two pieces of bread that made her mouth water on sight of the tomato and mayo salad. "Please and thank you."

"Sure." The woman grabbed one that had  been made moments before and set it near the register. "That'll be 4.11"

Crescent blinked softly before she remembered. She dug into her pockets, found her wad of bills, and slapped them down. "Here."

The lady laughed nervously at the wild overpayment as she picked out just the bills she needed and nudged the rest back to Crescent. "And your change." New coins for Crescent offered. "Enjoy the food."

Mission accomplished, Crescent looked around in the dense collection of humans before she spotted Sunset's bright hair and dashed with the slap of her new sneakers on the tile. "Got it!"

"Perfect!" Sunset clapped as Crescent arrived and they started off through the crowded cafeteria, looking for a place to sit and eat at a table all their own.

The pair found a relatively quiet spot to relax as the scent of the fresh sandwiches wafted up, making Crescent's mouth water as she undid the wrapping eagerly. "And I paid for it myself."

"Very good." Sunset smirked faintly at the mystery child that felt of different ages at different moments. "Let's eat and enjoy." She wielded a fork over her food. "I think we're both ready to fill up. What do you say?"

Crescent gave her own food a quick test nibble, finding it very pleasing, in the same family of tastes as sammiches from home, but different, the flavor combination changing in some ways she hadn't anticipated and would need time to study, before she devoured half her sandwich in a single bite and almost choked on it when she forgot to chew before swallowing.

Sunset firmly patted at Crescent's back until the girl was breathing normally again. "Easy there, it isn't a race, and the food isn't trying to get away." She took a small bite of her own food, slurping up the noodles. "Already pre-hunted, not that ponies eat much that needs hunting in the first place."

"Right!" Crescent smiled as she enjoyed her sandwich slowly, taking her time to savor every bite, or as much time as she could muster while eating, the desire to chow down overwhelming her want to relax and take her time eating properly. Slowing down did have its perks, and she was soon smiling and humming with pleasure at the alien meal and the pleasantly full sensation that was coming over her.

"There you go." Sunset nodded approvingly as they enjoyed their meal together in companionable quiet for a little while.

"Wow." A smaller girl, smaller than Sunset, but larger than Crescent, was looking at them both with wonder. "They weren't kidding!"

"Like, for real," agreed a second one of about the same age.

Sunset huffed gently. "Hello, Diamond, Silver Spoon. What brings you two here?"

Diamond Tiara answered with a gesture, a sweeping motion towards Crescent that she was fairly certain the other girl didn't know how to interpret and had no interest in figuring out as she dove at Crescent, making the little girl squeak in surprise and draw back from her half eaten sandwich in alarm.

Diamond scooped Crescent up. "So, this is the kid that's been going around claiming she's a princess?"

Silver Spoon took a picture with her phone, then sent it to some contacts. "For real. What's your name, pipsqueak?"

"Crescent." The younger child had no qualms about telling her own name to strangers, especially when she had no reason to think that these two girls were a threat to herself or anybody else that she knew or cared about, the exact opposite, really, as she hugged the older girl as best she could while being lifted. "Nice to meet you."

Sunset put an arm between Diamond and Crescent. "Can you ease up a little? Crescent is new in town. She's still getting her feet under her."

Diamond smirked at Sunset. "You are the school's worst kept secret. And you're babysitting her?" She grinned at Crescent. "Which means, you are from that other place, aren't you?"
> 18 - Kidnapped
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent had fled to use Sunset as a shield, only peeking out from around her at Diamond, who was still there.

Sunset rubbed at her temples with both hands. "What are you talking about, Diamond? We're trying to have some dinner over here."

Crescent tugged gently at Sunset's coat. "Did I do something wrong? Or do you know each other?"

Diamond scoffed and gave Crescent a dirty look, though Silver Spoon had to tug her back by the shoulder to keep her from diving at the kid again, the first time being enough of an overstep on her part as she had to admit, even if only to herself, that she didn't really know anything about this strange little girl that had appeared out of nowhere. "Wherever you came from, this is our school, and I want to know what you're up to."

Sunset placed a hand flat on the table. "Wherever she came from, this is not how you greet a new face. She's not some secret agent trying to blow it up or anything."

Around them, shoppers mostly minded their own business, rushing past their tense table. The odd onlooker that strayed close long enough to determine that no crime was happening nearby moved on, leaving just the tweens, teen, and the child alone to discuss the situation, though Crescent's ears were burning from the heat of the stares.

Diamond threw up her hands with a scoff. "Let's stick to the point. I'm, like, super sure she's from that other place. Stop being coy about it. I didn't know they came so young." She reached out and poked at Crescent, who dodged the touch to duck behind Sunset. "Hey!"

Silver Spoon tugged Diamond back before Crescent could get freaked out even further, seeing how those eyes seemed to be losing focus fast with the stress of the moment and she wasn't sure how to handle it, though she was pretty sure that she wouldn't like it if Crescent had a full freakout and started screaming in the middle of the mall. "Diamond, we should let her finish her lunch. Look, she was probably scared of you attacking her like that."

Diamond hopped up into a chair and sat with arms crossed. "Look, just another person, joining you for some food. No attacking here."

Crescent pointed at Diamond from behind Sunset. "Liar! You don't have any food."

Sunset snorted at that. "She has you there. No sitting in the food court without some food." She waved a finger at the many choices. "If you're hungry, go, get something. I know you can afford it."

Diamond looked at Silver Spoon, but the other girl just shrugged helplessly before heading off to get something for them both to snack on. Crescent's gaze followed the taller human, as she seemed the more reasonable of the two, though she knew nothing of the human world and her own experiences with it had been brief.

Diamond brought her hands together. "I promise, no touching. Come on back to your seat. Your food'll get cold."

Sunset gently nudged Crescent. "If she breaks her promise, I'll protect you, promise."

Crescent carefully made her way around to the empty chair, watching Diamond for any sign of hostility, but she couldn't detect any that she could put her hoof on, so she just slipped back into the chair with an anxious glance towards Sunset, who gave her a thumbs up to help steady her nerves.

With a slow breath, Crescent dared to reach for her food, not as hot, but still delicious. "Mmm."

Diamond tapped her hands together. "So, what's it like being a pony?" She gestured with her chin. "I mean, pony. From where you're from. What's that like?"

"Hm." Crescent nibbled thoughtfully. "What's it like being a human?" She kept on eating that time, looking less frazzled with every mouthful.

Diamond raised a brow at the counter question. "It's just what I am, how would I know?" She patted herself down, then it came to her. "Wait a second, you would know what it's like being a human. You weren't one before."

Sunset buried her face in both hands. "Alright, fine." She slapped those hands on the table. "I get it, you know. Can we not talk about ponies in the food court? Someone may eventually notice."

Diamond laughed softly, almost to herself. "At least you admit it."

Silver Spoon came back with a bag of snacks, offering it to Diamond, who accepted and dug in as the four of them all sat there and watched one another awkwardly for a few seconds that felt longer.

Crescent broke the silence as if she didn't notice it, "Your name is Diamond. And you are Silver Spoon." She pointed at each of them as she said it. "That name's been used before, Silver. But it is a good name."

"Thanks? I guess." Silver looked to Sunset. "Why is she here?"

"She came through the portal like I did." Sunset sighed gently as she reached out to pat Crescent on the head, gaining a happy hum from the smaller child as she sat there and ate, listening to the conversation, but not participating in it further. "She's just visiting a little while. She isn't a danger to anything."

Diamond snorted and laughed at the same time. "Your track record with that isn't the best." She looked to Crescent pointedly. "Tell us the truth, are you some kind of monster?"

"Technically." Crescent inclined her head. "I am a warm dream. I am your worst memory come to haunt you in the middle of the night, reminding you of your mistakes with no way to escape. I am the encouraging voice in the back of your head that gets you back on your hooves."

"Feet," corrected Sunset with a sigh.

"Sorry." Crescent continued eating, putting the last in her mouth with a little comical noise of devouring, before she realized what she had done, blushing softly. "Oh! All done." She grabbed the litter created and hurried to a trash can to dunk it all in and wipe her hands clean with a smile.

She jogged back, stopping by the edge of the table where her new friends sat, smiling at them and swinging her arms in a carefree, excited way, a little happy wiggle of pure joy at the sights around her, as she smiled at them all before her voice grew stronger, more confident, but still innocent and curious at the same time, "What now? I have shoes, and a coat."

Diamond jabbed a thumb towards her own chest proudly. "I know this city like the back of my hand." She crossed her arms with a proud and smug expression. "If you want to know where to be, you should be with me."

Sunset reached for Crescent's hand. "Thanks, but I have her under con—"

Crescent ducked back, avoiding the hold. "I'm taking up a lot of your time. You seem to be doing well."

Sunset hiked a brow at that. "Yes, I'm fine, that was what I was hoping to show you. You're heading back then?"

"No." Crescent looked about the food court with its colorful food shops all arrayed against the backdrop of humanity and their shopping bags and purses and all kinds of things that were foreign to her and exciting, but not quite as much as exploring with a guide that didn't feel as if she owed her a debt from the moment of her first arrival and would only treat her like a princess because she had to, not because she wanted to, and it was all a big mess that she didn't want to deal with, especially with Twilight being so miserable in her dreams.

Crescent shook her head as the thoughts jiggled around in there. Twilight! "Yes. I should return." She dusted herself off gently. "I am glad you're alright. I'm sorry for being a pain." She bowed to Sunset. "Thank you very much."

"C'mere." Sunset took Crescent's hand and knelt down, embracing her and kissing her head, right there in front of all the world to see. "Don't be a stranger, okay?"

Diamond hopped to her feet. "Don't be so fast! Don't you want to get a look around town?" She hooked an arm around Crescent's shoulder, marching her towards the exit of the mall, leaving Sunset and Silver Spoon behind them in the dust, if not the literal kind of dirt, as Sunset chased after Diamond, leaving Silver Spoon to follow after the three.

Sunset's chase would have been a short one, if not for a security guard moving in her way. "Ma'am, why are you chasing those kids?"

"Because I'm worried about them, and I have reason to be worried." Sunset gestured in the general direction of Crescent's little body disappearing into the crowd as the distance between them became ever greater with each passing second and her chances to catch the little child growing shorter as the trio raced away, leaving the mall behind them.

"Are you related to them?" asked the guard, ignorant of the situation.

"It's complicated, but she's with me, and we got separated in the mall." Sunset pushed past the security guard and dashed through the crowds, plowing her way through the dense foot traffic of the mall, using her size to advantage for once, as she tried to avoid crashing into others on her way and getting herself arrested or detained or otherwise delayed from finding Crescent before she disappeared forever into the streets of Canterlot City.

She arrived in the parking lot, huffing, just in time to see Diamond's limo pulling out onto the street and speeding away down the street. "Blast it." Sunset clenched a fist, then kicked at the ground with a heavy grunt. "Double blast it!"

The security guard finally caught up to Sunset. "Everything okay?"

Sunset spun on the ball of her foot with a frustrated expression. "No! Everything is very not okay." She threw up her hands as she paced back and forth. "The girl I was supposed to watch just got kidnapped by another kid! And now I get to explain what happened, and I don't even know where to start. This day went from good to awful in record time."
> 19 - This Isn't So Bad
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crescent, unaware of this tension, bounced gently in her seat. "Where are we going?" There were treats in the large vehicle, and she wasn't shy trying a candy or two. "It's nice to have made a new friend, but where are we going? Is it some other place of frivolity?" She swung her legs back and forth gently as she sat on the luxurious leather seats, a little more spaced out and spread out than she was used to, as she couldn't touch her own feet to the ground.

Diamond snorted at Crescent as the limo continued to roll along towards wherever Diamond decided they were going. "You're weird." She studied Crescent. "Is it true that you're not actually a kid? Like, you're some kind of magical horse pretending to be one?"

Crescent munched on a gummy worm as she processed that, then she shrugged as she swallowed the wiggly thing down. "I dunno."

Diamond frowned, lips pursed. "Well, either you are or you aren't."

Crescent considered that with thoughtful hums, rocking left and right. "Well, I was never a horse. I never saw one of those before." Visions of ancient ponies from times far memorial, arguably past it, came to mind. "You have?"

Diamond snapped her fingers and the limo shifted directions almost immediately. They drew to a stop and she pointed out Crescent's window. "Right there. Horse."

Crescent gaped at the equine she could see, just standing there in a field, enjoying its life. "Wow." It felt almost silly to be impressed by something not acting spectacular in any way. It was a horse, just existing. Still, it was the first horse she'd ever seen, and she was in awe of its majesty, it's power, and its sheer awesomeness, despite being a normal, everyday thing that had no reason to be special in any way, and yet she was impressed all the same. The odds of seeing such a beast in Equestria was vanishing at best. "Do you have a lot of horses around here?"

Diamond burst into merry laughter as the limo resumed movement. "There are a few ranches, yes. What else do you want to see?"

"Ummm." Crescent wracked her mind for cool things, but how did one ask for things they didn't know? That alien world surely had countless things for her to gaze at, if only she knew what to ask for. "I am not a horse," she settled on as the one thing she could say for certain.

Diamond cocked a brow. "Right, fine, not a horse. You're something else. Something with hooves, and a tail. What would that something be, hm?"

"A pony!" Crescent pointed at her own eyes, then to her new shoes. "See the moons?"

Diamond clapped with a bright smile. "We're getting somewhere. Hello, Pony. Now, what's this about moons?"

"They're on my shoes." Crescent showed off the little blue moon logo on the shoes that matched the outfit she'd picked out. "And my crown. See my crown?" She pointed to the tiara, but Diamond barely glanced at it as she took in the new information. "It's all part of my outfit, and my cutie mark." Diamond looked perplexed. "Don't you have a cutie mark?"

Diamond waved at the pattern stenciled onto her clothing. "That's a fashion statement. I appreciate yours enough, nice design. Some people have tragically bland ones. I don't know what they were going for. Now, back on topic." She pointed at Crescent. "You're a pony from Equestria?"

"Well, I was, and I am. I am me." Crescent scratched at her head, scratching away some of her hair. "I'm Crescent." She reached a hand towards Diamond. "And we're friends now?"

"Friends." Diamond took the hand, a sly smirk forming. "And I am a friend that wants to know all about Equestria."

"One thing." Crescent saw they were coming to a stop in front of a huge building, its purpose eluding her. "This is not the place we started."

"It's my house." Diamond opened the door and hopped out to the ground to twirl around to face Crescent. "Come on out." She reached for Crescent, offering a hand, which was accepted before the pony-turned-child jumped out and onto the ground, rolling to absorb the shock of her landing and skidding a few feet along the pavement, laughing at the thrill of it, before she came to a rest and hopped up, eyes alight with energy.

Diamond ruffled the hair of her curious guest. "Glad you're feeling cheerful. We're going to be such good friends, you see."

"I see, but I really should get back to Sunset, or I will worry her. The idea was to see her and comfort her, not the other way around." She put her hands at her hips, a frown deepening. "I may have botched this."

Diamond gave a shrug in response. "So, let's call her."

"Call her?" Crescent took in a powerful breath before shouting Sunset's name as loudly as she could.

Diamond pressed her hands against her ears at the powerful call. "Wow, you have some lungs in you, but I didn't mean that literally. She's not going to hear that from that far away, even with that shout."

"But I could do it, couldn't I? I could send her a message." Crescent whipped her head about, taking in her surroundings, noting the number of eyes on her from the house that belonged to her new friend, the extravagant abode that had an unusual feel to it that she couldn't quite put her finger on as she gazed upon it with wondering eyes, the enormity of the structure not lost on her, though it lacked a certain personal touch that would have made it look cozy and comforting and like a home as opposed to just some building made of bricks, boards, and other building materials that didn't seem to want to have much to do with the other two.

Her inspection complete, she focused on Diamond with a wide smile. "Could I write a note for Sunset? It should only take a minute or two." She beamed with pride at the idea.

Diamond patted her new, confused, friend. "You use one of these." She flipped out her cellphone. "And you press these buttons." In an instant, she had Sunset's contact selected and began forming a text message noting she had Crescent at her house, and she was safe. "There, sent her a letter, and she should get it, like, now."

Crescent grabbed the phone, snatching it without asking in an abrupt motion. "Ooo, let me write some too." She tapped awkwardly, but was soon forming her own text to Sunset. "Hello! Crescent here. I made a new friend. Diamond doesn't seem so scary now. She is showing me her house. She is curious about ponies, but she seems to know about them?" She hit send. "I wonder."

Diamond peered over her shoulder, then snatched back her phone to add a message of her own. "I'll take care of her. No guest of mine goes wanting, promise. Later." She stuffed her phone away and waved at her mansion. "Now, let's head inside? There's way more fun things in there, and it's super cozy."

"Alright, but I don't want to be a bother." Crescent followed her, looking at the bigger, older girl with a lot of admiration, as well as a small amount of apprehension, a certain tension that lingered around her that she wasn't sure what to do with as they went together up the path to the front door, and through that and into the grand lobby beyond.

Crescent paused at the threshold, looking up and up and up, until she got dizzy and fell on her butt on the smooth stone floor. "Ooo, that's high."

Diamond laughed as she helped Crescent back to her feet. "Never been to a proper house before? Poor thing. Come on." She tugged Crescent along into the den of opulence that was her home. "We have everything. Want to watch a movie on a huge screen, go bowling, maybe swimming? Just name it."





Sunset jumped, frantically grabbing her phone that had chimed just a moment before. "My Little Pony!" She grabbed it, checking the new messages from Diamond, and they kept coming. "What the?" She swiped upwards, reading through them. "Great, she has Crescent." She smirked a little at the part that seemed to be from Crescent.

"At least she's having a good time." She let out a little sigh. "Okay, I can work with this, I think." She wished she could message Crescent directly, but it was Diamond that had the phone, not Crescent. "Keep calm," she reminded herself, pacing back and forth nervously. "You know where she is, and who she's with."

She considered where Diamond's mansion was. Just about everyone in school, no, in town, knew where that was. There weren't a lot of other mansions to get it confused with. "Still, what is she thinking? Can't she just invite a kid over like a regular person?" She rolled her shoulders to shake the tension out as she went to the mall's entrance to wait for Crescent, choosing a bench to rest on for the time it took the young child to arrive.

Just to make sure that'd actually happen, she tapped out her own message, "I'm still at the mall. Please bring Crescent back to the front." She added a smiling emoji. "No pressure." She slumped in her seat. "All the pressure. Diamond, c'mon!"

Sunset breathed as slowly and evenly as she could as she waited for any response, but her phone didn't ring for some time, and it wasn't that text that caused it to chime, but rather a call, a familiar one. She pressed accept and greeted, "Hello?"

Twilight's voice came over the speaker. "Hi there. You sounded tense in your earlier messages. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, mostly." Sunset groaned gently. "I found Crescent, and I was able to get her some clothes and food."

"Who?" Oh, it was the wrong Twilight. "Do you need any help? I'm here, you know that."

Sunset smiled a little. "You're a good friend, say, you got a car ready to go?"

"Yes?" There was much doubt in her voice. "What for?"

"If you could pick me up from the mall, right out front, we can take care of this a lot faster than me just sitting around. I'd love you forever, as if I didn't already." Sunset's worried lines had eased into a joyous smile, seeing a potential way to fix things.

Twilight laughed gently. "Sure, I'll be there soon."

"You're a lifesaver." Sunset ended the call and stared at the distant skies, breathing deeply. "Things will work out, and we'll make it work." She tucked her phone away and looked around, even if she didn't expect Twilight to be there that quickly. "I swear, some kids." Her thoughts went back to her own foalhood and the troubles she had gotten into. "I wasn't much better," she admitted with a laugh.
> 20 - All Good Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight Sparkle looked at herself in the mirror, letting out a long sigh, as she tried to process her recent turn of events, the events that had led her to the discovery of Crescent's presence in the human world, and all that meant, especially concerning Sunset and their interactions of late and the connection they had. She tapped on the floor as she resumed pacing. "This is my fault. I really should take better care of that mirror. It's a miracle other ponies haven't wandered through it."

With a wave of her hoof, she directed the lights off, casting the room into darkness, only a single lamp lighting her immediate area with a gentle glow as she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling as she tried to sleep, tried to relax, tried to do anything, but the thoughts kept flowing through her mind, overwhelming any hope of peaceful repose, much to her own dismay as she turned about and pulled the blanket over herself, burrowing under it as if she were some scared filly that wanted to hide away from the world.

"Stop." She put a hoof to her chest and slowly swept it away along with her breath, performing the breathing ritual Cadance had taught to her. "Relax. Sunset has this. Have faith in her." It wasn't that she didn't trust Sunset, but rather the whole situation seemed out of her hooves, and if anyone was in control, it was Crescent, and she wasn't even a child, technically, and she had no reason to listen to Sunset if she didn't want to. Twilight rolled over with a huff, and did her best to sink into slumber.





The other Twilight, the human one, pulled up in her car in front of Sunset. "Hop in! Where are we going?"

Sunset got into the passenger side, buckling in before she leaned forward, elbows on her knees as she rested her chin in her hands, eyes shut tight. "Thanks for the ride. Can you drive me to Diamond's place?" She rambled out the address even as the started to pull away in a smooth acceleration. "Did I mention you're a life saver?"

Twilight spared her a glance before she turned her focus to the road ahead. "Do I want to know why?"

Sunset opened one eye to look over at the other woman. "Remember the little girl?"

"I heard about her, turned up at the practice? Cute little girl?" Twilight performed a smooth turn, driving quite safely and smoothly.

"We need to get her to safety, and back into her own world. We need to do it quickly." Sunset shut her eyes again. "The longer this drags on, the more likely she is to wind up in trouble, and the more likely this all explodes."

Twilight reached over while they were stopped at a red light, patting Sunset on the hand. "Relax. We'll get this."

Sunset smiled at the gentle reassurance. "Thanks, really." She did her best to relax in the seat. "At least we can handle this soon. I'm ready to be done with the entire mess."

Twilight leaned back in her seat, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song on the radio, keeping her focus on the road as the light changed and they started to move along.

The car wasn't moving fast, which let Sunset sit back and enjoy the passing scenery. She jumped with surprise as they pulled up towards a gate. They had arrived. The moment the car stopped, she hopped free and strode with purpose towards the closed gate of that mansion.

She pressed a finger down on the intercom button. "I just talked to you, you better be there!"

"Good evening," replied a male voice. "How can I be of service?"

Sunset blinked in surprise. "You're not Diamond."

"I am not, ma'am." The voice sounded proper, but deferring. "Do you have business with the mistress?"

Twilight caught up with Sunset. "Hello. We're here to pick up Crescent?"

Sunset perked at that. "Yeah! We have to get her home. She should be with Sunset?"

"Very good." With a soft click, the intercom went dead.

The gates swung open with a low rumble.

"So, there are advantages to being rich," muttered Sunset. "Sorry about that. I'm stressed, and it's only been one day. If it wasn't for you, I'd have no way to get to the house in time, so thanks."

They stepped in through the gate, and walked down the paved walkway, on their way to the front doors, when those very doors opened, revealing Diamond, who was there, smiling, with a sleeping Crescent in her arms.

Sunset sped up to reach them, eyes on Crescent, but the little girl really was napping. "So! Everything worked out?" She flashed an insincere smile at Diamond.

Diamond just smiled back. "I found her in the pool, splashing around. She must have been playing hard, poor thing. Tuckered herself out." She kissed the top of Crescent's head gently, then inclined her head towards the girl. "She's all yours, please. She's a bit too heavy for me to pick up easily."

Twilight strolled up on them. "How'd you even get her here then?" She gestured vaguely. "If you couldn't carry her, how did she get out here?"

"I had some of my servants bring her for me." Diamond flicked her hair in a carefree manner. "Like I said, I just found her asleep and thought she'd be better off with you. Play time's over, as fun as it was." She gently pet Crescent's snoozing head. "She was quite informative."

Sunset cringed at that. "Was she now?"

Diamond sneered with a low chuckle. "You could say I'm in the know."

Sunset gathered Crescent up carefully. "Look, you're a kid, even if you don't like admitting it. Going there could get you hurt, badly, maybe the most hurt someone can be." She sighed gently at the sound of that, her heart aching as she looked at the young child in her arms, still wearing her new clothes.

"Hey, I'm not the one that decided to keep the secret, you are. You brought her to our world." Diamond hopped to her feet, no longer pinned by a Crescent. "So this is your bad."

"I did not." Sunset turned from Diamond. "She did that all on her own. Twi? Let's get out of here. Diamond, seriously, it's not a game. I don't want you getting hurt. Stay in this world, stay here where you're safe and you know how it works. Do yourself a favor and forget you ever met her, because if you go there, it's only a matter of time."

Diamond frowned at Sunset's retreating form. "Thanks for the advice," she got out in her most sarcastic tone. "But I'll do what I want."

Sunset, not hearing that, got Crescent into the car and climbed in herself. "Let's get back to the statue, gently toss our visitor through, and call this an eventful day."

Twilight got into the driver's seat. "Sounds like a plan." She drove the pair of them away from the mansion, heading straight for the portal in the statue. "What were you two doing anyway?"

"Shopping." Sunset watched the young child in her lap with a mix of feelings she didn't have names for, though 'gut twisting horror' were words that came to mind. "She looks like she enjoyed herself at least." She gently stroked some hair out of the way. "For her, today was nothing but fun, I bet. That's what having a kid's like, I guess, with parents doing most of the worrying."

"You were always too mature to be a child, if that's what you're saying." Twilight checked her mirrors with a smile, pulling them away from Diamond's mansion, following the guidance of the GPS unit that came with the vehicle. "I know you didn't have the best of lives before Canterlot High."

Sunset shrugged a little, a single shoulder moving. "I don't think I ever told you that story. It involves little horses that go clip clop."

Twilight raised a brow. "That, um, other word, with the other me?"

"That place." Sunset fired a finger gun at her savior of the day. "Equestria. Where I'm from, if you forgot. Originally anyway. I'm pretty happy here now. Different problems, but I'm needed, and I can make a difference." She took a slow breath. "And that matters. I might not have all the answers, and I may be a mess, but I know one thing for sure. I'll find a way."

"Hm." Twilight thought about that. "To get the child home."

Sunset laughed gently at that. "That is the answer for today." She saw the school coming up. "Looks like we're almost there. Mmm, just a matter of if we should put her in or carry her through and drop her off." She made her decision with a firm nod, unbuckling her seatbelt before she reached down and undid the one of Crescent's belt. "Carrying. Less complicated. Thanks again for all the help."

"Glad to be of assistance." Twilight paused. "Wait, does that mean you're going in?" She parked gently, but slid free of her own car. "I want to see."

Sunset hesitated. "Equestria is not just a tourist destination."

"Just a little." Twilight held up two fingers close together. "And I won't leave your sight, not for a moment, promise." She knelt down and gazed at Crescent with a mixture of emotions in her own eyes, and the other girl couldn't be sure what any of them were as they moved and swirled about in those dark pupils. "I'm curious, bottom line, and a quick peek shouldn't hurt either of us. You're not going to drop her off somewhere in the middle of danger, I imagine."

"I'm dropping her off at Twilight's castle." Sunset waved a hand towards the statue. "Fair warning, this is a disorienting ride." She gave up on trying to convince Sci-Twi against it and instead checked for others. The coast was clear, so she dashed into the statue, vanishing from sight.

She arrived, wobbling on two hooves, an upright pony instead of a human. It took a moment to remember how to use her magic, and she used it to park Crescent comfortably on the basement floor and fell to all fours just in time for Sci-Twi to join them.

Sci-Twi squeaked, realizing she had hooves, and a snout, and a swishing tail. "I'm a horse!"

Sunset snorted at that. "That's one way to describe us, I guess. Hey, Twilight." She waved at the other, local girl. "Oh, and sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle and this is Twilight Sparkle, human, student."

The Princess blinked at her smaller, unicorn, self. "I used to look like that? It's easy to forget. Hello, Twilight. Sunset, I trust there's a reason you've all come spilling in like this?"

The human Twilight Sparkle, in her labcoat and glasses, took in the basement with a look of awe. "I'm in another world. How fascinating. Can you feel the magic, Sunset?"

Sunset nodded, but also gestured. "I promised her a quick peek, and nothing more. She helped get Crescent back." She waved at the snoozing little filly of dreams. "All safe! Now, if you could lock up the portal after we get back to stop others from wandering through? I'm sure you can come up with something clever, Princess."

The Princess inclined her head, considering the situation. "So, it's the middle of the night. She'll be sleeping here tonight." She let out a releived sigh. "I had come down here to consider how to protect it, and you all spilled out. Good timing." She paced past them with lashes of her tail. "I'm sorry I don't have more ways to greet you, Twilight. I wasn't expecting you."

The human Twilight was in awe as she followed the pony princess, stepping up the stairs, then stopping with a sudden realization. "Wait, why am I a pony?"

"Oh." The Princess cleared her throat. "Going through the portal makes your body conform to the expectations of the new world you're entering." She looked over her shoulder. "Around here, that would be ponies. In there, humans. So when I go in there—"

"I become the human me." Sci-Twi gasped with understanding, clopping along after the princess. "This is fascinating!"