Loving The Dark Side

“Um, Princess Luna, are you sure you’re comfortable with… this?” Shining asked, eying the shop they had stopped at. Everything inside was pink: the curtains, the wallpaper, the dresses and shirts and even the pants, and from where Shining was looking, the ceiling was a glaring shade of pink as well. “I know that, well, this certainly isn’t your preferred color… correct?”

She swallowed, her brow twitching at the sight. “Nay… ‘tis not my… ideal shop. However, Celestia requested I acquire a dress for the ball, and I shall procure such.” Sniffing distastefully, she glanced to him. “Who would of thought offending the castle’s dressmaker would of had such dire consequences? I never expected to use her services. Now I have to visit something like...” Looking up at the shop’s name, she flatly finished with, “this.”

“I mean, you did make the dressmaker cry.” Shining held up his hands when she glared at him. “I’m not saying that’s a bad thing—which, actually, it is. All I’m saying is that you could have used less hurtful words and… yelling in that really scary voice of yours.”

“I detest sequins and long-tailed gowns, she knew this, yet she deliberately poisoned an otherwise traditional dress with them. Such an action deserved a rebuke.” Luna crossed her arms under her breasts and tilted her nose up and away from him. “I cannot believe that ye tattled of my actions to Celestia, either.”

“Servants thought that Nightmare Moon was suddenly back because of your behavior and I—” Shining noticed her frown and shook his head, “—look, forget it. That happened weeks ago. The ball isn’t for another month. We can always come back another day if you’d prefer. Or maybe the dressmaker will come out of the closet when you visit to apologize this time. Either one.”

Luna shuffled awkwardly on her feet. “I’d rather she not ‘come out from the closet’ to me. I know that this generation is more… open-minded about that issue, and I wish them the best, however, such—”

“Pffft!” Shining held onto his knees and kept on chuckling, which soon broke out into a fit of giggles. “Oh dear Celestia, that’s too good! I meant that she literally hides in the closet whenever it’s mentioned you want to say sorry. She’s just that terrified of you.”

“Oh.” Luna blinked. She gave a tap to her shoulder with a finger and coughed under her breath. “To mine credit, the last time you told me of someone in the closet, I took it literally. Your sister turned a dark shade indeed when I misconstrued thine meaning among her colleagues.” Hesitating, she finally gave Shining a shove on the shoulder. “Does she still hold some resentment to mine words? Will this make the ball a...” Putting a finger to her chin, she hummed. “A groan zone,’ as the pink-haired one hath stated before.”

Shining mumbled a curse under his breath and sighed. “Damn friends of Twilight… and no, it won’t be ‘a groan zone.’ The Grand Galloping Gala is just an opportunity for Canterlot’s elite to have some fun while still being as stuffy as ever. If anything Twilight will be groaning at the other nobles than you.”

“Ah.” She stood there, resting her hand on the door for a moment before taking in a deep breath. “To war,” she said to herself, pushing open the door and stepping inside, her nose instantly wrinkling at the scent of perfume. Swimming through dozens of dresses on hundreds of racks, she made her way to the shop’s counter and hit a small bell labeled ‘service.’ Waiting a moment, she offered an uneasy glance to Shining and hit it once more.

Finally, a smartly-dressed man appeared from behind a door. His hair had enough grease to light a lamp and his mustache appeared to be drawn on with a pen. Adjusting a small pair of wire-frame spectacles on the tip of his hooked nose, he asked, “Welcome, madam and gentleman. How may I be of service to both of you?”

Shining cringed at the drawn-out, nasally voice of his accent, but Luna seemed excited enough.

“We request clothing, good ser! Two dresses. A cream for mineself, and, mayhaps, a violet for mine friend here,” Luna said chipperly. “‘Twould bring out the color from within his eyes, I proclaim.”

The man eyed Shining from behind his spectacles, his head held back so much Shining was surprised his neck didn’t snap. “Oh, so he’s one of those kinds, is he?”

“Yeah,” Shining said, knocking on the plate of his armor. “I have a dress right underneath this. The Princess likes her guards in drag, if you can believe it.”

“Compared to my other clientele, I’m not surprised.” Turning his attention back to Luna, he said, “Would you prefer to browse, or for a fitting and viewing room to be obtained for you, your highness?”

“...Suggestions?” Luna asked quietly to Shining. “I have no real experience with such things. And I am surprised thou ran with my jest.”

“When you have a younger sister you’re used to it,” Shining said with a wink. “As for the suggestion, it’s just whether you want someone to give you their opinion on whatever dress you choose. And, well, I’m the only one here, so I’m not sure how much you hold my opinion in terms of fashion.”

“More so than you would think.” Luna looked over to the man. “Procure us a fitting room. Mine knight will browse the clothing and obtain me a vestment.”

Shining blinked. “Huh, so a lady wants my fashion choice. A princess at that.” He rolled his eyes. “Twilight, eat your heart out.”

The pencil-stache man led the duo to the back of the store, where a wide variety of dresses similar to the ones on the display could be seen hanging on racks that appeared endless. Much to Shining’s surprise, not everything was pink, and there were actually several articles of clothing that appeared more suiting to Luna’s tastes than what the store first showcased. Going over to a pale blue dress hanging on a rack, Shining pulled it out and ran a hand over its surface.

“Hey, this one has sequins! Those are fine, right Princess?”

“I swear to my father’s grave, Shining, if thou attempt to make me don a garment adorned with sequins, there will be retribution.” Luna warned, taking off her top and bottom and walking to the dressing room without even a moment’s pause at her action. “Regale me again as to why I cannot wear a suit to this event?”

“Because Celestia wants you to not wear pants for once in your life,” Shining said. “Oh, and something about formal wear. A dress isn’t so bad, is it?”

“I detest them,” Luna said plainly from behind the door. “Is there a need for further explanation, Fool-Knight?”

“I’m just saying, if I had to wear one only once a year, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I mean, doesn’t it feel so much freer down there? I can only imagine the ability to walk would be better.”

“I have no need to be free,” Luna replied. “I hath no need for breathing room, as a man doth, after all—that said, how does one even walk with such a thing impeding thine pathway? I had to disguise mineself with magic as a man once at a younger age—sat on a wooden bench and nearly wept when I did it incorrectly.” She gave a tilt of her head and let out a dry chuckle, before continuing on after a beat. “But a dress is not me, Shining. Woman or not, I walk the warrior’s path. Practical wear is a necessity. ‘Tis why mine hair is shorter than mine flesh-bloods, after all. A dress simply reminds me of a path I detested even considering, let alone walking like Celestia hath.” After another moment, Luna let out a forced laugh. “But listen to me, prattling on regarding a worthless subject. Nevermind mine ravings, Shining. Find me something… er, contemporary, I suppose. You know what the young ones wear nowadays, select something a woman you’d enjoy would wear.” Another pause. “Unless, of course, thou hath a taste for harlot and whore wear. I draw the line upon there, at least.”

Shining dropped a dozen dress over the top of the changing room door Luna was behind. “While you were talking, I just chose out dresses Twilight seems to like. I hope you don’t think her taste similar to a harlot, because believe me, my mother has already mentioned that enough times.”

“I simply hope this does not attract women like thine sister doth,” Luna replied. She let out a tsk of annoyance. “I almost envisioned this one akin to a kilt, but its fabric isn’t as malleable to adjustments. Shining, do women truly enjoy showcasing their undergarments when they sit on chairs within this time?”

“Only the cool women,” Shining said with a laugh, slapping his knee. “Ha, but seriously, this time period is more… let’s say, open to the full glory and splendor of the female figure. Which, of course, means cleavage. The more the better in some cases.”

A zipper cut through the conversation and Luna let out an acknowledging grunt. “This one exposes the chest well enough, I suppose. Though it also shows the bra. Don’t tell me people wear something as this without…” She sighed. “Ye don’t have to answer the question. They do.”

Shining whistled a tune. “What a time to be alive, huh?”

“Mayhaps for the hound dog who knows nothing of honor. However, I’ll take my outdated ideas over… this.” She walked over to the door, leaning beside it. “In my day, we had a different measure of attractiveness. Twas not the bossem or buttocks for a lady, nor the… girth of a man. Rather, we measured it by the face. By the hands. The eyes. And Celestia had an interest in feet—is that still common?” she asked suddenly. “I mocked her for it when we were younger, but if that’s the norm now, mayhaps she simply was a pioneer.”

Holding back giggling fit from breaking out, Shining muttered, “Yeah… pffft. Yeah, she was definitely a pioneer alright. Dear Celestia, Celestia! And… feet. Ahahahahahaha!”

“And beards!” Luna added, more warmth in her voice than a moment ago. “She had more than a passing interest in our army’s taticaition. He had a handlebar moustache that went almost to his shoulders! She called them stirrups,” Luna said plainly. “I didn’t understand what she meant back then, but I suppose I do now.”

Opening up the door, Luna stepped out. She wore a dark, navy blue dress with a slit that went up to her thigh, and, above a high-up belt around her waist, her dresses’ top stood, and, true to Luna’s word, exposed her breasts, two large and full handfuls, now that they were free of her modest, too-small bra.

Putting a hand to her hip, Luna shook her head. “I detest this,” she stated, her more mirthful tone and expression dying every moment Shining was speechless until she stood there, looking flatly at him and waiting for a reaction.

“I… uh…” Shining immediately beat down the first words that came to mind with the unforgiving stick of common sense. “I think it looks flattering on you, Princess.”

“Flattering? In what way?” Luna asked, taken aback. “It leaves little to the imagination, after all.”

“I think it shows your… erm, strength? Yeah, yeah, strength. The little to the imagination gives power to your feminine figure. All the women are into that nowadays… I think.”

“I have no interest in what women are into, however. That’s more of your sister’s interest,” Luna answered, keeping as plain of a face as she could. “And you do not need to flatter, compared to Celestia, I am far from ideal regarding the male gaze.” She reached up, pragmatically taking a hold of her breasts in her hands. “These are not as pronounced as mine sister’s. My muscle shows in mine arms and torso—another trait that many care not for in this age, and many seem… off-put in general with me. Not that I can blame them.”

Shining didn’t so much as reply than lock onto with a focus that would leave a sharpshooter envious. Luna’s breasts, which she was still clenching between her hands. “Uh… yeah, sure, let’s go with that.”

“You doubt me?” Luna replied, raising a brow. She crossed her arms once more. “You yourself said the servants feared I was giving into my… nightmare, as it were. ‘Twould indeed make someone difficult to approach, even if the eye were to ignore my flaws, Ser Shining.”

“I mean, you’re not as bad as you’d want to think yourself, Princess. Heck, I’ve been in your service for nearly two months now.” Shining leaned back in his seat. “In that time I didn’t see any indication you’re becoming what you were previously. Sure, you have a bit of a temper, but hey, that gets the best of all of us. What I did notice was how well-learned you are, wise, your sense of humor, the way you’re fiercely loyal to those you consider worthy, and the fact your left hook can really leave a guy missing a few teeth. Add that to your looks and I’m surprised every suitor in Canterlot isn’t knocking down your door.”

She watched him, waiting for him to laugh, smirk, anything to say he was jesting. Finally, she shook her head. “Thou think too highly of me,” she muttered under her breath, turning her gaze from him. “I’m not worthy.”

“Whoa, whoa, I’m the guard. If anything I’m not worthy. The princess is always the one more worthy than everyone else. That’s how it works, doesn’t it?”

“Forgo titles,” Luna said. “I have no interest in them. As I said before, thou walk the same path I wish to walk. ‘Tis what I said when we first sparred, is it not?”

Shining nodded. “Yes, Pr—I mean, Luna, I know.” He got up and made his way to her, his hand on the pommel of his sword. Finally, when he reached her, he reached out with his hand with his palm extended to her. “And I swear on my honor as a guard to not only you but all of Equestria that I truly do believe that you are not the nightmare that you think you are. In the time I’ve been with you I’ve seen someone who truly captures what the leader of a country is supposed to be. Truthfully, I was less than joyful at accepting the job to be your guard, but now I know I’ll never regret being by your side and being the trusting friend I know you’d appreciate.” He smirked, nodding to his palm. “Guard’s honor, of course.”

Luna looked down to his palm, then back to his eyes. She stared, unblinking, for a long moment, before meeting his hand with her own. “Thank you, for not giving up on me.”

“All in a day’s work,” Shining replied, shaking with a firm grip, just like her own. “So, ready to go back to dress wearing? I included a pink one I think is right up your alley.”

“Thou shouldn’t tempt the magic holder, Ser Shining. Otherwise I’ll make thee wear the disgusting abomination and look good while doing so,” Luna warned.

“Princess, as your friend, I should warn you about something crucial about me.” Shining ran a hand through his hair and gave her is best award-winning grin. “I always look good.”