Chapters Celestia’s chambers were quiet as she sat alone with her sister for the first time in a thousand years. It had been nearly a week since her sister’s return and it wasn’t going as smoothly as Celestia had hoped.
The elements' power was great but not always very precise, for when they unleashed their powers on Nightmare Moon they restored not only Luna but her innocence as well. This was a bittersweet victory. On one hand, nothing was more precious than innocence, but the effects also left Luna in a much younger state, both body and mind.
The problem Celestia faced was a big one; the nobles of the city were trying to take advantage of her sister. Luna was young and easily influenced, the nobles planned to use this to take advantage of her authority. While it was apparent that Luna was being restored to her natural state at a rapid rate it would still be at least a year, more likely than not three or four, before Luna would be able to handle the pressures of the nobles without it affecting her. It was also to be considered being around the nobles might leave a lasting mark on poor Luna. The best solution Celestia had come up with so far was to keep Luna away from everypony, but that was neither fair nor practical. It would be like taking her from her prison on the moon to keep her locked away in the castle, besides if there were lasting effects from the nobles there too could be lasting effects from the solitude. No, that solution was just as counterproductive as letting Luna be around the nobles.
Luna sat on the bed sketching a picture of the night sky as her sister paced around the room aimlessly. It troubled her to see her sister in such disarray. A part of Luna wished she had never been freed from her prison on the moon, as nothing could cause her more grief than to see her beloved sister in such turmoil. Luna tried to find an answer to her sister’s problem but she was not fully certain she understood the problem, to begin with. All Luna knew was the problem concerned herself and the nobles of Canterlot. Celestia always seemed on edge when the nobles spoke of their concerns, especially when they seemed focused on winning Luna’s favor. At first, Luna merely thought her sister to be jealous, a thousand years of ruling Equestria on her own now sharing the spotlight, but as she stole more glances at her sister’s reactions it seemed more a worrying look than petty envy. Luna sighed and returned to her drawing, she didn’t have the answer to this problem.
Celestia paced back and forth hoping an answer would magically appear out of thin air and just smack her in the face. With a hasty turn of her head and puff of smoke that was exactly what happened. As she turned around to resume her pacing a letter from her faithful student Twilight Sparkle appeared and because she hadn’t been paying attention hit her right in the face. The scene caused Luna to giggle like a filly, clearly amused by the slight embarrassment she had literally walked into.
Ponyville was the perfect answer to everything. Luna would be away from the corrupt nature of the nobles and around kindhearted ponies with whom she could interact. Celestia sat Twilight’s letter on her desk; too eager about her budding plan to focus on her student’s letter at this particular moment as preparations had to be made and accommodations had to be found.
It took two days for everything to be arranged but it seemed to Celestia it looked like everything would begin first thing in the morning. Celestia had no problem contacting the mayor of Ponyville to discuss her plans. The first day was spent discussing possible living arrangements and she was a little uneasy that the only place available was an arcade that had recently been closed down when the owner decided to move shop to Manehatten. The owner of the establishment was contacted and purchasing the property was discussed but he was adamantly against selling it at the time. It seemed that it housed some very rare machines he wasn’t ready to move just yet due to the vandalism of kids in the bigger city. Surprisingly it was Luna who had the winning solution.
“Sister we do not know what this, how did you say it, ark-aid is, but what if we were to open the shop again and take care of these treasures until a time when they are ready to be reclaimed?”
Celestia was unsure how Luna would react to the digital games that didn’t exist until only a few decades ago. The suggestion did seem mighty appealing because it could be months before anyplace else could be arranged and that’s if they were lucky.
The mayor had agreed to not tell anypony about Luna’s arrival. Celestia thought it would be best if Luna was at least a little settled in before the citizens of Ponyville learned of her presence. The shock of having a princess move to town was likely to cause some excitement amongst the townsfolk and Luna would handle it better if she was at least somewhat comfortable in her new setting.
The second day was spent having Joysticks brought in to escort Luna to her new residence. When they arrived he would spend a few days making sure she knew how everything worked and how to fix simpler problems with the machines like fixing ticket jams or replacing some of the lights that frequently burnt out.
The princesses spent most of the second day with Celestia explaining the basics of an arcade to Luna who was very excited to learn that she would be taking part in the upkeep of games for foals.
“An arcade is an establishment that houses many games like those you would find at street fair or carnival. Ponies, often foals spend bits to play games some of these give out tickets which can be traded in for a variety of prizes. Other games are simply there to entertain the player, usually by engrossing them in a story where the player takes control of a character in the game and tries to advance to the end. If they lose before finishing they can spend more bits to continue where they left off. Do you understand what I mean dear sister?”
Luna gave a small nod. “We think we get it and if we don’t I’m sure when we arrive there Mr. Joysticks can show us and we will understand then. When shall we depart?”
Celestia smiled at her sister’s eagerness. “Joysticks should be arriving any minute now, but his trip was a long one, it would be best to give him the night to rest. You shall depart for Ponyville in the morning.”
* * * * *
Luna and Joysticks sat on the edge of Ponyville. The area housed a few trees and some small shrubs to give them some cover. Celestia had planned a diversion, but she didn’t tell them what it was. They were told to wait for a big commotion and then sneak into the arcade. The distraction was taking forever. Luna was growing restless. She had already drawn over a hundred doodles in the dirt with a stick. She needed something more. Luna took the stick in her mouth and began poking Joysticks’ flank pleading to go already. The older-looking pony gained an expression of annoyance but maintained his vigil. Luna kept this up for several minutes before dropping the stick and falling to the ground with a groan of annoyance.
* * * * *
Princess Celestia had just seen her sister off. A chariot was used to deliver the duo to the outskirts of Ponyville. This was to avoid the chance they would be seen exiting a train. Celestia needed to distract the town long enough for her sister and her companion to sneak in without a fuss. The idea she came up with was mischievous, to say the least, but she was fairly certain it would work. The princess went to her desk where seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala and two scrolls lie. “Forgive me Twilight Sparkle.” With a heavy heart, she took one of the scrolls and inserted two of the tickets. With a small burst of magic, the scroll and its contents were on their way to her student in Ponyville. If not for the stress the young unicorn would have to endure from this situation she might have found it amusing. With that thought in mind, a wicked smile crossed the princess’s face.
Dearest Sister,
It has been two days since we arrived in Ponyville and things have settled down a bit. Joysticks just left to return to Manehatten, and we thought we would use our last day off to tell you of our exploits though few and likely boring to read about. We sat on the outskirts of Ponyville for nearly six hours before anything that could be taken as your commotion occurred, and then we made a run for it. Nopony saw us enter and Joysticks is the only one to be in or out of the arcade since we arrived. He is a very nice pony, you should invite him for cake one day as thanks for all his help. We seem to have wandered off our train of thought. Oh yes, the best we could make of the commotion was everypony was after Twilight Sparkle’s second gala ticket. We could have sworn you had tickets for each of her friends. So after our arrival, we had a very long lesson on how the arcade works. We started with the basics, such as operating hours and power switches, it was all easy enough to understand. Next, he let us have some hooves-on experience playing some of the games. Did you know there is a game where a plumber has to save you from a giant turtle? The ideas some ponies have are crazy. The game we found most enticing was Pony Kombat, you pick from a variety of ponies each with a unique fighting style, and try to defeat all the others without dying, Joysticks said we did very good our my first time. Here we are just wasting your time with games you probably already know about. After that, he showed us how to run the ticket counter. We were left alone to play more games while he went into town to get us some necessities to last about a week. He showed us the upstairs apartment and helped us settle in for the night. We must guess he slept in the arcade. It would be weird for him to get a room at the local tavern we would think. Today he kept “breaking” the machines and having us fix them until we could do it blindfolded, with one hoof, and no magic. He said we could use magic in the future if we wanted he just wanted to make sure we truly understood. He gave us the keys after that and left. Then we decided to write you this letter and now you are all caught up. Signed
Princess Luna Goddess of the Night
Luna ignited her horn and in a flash of royal blue her letter was sent. She took a moment to look around her small apartment. The entire living space was mostly one giant room. The only two doors led downstairs and to the bathroom. Despite the lack of walls, the space was nicely divided. The apartment as a whole could be looked at as one giant square divided into four smaller squares. The first square, it would fall to the immediate left coming in from downstairs was the closed-off bathroom. To the right of the entrance sat a table and some chairs for eating and a few shelves for personal things. In the far right corner was a small kitchen; just a stove, a sink, a refrigerator, and a small cupboard. The last space housed a sizable bed for such a small apartment and a wardrobe. Each wall, excluding the bathrooms, housed a single small window with one exception. The window near the sitting room was larger than the others giving a wonderful view of the town below.
Luna made her way to the large window and looked out onto the small town. It was busy at this hour. It was just growing dark and the ponies of the town scampered about as they returned to their homes after a day of shopping, playing, or even work. Luna looked toward the sky and gazed upon the moon, her moon. Her sister was still tasked with the duties of both sun and moon. Upon her return, Luna had attempted to raise the moon but to no avail, the sisters agreed that as soon as Luna was capable she would once again be entrusted with the responsibilities of the moon, but for now she could only marvel at its beauty.
Luna retreated to her bed with the thought of calling it a night. Just as she was about to cover herself, a shadowy figure appeared at the large window and began assaulting it. The startled Princess threw the covers in the air and fell over in shock. Quickly regaining her composure Luna made her way to the window. Uncertainty plagued her as she opened the window.
“BEGONE FOUL BEAST! THE GODDESS OF THE NIGHT COMMANDS YOU TO LEAVE THIS PLACE AT ONCE AND NEVER SPEAK OF THIS INCIDENT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!”
Luna was hoping the Royal Canterlot Voice of old would be enough to scare off whatever intruder had been out there. She looked to the streets below in an attempt to find the perpetrator but saw nopony and no place nearby to hide. She closed the window, locked it, and turned around to find a strange sight. A white unicorn with an electric blue mane was wandering around her new apartment, she wore sunglasses with thick, purples lenses even though the sun was well past setting. Her cutie mark was a musical note of some sort; Luna never was good with that sort of thing. The unicorn seemed unconcerned by the fact she had broken into the apartment.
The unicorn stopped her tour of the apartment and turned to look at the bewildered princess, or at least Luna assumed she was looking at her. Those glasses hid her eyes so well there was no way to know for certain.
“YOUR VOICE IS AWESOME! If I could shout like that I wouldn’t even need a mic while I DJ. I am so jealous. The name is Vinyl Scratch, but some ponies know me as D.J.Pon-3 but that’s just my stage name. Sorry to bother you. I thought Joysticks was in town and I wanted to stop by and ask a favor. I never expected him to rent this place out though, not with having to go through the arcade to get up here. Sorry for just bursting in but my ears were ringing, still are actually, after that awesome shout and I just had to commend you on it.”
Luna just stood in awe, this unicorn that pounded on her window as she was about to go to sleep was telling her she liked the way she shouted at her. Luna had no idea what to do but stand there staring.
Vinyl took the 'way too silent for her comfort' uncomfortable silence as a cue that maybe she should go. She turned away from this new pony and started to make her way back out the window. She used her magic to unlock the window and was just about to hop out when a booming sound knocked her off her hooves before she could even get one hoof out the window.
“WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOR SOME TEA?”
Luna had no idea why she had asked that and even less on why she insisted on once again using the Royal Canterlot Voice. It did get the other pony’s attention, and she made her way over to the table and took a seat with haste.
“So what brings you to Ponyville oh Goddess of the Night?” Vinyl snickered and only then did she realize the unicorn she had intruded upon had wings. Her jaw dropped at the realization she had invaded the privacy of the actual Goddess of the Night, Princess Luna.
Luna tried to surpass a giggle at the sight of her new companion’s realization but failed miserably. She put the tea kettle on and took the chair opposite Vinyl.
“Our sister, Princess Celestia, we assume you’ve heard of her. She decided it would be best for us to stay in Ponyville until we can return to my duties. Our return from the moon has left us in a less than ideal state for moving the moon or dealing with nobles.” Luna fought another giggle fit, as Vinyl tried to get her original I don’t care attitude back.
The kettle whistled and Luna grabbed it, two cups, and a few tea bags with her magic and brought them to the table. She prepared a cup for herself before checking on her guest. The amusement of Vinyl’s awe had finally waned and Luna gave off a heavy sigh in an attempt to snap her out of it.
Vinyl, with help of her magic, began to steep her tea. When she got it to a level for her liking she looked around for some sugar. When she didn’t see any she hesitantly asked, “Umm, Luna, your majesty do you have any sugar by chance?”
“ONE LUMP, OR TWO?” Luna boomed hoping it would return the unicorn to her natural state.
“TWO!” Vinyl replied trying to replicate the power of the Royal Canterlot Voice with a bit less success.
“You just have to teach me how to do that awesome voice. I know there has to be some secret to it I just don’t understand. So let’s go back to my question, why the arcade of all places?”
Luna sipped her tea, glad the unicorn was back to herself. It was off-putting for a pony to completely change when they find out you are royalty.
“Well, it was the only place in Ponyville not currently being occupied. Joysticks wasn’t willing to sell it, but when we offered to run the arcade in addition to paying rent he got on board with the idea. We must say though it’s not entirely what we were expecting.”
“Alright! I loved this place and when Joysticks decided to move shop I was so irritated. This is the only place in Ponyville set up like a never-ending rave.” Vinyl’s exclaimed her smile back in full force now. “When I saw the light on through the window, I ran over to try and talk him into staying or selling me one of his machines. This is just as awesome, it’s getting late though and I need to get home. I’ll stop by tomorrow if you’re going to be open.” She was halfway out the window before she finished talking and looked back for a response.
“GOODNIGHT VINYL SCRATCH AND PLEASANT DREAMS! THE ARCADE RESUMES REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS STARTING TOMORROW!” Luna called with a smile as she watched the unicorn’s horn light up as she began to walk vertically down the side of the building.
“That trick is awesome at parties.” Her unicorn friend shouted up as she read the streets below.
Luna returned to her bed and took out a small piece of paper and a quill. She quickly scribbled a few words and sent the message on its way.
P. S.
It seems we made a friend.
Luna followed as Vinyl led the way through the auditorium and to the front row. It was nearing show time but most of the seats remained open. They took the two center seats in the row closest to the stage. Luna was excited to hear live music for the first time in a thousand years, but she was concerned by the bored look her friend was wearing, this was her idea after all.
“Full truth I don't want to be here, it's just not my scene, but I promised Tavi if she came to my last show I would be here for this performance. Sorry to drag you here under false pretenses but I thought it would be more fun if I had someone I knew come along.”
Luna smiled. “It’s okay, we absolutely adore music.” She was cut off before she could say more as the lights dimmed and the curtains opened slightly.
A grey, earth pony mare stood alone on the stage holding her cello. A spotlight suddenly sprung to life wrapping her in a heavenly glow. The moment the spotlight came to life so did the music. As the music started Vinyl began waving her forearms frantically to catch the mare’s attention. The mare on staged rolled her eyes in acknowledgment but continued playing as if nothing had happened.
Luna was giving Vinyl a confused look at this point as if she were begging her friend to explain herself.
“She needed to know I hadn’t skipped out on her,” Vinyl whispered in Luna’s ear.
After the opening cello solo, the curtains opened fully to reveal three more musicians, all earth ponies; a purple stallion with a blue mane sat ready to play the harp, a yellow mare with a purple mane was holding a violin, and finally, there was a brown stallion with a greyed mane sitting with his back to the audience in front of a piano.
The four ponies played beautiful music for the next two hours. After each song was finished Luna would join in with the rest of the small audience in stomping her hoofs lightly in applause. Vinyl never joined in she just sat in her seat eyes glued on the grey mare. When the curtains closed every pony stood up and gave one final thunderous applause. At that moment Vinyl jerked violently and fell out of her seat.
“I’m awake, I’m awake!” It took a moment for Vinyl to remember where she was but when she did she blushed slightly and joined in the applause.
The other ponies left but Vinyl insisted on waiting for her friend so the two took their seats and made some idle conversation. Fifteen minutes later the grey mare came out and was giving Vinyl a very sour look.
“Tavi you wouldn’t want to say anything to embarrass me in front of a princess now would you?”
At that moment Luna wondered if her whole purpose tonight was to defuse the situation when it inevitably came to this. The thought that her friend would be likely to do just that amused Luna. She however kept the laughter inside for the moment.
“Vinyl I’ll wait till your friend ‘the princess’ isn’t around so I can scold you, but that was very embarrassing for me. Had the rest of my group had been able to see you I don’t know what I would have done.” The grey mare spoke in a very sophisticated tone. She turned to Luna “My name is Octavia; Vinyl here never seemed to grasp that concept for some reason.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Octavia. We truly adored your performance. We haven’t heard anything like that in over a millennium.” It was at this moment that Octavia noticed that Luna was an alicorn. Her surprise was noticeable, but nothing in comparison to Vinyl’s initial reaction. Her eyes simply grew wide with shock.
“When Vinyl said princess my mind went someplace else. I'm dreadfully sorry your majesty.” Octavia said with a bow.
At the moment Octavia’s gaze was at the floor Luna gave Vinyl a wink, causing a sly smirk to appear on the white unicorn’s face.
“YOU MAY STAND SUBJECT! YOUR MUSIC HAS PRAISED US ENOUGH!!!!” Luna boomed and Octavia began to shake nervously as she quickly stood up.
Vinyl couldn’t contain herself anymore and fell to the floor in a fit of laughter. Octavia blushed when she realized she was made the fool.
“We must apologize for that Octavia. We don’t spend much time around other ponies. We wish not to be treated special because of our stature. Unfortunately, nopony seems to understand that when you just tell them.” Luna said with a warm smile.
Octavia recoiled a bit at the change in attitude.
“Oh I’m so sorry, I should have been more thoughtful, and of course, if you came along with Vinyl, Celestia love her, you wouldn’t be looking for that royal treatment.” Octavia stammered.
Vinyl had finally stopped her giggle fit, totally missing Octavia’s insult. “Luna that was great, but now that we're past that whole awkward ‘she is a princess’ phase, we should all go get something to eat. I have been craving nachos all night.” Octavia rolled her eyes but agreed, while Luna was quite puzzled as she had never heard of nachos.
*****
A half-hour later the three were sharing a booth at a very fancy restaurant. Vinyl and Octavia sat together on one side, allowing the princess a little more room to relax. Luna was a bit nervous that her presence might make a scene. No one said anything when they came in or sat down, nor did the waiter make a fuss, so Luna was finally starting to relax. Luna and Vinyl had ordered the nachos while Octavia ordered a salad. Octavia and Luna used the time waiting for their food chatting as they tried to get to know one another better. Their conversation was frequently interrupted by Vinyl begging for something exciting to happen. She was constantly making whining sounds and would occasionally pound her hooves on the table.
When the nachos finally arrived they weren’t exactly what Luna had expected, but she hadn’t a clue what she had expected before that moment. Vinyl quickly grabbed a glob of chips in her magic and shoved them in her face. Octavia once again rolled her eyes but she calmly started to eat her salad.
“You don’t have to be as messy with them as Vinyl. She just gets a little over-eager sometimes when it comes to nachos from time to time.” Octavia said while glaring at the white unicorn whose actions she was apologizing for.
Luna grabbed a chip in her magic and brought it to her mouth before taking a small bite. Her eyes went wide for a second before she mimicked her friend’s earlier actions. These nachos were unlike anything she had ever tasted, they were magical. Octavia rolled her eyes again, but she smiled this time.
An hour later and the trio was sat in Luna’s apartment in front of the big window where all of this blossomed.
“We absolutely must apologize for our behavior at the restaurant, Octavia.” That was the thirteenth time the night goddess apologized for her reaction to the nachos. Each time she apologized her tone carried more embarrassment than the last.
“It’s quite alright. Vinyl makes a fool of us whenever we go out in some way or another. It’s part of what I love about her.” At that Octavia gave the white unicorn a little peck on the cheek.
“YOU TWO ARE FILLY FOOLERS!!!!!” Luna managed to say before her jaw dropped and just hung there.
Octavia was giving Vinyl a death stare for this one. How was it she always got them into these uncomfortable situations?
Vinyl herself had lost all of her pep, her ears now drooping. How could her new friend be one of those backward-thinking ponies that couldn't just accept any two ponies could love each other.
Luna recovered from her shock and started shouting again, “IT IS FORBIDDEN! WE MUST TELL OUR SISTER, BUT IF WE TELL HER SHE WILL LOCK YOU IN THE DUNGEON AND WE LOSE OUR TWO CLOSEST FRIENDS, BUT IF SHE FINDS OUT AND WE HID IT FROM HER, THEN SHE WILL SEND US TO THE MOON AGAIN!!!!!!!!” Luna was pacing back and forth across the sectioned room that made up most of the apartment.
Octavia and Vinyl shared a nervous glance before trying to calm down the distraught princess. Luna was on the floor flailing and shedding a storm of tears now.
“Luna, sweetie, some things have changed in the last thousand years and that law was one of them. You would have to ask somepony who is more into history for the exact year but for at least five hundred years now any two ponies who love each other are free to do so.” Octavia spoke sweetly and softly, desperately hoping her words would soothe her new friend.
Luna took several deep breaths to calm herself down before she was able to speak again. “Oh dear us, we must apologize for that outburst. That must have sounded so offensive, of course, things are different than when we last walked Equestria. we never understood that law in the first place. Love is love, and if two ponies love each other they should be allowed to be happy.” Luna sighed nervously after she finished.
“No need to be sorry. Sure we were shocked when you started yelling at us, it was quickly apparent you weren’t looking down at us like some ponies still do, but that you were afraid for our wellbeing.” It was a little weird to hear such softness coming from Vinyl but Luna was comforted by her words.
Luna pulled her friends into a hug and they stood there for a few moments. When they all felt like everything was okay again they broke apart. Luna offered the pair to stay for tea, but they insisted it was getting late and promised a rain check. They left out the window with Vinyl’s wall walking spell so Luna wouldn’t have to open and relock the arcade to let them out, although it made Octavia a bit nervous at first.
After she waved her last goodbye to the pair Luna retreated to her bed, retrieved her writing tools, and began to scribble a message to her sister.
Dearest Sister,
Vinyl took us to see the most wonderful music performance tonight. It was so lovely to hear live music after so long. Afterward, we were joined by the cellist, Octavia, and we feasted on the food of the heavens, nachos. Unfortunately, we made quite the fool out of ourselves later when we found out Vinyl and Octavia were marefriends. In the stress of the moment, we called them an archaic name that even to this day remains a hateful slur. After we calmed a bit they told us you finally did away with that dreadful law while we were away. As you well know we never were a fan of that one, but we panicked at the thought of our new friends being locked away, or us being sent back to the moon for not telling you. We do wish you had told us of this change so we didn’t have to embarrass ourselves in such a way! For failing to do so we do hereby vow to get you back in some equal manner soon.
Love Your Sister,
Princess Luna Goddess of the Night
Second Place Has its Own Rewards
Luna stared at the screen, unblinking, with the utmost attention. Buck, buck, horn jab, levitation slam, buck, and the defending pegasus mare was at her end, she tried a feather shot, but it was evaded and met with a game-ending horn jab.
“FINISH HER!”
A quick complex button combo later the pegasus mare, who was hovering in a daze, suddenly reverted to a newborn foal as she fell to the ground and began to cry.
“FOALTALITY, SUNDROPS WINS!”
The crowd broke into thunderous applause and Luna gladly joined in. Though she wished she could have competed this time, she was the one who was running it this time. Although all the players were spectacular, the winner was a fiery little bunny registered as Angel. He had been escorted in by the last pony you would expect to see in an arcade, a yellow pegasus with a pink mane, who flinched at every unseen sound. If Luna recalled correctly she had been the bearer of the element of kindness. After she signed the bunny’s name she went over to a corner and hid, and it was there she remained even now.
Luna retrieved the plaque that had been made off the counter and awarded the spoils to the tournament's victor. He quickly took it, retrieved his companion, and the pair left in haste.
The crowd was quick to dispel and soon Luna was left alone, or so she thought. A rustling near the tournament's machine grabbed her attention.
“Pony feathers! It’s just not fair; he always beats me in the finals. I understand why magic is banned in these tournaments but he has small, swift paws. Not these big, bulky hoofs like the rest of us. I swear I could beat him if he was a pony!”
The voice surprised Luna as she was sure everyone was gone. Looking around she saw the aquamarine unicorn that had come in second place was seated, head hung low, with her back to the machine, muttering to herself. Luna made her way over to the upset mare, planning to explain she needed to close up. She stood over the unicorn for close to five minutes before her presence was even noticed.
When the unicorn finally looked up she gave one last exasperated sigh.
“I bet you need me to leave so you can close up. Sorry about that, I’ve been to nine tournaments this year and it’s always the same deal. That bunny shows up and we go at it in the final round. I just let it get the best of me this time. I’m Lyra by the way, and now that I know this place is open again you can expect me in here to practice every day for next months ‘Baltimare Brawl.’ I best get out of your mane though, thanks for hosting this by the way.”
She drooped her ears and made for the exit. She headed toward the door with as much haste as a distraught pony can. Just as she was about to push open the door, the game's music started and an aura of royal blue magic was locking the exit.
“I’m sorry I didn’t quite make...” The rest of her sentence was cut off.
“We didn’t get a chance to play in the tournament ourselves but it would be an honor to play against the runner-up. Besides, we need to practice up if we’re going to take top prizes in Baltimare.” Luna remarked casually as she decided on a fighter.
Lyra’s face broke into a huge grin and in a second she was back in position at the machine ready to take on this new challenger.
The two played nonstop until nearly two in the morning. Lyra was good. Well, good was a bit of an understatement, she was fantastic! Luna never managed a single K.O. in all the rounds they played, although she managed to get a little closer every time. It was a bit devastating at first to realize she wasn’t as good as she had thought, but it only made her more determined to win.
It was nearing three in the morning when they noticed just how late it had gotten. Lyra decided it best to head home as she had work in the morning. The arcade was closed for the day so Luna would be able to sleep in, but she bid her new friend farewell in understanding.
Luna unlocked the door so Lyra could leave. When she was sure the unicorn was gone she locked the place back up. Her next task was to clean up that huge mess the tournament goers had made. Few of them had bothered to pick up after themselves. Most of the tables were littered with empty cups and leftover snacks ponies had brought and left behind.
When everything was back in order she went back to the machine to play one last game before going to bed herself. When she got to the character select something hit her, in all her battles with Lyra no matter which character Luna went with, Lyra always selected the same pegasus she had used during the tournament. In a tournament you registered with a charter and were required to use them all the way through, this was so people wouldn’t waste time trying to make sure their fighter was the perfect counter to the opponents. This wasn’t the case when she played with Luna as she could use anyone she wanted; her choice never changed and that’s when it hit her. The best players mastered one character instead of becoming a “jack of all trades” so to speak. She was determined to pick a character and then dedicate her practice to that fighter alone. Luna went through each pony on the roster several times. She was about to give up when she accidentally bumped the random fighter button. The match started and she was playing as a pony she hadn’t used before.
Scarlett Scales was a unique fighter for sure. She was a reptilian pony hybrid with red scales, as her name suggested. Her hoofs had claws on them and she could spit poison as her special attack. Luna got a feel for the character rather easily and found she quite liked how Scarlet played. Luna had found her character. She made quicker work of the arcade mode than usual and was quite pleased with herself. After she finished she shut the game off and made her way to bed.
Before curling up and going to sleep, Luna gathered her writing supplies and scribbled a note to her sister.
Dearest Sister,
Today was the day when the arcade held our Pony Kombat Tournament, we had sixteen competitors it was quite exciting. We do wish we could have partaken but there will be time for that later. We did make a new friend in one of the competitors; she was the runner up in fact. She stayed late and played close to forty matches but we lost them all. But it seems this was a good thing though because we learned it is best to master a single character since each player can only use one character in a tournament setting.
The new friend is the main reason we’re writing though. We would like to request an additional invitation for your dinner party next week. Vinyl and Octavia are extremely excited but we would hate to exclude our newest friend. We understand if it’s too late for you to change the arrangements but do let us know so we can give her a chance to prepare for it.
Love Your Sister
Princess Luna Goddess of the Night
Luna shot another glare across the table, right at The Goddess of the Day. The glare was returned, and the two took a moment to partake in a heated staring contest. The two goddesses sat, unblinking, at opposite ends of the long table in the royal dining hall. The contest ended in a tie when the aquamarine unicorn sitting to Luna’s left accidentally knocked her cutlery off the table. All attention migrated towards her at the blunder.
"It was an accident. I swear, it was just a mistake.” Lyra half-shouted and ended with a small nervous laugh.
Lyra looked at Luna with a small smile. Luna’s face remained cold as stone, and the unicorn tried against all odds to turn invisible. As she sank back into her seat.
Opposite Lyra, a white unicorn and grey earth pony were sharing in the solemn mood of the situation. The pair's usually warm and playful bickering was replaced with thick tension. Throughout the night when addressed separately either pony had acted just like themselves, however, when addressed together they would share a quick leer of their own followed by a frigid response. The subject was left untouched nopony seemed willing to get in the middle of somepony else’s problems.
The silence was broken once again; this time by a lavender unicorn occupying the seat to Celestia’s right clearing her throat.
“So Princess Luna, I was researching astronomy recently and one of the books said you originally arranged the constellations of the night sky. I find your work simply beautiful.” The lavender unicorn spoke with enthusiasm and a hint of nervousness.
Luna shot her sister another glare.
“Thank you, Twilight. While we currently leave our masterpiece in our sister’s hooves, we indeed mapped them originally.” Luna spoke calmly but her voice lacked any warmth or enthusiasm. Much to Twilight’s dismay.
Silence hung awkwardly in the air for a moment until there was a knock interrupted the group and a maid entered announcing dinner had arrived.
****
The morning sun shone through the blinds, abruptly pulling Luna from her slumber. She struggled with her covers in a wasted attempt to shield her eyes. It was too late though the damage was done. She was awake.
“Curse Celestia and her morning sun. If we didn’t know better we would swear she watches our dreams. She waits for the most inopportune moment before positioning the sun at that perfect angle so it shines right in our eyes.”
Luna went about her morning preparations; brushing her mane, putting the tea on, washing her face, and finally settling down with the paper and a cup of tea. Upon seeing the date atop the front page a huge smile broke out on her face. Today was her sister’s dinner party.
Before she could do anything else the bell she had installed for visitors started going off. She went to the window and saw Lyra waiting outside.
“Come on up,” Luna called, tossing her keys down to her friend.
Vinyl had shown Lyra how to do her wall walking spell, but she got sick when she used it. She continued with her preference for the front entrance over the use of such a nauseating spell. It was easier for Luna to just trust her to let herself in and lock up before making her way upstairs.
A few minutes later Lyra walked through the doorway and tossed the keys back to Luna. When Luna caught the keys she started making her way to the bathroom.
Luna made her way to the wardrobe to pick out a dress. After five minutes of throwing everything she saw into a pile on the floor, the wardrobe was empty. Now all her clothes were poorly arranged on the floor behind her. She quickly shoved everything back in the wardrobe, having decided to go without. Nopony would expect her to dress up for a dinner party after all.
As Luna closed her messy wardrobe Lyra emerged from the bathroom wearing an elegant but simple silver dress.
“Do you like it? You said this was a casual dinner party, but how casual can a dinner party with both princesses at the royal palace in Canterlot actually be? I asked Rarity to keep it simple and think she did a wonderful job.” Lyra proclaimed with a twirl to show off the whole dress.
“You look lovely. We couldn’t find a dress that fit the occasion so we shall be going like this." Luna gestured at herself emphasizing her choice to go bare. "We need to leave now if we're going to meet the others before the train leaves though.”
It was a short walk to the train station. The train was set to leave in ten minutes so the duo needed to find their friends posthaste. They walked the full length of the train before meeting up with the couple, both of whom looked rather upset. Lyra and Luna shared a look of concern before shrugging it off, as it's not their business. Both ponies wore nothing but bow-ties with collars. Vinyl sported a forest green bow tie with a grey collar, while Octavia wore a pink bow tie with a white collar. They exchanged hasty greetings before boarding the train and finding a private compartment.
Luna took a seat by the window and was surprised when Octavia took the open seat beside her. Vinyl sat opposite Luna, while a little confused Lyra took the seat across from Octavia. There was a certain tension in the air, but it was dissolved when idle chit-chat broke out. Lyra chatted with Octavia about classical music. Something Lyra knew a bit about since her special talent was playing the lyre. Vinyl told Luna about this insane rave she performed earlier in the week, some crazy ponies got in a fight with glow sticks. Lyra and Luna had a conversation about Pony Kombat and the advantages each of their characters had over the rest of the field.
The train arrived as scheduled in the early afternoon. The group made their way out of the station to find a royal carriage waiting to take them to the palace. The ride was mostly uneventful, and soon the four ponies found themselves in the entrance hall of the palace.
“Hey, Luna, which way is the bathroom? I want to check myself in the mirror before we get to dinner.” Lyra asked with a smile.
Luna called one of the guards over and ordered him to escort her friend to the nearest washroom, and show her to the west dining hall when she was ready. The guard gave her a salute before escorting the unicorn down a nearby hall. His only acknowledgment to the unicorn was a flick of the tail. She took it to mean she should follow.
Luna led the rest of her group down a different hallway and entered an empty dining hall. She took the empty seat at the nearest end of the table. Vinyl claimed the seat to her right with Octavia hesitantly taking the seat next to her mare friend. A moment after taking her seat a letter magically appeared in front of Luna.
Dearest Sister,
I have just been informed you have arrived and made your way to the west dining hall as I requested. My student and I will be along shortly, we’re going over her latest friendship lesson. It reminded me of a game we played as foals, the one in which we would see who can go the longest without smiling. I challenge you to a game of frowns. The winner will be crowned best princess. Telling anypony results in instant disqualification as it could be used as an unfair advantage.
Signed
Princess Celestia Goddess of the Sun
Luna frowned at the letter, a frown she planned to hold on to for the rest of the night if necessary.
Lyra followed the guard down a hallway, after a while, he motioned to the door before taking post outside. She went inside and stood in front of the mirror. She was the only one who decided to wear a dress, and now she was having second thoughts about it. She thought about taking it off but it seemed too late for that, for a few reasons. Luna and the others would question her change of heart; that and she had nowhere to put it if she took it off. Lyra did a quick turn, hoping to find a way to tune it down without destroying it. The dress got caught on a statue on the sink and before she could do anything it hit the floor. A look of panic grew on her face.
*CRASH*
“Miss is everything alright in there?” The guard asked from the hall a hint of concern in his voice, mostly for his job.
“Yes, I’ll be out in a moment. Don’t come in I’m fixing my dress.” Lyra replies in a rushed panic.
She scooped up the broken shards of the statue and tossed them in the trash before covering them with excessive amounts of paper towels. She was hoping the guard wouldn’t check the bathroom when she left and if he did she hoped he didn’t know about the statue. She unlocked the door and made her way back to the hall with a nervous look on her face.
“I thought I heard something fall?” The guard questioned.
“I-I tripped that was all. Please don’t mention it to anypony. I was hoping you hadn’t heard me, oh I’m so embarrassed.” Lyra pleaded with a little batting of her eyelashes.
The guard nodded and took off down the hall, motioning again for her to follow. They went down two halls before he pointed out the door to the dining hall where her friends waited. The guard made his way back to the bathroom with a sigh.
The door at the far end of the dining hall opened revealing Celestia and her student. Celestia bore a somber expression, while the young unicorn at her side had a warm smile on her face.
A moment later the other door opened as Lyra arrived and took the remaining seat next to Luna.
“Welcome Everypony. Originally this was going to be a bigger party, but I decided a small gathering would be more enjoyable.” It wasn’t a warm welcome but anything more and Celestia might have broken out into a smile, and judging by her sister’s expression she was in a very serious battle of wills.
****
An awkward silence hung in the air throughout dinner, nopony had said anything since the food arrived. That silence was broken when Octavia’s hoof bumped Vinyl’s plate, knocking it over.
“Wow Tavi, I told you I had nothing to do with your bow breaking, even though you already scratched my album, and now you had to do something childish like spilling my food.” Vinyl's tone was harsh and unrelenting.
“Vinyl you’re embarrassing me! Bumping your plate was an accident. I told you we would talk about our situation more when we got home. You’re ruining this for Luna.” Her tone was more hushed with a hint of panic.
Everypony was watching the situation with wide eyes. Nopony had expected anything like this from the couple.
The tension was too much for Lyra and she broke it the only way she could think of.
“I broke a statue in the guest washroom and hid it in the trash!” It came out as a shout but in a soft whispered voice.
Even Lyra was surprised at her words. Every pony present reacted differently. Vinyl’s mouth went agape with shock. Octavia regained most of her composure but frowned at the fact it came at somepony else’s expense. Twilight was wearing a look of total bewilderment. Luna gave her sister another cold stare.
This was where Celestia lost it. She burst into a fit of laughter.
“Excuse me. I’m so sorry. I got so caught up in a game with my sister I didn’t think to ask anypony what was troubling them. More importantly, I forgot to deliver this note to the two of you.”
“I hope this gets to you before my mistake causes too much trouble. I was making a delivery to your apartment this morning and when no one answered I tried to set it in through the window. It fell off the desk and I think it broke a few things. I’m awfully sorry. I tried to stick around to explain myself but I had so many other deliveries to make. When I got finished I asked around if anyone had seen you. Spike said he heard that you were attending a dinner party at the palace. He told me I could write a letter and he would send it to Celestia. I hope you two enjoy your evening and I promise to pay for everything. My regards, Derpy Hooves.” A fresh wave of embracement washed over both Vinyl and Octavia as she finished.
“I’m sorry for what I said Tavi. Can you forgive me?” Vinyl was playing with her sunglasses and trying not to look at the other mare.
“I’m sorry as well Vinyl. I also said things, pretty awful things, I wish I hadn’t.” Octavia was trying to find her marefriend’s eyes behind the thick lenses.
The couple shared a tight embrace that lasted until Celestia spoke again.
“Let me apologize again for forgetting to deliver that. I did not expect it to be so important. As for the statue, think nothing of it my little pony. Those statues get broken at least once a week. If I had to guess it's already been replaced. We have an entire walk-in closet filled with them. Sometimes I think it’s too much, but we already have thousands of them. I suppose when the last one is finally broken we won’t bother anymore. “
It was Luna’s turn to speak.
“Twilight let us apologize for our earlier coldness. Tia challenged us to a game of frowns; the goal being to see who can go the longest without smiling. We shall do our best to make it up to you. How about we come over one night next week and we can watch the stars and discuss them further?”
Twilight’s eyes lit up with joy and she broke into a giant smile.
“That sounds like fun!” Twilight was oozing with enthusiasm
With that everyone returned to their food. A new plate was brought in for Vinyl, nachos this time as Celestia asked if she had a special request. Luna stole a few chips when she thought nopony was watching.
Everypony had a good time with the rest of the evening. The mood was light and laughter was plentiful. When it had come time to leave Celestia followed the group of friends as far as the entrance hall.
“Well sister, despite our rough start, tonight was very enjoyable we must do it again. Also, rules are rules and you won our little game. I, Princess Celestia, declare that Princess Luna is best princess.”
The sun once again hit that special spot so it shined right in the eyes of the night goddess. For once it wasn’t enough to completely wake the sleeping princess, but it was enough to get her out of bed. Eyes half-closed she started to stumble her way to the bathroom. She just made it around the corner when she tripped over something rather large. Something out of place, more accurately somepony out of place.
There was a lot of groaning as the two ponies tried to recover from the shock.
“WHO DARES INTRUDE UPON OUR CHAMBERS!” Luna boomed at the pony on her floor. It was then that she saw the unicorn's aquamarine coat.
“Oh good morning Luna,” Lyra said rubbing her head. It was the specific part of the unicorn the princess had tripped over. “I bet you want to know why I’m sleeping on your floor and or how I got here. Well, it's a bit of a story so you go to the bathroom and I’ll start some tea.”
Luna decided it would be best to hear the unicorn out before jumping to conclusions. She proceeded to the washroom and splashed cold water on her face. She shut the water off and made her way back to the sitting area.
The water was just reaching a boil and Lyra had everything else set out by the time she sat down. The unicorn poured two cups of water and passed one to her friend. She offered the princess a teabag before taking one herself. She steeped her tea and began her tale.
“Last night after I left here I made my way home. I was heading to my room when heard strange noises coming from Bon Bon’s room. Her door was cracked so I thought I would peek in and see if she was okay.” The unicorn shuddered before continuing. “ I had never been in there, Bon Bon is a private pony and now I know why. The walls were completely covered with pictures of me! I recognized a few of them, but most looked like they were taken from a distance. A few were of me sleeping, and there was one of me in my dress outside the castle last week. Bon Bon saw me standing there and she just started yelling at me. She got kinda aggressive pushing me back out of the room. She started telling me I knew better than to go into her room and that I would be punished later. It was at that point I ran out of the house.”
Luna was sitting there speechless. She had never formally met Bon Bon and now she was sure she never wanted to.
“I walked around town for a while unsure what to do. I couldn’t go back to my house, there was a crazy pony there. I started to head towards Vinyl and Octavia’s place thinking Vinyl would still be up, but I remembered they both went out of town for shows this weekend. So I came here and rang the bell. You were already asleep but I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I noticed you left the window cracked. I...I used that wall walking spell of Vinyl's and snuck through the window. I got pretty dizzy and I was exhausted so I guess I just crashed on the floor.” She was being rather nonchalant for a pony who broke into somepony else’s house.
****
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Luna waited out at the door waiting for somepony to answer. Lyra said she should just go on in, but if Bon Bon was home she didn’t want to startle her. A few moments passed. Luna was getting nervous as thoughts of how Bon Bon might greet her bounced through her head. Soon enough however the door swung open.
“Lyra I’m so glad you’re home when you didn’t come....” The beige-coated earth mare stopped when she noticed this wasn’t the pony she expected. “Umm who are you?” The warmth she had in her voice vanished suddenly to be replaced with a hint of annoyance.
“Lyra asked us to stop by and pick up a few things for her. She is going to stay at our place this week so we can prepare for our trip to Baltimare.” The last part was a lie. Luna wasn’t up for telling this pony she was crazy and that Lyra never wanted to see her again.
“Oh if that's all I’ll show you to her room.” Bon Bon smiled sweetly, you would never have guessed she was nuttier than a fruitcake.
She led Luna through the living room. It was decorated in a traditional style, this felt nothing like Lyra at all and Luna assumed it was Bon Bon’s preference. Once through the living room, they were in a small hallway with three doors. Bon Bon pointed out which door was Lyra’s room and very carefully slipped through the door opposite so Luna couldn’t get the slightest peek at what may lie beyond.
Luna was looking for three things: a lyre, a blanket, and a plush squirrel. The first two things were easily found. The instrument was placed very carefully on a display rack, Luna put it in the nearby travel case carefully. She took the blanket from the bed folded it and placed it in her saddlebag. She looked through the drawers and under the bed with no signs of the squirrel.
After several minutes of fruitless searching, a soft chattering sound came from the closet. Luna opened the door to find the squirrel she was looking for. It wasn’t a plushy. When Lyra asked her to bring her squirrel back Luna simply assumed it was a toy like many ponies slept with, not a pet.
The squirrel was very tame for its species. It hardly made a fuss with the intrusion of this new pony. Just a few squeaks and it quickly grew bored deciding to lie back down on the bed in its cage.
It didn’t take long after finding the squirrel for Luna to gather the stuff and return to the arcade. Lyra was waiting downstairs to help. She took the squirrel cage with a nervous smile and made a hasty retreat up the stairs.
Luna followed. When she closed the door behind her Lyra opened the cage and the squirrel was darting about the apartment. One second he was on Luna’s bed the next he was at the big window. In a blink, he was in the sink and then back in the sitting area. After getting a good feel of the space the small animal darted up Luna's leg and into her mane.
“GET IT OFF!!! GET IT OFF!!! GETTT ITTT OFFFF!!!!!!” Luna was going berserk. She flailed around the room, kicked over a few chairs, and was likely on the verge of tears.
“Bad Mr. Twitch! Luna is a friend, not a climbing post, get down and say you’re sorry!”
The squirrel quickly jumped to the floor at Lyra’s scolding, only pulling a small clump of Luna’s mane on the way down. It made a few squeaks and looked ashamed of itself as if it was apologizing. When his apology was finished he ran to his cage and closed the door behind him.
Luna was still trying to calm down but was feeling a little ashamed of herself. The poor guy just wanted to be her friend and she got him in trouble.
“I’m sorry about him, and for not telling you he was my pet when I sent you for him. I’ve had him for months and I never told Bon Bon. I have to guess she knows about him since she was sneaking in my room at night though.” Lyra was giving her friend big, sad eyes while she spoke.
“We can not let our friend live with a stalker. So we have decided we shall contact our sister. We will see if she can make arrangements suitable with Joysticks that will allow us to take up a roommate.” She gave Lyra a warm smile. “As well as inquire about his pet policy.”
Luna retrieved her writing tools from the windowsill next to her bed and began furiously scribbling a letter. While she did this Lyra and Twitch were dancing excitedly around the apartment,
Dearest Sister,
We have encountered an emergency and require your assistance. A situation has presented itself that has left Lyra without a home. The best solution to our problem would be for her to move in with us at the arcade. This however is not our decision to make. I require you to discuss the matter with Joysticks with much haste. It would also be wise to inquire into his policy on pets. As best princess, we demand your support in this endeavor.
Signed Goddess of the Night “Best Princess” Princess Luna
Luna was careful to subtly remind her sister that she was owed a favor after the trouble caused at the dinner party.
In a flash of blue, the letter was gone.
Twitch started nuzzling his tail and the two ponies fell into a fit of nervous laughter. Neither knew what to expect when this was over.
Author's Note
So there is a spin off to this the while not required reading I believe it really adds to the universe. If you were at all curious to learn more about the pile of crazy that is Bon Bon in this universe its all about her, mostly. I bring it up now because the second chapter of that story is entangled in the next chapter of this story. Again though not required
I Love You Lyra
“Sorry girls I’m all out of quills. You’ll have to check back on Monday.” The stallion spoke with a hint of boredom, as he paged through the book on the counter he stood behind.
“We thought this store sold sofas?” The princess inquired with a hint of annoyance. She looked at Lyra. “Sister gave us enough quills to last a year.”
The stallion perked up at this new knowledge. Suddenly he was on their side of the counter ready to show them his wares.
“Nopony has been in for a sofa in months! It's a blessing I was born to sell quills and not just sofas or I’d have gone out of business ages ago. Are you lovely ladies in the market for anything specific?” The stallion was practically bouncing through the store leading them past all the different shapes and sizes of sofas.
“Well, we're looking for a futon. Something for company to sit on that we can turn into a bed at night.” Lyra responded feeling a little unease. This pony was a little too happy.
“Trouble in paradise you two?” The stallion said with a chuckle.
“Lyra what does he mean by that?” Luna gave her friend a questioning look. “The climate here is hardly topical like paradise is typically depicted. Do we look as if we returned from vacation?”
“Um, Luna, he thinks we are a couple. A romantic couple. One that needs a sofa for one of us to sleep on because things aren’t working out at the moment.” Lyra’s face was pink with embarrassment as she tried to explain this delicately to the alicorn.
“YOU HAVE SOME NERVE SIR!” Luna said slapping the salespony. Her casual smile faded, quickly replaced with a bitter scowl.
“I’m so terribly sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.” The stallion rubbed his face. “For my mistake, I will take twenty, no make that thirty percent off whatever model you decide upon. I’m not judging anypony’s lifestyle, I was simply making an observation. A terribly incorrect one at that.” The stallion was trying his best to shy away from Luna. They arrived at the futon section and the stallion stepped back, allowing them a closer look.
Over the next hour the duo tried sitting on each couch, Lyra in a variety of different manners, a few which seemed uncomfortable to Luna. After each had been tested for seating Lyra tried each out as a bed. The two exchanged a few whispers before coming to a decision.
“We have decided. We want the large pink one.” Luna spoke flatly, still annoyed with the salespony.
“A lovely choice, after your discount that will be three-hundred and fifteen bits. Just fill out this form and It will be delivered this afternoon. Ignore the delivery charge as a further token of my apology.” The stallion gave Luna a form and a rather extravagant quill.
Luna quickly scribbled the address of the arcade before returning the form and making a hasty exit with Lyra quick behind.
***
*Knock Knock*
Luna opened the arcade door to find a grey pegasus in a delivery uniform. She had a friendly smile face. and a large box on her back.
“Are you Princess Luna?” The pegasus asked cheerfully.
Luna nodded and returned her smile.
“Wow, you are a princess!” The pegasus replied with excitement; taking her first good look at Luna, despite the fact only one eye was even focused on the night goddess. “I’ve never met a princess before. My name is Derpy, your majesty. I deliver all sorts of things for the ponies in Ponyville. I have a few boxes here for you from Quills and Sofas. You just tell me where to go and I’ll deliver them.”
“Please just call us Luna. We shall assist you with the boxes.” Luna grabbed the two boxes sitting next to Derpy in her magic and led the mare through the arcade and up the stairs.
They set the assorted box in the now-empty corner of the apartment to the right of the door. Lyra was just coming out of the bathroom and her eyes widened at the sight of the grey deliverymare.
“You have our thanks Derpy and we’re sure Lyra thanks you as well,” Luna spoke as she began to open the boxes in search of the assembly manual.
“Luna, why do you keep addressing yourself like that?” Derpy asked with foal-like enthusiasm.
“We are certain we don’t understand.” Luna had paused her search to decipher this new query. Her full attention was on Derpy now.
“Well when I address myself I use words like I or me, and I think that's how most ponies speak. You were using words like we and our which is what ponies use when they are including other ponies. I’m pretty sure you’re just one pony but I guess I could be wrong.” The whole time she was talking Derpy was pawing at the floor nervously.
Luna was confused, did everypony not understand why royalty spoke as such?
“It is the royal we.” It suddenly clicked with Luna that Celestia had not used the majestic plural since her return. “Curse that sister of ours.” Luna sighed. “It has come to our attention just now that as with many things we remember it may be outdated. I am very glad you said something Derpy, few ponies would have the courage to ask such a question to a princess.” The princess gave the pegasus a reassuring smile.
“Well gee, I didn’t know I was being brave, I was just wondering. I can stay and help you assemble the sofa if you want. This was my last delivery today.” Derpy returned the princess's smile, although she still held an air of confusion.
“Thanks for the offer Derpy, but we can handle it. Shouldn’t you get home to Dinky?” Lyra chimed in before Luna could speak. She opened the large window and gestured for Derpy to follow.
“Golly you have a point. I’ll see you around Luna. It was nice seeing you again Lyra.” The mare took flight and flew full speed toward the window.
*Thud*
The pegasus missed the window and hit the wall just to the left. Luna gasped. Lyra helped her up and onto the window sill.
“I’m ok. It happens a lot.” From the window sill, the mare took flight once again and flew off down the street.
“That mare, sweet as she is, is an accident waiting to happen. You gotta love her, but she breaks just about anything she touches. If she stayed to help we would have had to buy a replacement futon.”
Luna nodded. After seeing her departure and recalling the letter she sent to the dinner party, Luna knew her friend was probably right.
“Lyra, what Derpy said has got us, no not us, has got me thinking. It’s time to abandon the majestic plural. We need your help though. We, as in you and I, as well as Vinyl and Octavia when they get back, need to start paying more attention to my speech pattern. If the royal we is used it must be pointed out or we will never truly fit in with other ponies.” Luna spoke carefully already trying her hardest to adopt the new manner of speaking, not entirely successfully.
Lyra was only half listening. She had found the manual and was already at work assembling her new bed. Lyra always enjoyed putting things together, but it wasn’t something she got to do often.
“That sounds easy enough.” She had about a fourth of the frame put together already. “Can you unbox the mattress for me? This shouldn't take too long to put together.”
Luna made her way to the large box Derpy carried up. She undid the tape that held the box closed. She took the lid off to find the fluffy pink cushion they ordered. Luna decided she would lie on it while Lyra finished up. She used her magic to collect her writing equipment.
Dearest Sister,
I am mad at you. It was pointed out to me today by a very kind deliverymare that the majestic plural is highly outdated. I do wish you had mentioned this, we have been using it since our return. I can’t stay angry at you though. Lyra is setting up the futon frame now. I must thank you for convincing Joysticks to agree to this. I should finish up here, as it's our turn to feed Twitch.
Signed,
Princess Luna Goddess of the Night
Luna sent the letter and made her way toward Twitch’s cage. Twitch’s cage was sitting on the border of the sitting and kitchen area. The squirrel was currently asleep in a hammock Lyra set up for him. Luna quietly opened the cage and retrieved his food and water dishes. The squirrel didn’t move at all. She closed the cage and took the trays to the sink. She freshened his water and filled his food before returning them to the cage. She opened the cage and returned the bowls to their stations.
“ALL RIGHT IT'S ALL FINISHED!!” Lyra shouted as she set the mattress into place.
Twitch was jolted awake. He made a mad dash out the open cage door and right up into Luna’s mane.
A chill ran up Luna’s spine but she didn’t panic. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Mr. Twitch we have told you already, our mane is not a playground.” Luna was stern with the squirrel,l but not cruel.
The squirrel hopped down and ran to Lyra with some annoyed chattering.
“Not that Twitch here is likely to know the difference but you used the royal we again,” Lyra said with a chuckle. She cheerfully invited Twitch into her mane and settled down on the new couch.
Luna let out a large sigh. This was going to be harder than she thought.
“We’re going to bed.” The princess mumbled as she retreated to her bed and hid beneath the covers.
Author's Note
Are you at all curious about this universes Bon Bon and her special brand of crazy? Well you're in luck dear reader because she has her own side story where you can catch a brief glimpse of her life.
I Love You Lyra
This isn't just a plug for that story. Although do think if you're enjoying this this that you might enjoy that one as well. I just feel its important to mention it because Bon Bon is a big part of the next chapter and the second chapter of I Love You Lyra is a tied into it.
It's not required read of course and from this story alone you will get a glimpse of Bon Bon and how her mind works but I still thought it a good idea to point it out.
Games, Trains, and Automatic Reactions
"Luna stop shining that light in my face. I need a few more minutes of sleep.” Lyra pulled the covers back over her face and buried it in the pillow. Minus the light in her eyes, this was paradise.
The call was enough to shake Luna from her slumber. She chuckled to herself. The futon was not nearly as comfortable as her bed. She had not realized how perfect her bed was until now. She had to admit though, that not having the sun in her eyes was almost a fair trade.
“It’s the sun Lyra. I don’t even control the moon anymore. We can write my sister if you want to make a formal complaint.” Luna was up making her morning tea as she taunted the unicorn.
“Curse Celestia and her morning sun.” The unicorn rolled off the bed with a sigh. “That was the most perfect night's sleep until it ended too soon.” The unicorn had joined Luna in the kitchen area wearing the look of somepony who lost their most prized possession. “Well, past is past. Thanks for offering your bed to me. I know you just wanted to try the futon. So what did you think?” She asked preparing herself some tea.
“It is easier to wake up happy when you’re not being dragged from paradise,” Luna said calmly sipping her tea. “We should get ready soon. Twilight Sparkle recommended a cafe the other night. We wish to dine there before boarding the train.” Luna said with unbound excitement.
“You mean the one across from where my old house?” Lyra questioned. “They do make a tasty dandelion sandwich. I couldn’t find a pet sitter so Twitch is coming with us. I checked with the hotel and it’s okay, as long as he stays in his cage.” The unicorn finished her tea and began gathering the few items she needed for the trip and putting them in her new suitcase. “There is no way I’m losing to that bunny again!” Lyra said throwing a hoof in the air.
The night princess chuckled as she packed her bag. This would be her first tournament. She shivered excitedly at the thought. The pair had been practicing at every possible chance, this increased since the unicorn moved in. The last time they saw Vinyl, even she warned them about pushing their limits. The pair chuckled at the remark but they made sure to get a good night's rest last night. Today was almost non-stop till the tournament finished. The pair figured it would be best to rest up.
***
“We should get going or we will miss the train,” Luna remarked as she dug through her saddlebag for a few bits to leave as a tip. The sandwich had been everything she had expected and more.
Lyra gathered her suitcase and the cage housing the sleeping squirrel with an affirmative nod. The train would depart in half an hour. Leaving now would ensure the best seats. The pair made their way to the train unaware they were being followed by a cream-colored mare with a dark brown mane and tail.
The pair settled into a half-full compartment near the back of the train. Lyra set her lyre on the seat next to her as she stored the rest of her things in the baggage compartment above. She hadn’t practiced since she moved in, and it showed in her work performances. She was performing a couple’s ball in a few weeks. She decided she would use the train ride to practice some of the love songs she was expected to play. This was a new experience for the unicorn, she was never big on gushy romance. She desperately needed the work. Neither princess was expecting her to pay half the, now steeper, rent. She was no pony’s charity case. If she had to fight the bits into the royal treasury she would.
***
Bon Bon followed the couple at a respectable distance. She was well-practiced in tailing somepony without their knowledge. Even so, she decided to use some mane dye to disguise herself this time. She watched as they boarded the train, taking note of which car they entered. She quickly made her way to the ticket counter and purchased an overpriced, last-minute ticket. She boarded the same car she saw them enter, but from the front instead. She carefully crept passed the seats till she spotted them. She slid into an empty seat that gave her a perfect view of Lyra. Without the knowledge she was there they would never realize it was her.
Lyra had her instrument ready and was doing warm-up exercises. Bon Bon loved it when she played and closed her eyes to listen. The whistle blew before Lyra could get started and the train departed.
"Every second I'm with you lights a fire in my heart.
Bon Bon’s eyes widened as the song finished. Lyra never played romantic gigs, but that had most certainly been a love song. Lyra was fawning over this new mare so much she was even playing her love songs. Bon Bon had to act soon, and she saw her opportunity heading her way.
“Would you like a refreshment?” The mare pushing the refreshment cart asked in a sweet voice.
“That sounds lovely! Let me check my coin purse real quick first.” Bon Bon said turning around quickly and bumping the cart with her backside. “Oh no! I’m so sorry.” Bon Bon’s face was filled with fake shock.
The food traveled a few seats down before crashing into the alicorn it was aimed at. All of its contents fell on the princess. She was quickly covered in coffee, pastries, and several different types of grass for travelers ordering sandwiches. Bon Bon smiled slyly when she knew all eyes were on Luna.
***
Luna clapped her hooves as Lyra finished her song.
“Oh, Lyra your music delights me.” Luna cheered.
A food cart came speeding down the aisle, and neither pony noticed.
The food cart slammed into the side of Luna’s seat and emptied its contents onto the princess. There was grass, pastries, and coffee. Burning hot coffee.
“SWEET SISTER CELESTIA! IT BURNS WITH THE WHITE-HOT INTENSITY OF A THOUSAND SUNS!!” It took all the dignity and grace she could manage to refrain from yelling obscenities.
Shock briefly plagued Lyra’s face as she watched the scene unfold. When she snapped herself back into reality she quickly jumped to action. She found some napkins and began trying to clean the burned, distraught princess.
***
Bon Bon watched as Lyra started rubbing the princess's flank with napkins. Her smile quickly faded.
“This may be harder than I thought.” The mare muttered to herself.
***
“It was so nice of the train staff to give us a private car in first class after all that trouble we had,” Lyra said setting her suitcase on one of the beds. “We don’t have any time to settle in here though. Grab what you need and be quick about it.” She was looking at Twitch as she sat his cage on the nightstand. “I’m going to bring Twitch along. I know they have let Angel in before so I can't see how they could say anything about him. Besides, he will just stay in my mane most of the time anyway. I just hate the idea of leaving him alone while we’re gone for so long.” She opened the cage and the squirrel made a mad dash for her mane. “You have to be quiet though little buddy. Just until we are outside.”
The trio took another look around the room. When they were sure they had everything they departed.
***
Bon Bon waited for the “loving” couple to exit the hotel. This plan was perfect if the rumor was true. She remembered a rumor about Luna’s love affair with nachos. She couldn't control herself. Bon Bon had found a nacho vender and suggested he park his cart outside the hotel. When the princess emerged she would make a fool of herself and lose Lyra’s affection. The only thing that could go wrong was having been misinformed. The anxious mare prayed to Celestia the information was sound.
***
Luna’s eyes went wide as the group exited the hotel.
“Common street vendors sell the food of the heavens here?” Luna questioned with excitement.
“Oh yeah. You really like nachos don’t you?” Lyra asked chasing her friend to the nacho stand.
A shadowy figure grinned in the distance.
“Well, they may the greatest invention in all of Equestrian history,” Luna told her friend before turning her attention to the vendor. “Two please.”
The nacho vendor set to work making two trays of nachos. When they were ready he turned his attention back to the mares. A squirrel darted out of the lighter-colored mane, startling the stallion. He dropped the trays and they went flying. Landing on the mares' heads.
Luna just laughed and grabbed a chip off Lyra’s face. She ate it with a smile. Lyra returned the favor smile and all. Luna gave the vendor a few bits for the nachos, plus a hefty tip for Twitch’s actions; and took a few napkins for the road. The two mares took off for the arcade at a brisk pace occasionally grabbing chips from the others' faces.
****
Bon Bon sighed at the display, two ponies eating nachos off each other's faces. Nothing she could think of would break them up. She resumed tailing the couple; in hopes that a new plan would come to her. That's when she saw the squirrel. Lyra loved that squirrel. Maybe she could use the squirrel to cause a rift between them.
****
Lyra just finished her quarter-final match. It was closer than she cared to admit. It would have been embarrassing to lose to a kid like that. Luna was tearing things up in her matches, but there was nothing to worry about. Lyra decided to break from the crowd and catch her breath. She spotted the yellow pegasus by whom Angel was always escorted alone in the corner. Lyra approached her.
“How are you?” Lyra asked with a warm smile.
The pegasus tried to shrink back without a response. She cowered behind the veil of hair that was her mane. Lyra thought about speaking again but decided against it. Just as Lyra made to leave, Twitch poked his head out and made a chattering sound at the pegasus.
It was suddenly like a different mare occupied the same space. In place of the nervous pegasus cowering away and praying not to be seen, a wide-eyed mare beaming with excitement was making her way towards the unicorn.
“Well aren’t you the cutest little squirrel? Yes, you are, yes you are.” The pegasus cooed. “What’s the little guy's name?” She was making eye contact with Lyra now.
“His name is Mr. Twitch, but when he behaves himself we just call him Twitch.” Lyra was a little taken back at the other mare's sudden enthusiasm. Twitch jumped from his perch on her shoulder, onto this new mare's back, and into her mane. Lyra’s eye grew in fear. “BAD MR. TWITCH COME OUT OF THERE! YOU KNOW WE DON’T CLIMB ON STRANGERS!”
The pegasus mare giggled and raised a hoof to pet the squirrel, who popped out of her mane with a sad look on his face.
“It's alright Twitch, I don’t mind, you stay in there as long as you like.” She spoke softly to soothe the ashamed squirrel before turning to Lyra. “I mean... if that's okay with you.” Her voice was now barely a whisper.
“I’m okay with it. I didn’t expect you to be or I wouldn’t have yelled.” Lyra was visibly confused at this point.
“Um, would it be okay, I mean if it's not too much trouble that is, could I maybe take Twitch to the park across the street?” The pegasus stammered in her faint whisper of a voice.
“I don’t usually let strangers run off with my pet; I’m Lyra. Now if you introduce yourself we won’t be strangers anymore.” Lyra said with a chuckle.
“I’m Fluttershy.” The pegasus managed to squeak out.
“Well Fluttershy, I remember reading in the paper you helped restore my good friend Luna to herself. Granted that was a little while before I met her. You are the element of kindness. Based on those facts I have no choice but to trust you.” Lyra was smiling, but the pegasus seemed to be hiding again. “You two have fun. The semi-finals are starting soon and my match is first, so I need to check-in.” She waved her hoof as a last goodbye before moving back into the crowd.
***
Bon Bon was waiting outside the arcade, as she had no plan. She just needed to get that squirrel. Someone was coming out of the arcade. It was Fluttershy. They had never formally met but Bon Bon had seen her around Ponyville. Why would she be in Baltimare let alone at this arcade? It seemed so out of character. Oh no, she was coming this way!
“Um excuse me. I think you dropped something.” Said a soft angelic voice.
Bon Bon looked down, her scarf had fallen off; she quickly picked it up and put it back on.
“Thank you.” Bon Bon couldn’t help but stare. Up close this pegasus was the most beautiful mare she had ever seen, even more, beautiful than Lyra. Then there was that angelic voice, she was amazing.
“That scarf is a Rarity original, isn’t it? You should be more careful with it. If she ever found out you would be in serious trouble.” Fluttershy giggled. “Twitch stop that tickles.”
Bon Bon’s ears pricked at the name. Then she saw it, the squirrel she had been after. He stuck his head out of Fluttershy’s pink mane. She didn’t care if Lyra married princess Luna, her sister, or both anymore. Bon Bon was in love with the angel that stood before her.
***
Lyra managed to score a pretty easy semi-final, a relief after the last round. Luna wasn’t so lucky. They both knew it would happen. One of them would have to face him at some point and that time was now. It was one-to-one and the third round was about to start.
Luna took an early hit. She returned the favor. Acid spit attack lands. Hit by a horn jab. Land a bite and another acid spit. Take back-to-back levitation slams.
The battle was close. Way too close Lyra was nervous for her friend.
Tail spike, acid spit, dodge. That was a power buck it would have hurt. Claw swipe, power tail slap.
“FINISH HER!”
Luna grinned wickedly. She quickly entered the button sequence she had been practicing. The dazed unicorn quickly shrank to a young foal. She used her magic to shake a rattle, before losing her grip and having it fall on her face, causing her to cry.
“FOALTALITY, SCARLET SCALES WINS!”
Luna offered her hoof to the bunny. Angel hesitated before begrudgingly shaking it and quickly letting go. He departed in a huff to locate his handler. Fluttershy, as it just so happened, was making her way back inside. Twitch hopped out of the pegasus’s mane and made his way back to his owner. The bunny proceeded to throw some sort of fit before dragging the yellow mare back to the streets.
Luna made her way over to her friend and gave her a nod. Soon one of them would be a winner, and the other would just be the runner-up.
***
Lyra sat her trophy on the large table with a sigh. They were back in the room Twitch was asleep in his cage. She had won the tournament after so many failed attempts, it just didn’t feel right.
“Cheer up Lyra you beat me fair and square! you know I wouldn’t let you win.” Luna tried reassuring her friend.
“Oh, I know that. It's just I told myself last time I would beat him; and well, I didn’t get to. You did.” Lyra replied as she settled into bed.
“There is always next time. Take your victory with pride, but don’t let it go to your head. We will all be even better next time.” Luna yawned as she pulled her covers up.
Silence hung in the air as both ponies and their squirrel all slipped into a peaceful slumber. Tomorrow held many new, unexpected and exciting possibilities.
Luna walked with curiosity as she passed the houses decorated with spider webs, skeletons, ghosts, and gourds. It started a few days ago with one house. Each day since had more houses and even some buildings that only hosted businesses, decorated with this strange new trend.
“Maybe Lyra can spread some light on this. I’ll ask her when she gets back tomorrow”
In no hurry to get home the alicorn decided to take the scenic route back to the arcade. Just wandering the town looking at the decorations turning this way and that down the winding streets of residential Ponyville. Soon it was sunset and Luna decided it was time to get home. She turned one last corner and nearly bumped into a familiar, timid pegasus and her bunny companion. In her attempt to avoid stumbling over the pair she fell to the ground next to them.
“Oh my! I’m so sorry. I got caught up in these fascinating decorations and forgot to watch where I was going.” The alicorn got up and dusted herself off with her wings.
“Oh, no it was all my fault. I was just standing in the middle of the path, right at the corner even, not thinking of anypony but myself.” Fluttershy's yellow coat went red with embarrassment at having caused the princess of the night to fall to the ground.
“Fluttershy, right? Can I ask you about these decorations?”
“Oh umm, hmmm.” The pegasus began to quiver on the spot, still making barely audible sounds.
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just curious; all my friends are in Manephis and I didn’t know who to ask. I’ll just be going then.” The princess of the night started to walk away, still confused, when the pegasus started using practical words once again.
“It's…. its… for ngmrnyt.”
Luna stopped, turning back to listen to the pegasus.
“I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that.”
“Nightmare Night.” She squeaked out.
“Nightmare Night?” The princess’s face contorted into a look of confusion
“It's a holiday based on the story of the mare in the moon.” She shifted nervously “Which was you.” The pegasus paused for a long moment as if she didn’t want to continue. After a bit of prodding from her rabbit, she swallowed hard and continued. “Every Autumn ponies everywhere have a festival leading up to Nightmare Night. On Nightmare night colts and fillies dress up and collect candy to give to the mare in the moon so they don't get eaten in their sleep.” Her voice was shaky and broken by the time she finished the tale.
The alicorn stood in awe, eyes wide and jaw dropped. “So every year foals dress up and collect sugary treats to offer me so I don’t kidnap and eat them during the next year?”
The pegasus nodded. “That's how it started at least. Nowadays it's mostly foals collecting candy for themselves.”
“Thank you for your help Fluttershy, I am most grateful. It's getting a bit late, we should both be getting on our way home.”
Luna waved at the duo and turned towards the arcade. She had a letter to write.
Finding out you have a holiday dedicated to you didn’t know about is always going to be shocking, but when you learn its roots are grounded in the fact that you foalnap and eat the fillies and colts who didn’t bring you candy, it hits you a little harder. Even under the influence of Nightmare Moon going out of the way to harm foals was unthought of. The biggest problem was the fact that your own sister let this tradition continue for so long. In addition to, again, forgetting to let you in on something so important.
Dearest Celestia,
I have just been informed that my banishment has resulted in a holiday. It has come to my attention that for many years the children of our land were under the impression that I would steal them from their parents and eat them if they didn’t give me sweets. I am going to ask Twilight more about this tomorrow, but it sounds like you didn’t do much to dispel the rumors. So take this note as a warning. If after my research I conclude that you did too little to dispel the myths about my eating of children, I will find a way to get back at you.
Signed,
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The One Where Lyra Decides to Tap Dance on a Sleeping Polar Bear
“Luna, we need to do something. I’m so bored. It’s been ages since anything exciting happened. We haven’t had a single misadventure since Baltimare.” Lyra was sprawled out on her sofa bed staring at the ceiling as she whined to her friend and roommate. “Sure me and Vinyl and I caught Octavia in the orchestra performance in Manephis, but beyond that half of the trip was work and the other half was mostly being alone in my room. It felt too weird being the third wheel since they’ve been apart for so long. Vinyl is almost done with her record so she won’t be gone much longer. It was nice Octavia managed to score that guest spot for a few shows so they could have some time together.”
The alicorn she was speaking with was calmly sipping tea and reading the newspaper. It had become her morning routine. The arcade’s business had been picking up lately.
“Joysticks is coming to check on the arcade in a few days. I’m going to ask him if I can hire somepony part-time to free up my schedule a bit. I also want to find out about serving our food ourselves. Some of the other arcades offer some in-house dining, nothing extravagant but I do suppose you would know that better than I. After that, we’ll just have to see. I do agree things have become a bit mundane lately though. Maybe we can make some fun with my sister. I do need to get back at her for again neglecting to inform me of some unflattering activities that sprouted in my absence.”
The unicorn’s muffled giggles crept over from the other half of the small apartment. “You’re still wanting to go through with pranking her all because hundreds of years ago ponies decided to make sacrifices of candy to you?”
“It's not what the ponies did Lyra. It’s that she did nothing to stop it, and here we return and have to learn about it on the streets. No; we will not stand for her neglect of the slandering of our image and the subsequent failure to inform us of such rituals!” The alicorn was flailing her hoofs recklessly about as she struggled to refrain from using the royal Canterlot voice. She took a breath and calmed herself. “It hurt Lyra. Yes, for a time I became a monster but knowing my sister let ponies continue to fear me even in my banishment, well that just wasn’t fair of her. Not for me and not for all those ponies who feared my false return. I have to do something to get back at her. Nothing terrible of course, but I have to let her know I won’t just let her allow my good name to be tarnished.”
“I guess I can understand that. Although you were still a monster when you did return. Not to be mean or anything. It’s just a fact.” The alicorn blushed at the thought. “Remember though your banishment didn’t just affect you or the regular ponies of Equestria; it changed your sister’s life too. She went from having your help in ruling to being all on her own. I can’t even imagine running Equestria with the help of a dozen ponies, and suddenly being all on your own can’t be easy. Equestria is a crazy place and crazy things are always seeming to happen to somepony, but your sister does a lot to quell the craziness. Nopony, not you nor your sister, could get to every problem that needs to be addressed on their own. Sure, you have advisors and nobles, but they don’t do any of the hard stuff. I’m sure it was just another problem for her that she didn’t have time to address when it had initially sprung up. Besides it eventually just became an excuse to have a festival and for foals to collect a heap of candy to eat in one night.”
Sadness replaced the alicorn’s previous annoyance as she listened to the unicorn's words. She had been selfish to get upset when such a probable cause was right there in front of her the whole time
“Now it was a bit wrong of her to not give you a warning. I would have said something, but I hadn’t even thought about how Nightmare Night started so I’m at as much fault there as she is. I’m sure it just slipped her mind in the excitement of having her sister return, plus she is still running the country alone for the time being.”
Luna wiped a tear from her eye.
“Lyra, thank you. Your words ring quite true. Our vengeance, no matter how small, is unjust in this situation. Sister is no more at fault for these events than the moon itself….”
“Don’t get me wrong,” The unicorn interrupted. “If you want to prank Celestia, we can do that. A prank war with the most powerful beings in Equestria is something I want to be a part of! I just can’t let it be about vengeance.” In an explosion of excitement, the unicorn leaped from the couch across the apartment landing with a booming thud in front of the table. “I know just the prank we can pull, but we're going to need help from a certain pinkie pony who just so happens to love pranks herself. Your sister loves chocolate cake doesn't she?”
“Well duh silly filly every pony knows how much Celestia loves cake. Why would you even ask such a question?” A familiar pink earth mare had suddenly appeared bouncing in place between the pair before Luna could even fathom an answer.
Luna shared a curious look with her unicorn friend before turning her attention to the new arrival.
“Um, excu….”
“Shhhhhhh I want to hear about Lyra’s prank.” The pink mare was eyeing the unicorn expectantly.
“Yeah I’ll get to that in a second Pinkie Pie, but first Luna and I, well, we kinda want to know how you got in here and why?”
“I don’t know how I got here, I’m just here. It was probably just convenient for me to be here so I’m here. Why I’m here is an easy one though to help you with this prank of course! It was your idea you said you needed my help just before you asked the silly question about Cestia and cake. Don’t you remember?” Pinkie Pie’s bouncing increased and her look of excitement just got bigger. “Now tell us about your prank already.”
“I don't know about you Pinkie but for the two of us, ponies don’t just usually appear when we mention them. I’ll get on with the prank though.” Lyra scratched her head in confusion before continuing. “So I was thinking we send Celestia a chocolate cake with an apology letter. You did say you already threatened to get back at her.”
Pinkie Pie could barely contain her excitement as her bouncing slowly began to closer resemble convulsions.
Growing a bit worried for the mare Lyra continued, “Instead of a chocolate cake, what we deliver is going to be a very convincing fake made out of dirt and chocolate icing.”
“THAT IS THE BEST PRANK EVER!!!!!!” Pinkie Pie exploded. “I’ve made mud pies before, I like to play in the mud.” Pinkie giggled at her own joke. “I’ve never made a dirt cake before though but it should be pretty easy. I can even give you a fake delivery slip from Sugar Cube Corner. It will look just like a chocolate cake in every way until she takes a bite and she finds out it's just dirt and icing.” The pink mare was hopping in place joyously again. “When do you want it?”
“Well, whenever you have the time I guess,” Lyra said with a hint of nervousness. “Luna needs to get to opening shop downstairs though, opening is in five minutes.”
Luna checked the time and with a polite nod she took off down the stairs to quickly prepare for the day.
“I’ll do it right after I finish this delivery.” Pinkie pulled a package seeming out of thin air. “I bet Rarity is having a fit by now she can’t start her day without her croissants. I got so excited at the idea of pranking a princess that I forgot I was on a delivery. I’ll bring the cake by this afternoon just before closing time. Cya later alligator!” And as quick as she had appeared she was gone.
Lyra just shook her head and made her way toward her bed. Being around Pinkie Pie always left her needing a nap.
Author's Note
So while revising this chapter I kind of wanted Pinkie to be a bit exasperating for the readers as well as for our duo so I gave her colored dialogue but that isn't something I want to repeat.
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Revenge is Sweet, Like Cake But Not Like Chocolate Covered Dirt
Celestia sighed quietly in her chambers, her face flushed with anger. Two cakes sat on her nightstand, all she could do was stare in disbelief. The first cake had a large bite taken from it. The second was nothing but a few crumbs with a fork laid across them.
“Even that whole cake couldn’t cleanse my tongue of the wretched taste of dirt. Every sweet delicious bite left behind a fresh aftertaste of dry soil.” Sorrow laced the ruler's words as she longed to rid the foul taste from her mouth.
The princess began to pace her chambers.
“It was a clever prank sister, but retribution will be swift and harsh. I’m not sure who all conspired with you against me; so all your friends will feel my wrath.”
She examined the box the first cake had been delivered in. Sugar Cube Corner was written across the top.
“In addition to Luna and her trio of friends, the pink one that’s friends with Twilight was obviously involved. How can I get revenge on a group of five without actually hurting anypony?” Her words were laced with childish scorn.
Celestia made her way to the balcony hoping the fresh night air would clear her mind and give her an idea. A cool breeze washed over her taking a little of her anger with it as it trickled slowly past.
“Oh, Luna what am I going to do? You had me so angry, for a moment I wanted to send you back to the moon.” Celestia sighed heavily gazing up at the night's sky
It was like a light went on above her head. Celestia had a plan.
***
“LUNA! LUNA! WAKE UP! LUNA, YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!”
The princess stirred a bit but kept her eyes closed.
“Vinyl your impression of the Royal Canterlot Voice is getting better, but the sun isn’t even up yet and I need more sleep.” The princess pulled her pillow over her head to drown out her friend’s persisting pleas.
“Luna, something strange is going on, and you have to open your eyes to believe it.” The sophisticated tone of Vinyl’s marefriend broke past Luna’s pillow barrier.
“Really, you too? I thought pranking was something too juvenile to expect from you Octavia.”
“Prank? Is that why it looks like we’re on the moon? We all got together to prank Luna? I don’t remember anything about that. Unless you guys are pranking me too. That must be it. Wow, you guys are the best at pranking.” A pink earth mare sprang excitedly from beneath Luna’s bed
“Pinkie Pie?” Luna mumbled from beneath her pillow face guard, her anger mixed with surprise that most of who she called her friends were involved.
“Luna, you know I like a prank as much as the next pony, but these guys are serious. You really should open your eyes.” Came the uncertain voice of a certain aqua unicorn.
“Lyra if this ends up being a prank you’re going have to find a new place to live for letting all these ponies in this late.” Luna tossed her pillow heavily towards the voices hoping somepony would pay for disturbing her slumber. Even if it just meant getting hit by a weightless bag of feathers.
With one last calming breath Luna opened her eyes.
“CELESTIA!!!!!”
Luna was left without a doubt now that she was seeing it with her own eyes. Five ponies, three beds, and a futon had been transported to her thousand-year prison on the moon.
Tears streamed down the alicorn's face and her breathing was fast and panicked.
“It was just a prank, Tia. This line of action was uncalled for. It was just a silly little prank.” Luna had curled into the fetal position and was rocking slowly back and forth as she wept to her friends, as well as herself.
“Whoa hold up Luna. Are you trying to tell me Celestia banished the five of us to the moon because we sent her a dirt cake?” Lyra’s words were filled with disbelief as she suddenly took some grasp on the situation.
Luna’s sobbing grew louder.
“You guys sent, the most powerful being in Equestria, a cake made of dirt? And she ate it, that is so awesome.” Vinyl applauded.
Luna’s sobs grew longer.
“Vinyl, this isn’t the time for praise. This is a serious situation. WE HAVE BEEN BANISHED TO THE MOON! Apparently, because of that prank you find so fascinating. “ Octavia scolded with a harsh glare in her marefriend’s direction.
“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! TIA WHY WOULD YOU GO THIS FAR IT WAS JUST ONE LITTLE PRANK!” Luna buried her face in her mattress to muffle her sobs.
“WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Guys, guys, guys, on the moon when you jump on the bed you go even higher it's so much fun you all have to try it.” Pinkie Pie cried as she bounced happily in the lower gravity of the moon.
“Pinkamena Diane Pie this is a serious situation, and I would appreciate it if you would act like it,” Octavia said in the same scolding voice she used before.
The pink pony stopped and froze mid-bounce lingering for a moment before she fell back to the bed with a frown.
“Tavi, first off let me start by saying you might have been a little harsh with her. Second, why do you know Pinkie’s full name?” Vinyl gave the pink earth mare a reassuring pat on the back as she glared at Octavia from behind her sunglass. A glare that would be unnoticeable behind the thick shades even outside the darkness of the moon.
“Vinyl this situation is quite serious, and if you don’t start acting it I’ll let the others know what your real name is.” Octavia’s words had lost some of the sharpness, but none of their purpose.
“Tavi you couldn’t, you wouldn’t.” Vinyl stammered dumbfoundedly.
“You know I can, and you know I will.” Octavia threatened once again the words laced with a degree of sharpness.
Lyra and Pinkie sat in awe of the couple's little spat. Pinkie somehow pulled a bag of popcorn out of nowhere and was munching on it as she watched the two go back and forth. She held the bag toward Lyra who was too mesmerized to even notice.
Vinyl turned a light shade of pink for a moment as her marefriend’s words sunk in.
“Okay so until Luna snaps out of her panic I vote that Tavi is in charge. Any objections? No? Good. Okay Tavi, what should we do?” Her words were rushed and laced with panic. Her motivation was simple.
Pinkie hid the popcorn before the pair had a chance to look her way.
“That sounds super duper great! I pinkie promise I’ll try to take this seriously for you Tavi.” She motioned with her hoof a few times before sticking it in her closed eye, “But to me, this feels like an exciting new adventure and that just sounds like it should be super duper fun.” Pinkie’s voice was still bursting with excitement, but the others could tell she had on the most serious face she could muster.
A moment of silence fell around the four ponies. Luna’s muffle squalls the only noise as the group stared at Octavia waiting for her to come up with a plan. After a long moment of silence Octavia let out a sigh. She knew nothing she could do would get them home. The only pony who stood even a chance at that was Luna.
The gray earth mare approached the distraught alicorn and gently patted her back.
“It's okay dear, but you need to calm down.” Octavia knew as soon as the word left her mouth that it was the wrong thing to say. Rule number one is to never tell an upset mare to calm down. “Everypony here is safe and that's good. We will all work together and find a way to get home, but we need your help if we're even to try.”
Luna’s tears finally began to subside. Octavia was right in a way. Truthfully she knew they had no way off the moon until Celestia came to her senses. They would however need to work together to make their imprisonment even remotely bearable.
“Okay everypony listen up. I don’t know what sick game Tia has decided to play with us but I do know it can’t last forever. We have with us a bearer of one of the elements of harmony…..”
“Ooooh oooh, that's me! I’m the element of laughter.” The pink pony interrupted bouncing up and down.
“Yes, Pinkie. Without you the other elements are useless so if an event were to break out that required their magic, Tia would be in trouble. This leads me to believe she doesn’t intend to keep us here very long. However, I haven’t the magical strength to send any of us home even if I channeled strength from Lyra and Vinyl. I will, however, try to send a message to Tia but to do so I must locate Terra. I want the four of you to stay put here. It’s very easy to get lost on the moon and the last thing we need is to be separated. I will be back shortly.”
Luna took off in a random direction. It didn't matter which way she went as long as she only continued straight ahead, so she wouldn’t get lost. Eventually, Terra would come into view and Luna would know where to direct her communication spell. Luna had another reason for leaving her friends behind, the words she had in mind for Celestia were not words one said in friendly company.
It had been nearly an hour of walking, Luna had forgotten how big the moon truly was when a strange sight came into view. There was some sort of blue magical veil radiating in the distance. Luna galloped at full speed to investigate the strange occurrence. As she breached it Luna was struck with a new sense of confusion.
“Vinyl? This doesn’t make any sense. I shouldn’t be back here yet.” Luna looked up at the sky and a realization sunk in. A surge of different emotions suddenly flooded the mare; anger, joy, sadness, and even admiration.
“These are not my stars and this is not my moon. Tia has tricked us all. I don’t know where we are for certain, but if this artificial prison is in Equestria I can teleport everything and everyone home myself. Before I do though I have a question. Who thinks we should get Tia back for her cruel prank. I have an idea that will get her back so well she will never be able to prank us back.”
It was surprising that the first hoof in the air was grey. It was less surprising that three other hooves quickly joined it.
There was a flash of magic that shone like the midnight sky and the group of ponies suddenly appeared in the familiar space of Luna’s living room. The familiar glow of sunset crept through the window.
The apartment was perfectly in order so Luna knew the spell had likely been a perfect success. At worst one of the other beds would be off by a few inches, and only because Luna had never seen them in their home position.
“We have to act fast before Tia knows we left. I will put on the guise of Nightmare Moon and you four shall be my Shadow Stars. Illusionary magic can be tricky I don’t think I can flawless cover us all, especially with some of the effects we’ll need. Lyra, you and Vinyl will have to cover your disguises. I should be able to hand three myself. We strike at sunrise.”
An evil grin spread through the group until everypony wore the same expression. One of revenge.
Author's Note
So yeah. Uh. Hmm. So I started this story years ago and eventually I lost a lot of my desire to write. I recently had the sudden urge to revisit this site and revisit what I wrote. I found it all still had certain charm to it and I enjoyed my trip down memory lane. But also I felt sad because this piece left on a bit of a cliffhanger one I had struggled with how to properly resolve a few times before I lost that will to write. So here we are I decided to clean up the story a bit and spent a few days revising things and now I'm here to deliver an ending. This will resolve the little prank war between Luna and Celestia and be an ending of this story. I'm not overly certain if I want to continue writing after this but if I do I feel like it would be best to do anything more with this universe as a sequel or side stories. So without further ado.
An Ending.
Celestia stretched as she let out a powerful yawn. Her eyes still closed she took a quiet moment for herself. She wished she could sleep just a little longer but the sun wouldn't raise itself and maybe more importantly she still had to release Luna and her friends from the time out she placed them the previous night. After such a glorious prank Luna would have to surrender back the title of best princess as she admited defeat in their short little prank war. She opened her eyes only to be met with pitch blackness. She blinked a few times her mind was playing tricks because she was still tired. Still darkness.
"So you finally wake princess." A sinister voice spoke from the unrelenting darkness.
"Who goes there," Celestia said her voice stern but calm. She readied her magic to defend herself from the brazen intruder. The glow of her horn illuminated the room briefly before suddenly fading out. "No this can't be," Celestia said weakly having caught sight of the intruder in the brief moment of light.
"Oh, but it can and it is dear sister." The sinister voice taunted a special emphasis placed on the last word a further taunt. "Did you think your actions would have no consequences?" The hidden figure asked stepping closer. When she was side by side with the bedded princess she used her own magic to ignite only the space imediately around them. Nightmare Moon stood triumphantly over Celestia grinning in the darkness.
"But how?" Celestia asked. Her voice was shaky but she held onto a hidden resolve. While she couldn't use her magic against Nightmare Moon if she could get a message to Twilight the elements could once again be used to save her sister from the shadow fiends control.
"Why your little prank of course." Nightmare Moon said with a laugh. "Waking up thinking she was on the moon again your sister was consumed with fear anger and every other negative emotion. It was easy for me to regain control of her. I of course wasn't fooled by your silly trick. I knew right away I was in some weak illusion on Equestria but it was too late for your poor sister." Nightmare Moon smiled a wicked grin. "Since we both know you're powerless against me and to be honest I'm not much in the mood to fight any way I came straight here to simply ask your surrender. Nopony has to get hurt. Unless you wish to do this the hard way."
"You already have me as your prisoner it seems," Celestia said having regained some of her composure. It would be hard to send a message to Twilight after all but her student was smart when the sun never rose she would gather the elements and they would come to Canterlot in search of her. "But I will not give you the satisfaction of surrendering." She said with a sharpness in her voice.
"Firey as ever I see." Nightmare Moon chuckled. "I bet you think your precious student and those friends of hers will brandish their elements and defeat me once. You believe me some fool who would make the same mistake twice."
"I have faith in my student and her friends, yes," Celestia said a hint of doubt lingered in her voice taking some weight from the words.
"I'm afraid that won't be happening this time and you only have yourself to blame," Nightmare Moon let out a devilish cackle before continuing. "For you see in your rash decision to punish your sister and all her cohorts your gifted me one of your precious elements along with her." At this revelation Nightmare Moon extended the light emitting from her horn to illuminate the rest of the room in an eerie blue revealing four more figures.
She watched the fire fade from Celestia's eyes as she recognized the figures as Luna's friends, the element of laughter among them. While certain distinguishing features like mane and coat color were replaced with black and purples the group was still identifiable.
"Meet my Shadow Mare slaves. My magic controls them and nothing short of all six elements together could break my hold on them. I for one don't see myself allowing one of my thralls to wield her element against me. So now you see the power I truely hold. Surender to me and I will let your precious subjects live peacefully in my kingdom of eternal night. Continue to resist and this fate awaits all the ponies of Equestria. The choice is yours."
Celestia's heart sank further with every word the villain before her spoke. It was true without the full power of the elements victory couldn't be assured. While the remaining elements might be able to put up some sort of fight there was too great a risk somepony might get hurt. Celestia knew what she had to do.
"You win." The princess said solemnly. "Promise not to hurt or enslave my subjects and I will surrender."
"But of course Celestia. I believe I already stated I would leave them be. What kind of ruler would I be if I went back on my word. I will need you to do something first though." Nightmare Moon used her magic to open a drawer from a nearby desk and retrieved a quill, an ink bottle, and a scroll of parchment with the official royal seal on it. "For a truly peaceful transition, you must write an official decree. Ponies will still be required to follow the law or face standard punishments so this will make my rule law and prevent the citizens from causing an uprising."
"And if ponies do rebel?" Celestia asked firmly taking the writing utensils with her magic.
"They will be subdued with minimal force and imprisoned based on the severity of their actions. If their actions lead to anypony being harmed their sentence may become indefinite but the same is surely true under your rule I assume."
"True." Celestia admitted she could find fault in the other mare's logic as much as she wanted to. If the villain kept her word things wouldn't be so bad, a little bleak without sunlight but her terms were fair everything else considered. "And what of those four?" Celestia asked pointing at the Shadow Mare who stood carefully observing the situation. "They are my subjects as well."
"If you wish me to free them from my hold that I can not do. For one that would release the final element bearer. My terms apply to the other bearers as long as they accept my rule peacefully they face no fear of punishment from me. Beyond that, I need to know there are some ponies I can trust without fail. I'm no fool Celestia there will be rebellions and I intend to resolve them peacefully but for that will need a special task force I know will answer to me with unquestionable loyalty. Finally as your sister's closest friends if i were to free them they would be the most adamant resistance and they would be most likely to cause an inccident where somepony got hurt. For my safety and everypony elses it makes the most sense to leave them in this state. They are in no pain or danger, nor will they be under my leadership, but I can not return them to their unaltered state."
Celestia hated to admit it but everything Nightmare Moon said made sense. She hated the mare for taking her sister and enslaving her friends but there was no noticeable cruelty or malice just calm unrelenting logic.
"And what happens to me?" Celestia asked it was her final question.
"I suppose that's up to you. You will be treated like every other citizen of Equestria under my rule. Break my laws and you will be subject to imprisonment but give me no reason to and I will leave you to live in peace." Night Mare moon replied with the same calmness she had spoken with since surrender was taken seriously
"What should write exactly then?" Celestia asked, there was nothing left to discuss Nightmare Moon would dictate the decree and Celestia would concede her throne.
"Finally your endless questioning has ceased. Simply write down what I am about to dictate." Nightmare Moon said a hint of excitement now coating her words. "I princess Celestia surrender the title..." She trailed off allowing the princess to write.
Celestia scribbled the words and looked toward the mare silent asking her to continue.
"The title..." Nightmare Moon repeated her voice breaking a little. "The title best princess to my sister Luna Goddes of the Night and Misstress of Pranks." Luna concluded before breaking int a fit of joyous laughter.
"WHAT MADNESS IS THIS!!!!" Celestia boomed opting for the royal Canterlot for the first time in she didn't know how long.
"We fooled you, we fooled you, we absolutely fooled you." Pinkie Pie cheered from the end of the room. As she bounced up down her color changed from pink to the shadowy form depending on when she was in the air or not.
"Finish signing the decree Tia." Luna said sternly removing her Nightmare Moon disguise appearing in her now more familiar younger state.
"I DEMAND ANSWERS" Celestia boomed again.
"Tia you already surrendered. Don't be a sore loser." Luna said half pouting.
"This whole thing was another prank?" Celestia her tone commanded authority but she had at least calmed enough to abandon the royal Canterlot voice. "Someone explain now."
"Last night I awoke to a rather blinding flash and suddenly appeared to be on the moon," Vinyl began as she spoke the Shadow Mare disguises faded and the room grew less dark. "I kinda thought it was a weird dream so I thought I'd make the most of it..." She was cut off before she could continue.
"That caused me to wake up." Octavia interrupted. "Slapping Vinyl convinced us both we were very much awake and then we noticed we weren't alone. Cutting to the point we woke everyone else up and poor Luna broke into a panic attack." The other mares nodded as if confirming before she continued. "It took us a little while to calm her down and when she did we saught away home. We eventually figured out we had been pranked and after seeing poor Luna so distraught we all wanted to be a part of the next prank."
"Since Luna was so scared from your prank we staged this rouse to make your worst nightmare come true. We knew your biggest fear was losing Luna to Nightmare Moon again so we brought her back. Vinyl is great at lighting effect spells so she made it super dark in here and we worked together for the Shadow Mare disguises. Luna did her disguise we kept her magic use to a minimum so it was easier for her to maintain character." Lyra stated.
"I had the hardest job thought. I had to stand perfectly still so you didn't call on the elements of harmony and ruin the prank." Pinkie Pie giggled.
"And you did very well Pinkie," Luna said appreciatively acknowledging how hard such a task was for her. "Beyond disguising my appearance to that of Nightmare Moon I had to act the part enough to not arouse suspicion. Octavia helped me plan what I should say since I had to navigate the conversation carefully so that you wouldn't try anything that would give us away. She was confident as long as I was calm direct and adamant about a peaceful resolution that you were more likely to accept the situation. You were so paralyzed with fear from the moment you saw Nightmare Moon even as a shadowy figure standing above you never fired a single spell. You never tried to run or anything you almost made it too easy for us Tia. Now I must ask again you sign the degree."
"Fine, I admit defeat. You all put a lot of effort into this my little ponies and it would be a lie to say I wasn't fooled and was just playing along." Celestia took her scroll and quill from where they fell on the floor in her earlier outburst. She hastily scribbled something that seemed longer than what Luna had dictated. "Now if you'll all excuse I'm late with raising the Sun how no one has burst in questioning that is beyond me."
"Oh we asked the guards to make an announcement that night would last a few extra hours as a test for a proposed Moonlight Savings Time where for part of the year night would be longer to the benefit of nocturnal animals." Pinkie stated.
"Was it at least Luna who ordered the guards to do this?" Celestia asked moving towards the balcony just off her room from where she could shift the positions of the moon and sun.
"Nopony ordered the guards to do anything me and Lyra just asked them nicely." Pinkie said bubbly as ever.
Celestia just facehooved and went about raising the sun.
***
Luna carefully adjusted the framed decree so that it hung properly above her bed.
"You ready?" Lyra called from across the apartment. She stood by the door with her lyre case, Mr. Twitch in his cage and her saddlebag packed for a weekend trip.
"I was just looking over the latest decree. I'll grab my bag and meet you downstairs." Luna called back.
Lyra nodded and began her trip down the stairs taking it slow to not drop anything.
Luna placed her saddlebag on and gave the decree one more read before heading out. Each of her friends had received a copy as well.
I Princess Celestia surrender the title Best Princess to my sister Luna Goddes of the Night and Misstress of Pranks, and to her friends Lyra Heartstrings, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody, and Pinkamina Diane Pie I grant each the title of Royal Prankster for their great victory in the Royal Prank Wars. These titles come with no special perks or benefits outside of official use of the title itself.
Epilogue Celestia Plots Revenge
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Dearest Sister
Things have been mostly uneventful since my last letter. The arcade has been open for the past four days and only a few ponies have come in. Outside of Vinyl, the pony I befriended my first night alone, our customers were limited to a couple of colts and a filly that stopped in twice. Vinyl said she would help advertise the reopening when she gets some free time. I've been spending most of my off time playing Pony Kombat, and if I do say so I've gotten quite good. Vinyl says some of the arcades in bigger cities host tournaments where ponies play against each other for a trophy. I believe I would like to go to one someday, as it does sound like fun. Besides that nothing too exciting has happened, Vinyl has invited me to a show after work tomorrow. One of her friends is a cellist, Vinyl thinks I needed to get out and meet more ponies and she believes that this would be a great opportunity. I think that’s all I have to say this time.
Best Wishes from Your Sister
Princess Luna Goddess of the Night
