White Zinfandel

In the halls of the Canterlot Royal Palace, few guards remained as the others were either on cleanup duty throughout various locations in the city, in the infirmary being checked for after-effects from Discord's activity and there were those who were released from the infirmary to patrol the halls. Mostly maids and butlers did most of the preparations for the coming coronation later in the day.

Meanwhile upstairs, Celestia sat in her room, preparing herself for the engagement. And next door, a recently-released guard, healed from the effects of his rather rocky encounter with the entity of chaos, tapped against the door of Celestia's younger sister.

"Luna?"

"GO AWAY!" She yelled through the door, in similar fashion to what occurred two nights ago.

"Talk to me Luna."

Using her Canterlot voice, she screamed to the persistent guard.

"GO AWAY!"

"I managed to talk to you when I was angry." Azure recalled, offended that she would be so unfair to him.

"Yes. Now look at how that turned out." Mumbled the princess, holding a grudge.

"Luna please just listen to me."

Luna refused to let him explain himself as she reminded him of her decree. "I have dismissed you from my service. Now go fulfill the wishes of my older sister since what I had for you was not enough."

"I wasn't myself! Discord did that to me!" He argued while banging on the door.

"How so? How do I know that your confession isn't truly what's in your heart?"

"Did you see how I was acting? Did you hear how I was speaking? I don't use ye-olde-Equish and neither am I formal with the both of you."

Luna walked back over to the door and confronted the guard's statement, seeing that his argument was with a crucial flaw. "If you can recall such details, then why could you not stop yourself!?"

The guard grew frustrated with her criticism and banged on the door one final time. "Dammit I tried! But Discord was too strong."

"CELESTIA!!!" Luna called out to the mare next door.

"Why are you calling her here?" He asked, wondering why her older sister needed to be in this conversation. Luna drew a breath and called for the elder sibling once more.

"CELESTE, COME HITHER! POST HASTE!"

"Luna, this makes no sense. Why are you being so stubborn?"

Celestia walked out of her room to see Azure knocking on her door. Reality soon found her as she was reminded of what had occurred in the garden yesterday. Despite her willing to forget the event, she often discovered herself being crushed by the immense amount of guilt. She walks beside the guard and softly knocks on the door herself. "Sister... Luna... Please forgive me."

Luna gritted her teeth as she heard her sister beside the guard once again. "So I take it that you were under Discord's influence as well."

Celestia sank her head as she admitted to her sister that Discord had no means of corrupting her to do so. "No... I was myself."

The door briskly swung open, revealing an infuriated and tear stricken Luna. She dragged the guard into her room and slammed him violently against the wall. She looked at him with an eerie flame set in her eyes as her magic held him, suspended in the air. "SO YOU WOULD LIE TO ME YET AGAIN, AZURE!?"

Celestia rushed inside of the room, closing the door so that no others would be drawn to the area. She pleaded with her little sister to listen. "Luna! He is innocent. If there is anypony that was truly there of their own accord, it was me. Azure was turned."

Luna dismissed her sister's comment. She remembered when Discord hid her behind one of the labyrinth walls. While she watched through the filming camera that the draconiquus had set up, she recalled him being as he was. "He had his colors, sister. He was of himself."

"He did not! I know of it, I was there." Celestia rebutted.

Luna released the guard from her arcane grip and turned her attention to the larger mare behind her. "You were there because you succumbed to your feral desires. He confessed his love for you as you did to him!"

"Luna..." Celestia struggled to swallow the truth that she wanted to deny, but in order to clear his name, she would have to sacrifice her own desire. "He did not confess to me truthfully."

Luna turned away from her sister as she took deep, silent breaths, calming herself down. She looked to the guard she had feelings for and asked in a calm, soothing voice.

"Azure, do you have any feelings toward my elder sister?"

Celestia wanted to tell her the truth, but found herself interrupted by her younger sister. "My confession was-"

"Not another word from you. I ask only him."

Azure's view shifted from one mare to the other. He looked at the emotionless face of the younger alacorn sister and wanted to admit that he had no feelings. But he started to reconsider his approach to the situation as his attention turned to a more painful expression of sadness burdened by the elder sister, who quietly held herself together. He didn't want to hurt one or the other, but there was no way he could please both. "Luna, I can't do this right now."

"Speak." She commands to him, still wearing no emotion on her face.

Azure tried to look away as he started to explain, but Luna forced his head to look directly at her. She wanted his full attention as he gave his answer. "Celestia is my dear friend. She's charismatic, she spunky, she's kind and considerate. What I also know is that she's a wonderful and lovely mare. And I will give her love, just in the platonic form."

"So you do love her?" She said releasing her magic.

He placed a gentle hoof on her chin, looking directly into her eyes. "Yes. Though not enough to choose her. I've made my decision on who I want. I've made it on the night of the Summer Sun Celebration."

She turned to her older sister, hoping to get an answer from her. "Now, sister. Do you love him?"

Celestia gradually broke down as she spoke. "I... I do. He is a magnificent stallion. A wonderful friend. He made me laugh and smile when I felt sad and hopeless. He has given me hope that there may be one who would seek me as who I was on the inside and not for what they would see on the outside. He made me realize that no matter what I may not be able to provide, that love is blind to imperfections whether visually... or physically. I love him so much... I want him... but I know that you need him more than I do."

"Celestia." Azure calls out to her quietly, seeing that she was willing to sacrifice her personal desire to see that her younger sister would have a chance at happiness. The ivory princess continued her confession.

"Azure doesn't need to tell you that my confession was real, that I wanted him to do the things he did. He would not want to say it. So I will in his place. I love him, but he does not love me nearly as much."

Luna walked beside her sister, allowing him to make his choice to which he would walk to. "Then it is time this conflict came to it's conclusion. Azure, do you love me or Celestia?"

Celestia watched as he stepped towards the both of them. Her face glistened with joy as she watched the stallion approach her and smile. Her heart pounded out of her chest as she watched him stop in front of her. He stood before her with half-lidded eyes and whispered in a soft voice. "You."

That is what she imagined as she watched the guard standing before her younger sister. Luna's stern expression broke into a smile while Celestia's smile became a mask that she wore to hide her feelings. With a sigh, she walked back to her room.

Celestia thought to herself as she closed the door behind her.

"Then my presence is no longer needed. I wish the two of you the best. Luna, you take care of him. Azure, you make sure that my little sister is happy. As of now, I believe I have a coronation to conduct."

One month later...
October 31st, 1000 C.D.V., 0 S.R.

The bells that hung over Rarity's door rang as a set of fillies and their parents left the Carousel Boutique. Rarity waived back to her customers as they made their departure. Spike, who helped her with much of her work, stood beside her as they took their leave.

"Enjoy your costumes. Oh, and do be careful, darlings!"

The doors to the shop closed shut, leaving the young drake and the temporarily-relieved fashionista back to her work. Spike praised her for a job well done.

"Wow Rarity, I didn't think that you were actually going to make all those costumes!"

"Well, I mainly had you to help, Spike. I couldn't have done it all without your help." Rarity said as she tossed the dragon a large blue sapphire gem to feast on.

Spike eagerly munched on the gem and licked his lips of the sparkly crumbs that littered his face.

"In speaking of help..."

Rarity patted the dragon on the head, letting him know that his assistance was no longer needed. "That will be all I would ask you to do for tonight. You need your night to get all the treats you could possibly find."

"Well, I wanted to see if you could... you know... maybe spend the night with me and Twilight?" He asked, fiddling with his digits and turning his ankle nervously.

Rarity gasped in response to the suggestion. She had much more work to do for the evening in terms of last minute customers who wanted to get into the Haunted Hooplah Bash that Pinkie was throwing after the foals went to bed. "Goodness no! I'm afraid that I'll have to decline that little offer."

"Oh... okay." Spike said with a glum tone.

Rarity nuzzled the young drake and started to make her way to her linen cabinet to get ready for the new clients that would come by later that night. "Aww, Spiky-wikey. I'm afraid that my night is far too busy for me to come with you. I can't even spend the evening with Sweetie Belle. Granny Smith will be here to take her later on."

"Oh. Then... maybe some other time?" Asked Spike with a raised digit.

Rarity hurried as she placed the large rolls of cloth on the cutting table on the other side of the room. "Some other time for what?"

"Well... I was kind of hoping that one day... I would get to spend some time with you."

Rarity approached the dragon and patted him on the head again, this time petting his most prominent spike that he was known for. "You already do, Spike. And you are much more than a help to me when you do drop by."

Spike sighed as he hinted on other intentions. "That's... not what I was going for."

Rarity's ears fell as she thought about what he was asking for. To think that someone so young as him would request something so mature had concerned her. She liked him, but she only saw him as a friend. "Oh. Well I suppose I could think about it when I find the time."

"Well, when you do decide when you want to spend some time with me outside of shopping, digging for jewels, being your draconian mannequin, sweeping the floor, cleaning the house, helping you make your deliveries, holding your supplies, running some errands across town and looking after Sweetie Belle, just let me know." Spike added just as the door bells jingled, notifying the two that there was someone entering the boutique.

"Spike, you're all finished here?" Twilight asked with a smile, happy to see that he was of help to her friend Rarity.

"In a moment, Twilight." He said as he looked at the fashionista with eyes that could practically transform into large red hearts if it was physically possible.

"So Twilight, did anything become of those fabrics I lent you?" Rarity asked to the purple mare.

"Yes! In fact, I will show you when I come back over from getting changed. And in speaking of change..." Twilight turned her attention to her assistant. "Spike, you get your costume yet?"

Rarity's attention shot through the roof as she realized that she missed an opportunity to grant a huge favor to the young dragon. "Oh dear heavens! I forgot to make an outfit for Spike!"

While she ran across the room to gather supplies, Spike called out to her. "It's okay Rarity. You don't have to worry about me. I'll just wear what I wore from last year."

Rarity turned back to the dragon and ran over to him. She stopped inches in front of his face, causing him to back away in surprise. "Oh no! Not this again! I've told Twilight about her dress to the gala, and I will not watch as you go about in the same costume that you've worn the previous Nightmare Night Festival! I won't allow it!"

Twilight defended her assistant. "But Rarity, we weren't here in Ponyville last year. So wouldn't that make it easier to get away with?"

"Not at all! Spike, what did you wear last year?"

"A dragon costume."

Rarity stared at the dragon with a bewildered expression. "A...dragon costume?"

"There weren't very many costumes available for dragons in Canterlot." Spike argued.

Rarity stepped forward and started another one of her speeches on how it was unacceptable to wear x choice of clothing. With her chest stuck out and her nose proudly in the air, she started her speech. "Well, this is Ponyville! And Ponyville is home of one of the greatest fashion-forward, trend-setting fashionistas to ever grace the catwalks of chic coiture! And thus I shall not stand idly by while a baby dragon is deprived of his choices in attire! Why, it is my sovereign duty to ensure that you, Spike, are well dressed and presentable-"

As she broke her attention to her surroundings, she noticed that both Twilight and Spike had already took their leave.

"Where did they go?"

Nightmare Night preparations were underway at the Royal Palace of Canterlot. Many of the servants and maids were hard at work to serve the children who were present. Of course, it was an exclusive affair offered to the foals of those who served on the senate or in high positions in the guard. Celestia attended the affair with Cadance by her side. Meanwhile, Luna was preparing to leave to another celebration elsewhere with her guard in tow.

"Princess, I don't understand. What is the purpose of me wearing this armor?" Asked Azure holding a dark-blue helmet with webbed spikes affixed to the crown.

"It is enchanted to a special magic that I cast upon it to give you a similar image to another who will wear the same... As well as some other things."

"Uhhhhh-what other things?" Azure asked as his princess urged him to wear the helmet.

"That would be a surprise. That aside, I want to be able to take you with me when I make my trip to Ponyville."

"Why wouldn't you want to take me to Ponyville just as is?"

"Because of the meddlers that my sister has warned me of. I believe they were called something, the 'pepperoni'?" She asked to her guard, trying to make sure that her terminology was correct.

"Paparazzi." Azure deadpanned.

"Yes. What did I say?"

"A pizza topping." He hummed as he walked over to a mirror.

Luna remembered the night he ordered some from a restaurant down in the Inner District, close to where Shining stayed. She couldn't recall the last time she lost sight of her table manners by becoming a ravenous beast and engulfing entire pizzas whole. Azure lost a lot of money that night and Luna had to open a royal account to where it would be charged directly to her. "Oh that reminds me, would you be sending for more of those delicious saucers of baked bread topped with an assortment of vegetables?"

"Pizza? I don't know. We're already on a strict schedule, Luna."

Luna pouted and turned her head to the guard. "You're not allowing me to enjoy myself, are you?"

"I am. That's why I'm heading out with you." He answered with a smirk.

She smiles back and motions her hoof in a circular motion, telling him to hurry up. "Good. Now put on that helmet."

Azure flopped the helmet to where he would be able to place it on his head but as soon as he raised the headgear, he noticed one key feature that would be a hindrance to him wearing it. "Sure... but one problem."

"That is?"

He flipped the helmet to the princess, revealing that inside there was no hole for his horn to enter through. "I think we're missing a little something that would allow this to work."

Luna chuckled at him. "That has been arranged. Put on the helmet and see what I mean."

He shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes, knowing that this was going to be awkward. But surprisingly enough, he didn't feel anything as the helmet fell to protect his skull. In fact, he was praising the fact that it felt as natural as having one with a horn hole built into it, even more so. He looked at his reflection and grew startled over what he saw next. In his place stood a smokey-gray pony with yellow eyes, bat-like wings, and his tail fashioned into the same form of the fins atop his helmet. Even his tail changed color to a dual-shaded indigo.

"WOAH! What the hell happened to me!?"

Luna walked behind him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You're in costume. I would entrust you to keep that appearance for the remainder of the night."

Azure, who was still trying to get used to his new body, circled in front of the mirror. "Okay. So two questions. How do I use wings and where's my horn?"

"Your horn is safe. As for you wings, the spell enables you to maintain your air similar to what skill a novice pegasus guard would contain."

"Okay. But am I going to be able to use magic?"

"No."

Azure dropped his head in response to him not being able to use his magic for the remainder of the night. "Well fuck."

"Come, there is no time to lose. You informed me that this 'Nightmare Night' is when the foals truly enjoy my night. Is that not true?"

"Of course they do." Azure assured to his princess, making her smile.

"Then let us carry on.

The two left Luna's private chambers and made their way to the hanger. As they arrived, they noticed that the security was rather low and that there was another pony, similar to Azure's current appearance, standing in front of a Gothic chariot. It was eerie in it's appearance and it was also the same color as the two 'Lunar Guards' that would guide it.

"Hey there!" Azure shouted to the other guard as the princess stood behind him.

"Shadow Star, I am sure that you know of Azure Sword?" She asked the other guard.

Shadow Star was a pegasus pony by birth and was much more experienced in handling situations of an aerial matter. "A unicorn taking to the air, huh? Royalty aside, I'd thought I'd never see the day."

"ATTENTION!"

The two Lunar Guards snapped into position and awaited their captain's orders. Shining stepped forward, in formal uniform attire.

"You both know the drill. Business as usual. Protect the princess and make sure that she returns unharmed. Do I make myself cle-"

"They know their job, captain. Allow them to perform it. Protocol aside, I wish to make my leave for the south as of now." Luna interrupted, wanting to get a move on. While the two chariot drivers readied for takeoff, Celestia appeared before them and addressed her sister.

"Uh... Luna?"

"Yes sister?"

Celestia sighed calmly as she tried to give her advice. "Please remember to keep your voice at a-"

"LOUD AND BOISTEROUS VOLUME SO THAT OUR SUBJECTS MAY HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY WITH CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING! UNDERSTOOD SISTER!"

Celestia offered to correct her little sister and tried to tell her that she needed a calmer approach to the masses. "Luna that's not-"

"TO THE SOUTH! ONWARD!!!"

As Luna's voice boomed throughout the castle, Celestia brought a hoof to her face as she watched her sister take into the night sky. The chariot flew high into the air, rising far above the clouds. Shadow Star shook his head, trying to alleviate the ringing in his ears.

"I think she melted the wax out of my ears! How do you deal with her?" He asked to Azure, who only looked at him.

"WHAT!? CAN'T HEAR YOU! WEARING EARPLUGS!!!" Azure shouted, much to the other's guard discomfort. He shook his head once again, but in disbelief over what his solution was. He chuckled as they made their way across the sky.

"These two were made for each other."

A little later, Celestia, Cadance and Shining Armor watched as the guests attended the gathering at the palace. Many of the foals were there to ask the maids or servants for specially hoof-crafted candies filled with special centers, glazed in special coatings, and each intricately crafted by the finest sweeteries in all of the Keeping District. Cadance and Celestia did their portion to make sure that the young fillies and foals were taken care of.

But Shining stood in a distant corner, watching as all the fillies and colts made their way to the two princesses, asking for their sweets and receiving the occasional nuzzle. He remembered when his father did this with him. It brought back fond memories of a time where he wasn't as concerned with the matters of diplomacy, protecting royals and worried about the world around him. But it also brought to him a deepening sadness that ate away at his heart.

A sadness that continued to plague him for the past eight years.

Cadance turned to look to her fiance, only to find that he had moved to the empty balcony on the other side of the room. She ran after him while she told the guests that tried to ask for her attention to excuse her. In a few seconds, she found herself reaching out to the depressed stallion. Shining Armor looked at the garden below as the foals ran across and laughed along the way. He was the first to speak.

"You know, a long time ago my dad used to take me to these kinds of things. For the first few years, I enjoyed it on my own. And then Twily came along and we used to share this moment together. I loved it when we used to come over and see mom talking with the princess. Dad talked to some of his other guard buddies."

Cadance wrapped her forelegs around the neck of her beloved as he continued.

"I grew out of that, and I could only bid Twily farewell whenever this night came by again. I remembered the first year I was home alone, I threw a tantrum and mom had to stay behind to look after me."

She nuzzles him, identifying where he was going with his story. "Shining-"

"I grew older to see that Twily could still go. She often cheered as she and dad left while me and mom would wave to them goodbye. But... now I just can't seem to shake the feeling that somepony else should be here."

Her forelegs clench against his body tightly and with care as she tried to stave him off. "Shiny, don't do this."

"It's been eight years, Cadie. I've had to live with this night and not being able to bring... He, or she should be right down there with them. But they aren't. And it's all my fault."

Shining broke before her as she hugged him tightly. She held him closely as she recalled that fateful night where she saw him cry for the first time. She wanted to cry enough for the both of them as she got the news, but it was his pain that bore more grief to her than anything. She tried her best to comfort him. "It wasn't your fault."

"I brought my foal into the world. Out of some stupid affair with a mare who was already with a daughter and a husband. I made that child. I gave my seed to that child... And now my own child is not even here to see me."

As she heard the cracked and broken words fall from his lips, she rushed to meet him face-to-face. She held him in her hooves and kissed him softly on his brow and wiped his tears away. "Look at me. I may not be able to replace what you have lost... and I never will, but I promise you that I will do my best. As soon as we get married, I, Mi Amore Cadenza, promise to you that we will have a family. We will be able to come to these formals, and we will have a foal for us to look after. They will have a mother and a father who will love them as much as they would love us."

"Okay." He said, trying to recollect his composure.

"Take your time, dear. We've got all night."

"Would you two like to take the remaining evening off?" A voice from behind called out to them. They turned around to see that it was none other than Celestia herself.

"Princess-"

She held a hoof to halt Cadance's words. "Things are starting to wind down. You know that many of them will have an early morning and will be sent to bed at an even earlier time."

"But-"

She silences the captain with a similar gesture. "My sister will be in capable hooves, captain. There is no need for you to fear. Good night to the both of you."

"Oh, Auntie!" Cadance rang out as she lunged towards Celestia, gripping her with a tight hug of gratitude. Celestia returned her affection and pulled away, urging the two to take their leave.

"I know. Now go, we can't have this public display of affection in front of the little ones."

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!" WE HAVE GRACED YOUR TINY VILLAGE WITH OUR PRESENCE, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BEHOLD THE REAL PRINCESS OF THE NIIIIGHT!!! A CREATURE OF NIGHTMARES NO LONGER, BUT INSTEAD A PONY WHO DESIRES YOUR LOVE AND ADMIRATION! TOGETHER WE SHALL CHANGE THIS DREADFUL CELEBRATION INTO A BRIGHT AND GLORIOUS FEEEAST!!!

"Did you hear that, everypony? Nightmare Moon says she's gonna feast on us all!"

As the young foals flee from the scene that Luna created, the two escorts await above in the sky.

"That's... nnnnot what she said."

Shadow Star looked at the guard with confusion, not knowing what the princess did say exactly. "Uhhh, translation?"

Azure placed a hoof on his chin as he tried his best to translate. "If my ye-olde-equish is correct, then it goes along the lines of: Citizens of Ponyville, I'm here so you can see what your night princess looks like. I'm not as selfish as I once was but now I'm only wanting to have some fun. Now let's turn this bitch up."

"Wow. You've been around the way, haven't you?" Commends Shadow Star, also doubling as a double entendre.

Azure chuckled a little. "A gentlecolt does not kiss and tell... But who the fuck am I kidding!"

Meanwhile below, Luna was trying her best at receiving a sympathetic audience. She was far from success. "What? No, children, no! You no longer have reason to fear us! Screams of delight is what your princess desires, not screams of terror!"

As Luna inadvertently stomps her hoof in frustration, some of the ground cracks below her impact, causing nearby ponies to cower in fear. Luna looked around and saw a pony wearing a rainbow wig, a cutie mark depicting a scroll with a ribbon. She remembered that her cutie mark was indeed the seal of the Ponyville office. There was no denying that she was the mayor.

"Madame Mayor, thy Princess of the Night hath arrived!"

Mayor Mare cowered in fear of the princess reaching her hoof to her, appearing that she was to strike her instead. As she pointed her hoof to other ponies, she received the same result.

"What is the matter with you? Very well, then. Be that way. We won't even bother with the traditional royal farewell."

Back above, Azure and Shadow Star both watch as the princess walks away from the town square. As she takes her leave, they both watch as a purple unicorn mare takes her leave after the princess. Shadow Star feels that the princess' life could be in danger.

"Hey... Look. That mare could be an assassin! You! Halt! Step away-"

Azure halted his partner and waived him off. "Nah. You're good."

Pushing away the hoof of the other guard, Shadow Star tries to justify his suspicion. "Azure, that mare could be a hitmare sent to eliminate the princess!"

"I know her. That's Shining's little sis."

"Captain Shining Armor has a younger sister!?"

"And she's Princess Celestia's student to boot. Trust me, if there's anypony who could reason with Princess Luna, it's her."

Shadow Star looks at the princess being pursued by the purple unicorn and grows uneasy. "I don't easily pass trust to anypony."

"She's not just any pony either."

Light was scares in the darkness of the Everfree forest. The only source of light there was to light the path that Twilight Sparkle walked on was that of the full moon. She eventually found a clearing in the forest that had a statue set in the center. And below the statue of an evil Nightmare Moon was the mare that once became her. Twlilght called out to her. "Princess Luna? Hi, my name is-"

The princess rose from her place of rest and complimented the ensemble the purple unicorn wore. "Star Swirl the Bearded. Commendable costume! Thou even got the bells right."

Twilight, wearing a blue cloak and hat ensemble adorned with stars and bells, sighed in relief. "Thank you! Finally! Somepony who gets my costume!" Twilight cut her celebration short, realizing that she came for a different reason. "Uh, I just came to welcome you to our celebration! My actual name is-"

"Twilight Sparkle." Luna finished for the lavender unicorn. She drew a breath and excitedly shouted about her recent encounter with her. Her voice boomed but not as loud as before.

"It was thou who unleashed the powers of harmony upon us and took away our dark powers!"

"And that was a good thing, right?" Twilight asked backing away a little bit.

"But of course. We could not be happier. Is that not clear!?" Luna pronounced loudly in the smaller pony's face.

Twilight cringed as she explained what was going through her mind. "Well, you kinda sound like you're yelling at me."

Luna offered her reason on her approach. "But this is the traditional Royal Canterlot Voice! It is tradition to speak using the royal 'we', and to use"

Seamlessly, Luna's voice cranked up to the loudest volume possible.

"THIS MUCH VOLUME WHEN ADDRESSING OUR SUBJECTS!!!"

Twilight found herself further away from the princess just from the sheer force of her voice pushing her back. She fixed her outfit from the distorted, wind-damaged appearance and approached the princess a second time.

"You know, that might explain why your appearance was met with... mixed results. I think if you just changed your approach a bit, you might be met with a warmer reception."

"CHANGE OUR APPROACH!?"

"Lower the volume."

"Ohhh." Luna said nervously, not sure how to commune with the citizens without resorting to her old habits of using her Royal Canterlot Voice. "We have been locked away for a thousand years. We are... not sure we can."

Around fifteen minutes later, the princess as well as Twilight walked side by side to meet with a pony that could assist her in her nervousness around public crowds and how to lower her volume. Twilight soon took point in their journey as they approached a cottage at the end of the road.

"Don't worry, Princess. Fluttershy can give you some great pointers. She's delicate and demure with the sweetest little voice."

With a quiet knock, Twilight summoned her friend to the door. Though it was somewhat different from what she was advertising to Luna.

"Go away! No candy here! Visitors not welcome on Nightmare Night!"

Twilight laughed nervously as she walked back to the door. "Fluttershy, it's me, Twilight!"

"It is you." Said the nervous yellow pegasus as she opened the door wide to see another guest. "Oh, and Nightmare Moon... Nightmare Moon?" Fluttershy yelped as she slammed her door shut upon seeing Luna for the first time in her current state.

Twilight laughed nervously as Luna looked at her unamused. She instructed the princess to wait a moment.

Thirty seconds later...

"Fluttershy... you remember Princess Luna?" She asked her scared friend as she tried to push her outside. Luna walked over to the frightened pegasus and extended a hoof to her in greeting.

"CHARMED!!!"

Fluttershy immediately took off to her doorway, but was stopped short of her escape when Twilight levitated her towards the princess. She timidly gave her response. "Likewise."

Luna approached the shy pony and began to speak. "Twilight Sparkle hath spoken of the sweetness of thy voice. We ask thou teachest to us to speak as thou speakest."

"Okay." Fluttershy squeaked.

"SHALL OUR LESSONS BEGIN!?"

"Okay."

"SHALL WE MIMIC THY VOICE!?"

"Okay."

"HOW'S THIS!?!"

"Perfect!Lessonover!"

Fluttershy bolted to the door, only for it to slam in her face before she would get a chance to enter. Twilight started to take over the lesson since Fluttershy appeared to be too frightened to do so. "A little quieter, princess."

"HOW'S this?"

"Better. Right, Fluttershy?" Twilight said as she turned to her friend, who's face was still plastered to the door.

"Yes." She quietly agrees as she starts to pry herself off the wooden surface.

"How... about... now!?

"Now you're getting it." Twilight cheered.

"And... how about now?"

"Yes. Well done."

Luna grabs Fluttershy, who was trying to make her escape into the house, and hugged her tightly as she wore a frightened daze upon her face. "I thank thee, dear Fluttershy! Our normal speaking voice shall surely win us the hearts of thy fellow villagers."

And in an inconvenient timing to address her friends, Pinkie Pie, wearing a chicken costume, called out. "Fluttershy! You've gotta hide us! Nightmare Moon is here and..."

Pinkie screamed as she looked at the limp body of the yellow pegasus. "Ah! She stole Fluttershy's voice so she can't scream when she gobbles her up!"

Instantly, a group of foals that followed the older mare ran after her, trying to escape their ill-fates of being eaten alive. Luna placed the pony in her hooves onto the ground and leapt after the group of foals.

"NAY, CHILDREN! WAIT!!!" She exclaimed, almost forgetting her previous lesson. She offered to correct herself. "Nay children... Wait."

Twilight walks beside her and guides her into the town.

"Come on, princess. Time for plan B."

The bells of the Carousel Boutique jingled as the door opened to reveal some clients. Rarity quickly trotted down the stairs and made her way to the main foyer. "Come in, darlings! If you're looking for sales on tonight's little party, then I assure y-OOWAAAHAHAAA!!! TWILIGHT, WHY IS NIGHTMARE MOON HERE!?"

Twilight shook her head as another response to the princess' appearance sets off another scream fest. "Rarity, you remember Princess Luna, don't you?"

Rarity stuttered as she tried to see if her ears heard her friend correctly. "P-p-p-p... princess... HERE!?"

Luna approached the fashionista slowly as she spoke. "Twilight Sparkle has informed me of thy workings on attire! We- I mean... I wish to be presentable for the festivities of tonight."

Rarity laughed nervously as she whispered to her friend. "Oh! Well... Twilight, can we speak for a moment... in the kitchen."

"Uhhh sure."

The two mares left the princess to browse some of the selections that was on display while Rarity and Twilight stepped into the kitchen, closing the door off.

"Twilight, why is a princess here!?"

"Princess Luna is in need of socializing with the other ponies here. She needs to learn how to mingle with the citizens."

Rarity rolled her eyes at Twilight's answer. "I understand that, but why is she here now?"

Twilight offered to ease the frantic dressmaker. "I told her about the party that was going on later tonight and thought that she would find some enjoyment of seeing how there would be others who enjoy the night life alongside her."

"A princess, IN A COSTUME PARTY!?" Rarity couldn't wrap her head around the idea of the princess attending the party later on.

"Well... yeah!"

Rarity bit her hoof as she looked all over the room. "Oh Twilight, I never designed for royalty before. Don't you think that this would be a bit much to throw something like this at me last minute?"

"I'll make it up to you later." Twilight pleaded. Rarity took a moment to consider the offer. The upside was that she was unofficially going to make a costume for the princess. If she liked it, she would tell others of her talents. The downside to it was if she didn't like it too well, then she would probably seek another to do it for her. But all in all, it was a risk worth taking.

"Fine... But you owe me."

"Gotcha."

Rarity poked her head out of the kitchen to a curious Luna, looking at one of the outfits on display.

"Princess, shall we head upstairs for your... *ahem* measurements?"

"Dost thou know of another way to do this? I am most uncomfortable in this current predicament."

"Forgive me princess, but in order for me to get this right, I will need your full participation."

"Very well then."

Luna stood on a podium as Rarity took various measurements of her body so that her dress would fit properly. Though she has done designs for larger ponies, the princess was by far the largest client she had to deal with. After Rarity took a measurement of Luna's long legs, she jotted down the measurements and made her way to the next item on her list.

"Now could you open your wings for a bit?"

Luna unfurled her wings and allowed them to spread as far as she could. "Like this?"

"Yes! Perfect."

Luna hummed as she watched the mare move quickly in her measurements. "For one so young, you seem to know a lot on how to properly fit a mare."

Rarity held her smile when she heard the compliment. "I've been doing it my entire life, princess. It would only make sense that I would do my best to ensure quality services."

Luna turned an eye to the mare. "To earn a living?"

"That and to satisfy the customer. After all the customer is always right."

Luna turned her attention back to the seamstress. She blushed as she saw the pencil scribble in notes on her measurements. The princess started to blush.

"My measurements will not be disclosed to the public?" She asks, trying to make sure that she wouldn't sell any personal information to the paparazzi.

"All measurements are confidential and will be kept that way. It's to insure trust between me and the client." Rarity assured.

"Trust? Trust..." Luna started to ponder at the word on her mind. Her mind drifted back to the guard she adored and how much trust she had for him... or lack thereof.

"Is there something the matter, princess?" Asks the busy seamstress, noticing the discerning expression that the princess wore.

"No. I'm just thinking."

Rarity accepted the answer, realizing that she had no grounds to ask a royal on her personal matters. "Well, I won't ask you to disclose unless you feel comfortable with it."

A long silence ensues, causing the princess to feel uncomfortable. But she couldn't help but to shake the concept of trust out of her mind. Especially when it came to her special somepony. With closed eyes, she allowed her question to spill forth.

"...Have you ever been in love?"

Rarity froze over the princess' question. She could've dismissed the question being that she was now finished with anything that pertained to measurements, but she couldn't let a question with a princess go unanswered. It would be rude. "I... can't say that I have. There was a time where I thought I was, but it turned out to be a crush."

Luna's cheeks warmed as she thought about the guard she loved. "I have chosen one, and he says that he has chosen me. But how do I know that I could trust him?"

Rarity was in shock that she would disclose a personal matter with her. She tried to remain calm as she spoke. "Does he ever reveal any of your biggest secrets?"

"No."

"Does he ever tell you what's on his mind?"

"Mostly, yes."

"Has he ever hurt you?"

Luna paused at her question, but gave her an answer. "...Once. But it was Discord's doing."

Rarity groaned at the name. "Ugh! Don't even remind me of him. He actually made me fall in love with a giant rock that I happened to name Tom."

Luna tried her best not to laugh at her circumstances, but the reoccurring thought of what happened in the labyrinth. "I understand that you were a victim as I was. But what he did to me-"

Rarity dared to do what she thought she could never do. She placed a firm hoof on the princess' chin as she spoke to her. "It's in the past. Does this guy you like... did he ever try to make amends?"

Luna started to blush, causing the seamstress to retreat out of worry. "Repeatedly. Every single night, he would stay up with me and count the stars, or at least he would try to before drifting off to sleep."

Rarity felt a painful sadness as she heard the ongoing list of qualities he had. "...I wish I had somepony like that."

"Like who?"

Rarity sighed deeply as she made her own confession. "I once thought Blueblood was the stallion of my dreams. But it turns out that my pursuit was nothing more than a fleeting dream."

"How did that go?" Luna asked plainly, knowing what to expect.

"He was the worst! To think that a pony such as him would have no manners and call himself royalty."

"He is royal no longer." Luna quickly answered, causing Rarity to gasp.

"No..."

"Yes. My sister stripped him of his power. As to why, I cannot disclose."

Rarity felt her heart beat at an incredible pace as she heard the information given to her. "Well that's good news."

The two shared a brief laugh before Luna's mind wandered back to the stallion she loved. "But still... should I trust him?"

"If I may, I believe a stallion who tries in earnest to enjoy the things you do, spend time with you, count the stars with you and put his life on the line for you, is one that's worth keeping."

"Even to possibly wed?"

"I do wedding dresses too, darling." Rarity said proudly.

Luna's frown grew into a lighthearted smile. "That is good to know. Then I keep you in mind when the time comes."

Rarity bowed before the larger pony before her. "I would be honored, your highness."

"Please, call me Luna."

"Hear me, villagers! All of you! Call me Luna!"

The citizens of the small town nodded and muttered in agreement. The now chatty village of ponies had started to open up to their princess, a stark contrast to when she was often seen as a sort of tyrannical, cannibalistic sociopath. Luna was more than pleased in the activities that they took part of.

Twilight and Applejack stood next to each other and smiled in seeing the princess take part of a modern festivity. For many years, it seemed that Luna had forgotten what was the concept of enjoying one's self. Despite Azure being a window to that experience, she could never grow out of her shell when it came to her and the social engagement between her and her subjects. Everything was more than enjoyable to her and it was a much easier thing to get used to when everyone clearly enjoyed her night. It may have been a festivity that just so happen to take place at the night, but it was a start.

"Show me to the bobbing apples." She asked happily to an optimistic Applejack.

"Why sure thing, princ-erm... Luna."

Applejack and Twilight took the time to escort the princess over to the end of the town square, where the activity took place. As they approached the area, Luna's smile transformed into a shocked expression that reflected the horror of what was to come. As they stopped in front of the large tub of apples, they saw a young foal by the name of Pipsqueak stumble and fall into the water. Luna wasted no time as she bolted after the young foal. And just as she did, Pinkie and the group of foals came from another street to talk to Applejack.

"Hey, gals. Anypony seen Pip? We lost him the last time we had to run-"

Pinkie clucked as she saw the royal blue alacorn mare dipping her head into the vat and pulling out the colt she previously mentioned.

"Aaah! Nightmare Moon is gobbling Pipsqueak! Everypony run!"

All of the fillies that accompanied the screaming mare followed her in suit and took to the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the colt that the princess rescued started to panic. He wiggled and writhed until the princess placed him to the ground below. The moment his hooves hit the ground, he scampered after the group screaming.

"Help! My backside has been gobbled!"

Luna took offense to the colt after she saw that her efforts to save him were unappreciated, still seeing her as a monster. With a stomping hoof, she screamed back to the foal. "Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"

Somewhere off in the distance, a cloud shoots off a lightning bolt, giving the princess an ominous appearance. The citizens of the town, once filled with excitable optimism, was once again filled with the sight of cowering ponies. Luna didn't like it when they feared her. If anything, she was informed that ponies liked her night and would take a liking to her as well. Clearly this was not the case.

"Fair villagers, please do not back away." Luna pleaded as she tried her best to regain the momentum she had as she started mingling with the crowd. "Let us join together in... fun!

She looked around to find a velcro spider to toss into one of the spider webs, a game that was introduced to her that managed to get her and the citizens warmed up to each other. She found one beneath her hoof and tossed it to the center of the web, hitting a bullseye. The townsponies were not swayed.

"Not enough fun for you? What say you to this!?"

Luna, now frustrated that her initial tactic was fruitless in it's success a second time, cast a spell at the spiders in a bowl nearby, giving them life. As they all crawled from the bowl, some landed on a nearby pony while the others crawled onto the net, stopping at the center.

Luna smiled as she cheered at how much fun she was having. "Huzzah! How many points do I receive?"

As the assaulted pony stood up, she ran frantically for help. The other ponies in the town square followed suit as they tried to take cover and hide from the spiders that crawled up and down town square.

"Do not run away!" Luna shouted, becoming more frustrated than before.

The citizens continued to ignore her command and proceeded to do so anyways.

"As your princess, we command you!" She tried to enforce her power through her title, but found that the ponies still feared her just as much as they did over a thousand years ago. It was obvious that they did enjoy her night, but they didn't seem to enjoy her. She grew furious and took a deep breath to call out to the citizens in a loud, booming voice.

BE STILL!!!

Her voice continued to echo throughout the entire town as the ponies cowered in fear and held their place. Twilight, with concern over what was happening, stood up to the princess.

"Princess, remember. Watch the screaming."

Luna turned to the smaller pony. "No, Twilight Sparkle! We must use the traditional royal Canterlot voice for what we are about to say."

The purple pony in costume watched as the Princess of the Night took to the sky, shouting her decree.

"Since you choose to fear your princess rather than love her, and dishonor her with this insulting celebration, we decree that Nightmare Night shall be canceled! FOREVER!"

Twilight could easily feel the hearts of every pony in the town square sink as they heard the decree echo throughout the night sky. And seconds after, she flew off to the edge of town, leaving the crowd of ponies to clean up the festival. Applejack walked up to Twilight and sighed.

"Shoot. We had everything goin' our way. Luna was happy, everypony in town was happy, now look at 'em."

The ponies throughout the town had already started to clean up the mess. Foals were saddened now that one of their favorite holidays was no longer. Some of the younger fillies and colts started to cry. Twilight looked around and stepped on something, noticing that it was the emblem of nightmare night. She remembered that the princess was still in town as well. It would be some time before she would take her leave, permanently condemning the holiday.

"It's not over yet."

"What are you gonna do?" Applejack asked.

"I'm going to do what I do best. Lecture her!"

Landing at the town's edge, Luna stared back to the town with a maddening glare that soon turned to a frown of despair. Sulking, she made her way to the town's outer boarders, where she instructed her guards to await her orders. She needed to confront Azure on what had happened tonight. It would seem that he was the only one who could console her and he was all she wanted at the moment. But as she made her way over the bridge, a voice called out to her.

"Princess?"

"Leave me be, Twilight Sparkle." She sounded off sadly, not wanting to see her.

Twilight walked behind the princess, trying to console her. "Princess, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out how we wanted. But you have to believe me when I tell you that Nightmare Night is one of the most popular celebrations we have."

Luna's experience surely didn't seem like a popular celebration to show appreciation for what she became out of a jealousy-induced rage that caused her to turn against her own sister. It was not only demeaning, it was also disheartening. "Yes. I can tell. By all the adoring shrieks of the children as they run away." She responded with sarcasm.

"Princess..." Twilight whimpered as she watched Luna walk off into the darkness of the city limits. She knew in her heart that Luna was more than offended by what occurred tonight, but she also knew that she couldn't let the princess condemn this holiday so that the foals wouldn't get a chance to celebrate. With a deep breath, she charged after the princess, took her hoof and dragged her back into town.

"Twilight Sparkle, what is the meaning of this!?"

"No time for questions. I'm gonna show you that ponies can warm up to you if the circumstances are a little more tame." Twilight argued.

The princess took a moment to reflect back to the conversation she had with Rarity back at the boutique. The talk they had initially started off a little unsteady, but after the introduction of a more personal matter, they had started to connect. Twilight had a point in what she was doing and what she was trying to prove.

"...Fine. But this will be the last time."

The rambunctious, ridiculously random, poultry-dressed Pinkie Pie walked up and down a street, looking for stay pieces of candy. She always made it her duty to clean up after foals who dropped some candy all over the town. As she walked, she came across a stray piece, followed by another, and another. In seconds, she worked herself into a back alleyway, chomping down on more of the candy. As she came in contact with another, Twilight tackled her and held her mouth shut.

"No! No shrieking. No screaming or squealing either. Okay?"

"Mmmphmmm (Okay)!" Pinkie squeaked out as her friend started to ease off of her.

Twilight removed herself slowly as she spoke. "There's something I want you to see. And I promise that it's safe, but you really, really, really can't shriek. Do you promise not to shriek?"

Pinkie nodded, causing Twilight to remove her hoof from Pinkie's snout. As Twilight backed away, Princess Luna slowly walked towards her, causing the mare to force her own hooves against her mouth to fulfill her promise.

"Pinkie Pie, you remember Princess Luna, right?"

Luna slowly made her way over to the pink pony, extending a hoof in friendship. "Ah. The ringleader of the frightened children. Hast thou come to make peace?"

As Pinkie reached out for the princess, a cloud came in from above, striking lightning behind the larger-framed mare.

"Nightmare Moon!" Pinkie screamed out as she fled the scene, literally laying an egg as she ran the other way. Twilight heard a familiar laugh from above and realized who was behind the ill-timed prank.

"RAINBOW!" She called out to the rainbow-maned pegasus, who hid above the storm cloud and scared ponies throughout the night.

Twilight teleported herself in front of the retreating Pinkie, taking her to the ground below. While the chicken-dressed pink pony squirmed below her, Twilight offered to set her straight. "She's changed, Pinkie! She's not evil or scary anymore! And she definitely doesn't want to gobble you up!"

"Well, duh." Pinkie responded.

Twilight was confused at her friend's sudden change in alignment, seeing that she was calm and collected rather than scared and frantically causing a panic. "Huh?"

"I know that. Sheesh, Twilight. I'm almost as big as her. How's she gonna gobble me up?"

"So why do you keep running away and screaming?"

"Sometimes it's just really fun to be scared!"

Twilight took a moment to think about Pinkie's response. She knew that her and the other foals were running away because they were scared, but not once has she ever considered it to be fun to be afraid of something. That's when one of the earlier concepts she and Applejack introduced to her came into play. "Fun? Pinkie Pie, you're a genius!"

"No I'm not. I'm a chicken. Bacawk!"

Twilight turned her attention to a pouting Luna. "Princess Luna! I've finally figured out why you're having so much trouble being liked!"

"Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm." She responded in deadpan.

"Come with me. I'll explain everything on the way."

Deep in the clearing of the Everfree Forest, Twilight and Luna awaited the group of foals to approach the statue. Luna remained silent, waiting for the moment to pounce out at the foals. She didn't have to wait too long as the next group came over and placed their candy at the alter. Pipsqueak was the last to place his offering before the statue, all while giving his farewell to his most favorite holiday.

"Goodbye, Nightmare Night. Forever."

Suddenly, a voice boomed out to the foals. "Citizens of Ponyville! You were wise to bring this candy to me. I am pleased with your offering. So pleased that I may just eat it..."

And before the foals, on the top of the alter, stood the very likeness of Nightmare Moon herself.

"...INSTEAD OF EATING YOU!!!"

The foals screamed and ran back to the bushes as the opening was cleared of any others. Luna transformed back from the evil manifestation of her hatred back into her normal form. She also spat out a set of plastic fangs used to sell her appearance to the young fillies and colts.

"I am not certain that did what you meant for it to do, Twilight Sparkle."

"Just wait." Twilight said with a smile.

"For what? For... for them to scream some more?"

As she finished her question, the night princess felt a tug at her mane. "Um... Princess Luna. I know there's not gonna be any more Nightmare Night, but do you suppose maybe you could come back next year and scare us again anyway?"

Luna stared at the colt, perplexed at what she was hearing. She even looked over to see that not all of the foals have left the clearing, more than they were hiding from view. "Child. Art thou saying that thou... likest me to scare you?"

"It's really fun! Scary, but fun!"

"It... is?" Luna asked, finally realizing what was going on.

"Yeah! Nightmare Night is my favorite night of the year."

Luna felt a cheerfulness erupt in her body as she renounced her misled decree. "Well then. We shall have to bring Nightmare Night back!

The force of her voice pushed back the foal a distance, but it only gave thrill to the young colt. "Whoa! You're my favorite princess ever!" The young Pipsqueak ran over to hug the princess in gratitude before turning back to his friends. "She said yes, guys!

A symphony of juvenile cheers graced her ears, bringing great joy into her heart as she felt appreciated, not just for her night but for who she was.

"See? They really do like you, princess." Twilight said as she walked beside the princess.

"Can it be true?" Luna asked herself, nearly brought to tears. It had turned out that everything that Azure spoke of prior to her arrival was spot on. Though it initially seemed like she was being feared like in the millennium's past, but instead it turned out to be something different.

"Oh, most wonderful of- I mean... Oh, most wonderful of nights."

Luna made her way back to the outskirts of town to meet with her two escorts. The only difference was that earlier she had set out to meet them on her own, this time she was accompanied by six other mares and a young dragon. They all laughed and shared their experiences of the night with each other as the chariot came into view.

"Well, it was a blast to have you here, princess." Rainbow Dash signed off.

"It's been nice to see that you came out to visit us." Fluttershy added, no longer scared of the princess.

"Oh, I do believe that it is too bad that you have to take your leave. I've already have your masquerade outfit ready for you if you were to attend the party later on tonight." Rarity said as she levitated a black bag beside her.

Luna stopped for a moment and turned around for a second. "Rarity, would you come here for a second?"

"Me? Oh but of course!" She answered, trotting up to the princess without a moment's hesitation. As she stood side-by-side with Luna, she whispered into the smaller unicorn's ear.

"The one to the left. That's him."

Rarity gasped but found herself dumbfounded over what she was seeing. "Um... not to be rude, but I... can't tell the difference."

Luna nodded as she told her of a lesson she managed to learn recently. "Not everything is as you see it. Meaning that they would appear to be one in likeness does not make them the same in who they are when the armor comes off."

Rarity giggled at the sentiment as one of the guards called out to her.

"Princess, are you ready to go?" Azure asked.

Luna walked over to the guards and made it appear that she was ready to take her leave. Without setting hoof on the chariot, she gave her answer. "No. In fact, I came her to notify you that you are invited to a party, filled with streamers, and cupcakes, and confetti and fun!"

"I taught her everything I know." Pinkie stated pridefully.

"I..but...Princess, your sister will worry! I cannot allow her to be left in concern for what you are doing and your whereabouts." Shadow Star answered.

"She's a grown-ass mare. Let her do what she wants." Azure replied, causing the group, minus Luna, to gasp at the brashness of his words.

"Definitely not as what they seem, at all." Rarity mumbles to herself.

"Indeed," Luna says in agreement with her special somepony. "The night is young and there is plenty of time to make our return to Canterlot. And besides, if you're so worried about a bedtime, then you are excused to take your leave, while I and Azure will take to the town this evening."

"Meh, close enough." Azure said in tandem to Pinkie's prior statement. "Shall we leave, princess?"

"Indubitably."

Azure takes the hoof of Luna and starts to walk alongside her with the other group of mares, leaving a mortified Shadow Star to wait in the darkness alone.

"Princess! I can't take this chariot back to the palace all by myself... Wait for me!!!"