As I woke, bolting upright and scrambling my hands all over my torso, making sure I didn’t seriously just dissolve into nothing.

The loud crash and smash I heard earlier seemed to be from construction going on next door, in my friend’s room.

“By the golden hawk’s fury, that was fucked up.” I said to myself, voice echoing through my dorm.

I slipped out of bed, feet hitting the cold hardwood floors and making me feel for some reason…rather, well. Awake. “Holy, shit. I actually slept for 9 hours." As I grabbed my clock to confirm the time, I spoke with pure glee in my voice. 9 hours! I thought. That’s the most I’ve been able to get in years! Wait… 9 hours. I cursed under my breath as I shot out of bed and made a mad dash to my dresser where I grabbed a pair of pants and a new shirt, then slipped on my shoes and practically leapt out my front door.

Screw the shower or food if I’m late again I’m out of a damn job!

I started sprinting through the halls and straight out the doors to the campus, and storming past people as I kept repeating to myself. ‘Almost there. Almost there.’ Trying the best I could to make my legs go faster. “YES!” I shouted in victory as I ran through the turning door and made my way up the stairs and to my desk where my co-workers were all standing, giving me a full round of applause.

“Well done Seth!” Jake spoke with so much sarcasm I finally realized why they were clapping. Oh god they covered for me again…

As each person went past they gave me a pat on the shoulder and walked straight out the door to the break room, all wearing shit eating grins. Yup. I am most definitely and utterly, fucked.

“Ok, ok. What do I have to do now…?” I said with a regretful sigh. Every. Damn. Day.

For the past Three weeks I’ve been getting to work an hour late (that hour of sleep always just had to happen while I HAD to be up and ready) and my co-workers being the gracious souls that they were, decided to cover for me by saying ‘I had gone to the bathroom and would be back any time now’ or ‘He just went to the copier for a moment’. It worked, sure.

But that’s not the problem. The problem is that since they were being so kind to me about the situation I had a scary feeling dwelling in my stomach. And I was right to.

The next day at work they all decided that I needed to do something for them in return. I agreed because I thought nothing of it.

But when you’re late 3 weeks in a row and they think it would be a wonderful idea for you to get them all some coffee, from the ‘best coffee shop in town’ as they put it, which just so happens to be 30 blocks away and you have no car, you start to realize you should have known it wasn’t going to be easy. Bastards…

“Well, kid.” Jake started. “Don’t want to say sorry. But this is the worst yet. We kind of just stopped at the first page and guess what? The rest’s all yours!” He slowly walked away chuckling and following the others as he gave me a slap on the back.

“The rest…” My left eye started to twitch. “The fucking REST?!?!” I screamed loud enough to let the others in the break room hear and start cackling like monsters at my misfortune. Evil… every, single, one of them.

You see, I work at a company that makes comic books and comic strips on the artist’s floor. My self and the others are given multiple pages and clips of a shitty sketch that the creator does, and we draw, trace, and shade in the strips to make them look like they should. You know. Actually drawn out.

But the thing is. Were each given about 20 pages a day. There’s, 7 of us working in this room, on the artist’s floor. Jake said they finished the first page… that only leaves… 133 pages for yours truly.

I knew finally sleeping was a bad omen… I thought to myself with disdain written all over my face.

I don’t even know why I ended up here in the first place. I couldn’t draw worth shit up until I met Jake. I mean sure, I could doodle and sketch a couple things here and there, but all in all my real drawings were awful. I met Jake at a house party by the campus, he was absolutely just wrecked from the 3 keg stands he just did and slowly wandered over to me. (Who I gotta admit was not exactly in better shape than him).

Then for god knows why he bet me he could paint a more mind blowing and psychedelic picture on the guy’s house than me. Now, in my defense I was sloshed out of my mind and thought ‘pfft, bitch please I got mad painting skills’.

When we were finally able to hobble and fall a couple times, out of the house and get to the side of the building. He threw down a duffle bag filled to the brim with cans of multi-coloured spray paint, and threw me a couple cans to start on my masterpiece. I don’t know if the fact that we were wasted made a huge difference or not, but when we finished and took a step back I was blindsided that I could make something like this.

I somehow managed to spray paint a full harvest moon, shining a red, eerie, glow through two mountain peaks. That’s when I looked to jakes and saw; well… all he did was about 10 lines of red, blue, green, orange, yellow and black across one another. (It looked like he tried at one point but then the letter R I thought I saw turned into a jumble of colour.)

He looked over mine, making sure he got up real close to it almost like he was judging my random painting like an art critic. Then he looked at me and slapped my back saying that I had talent but should try to ‘get on his level next time’. Some people are just sad when they’re drunk.

When I asked him what the bet was for he thought about it for a moment, and said that If had won, I would buy him as much breakfast as he wanted, and if I won (which I obviously did) he would talk to his boss about giving me a job.

I was shocked that he would randomly do that for a stranger, but apparently he saw me a few days earlier searching the town for wanted signs and job offers.

He got me the job, and I bought him 6 stacks of pancakes at the diner. What? The guy gave me a much needed job, was the least I could do for him.

The rest of the work day went by in a flash of used pencils and so many god damned comic strips. I think my hand was bruised when I finally finished their work. But as the last hour of work ticked by, I couldn’t concentrate on my own work I needed to do from the day prior.

Anytime I would think of something, the thought would immediately be replaced with one of Luna, flashing past my eyes, and the remarkable sent of nightshade filling my nostrils with every breath.
Eventually I gave up trying to finish my work and resorted to sketching a portrait of the lunar mare, laying in the grass as her head was tilted slightly, towards the heavens and the omnipresent sliver of moon glowing and basking her in an embodiment of light, a small smile spreading her lips with her glimmering in the night.
As I slowly traced over the few free strands of her mane, that hung over her face, I was interrupted by a hand snatching the picture away before I had time to grab it back.

“Well, isn’t she just a beaut.” Jake stated with a little whistle thrown in, as he looked at the portrait at every angle. “Was this in the package? Because I don’t remembering seeing any pony In there.”

Shit. I knew I was caught. What ever might as well get this out of the way while I can. “No, it’s just. Well, you see, I was finally able to sleep last night an-“

“Congrats man! Have any cool dreams like you used to when you were younger?” He interrupted me but didn’t seem to care, so I just nodded towards the drawing. “Oh so that’s what it’s from eh?” Oh god, he’s doing the creepy thing with his eyebrows he does when ever he talks about Shelly. “Have any fun with her?” he remarked with a wink. "Did she raise her tail so you coul-."

“Jake” I said slowly, without turning my head. “If you say one more thing about how you think I shagged her, I’m going to go tell Shelly you got herpes from that prostitute in Las Vegas.” I said with the calmest but serious voice I could make.

“But I’ve never even been to Vegas!” he cried.

“True. But does Shelly know that?” He looked towards the door where Shelly and the rest of them were coming back from their no doubt incredibly hard day at work, then looked back at me.

“Aw fuck it, here’s your pretty pony back.” He threw my drawing over my right shoulder where it landed on my desk. Ah, the ace in the hole. Thank you, Harold and Kumar!

I grabbed the picture and folded it in half then placed it in my bag and figured ‘I’ll finish it later’. And with that I packed up my bag with the work I should have been doing and headed out the door, grinning at the site of Jake still trying to hit on Shelly. Some people are just sad, even if their not drunk.

I started my leisurely walk home, the brisk autumn breeze, passing by me and cooling my face, reminding me of the cool breeze when I was speaking with Luna last night.

I got home and started unpacking all my work, laying it across my desk and setting a pot of coffee so I would be coherent for the entirety of my great idea of bringing work home with me.

I finished the comics off best I could, and by the time I was done it was already 1:23am and I thought, ‘what ever. At least I get 6 hours of sleep with you Luna.” I walked into my room and turned the lights off, then hopped into bed.

Thoughts of seeing Luna again, fluttering in my brain. “I wonder what you’re up to” I said lazily, as my eyes closed shut and darkness seemed to envelope me. And soon, I drifted to the dreamscape.

Luna wait for a few minutes before she slipped from consciousness and the wisps of white magic swirling around her seemed to consume her form and let her dissipate from existence.

She slowly began to open her eyes and sit up in her plush, four post, and silk sheeted bed as the blue aura around her horn shrank and faded away.

Her eyes widened however when the thought of the bipedal man named Seth, busted its way back into her mind. She blushed extremely hard when the memories of the kiss they shared floated back and squee'd with delight as she hopped out of bed and started trotting down the castle halls. She felt absolutely giddy at the very thought of him.

I have to tell Tia, she told herself as she squee’d once more and began to practically prance through the castle to the throne room, where she couldn’t contain herself any longer.

“Tiiiiiiiiia!” She yelled happily as she jumped through the doors the guard’s always opened for her.

“Good morning Luna.” Celestia said with utter joy in her smile. Luna was smiling again! She has gotten better she said mentally. “Don’t we look happy today?”

“Sister, it was wonderful, we were in th-. “ She stopped speaking when she saw the guards pony both with a kind smirk on their faces. They hadn’t seen the princess happy, in oh so long.

Celestia noticed her sister simply staring at the guards and spoke for her. “Guards, please leave us. I will call you if needed.” They bowed to each princess and walked out the giant double doors. Smiles etched on each muzzle.

How great to see her happy once more. The guard thought to himself.

The very second the doors closed shut behind her, she began to speak again. “Sister, it was truly wonderful. I had transported my consciousness to the ethereal dreamscape to… to um; see if any of my powers have returned as of late.” She lied, and Celestia caught on but remained silent. If Luna had a reason to lie, it was her own.
“And while we were lying there…um, uh, focusing magic!” She almost yelled. “I was greeted by a bipedal creature, called a human, named Seth. He was ever so kind to us.”

Celestia just stared at her sister. Has Luna gone mad? Only she herself has the ability to transverse that plane. “Luna.” She spoke with a little hint of concern in her voice. “Are you sure you were indeed conversing with this creature and not simply dreaming?”

Luna’s expression drooped slightly when she heard her sister say it could have only been a dream. No. It was real, she reassured herself. “But of course dear sister!”

Her temper grew a small bit. How could she not believe her? She’s the ruler of the night she knows dream and reality like the back of her own hoof.

“I’m not saying it couldn’t happen. But.”

“But?" Luna spat at her, still annoyed that she didn’t agree.

“Well, Luna, you said you were conversing with this ‘Seth’ as you called him?” Luna nodded rapidly. “You said you spoke with Seth on the ethereal dreamscape. But dear sister, you already know that only you, yourself have the powers to be able to transverse that plane. It takes certain magic only you posses.” She concluded, but wishes she could take back every word as she saw Luna’s ears droop and head start to lower.

Suddenly Luna’s ears perked up and her head shot back up with a rather sad looking smile. “Bu-but, that’s what m-makes it so special, sister.” She spoke, sniffling, tears beginning to gather in the eyes. “He said such kind and noble things to us…”

“Oh Luna, I’m sorry for what I said.” Celestia draped a comforting wing around the crying mare. “You’re the princess of the night, not I. If you say this is what happened, then I believe you.”

Luna looked up at Tia as she spoke softly. “He said he’d be back, tonight, Tia. I can see him again.”

Celestia just nodded and let go of Luna as she rose and walked back over to the throne where she promptly sat down. “Well then you’d better get ready for tonight sister.”

The mare stared at her sister before asking, “Why?”

“I saw the way you blushed when you were telling me about him.” That’s when Luna’s cheeks resembled her usual tint of crimson, Celestia had only seen once before. “Looks like you’ve got a date.” She ended with a playful wink and a vigorous laugh as she watched her sister galloping out the throne room, stuttering as she went.

“I’m so happy you found somepony who can make you happy, Lulu. So very, very happy.” She let a single tear fall as she spoke to herself once more. “Especially since I clearly haven’t been able to-oo-oo!”

She finally broke down into somewhat silent sobs.

Behind the doors the guards spoke amongst themselves. “One princess is happy, one’s crying. Did they just switch roles or something?”

The other guards pony smacked him in the back of his head, leaving his helmet to fly off and hit the ground. “You, ass. She’s upset over Luna. Leave the poor mare alone.”

When she got back to her chambers, Luna slammed the door shut behind her, and slid down the door to her haunches. Her heart beating furiously inside her chest. “A date.” She said aloud. “I have a date! Eeeehehehee.” She squee’d as she trotted towards her personal bathroom to run a nice bath.

As she waited for the bath water to fill the tub, she tried thinking of multiple ways that she could wear her mane tonight. She thought she found the right one but then, said “It can wait.” And with that, she leapt into the tub a giggle escaping her as she began to fantasize about what this night would bring.

Author's Note

Please inform me of any errors i might have missed or anything you would like to add. Once again. Bring the crit!!!