Strange Days: Friends' Night Out

“I find it fascinating that all you need do is braid your mane and tail, and not a pony recognizes you. How I wish it were so simple for myself.”

Looking up from her notebook, Daring Doo smiled at the dark blue pegasus sitting across from her. “Well, Princess, thanks to the fan following that DaringDo has, it isn’t uncommon for a pony to dye their coats, manes, and tails to match the character. As far as most are concerned, I’m just a very enthusiastic fan.”

“Then why do you require me to address you as Rose Point in public, instead of Daring Doo?”

“Why do you want me to call you Midnight Star instead of Princess Lu—” Suddenly unable to speak, Daring found the answer to her problem within Luna’s softly glowing eyes. Although the princess’ magic could hide her horn and the aura that shone whenever she used it, the side-effect was her eyes glowed instead, the intensity of the glow matching the power of the spell. While Daring thought it was cool to look at, she didn’t appreciate its relation with her inability to speak.

“Okay, okay, I understand. Neither of us desires the attention our real identities would bring. Please, refrain from speaking my name aloud and I shall do the same of yours. Agreed?” Still unable to speak, Daring simply nodded, impatiently waiting for the princess to stop her magic.

As Luna’s eyes ceased to glow, Daring opted for a test to see if her speech had actually returned. “Oh, Prince Phoenix, how….” Trailing off as Luna went rigid, her right eye twitching slightly, Daring enjoyed her moment of revenge before returning her attention to the notebook laid out before her.

“It would not harm you to socialize with other ponies, Rose Point. There are plenty of single ponies present within this establishment. Why not speak with one?” Luna asked as she eyed the other patrons of the bar and grill herself, noting that there were a few even she found enticing. “Perhaps I shall find a suitable companion for myself.”

Daring’s brief snort of laughter brought Luna’s gaze back to her instantly, the princess’ eyes burning with indignation. “Do you mock my desire for a good companion?”

Grinning as she remembered other nights like these, Daring shook her head as she answered, “No offence, but you don’t have the greatest track record with your dates. You tend to scare them off pretty quickly.”

Luna took a long drink from her cider as she lamented the truth in Daring’s words. Stallions and mares alike fled from her the moment they discovered who she really was, sometimes even before then. But she was determined to change that. Here in Manehatten she was just Luna… or Midnight Star, depending. Either way, she did not want to be seen as royalty, but as a normal pony. Admittedly a very long lived pony that happened to guide the moon through the night sky.

Reaching the bottom of the mug, Luna resolved to find herself a companion that night, even if it meant scouring the entirety of Sunny’s Bar and Grill to do so. “I shall return. My cider glass has run dry, and I feel many more may be needed before this night’s end.”

Watching as Luna slipped from the booth and wandered towards the bar, Daring considered her words and frowned. “But, it’s non-alcoholic….” Dismissing it with a shrug, Daring took another sip of her cider and returned to her notes, leaving the disguised princess of the night to her own devices. Some things were better off left alone.

From his vantage point behind the bar, Chi had a perfect view of the room, and subsequently the actions of the blue pegasus that had approached him earlier. She had acted as a normal customer at first, simply asking if he could occasionally check on her cider and—should it get low—refill it. Seeing how she was drinking the non-alcoholic kind, he hadn’t seen any harm in it. Besides, the boss’ favorite saying was, “If a pretty mare with the bits to pay wants unlimited refills, by Celestia you better make sure that mug never empties.” What had come next after she paid for her drinks, however, had taken him by surprise.

“Are you taken?”

What? After a moment of silence as she watched him, he realized he’d only thought it. “Excuse me?”

“Are you currently in a relationship with a significant other, or are you available?” Her tone had been even; not even a hint of flirting in her words. It had taken every ounce of will Chi possessed to keep his jaw hinged as his brain tried to recover. The mare had been as subtle as dropping a piano in a concert hall; he knew, he’d seen it happen. Warning bells began to sound and in better judgement, he opted for a lie instead of honesty.

“I have a fillyfriend, sorry.”

“I see.”

Clearly disappointed by his answer, she headed for the nearest occupied table. Curious, Chi had listened closely as she approached a trio of mares and a stallion, who ignored her approach until she had stopped beside them. Then she asked again, “Are any of you currently in a relationship, or are you available?”

Seeing the looks of shock shared amongst the ponies at the table, Chi suspected he might have looked similar when she had asked him. After a pause, each one had turned her down, leaving her looking once again disappointed.

For the better part of ten minutes Chi watched as the blue pegasus repeated the process at each table, eventually having drawn enough attention to herself that ponies were turning her down the moment she looked their way. He had to give her credit, she was precise and swift. Not a pony went unasked, and every pony that stepped through the doors was checked before they could find a seat.

Her luck had finally changed when an earth pony stallion whose coat was the most awkward shade of pink walked in. Having become something of a spectacle for the customers, everypony watched as she was on him in seconds, speaking softly but still drawing the same shocked stare. Like every pony before him, he had simply stared for a moment before answering.

What had been different, however, was the conversation carried on for what appeared to be a second question from the mare. After clearly receiving the answer she desired, the bar had been filled with an excited squeal from the mare—having grabbed him and flown back to her booth—and the cheers and whistles of the customers, many of which Chi noticed were because the mare was no longer prowling the bar in search of a date.

As the closest thing there was to peace returned to the bar, Chi watched with amusement as he got to witness exactly what fate he had narrowly avoided. Clearly happy with her catch, the mare had trapped the stallion on the inside of the booth, keeping almost constant contact by holding him close and squeezing occasionally. Chi could always tell when it happened, as the stallion’s eyes would periodically bulge. As she pulled the stallion in for yet another lung-crushing hug, Chi began to seriously consider serving the poor guy a free drink; probably two.

Using the interruption caused by the barkeeper, Luna took a quick drink of her cider (the barkeeper had even brought her companion a free drink!) before returning to introductions. “As I had been saying, dear Curio, this is Rose Point. Although she may spend… well, every available moment, honestly… writing stories, she is quite the nice mare, her stalwart façade aside.”

Shifting slightly as he felt a wing wrap around his side, Curio nodded as he spoke up. “What exactly do you write about, Miss Rose Point?”

Eager to vouch for her friend, Luna chipped in first. “Oh, Daring Do and—”

Luna stopped short as Daring kicked her beneath the table, flashing a pointed glare at the princess. Luna, don’t you dare let it slip that I’m the author of Daring Do. If you do I swear by your sister’s name I willfind a way to make you pay. Quickly switching to a smile before Curio caught on, Daring answered, “I write short stories mostly, some of which are indeed about Daring Do. Midnight here, and her sister have helped me publish a few of them.”

“Yeah, I can kinda see you’re a fan. You do look a little like the character on the cover, although your eyes are gold instead of magenta,” Curio replied with a hearty laugh, missing yet another glare and quick hoof movement directed at Luna. “So, what else do you write about?”

This time Daring smiled honestly, something that Luna found disturbing for reasons she did not want shared. “By genre, adventure and romance, mostly. I have a great deal of unpublished work that will most likely never see the light of day, but I still have a fair bit of published work out there too.”

Luna scoffed and shook her head, drawing both Daring and Curio’s attention. “What?” they asked in unison.

“Rose Point has conveniently left out an important detail,” Luna explained with an appraising smile towards Daring, “she is an exceptional author, her stories being very popular even amongst the nobility of Canterlot. How I envy her talent.”

“Thank you, but—”

“However, it would do you well to find a good stallion, somepony to ensure you do not become so engrossed in your work that you neglect yourself. I do, however, suggest you find one that is also good with house duties.”

Daring’s smile vanished as she fixed Luna with an unamused stare. “Midnight, the last thing I want to hear from you is your advice on romance. I’ve watched you treat your dates like toys, and then wonder why none of them ever come back to you.”

“Rose, how dare you accuse me of such atrocities; I’m hurt!” Luna replied dramatically, giving Daring the best pouting face she could manage. Seeing that her pouting held no effect, she suddenly switched to nuzzling Curio’s neck affectionately. “Fear not, my fair Curio, I have always treated my companions kindly. This boorish mare is simply jealous that she can not find herself a stallion as fine as you.”

Shaking her head at Luna’s antics, Daring returned her attention to her notebook as she heard Luna speak. “Say, Curio, I have a question….”

Trapped in Luna’s vice-like hug, Curio tried turning to face her until he found Luna’s muzzle closer to his than he felt comfortable with. Quickly averting his gaze before his mind began to wonder, he busied himself with tracing the grain in the table. “Um… yes?”

“I know I can be terribly selfish at times, but… could I keep you as my curio?”

Curio froze as the implications of her words sunk in, the mixed feelings of being confused, terrified, and thrilled sending chills down his spine. He had to admit, she was absolutely gorgeous, but there was something about her that was—

“Ah, ha ha ha ha!” As the sudden outburst of laughter cut through the air, Curio’s thoughts derailed to leave him staring at Daring in shock. Struggling to calm herself long enough to speak, Daring voiced her own thoughts in between gasp for air and brief fits of laughter. “That is… probably the greatest… bad pickup line… I think… I’ve ever heard!”

Annoyed by Daring laughing at what was supposed to be romantic, Luna’s warning glare did little more than encourage Daring to laugh harder. “Are you attempting to sabotage my potential relationship? Is this because I made you join me for a night of fun and fresh air, instead of letting you hide away in your room and write?”

Burying her face in her notebook to help muffle her laughter, Daring waved her hooves pleadingly as she tried to stop, making Curio look to Luna in concern.  “Do not mind her, Curio, she has always been like this; calm and collective one moment, and then stranger than a certain pink pony from Ponyville the next. Just be thankful it is not you that she is writing about in those notes of hers.”

Curious of the sudden negative light Luna had cast Daring’s notes in, Curio craned his neck to get a better view of the notebook as he asked, “Why is that?”

As the conversation ventured into familiar territory, Daring began to calm down as Luna answered. “The contents of her notes, or at least those notes”—Luna nodded towards the notebook—“are… well, widely viewed as inappropriate and even questionable.”

Curio looked to Daring, whose face was a mask of indifference. “Questionable?”

Daring smiled. “Adventurous romance.”

“Explicit content,” Luna deadpanned.

Daring shrugged. “Potâto, potäto.”

Curio looked between the two mares as he sensed something else left unsaid. “Do I want to know?” he asked, looking first to Daring, then to Luna.

Unabashed, Daring moved the notebook at little closer to the middle of the table, keeping her hooves strategically placed to make the content unreadable. “I could let you take a look, if you like.” Although he couldn’t quite place his hoof on it, there was something about Daring’s words and actions that, for the first time that night, made Curio feel safe in Luna’s embrace.

Wrapping her wing a little further around Curio as if to protect him, Luna gave Daring a firm stare. “Please, spare him. I would like my companion untainted by the twisted contents of your notes.”

Daring’s eyes grew large and pleading as her lips trembled, as if Luna’s words had hurt her deeply. “But… you’ve read my notes before….”

 Luna found it infuriating to no end that, despite knowing better, she actually felt guilty for hurting Daring’s feelings. Using looks like that for such underhanded means should be made illegal. Still, Luna held her ground, even if it did make her feel cruel. “Indeed, and I have not done so since. I may be the—I may like a good romance or adventure story, but your notes can be a bit much at times.”

Curio fought the urge to grin as Daring’s expression once again snapped back to normal. Seeing Daring play Luna was like watching a puppeteer working a marionette. “Two things, Midnight….” Daring smirked as she paused, letting the seeds of doubt take root in Luna’s mind. “One: I know you’re lying. Two: I also know you enjoy my notes.”

Feeling Luna tense up behind him, Curio broke into a grin. It sounded like somepony had been caught with their hoof in the cookie jar.

“I—I have no idea what you are talking about, Rose. I only read that one set of notes, no others.”

Daring only shook her head at Luna’s denial and looked at Curio. “Notice how she only denies reading my other notes; nothing at all about liking them or not.” Sitting up proper and clearing her throat, Daring closed her eyes and spoke. “Yes, Darling, cry; it makes—”

“Stop!” Panicking as she recognized the line, Luna hugged Curio closer and wrapped both her wings around him in hopes of blocking out the words. The last thing she wanted was her companion exposed to things such as that. After a moment she realized daring was no longer talking, but chuckling softly.

“What’s wrong, Midnight? I was only quoting a bit of dialogue from one of my short stories. Oh, but wait a moment… you’ve never read that one, have you?”

Trying to look away to avoid eye contact, Luna could still feel Daring watching her as a heavy silence that hung in the air demanded an answer. Finally Luna caved. “… Okay, I admit it, it is true. There have been times where I have come to visit you, only to find you passed out from staying awake for far too long. After ensuring you were okay, there have been a few times I may have taken a peek at some of your notes.” Closing her eyes in fear of Daring’s response, Luna hugged the object in her hooves as she braced for an impending storm. Not only had she gone looking through her closest friend’s personal belonging, but she had deceived her about it too.

“Midnight, you’re crushing him.”

“I—wait, what?”

As Daring nodded to her wings, Luna realized she was still holding Curio tightly with her wings wrapped around him. As she became aware of just how tightly she was holding him, she also noticed he had stopped moving. “Curio!” Throwing her wings wide and loosening her grip on the stallion, she shook him gently as she waited for an answer.

“That… hurt.” With a pained moan Curio looked at Luna and smiled. “Girl, you have one heck of a hug, you know that, right?”

With a joyous squeal Luna embraced Curio again and buried her muzzle in his pink mane, remembering to hug gently as he grunted from the pressure on his ribs. “I am sorry, Curio. Please forgive me.”

“That’s okay, Midnight, no permanent damage done,” he replied softly, pausing in case she decided to reply. As he waited he felt an odd sensation on the back of his neck, accompanied by a familiar sound. “Midnight?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you… smelling my mane?”

Luna’s answer came in the form of a gentle squeeze and audible sniff from within Curio’s mane, bringing a brilliant blush to the stallion’s face. Sitting across the table, Daring broke into a fit of giggles as Curio looked to her for answers. “Don’t look at me. She does whatever she wants, and it doesn’t always make sense.”

“I see…. Midnight, could you let me go, please?” he asked as he began to struggle, a fruitless effort he knew, but hopefully it’d help his plea.

Taking another deep sniff and sighing contently, Luna nodded in his mane. “Uh hu—uh, ah, ah….”

Daring’s smile vanished as she realized what was going on. Luna was going to sneeze. Luna was going to sneeze, and was looking her direction. Grabbing her notebook and diving to the floor, Daring covered her ears in time to barely muffle the sound as a thunderous roar shook the room, mixed with the sound of things breaking and startled shouts.

Ignoring the ringing in her ears, Daring quickly returned to her feet and checked the room. Luna’s sneeze had apparently stirred a fair deal of dust, as she could barely make out anything in the bar. Turning back to the remains of their booth, Daring yanked her saddlebag from beneath the splintered table and looked at Luna. Curio, whose head had been right beside Luna’s when she sneezed, was hanging limply in the disguised princess’ grasp, groaning softly. Daring cringed; that had to have hurt. “Lu—Midnight?”

As Luna opened her eyes slowly, somewhat dazed from the force herself, Daring noted that they still glowed softly as the magic settled. “Are you okay, Daring?”

Flinching slightly as Luna used her real name, Daring nodded quickly as she shuffled about, eager to leave the area immediately. “I’m fine; I saw it coming and got out of the way. Curio seems to be a little shell-shocked, as is most of everypony else. Now let’s get out of here, fast.”

Sliding from the seat, Luna carefully laid the dazed stallion in her seat and took in the damage. The table, and the drinks that had sat on it, were now shards of broken glass and splintered wood that peppered the area. Through the dust, she could see that Daring’s former seat, along with the next two booths behind it, had been blown to pieces and pushed by the force. She had unleashed a lot of magic in that sneeze; it was fortunate that the booths had been vacant. “Why can I not control a simple sneeze? My sister sneezes and it sounds so dainty, but if I sneeze I unleash tartarus upon the area.”

“Lu… Mid… argh! You know what? Forget it! Luna, we need to leave now, before everypony recovers and begin to ask questions. You can worry about this”—Daring waved her hooves about, referring to the destruction—“later, or do you want everypony to know you’re in Manehatten?”

Luna nodded and turned for the exit. Seeing that the dust was beginning to clear and ponies were getting oriented, Luna channeled a little magic into the room, stirring the dust once more. With her screen in place, Luna wrapped her tail around Daring’s neck with a spell and quickly led the way out of the bar, maneuvering past ponies that she couldn’t quite see, but could sense with her magic.

Outside, across the street, and safely hidden in a dimly-lit alley, Luna let out a sigh of relief. Once again her carelessness had nearly caused herself and other ponies problems. But for now, her secret was safe, and she could send funds to repair the damages in the morning.

“Um… Luna?”

Looking back, Luna found Daring blushing lightly as she tried to look anywhere but at Luna, whose tail was still wrapped firmly around her neck. “I’m sorry!” Quickly canceling the spell, Luna found the creeping feeling of dread working its way into her heart. Perhaps using her tail to guide Daring from the bar had not been her greatest idea. Nor was using magic to ensure she did not lose Daring, for that matter. She had made it quite clear in the past she was not picky about gender, and Daring… well, Daring had never exactly said no, but she had never said yes, either; she preferred stallions.

Unable to stand the awkward silence, Luna spoke first, throwing herself before Daring. “I’m sorry, Daring, I was not trying to seduce you, I had only thought to guide you from the dust with me! Please, I am so sorry! Do not forsake me!”

Daring felt sick. It wasn’t that Luna had her tail firmly wrapped around her neck moments before. No, she had understood that the moment Luna had done it. She felt sick because Luna, her closest friend, heck, her only friend was begging for her to not… forsake her? “Luna….”

“I’m sorry I dragged you out like this again, and for teasing you about stallions. I promise, I will never do it again, but please, you are my only friend aside from Twilight Sparkle… I—”

“Luna!” Luna fell silent, but continued to lay there, and for a moment Daring had a good idea what Luna felt like all the time. She didn’t like it. “Luna, I’m not mad at you. I understand you were only trying to guide me.” Watching as Luna perked up again, Daring fought the urge to scream as the mare, a princess, only looked up far enough to see her hooves. Hooking a hoof under Luna’s chin, Daring dragged the mare back up and looked into her eyes. “Do you really think something so simple would ruin our friendship? Hello, you are like… the only pony I have as a friend.” Luna started to reply, but was cut off as Daring guessed her thoughts. “My sisters don’t count; they’re family.”

Luna smile sheepishly. “Ah.”

“Now, do you have any other foolish reasons to question our friendship, or otherwise believe I might be upset with you?”

Luna thought for a moment, then remembered what they had talked about just a little while before. “Reading your notes, and deceiving you about it?”

Daring groaned; not this again. “Luna, how many times have I said you could read my notes whenever you want?”

Think, brain, think! three-hundred, twenty-five, or was it twenty-six? Oh no, which one‽

As Daring watched Luna’s expression shift through an array of emotions, she found herself feeling uneasy. “Luna?”

Stab in the dark. Oh, please be acceptable… “Many times?” Luna replied quickly, ignoring the curious look Daring was giving her.

“Exactly—” Daring nearly let the unusual behaviour go, until she saw Luna sigh silently.

Oh, thank you, stars.

“—which is why you need to calm down.” Daring shook her head in disbelief. Was she actually trying to count them?

“Sorry, Daring.”

“… Come on, you silly mare, let’s go home.” Leading the way, Daring took the other end of the alley out and began heading back home. Sure, Luna could probably teleport them both in an instant, but when the sky was clear and the stars and moon were visible, even with the lights from downtown trying to outshine them, it was nice to walk.

As they made their down the moonlit streets of Manehatten, Daring glanced over and couldn’t help but grin at the cheerful smile Luna had. “You know, Princess, it defeats the purpose of coming here in disguise if you’re going to sneeze and literally blow your cover.”

Luna began to blush as she thought about it. That had been so embarrassing. “I—I could not help it! His mane just smelled so wonderful!”

Daring grin widened as she caught the blush on Luna’s cheeks. “You do realize just how creepy that sounded, right?”

“Oh hush!” Shoving Daring away playfully, Luna galloped ahead a distance and turned around. “But he really was adorable; he was pink!”

Closing the distance between them, Daring shook her head and laughed. “You know, Luna, this is probably why I like you so much, no night is ever boring when you’re around.”

Flashing Daring a sly grin and a wink, Luna’s next words stopped Daring in her tracks. “Be careful, Miss Doo, less you draw my attention in an entirely different way.” Taking a moment to enjoy the pretty shade of red and stunned look on Daring’s features, Luna broke the mare’s daze by raising a hoof in front of her. “To our friendship?”

Smiling wide, Daring returned the gesture and bumped hooves. “To our friendship. May it, and nights like these, last forever.”

“Everlasting night is not all it is cracked up to be.”

“You would know, wouldn’t you?”

Looking towards the moon, Luna grinned. “That I would.”