Winter-time in Canterlot was, generally, a mild affair. Between the already chilly temperature of the altitude, and the threat of avalanches, snow was rarely allowed to fall directly on the city. In fact, an entire brigade of weather ponies was employed for just this reason. Canterlot, and other mountain strongholds like it, was one of the few cities that actually had a night shift weather patrol. Between the pegasi, and their lesser-seen bat pony cousins, there was always somepony in the sky over Equestria's capitol. What many of the nocturnal flyers had yet to realize was that they had recently acquired an audience.

From the balcony of one of the highest rooms in the upper reaches of the royal palace of Canterlot, Princess Luna surveyed her kingdom. Casting her gaze out to the limit of its considerable range, she took in the sights of the Canterlot nightlife. In the sky above, the nocturnal weather team was still busily beating back snow clouds. On the ground below, pubs and night clubs catered to the large number of ponies who favored the night as their time to socialize. A number that Luna was pleased to see had grown, considerably, in her absence.

As she was about to take flight, to examine the rest of the city that curved around the mountain, she was stopped by the sudden sound of rapidly approaching hooves upon stone.Stepping back inside, and folding her wings, she spared a glance at the clock.

"Tis almost eleven, we wonder what hath detained her," she said, in the classical speech, that she had yet to give up.

As the doors to her private quarters opened, without a knock, Luna turned to regard her guest.

"Sister, thou art up awfully late this evening," she said, by way of greeting.

"Has there been any change, Luna?" Celestia looked weary. Usually, after lowering the sun, Celestia would be by for a quick good-night hug, and tucked into bed shortly thereafter. At this time of year that should have happened hours ago.

"It would seem your last conference dragged on a bit, did it not?" Luna asked, as she made her way back to her balcony.

"Luna." It left Celestia's lips with an edge that was not lost to her sister, clearly she was not in the mood for small talk.

With an exaggerated huff, and a roll of her eyes, Luna turned back to her sister.

"Nay, sister. As we have told thee every night for the last fortnight, the alien mare shows no sign of stirring, and we are beginning to fear that she never will."

"Don't say that, Luna!" Celestia snapped.

With a slight turn of her head, Luna magically closed the doors behind her sister.

"Tia, tis high time we discussed this matter," she said, taking a few steps toward her sister.

The look of annoyance did not leave Celestia's face.

"What do we need to discuss, sister?"

"The fate of this new human, and the excessive attitude you have taken toward her," Luna stated, matter-of-factly.

"I am not being excessive, I'm just concerned for her," Celstia protested.

"Sister, we have seen thee concerned before, and this tis not concerned."

"How do you know?"

"Because, there are many of our citizens in hospitals, some of whom you know personally, and yet none of which occupy a place as far forward in thy mind as this human!" she finished, with a stomp of her hoof.

Celestia opened her mouth, but no words were forthcoming. Realization suddenly dawned on her, just the other day Sun Mantle, one of her personal guards, had been injured in a training exercise, and she had yet to even send him a get well card.

Luna could see the look of resignation working its way across Celestia's face. It was clear that she had won the argument, but she could tell that whatever was on her sister's mind weighed heavily upon it indeed. So, rather than marehandle the truth out of her sister, she decided to try the celestial approach.

Walking over to her bed, Luna took a seat on it and fixed Celestia with a knowing stare and soft smile. As Celestia watched, Luna began slowly patting the sheets next to her, and after a few moments hesitation relented and joined Luna on the bed. As Celestia lay down, Luna draped a wing over the larger mare and, once she was comfy, began with the obvious question.

"So, sister, what has thee vexed?"

Celestia was quiet for a moment before answering, "Tell me, Luna, how many friends have you made since your return?"

It was certainly not the response Luna had expected.

"Well," she began, hesitantly, "our personal aid hath proven quite likable, as have our guards, of course. Why doth thou ask?"

"I don't have many friends, Luna."

Despite her best efforts, a snort escaped Luna's nose at her sisters response.

"Surely thou jest, sister, why ever pony in Equestria likely calls themselves your friends, and we are sure any one of our subjects would go to great lengths to prove it," Luna said, with a laugh.

"That's just it, Luna, that's all most of my little ponies are, is subjects." Celestia's voice was tinged with a sadness that Luna had rarely heard. "All of my ponies love their Princess, they would move mountains for their Princess, They would fight and die for their Princess. But, that is all I will ever be to most of them, a princess."

"Come now, sister, surly you make too much of this. What of thy attendants?" Luna asked, hoping to brighten her sister's mood.

"I have many. They are all nice, of course, but the number of them that dispense with my title, even in private, can be counted on the hooves of one pony." Celestia let her head sink down to rest on her forelegs.

"What of thy guards?" Luna offered.

"Trained from the moment they join the service to look at me the same way they might a national monument," Celestia mumbled, morosely.

"The Elements of Harmony?" Luna was running out of ideas.

Celestia raised her head once more. "It is true I have made headway with them, but even they rarely speak to me in a personal manner, with the exception of Twilight, of course. And as for the rest of our subjects, most of them I have watched grow up, either around me, or from afar. Some of them I've even had a hoof in raising, but even these look at me more as a mother figure than as a true friend," she finished, with a resounding sigh.

Luna was at a loss for words. True, being a ruler meant that one was, by necessity, set apart from one's people. But, even so, she had never dreamed that Celestia, of all ponies, could be feeling this ostracized.

"Tis truly a sad plight that thou describe, sister," she said, as she nuzzled her sister's cheek. Perchance, when we re-enter greater equestrian society, thou can take some time to thyself and get re-acquainted with thy subjects?"

"Thank you, Luna, I think I would like that," Celestia said, nuzzling her sister back.

"Tell us something, sister?"

"Yes?"

"Tis indeed a sad plight thou endures, sister, but we still fail to see what it has to do with the human mare." Luna started to get up as she finished. It was getting late, and she was beginning to fear that her sister might just fall asleep if they lay on her bed much longer.

"She would have been perfect, Luna," Celestia said, as she rose to join her sister in heading to the balcony. "An individual with no prior knowledge of me, no preconceived notions, somepony that I can just talk to. She knows nothing of me, Luna, nor I of her. Do you realize how few creatures in Equestria can make such a boast? And I do not wish to squander this chance the way I did with Lero."

"How didst thou squander thy chance with Lero?" Luna asked, as they reached the edge of the balcony.

"Come now, Luna, how do you think?" Celestia's tone was pleading. "That primitive posturing that I used to give weight to the warnings I was forced to give him when we first met. I didn't even realize what I was doing, and now he will likely forever keep me at arms length." Celestia's head once again hung low, and Luna could swear that she saw tears forming at the corners of her sister's eyes. "A golden opportunity likely ruined, because of my bungling."

Luna grasped Celestia's chin with her magic, and turned her sister's head to face her. Clestia had seen Luna upset before, but not like this, not since her return anyway. With furrowed brow, and bared teeth, Luna pulled Celestia in until their muzzles were within an inch of each others.

"Nopony calls our sister a bungler, least of all herself."

Her voice was like ice, and sent a chill down Celestia's spine. All Celestia could do was stare at her sister through wide eyes, and try to nod. Upon seeing this, Luna's features softened, her magic dissipated, and she quickly pulled her sister into a hug.

"Thou art no bungler, sister. We are sorry for the way events hath played out, but thou did not act in the wrong upon meeting Lero. When dealing with a complete unknown, one doth not act from a position of weakness, to do so is to court disaster," Luna spoke, in her most soothing voice. "Furthermore, thou could not have know the side effect that casting that spell would have, suppressing his subconscious fear of thy mane, only for it to drag his practical fear of punishment back to the forefront of his mind and lodge it there once it wore off."

"Thank you, Luna," said Celestia, as she pulled back to look her sister in the eye once more.

"Sister, thou really must stop blaming thyself so harshly for everything," Luna said, with a hint of mirth.

"I know, Luna, I have been trying, but old habits are hard to break," Celestia sighed.

"Perhaps thou now know what to do, the next time thou hast some spare time?" Luna suggested.

"Yes, Luna, and I think I know just where to start," said Celestia, with a smile.

"Wonderful," Luna exclaimed with a small bounce, "it will be so nice to see thee... mixing it up?"

"I see you've been paying at least some attention to your modern speech instructor," Celestia jibed.

Luna blushed.

"It is still quite confusing, what they hath done with the language in our absence. So much of the poetry of conversation seems to have been lost, in favor of making up ever more terms for vulgarity," she said, as a scowl crept across her features.

Luna was referring to an ill timed trip through the royal kitchens one night. She had happened upon a pair of young chefs, who had been discussing how much they would love to get a taste of her 'moon pie' only to become very quiet once they realized that she was there. The look on Celestia's face, when Luna expressed her confusion over the éclairs that were served for desert that night, was truly one to remember.

"Oh, come now," Celestia tittered, bringing her sister back to the present, "it's not all bad."

"If thou insist, sister."

"Although, I must ask, when do you plan to take a more active role in Equestria? You have been back for over a year now," Celestia said, giving her sister a slight nudge.

"We do not know, sister," Luna said , hanging her head. "Every time we think we are ready, something comes up to prove that we are not."

"Oh, Luna, is it really so difficult? I mean, Lero knew very little about Equestrian culture, and he has adapted well. Maybe you could ask him for some pointers," Celestia suggested.

Luna let out a groan.

"Perhaps I would, sister, if I could speak to him without making a foal of myself," Luna complained.

"What do you mean?" asked Celestia.

"The first time we tried to speak to him, we were so surprised that he could see us that we slipped right out of his dream. At first, we thought it merely some fluke, until the same thing happened not a fortnight later. We still do not even understand how he keeps seeing us; were we in any pony's dream, we could trot right up to them without being detected, if we so chose. But, with this human, no sooner do we enter his dream then he becomes lucid, tis maddening."

"Perhaps, you are trying a little too hard, Luna," Celestia said, with a smile. "Why don't you try letting him come to you, instead of seeking him out?"

"We suppose it could not hurt, we certainly have no better ideas," Luna grumbled.

"Wonderful,-" Celestia wrapping her sister in a hug, "-I look forward to hearing what you learn."

As Celestia finished the embrace, her vision fell upon the grandfather clock in the corner of the room.

"Gracious, is that the time? This has indeed been a long day," she said, with a yawn.

"Indeed, sister, thou should probably look into getting some rest, thou only have a couple more months to enjoy the extra-long nights," Luna teased.

"Yes, yes, you're right," Celestia said, as she made her way to the door, only to stop upon reaching it. Remembering the reason that she had come to her sister in the first place, Celestia couldn't help asking, "Still, Luna, will you please keep watch over-"

"Sister, rest assured, when there is a change in her condition, thou shall be the first to know," Luna answered, before Celestia could even finish.

"Thank you, sister, good night."

"Sleep well, Celestia, thou hath earned it."

As her sister left, Luna turned once more to the balcony. The night was already well and truly started, and she had yet to receive a single summon to her court. If this night played out like most, then she probably wouldn't receive any until early in the morning when ponies started showing up looking to start the day court, only to find that it would not be starting for another four or five hours. While this did depress her, somewhat, it was still not all bad. With her court not truly starting unlit halfway through the work night, it left her free to spend less time with the stuffy nobles, (even after a thousand years, some ponies never changed) and more time on the more enjoyable duties of a princess of the night.

This night would, hopefully, prove interesting indeed. With a quick flap of her wings she took to the air, eager to see what kind of dreams her subjects were enjoying this evening. Hopefully, this time she would be able to make it through one particular subject's dreams without a bunch of metal chariots screaming at her.

****

As she emerged from the thick fog that made up the borders of most dreams, Luna took a moment to brush the chocolate sprinkles from her mane. Honestly, doth the pink one never tire of sweets? Taking a moment to get her bearings, Luna was surprised to find herself in what she recognized as the center of Ponyville.

"Well, this is unexpected," she muttered, aloud.

Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, Luna was about to take cover until she realized that it was not the one she was seeking. The movement turned out to be a earth pony mare with a pink coat and blond mane. She was heading in Luna's direction, and the princess was about to call out to the pony when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. As Luna was moving to get a closer look at her, the mare suddenly did an about face and began trotting back the way she had come. Looking around, Luna could see many ponies going through similar motions.

Ah, background characters. When a dreaming mind needed multiple ponies, but couldn't think of anything in particular for them to do, this was the usual result. Depending on what, exactly, they were doing it could be more than a little unnerving, but in cases like this, Luna actually found it rather humorous, especially when she bumped into a background character that she recognized.

As if drawn to her thoughts, Luna was stunned to see the statuesque form of her sister come into view. There she was, Princess Celestia, trotting along with wings spread, head held high, and several guards in tow. They were apparently walking laps around town hall, never in all her life had Luna seen her sister relegated to the role of background character.

While the situation brought a smile to he face, Luna had to remind herself that she was here for a reason. Taking to the air, she quickly began searching the streets below for any signs of movement that did not look static. It did not take her long to find what she was looking for. Below her, sitting at an open table outside of what she could only assume was a diner, was her target, the unmistakable form of the human, Lero. Luna quickly realized, however, that he was not alone. Sitting across from him was none other than the human mare, who had recently appeared.

Luna set down about half a block from the two humans so that she was behind Lero and proceeded to wait. If this dream was anything like his others, then he should have been aware of her by now. From where Luna was standing, Lero appeared to be staring at the mare, his elbows were on the table and his head rested in his hands. For her part the mare didn't seem to be doing much of anything, Luna was easily within her field of vision, yet she hadn't moved in the slightest. Instead, the human mare just sat there with her arms hanging at her sides, and a blank expression on her face. As Luna watched, the minutes kept ticking by. Finally, after what felt like hours, but was probably closer to ten minutes, with no change she finally decided to take the initiative.

With slow, deliberate steps Luna drew closer. At about fifteen paces she decided that she was close enough.

"HAIL, GOOD HUMAN!" The royal Canterlot voice rang out. "WE WOULD HAVE A WORD WITH THEE!"

As the nearby windows finished rattling Lero turned, wide eyed, and with a hand on his chest, to regard the princess and stood up.

"Please don't yell like that," he asked, as he walked around the table, and propped up the woman who had begun to tilt to one side. "You're liable to shake her out of her chair."

Luna put a hoof to her mouth and cleared her throat, then continued in a softer, but still commanding tone.

"Forgive us, we did not realize that she was so precariously perched," said Luna, while examining the two humans. "You are the one called, Lero, are you not?"

"Yeah, that's me," Lero replied, "and you must be Princess Luna?"

"Yes, we are Luna, guardian of the night, and protector of dreams," she said, with pride.

"Not to mention, provider of unwanted awareness," Lero muttered.

"Unwanted awareness?" Luna repeated.

Lero's eye widened as his gaze snapped back to the princess, he had spoken those words so softly that even he had barely heard them. Then again, if this princess could enter and manipulate dreams at will, she was probably aware of quite a few things going on around them that even he was not. He would have to be careful about what he said and did around her, the last thing he wanted was to offend royalty.

"I'm sorry, Princess, that was rude of me," he admitted, "it's just that we were having a nice conversation, before I became lucid." Lero looked back at the woman with longing, then promptly walked over to a nearby table, grabbed one of its chairs, and pulled it back to the one he was sitting at. Holding the chair out, he beckoned for Luna to sit. Luna smiled at the gesture.

"Tis customary for the mare to do that," she said, taking a step forward.

"Not where I'm from, Princess, and if we're doing this in my dream, then we're doing it my way," Lero said, with a smile.

"Fair enough, we suppose that... oh my."

As she approached, Luna began to get a much better appreciation of the size of these humans. While not as imposing as her sister, Luna was still a good bit larger than the average pony. Yet, even she felt somewhat dwarfed by Lero's towering form, to which her head was roughly chest high.

"Something wrong, Princess?" Lero asked.

"Tis nothing, we were simply taken aback. We had heard rumors of thy intimidating stature, but had dismissed them as exaggeration. It would seem, however, that they were rooted in truth," Luna finished, as she took her seat.

"Yeah, a lot of ponies have trouble with that at first." Once Luna was seated Lero did the same. "So, I hope your presence here means something has changed," he said, glancing at the woman across the table.

Luna's smile faded before she spoke. "We are sorry, Lero, but her situation remains the same."

Lero visibly deflated at those words. Though Luna could not read his expressions vary well, his lowered head, and sagging shoulders made it clear that his hopes had just been crushed.

"There isn't anything you can do? I mean, you’re the princess of dreams, can't you go into her head and just wake her up?" Lero asked, in a defeated tone.

"We have tried, Lero, multiple times, but the coma she is in is so deep that she doesn’t even appear to be dreaming. When we enter her dreaming mind, we find nothing but a black void. The most that we see manifest are the brief images of animals, and parts of rooms. None of which provide enough purchase for us to take hold of to guide her back to wakefulness."

"So, we're stuck waiting?" Lero asked.

"For the time being, yes."

The two of them sat in silence for a while, Lero looking forlornly at the woman, and Luna unsure of what, if anything, she could say to comfort him.

"Pray tell, why dose she not move?" Luna asked.

"Pardon?"

"Thou said before that the two of thee were having a conversation," Luna pointed out.

"Yeah, we were talking about Equestria. I was explaining the ins and outs of your society, telling her what she would need to know to get by, and anything else that she might ask about."

"And, then?" Luna prodded.

"Well, then you showed up. As soon as I became aware that I was dreaming, I remembered that I don't actually know enough about her to know how she would talk. I don't know what her voice sounds like, what her mannerisms are; I don't even know what color her eyes are," he finished, gesturing towards her with his hands.

"From here, they appear to be green," Luna commented.

"That's because, until a few minuets ago, my imagination was filling in the blanks. Once I remembered that I don't know her, though, she just went limp. It was like somebody cut the strings of a puppet."

"I am sorry for that, Lero, but take heart, thou are not the only one hoping that she awakens quickly, our sister is most eager to meet her as well, and pesters us constantly for news," Luna said, trying to brighten the mood.

"I can relate," Lero replied. "I swing by the hospital after work each day for an update, by the time I get home Twilight is practically chomping at the bit for news." Lero smiled at the thought.

"How is thy herd doing, by the way? We imagine this must be almost as much a shock for them as it is for thee."

"Well, like I said, Twilight is eager for any kind of information. Especially now that she's banned from the hospital for trying to run tests on her without the doctor's permission."

Luna's eyes went wide.

"We had thought her wiser than that!" she exclaimed.

"Now, now, it was really nothing harmful, she just wanted to help, but when Doc Signs walked in, and saw her trying to set up a brainwave scanner... Well, let's just say that the Doc can really raise his voice, when he wants to. Twilight has been banned from visiting our friend here, until Signs says otherwise."

Luna did her best to stifle a laugh. She had heard of the eagerness with which Twilight Sparkle could pursue knowledge, hopefully this would convince her to rain it in a little.

"As for Rainbow, and Lyra, sure they're concerned too, sometimes Lyra is right there at the door with Twilight, and Dash keeps asking if there's anything she can do to help, it kills me to keep telling her there isn't, almost as much as it kills me knowing that there's nothing I can really do." Lero was once again looking at the woman across the table, that same helpless expression on his face. "I hate feeling so useless."

"We understand, Lero, but there are times when watching is all that thou can do. Take heart though, it has only been a fortnight since she arrived, tis still very possible that she will awaken."

"But, what if she doesn’t?"

"Do not think about that!" Luna ordered. "We realize that it may sound trite, but right now the best thing that thou can do is believe in her, Lero. Dwelling on what ifs will only sap thy spirit." Luna's voice was calm once again, though it still held a commanding tone.

"Do you really think it's that easy?" Lero asked, "Just have faith and don't worry about it?"

"Of course not, it will likely be very difficult, but that is what thy herd is for, Lero. Reassure them, let them reassure thee, and take comfort in each other, but do not let thyself slip into despair, it will only lead thee down a darker path."

Lero knew she was right, weather he liked it or not, there was nothing else that he could do, but think positive. So, he would think positive.

"Alright, Princess, if that's all we can do then that's what we'll do. Just gotta keep looking on the bright side, I can do that. Heck, that's pretty much what I've been doing since day one here," he said, straitening himself up.

"We are glad to hear it," Luna replied, "With that, however, we believe it is time we took our leave." As she rose to leave, Lero held up his hand.

"Hey, I thought you said there was something else you wanted to talk about."

"Oh, it can wait," she said. "As we recall, thou were having a rather pleasant dream, and we should let thee get back to it. Do not worry though, we will speak again soon," she said, with a smile.

"Well alright, if you really have to go," he said, with a wave.

With one last wave good buy, Luna let herself slip through the walls of Lero's mind, and back into the waking world, fading from view as she did so.

"You still with me over there?"

"Huh?" Lero turned his attention back to his companion, scratching a sudden itch in the back of his head. "Sorry, my mind was elsewhere. Um, where were we?"

Rolling her eyes, the woman said, "You were telling me about the princesses, then you kind of trailed off."

"Right, that. Well it turns out the younger one can actually enter people's dreams, and talk to them."

"That sounds a little creepy, if you ask me," she replied.

"Yeah, but don't worry, I have a feeling that she's actually a really nice girl," he said, with a smile.

Author's Note

Well, this took longer than I thought it would. Nothing like a pep talk with Luna. By the way, in case anyone dosen't know, a fortnight is two weeks.