White and Pink

Inside Celestia’s studio, Raven looked from the window, where the sunrise could be seen, to the plans for the Spring Festival she had fixed the seating arrangement for. “Impressive. This is even more detailed than Celestia’s own plans.”

“I know, right?” The small purple dragon seated on the desk smiled at her, pride in her friend clearly showing. “That’s Pinkie for you; she can really plan a party.”

“I can, can’t I?” A smiling pink pony, her mane completely puffed, walked through the door.

“Pinkie!” Spike ran towards her. He prepared to jump on her neck, but stopped short. “It’s you, isn’t it? I’m not trying to tackle Celestia, am I?”

“Indeed that is Pinkie Pie.” Celestia stood at the door, her usual smiling, her mane and tail waving to an intangible wind. “Though right now I would like a small, private  party to celebrate the end of our ordeal. I believe my schedule is still empty, right, Raven?”

Raven looked back skeptically. “It is indeed empty, your highness. But —”

“You still worry that something of Pinkie remained in me. Rest assured, I’m in control, and in any case Twilight assured me any side-effects would be temporary.” Celestia turned to Luna. “What do you say, Sister, care to join us?”

“Not this time,” said Luna, suppressing a yawn. “I have been awake for over a full day already. Good night.”

Luna stretched languidly, bathed in the red light of the sunset that entered by her large bedroom windows, after sleeping through the day.

It was deserved, she decided. Yesterday she wasn’t able to sleep at all, chasing hints of how to bring Celestia back the whole day, and then went directly into her night duties.

She chuckled, imagining if it was possible for her to even fall asleep while dreamwalking. At least, if it happened, she could claim that it was just a dream, that it was not the real Luna.

Well rested, Luna decided to spend the time until she had to raise the moon at the observation deck. Just some calm, quiet…

And, as she arrived there, a gray pegasus pulling a small red cart. Seeing the princess the pegasus smiled widely, announcing, “Delivery!”

It was unusual, but not completely unheard of. Luna smiled back, asking sweetly, “Which one is my package?”

“This. And this. And that. And…” The gray pegasus shrugged. “ I think all of them.”

“What?”

Tossing one large envelope towards Luna, the pegasus said, “Twilight asked me to deliver hers first. She said you would understand.”

Luna caught the envelope in her magic, opening it and its contents in one fluid movement. “This is a copy of the Daily Jingle. What — Wait, ‘Luna in love with Muffins?’ What is the meaning of this?”

Reading the article Luna groaned. It was written by one Blotted Letters, the same reporter that once turned a silly joke Luna made about Celestia needing a special somepony into an article about Celestia having a secret lover.

Luna sighed. It was obvious the excuse about finding where some muffins were purchased would leak; Luna just never imagined it would be reported as a full search by half of the castle staff. Which meant…

She lighted her horn and lifted the parcels from the pegasus’ cart, examining them. As she feared, every one was a bunch of muffins, sent by express delivery; seemed like half the bakers from Manehattan to Las Pegasus wanted the chance to impress a princess with her newly revealed “favorite food” and, perhaps, earn a royal commendation. She groaned…

And noticed the pegasus looking lovingly at the muffins. Smiling, Luna asked, “Do you like muffins?”

The pegasus’ face lit like a winter heart. “Oh, yeah, very much.”

“Can you keep a secret?” asked Luna with a wink.

On the bottom of the vault, a shadowy form stirred, forgotten.