“Signed, by The Princess of the Night, Princess Luna,” Luna mumbled as she finally finished the last tax form. It had taken a while and the huge pile had been rather intimidating at first, but she had finally finished her work for today.
Moving the form towards the “completion” pile, Luna raised herself from her haunches and moved towards the door, eager to get a snack and perhaps a nap too. Yesterday’s workload had been rather large after all and had thus resulted into her working until early in the morning.
Just as she was about to open the door with her magical grasp, the door opened before her. In the doorway there stood a stallion, his face hidden by another massive pile of scrolls. “These just came in from the department of-”
“Let me guess, the royal treasury?” Luna interrupted, her voice filled with defeat as seemingly the treasury had once more robbed her of the little free time she was given by her sister.
The stallion moved the stack of scrolls slightly to the right, allowing him to see the night monarch. “Where would you have them, Princess Luna?”
“Just place them next to the others,” Luna sighed as she gestured towards her pile of already completed tax forms.
The stallion gave a quick nod before moving towards the desk and placing the rather large pile of scrolls next to the others. “My, I must say princess, they sure know where to send them; don’t they?” He said with a bit of a grin, although he quickly lost it once he noticed Luna’s rather annoyed expression.
“Yes, sadly they do…” Luna said with a rather unamused tone as she began to walk back to her desk, the thoughts of signatures and horn cramps already filling her mind once more.
Giving the pile a closer look, Luna sighed for what seemed the thousandth time that day. A pile that big would certainly mean an all nighter again… Not that she disliked working under her beloved jeweled sky of course, it was just the fact that lack of sleep and stress had been catching up with her lately.
I do wonder how my sister does all of this, I cannot imagine the workload she must have went through throughout my banishment. Luna thought as she sat down again, her magical grasp already unfolding one of the scrolls and picking up a quill.
Just as she was about to dip the tip of the quill into the ink, a loud tapping noise coming from the balcony made her look up. Looking towards the stallion as if to ask if she wasn’t just hearing things, Luna moved towards the balcony and opened the curtains, revealing her sister’s phoenix, Philomena.
Seeing that she was finally being noticed, the phoenix screeched softly and pecked against the glass once more, as if to say ‘Let me in!’
A look of confusion appeared on Luna’s face once she noticed the fiery bird, although curiosity soon took over. Was that a small note attached to Philomena’s leg? Opening the window, Luna allowed the bird to fly into her room. Once the phoenix was inside, Luna quickly shut the window, the cold winter breeze making her office already feel so much colder.
Finding a nice spot to rest, Philomena screeched a few times once more. Why did Luna take so long? Didn’t she know Celestia had a habit for tying these things way too tightly? The fact that it was an especially cold winter day didn’t make the waiting any more enjoyable either!
Moving towards the phoenix, Luna untied the small scroll which was tied on it’s leg. “Thank you, Philomena, I shall see to it that you’ll be rewarded for this.” Luna said with a smile as she took the scroll with her magical grasp.
Noticing the stallion was still in her room, Luna coughed a few times, hoping the stallion would catch the hint.
Hearing Luna cough, the stallion gave the moon princess an awkward smile. “Uhm… I’ll just… go now…” He said with a somewhat embarrassed grin, why was he always so curious? But then again… This was the princess receiving a personal message from her sister.
Once the stallion had left, Luna closed the doors and locked them before she unfolded the note.
Dear Luna,
It has recently come to my attention that you’ve been overworking to such an extent that you went multiple nights without sleep. While you may feel like this is your duty as a princess of Equestria, this is simply not healthy, sister.
This is why I’ve decided to share your burden, and give you the rest of the day and tomorrow off. Get some sun, little sis. I’ve heard you haven’t been outside for days.
Your sister, Celestia.
Luna was a bit baffled by this and even read the note a second time to see if she had not been mistaken. Had her sister just given her a day off? A day where she could sleep in?! A day where there would be no horn cramps or hours wasted on make-up, trying to hide the bags under her eyes?!
A day off… When was even the last time she was given a day off?! One hundred? Two hundred? Maybe even three hundred years before her banishment?
What was she going to do though? Surely a day like that could not be wasted, right? Perhaps she could go out flying? Maybe finally pay Cloudsdale a visit again? She had been thinking about it for quite some time after all, yet duties had repeatedly forced her to stay in Canterlot.
Luna’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud growl coming from her stomach. Perhaps I should start with that snack. Luna thought as she licked her lips at the thought of that caramel apple she had been looking forward to all day.
Just as Luna was about to leave the room, a screech could be heard from behind. “I almost forgot about you, didn’t I, Philomena?” Luna asked, getting another screech from Philomena in response. The phoenix just couldn’t understand it, how could the moon princess forget her? The only phoenix in the entire Castle?!
“Now, why don’t you come with me to the kitchens, Philomena? I believe I still owe you a reward for your job well done?” Luna said. This resulted into the fiery bird getting onto Luna’s back and screeching once more as if to say ‘I’m ready! Let’s go!’.
Not that she really deserved one though. It was a mere delivery assignment, even an elderly pidgeon could’ve done it! This was nothing for a mighty phoenix like her! That being said though… She wouldn’t refuse a tasty treat from the moon princess. It was almost always better than those tasteless seeds Celestia would give her if she had done something good.
After a short trip through the castle halls, the pair arrived at the kitchen. Philomena was already screeching in joy at the thought of some tasty fruit.
Trotting straight towards the fruit bowl, Luna used her magic to pick a few small grapes for the phoenix before moving towards the fridge for a sweet, yet a bit sticky, caramel apple.
One of the pros of being an alicorn. Luna thought as she levitated one of the caramel covered apples towards her mouth whilst watching how the phoenix happily feasted on the sweet tasting grapes Luna had given her.
As soon as only a few tiny seeds were left over of the once fruity grapes, the phoenix flew up again, screeching a few times as if to say ‘Thank you, Luna,’ before flying off again, on her way towards the sun princess.
Luna smiled as she received a “thank you”, perhaps she would have to invest some time in finding a pet of her own? It would be nice to have some company whilst working. Maybe an immortal creature of her own?
Deciding she would do some research later, Luna finished her caramel covered apple and began to move towards her own personal quarters. Even just thinking about the soft princess-sized bed made her eyelids heavy. Finally some real sleep!
As Luna approached her room, she gave a nod in acknowledgement towards the guards before opening the doors. Shutting them once more once she was inside, Luna would finally have some peaceful slumber again without having to worry what the next day would bring.
Luna finished undressing by removing her crown and necklace with her magical grasp and then
kicking off her silver hoofwear in an un-princess like way before allowing herself to fall onto the bed whilst levitating the blanket.
As soon as she could feel the soft texture on her coat, Luna dropped the blanket, the thick and comforting collection of cloth slowly landing on her tired body. “Ugh…” Luna groaned in pleasure, happy to finally get some real rest. She would have to see if Celestia could give these kind of days more often.
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Rays of sunlight fell on Luna’s closed eyes. A slight groan escaped her lips, as she slowly opened her still sleep ridden eyes. “Ugh…” Luna groaned again, what time was it? She couldn’t have slept all night, could she?
Slowly getting out of bed, Luna sleepily trotted towards the curtains before opening them, the sudden bright light forcing her to shield her eyes. How could it already be daytime? Normally it was still dark when she got up.
Wait, daytime? But she hadn’t lowered the moon, had she? Celestia must have done so then I guess. Luna thought as she yawned. What time was it anyways? Looking at a nearby clock, Luna yawned once more.
10 AM? Good then I still have sometime to get rea-Wait, 10 AM?! Luna’s eyes went wide as she realized she had overslept. What now? She had missed night court and was already behind on her working schedule! Oh, that would mean another all nighter…
Rushing to the bathroom, Luna hastily filled a bucket with water as she looked around for her toothbrush. Warm water? Luna thought, looking at the bucket. She could easily heat it with some magic but she didn’t have time for that! Luxury is something for the early birds I suppose… Luna thought as she lifted the bucket with her magic before emptying it all over herself.
The cold water streamed down her coat as the alicorn emitted a small yelp from the sudden wake-up call. Ignoring the dripping water from her coat, Luna began to brush her teeth furiously as she rushed outside to get her hoofwear, tiara and necklace. Normally she’d also wear some make-up but there was no time for that now! She couldn’t be late as a Princess of Equestria!
Just as she was about to step into her hoofwear, Luna noticed a rather familiar scroll lying on top of her tiara. This couldn’t have happened, could it?... Had she really… With the cold water and… “Ugh…” Luna groaned as she dropped her head down.
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Luna slowly took another sip from her hot chocolate as she looked down from the balcony towards one of the few open fields in Canterlot.
Foals were playing in the snow, snowflakes slowly falling down towards the ground. Winter really was the best time of the year. Not just because of the fact that her moon remained high in the sky for the longest time of the year, but also because Luna enjoyed the playful aspects of it. Snowball fights, snowponies, the upcoming holidays like Hearth’s Warming Eve.
She sighed once as she took another sip from her hot drink. When had been the last time she had participated in a snowball fight? Or for that matter, had some real fun? It was almost funny, how all little fillies wished to be a princess whilst Luna wished to be a real little filly again. Life had been so much easier back then.
As Luna watched how the foals played, a small idea popped up into her head. She still hadn’t made any plans for today and her idea was certainly well within her capability.
Finishing her drink and trotting back inside, Luna opened the doors of her room and addressed the two guards guarding it. “Ironhoof, Glacial Night, would you two be so kind to get me a few books from the library?” Luna asked nicely. She received a ‘yes, ma’am’ from both of them as a reply.
I do wonder when the day will come I’ll hear a ‘no, sorry ma’am’ Luna thought as she levitated some parchment from her nearby desk. She wouldn’t mind it, really, they were just ponies after all too, and she would respect that.
Perhaps it would be even better for her to just occasionally hear a “no” or two, those sweets from Nightmare Night had been catching up with her lately and some exercise would do her flanks some good.
Glacial Night accepted the scroll with his magic and nodded. “We’ll get right on it, ma’am.”
Hearing this, Luna smiled and closed the door again, she still had much planning to do after all.
