Fragments

“I do not like this.”

Midnight Runner, former captain of Luna’s royal night guard, flicked his ear in his princess’s direction, eyes never leaving their forward-facing position. He kept his silence, knowing Luna was simply venting, rather than looking for a conversation partner.

“This is not fair. We do not deserve this.”

The alicorn loomed over the small pegasus, then leaned down to peer at her consort. “Do you not agree?”

Midnight turned only his head to look at her, blinking sightless silver eyes in acknowledgment, before tilting his head to the side. “I do not understand what you are trying to say.”

Luna sat back on her carriage seat, wings shuffling against her sides. She spread her hooves to take in the rest of the plush carriage interior. “All…this.”

Midnight looked at her, then blinked slowly, deliberately widening his pale eyes. Luna blushed, looking down at her hooves. “I do not think my sister sending us away was wise,” she said after a few minutes of getting her thoughts in order.

“We are two ponies a thousand years out of time,” Midnight pointed out. “We would be getting in her way if we stayed in Canterlot.”

“She could’ve kept us as statues.”

Midnight frowned, ears twitching. “I do not think that was her doing.”

Luna stared at Midnight, then at his white muzzle, then down his coal-colored neck, and over the rest of his dark form, broken up by white-tipped wings and hooves. She smiled slightly. “Rock was never really your color.”

“I do not understand.”

Luna sighed. “Come here.”

Midnight got to his hooves, setting them on the floor of the carriage, then stepped over to Luna, who looked down at the little pegasus that barely came up to her barrel, then guided him to the seat beside her. He sat down, pulling his hooves under himself, and looked at his princess.

She brushed his silver-red striped mane back from his face, tsking softly. “You should have gotten it cut before we left.”

“Because it gets in the way.”

Luna’s lips twitched. “It blocks your pretty eyes, yes.”

Midnight snorted at that. “So did your sister tell you where she was sending us?”

“A little rustic town called Ponyville.” Luna’s voice tightened. “Just outside the old castle.”

“Is that where we will be staying?”

Luna laughed, a sharp bitter bark. “It is but a crumbling inhospitable ruin.” She shook her head, her mane brushing against Midnight’s cheek. “We will have lodgings elsewhere in town.”

“Is that what you want?”

Luna breathed in, inhaling Midnight’s scent. Her body reacted almost reflexively, a hoof reaching out towards the pegasus, to draw him close, and she froze, her silver-clad hoof an inch from his chest. She forced her leg back and down, and she glared at it, lips peeling back over her teeth-

Fangs

-and she shuddered, exhaling sharply as her body rippled. Midnight’s ears came up and he pressed forward, head gently butting against hers as his eyes caught hers, anchoring her as she fell into the blackest void she had ever known, where a fanged mouth awaited to swallow her whole.

She pulled back sharply, mentally and physically, and blinked to clear the tears from her eyes as she re-centered herself. She was safe. The Nightmare was gone. Her sister had promised. Her…sister.

“So great was her reign,” she muttered harshly. “So brilliant her glory…”

“That long was the shadow she cast. Which fell dark upon the young sister she loved, and grew only darker as days and nights passed.”

Luna blinked in surprise then stared at Midnight. “So you could hear it too?”

Midnight’s smile was the saddest thing she had ever seen. “Every night, for a thousand years, she sang that lullaby to you.” He reached towards her, leaning forward when his hoof couldn’t reach her, and pressed his hoof against her heaving chest. Her heart pounded against his frog and she leaned into the physical touch gratefully. “Every night, for a thousand years, she regretted everything she had done to you.”

Luna looked away. “I know.” She rested her head against the carriage window’s cool glass. “I just wish the rest of me agreed with that sentiment.”

She didn’t have to look at Midnight to sense his confusion and she smiled grimly. She shook herself, slapping herself with her hooves lightly. “Well, that is in the past. We are in the present, and one could even say we are in the future, from a certain point of view.”

Midnight regarded his princess curiously. “A lot can change in a thousand years. Like my job.”

Luna nodded. “I do not think Equestria will need an assassin.” She looked out the window again. “One thing definitely has changed in our absence.” Her brow furrowed. “Equestria is at peace.” Her wings itched. “That feels…wrong.” She rested her front hooves on the windowsill. “What else has happened in our absence, I wonder?”

“We can always look into that in town.”

Luna twitched an ear. “Something tells me a ‘rustic’ town isn’t going to have a comprehensive library, much less ancient history.”

Midnight nodded. “True, but perhaps the local history will shed some light on matters. On what has changed.”

“Depends on the age of the town,” Luna murmured, more to herself, before she sensed the carriage starting to descend. “Well, either way, it seems we are about to meet the locals.”

Ivory Scroll, mayor mare of Ponyville, watched as the royal air carriage came to a smooth landing in front of town hall. The golden-clad pegasi that pulled it came to a stop with military precision and became still as statues, and Ivory stepped forward as the door opened and the steps came down.

A dark-coated pegasus foal came out first, to her surprise, jumping to the ground, white-tipped wings flaring as he landed. His head snapped around in her direction and she caught a flash of silver eyes, partially hidden by a long silver-red striped mane.

“Clear,” he said in a soft voice that carried far too much weight for one so young.

“You are taking this much too seriously,” came a chiding voice as a mature unicorn mare stepped out of the carriage.

“It is my job,” the little pegasus said, before nodding at Ivory Scroll. “Well-met, ma’am.”

The unicorn turned to the earth pony and nodded politely.

“You the pair from Canterlot then?” Ivory said.

The briefest look of annoyance passed over the unicorn mare’s face before she nodded. “Correct.”

“Everything’s set for your stay. The Golden Oak library should be to your liking.”

“Library?” The unicorn mare asked slowly. “Is that not a public building?”

“A lot of places in Ponyville have lodging above stores and businesses. Helps save on space to spare the farmland,” Ivory explained.

“Ah, that would explain the acres of apple trees and farm fields…” The unicorn nodded. “That is acceptable.” She turned to the pegasus foal. “Midnight?”

He nodded. “Of course-” His ears twitched, wings flared, then twisted-

“Midnight, NO!”

An orange pegasus filly, riding a speeding scooter careened toward them, and at the unicorn’s bark, Midnight’s wings softened from their killing edge, instead catching the filly, redirecting her around the other pegasus.

With a shriek of surprise, the filly went flying toward a house wall. Her body was enveloped in a bright glow, matched by the unicorn’s corona, and what would’ve been a heavy crash instead turned into a gentle bump.

The unicorn released the filly, who stood staring at the pair with wide purple eyes.

“That… Was… AWESOME!” she squealed, rising into the air on a pair of tiny humming wings, before darting toward the other pegasus, who stepped back. “How did you do that? What’s wrong with your wings? And your eyes! How did you get eyes like that?”

“Scootaloo,” Ivory said warningly, and tiredly. “We’ve been over this-”

“No one was hurt,” the unicorn interrupted, stepping forward. “It is no trouble. We will be on our way.”

Ivory glanced at her with a frown. “Ponyville isn’t that large, but you’ll still need a guide.”

“Pinkie Pie can handle it,” Scootaloo cut in. “I passed her on the way here.”

The flurry of emotions that passed over Ivory’s face was too fast for the unicorn to follow, who tilted her head.

“What’s a… Pinkie Pie?”

“She’s the…welcoming committee, for lack of a better term. She likes parties.”

The pegasus and unicorn stiffened, exchanging glances.

“Only if you want, of course,” Ivory added hastily. “She’s understanding like that, thankfully.”

“To a point,” Scootaloo said, wings buzzing excitedly. “Everyone in Ponyville gets a party eventually-”

She trailed off, looking past the pair of newcomers. “And that’s my aunts coming to get me, so I guess this is goodbye for now.” The little pegasus looked at Midnight. “I want to see you again some time though. Where are you staying?”

“Scootaloo…” Ivory warned, voice almost a growl. “Go home.”

Scootaloo sighed, and with a roll of her eyes, collected her scooter. She brushed it off and set off toward a pair of mares, who welcomed her with bowed heads and hushed words, before moving away.

“I must apologize for Scootaloo. She means well, but…well, kids…” Ivory said sheepishly.

“Kids…” the unicorn echoed thoughtfully, before looking at Midnight. “Is that not a familiar story.”

Ivory noted the amusement in her voice, then looked at Midnight again, and blinked in surprise. At first glance, he appeared a foal, but the way he carried himself was definitely that of an adult. He smiled and shook his head. “Kids indeed,” he said in amusement.

Ivory caught a flash of pink out of the corner of her eye and braced herself for the premier party planner of Ponyville to introduce herself.

“Hello Luna, hello Midnight Runner,” said a painfully pink-colored pony with bright clear blue eyes.

Ivory felt her jaw drop. This was…abnormally reserved for Pinkie. She then did a double-take at the fact she hadn’t asked for their names upon their arrival, and she stepped back, grateful for the distraction.

“I’d love to give you a proper Ponyville welcome, but neither of you seem like the type,” Pinkie Pie said, mane and tail drooping ever-so slightly. “So, you two are staying at the library?” She nodded. “Cozy lodgings. Quiet.” Her eyes ran over the two for a moment, then she smiled knowingly. “Private.” She stepped back, turning slightly. “If you’ll follow me, I can take you there?”

Luna and Midnight exchanged glances, then looked towards Ivory Scroll, then noticed she had vanished. Luna turned back to Pinkie Pie. “Lead on.”

Pinkie set off at a slow pace, allowing the other two to dictate their travel speed.

“Ivory said you are the… welcoming committee?” Luna asked. “What does that entail?”

“Usually a little welcome song and dance, maybe some local cuisine, but I just…felt like that wouldn’t suit you.”

Luna stared at the pink earth pony blankly, who chuckled with a wink. “That’s exactly why.” She turned, walking backwards as she regarded the pair curiously. Her eyes rested on Luna for a few extra seconds. “You’re not a unicorn, are you?” She waved a hoof. “Don’t ask me how I know things, please. It makes even my head spin sometimes.” She smiled slightly. “One common phrase you’ll hear around here is ‘it’s Pinkie Pie. Don’t question it’ and…I’d say that’s pretty solid advice.” Her gaze turned sad for a moment and Luna could swear her mane deflated slightly. Then it passed and the mare was all bright again.

“There’s Sugarcube Corner, and the library just beyond it. Will you be okay from here or shall I walk you to the door?”

“I think we will be fine on our own, thank you,” Luna said. “Thank you for your welcome, and your understanding.”

“I don’t suppose I can get a party promise out of you?”

“That will not be necessary.”

Pinkie shrugged. “Fair enough.” She looked at Midnight. “Take care of her, please.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hopped away, lost in her own little world.

“She scares me,” Midnight said after a few moments of watching her go, startling Luna. “I am not entirely sure why, but there is something about her that makes her hard to…see. Beyond the obvious, I mean.”

“She is Touched,” Luna said softly. “One of His.” She stared at Sugarcube Corner for a few moments before starting forward. “Might as well see what we will be living with.”

The library was…a library. Luna briefly glanced at the shelves, admiring the way the interior of the library reflected that it was part of a tree, with tables, chairs, benches, nooks, crannies, and windows all derived from the same wood, branches, leaves, roots, pulp, and bark, and she wondered how long it had taken to build.

Different doors led to a cozy private kitchen and dining room, and stairs leading up to private quarters and a basement were discreetly squirreled away from the public area, with plenty of natural insulation to dampen sounds from above and below for total privacy.

“I think my sister went a little overboard with her idea of lodging,” Luna sighed as she poked at a soft bed. Big enough for two ponies, which meant it was just barely large enough for her and Midnight, but there was a second bed that folded out of the wall. “I know she means well, but I would have settled just fine for a hotel or motel room.”

Midnight nodded, before flapping his wings a few times. He flexed the feathers, then ran through a quick series of stretches before tucking them comfortably against his sides. He could feel Luna looking at him, but for whatever reason, she was holding her silence, and he didn’t press her.

“We are creatures of the night, you and I,” Luna said. “And that makes me wonder how well Ponyville will acclimate to us.”

“Not well, I imagine,” Midnight said. “Quiet towns like this tend to have quiet nights as well, but I suspect it will be much busier in the morning once the farms wake up.”

“I look forward to it, as much as one can, at any rate,” Luna said with a yawn. She went through her own series of stretches, dispelling the glamour that hid her wings as she did so. “I do not look forward to how they will react to an alicorn among them, but I suppose it will be better to get that out of the way sooner rather than later.” She regarded herself in a mirror, then turned to look at Midnight, who was already asleep in the double bed.

Shaking her head, she joined him.

The next morning dawned bright and early, light slowly creeping through the bedroom windows. Luna’s wings felt the gentle morning heat and twitched, groggily rousing her from sleep.

She slowly opened her eyes, blinked them owlishly, then tucked her nose back down to her chest. It bumped against something and she stirred more, wings abruptly flicking the blanket she’d cocooned herself in away, and she looked down to see Midnight snuggled close. Luna smiled and nuzzled him, before slowly standing up. His hooves wrapped around her neck and he was carried up with her, and she sighed, before supporting him with a hoof.

Stepping off the bed, she looked around the bedroom. Trotting past the windows, she entered the bathroom and stared at the shower.

“Do not even think about it,” Midnight muttered drowsily.

“But I need to be clean for the townsponies.”

“Then use magic.”

“But they have warm and cold water.”

“Magic.”

“Water.”

Luna turned the water on with a huff, and stepped into the stream. She dunked her head into it and burbled happily, before spitting water onto Midnight, who glared at her. He dropped from her neck and hid under her, peering up at her.

“Most pegasi are used to water, but you are not most pegasi,” Luna mused, letting the water soak through her wings before straining most of it out with magic. She stepped back, letting Midnight get drenched. He sighed heavily, blowing water from his muzzle, face completely obscured by a bedraggled mane.

Luna saw a comb nestled against the soaps, lotions, conditioners, and other care products, and set about taming Midnight’s hair as the bathroom steamed around them.

A scant number of minutes later had them both clean and ready for the day.

Luna looked out a window, where the sun was barely cresting the horizon.

“Doubt many ponies are going to be awake, so it is good time to go for a walk, you think?” Luna asked. “Get used to some of the main thoroughfares before they get clogged by the locals.”

“Or we could simply fly above them,” Midnight pointed out. “Get them used to seeing an alicorn fly overhead.”

“Or we could simply teleport,” Luna mused.

“I would most rather not get caught inside something again because you have no idea where you are going,” Midnight countered.

“That has only happened one…two…thrice…dozens…a mere hoof-full of times,” Luna said breezily. “We will be fine.”

“Walking is fine.”

Luna flicked her tail, snickering under her breath as Midnight pretended not to hear her.

Despite the early hour, there were still a few ponies also awake and out, who regarded the pair curiously, but didn’t interact with the two newcomers.

“I was thinking about what the pink one said,” Midnight said after watching an extremely pale yellow unicorn with a blue mane and thick purple sunglasses amble away, swaying to music only she could hear. “That party of hers might be a way to break the ice with the locals.”

Luna side-eyed him curiously. “Like a diplomatic meeting. My sister’s version, at least,” she amended.

“Something tells me the pink one’s parties will put Celestia’s to shame.”

Luna stopped at that and turned to stare dumbfounded at Midnight. “You…know my sister, yes?”

Midnight met her gaze evenly.

Luna shuddered. “That bad, huh.” She looked off for a moment. “Some day soon, then.”

Midnight sniffed the air. “Apples…” he murmured. “Someone is cooking apples.”

“This early?” Luna asked, raising a brow.

“Farmers always get up early, if not with the sun itself,” Midnight pointed out. “Especially earth ponies.”

“Well, you are the one with the nose, so lead on.”

The farm was…a farm. Acres of fields stretching off over hills far as the eye could see, trees thick with apples, even at this time of year, courtesy of earth pony magic, and even fields for corn, carrots, grapes, strawberries, and several other kinds of fruits and vegetables.

Luna let out a low whistle at the sheer scope of the place. “The family that runs this place must be quite impressive.”

“We make do.”

Luna jumped in surprise as a stout earth pony mare appeared from the trees. She carried herself well, confident, green eyes bright, a simple brown hat perched atop her hay-colored mane.

“You must be the newcomers Pinkie was going on about. She warned me you might swing by today.”

“She did?” Luna asked. The “how?” slipped out on reflex and the other mare simply shook her head with a knowing grin.

“Name’s Applejack, and this here’s Sweet Apple Acres.”

The mare’s hoof grip was firm, but friendly. She eyed Midnight and Luna saw her tense slightly. If he noticed, he gave no sign, simply giving her a polite nod. Luna looked between them and frowned.

“Does he bother you?” she asked bluntly, and Applejack winced.

“Family’s always been a wee bit wary of dark coats.”

Midnight’s ears came forward. “’Dark coats breed dark minds’, as the old saying goes.”

Applejack looked abashed, and ducked her head. “I know it’s a load of hogwash, but…DUCK!”

Midnight had heard the sound of displaced wind and was already pushing Luna out of the way, then leaped to the side as a prismatic blur shot by. It angled low to the ground, then shot high into the air, burning off speed, before a cyan pegasus mare circled back around, landing in front of Applejack.

“I smelled apples,” the mare said eagerly, cerise eyes almost glowing with greed.

“Did you smell the ponies you almost plowed through?”

The pegasus mare brushed a shock of rainbow mane out of her eyes and looked back. “Oh, geez, sorry, I didn’t see you ther- Oh, are you an alicorn? OH, you-!” She caught sight of Midnight and turned around, tail sticking straight out. “YOU!”

“Me,” Midnight said bemusedly.

“You’re all over the Wonderbolt history books! Not as a Wonderbolt obviously, but back in the day, there was this wicked cool black pegasus who set all manner of records, training regiments, and restructured the entire pegasian military after the Unification War-”

The mare caught herself, coughed, then introduced herself as one Rainbow Dash, the town’s lead weather coordinator. She eyed Midnight curiously. “You look a lot like the mare in the books…”

“I get that a lot,” Midnight said, letting his voice drop from its natural state, and Rainbow blinked.

“Something tells me you get hit on a lot.”

“Physically, emotionally, and romantically, yes,” Midnight replied, fluttering his eyelashes. “I’m quite used to it, and make heavy use of it as need be.”

“Really?” Rainbow asked. “’Cause I feel like that wouldn’t work past the first lifted tail-”

Applejack loudly cleared her throat. “If you ain’t gonna eat…”

Rainbow turned to her. “Look-” She blinked at the wide array of apple-related goods that had appeared on a table seemingly out of nowhere. “Oh. Right.” She glanced at Midnight. “Another time then.”

“That is two pegasus mares I need to talk to,” Midnight mused, nosing the delicacies curiously.

“Two…? Oh, so you met Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash winced. “She didn’t run you over, did she? She tends to not pay attention when she’s riding around.”

“We have met, yes. Good kid. Means well.”

“Must be nice,” Applejack drawled as a young olive-coated earth pony with a striking red mane set out a plate filled with apple delicacies in front of Luna.

“It does, don’t it,” the younger filly said with a grin. “Here’s hoping she rubs off on you some day.”

“That’s my line, sis,” Applejack said, brow twitching. “Apple Bloom,” she said by way of introduction. “And the big galoot who set this up while you weren’t looking is Big Mac, but he’s got too much to do to stick around and chat.”

“It is not just you three on this farm, surely.” Luna said in surprise.

“We just had the rest of the family over for the Summer Sun Celebration-” Luna bit into her apples with a little more force than needed. “-but they’ve all gone, so it’s just us three and Granny Smith, who’s somewhere in town doing who-knows-what.”

“And you didn’t accompany her?” Luna asked.

“She’d smack us if we tried,” Apple Bloom said with a grin. “She wants us to get as much work in before the market opens up, so we have a good haul to sell.”

“Which means we need to get moving,” Applejack said, expertly dismantling and tucking away the tables and leftover food, leaving the plates Luna took in her magic to save them to the alicorn. “You can keep those and give them back later. Or don’t. Sun knows we get enough plates every year from the family that two going missing isn’t going to make a dent in it.”

Luna nibbled on a cobbler thoughtfully before nodding. “Our thanks, for the hospitality and meal. Perhaps some day we will be able to meet longer.” Her eyes roved over the farmland and she smiled. “This is a beautiful place.”

Applejack pulled her hat low to hide her blush.

Rainbow Dash joined them as they left the acres.

“You two seem like more interesting company than sitting in a tree until work starts,” she said. “Plus, I can introduce you to some of the locals.” She nodded down the path towards town, where Luna could hear and see the start of a farmer’s market forming.

Rainbow peered at Midnight. “So, you’re blind? How’d you land a mare like Luna?”

“I do not understand.”

“I think she is asking how you came to be in my service?” Luna’s ears turned towards the weather pony. “With some undertones of jealousy, if I am not mistaken.”

“I take all kinds,” Rainbow Dash said without shame. “Could always start a herd, ya know?”

Luna laughed at that. “I could. I have. But that was a long time ago, and the breakup was not worth the heartache.”

“It happens,” Dash said with a shrug. “Could always tell your story to Rarity. She loves a good tragedy.” She looked up at the sky with a furrowed brow. “Except she won’t be awake for hours yet.” She then perked up. “Hey Fluttershy! You’re early!” The mare took off towards a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail.

“She’s…lively,” Midnight noted, watching the prismatic pegasus interact with her friend.

“She’s a pegasus. Flighty, easily distracted. Pretty fast though. Might have some Hurricane blood in her line.”

They entered the market, where ponies were quietly hawking their wares. Luna perused some flowers while Midnight followed along, ears twitching this way and that.

“That orange filly from before has been following us,” he said as Luna stepped away from a stall.

“Probably eager to barrage you with questions about your…everything,” Luna remarked.

“The little apple seed has joined her.”

Luna glanced back to see a tell-tale bow peeking over the back of an empty market stall marked with a trio of apples. “Not the most stealthy girls in town. Why not go and say hello?”

“By your leave.”

“Have they moved?”

Apple Bloom peered around the stall, watching as the light blue pony talked with Daisy and Lily. “I can see the tall one, but the other has disappeared.” She frowned. “Hold on, didn’t you say she was a unicorn? ‘Cause I can see wings.”

“What?” Scootaloo poked her head out and squinted. “Huh. Weird. I know she was the one that caught me. Does that mean she’s like Princess Celestia?”

“Wouldn’t she have said something to the country if they’d found another alicorn?”

Scootaloo pulled back and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe… Except that feels like something she would’ve brought up during the celebration…”

“Maybe… Her mark’s a moon. Do you think she’s related to Princess Celestia? Kind of a sun/moon…sim…sym…uh…pairing?”

“Could be…” Scootaloo mused, before stepping around Midnight. She did a double-take, then leaped back in surprise.

“May I inquire as to why you two are following us?”

“Just curious,” Scootaloo said defensively.

“Then why not approach us?”

“You don’t just…approach ponies you don’t know.”

Midnight blinked. “Then how do you get to know them?”

Scootaloo’s wings drooped and she looked away. Apple Bloom stepped forward. “Usually during one of Pinkie’s parties, where it’s a little less awkward to introduce yourself since everyone else is as well.” She nudged Scootaloo. “That also doesn’t immediately make you their best friend.”

“You and Sweetie approached me,” Scootaloo said, cheeks coloring. “We joined the crusade so we wouldn’t be lonely and markless forever.”

“There you are, Midnight. I was wondering where you had gotten to. Find anything interesting?” Luna asked as she approached. She looked at the two fillies curiously. “I do not think we can keep these though.”

Scootaloo’s cheeks turned pink and her ears went flat. Apple Bloom stared up at Luna curiously.

“Are you related to Princess Celestia?”

“She is my sister,” Luna confirmed with a nod.

“Where’d you come from?”

“We share a mother.”

It was Apple Bloom’s turn to blush as Scootaloo choked back a snort and Luna’s lips twitched slightly.

“You have seen the mare in the moon, correct?”

The two fillies nodded, then looked at Luna, glanced at each other with matching frowns as the gears turned.

“You’re…the mare in the moon?” Apple Bloom suggested.

“I thought there was something off about the moon recently…” Scootaloo muttered. “So…like what, you were stuck in the moon for some reason?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Luna said.

“No, wait, hold on. Before you tell us this, it might actually be better to save it for Pinkie’s party, so you can tell everyone at once instead of having to repeat it to everyone you meet,” Apple Bloom said, waving her hooves. “Have you set a date for that yet?”

“I would much rather settle in first before rushing through introductions,” Luna replied.

Apple Bloom nodded slowly. “Makes sense. Scootaloo rushed hers, so she has to keep telling everyone she isn’t an orphan, and is living with her aunts.” She bumped her hip affectionately against the other filly’s. “Not helped by you only ever being seen around town either by yourself or with the other Crusaders.”

“What are the… Crusaders?” Luna asked.

“Schoolponies, with and without their marks, each helping one another figure out what they’re good at, with branches spread out through several major cities all over Equestria,” Scootaloo said proudly.

“Morning, girls,” Rainbow Dash said as she flew other, followed by the yellow pegasus she had flown off to meet. She tousled Scootaloo’s hair and flicked her tail at the mare behind her as she spoke to Luna and Midnight. “This here’s Fluttershy, the most aptly-named mare in Equestria.”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “She’s exaggerating.” Luna and Midnight craned their ears towards her quiet voice. “Maybe back when I was a filly, sure, but I’ve changed a lot since flight camp.” She looked at Midnight and Luna, dipping her head politely. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” She looked around, then at the stall they were all standing around. “Applejack’s not here yet?”

“She was putting things together when we left the Acres,” Rainbow explained.

Fluttershy brushed her mane out of her eyes, then giggled as Midnight mirrored her, before noticing his eyes. “Oh. You have such lovely eyes. You should get Rarity to cut your mane so others can see them better.”

“I keep telling him he needs his mane cut, but he ignores me at every turn,” Luna lamented.

Fluttershy’s grin was almost feral. “It’s very hard to say no to Rarity, although she at least knows when to stop pushing. Sometimes.”

“Speaking from experience,” Rainbow said in a stage whisper that had Scootaloo and Apple Bloom snickering into their hooves.

“Sounds like a fun mare,” Luna said, stepping away from the stall. “However, there are still parts of Ponyville I would like to see, so if you’ll excuse me…”

Midnight fell into step beside her and everyone watched them go.

“She seems aloof,” Fluttershy said. “Like she doesn’t want to be here.”

“What did you expect from a princess?” Rainbow Dash asked, as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom ran off to do that which only Crusaders could do. “Still, she at least seems friendly enough, which is a nice change of pace from how most newcomers or visitors are.”

“Speaking from experience,” Fluttershy said slyly, causing the other pegasus to wince. Looking around, Rainbow brightened.

“Hey Applejack! You sure took your sweet time!”

“I think I understand why our sister sent us here,” Luna said as she and Midnight wandered the streets of Ponyville. “She wants me to make friends, to… socialize.”

“And is that a bad thing?”

Luna looked towards Canterlot. “No, of course not. It’s just a little irritating when you’re not told about it before getting sent off.” She stopped, and rested a wing on Midnight’s back. “Plus, it is always strange making friends with those so much younger than yourself.”

“You do not look a day over six hundred,” Midnight remarked. “The prime of your life.”

Luna sighed and tipped him over with her wing. “There are times I wonder why I love you.”

Midnight tilted his head and the alicorn mare shook hers. “Maybe I am just stupid, you know?”

“At least you can be stupid with someone you love, and who loves you as well?”

“Maybe.”