Chapter 02: An Audience with the Princess of Friendship

Finally, after a whole day of trying (and failing) to organize her friends into properly moving her into her new castle, Twilight had time to herself. Celebrating the defeat of Tirek had delayed the move for two days before someone finally realized that Twilight had nowhere to properly lay her head down and rest.

That fact instantly sent Rarity on a three day fit over properly turning the new castle into a home. Not just any home mind you! No friend of hers —who just so happened to be a princess no less— was going to settle for just any old interior to live in. There was no stopping the fashionista once she pulled idea-after-idea from her creative head to give the castle “some life”.

Honestly, Twilight didn't even know half of the things Rarity did to the place. Rarity had gotten through showing her the dining area before literally collapsing onto her face and falling asleep. Twilight didn't tell anyone, but she suspected a certain princess of the night to be responsible for that.

The thought brought a smile to her face, and it only grew when she thought about Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Both ponies had volunteered to help move the furniture inside and rearrange it to Rarity's wishes. The job had started out simple enough, but as the furniture grew in weight, so did their competitive natures. Before long, the two competed to see who could fill the room to Rarity's specification the fastest. Everything spiraled out of control from there.

AJ had hogtied an entire sitting room's worth of furniture together and flung them into place. She very nearly confirmed Twilight's theories on Earth Pony magic by somehow managing to land every piece of furniture in place. If only Rarity hadn't wanted the cushy, red chair a little to the left...

Her rainbow-maned friend wasn't any less impressive. Not to be outdone by AJ's legendary rodeo skills, Rainbow Dash haphazardly shoved every piece of furniture into the dining room in record time. Right before Rarity could nearly scream in outrage, the pegasus shot around the room in a whirlwind of color and feathers. In a jaw-dropping three passes, she put everything into place. Rarity nearly flipped when there athletic friend barely caught a dinner plate from falling to the ground with one of her dexterous wings.

Then there was her brother, Shining Armor. He had never voiced his disappointment in missing her original move to Ponyville and refused to miss this one as well. To help with the heavy lifting and fine details, Shining had brought an entire regiment of guard pegasi and unicorns. Rarity had her hooves full getting them to put paintings in proper rooms and treating decorative pieces with care.

AJ and Rainbow nearly died laughing when a recruiter for the Royal Guard handed Rarity his card. Apparently they were always looking to add more horns in the Crystal Empire's Guard.

Cadance and Pinkie had taken on the task of staffing the castle with enough help to hold Twilight over until word got out about Twilight's new castle. The crystal princess made sure the cleaning service was in place after witnessing how messy Twilight can be. Poor Spike just wasn't enough to clean an entire castle during one of Twilight's infamous study sessions.

Pinkie Pie personally interviewed the cooking staff. That went about as well as expected. Bloated after eating mountains of sweets, Pinkie gave five cooks her seal of approval before passing out into a cake-induced coma for the afternoon.

Every one of her friends hadn't hesitated to help her into her new home. The thought made her heart feel warm, and made her smile softly. Where would she be without those crazy ponies?

Her gaze ran over the walls of her room, each a bookshelf filled with books. Every book keeper, library, and author in Equestria had donated a few books to her after hearing about the destruction of her old home. The outpouring of support for the infamous bookworm made her smile grow bittersweet. Her eyes landed upon a lone acorn that sat quietly upon her bookshelf-dresser.

Tap Tap Tap

The sudden noise brought Twilight back from her thoughts, and drew her to the window. Her eyebrows dropped heavily upon her face. She distinctly recalled Fluttershy explaining to the local birds about the difficulties of nesting in a tree made of crystals. What could they possibly want now!?

She stomped over to the window and threw it open, ready to shoo away any birds dumb enough to be annoying at this hour. What she found, however, was a pair of amused, cyan eyes gazing at her.

“Good evening, Twilight Sparkle” Luna greeted the open-mouthed pony. She barely held back a laugh as Twilight shook her head to remove her shock.

“P-Princess Luna,” Twilight blinked, “what are you doing here?”

The princess of the night dipped her head and chuckled softly. “I wished to see you.”

“So you knocked on my window instead of the front door?” Twilight flinched and nearly slapped her hoof to her face. Of all the times to let her tongue slip, she chose to do it with Luna. It really had been a long day...

Luna smirked. “Having plenty of experience with castles, I knew you wouldn't hear me if I had knocked on the door”. The princess smiled when Twilight chuckled at the joke.

“Well, I guess that true” Twilight answered. “So, what can I do for you Princess Luna?” Twilight's small smile dropped into a concerned frown. All mirth left Luna's face, and her eyes looked everywhere but at Twilight.

“I, uh... came to request.... I mean, if you're not busy-” Luna began to babble.

“Luna,” Twilight gently interrupted, “would you like to come inside?” Her smile returned when Luna sighed and nodded bashfully.

The two princesses entered Twilight's room in silence. Twilight announced that she'd go make them some tea, which gave Luna time to collect her thoughts. Whatever was bothering the standoffish mare was enough to bring her to Twilight's window to seek help. The newly dubbed Princess of Friendship prepared herself for the worst.

Luna, however, took the opportunity to admire Twilight's new sleeping quarters. Aside from every nook and cranny serving as a shelf for her growing library of books, she also had plush cushions sitting about for reading on. A humble telescope stood in the corner, waiting for a clear night to be used.

Pushing a touch of magic to her horn, Luna moved a writing desk to the center of the floor. Using the greatest care, she moved the writing utensils and a short stack of parchment that sat on the table to a nearby dresser. She smiled at an old, warm memory of entertaining Celestia for evening tea in the old castle's library.

When Twilight returned with a tray of tea firmly gripped in her magic, she found Luna patiently waiting for her. She spotted the makeshift table, and blushed a little. “Sorry, I haven't had a chance to get much furniture for entertaining guests in my room.”

“Yet plenty of time to restock on the full Encyclopedia Canterloticca set.” Luna glanced to a shelf within reach of Twilight's bed with a line of books bearing their name in elaborate, gold lettering. “I believe that's the edition printed only a year ago in Canterlot, and” Luna squinted with a smile playing at her lips, “a staggering set of field guides and journals by some impressive explorers.”

Twilight saw Luna's poking fun at her, and raised the princess a cheeky remark. “As Rarity would say, 'a girl has to have her priorities'” Twilight playfully mimicked her friend before sharing a laugh with Luna.

“Trust me, I understand. When Celestia and I lived in our old castle, they used to say the study was my real bedroom and my chambers were only included in the floor-plan for appearance's sake.” Luna's smile broadened over her tea. Those were the happy memories she readily recalled and kept close to her heart.

Twilight, however, couldn't help but be curious. “Is that where you practiced dreamwalking?”

“Ah, hoping to find something on the subject in those dusty old books?” Luna smirked and took a dainty sip of her warm drink. It had a hint of mint, and an energizing aroma. Apparently, Twilight intended to do some studying for a few hours tonight.

A flash of excitement sparkled through Twilight's eyes. “It's just so rare of an ability, I can't help but be curious.”

Luna gave a slightly apologetic look. “There are no books on the subject, I'm afraid. Everything known about dreamwalking is passed down through spoken word” Luna said. She smiled despite Twilight's disappointed frown. “Though I cannot teach you an ability you were not born with, perhaps I can teach you how to master your dreams and protect them from outside influence instead?”

“That'd be wonderful!” Twilight's mood instantly brightened. The realm of dreams was a complete mystery even to Celestia.

“In exchange,” Luna stopped her expression of gratitude by raising a hoof, “you can tell me about Starswirl's spell that you completed.”

Twilight deflated at the mention of that particular spell. “O-okay, I don't see any harm in that” Twilight forced out. She glanced to either side and smiled tightly at Luna's stony expression.

“Yes, you do” Luna set her teacup down after taking another sip. “And the question you want to ask, but are to nervous to ask, actually brings us to why I came to see you this evening.”

Twilight felt a bit of shame at being caught in her discomfort. Hoping to make up for it, she said, “if there's anything I can do to help, princess, you know I will”.

“As you've proven to all of Equestria time and again” Luna added in hopes of clarifying that she wasn't angry. “This visit, however, is more me seeking advice from a friend who knows more about friendship then I do.” She was glad when Twilight simply nodded — despite her desire to refute her expertise in friendship.

Twilight almost instinctive desire to encourage her gave Luna a piece of the courage she was seeking. Perhaps hearing what she already knew from a trusted friend would give her the push needed to do what must be done.

“To be clear, Twilight, I would like this to stay between the two of us” Luna said. A flash of understanding in Twilight's eyes told the night princess that she knew who she was speaking about. Celestia, Faust bless her loving heart, was the last pony Luna wanted catching wind of this. She already suspected her sister of planning something stupid, regardless of her loving intensions.

Twilight voiced her promise to secrecy. “You have my word.”

Luna paused to give her a thankful smile before speaking. “I have a friend that I hurt a long time ago” she started. “We were friends since I was but a little filly. She taught me so many things, and I believe she loved me much like a mother would. However, I returned her love by hurting her terribly.” Luna's expression, which had been filled with fond serenity, scrunched in regret.

“When I should have drawn closer to her,” Luna continued, “I instead pushed her away. I abandoned her in favor of some false image of purity that I thought I had to pursue” Luna looked at Twilight with damp eyes. “How does one even begin to apologize to a friend you hurt so badly so long ago?”

The Princess of Friendship was stunned by the confession. Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but instead chose to think back on her time with her friends. Fighting with your friends was a part of life, and sometimes the conflict had run deeper than she first thought. Heck, she still suspected some tension between Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. When she finally answered, Twilight chose her words carefully.

“I think... you start where anyone would: say you're sorry” Twilight answered after some thought. “From what you've told me, your friend sounds very kind and loyal. If my time with my friends, especially Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, has taught me anything, it's that a true friend like that will accept an honest, heartfelt apology.”

Luna nodded slowly, soaking in the advice. Admittedly, part of her was skeptical and it showed on her face.

“After having so many adventures with my friends, I've come to realize a lot about friendship” Twilight said.

The night princess leaned in, urging Twilight to continue.

Twilight put a hoof to her chin, as she thought back to all of her time spent in Ponyville. “Even though each of my friends and I represented a specific Element of Harmony, we often show more than just one through our friendship” Twilight revealed with a smile. “In order to maintain a friendship, it takes all of the elements working together.”

“How does that apply to my apology?” Luna asked.

“When you apologize, be honest.” Twilight laughed a little at how simple her first point was. “You know what you did was hurtful, tell her why you did it and why it was wrong of you to do it. By trying to understand how you made her feel, you show kindness towards them, that you genuinely care about how they feel. Your desire to want their friendship again shows loyalty to them, as well as a commitment to be a better, truer friend. Be generous in your offer to make it up to her, and the last part is the most important.”

Luna took all of that in before asking, “What's that?”

“Don't be afraid to laugh at the happy memories that the two of you have shared.” Twilight smiled brightly at her last bit of advice. Looking back, Twilight and her friends got into the strangest of situations, but she couldn't think of any other group of ponies to be friends with.

“And what of magic, where does that element fit into all of this?” Luna lifted her nearly empty teacup to her lips to hide a cheeky smirk.

Twilight smiled in amusement and gave Luna a half-lidded stare. “Nice try. Save a trick like that for Discord, because it won't work on me.”

Luna shrugged. “Worth a shot regardless.” The pair shared a laugh before Luna felt a tug deep within herself. “Well, I must return to my nightly duties” Luna said, as she set her empty cup down and stood up. She gave Twilight a courteous bow. “Thank you Twilight Sparkle, you have given me much to think about.”

“I'm always willing to help a friend.” The purple unicorn gave Luna a genuine smile.

The sentiment and importance of her words were not lost on Luna. She returned Twilight's smile with one of her own before bidding her a good night. With a beat of her wings, she was off into the night air and steadily headed for the castle in Canterlot.

Indeed, her talk with Twilight had confirmed some of the things she already knew, and enlightened her on a perspective she had not thought of. She had planned to confront her friend tonight, but after Twilight's advice, perhaps it was best to wait until she had her apology ready. If there was one thing Luna wasn't good at, it was speaking deeply while in the moment. That was Celestia's talent — to speak elegantly and clearly at a moment's notice. It was one of many talents that Luna wished she shared.

“How long has it been since I've had a dream of my own?” Luna mused to herself. She climbed high into the sky and into the clouds, where she felt closest to the stars. The last time she'd enjoyed her very own dream was well over a thousand years ago, just after the defeat of Discord. That dreamscape filled with flowers and watched by the moon was a vista she missed deeply.

But she was waiting for her there.

Too afraid to face her oldest friend, Luna would simply float in the space between the dreams of others. If someone was suffering in their dreams, she would come to their aid. She'd never openly admit it, but she would peek into the dreams of others to pass the time. It wasn't something she was proud of, but how else was she to occupy herself during her dreamwalks?

That was no excuse of course, especially when her reason was a fear of having hateful words thrown at her. Did she deserve any less though? She had done something terrible to a friend who had given her so much. It was a miracle that Celestia had forgiven her, but such was her nature. This friend, however, wasn't so big-hearted.

Luna was positive her friend would have some choice words for her, many of which are unacceptable in proper company.

“I must be ready,” Luna said to herself when she neared the castle, “for when I dream, she will be waiting for me.”

Author's Note

You know, I wonder if the Mane Six are going to act as a "Friendship Council" now that they have a shared throne room. Can you imagine conventions being held in Ponyville with a Friendship Panel? The idea sounds like a prime opportunity for pony shenanigans. If anyone wants to take that idea and run with it, feel free. I'd read that story.

Hope you enjoyed, see you next time!