Adventure awaits.

On the final day of their of their almost week long journey the cargo ship containing Luna, David and Twilight was caught in what was left of a mild sea storm. Most vessels dreaded weather while out at sea but thankfully this storm was as pleasant as they come. What little sunlight breached the cloud cover danced and played on the water, giving all those on deck a tiny light show before they pulled into port. The breeze swayed the vessel, lending a good night's rest to almost everypony on board, everypony except David. Even with the cradle like rocking, he tossed and turned in his handmade hammock. The restless wasn't a comfort issue, he had certainly slept in worse conditions. It was something that had been slowly eating at him ever since he was rescued by Twilight and Luna, the elephant in the room as it were.

It should have been pretty obvious but the threat of death usually puts a hold on the bigger issues in lieu of the direct ones. The issue being why was he not freaking out that he was on another planet maybe even in another universe, if such a thing were possible. Since he had been here he had fought to the death, had no sure avenue home and another weird thing was, he was even having trouble remembering what actually happened in his last few moments on Earth. He chalked it up to the stress of past few weeks but he felt as if something were blocking them and maybe that's why he hadn't freaked out yet.

He felt happy and playful... all the time. Not that he couldn't be but those weren't his most dominate personality traits and he knew that. The anger he felt toward Hannibal and Azir had all but disappeared, even before the fight was over. "Is that why I was thinking so clearly?" He thought to himself. It was like he had taken anti-psychotic medicine that stunted his aggressive emotions and increased his friendly ones. He was no shrink but he figured it was only a matter of time before the dam broke and those emotions and memories came flooding back. He would wait until after that to make any decisions. Thankfully this new world was familiar in a lot of ways, enough to make it bearable at least. They all spoke the same language and breathed oxygen but the magic? Talking animals? Mythical creatures? David's first real sign he was bothered was his lack of dreams. It was like how an old man could predict a storm just by how his joints ached, except this storm was only for him. He tried to remind his worried brain that he was in magical horsey land where Alicorns raised the moon and ponies sailed boats and that's why he wasn't dreaming. Whatever it was he knew he was only delaying the inevitable fallout unless he could get some solid answers... and soon.

His empty half sleep was interrupted by a pair of what felt like baseball bats poking him awake. He groggily rolled over trying to paw the intruders away. "No, no. Go away. Too much jelly isn't good for pet toasters." His eyes shot open inside his hammock. "What the hell did I say?" Sitting up out of his cocoon he found Luna with an amused but tired look on her face. She obviously hadn't slept well either. She wore dark circles under her eyes that could be clearly seen despite her already dark coat. Her eyes themselves were bloodshot and watery. David frowned internally at her sunk in cheeks, even her hair had had lost some of its eternalness. She didn't look nearly as lively as she just a few days ago when she saved him. Not expecting much of an answer, he gave her a sleepy smile as he stretched a greeting to her. "Good morning princess."

"Good morning." She croaked, too tired give him more than that.

He frowned at her non-cheery disposition. "Sorry, I've always been a morning person. I take it you're not a morning person, er, pony?" Pretending to study her for a moment more, he asked the loaded question. "You feeling okay?"

She gave him that same worn smile and reassured him. "I'm surprised you noticed and yes I'm okay, just fatigued. With my over use of magic yesterday combined with my inability to fall asleep in an unfamiliar place, plus you." She let out a tired sigh. "This whole trip has started to catch up with me."

He raised an eyebrow as if to say, "That it?"

She sighed in return. "Yes truly, and I'm sorry David. I usually don't complain this much."

He shook his head and added sympathetically, "It's no trouble and not to say that your ponies are blind princess but, I've only been here a few days and even I can tell something's bothering you or rather, has BEEN bothering you."

She hummed a laugh with a hint of annoyance. "Honestly David, It's nothing you need to worry about. We just need to focus on getting you home."

He narrowed his sleepy eyes at her for a moment. "Well I can't help but worry. You come to the desert on a whim, save an alien from life in prison and give him a chance TO go home. You healed him despite knowing what it would do to you, I mean... who does that?" He threw up his arms in a huff. "Plus I'm not the type of guy to sit back and watch a girl suffer."

She scoffed and corrected him in the authoritative tone she had perfected over a lifetime of ruling. "I'm not a girl David, I'm a princess."  It's the kind of tone that no matter what was said, it ended the conversation... when dealing with ponies.

He gave her a look of defiance and scoffed. "Ya' can't be a princess without being a girl first, Princess Luna."

Luna hoped humans didn't have super hearing because upon hearing those words her heart skipped a little. She blushed slightly, looking away and faking a yawn to try and cover it. "You know, most ponies don't talk to me that way."

David groaned and stretched, his spine giving of a staccato of pops. "I'm sure they don't Miss Moon Princess but I'm not 'most' or a pony." He accented his point by holding out his arms to display himself.

She stared hard at him for a moment, contemplating his position. "Even if he is a bit blunt, his words are honest. Though it's not traditional, it might be nice to have somepony be frank with me for once... No, I can't, not while we are so close to Canterlot. It wouldn't matter anyway, not with him under my..."

"I'm fine, really." She said, looking past him at some far off place.

"Dear lord, are all ponies this bad at lying?" David asked himself. "Okay princess, I'll leave it alone for now but just so you know, I'm not one of your subjects nor am I blind. As a matter of fact, it's a very cliche thing where I'm from." David put the back of his hand on his head and began his best-terrible acting performance. "Oh eternal night, why must the weight of this crown fall upon my brow? Verily, is it my destiny to be alone? YES! I must persevere on for my kingdom, they must never know the struggles I face, something something, forever... something burden..." He trailed off when she began glaring at him. He couldn't have known that everyone she knew talked like that once upon a time.

"I'm just saying princess, you're not alone." David added, with his own sheepish smile of reassurance.

Her scowl broke for a moment before she reluctantly sighed. It had been so long since she talked to somepony. Her sister had a habit of being too coddling, it drove her mad. Not that there was anything wrong with that but it came across either too motherly or too condescending. She needed neither. Luna sat on her haunches and leaned up against a pile of assorted cargo that was stacked against the wall. David watched wordlessly as she settled in. Anyone with one eye and half a brain could tell this had been weighing on her for quite some time so kept his mouth shut and let her get comfortable.

Never in a million years would she consider talking about her issues to a stranger but she had quickly weighed the pros and cons. He had no preconceptions or fore knowledge about her. He didn't even seemed to be interested in the princess thing or even how much power she actually possessed, magically, politically or otherwise. She knew he wouldn't use her like so many others before him had. It could have been lack of sleep or the long week that drove her but whatever it was, in the bowls of a beat up cargo ship, Luna opened up to David.

"I haven't always been the best princess David... Do you recall the story of Nightmare Moon from yesterday evening?"

He nodded slowly, thinking back to the previous night. "Sure, she tried to block out the sun forever right? Sounds like a bitchy thing to do."

She nodded and splayed her ears back, looking down before answering. "That was me David. I was Nightmare Moon."

"And things were going so well..." He thought. Trying to recover he rubbed his neck. "Well, when I said bitchy, what I meant to say was-."

She held up her hoof. "It's okay David, It was a bitchy thing to do and I have gotten over it, but a lot of my little ponies have not. They still see me as that monster and it's been... trying to say the least. We just wish that they didn't fear us so. I don't ask for many things David, I really do not and I will always give my best to my subjects but now this trip is coming to an end and I must resume my duties as princess of the night--" She trailed off again, still looking at the floor.

She didn't look up but David was nodding in understanding. "Sounds frustrating." He said, giving his best psycho-babble answer. He wanted her to open up more, to really find out what was bothering her so much. She took a deep breath and began again.

"It is, truly!" She half shouted, standing up. "I just wish sometimes that I could go back and stop myself from becoming so jealous of my sister, to save myself the one thousand years on the moon. To--" David cut her off, holding up his hands in confusion.

"Woah, woah back up. A thousand years? How is that possible?"

She raised an eyebrow, in her own confusion. "I'm a True Alicorn David. I do not visibly age. Of course I can still be harmed but I am essentially immortal, as is my sister."

" Woah... Thats... And Twilight?" He asked.

She shook her head. "She was made into an Alicorn by magic. She essentially made a new spell, powered by friendship. Something that one of our most esteemed and powerful unicorns in our history failed to do. You still look confused, am I going too fast?"

David squeezed his eyes shut and paused before answering. "No. You're not moving too fast, it's just that my world doesn't work that way. Despite us speaking the same language, I have to constantly remind myself that. Like most things since my arrival, it's not confusing if you keep an open mind; it's just a lot to take in. Like saying 2 plus 2 is 7. If that's how it works here, I just have to remember it and move on. It's a lot less stressful that way." The last sentence was more to himself that to her. He motioned with his hand for her to go on.

She gave an understanding nod. "I just, I'm just worn David. Like... jam spread over too much bread. I have very few friends other than my sister, Twilight and the Elements." Her voice failed in her throat as she found a stray hole to poke at in a nearby burlap sack. David figured that Elements were short for the Elements of Harmony. AKA: Twilight's friends. Even with her short description, he understood what she was trying to say. Essentially, she was alone. She's in a world that was/is one thousand years gone and to top it all off, her subjects feared her. Now he got it, now he understood her sad smile.

By now she had looked up into his eyes, searching for some sense of understanding; that her words weren't in vain. Instead of words, he gave her a smile, placed his feet on the wooden floor, leaned over and wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened briefly out of surprise, but after a moment she leaned into him. He ran his hands over her ethereal mane and down her slender neck. She didn't return his affections, she only sat and enjoyed his warmth and the sensation of being held. David leaned in and gently spoke into her ear. "I am just a guy Princess Luna, a regular old nobody. I don't know the first thing about ruling a kingdom or what it's like to be judged by so many, but I know enough to say that you are not a Nightmare. You are kind, caring, compassionate and I know you don't need it but, thank you princess Luna, for all you've done for me. One day your ponies will see who you really are and all these rotten feelings will be nothing but a memory... And I'm sorry your vacation got ruined by a smelly human." He felt her huff at the last comment. He smirked to himself and held her for a few more moments before slowly letting go before holding her at arm's length.

"Feeling better princess?"

She nodded and smiled, looking a little more energetic than before.

"I'll tell you something my mother always told me. 'Everything gets better with time David, you just have to be patient enough to wait for it."

She grunted a small annoyance. "Patience is not my strong suit."

"Well then princess, that's something you and I have in common. Plus, you forgot someone in your list of friends."

"I did? I'm pretty sure I got everypony, it's not a very big list."

"Me." He chirped, booping her playfully on the nose.

Luna paused, crossing her eyes at where his finger made contact on her muzzle. Much to his surprise, Luna leaned over and nuzzled him lightly in the crook of his neck. She was surprisingly warm and smelled like what could only be described as starlight. "Thank you David, I needed that, and I guess I could add you to my list."

In his disbelief at the affection she shown, he could only manage to pat her on the back. "Uhh, anytime, I can't have my favorite princess all mopey now can I? Also, don't tell Twilight I said that."

She pulled away and giggled into her hoof. "I won't, and David, can you do me a favor as well?"

"Sure." He happily replied with a nod.

She looked embarrassed for a moment before speaking. "I noticed that you call princess Twilight just Twilight. Since we are friends could you do the same for me?"

David groaned internally."Ugh, unintentional puppy dog eyes, not fair on any female." He cleared his throat and gathered his composure. "I think I could manage that. Are you sure I won't get you in any trouble? I mean, you do raise the frickin moon." He asked in mock seriousness.

She shook her head. "That is precisely why you won't get in trouble. If they have issues, I will speak to them myself, understood?"

David gave a little salute and smiled. "Well well, she may be a princess after all."

She cleared her throat. "Good, now before I forget, here. Here is all your belongings Azir gave me." She levitated two bags over to him. One was his dive bag with his rebreather, mask, BCD and other odds and ends. It seemed that no one had bothered to open this one. The other was his backpack, he did his best to hide his giddiness.

"Thanks Luna. I'll get changed and meet you up on the docks."

"Don't be too long. Twilight and I are anxious to get back home."

David hummed before nodding. "I bet you are. Give me five and I'll be there."

Luna made her way back up to the deck of the ship and headed for the docks. As per her sister's request, she wanted to know as soon as her baby sister got back to Equestrian lands. She stepped onto solid ground and began channeling her sending spell with the following message.

"Hello Tia, Twilight Sparkle and I have safely made it back to Equestria. We will be back in Canterlot in a few hours so please have a warm bath drawn for me for I am in great need of one. As a matter of fact, could you contract a local spa to send up an employee or two. I don't believe a regular bath will be sufficient this time."

She sent the spell off to the aether and waited for the a reply. True to her sisters nature, she got one within seconds. Luna sighed in annoyance, it wasn't Celestia's loving, sisterly nature that caused the quick reply, it was her nosy one.

"Hellooo Lulu, I trust everything went well. Did you ever find out why the Cutie Map sent you to the Camel Kingdoms of all places? Also, I shall make the request at one of my favorite local spas. Also, Luna I know you are leaving out something important and I know you are doing it on purpose. What happened? You don't request spa ponies out of the need for cleanliness, you request them when something is bothering you. Or you are in need of a good... 'Preening'" The last word was dripping with innuendos.

Luna rolled her eyes. She knew what Celestia was doing. She was trying to get her riled up by saying something completely unnecessary in order to get a knee jerk reaction out of her little sister. If Luna wasn't so tired, she might have given one.

"Nice try Tia but no. You are right however, something... interesting happened. Twilight and I met somepony and we are bringing him to Equestria. There are some extenuating circumstances concerning his arrival. He is a species called Hooman and was found wandering the deserts of the Kingdom. Prince Azir had him fighting in the pit and after a wager we won his freedom... I'm afraid I've done something terrible Tia. He doesn't know it yet but I cast a spell on him during our first meeting... I will give you more details once we arrive in Equestria. However, I am unsure as to how or why he came to be on Equis but I feel it is my respons--"

"Ohhh, how wonderful. It's about time you brought home a stallion, you need a special somepony in your life Lulu."

Of course that's all her sister heard. Luna was bringing home a stallion, or whatever hooman stallions were called.

"Yes Tia, he is a male." Don't think about almost kissing him! Don't think about almost kissing him! Don't think about almost kissing him! "And I didn't almost kiss him..."      

Buck!

"That's wonderful news Lulu, I can't wait to meet him..." Luna's eyes searched left and right, wondering why Celestia hadn't caught on to her distress. She only spoke in a hushed tone. "Just...Please hurry home. I miss you Lulu" Luna smiled. Oh how she loved her sister.

David watched as Luna's back legs disappeared up the stairs, with her gone, he tore into his bag like a kid at Christmas. First, without hesitation, he stripped off his sack pants, leaving him completely naked for anypony wandering around to get an eye-full of human. Upon finding his stash of baby wipes and gave himself a quick once, scratch that, twice over in hopes of getting rid of that fresh out of prison smell. Once satisfied, he dressed himself in his "standard adventuring clothes". The gloves he shoved in his cargo pocket. He groaned in bliss as he slipped a fresh pair of socks over his almost clean feet.  His lucky boots had never felt so good. "God this is almost better than sex... Almost"

He fumbled through the bottom of the bag and grabbed his electric razor out of his hygiene kit. Flicking the on switch he smiled as it buzzed to life, nearly a month of not shaving had left him kind of scraggly. If there was one thing he hated, it was an un-kept beard. Not that he looked bad with one, but the itching nearly drove him insane, especially in the jungle. Without a proper mirror, he couldn't tell if he missed any spots but he didn't care. He ran his hands across the 5 o'clock shadow before stowing everything else. Opting to go all out, he grabbed his old baseball hat and sunglasses out of the side pouch. Running his fingers through his hair he dawned the hat and sunglasses, making a mental note that he would need a hair cut before too long. He slipped his backpack on and slung his kit bag over his shoulder. He winced as something poked him in his kidneys, reaching back he felt that something metal had been stuffed hastily inside his pack. It was his ice ax. He had nearly forgotten about it in all the craziness. He stretched his back and rolled up his sleeves, smiling at the familiar feeling his things gave him. In truth, he felt human again.

David took the first few steps two at a time as he made his way up to the deck."Human huh? The only one it seems." The errant thought caused him to slow his pace as his ears were assaulted with the unmistakable sound of the docks: creaking hulls,  seagulls crying obscenities over head... He took a deep breath of the sea air and looked around, thankful it was still early. He assumed he wouldn't have to undergo the stares of too many ponies quite yet. If he were being honest with himself, he was starting to get nervous, really nervous. How were they going to treat him? Everyone thought he was just a monster in the pit right? Luna was a princess and they still gave her shit about stuff that happened a thousand years ago. What would they do when they found out he killed someone less than a week ago? Sure it was in self-defense but that didn't change the fact that they were alive, now they're not.

He didn't know how fast word traveled in this world but if it was anything like his, the stories of the violent ape thing would be greatly exaggerated. "Hell, not really." He thought. He was a 'violent monkey' as far as the prince was concerned and who knew what kind of pull that guy had. The propaganda Azir had worked as well as it did was because David played the part of the monster, even if it wasn't exactly by choice. He refused to fight at first, telling them he wasn't a gladiator or whatever it is they wanted from him. He just wanted to be set free or for them to send him home. They did neither. All he had to do was fight and he wouldn't be tortured. He even laughed at them and their cute little hooves... They broke him within a week, "Oh how you screamed." He furrowed his brow at the memory, he thought he was stronger than that, he wasn't.

So he played the part of the vicious monster and they would shout things like "Freak, Ape, Alien." He would eat it up, fueling the hatred that kept him going. In truth, he was more pissed at himself than the prince. He let the prince and that pit turn him into something he wasn't. He didn't even TRY and hang on to his humanity, he just gave in because of the pain... then Luna came and something changed. He was thankful for her, he didn't want to give the impression that he wasn't but, she gave him the best and possibly worst thing in the world, hope. Hope that he could recover what the pit took from him. No. Not what it took, but what he gave of his own free will. Oh he felt so smart, standing over the 'undefeated Hannibal', just smirking at the prince. In the end, the prince was right, he got what he wanted. Azir was still the prince and David was still the "monster".

Now he was a monster without the excuse of the pit to act like one. He had to somehow endure all the stares and rude comments that were bound to come his way, without being able to punch his opponent in the face. He would still be an alien, he would be treated... just like Luna.

That did it. If she could put up with it for so long, he could at least put up with it for however long it took him to get home... Home? Home! He hadn't thought about home since the first few nights in the jail. Could he get home? Andrew, Maria, Simon. "Simon that fucker!" He growled out loud. A spike of pain caused David to wince and nearly drop to his knees. "Jesus what was that?" He shook it off as him needing food.

Shit, what if he was stuck, would he be a glorified pet of the princess? "Gah, don't think like that David." He scolded himself. Deep down he knew it was true in a way. He may not be a pet but certainly an oddity that everybody would want to come and see. What if he couldn't get home? What if he was stuck, what would he do? Would the princess let him roam around? Hell, what COULD he do? Get a job? Find a, mare? Eww maybe. He didn't know how long he stood on that boat deck before he began hyperventilating. His vision began to darken and his legs began to weaken. His balance almost left him before he heard a gruff voice behind him that snapped him out of his trance.

"You alright there bud?" David turned, snapping back to reality to see the same griffon that had bumped his bunk not to long ago.

"Uhh. Hey. Yeah just, uh, lost in my own little world I guess."

He eyed David for a moment "I see, well good luck out there mate." The griffon slipped a satchel over his chest and flew off.

Thankful for the interruption, David shook his head and took solace in the fact that he had at least a few more hours of it being just him, Twilight and Luna. That would all change as soon as he got to this... Canterlot so he decided to enjoy himself while he could.

He walked down the gangplank and away from the boat and towards the only real buildings within sight. He did his best to smile at the ponies that happened to see him. Some only gave him a passing glance while most openly gawked at the strange creature. "Yep, just like the zoo..." He thought to himself as he scanned the area for Twilight and Luna. Looking left and right he didn't see any sign of either princess, they were hard to miss. He did however, feel a light tugging at his pants just below his knee. Turning to inspect the sensation, he found a small pony with neither a horn or wings. The foal seemed to be male and had David's cargo pocket in his teeth. He stared up at the human with great interest. "What are you?" The tiny pony asked with curiosity.

"No shame for this one." David chuckled to himself. He sat his bag down and took a knee. "Well munchkin, I'm a human. I'm kind of new around here. Say, you haven't seen a princess or two around here have you?" The colt shook his head no. "Are you sure. One is purple and about this tall." He motioned with his hand Twilight's approximate height. "The other is dark blue, she's a little bit taller. Really pretty hair." The colt looked shocked for a instant.

"You mean the bad princess?!" The colt half whispered, like what he said was some sort of curse word.

"Uhh, Bad princess? Don't think so. You may have Luna confused with someone else." David said, defending his friend.

"Nuh-uh, mommy said that the princess who raises the moon tried to take away all the sunshine. Mommy said that she is the reason we have bad dreams and that if I'm bad or if I don't do all my chores that she will come and take me away."

David got a little defensive over this. It hadn't even been an hour and he was already seeing what Luna was talking about. "Oh yeah? Did your mommy tell you if this thing had a name?"

"Yeah. Nightmare Moon." The colt spat.

"Well tell your mommy that the moon princess' name is Luna not Nighttime Moonpie or whatever." He said, getting the name wrong on purpose.

The colt huffed and was about to defend his mother's honor before his ears swiveled towards a female voice in the distance. "I gotta go, but mommy is always right!" The foal shouted over his shoulder before haphazardly galloping off.

"Yeah, I bet your mommy told you that too kid." David grunted, upset at the fact that he let a kid get under his skin like that. The more pressing issue was where Luna was, or Twilight for that matter. He figured with him being twice as tall as any other thing around here, he wouldn't have to try this hard. David wandered the docks for almost thirty minutes before he finally heard a familiar voice arguing over something he couldn't quite make out. David moved as quickly as possible toward the sound of the voice. He noticed a pair of purple wings and a horn near the edge of a growing crowd. "Finally." David thought, "We can get out of here and end this stupid trip. Then maybe I can finally get a shower!" With this realization, he picked up his pace. As he got closer, he noticed something was terribly wrong.

"Please don't rip it! It's not mine!" Twilight cried.

Two unicorns held a very familiar, red backed sketch pad in their magic just out of Twilight's reach. "What's wrong wannabe princess? Can't you just use the magic of friendship to take it? Oh wait, as soon as you try and use magic I'll tear this thing to ribbons."

"Please, just give it back. I need to meet princess Luna. I don't want to be late."

"Ohhh, the Nightmare and the Bookworm together? What an odd couple. How about this, you give me 50 bits and I'll think about giving it back to you. How's that sound?"

"No deal." A voice called from behind them. The two had been so focused on Twilight that they didn't see the 6'2 alien walk up behind them and grab ahold of the floating book. The duo turned and froze, neither one knowing exactly what to do. David held the book firm and glared at them. Feeling as if they weren't in any immediate danger they tried to force the book out of his grip. The two unicorns poured more and more of their magic into the spell only to find that they were becoming increasingly tired. David felt his whole arm become numb, like it had been dunked in a tub of IcyHot, but he held on. The bullies eventually ran out of juice and released the spell before crumbling to their knees, panting like dogs.

"Wha...what was that?" The leader heaved out of breath.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to be nice to girls?" David lectured. The two only hung their heads in what appeared to be shame, but he couldn't tell nor did he care. "Yeah, I wouldn't have much to say either if I were an asshole." David tucked the book under his arm and held out his hand to Twilight. "Ready princess?"

"Yeah, lets get out of here... I miss Ponyville."

A ways away, the pair walked together in silence for a few minutes before David decided to break the ice. "So, you wanna tell me what that's about or should I just assume that every stallion is a douche?"

Twilight scoffed. "It must seem that way to you huh, also what's a douche?"

David hiked his thumb behind him. "Them, they are douches and yeah a little and I thought you told me your special talent was magic? Couldn't you just, I don't know, turn them into frogs or something?" David asked with interest.

"No, not all stallions are like that. Most of the ones that I know are actually very kind and yeah, probably. But that would just make me a bully and nopony likes a bully."

David opened his eyes wide in surprise. "Really? Frogs, just like that? Remind me to not get on your bad side." He chuckled, bumping her hip in hopes of cheering her up. "Soo I get the bully part, but why would they act like that to a princess? In public no less."

"Well," Twilight began. "I haven't been a princess for very long. I was born a unicorn you see, the wings are an addition. Princess Celestia said it was my destiny but sometimes... Sometimes I think I'd be just as happy as a unicorn librarian living in Ponyville with my friends."

"What does that have to do with them though?" David asked, not following.

"Some ponies don't like the fact that some nopony from Canterlot got to be a princess with her very own castle. They don't think I deserve it. They think that since I was already Princess Celestia's private student it gave me an unfair advantage over all the other talented unicorns out there that didn't live in Canterlot. Does that make sense?"

"Mm-hm, Luna mentioned something about your princessy-ness earlier. She told me about Nightmare moon too".

Twilight winced. She didn't mean to keep such an important, albeit, nasty part of world history a secret from him, especially since it was a defining moment in pony culture. The defeat of Nightmare Moon and the return of Princess Luna: Sister to Celestia, riser of the moon and shaper of the stars. Or however the pony poets would put it in the history books.

"Sorry I didn't tell you last night. I'm actually very surprised she told you at all, it's still kind of a sore subject. I mean, I don't know how she does it. Luna is... She's the start and end of every bad dream and scary story and something that parents use, to this day, to scare foals into behaving. Ponies may be understanding but trying to erase generations of fear is like trying to dig a well with a spoon. It's going to take longer than a couple of years for ponies to feel save around her."

David nodded and understood why Twilight wanted to keep it hidden from him. "But don't ponies realize that she isn't Nightmare Moon anymore? I mean, she is probably one of the sweetest people errr, ponies I have ever met in my life."

Twilight nodded at this. "I agree, but all ponies have are the stories and the stories say that Nightmare Moon and Luna are the same pony and that's enough to make them afraid."

"Such a shame. I really wish they could see her differently."

"See her like you do, you mean?" Twilight asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes." He said unabashedly

"See who as you do?" David jumped as he heard Luna's question from behind them.

"You! Moon princess! Where have you been? I thought you told me you were going to wait for me on the docks!"

"I did wait for you!" She playfully shouted. "You took to long to get rea--." Luna hesitated and looked the new, and much cleaner David up and down. He had a faded grey hat on and his facial hair had been shaven down to stubble. She had to admit, he looked pretty good for being an prisoner less than a week ago. She didn't put much stock in fashion but the clothes fit his personality to a T. "You look good." She commented without thinking.

Twilight gave her a inquisitive look before David grinned again. "You think so?" He gave her an off balance runway spin before holding out his arms to inspect himself. "I'll never complain about doing laundry every again. You forget how important something is until you don't have it anymore, clothes being a perfect example."

"Wouldn't know." Luna remarked with a shrug looking down and her ebony regalia. "Not much for fashion these days. This way, we have a pegasus chariot waiting for us and I have a bath calling my name."