Princess Celestia yawned and stretched, luxuriating in soft cloth-of-gold sheets. It was very dark and cozy in her massive oval bed due to thick red velvet curtains draped over the gilded pillars that surrounded it. She did not want to wake up. It would be so easy to close her eyes and slip back into dreamless slumber. But she sensed the Moon's eagerness to retire for its own well-earned rest, and brightly tinkling chimes assured her it was indeed time to get her rump out of the royal bed.

Duty called.

She slid from under the silky sheets and nuzzled her way through the bed curtains. The Moon was in her darkest phase, having waned to on a thin sliver, leaving Celestia's room in near darkness. A brief touch from her magic and gems set into curving alabaster walls brightened, casting their own imitation of silvery moonlight. Blinking the dregs of sleep from her eyes, she gracefully walked to a gold and gem encrusted clock that stood upon a rosewood table. After a jaw-cracking yawn, she pressed a hoof against a small button, silencing its tiny bells.

She nodded at it, satisfied that it was keeping the correct time. No doubt one of Luna's staff was switching off the alarm on this clock's twin in the Night Suite. They were ancient and linked by a simple but robust enchantment which kept their time keeping and alarms synchronised. Broken and silent they had lain in storage at the Royal Canterlot Museum, dusted off and displayed to a curious public every few centuries.

Restored gears and gem inlays gleamed like new as the beautiful clock quietly ticked. The confidant mechanical sound brought a nostalgic smile to Celestia's muzzle.

It was a shame that her sister's recovery could not be so readily achieved.

White feathers hid a jaw-cracking yawn as she walked outside onto the balcony. Celestia nodded 'good morning' to one of the matched pair of watchful guards who stood on either side of the ornate, glass doors. It had been too beautiful an evening to close them and a fresh cool breeze blowing in from the mountain kept her chamber from becoming too stuffy while she slept.

Her ethereal mane rippled as she walked to the railing and gazed into the heavens where a bright sliver of Moon hung near the horizon, a twinkling field of stars its backdrop. Horn glowing, she touched it with her power and reached beyond the opposite horizon for the Sun. It wasn't subtle magic, just a gentle but tremendous shove using her body as a fulcrum. She couldn't help thinking of herself as a glorified juggler and this was a command performance could have performed in her sleep. Sometimes, she had.

The Moon's edge kissed the horizon and she released it from her grasp.

Celestia turned and ambled back past the guards, nodded 'good morning' to the other one, and went back into her bedroom. She felt temptation to crawl back into her comfy bed — Sunday was ironically her day off. Aside from juggling the sky. She hoped that Luna would take charge of the Moon again soon and it wouldn't be a solo performance for much longer.

Celestia sighed and settled atop a large pillow in front of her vanity. She gazed for a moment into the mirror at her beautiful if sleep mussed face, but rather than reaching for a brush she unlocked a secret catch inside the vanity with a flick of her magic and slid open a hidden drawer. Nestled within were a dozen scrolls and letters. She slipped one out in her telekinetic grasp and unrolled it.

Luna's most recent, and last, private letter.

Dearest sist'r of mine.

Twice the moon hath turned since mine own return but mine own strength doth nae wax and fears doth nae wane. Though tis sweet in de'd to standeth with thee again, dearest one, I doth still cast a fae an heavy shadow, an beareth it lone.

I do begeth thee, prithee, to bear longer that which shouldst be mine own burden, the moon's passage, frae a time longer. Wouldst yond that I coulds't taketh it from thy fair shouldrs, but for being still a shade of mine own f'rm'r glory.

Mewling myself h're in Canterlot doeth nae help. Thou knowest me well, an I must taketh action! Nae more quietly sitteth on mine own rump and mark seconds f'r health's returning. Y'r sist'r hath sallied forth into the w'rld, f'r I hath found a lodging wh'rein I may seeketh a crumb of redemption, to learneth all yond is anew with our subjects, while marking the behoveful time f'r mine own spirit to healeth. F'r my speech shall I also lessons attend, I assure thee.

Seeketh me not, but knoweth well I shall heareth thee crying in the visage of dire threat an shall flyeth to thine aid, f'r I am at each moment near.

By mine own hoof, an thine in sist'rly love, Luna.

The calligraphy was exquisite. The words unsettling. It had been almost a fortnight since Celestia had found this scroll waiting for her on the vanity. Twilight Sparkle had written since then assuring her that Luna was living secretly in Ponyville's library, in good health and good company.

Celestia's lips quirked in a subtle smile. She shook her head as she returned the scroll to the secret drawer and slid it closed until there was a quiet click as the lock engaged. Luna was making good use of the Golden Oaks Library and Twilight's tuition to catch up with modern times and update her manner of speech. Knowing her once-exiled sister was so near made it very tempting to visit, but if her sister needed quiet time away from Canterlot and her duties, then Celestia would be patient a little while longer. A decade or two if need be.

Just in case, she had alerted several Agents of the Crown who called Ponyville home. Commanding them to keep their eyes and ears open and inform the Royal Court of anything out of the ordinary — she didn't inform them that Luna was walking among them. There were already several reports of extremely loud and unexplained outbursts of somepony making declarations in Old Canterlot, but so far nopony had put two and two together. For Luna, that was keeping a low profile.

Turning her nose up at her brushes, Celestia stood and stretched. Arched her back, flexed her tremendous wings, and then lifting kitty corner legs to stretch each of her long, alabaster limbs. She heaved a contented sigh as there were a few satisfying pops from her joints. Celestia slithered back under her bedsheets and nuzzled the pillows into a more comfortable configuration, determined to put off breaking fast for an hour or two. Maybe three.

Herding the Sun and Moon, day after day, took a lot out of a mare, Princess or not.

"We declare to thee, ti's barest sooth yond cakes-of-the-pan beest most tasteful!"

Spike stood on a stool next to the stove, wearing a chef's apron and tall hat. He snickered as Princess Luna shovelled pancakes into her muzzle with not an ounce of royal dignity. Twilight sighed and used a napkin to wipe a stray blob of syrup from her lavender cheek.

"Princess Luunaaa?" She smiled as Luna looked up through pale blue bangs, syrup dripping from her chin. "You're slipping into Old Cant again, remember we talked about this? About when you get excited?"

Luna squinted and swallowed, forcing the pancakes down. "Oh. Oh, yes. we recall. Pray forgive Our…. *ahem* I mean, please forgive mine, MY, lapse."

"Come ooon, Twilight!" Spike switched off the stove's gas burner and hopped down to the floor, waddling over to deliver a stack of blueberry pancakes to his number one boss and bestest friend. "Wait until you try 'em before you chew her out. You might start talking funny too!"

He grinned as Twilight giggled and ruffled the green crest on his head.

Luna mumbled around another mouthful, "These are truthfully most delicious, Spike. Thank thee, uh, you, for preparing us this delightful repast. Verily, your skill with the skillet has me looking forward to waking with the dawn!"

The little dragon puffed out his chest as he poured syrup over his own stack. Twilight forked a portion into her mouth and continued to worry about Luna rather than enjoy her admittedly delicious breakfast. The Princess' linguistic skills worried her. Though much improved since the startling night Luna had shown up at the library's back door, unannounced and pleading for private tuition. Even when she didn't slip into Old Canterlot, her sentence structure and phrasing were a mishmash of ancient and modern.

At least she wasn't using the deafening Royal Voice anymore.

While Spike cleared up after breakfast, Twilight and Luna retired to the library. Although it was open to the public, everypony else was out and about, enjoying the gorgeous summer's day. They retired to one of the private reading rooms and shut the door, just in case.

"I'm not sure you're ready for this, Princess," Twilight whined as she locked and silenced the door.

Celestia had reassured Twilight that the Elements had completely purged Luna of her inner demons, but she couldn't help worrying that Luna might have a relapse. Or be hurt herself if something went terribly wrong. At least Twilight's new friends were nearby if she needed help, though she hadn't breathed a word to any of them about the princess living in her basement. Not blabbing about Luna's secret visit was very difficult, especially with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Twilight told everypony she was working on a research project for the Princess. (She just hadn't mentioned which princess.) AJ seemed to have a nose for the whitest of lies and Pinkie…

Twilight had wasted a whole day looking for peep holes and traces of scrying magic in the library after Pinkie had given her a knowing wink and grin.

Luna's desire to reconnect with the citizens of Equestria was very similar to the task of making friends that Celestia had given Twilight. She wouldn't take back anything that had happened since then even if some of it had been terrifying. She loved her new friends, including the princess they'd saved together.

Luna nodded, acknowledging and dismissing the bookish unicorn's concern. "Thy concerns for Us, me, are touching, fair Mistress Sparkle, but I will begin my penance today. To work again in service of our people in part payment for Our… for my crimes as Nightmare Moon. If we are to rule by Our sister's side I must reconnect with the common folk, learn all that is new in their world. While you are enamoured with books, I need be more hooves-on with the world and the time is ripe as I have finished refining my illusory guise."

Luna's horn flared with her pale blue magic and it washed over her body, from head to hooves. Where the wave of magic touched, her blue coat turned a pearlescent white and her pale blue mane became a warm orange with red streaks. Her earth pony-like tail lengthened as its blue hair receded, leaving only a streaky brush of orange and red at the tip. She held her wings closed, and they faded from view, cinched against her barrel with gentle but firm bonds of magic. Her slender body shrank a little, going from 'young princess' to 'unicorn average' in a few heartbeats. The glow intensified to an almost blinding light as it reached her earth pony-like hooves. The most difficult part of the complex spell, it reshaped her hooves into the cloven form that most pure-blood unicorns were born with. It had taken Luna several days to grow accustomed to walking with them.

She slowly spun in a tight little circle, showing off her new form to Twilight. Her cutie mark had become a golden magnifying glass with two golden stars beside it.

"What dost thou… Culs! What do you think, friend Twilight? With this new form, we may blend with the Ponyville town folk, all the while still being able to perform magic without drawing comment. I must need be mindful not to use mine wings, however."

Luna's disguise was beautiful! Perhaps too beautiful. Nopony would look at her twice in Canterlot but she might have trouble blending in with the average Ponyville folk.

Twilight sighed and said, "It's a shame we can't do more about your horn. It's… kinda on the big side now that you've shrunk down."

Going a little cross-eyed to peer up at her horn, Luna shrugged slightly. "There is nowt to be done about it. Changing the colour is as much as can be done. It is fortunate in an backwards way that I have yet to regain my full stature, or my horn would be an ungainly length indeed in this guise."

Twilight gazed at the princess using magical sight and nodded to herself, the unicorn disguise held up against scrying as well. There was no sign of her wings. She couldn't deny that this disguise would fool even her. "At least your magic has grown strong enough to pull this off and you've certainly learned a lot about recent history. I think you'll blend in if you're careful about what you say. Except your voice is… Uh…"

Luna sat down and slumped. "I am still too strident?"

"Yes, sorry, and it doesn't help that you slip in Old Cant phrases sometimes." Twilight hesitated, not sure if the gesture she was contemplating was appropriate or not, but her budding research into friendship suggested that it was worth attempting and would be a good experiment for a letter to Celestia. Hesitant and stiff, she laid a comforting hoof over Luna's withers, only possible now she was unicorn instead of alicorn height. "Maybe in another week? Or perhaps a month? If you keep practising every day with me and Spike I'm sure you'll smooth out the rough edges."

Not-Luna didn't shrug off her overly familiar limb. She smiled at Twilight and shook her head, "Nae… I am ceaselessly impatient. Is there aught else that can be done to safeguard mine tongue?"

Safeguarding her tongue? Hmmm… A tiny bulb of light appeared at the tip of Twilight's horn.

She knew just the book.

"Spiii-iiike!"

Spike looked up from where he was lying on his belly in his and Twilight's bedroom, a comic book lying on the floor in front of him. "Yeah, Twilight?" he shouted.

"I'm going out for a bit. Can you look after the library until I get back, please?"

The little dragon hopped up and waddled to the landing at the top of the stairs. He leaned over the railing and saw Twilight's saddlebag-laden back leaving through the front door. "Ok, Twilight! I'm on it!" The little dragon scooped up his comic and trotted down the curved stairs into the main room of the library. He loved being placed in charge like this! Even if it was only Sunday, and nopony would set hoof in the library today.

He glanced around and called, "Princess Luna? Hello?"

'Hmm… maybe she's gone out with Twilight or is hiding in her room?'

When Luna had shown up at Twilight's door, they had quickly re-purposed one of the store rooms in the basement, setting up a comfortable enough sleeping and study area for the princess. She had spent most of her time down there, studying and keeping a low profile.

Dragging a stool over he clambered up to a lectern near the entrance which supported a large map book of Equestria. He flipped his comic book open atop the self-updating magic tome he dove back into the latest adventures of The Fauntastic Four. He knew they would defeat Veterinarian Doom like they always did, but it was how they did it that mattered. A few colourful pages later, something he did not expect to happen, happened! And not in the comic! The library door opened and the pony who hesitated before stepping inside wasn't Twilight. She was about the same build but her coat was an off-white pearl, with a fiery mane and tail of orange with many red streaks. Her cyan eyes that peeked up shyly at Spike from behind her long bangs.

He'd never seen her before and he called out, "Well hello, miss! My name is Spike and I'm in charge of the library!"

'While Twilight is out anyway', he thought while hopping down from his stool to approach the shy-looking mare.

"Is there anything I can help you with? A book you're looking for?"

She lowered her head, almost touching her muzzle to the floor and looking at him out of the corner of her eye. When she spoke it was barely louder than a whisper, "We seek… Um, I mean, y-yes, I-I'm looking for a book. O-of course. Why else would I v-venture into a library?"

Bemused for a moment, Spike broke into a grin. She was just like Fluttershy! Even sounded a bit like that shyest of shy ponies. Maybe she adored dragons too?! "Oh, well, okay. I'm just the dragon who can help you with that! See all these books?" He made a grand, sweeping gesture to the shelves and boasted, "I've read 'em all!"

The shy mare blinked her big eyes and nodded while her mouth formed an impressed 'O' shape. She quietly mumbled, "Be, um, are there any about d-dreams?"

"Oh, sure!" Spike sighed a little in relief. "Whew, yeah, I know where those ones are. Follow me miss, uh, what's your name?"

With a smile she bobbed her head, causing more mane to fall over her face, "I-I'm Noctilucent. P-pleased to meet you, L-Librarian Spike." Her voice a quiet whisper that Spike had to strain his dragony ears to understand.

He led her to one of the many bookshelves on the north side of the small library and gestured up to a shelf he would have needed a ladder to reach. "They're all up there, help yourself! I have to get back to reading, uh, a very important book. Call me if you need anything!"

He left Noctilucent as she pulled a book from the shelf with her magic. He glanced up from his comic as a chair's legs scraped on the floor. Noctilucent gave him a quick apologetic smile as she scooted her rump onto the chair. The way she squirmed and struggled with the simple act of sitting seemed familiar somehow, but Spike shrugged it off. About a half hour of quiet page turning later, the library door opened and this time it was Twilight who trotted inside.

"Hey, Spike! I'm back! Did anything inter-"

Spike shushed her, tiny green flames darting around the finger he held in front of his mouth. "Shhhhh… Twiliiight… Library, remember?" He gestured with a thumb over his back to where Noctilucent was sitting, gazing up at them through her flame-coloured bangs.

"Ohhh… Ah heh heh. Sorry about that, miss." Twilight smiled at her number one best library assistant, and whispered, "Thanks, Spike."

He breathed green fire on the claws of his hand and polished them on his chest, grinning. Twilight quietly clopped past and into the kitchen, her saddlebags loaded with groceries. Spike wanted to follow her, to see if there were any tasty cupcakes or gemstones, but he kept to his post and his comic book. Re-reading it to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

A few minutes later Twilight returned and gave him a ruby encrusted cupcake and glass of milk before dismissing him, saying she would take over if he wanted to go enjoy the snack. Once her purple and green assistant had scurried off to their bedroom in search of a fresh comic, she turned and approached the other unicorn. Spike could hear a whispered conversation taking place downstairs, but tuned it out as he dove into the latest issue of The Dog Knight Returns.

"So, how did it go?" Twilight whispered to the disguised Luna.

Noctilucent pumped a hoof in the air and shouted, "Tis a triumph, Twilight Sparkle!" But Twilight's voice changing spell damped it down to a mere whisper, while also adjusting the tone and timbre. "Yon dragon didst nae twig t'was I all along! And thy suggestion to appeareth dainty and to stutter wast most aidful in granting Us time to contemplate modern ways to express Ourself."

Making shushing motions with her hooves, Twilight tried to tone down Luna's celebration. "Shhh! Shhh… Okay, okay, that's good news. But don't blow it now." Thank the stars Luna hadn't used the Royal Voice — Twilight doubted her spell could survive such a blast.

Noctilucent looked puzzled and leaned close to Twilight, "We see no stallions present, pray tell how coulds't we 'blow it'?" Luna was justifiably proud of her hard-won grasp of modern vernacular, even if much of it made little sense.

Twilight blushed and groaned. "Just, try to stay in the role. Please? I think it'd be best if I tell Spike that you, I mean 'Princess Luna' you, went back to Canterlot. The fewer ponies and dragons who know who Noctilucent is the better, right?"

Luna nodded and settled down, reaching up to brush her mane back over her eyes. "Agreed. We, I wouldst, would prefer that as well. Also? Also." Slipping into the role she stuttered, "I do th-thank thee, you, Mistress Sparkle. Y-you have a good h-head upon your s-shoulders."

Twilight smiled and continued to blush but for more wholesome reasons. Not one, but two alicorn princesses had complimented her on her intelligence, that had to be a record for anypony. "Stay and read for a bit longer, before you go. So Spike doesn't think I chased you out or something. Okay?"

Noctilucent nodded and went back to reading a book on dream interpretation. The author's fanciful imagination was most amusing, misguided but entertaining, so she didn't mind staying a little longer. But she would have to leave before noon so she could take a mid-day meal before reporting to the work placement she had arranged. With her new disguise and possibly shaky acting, she was confident enough of being able to blend in and learn about modern ponykind while waiting for her strength to return.

Author's Note

The very first chapter of my very first story.

I've used several spelling checkers, Grammarly and Cross Lament rubbed her eyes all over it, but please let me know if you spot any errors.

Edit: I've re-written Luna's letter to Celestia. After a little research, I found that the royal 'We' is typically only used in official documents, which this letter certainly isn't.

v2 Edit: I didn't make any big changes to the story in this revision; just tried to tighten things up a little and made a few creative tweaks.

v2.1 Edit: Noticed I'd left a ">>" note to myself in the copy.