A/N Thanks to my good friend sfitzknott for proof and prereading each chapter.
Not a lot had changed since Luna’s return to Equestria. In fact, the only thing Luna actually did was sit in court with her sister, Celestia. Oh how she hated those long, boring trials. Although she had returned to her uncorrupted state, Celestia still did not trust her younger sibling with raising the moon, lest the same events happen again. In time Luna would earn this right back but for now Celestia was restricting what the younger princess could do.
“Why must she do this to me?” Luna asked to herself softly. Tears stained her pillow as they trickled down her cheeks. She had been sulking in her chambers for a while now. Two guards were stationed outside her doors and were instructed to follow her wherever she went. This saddened her even more. Celestia couldn't even trust her to move around the castle.
Knock. Knock.
“Yes?” she said, looking up from her bed.
“Princess Celestia has asked us to escort you to the dining hall” said one of the guards who entered. Luna obliged and walked down to the castle’s dining room with them.
“Ah, good of you to join sister,” said Celestia brightly as her younger sibling entered.
“How have you been keeping?” she asked.
“We are…good,” Luna lied. Luna was the exact opposite of good. She felt terrible.
“I am,” Celestia chuckled. “You must keep trying to learn this modern lingo.”
“Our…I mean my apologies Tia, it is a challenge to come back from 1000 years of darkness to a whole new dialect.”
Celestia felt a hint of bitterness in the young one’s voice and tried to switch to another subject.
“I have been thinking about lifting some of your restrictions,” said Celestia.
Luna’s eyes lit up at this. “Really?! Oh thank you Tia! Thank you so much!” Luna was almost bouncing with joy. Celestia looked at her little sister with happiness. She had never seen Luna this thrilled since she had returned. Celestia had realised she had been a bit harsh on Luna with her rules. Although she would still not allow her to raise the moon. Not yet anyway.
“So can I raise the moon tonight?” she asked her older sister with bright eyes.
“Unfortunately no,” said Celestia. Luna lowered her head sadly. “But you can roam Equestria, with an armoured escort of course.”
Luna was happy with this.
“You will be able to raise the moon in time Lulu. Now, let us dig in,” said Celestia as the food arrived.
After the 3 course meal the two sisters were retiring to their chambers, each stuffed with food in their bellies. Luna was excited, she would go out into Equestria some time in the next week. Where though? There were so many places! She could visit the cosmopolitan city of Manehatten, or maybe the great Pegasus city of Cloudsdale! She could maybe go gambling in Las Pegasus but she doubted her sister would be impressed. She chuckled at the thought of Celestia giving out to her after gambling away the tax profits.
“What is so funny Lulu?” asked Celestia inquisitively.
“I was thinking of all the places I could go Tia. There’s so many great cities!” she squeaked. Celestia beamed at her little sister, overjoyed to see her so happy after seeing her so miserable these past few days.
“Well if you want my opinion, I think you should go to the village of Ponyville. After all don’t you think you should pay the Elements of Harmony a visit? You might even make friends with some of them!” said Celestia.
“That’s a good idea! I shall go tomorrow!” Luna squeaked, still giddy with excitement.
“I will inform the Royal Guard in the morning so they can prepare a carriage for you. Good night Lulu.”
“Good night Tia!” Both princesses entered their chambers and went to bed. While Celestia drifted off immediately, Luna’s mind was racing. How would tomorrow go? Would the ponies be accepting? Would she make friends? Luna pondered over these thoughts and after a half an hour finally fell asleep.
The morning light of the sun crept through Luna’s window. She opened her eyes with a wide smile on her face. Today was the day! She jumped out of bed and trotted over to her wardrobe. She opened it and took out her favourite black vest. It had her cutie mark, a moon of course, on the chest. Luna walked over to her mirror to check herself and gasped at the sight before her. Her light blue, slightly curly mane had become a starry, flowing one. Her coat had defined into a slightly darker shade of blue. She had grown in height too. Thankfully it was mostly her legs. She was still able to fit into her vest, although she might have to get a bigger one just in case she grew more. Confused about this sudden growth, she decided to ask her sister, surely she would know. Opening the door nervously, she peered out into the hallway, only to find her two guards staring at her a bit perplexed.
“Please escort me to the dining room,” said Luna.
“Yes your majesty…um…you’ve grown,” said the puzzled guard.
“I noticed,” said Luna sarcastically. The guards escorted her to the dining room, where Celestia was eating.
“Good Morning Lul…” Celestia dropped her fork onto her plate and stared at her sister.
“Tia, what’s happening to me?!” Luna cried.
“Do not fear sister. Your body is just growing,” said Celestia calmly.
“GROWING?! THIS IS NOT NORMALLY GROWING!” Luna had raised herself to the Royal Canterlot Voice in her fit of panic. Celestia went over to her sister and nuzzled her to calm her down.
“Your body did not grow while you were on the moon. Now that you are back in Equestria it has caught up. You have grown to almost your full size now.” Celestia said, trying her best to comfort her scared sister.
“Why don’t you sit down and have some breakfast. You can’t be running on an empty stomach for your trip to Ponyville!” said Celestia, trying to cheer her sister up. Upon hearing of her trip Luna’s ears perked up and a smile formed on her face again. She trotted over to the table and gobbled down her breakfast, eagerly anticipating the journey. After an exchanging of goodbyes between herself and her sister Luna boarded her carriage and headed for her destination. Ponyville.