"That was delicious," Luna murrs as she licks her plate clean.

"Indeed," Paper Cut nods. "Does Princess Celestia know about your secret icebox?"

"Certainly not, and you had better not tell her." Both ponies laugh.

"So..." the filly smirks. "What you're saying is that I now know a secret that I could use to blackmail the Princess of the Night~?"

Luna chuckles. "At first, I thought that your special talent was reading... But now, I wonder whether it is being a smartass~"

Paper Cut giggles. "That would certainly lend new meaning to my name... Perhaps I should write some books, and put my cutting remarks on paper~"

The two laugh again. Then, Luna glances at the clock on the wall.

"Oh no!!" she gasps. She rushes to the balcony and magically lowers the moon. Shortly afterward, the sun rises.

"Phew... I was almost late," Luna breathes a sigh of relief. Then she gasps again. "You stayed up all night!!"

"So?" Paper Cut asks.

"You have thrown off your sleep schedule!" Luna frowns. "Oh, your mother will be so upset with me!"

"Relax," the foal replies. "Mom lets me stay up however late I want on weekends."

"...That is unhealthy, especially for a foal," Luna chides.

"So is cake, but we all have our vices," Paper Cut rejoins.

Luna sighs and smirks. "I truly pity your mother for having to deal with your impudence all the time."

"I was about to say the same thing about your sister," the foal winks.

The two share another laugh. Then, there's a knock on the door.

"Paper Cut? Are you in there?" a mare's voice asks.

"That's my mom," the filly says. "She must've shown up because we mentioned her three times."

Luna rolls her eyes. "Be right there!" she calls toward the door. Then she whispers to Paper Cut, "Promise me that you will be more respectful toward your mother. If she has not shipped you off to the Frozen North by now, she is by far the most patient pony in Equestria."

"Relax," Paper Cut replies. "I'm perfectly nice to her. After all, somepony's got to be there for her after her husband died."

Luna smiles. "You are a remarkably strong pony, Paper Cut."

The foal smiles back. "Strong wind makes strong trees."

Paper Cut walks to the door and opens it. A baggy-eyed mare with an apron and a head scarf is standing in the hall.

The mare immediately kneels. "P-Princess Luna, I apologize."

"Please, rise," Luna smiles. "For what are you apologizing?"

The mare stands back up. "For whatever my daughter did."

Luna and Paper Cut snicker. "Actually, I invited Paper Cut up here to speak with her, not to punish her. I found our conversation to be delightful. And she even helped me solve a problem that I did not even realize existed."

The mare blinks. "...'Delightful' conversation? ...That doesn't sound like my Paper Cut. She annoys everypony she encounters."

"Oh, she annoyed me too," Luna replies. She and Paper Cut laugh, and the foal's mother smiles. Luna continues, "But in a good way, much like... like one sister annoys another."

Paper Cut smiles at Luna. "I'll be happy to come annoy you again anytime."

Luna chuckles. "The pleasure would be all mine."

Paper Cut's mother smiles and bows. "Your Majesty was most kind to keep my daughter company. If Your Grace would excuse us, Paper Cut and I could use some rest."

"Of course," Luna nods.

Paper Cut and her mother start walking down the hall. A few moments later, the filly stops and turns around. "...You're best princess."

Luna blushes and smiles. "And you are best filly... Just do not tell the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Paper Cut smirks. "Ooh, another piece of blackmail material~"

Luna laughs. "Get out of here!!"

The filly giggles, turns around, and walks out of sight with her mother.

The princess watches them leave, then goes back into her bedchamber. She magically levitates the journal that Paper Cut was reading, places it on her bed, and then flips to the end.

Between the journal's last page and its back cover is a tattered sepia photograph. Luna lifts it to look more closely at the two Alicorns in it -- one male, one female.

Luna has never cried while looking at that photograph before.

Author's Note

2,556-word gift for Caneighdian

My Little Pony & Princess Luna © Hasbro Inc.

Paper Cut © Boogie Hooves

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