One evening, when Luna and Aversion met up again, the two decided to have dinner in a private room that Luna set up just for them. She managed to organize the guards' routines so that they would not bother them. It did not matter anyway, since all the guards were concerned about were any obvious threats. And Aversion, being an earth pony, was not so much of one. Some of the guards had seen Aversion themselves, but after Luna explained that he was her friend, they treated him like a guest.

The two were sharing a hay salad, and because Luna was feeling a bit frisky, decided to take some special wine from the cellar for them to share.

"So, Luna..." Aversion spoke over his meal. "...have your royal duties been ever-so-draining on you once more?"

"You have no idea..." Luna responded. "...what about you, Avey?"

Aversion sighed. "Well... Star Buck's being a real bitch again, like usual."

Luna frowned upon hearing this. "Ah, I see. I'm really sorry you have to deal with things like this. But, how about this: what's say I head down to Ponyville once I get the chance, visit the cafe, and let her know what I think about her?"

Aversion stopped moving as he moved his now-anxious eyes to Luna.

"Don't worry," Luna said. "I won't mention you specifically, but I will remark how poor her management skills are through... special whistleblowers, as well as observation."

Aversion smiled. "Thanks, Luna. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have somepony like you stand up for me against somepony else who I can't."

"Of course. Anything for my dear, sweet, little Avey!" The Princess said, rubbing Aversion's head with her hoof, causing the latter to blush.

Eying the bottle of wine on the table for moment, Luna glanced back at Aversion with a raised brow and a smirk.

"So, Avey..." she said, levitating the bottle. "...what's say... you and I... finish this?"

Aversion, with narrow eyes and a grin, held out his chalice to be refilled. "...Wine me!"

"That's what I like to hear!" Luna said as she refilled his glass, as well as her own.

A short while later, Blueblood, who had been searching the castle for Luna for quite a while, began to hear some laughter, and some muffled conversion, coming from someplace. He was not exactly sure where it was coming from, but as he continued walking, it became more audible. Eventually, he came to a room within one of the castle's atriums. Peeking through the keyhole, he saw Luna... and the earth pony stallion who he developed a strong distaste for.

Both of them were leaning to and fro oddly, and they had their eyes half-closed with mild facial flush.

"A-and then... she says-*hic*-she says... that I'm 'not upholding company code'..." Aversion said, slightly slurring his words. "...like... what does she even-*hic*-mean when she says that...?"

"I dunno..." Luna said, gulping down yet another glass of wine. "...b-but... *hic*... she really doesn't know how to manage if she can't manage having her employees live their lives."

"Ahh..." Aversion said, raising his empty chalice. "...amen to that, Luna!"

It was blatantly obvious that Luna and Aversion were both drunk. Blueblood's eyelids fell slightly over his eyes as his mouth hung slightly agape.

Oh, Auntie Luna... look what this pathetic lowlife has reduced you to! Binging on your fine wine? Have you no shame, Auntie!? he thought.

However... Blueblood had an excellent idea. He thought it could work fresh, but decided against it, thinking it could work better tomorrow morning. With that, the prince went back to his quarters for the night, allowing the two to stew in their self-shame.

Aversion and Luna, both heavily intoxicated, had just about depleted the bottle. They were both feeling, needless to say... under the weather. But surprisingly, something about it also felt oddly appealing. It was good and bad at the same time.

"...Haaahhh..." Luna uttered, a dreamy grin on her face. "...I think... I'll go and... make us some--*hic*--some tea... to wash it down..."

She stood from the table, but her walk cycle was so clumsy that she fell to the floor. Glancing back at Aversion, who appeared to be involved in his own little world... her vision became so blurry that she could no longer see him. Before she could say anything, she passed out. Aversion ended up doing the same mere seconds later, slumping over on the table.

The following morning, Blueblood stood from his elaborately-carved four-poster, running a brush through his mane and tail many times, and selecting his "best" shirtpiece for the day. After that, he left his fairly-oversized bedroom to head to the banquet hall for breakfast.

Upon reaching the large chamber, he saw Princess Celestia and recalled what he had to tell her regarding his other aunt.

"Oh, Auntie 'Tia!" Blueblood called.

Celestia looked over at her nephew, her eyebrows falling over her eyes. "Blueblood, listen, I already told you 'no' about having a sauna installed in your personal bathroom, it would be too--"

"No, that's not what I want to tell you." Blueblood said.

"Oh?" Celestia asked, raising a brow. "Then what is it?"

"I do believe Auntie Luna has passed out drunk." he said. "I saw her in a recreation chamber, unconscious with a bottle of wine! Would you, mayhaps, like to ensure she is well?"

Celestia stood up from the table she was sitting at. "Alright, I'll go and have a look, just to ensure she is well."

As Celestia was leaving the banquet hall... her nephew followed behind her, who was inaudibly snickering.

"Heh heh heh..." Blueblood chuckled under his breath so Celestia would not hear him. "...I've got you now, Aversion the Pathetic Peasant! Once dear Auntie 'Tia catches your sour being in the grand halls of Canterlot Castle, you shall be in for a realmsworth of pain! You shall never see Auntie Luna and pollute our glorious great halls with your foul essence ever again!"

Luna and Aversion were both still in the leisure chamber, unconscious from the amount of alcohol in their blood. They had not moved from their positions all night; Luna was still on the floor, and Aversion was still slumped over on the table.

Celestia entered the chamber to see her sister passed out.

"Luna, sis," Celestia said, stepping forward. "you hear me? What hap--"

Her speech stopped the moment her eyes met the earth pony stallion slumped facedown on the table, forelegs extended forward with a sideways chalice next to him. Her eyes became narrow and her lips pursed. She then stepped forward, nudging her sister.

"Luna!" Celestia said sharply. "Wake up! I have some questions to ask you!"

"...N-ngh..." Luna groaned. "...f-five more minutes... M-Mommy..."

"LUNA!" Celestia half-shouted.

"GAH!" Luna shrieked, now awake... enough.

Celestia lowered her head so she could be at eye-level with her sister.

"I have something I need to ask you..." Celestia said, just before shifting her eyes to the unconscious Aversion. "...who is this, Luna?"

"...Aah..." Luna said, somewhat aware of what was going on. "...aw, horsefeathers...! 'Tia, look... I don't... I don't want you so upset about this... see, I..."

"Luna... how long has this been going on?" Celestia asked. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"...W-well... what's the big p-problem...?" Luna asked.

Celestia sighed. "Luna, you know the protocol on which commoners are permitted in the castle. Has he met the necessary requisites?"

"...Well..." Luna spoke. "...why is that necessary?"

Realizing that questioning Luna was getting absolutely nowhere, Celestia directed her attention to Aversion.

"Excuse me, Mister...?" Celestia said, prodding the stallion.

"...A-agh..." Aversion strained as he awoke. "...ah... my head..."

The instant Aversion's eyes reoriented themselves and he caught a glimpse of the sight before him... he became very wide awake. At least, as wide awake as he could be with his hangover. He was in the presence of Princess Celestia herself.

"...O-oh... jeez..." he uttered.

"If you will pardon my asking..." Celestia spoke. "...who are you?"

"U-uh..." Aversion stumbled over his words."...my name... is Aversion... and... I'm a friend... o-of Luna's..."

"Friend?" Celestia asked, raising a brow.

With that, the ruler of Equestria turned back toward her younger sister, who was still straining to shake off her own hangover.

"Lulu... you didn't tell me you were inviting strangers into the castle. How long have you known him?" Celestia asked.

"...A couple of weeks... but why should that matter?" Luna asked.

"It matters quite a lot!" Celestia said. "Is this the reason I have noticed the stacks of your dream reports becoming ever-so-thinner over the time frame you just described?"

"...So what...? Nopony even reads them...! What's the point...?" Luna asked.

"There is no point; it's just how it's always been done. And with that in mind... you cannot have any distractions!" Celestia said.

" 'Distractions'...? Oh, 'Tia... 'Tia, 'Tia, 'Tia..." Luna uttered. "...if anything, Avey's been helping me enjoy my life! I've been severely fed up with the same routine...! I need excitement in my life...!"

"And just look at yourself when you say that!" Celestia said, picking up the empty wine bottle. "...you drank this ENTIRE bottle with him!? This was meant to be saved for the upcoming Gala!"

"...Please don't yell at me right now, sis..." Luna moaned, rubbing her head. "...I have a substantial migraine right now..."

Celestia glared. "Well, it serves you right for pulling the cork too early! What were you thinking?"

"Well..." Luna said, letting out a sigh. "...I just wanted a friend... and we started seeing each other more often... and then, yes... we did go a little wild, I regret to admit..."

"You know what? You are clearly in no condition to explain this to me right now. So, for the time being, I shall see to it that Mr. Aversion is sent back to his home, once we figure out where he lives, so he can recover from your childish peer pressure!" Celestia said.

"...'Peer pressure,' sis...?" Luna questioned. "...Really...? You would go so low as to--"

With a flash, Celestia used magic that amplified the sedation effect of the alcohol that was still in Luna's bloodstream, causing her to pass out again.

"Now then..." Celestia said to herself. "...I'll have the guards get Lulu to her bed... and I'll have to see to it that this young stallion is returned to his home, once we can identify him..."

Little were any of the three aware... Blueblood happened to be watching them. He snickered privately as he watched what unfolded before him, and imagined what was going to happen from there if the two continued to try and take action to see each other.

Well, Aversion the Sack of Mildew-ridden Manure... you and Auntie Luna alike have just both received strike one! If you keep trying to sneak behind Auntie 'Tia's back... you shall both be in for quite a terrible feat! Blueblood thought.

With that, he quickly left before Celestia would realize that he was still there.

A few hours later, Luna slowly came to, still bearing the same throbbing headache, no thanks to her hangover. She sat up, trying to become aware of her surroundings.

"...Oh no... did I oversleep again...?" she asked nopony in particular.

She stood from her bed, still a bit unsteady on her feet, and made her way over to the door. She already had her crown, neckpiece, and horseshoes on, so she did not need to spend any time getting ready for the day. However, upon making it out the door...

"Wha...?" Luna uttered upon seeing Celestia waiting for her. "...Sis... how long were you waiting out here?"

Celestia sighed. "...Long enough. Now, I have a couple of questions to ask you."

"Ugh... questions? Now? Seriously?" Luna asked. "I have a severe migraine, 'Tia..."

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "You said the very same thing not half an hour ago. Don't think a mere headache is going to get you out of telling me about that commoner you invited into the castle."

Luna's eyes widened upon hearing this. She looked at her older sister in shock and despair.

"You know about him!?" she asked. "What did you do with him!?"

"We pulled up his identification information in the Equestrian Citizen Databank, based on his name and cutie mark, and I had some of the guards obtain a property-access warrant to return him to his house. We shall allow him to recover from your night of getting yourself absolutely wasted before sending him a notice." Celestia said.

"A notice? What for?" Luna asked.

"...For entering Canterlot Castle without a pass, and being outside of citizen-accessible areas; in other words, trespassing." Celestia said.

Luna's jaw dropped upon hearing this. "It's not trespassing! I gave him permission! Isn't that something a Princess can do?"

Celestia let out a heavy sigh. "Luna, listen... these circumstances are not necessarily... ideal for somepony like him. For one thing, we haven't found anything in his life records that indicate any honorable service to Equestria."

"What about Twilight Sparkle's friends!?" Luna asked. "They are all commoners who had done nothing noteworthy, and yet they get access to the castle whenever they please!"

"They are the Bearers of the Elements! It was foretold in prophecy what they would do!" Celestia said.

"So?" Luna asked. "Prophecy should not count as an access barrier between royalty and subjects!"

"Luna, trust me... I'm doing this for your own good." Celestia argued. "If something like this got out to the public... it could result in a scandal! I don't want for you to unintentionally run our reputation into the ground!"

Luna hung her head down, tears filling her eyes. "Well... if that's the way you want it..." she said, turning away, back into her room. "...then you can consider both of us guilty! I'm calling in sick... because I don't feel so good right now..."

In truth, it wasn't her hangover that was making her feel bad; it was the act of Celestia crushing her heart that made her feel far worse than recovering from intoxication.

"Luna, wait." Celestia said. "I think we should talk about this a little more, just to get an understanding..."

Luna did not listen, and shut the door in Celestia's face. This made the latter hang her head down as she sighed once again.

"Oh, Lulu... ever so stubborn, as always..." Celestia said to herself. "...and especially, enigmatic and mysterious..."

Luna, meanwhile, was simply laying on her bed, feeling sick to her stomach now that Celestia had found out about Aversion. She was almost positive he would be banned from Canterlot Castle... and it was not even directly his fault. She was the one who brought him there, and for the first time, it was against his will. If anypony was to blame, it was her. In all honesty, she preferred to be the one punished in place of Aversion. That is, if he was to be punished.

From how Celestia worded it, Aversion would simply be given a warning letter. But still... this was going to make it significantly harder for Luna to be able to have him visit. She could hardly bear the thought of being separated from her friend... the best friend she ever had...

...She really had to say that he felt like more than just a friend to her.

Regardless, her mind weighed heavily on nothing but the situation, for hours on end, while she laid in her bed, refusing to leave the bed, let alone sit up. She was unsure about how to approach this with her friend.

"...What am I gonna tell Avey?" she asked herself, over and over.

Author's Note

Again, sorry for the long wait; school's been a real bitch this semester, and I've been going through the process of changing my major, as well as having to deal with some minor debit card fraud I've been facing (fortunately, I was reimbursed and given a new card, so all's well now!)