A man and an alicorn have just left the garage, when a high-powered car went out of the darkness towards them.

“What the fuck”, the man cursed, shading his eyes from the blinding headlights with the left hand and winding the chain on the fist of his right hand, so that his toy was pulled to his legs. The pony turned her head and closed her eyes.

The door of the car opened, a heavy boot plunged with champing into the snow, chewed by the wheels. A car owner stood up behind the opened door, having put his arms on the top.

”Your Majesty, Princess Luna, do you hear me? I have come to rescue you”

Having shuddered, Luna looked at the huge iron carriage without team, being full of wonder and hope. Was she called by her title and name? Was she recognized? But how? Who?

”What the hell? It is my pet!”

”Dude, watch your language” - The driver stopped him. - “You should not say such things in the presence of royalty. She is not a pet, but a pony. She is a sovereign of Equestria. Besides, she is an intelligent living being, not a toy for your sexual pleasures, which you have made her. Now, unlock the chain and free Luna”

Luna drooped her ears, when her master tried to walk away, letting a stream of abuse fly. Obeying an instinctive impulse of hope, she set her hoofs against the frozen asphalt as hard as she could and flapped her wings, risking to be choked by the clanking chain. The new portion of curses was already meant for her. The man-from-the-carriage paid no attention to the oaths. He quietly took a small shiny thing out of the cabin and came up to the “owner” of Luna with a deliberately tired sigh.

”Nevertheless, I advise you to agree and comply with my demands. I have strong arguments in this dispute. Look at this. You do not want your health to be hurt because of your stubbornness, do you?”

The “owner” got silent, and Luna stopped struggling, feeling that it was a turning point.

”That is good, - everyone just calmed down and came to a consensus. How I enjoy it. Take off the chain”

Alicorn felt that his fingers were shaking, while the lock was being opened - they were ready to clutch at her throat. The chain fell down with a clinking. Hesitantly, Luna made a few steps back. She was free and could fly, but where to? And what would she eat? And how she could return to Equestria? And the person who mentioned her home country - maybe he knew the answers?

”Princess Luna, please, come into the salon” - Her savior opened the passenger door.

”Aaah, where else is to go?” Luna shook her head, driving away tormenting doubts, and limped to the door, lurching upon the leg, which started to ache again. Gritting her teeth in pain, she climbed into the carriage and tucked up the tail. The door slammed, the clicking of the lock was muffed. Luna pricked up her ears, wanting to know what was going on outside, and put her head between the seats, looking out of the front window.

”What else?” - her former tormentor asked, kicking the discarded chain. He looked like an offended child, whose favourite toy was taken away.

”Luna needs apples. Put them on the seat”

The order was executed - the bag of apples was put down, as it was ordered. Without any wish to tempt the providence, Moon huddled in the far corner of the cabin. However, the man did not even look at her.

”Now go to the garage, and sit down facing the door”

”Are you crazy? Should I sit on the ice on my ass?!” - The man yelled.

”Go, as I have said. You will sit until we go away. Then you can go home, back to your grey boring life. And do not forget to jerk off”

Swearing, the man sat down in front of the gate. The driver jumped into the car, threw the shiny thing on the shelf under the window and put the car in reverse, simultaneously closing the door. The transport bumped over the curb, Luna’s injured leg hung down from the seat, the pony groaned, putting the leg back. The car left the territory of the garage cooperative and disappeared into the night.

***

The engine was purring in regular fashion. Kilometers of empty night road were being counted by wheels. The dark interior of the car was lit by glimmering of the dashboard units and the light of widely spaced lanterns.

Everything went very well, without trouble. I took off balaclava and threw it into the glove compartment. The pistol was put in there too. I pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car, smoothed my hair and looked at the back seat.

Two green moons were looking back at me. I saw her mane and tale glowing dimly, magically. Her breath was uneven.

”Princess Luna, how do you feel?”

Green moons turned into crescents as the alicorn’s eyelids went down.

”I know you understand me quite well. And I know you can speak. But you don’t need to answer right now. We are on the route. All problems will be solved, one at a time, when we come home”

”Home?!” - she raised her head and two moons shined even brightly before me.

”Yes. I don’t want to upset you, but we are not going to Equestria yet. We are going to my house”

”A-ahm” - she didn’t try to dismiss the disappointment she felt.

”All the more, in your condition you must not move anywhere. You need absolute bed rest, substantial meals and a lot of sleep. If you try to jump between worlds you are sure to turn up your hoofs. After everything you went through, to be rescued at last and kick the bucket... it’s a shame”

”What can you know about shame?” - I heard her bitter whisper. Luna’s eyes became dim. Her shimmering mane covered the back seat.

”Nothing, really” - I started the car.

And here are the lights of the district I know. I opened the garage by remote control, drove in, cut the engine and just sit there for a while in the pitch darkness, relaxing. I heard my ward snuffling behind.

After a rest, I got out of the car and turned the light on in the garage. I went around the car, pulling off paper strips from the brand and number plates, took the mask and weapon from the glove compartment and put them into a cache. Then I stepped to the passenger door.

Pony watched my every movement cautiously. I opened the door and went down on one knee, extending my hand to her.

”Please, princess”

She stared at me piercingly and a few agonizingly slow seconds passed before her right wing was held out to me. I gently shook this limb and helped Luna to get out, holding her. Pony’s right forefoot was bandaged.

”Can you walk?”

”No, I suppose not” - she made a wry face, having tried to stand upright.

”Stay still” - I leaned her against the car sideways, went to the corner and came back holding an axe and a coil of thick rope. Luna flinched, widening her eyes with fear.

Having cut the length of the rope I needed, I wrapped it around Luna’s chest several times. My hands felt her heart beating quickly.

”Calm down, princess. Always expecting the worst will have your nerves unstrung”

”I don’t even know what to expect anymore” - she exhaled.

”From an axe? With an axe you can chop off a head as well as cook porridge. It is a mere tool” - I put an axe and a coil back and took the bag of apples out of the car.

Despite her injury, pony turned to me swiftly.

“Why do you call me princess?!” - it seemed that her stare could burn me through. Assuming a defensive posture, Luna bowed and thrust out her horn - “Why should I believe you?”

I went down to one knee again and bended so my eyes were level with hers. Luna took a small step back.

”Luna, but you are a princess”

”I do not rule here” - her voice faltered.

”A princess remains a princess in every world, even without her throne and crown, if she is true to herself. I see, however, that remnants of your dignity was shaken out of you before I could find you”

My words managed to catch Luna’s wounded pride on the raw. She made a stern face and enunciated with her well-modulated voice:

”We agree”

”Well, then. Let’s go outside”

I threw longer part of the rope, tied in a loop, over my shoulder, got up and lifted Luna like a bag. She weighted quite a lot.

”Stay close. Walk carefully on your hind legs”

She was not used to walking that way, and it was difficult for her. Alicorn leaned her body to mine, trying to step as firmly as she could. Her head was above mine. Carrying parcel in one hand, I kept the other round Luna’s shoulders. Her breath was calm, pulse became less frantic. When we left the garage, the doors closed automatically.

So we were walking, in each other’s embrace, like a loving couple, to the block of flats through snow-covered yard. I stopped in the middle of the yard and let the alicorn look around. There was playground for the children, benches and trees. She lent her head back for a long time, looking at the stars and the crescent of the waxing moon, as light and clear as it was on her croup. Clouds of steam were escaping from her nostrils, her eyes were sparkling in the night and even radiance of her mane became brighter.

”Luna”

”What?” - the pony came back into reality

”Let’s go”

The iron door of the house opened reluctantly, with a strained howl. Luna’s ears twitched, she took a step back, pulling at her rope, and almost knocked me down. I remained on my feet, having clenched the cramp, which substituted for the handle of this door, and straightened the falling pony out.

”Being afraid of the rusty door? Oh my...” - I grumbled. Luna responded with a snort.

”Come on, let’s go”

I contrived to close the door without clatter. The staircase was lit well enough to show us where to place our feet. There was smell of paint and smoke. The fat red cat by the name of Baron was drowsing by the elevator. As he heard the sound of steps, Baron was pleased to open one eye and contemplated us with an idle glance. I pressed the button and waited until the grumbling elevator car descended from the top floor. The minute door was opened, Baron came in and sat in the corner. We followed. Luna looked at the cat with curiosity, arching her neck. She did not notice her horn scratching the wall.

Casually, I pressed the “8” and “13” buttons with my elbow. The elevator car went up slowly. The impact scrubbed the alicorn’s horn against the wall and she stepped aside, having noticed it. Baron got off the elevator at the eighth floor. We proceeded to the thirteenth. Luna was now very careful not to brush against anything with her horn.

”Could you hold it?” - I handed the parcel to her. She took the straps in her teeth, holding the parcel with her forelegs. Meanwhile I one-handedly managed the key, unlocking the door.

”So we came home” - I turned the light on, lowered the pony so she could stand on four feet, threw the rope off my shoulder, took the parcel from Luna and put it on the floor. Having taken off my outer clothing, I sat down on the chair, taking off the shoes. - “Welcome to your new home, Your Majesty! I hope you will like it here. I don’t promise you the royal grandeur, but this house has everything every home should have: heat, light, safety, food and water. And that is all that matters”

”Thank you” - Alicorn was looking around. Trrrttt - her long helical horn ploughed through wallpapers, having left a wry furrow. The plaster shattered. Luna dashed aside. I gripped her horn tightly.

”I... We are sorry. We did not mean to do it” - she looked confused, shifting from one leg to the other, while holding the bandaged limb up. I gave off a throaty growl, examining the pony closely.

”Please, do not growl at Us” - Luna looked straight at me.

”Mr-r-r-rm... I see there is too little space for you. You are used to large chambers of the palace, are you not? Let me show you the right posture”

Having put my free hand on Luna’s back, I bent her neck slightly, threw back her head just a bit, lifted her chin, still holding the horn. Now her horn was almost upright.

”Try to memorize this position of the head. So your horn will not be hitting the walls. Turn your head, look to the left, to the right and in front of you. Are you comfortable?”

”Well... We shall get used to it. It is really tight in here”

”It’s a bit tight, but all right if we don’t fight” - I retorted, untying the rope, which was wrapped around Luna’s body.

“We don't fight”

“That’s good. And now, Your Majesty, I’ll ask you to listen carefully and memorize everything I tell you”

The boots found their place next to the wall, the coil of rope flew to the corner.

“Yes?” - the alicorn was looking at me worriedly. It seemed as if she expected me to dictate some dreadful conditions and to make her accept them.

“Luna, we belong to different races, and more than that, to different worlds. The fact, that we understand each other, itself is a miracle. It cannot apply to everything. Misunderstandings and conflicts are inevitable. But we are able to mitigate them, if we would discuss our problems instead of being silent. Do you understand me now?”

The pony nodded without a word. I continued to speak, with my eyes intent on hers, green and mesmerizing with their depths.

“In order to help you, I am going to ask you direct questions. They may seem to you funny, ridiculous, stupid, insolent and even offensive, insulting your honour and dignity. Try to stay calm and answer my questions fully and honestly. This is not a request, but a condition you have to meet to live here with me. And you cannot refuse”

“Why?”

“Because this world, where you are now, is entirely hostile to you. You have something to prove it” - I pointed to her injured leg - “If you prefer, I could open the door and then you would be free to fly, go or crawl anywhere you like. Will you last long there? I am sure you will not”

Luna’s eyes glistened with tears reflecting her grief. She realized her helplessness.

“It is winter. It is cold. There is no food. Certainly, the summer will take winter’s place, it will be warm and there will be plenty of grass. But you will not be able to hide from the humans forever. Eventually you will be found and caught one way or the other. Do I need to tell you what is going to happen after this?”

“No...” - she sobbed and looked away - “We have seen enough of it already. We understood”

“That is why it would be in your interest to come to my terms”

“IT IS CRUEL AND DEMEANING! YOU ARE FORCING US TO OBEY!” - She fired up.

The power of Luna’s voice pressed me against the wall. I almost grown deaf, but retained my consciousness and as soon as the alicorn stopped talking, I launched myself at her, covered her mouth and pushed her to the door, leaning all my weight against her.

Luna tried to break free, but I pressed my back against her, holding her head under my arm, and planted my foot on the wall of the narrow corridor, having squeezed all breath out of pony so she could only puff quietly.

“Rr-rgr-rh, princess, those were some high-sounding words, you took the liberty of saying”

Her eyes gleamed with fury. Covering her mouth, my palm felt heated breathing coming from her nostrils.

“Do you know that you can kill someone on the spot with that voice of yours?” - I asked without even hearing my own words. My head was dizzy, I felt as if the cotton balls has been shoved into my ears.

“Kill?” - Luna seemed shocked by that thought. Having stopped resisting and puffing, she looked at me with fear and distrust.

“Do you think, I am kidding and this is just a game?” - I shook pony’s head violently. A wheeze of disapproval came out of her.

”I will release you, if you promise not to shout and to watch your voice” - When I had relinquished my hold a little, Luna nodded. Having released her, I sat down on a chair and started rubbing my ears, pressing my palms against them vigorously.

From the way her lips moved, the pony was talking about something.

”Excuse me, princess, but I cannot hear you. You deafened me quite well. Hopefully, it is not permanent. I would rather not stay deaf for the rest of my life. So that is your gratitude for the rescue, well...”

Luna stood there and looked guiltily.

”But you can hear perfectly, so raise your ears and let me finish what I have to say”

The pony glanced at me timidly. With a malignant grin on my face, I took both of her drooped ears and set them upright.

”So...” - holding Luna’s head in my hands, I was examining her muzzle like a sculptor inspects his new creation - “I had promised you direct questions. Here they are. First of all, where did you find any cruelty in my words? Is telling you about this world and its rules cruel? I think, you have already learned those rules the hard way. Secondly, Your Majesty, what is there so demeaning in answering me what kind of apples do you like more? What would you like to drink? Do you mind taking a bath? Where it is more comfortable for you to sleep? And thirdly, shouldn’t you apologize for your hot temper and for harming my health accidentally?”

She seemed ready to burst into tears. I passed my hand over her head tenderly, combed a stray lock of her mane, which glimmered dimly, while I was looking at myself reflected in her green lakes, filled with fear and pain. I hugged Luna, pressed her to my chest, caressing her neck and shoulders. They were dirty and covered with a layer of gray concrete dust.

Author - StirrenArt

The damb broke, unable to endure the flow of emotions. Everything Luna had seen and lived through poured out of her with a stream of tears. She was shaken all over with sobs and could hardly stand, having rested her head on my shoulder. Holding her, I felt heavy warm drops falling on my back.

”Forgive... forgive Us” - the alicorn moaned, choking with tears - “In a thousand years on the Moon We have not been so tortured and lonely as within a few days here. We are... so sorry”

Exhausted, Luna leaned upon me, putting her healthy foreleg round me. I sat down on the floor with her, because she was not able to stand anymore.

”Do you feel better?’

The look of her eyes was empty, static and unseeing as if she has gone blind. The shimmering trails ran from her eyes and nostrils, viscid saliva was dripping from her lips.

I took off the vest, which was soaked with tears, wiped pony’s muzzle and lifted the vest to her nose.

”Clean your nose”

Having blown her nose loudly, she seemed to clean her mind as well. A gleam of recognition came into her eyes.

”Oh, thank you” - Luna was puzzled by her condition - “But what should We do now? And what do you intent to do with Us?»

“I suggest that we get acquainted a new and in full to begin with. I know, you are Princess Luna, the ruler of Equestria. Am I right?”

”Yes”

”I am Lairy. My nickname is “Cheetah”. I am master of sports, working as a fitness coach. I help people recover, unlock their potential and let them get on with their lives. And for now my task is to help you recover. Nice to meet you” - I held out my hand to her.

”Let’s say, I am the former ruler” - Luna placed her hoof in my palm carefully, as though she was afraid, while she was looking intently into my facial features - “How do you know Us, Lairy? We are sure We have never met you before. And that... human - he was hiding Us. In the basement”

”Luna, allow me to answer these questions of yours later. You had endured too much already. So, if I am to answer, you may be shocked again. Let’s deal with more vital issues now”

Having shaken her hoof, I crumpled the vest up and wiped the drops of saliva from the floor.

”Very well. What are those issues?”

”You are very dirty. I suggest that you should be bathed in a hot water with soap... we will need a ton of it”

”Atone? Why?” - Luna’s already large and expressive eyes widened even more and became utterly round in confusion - “We have never been advised to do such a thing. What do you mean?”

”By being bathed with soap? It is very pleasant, cleaning and relaxing. You will be neat and fresh”

”If so, We agree”

”Come here” - I opened the door to the bathroom, turned on the water, put the vest into the laundry basket. Luna followed me, clattering on tiles with her hooves and watching what I was doing interestedly.

”Get in” - I laid the rubber rug at the bottom of the bathtub - “And stand here, so your legs would not slide”

The pony stepped over the edge of the bathtub cautiously. I held her, so her injured limb was not bothered.

”Sit down. I need to examine your leg”

Having shuffled her feet awkwardly, Luna sat down right in the warm water.

”O-o-oh-h-h... it is...”

”It is only the beginning, it will be even better” - I scratched her nose encouragingly and took hydrogen peroxide, bandage and scissors out of the wall locker. Then I went out to the corridor to bring a chair, sat down next to the bathtub and began to unwind the dirty bandage carefully.

Having cut the knot, I winded up the upper layer of the bandage. All the next layers were stuck to each other by blood. I moistened the bandage with hydrogen peroxide, waited for two minutes, scratching Luna’s chin, and removed the remnants of the bandage.

”Gee.... Was it your last “Master”, who injured you so?”

”No. It was Our leg having slipped in some hole. There was much iron in it. We were injured badly. And he was treating Us, extracting iron from Our leg”

”Such an act extenuates his crimes against you a bit. But it does not atone for them”

”You consider him a criminal too?”

”Yes”

”But you said, that We need to atone. Why? And what has he to do with it?”

Having thought for a moment, I realized what kind of a pun had confused the pony.

”A ton of something” and “atone for something” are different words, Luna. By saying “a ton of soap” I meant “a lot of soap”. And now we will go in for bathing”

I put the vial and scissors back into the wall locker, threw the bandage into a trash can and took the shower hose from the holder bracket.

”The first thing is the shower. I warn you, if the flowing water suddenly becomes too cold or too hot, you shall tell me immediately, lest you may be scalded”

The alicorn mumbled something indistinct. She was sniffing and snorting loudly, shaking her mane, enjoying the hot shower. Water, which cascaded off her, was dark-gray, almost black, with little insects in it.

”Did she get so dirty and catch so many fleas in the cellar?!” - In silent horror, I soaped the brush. Relaxed Luna was lying in the bathtub and I kept rubbing her with the brush.

”We feel sooo good” - the pony princess breathed out blissfully, as I doused her with water again. This time there was significantly less dirt in it.

Author - Lusilie

”Stand up, let’s wash your stomach and legs”

She got up, looking soften and absolutely happy. Her wings were hanging down, the drops of water were sparkling like stars on her dark-blue velvety hide.

”Look at yourself. You are beautiful”

Her simple and sincerely grateful smile beamed at me. Having shut her eyes softly, Luna craned her neck to let me massage her weary muscles. She flinched suddenly:

”It hurts”

I looked down. The soap, flowing off her shoulders and legs, got into the wound. Having adjusted the shower, I washed it with tepid water carefully. Pony wrinkled her nose, but the water acted like a painkiller. Luna calmed down, and I watched to make sure the soap would not get on her leg again.

I soaped her other legs, chest and stomach, moved the tail aside and touched her inner thigh.

”Don’t!” - the alicorn cried in horror. Having jumped away, she stepped off the carpet to the bottom of the bathtub and slipped. I was just in time to catch her under her chest and kept pony from falling.

”Don’t...” - she was looking at me in distrust, trembling all over, expecting her worst nightmare to come true.

Author - Lusilie

”Luna, I will not hurt you” - I answered softly, looking into the blackness of her extended pupils. Right now the one thing I wanted most of all was to reach her soul, find there all the hardships the pony suffered during her short stay in the humans’ world, and carry them away from her.

I sobbed, got down on my knees by the bathtub, hugged the pony and held her close to me, having buried my face in a thick mane. She was shaking, but she did not resist, did not try to struggle out of my hands.

”Luna... what had been done to you? You are maimed... how can I help you?” - I whispered.

Her soft lips nipped my ear. I leant away and saw those eyes again, right up against me.

”Lairy...” - it seemed that even talking was hurting Luna - “Maybe we should go back for a moment?”

Having looked away, she stepped back on the carpet.

Once again the soaped palm was sliding carefully along the thighs. Luna stood still, shivering at every touch. Caressing lower area of her stomach tenderly, I felt her nipples, the soft skin of her little udder, and then touched elastic folds of her womb and salient annulus ring. The fear reflected in Luna’s eyes. She forced herself to stay still, bowing her head. Her breath was tense, hoarse.

Having washed her intimate places carefully with warm water, I patted the alicorn on the withers gently.

”That’s all”

Having breathed out loudly, the pony almost fell down. However she caught her balance and turned to me with a curiosity.

”Had you not...” - she stopped without finishing her phrase.

”Never” - I answered with a smile

”Okay” - she gave in - “What is next?"

"Wings and hair"

It took some experimenting, but I managed to put Luna on hind legs, leaning her chest against a wall. That pose made her mane, back, tail and wings easy to reach. I had to take a lot of trouble over her wings: a host of parasites were hidden in those dusty feathers. The alicorn helped me by extending and turning her wing, fanning its feathers to let the water penetrate up to the very skin. Through it all she did not say a word, but a satisfied smile often flew across her muzzle.

Author - Lusilie

”Princess, your mane is gorgeous” - I complimented her, combing blue sparkling locks with my fingers.

”Oh, yes. It should be thicker and streaming in the magic flow. But it seems that Our magic does not work here. And We feel so powerless” - the alicorn sighed - “For the first time in our life We can do almost nothing, We can’t even lift an item. It feels like We are an earth pony - without magic, horn, wings. Without anything. And that is just horrible” - she emphasized her speech with an expressive sweep of the leg.

I snorted sarcastically. Luna noticed it at once.

”What do you find so funny in our weakness?” - she asked with a reproving tone - “Yes, certainly, We can be beaten, mauled, threaten to be killed, chained, chased around dark, dirty cellar, dumped on the sacks of vegetables, tied and raped! Because you know, that We can’t fight back. Because if We had resisted, We would have been left to die, starving in the cold darkness!” - she finished in a voice of despair.

”Luna, I know, that you had suffered there a lot. And I am not mocking you. You may be right about your magic. But what about this? It looks strong” - I opened one of her wings to its full width ostentatiously with the both of my hands.

”It just looks so. We weakened so much, that We can’t even flap our wings properly”

”I’m sorry, Luna, I did not think about it, really” - I folded her wing carefully - “And now, will you please lie down on your back in the bathtub?”

”What for?”

”For cleaning your hooves”

The pony lay down, as I asked, and felt very embarrassed, having realized that all of her intimacies were open and unprotected. Luna’s cheeks darkened, she lowered her ears and hid the muzzle in her forelegs. Having caressed her with a glance, I bent and put her tail on her stomach, covering the perineum.

While I was handling the brush, cleaning her hooves, which were filled with dirt, Luna laughed softly as if she was tickled.

”Actually your hooves should not be ticklish” - I remarked, showering her legs.

”But it really tickles, We have sensitive... hot!” - Luna cried, having pulled back her leg.

I turned the shower aside quickly, touched the spouts, which turned from hot into boiling water.

”What an idiotic billy-goat is twisting the faucets?!” - I roared, shutting off the red supply valve - “Were you scorched?”

”Not much. Do the goats live there too? Really?”

”No, they do not. Let’s cool the burned spot”

Finally, I helped Luna to turn over and get up, wiped her with a towel, bandaged the wound. She jumped out of the bathtub without my assistance.

”So, how do you feel?”

”We feel per-hooved, We liked it very much” - the alicorn rubbed her nose against my hand gratefully.

“I am glad to know that” - I hung the shower back on the wall, put the brush and the soap into their place - “Help me now with the next problem. Were you fed there, in the cellar?”

”Yes”

”And where did you relieve yourself? Did you do it on the floor?”

”Well, there were some bowl, We are not sure what purpose it served. And it was cleaned up after Us”

”I will show you more convenient and practical solution. You don’t want to foul up your home, do you? “

I waited silently for Luna to get hold of herself. Her muzzle bore an obvious expression of inner struggle. She was looking at me rather angrily.

”Lairy, if you had not mentioned our racial differences earlier and if you had not warned Us of what questions you were going to ask, We would reckon you were some tactless hillbilly earth pony!”

Having grinned, I sat on the edge of the bathtub.

”Your Majesty, I understand all the comPONYents of your frustration. And still, I strongly recommend you to use your mind. You would have to face this problem sooner or later. In a house you barely familiar with, you will not be able to find a toilet by yourself, let alone to use it properly. You are offered help and solution of this problem in advance. And you disdain that help. So it is me who can reckon you are tactless” - My finger pointed at Luna’s horn - “Would you rather create quite the smelly problem, be ashamed of that and embarrassed? Or would you learn to relieve yourself in a proper place? I can wait till the needs of your body come to rule over your stubbornness”

I waited silently with my arms folded.

The alicorn’s thoughtful eyes moved between me and the wall behind my back. Her personal “I” was struggling against the grand “We”. And the result of that struggle was going to show if she would be flexible and able to adapt to the life conditions in the alien world, or if she would adhere to her principles, which did not promise her any good. Her self-esteem insisted that the human next to her was a complete lout, who did not know the rules of the high society, always touched on the raw, and should be spoken to with the Canterlot ceremonial voice only, so he would know his place. But the reason weighted upon her with the facts, she could not ignore. Yes, Lairy was as straightforward in deeds as he was in words. Yes, he resembled an earth pony with those simple manners of his. But was he ever rude? He behaved politely, even knew that you were a princess. He had never said anything offensive. All his “insulting” arguments were merely facts, so it was silly to take offence at them. You had already spoken with your Canterlot voice and regretted it very soon. He is caring. When was the last time you felt so good? And now the stomach is gurgling... do you want to be stubborn and hungry only because of the non-compliance with rules of the royal court? Do you want to find yourself in the dark, cold street? So, for your own sake, shove your vanity deep into the moon crater.

”Lairy, please, excuse my harshness and intemperance one more time” - Luna’s nose touched my elbow - “There is no need to wait. I am ready to learn now”

”Very well” - I lifted the lid of the toilet - “Sit down here. Hold. Move your tail aside, you should not dip it into the toilet. Relieve yourself. Make sure that everything falls down under you. If you feel more comfortable alone, I could go out”

”Yes, thank you”

I went out, closed the door and leaned my back against it, examining the flowers on the wallpaper. It looked like this pony was not stupid at all, despite her attitude. She realizes that her life depends on me and tries to find a peaceful solution to all the problems. She seemed to forget about her haughty “We” and made the communication simpler. That is good. I hope we will get along.

The door was scratched from the inside quietly. When I opened it, the sharp stink flooded my nostrils.

”Did I do everything right?” - the pony asked guardedly.

”Yes. Get here, put down the lid and pull up this thing on the tank”

”Is it water?” - Luna listened to the noise.

”Yes, the water will wash everything away. Well done, you are a good learner” - I scratched between her ears - “Let’s go to the kitchen, beauty, it is time to get some food”

”That sounds good to me!” - she intoned. When the pony followed me, her hooves were clicking as if she wore high heels.

I sliced the frozen apples up, filled my own bowl with soup, put everything into the microwave and turned it on to reheat the food.

”What would you drink? There is water, tea, juice...”

”Juice?”

I gave Luna the opened carton of peach juice. She sniffed.

”Delicious”

The microwave gave a squeak. I took the food out and put the cup of juice in so it could warm up. I poured some water into my glass, having no desire to spend time on making tea.

”Luna, would you eat from the table or from the floor?”

”From the table” - Having smiled at me, she settled herself more comfortably and carefully took the cup in her fore-hooves.

I was eating soup, watching Luna taking slices of apples from the plate with her lips and drinking hot juice. Her eyes were narrowed with pleasure.

”Why are you looking at me that way?” - she asked, having put the cup aside.

”Because I like you”

”Is that so? I am glad to know it. And the juice is very delicious, thank you. And what are you eating?” - she reached out her nose towards my plate with a curiosity.

”Luna, mind this weapon of yours” - I moved away her horn, which I had found dangerously close to my face, and touched its tip with a finger.

”Weapon?” - the alicorn looked at the horn as if it was the first time she saw it.

”It is sharp. You can blind somebody with it, or rip up their belly, or run them through”

”It is horrible. I had not think I could run through someone with it” - Luna squirmed in her chair nervously.

”May be you cannot do it deliberately, but accidentally - you certainly can. So keep your horn up”

”Yes, I shall”

”And I am eating soup. There is water, boiled vegetables, meat”

”Meat?”

”Here” - I gave her a piece of beef on the spoon. Luna licked it deftly and, after a moment of chewing, chocked, having stiffened with her eyes wide open.

”You don’t like it? Spit”

”Br-r-r” - She spat the meat on the table with an obvious relief - “How can you eat this stuff?”

”You see, humans are omnivorous. Some eat green, the others eat meat. It is normal for us”

”Oh...” - the pony glanced into her empty cup, looking sour. I poured cold juice in it, she drank and cheered a little - “And I thought that social graces would never allow me to spit food like that”

”Those, who came up with those rules, are not here. So you do not have to follow them”

”Do you want me to be like an earth pony?”

”Yeah, by the way, tell the ignorant me, who are these pony?” - I picked up the chewed piece of meat and sent it through the open casement, having used the spoon as a catapult.

”They are just working horses. They build houses and palaces, till the ground, grow vegetables and fruits. They are known for their particular endurance, but lack the intelligence and manners, unless they are particularly educated” - Luna moved her fore-hooves in the air, holding one slightly higher than the other, demonstrating some “levels”

”I see, so they are your working class. And who are the thinkers?”

”You are right, they are the working class. We have another working class - the pegasi. These are the winged ponies, as sturdy as the earth ones, but living in the sky, on the clouds. They are smart, swift and responsible for the weather and timely rains. Every city has its own team of pegasi to control the weather”

”Yeah, we could use a team of pegasi too. Cannot pretend I like the weather outside”

”The thinkers are unicorns. They are skilled in the ways of magic, their talents manifests in their infancy. They advance magic ad science, create works of art, bring beauty into our world”

”And who are you? You have the features of all three species”

”I am an alicorn, the highest stage in ponies’ evolution. As far as I know, there are two alicorns in our world. They are my elder sister Celestia and me. She controls the Sun, I control the Moon”

”Luna controls the Moon. That is interesting” - having finished eating my soup, I put the plate into the sink.

”Yes, that is the way of things. But I control nothing now”

”Speaking of the moon, you mentioned, that you had spent a thousand years there. So how old are you? I understand, you are long-lived”

”I?” - the alicorn thought for a while - “I am almost two thousand years old. And Celestia is three thousand”

”You look wonderful for your age. And your eyes are very beautiful” - I stroke Luna’s cheek.

”Flatterer...” - she snorted quietly, looking pleased.

”I like to flatter women”

”Is that so? I will remember” - averting her eyes, she burrowed her muzzle in my palm.

Scratching her lips and nose, I felt small hard hairs pricking, sensed her warm breath. And I couldn’t help but smiled.

”Luna, by the way, your horn should be made harmless”

”But how?” - she asked with concern.

”Yeah, I am thinking about it myself. Stay here for a while” - I walked out of the kitchen, strolled around my flat, looked in to the wardrobe, examined the bookcase, piles of odds and ends, and then the desk.

”Here” - having come back, I gave Luna blue plastic top of the felt pen. She looked it over and returned it to me. Having put the top on the horn, I winded it with the duct tape and pressed tightly.

”It is done. Now, if you run against something, you would not damage the furniture and your horn would not get stick. Are you comfortable?”

”Yes, this thing is so light, I even do not feel it”

”Excellent. Let’s go to bed now”

I washed the dishes and cleared the table, refilled the kettle with water, and thought about what I should fill the refrigerator with for my roommate.

”So, Luna, we are in the living-room. I will make a bed for you on this sofa and will sleep in the bedroom next door”

I brought a big warm blanket from the bedroom and spread it.

”It is so cozy” - the pony climbed onto the sofa and lay. I covered her with the same blanket.

”Luna, tomorrow I will have to go away for the whole day. I will come back in the evening. You have food, a toilet and a bed. I ask you not to touch anything you are not familiar with, so it will be less unnecessary trouble for the both of us. You can do this best by eating and sleeping only, till I come back”

”Lairy, before I fall asleep, would you answer a question?”

”What question?”

”I am grateful for your care and everything you did for me this night. But... why did you give me all of this: the bath, food, even the bed? Then, outside, you called me by my name and title at once. How did you know who I am?”

”I will answer, but it will only raise more questions. Promise me that you will sleep now and ask all of your new questions tomorrow”

”Okay. I am almost sleeping and unlikely to wake up unless I would hear a complete nonsense” - the pony yawned, looking at me with her sleepy eyes.

”It is not nonsense. Celestia asked me to look after you”

Having wake up immediately, Luna jumped up in her bed, as if she was struck by lightning

”TIA?!” - she hurried to cover her mouth with the hoof, having heard that the window panes clinked because of her shout - “But how...”

”You promised me to sleep” - I reminded her with a smile.

”By Discord, you have lost me completely” - the alicorn sighed, having covered her head with a blanket so only the horn stuck out.

I turned off the light.

Author's Note

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.