"You will do Equestria proud." Celestia set a metal-clad hoof on Twilight's shoulder, smiling at her once-student, then replacement. "I leave her in good hooves."

"I'll do my best." Twilight dipped her head. "I have good friends at my side."

"And they will prove invaluable." She began to turn away. "Never forget that and think this must all rest on your shoulders alone."

"My sister speaks truth. Remember what makes you strong and you will perform better than we ever could have hoped." Luna turned with Celestia, the two departing at one.

They were no longer rulers of Equestria. Neither looked that upset about the fact. As soon as they were out of sight, vanishing down the hallways towards their chambers, Luna broke the silence, "Now we begin the vacation? You promised we could see the world."

"And see the world we shall." Celestia nodded to the guards they came across that stood guard at her door. "But not as you have likely envisioned. I would not idle my time away." She pressed past them, escorting Luna into the room. Golden magic closed the heavy doors tight. "We go, not as tourists, but as something far more exciting."

Luna quirked an ear, studying her sister. "I pray you do not mean as diplomats?"

"Only if we're paid to be..." Celestia walked towards her closet and threw it wide open. She reached into its dizzying variety of hanging clothes and came out with something floating just above her hoof that was not cloth at all, instead hard metal. "We go as sell-swords. We will adventure and know the thrills of a life at risk."

Luna's other ear joined its erect kin. "Celly, you're serious? After so long preaching peace, tolerance, and docility, you rush to become none of those things?"

"Are you complaining?" Celestia began to dress herself, switching horseshoes to more practical protective wear. Her magic slid the torso-covering armor over her top and pulled her grand tail through the hole provided. "How do I look?"

"You... look new." Luna threw her head towards her own room. "I have armor, as you are aware."

"Then you should be changing into it." She nodded softly as she turned towards her sister. "We may use our magic freely for a change, but mistakes happen, and a little physical protection certainly won't be remiss."

Luna suddenly extended a wing, plinking against Celestia's armor with a few feathers. "You are serious, aren't you..."

"Did you truly wish to retire, so soon after resuming your life?" Celestia shook her head softly. "I doubt this is true. I am touched you were willing, for my sake, but I'm not asking that of you."

"If this is another jest..." Luna vanished away.

The two strode in armor through the streets. Not Canterlot, there was no need to startle ponies with such a vision of their former ruler, or so Celestia had said. "Next step." Celestia directed to the left. "We gather a stalwart adventuring team. No adventure can truly begin without one."

Luna raised a brow at that. "Do we not already have one of those? It has two members, you and I. I will watch your back as you watch mine." She raised a hoof to the moon chestplate she wore, rapping her hoof on it. "What more could one wish for?"

"And I am glad to have you," assured Celestia, "But we will go into danger, and a few extra sets of eyes, ears, and talents can make all the difference." She slowed her walking, becoming distracted by a display. A mare was putting on a magic show for a crowd, but the mare seemed distracted at best.

"Behold as Trixie... pulls a rabbit out of her, hrg. Nevermind. Trixie is busy!" She stomped her forehooves and stormed off her own little stage, a deep scowl on her face.

Luna peered over her sister's shoulder at the sight. "Is there a reason you're watching that pony fail at entertaining?"

"She looks like a pony in deep need of what we're after." Celestia smiled her knowing smile. "Allow me a moment." She wove through the crowd that was dispersing from the aborted performance, working towards where Trixie was hiding.

Luna vanished, only to appear just beside Trixie as the magician was about to vanish into her wagon. The sudden appearance made Trixie jump, thumping her head against the top of the door. "Eek! Who, Luna?" She was turned back around to face the dark-furred intruder on her space. "Trixie is in no mood to entertain royalty right now."

Celestia came around the corner, approaching more conventionally. "What has you so down, if you would indulge us?"

Trixie glanced towards Celestia, then back at Luna, then back at Celestia. "I would rather not speak of... why are you both wearing armor? This is not the appearance I'm used to... are you here to arrest me? I've done nothing wrong!" She looked away, whispering, "today."

Celestia smiled gently at the frazzled magician. "We are not here to do that. We've stopped being princesses, surely you heard?"

Twixie raised a hoof to her chin before it came down in a loud clop. "You are part of the reason Trixie is so mad! You took away Twilight Sparkle, which made Starlight perpetually busy with the school just after we finished teaching her to not do that." She groaned loudly, sinking her her haunches. "I had exactly one really good friend, and you took them away. I hope you're happy," she acidically spat.

Luna glanced towards Celestia with silent questions on her lips, but they were not answered. Celestia approached the depressed magician instead. "Come now. Things change, but that only brings opportunity."

"The opportunity to be alone and miserable!?" She hopped back to her hooves, glaring at Celestia.

"The opportunity to make new friends." Celestia gestured at herself then Luna. "And show the world just how Great and Powerful you truly can be. I remember you, you can fight, when you want to."

"Fight? Oh no! No no no!" Trixie backed up right into her wagon. "I prefer to not do that! You are referring to the changelings, aren't you? That was terrifying! I mean, when you think about it, but Trixie was far too brave to let that stop her."

Luna's eyes lit with recognition. "Ah, you're that pony, yes, now I recall you." She raised a hoof and tapped the side of the wagon Trixie was hiding in. "If you won't fight, you can at least rent us this wagon. It would be useful for this trip."

Trixie emerged, blinking. "My wagon? No! It's mine! Anywhere I go, this wagon goes with."

"Then we will gladly take the both of you." Celestia nodded softly. "And return both in better condition than we found it. Come, we have a world to amaze, and I know you like doing that."

Trixie bounced from hoof to hoof, looking uncertain. "You will pay me?"

Luna nodded at that. "A modest stipend, and a share of whatever treasure and pay we receive ourselves."

Celestia quickly nodded in agreement. "A fair offer. Will you join us?" With a glowing horn, she pulled out a small bag of jingling coins. "I have your first week's pay right here."

Trixie's eyes began to shine. Money could do much to make her reconsider. "Well... somepony has to keep an eye on you two..."

Unknown and unseen by the royal sisters, a figure stood in a dark place. He was being judged. Before him was a staggeringly wide and tall wall with many hooks. Hanging from each hook was a large and ripe looking fruit, though some barely looked like fruit at all. Above the display was a sign that read, "DEVIL FRUIT," in bold letters.

A smaller sign was propped against the bottom of the display. "Take one," it said with a smiley face and an arrow pointing up at the fruit.

The human considered his choices with quiet contemplation. "Hmm."

Luna dove to the right, a spear soaring just over her left shoulder, the edge of its tip sliding across her hardened armor. The diamond dog that held the spear was already wheeling to keep her in striking position, but she was not alone.

A bright flash of magic exploded in his face, erupting into an image of a smirking Trixie. The dog staggered back with a cry that redoubled as Luna threw herself back into her original position, slamming into him and knocking him back to the ground, the spear sailing away. "Surrender now," she calmly advised.

Celestia held a long staff in her magic, catching an incoming blade and turning it aside with a deft twirl. A dog crept up behind her, but a sudden lash of a hoof caught that one between the eyes, knocking it back and away. "I'm not certain they know how to do that." Dotting the battlefield around them were half a dozen unmoving forms of diamond dogs knocked out by previous attempts to overpower the ponies.

Trixie buffed a hoof against her chest. "Anycreature, even them, can't help but rush towards Trixie. I accept blame for being so magnetic." She waved the same hoof, sending out an arc of sparkles at a dog that was creeping towards their wagon. "No autographs!"

Celestia could see a dog emerging from the top of the wagon, a spear clutched firmly in two hands, ready to drive it down into the unaware magician. "Trixie!" She turned to intercede when the blade she had been parrying reminded her it was there, crashing against her armor ineffectively, but sliding along with the ring of metal on metal. The sword found her flesh and she hissed, her white off-pink fur turning a darker shade rapidly.

Trixie took a step towards Celestia just as the spear drove down into the wood she had occupied a moment beforehoof. She yelped in horrified surprise, throwing a hoof at the dog as a cone of glittering streamers erupted from her extended arm, erupting into hot flames that send the dog falling over backwards.

Luna came down after a brief flight, joining the fight with Celestia against the sword-wielding leader. "You hurt my sister, now you will pay for this crime." With a darkly-glowing horn, she grabbed a fallen spear and twirled it in the air, but another joined it, and a third after that, the three spinning around her wildly. "Any last words?"

Celestia was wheeling back around, but the sword-dog was not slowing in his assault, moving to press the advantage he had gained on the former sun-princess. "Die," he grunted, moving for a deft thrust.

"Wrong answer." Luna parried the blade with two crossed spears, the third driving into the exposed wrist of the dog. "Care to try harder?"

Celestia was facing the right way with a scowl and brought down her staff in a mighty magic swing. The dog wasn't willing to go down that easily, jumping back away from the spears and staff, his sword swapped from one hand to the other, avoiding using the injured wrist.

Celestia circled to the left, Luna to the right, in sync without words in their approach of the enemy's leader. Celestia twirled her staff in the air. "Swear you will leave this place and we will let you leave."

"How can you trust him?" scoffed Luna with a frown. With her fiercely glowing horn, she deflected a sudden sword swat in her direction. "He hurt you, he pays, and there's only one kind of coin I will accept."

"Lulu, so cold." Despite her easy words, her walking had a little limp in it, her leg cut as it was. "What say you?" They were flanking the poor dog, his options narrowing rapidly.

He responded with a rough cry, suddenly charging past both of them, eyes set on Trixie.

"Did you forget your opponent?" Luna aligned all three spears and sent them flying as one. The dog's charge came to an abrupt halt, pinned to the ground with three angrily thrown weapons driven through him from the back. He coughed up blood, his lungs punctured. "I tired of this battle anyway."

The remaining dogs that could fled into the ground without delay, vacating the battlefield. Luna circled Celestia directly. "Let me see where--" She hissed at the sight of it. "He got you good."

Celestia shrank away from the prying eyes. "I'm fine," she insisted, though her steps spoke another story.

"We're done," barked Luna. "We've accomplished as we were asked, we head back to town and get that looked at. I will not lose my sister to infection just after starting this." She turned to Trixie. "Is all well over there?"

Trixie grunted and threw her head, throwing the body of a dog free of the top of her wagon. "Ugh, yes... Was Trixie not wonderful? I performed my part of that little battle admirably, if I say so myself, which I do." She grinned confidently, looking quite pleased with herself. "Nice trick with the spears." She glanced towards the skewered dog, but made no move to approach the ghastly art installation.

Celestia pointed the way back to town. "It's just as well. All that fighting builds an appetite, and we need to be paid for our efforts. Let's head back."

There were no arguments for that, just nods of agreement, but Trixie wasn't leaving immediately. She was grabbing bits off the field. Spears that were unharmed and not... currently in the middle of a person, were collected. His blade was taken. Basically anything that looked remotely valuable was stuffed into her wagon for later selling, a merry whistle on her lips as she went along. "This would be even more fun with Starlight, but this isn't... bad."

Luna threw her head towards town. "Have you gotten everything? I want us back quickly. Celly, you must watch your own flank."

"That is what I have you for." She pressed her nose gently to Luna's and things were quiet a moment with only the sound of the wagon rolling along behind the looting Trixie.

Luna drew back at last. "I am glad to be there... but still. I worry for you, as I must." She rolled her eyes. "Let's get back."

As one, they hit the road, descending towards the sleepy little town that had hired them in the first place to take care of the diamond dog menace. "I... did well, at least," ventured Luna as they went.

Celestia nodded in easy agreement. "You were a fierce goddess of the battlefield. I was quite impressed."

"Even I have to agree with that." Trixie smirked softly. "Not as magic as me, but they were getting scared to even be near you by the end."

Luna's expression lightened, trotting in almost a canter, a smile on her face. "I have been practicing. I had considered mouth-based, but that is so limiting."

Trixie shrugged softly. "No argument there. Unicorn way is the only real way." She pointed up at her horn. "Really, holding things in your mouth, only as a last resort, or to distract people from what's really going on."

"You would know much of that." Celestia nodded as she walked, favoring her unharmed legs. "A magician must specialize in directing attention where they need it to be, and away from where they need it to not be."

They talked and laughed, the adventuring day over.

"Nothing vital was struck." The medical pony's horn glowed, grabbing a big wrap of gauze. "Let's just keep it covered and you should recover just fine." He began to bandage celestia up carefully. "Pr--Celestia... what were you going? I, um..."

Celestia shook her head. "I am a free pony, and I may do as I please, good doctor. I was ridding the hills of the diamond dog menace."

He smiled faintly at that. "You chased them away? That's... good to hear, but not if it means you get hurt." He ripped the gauze sharply and affixed it tightly. "Take it easy until it stops hurting so much. Come back every few days and I'll gladly swap out the bandages."

He looked away and back, working his forehooves together. "I... hate to bring this up, but those dogs were keeping needed supplies away for so long, we... haven't been free of late."

Celestia raised an ear. "I expect no preferential treatment. What do I owe?" She surrendered the few coins asked for, setting them on a clean counter to be had. "Hopefully with them out of the way, things can return to normal. Use that money to get all the supplies you need."

"Gladly," sighed out the doctor. "By the time you come back for a changing, it should already be a bit better. The hoarders will relax when they hear the way's clear."

She smiled brightly, walking from the room a little lighter on her hooves. She had done well, and that pleased her, even if it had come with a painful price.

"Sister." Luna nodded softly as Celestia approached. "Are you well?" Her eyes were on the bandage. "I retrieved our payment." She shook a magically-held bag of coins. "They were quite pleased to hear how thorough we had been."

Trixie thrust a hoof. "I vote we celebrate! A few drinks and some good food is just the thing after a successful show."

Celestia nodded to Luna first. "I am well. I only require time at this point." Then she looked to Trixie. "And that sounds simply delightful. Luna?"

"Yes, let us enjoy the evening." She spread her wings and them came down on either her her companions, walking with them at either side. "We fought hard and well, and to celebrate only comes naturally." Her eyes lifted to the sky, where the moon was already risen. "So odd to think another is handling that other than me..."

"I know that feeling." Celestia smirked softly, having relinquished control of her own celestial body.

Author's Note

Luna can be cold hearted. Trixie joins the party, and Celestia is on the road for adventure! What could possibly go wrong? We have more party members to acquire and trouble to get into.

Welcome to the next adventure! Written for the same patron that brought us Uncommon Grounds.

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