Although the holidays had come and went, the weather was - like an unwanted house guest - there to stay. In typical January fashion, the winter winds and chills of the bygone year took its time to transition to the warmer spring cycle that so many longed for. In a house one would hardly call homely nor hospitable, did Moondancer peacefully slumber away.

The inside of the home was dark despite the sun reaching its zenith in the sky. Moondancer had made sure to hang a set of heavy drapes over every window so the pesky sun wouldn’t disrupt her sleep after a long night of studying. Such was the norm these days.

Yet, despite the darkness, one could still see the state of the inside of her home if they strained their eyes: Cobwebs in corners full of previous feasts, books towering almost to the ceiling, cluttered notes full of illegible scribblings which only the writer could possibly understand, fat cracks along the wallpaper on the verge of peeling off, dust on every piece of furniture and even half-finished plates of food were strewn about.

It wasn’t the most elegant sight to behold, but to Moondancer it was home. She was cozying up on the couch, adorned in her sweater and wrapped in a cocoon of blankets when three loud thumps reverberated against her front door.

Moondancer stirred from her sleep and groaned. Maybe if I ignore it they’ll just go away, she thought. Silence once again reigned supreme and for a moment it seemed that she would get her wish.Then the knocking at the door commenced once more but louder and with greater intensity.

“Moondancer!” Minuette’s muffled voice called. “Moondancer, open the door!”

Surprised by the owner’s voice, Moondancer’s eyes flew open. “Horseapples,” Moondancer muttered and made to untangle herself from her makeshift bedding. In her haste however she had snared a hoof in the blankets and tumbled face first to the hardwood floor.

The tremors of her fall disturbed the neighboring book tower and crumbled. Of course Moondancer wasn’t so lucky as to escape her hubris, no. Every tome stacked high had landed upon her frame. Despite containing soft paper pages it seemed that every book on the pile was intent on thumping her with their covers and spines. “Ow!”

“Is everything all right in there? I heard a noise!” Minuette exclaimed.

“Just a sec!” Moondancer replied. Her battered body hurt all over as she somehow managed to stand up. In a moment of panic she swiftly levitated the pair of glasses over her face as she had done so many times before and sighed a breath of relief. At the very least her spectacles were spared from her little mishap.

Moondancer made her way to the front door while deftly avoiding any of the messy obstacles in her path. Before she opened it, she composed herself and made to set her now rats’ nest of hair atop her head with a hoof. It didn’t help, but it made her feel like it helped and that’s all that mattered to Moondancer.

She unlocked the door and cracked it open, but before Moondancer could even peek outside, the door slammed open from Minuette’s magic.

“Finally. I’ve been trying…” Minuette began but stopped. After getting a look at her friend she blanched. “Oh gosh, Moondancer you look terrible.”

“Jeez, thanks. Great to see you too,” Moondancer replied while rolling her eyes.

A blush appeared on Minuette’s cheeks. “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re just not as, uh, groomed as you normally are is all,” she weakly chuckled.

“Uh huh,” Moondancer replied. She tried to hold a steady face but it quickly grew into a smile. “Great to see you, Minuette.”

“You too.” The two mares pulled one another into a hug. In the midst of the embrace Minuette was overwhelmed by the odor emanating from her friend but held her tongue.

“Well come on in I guess,” Moondancer said as she led her friend inside. She headed into the living room, deftly maneuvering her way past all the books and trash. Minuette followed in tow and continued her silence as her eyes wandered over her host’s home. Standing in front of the chaos that was her living space Moondancer used her magic to deftly set all the books into neat piles.

“Don’t mind the mess. That chair is quite clean I can assure you - probably,” Moondancer said. She plopped herself on her makeshift bed while Minuette looked over her seat. It was beat up and riddled with lumps where the cushioning had long since given out. There also seemed to be stains faded from time; from what, one could only guess.

“I’ll stand, thanks,” Minuette said.

“Suit yourself. So what’s up with the wakeup call anyway? Shouldn’t you be going to work right about now?”

“Moondancer, it’s like four in the afternoon. Were you still sleeping?”

“Is it really? I’ve been so engrossed with my research that I guess I didn’t noticed the time fly by. Oh well.”

“Well, it’s good to hear that you’re enjoying your job at least. It’s a little dark in here though, don’t you think? Let’s get some sunshine in here.” Minette eyed the heavy drapes covering the window and in one swift motion yanked them aside with her magic. The soft golden light from the afternoon sun washed over the cluttered room; Moondancer winced when the light revealed the disheveled mess that she was.

“I love what you’ve done with the place; really screams cat-lady,” Minuette began.

“Now, I already know what you’re going to say - but hear me out - the paper I’m working on right now is much more important though. It’ll be discussing the scientific findings on crystal magic and the benefits of being crystalized!”

“That’s great, really. But don’t you think you’re neglecting yourself just a teensy bit?”

“What do you mean? I eat and sleep just fine. I even showered yesterday!” Moondancer said; she lied as easily as she breathed.

“Well you smell like hot garbage.”

Moondancer pulled her sweater to her nose and inhaled deeply. “Uh… maybe that was the other day then.”

“Your home seems so small compared to the library. Wouldn’t it be better to do your research there instead? Oh, better yet, what about Twilight’s old house? That place was ginormous and seems perfect for somepony like you.”

“Well I was using it for a little while but I noticed that, while I was staying the night, it didn’t have any privacy.”

“What do you mean?”

Moondancer blushed and rubbed a hoof over neck. “Well you know,” she said. “Except for the bathroom, there aren’t any drapes or curtains of any kind. It’s all windows broadcasting what I’m doing all day.”

“Couldn’t you have just used a spell or something? Or better yet, just install drapes onto the windows?”

“Exactly. I don’t know how Twilight could stand it but a mare needs some privacy you know?” Moondancer cleared her throat and continued. “Well I couldn’t just block out the windows for thirty minutes or so a few times a day that would look strange and ponies would start talking; the drapes have the same issue. The primary source of light in that place is from the sun and some weak light fixtures. I felt like an animal on display at the zoo!”

It took her a second to realize the implication but Minuette connected the dots. “Oh... Ohhhhh. Well that explains some of these books at least,” Minuette said. She levitated a comic book at random in front of her which depicted a mare being ravaged by a group of diamond dogs. “Ah yes, quite informative. Looks like a fun time.”

“Give me that!” Moondancer ripped the book out of her friend’s grasp with her magic. “Anyways, I couldn’t just leave all my documents there alone. What if I had a spark of inspiration in the middle of the night?”

“Among other things,” Minuette snickered.

Moondancer’s blush came back in full force and she tossed the smut behind her. “Yes.”

“The Crystal Empire isn’t going anywhere. You get a little too invested in your projects Moonie and have crazy bad tunnel vision.”

“But the crystals Minuette. You wouldn’t believe the wonders that lie past the northern borders of Equestria. For the last three months I’ve been up north combing over their tomes to understand their magic. An empire that has complete temperate control of the surrounding tundra biome resulting in spring weather every day. Buildings made of crystal that form from the ground itself. And its people! They’re not made of crystal but instead given magical properties from the crystal heart!” Moondancer was all but prancing in her seat as she regaled to her friend the majesties of the Empire.

Minuette sighed. “I know this is important to you but you’ve been out of commission since you got back. Don’t you think you should take it easy for a bit?”

“Take it easy? What for?”

“Seriously?” Minuette raised her eyebrow and continued. “Well, and I do mean some offence, this place is a trash heap!”

“What! Everything in here is just a part of the process. Your untrained eye just doesn’t appreciate the intricacies of a scientist’s work station.”

“Mhm. And that sandwich in the corner. It looks like it’s ready to be your next little science project. Is the moldy bread a part of the process?”

“Well… no,” Moondancer blushed. “I think it may have been some lunch I had forgotten about.”

“From how long ago?”

“I… don’t even remember if I’m being honest.” Moondancer nervously glanced over to a Minuette who was busy rubbing her temple with a hoof.

“Moondancer -”

“Okay, okay. I admit I may have gone just a teensy bit overboard with my research.”

Minuette sighed. “Well, at least you acknowledge it. I came over here to check up on you. Nopony knew what was going on, not even your sister. You came back to Canterlot but nopony had heard a peep from you for a month; we were worried.

“Has it really been that long?!” Moondancer’s eyes opened wide while her hooves clutched at her face.

Minuette trotted next to the downtrodden mare and pulled her in for a hug. “We know it’s just who you are and we love you very much. But everypony needs a break now and then. You’ll burn yourself out if you keep pushing yourself too hard.” Moondancer relished the embrace and hugged her friend tighter.

“I feel like such a dingus. Oh Celestia, I feel so bad now. The last thing I wanted was to make any of you feel like you didn’t matter to me.”

“We understand you’re a busy mare with your science stuff at the university. How about this though; we can have a girl’s night out with Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine. The three of us were going to hang out this Friday night so they’ll be ecstatic to hear that you’re coming. I think some downtime is exactly what the doctor ordered! First round will even be on me. What do you say?” Minuette said. She pulled away from Moondancer and draped her foreleg around the other mares shoulder.

Moondancer giggled and nodded her head, “Alright, alright you sold me on it. I’ll go.”

“Great!” Minuette clopped her hooves together and jumped off the couch. “Oh! We can even go to that pub you like; The Black Cauldron I’ll let the girls know so just keep your schedule open this Friday, got it?”

“The Black Cauldron? Now I definitely have to go,” Moondancer said. When she recalled all the homely food and sugary treats her stomach grumbled.

Satisfied, Minuette shook her head with a small smile and made her way to the door. “This Friday, got it?”

“Got it!” Moondancer replied.

“And Moondancer?”

“Yeah?”

“Try to freshen up a bit beforehoof okay? It’s very mature in here if you catch my meaning.”

“What and deprive everypony of the hot garbage aroma? I worked really hard on it. Lots of blood, sweat and tears – mostly sweat though.”

Minuette raised an eyebrow. “Don’t forget the musk from just absolutely ravaging your – “

“I’ll be nice and clean by then; promise,” Moondancer interrupted, a nervous smile on her lips.

Minuette returned her friends smile and left her friends abode.

Author's Note

First fic I've ever written so any criticisms are welcome.