Moonshine, the Solar Princess S1

Today, Moonshine was packing her things in her room. She was going to Canterlot, to visit her mother and Auntie Luna for the week. She has been wanting to spend some quality time with them ever since Luna came back from being banished. Twilight and Spike couldn't be happier for her as they came up to the room, "Hey Moonshine, ready for some family time with Celestia and Luna?" Twilight asked.

Moonshine nodded, "I can't wait! I know we're going to have the best time...!" she squealed in joy.

Twilight and Spike smiled at her, "Have a good time, Moonshine." Spike praised. Moonshine nodded and the group heard whinnies coming from outside, "Well that's my ride, you guys. Are you sure I should leave Lycanroc and the others here?"

"Don't worry, they'll be fine here for a week without you." Twilight reassured, pushing Moonshine towards the door, "Now you go and enjoy your family."

"Hehe, right." Moonshine opened the door and carried her suitcase as she went over to the chariot pulled by two of her mothers' guards. Moonshine entered the chariot and waved to her friends as the guards flew into the air towards Canterlot.

When she arrived at the Palace, she was escorted to the throne room where her mother and Auntie Luna stood. "Moonshine, dear." Celestia greeted. "It's wonderful to see you."

"It's good to see you to mom, Auntie Luna." Moonshine said.

"We'll have a grand time together, right sister?" Celestia asked, looking at Luna. "Yes, everything will be fun.. sister.." Luna said but she looked like she was pouting about something while Celestia looked happy. Moonshine looked confused. Something was up.

Moonshine was escorted to her old room in the palace and she started to unpack her bags when... "Psst..."

"Huh?" She looked around and she heard the 'Psst' again. Looking at the desk near her bedside, There was a small ballerina pony doll spinning around on a stand and the pony looked like.. "Twilight?" Moonshine went over, "Is that you? How are you here?"

"I'm not. I'm still home. It's an easy spell. I'll show you later. Anyway, I wanted to check in on you not in a meddling kinda way but in a friendly hows it going kinda way, so hows it going?" Twilight asked quickly.

"Kinda weird now. I think something's up with mom and Auntie Luna." Moonshine reported.

"What makes you say that?" Twilight asked.

"You know how someponies say and look like there's nothing wrong but you get the feeling that something is definitely going on?" Moonshine asked, earning a nod from Twilight. "Well I'm getting that vibe from mom and Luna."

"Hmm..." Twilight thought. "Odd... see if you can find out anything more about this." Moonshine nodded, "Right."

Then one of Celestia's Solar Guards came into the room, "Your mother has your breakfast ready, Princess." he said.

"Okay." Moonshine replied and the guard closed the door. "Well, here I go." Moonshine said to Twilight as she exited the room. Moonshine entered the dining room where she found her mother placing a plate on the table. The plate had a stack of pancakes that was topped with blueberries and whipped cream. "Hehe, awww Mom. " Moonshine blushed. "You still make the faces on the pancakes. Just like when I was a foal..."

"Hehe, of course darling." Celestia said as she sat down. "Just a way to show I care." Then the door opened and in came Luna. She had bags under her eyes and a frown on her face. "Good morning, sister." Celestia greeted. Luna looked at her with her frown. "Join us?" Celestia asked, levitating a stack of pancakes she made for Luna. "Too tired." Luna said and she levitated a pineapple in her magic before taking a bite out of it and walking passed Celestia, "Please excuse me."

Celestia put down the plate and stuck a fork and knife into her stack, "Woah... last night must have been really hard on her." Moonshine said.

"Oh no, honey.. she's like this.. every morning." Celestia said, looking sad before she put her stack of pancakes into a trash can before walking away.

Back in her room, Moonshine reported what happened to Twilight, "I think Auntie Luna's hurting Moms' feelings without even realizing it." she stated.

"Poor Celestia. That's so sweet that she makes her sister pancakes every morning." Twilight cooed with a smile. Moonshine gave her a deadpanned stare, "She's your mentor. I think you might be biased."

"Fair enough." Twilight added. "So what are you gonna do?"

"Nothing, yet. I have to get all the facts. I asked Luna if I could spend some time with her this evening. So I'll be able to see what's going with her." Moonshine explained. Then one of Luna's bat pony guards came into the room, "Princess Lunas' waiting for you, Princess."

Moonshine nodded and she joined the guard in exiting the room.

Moonshine entered the throne room as night was upon Canterlot. She saw Luna placing purple flowers onto the small balconies that lines the hallway. "Wow, Auntie Luna. You do this every night?" Moonshine asked as she came up to her.

"Lavender's calming scent is known to aid dreamers in achieving a restorative sleep." Luna explained letting Moonshine smell the lavender flowers, "That's so thoughtful!"

"I try my best to make sure the ponies in this castle sleep peacefully." Luna added. Then the throne rooms' door opened and out came Celestia and a few dignitary ponies, "And so, then I said, "Touring? More like 'boring'!" the pony said before laughing along with Celestia, "Oh, you really are a card!"

As they walk by, Luna sighs, "But as always, my sister is too busy having fun with dignitary ponies to acknowledge anything I do. Hmph!" Luna huffed before walking away with the cart of lavender flowers. Moonshine looked in front and behind her, "I gotta tell Twilight."

In the room, Moonshine paced back and forth in front of Twilight, "So Mom and Auntie Luna are hurting each other without realizing it. And instead of talking about it, they're just getting colder and more distant."

"And they're Celestia and Luna. So it's not like you can just confront them." Twilight replied.

"Actually, that's exactly what I was gonna do." Moonshine stated nonchalantly, earning a panicked response from Twilight, "What?! Are you crazy?!" she exclaimed before she regained her composure, "I mean, heh, you do whatever you think is best."

"Thanks for the confidence." Moonshine deadpanned.

"I do. But the last time the princesses fought, Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, and Princess Celestia had to banish her for a thousand years! That can't happen again!" Twilight informed.

"Well, I can't do nothing." Moonshine replied. "Their my family and I have to help them rekindle their relationship they lost for 1,000 years."

Twilight nodded, knowing how much Celestia and Luna meant to her. Then the girls noticed a small light coming from the door. "Huh? What's that light?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know..." Moonshine opened the door and gasped, "My Element?!" Indeed, it was her Element of Hope, floating in front of the door before it magically floated onto her head and stopped glowing. "Woah... I've never seen your Element do that before." Twilight stated.

"Me either.." Moonshine said. "Wonder why?"

The next morning, Moonshine was greeted by another stack of pancakes, this time decorated with pineapples. "Wow. I almost feel bad eating this. It's adorable."

"Like I said, I enjoy this part." Celestia said. "So you said you element suddenly appeared at your rooms' door?"

"Yeah... have the Elements done this before when you controlled them?" Moonshine asked.

"No, never." Celestia replied. "The Elements never acted on their own before." Then the door opened and in came Luna, looking the same way she did the other morning. "Hi Auntie Luna.." Moonshine greeted.

"Hi Moonshine." Luna said sourly with a full mouth. She was about to walk away when Moonshine got out of her seat, "Auntie Luna, wait!" she called.

Luna looked at her and Moonshine was a little taken back by her frown, but she proceeded.

"I believe I've found a problem inside the palace." Moonshine informed.

"You did, honey?" Celestia asked. "What is it?"

"... You two.." Moonshine said, pointing at the two with a sheepish smile.

"Excuse me/I beg your pardon." Celestia and Luna said in unison.

"I think you're accidentally hurting each other's feelings without realizing it." Moonshine said. The Princesses looked away from each other, so Moonshine played negotiator. "Mom, does it bother you that Auntie Luna never notices the wonderful breakfasts that you prepare for her?"

"Uh... Y-Yes. It does." her mother admitted.

"Auntie Luna, tell Mom how you feel about the fact that she never acknowledges the work you put into lining the hallway with lavender every night." Moonshine encouraged.

"I... Well, I... I-It's not the best feeling." Luna admitted before she tuned to Celestia. She gently pushed Moonshine away as she talked with her elder sister, "I'm sorry I never noticed that you make fruit faces on pancakes, but nights are long for me. You might be a morning pony, but I am half-asleep."

"You think I don't get tired? I'm exhausted! Oh, I apologize for not noticing flowers in a wall sconce. But by the time I get to retire for the night, I can barely see straight! Even so, I still make an effort to smile!" Celestia said, smiling.

"Like smiling is so hard." Luna dismissed, wiping the smile off of Celestias' face.

"I-I-I'm sure that's not what Auntie Luna meant to say." Moonshine added quickly.

"Is that what exhausts you? Smiling and being adored by everypony?" Luna asked her sister, annoyed.

"And you have it so much worse, do you?! You've spent your evenings flitting around giving ponies lovely dreams! Oh, it sounds just awful!" Celestia retorted.

Moonshine got in between her mother and Auntie before the tension between them escalated even more. "Okay! I feel like we should step back, take a deep breath..." but Luna dragged her away by her magic. "Don't presume to know what it is like to govern the dream realm!" she exclaimed at her sister.

"And yet you know exactly what it's like to be me?! Oh, please!" Celestia exclaimed back. Then Luna broke into song,

(Luna)
I don't need to live all large
You don't know the tasks I do
To patrol the way I do for my subjects

(Celestia)
Oh sister, I wish you knew
All the work I have to do
Just to keep you in your duties and your mess

(Luna)
If you knew what I go through-

(Celestia)
If you

(Both)
Knew what I go through, walked a day in my own shoes,

(Luna)
Well the maybe you could see all the things my way

(Celestia)
Well then maybe you would
See all of the reasons why I have long night

As the two were singing, Moonshine's Element of Hope started to glow on its own, which was noticed by Moonshine but not by Celestia or Luna as they continued.

(Luna)
If you knew what I go through how I smile everyday.

(Celestia)
I'd love to be in school, have a night without a care.

Then Moonshines' Element glowed brightly and it spread to the two sisters which they didn't notice but Moonshine could feel in heart that something was about to happen.

(Both)
How I wish you'd understand and see the world my way,
For just one day, just one day, just one day

Suddenly, the Element of Hope engulfed the two sisters, stopping their argument and switching their cutie marks as well! When they saw their switched cutie marks they were shocked! "Moonshine, what have you done?!" Celestia exclaimed.

"I didn't do it! My Element did it! It did some spell on its own!" Moonshine replied frantically.

"Well make it change our cutie marks back!" Luna stated.

"I don't know what spell the Element performed to switch your cutie marks... but... Twilight!" Moonshine called and Twilight suddenly appeared, "You called me, Moonshine?" Celestia and Luna were caught off guard by her sudden appearance. "Yeah. My Element switched Mom and Auntie Luna's cutie marks."

Twilight gasped, "It did?!" she exclaimed and looked at the sisters switched cutie marks. "Woah...."

"Do you know what kind of spell that it might have used to do it?" Moonshine asked.

"Hmm...." Twilight thought. "It might have been a '24 hours switch spell'. The spell lasts for 24 hours with whatever effect it had." she theorized. "So... what now?"

"Maybe... this isn't such a bad thing." Moonshine said.

"Huh?" Celestia and Luna asked.

"You said it yourselves! Neither of you believes your sister knows how hard it is to be you. So this is your chance to prove it." Moonshine suggested to her mother and auntie who looked at each other, "Well, I could use an easy day followed by a good night's sleep."

"You can try. I haven't had an easy day in, well, ever! But now, I get to sleep, and tonight will be a breeze. All right, honey. We will do this." Celestia stated.

"O-Okay, mom." Moonshine stated.

Soon, Luna was before the maid, servants and guards in the throne room. "As you can see, Celestia and I are switching places today." she announced to the ponies, who murmured in confusion until she raised her hoof, silencing them, "I assure you, I am more than capable of handling all of Celestia's, heh, duties. Dismissed." The servants, maids and guards exited the throne room. "So, what is first on my dear sister's to-do list?"

Moonshine held a long list in her magic, "It says you have a few public appearances. Store openings, judging the royal rose contest... You know, that sort of thing."

Luna chuckled, "Oh, I knew today would be easy, but I didn't think it would be that easy." and soon she was riding through Canterlot on a royal chariot, waving to the crowd with a big smile with Moonshine and Twilight behind her. At one of the store openings, Luna held a pair of scissors in her magic and tried to cut the rope... but the scissors didn't but so she just knocked the rope to the ground, earning cheers from the crowd.

At the Royal Rose Contest, Luna went around sniffing flowers, holding the first place ribbon in her magic. She was about to give the medal away when a pony waved to her and she saw more flowers for her to smell. Luna put on a smile and continued with the contest. Later, she was in front of the School of Magic, standing with a foal who was having their picture taken with her.

Luna struggled to keep up the smile while the photographer, made sure the camera was ready. Moonshine and Twilight were behind the photographer, encouraging Luna to keep smiling. Unfortunately, the moment Luna stopped smiling.. the pony took the picture.

"'Princess Luna Unhappy with Student Fundraiser?' But I wasn't unhappy!" Luna said, looking at the newspaper while she, Moonshine and Luna were sitting at the table that afternoon. Moonshine took the paper in her magic and winced, "Um, you are scowling, Auntie."

"Well, I-I didn't mean to! I've been smiling all day! My cheeks hurt! I stopped for one second! And that's when he took the picture!" Luna defended.

"Guess smiling all day isn't as easy as you thought?" Twilight questioned.

Luna took the newspaper back in her magic and read more of it, "It says here that, because of me, the school didn't raise enough funds to go on their field trip! I-I didn't mean for that to happen!" she slammed her head on the table in dismay. Moonshine flew over and lifted her auntie's head, "I know. But you can't dwell on that now. According to the list, some delegates are about to arrive for a luncheon. You need to dispel rumors of timberwolves in the White Tail Woods. The nearby towns have been in a state of panic for weeks."

"B-B-But I have to fix this!" Luna stated as she got up and tried to head back to the school but Twilight stopped her, "You can't. You need to put on a brave face and help these ponies. It's what Celestia would do." Twilight opened the door and they saw a few delegate ponies. Luna took a deep breath and shouted in her Royal Canterlot Voice, "Hello! Great news! There are no timberwolves!"

That didn't do much to sooth the ponies nerves and they burst out of the room, "No, there are definitely timberwolves!" they all screamed in unison.

"I'm sorry. But I couldn't stop thinking about those poor students. Normally, I have all the time in solitude I need to work through my problems at my own pace." Luna explained.

"Well mom, doesn't have that luxury. She has to solve the problem when they come at her, even if she's dealing with alot. Like when she was caring for me when I was a foal. She had to deal with taking care of me and all the other duties and problems that she dealt with during the day." Moonshine explained. Luna looked at her thoughtfully. She never realized how much her sister does each day. Dealing with caring for a young foal with her support ever since she was banished.... she never took it into an account.

The three ponies then heard some ponies voices coming from the other side of the door, "The princess will definitely side with me!"

"Please see reason, Mayor Cream Cheese! I'm telling you, Baltimare..."

"Ready for the town hall?" Twilight asked and Luna sighed. The trio entered the room and it was nighttime by the time they were done.

"Glad that's settled."

"And it only took three hours."

"That got heated, didn't it?"

"Still on for golf?"

"Oh, absolutely." Luna, Twilight and Moonshine came behind the ponies and Luna looked very tired. "You made it to the end of the day. Yay?" Twilight said with a nervous smile.

" Hmm? Oh. Yes, uh..." Luna yawned before handing Moonshine her list of duties, "I'm just going to turn in, then. Good shine, Moonlight and Twishine.." Luna stated before she headed off to bed. Then Princess Celestia came up to them, "Oh, hello, Moonshine, Twilight. I don't know about you, but I feel very well-rested. Where's Luna?"

"Um, uh, she already turned in for the night, mom." Moonshine informed.

"Did she now? It seems my duties were harder than my sister expected." Celestia smirked before heading off to perform Luna's duties. Soon, she was on the balcony, raising the moon into the night sky, "Moon raised! It's even easier than raising the sun." she chuckled, "What's next?" Celestia turned and saw Twilight and Moonshine curled up together asleep.

"Of course.." Celestia said as she put the two of them to bed, "Everyponys' asleep at night. Heh. Luna works alone... Oh, but it's nothing I can't handle." she levitated Luna's list in her dark blue aura. "All I have to do is watch over Equestria, visit the dream realm, and protect ponies in their nightmares. My list was three times as long!" she chuckled, throwing the list away.

On the balcony she could see the lights turning off, "All right. Everypony's asleep. You're talking to yourself, Celestia. Heh. But there's nopony else to talk to! Yet. I can talk to ponies in their dreams!" Using Luna's powers she entered the dream realm where she saw small bubbles that had everyponys' dreams, "Now, to save some ponies from their nightmares. Which aren't real, so it shouldn't be too hard, right? Right. Good call, Celestia!" and then she realized, "And I'm talking to myself again."

Suddenly, she heard a scream and she saw a small bubble with Moonshine in it, "Huh? Moonshine?" Celestia asked as she flew over to the bubble. Inside, she could see Moonshine being chased by a black pony that looked to be made of shadows and darkness. The pony wore a purple and black suit "Leave me alone!" Moonshine cried as she desperately ran away from the pony. "Hahaha... there's no escape from me, Princess...!" the pony growled.

Celestia gasped in horror. "What in Equestria is that?" she asked herself. "Grr.. no matter. Moonshine needs me." and without hesitation, she leaped into Moonshine's dream and she blasted the shadow pony. "Mommy!" Moonshine cried in joy, running over to her. "Moonshine, are you alright..?"

Moonshine nodded and then whimpered when she heard the shadow ponys' growl. Celestia stood in front of her, "Leave my daughter alone, this instant."

The shadow pony chuckled, "Why deal with me, Princess Celestia...? When you could deal with..."

"Me!" another voice came and the two tuned and they saw Nightmare Moon once more. She laughed evily as she stood in front of the pair. "Don't worry honey. I know how to handle Nightmare Moon." Celestia stated.

"Yes..." a new voice came. "But can you handle... me?!" and a new pony revealed herself. She was the same height as Celestia except her mane and tail were made of fire and she wore orange armor on he hooves, chest and on her head. Her wings looked to have armor on the edges as well. "This can't be!" Celestia gasped.

"If Luna can turn into Nightmare Moon, you can absolutely turn into me — Daybreaker! The better, prettier, and more powerful version of you!" Daybreaker stated, pointing at Celestia.

"No! I'll never turn into you!" Celestia defended.

"Deep inside, you know how powerful you are. You don't need Luna." Daybreaker said, pointing at Nightmare Moon, who growled at her, "That's not true! Even when we were apart, I knew I needed her!"

Daybreaker laughed, "Oh, please! You don't need anypony! You can do whatever you want. And all you have to do is get rid of anypony who stands in your way!" she then sent a blast towards Nightmare Moon! Celestia and Moonshine dodged the attack. "I never should've banished you to the moon! I should've destroyed you!" Daybreaker growled as she lunged at Nightmare Moon.

Then Nightmare Moon blasted Daybreaker, "You can't get rid of me so easily, sister! Unless you plan on smiling me to smithereens!" The two charged each other but Celestia came in between them, "Enough!"

Daybreaker laughed once more, "I told you I was more powerful than you!" she mocked before sending a blast at her but Moonshine gasped and deflected it. "Leave my mommy alone!" Moonshine exclaimed.

Daybeaker growled at Moonshine, "You tiny pest! Just wait until I'm through with you!" she charged Moonshine, much to the horror of Celestia, "Moonshine, No!" Moonshines' Element suddenly glowed and involuntarily fired at Darybreaker, "Ugh!" Daybreaker recovered and snarled, "Big Mistake!"

She lunged at Moonshine again but Nightmare Moon blasted Moonshine! "You're not the only one who has a bone to pick with this more, sister.." she growled. Moonshine grunted as she fell down. "Moonshine!" Celestia gasped. The shadow pony laughed at the scene, "Yes... take out that Celestial pest! When she's out of way, my plan can commence."

"What plan?" Celestia snapped.

The shadow pony laughed, "That's for you to figure out on your own.. hahahah!" the shadow pony then disappeared. Celestia looked back and saw Moonshine struggling to defend against Nightmare Moon and Daybreaker. Celestia knew there was only one pony who could help her. Luna.

In Luna's dream, she was looking in the mirror, smiling when a dream foal came up to her and said, "That smile's too wide... It's obviously not real..."

Then another dream foal came up, "Why don't you want us to go on our field trip?"

"I don't...!" Luna stammered but then her teeth started to come out of he mouth and fall on the floor, "I mean, I do!" Then more foals came in singing, "That smile's too wide... It's obviously not real..." Then Celestia appeared through the mirror. " Celestia!" Luna cried and she hugged her sister, "I'm so glad you're...!" Celestia pulled her through the mirror and back into Moonshine's dream. Moonshine was struck with a magical blast and she was sent flying. "Ugh!"

Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon laughed before they lunged at her once more, "I've seen a lot, but I haven't seen this before." Luna stated, having never seen Daybreaker before. "What happened, sister?"

"There was shadow pony in Moonshines' dream trying to harm her." Celestia explained. "When I intervened Nightmare Moon appeared along with Daybreaker.... an evil side of me." Luna gasped. "They began to fight and Moonshine intervened and now they're both after her." Moonshine managed to stand up, covered in scratches and burn marks from their magic. "Hahaha, you can't stand up to me, pest!" Daybreaker mocked before she rammed Moonshine once more, "Ugh!"

"You have to end this nightmare or else it will have a gave consequence on Moonshines' psyche." Luna informed her elder sister.

"But my magic isn't powerful enough! I thought if we worked together...!"

"I have your magic, remember? It doesn't work in the dream realm. It has to be you!"

"Oh, Luna, I can't do this! I was wrong! Your job is so incredibly hard! You have to battle nightmares and work in the darkness and do it all alone! It takes such a brave, strong pony to do what you do!" Celestia admitted, surprising Luna who also had to admit, "And that pony is you. I walked a day in your shoes. I thought all you had to do was smile and be adored all the time, but I was wrong. There is so much more to it than that."

"Gah!" Moonshine grunted as she crashed onto the ground and the realm changed into their throne room. Daybreaker landed on Celestias' throne laughing as fire filled the sides of the room. Nightmare Moon landed on the other side of her, both ready to strike Moonshine, "In order to protect Moonshine and defeat Daybreaker, you need only to trust in your strength as I do." Luna encouraged. Celestia smiled at her sister and she nodded at her.

Nightmare Moon and Daybreake both fired at Moonshine, but Celestia got in between them and blocked the blasts with he wings, "You can't destroy me! I'm everything you want to be!" Daybreaker exclaimed.

"No, you're not! You are not real, and you will never exist again!" Celestia exclaimed as she repelled both blasts, getting rid of Nightmare Moon and Daybreaker. Moonshine looked up at her mother, "M-Mom?"

"Moonshine, honey.." Celestia gasped, nuzzling her. "It's alight honey, everything's fine now."

Moonshine nodded and Luna came over, "You did it!"

"Only because you were here. I don't know how you do this alone." Celestia replied.

"So, um, did you talk to yourself?" Luna asked.

"Um, a little." Celestia admitted and the two sisters laughed. "Aghhh!" Just then, the same shadow pony appeared, "You ruined my plan!"

"What do you want, shadow pony?" Celestia demanded, standing in front of Moonshine.

"What does thou want with my niece?" Luna growled.

"Like I told your sister, Princess Luna... that's for you to find out... we'll meet again... until then...!" the shadow pony disappeared and Celestia exited the dream realm along with the others. Celestia and Luna looked at each other and smiled.

"This is serious sister.." Luna said.

"Yes Luna, whatever this shadow pony wants with my daughter; your niece... can't be good." Celestia said. The duo heard Moonshine yawn as she awoke. "Mommy? Auntie?" Celestia levitated her out of the bed and Celestia and Luna hugged her, "Moonshine, are you alright?" Celestia asked.

Moonshine nodded, "W-What does that pony want with me...?"

"We don't know... but we're going to find out.." Celestia promised. Moonshine nodded and Luna tapped Celestia on the shoulder. "Sister, I finally understand what you go through everyday while I'm asleep. I never knew how hard it was to get everything right on the first try.... especially when you had to care for Moonshine all alone.."

"Oh Luna..." Celestia hugged her sister, "It's alright. I thought all you did was give ponies lovely dreams but there's so much more to that. You protect ponies from their fears and anxieties in their dreams." Luna smiled at her sister, "And there's something else I wanted to tell you." Celestia added before she broke into song.

(Skip to 1:30. Play until 2:12)

(Celestia)
Today and everyday, I will be here, I will love you
I will put nothing above you
'Cause I love your messy mane
And I love your grouchy glare

As Celestia sang, Moonshine's Element of Hope began to glow once more.

The way you dress and all your mess
I love them through and through
Whatever makes you happy, I want for you, I do
I'm telling you, it's true
'Cause Luna, I love you for you!

(Luna)
And you know I love you for you!

(Celestia)
I love everything you do

(Both)
You know that I love you!

Moonshine's Element then enveloped the sisters in its magic once more and it switched their cutie marks back to the way they were before.

Celestia and Luna looked at their cutie marks, "They're back to normal!" Luna gasped, "... But.. how...?"

"I think... my Element casted the spell to help you two see each others' lives." Moonshine said. "To help you both see how the other lives."

"So... the Element acted on its own' to teach us a lesson...?" Luna asked skeptical.

"That's what it looks like..." Moonshine replied.

Luna could only blink, "That's one weird element." Celestia and Moonshine laughed together under the dawn sun.

A week has passed and Moonshine enjoyed her quality time with her mother and Luna, despite the incident. Celestia and Moonshine shared a few sweets with each other while Luna and Moonshine played some music together. The week went by fast and it was time for Moonshine to return to Ponyville. "It's been a wonderful week, Moonshine." Celestia said.

"Yeah Mom. Thank you. You too, Auntie Luna.." Moonshine thanked.

"Your welcome." the two sisters said in unison. Moonshine smiled as she put her bag into the chariot, "Oh, and there's something that I wanted to give you Moonshine."

"Huh? What is it Mom?" Moonshine asked. Celestia pulled out seven golden tickets. "Here, seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala; for you and your friends." Moonshines' eyes widened, seeing the tickets and she put on a small grin, "... Greeeat... hehehe..." she said nervously.

Moonshines' chariot landed in front of the Golden Oak Library and Spike opened the door. "Moonshine, hey! How was your visit?"

"It was... exciting. Hehe." Moonshine said nervously, not wanting to inform the baby dragon about the shadow pony. "Don't worry, Twilight already told me about the shadow pony." Spike said before he put a finger in front of his mouth, "Ssshhh..."

Moonshine nodded, knowing the dragon would keep the secret. "Moonshine!" Twilight called as she spotted her best friends. Moonshine entered the library, "Are you alright?" she asked, looking her over.

"Yeah.. I'm alright..." Moonshine replied with a small grin.

"Hey, why are you still wearing your Element?" Twilight asked, noticing Moonshine's Element of Hope still on her head. "... About that..."

Flashback

Moonshine and her mother and auntie came up to the tower where the Elements of Harmony are kept safe. "Time to put you back where you belong." Moonshine said, taking her Element off of her head. Celestia performed the spell to open the door, revealing the chest that held the Elements of Harmony, but when Moonshine prepared to put the Element back into the chest... it levitated out of her hooves and back onto her head!

"Huh?" Moonshine tried placing the Element back into the chest but it kept placing itself back on her head, "What's wrong with it?"

"I believe the Element refused to leave your side." Luna suggested. Moonshine looked surprised but with the way her Element was acting.... she had to agree...

Flashback Ends

"So Luna and Celestia let you keep the Element with you?" Spike questioned, earning a nod from Moonshine.

"Woah..." Twilight gasped and then she noticed the envelope. "Hey, what's in the envelope?"

"Oh..." Moonshine grumbled before she took out the eight tickets. "Tickets... to the Grand Galloping Gala...yeah..."

"Woah! Awesome!" Spike exclaimed, grabbing one while Twilight grabbed one in her magic. "This is amazing, Moonshine!" she exclaimed with a smile before noticing the frown on her face, "Moonshine...?"

Moonshine sighed, "I don't think I'm gonna go to the Gala this year.."

"Why not?" Spike asked. Moonshine gave Spike a knowing look. "Oh... right..." Since she was a filly, Moonshine was never a fan of the Grand Galloping Gala. Moonshine saw the Gala as just a boring party where ponies would just talk all day.

"Come on, Moonshine, maybe it won't be that bad this year." Spike suggested.

"Yeah, I've never been to the Gala before either." Twilight said.

"Well Mom says its always awful." Moonshine grunted. "And I'd rather spend the night in here. Give the tickets to the others will you, Twilight?" Moonshine asked, handing the tickets to Twilight before heading upstairs, "Where are you going?" Twilight called.

"To greet two pokemon and a dragon." Moonshine stated as she headed upstairs to her room.

Up in her room, Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless were napping when they all heard the door open. They opened their eyes and they saw Moonshine there, "Hi boys, miss me?" she teased. Rockuff barked happily and lunged at Moonshine's chest, nuzzling her hard, "Hahaha, hey..!" she laughed. Toothless and Lycanroc smiled, seeing their friend again.

Rockuff stopped nuzzling and Moonshine placed him on the ground, "You boys were good for Twilight, right?" The pokemon and dragon nodded and Moonshine smiled, "Good."

"Wanna go out and play?" Moonshine asked. Rockruff barked and wagged his tail. "Hehehe, alright. Come on." Moonshine, Lycanoc, Rockruff and Toothless headed outside and went out in a field outside of Ponyville. "Rockruff, Lycanroc, how about some training for you two?"

"Rockruff..!"

"Lycan." Lycanoc smiled.

"Alright." Moonshine stated. Lycanroc and Rockruff soon stood on either side of the field with Toothless and Moonshine standing to the side, "Alright. Lycanroc use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground, creating a line of large, glowing rocks that ran towards Rockruff. Rockruff barked and leaped into the air, stepping onto the Stone Edge and ramming Lycanroc, but Lycanroc blocked the attack and deflected Rockruff away.

"Roooo...!" Rockruff landed on the ground. "Now Rockruff, use Rock Throw!" Rockruff barked, "Rockruff...!" and unleashed Rock Throw at Lycanroc. Lycanroc blocked the attack with his arms and he charged forth towards Rockruff. Rockruff growled and he charged Lycanroc as well. "Rooo...!" the two of them collided with each other and Rockruffs' collar glowed white and it unleashed a close range Rock Throw!

Lycanroc was sent skidding back a little but still has plenty of fight in him. Rockruff backed off and barked, "Ruff..!"

"Great, Rockruff!" Moonshine praised.

"Ruff...!" Rockruff then charged forth with a Bite attack ready to go, but Lycanoc moved to the side and dodged the attack before unleashing Rock Throw as well. Rockruff was struck and he was sent skidding back. "Roooo!"

"Rockruff, are you okay?"

Rockruff growled as he got back on his feet. "Rockruff..!"

"That's the spirit!" Moonshine exclaimed, "Now use Tackle!" Rockruff charged forth with his Tackle attack when suddenly... mud came out of nowhere and splattered onto Rockruffs' face. "Rooo!" Rockuff tripped and fell on the ground. "Rockuff! Hey, who did that?" Moonshine called out.

"Muudbraaaayyyy!"

"What the-?" Moonshine, Lycanroc and Toothless looked at the side and saw a small donkey like pokemon. "What the- What pokemon are you?" Moonshine pulled out the pokemon book and she flipped through the pages, "Aha, Mudbray, the Donkey Pokemon. A ground type. It has a stubborn, individualistic disposition. Eating dirt, making mud, and playing in the mire all form part of its daily routine." The Mudbray was laughing at his little prank on Rockruff. "Mudbrayyy, Mud..."

"Mudbray, that was not funny, that was mean." Moonshine scolded.

"Lycanroc." Her Lycanroc agreed as Toothless helped Rockruff get the mud out of his eyes. Mudbray only laughed before it spit more mud, landing on Moonshine's face! "Hey!" she exclaimed. Lycanroc had enough and charged the little pokemon but Mudbray cried out and turned around, kicking Lycanroc twice, sending him flying back. "That was Double Kick!" Moonshine gasped.

Not good. Double Kick was a fighting type move, super effective against Lycanroc, a rock type!

Mudbray laughed again but Lycanroc recovered and growled, "Lycanroc, try Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks at Mudbray which just stood there and took the attack head on. When the dust cleared, Lycanroc and Moonshine saw orange lights surrounding Mudbray, "What the-? What's that?" Moonshine asked herself. She looked at the Mudbray page once more and discovers, "Ability: Stamina, this pokemons' defense raises each time its attacked."

"Oh pony feathers!" Moonshine exclaimed. That meant the more attacked Lycanroc threw, the less damage it would do it Mudbray. Mudbray scrapped the ground before charging forth with its front hooves glowing red, "That's Rock Smash! Lycanroc, lookout!"

Lycanroc growled and leaped to the side to dodge the attack but Mudbray quickly changed direction and struck Lycanroc, "Mudbray!"

"Roooo!"

"Lycanroc!" Lycanroc crashed onto the ground with some catches on it while the Mudbray chuckled and began dancing around, "Mudbray, Mudbray, Mudbray~"

"Hmmm... you're a tough little pokemon, aren't ya..?" Moonshine thought before she grinned and took out a pokeball, "If that's the case, then I'm gonna catch you, Mudbray." Mudbray stopped dancing and stared at her in shock, "Mudbray!"

Lycanroc stood back up, "Lycan..." Mudbray recovered from its shock and actually smiled, "Mudbray...!" It charged Lycanroc once more with a Rock Smash attack. "Use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground using Stone Edge. Mudbray, using Rock Smash, used the move exactly what it was named for, smashing rocks! It smashed he Stone Edge! "Careful, here it comes!" Moonshine warned. Lycanroc nodded, "Lycanroc."

Mudbray smashed through the final rock, "Now Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks, catching Mudbray off guard! "Mud!" the attack struck hard and Mudbray was sent skidding back. "That's the way!" Moonshine praised.

"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled. Mudbray got up and its Stamina kicked in once more, "Defense rose again!" Moonshine grunted. Lycanoc howled and charged straight in, "Lycanoc?" Moonshine called.

Lycanroc howled before its tail glowed and turned to steel! "What?! Iron Tail!" Moonshine gasped. Mudbray gasped as well as Lycanroc smashed Mudbray with Iron Tail. "Mudbrayyyyyy!" The super effective steel type attack, sent Mudbay flying into the air and it crashed onto the ground. "Mud...." it groaned and it glowed red which meant, "Iron Tail, lowered it defense!" Moonshine gasped. She took out the pokeball, "Now's my chance! Pokeball, go!" Moonshine called as she threw the pokeball at Mudbray. it bounced off of Mudbray and it turned into red energy before going into the pokeball. The pokeball landed on the ground before shaking three times and clicking. "Alright..! I caught Mudbray!" Moonshine cheered.

"Rockruff..!"

"Lycanroc!"

Moonshine then let Mudbray out, "Mudbray, come on out..!"

Mudbray came out with a smile, "Mudbray!"

"Mudbray, you're one tough cookie and its great you'll be joining us.." Moonshine smiled.

"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled at Mudbray, earning it respect and Rockuff came bounding over, now free of mud and nuzzled Mudbray. "Mudbray." Mudbray smiled.

Then, "Hey Moonshine!" The group turned and saw Twilight and the others coming towards them. "You okay? We heard some commotion." Applejack asked.

"I'm fine." Moonshine said.

"Hey whose the tiny donkey?" Rainbow asked, noticing Mudbray.

"This is Mudbray, my new pokemon." Moonshine smiled.

"You caught it?!" Twilight exclaimed, earning a nod from Moonshine, "And its' one tough cookie."

"Oh really...?" Applejack questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Mudbray!" Mudbray exclaimed before stomping its hoof. "I think that's a yes, Applejack." Moonshine stated.

Applejack looked at the tiny donkey which was a bit smaller than her, "I don't see it..." that annoyed Mudbray and it unleashed Rock Smash, on Applejack, sending her flying, "WAH!"

"Aj!" Rainbow exclaimed before flying after her and catching her. She brought her back down to the others, "Okay... I take that back." she stated, now convinced about Mudbray being a tough cookie.

"Anyway, Twilight says you don't wanna go to the Gala this year, darling." Rarity brought up.

"Yeah.. don't really see it as exciting..." Moonshine stated.

"But at least give it a try, this year, Moonshine." Applejack said. "It might be fun..." Moonshine sighed.

"Please...?" Twilight asked her best friends. Moonshine looked at her and she could see that she wasn't going to give in so... "Alright... I'll give it a try this year..." The girls cheered happily while Moonshine sweat-dropped.

"Looks like we're going to a gala in a few weeks, guys." Moonshine told her pokemon and Toothless. They all nodded at Moonshine while Mudbray chuckled.