The Prince's Predicament

Luna took a deep breath. This didn't make any sense to her. While she was glad Shining was feeling better, she wasn't sure that was such a good thing. This dream wasn't good. And yet, it wasn't registering as a nightmare last night. Shining wasn't scared, he wasn't angry, he wasn't sad... While Luna had only been able to observe it though a barrier that kept her out, she knew that it had been a horrible time in the past. So why was it now registering as being different? She wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew there was something afoul, here. Whatever was going on, it wasn't right, and she had to know for certain in order to fix it.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "You may enter."

A guard walked in, saluted and bowed. "Princess, it is almost time for lunch. Would you like us to bring you something to eat?"

Luna sighed. Half the day she'd spent going over the dream, already. "Before we answer, we must know: Has Princess Mi Amore Cadenza finished her meeting?"

"I don't know," answered the guard. "I can check."

"Do so," answered Luna. "If she has time, we would like a private lunch with her."

"Ma'am."

As the guard saluted and rushed off, Luna picked herself up and ran a brush through her mane. She hadn't spoken much with Cadance the night prior, but she had noted that Shining had not brought up the nightmare with her. She wasn't sure why not, as the two seemed to be better together than apart, but seeing that Shining had not told her about it happening, she doubted that Cadance knew what was happening in it.

Half an hour had passed, and Luna had been brought to a decently-sized room with a table. It was the sort of room where contracts were discussed and signed. It wasn't the best dining room, but it would give them some privacy.

Cadance came in moments later, followed by a mare pushing a cart with their lunches on it. "How are we, today?" smiled Cadance, sitting down.

"We are rather perplexed by an obsequious circumstance that has left us with quite the vexation," responded Luna. "We were hoping to discuss that."

"Of course," nodded Cadance, brushing the mare away as soon as the food was served. The door closed, and the two were left alone, with only a guard left outside of the door. "Is this about Shiny's nightmares?"

Luna nodded. "Have you spoken with him about it?"

"I did," answered Cadance. "Very briefly, though. We didn't discuss much."

Luna closed her eyes. "What did you do last night and this morning?"

Cadance shrugged. "Last night, we had a visitor, and I didn't want to bring it up and ruin his mood. This morning, I was called away, and he had some duties to which he had to attend."

Luna nodded. "Would you care to hear about the event?"

"Oh, certainly."

As Luna delved into the surface-level activities that she had seen, Cadance listened intently. Shining had inhabited the body of a faceless stallion, And Luna described him as such throughout. Before she'd finished, Cadance was very clearly excited by the idea. Luna could see the blush, she'd seen Cadance lick her teeth, and she could smell the pheromones in the air. If she didn't know better, she would swear that this sounded like an erotic novella to her.

"We need not ask your opinion, as it's quite apparent on your face," finished Luna. "We find it to be quite upsetting."

"Are you kidding?" smirked Cadance. "Sure, it's odd that he pulled out a whip, but that's Shining Armor at his hottest! I'd love for him to bring a stallion back to bed!"

Luna nodded. "It may come as a shock to you, then, that your husband is not Shining Armor in that scene."

Cadance blinked a few times. "What?"

"Your husband, the one who has been having this dream every night for a week, is not the Shining Armor we just described."

"I heard you, I just... What do you mean?" The smirk had melted off her face, replaced by confusion.

"It is exactly as we have said," answered Luna. "We are not well-versed in theoretical jokes, nor in clerical jokes. We do not even find our days brightened by lightbulb jokes. What makes you think we would be strong in the field of practical jokes? Your husband, Prince Shining Armor, was the recipient."

Cadance scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Why wouldn't Shining be himself in that dream?"

"Our theory right now is that he was drugged. We believe it can be done with grumm eggs, rot scale and screaming cap mushrooms, and a serotonin supplement."

"Melatonin," corrected Cadance, before suddenly realizing what she'd said.

Luna had not been trying to trap her, having actually slipped up in her words, but the fact that Cadance knew the actual brew and had the most guilty look on her face, she instantly put it all together. "As we have previously wielded the element of honesty, it is appalling to us that you would not come forward sooner. Tell us what you have done, and why."

Cadance reached up and rubbed her face with both hooves. "I was very meticulous in constructing that dream. Shining was supposed to have a good time, and then let it be slowly revealed to him that he was enjoying his time with a stallion. He wasn't supposed to end up in the body of whoever, he was supposed to fill that in!"

Luna shook her head. "There is a reason dreams are regulated, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

"I know! But it was just one dream!"

"Seven," corrected Luna. "He's been having the same dream for a week, now."

Cadance lowered her head into her hooves. "I just wanted to open up his eyes, let him see that there's something missing from his life." She took a deep breath. "What do I do?"

Luna folded her hooves. "Know you which elements we once carried?"

"Honesty," answered Cadance. "Loyalty and generosity."

"He deserves to know, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. He has spoken truly to us, and has asked us not to ruin the surprise of the apology he wants to bestow upon you. We would recommend that you be deserving of such an apology, as we have noted his progress, and it is quite the feat he has pulled off for you, assuming he is telling the truth."

Luna stood up and walked to the door. She'd barely touched her lunch.

"We shall do for you several favours. First, we shall not tell your husband. Second, we shall keep this dream manipulation completely under our tiara. Bad things happen to ponies who mess with dreams. We are prepared to take that hit when we must, but it is best if we need not. Third, if you repair the damages, we will forget that this ever happened. If you will excuse us, we have a mess to clean up."