Celestia hummed as she helped the cooking staff with the preparations for breakfast. It was her favorite part of the morning, picking the fruit and styling a cute face onto the pancakes along with some whipped cream. She would always finish her sister’s first and admired her work with a smile. The longer she stared, however, the more her sunlight smile became overcast. A tired sigh escaped her.

What’s the point of making this if she’s just going to ignore it…? She thought as she looked at the pancakes. She wanted one day when her sister would join her for breakfast, but all she ever did was walk in late, eat fruit, then leave. It was like they existed in separate worlds and the divide between them from a thousand years ago never fully closed. It was only drifting further every day.

After customizing her own, Celestia went to the dining room right as Luna had entered. Celestia plastered on her usual cheery demeanor. “Hello, sister! Care to-?”

She paused as she noticed her sister. She seemed tired as usual, but there was something… Ethereal about her. She stared off into space as if she’d just awoken from the most blissful dream and really wanted to go back. The bags seemed less pronounced, and she seemed refreshed in a way.

“Um… Sister?”

Luna blinked and yawned. “S-Sorry, Celestia… I was… I had a long night.” She walked over to the fruit bowl, and Celestia sighed. Of course. It was just my imagination. Nothing’s-

Grroooowwwwlll~

The two alicorns froze in place, and Luna’s cheeks became pink. Her stomach had suddenly roared in hunger, an act never before done before in the presence of her sister.

Sh-Shoot! Her mind reeled as she stared at the fruit bowl a few paces ahead. I-I used so much energy last night… I ended up really hungry-!

Before she could grab anything, Celestia’s cheek pressed against her sister’s. Luna could feel the giant, cheeky grin as the princess spoke gleefully. “Luna… Are you hungry~? Would you like to join me for breakfast~?”

Luna looked away, her blush intensifying. She didn’t want to admit that she needed more than a piece of fruit today. At the same time, the smell of the pancakes was really getting to her. In the end, her stomach won out.

“F-Fine…”

~

As the sisters ate together, Celestia took note of how her sister was acting. She was still lost in a trance as she nibbled on her pancakes. A small smile was on the moon princess’s face as she looked down at her pancakes.

Wow, this is something different, Celestia smiled as she ate. I wonder what’s on her mind…

I wonder what North eats for breakfast… Would he like pancakes…?

“So, Luna!”

Luna squeaked and jolted her head to meet her sister. “O-Oh, sister! Apologies, I was… Thinking about last night!”

Celestia giggled. “I can tell! I don’t think I’ve seen you so out of it before! In a good way, I mean!”

Luna looked up and blinked in confusion. “In a good way?”

Her sister nodded, looking down at her food. “Normally, you’re so miserable and drained, like you can’t be bothered to handle anyone else. Now, you’re tired, but you seem to be excited.”

Excited… Luna looked at her half-eaten food and slowly began to smile. “Yes, I… I suppose you can say I’m excited. I think last night was just a very eye-opening experience for me.”

“Well, that’s wonderful!” She smiled back at her sister. “I know your job can be stressful, seeing all sorts of dreams and whatnot. I just hope you’ll join me more for breakfast. It…” She sighed and ran her hoof through her mane. “It’s nice to join you like this.”

Luna looked at her sister before smiling at her. “Of course. Anytime.”

The two quietly ate, and Luna was lucky to not have any prying questions regarding the night before. As they finished and the maids took their plates, Luna slowly stood from her seat. “Celly… Is it okay if I go out for a spell? I would like to visit someone really quick.”

Celestia’s smile widened as she heard the request. Oh my gosh, my sister is being active! And she called me Celly! She pulled her sister into a tight hug and nuzzled her. “Of course, Lulu! Take all the time you need!”

The lunar princess simply rolled her eyes and slid away. “Thank you. If I am not back by around mid-afternoon, have the maids set up lavender bouquets in the halls and inform my guard I’ll be a bit late.”

Nodding eagerly, she watched as her sister teleported away before walking out into the halls to begin her day. I wonder what she saw to make her so energized…

~~~

“Luna, welcome!!” Cadence smiled as she hugged her tight. “This is an odd surprise visit! What brings you here?”

Luna laughed nervously, her hooves tracing together in a vain attempt to calm down. “A-Apologies, Cadence. I was wondering if we could speak… Privately.”

“Well…” The Crystal Empire’s princess leaned back against her throne and crossed her hooves. She had a look of serious struggle with abandoning her throne. “I’m not sure. I will be a bit busy with work…”

Luna sighed and looked away. “You’re… You’re right. I apologize. We both have important duties, and I shouldn’t be coming to you on a whimsy for advice in your expertise.”

Cadence’s ear twitched. “My… Expertise?”

Luna blushed and cleared her throat. “Y-Yes, well… There was this… Incident last night and I-WAH!”

Cadence didn’t even let her finish. Her horn lit up and she dragged Luna into her personal chambers. She was sat on a chair with a table containing a teapot and cups. As Cadence sat, Luna could see sparkles in her eyes as she leaned in and shouted. “Details! Now!”

Needless to say, Luna needed a minute to process what happened. After she took a few breaths, she began to go into detail about her encounter with North Star and the intimate details to follow. The whole time, Cadence nodded along, taking notes and sipping her tea in excitement. Her wings fluttered in excitement, wanting to know more and more. By the end, she slumped back and fanned herself off with her wing and hoof.

“Goodness, Luna,” She joked with a blush. “That’s a steamy tale you got! I think I’ll need a minute to calm down~”

Luna sunk in her chair, covering her face with her wings. To try and go into details with anyone made her not only feel embarrassed, but vulnerable. Still, if there was anyone that could help her, it was Cadence.

After taking another sip from her tea, the Princess of Love smiled at Luna. “Alright. Tell me. What is it you like about him? Is it just his looks? His sexual technique? Or is it something more…?”

Luna looked out the window, peering at the crystal buildings. “North… North is something different. He’s a stallion with a lot to hide and is clearly ashamed of, but he’s not letting it drag him down. He moves on, and that adds a mystery to him… I feel like we’re in sync, but I want to know more about him. I want to…” She looked down at her tea with a smile. “I want to see if this is something I’ve been missing in my life.”

Cadence watched her fellow princess with a look of astonishment. She didn’t know Luna very well, in truth. When they did interact, she found the returned princess aloof and withdrawn, somepony to be alone with her mind and contemplate her actions. This was the first time she saw her reaching out to try and find a connection with another pony.

“Luna…” Cadence slowly stood and trotted over, putting a hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “I promise, I’ll help you and North Star’s love blossom!”

Luna could see the stars in Cadence’s eyes, the sparks of a youth in the prime of her passion. She could see that this, above all things, was where Cadence’s heart truly was. She simply smiled and hugged her gently.

“Thank you. I will put my faith entirely in you.”

“Right. So…” Cadence sat back down, summoning a notepad and quill. “What are his hobbies and interests?”

“... Well…?”

~

“You don’t even know what he likes and you slept with him??”

Luna’s eyes darted away as she felt herself getting defensive. “W-Well, I didn’t necessarily sleep with him! We just… Shared a bed for a short time! A-And what does it matter? Is a princess not entitled to choose a suitor as she pleases??”

Oh Celestia, what are you even talking about…? Cadence groaned as she covered her face. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Luna. “Okay. It’s fine. Yes, it’s true you rushed into it, but I know relationships that held strong after a one-night stand.”

The pink alicorn wrote down notes vigorously, humming to herself. When she was done, she tapped her chin with her hoof. “Let’s see… He’s already shown his loyalty to you, which is a sign that he’s willing to be devoted. His successful career as a vigilante means that he’s skilled at fighting. Those kinds of ponies tend to be very competitive, so something competition based could help build a bond. If he’s a vigorous fighter, then leaner foods are probably best. Vegetables and lean oats are a big part of the typical diet of those kinds of stallions.”

Luna stared at Cadence, jaw agape. “How… How did you gather so much just from my stories??”

“Oh please, my husband was Captain of the Royal Guard. I’ve learned a lot about those kind of stallions.” With a cheeky grin, she tapped her mouth with her quill. “Still, if you really want to know, the best way to do it is to ask him yourself.”

“Ask him myself…” Luna considered this for a moment. “What if… We made a little contest of it?”

“Hmm?”

“A little competition to get to know each other? Winning means that the loser has to answer any question.”

“Oh! That’s really good, actually!” Cadence summoned a second notebook labeled “Fun Date Ideas” and flipped through the pages. “I suggest keeping the alcohol to a minimum for this one, as things that get heated could result in some… Passionately aggressive exchanges. Which could be good or bad, depending on the pony.” She looked up at Luna. “Did you have an idea?”

“Oh, I believe I know something that could be useful…”

~~~

North yawned as he lay in the Night Guard’s barracks. His head pounded lightly from the alcohol. It wasn’t a bad hangover, but it was annoying. He had that dream again, of Manehatten, of the fight, of… Her. He slowly sat up, walking over to the kitchen with his mane in his eyes. He searched around until he found the ingredients for his hangover cure: A packet of instant noodles, cheese, and hay bacon. As he cooked, another guard yawned and walked in.

“Hay bacon, parmesan, and noodles… Someone had a drink last night.”

North nodded grumpily. “Had a few drinks before bed. Had trouble sleeping.”

The guard leaned over North’s shoulder, smelling the fumes of the frying bacon and boiling noodles with a smile. North promptly butt-shoved him back. “Hey, knock it off. You want some, buy it yourself.”

“Hey, c'mon. I’m starvin'.”

“Then cook something.”

“... I’m lazy.”

“I swear to Celestia, Tumble, you are a pain…” North rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Fine, I’ll make you some on one condition. Swap places with me so I can get the escorting post tonight.”

Private Tumble Weed blinked. “Wait what? Why do you want that job? It’s just following Luna and watching her set up flowers.”

“You want to ask questions, or do you want breakfast?”

Tumble rolled his eyes. “Fine. Consider it swapped.”

After making a second batch, the two stallions ate in the barracks with idle chatter as their company. “So… You think Nightshade is gonna find your secret stash?”

“Oh definitely. I know he already has.”

Tumble looked up as he slurped on the noodles. “Huh?”

“I noticed that a couple of packets are missing after he leaves the room. He’s absolutely taking from them.”

“Th-Then…” Tumble swallowed the noodles in his mouth. “Why hasn’t he confiscated them?”

“Cause I got a good supplier of top shelf ramen. If he tries to take them all, I’ll just stop getting them. A classic stalemate.” North smirked as she swallowed a mouthful.

“... Yer one strange feller…” Tumble Weed chuckled as he finished his bowl. “Anyways, thanks. I need to go and check if Dusty sent me anything.”

“Oh yeah, how’s the marefriend, anyways?” North leaned against the table.

“Oh, she’s good. She’s been busy helping around Appleoosa and whatnot. Darn shame I can’t be there for applebuckin’.”

North nodded, thinking a bit. “... Hey Tumble. How long have you been with her?”

“Hmm? Oh, ‘bout… Three or four years, give or take. Why you askin’ outta the blue?”

North went quiet, looking at the dimly lit torches that decorated the area. “So… There’s this mare I met on my rounds-”

Tumble’ developed a wide smirk, wrapping a hoof around his fellow guard. “Why, North Star. I thought you weren’t in the market fer a mare!”

North shot a glare his way before sighing. “I said I wasn’t in the mood at the moment. I was looking for something and I found it. Ran into a mare I like.”

“And lemme guess, you need ol’ Tumble to show you the ropes on yer first date~”

“As if. It’s not my first rodeo, cowpoke.” North nudged him away. “I had a marefriend back in Manehatten. You know, before… Everything.”

“Oh?” Tumble leaned against the table. “First time I’m hearin’ this. Tell me more.”

“Ah… She… She was a beach, plain and simple. But she had passion. We were always pushing each other, getting better at what we did. Sex was fantastic too. Then, I dunno, she just dumped me outta nowhere. Went off the grid for a bit, did my thing, and here we are. Last I heard from her, she went off to be some fashion designer.”

“Yeesh…” Tumble grimaced. “If that’s how ya take breakups, I ain’t sure yer ready fer a new one.”

“Please, that was the past. I’m over it now and I just want to move on.” He despite saying that, the slight irritation in his gaze showed that he was far from over it. He leaned back against his chair. “I just… I think she’s amazing. I want to learn to play it a bit cool and not blow up, is all.”

“Heh, play it cool, huh? Alright, I can teach ya a thing or two. When ya seein’ her next?”

“Well, I’m hoping to catch her during the rounds tonight.”

“Ahhh, that makes sense… Alright, I’m gonna show you a few tricks. Now don’t go fussin’ if they don’t work. Ya’ll came to me at the last minute, so they’re only gonna be so useful.”

North nodded, determined to figure out how to cool himself down. He was doing it for Luna.

“‘Fore I give ya these tips, I got one last question.”

“Alright, shoot.”

“Yer ex… How was that plot?”

“... For Faust’s sake…”

~~~

The afternoon crawled for North. The tips he got from Tumble were a bit helpful, but spending his time on weird breathing and visualization techniques felt like a slog. It was like he was back at home, learning from his uncle’s friends again. The only thing that kept the day active was the chewing stick Tumble shared with him, and the occasional glances at Princess Luna. Her beauty radiated at him with a cooling comfort that made the day pass by just a bit easier.

Luna noticed a different energy around Private North. It was calmer, but a bit restrained. It was like his passion was being pressurized in a boiler with little to no ventilation. On the surface, he seemed to be the perfect soldier. However, Luna could see that something was amiss.

“Private Star…” Luna uttered as she stepped to the door of her room. “You seem slightly troubled. Is there something on your mind?”

“Hmmm?” North looked at Luna and shook his head. “No, Princess. Everything is normal.”

Luna looked down at her, a stern, stoic look in her eyes. “It helps no one to hide the truth, Private. I believe that it might be in your best interest to speak.”

North chewed on the stick, the flavor of sugar and salt gracing his tongue. “I’m telling the truth, Princess. I’m fine.”

As they locked eyes with each other, their feelings clashed together. Luna’s desire to enter his soul and soothe his growing anguish crashed against the walls of his emotional defenses. She sighed softly. “You are truly noble then, maintaining that stonefaced demeanor in the face of somepony you’re affectionate towards. I wonder how you would react when fighting her…”

It took a moment for North to realize what she had just said, but before he could react, he was met with a blinding flash. His body felt heavy, and then very light as if he had become ethereal. The flash slowly dimmed as soon, he found himself floating among small orbs. Upon closer inspection, he found fantastical landscapes where ponies enacted feats beyond comprehension.

“What… Where am I?”

“You are within the dream realm, my Star.”

North snapped his head back to the source, where Luna stood with her eyes closed. “P-Princess? Why did you bring me here?”

“I wanted to surprise you, find a suitable first date. As I consulted with someone, I realized a place where we could truly fulfill your greatest dreams and desires.”

North didn’t know what to say, looking around in awe. He’d heard of this place from the stories, but never saw it for himself. “Princess… This is a bit much, isn’t it? I mean, isn’t it a lot of strain to link two pony’s dreams together?”

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I have a new trick for that.” Her eyes glinted with a smile as she looked at the orbs. “I wanted to do this because I wanted to fight you, North. I wanted to see what you were capable of. However, I knew that fighting you in the real world would look…” She faltered and looked away.

North raised an eyebrow. “Like a PR disaster?”

“E-Essentially.”

North shook his head. “So, why fight me? Isn’t that what two ponies dating want to avoid?”

“Indeed, but I have my reasons. If you want to know why…” Her horn flashed and suddenly, the two were atop a mountain, with a nearby tree blowing petals in the breeze. Luna was devoid of her horn and wings and sported an ornate dress as she struck a pose. “You will have to defeat me in a round, best two of three.”

North looked at himself and found he was wearing a red gi. Heh, just like home… He thought as he assumed a fighting stance. “And if I lose?”

“Then you will answer one of my questions. This is how we will get to know each other better.”

“An icebreaker competition, huh… You’ve got some fun ideas for dates~” He eyed her stance at a glance. “But I’m not planning on losing.”

“Very well. May the best pony win.”

Author's Note

Apologies for any issues. I've been working with slightly messed up hands after digging a big hole. Don't ask. I might be able to do chapter 3 quickly, but if I'm not, it'll take a bit as I'm going to be out of town on a trip for a time with an unknown amount of internet access. I will do what I can, and I hope you enjoy this softer chapter.