Blooming Days

"One moment, Miss Inkwell."

The ivory unicorn paused, her hoof stopping inches from knocking on the elegant doors to Celestia's quarters.

Our little posse collectively turned our heads to find an obviously displeased Princess Luna. She definitely wasn't happy, that much was evident from the scowl on her face. At the very least though, there hadn't been a hint of anger in her voice.

That's a positive, at least. Don't wanna have to deal with a pissed off Luna.

I'd never seen the Princess of the Night in a rage. Not even when I'd wrecked her student. Honestly... I didn't want to. If Celestia was as terrifying as she'd been back in my town, Luna would probably be a literal Nightmare.

...

Heh.

"Yes, Your Highness?" Celestia's aide kept her foreleg held aloft, but didn't move any farther.

"My sister has ordered she be left to her own devices," the alicorn said as she trotted up to us. "As such, she has also ordered that I take these two with me," she swept her stern gaze over Trix and I before settling it on the aide. I glanced sideways at the blue mare. She looked a smidge worried at the sudden appearance of the Night Princess, though smidge may have been downplaying her reaction to the diarch. Without saying a word the azure mare quietly moved to stand behind me, her head lowering.

What, am I supposed to be her protector now or something?

I expected her to act like this around Luna based solely on how she'd spoken about the Moon Princess in the Empire, but using me as a shield?

...

Okay. I guess it is a little cute.

Especially since she looked like a frightened little filly.

Don't worry, Trix. I'll be your mommy.

She may not have liked the turn of events, but me?

I was absolutely ecstatic.

If anything, it's much better than having to deal with Celestia anyway.

"As you wish, Your Highness," Raven bowed low. "May I resume my duties or is there anything else you desire of me?"

I looked over my shoulder, back at the blue unicorn. I gave her the cockiest smirk I could muster as soon as her frazzled eyes had enough time to settle on me. It was clear what she was worried about, but I couldn't help but be smug at just how reverent Raven was being towards the princess.

"You are free to continue with your tasks, Raven," Luna dipped her head slightly. "Thank you for all of your efforts."

"It is my pleasure, Your Highness," the white mare raised herself back up. "If you've any further need of me just send word."

...

"Rave," I stopped the mare as she was moving to trot back to her duties.

"Yes, Starlight?" her head tilted slightly. She was confused by my call. I chuckled a little, lifting my head towards the small bag still held in her telekinesis. "AH! Yes! Of course!" she quickly understood why I'd stopped her. "I nearly forgot!" she turned back to the Princess of the Night. "I brought some sweets for you and your sister, Your Highness," she handed the bag to the alicorn. Whatever foul thing that had been tainting Luna's mood melted away as soon as she took the gift with her own telekinesis. "Can you please make sure Princess Celestia receives her half?"

"How very thoughtful of you," Luna smiled warmly at her sister's aide. "Of course I can do that, Raven. You're far too kind to us."

"I will always be. You deserve nothing less," Raven bowed low once again. "Thank you, Your Highness."

And with that, Raven raised her head and trotted away with a smile on her face, leaving Luna, Trix, and I alone in the hall. I was a little surprised she'd decided not to mention our arrangements for later. She'd been fairly relaxed the first time, when we'd met. This time, she was a shining example of professionalism. She had probably acted different because Trix was around, or so I assumed.

Luna opened the bag, examining its contents carefully before taking a deep inhalation of the contents. With an even brighter smile than before she lifted a simple chocolate chip cookie out. She took a small bite from the treat before teleporting the rest of the bag away, presumably to her older sister.

Wait... really?

"Did you just send that entire thing to your sister, Princess?" I had to ask. It would bother me for weeks if I didn't say anything about it.

"I did," she replied. "Is there a problem, Starlight?" She was still smiling, thankfully, but only a little.

"There were like," I had to remember back. "six different snacks in that bag," I looked at Trix who nodded once to confirm my words. She was still freaking out. I rolled my eyes before returning to the dark mare. "You didn't even take your half, Your Highness!"

The alicorn chuckled quietly.

"My sister enjoys things such as this much more than I," she took another dainty bite of the cookie. "I suppose Sunset's words really were more obvious than I'd thought."

Huh?

I had no idea what she'd meant by that, but the mention of Sun piqued my interest.

"What does that mean, Your Highness?" I asked meekly, trying not to let too much of my feelings bleed into my voice.

"Think nothing of it," she grinned deviously at me, waving off my question with a flick of her hoof. I gave her back the most disappointed frown I could muster. "Shall we get going?" she ignored me. She tried to hide her amusement, angling her head around me to look at Trix with a polite smile. It didn't work. Obviously.

"O-of course, Your Highness!" Trix yelped, bowing even lower than Raven had before her. Her face was so close to the carpet she could probably see every single fibre of the rug. "Whatever you wish!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes again. She was being so obsequious it made me want to vomit.

A little too dramatic, no, Trix?

"It's not a long walk, is it?" I groaned, deciding to focus my attention on the matter at hoof.

Who even knows how far Luna's room is from here?

If it'd been up to me, we wouldn't have even walked to the castle.

"Walk? Why would we walk?" Luna's horn pulsed with a bit more mana, her spell blipping the three of us out of existence for a split-second before we reappeared inside of her quarters.

I'd never been in her room before. It was... not what I expected.

At all.

The room had to be less than half the size of Celestia's. It was completely... drab. Unremarkable. It wasn't even as nice as my place had been back in my town. At least, from what I could see of it, it wasn't.

It was much darker than any other room I'd ever been in. A strange, silver light illuminated the space, but just a bit. It was hovering in the center of the room, just below the ceiling. It was the only thing giving off any sort of illumination, far more shadows filling the room than anything else.

Bland black curtains covered the windows. Even the doors that lead to other parts of the castle appeared to have an enchantment or covering to mute light. Her bed was nothing exceptional either, nor were the wood desk, boring chair, or dull carpet.

That's kinda nice. I guess.

It was a painting of Luna and Celestia, but it was pretty basic as well.

It was baffling.

I was completely bewildered.

All the riches, all the glamour, all the fame, and she chooses to live like this!?

It wasn't what I expected at all. It definitely wasn't something I'd do.

I guess the Sisters really are full of surprises.

...Or Luna was, at least.

Interesting.

"Now then, first things first," the night mare moved closer to me. She held a foreleg aloft, a kind smile on her face. "Is this alright?" she chuckled. "Is it okay for me to welcome my student back home with a hug?"

"I guess it's okay. But just this once," I smiled. I gladly entered her embrace, hugging her. "As long as you don't try rubbing it in my face later."

"I'd never dream of doing such a thing," she giggled. "It's good to see you safe and sound," she whispered to me. "Welcome home, dear."

"It's good to be back," I squeezed her tightly before we separated. "Thank you, Your Highness."

She patted me gently on the shoulder, offering me a pleased grin before turning her attention to Trix. The blue mare was still doing her best to hide behind me. Not sure why at this point. It's not like Luna was just going to ignore her.

"The head of the Elements." There was a little more flint in the princess' voice as she spoke to the unicorn. "Thank you for your contributions to Equestria and its creatures," Luna bowed her head slightly. "I am pleased to see you are safe as well, Miss Lulamoon."

...

The alicorn's civility was so jarring to the unicorn that she couldn't quite process her words. She finally recovered somewhat after several seconds.

"Th- Thank you!" she was still a mess, but at least she'd managed to reply. She clearly didn't know whether to bow again or try something else. She settled on a second bow that was just as deep as the first. "I'm glad I could be of use to you, Your Highness!"

Luna chuckled slightly, lifting her eyebrows playfully several times when I looked her way.

Oh I am SO down!

"Is she like this often?" the Night Princess asked me. Her sly smirk made it clear she had wicked intentions and I was all for it.

"You don't deal with the Elements much, Princess?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I do not," she replied with a shrug. "They are my sister's vassals, not mine."

"I see." That made a lot of sense. If Celestia was the one who sent them out on missions and the like, Luna probably wouldn't get a chance to interact with them often. "To answer your question about her," I pointed a hoof in Trix's direction. "not from what I've seen," I smirked, returning to the current matter. Trix kept her head -- as well as the rest of her body -- low. She was probably waiting for the princess to say something that let her know it was okay for her to rise. "Guess she's just freaking out cause you're the lesser princess."

The blue mare visibly stiffened at my words, her head jerking slightly.

"Oh reeeeally?" Luna played along, bringing an even bigger smile to my face. "And whom, might I ask, is the one with the gall to say such an impertinent thing about the Goddess of the Night?"

"This one unicorn I know," I lifted a playful brow, having way too much fun watching Trix squirm on the floor. "Blue coat. Kind of scruffy. Sometimes wears a gaudy cape. Pretty sure she works for your sister."

...

"FORGIVE MY INSUBORDINATION, YOUR HIGHNESS!" Trix pressed her body into the floor harder, her face flattening against the carpet. "I MEANT NO DISRESPECT, I WAS JUST-"

"Peace, Miss Lulamoon," Luna placed a hoof atop the frazzled unicorn's head. The Moon Princess was still smiling, but it was clear she'd decided we'd gone far enough. "Starlight and I were merely jesting."

Dang. I was just getting started too...

Trix's head shot up, her look of outright relief mixed with confusion nearly sending me over the edge.

"R-REALLY!?" she was actually fighting to keep tears in. I had to struggle not to bust out laughing.

"Awwww, but I was just starting to have fun," I faked a disappointed sigh. "Letting her off the hook so soon is no fun, Your Highness."

"All things in moderation, Starlight," Luna chuckled, rubbing Trix's shoulder and then turning away from her. "If Trixie's... May I call you Trixie, Miss Lulamoon?"

"I'D BE HONORED, YOUR HIGHNESS!" the unicorn vigorously nodded.

"Splendid! If Trixie's current demeanor tells me anything, Starlight, it's that we've had our fill," Luna's pleased smile grew wider.

"Fine, fine," I lifted my hooves submissively. "I just wanted her to see how cool you were, Princess."

...

"I'm... cool?" It was easy to see the small compliment had affected her much more than I'd intended, but it's not like it was a lie.

It was the honest truth.

Mostly.

It's not really that she was cool, per se. It's that she cared and was kind. It's that her ponies perceived her in such a dim light in comparison to Celestia, and she deserved much better than that. It's that she should be shown the same level of kindness and respect that she had for all of her subjects.

I'd been a tyrant and my toys loved me.

Luna was practically a saint and the masses couldn't care less about her.

She should be loved. She should be-

...

That's enough, Starlight.

I wasn't about to say all of that directly to her though.

"Cool enough, I guess," I lifted a hoof nonchalantly. "So why'd Her Highness ditch us anyway?" I steered the conversation in a completely different direction with a small enough barb to ensure it went that way. "Must've been something pretty important."

"As she put it?" Princess Luna trotted over to her desk. She picked up a few scrolls of parchment and a quill with her telekinesis. "To 'sort out her thoughts and plan her visit to the Crystal Empire'."

Already? That was fast.

"Her Highness is already making plans to leave for the Empire?" Trix asked. It was good to see she was finally getting comfortable.

"Indeed," Luna confirmed, starting to write on one of the papers. "When a pony just transforms into one of us out of nowhere, a quick response is necessary, if not required."

"So you already know about Cadenza then?" I took a seat on my flank. The Moon Princess nodded, paying close attention to her scroll as she scribbled some more.

"I do. My sister and I had a lengthy discussion with Sunset and Twilight about the events that transpired in the Empire," she explained. "I just need answers to some questions from the two of you and then you can go about your day."

"Sounds good to me, I've got plans for later," I shrugged.

"Anything, Your Highness!" Trix nodded, taking a seat next to me.

"You don't have to be that uptight, Trix," I raised a brow, trying my best to increase her comfort . "She's not gonna bite your head off either."

"I'm not scared of her, Starlight," the blue mare huffed, my shenanigans getting to her more and more.

I laughed.

"You're not?" Luna looked up from her work, a curious look on her face.

"Maybe... just a little," Trix's confidence immediately faltered under the intense gaze of the Princess of the Night. Luna simply raised an eyebrow, her stare unchanging. "Princeeeess," Trix groaned, covering her eyes with her hooves. "Please?"

"I'm sorry, Trixie," Luna chuckled, her serious demeanor gone in an instant. "I couldn't help myself. But Starlight is telling the truth," she looked back down at her paper. "Rest assured, I can be every bit as patient and kind as my sister, you merely have to give me the chance."

"Your Highness..." The blue mare looked like she might start crying at any moment. Whether out of guilt or admiration, I couldn't be sure.

"Moreso, if you ask me," I muttered under my breath, scoffing as softly as I could.

"I appreciate that, Starlight," Luna said, still writing things on her paper. She looked up at me, a warm smile on her face. "Truly... I really do."

"C'mon, Your Highness," I scratched at my cheek with a hoof before turning my gaze away from her. It was a weak attempt to hide the blush that more than likely failed spectacularly. "Don't go getting all sappy on me. You have questions, right?"

"I do," she giggled. "Let's get started then, shall we?"