The spectacled stallion slid the stack of papers forward. "Here are your own reports. Your expenses as well as results."

Luna forced a smile. "Quite winning, are they not?"

Raven Inkwell arched a brow and coughed into a hoof. "Quite telling, at least."

Luna's smile faded. "There are only a hoof-ful of agents. They can't be costing Equestria too terribly much."

Raven's horn glowed, pulling out a specific paper to hold up. "Their payroll is not the issue, ma'am."

The number cruncher of a pony nodded towards the paper. "The damages they cause have to be covered by the throne. We can't discount that part of the expenses."

Luna slumped. "What of our latest venture? I was extra careful. Were we not judicious in our approach?"

Raven put the paper down and brought her hooves together. "Ma'am, I'll be honest. That one wasn't... awful. But it's only one. Having a good assignment and a terrible one is not a favorable balance."

Luna clopped. "Getting Rarity had very little expenses!"

Raven nodded slowly. "True... True. But the numbers don't lie on the total." She and the number cruncher pointed in unison to where those deadly numbers rested, clear in black and white, and mostly red. "You must bring the budget into order or your sister will begin... insisting."

Luna's ears pinned back as the fiscal facts glared unambiguously before her. How could she have let zeal for her vision obscure such pedestrian realities? The path to harmony brought costs as well as hope...wise leadership accounted for both.

"You speak truly, fair Raven." Luna inclined her head respectfully. "Mine agents have wrought harm 'neath blindness of duty's tunnel vision. Repair now falls to We who set sparse limits upon power lent."

She met the accountant's shrewd but not unkind gaze. "I shall review compensation routes for innocents impacted by overreach. And redouble effort instilling mindful restraint in forces under moon's guidance."

Raven smiled gently, sensing Luna's earnest intent to steer her experiment back on course financially and ethically. "That resolves the ledgers well enough for today. Just keep aiming to balance the budget as your team balances their approach."

Luna returned the smile with bittersweet optimism. "Ever does wisdom lag pursuit at first, yet in time may lead from ahead as compass truer than impatient pace. My thanks for applying numbers' neutral light revealing overconfidence in mine own radiance alone."

With gracious departure, Luna contemplated misadventures past and future. Costs had creeped concealed...now budgetary balance must inform their works as harmony's scale weighed all prices paid. Some hard choices loomed, but growth emerged embracing accountability. These early foal steps would steady in time.

Raven glanced across at the other partner in the room, the number cruncher. "I admit, it's amusing when she falls to old ponish. That's when you know she's become nervous."

The number cruncher shuffled the papers back together with his hooves. "I don't talk to her often, ma'am, but that was curious."

Raven waved it away. "It also tells us she's paying attention. Hopefully, things will improve from here." She shared a high-hoof with her fellow civil servant and both went about their business elsewhere in the castle.

The door to their room slammed open, Luna stepping inside. The agents rushed to salute and stand properly. "At ease," she ordered, looking them over. "I have good news, and poor."

Bright raised a hand. "Good news first!"

"As you wish." She smiled at the recently-rabbited agent. "The good news is that our expenses on the last mission are closer to where we want them to be. Being careful paid off." She pointed to each in turn. "You followed the plans and instructions and you all worked in a harmonious team. I think... Missing even a single one of you might have resulted in failure. I'm proud of you all."

Rarity tittered, hoof to her snout. "Darling, I adore your praise, but that was the good news. What's the bad?"

Luna's expression sobered, her celestial mane dimming subtly. "The bad news pertains to past precedent, not present improvements. Due in large part to earlier...exuberance, our cumulative operating expenses have attracted concern from on high."

She began slowly pacing as the agents shared uneasy glances. Luna hesitated before continuing. "Let us say Celestia grows uneasy at trophies won but costs unfurling beyond means afforded. Too many ponies had to be mobilized, too great anguish wreaked upon the blameless."

Luna halted, looking up gravely. "In simplest terms mine friends, we faced a budget hearing where I must account for damages dealt beneath my banner thus far...and propose wiser ways henceforth."

Her gaze took in their stricken faces. She offered a wan smile. "Fear not overmuch for now. I believe we shall satisfy all inquiries and in time verify this force a worthy investment once discipline steadies errant hooves."

The smile faded. "But I cannot shield you from repercussions in perpetuity. Nor should I, if we profess fighting for harmony. Know that words and wisdom must temper deeds moving forward lest this undertaking end abruptly."

Luna met each set of eyes in turn. "The way ahead may challenge comforts assumed. But together I believe we shall overcome through open hearts and minds. What say you brave agents?"

Sweetie nodded in a smooth and simple motion. "Got it. Think before acting. I apologize." She dipped low. "It is largely my fault that we're in the red, and I accept that. If I hadn't urged Bright on..."

Bright bounced in place with a scowl. "Hey! Don't do that! I'm a free agent. I could have... not... done that, but I did. That was my choice." He saluted at Luna sharply. "I'll be more careful, honest."

Rarity spread a wing she hadn't had a moment ago, curling it around Bright. "I'll keep an eye on my dearest familiar, darling. No more... mistakes like that. Is there any other news?"

Luna let out a soft sigh. "No... save that you have time off." All three of them perked at that. "You've completed three assignments almost back to back, at great personal risk. You deserve some time to yourself." She smiled gently. "I will leave it to your vote. Would you care to spend it together, or shall we go our different ways?"

She winked consiprationally. "Together, I can put this in as a team-building action..."

Bright snapped his fingers, ending with his hands together. "I'm with ya! Write off a lot of it. Clever! Best Princess. I don't hate any of you, so a vacay with good ponies sounds good to me."

Rarity's eyes shone brightly. "Why darling, a vacation together sounds simply divine! We've bonded well enough trouncing troglodytes, but I for one would relish further chances strengthening camaraderie outside life-or-death scenarios."

She clasped her hooves enthusiastically. "Oh imagine the possibilities! Lounging seaside, strolling foreign boulevards under moonlight, museum hopping through history's tapestries and regalia..."

A far-off look overtook the fancy vampony as her imagination took wing. "The wonders we'll experience, the memories we'll share untethered awhile from harsh urgency of investigations..."

Sweetie Drops cleared her throat, reining Rarity's enthusiasm back down to earth. "Yes, well, maintaining operational integrity should still factor somewhat into recreational planning..." She cast a wry grin Luna's direction nonetheless.

"But taking adventures together with lighter spirits could indeed improve instinctual coordination. And if Her Highness sees fit to approve such, far be it from me to refuse her wisdom."

Sweetie met the eager gazes of her two comrades - unlikely cohorts fate had forged into steadfast friends against the shadows. "Very well! A sojourn it shall be!"

Luna smiled affectionately as her Night Guard began hashing out exuberant vacation possibilities, their bonds evident in every enthusiastic exchange. Hard roads lay ahead, but with such spirits aligning, they would walk any path together unfazed. She could ask for no finer company. These precious seeds would grow strong roots indeed.

"I will see to the paperwork involved." She rolled her eyes at that. "I am your leader, so that falls on me." She glanced between them. "Unless one of you is good at beuracracy?" There was silence in the room. "I could hope." Luna turned, striding from the room with a sigh.

Bright hopped onto the table with a grin. "This sounds super fun. Except I have no idea where to go... I don't know the right spots in Equestria." Though a fan of the show, he lacked the specifics. He hadn't lived there, until he did. "Suggestions?"

Rarity tickled Bright, driving him to giggles with brushes of her wing. "I can think of a few places I'd prefer, close to cultural spots of interest."

With a glowing horn, she drew out a map of Equestria and slapped it down next to Bright. "Here, here... oooo, here would be lovely." The spots she selected glowed on the paper.

Sweetie leaned in to have a look at them. "That one." She pointed to one. "Right on the beach, good for working out."

"Darling..." Rarity mused the spot. "Certainly. That would work. Glad we're on the same page then, hm? Now, really, I have to get in fashion." She trailed off, looking at Bright. "Forget me. I'm at least passable. You're not wearing anything. You haven't since shortly after becoming whatever you are, dear."

Bright looked down over his furry form. The plush fur concealed most objectionable bits, and nobody had complained about it thus far.

"Huh...you know I kinda forgot about clothes entirely after becoming all furry." He grinned sheepishly, idly scratching an ear with his hind leg. "Don't really have the same modesty hangups I did before, y'know?"

Rarity nodded sagely. "Perfectly understandable, darling - your instincts now follow the same as most ponies." She tapped her chin appraisingly with one hoof. "However a degree of style still separates soulful beings from mundane beasts..."

Her horn flashed as she eagerly wrapped a taking tape around Bright's compact form. "Now then, let Auntie Rarity take some quick measurements and I shall set to designing an immaculate travel wardrobe befitting a civilized creature of your noble stature!"

Sweetie Drops chuckled under her breath. "Think you can restrain some of the fru-fru accessorizing? Don't want to weigh down our dynamic fluffball here with heavy couture..." Her teasing grin took any sting from the words.

Rarity simply huffed in mock offense. "My dear, I'll have you know fashion needn't impede function! Why properly chosen fabrics breathe freely as a second skin while still dazzling admiring eyes."

As she withdrew the tape and began eagerly skritching design ideas, Rarity cooed reassuringly to Bright. "Just you wait and see what wonders Auntie Rarity whips up, no compromise required. You'll be the most enviably outfitted whatever-you-are from Manehattan to Los Pegasus!"

Rarity turned to Sweetie with a worrying smile. "Now, about you..."

Sweetie held up both her forehooves. "Hold up! I have clothes. My fashion is filled."

"I doubt that." Rarity rolled her eyes. "Let me get a few measurements for you. A few short ones, dear, and we can get you looking your best for our little trip."

Sweetie grunted, but surrendered with a sigh. "Fine, but... I need it to be flexible, and breathing. I need to be able to run a marathon in it!"

Rarity clopped her hooves with a radiant smile. "Ooo, I like it when a client knows what they need and takes the time to express it. I'll have your suit done in no time." She glanced to the door. "And I'll keep this off the books. Poor Luna's harried enough with those numbers."

Rarity's horn shimmered as she gathered a floating coterie of various measuring implements. "Now then Sweetie, let us begin sculpting a style befitting one of Equestria's shadow guardians..."

As the tape whizzed animatedly around the obediently posing Sweetie, Rarity nodded approvingly. "Yes yes, quite the sturdy foundation we have to work with here! Toned and full-figured yet still retaining feminine mystique..."

She lit a candle with a wink, casting flickering mood lighting as her creative vision coalesced. "Sleek midnight fabrics hugging your curves juuust right in moonlight's caress... fall away panels discretely revealing a hint of flank..."

Rarity fanned herself, eyes dancing. "Understated armorweave overlain with regal billowing silks that shimmer and float ethereally as you prowl..."

Sweetie blushed at the evolving vivid portrait but held still as the measuring continued. "As, um, enchanting as all that sounds, stealth remains my, ah, primary concern..." Had the candlelight grown sultry or was it just warm in here? "So, maybe marry eye-catching with, y'know...the opposite?"

"But of course!" Rarity drew the various implements back with a triumphant flourish. "Discretion wedded to distinction defines my vision for you here!"

She floated in close, wisps of magic flowing over Sweetie's frame. "Shadow's allure beckons but never brazenly. A degree of mystique sets minds racing more than outright spectacle." Rarity smiled with a wink for just Sweetie. "Trust me darling, the finest details oft deliver the keenest thrills..."

Her new creation already took shape within imagination's forge. Sweetie's ensemble would be her most exquisite integrative masterwork yet!

Author's Note

And we start... not an assignment. How is the episodic nature of the story working for you? Like it?

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