"Good evening!" Crescent pounced upon her stirring mother. "Hello, mommy!" She nuzzled against Luna's neck as the mare groaned, half-awake.

Luna stirred under Crescent, shoving at the filly with a hoof until she managed to pull herself upright. Not that this had any dampening effect on Crescent's joyful expression.

"Did you sleep well?" Crescent bounced a little, though didn't push herself up from the bed entirely.

Luna coughed and hacked softly. "Yes, but I believe I can sleep better, knowing that you were at hoof to watch over me." She snuggled against her daughter, just a bit. "You are such a caring child."

Crescent inclined her head, considering Luna a moment. "Do you want me to share?"

Luna perked an ear at that. "Share?"

"Share!" Crescent tapped at her head. "My day. I used to share every evening, remember? Then we stopped. I can still share if you want."

Luna flicked her tail. "I had forgotten." She tugged the filly closer, smiling at her softly. "Yes, please do. Tell me about your day."

Crescent flopped into Luna's lap with a soft squeak of delight. She opened that pathway between them like brushing open a door with a few cobwebs, but one that led somewhere she wanted to be. "Here." Her day appeared, as if Luna had lived it herself, her meeting up with Minuette, the playing, the eating, the living as a little filly.

Luna closed her eyes and sighed with delight as she enjoyed her daughter's memories, warmly smiling as she ran her hoof through Crescent's mane as if to pet her. "That sounds delightful." She gazed down at Crescent.

"I know we aren't the same pony." Crescent nuzzled against Luna's chest. "But what is mine is still yours, mommy. Have you met Minuette before? She's fun!"

Luna nodded gently. "Yes, I've met her. A most pleasant pony."

Crescent just nodded along, happy that her mother liked Minuette. "You know, there's another nice thing." She stretched out and kicked her hooves gently in the air.

Luna rubbed at Crescent's exposed belly gently. "What would that be?" She rose slowly to her hooves. "Come with me, little Crescent. I should start my day."

Crescent rolled over and joined Luna as she hopped from the bed and went about. "Well, I was talking to a mare called Morning Glory. She told me lots of neat things."

Luna smiled gently. "That is good." She shook her head slowly. "If you share your memories, you don't need to speak them. We have both experienced them now. Did you have a question about what this mare told you?"

"Yes!" Crescent followed along behind Luna, keeping pace with her mother as they wandered about, Luna going through the motions of her life. "Did you know time isn't completely stiff for ponies? Like, us."

Luna hummed softly as she went. "I feel you've lost focus. That feels like something Minuette would say. But she isn't wrong. Dwellers in dreams can experience time far more fluidly than waking ones." She led the way to the dining room, where food was already waiting for any royal ponies in need of it. "Are you hungry?"

"A little." Crescent nodded gently. "Will there be pancakes?"

Luna scooped Crescent up and set her on a chair. "If that is what you desire." Her horn glowed, snatching up a pair of fluffy pancakes from one plate and laying them before Crescent. "I am not my sister, do not expect silly shapes on them." Luna snorted softly at the idea as she moved to take her own seat.

Crescent tapped a hoof against her mouth. "Well, there was that one time you made moon pancakes."

Luna sighed softly at that. "You are correct, I did. But that was for you and you alone." She cracked a little smile. "If you remain good, perhaps we can do that for your next birthday, which is not this evening." She chomped on her own plate of eggs quietly a moment.

Crescent happily chomped away at her own pancakes, which were soft and fluffy and entirely delicious. There was even some kind of fruit jelly spread on them, which made them taste even better. "This is amazing." She had an eye on Luna, waiting for the comment she knew would come.

"Sister, Niece." Celestia stepped in with a soft yawn. "It is about time for me to retire." That didn't stop her from kissing her sister on the cheek and moving over to do much the same to Crescent.

Crescent found herself pulled into a gentle hug, warmly holding Celestia's neck as they hugged.

"Hello, Sister." Luna sniffed the air a moment. "Dare I ask what you have been up to?"

Celestia laughed with fatigue as she joined them at the table. "Today's been full, for lack of better words. Not a moment of rest. One of my students had a dragon for a father, who accidentally broke the rules, so I had to invite him in to let them work it out." She shook her head, groaning softly. "Perhaps I should have stopped taking on students after Twilight. I feel like I'm getting too old."

Luna arched an eyebrow at that. "Dear sister, you are the very essence of youth." She nodded towards Crescent. "Perhaps not quite that young."

Celestia rolled her eyes at that. "Few could make such a claim, and still be holding a conversation. Crescent, how was your day?"

"I would share, but they are Luna's memories." Crescent stuck out her tongue at Celestia. "But it was a nice day."

Celestia didn't quite catch the tongue, as Crescent had withdrawn it before she could, which amused the alicorn greatly. "What do you mean to share, if you're ready to tell me anyway?"

Luna put out a hoof between them. "Crescent can share her memories. She has already shared her day with me. When she does that, it's like they are my memories too."

Celestia stood in place, not sure what to think of that idea. "Can we try? I'm not sure I understand how that would work."

Crescent pointed at Luna. "They are her memories. You would have to ask her."

Luna hiked a brow. "Child, though I appreciate your loyalty, they are your memories, not mine. It is entirely at your discretion if you wish to share them, or not. I would ask you not share any that hold secrets of mine, but other than that, they are entirely yours to do with as you please."

Crescent sighed softly at that. "If she wants, I can share. But the hard part is the, um, connecting bit. Like a magic river between minds. Kinda like dreams, but not." She nodded towards Luna, though her eyes quickly flicked back to the tired Celestia. "Can we hug again? It's easier if we're closer."

Celestia willingly came forward, pressing herself against Crescent in a hug.

"Good." Crescent pressed her horn against Celestia's neck, enjoying the soft feeling of her aunt's mane. She let out a breath and felt herself slip into the flow of that bond between minds. To her, it felt like she was melting into Celestia, becoming one with the solar princess. It was a one way press, pushing her day through that membrane that had no name.

Celestia started as new memories began to appear, flooding her with a whole new day's experiences as a little filly named Crescent. Her hoofball playing with Minuette. The girl talk about being best friends, time magic, and all the other little joys. She enjoyed the dreams shared with Luna, happy she could visit her beloved sister like that. Her sharing pancakes with Luna, just like a normal family would.

Celestia sat back with a content smile. "You have given me a gift most valuable." She carefully put Crescent back in the chair she began in. "Thank you."

"Welcome." Crescent smirked as she nodded to Luna. "Did you want some too?"

Luna snickered softly at that. "You already shared your day with me, eager one." She stood up. "I am fed. The day begins. Sister?"

They both turned their eyes out the window, horns glowing. The sun properly set, and the moon emerged to take its place under their combined magic. In this manner, all over Equestria, the days and nights changed, thanks to them. The stars rose in the night sky, shoving aside the clouds that lingered from the day before.

Crescent clapped at the display. "You two are such good sisters!" Her attention slipped to Celestia fully. "Sleep well." She dashed up and hugged Celestia tight around her neck.

"I will, niece." Celestia turned to trot out, moving stiffly, though without strain. "We shall talk later."

Luna gestured with her horn. "Come. When are you retiring, Crescent?" She proceeded through the halls, preparing the castle for the night properly.

"In a few hours, I think." Crescent went after Luna, keeping close as she used her own magic to aid in the tasks. It was fun to help her mother like this. A little of Luna's pride bled through with each hoofful of magic used. Crescent wondered at it. She was her mother's creation. Perhaps watching her creation go on to be helpful was nice?

She smiled at the idea. She liked the notion and decided to go with it, soon replacing the lavender flowers of the hallway alongside her. "Is that better?"

"Indeed." Luna never turned to look, but a ghostly smile danced across her face. "I appreciate the help, daughter. The castle is vast, and many ponies sleep in it. Every night I prepare for them to sleep well, with sweet dreams."

Crescent kicked her hooves gently as she went, following along as she continued to help, smiling softly. "And they do, thanks to you." She bumped sidelong into Luna. "Are you going to patrol their dreams? I can help!"

Luna rested her hoof atop Crescent's head, the warmth of it tingling into her daughter. "Tonight is your rest. You had a very full day, let us not forget." She leaned in closer. "If you wish to aid, then be rested and ready come tomorrow, and we shall see, little one."

Crescent giggled softly at that. "Thanks, mommy!" She left Luna to her work, running up the stairs as she moved through the castle, exploring and playing until she tired enough to settle into bed. Sleep did not come slowly for a dream creature like her. She decided she was sleeping, and thus she was, entering the dreamworld with the ease anypony else would step through an open door.

She wandered about in the dream world, avoiding any ponies, though she happily called out greetings to any that glanced her way. It was always interesting to see who responded. One didn't usually find a mare shaped like a serpent living in the dream world, but they were there, so who was Crescent to complain?

The dream snake hissed gently in confusion. "You are aware?" It slid closer. "You are awake?"

"No." Crescent giggled at the idea. "Who goes to the dreaming worlds to be awake? That'd be silly! I just don't want to sleep right now." She patted at the snake. "Do you have a name? I'm Crescent."

"I am the serpent of dreams, always hungry for new knowledge." The snake nodded at that. "Did you bring some for me?"

"I can share some?" Crescent inclined her head at the snake. "Do you take things?"

"I take knowledge." She flicked her tongue out, dancing in the air. "I am why ponies forget things in their slumber, so they can remember the rest more easily." She paused a moment. "Mmm, or that already happened, and I represent it. I am far too old to remember which came first."

Crescent laughed at that. "But I can share what I know with you." She put her hoof on her own head. "How do I do that?"

The serpent poked Crescent on the forehead. "Are you sure? You will forget what you give me."

Crescent squeaked at that. "No! I said share, not give. Don't be mean. Why would I want to lose something important like that?"

The snake coiled in a circle around Crescent, her body twisting in on itself as she pressed against Crescent. "Yes, you will lose some of your knowledge, but do not worry. The loss will help you hold tighter to what remains. It is the natural order, mmm? I am hungry, and you wish to hold onto some of those memories. A fair trade."

Author's Note

A dream snake? Not what I ordered. Can I return it?

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