The Diarchal Advisor

"Say... Princess Luna." Arnon suddenly speaks up.

The two had been quietly walking the dimly-lit halls of the castle following a brisk Night-Court. Some minor scuffles that needed orientating, and the start to an outreach program for other species who also found appreciation for the night. All in all, a good night of work.

The quiet, moonlight splashed halls offered the pair some semblance of privacy, mind the odd Thestral Guard posted at a doorway, who politely bows as they pass.

And Vivid Streak, of course, ever-attached to her Advisorial Charge, who softly treads just slightly behind them.

"Yes, Arnon?" Luna's ears perk, glancing to him as they walk side-by-side.

"You're aware of -- well, obviously you are, but I'm trying to bring up... hm." Arnon tsks. He taps his chin in dramatized thought.

"A difficult topic?" Luna fields curiously, head tilting.

"Not really. I was going to try some 'Nuance' as Bulwark had been suggesting --" Vivid rolls her eyes. "-- but I'll just stick to what I know. Being blunt. Did you want to take on a Student?" Arnon rounds out, pausing in place.

Luna's hoof-steps cease as a frown forms on her face.

She glances back and forth. Ruminates softly. Processes the idea. The implications.
"... Do we?" She mutters. She hadn't actually thought about this before.

"Just an idea I've been sitting on. Celestia has taken several students before; but I haven't found any records of you having ever mentored a Pony before." Arnon explains, looking at her expectantly. Vivid parks beside them, curious on the topic herself.

Luna's ruminations have her speaking in a softer tone.
"We have not, no. That is... not something we ever actually put thought towards." She admits, a tentative, if... concerned look set upon her face.

"Do you... think we are ready for one?" Luna asks surprisingly quietly.

Arnon scoffs loudly, crossing his arms.

"A simple 'No' would have sufficed." Luna scowls, turning away to continue down the hall, alone.

Vivid gives Arnon a plentiful stink-eye, but Arnon groans, slapping his head. Forgot this Princess wasn't nearly as playful.
"No, I'm trying -- no, not no like that -- it's like a scoff of do you even have to ask -- god, damn it. Luna!" Arnon yells, followed by the sound of a parchment being flapped around.

Vivid's stink-eye at him turns to a healthy heaping of a squinted glare, too. Shouting at the Princess? Thin ice.

Princess Luna pauses for a moment, several feet away, before slowly glancing over her shoulder, scowling. Arnon is holding out a paper. Maintaining her choice of judgemental stare, she plucks it from his grasp with her magics, the deep-blue wisping the document over and in front of herself.

Her face starts to soften as she reads it. The Document is a Dossier for a potential student, written by Arnon.

Princess Luna Student Recommended Application - Moondancer.

Similar to Twilight, Moondancer, one of her old friends, is also an astute for knowledge, and gifted the Cutie-Mark that can be related to a mastery over Magic. Uniquely, her Cutie-Mark also represents a Moon, which is further enforced by her personal preference for sleeping during the Day, and studying throughout the Night. It is my recommendation that she be treated as a Primary Candidate, thanks to these conditions, and her close proximity, currently residing in Canterlot, to become Princess Luna's first Student. I believe there is much unique to the Night to be imparted, and the two could explore such together. An invitation is currently written up, and waiting for signed approval.

Luna slowly turns back around, glancing up from the paper.

Arnon was watching with worry, biting his nails -- but the moment she looks at him, he crosses his arms and tries to look disinterested, glancing away, up towards the ceiling.
"Of course, it's entirely your decision, Princess. Just a recommendation." Arnon says offhandidly, shrugging.

Luna slowly trods back over beside him, folding the paper with her magic, and pushing it to his chest. She looks like she's trying to formulate words, when Vivid cuts in.

"Perhaps work on your delivery, Sir, when speaking to Princess Luna." She softly chastises, before giving Luna a polite head-bow.

"...Thank you, Arnon." Luna says surprisingly kindly, given her mood moments before. He has a feeling she's thanking him for more than just the offer, but he isn't going to push it. "Though we would advise following Vivid's advice -- We would like to try." She nods, affirmed.

"Of course, Princess." Arnon bows dramatically, once he's taken grasp of the paper. "I shall have the invitation sent post-haste, and time allotted for a meeting accordingly."

Vivid bows to Luna again, as Luna starts back down the hall, no longer in a huff. She does pause after a few steps, however.
"...And you may refer to me as Luna, as long as such a tone does not return to your voice." Luna says over her shoulder, before continuing walking.

Once she's a good distance down the hall, Arnon sighs heavily, leaning on his knees. Wow, he almost fucking blew that. Definitely need a more... well, blunt approach with her. Which was kind of funny, because he's been trying to do the opposite during the Day, for Celestia.

Arnon waves the folded paper in front of Vivid.

"Deposit this at Inkwell's office, would you? I need a nap." Arnon 'requests', bapping Vivid on the nose with the parchment several times, her head flinching back.

She frowns, batting it away with a hoof.
"I am your Guard, not your Servant. Sir." Vivid says with some sting.

He purses his lips, staring down at her. Tough cookie.
"...Fifteen minutes, ear scratches." Anon mutters suddenly.

Vivid's eyes widen, ears going flat against her head. She glances up and down the hall repeatedly, before looking back to him.
"Are you-- what?! You can't be serious! Who do you think I am?!" She whisper-shouts, chastising him.

"...and a ten-minute back scratch." Arnon adds firmly.

Vivid stares at him as if he's insane, stuttering several times. Her wings, however, betray her as they slowly unfurl.

"...Fine." She suddenly huffs, snatching the paper with her mouth, trotting back up the hall towards the Records Wing.

A wide, devious grin sits on Arnon's face as she departs, fingers flexing. He alone held the keys to an untapped currency. Favors, for Pets.

The Opposable-Thumbed Conniver slowly strides down the hall, hands clasped behind his back.

To say Moondancer was nervous? A significant understatement.

She had no idea how she even got noticed; she wasn't active in any programs, and she handled her studies independently, far from any prying eyes. Far, far from them. Many a time, many a night, Moondancer would read and write by the moonlight, her studious approach carrying well into the night hours.

Supposedly, that's actually what garnered her this opportunity. To be the first student of Princess Luna -- to be granted personal importation of knowledge from one of the Kingdoms leaders. Oh, be still her beating heart; while she might not truly know the cause, she wouldn't besmirch a chance at the royal archives, or private tutelage underneath one of the royals.

She was, however, a sweaty, nervous wreck. She hardly felt like she was appropriately presentable to be meeting one of the Princesses one on one. She'd chosen her least-ratty sweater, and tried to clean herself up a bit. She hadn't worn her mane down like this in years, usually bundled up and tied back simply; though her self-cut in the bathroom mirror left some bangs... not quite as flat as the others. It was reminiscent of how Twilight wore her mane, inspired by the same style when they were Fillies... Moondancer shakes the old thoughts out of her head. No point thinking about poor, forgotten friendships like that.

The letter had arrived yesterday, detailing a desire for her presence to discuss her direct tutelage, based off her academic capability and preference for nightbound hours.

She spent the entire day panicking, trying to decide how best to present herself, and finally, preparing to leave. She barely got a wink of sleep, and every waking second was spent in the effort to be as presentable as possible. Now, it was late evening.

Then, a knock at her door.

Cautiously, she peers through the corner of her window, moving the curtain with her soft-pink magic.

It's a pair of royal... oh goodness, those are Thestral guards, adorned on their night-themed blue armor; past them, a chariot sat just outside the fence that surrounded her unkempt home.

Moondancer swallows hard, trying to steel what little nerves she had left as she reaches for the door handle.

Twinkling Sprite, Luna's ever-endeavoring to please personal Scribe, knocks on Arnon's room door.

A mere moment later, Vivid Streak peers through the door, squinting. Until their gaze meets, and both smile, the door opening.

"Guess whose napping." Vivid states simply, gesturing to the desk nestled deep in the room. It was, predictably, Arnon, catching a power-nap.

"I see him asleep more then I ever see him awake." Twinkling comments, getting a bemused grin from Vivid. "Yet, I find my hooves full of parchment signed off by him. How does he do it?"

"Unhealthy amounts of coffee, sporadic naps the moment he has an opening, and me kicking him awake, of course. Shall I?" Vivid answers, before nodding at the snoozing Advisor.

"If you wouldn't mind -- Princess Luna's prospective student, Moondancer, has arrived and is waiting in the Throne Room." Twinkling explains, as Vivid trots over to the desk.

"Quite the fitting name. I've high hopes for our Princesses first mentoree." Vivid hums warmly, before firmly slamming her back hooves into Arnon's chair, rattling him awake.

"Wheugh." Arnon grumbles, rubbing his eyes.

"Moondancer has arrived, and is waiting in the Throne Room, sir." Twinkling surmises aptly.

Arnon gives a thumbs up, getting a curious head-tilt from the pair of Thestrals occupying his room, who watch as he slowly shuffles from the desk, towards the mirror sat by his bed, in an attempt to fix a cowlick.

"Coffee?" Vivid asks.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmyeah." Arnon groans.

Moondancer's nervous mood was clearly visible from every step, including how she nearly tripped when climbing into the chariot. Or how she was practically vibrating in place.

Now she sits in front of the Throne Room, directly in front of the pedestal that held the two Princesses thrones. Lit by flickering deep-blue flames that sat in elevated sconces, and highlighted by the light from the moon peering through the stained glass. A few Thestral guards idle about, but otherwise, Moondancer is left to stew in her own building anxieties.

The doors behind the thrones open, the sounds of hoofsteps approaching. She flinches, sitting up straight --

It's not the Princess. It's a Thestral and some... weirdly dressed monkey man. He's holding a cup of coffee with weird, wiggly hooves.

"Hey, Moondancer?" He speaks up, stepping around the Thrones as he approaches her.

"U-uh, yes. Hello." She quickly nods. "Is Princess Luna...?"

"On her way. I get it, I'm hardly as exciting as the Princess -- I just wanted to check on you before she got here. Doing alright?" He offers, pausing and leaning against the bottom of the lifted platform that hoists the twin thrones, sipping his drink. The thestral guard, Vivid, sits beside him.

"Oh, uh... yeah, I'm okay. I... don't know what you are. I've read a lot of books about Equus species, and have never heard of something quite your... shape." Moondancer comments.

"Human, and Royal Advisor to the Princesses." Arnon nods. "Think of me like a big, hairless monkey. About as close as it gets, really."

"Oh." Moondancer notes, tilting her head. "If I can ask... how was I selected? Not that I don't appreciate the opportunity--I just didn't think I'd be... noticed."

"Asked the librarian which Pony was the most studious night-owl. And she said --" Arnon points a finger right at her. "--you, Moondancer. Just absorbing as much knowledge as you can, huh?"

"She did? Really? I'm... uh, yeah, I like to read. A lot. And study. A lot." She nods after a short pause.

Arnon nods, sipping his coffee again -- Moondancer idly glancing around. Was that... it?

The doors behind the thrones open again; this time, hoof steps that demanded attention could be heard, as Princess Luna, flanked by a pair of guards, emerges from between the thrones. Dressed in full regalia and wings unfurled, her head is held high as her galaxy-like mane softly swirls in the air. The guards part, taking posts on each side of the thrones.

Moondancer is quick to bow, as Luna stares down her snout at her.
"We take it thou must be Moondancer?" Luna calls loudly, firmly -- tapping a little into her Canterlor voice.

Arnon quietly sips. He can read how both of them are nervous in their own ways -- Luna pulled all the stops and is trying to impress her potential student. Cute.

"Quit sipping so loud." Vivid whispers at him, nudging his leg. He gives her a dismissive shooing wave.

"Y-yes! My name is Doonmancer--er, Moondancer! It's wonderful to meet you, Princess!" Moondancer stutters.

"As it is to meet you, Moondancer. We have heard of thou... potential, your diligence, and proclivity for the night." Luna continues, only pausing a little bit after Moondancer's little slip. "We ask thou here, if thee would hold the interest in becoming... our student."

"O-of course! I w-would love to learn anything you have to offer! O-oh, and to see the Royal Archives!" Moondancer excitedly utters, before pursing her lips and quickly bowing again.
"W-what might you be willing to teach me, if I may ask, Princess?"

Arnon sips quietly in the silence that follows. Why did it get so quiet? They had a good thing going --

Luna is glaring at him from the corner of her eyes. Her stout, regal face is cracking a little. Was he sipping to loudly? Was he --

No.

Oh my god she has no idea what she can even teach Moondancer.

Internally, Arnon tries to avoid doubling over in laughter. It is a monumentous, herculean effort; but his coffee cup lowers, and he clears his throat.
"The exact details of your educational doctrine would be discussed between the two of you at a later point; this meeting is primarily a formality to assure you are willing, and agree to Princess Luna's tutelage. Though, one could assume insight on The Princesses unique brand of magic, untold knowledge, and martial prowess might be some of the things in store for your future studies." Arnon explains, throwing on a hefty dose of sounds-like-he-knows-what-he's-talking-about.

Moondancer looks absolutely stoked, eyes practically glinting behind those crooked, tape-held frames she keeps adjusting. Luna quietly breathes a sigh of relief, resuming her more regal posturing.

Arnon needed to remember that while she was willing, Luna needed a launchpad more often than not.

"As our Royal Advisor has stated; thou would be expected to carry thyself as our protégé, but wouldst receive the numerous benefits that come from such a position." Princess Luna continues, confidence raised once more.

Moondancer nods excitedly -- but shows a flash of hesitancy.
"...Sorry, Martial?"

"Of course. Think... HEMA. Historical Equestrian Martial Arts. There are oceans of knowledge that exist outside of books; and ones personal self-care, of both body and mind, is vital. Princess Luna is no layabout in such matters." Arnon informs, his flattery earning him another glance.

"O-oh! I've never, uh... done that kind of stuff before. But if the Princess is willing, I would love to learn!" Moondancer exclaims, looking up to Luna excitedly.

"Then it shall be so, Moondancer. Thou, art Princess Luna's first student." Luna proclaims.

Neither can truly keep the smile that grows on either of their faces tucked away. Moondancer, given the chance to learn a whole new world of knowledge, under the direct teaching of an Alicorn Princess. Luna, given the chance to teach her own student, impart her own knowledge, and take another step towards truly being her own Princess, that can stand on her own four hooves.

Arnon sips. A little too loudly, evidently. Everypony glares at him, and Vivid smacks his leg. Oops.

Arnon is leaning beside the doorway to his room. The coffee barely helped. He needed some proper sleep, in his bed -- he was almost there, Vivid unhelpful as she simply watches him try to reach the door knob. Several times.

Arnon groans, rubbing his eyes. Jesus Christian Christ above. The third miss, he was at the end of his wits.

Vivid quietly opens the door for him, staring at him expectantly.

"...Thanks." He mumbles.

He was only expecting to be up long enough to get Moondancer to agree, and sent back on her way. Instead, Luna wanted a headstart on planning her students general education plan. So he spent the last few hours ironing that out with a very excitable Princess of the Moon.

A mixture of learning about Moon-Magic, knowledge of the Nightmares and topics related to the Moon, Ancient Equestrian History, HEMA and general Fitness Classes... the list went on. It was extensive.

Well, the Princess was visibly excited the entire time. As was Moondancer. He had a good feeling they'd get along well; despite being a complete and utter fucking nerd, they seemed to hit it off, and Moondancer seemed willing to learn absolutely anything, even the physical classes.

It was deep, late night now. Ugh.

"Goodnight, Sir. Not bad." Vivid grins, stepping aside as he stumbles through.

Arnon pauses, leans down.

Plucks Vivid's helmet off despite her confusion.

Pets the pesky Thestral, further confusing her. Puts the helmet back on.

And goes the fuck to bed.

Vivid is left standing outside his door, generally confuzzled.

She's about to trot off and enjoy the rest of her own evening, when she glances up to see Princess Luna standing a few feet away.

"...Shall I get him, Princess?" Vivid asks, praying to any entity above that Luna didn't just witness that.

"We came to thank him... What in Tartarus did he just do to you, Vivid?" Luna trails off, visibly confused.

Vivid goes pale, sighing.

Arnon, freed of his uniform, is sprawled across his bed, the grace of sleep tugging ever so softly at his eyelids.

Until his door opens.

Arnon audibly groans.

"Arnon." A familiar, firm voice speaks. Sounds like Luna.

He cranes his neck, squinting at the figure in the moonlight peering through his open curtains. Yep, Luna.

"...Yes, Princess?" Arnon mumbles, taking a long, slow blink.

By the time his eyes open, the Princess is already stoop beside his bed.
"Originally, we sought to thank you for your assistance. However, now we are left with a question."

"....Mhm?" Arnon grunts.

"That thing you did, to Vivid. She says you... pet her. What is the significance of such to your people?" Luna questions, leaning down to bring her face closer to his.

Anon simply reaches up, and begins scratching the Moon Princesses neck fur. Theres an audible gasp at the door. Probably Vivid.

If Arnon wasn't so dead tired, he probably would have approached this with a refined, candid mindset.

But he tired. Pet. Pet Pony. Hoh. Soft. Very soft.

Luna is silent, the eyes that has watched his sudden hand movement with suspicion now... simply watching his fingers gently rake through her coat.

He finally stops, tucking his hand under his own head again, nestling into the blankets of his warm bed.
"Humans pet cute things, because it makes feel-good juices in our brain." He offers simply, stifling a yawn.

Luna is silent, staring at her bed-bound Advisor.

"...We see. Have you pet our Sister before?" She asks firmly.

"Mmhm. Twilight too. You're the softest so far." He sighs.

Luna squints.
"...Very well. We expect more, at a later date. Enjoy your rest, Advisor."

Luna rises to her full height again, stalking out of the room.
"Good night, Vivid." Luna states simply, trotting down the hall, quickly gaining distance.

Arnon is already snoring.

Vivid is left wondering if that actually bucking happened.