Loona stepped off the final stair with her chin held high, strutting down the long hallway towards an ornate bedroom door. She stopped and gave it a sharp knock-knock before pushing inside. "I'm here!" She nodded at the guards that were giving her stern looks as she walked right past them. "Sounded important." Inside the room, Luna paced before a bed. "Did you mean that?"

"Yes," Luna replied promptly. "My sister received my letter regarding the two of you. She is coming here tomorrow to examine you herself." She turned to face Loona, her face dissolving into panic. "I don't know how she learned I had a courter so quickly! Are you prepared to face royalty?! I am so excited, yet anxious at once!"

Loona nodded at that, reaching out for the nervous princess' shoulders. "Princess Celestia, right? You talk about her often." She fired a thumbs up. "She's your sister. How hard can that be?"

Luna calmed somewhat, breathing in deep. "Yes, yes. Very good point." She lowered her head a moment and then looked straight back up. "I shall endeavor to overcome my fears as well as you, and bring us together as a couple." She clapped her hooves. "But we haven't even had our first date. My sister's timing is beyond compare."

"Sorry, Princess." Loona swept a bang from her face. "Think we can still have a night out without worrying too much about a visit from her celestialness tomorrow?"

"It's Highness!" Luna corrected in annoyance. "My sister is a Highness." She softened the next second. "And yes, I would enjoy that." Her horn glowed, bringing over the tiara to her head. "I am ready for a night of frivolity and opportunity to examine my potential partner." Her smile turned devious as her horn lit up. "We'll begin by visiting a tavern I am quite fond of."

***

The 'tavern' called itself a bar. There were about three ponies already inside, each huddled over a drink of some kind. "Ah, yes!" Luna gestured to a green stallion at the bar. "Mister Trotsworth. How is he?"

"M'lord!" Trotsworth stood up immediately with a goofy grin on his face. "It has been awhile since we've last met." He nodded to Luna, then looked past her to Loona. "And who is this creature?"

Luna strode forward and clapped Trotsworth on the shoulder. "This is my friend, Lady Loona. She's my newest interest." She leaned close. "She doesn't know anything about what goes on at a bar, so please educate her on how it works, Trotsworth."

Loona waved that away. "Please. Not the first dive I visited. Give me a whiskey, top shelf, on the rocks with half a twist." She gestured wildly with her hands as she spoke, as if that made it clear.

The bartender nodded. "Okay, then," he muttered, grabbing a bottle and pouring her the drink.

Trotsworth pulled himself up to sit upon the stool at the bar. "Well, Lady Luna. You have a fascinating friend with you. Am I in the way? Say the word. I will excuse myself."

"Nonsense," Luna insisted. "Have you had your drinks yet?" She looked around him. "You seem awfully sober, my friend."

"And drunk enough to play some games?" He laughed at the notion. "I'll take a beer, whatever the house is offering today." The bartender was quick to put that down. Trotsworth lifted it with a hoof and knocked it back into his mouth, drinking it down with ease. "Not bad," he remarked.

"I could chug twenty times that amount," Loona boasted.

Trotsworth gazed back and forth between Loona and Luna with amusement. "Ah! You should see a real bar." Trotsworth shook his head and drank the rest down in a single gulp. "It's amazing the difference a few drops can make."

Loona found Trotsworth amusing, for the most part. She was drinking her whiskey at a casual rate, neither sipping nor chugging. "So, Luna, you come to places like this often? Meet a lot of nice colts?"

"Well, Luna prefers bars with a bit more class. Somewhere you can enjoy a good conversation without being bothered," Trotsworth explained, chuckling. "Though I'm guessing Loona here enjoys rowdier crowds." He eyed her critically. "You put off that kind of vibe."

Loona grinned toothily. "Nah. I'm fine wherever there's booze." She raised her glass for a refill. "Who cares who else is drinking it with ya, long as I got something." She set down her empty glass. "But if I'm dancing with them? Yeah, rowdier is good. I prefer a room that's moving to the beat."

"She is an interesting soul" Luna regarded Loona with admiration, her gaze focused on her strong physique. "I am not sure why she approached me, to be honest. She could have anycreature else."

Trotsworth glanced sidelong at Loona, appraising her in a different fashion. "She must see something in you worth pursuing, Luna," he murmured.

Loona put a hand on her hip. "You don't have to talk about me like I'm not right here." She reached around Luna to poke Trotsworth on the snout. "So, do you dance, or do you prefer chatting over beers? No shame in that, by the way."

"I do both." Trotsworth rubbed the spot where she'd touched him. "However, I prefer a less crowded room when dancing," he confessed. He took the fresh glass filled with more beer and raised it at them. "Which is why I'm often here. It's quiet, dark, and if I feel like it, a fine place to shake things out. The ambiance fits my personality far better than a loud discotheque."

"I can dig that." Loona propped her arm against Luna's side. "Luna and I should grab ourselves a quiet place sometime and get dirty dancing together."

Luna colored at the implication. "You are bold." She pushed Loona back a few inches. "Too bold. Let us learn of each other before we consider that step."

Trotsworth tilted his head. "I wouldn't mind learning a little more of you." He considered it a moment and added, "About you." That seemed better.

Luna sighed. "Must you always make moves on every mare you meet?"

He laughed at that. "If it helps, she's no mare." He considered Loona. "May I ask what sort of creature are you? Part of me wants to guess Diamond Dog, but that feels off. What would you describe yourself as, my dear?"

"Hellhound, you filthy shit." Loona grinned brightly. "Nice try though."

"I have heard of many species of predator." Trotsworth thought aloud, counting them off with the fingers on his hoof. "But you are the first of your kind I have ever met, Loona." He tilted his head. "Where does one usually find a hellhound?"

"In hell?" Loona waved at the bartender, getting a fresh order in her hands to draw from. "Kinda goes with the name. We are hounds of hell." She flashed her dangerous teeth. "No subtlety there."

Luna looked over at Loona with mild awe. "You do remind me of a dog in appearance, truth be told." She shrugged. "In certain aspects."

Trotsworth cleared his throat and moved closer to Loona, reaching out to touch her elbow. "I don't know where this 'hell' place is, but if it has more creatures like you, a visit might be nice."

Loona broke into wild laughter at that. "Not at all worth the trip, mister. It's shitty. Just trust me. Besides..." Her mirth died instantly. "We're kinda stuck here, until my dipshit father fixes our portal." She turned to Luna. "You. I can hear music, quiet as it is. I demand a little dance. Doesn't have to be pervy, just a dance. C'mon!" She yanked Luna out of her chair and dragged her to an empty spot in front of the television, which only had a program about sports on, but music played under the commentary.

"Um." Luna fluttered her wings nervously. "This is so sudden. Can I decline without fear of making my suitor angry?"

"Please!" Trotsworth exclaimed, urging Luna on. "Dance!"

"Dancing doesn't have to be good. Nobody watches someone else for technique alone anyway." Loona waved at Trotsworth. "Your friend just wants to see you move. Listen to the music, shitty as it is, and just go with the beat."

"I suppose. How do you dance without bumping your hips with mine?"

"I've got some moves. They don't have to be raunchy. Watch!" She demonstrated, shimmying and moving to the rhythm. Loona wagged her tail, and her bottom, but was in no threat of colliding with Luna. She reached out to pull her into the dance and they started grooving together, laughing with delight.

Luna felt her anxiety dipping as she watched Loona move and followed suit, stepping to the music. The feeling was pleasant and it distracted her from thinking too hard about what she was doing. She continued watching, swaying side to side and moving with grace. She followed the beat of the song and the way Loona was going, creating two patterns that created the third within her.

After several moments of this, Trotsworth applauded their display. "Now I see why you asked her out, Luna. She certainly has spirit!" He turned to look at Loona with an approving stare. "Quite a talent, Lady Loona."

"Fuck you." She flipped him the bird, but Loona was clearly enjoying herself as she moved. "You have interesting tastes in friends, I'll give that. I've been around worse."

Luna grinned wickedly. "Perhaps you shouldn't underestimate how friendly we are."

Loona's cheeks darkened and she nearly tripped over her own feet at the implication. Trotsworth smirked knowingly. "Look, where I'm from, I'm not used to people just chilling. Every person out there is trying to stab your back."

"How unpleasant." Luna grimaced in sympathy. "My realm is very different from yours, it seems. Equestria may be dangerous, but is rarely unkind." She waved a hoof at Trotsworth. "He may seem forward at times, but he will take not one step you do not expressly permit him to."

Trotsworth dipped his head. "As a gentlecolt should."

Loona sat down heavily in a chair, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Okay, look. I feel better." She waved for a fresh drink. "Nothing like a little dance to work out the jitters."

"It's called 'exercise'," Trotsworth pointed out.

"Really?" Luna turned to Trotsworth. "Do you think I could perform such activity regularly?"

Trotsworth inclined his head. "You're welcome to dance where I can see it anytime you like, Your Highness."

Luna stared at him flatly. "It doesn't sound appropriate when you phrase it like that, Trotsworth." She whirled towards Loona. "What say you? Care to instruct me in new methods of dance?"

Loona flashed a smirk of a smile. "With pleasure. Next time, we go somewhere louder, and I'll show you some real moves. Tonight was casual. Still good though!" She finished off her glass and set it aside with a light thud. "You know, Luna, you're really cute when you cut loose." Her grin turned lopsided. "I like it." She winked at her date with a laugh.

Luna blushed and hesitantly wrapped a wing over Loona, drawing her close. "I would—"

Trotsworth interrupted the moment with a sharp whistle. "Lady Loona," he said quickly, turning their attention towards him. "Forgive my rudeness, but are you aware of where you are?"

"Huh?" Loona raised her gaze. "A bar, right?"

"You're sitting here flirting with royalty, did you realize?" His question wasn't mocking or challenging, but concerned.

Luna seemed to catch what was being said. "My friend is suggesting I'm being far too physically close for such a public outing." She drew her wing back. "My apologies. I would not wish the rumor mill to—"

"Screw your rumor mill." Loona slammed her glass down. "Like I care what anyone says." She laughed aloud. "You have some guts to talk about rumors, when I doubt anyone even knows who I am."

A sharp flash made them all blink. A pony in obvious reporter clothing dashed away across the street.

Trotsworth laughed out a sigh. "Well, at least she only got a picture of you two sitting together, instead of what she would have gotten a moment earlier."

"Yeah." Loona glanced sidelong at Luna. "Sorry for not letting you decide if you wanted to be caught, or not."

Luna tapped a hoof to her lips, contemplating that. "It is fine. I am royalty. It is my responsibility to mind my reputation and how my actions might reflect on me, and everything around me." She huffed at the thought. "It is a heavy burden at times. Loona, have you had enough to drink?"

Trotsworth chuckled softly and nodded his agreement. "The press are like piranhas in a frenzy."

Loona waved off their concern. "Whatever. You guys worry about appearances way too much." She rose up from her seat. "Anyway, let's roll, girl."

Luna gave one parting nod to her friend and led Loona from the bar. "Come, let's away to a place with a touch more privacy."

Trotsworth raised his mug. "Your Majesty! Good fortune guide you."

Luna led Loona by hoof back onto the streets. They were soon walking down the street together in comfortable silence. Luna turned an ear towards her canine companion. "Are you enjoying your evening? Are you ready to return home, or shall we remain in Canterlot longer?"

Loona didn't answer right away, letting the crisp night air whip her hair back. The starry sky overhead was soothing, the gentle light of distant celestial objects caressing them with warmth.

Luna could see the stress easing away from her shoulders as the wind swept through her mane, tousling it. "Answer enough, I feel." The two fled in no great hurry back to the castle, and in it, her room. Luna nodded to the guards standing in front of her room and led Loona inside. The moment the doors closed, she removed her tiara and collapsed face-first upon her bed.

Loona hiked a brow at her collapsed companion. "You okay?"

"It has been so long since I spent time relaxing," Luna admitted. "Not since returning to Equestria, at any rate. For that, I thank you, Loona. Today has been a wonderful change of pace." She sat up slowly. "I should away to the dreams of my ponies, to see that they are safe."

Loona sat down upon the bed beside her, looking uncertain how to reply. "Uh..."

"You know, making sure everypony is sleeping peacefully, and ensuring there are no nightmares to spoil the good dreams they would otherwise enjoy." Luna cycled her hooves over one another. "That is my duty, as princess of the night."

Loona grunted dismissively. "Sounds lame." She looked down at the tired-looking mare. "And you don't get a day off?"

"The sun is my sister's domain, yes."

Loona laughed at that. "I meant a day as in the time you're awake, doofus." She flicked one of Luna's ears. "Not fair, you deserve some time to yourself."

"My duty must come first." Luna folded her forelimbs across her chest. "I love my subjects dearly and will gladly give them of myself. I could never abandon them, or treat them so callously."

Loona reached out a hand, stroking along Luna's flank, bringing the mare back down beside her on the bed. "You royal fuckers share the same damn problem, I swear. Your people are tougher than you think, and most of them don't want to see you suffering. Relax. A night once in a while isn't a crime."

"Very well. We shall spend it together," Luna agreed, leaning forward and resting her chin atop Loona's head. "Now please, lay yourself against me."

"Sure." Loona leaned in closer, taking comfort in the closeness. Snuggling in with Luna in general wasn't bad. The two cradled one another, and sleep came for them swiftly.

Author's Note

I wrote two romantic scenes in the same day. Coincidence?

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