Of Sunshine and Laughter

Chapters

*1* Freaky Friday
*2* The Calm and the Frantic
*3* Meet Up
*4* Preparations
*Interlude I* Memories

1 Freaky Friday

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Of Sunshine and Laughter
By M1Garand8

*1*
Freaky Friday

The city of Canterlot slowly stirred awake in what was going to be a glorious new day. Everywhere in the mountain city ponies awoke to their alarms or well-honed body clock; be it their work or appointments for the day. Quickly, they realized it was still dark at eight in the morning. Each of them looked out of their windows to a strange sight of twilight.

Friends and neighbors trotted out the front doors, staring at the deep purple skies then at the faces of each other, eyes wide in shock. The sun had not been raised! Had something happened to their beloved princess? They asked themselves and then their friends or neighbors. The questions would turn into outright panic if nothing was done soon.

Just as the rising voices reached a crescendo, the eastern horizon lit rapidly in a bright pink glow. The murmurs died as everypony outside watched the sun rose into the morning sky in awe, chasing the twilight into welcoming soft blue. The sun quickly settled into position of the indicated time and began its now slow plod across the sky.

High up in the highest tower of Canterlot Castle, a mare slept peacefully in her round, dark blue opulent bed, her loud snores cut through the peace and quiet of her bedroom. A white coated hind hoof raised and scratched an itch on her barrel, surprisingly dog-like, blissfully unaware of the near panic amongst the populace of the city and indeed, the populace of Equestria.

Loud knocks reverberated suddenly throughout room, courtesy of a hastily roused and irate Princess Luna, who had just raised the sun, beating on the wooden door. It was not usual for Princess Celestia to sleep in.

“Tia! Why have you not raised the sun?” There was no answer.

The door burst open, revealing a midnight blue alicorn, a look of righteous fury on her face as she stared at the slumbering princess.

“Tia, wake up! Do you have any idea what time it is!?” The sun princess’ reply was a flip of the body to the left and a loud snore.

Luna gritted her teeth. Her horn lit in a soft blue glow and a pail of water popped into existence over Celestia with her magic.

“If you do not wake up this instant, there will be dire consequences, big sister!” A pig-like snort answered Luna’s threat.

Her horn glowed a little brighter as her magic tilted the pail. The sleeping mare awoke in an instant as the deluge of water crashed over her. An uncharacteristically high pitched squeal escaped her throat.

“WHAT HAPPENED!? WHAT HAPPENED!?” Celestia shot up in bed and gasped. “I’M SO SORRY MRS. CAKE I THREW A PARTY LAST NIGHT AND THEN I GOT REALLY REALLY TIRED AND HAD TO END IT EARLY WHICH I REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO AND EVERYPONY WAS SO SAD—”

Celestia’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she spotted Luna, eyes now wide from her sister’s outburst. The two alicorns held each other’s gaze for a long, long time.

“NIGHTMARE MOON!” The sun princess dove off the bed and shot out of the door past the princess of the night.

Luna stared at the unkempt, empty bed for a very long moment.

“What.”

“Just.”

“Happened?” She blinked.

After another long moment, a squeak escaped the moon princess and she bolted out of the door, chasing the fading hoofsteps of her sister.

***

For once in her entire life, peace and quiet reigned in the room of a certain pink party mare. Her soft breaths punctuated the silence in place of her usual loud snores. The bright morning sun shone through the windows on the blue checkered double bed as Pinkie Pie slept. She soon stirred and awoke when the heat made the bed uncomfortable to sleep in.

“Ugh… why is it so warm—” Pinkie stared at the bright morning sunlight streaming through the window.

“WHAT!?” Two hooves stuffed themselves into her mouth. They came off an instant later when Pinkie gasped.

“What happened to my voice!?” She stared at her pink hooves. “Why am I pink? What is this place? What happened!?”

The door to her room opened and the head of a blue mare poked into the room.

“Is everything alright in there, Pinkie?” The striped pink cream-like mane of Mrs. Cake wobbled slightly as she spoke.

Pinkie? Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter? Pinkie Pie’s lips twitched into an awkward smile.

“O-of course, uh… Mrs. Cake!” She said.

“We’re opening in thirty minutes. So get ready and come down as soon as possible, Pinkie.” Mrs. Cake gave the pink mare a warm smile and shut the door.

It seems that I’m trapped in the body of Pinkie Pie… But how? What do I do? Princess Celestia stared at her now pink hooves.

“Pinkie, please hurry up. We have lots of things to do!” Mrs. Cake’s voice floated up from downstairs.

“Um, coming down right now, Mrs. Cake!”

Celestia glanced around and quickly spotted the little fillies’ room. Soft clops echoed in the room the pink mare trotted daintily into the bathroom. She came out refreshed several minutes later, with not a small amount of perplexity regarding a stash of cupcakes in the cupboard and mild regret of having to use somepony else’s toothbrush.

The pink mare stepped out into the corridor, a plan forming in her head. Perhaps Twilight would have some idea… No, I should contact Luna instead… In which case, I still have to find Twilight… With that thought in mind, she trotted down the stairs to see what Mrs. Cake required of her.

***

“Tia, stop!” Stained glass windows, sculptures and tapestries rushed past Princess Luna she chased after the disappearing behind of her sister. “Why are you running?”

“NIGHTMARE MOON IS CHASING AFTER MEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Came the high pitched reply carried by the wind of their galloping.

“I AM NOT NIGHTMARE MOON, SISTER!” Luna’s horn lit in a blue glow and the alicorn disappeared in a flash of blue. She popped into existence on top of her sister and dropped onto the white mare like a midnight blue rock, sending her crashing onto the cobbled floor. “WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!?”

“PLEASE DON’T GOBBLE ME— Oh wait, Nightmare Night is three months away.” Celestia blinked twice at the furious, gritted teeth look of Luna, the two of them lay splayed, with Luna pinning Celestia down.

“Sister, why did you not raise the sun this morning?” The moon princess leaned down at Celestia. “And why did you run when you saw me? You know I am Nightmare Moon no longer!”

The only answer her sister gave was a gasp. “Princess Luna!” Celestia looked at her white hooves. “Why am I white!?”

The anger drained from Luna’s face, replaced by puzzlement, her brows scrunched together in a frown. “What do you mean why you are white, sister?”

An uncharacteristic giggle escaped Celestia’s throat. “Oh, silly Luna, I’m not your sister,” the white mare said.

Luna’s eyes widen. “What? Of course you are my sister, Tia!”

“Oh, silly, my sisters are Inkie and Binkie Pie!” Celestia let out a gasp. “Unless you’re my long lost sister that I never know of, which is weird because mama and papa Pie are earth ponies, who can’t possibly have an alicorn baby and you’re thousands of years old—” Another gasp. “DOES THAT MEAN MY PARENTS ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD TOO—”

“STOP!” Luna said, her hoof stuck in Celestia’s mouth. “Is this another one of your elaborate pranks again, Tia?”

Celestia pulled the hoof out of her mouth and spit the silvery glittering horse shoe out. “Pranks? Oh, I love pranks! Who are we pranking!? Usually Rainbow Dash comes up with the pranks and I help set them up! So what are we doing? Itching powder? Thunder clouds? Disappearing—”

“Cut it out, Celestia! I know you are pranking!” Luna scowled. “Please, stop this! You nearly had the entire kingdom in panic BECAUSE YOU DID NOT RAISE THE SUN, SISTER!”

The white mare reeled from the point blank Royal Canterlot Voice. Her magenta eyes went goggly for a brief moment before she shook her head clear.

“Oh, silly Luna, I’m not Celestia.” ‘Celestia’ gave Luna a wide, open mouth smile. “I’m Pinkie Pie!”

Luna stared wide eyed at Pinkie Pie for a very long moment.

“… WHAT!?”

2 The Calm and the Frantic

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Of Sunshine and Laughter
By M1Garand8

*2*
The Calm and the Frantic

The sweet aroma of pastries permeated throughout Sugarcube Corner as the Cakes rushed to and fro about the kitchen, getting all the pastries ready for the day. Their ears perked at the rhythmic clopping of hooves on the wooden stairs in lieu of the usual rumble of Pinkie Pie’s mad dash down.

Their gaze fell on the double swing doors, expecting it to burst open as Pinkie did with her usual cheerfulness. Instead, a pink head topped with messy poofy mane daintily pushed aside the swing doors and Pinkie Pie stepped in.

“Good morning, Mr., Mrs. Cake.” An awkward smile appeared on her face.

The Cakes shared a look. Pinkie was certainly acting unusual this morning.

“Uh, is anything wrong?” Their gaze returned to Pinkie, whose awkward smile still hung on her face.

The two of them blinked once, then twice before Mr. Cake spoke up:

“Nothing’s wrong, Pinkie. We’re almost done here, so would you mind opening up the front while we finish up?”

Pinkie’s visage brightened up somewhat to her usual cheerfulness. “Sure, I’ll do that.” She turned and pushed herself past the swing doors.

The Cakes shared another look. It was a while before Mrs. Cake opened her mouth:

“May be she was just a little unhappy from cutting the party short yesterday night?”

“Looks like more than a little to me, honey bun.” Mr. Cake set a hoof on Mrs. Cake’s withers.

***

Pinkie Pie shook her head clear again when the resulting tremor from the Royal Canterlot Voice subsided. “Oooooh, everything sounds soooo ringly!” The now white mare looked at Princess Luna, who was speaking rapidly, her mouth pouted in curiosity. “Um, Princess Luna? You might want to actually talk instead of mouthing things!”

A teeth grinding scowl replaced the shock on Luna’s visage as she now narrowed her eyes at the white alicorn. A blue glow lit on her horn and a dull roar shoved the ringing in the party mare’s ears roughly aside, followed by the rush of Luna’s voice, dangerously low:

“You. Surely. Art. Jesting. Sister.”

“No, I’m not— Wait, what’s jesting?”

Luna inched closer to Pinkie’s face. “Joking, sister, which you surely must be doing right now.”

Pinkie Pie’s white brows knitted in a frown. “But I’m not! I was hosting a birthday party for Berry Punch’s daughter Ruby Pinch and then a voice asked me whether I want to be the princess of party hosting and I was like ‘Well, duh’! Anyway, who wouldn’t want to be a princess of party hosting? Then suddenly I got really really tired and I had to cut the party short and everypony was so sad! And then I went to bed and then I woke up here and—”

“Wait.”

Pinkie blinked twice while Luna’s wide eyes bored into the white alicorn’s. The warm summer morning no longer felt warm. No… this isn’t possible… Luna thought. A blue shimmering glow wrapped over her horn as her magic reached out into the Royal Gardens. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when the magic return of the scan on Discord’s statue reverberated back through the wave of magic. Discord is still there, then… Wait…

“The voice…” Luna’s eyes had shrunk to pinpricks. “What does the voice sound like?”

Pinkie tapped a hoof on her chin. “Well… it was a teeny tiny voice… Kind of like Fluttershy’s but it sounded like it would break into a million pieces if you drop it!”

Cold stabbed Luna in the chest as if from an icicle. A voice shot to the forefront of her consciousness:

“Do you… desire the power to make your subjects appreciate your beautiful nights for all eternity, Princess Luna?”

If possible, the hallway had turned even colder. The moon princess swore it would have frozen over, if it wasn’t mid-summer right now. She was about to speak when a deep voice interrupted:

“Uh, your Highnesses, is everything alright?”

A squeak escaped Luna and she looked over her withers at the sight of two white coated guards, resplendent in their golden plate armor, their muzzles tinted slightly in pink. Luna looked down at Pinkie Pie, a wide smile gracing her slightly tilted head and back at the guards, then immediately leaping onto her hooves.

“E-everything is fine, please leave us!” she blurted out, her face growing hot. “Um… sister, there are some matters we must discuss, in private!”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie Pie was on her hooves in an instant.

Luna turned on her hooves, remembering to snag her dropped shoe before she trotted as fast as her dignity would allow back into the corridor. Pinkie Pie bounced after her a moment later, leaving the puzzled guards staring at the now empty space. Their eyes met briefly and they shrugged. Surely that it must be another of their diarchs’ many antics, they thought, as they resumed their patrol.

***

Well, that could have gone better… Celestia thought as she trotted past the counter.

The front of the shop consisted of a half dozen fixed round tables, with low benches and cushions which Celestia set on the floor—in the case of the cushions—or made sure they were clean—in the case of both.

Finally, she trotted up to the front door and flipped the ‘Closed’ sign to ‘Open’ and headed back to the till – which was in fact a small cupboard for storing bits hidden behind a display counter of sweets. It was a simple enough job and now all she had to do was to wait for customers.

The quietness of the surroundings brought the thought Celestia had when she was upstairs. I will have to explain to Twilight what happened—

Wait, what did happen last night? All I remember was going to a party and waking up here… Celestia rubbed her head with a hoof. A fuzzy memory began to form in her head.

***

The annual Canterlot Garden Party was a quiet affair. Princess Celestia quietly sipped at her glass of grape juice as she listened with half an ear to the low murmurs from the gathering of Canterlot nobles and social elites. She had not like what she had been hearing.

Gone were the days where the nobles discussed the bounty and the wellbeing of their charges in their lands. Now, all they talked about were their fashion, their estates and their wealth, becoming ever more inane and frivolous each passing year. The feudal system had been abolished more than five centuries ago, after all.

Celestia lifted her glass and took another sip. Perhaps the topics were not so inane or frivolous… but it sounded that way to her. May be you’re getting old and stodgy, Tia. She sighed and took another sip.

Celestia’s gaze turned upwards to the night sky. As beautiful as the evening sky was, it did little to improve her mood. Even though Luna had taken back her half of the work for more than two years, Celestia still felt tired. It was not the familiar fatigue she endured while tending to the sun and moon in her sister’s absence but tiredness beyond her being.

Perhaps more than a millennium of watching over her loyal subjects was getting to her. May be I should have a vacation, yes, or even a sabbatical… A snort escaped her nostrils. As if that was really an option, Tia, there are still so many issues to resolve, so many petitions to read…

Celestia shook her head. No, she would not inflict that on her sister. Days of insufficient sleep and Luna’s temperament were not a good mix. It was an incident waiting to happen. She paused. Did she have so little faith in her sister? A couple of weeks away from all this would not lead to Equestria in chaos… could it? Celestia sighed yet again.

“You… look tired, your Highness…”

The soft, brittle voice jolted Celestia out of her reverie. Her head darted around, seeing nopony near her. “Who’s there?” she said, a frown knitted on her brows.

“You… desire a break, don’t you?”

“Who are you? Show yourself!” Celestia’s voice was soft, not wanting to attract any undue attention.

“Who… I am is not important,” the voice said. “You… desire a break, princess, and perhaps I can help.”

The sun princess narrowed her eyes. “I do not accept offers from strangers who would not even show themselves.”

A giggle echoed softly around Celestia. “Who said anything about offers, your Highness?” The giggle cut off abruptly. “You are accepting that help whether you want it or not.”

Sudden giddiness wrecked Celestia. She stood to her hooves and immediately the world started to wobble. None of the nobles seemed to notice her, animatedly chatting away while she was on the verge of toppling over.

A stumble of her hooves sent her tipping over the side. Just before her head hit the grass, Celestia heard the voice said:

“Enjoy your vacation, Princess Celestia.” The last two words were filled with hatred and scorn.

Then darkness swallowed her.

***

Celestia shuddered at the memory. She had not remembered anything after she passed out and the next thing she knew was the sun in her face. I must find Twilight as soon as possible. Whoever that voice was, her intention was not benign.

A jingle of doorbell brought Celestia out of her reverie. She glanced briefly back at the doors leading kitchen. She had to get out of here as soon as possible and without attracting too much attention—a hard task, given whose body she inhabited at the moment.

Celestia turned back to the patron—a grey pegasus—who was now drooling at the sight of the different selections of muffins in a display counter, a gentle smile on her muzzle.

“Hello and welcome to Sugarcube Corner.”

***

The alicorn and the earth pony in an alicorn’s body exited the auxiliary tower into one of Canterlot’s many castle courtyards.

KLUNK-BOING.

Princess Luna could feel the dull throbbing of a developing headache. Whether it was from her increasing lack of sleep or having to deal with one of the most random pony in Equestria, she did not know.

KLUNK-BOING.

Her left eye twitched at the sound. Pain shot through her head as though from a strike of a hammer.

KLUNK-BOING—

Pinkie Pie crashed into Luna when the moon princess suddenly stopped.

“Would you stop doing that?” Luna glared at the white party mare.

“Stop doing what?” Pinkie said as she bounced in place.

“The bouncing!” Luna shoved a hoof in Pinkie’s direction.

Pinkie Pie screeched to a halt mid-air. “Oh.”

Luna huffed and stalked off further into the courtyard while Pinkie trotted behind, her ears flattened on her head. Soon after, her mood brightened enough that she stepped off the air and said:

“So… where are we going?”

Luna did not look back but said: “My study. It was not in jest when I said there were matters to discuss, dear Pinkie Pie.”

“What are we talking about?” A gasp left Pinkie’s mouth. “Are we talking about my party last night? Berry Punch and Ruby Pinch loved loved loved—”

“Hush,” Luna cut her off. “It is not about your parties, as wonderful as they may be. We have a grave matter in our hooves and you would do well to not speak of it until we reach our destination.”

Pinkie’s ears flattened against her head again. “Okie dokie lokie…”

The rest of the journey continued in silence, with the exception of the muted clunks of metal-shod shoes and bare hooves on the grass. A flight of spiral stairs later, they stood in front of a large, heavyset wooden door adorned with a white crescent moon.

The door flung open with the shimmering glow of Luna’s magic and Pinkie was ushered in with a wave of a hoof. The moon princess shut the door after herself and followed Pinkie to the center of the room.

“The voice,” she began, fixing a stare at the white alicorn that brooked no argument. “Tell me everything about the voice you heard.”

Pinkie Pie raised a hoof to her chin. “Well, it was a teeny tiny—”

“Yes, I already knew that.” Luna cut her off again. “What exactly did the voice say when it asked about your desire?”

The raised hoof now tapped Pinkie’s chin, a frown settled on her face. After a moment, her face brightened and she said:

“Well, I was happily bouncing about at the party, and the voice suddenly said: ‘Oh… you seem to like parties a lot…’

“So I stopped and looked around but I couldn’t see anypony talking to me and the voice continued: ‘I like parties too… Say… did you… ever wish to be the best at parties? Do you… desire to be the Princess of party hosting? I will be very happy to help…’”

Ice shot through Luna. Perhaps it was her sister’s voice or that Pinkie Pie was an undiscovered marvel at voice imitation or both. Her impression sent a chill down Luna’s spine and dredged up all manners of unpleasant memories of the time which was not in the right frame of mind.

“And I said: ‘Well, duh! Who wouldn’t want that!? Wait, I never met you before and—’ And then I got really—”

Luna forestalled any further words with a raised hoof. “That is enough, dear Pinkie Pie.” She trotted past the white party mare and out into the balcony.

The sun was now quarter way through its course in the sky, although from the vantage point of tower it seemed to be at the level of the city. The warm rays of the sun seemed to chase away the chill of the memories. Ponies bustled about on whatever business they were attending to, still blissfully unaware what was transpiring in the castle.

It will not last. The morning court would be opening session in about an hour and with the current state of the Princess of the Sun, she was in no condition to hold court. That would mean that I have to take over for Tia temporarily or cancel all sessions until the situation is resolved. Luna thought as she looked on.

Her mouth opened wide in a yawn and she rubbed a hoof on her dry, gritty eyes. Turning back towards Pinkie Pie, Luna spoke:

“We must find my sister the soonest; before everypony discovers that she is missing.”

Pinkie’s visage brightened. “Are we playing search the pony!? Can I play it too—”

Luna cut her off again with a stomp of her hoof. “This is a serious matter!”

“I am being super-duperly serious!” Pinkie’s face was suddenly mere inches away from Luna’s, her wide bulging eyes stared right into the moon princess’ eyes, or perhaps her soul. “I love searching games and I’m the best at finding ponies! I always find Rainbow Dash whenever she’s playing hard to catch!”

A platinum-shod hoof gently pushed Pinkie Pie’s face back. “There is no need for that.” The raised hoof now rubbed Luna’s tired eyes. “I believe I know the likely location of my sister.”

“Oh! Oh! Where is she? Where is she!?” The room resounded with the sound of bare hooves clunking on the carpeted floor.

“Calm yourself, dear Pinkie Pie.” A blue glow got hold of Pinkie mid-jump and set her gently down. “My sister is likely in your body right now, given that you are in hers. I believe the two of you are caught in the throes of a Body Swap spell.”

“Body swap? Wait, what body swap?” A loud gasp escaped Pinkie’s mouth. “My hooves, they’re white— Oooooh, that’s why I’m white!”

“Yes, and my sister is likely… pink right now,” Luna deadpanned.

“Wait, if I’m in Princess Celestia’s body and she’s in mine, how do we get back?” Pinkie’s alabaster brows scrunched in a frown.

Luna made a dismissive gesture. “Do not worry, dear Pinkie Pie. It is merely a simple spell. Once we retrieve my sister from Ponyville, I will perform the counter-spell to return the two of you to normal.”

“Then there’s no time to lose!” Pinkie reared on her hind legs, a hoof on her chest and declared: “I’ll go get her back!”

“What? Wait—” Pinkie Pie disappeared in a blur of white out of the door, somehow managing to open and shut it in that instant. “Ugh…” Luna raised a hoof to her face and let it run down and hit the floor with a muted clomp.

Next, she summoned a sheaf of parchment and quill and began writing rapidly:

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

There has been an incident involving my sister. As you may have known, the sun was late in raising this morning. I cannot explain much right now, only that she is… indisposed. I hereby request that you bring dear Pinkie Pie with you to Canterlot the soonest, so that we may resolve this situation. I will explain more when the two of you reach Canterlot Castle. Please make haste.

Your Royal Highness,

Princess Luna

The parchment, wrapped in the blue glow of magic, rolled up, sealed itself and disappeared into nothingness. With the letter delivered, Luna galloped to the door, threw it open and leapt off the top of the stairs, her wings flaring in the stiff morning breeze.

As the door of the study closed of its own accord due to Luna’s magic, a set of ethereal magenta hooves alighted on the carpeted floor. The figure simply stared at the door, as if looking at the retreating back of Luna past the obstacle.

“Oh… poor Luna… What… have they done to you? Why… aren’t you happy?” Her pale pink eyes drooped in sadness, and then narrowed. “Something… changed you…”

“But… not to worry… I will make your fondest desire come true again and make the ones who did this to you… pay.” The anger and sadness on her face evaporated as if from a flip of a switch.

A smile curled on her face. “And… everything will be fine again…” She dissolved into thin air in a swirl of ethereal pink.

3 Meet Up

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Of Sunshine and Laughter
By M1Garand8

*3*
Meet Up

The gentle sunlight streamed through the window of the Ponyville Library down on a bed of blue sun and moon patterned sheets. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes fluttered open to the warm rays shining on her face. Slowly, she sat up in her bed and stretched, her mouth dropped open in a wide, wide yawn.

Slipping out of her bed and onto her hooves, her horn lit with her magenta magic and the bed sheets and pillows arranged themselves as they were and neatly. Of course, there was no need for Twilight to check—she had done it countless of times ever since her telekinesis was strong enough.

Trotting up to her vanity mirror, her magic now levitated a hair brush and ran it through her mussed mane, turning her bed hair into something presentable. Her mouth twitched into a satisfied smile, she set the brush down and headed down the stairs to the ground floor.

All in all, it was a typical morning. The smell of freshly made pancakes drifted from the closed confines of the kitchen to where she was. A burst of her magic poked the kitchen door open, revealing the sight of Spike in his cute little heart apron.

He stood on a small stool, with a wooden spatula in hand and a chef hat almost as tall as he was on his head while Peewee fluttered about the young dragon. The sizzling of pancake dough on a hot pan could be heard.

With an expert flick of his clawed hand, the pancake soared briefly in the air and landed cooked side up, now a rich golden brown. Spike had scarcely noticed Twilight’s entry into the kitchen, so focused he was on the pancake.

Twilight cleared her throat and spoke: “Good morning, Spike.”

Spike’s face darted around at the sound of Twilight’s voice. “Oh, good morning, Twilight!” He raised the spatula. “Just in time for breakfast!”

Twilight sniffed the air. “We’re having pancakes this morning, huh?” Her mouth curled into a smile.

“Yup! The last one will be done in a minute.”

“Well, I’ll go freshen up first then.” Twilight retreated and the kitchen door closed with a glow of magenta.

Twilight returned minutes later to a set dining table with two plates stacked with several pancakes each and a bottle of honey between them. She smiled at the sight of Peewee trying to peck a few crumbs off Spike’s portion and a sniff allowed the aroma of the nicely cooked breakfast waft through her nostrils.

“Mmm, smells delicious.” She sat down on the cushion. A fork and a table knife levitated in a magenta glow of magic and cut a piece of pancake. Spearing it with the fork, Twilight lifted the piece into her mouth and chewed. “Mmm! This is delicious! Did you try a new recipe this time, Spike?”

A nervous laugh escaped Spike as the baby dragon rubbed the back of his head. “W-well, Princess Celestia gave me the recipe back when we were in Canterlot for Shining Armor and Princess Cadance’s wedding. She said it was her secret recipe.”

“Really? Because it’s really good~” Twilight levitated the bottle of honey and tipped it over her plate, the dark amber liquid dripped thickly onto the pancakes.

“I’m glad you like it—” The sudden sensation of dragonfire filling his stomach cut off the rest of his words.

A belch later, the pale green flame expelled from his mouth and coalesced into a parchment sealed with the royal seal of the moon. Spike caught it before it dropped onto his pancakes and broke the seal without a second thought.

“Huh, I wonder what Princess Luna is doing, sending a letter this early in the morning or sending a letter even. I don’t ever recall her sending any letters before.”

Twilight leaned forward in her seat. “So, what does it say?” Her eyes twinkled in anticipation. Twilight had been suspecting something to be up with Princess Luna, since her mentor mentioned her promotion to the next level of her studies. “Is it something to do with my studies?”

Spike’s browless eyes narrowed in a frown. “Well, no. It says something happened to Princess Celest—” He was cut off with a loud gasp from Twilight.

“Something happened to Princess Celestia!?” She slammed her forehooves on the table. “What happened!?”

A worried look replaced the frown on Spike’s face. “Well, she didn’t say what but she did mention the sun was late rising this morning.” He tapped a claw on his chin. “Come to think of it, it was awfully dark when I woke up at eight or so…”

“What!?” Twilight stared wide eyed at the baby dragon. “How come I wasn’t aware of this!?”

Spike shrugged. “You went to bed pretty late last night and you slept in a little this morning.” His eyes narrowed again. “Hmm, weird. Princess Luna is asking you to bring Pinkie Pie along with you to Canterlot and to make haste…” Spike looked up from the letter. “What’s ‘haste’?”

A glow of magenta magic tore the letter from Spike’s hands. “It means to be quick, Spike.” Twilight’s eyes darted left and right as she went through the letter. “This doesn’t make any sense… Something happened to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna asks me to get Pinkie Pie and head to Canterlot as soon as possible?”

Spike raised a claw. “Maybe it has something to do with Pinkie Pie? Maybe the princesses need Pinkie for an urgent party?”

Twilight shook her head. “If the princess had wanted Pinkie Pie for a party, she would have sent an invitation. Something bad must have happened.” Something had happened to her mentor. “I guess we should go get Pinkie and find out what happened.” She got to her hooves.

“Wait! Shouldn’t we at least finish off breakfast first?” Spike waved at the rapidly cooling pancakes.

Twilight was about to open her mouth to protest when a loud growl in her stomach resonated throughout the kitchen. An awkward smile appeared on her face, her cheeks tinted pink. “W-well, I guess we should go about this on a full stomach…” She gave a nervous laugh.

And thus the both of them tucked in as fast and equinely—or in Spike’s case, as dragonly—as possible, all the while contemplating what has happened to Princess Celestia and did their best to push their worries aside.

***

The grey pegasus mare had been in the shop for the past hour, munching on a selection of muffins. With her face scrunched in happiness, it was impossible to notice her directionally mismatched eyes, being closed and all. Princess Celestia had noticed it shortly after her greeting after all and had wondered what misfortune befell the poor pegasus.

“One vanilla smoothie, please!”

Celestia looked up at the pegasus, whose outstretched hoof waved at her, trying to get her attention.

The gentle smile returned to her muzzle. “One smoothie coming right up!”

Celestia trotted through the kitchen doors and return shortly after with a large cup of white smoothie on a tray balanced on her back. Her head reached back, nipped the tray with her teeth and raised it to the round table.

It was a rather new sensation for Celestia, having relied on her magic for almost everything for centuries, if not millennia. The first time she did that, she had miscalculated the amount bite force required and the platter pretty much flew from her mouth. The result was a frantic catch-the-potato with the tray and the muffins, applause from the pegasus and an awkward smiling pink earth pony.

With the smoothie delivered, Celestia scooped up the bits and trotted back to the treats counter and dumped them in the till but not before checking with the list of prices of the products Sugarcube Corner was selling. Either somepony was forgetful of the price or haphazard with the collection but as long as she was collecting the correct amount, Celestia did not care.

Celestia laid her head on two hooves propped up on the counter. The shop was quiet except for the sounds of muffins being munched on and smoothie being slurped. With nothing else to do, Celestia’s mind wandered again.

I have to get out of here… but how? She scratched her chin idly with a hoof. Celestia had seen Pinkie Pie several times over the past two years and at least twice while she was in Sugarcube Corner when the sun princess was there for brunch.

The Cakes who run the shop seemed to tolerate whatever antics the party mare came up with but reined her in whenever she went overboard. Case in point was the brunch where Pinkie chomped on a cupcake she was about to eat—she was about the only pony not in the slightest in awe of the sun princess. A smile crept into Celestia’s mouth at that bit of memory.

The point was that Pinkie Pie, although working as an assistant in a bakery, did not seem as restricted as an assistant, who say, worked in a bakery in Canterlot, if what she had heard from her subjects was correct.

Was it really that simple? A frown settled on her brows. So simple that I should just ask Mr. and Mrs. Cake?

With that thought, she trotted to the double doors and pushed her head in. “Um, Mrs. Cake?”

The blue mare in question looked up from frosting her cake at Celestia. “Yes, Pinkie?”

“Um, I just remembered I have to something to ask Twilight Sparkle… I’ll be back in um, ten minutes!” Celestia gave Mrs. Cup Cake a smile she hoped was not awkward.

“Uh… sure, Pinkie. Just be quick, the crowd’s coming in about thirty minutes,” Mrs. Cake said, referring to the ten o’ clock morning crowd.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can!” Celestia popped her head out of the kitchen and trotted as quickly as she would allow herself—which was a slow jog—across the dining area.

Just as her hoof reached for the door, she heard a soft, brittle voice said:

“Oh, did you think I have forgotten about you, Princess Celestia?”

A gasp escaped Celestia just as a pink glow descended on her.

***

Princess Luna glided high above the spires of Canterlot, her large swan-like wings held taut as she rode the rising thermals. Her head scanned left and right, hoping to the shape of her sister from high above.

Evidently, she had miscalculated the head start she had given Pinkie Pie and now she was paying the price of losing her in the vast mountain city for the past hour. How does that party mare speed around so quickly?

Luna was acutely aware that it was already way past the time for the session of morning court and her anxiety for the breach of protocol and weariness crept steadily higher each passing second. Canterlot was, by no means, a large city and Luna marveled at how the largest pony in all existence of Equestria could not be easily found…

Blurriness crept into her sight wherever she looked and the bright golden spires seemed to be conspiring with the sun to do their best to ruin her eyesight. She ran a hoof across her eyes a few times and blinked furiously to clear her vision.

Where in the hay is she? An exasperated sigh left the midnight blue alicorn. Scanning the city of white gleaming walls with squinting eyes several more times, a galloping white figure caught her attention.

A twitch of her wings banked Luna in a tight right turn in the direction of the figure. Luna squinted at the figure just her vision blurred again and another round of rapid blinking cleared her sight enough to catch a hint of flowing multicolored mane on the figure, darting past numerous upper-class ponies trotting along the streets.

Luna folded her wings and dropped into a sharp dive at Pinkie Pie, whose wings tucked tightly against her, seemingly heedless of herself running off the edge of the city. Just as Luna flared to a landing and her horn washed aglow, her magic ready to snatch the white alicorn if she went over, a pink glow washed over Pinkie Pie and she screeched to a halt just shy of the stepped parapet.

Luna hazarded a step towards Pinkie Pie as she stood stock still, her entire being awash with the soft pink glow of unfamiliar magic.

“Sister…?” Luna glanced briefly at the gathering crowd of startled ponies, now muttering amongst themselves. “Are you alright?”

Luna took another step. A high pitched muttering filtered through the growing cacophony of background noise to her ears:

“… wish to be the princess of parties…”

“I desire to be the princess of parties…”

Ice stabbed through her—she recognized the mantra. Another step. “S-sister?”

“… I… Am… The… Princess… OF PARTIES!” Pinkie Pie turned into a blur of white right at Luna.

The momentarily astonished Luna became a veritable whirlwind of midnight blue and platinum, cumulating in a crumpled heap of tangled hooves and mane flapping out of shape. A collective gasp of shock escaped the crowd as Luna stared cross eyed at the circlet of hovering birdies above her head. Dissipating it with a shake of her head, Luna stood shakily on her hooves.

“What…”

“Just…”

“Happened?” She raised a hoof to her face, breathing heavily.

Then Luna realized the background noise had dropped away. She looked up at the collective faces of the Canterlot elites. A squeak emitted from her mouth.

“A-as you were, fair citizens of Canterlot! My sister and I have… matters to attend to!”

Luna took to the air with mighty swish of her wings, leaving the stunned crowd staring at the disappearing back of their diarch.

***

“Spike, go get Rarity. I’ll get Fluttershy and Applejack. Meet me at Sugarcube Corner.” Twilight’s horn started to lit with her magic when Spike stopped her.

“Wait, what about Rainbow Dash?” he said.

“Fluttershy will get her when I get there, now go!” Twilight’s horn glowed brightly and the unicorn disappeared in a crackle and a flash, leaving Spike alone on the street.

There was a moment of pause before ran as fast as he could towards Carousel Boutique.

***

Spike was hyperventilating by the time he reached the shop. He rested a hand on the purple half-door while he caught his breath. It was a while before the baby dragon raised a clawed fist and started banging on the door.

A squeaky, muffled voice of a young filly could be heard from the confines of the boutique:

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” The lower door opened to the sight of Sweetie Belle, who now stared at the panting dragon. “Whoa Spike, are you okay?”

A pair of claw hands grabbed her shoulders, shaking the young filly. “Sweetie Belle! Get Rarity… Huff. Twilight… Huff. Sugarcube Corner…” Spike rested his hands on his knee as Sweetie Belle twisted out of his grasp and ran further into the shop.

“Rarity! Spike’s here and he’s saying something about Twilight and Sugarcube Corner!”

Sweetie Belle returned with Rarity in tow a moment later. “Spike? What’s this about Twilight and Sugarcube Corner? What’s wrong?”

With a more even breath now, Spike spoke: “Twilight is gathering everypony there! Something happened to Princess Celestia!”

Sweetie Belle gasped and Rarity slapped a hoof on her head. “By the heavens! What happened!?”

“I-I don’t know! Twilight can explain it better. C’mon!” Spike moved towards the door.

A blue glow wrapped around Spike and lifted him onto Rarity’s back. “You can ride on me, Spike. It’ll be faster this way.” Rarity turned to Sweetie Belle. “Now Sweetie, be a dear and stay here while I go find out what happened, okay?”

“But I wanna come too!” Sweetie Belle stamped her tiny hoof on the floor.

Rarity raised a hoof. “Now, be nice, Sweetie Belle. I will be back once I find out what happened.”

Sweetie Belle groaned. “Okay…”

Rarity turned and trotted out of the door.

***

Outside of Sugarcube Corner, two pegasi, one earth pony and one unicorn waited impatiently. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash hovered near Applejack while Twilight Sparkle paced nervously under the awning.

“Ugh, where’s Spike and Rarity?” Twilight said as she continued pacing.

“I-I’m sure they’ll be here very soon, Twilight…” Fluttershy said.

“Argh, I’m tired of waiting. Where the hay are they?” Rainbow Dash hovered on her back, a bored expression hung on her face.

Applejack pointed a hoof. “There they are.”

The rest turned to the direction Applejack was pointing just in time to see a slightly winded Rarity skid to a stop and Spike disembarking her back.

Twilight rounded on them. “Where were you two?”

Rarity made a dismissive gesture. “Hush, Twilight darling. It’s been quite a while since I had to run this far and this quickly!”

Applejack adjusted her Stetson and said: “Now that everypony is here, would cha care to tell us what exactly is goin’ on?”

Twilight let out a breath and explained. The letter, Princess Celestia, Pinkie Pie and how the sun was late rising. When she finished, Applejack, with a frown on her face, spoke up:

“Now that cha mentioned it, the mornin’ was awful dark at eight, and then the sun shot right up the sky like it was thrown up in a hurry.”

Rainbow Dash gave a big yawn. “I didn’t notice anything different.” She stretched and hovered on her back.

“Oh, I woke up at eight-thirty… So I didn’t notice anything either…” Fluttershy scuffed a foreleg with her hoof.

“I awoke at nine to a beautiful morning, so I did not notice it either.” Rarity patted her coiffured mane with a hoof, making sure it was well.

“I didn’t know either until Spike pointed it out to me,” Twilight said. “Now, I hope Pinkie holds the key to our question.”

Twilight lit her horn with magic and threw the blue door of Sugarcube Corner open and was immediately rewarded with the sound of a muted whap and a gasp. She stepped into the confectionary shop to sight of a glowing Pinkie Pie on her back with hooves pointing in four different directions and a shocked Ditzy Doo.

Twilight gasped. “Pinkie!” She was thrown forward when the rest rushed into the shop right behind her.

“What happened to Pinkie!?”

“Whoa, nelly!”

Fluttershy and Rarity gasped at the sight. Mr. and Mrs. Cake popped their heads out of the kitchen.

“Ugh…” Twilight rubbed her head.

“Oh, sorry Twi.” Applejack helped Twilight on her hooves.

The lavender unicorn shook herself clear and stepped closer to Pinkie Pie. A warm pink glow suffused from the body of the earth pony.

Twilight turned to the scrunched up face of Ditzy. “What happened to Pinkie?”

“I-I don’t know…” A frown settled on her brows above her directionally mismatched eyes.

“She told Mrs. Cake,” Ditzy pointed a hoof at the blue mare, “she was going to ask you a question and got to the door and then she gasped and the pink light dropped on her like a blanket!”

Ditzy suddenly held Twilight on her shoulders. “And I was wondering what happened and then the door slammed—”

Twilight brushed Ditzy’s hooves off her. “Okay, I get it.” She turned to the glowing Pinkie and took another step closer.

Whatever magic that held Pinkie was powerful and was nothing like Twilight had ever felt before. A low muttering reached her ears:

“I wish to have a vacation…”

“I desire to have a vacation…”

It’s like Pinkie’s in a trance… A flash of realization shot through Twilight. Wait, I recognize this… This is just like King Sombra’s Worst Fear spell! Her horn lit up with a magenta glow, tipping her head, Twilight let a wave of her magic wash over the lying figure of Pinkie.

It was the same Dispel spell she used to unmask the Changelings during the fight outside the vault housing the Elements of Harmony and the results were immediate—Pinkie groaned and sat up, rubbing her head. She was immediately tackled by the gang.

“We were so worried about you!”

“Yer scared us half ta death, Pinkie!”

“Yeah, you scared the hay out of us!”

“I-I’m glad you’re okay…”

“Oh, Pinkie, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Twilight leaned in for a hug too.

“… Twilight?” Pinkie’s voice was a curious low pitch. “My faithful student!” Pinkie Pie folded Twilight into a ferocious bear hug amidst all the hooves.

“Faithful student?” Twilight chuckled. “Pinkie, you’re not my mentor!”

“B-But I am…” Pinkie’s look turned forlorn. “You have to believe me… I’m Princess Celestia.”

A set of eight jaws dropped. “WHAT!?”

“P-Pinkie, this is another of your pranks… right?” Twilight’s laugh turned nervous. “… Right?”

‘Pinkie’ sighed. “Then perhaps this will convince you of the truth: On the eve of your eleventh birthday, you stole into my chambers in an attempt to ‘receive’ your present early and instead found a stash of—” She was cut off by a pair of lavender hooves stuffed into her mouth.

“Alright, alright!” Twilight’s cheeks were tinted pink. “You’re my mentor!”

Her eyes darted nervously amongst her friends. “And nopony should be hearing about that!”

A lopsided smirk appeared on her mentor’s stuffed muzzle.

“But I don’t understand… How did you end up in Pinkie’s body?” She pulled her hooves out of Celestia’s mouth.

The smirk disappeared. “I am rather perplexed myself too.” Celestia’s head drooped. “It is not just a simple Body Swap spell…”

Twilight’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks. “… You mean Pinkie is…”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, she is very likely so, Twilight.”

Everypony gasped.

“B-but if Pinkie is in you, then Canterlot…”

Celestia booped her faithful student on the nose with her pink hoof. “Luna won’t allow her to run amok, I’m sure of it.”

“O-okay… but how do we undo the spell?” Twilight grabbed her mentor’s hoof. “We must return the two of you back as soon as possible!”

Celestia nodded again. “But I fear it would not be easy. As I had said, it is not a simple Body Swap spell and—”

“And… I will not allow you to undo it, Element of Magic…” A soft, brittle voice interrupted.

Eight pair of eyes darted around for the source of the voice while Celestia suddenly sat stock straight. “It’s her…”

Twilight looked at her mentor. “Who?”

“The pony who—”

“Fulfilled… the party mare and your desires…” The voice finished for Celestia. “Such… ungrateful words from an ungrateful pony, aren’t you?

Presently, a swirl of magenta light erupted amongst the tables and a strange mare materialized. She looked roughly the proportion of the Saddle Arabian representatives Twilight had entertained a while back, with a magenta body and white long flowing mane and tail, ethereal like the Windigoes. Her pale pink eyes stared intently at the assembled ponies, a small smile on her muzzle.

“Who… What are you?” Twilight said.

The smile turned into a smirk. “What… I am is not important.” Her gaze settled on Twilight. “But… I will not allow you to undo the spell, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight stomped a hoof. “What did you do to our princess!?”

A chuckle escaped from the mare. “I… fulfilled her desire, didn’t I said that?”

“Whether I wanted it or not,” Celestia spoke up.

The mare chuckled again. “Yes… I do feel that you need it a lot… That… accumulated tiredness… Even… I feel your pain, princess…”

“What are you up to, spirit?” Celestia joined Twilight’s side.

The cheerful disposition of the mare evaporated. “Repaying you for your sins, Princess Celestia.” Her eyes narrowed. “Think on it, will you?”

A flash of bright pink lit up the spirit, her eyes glowing brightly. Everypony else shielded their eyes.

“Say… what is your desire, Twilight Sparkle?” Her smile grew bigger. “Ah… a teacher’s pet?”

“Don’t listen to her, Twilight!” Celestia set a hoof on Twilight’s withers, only to see her faithful student’s eyes glowing bright pink. “No…”

“What are you doing to Twilight!?” Rainbow Dash scooted up and dived at the spirit.

The spirit glared at the pegasus. “All… unnecessary ponies will stay in their places, pegasus.” Bright pink restraints appeared on wings, legs or horns. Rainbow Dash crashed into a nearby table while the rest toppled onto the floor.

Another chuckle escaped the spirit. “So… Twilight Sparkle…” Her eyes glowed brighter. “Do you… desire to fulfill all of your mentor’s tasks?”

“Twilight—”

A pink band lashed Celestia’s mouth close.

“Well…?”

A magenta glow lit Twilight’s horn. She lowered her head and let loose a blast of magic at the spirit. The spirit disappeared through the wooden walls of Sugarcube Corner in a tremendous crash, wood splinters and dust.

“How… dare… you…” Twilight was breathing heavily. “How dare you!”

The spirit shook the debris off herself, her eyes wide in surprise. “Impossible…” She looked on at the angry visage of the lavender unicorn, her eyes glowing brightly pink. “She is… still under the spell…!”

This… isn’t good… I must get to Luna now… A pink ethereal swirl surrounded the spirit and she was gone when it dissipated.

With the spirit gone, the restraints disappeared. Everypony picked themselves up and gathered around Twilight—who was still breathing heavily—while Ditzy and the Cakes looked on.

“Oh, Twilight!” Celestia wrapped her hooves around her protégé. “You did it!”

“How dare you…” Twilight’s breathing turned ragged. “How… dare you…” Her legs did not seem to want to support her weight.

The bright pink glow winked out as her eyes closed and Twilight collapsed into the hooves of Celestia.

“Twilight!”

***

A brief stiff wind rustled Luna’s ethereal mane. She looked on at the darkened cityscape, a sea of darkness dotted with the dull orange squares of candlelight. It was a stark contrast to her star spangled night, twinkling with countless stars despite the soft glow of her moon.

Her eyes closed momentarily, allowing a flood of memories to wash through her psyche. It was a night like this, after all, when she made her decision and… the agreement with her.

Quietly, she sipped from a cup of tea held in the grip of her magic. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. An unconsciously held breath released in a sigh—it had been a long day.

After another short harrowing chase, cumulating with a tackle and a Sleep spell, she teleported herself and her “sister” back to the latter’s chambers. Tucking Pinkie into her sister’s bed, she turned and left for the throne room.

Throwing the large double doors open, Luna announced the adjournment of the day’s morning and evening courts to an astonished assemble of officials and left before anypony could raise any objections.

Returning to her own chambers, she rapidly wrote a decree declaring her temporary assumption of both morning and evening courts, due to an ill Princess Celestia. It was a surefire way to set every noble tongues wagging but Luna did not care—controlling the situation at hoof was more important.

Passing the decree to Celestia’s aide, Sharp Quill, she stayed in her chambers since. The twelve grueling hours of waiting was taking its toll on Luna. She found her eyes drooping and vision blurring every so often despite the twenty cups of tea, numerous visits to her personal bathroom and her pacing.

Sipping her twenty-first cup of tea again, her thoughts turned to Twilight Sparkle. Where in the world of Equestria is she? Her sister’s protégé should have arrived hours ago.

Fear rose in Luna. What if she had gotten to her as well? She could not well abandon her post in Canterlot, despite her temporary suspension of activity.

Luna could have summoned Princess Cadance back from the Crystal Empire but she could not bring her heart to do so—the empire was still vulnerable and recalling Cadance left it open to possible attacks. Not to dismiss her husband—Shining Armor, who was a capable pony himself—but he was but one pony and could only hold out for so long. On top of that, he held no political powers as a Prince Consort.

The sound of a set of hooves alighting on the carpeted floor jolted Luna out of her reverie. She spun around to sight of an ethereal mare of magenta coat and white long flowing mane. Her pale pink eyes stared intently at the moon princess.

“Good… evening, Luna.”

“Cassia…” A frown knitted Luna’s brows. “What are you doing?”

There was a gleam in the spirit’s eyes. “Saving… you.” She took a step towards Luna.

Luna’s eyes widened. “What do you mean by saving me?”

Cassia disappeared in swirl of magenta and materialized around Luna. “I… know what they, no, she had done to you…”

Luna recoiled in shock. “What do you mean—” There was a flash of realization. “You surely do not mean—”

“Yes…”

Luna raised a hoof. “Cassia, I was foalish! I was naïve! I did not understand the magnitude of my actions—” A tap of a magenta hoof on her nose cut her off.

“Then… why are you still so bitter, so sore in your wish for your ponies to appreciate your nights?” The spirit’s eyes narrowed. “She… had brainwashed you, Luna.”

Luna twisted herself off the grip of Cassia and spun herself around to face her. “No! My sister did not and my subjects no longer fear the night! They even appreciate the wonders it has to offer!”

Cassia did not reply. Instead, a bright pink glow suffused from her, motes of light broke off and swirled around Luna. The moon princess lowered herself in a defensive stance. Just as her horn lit with her magic, a wave of dizziness hit Luna.

“Hush now… Quiet now…” A soft brittle voice sang.

“It is time to lay your sleepy head…” Luna stumbled.

“Hush now… Quiet now…” Luna’s eyelids drooped involuntarily, feeling like a ton of weight.

“It is time to go to bed…” Luna’s legs gave out and she collapsed onto the floor. All she saw was the approaching hooves of Cassia before darkness swept over her.

Cassia stood over the prone form of Luna, staring gently at the sleeping alicorn. “Don’t… worry, Luna.” She gave her a hug. “I… will give you eternal night again.”

Her pale pink eyes drooped. “… I will not fail you again…”

The two mares disappeared in a swirl of ethereal pink.

Author's Note

... I know the relationship between Luna and Cassia doesn't really seem very canon but I've always been writing things a little "alternate history"ish and this universe is evolving into one of the many MLP universes (I currently have 4, including this world) I have in store (Read: My mind) and I'm very happy to explore more of this world I've built and building.

Yes, this means there will be more stories set in this universe. =)

I do sincerely apologise that if the B plot seemed to have superseded the A plot but not to worry, there will be more Pinkie Pie shenanigans in Chapter 4!

4 Preparations

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Of Sunshine and Laughter
By M1Garand8

*4*
Preparations

Two sets of hooves echoed in the near empty halls of Canterlot Castle. One set pale lavender and the other nearly pristine white; they belonged to the Royal Secretaries of both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Countless sculptures and tapestries flew past as they galloped towards the personal bed chambers of Princess Celestia.

The two white statuesque pegasus stallions of the Royal Guards crossed their wings just as Sharp Quill, the white unicorn and Wind Chime, the pale lavender pegasus skidded to a halt. They brushed their messy and tossed respective brown and two toned blue mane away from their eyes.

“Let us in.” Sharp Quill pointed a hoof at the guard off to the door.

“Princess Luna—”

“Is missing, Stout Heart,” Sharp Quill cut him off. “The Captain of the Royal Guard has put out a search party for her.” She adjusted her black rimmed glasses. “And I am invoking Article III of the Succession Laws.”

Stout Heart shared a look with his partner. His partner nodded. Their wings uncrossed and Sharp Quill threw open the purple sun emblazoned door with a burst of magic and stepped in. Wind Chime followed after a moment of hesitation.

In the dim interior of Celestia’s bedroom, the loud buzz saw of a snore greeted them. Wind Chime leaned in and whispered: “Celestia snores?”

Sharp Quill shook her head. “She doesn’t. Not usually.”

“I’ll be the bestest party princess ever…”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime shared a look. “Um, your highness?” Sharp Quill took a step forward. “We are sorry to interrupt your rest but—”

“Best party ever!” Pinkie Pie bolted up on the bed.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime reared up as the earth pony in an alicorn yawned and smacked her lips.

“Oh, this is the best sleep I had in months! Actually, it feels like I have been sleeping for months!” Pinkie blinked at the two wide eyed ponies in front of her.

Wind Chime stepped up. “Um, your highness—”

“Oh, I haven’t seen you ponies before!” Pinkie popped up in between Sharp Quill and Wind Chime now. “And do you know what that means?” Pinkie’s grin was very wide.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime’s startle were arrested by a pair of legs, each upon their withers.

“What?” Sharp Quill stared at the princess had grown another head.

“H-how?” Wind Chime shrunk at the disturbingly wide smile on the princess.

Pinkie threw up her hooves. “A party!”

Wind Chime shrunk even further. “A-a party?”

She found Pinkie’s snout pressed against hers.

“A party!” Pinkie repeated.

“Your highness.”

Pinkie turned to the not amused face of Sharp Quill. “Yes?”

“This is a serious emergency, princess.” Sharp Quill backed to a respectful distance from Pinkie. “Princess Luna is missing and the ponies need you to raise the sun.”

Pinkie gasped. “What?!” She was in the face of Sharp Quill. “Princess Luna is missing?”

Sharp Quill backed away again and a solemn look crossed her face. “Yes, your highness. … I know it’s going to be hard for you to accept right now but we really need you to be about,” she shot a look at Wind Chime over Pinkie’s withers, “and reassure the ponies of Equestria.”

“But Princess Celestia would be so sad!” Pinkie pulled a handkerchief out of nowhere and blew her nose on it.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime blinked. “But you’re Princess Celestia…” they said in unison.

Pinkie stopped suddenly. “Oh, yeah.” The handkerchief disappeared somewhere into her back. “Well then, let’s get to the raisin’!”

Wind Chime jumped as Pinkie sped past her in a blur of white towards the balcony. She stared wide eyed at her diarch as Sharp Quill galloped to her side.

“Are you sure the princess should be doing this, Sharp Quill?” Wind Chime whispered. “She seems… delirious.”

Sharp Quill sighed. “I’m tempted to invoke Succession Laws and recall Princess Cadance back but,” she pointed a hoof at Pinkie, “as you can see, she is up and running.”

Wind Chime shot Sharp Quill an angry look. “’If both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are incapacitated or unable to discharge their duties, the office and duties of the crown shall devolve to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and she shall assume the crown as Regent to the courts of Equestria’,” she said.

It was a quote of Article III, Section IV of the Succession Laws. Drawn and ratified more than one and a half millennium ago when Celestia and Luna ascended the throne of Equestria as princesses. It was amended twenty years ago with the coronation of Princess Cadance, styled Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. The laws governed the succession of Equestria’s rulers in times of emergency.

“Princess Cadance should remain in the Crystal Empire lest the problems with the princesses spread there,” Sharp Quill shot back. “Besides, the princess isn’t incapacitated or unable to discharge her duties.”

Wind Chime narrowed her eyes. “I question that ability with her current state of mind.” She turned and trotted towards her diarch.

“You have no idea how much stress the princess has been under, Wind Chime,” Sharp Quill said to the back of her counterpart and trotted after her. “Maybe this is her way of venting.”

Wind Chime’s ears turned down. “… Maybe.” She was quiet for a moment. “But acting like a completely different pony? I find it hard to accept…”

Sharp Quill stopped for an instant. “I… Well, I don’t know.”

Presently, Wind Chime and Sharp Quill joined Pinkie at her side, who was bouncing like she wont to do.

“So I just use my horn like Twilight and the sun will just,” Pinkie made a whooshing sound, “into the sky right?”

Sharp Quill tensed at the question. Wind Chime can’t be right… could she? However, the princess’ current mannerism and speech were giving that theory a lot of credit. “Um, I guess so?”

With a scrunch of her face, the very long white horn slowly shimmered and then lit in a yellow glow.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Pinkie said. “Look at my horn!”

The bluish-purple twilight gave way rapidly to deepening blue as the moon zipped into the sky.

“Uh wait, that’s not the sun…”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime shared a worried look as Pinkie’s horn lit once again brightly. The moon did a figure-eight and coasted below the horizon. As soon as it disappeared below the horizon, it reappeared, rolling slowly upwards into the sky.

“Um…” A drop of sweat trickled down Pinkie’s brow. “Minor technical difficulties!” A nervous laugh escaped her.

Wind Chime leaned in towards Sharp Quill and whispered: “Able to discharge her duties right, Sharp Quill?”

Sharp Quill adjusted her glasses curtly. A sense of unease welled in her. “Well…”

Pinkie lit her horn again. This time the horizon went straight from deep blue to white as the sun popped into existence in its “noon” position.

“Oops, um, too much oomph!” Another nervous laughter escaped Pinkie.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime stared and their jaws dropped. Now, they watched as the sun eeny, meeny, miny, moed slowly back to its correct position of eight o’ clock.

Pinkie threw out her fore hooves and turned to the two Royal Secretaries, a huge grin on her face. “See, Auntie Tia has it all under control!”

Sharp Quill snapped her mouth shut and then said: “Um, right… your highness.”

Pinkie was in her face again, Pinkie’s snout pressing into Sharp Quill’s. “So what do I do now?” The grin never disappeared from her face.

Sharp Quill straightened up. “If you are feeling well enough, princess, we can reopen the morning court.” Her eyes drifted from Pinkie and she scuffed a hoof. “The ponies need assurance right now and performing your duties would help greatly.”

“Oh, sure!” Pinkie’s face pressed into Sharp Quill’s. “So, what duties do I do? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Sharp Quill backed off a step, a frown on her face. “The morning court,” she began, “is where you listen to the ministers regarding the important issues of the day and deciding upon their actions. It is in two hours’ time. They will surely attend if I announce that you are up and running the court again.”

Pinkie’s grin got wider. “Ohhh, a gathering of ponies? Are they like those snooty moody no-funners at the Grand Galloping Gala?”

Sharp Quill shrunk back and her eyes darted around, looking for an escape from the unnerving face of her diarch. “Well… they are serious ponies interested in the wellbeing—”

Pinkie’s face inched closer. “That means they’re a bunch of stern faced stodgy ponies who just need some cheering up!” She suddenly drew back and tapped a hoof on her chin, her expression serious. Then she threw her fore legs out and declared: “A party is in order!”

Sharp Quill stiffened. A jolt of coldness shot through her. She can’t be serious, right? “Your highness, the morning court—”

She and Wind Chime found themselves being pushed towards the double doors. “Now, now, Auntie Pin— I mean Auntie Tia needs to plan so the party will be super fun!” Her gaze fell on Wind Chime. “You will be attending the party too, um…”

“Wind Chime, your highness,” the pegasus said. “But I am not supposed to attend the court as I am Luna’s—”

“No buts, Windy!” Pinkie’s face filled Wind Chime’s vision. “You’re invited too!”

“Uh…”

That was all she could muster before the door open and the ponies being shoved out. Just as the door closed there were these muffled words:

“See you two at the party!”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime sat in a daze before the former slowly raised her gaze to the latter. The hard look on Wind Chime made Sharp Quill avert her gaze.

“Able to discharge her duties, Sharp Quill?” Wind Chime asked.

Sharp Quill sighed. “Maybe we should ask Princess Cadance to return…”

This day was going to be disastrous.

“Hmm, how can I get my party supplies in two hours…?” Pinkie tapped her chin. “Guess it’s time to hunt down all the emergency party supply stashes!”

Just as Pinkie paced the space between the bed and the balcony, a pink swirling magic erupted in the center of the room. When it dissipated, a lean translucent magenta pony-like figure stood in place.

“Hello… Pinkie,” Cassia said.

Pinkie whipped around. “Oh hey, you’re the voice from two days ago!” She zipped up to the spirit. “Are you here for the party too?”

A little smirk appeared on Cassia’s face. “Not… exactly. But it sounds interesting.”

Pinkie bounced on her hooves. “Yep! We’ll have cakes, music and pin the tail on the pony!”

Cassia’s smirk got wider. “Yes… it does sound interesting. I… shall be there in…” she trailed off.

“Two hours!” Pinkie did not cease her bouncing. “With the ponies at the morning court! I don’t know what a morning court is but I’m sure it’s some boring snorarific meeting!”

A soft laughter escaped Cassia. “Only… the morning court?” She patted Pinkie in her shoulders, or at least held her hoof and let Pinkie connect each bounce. “Why not… the entirety of the city? You… are the Princess of Parties now, aren’t you?”

Pinkie landed with a muted clunk. “But a princess has wings and horn— Oh! This is why I’m in Princess Celestia’s body!”

Cassia smiled. “As… powerful wishes are, they will never have enough power to fuel physical transformations.” She set a hoof on Pinkie’s chest. “And… you will find the desire in you has taken on certain powers.” There was a flash of magenta in her pink eyes which was echoed in the blue eyes of Pinkie. “Use it… wisely.”

Pinkie tilted her head to one side. “But what about the Princess?”

Cassia waved dismissively. “Princess Celestia… gets the vacation she wished… in your body.” She walked past a frowning Pinkie. “Now… if there’s anything you need, I can help you with it.” Cassia looked back with a small smile. “And I… look forward to the party, Pinkie.”

There was another flash of magenta in Pinkie’s eyes. A burst of music rang through her head. Music! Images of ponies, from the snooty rich ponies of Canterlot to her good friends in Ponyville and then to ponies she wished to eventually meet in the other cities, flashed before her eyes. Everypony! Confetti, balloons and streamers fell upon all of them and they rejoiced, stomping their hooves on the ground. Party!

“Okay!” Pinkie said. “Let’s get going!” She turned to the purple door of Celestia’s bedroom.

“I’ll… be right behind you.”

With her head turned, Pinkie never saw Cassia’s eyes change, replaced by a pair of pink draconic eyes.

“Soon,” Cassia whispered, too low for Pinkie to pick up, “everything will be mine again.”

Neither did Pinkie see the wicked grin on Cassia’s face.

"So, what's your name?" Pinkie asked as she threw open the door.

"Cassia..." Her grin widened. "My name... is Cassia."

***

Twilight’s bedroom had been quiet and peaceful for the past week. It had to be, with only Spike and herself occupying it at various times throughout the days of the week and with the nightly visit from Owlowiscious. Of course, that was no longer the case as Twilight lay upon her bed, muttering words that were too soft to make out.

Overlooking her supine form were a pink earth pony and a white unicorn. A little frown held on the forehead of the pink pony as she scrutinized the pink glow that enveloped Twilight. The unicorn simply stood watching with a worried expression.

“… I do good, princeeeess?”

Celestia cringed slightly at the insistent tone of Twilight’s briefly audible speech. Rarity, standing off to the presently earth pony’s right cleared her throat to mask the simultaneous embarrassment and mirth bubbling up inside her. A curt look from Celestia drove those emotions away and Rarity visibly composed herself.

“Let’s try this again,” Celestia said.

“Um, right.” Rarity’s horn lit in a light blue glow.

As she concentrated, Celestia’s voice started to speak in her mind.

Step one: Focus. Her horn glowed brighter.

Step two: Let the magic wash over the spell. Rarity let loose the gathered magic over the supine body of Twilight.

Step three: Find the anchors. The sounds of rapid glass clinking echoed in her consciousness, each of them a reverberation of an anchor.

Step four: Unknot or rip them out of the spell matrix. Rarity extended her senses and poked at the spell. The anchors—more knots than anchors—were arranged in layers, doubling as they went further inwards for three levels. The first layer was simple—the anchors were arranged along the long axis and undoing the layer was akin to unknotting a doubled ended bundle.

The second layer resembled a four-pointed jewel, it cardinal directions wreathed in unquenchable flames. Undoing those anchors involved dousing those flames with simultaneous torrents of water. A visible strain slowly grew in Rarity’s concentration as she poured magic into the anchors.

The flames burned brighter and brighter in her mind’s eyes until all of them went out in a pop and release of magic. The layer broke apart into solid segments that crashed noiselessly onto the wooden floor. A shake started in Rarity’s hooves that slowly crawled up her legs and towards her body. Her head grew heavy as pressure built at the bottom of her horn.

Her magic hit the final layer, which reverberated in metallic quality. The anchors of the third layer were arranged similarly—four in the cardinal directions and four in their diagonals. Unlike the previous anchors, these felt like heavy metal bolts when she probed them. The bolts were screwed not just tight. Its threads were glued over and the whole bolt frozen over.

The anchors did not budge when Rarity pulled on them. Her legs were weak now. She gritted her teeth as she fought the swimming of her head. Summoning the last bit of her magic reserve, Rarity poured it against the anchors and attempted to rip them off the mounts. The magic simply rebounded off and back at her horn.

Rarity yelped and collapsed onto the floor. A breath she did not know she held whooshed out of her. Panting heavily, she lifted a hoof to her forehead.

… How does Twilight do all this?

“It’s no use, princess,” Rarity said as she watched the pink glow of the spirit’s spell washing over Twilight once again. “This spell is simply too strong for me.”

A pink hoof rested on her withers. “It’s alright, Rarity. You’ve tried your best,” Celestia said.

Rarity’s head turned to her left to the sight of a weak smile. She would have never thought Pinkie would have such a low, motherly voice and expression if it was not for the fact that Princess Celestia now possessed her body. A wan smile formed on her face.

“And indeed, the final layer seems near impossible to break through brute force for an average pony.” A serious expression fell on Celestia’s face. “I think we should look for an alternative. Maybe Luna could help.”

Celestia turned her eyes to Rarity, then down at Applejack and Rainbow Dash and finally Fluttershy, noting their unfocused, bloodshot eyes. “And all of us haven’t gotten much sleep last night.”

Rainbow Dash chose this time to let out a big yawn. “Yeah, I missed my nap time too.” She flopped and hovered on her back, her eyes closed and her fore legs crossed behind her head.

“Rainbow!” Applejack rounded on the light blue pegasus. “Don’t ya go disrespectin’ the princess here now!”

“It’s alright, Applejack.” Celestia covered her mouth with a hoof as her face also split in a wide, open mouthed yawn.

Glancing at the clock on Twilight’s nightstand, she said: “It’s seven thirty-five in the morning. Please meet back here in two hours and we’ll prepare to head to Canterlot.”

“Yes, princess,” Twilight’s friends chorused.

The deep purple twilight caught Celestia’s eyes. “Luna, why hadn’t you raised the sun yet?” she muttered.

As Twilight’s friends turned to the bedroom doorway, a youthful voice floated through:

“Twilight! Twilight!”

“Spike?” Rarity asked. It was quite clear whom the voice belonged to.

“Twilight! Are you awake yet? This is bad!”

Everyone except Celestia shared a look. Soon, Spike darted into the room and flung himself at the fore legs of Rarity.

“Rarity, is she awake!? We need to get the princess back!”

A young southern accented voice piped up from the hallway beyond the door:

“Don’t worry Twilight! We’ll save ya!”

Spike got to his feet and waved his clawed hands. “Wait, don’t—”

A blur of yellow and red leapt in and tackled Celestia to the floor.

Applejack’s eyes widened. “Apple Bloom?”

“Sis! Sis! Are you alright?” a squeaky voice called out.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity was nearly bowled over when Sweetie Belle tackle-hugged her.

“Yeah! Did we get the imposter? Did we?” Scootaloo leapt into the room as well, her wings abuzz as an orange blur.

“Kid?”

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo gushed at the sight her adoptive sister.

“Alright! Where’s tha real Pinkie Pie at!?” Celestia stared cross eyed at the small yellow hoof of Apple Bloom jabbed in her face.

The little filly’s display of righteous fury was so adorable and Celestia could not help but smile. A chuckle escaped her and she said: “In my castle, of course.”

“Ya better tell us ‘cause we won’t take no for—” Apple Bloom did a double take. “Wha?”

“Pinkie Pie is in my castle… Apple Bloom, was it?”

“Yeah… Wait,” Apple Bloom’s hoof jabbed again, “what do ya mean in your castle? Whoa—”

Apple Bloom was picked up by her scruff off Celestia. “Apple Bloom! I told ya to stay back in the barn!” Applejack said when she set Apple Bloom down beside her.

“But sis, there’s an imposter Pinkie Pie runnin’ around Ponyville!” Apple Bloom pointed a hoof at Celestia.

Celestia chuckled again. “You have an adorable little sister, Applejack.”

“Uh, thank ya kindly, your highness. But she’s a hoofful at times.” Applejack shot a glare at Apple Bloom.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘your highness’?” Sweetie Belle piped up.

Nervous laughter escaped Rarity. “Well… Pinkie Pie here is not an imposter, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle frowned. “But Mr. and Mrs. Cake told us Pinkie Pie wasn’t Pinkie Pie.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom hopped on her hooves, “Mrs. Cake said it was um… compli… com…”

“Complicated,” Sweetie Belle finished for Apple Bloom.

“Yes, ‘complicated’ would be apt to describe the situation, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said. She shuffled her hooves and her next words came out in rapid fire Equestrian Common: “Because Princess Celestia and Pinkie Pie swapped bodies.”

“… What?” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo chorused and stared blankly at Rarity.

Celestia got on her hooves. “Simply put, Pinkie is in me while I am in her, my little fillies.”

There was a pause and the CMC shot each other glances. “So, lemme get this straight, ya say Pinkie is now Princess Celestia and Princess Celestia is now Pinkie?” Apple Bloom finally said.

Sweetie Belle rubbed her head. “My head hurts…”

“Yeah, me too,” Scootaloo said, grimacing.

“Yes, and it is very important that we get the princess back in her body as soon as possible.” Rarity nudged Sweetie Belle. “And run along now, Sweetie. All of us need to rest and then try to get help for Twilight.”

“Oh yeah, Mrs. Cake said she’s under a curse or something.” Scootaloo buzzed off the ground for a short moment.

“A Desire spell, actually.” Scootaloo looked at the pink form of Celestia.

“Wait, ya mean like the Heart’s Desire, princess?” Apple Bloom turned her eyes to the lying figure of Twilight.

Celestia frowned. “The Heart’s Desire… Twilight mentioned it in her comments for your Friendship Report, Apple Bloom.”

“Yeah, according to Zecora, the Heart’s Desire makes any natural talent of anypony come true,” Apple Bloom said.

“But it instead made what Apple Bloom desired came true…” Celestia muttered. Turning to Rarity, she said: “Is this Heart’s Desire grown locally, Rarity?”

Rarity nodded. “Why yes, your highness. Roseluck grows a small patch of them here in Ponyville.”

“Ask her where she got the original seeds or the plant.” Celestia trotted past the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with a serious and worried look on her face. “I believe this may be linked to our mystery spirit.”

“Right.” Rarity let out a little ladylike yawn. “After our rest?”

“Yes, I fear that we are losing enough time as it is.” Celestia trotted out of the room.

Rarity waved to her little sister. “Come now, Sweetie Belle. You can stay with me.”

“Apple Bloom, let’s go.” Applejack placed a hoof on her own little sister.

“Wanna spend some time with your cool and awesome idol, kid?”

Scootaloo was starry eyed in an instant. “Of course, Rainbow Dash!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were ushered out by Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy followed with Spike riding on her back after a moment.

***

Pinkie squinted at the small festival of balloons just off to the right of the throne. A smidgen to the left towards the waterfall… Two white hooves framed the balloons, measuring the precise location for maximum cheeriness. Then Pinkie noticed the size of her hooves. Oh wait. My hooves are half as big now! Never mind!

“Perfect…” Her hooves clomped onto the carpeted.

In the past two hours, the throne room of Canterlot Castle had been transformed. Colorful streamers of red, blue and yellow adorned the tall stoned ceiling. Multiple balloons lined the side of the carpet in groups up to the throne.

Pinkie bounced to the gramophone, grinning the whole way. Flicking the needle on the record, a polka started playing. Bobbing her head to the beats a few times, her grin got wider and she bounced to the large golden double doors.

The doors flew open to a hallway packed with ponies of assorted colors. At the sound of opening doors, they turned as one to the sight of their princess grinning widely.

“The Morning Court Party is officially started!” Pinkie announced.

The assembled ministers looked at each other. The Minister of Agriculture, a plum and blue earth pony mare with a cutie mark of a screen and a plum leaned towards Sharp Quill and whispered: “You are sure Princess Celestia has recovered? She seems off…”

Sharp Quill adjusted her glasses. “Well… she was well enough.”

“Hey, what are you two talking about?” Pinkie popped up between them.

The minister let out a gasp while Sharp Quill rolled her eyes and sighed. “Princess, I must reiterate. The morning court is a serious matter—”

“Of course!” Pinkie said. Her face was a mask of seriousness and determination. “Parties are serious business!”

Sharp Quill slammed a hoof on her face.

Pinkie wrapped her forelegs around Sharp Quill and the minister. “And just because the court is something serious doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while doing it!”

At the wave of a hoof, the two ponies’ attentions were directed towards the doorway. The other ministers were already ushered in by the princess, intent on having her party and morning court. Sharp Quill sighed as she and the Minister of Agriculture were shuffled into the throne room. Why did I ever sign up for this job?

Inside, she immediately caught sight of her counterpart: Wind Chime. The pale lavender pegasus had looked haggard Sharp Quill last saw her a couple hours ago, now she looked as though she would fall over any second.

“Hey, Sharp Quill.” Wind Chime let out a yawn.

Sharp Quill bit off a yawn welling inside her. “So, I guess you couldn’t run away, huh?”

“I tried to…” Wind Chime shuddered. “The princess uh, appeared in my bedroom and uh, butted me to the castle.” Her cheeks flushed red.

Sharp Quill stared at Wind Chime. “All the way through the city?”

Wind Chime nodded.

Sharp Quill rubbed her temples and sighed. We should include an insanity clause for Article III at this rate.

“And it seems like the princess has gotten a new assistant,” Wind Chime said.

What? Sharp Quill looked up to the dais of the throne where Wind Chime pointed her hoof to. A magenta pony too lean and tall to be a local stood beside Pinkie as she bounced on her hooves to the beat of the music. Ministers who were not mingling spoke in quiet tones with the Princess, obviously discussing pressing issues of the day with her.

How did a Saddle Arabian appear in the city without me knowing? I’m the Royal Secretary, I should have been informed of this! Sharp Quill frowned. The Saddle Arabian mare seemed off, actually. She looked as though she was translucent. A pink glow suffused her pristine white mane, carried power not unlike the Princess herself. I don’t recognize her. Maybe she’s royalty? To date, only the Sultan of Saddle Arabian had made official visits to Equestria.

The Saddle Arabian leaned in and whispered something to the Princess, who nodded in reply. Everyone present stared in shock as she halted in mid-air without a levitation spell. Pinkie straightened up and announced:

“As your princess, I have heard your problems and I will do my best in fixing them! But first, we,” Pinkie bounced once on her hooves, “shall,” twice, “be,” three times, “happy!”

Blinding pink light blossomed from her eyes. Pinkie’s voice rose an octave as she continued:

“And to be happy, there shall be parties! First in Canterlot, then all of Equestria!”

The light washed over everyone. Sharp Quill felt a wave of elation hit her. Polka music echoed loudly in her head. Then, a series of scenes of many ponies dancing to the tune followed. Finally, confetti and streamers fell upon and they rejoiced. A wide grin slowly shaped into view on Sharp Quill’s muzzle. She never noticed the colorful streamers and confetti falling from the high ceiling of the throne room.

There was only one word echoing in her mind: Party!

No one saw the draconic eyes on Cassia as the light spread across the entirety of Canterlot.

Everyone rejoiced and got down to party.

***

The gentle morning sun shone down on Celestia as she walked on the street to Roseluck’s house. After a two hour nap, she, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were refreshed enough to get on with their as of rather minimal plan. Fluttershy had elected to stay behind to look after the quietly sleeping Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike and the unconscious Twilight.

Barely five minutes into the walk, Celestia noted the hushed whispers of the ponies already about and their curious glances whenever they passed her. She frowned. Had something happened while we napped?

The sun had risen by the time they awoke from their rest, for which she was glad. The spirit might have gone after Luna while she was here, incapacitated by virtue of being stuck in an earth pony body. I hope that means Luna was simply swamped with taking over my duties…

A voice broke Celestia out of her reverie.

“Guess the townsfolk never seen a day where Pinkie would walk around Ponyville all dignified, like,” Applejack said, waggling an eyebrow.

“Well, it’s rather refreshing to see Pinkie walking as a lady should, your hi—” Rarity paused. “My apologies.” She covered her embarrassment with a smile. Twilight’s friends had agreed to dispense with Celestia’s honorific to obfuscate any rumors no doubt started by the Cakes and spread by the Cutie Mark Crusader as they went about to “free” Pinkie Pie.

Celestia smiled in return. “I do remember she was always bouncing and dashing around when I was at the bakery two years ago.” It was also the first and last time she would bring Philomena out of Canterlot Castle when the phoenix was near the end of her cycle.

“So, what’s with the glowing Crystal-Saddle Arabian pony back at Sugarcube Corner?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flapped her wings above the group.

Memories of thousand years past flashed. In an instant, cries of anguished and grieving ponies came and went. Celestia’s face hardened at once at the question. “That thing,” she said, “was a Wisher.”

Three pair of quizzical eyes stared at her.

“I presume all of you still remember the Windigoes of the Hearth Warming Eve pageant?”

"Uh huh." Three heads nodded.

“They are spirits, entities that feed on emotions.” Celestia looked at each one of them in turn. “There are five of such entities and as you remember, the Windigoes feed on hatred.”

Once again, three heads nodded.

“The Dust Devils fed on despair and desperation, the Sirens on sadness, the Rustlers on anger and finally, the Wishers, as the one who swapped Pinkie Pie and myself, fed on desire.”

“They sound utterly dreadful, these spirits,” Rarity said.

The hard expression on Celestia’s face softened in sadness for a brief moment. “They were dreadful. They spread misery and chaos everywhere,” she said. “However, they have largely disappeared after Discord’s defeat at the hooves of Luna and I… until now.”

The three ponies shared a look. “I simply can’t believe how just one of this ‘Wisher’ caused so much mayhem in just two days,” Rarity spoke up. “And that’s including all the various antics and mishaps that have happened around these parts.”

Celestia sighed. “The spirits are serious, dangerous adversaries. They were as bad as Discord had been when they had the numbers.” She looked at the worried faces of Twilight’s friends. “The one we faced is acting erratically, or maybe even holding back but we can’t let it run rampant much longer.”

“Mmhmm,” Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack agreed in unison. “Don’t worry, princess! We’ll blast it all the way back to where it came from when we get to Canterlot and get the Elements of Harmony!” Rainbow Dash said.

A small smile appeared on Celestia’s face. “That would be a fine solution but first, we need to know more about this spirit.”

“And knowin’ more about this Heart’s Desire would get us closer to gettin’ this spirit?” Applejack asked, scratching a hoof on her head.

Celestia looked uncertain for a brief moment. “I fear this may be a deeper, systemic attack on the kingdom than what we are being led to believe. Besides, this flower had somehow slipped underneath the notices of so many botanists and myself. It is troubling.”

“And the answer may lie with Roseluck,” Rarity said.

Celestia nodded. “That is correct.”

“Looks like we’re coming up on her house now,” Rainbow Dash said, pointing at a thatched two storied house, the third one down the street. “Time to go get some answers!” She disappeared in a blur of cyan and rainbow in that direction.

Celestia, Rarity and Applejack galloped to catch up. They reached the door just as it opened and a quizzical Roseluck popped her head out.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash. How are you doing?” the cream and maroon earth pony asked.

“Where did you get the seeds?”

Roseluck tilted her head. “Uh, what seeds?”

“The seeds for the purple flower!”

Before Roseluck could answer this time, Rainbow Dash disappeared off the side of the doorway and was replaced by Rarity and Applejack. “Sorry ‘bout that. Rainbow’s always been a touch impatient,” Applejack said, an awkward grin on her face.

“Don’t I know it?” Roseluck gave the two ponies a knowing look. Rainbow Dash reappeared, hovering behind the two with a frown on her face. “So, what’s this about a purple flower? Was she talking about my latest batch of orchids?”

“We were wondering where you have gotten the seeds of the Heart’s Desire from,” Rarity said. “Or even the actual flower itself.”

Roseluck’s face twisted in mild disgust. “That silly flower that got Apple Bloom sick with the Cutie Pox? Why would you want to know?”

“Please, Roseluck. It is important.” A worried look crossed Rarity’s face. “You have probably heard what happened to Twilight.”

“Yeah, like she was cursed or something?”

Rarity gave a nervous laugh. “Well, not exactly but we think it’s related to the flower. Please, Roseluck, we really need to know.”

“Yeah, tha sooner we know, tha better,” Applejack joined in.

Roseluck paused, scratching her chin absently. “Hmm, it was Hollow Shades, I think. I got the flowers from a vendor. He wouldn’t tell me where he got them though.”

Applejack’s eye widened. “Hollow Shades, huh? My cousin’s been livin’ there her whole life and she never mentioned a lick of it.”

“Not many ponies know about it anyway. I wouldn’t have until I took a wrong turn into a side street while visiting the place,” Roseluck said.

“It is an obscure magical flower after all, Roseluck and we thank you for this information.”

“No problem!” Roseluck beamed. “I hope Twilight’ll be okay.”

Rarity smiled but it never reached the worry in her eyes. “We all do, Roseluck. Goodbye.”

The foursome waved to Roseluck and turned back to the direction of the library.

“Now, we bring Twilight to Canterlot,” Celestia said when they were out of earshot. “By the stars, I hope Luna’s keeping things together at the castle.”

The rest of the walk was silent as Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stared in shock at Celestia’s oath. They had not caught sight of what Celestia saw of Canterlot while they were talking.

***

Luna stirred. Her eyes slowly peeled open, taking in the surroundings. They were already accustomed to the dark but with the emptiness of inky blackness stretching forever before her, there was nothing to see. Blinking her aching eyes, she realized that her cheeks were stained.

Had I been crying? A hoof rose to rub her eyes. Luna stopped as she noted the color of her hoof. It had turned purple-blue once again, instead of her midnight blue coat. Her eyes flicked up. The bangs of her mane were purple-cornflower blue, like it was in her youth, or two years ago when she was saved from herself.

“What… what happened?”

A few fleeting pictures of memories flit through her mind. They were images of her time shortly before her transformation into Nightmare Moon and meeting…

Cassia! Luna’s head swiveled around.

“Ah, I see that you are finally awake,” a voice said, deep, yet gangly at the same time.

Luna froze. In an instant, she felt her blood turned into ice. Her breath came out, shallow. The voice was not unfamiliar to Luna. She had heard it the moment she felt Cassia’s spell descended upon her all those years ago. He had been whispering into her ears for her entire “tenure” as Nightmare Moon.

“Chaos…”

Author's Note

One year and six days (plus five days of editing). That has to be my longest record for an interlude, ever. I’m really, really sorry that it took so long to finish the chapter but writer’s block took its toll and working out all the scenes and plot was a nightmare. Not to mention all the bajillion ideas that took me away from writing the chapter (that Tangled-Frozen-MLP AU-Crossover is still looking mighty interesting to write). Now, let’s hope my next chapter isn’t another year away. >_>

Oh, and next chapter, you'll see who's really pulling all the strings. Stay tuned. :twilightsmile:

As usual, please point out any errors you see. I would appreciate it! =x

Interlude I Memories

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Of Sunshine and Laughter
By M1Garand8

*Interlude I*
Memories

There was a sensation of falling.

It was the only sensation Princess Luna unconsciously felt as she fell, her wings spread limply, towards an undetermined destination. The vast inky blackness stretched infinitely beyond her, there was no wind, there was no time, and there was no up, down, left or right, only the sensation of falling and black.

Each second was a flash and an eternity. There was no telling how long she had fallen. In that bit of time and the eternity, her mane and tail lost its ethereal qualities in a burst of white light, returning to its original lustrous pale azure strands and her body back to her younger proportions.

The sensation of falling gently lessened and tapered off. Now, the sleeping alicorn lay upon an invisible plane as if a tiny speck of blue dust in the vast unseen pane of glass as she slumbered. It was there where the first of her many dreams or perhaps, memories stirred.

***

The setting sun had always cast a fiery orange glow upon the lands of Equestria. From the thriving cities of Vanhoover, Tall Tale and Los Pegasus to the tall spire of the Cantering Mountain to the new towns of Manehatten, Fillydelphia and Baltimare, they were all lit by a brilliant tint of orange.

Princess Luna stood on her balcony of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, where she took in the vista, letting the warmth of the sun soak into her coat and body. The muted dainty four-beat hoofsteps on carpet signaled the arrival of her sister, Princess Celestia.

Luna’s head turned to the right, just in time to catch Celestia trotting into her place on the adjacent balcony. Her sister caught the gaze of Luna and a gentle smile twitched into place on her muzzle.

“Good evening, Lulu.” Celestia inclined her head. A stray lock of pink mane fell just across her eyes and a hoof brushed it aside without any second thought.

A smile curled on Luna’s face. “Good evening to you as well, my sister.” Her gaze returned to the scene before her and the smile fell away.

Would… my subjects deign to look at my night this very night as well? Luna closed her eyes and took in a breath. Or would they shun it, just as they did for the past days, years, decades?

“Are you alright, my dear little sister?”

The soft, gentle voice of Celestia jolted Luna out of reverie.

The smile returned to her muzzle as she turned her head at her sister. “Of course I am, Tia.”

“Then, shall we?”

Luna nodded.

The two sisters closed their eyes and their horns lit, one yellow, the other pale blue. Simultaneously, their lifted their heads and their magic grew brighter. Their manes and tails now fluttered in an unseen wind, acquiring an ethereal quality. The elder’s pink was joined by pale cerulean, turquoise and cobalt blue while younger’s azure shifted deeper into mid indigo.

Their horns reached the zenith, glowing blindingly bright. The sun began sinking below the western horizon as the moon peeked in the east. The brilliant orange rapidly turned bright red, then pink and finally blue that grew deeper as the sun sank below the western horizon and the moon rose in the east.

With moon raising and sun setting finished, the magic on the two sister’s horns winked out and their manes and tails returned to normal. Celestia and Luna shared a smile before the elder turned and trotted back towards her chambers. Just before she disappeared into the room, Celestia looked over her withers and spoke:

“Do not stay out too long, Lulu. The evening court is—”

“In two hours. Yes, I am aware, Tia.” Luna was staring at the night sky.

A flutter of worry crossed the visage of Celestia for a brief moment. “Are you sure you are alright, Lulu?”

Luna did not look down from the sky. “Yes, I am fine, sister.”

Celestia’s brows knitted in a frown. “It is about your nights, is it not?”

Luna did not reply.

A sigh left Celestia’s mouth. “Lulu, I assure you, our subjects will come to appreciate your nights—”

Luna rounded on Celestia suddenly, her visage no longer serene but twisted and flushed of anger. “For the past thirty years, sister, you have assured me of that!”

Celestia reared a little from Luna’s outburst. “L-Luna, please…”

A hoof rose to Luna’s muzzle and rubbed while she sighed. “Please just leave me be, Celestia…” She returned her gaze to the sky.

Celestia opened her mouth but no words came. After a few moments, she reluctantly closed her mouth and disappeared into her chambers, her head hung, leaving Luna alone on the balcony. Luna’s gaze now fell on the capital city of Shimmer Tail and for the next two hours, she watched the orange glow of candlelight winked out one by one, each one a stab in her already heavily bleeding heart.

Why…? Why would they not appreciate my nights? Tears welled in Luna’s eyes. The twinkles in the sea of black… are they not just like the jewels the richer subjects loved to affix to their persons, clothing and artifacts?

The star Polaris and the asterism Crux guided ponies lost in the night… Luna blinked rapidly to clear the tears, only to succeed in pushing them past the threshold and they began to platter on the stone floor of the balcony. Why…? Why can they not once look up to my night and say it is pretty, it is beautiful?

The balcony was silent except for the sobs of an alicorn princess.

“I-I… think your night is pretty, princess…” A voice so soft and so seemingly on the verge of tears echoed around Luna.

Luna jolted upright, sniffing once before she bellowed: “Who art there?”

She spun around, scanning from the top of the spire down. Upon reaching the vicinity of the entryway to her balcony, Luna spied a flash of red-purple and white disappearing into the darkness of her chambers.

A frown crossed Luna’s face. “Show thyself!”

The moon princess stepped into the darkened confines of her bedchambers. There was no soul in sight, even with Luna’s excellent night vision. After several fruitless scans, she trotted into her private bath and splashed water on her face, finally clearing the tears. As Luna waited for her hiccups to still, she made a mental note.

Soon, she was out of her chambers and on her way to the evening court.

***

The evening court was a farce. Other than the usual issues of scheduling night time weather, the only other issue was the concern of candles, the circulation of candles. The ponies were simply too afraid of the darkness and the nobles were concerned that the production of the necessity—which was used for barely two hours each night—was running a little low.

Luna could not blame her subjects. The setting of the sun was the harbinger of night time predators… and the spirits. It was why all ponies of the three tribes banded together into villages, then towns, then cities all those centuries ago, after all. The combined numbers pooled the essence of the Elements of Harmony together and helped repel the predators and the spirits.

However, why would her subjects not just look up in the safe confines of their abodes? It was another easily answered question: this was another defense mechanism against spirit attack. Spirits relied on conscious participants in order to create Chaos and they being asleep robbed that avenue of attack.

Still, that was no longer a concern—the spirits were gone now, disappeared after Discord’s defeat five centuries ago. And though the fear they caused lingered, they should have faded by now. Do my subjects even care about my nights or all they cared was my sister’s day? It was another stab in her heart.

The tears this time were held back the virtue of her anger, a slowly growing beast that had been simmering in her breast for the past three decades. Her night had been an innocent victim of a nature of her subjects. There had to be a way to turn that notion around, and to show the beauty of her nights, how it was harmless. … All they cared was my sister’s day; see how they all flock to petition my sisters for issues big or small! … A-all they want was to bathe in my sister’s glory…

There was brief flutter of disturbed air, almost imperceptible back of Luna. Had she been of less melancholy mood, she would have noticed but it did not matter. Six pale blue band of solid magic lashed around the figure, which had barely alighted on the cobble floor of the balcony. It was a Trap spell Luna had set upon return. The resulting cry of the figure jolted her out of her depression.

The moon princess got on her hooves and spun around to the sight of a filly. It was not just any filly, her muzzle too long, too angular and her hooves too thin. Her body had the similar qualities as the crystal ponies—whose empire and its citizens disappeared in a curse by a vengeful tyrant only half a century prior—albeit unfaceted. Her white flowing mane barely touched her withers.

Presently, the filly was struggling against the restraints, a fearful look on her face as Luna stepped closer. Her eyes darted here and there before settling on the approaching princess, widening.

“Why hath thou trespassed the hallowed grounds of mine chambers, Foal of Chaos?”

There was no mistake. The filly was a spirit, a Wisher to be exact, which sought and fed on the desires of ponies. The said spirit’s eyes went even wider.

“P-please… do not hurt me, I meant no harm!”

Luna, with her wings spread wide, was the very visage of an angry goddess. “What trickeries dost thou hath in mind, spirit?”

The spirit flinched, her pale pink eyes shrunk to the size of a pinhead. “N-none… of that sort!”

A mighty stomp rang throughout the chambers, stopped short beyond the boundaries by a Soundproofing spell. “Then why art thou here!? Spreading the seeds of more chaos!?”

Tears pooled in the eyes of the spirit. “N-no…! I-I… merely wanted to share with you my appreciation of the night…” she said, her trembling voice went softer and softer, acquiring a quality of brittleness.

Luna’s mouth opened, then closed and opened again. “Thou— you were the voice I heard in the early evening?”

Presently, the filly visibly shook. “Y-yes…!”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Thou hath that belief in full honesty and sincerity?”

“Yes!”

As the bearer of the Element of Honesty, Luna sensed the truth in the spirit’s words and the features of her face softened. “… Really?”

“Y-yes…” The spirit sniffled.

A cry escaped the filly as the restraints vanished into the ether in blink of blue light, depositing her onto the cobbled floor of the balcony. All she saw was the platinum shod shoes of Luna before the latter turned and trotted away from the spirit.

Perhaps this is one of her trickery? The alicorn’s gaze turned skyward. No, the Element would have detected it if she had lied.

“Pray tell, what art thy reasons for which thou find mine nights beautiful?”

The spirit looked on at Luna’s upturned muzzle and did her best to stifle her quiet sobs. It was a long while of silence before she spoke:

“A sea…”

Luna spun around, a look of intrigue on her face.

“The night… is a sea…” The filly planted her hooves and pushed hers body off the floor. “A… vast sea of glittery diamonds, chromatic clouds and differently hued wanderers.”

The intrigue changed to merriment. “Such eloquent words from such a young one.” Luna ventured a smile and trotted closer. “Thy Princess of the Night art impressed that thou even picked the nebulae and planets out.”

A frown crossed the face of the filly. “I-I am… not young… I am… over a century old!” The head of the filly drooped. “Is that… what they are called?”

“Yes, the clouds art called nebulae and the wanderers, planets.” The left brow of Luna rose. “We noticed thou pause near the start of each sentence…”

The filly averted the gaze of Luna. “It is… how I speak ever since I knew how…”

A pale purple wing rested on the withers of the spirit. “There art no need to be bashful, spirit. We art merely curious.”

She remained silent.

Luna leaned her head close to the filly. “Tell us thy name, if thou hath one.”

“C-Cassia…” The spirit met the gaze of Luna. “My name… is Cassia.”

***

Luna stirred briefly and flipped onto the left of her body. “Cassia…” she muttered.

A set of red-purple hooves alighted in front of the slumbering alicorn.

***

“What… about that one?” Cassia pointed an ethereal hoof at an asterism of seven stars, one in each lopsided corner and a line of three across the middle.

“That, is Orion, the Hunter,” Luna answered.

Cassia frowned. “The Hunter… of what?”

Luna regarded her with a kind look. “Of monsters and dangerous creatures, child.”

“Monsters…” Cassia’s head drooped, her gaze taking on a faraway look. “And I am… not a child,” she muttered.

Luna chuckled softly. “I jest, Cassia.” Then her expression took a serious turn. “But it is a truth that the Orion had been a powerful hunter of monsters.”

“Monsters…” Cassia repeated. “Like… me?”

A blue-purple wing rested on Cassia’s withers. “You may be one of Chaos but a monster you are not,” Luna said.

“R-really…?”

A platinum-shod hoof booped Cassia on her nose. “Yes, really. Perhaps things are changing and Chaos and Harmony could now work together.” Just as the way things were supposed to work… just as mother believed. A pity it took five centuries to do so. Luna thought.

The spirit had been visiting Luna every night for the past week. Staying with the princess throughout each night, Cassia had bombarded Luna with questions about the nebulae and planets and had just started on asterisms, evidenced by her first question of the night.

It lifted the mood of Luna—somepony was interested in her night! Celestia had also noted the improved mood of her sister and was content to let her be for the time being. The elder had been keeping her distance since the younger’s outburst and had not even noticed the spirit’s visits.

Just as Cassia lifted her hoof to choose another asterism, a blue-purple hoof set on hers.

“Wait.”

Cassia turned her gaze to Luna.

“You have asked plenty of questions with regards to my nights for the past week.” Luna withdrew her hoof. “It is now my turn to ask my questions of you.”

Cassia flinched as if jolted by lightning. “What… questions?”

Luna regarded the spirit with a gentle smile, one more befitting her sister than one of her usual. “Do not worry, Cassia. I am merely curious.”

There was silence for a moment before Cassia spoke: “Then… what do you wish to ask?”

A hoof tapped Luna’s chin as she regarded her. “You are a Foal of Chaos, yet I felt no influence of it on you and neither are your eyes draconic. How is that possible?”

“I… did not know the full details but I knew that after the defeat of Lord Discord by…” Cassia averted her gaze. “… you and your sister, my grandmother, Thessia, broken with the Great Father and left when the Great Call came…”

Gears began to spin in Luna’s head. Great Father… Chaos? Then the Great Call must be Chaos recalling all the spirits but…

“Why did your grandmother broke with Chaos?” Luna said.

“She… heard the Reason of the Great Mother.” Cassia turned her gaze back to Luna.

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “The Great Mother… Harmony?”

“Yes… the entity you call Harmony is what we call the Great Mother.”

Luna’s eyes bored on Cassia’s. “Even if your kind was created to spread misery on the Foals of Harmony?”

Cassia flinched once again, a look of hurt on her face.

Luna’s features softened and she brushed a wing on Cassia’s shoulders. “I apologize… I did not mean to be harsh…”

“No… it is alright…” Cassia hung her head. “You… are right. We… were created to… torment you ponies…” Tears welled in the spirit’s eyes.

The wing on Cassia’s shoulder rubbed consolingly. “Do not be hard on yourself.” Luna gave her the gentlest smile she could muster. “The fact that you are here and I unharmed signifies that things have changed.

The clouds on Cassia’s face did not dissipate. “No…”

Luna frowned. “Why?”

“The… Great Father is planning something.” Cassia stood and took two steps to the marble rails of the balcony; her voice lost the usual child-like quality. “He… let my grandmother go too easily… It was as though he wanted her to be closer to the Great Mother.”

“That, I agree.” Luna also stood and joined Cassia at the railing. “The spirits have been curiously silent after Discord’s defeat, barring a few sightings. It does seem that Chaos is up to something. I take it that this is unprecedented, this planning?”

Cassia nodded, turning her gaze at the field of stars. “The… Great Father… Chaos does not plan, he acts.” Her eyes narrowed in worry. “He is… adopting the cunning of the Great Mother… Harmony.”

Luna followed Cassia’s gaze and mirrored her expression. “That is troubling,” she said as a meteor streaked across the night. “I will speak with my sister tomorrow morn.” Luna’s look turned pensive.

She stood still for a long while before she faced Cassia. “However, that did not answer the question. How is it that the influence of Chaos is gone and your eyes as though a Foal of Harmony?”

“It is… because we are under the influence of Harmony, my grandmother, mother and I, that is.” Cassia looked at Luna. “You… were unable to detect it as the influence on us is the same. Only… when it was contrasted that it shines or dull prominently.”

Luna gave a curt nod. “I see your point. Now, on to my second question: What is your exact purpose of being here?”

Cassia froze. “W-what… do you mean?”

“You may have been genuinely interested in my nights,” Luna said. “However, I sensed that you are hiding something.” Luna’s eyes bored into the Cassia’s. “What is it?”

The spirit looked away, and was silent for several minutes. “… I want… to fulfill your desire… Your… desire for your subjects to appreciate your night.” she muttered.

Luna stared at Cassia, her eyes wide in surprise. “Fulfill my desire? Would that not be destructive, given the nature of your spells?”

A low, soft sigh escaped Cassia. “We… gave up that nature when my grandmother joined Harmony.” She turned to face Luna. “We… still fed on desire but now we merely take a portion of it and let the rest guide the requester to succeed in their wish…”

“Guide?”

Cassia rubbed a hoof on her chin. “Well… not exactly guide but to use their desire to drive them closer to success.”

A frown crossed Luna’s face again. “And how exactly, pray tell, is that different from what your kind used to do? I have seen the ponies under its throes, what you say does not seem to differ.”

“Of course… there is a difference.” There was a look of seriousness on Cassia’s face now. “Those… ponies were forced to abandon everything and set themselves only on their desire, sorely to their detriment.”

Luna was pensive. “I… see.”

“That… would not be what I would be doing, however.” Cassia said. “I… have a suggestion to turn your subjects to appreciate your nights.”

The ears of Luna perked, along with a twinkle in her eyes. “Speak. I am interested.”

“A… night fair.”

An eyebrow rose. “A night fair?”

Cassia nodded.

“That… could work.” Luna paced briefly and brushed a hoof on her chin. “A fair to educate my subjects on the beauty and the subtle nuances of my night… with telescopes and star charts… A stargazing session!” A smile appeared on Luna’s muzzle.

“Yes, it could really work!” Luna turned back to Cassia. “I will float this before the evening court tomorrow. I am sure the nobles would see the reason.”

Cassia returned the smile. “Yes… they surely would not be opposed to this.”

***

A tear ran from an eye. Soon, it was joined by a torrent. A sob wracked Luna. “… How could they be so cruel…?”

A tear from above the alicorn dropped and joined the accumulating pool floating on the inky void.

***

“How could they say such a thing!?”

The wooden doors to the chambers slammed open, admitting a furious Luna, her face streaked with tears. Cassia, who had been waiting patiently for Luna to return from the evening court, jerked her head around and stood on her hooves. Luna had returned early than expected.

“They… still are adamant?”

A blue-purple foreleg brushed off most of the tears running down Luna’s muzzle and a sniffle escaped her. “How could they reject the suggestion out of hoof!?” There was a crash when a vase flung itself into a wall, courtesy of Luna’s magic.

“How dare they belittle the joy of watching the stars!?” The nightstand joined the fate of the vase, splintering in pieces on the balcony wall. “How dare they have such little faith that nopony would attend the fair for my glorious night!?”

Cassia reared at the outburst. “L-Luna… please be calm!”

“No! I will not!” Luna stomped a hoof. “How dare they refuse to even listen to what I have to offer!?”

Cassia disappeared and appeared in front of Luna in swirl of ethereal pink, wrapping a hoof around the alicorn and nuzzled her. “I… am sure the nobles will come around eventually…”

It was two weeks since Cassia had suggested the idea of a night fair and two weeks in which Luna had been pushing the idea to the nobles to no avail.

Two blue-purple hooves shoved the spirit away, and Cassia stumbled and toppled onto her back.

“No! I have been patient long enough!” Luna’s face was a mask of twisted anger. “I will make my subjects appreciate the night, no matter the consequences!”

“… Luna?” A voice echoed from the halls outside the chambers.

Cassia disappeared in a mist of pink out of the balcony window, leaving a sobbing Luna alone in her chambers as Celestia stepped in, eyes wide at the broken furniture and ornament.

“Lulu, what happened at the evening court? I heard you stormed out of the throne room before the session was even three-quarters way through.” Celestia brushed a wing on Luna’s back.

“Tia… how could the nobles reject my suggestion of a night fair out of hoof?” Luna gave a hiccup. “It was unreasonable and uncalled for!”

Celestia bent down and nuzzled Luna’s neck. “I admire your willingness and eagerness to sway the opinions of our subjects but they are simply not ready to embrace the night—”

Luna twisted out of Celestia’s touch and faced the elder sister. “Not ready!?” Yes… they cared only for the sun and my sister!

Celestia gave a start at the look of twisted anger on Luna’s face. “L-Luna, please calm down…!” She bit her lip. “Our subjects still reel from the night terrors of the spirits Discord unleashed on them—”

“THAT WAS FIVE CENTURIES AGO!”

Celestia stood firm this time. “Our subjects’ fear has long memories, Luna!”

A scowl crossed Luna’s muzzle. “Then how much longer should I wait? Another five hundred? A THOUSAND!?”

“L-Lulu!”

Celestia found herself lifted and carried out of the chamber in the pale blue glow of Luna’s magic.

“GET OUT!”

“Luna, please—”

The doors slammed shut. Immediately, Celestia was banging on the doors, locked by Luna’s magic. The alicorn, crying in a curled heap, ignored them until the elder sister left in frustration after numerous attempts in dispelling Luna’s magic, which she reset each dispel.

“… Perhaps… your sister is right.”

The crying cut off in an instant. Luna had not heard her return. “… Even you are agreeing with her?” She hiccupped.

Cassia’s head drooped. “We… my kind have simply done too much damage, Luna.”

Luna suddenly stood and rounded on Cassia, her face inches from the spirit’s. “There has to be a way!” Her bloodshot eyes bored into Cassia’s.

They stayed in this position for several minutes, with Cassia turning more and more uncomfortable by the minute. Suddenly, Luna broke away from Cassia.

She now had a manic look on her face. “Yes… I believe this will work… I merely need to be stronger than my sister…!” Luna jerked her head in Cassia’s direction. “I want you to cast the Desire spell.”

Cassia’s eyes widened. “What…? Why…?”

A wide, wide grin curled on Luna’s muzzle. “If my subjects fear the night so much, then I will keep the night up until they see the innocence of my night! It is the perfect solution!”

“… I… do not think that—”

“AS THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT AND CHAMPION OF HARMONY, WE ORDER THEE TO CAST THE SPELL!”

Cassia flinched from the full force of the Royal Canterlot Voice. “But…” She found herself pulled to mere inches from Luna’s eyes.

“You. Will. Cast. The. Spell. Now.”

Tears welled in Cassia’s eyes. “Luna… There… surely are other ways than this!”

“Do it!”

Cassia flinched again when Luna pressed her nose against hers. She stared into Luna’s manic eyes for a long moment before she sighed. A pink glow suffused from Cassia and Luna gleefully dropped her onto the stone ground.

Getting back on her hooves, Cassia said: “What… then, is your desire?”

“The power to make my subjects to appreciate my beautiful nights for all eternity!” A child-like giggle escaped Luna.

A look of concern and sadness crossed Cassia’s face before she continued: “Then… I ask of you.”

“Do you… wish for the powers to make your subjects appreciate my beautiful nights for all eternity?” Cassia held a breath and closed her eyes. She released the breath a few minutes later and said:

“Do you… desire the power to make your subjects appreciate your beautiful nights for all eternity, Princess Luna?”

The wide grin reappeared on Luna’s face. “Yes! Yes!” She let out a gleeful laugh.

The pink glow grew brighter and bright until the room lit blindingly bright and when it faded, there was laughter.

Laughter filled with grief, anger and jealousy.

***

In the black void, the two mares sobbed.

***

The gold leaven doors to the throne room were thrown open to the sight of a white alicorn of pink mane and tail. Celestia stared wide eyed at the shaking and cowering nobles before her gaze settled on the throne and her eyes got wider.

Sitting on the throne was Luna, but she had changed. Her proportions were close to Celestia’s own. Her coat was a darker shade of indigo and a mane of glittering flowing blue. A wide grin curled on her muzzle at the sight of her sister.

“Good evening, my sister!” Luna said. Her voice was cheerful, too cheerful.

Celestia stepped into the room. “It is eight in the morning, Luna.” She met the gaze of a few of the terrified nobles, hiding behind the skewed or upturned desks. A look of concern and sadness crossed her face. “What is going on? Why were you not at our sun raising and moon setting?”

The grin on Luna’s face grew wider. “I have issued a new decree! Have you not heard of it?” She threw out her hooves. “I have decreed that the night will never end until every one of our subjects would appreciate the beauty and innocence of my nights!”

“T-the court officials did not agree to that motion—”

“Silence! Thou willst only speak when spoken to!”

“Luna!” Celestia stomped her hoof. “You will lower the moon. Now!”

Luna jerked her face at Celestia. Celestia stared wide eyed at the manic face, now twisted with anger.

“I will not, sister.” Luna spat out the words. “All of Equestria will learn of the beauty and innocence of my nights! The moon will never set until they have learned of their lesson!”

Celestia’s eyes got wider. “Luna! Do you have any idea what would happen if this goes on? Everypony will perish!”

“Then let them! They only seem enamored to you and your sun, anyway!” Luna stood up on fours. “The moon will stand her ground!”

Celestia flinched as if stabbed in the chest. “Luna, listen to yourself! How could you be so callous of the wellbeing of your subjects? What has gotten into you?”

“Callous? For the past two centuries, there has been no love for me and my moon!” Luna stabbed a hoof in Celestia’s direction. “The space in their hearts is only for you and your sun and I cannot and will not stand it any longer!”

Celestia felt tears in her eyes. “That is not the truth! Our subjects still love you! They merely fear the night—”

A mighty stomp cut her off. “And thus they also fear the Princess of the Night!” Luna lowered her stance. “No matter, sister… The night will last forever!” A manic laugh echoed throughout the throne room.

A tear fell from Celestia. Then another joined the first. Soon, a cascade of tears ran down her cheeks. “Y-you would stand against your sister?”

“Sister? Sister!? Which sister would do nothing for thirty years while she basked in the glory and adoration of her subjects while ignoring her little sister!? I am sick and tired of your lies!” Luna’s voice now took on a lower, sultrier tone.

A black mist swirled and painted itself on Luna. Up and up it went, turning her coat black, her cutie mark deep purple and her starry flowing mane a pale purple mist. A blink revealed draconic blue-green eyes over whites that were now colored light blue.

Luna pawed a hoof on the ground. “You have been my personal nightmare for too long. There was never a day I would not dream of always living under your shadow, Princess Celestia…” A sneer appeared on her face. “Perhaps I would be the nightmare for once… Your Nightmare of the Moon!”

Celestia gasped.

“Now, en garde!” Nightmare Moon lit her horn in pale blue glow and a blast sent Celestia through the open doorway and a mighty crash into the stone walls.

The nobles, driven by fear and instinct, fled the throne room while Nightmare Moon laughed and laughed, only that there was no joy in the laughter.

***

“I-I’m so sorry, Tia…” Luna sobbed.

Two final drops of tears from above hit the puddle. The red-purple hooves turned and left.

Author's Note

Whew, the Interlude took quite a while to finish. Well, technically you all are getting two stories for the price of one since the interludes are pretty much separate, but important, backstories. I do sincerely apologize for the Cerebus Syndrome taking over but we would be returning to the light comedy/adventure this story started as in the next Act.

To anyone wondering about the dissonance in personality between Young!Cassia and Current!Cassia, don’t worry—it will be answered in the second Interlude after Act II.