Author's Note

Their are some slight mentions of ponies having PTSD in this story but I didn’t use the tag because it’s a small one, I hope you enjoy the story anyway

I own nothing from My Little Pony

A dress fitting leads to uncomfortable topics

Princess Luna had been planning this for months, but she forgot one kea detail, she forgot to commission a dress for the event but fortunately for her she knew one of the best if not thee best dress maker in all of Equestria, Rarity

She arrived at Carousel Boutique and knocked on the door and Rarity swiftly answered and suddenly she bowed before her and declared “Princess Luna, it’s an honor to have you here.”

“You do not need to do that my friend, I came here for a dress request.” Princess Luna declared

Rarity rose and declared “Of course, what is it you need darling?”

“I would like for you to make my dress for the Heartswarming Ball.” Luna declared

“Heartswarming Ball… I do not believe I’ve ever heard of such a thing.” Rarity stated in confusion

“I highly doubt that anypony except for my dear sister and maybe your friend Twilight Sparkle will know anything about it.” Luna revealed

Rarity asked “Dose that mean it is a princess only event?”

Luna seemed to have a sad look at the question but composed herself and declared “No no, far from it actually, you know of the Grand Galloping Galla yes?”

Rarity sighed in exasperation “Unfortunately I do.”

“From that reaction I imagine that the Galla is just as I remember and I do not regret missing it, but I digress, when me and my Sister both ruled side by side she was in charge of the Galla, but their was another popular dance, one hosed by myself, the Heartswarming Ball and all were invited to join in the fun, but unfortunately due to my 1000 year banishment it fell out of practice, I imagine that my sister did not feel comfortable hosting the Ball as it was my own.” Luna finished with a small smile

“So you want to bring back the Ball.” Rarity exclaimed in realization

“Exactly, I put it off long enough and now it is time for it to be revived, and I can not just wear any dress, the dress for such an event must be special, which is why I am here today as you are one of the best dress makers in all of equestria.” Princess Luna declared with an air of authority

“Princess your going to make me blush.” Rarity declared with a hint of embarrassment at the praise

“I only speak the truth.” Luna declared then asked “Shall we start the fitting now?”

“Yes let’s.” Rarity agreed

In the middle of their fitting Luna suddenly asked “How do you do it?”

“Natural talent and years of practice darling.” Rarity declared thinking the Princess of the Night was referring to her skills as a dress maker

It turned out she wasn’t as the Princess declared “No I do not mean your dress making skills, although they are esquire. I mean how do you deal with it? Their are some days I still think about my days as Nightmare Moon even after I forgave myself with the help of you girls but you act as though Nightmare Rarity never existed, so how do you do it?” Luna asked with a hint of sadness

“Ah.” Rarity realized with a frown

Seeing her face made Luna fear she may have unintentionally uncovered some old wounds (ones she knew all too well) and swiftly declared “If it is to much to talk about I of all ponies understand.”

“No, it is fine, like you said, if anypony would understand it would be you, but to answer your question wail I have days where I sometimes have memories of my time as Nightmare Rarely I remind myself that even though the emotions led me to the transformation were my own, I am not Nightmare Rarity and the memories are just background noise.” Rarity explained

“That is good advice, perhaps I should try it next time I have a nightmare related to Nightmare Moon.” Luna declared

“Princess.” Rarity declared in a disappointed sounding tone, almost as if she were scolding the Princess for something

“What?” Luna asked but then realized what Rarity was implying and swiftly explained “No no I learned my lesson and will never create another Tantabus, but sometimes I do have nightmares about that time all on my own.”

“I suppose we are similar in that aspect.” Rarity confessed , noticeably happier now that Luna explained that

“I don’t remember seeing any nightmares with you as Nightmare Rarity. If I did I doubt we wound be having this conversation now.” Luna declared slightly confused at Rarity’s confession

“You likely had more important dreams to look after, as I previously said, I just remind myself I am not her and those dreams are not real.” Rarity declared

“You have a good mental strength, but enough about that, one thing I real wanted to ask was if you and your friends be interested in joining the first Heartswarming Ball in a millennium.”

Rarity was hesitant and that much was obvious as she asked “Princess, how similar would you say that the Heartswarming Ball is the the Galla?”

Luna smiled at the question and declared “Not even a little, for example unlike the Galla that all but outlaws fun, the Heartswarming Ball will encourage those who come to have fun, I know I said earlier that all were invited to the ball but that wasn’t entirely true, the snobbish noble ponies are banned from the event, not that they would want to come as we encourage bringing fillies and colts to the celebration.”

Rarity had to admit, she was liking the sound of this “Heartswarming Ball” more and more by the second

Luna continued “Theirs not exactly a dress code per say, as said earlier the main focus is fun and I know some ponies do not like wearing clothes if they can help it, I myself enjoy the chance to dress up especially when quality designers make them.”

Rarity chose to just focus of finishing her dress

In the end the dress looked like a peace of the winter night sky, black with snowflakes, and in addition Luna had a rather strange request, a pendant of a misshapen snowflake

author note: the snowflake in the pendant is the same one as the picture for the story

Let it never be said that Rarity wasn’t used to unusual requests and she made it the the exact specifications Luna requested and when the Princess saw the pendant finished she cried tears of joy for some reason

‘Well, at least the costumer is happily’ Rarity thought to herself shaking her head

Rarity and all her friends wale reluctant at first because of their shared bad experience with the false promises of the Grand Galloping Galla did show up for Luna’s Heartswarming Ball to support her and ended up enjoying the Ball and Luna even offered Pinkie Pie the opportunity to plan the next one, and Rarity was slightly afraid of the chaos she could cause but couldn’t be worse than Discord she decided.