Lingering Thirst

After the outburst with the Royal Canterlot voice princess Celestia slowly re assured everypony in the vicinity that it was normal for royalty to talk like that in public. A few moments after the chariot landed Princess Luna quickly made her way towards the inside of the castle hoping to stay away from the glare of the sun. Servants bowed before her and welcomed her. One pony stood out among the others. She did not bow and instead looked upon Princess Luna with curiosity and then asked “a-are you alright Princess Luna, one thousand years on the m-moon must be hard on the body.”

        Princess Luna looked upon this mare with interest, every guard and every servant just bowed before her in respect and fear, just like they did a milina ago. Princess Luna hated to have ponies bow before her and here was one pony that just asked as if she knew her personally if she was alright. It was a bold move and most ponies found it highly disrespectful, Luna found it amusing a wonderful quality. The earth mares coat was the color of Sienna and her mane was cut short so as to not interfere with work. Her Cutie mark was that of a double infinity.

        Many of the guards were staring at the mare in shock, Princess Luna's reputation was undeniable and several of the palace workers backed away as if she was a disease. Celestia was curious and simply smiled in amusement. Luna on the other hand walked forward towards the mare and looked at her in more detail and said in a lower more manageable tone of the traditional royal canterlot voice “YES SERVANT WE ARE FINE. WHAT IS THOU NAME.” Luna said to the mare who actually started to shake in slight fear but still stood tall and she answered in a fluttershy wisper, “S-serenity.”

        Princess Luna smiled then said in a normal voice now that she knows the mare she doesn't have to be formal to a friend. “Come with us. You shall help us with our troubles if they ever do arrive.” The mare stood there with her mouth agape and then bowed before moving out of the way for Luna.

        Luna smiled at the mare then looked back at her sister and said “TIA, WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT.” Celestia bit her lip then walked forward dismissing many of the guards around the area and then said “well sister. We are going to the medical wing to make sure that you are fine. And if you are fine we will get you something to eat.” Celestia then added “also you do no need to use the Royal Canterlot voice, it scares everypony, I have not used it in over three hundred years.”

        “B-BUT THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE IS TRADITIONAL. IT WOU-uld be informal.” Luna said falling out into a more manageable tone after getting the look from her bigger sister. “Very well sister, I’ll try. O-only if this mare here become my personal servant, I like her.”

        Serenity blinked as if she was didn't hear correctly, personal servant, even though the correct term would be maid or helper she wasn't going to argue with a princess. Though the raise she would be getting would be outrageous, and all she did was ask if the princess was alright. “b-but why me.” Serenity said before she could stop herself.

        Princess Luna turned her head and looked at the mare in the eyes and then said “thou does not fear me and speaks her mind, most would only tell us what we wanted to hear and not the truth, I hate liars and deceivers more then anything.” Everypony within hearing distance looked shocked when they heard the word hate. It was taught at a young age that hate was a word not to be taken likey. “enough of this frivolous chatter, we have to visit the nearest healer and then get some food to ease our hunger.” Luna said and trotted off with her sister, the royal guards and soon Serenity herself.

        Celestia was curious to what her sister was doing, normally she completely ignored anypony that talked to her or blew them off, she had a knack for telling if a pony was being truthful or not. Even Celestia herself could not lie to her sister. Luna often said “I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you” to nobles when she knows that they are lying to her and then from then on she would never even see them in her lunar court.

        Eventually they made it to the infirmary part of the wing only after a few minutes of walking and some idle conversations between the sisters. The doctor was waiting for them right as they came through the door and he smiled at Princess Luna and then bowed respectfully before saying “hello Princess Luna, how are you feeling. Does anything hurt anywhere, any headaches, sore wings or do you feel any magical effects such as magical backlash and feedback. I have never known anyone who could stay alive for one thousand years, its a miracle that you aren't just dust and ashes, but maybe the moon put you in a statis or something . . .”

        The doctor kept rambling on and kept talking as he quickly popped a thermometer into the Princess’s mouth and felt her forehead, then only thing stopping Luna from taking it out and running for her life was her sisters stern look. Celestia knew that Princess Luna hated doctor visits more than anything. Princess Celestia looked at Luna and then said “now Luna, i'm gonna go get you something to eat, stay here and don't give the doctor any trouble, I don't think anything should be wrong but one must always be careful. And doctor kanga will take good care of you.”

        The Lunar princess just glared at her older sister and then nodded and yelped when the doctor put the stethoscope on her chest and listened to her heartbeat, Celestia backed outside the door and closed it and the final words she heard were “Please I know its cold, stop moving I need to check your heartbeat.” Celestia chuckled to herself and her sisters antics and then turned towards the Solar guards positioned at the door and a very confused mare.

        “hello Serenity, I don't think we ever got to talk before, come with me, you're gonna help me get Luna some food.” Celestia said and then turned to the guards and then said “one of you stay here in case Luna tries to run, she doesn't like the reflex hammer test. She has a tendency to hide.” One of the guards nodded and stayed over the door staring into space as the other one went and followed the princess.

        “so it seems my sister took a liking to you, that is very rare indeed. My sister was always one to be alone, she prefered to only be in the company of those she trusts and those who do not lie. She does not like liars or people who say stuff just because she is a Princess.” Celestia said towards Serenity before asking “how do you feel about all this?”

        “well i'm overwhelmed, its not everyday you get to help one of the Princesses, im nervous that i don't meet expectations or do the right thing, or say the wrong thing.”

        “ah don't worry about that, her being your servant is just a cover up for what she wants.”

        “w-wants.”

        “a friend.”

Near the runes where Nightmare moon was defeated

        “Dusk, I think you were right. She was defeated once again.” A stallion with a red coat said to a dark purple one after looking around the ruins and feeling the air with magic.

        “hmm, she wasn't sent to the moon and instead it feels as if she was just brought back to Luna. Yet . . . she still feels like her.” there was a pause then a small laugh, “even though our master Nightmare Moon may be gone there is still a little bit left of her in Luna.” the stallion said grinning showing fanged teeth. “I say we give canterlot castle a visit to see how our ‘mother’ is doing.”

        “Hey Smalls,”

        “I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME SMALLS, I'M RED FANG.”

        “Ok um so can we get a bite to eat, i'm starving. There is a village not to far away from here.”

        “no time of off the essence, we will get something to eat at canterlot castle.”

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Back at Canterlot Castle, the doctors room.

There was a Alicorn with a smile on her face as she sucked on a piece of candy that the doctor gave her. It was to everypony's amusement that just giving the Princess of the Night a sucker calmed her down and allowed everypony to do their job and it turns out Luna was in the clear. “Now Doctor, you must tell us who was the pony who made tis wonderful treat so we may offer them a reward.”

        The doctor simply laughed and then said “well you can find them at every candy store now, as for who first made them I have no idea, oh and Princess you are physically fine and can leave with Princess Celestia when she gets here. As if on cue the door opens up and in comes Princess Celestia followed by the solar guard and Serenity. Also Lunas favorite dish is floated next to Luna and Celestia says, “I made you your favorite dish sister, would you like to eat now or in the dining hall, it is not quite far.

        “We would like to eat in the dining hall.” Luna said wanting to appear propor as a Princess should be and she would like to talk some more to her sister. After the two royal princesses ate in silence with company, Serenity was still nervous about eating with royalty. It wasn't long till Celestia spoke up. “So Serenity, do you have any family?” Celestia said to Serenity curiously.

        “m-my family.” Serenity stuttered before adding “w-well I didn't really know my father and my mom was poor. I don't know where she is right now, i have just been living on my own these past few years.” Celestia nodded and then said “well if you are going to be helping my sister get situated with these times you're gonna need to live closer. I'm going to give you a nice small room in the lunar wing. And seeing how tired Luna is i'm going to let you show her where her room is. I have to deal with some rather obnoxious nobles.”

        At the mention of nobles the door swung open and out came two unicorns with their noses up in the air and they then said to Celestia, “Princess, did you forget our little get together, i have plans tonight . . . “ The brown unicorn blinked and looked upon the other visitors in the room and then said “May I ask why you are dining with servants this evening.” The unicorn said without noticing Lunas wing and must have also missed the memo about Princess Luna’s return.

        Luna was furious, not only had this Unicorn barged in unannounced he also insulted both Luna and her new friend was rude to Celesia and demanded something that was a privilege, not a right. Luna hissed and stood up her wings fanning out in anger and her horn flaring with her magic even if a simple levitation spell was out the question the power behind her horn undeniable, the black magic known only to the Princess of the night and her Thestral (bat-ponies) guards. The noble realizing that he just called a alicorn a servant started to back up and Luna then yelled at him “"THOU FROTHY BAT-FOWLING MEASLE! HOW DARE YOU INSULT US AND OUR SISTER. TELL US THOU NAME SO WE SHALL LET ALL KNOW THE SHAME YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON YOUR FAMILY.”

“Mr. Proletariat I would suggest you leave before my sister does something you both will regret. Serenity can you show Luna her room before she strains herself.” Celestia stood up and watched as the Unicorn ran out of the room. Luna was still furious but her magic calmed down and she looked away in disgust and then said “Now Tia why do you allow such filth talk to us like. Gha all that yelling has made us thirsty.” Luna said as she starts to drink her fourth glass of water.

        “w-when you're ready to go Princess, I'll show you your room.” Luna stood up and then said “We are going to retire for the day and will be up later tonight, if you need us Tia, we will be in our bedchambers.” Luna started walking and Serenity walked after Luna but not after respectively bowing to Princess Celestia. As Serenity showed Princess Luna to her room the night princess was still wondering why her throat was so dry, she had just drank four glasses of water and yet she still felt thirsty. “Here is your room Princess.” Serenity said bowing before opening it. Celestia removed the physical and magical locks which sealed the room from even the ravages of time, there was no speck of dust or foul air, every single piece of furniture, desk and old memento from their home in the old ruins was moved up to the Lunar wing and sealed off.

        Serenity started to walk off to go to her room and see what it would look like but Lunas voice stopped her “Serenity, would thou come and show us our bedchambers.” Something was off at they way she said it, but one does not question royalty.

 Serenity nodded and followed Luna into the room and when they were in the door closed behind them and the only light was from the closed windows. When Serenity turned to Luna she noticed something different about her. Her eyes were now red, visible even in the low light and Luna was licking her lips as she stared at Serenity with a hungry expression before saying in a predatory voice, “there is also something thou must do for us.”