The Moon, in Full View

[knight]

Cerena sighed softly to herself as she watched the stallions and mares mill about the dark insides of the astronomy chamber. She was in a special astronomical study course here at the castle. One for older fillies and colts--young mares, like herself. Not children. It was an advanced course, and it took several attempted applications to get in, but she had finally been accepted.

She had gone to all the day classes--memorized charts backwards and frontwards, learnt every square centimeter of the maps that charted the moons' topography. Yet, every time they came to the astronomy tower, she never got a chance with the mega-telescope. Sure, they had small stand-up ones for the students to use, but that wasn't right. She was polite over the whole thing, of course, never complaining, and always politely allowing others to take a turn on the large scope when really she desperately wanted to look through. To see the beautiful moon, and turn the adjustment nobs and see far into distant galaxies. To let her imagination dance on Orion's belt, and swim with Pisces and Aquarius through a see of stars.

She sighed again, hopelessly. There was an extra class of students here tonight--one from a small town far from Canterlot, filled with little fillies and colts roaring with excitement at the thought of seeing stars. This was the night where she had promised herself it would happen, too. How disappointing. Unless....

"Cerena?"

Cerena jumped as her name was uttered, and turned to face a dark-coated, brown-eyed unicorn mare. A friend of hers, Chocolate Swirl, "Oh...uh....hello, Swirl-girl!" She chimed cheerfully, her naturally socialism taking over her true, withdrawn and nerdy personality, "Something up?"

"Well, class is almost over, and some of us have been asked to escort the fillies and colts down to where they're staying in town. You wanna come?" Cerena saw this as her opportunity, and tried to conceal her excitement.

"Uh...I....I haven't finished all of my workbook yet," Her friend looked at her suspiciously--Cerena was never one to have homework, let alone incompleted work--especially at the end of class, when they had had the books all day. Cerena smiled, "Just go. I...I'd like to look for a few more constellations, maybe get a little ahead in my homework....."

Swirl chuckled, and turned off, "Say no more, Cerena. Just don't stay here too late."

With a wave of a hoof, the classroom was all but empty. A few stragglers stayed, actually attempting to finish their homework, and Cerena stayed out on the balcony, watching the stars through a small, standard-sized telescope. As midnight came and went, the last few of her classmates left her in a deserted astronomy tower.

She was truly ecstatic. She could barely keep from fumbling as she rushed back into the building, the tiny scope in her teeth, and put it away quickly, almost messily, in her haste. She clambered up the steps, more delicately now, and squeaked in excitement at the shining lenses on the two eye pieces at the bottom of the megascope. So. AWESOME!

She quickly rushed over and shut the lens cap, so that she could not yet see the stars. It had to be PERFECT. She laid down--an added bonus of being here so late--and adjusted the scope's height until it was just at level with her, and then adjusted the magnification and checked to be sure her eyelashes were not in the dark visuals. All clear. With a shudder of excitement, she opened the lens cap.

And gasped.

Coincidence had positioned the scope right at a GORGEOUS stellar nebula. She hadn't even realized it was set to such a high distance setting. Truly, she had just planned to view the moon....but...there was so much out there....

Before she knew it, it was nearly 2am...and she had barely begun...

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Princess Luna walked gracefully through the empty streets of Canterlot, making her way to a favorite nighttime getaway. Though she was had not yet regained charge of rising and setting the moon, she was still very much a “night owl.” There were very few, if any, ponies out and about this time of the night.

She carried with her a couple of saddlebags, filled with snacks and treats, and a couple of star maps, among other things. Not that the star maps were at all necessary. Though much of Equestria had changed, both in landscape and technological advances, the night sky had remained the same.

Luna could hear the loud chirping of crickets, uninterrupted by anypony. There were quite a few wonders to the night that it seemed most ponies missed or didn't care for. The tranquil quiet, the shimmering stars... even the bright moon.

She let out a small sigh as she made her way up the steps of the observatory. There was never anypony here this late, ever. Everypony went home to be with loved ones... and to sleep. How could they sleep at a time like this? But things had always been that way, Luna knew.

Though she often took time to examine things through the large telescope the observatory was famous for, more often than not she preferred to spend nights on the highest balcony of the tower, where she could observe the full sky, as well as the whole of Canterlot. But she had to go through the chamber which housed the telescope.

Normally she wouldn't have paid any mind if it wasn't her destination, but somepony was still using it. What would anypony be doing here at this hour? Luna thought to herself. “Excuse me, miss.” Luna began politely. “Isn't it a bit late? You should probably head home. I can call a guard to escort you, if you wish.”

[knight]

“Excuse me, miss.”

Cerena jolted upright, head slamming against the bottom of the megascope, and sending her whirling briefly, "Owww...." She shook her head, long blond hair swishing at her feet, "Uh...I...uh..."

“Isn't it a bit late? You should probably head home. I can call a guard to escort you, if you wish.”

Cerena looked up and blinked, taken aback by the site before her. A very beautiful mare, looking a similar age to herself--guessed by her height--with a soft, deep blue coat, and pale periwinkle mane stood before her. She had quite the beautiful horn on her brow, along with two gracefully folded wings at her side. Wait...both?! Cerena was flabbergasted. That meant....she must be....she was...."OH MY GOODNESS!!! Um....oh! Um....a guard, yes....no, wait! No! Please, no...Uh...." She bowed, remembering her manners, "Your...highness...I....I would ask that...that you allow me to stay, please...."

Her face tinged a soft crimson, "Y'see.....this...it's the first time I've ever gotten to use this scope, y'see....and....I'd just.....the moon is so pretty...."she suddenly realized how foalish she must have sounded, "That is, I--I'll go if you want me to....I mean, it's....yours, the whole castle is yours, of course!"

She lowered her head, blushing darker and using her mane to cover up a portion of her face, "I'm so sorry...."

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna visibly flinched as the young mare smacked against the hard megascope. But the pony quickly recovered, turning to look at her as she spoke. Luna could see from the mare's suddenly wide eyes that she hadn't expected to see one of the princesses, of all ponies.

She stifled the urge to smile as the blue-ish mare fumbled for words. It amused Luna when ponies became flustered over royalty... Though it wouldn't be polite to show it. The blue alicorn was taken aback by the mare's next request, but listened politely as she spoke.

Luna's ears perked subconsciously when she mentioned the moon, however. “Pretty”, she called it. That certainly wasn't something she heard every day. Or ever, really. She'd always been under appreciated before. Though ponies sometimes viewed the stars for pleasure—and indeed, that was the point of this observatory—the moon often got overlooked. By the time it rose into the sky, most ponies were already asleep. But here she'd received a compliment. Not about the sky, but specifically about the moon. Her moon.

She could see the mare blushing in embarrassment, even as she tried to hide under her own hair. But it concerned her that the Pegasus thought she had to apologize. It seemed that ponies did that a lot, at least around her—apologize for something they might not have known what for. Just that they should.

“Oh come now, don't be silly.” Luna pushed some of the hair from the mare's face. “There's nothing to be sorry for.” Luna smiled. “You're welcome to stay as long as you like, but... why would you want to?”

[knight]

“Oh come now, don't be silly.” Cerena was flabbergasted. Here was a princess. The princess of the MOON--her favorite thing in the sky--using a shod hoof to brush aside her long mane. A princess. She still couldn't believe it, and was baffled by the beautiful princess' kind action.

“There's nothing to be sorry for.” The pale blue alicorn smiled at her, and Cerena couldn't help a blush. She had never seen such a cute smile, even in her days working with young fillies and foals. It was pretty...but at the same time, offered some mysterious, warm quality to it,“You're welcome to stay as long as you like, but... why would you want to?”

Cerena stared, unabashed at the princess. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she had completely failed to notice that the princess had stopped talking--that she had asked Cerena a question, and that it would be a courtesy--and well, a duty to her royal highness--to respond.

"...Pretty....." She muttered, jaw hanging slack. It was as though this mare belonged in the moonlight. To look at her under its light was nearly as breathtaking as the night orb itself, "OH!!! OH MY GAWSH!!!"

She shook her head, feeling absolutely ridiculous for getting so caught up in staring. How rude! She was a princess, of course she was PRETTY!

"......I'm sorry...." She tried to wrap herself around the words she had been asked, attempting to recall them despite not having paid attention to them, "Why would I want to stay...? To....to keep watching the sky, of course. It's not every day the night is so beautiful...."

As she turned away from Luna, to look up and out into the night, her eyes retained a glassy shimmer, as though she had just lost all focus on all but what she was looking at, "I mean....it is beautiful every night.....but....a full moon....a storm on a nearby planet....a meteor shower, too....and the stars....just look so...." she paused, trying to think of the right word to cover the stars, "Well...so...so...complementary....to the moon."

She sighed, her eyes glazed over as she looked up at the night sky, as though she had completely forgotten the lunar princess in the room. She opened her wings, and quietly fluttered up and out of the opening that surrounded the megascope. She hovered awhile, inhaling the night air, before sitting at the edge of the roof opening, tail slipping down into the room, dangling freely, and tilted her head, as though gazing out at a lover in the night.

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna stared expectantly at the mare, waiting for an answer. The Pegasus seemed to be speechless in her presence. It was... understandable, she supposed. She had just as much right to royalty as Celestia did, though she wasn't always recognized for it these days. Still, more and more often she'd meet somepony who would be awed by her presence among the common, as her reputation grew.

The mare uttered just one word, before going silent again. Then, Luna saw the mare's eyes go wide, as if she'd awoken from a trance. She gave a simple exclamation, seeming to think that she was at fault. She bowed her head sheepishly as she gave an apology, but quickly recovered as she mentioned the sky.

Then she turned away from the night Princess, almost as if she forgot she was there. Her focus was torn away from Luna, and focused completely upon the world outside the tower. Or, more specifically, on the night sky. Luna herself considered it beautiful, but... she couldn't remember the last time she'd heard somepony else say it. But it wasn't just the sky she had complimented... she'd named off certain wonders specifically, like she actually... cared.

Luna shook her head, smiling to herself. She shouldn't be so foolish as to think that somepony had cared to study the night sky. Sure, this was an observatory, created for just that—but there was never anypony here when she came to visit. Twilight was an excellent time to view the sky, when the stars were just coming out and the moon had not yet risen... but it was, in Luna's opinion, certainly not the best time.

As the Pegasus spread her wings and took flight, Luna supposed she had headed home, perhaps too abashed to come and face her again. She sighed to herself, grateful to be left alone, and yet... not. Being by herself suited Luna, much of the time... although it did tend to get dull.

She was about to head further up when she caught sight of the mare again. She'd returned? Luna cocked her head to the side curiously, and then placed her saddlebags on the ground for the time being. She approached the mare quietly, her wings nearly silent in the quiet of the night. What a strange pony. she mused. She made no further acknowledgment of Luna, and the Princess didn't want to leave her alone since she'd been acting so... odd.

Maybe she'd just hit her head a bit too hard on the telescope. She did seem a bit dazed. Luna tapped the Pegasus on the shoulder. “Are you alright? It looked like you hit your head pretty hard.”

[knight]

“Are you alright? It looked like you hit your head pretty hard."

"Mm-hmm....." Cerena was still gazing out into the night, a goofy love-struck grin on her face, up at the large orb of a moon that her cutie mark was only a sliver of. It was gorgeous. She turned her head, and saw the princess of the night at her side, looking a bit worried over her own, strange actions. She realized that she must look completely mental! She dropped her smile, and coughed softly, blushing a more polite, not-so-obnoxious blush. "Oh, I...I'm sorry....it's just...."

She paused, and smiled thoughtfully, "You must really love the night... I...uh...I've heard the stories of....Nightmare Moon....and stuff....but...I don't think...that you were totally wrong in your thinking the night was under appreciated..."

She crossed a forehoof over the other, and scratched at her leg, "I think ponies oughtta appreciate the gifts that only come with the night a lot more. I mean...the day is great and all...but...." She shrugged, unable to think of a better word, "Definitely overrated."

She puffed out a breath upward and under her bangs, blowing them out of her eyes, "Did....did you make it all yourself?" She blushed again, aware that her question may be perceived as rude, "I mean, uh....you don't have to answer that...it's none of my business..."

She pawed a hoof at the ground while she spoke, still feeling a little awkward in front of the beautiful princess. As she fumbled with her hair, trying to keep herself busy so as not to say anything else further, she suddenly felt like a rip off, and felt a little ashamed of her cutie mark. As she fumbled a wing through her mane, she tried to catch a little and get it to fall behind the base of her wing, hoping to hide her cutie.

"So...uh....um..."She had barely paused between her question and continuing on into gibberish, "Um....do you like to....fly?"

She could have hooved herself in the face for that stupid question. She was a princess, with guards to carry her in a flying chariot. What need did she have to fly? What a dumb question. Sure, she had flown up here after Cerena, only because she was nice enough to be concerned over her strange behavior. But she probably preferred the magic of her horn to the flight of her wings.

[MyLittlePonyTales]

It seemed to take a moment for Luna's words to register to the Pegasus. But, as soon as she realized her folly she became alert, her attention focusing on Luna now instead of the outside world. Luna inwardly cringed at the mention of Nightmare Moon, a constant reminder of her past wrongs that was brought up all too often while in conversation with other ponies.

Although she had to giggle when the Pegasus called the day “overrated.” She really had no idea what she was talking about. Everypony loved the day and slept through the night—that was how it was, and how it had always been. The observatory was empty save for herself and the pony she was conversing with, further proof that nopony preferred the night over the day. She was flattered, yes... but that didn't make anything this mare said true.

“Oh I—well, no, I didn't.” she replied to the question. “I certainly added my own touch, but... well, creating all of it is a bit of a stretch.” she said modestly. Luna blushed slightly, overly flattered at the compliments she received on the nighttime. It wasn't like anypony to say such nice things about the night, and Luna actually found it a bit odd, if refreshing.

The mare began to fuss with her hair, and Luna landed beside her on the small windowsill. Wow, her hair was long. Luna hadn't noticed before, but now she could see that her mane stretched all the way down her back, until it met her tail. What a pain it must have been to style in the morning.

Luna was taken slightly aback by the next, rather random, question. She tapped a hoof to her chin as she thought about it. “I suppose I do just as much as the next pony. I do enjoy soaring over Canterlot with the moon to light the way, although it gets a bit cold most evenings.” She paused, turning to look out the window at the city below and the sky above.

Then she turned back to the periwinkle Pegasus. "While you seem to enjoy the night immensely, everypony else is already at home and asleep. You should be too.” she tried to hint the late hour to the Pegasus. “I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name.” Luna suddenly realized.

[knight]

((ooc: did you happen to get my email??))

Cerena was surprised the princess was so avidly listening to her muddled up bit of nothingness. Anypony else would have considered her mad--or...as she had once been called, before Princess Luna returned....a 'Nightmare Worshiper.' The memory was a dark one, and one she didn't particularly enjoy, but it was part of who she was. She LOVED the night, and...well, not everypony was willing to accept that. Sure, her cutie mark had a figurative meaning, as she had a natural ability of socialism amongst most ponies--though, clearly, not when it came to royalty, and a natural ability to drag out some sort of well...something, in other ponies, that on a number of occasion had proven outright to be their 'one true talent.' In her train of thought she almost missed it as the princess spoke.

“I suppose I do just as much as the next pony. I do enjoy soaring over Canterlot with the moon to light the way, although it gets a bit cold most evenings.”

As the princess said this, Cerena could not help the gasp that found itself caught in her throat, though she found herself at a loss for words, she was filled with excitement. She felt absolutely the same way! How could she explain that to a princess though? Maybe she could...?

Lost in her thoughts, she looked up as the princess continued to speak. "While you seem to enjoy the night immensely, everypony else is already at home and asleep. You should be too.” It seemed that the princess was trying to hint at the late hour. “I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name.”

"Oh...uh....my name is Cerena," Cerena smiled at the lunar princess, "And....I....I know it's late....but when I get home....I'll probably only stay up using my own little telescope...." she pawed a hoof at the roof beneath her feet, "so uh...if....if you're not busy or anything...um....I really....like to fly at night, too....in the moonlight and stuff..."

She paused and poked at the roof a little more, "I mean...if...if you'd want to, that is....you don't have to, that is....Um...sorry, that is..."

[MyLittlePonyTales]

”Cerena...” Luna mused, as if she was methodically examining the name. “That's quote lovely.” The mare mentioned that she had a personal telescope... they made those? What would be the point? Certainly there weren't enough ponies around who wanted to stare at the sky all night. No pony ever had. The thought was... ridiculous, to say the least.

But now she was proposing a nighttime flight. What was it with this Pegasus? She just wouldn't give up, going on and on about the night and how lovely it was and everything. It just didn't make sense to Luna, how this mare didn't jump up and rush home at the mention of the time. Luna was actually rather... confused by it all.

And now she was asking about... a moonlight flight? Did this pony have no regard for the hour of night or day? Every sensible pony was already in bed, sound asleep, preparing their bodies for the work they would have to do the next day. And yet... and yet she didn't care. Not a bit.

“Well I—I suppose it couldn't hurt.” Luna had planned to relax, so she wasn't especially keen on the idea. However, she knew she had to be courteous to all her subjects. Anyway, a night flight would do her good. She certainly didn't get out often enough, and Celestia always pestered her to go out and meet some ponies.

“Any place in particular you'd like to go?” Luna inquired. It was Cerena's idea, so she should be the one allowed to work out the details. If she'd suggested it, she must have some place in mind, right? Although, with the way she'd be acting, she didn't seem especially sure of anything at the moment.

[knight]

((ooc: sorry, I got lazy with colors. ))

Cerena blushed brightly at the complement about her name, not because she was embarrassed of it, but that a princess, a princess with a name far prettier than her own, should compliment her.

“Well I—I suppose it couldn't hurt.” Cerena couldn't contain her emotions, and her face quickly brightened. This would be the first time in all of her life that someone will have flown with her at night! She could almost squeal she was so excited!

“Any place in particular you'd like to go?” When the princess inquired to her, she was at a loss for words. She didn't really have a destination in mind...though, there was one place where she often liked to go...

"...Forest..." she mumbled before standing upright and making herself clear, "The Everfree Forest? There are some BEAUTIFUL flowers that only bloom in the moonlight. I don't know if you've seen them before but....we could go there."

She opened her wings, and fluttered them a few times before she lightly rose up into the air, hovering quietly, her wings barely making a sound as they shifted the wind around them, "If you think of somewhere else you want to go while we're flying, that's fine too..."

She paused thoughtfully for a moment, "Perhaps....we could...talk? I'd love to know more about you."

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Again, the mare went silent as Luna spoke. It was becoming a common trend between them, Luna would say something and Cerena... would not. Luna herself wasn't much for conversation—she expected everypony else to be the one doing most of the talking, or at the very least, pepper her with questions to answer.

“Everfree?” Luna mused to herself. Nopony visited there anymore. Not since— Luna cleared the thought from her mind. The Everfree Forest wasn't a place for regular ponyfolk, that much she knew. It had become overrun, not just with plants, but with dangerous animals. It had been her childhood home, and one of the first places she'd explored upon her return... but it just wasn't the same anymore.

Still, she wouldn't deny this mare the pleasure of a night flight to a destination of her choosing—after all, Luna had offered to let Cerena pick the place. Although it was because Luna would have no idea of where to visit at night, or even in the day, for that matter. Equestria was a whole new world since her return, and she hadn't gotten the chance to discover all of it yet.

Luna followed suit, pushing off the windowsill and taking to the air behind Cerena. Her wings were silent, almost becoming one with the sky and air itself. She didn't even have to try, it was just part of who she was, although somepony's might call it some sort of 'power'.

She came up quickly beside the other mare. “What is it you would like to know?” Luna asked. She wasn't opposed to speaking, but it just... wasn't something she was used to. She especially couldn't recall anypony asking specifically about her.

Nopony ever cared about personality when you were a royal. You just had to be polite and answer questions about family and History and the basics... but you never talked about yourself, because that was just selfish. Still, this mare wasn't a royal, and they were alone... so perhaps it would be alright if Luna let it slide.

[knight]

Cerena was briefly awestruck as the Princess' wings spread with the softness and silence of a butterfly's wings, despite their large size. Her own wings, quiet as they were, seemed noisy in comparison as they shifted the wind around them. The princess didn't even seem to have the slight bob that hovering pegasi did as their wings flexed up and down. She began fluttering towards the Everfree forest, eyeing the princess as she seemed to be contemplating something after repeating her destination to her.

Cerena, despite trying to put on a polite and cordial front for the princess, was flying with exuberance. She loved to fly, and the wind was warm tonight. As they began passing fluffy clouds, she could barely contain the urge to flutter through them, if only to feel them burst apart as she did.

“What is it you would like to know?”

Cerena pulled her eyes away from the fluffy marshmallows, and smiled at the princess awkwardly, as though she was just caught doing something inappropriate, "Oh um...how about um...what...well...what do you like to do? What are your hobbies?? I mean...what do you do when you have free time? Read? Sing? Dance?..." She paused, and a wide smile spread across her face as she watched her and the princess' reflections ripple off a lake below--, "Or maybe....swim?"

Without a warning, and with a spontaneity that was almost out of character, she dove down towards the lake below, and tucked her wings to her sides, nose diving into the water and feeling the water rapidly drench her before she pulled up and out of the water, the tucked feathers at her sides still dry. She turned and rolled through the air, turning on her side and flexing out a wing, the tip spritzing water in a trail behind her. She gave a loud, "WEEEEEE!!!" before spinning up and rejoining the princess, a goofy grin on her face, "Sorry....I just couldn't help myself...hehe..." She was blushing, but she couldn't keep the goofy grin off her face, "It's so beautiful out!"

She giggled and did another air tumble, before flipping to be in front of the lunar mare, water droplets flickering from her body and towards the princess and her sudden halt, "What do princesses do for fun, anyhow? I guess I always just assumed that.....well....I dunno...." She was flying backwards now, still facing the forward-moving princess as she spoke, "I don't know what I assumed..."

She let herself fall back into place next to Luna, rather than in front of her. It was apparent she was growing a bit more comfortable with the alicorn mare, "You seem so...normal...and...nice...and stuff....so....I dunno....kind of different from Celestia....I mean....I've only seen her once at the Summer Sun Celebration when I was a filly...oh, and I guess there was that one time when I first got to tour the castle....but it was only a glance....um....sorry, I'm rambling...." She flicked a hoof at her hair, shoving the heavied, damp locks out of her face, "Anyway, Luna...can I call you Luna? Oh, of course not, how rude...um....Princess, you seem...different. Nicer. More.....sincere...or something like that..."

She blew upwards at her bangs, "Pbbbb. Sorry. I'm not making any sense, am I?" She chuckled and fidgeted through the air. As she finally stopped speaking, she realized how rude it must have been to not even allow the princess to get a word in.

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna watched Cerena study the white clouds, getting the feeling that the other pony saw something that she couldn't. She had a wide grin spread across her features, though it was difficult for Luna to discern why. She was hanging out with one of the most feared ponies in Equestria, and at night no less, a time nopony enjoyed. And yet, Cerena seemed overjoyed.

She cleared her throat as well as her thoughts, focusing on Cerena rather than her own musings, so as not to be rude. ”What do you like to do?” “What do *I* like to do?” Luna stopped herself from saying it out loud. The question was ridiculous, something anypony who knew anything should have been able to answer themselves... but she would oblige, none the less.

“Uh, well, there are a lot of royal duties to attend during the daytime... and not only that, but a Princess must devote her spare time to studies and the like—“ Luna flew backwards in surprise as Cerena suddenly took off, plummeting downwards before her periwinkle form hit the water, emerging just a few moments later.

As she watched the water spiral from Cerena's wing, Luna had the urge to try the same trick herself. It was quite a beautiful display, but Luna didn't dare lose herself in the moment. So she flew on, stolidly faced, only smiling and nodding politely as Cerena appeared by her side again.

As the other mare made her way to the water again, Luna glanced down at her own reflection. She hardly remembered all the wonders and beauties of nature, but this was one she realized she'd been missing. There just wasn't anything quite like watching your reflection ripple across the top of a stream or lake.

But a few spatters of water against her face brought Luna's head up in surprise. “Oh, well—“ she began to answer Cerena's next question, but the mare cut in, chattering away about Celestia. Luna inwardly rolled her eyes; Celestia was all anypony ever talked about. Even in a thousand years, nothing had truly changed.

“Luna is quite alright.” she replied. “And though it may not appear so, Celestia and I share many similarities.” However, Luna wasn't sure if what Cerena had said about herself was so true of Celestia. She'd had little time to observe her sister's interactions with their subjects. Though it was true they did have things in common, Luna wasn't actually sure what all of them were. But the reputation she had to uphold for herself and her sister always had to be positive, no matter if it was the truth or not.

“Your compliment is much appreciated.” Luna continued. That was really all she had to say, and so the pair of them flew on. Luna's ears twitched as the wind rustled through them, and she took in a long breath, absorbing the night. She'd missed this world, and with each day, she realized just how much.

[knight]

Cerena flew along quietly at the princess' side. She seemed.... perturbed, to say the least when she had brought up Celestia. She made a mental note to avoid speaking of the solar princess from now on.

"So...." She began, as the lake began to dissipated beneath them, dwindling into a winding stream that led the way towards the Everfree forest, "Um......I mean no offence Pr--...LUNA, but.....I....asked you what you LIKE to do.....not what is your DUTY to do...."

Cerena, for only a moment, felt a bit of fear after asking the question. Some reminiscent of the ingrained fear of the Lunar princess. She pushed it away though. This was a real, live, flesh and blood mare she was speaking with--not a rumor, or nightmare, just....a princess....and someone she was finding more and more she would very much like to be friends with.

"I mean.....my profession is a teacher.....but I also love to.....socialize with my fillyfriends, pursue my personal astronomy studies......braid my mane....." she giggled as she thought of her most recent escapade, "Take a midnight swim! Certainly, I....do my duty....and I LOVE it, don't mistake me.....but....."

She looked studiously at the Lunar princess, "What do you do...for FUN?"

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna gave a light murmur as she thought about the question. She didn't really... like doing anything. There was never time for that. Running a kingdom wasn't just a job, it was a life. There was always something to do, something new to see or learn. She was always on her hooves, keeping up with all the latest news, meeting with officials, observing training of the royal guards, studying... Thinking about it made Luna's head spin. She'd nearly forgotten how busy she had been before.

“I don't... uh—a princess doesn't really have time for such things. Although enjoyment may be produced when socializing with ones subjects, it is not something that is done independently. Fun, that is. It's not that I don't like having fun, but there's just not time for such frivolous things."

That had always been a fact. Even as a filly, she had been groomed from birth to rule. Lessons, studies, events... at the end of every day she would find herself exhausted, and yet awoken early the next morning to continue drudging on without a break. Things seemed to be a bit more lax now, but Luna still couldn't quite shake the routine. There was a lot to catch up on after a thousand years.

[knight]

Cerena's smile slowly faded as the princess carried on, and she realized just how completely, and utterly....different that the two of them truly were. She turned her face away, somehow, being faced with the fact of it all, made her very sad.

"OH!" She exclaimed, as before them spread a wide field, surrounded by the winding beams of the unmanaged Everfree trees, supple buds as milky white as starshine blossomed as far as the eye could see, in what appeared to be a perfectly circular clearing. Not one of them extended beyond the rim of trees that formed around the meadow. Glowing in the warm light of the full moon, they formed a reflection of petals to the lunar orb high in the sky. They were absolutely breathtaking. She slowly descended, and lightly placed her hooves down among them, trying her very best not to crush the beautiful blossoms, "We're here...."

Her voice was soft, as though if she were to speak loudly, the beautiful glow would vanish from the serene clearing. She looked up at the princess, "Aren't they beautiful?"

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna recalled all the “fun” she had had attending the Nightmare Night festival in Ponyville. Though the night had almost ended in disaster, it truly had been one to remember. Still... she couldn't let herself become lazy or frivolous. Time spent with subjects was always time well-spent, and she had to remind herself that she was just doing her duty... if fun was involved, it was merely a pleasant side-effect.

Much like tonight. Tonight had potential to be enjoyed... although that was really entirely up to Cerena. Her whims and wishes were also Luna's for the evening, until they parted ways.

As they landed, Luna noticed the flowers for the first time. She had previously been absorbed in her thoughts, but now her attention was drawn elsewhere. It took her a moment to realize that Cerena was talking to her, or even that she'd spoken at all.

They were beautiful... There were so many things that Luna had missed, and things she had missed out on. She closed her eyes and took in the sweet scent, just as a breeze rose to ruffle her mane. Breathing a sigh of relief, Luna recalled that she hadn't yet replied to Cerena.

“Yes... Yes they are.” she said softly.

[knight]

Cerena smiled at seeing--if only for a moment--the princess' formal attitude slip into a brief state of awe at the overwhelming sensual onslaught--the beauty of the view, and the delicate perfume of the night air had gotten even to her. For a moment...she could swear she saw a glimpse of a normal pony--an immortal goddess of night--but a normal pony....somewhere deep....

She blushed, thinking she may have seen something she shouldn't have, and averted her gaze, "Um...I...I'm glad you like it....." She pawed the earth with a hoof, "Um....I don't know if this is....improper or anything....but....I know lot's of places like this.....there's quite a few you can fly to around different places....where you can see certain things...that only come out at night....astrological things...." she blinked and rolled her eyes away nervously, "Um....if...if you maybe...had some free time or whatever.....maybe we could um...do this again some time....maybe we could be....."

She swallowed hard, shaking in her horseshoes as she willed up the courage to say the last word, "F-friends!?"

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna ducked her head for a moment, taking in a last whiff of the flowers and taking the time to clear her head. She smiled, giving a light giggle—it was all she dared. Truly, she would have loved to leap into the air and then go charging across the field without a care... but that would not be proper in the least. She just felt... so alive, being back in Equestria after so long, finally being able to enjoy nature... Even after her return, she'd spent her days cooped up, almost never straying far from the castle or Canterlot.

Luna turned to focus her attention on Cerena as she spoke. Though the wild and wide world called to her, she ignored its beckoning. She was no longer smiling, but listened intently. Even though Cerena had initially invited Luna on the outing, she was Luna's guest...as was customary. A princess always put others before herself and her own wants and needs.

She toyed with the idea of further exploration. She did want to see more of Equestria, and a guide who knew the area would be perfect. However... there was the matter of Celestia's approval. Though Luna knew that she and her sister held the same amount of power and influence, she didn't really feel it. She was constantly asking for permission, and Celestia would always insist it wasn't necessary. Still... Celestia knew the lands and it's ponies better than anypony else. She was smarter, wiser, and well... older. She wanted to respect Celestia and her wishes, because she was far more experienced, and a much better ruler.

At the last question, Luna threw her head back and laughed. It was a joyful life, full of life, and almost musical in nature. Then she turned to Cerena with a tender smile. “We were already friends before we met! A princess—“ Luna stopped herself short, but quickly rectified her speech. “I am a friend to everypony. And you needn't be afraid to ask me anything. Anything at all!” she said, having noticed Cerena's nervous fidgeting.

[knight]

Cerena was initially overjoyed with the princess' first statement of being her friend, but as it was clarified, she couldn't help but withdraw a little--though the smile on her face gave no hint of it--she was just like any other subject to her. Of course. How silly of her to think she may make friends with with the beautiful princess of night. Well, friendships didn't happened through words, did they?! She'd have to put some effort into MAKING friends--actual friends--with the princess.

"Well, that's wonderful!" She half-giggled as she spoke excitedly, "Well, I don't know about you, but I want to run in these flowers! Care to join me..." She extended a hoof towards the cobalt princess, "Friend?"

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna cleared her throat. “I—“ she placed a hoof on Cerena's for a moment, staring out across the beckoning field, “—would rather not.” she said, the smile still plastered on her face. She couldn't afford to let it waver. Her hoof left Cerena's at this, returning to the ground.

“But I have no objection to you doing so. I shall merely walk, or fly, if I cannot keep the pace.” she nodded resolutely. A lady of the court could not be seen frolicking through dirt and plants, muddying her hooves like some ruffian. Though she was part Earth pony, the dirtier aspects did not... should not have appealed to her.

And yet, more than ever they did. She didn't mind getting her hooves dirty, getting herself dirty. She had the desire to be wild, to be free. To be rid of royal duties and practices... but that was impossible. Once an Alicorn, always an Alicorn... and Alicorns were royalty. She was born and bred into it, responsibilities ingrained in her since birth. "Always be on your best behavior. Always be proper." Her father would have said. And so with an inward sigh, Luna declined her wants.

[knight]

Cerena opened her mouth to protest initially, then simply closed it and replaced her hoof on the ground from that of the Princess' receding hoof. She gave a modest shrug, "Suit yourself, then.....I'll wait at the end of the field if you can't keep up. But you should know..."

Cerena spread her wings and reared back, tossing her mane from her eyes before lunging out into the expanse of glowing buds, "You're missing out!"

Cerena ran quietly, though there was a peculiar mindless devil-may-care attitude to her as she galloped, letting the fragrant wind gust into her lungs, inhaling deeply with both her mouth and her nostrils flared as she galloped hard across the large clearing--much larger than it had seemed from above, it expanded a small surmount of two rolling hills, dancing wistfully in the night air as the moon brought out their pearly sheen.

Her wings flapped as she ran, though they did not take her off the ground, and though her hooves began to stain with the blush of the soil, and a few blades of grass tangled themselves in her hair, there was a certain...elegance to doing what she did. Frolicking, dancing, nickering among the milky flowers, catching petals in her mane, growing intoxicated with the scent of the flowers.

As she ran, doubling back on herself upon occasion to catch a second site of another flower, it seemed like the far side of the clearing was so far away. She was already panting, but the sweet intoxication of the night air kept her heart galloping forward, even as her body grew sore. She had almost lost all thought of the princess.

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Luna inwardly kicked herself, but pouted outwardly. She'd never asked for this life; living by rules and regulations. It wasn't fair. Regardless of what she felt, however, Luna had to put on a 'brave face' and make the most of it. After all, she never would have ventured into the night at all if not for this Pegasus.

With a flick of her wings, Luna was afloat, gracefully flying in place for a moment before charging after Cerena. Her flight was silent, her legs tucked under her body and the tops of the flowers just barely caressing her belly. A few times she allowed her hooves to prance upon the ground while in flight, testing her skills as she honed in on the shadowy form of the mare before her.

She raced up next to Cerena, hugging her wings to her sides and allowing the winds to carry her steadily forward. She turned to her and grinned, placing a couple of careful steps along the ground next to her and using the momentum to push herself back into the air.

But, in her midst of dancing around Cerena, a misplaced hoof snagged on a rock. Luna felt herself pulled downward, and then with barely time to cry out, she was tumbling head over hooves. When she regained her senses, Luna lifted her head from the flora, shaking it back and fourth in an effort to clear her head further and remove any loose debris.

[knight]

Cerena, for a brief moment, let out a ruckous laugh as the princess beamed at her, half-hovering next to her, having used her wings to catch up to Cerena. Then her laugh faded as the princess' hoof caught on an out of place rock, and sent her tumbling head over hooves forward.

Cerena could not help a polite curse under her breath as she watched the cobalt blue princess tumble through the petals, sending leaves and grass alike about in a whirl all around her, before finally coming to a halt as she arrived at the bottom of the hill. She raced after the alicorn, using her wings to propel her forward faster than she had been galloping, and was relieved when she saw the princess' head poke up, looking a little askew and mussed up from the tumble.

She sighed as she arrived at the princess' side, and collapsed on the ground next to her, "My goodness! You gave me such a fright, I thought you were seriously injured!" She panted lightly as she spoke to the princess, and could not help but to smile at the grass and petals thrown askew in her mane, in place of her crown that must have fallen from her brow in her tumble. Her eyes twinkled as she said light-heartedly, "Your highness, you seem to have lost your crown--and replaced it with a halo of grass!"

She giggled lightly at the notion, and as though to make up for the princess' moment of uncouth appearance, she too rolled around in the flowers a little, getting grass intertwined in her mane and petals in her feathers, "There!"

She beamed at the princess, "Now we're both the same!"