For the second time in as many years, Canterlot Castle was under siege.

From her balcony far above, Luna watched the army of ponies that swarmed around their front gates, held back by only a thin strip of gold as the Solar Guard did their best to delay the invasion. It was only a matter of time and everypony knew it. Sooner or later, there would be a reckoning.

“Sister? We have to do something about this...situation. The current state of affairs is intolerable! We will not be made to feel like a prisoner in our own home!” Luna growled under her breath as she prowled back and forth on the balcony, her tail whipping behind her as she stared at the ponies below.

“I know, Lulu,” was the patient reply. “But really it’s not my place to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do right now. This is about you.”

Luna swung her head around to stare at Celestia. The white alicorn was settled comfortably on a cushion on the floor, daintily sipping from a cup of tea suspended in her magic, her expression as serene and untroubled as ever.

“Oh no! Thou dost not get to do this! Thou’st been meddling in our affairs since the very beginning! Thou cannot simply wash thy hooves of it now that it is inconvenient!”

Celestia tutted softly as she dipped a biscuit into her tea and nibbled along the edge. “I didn’t mean to imply that, Lulu. I’m not about to turn my back on you, but this isn’t my relationship or my coltfriend. How should we handle this situation? Only you and Mac can decide that.”

Luna peered over the edge of the balcony again, tapping a hoof on the golden railing. “We suppose telling them it’s none of their business would not be sufficient?”

Celestia paused with her teacup halfway to her lips. “I...doubt it. You could try it, I suppose, but I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hope for the outcome.”

“How would you deal with it, then? If the relationship between you and--”

“That’s not the same thing and we’re not talking about that right now,” Celestia interrupted, a blush staining those perfect white cheeks a sweet shade of pink that made Luna grin briefly before she turned back to staring at the crowd.

“A volley of arrows over their heads and an order to disperse?” she asked hopefully. “We seem to recall boiling hot pitch being effective.”

“They’re not an angry mob, Lulu, just an annoying one. They’re the press, and they have every right to do what they’re doing.”

“Freedom of the press! Bah! We remember when we were looked upon as Gods, our judgement unquestionable, our private matters truly private!”

Celestia sighed softly and set her teacup aside. “Lulu, come and sit down. Please? I would have thought by now you would be used to dealing with the Canterlot press.”

“Nay. They have little interest in the dealings of the Night Court and even when they do speak to us, it is mostly to find out my opinion on something you have said or done.” Luna finally pulled herself away from the balcony to flop sullenly down on the cushion opposite her sister, pouring herself a mug of steaming black coffee before taking a sip. “I wonder if Mac has managed to avoid the press in Ponyville. No doubt they are hounding him most tenaciously if the crowd outside is any indication.”

“The Apple family are far more cunning and resilient than many ponies give them credit for,” Celestia assured her. “I’m sure they’re coping just fine.”

“No emergency missives from thy student then?”

“Not a one.” Celestia cracked a brief grin. “Twilight might overreact from time to time, but she and her friends are more than capable of dealing with the worst the press corps might throw at them. No, for now we must focus on what we are going to tell the newspapers here.” She paused while she absently poured herself another cup of tea, stirring in a spoonful of honey as she gathered her thoughts. “The way I see it you have two choices. The first is that you deny the claims made by Mourne. You can denounce him and say there is no relationship, but there will still be intense scrutiny on both you and Mac. The papers love gossip and rumours, even unfounded ones, so that will make both your lives very difficult, to say nothing of the backlash when you finally DO make your relationship public.” She paused to take another sip of her tea. “Personally I think that kind of evasion or denial would not last long, but it is still an option if you wish to pursue it.”

“Mourne has made many mistakes, but publicly denouncing and vilifying him is a step too far,” Luna said firmly. “He has been all but exiled from Canterlot, we will let that matter rest, allow emotions to calm. Assuming, of course, he does nothing to exacerbate the situation.” She added a slow shake of her head. “I do not believe that I would be comfortable in perpetuating a lie of this magnitude. To carry out our relationship under false pretences and in secret would only add a further burden that Mac does not deserve.”

“Then you are left with option number two. Confirm your relationship. This way you can nip any rumours and wild speculation in the bud and enforce guidelines and boundaries that the press must abide by if they wish to know anything further.” Celestia paused again, staring down at the swirling surface of her tea. “You know, in the long run this could be a good thing, both for you and for your batponies. To take a lover, a lover who is just a commoner, just some earth pony from a small town, this could go a long way to helping your public image. We both know the things that are said, whispered when they think neither of us are listening,”

Celestia paused, glancing at her sister. Luna just shrugged, a resigned look on her face. She’d said as much to Cadance herself.

“I know it has been hard for you,” Celestia continued, “that many ponies still remember the Lunar Uprising, the Nightmare… From a purely political standpoint, this is an astute move on your part. There will no doubt be some who will question if this relationship is merely for show, an attempt to make yourself seem more approachable and curry favour with the common pony.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “An insidious accusation, and one difficult to defend against. How can we prove that this is not merely a political or financial alliance?"

Celestia sighed softly. “There’s a number of ways that would silence most dissenters. Pregnancy, marriage, but even then you would be hard pressed for some to not spin this as some elaborate charade to improve your public standing. The Princess and the Ploughpony, it's like something out of a storybook, so therefore it must not be true." She smiled faintly. "There are some ponies who simply cannot take anything at face value, they are forever looking for the plan behind the plan."

“Pfeh. Why must this be so complicated? Why can we not simply enjoy each other’s company?”

“Because nothing with us is entirely simple. You should know that better than most. With greater freedom for our little ponies has come increased scrutiny on the way we live our lives inside of court and out. Like it or not, very little of what we do these days is truly private.”

Luna muttered something under her breath, still remembering the day she’d found a newspaper with a blurry picture of her eating breakfast on the front cover accompanied by a mostly speculative article on her dietary and eating habits. If Celestia hadn’t stopped her, she likely would have forced them to burn every single issue.

It wasn’t what she was doing at the time that galled her, even if she had been caught mid-mouthful of pancake and it was hardly a good look; it was the invasion of her privacy, the casual disregard for propriety that was something she simply could not abide.

Luna sighed softly. For much of the time since her return, she had been content to let Celestia deal with the press, for her sister to be the public face of their reign, but it seemed now she had little choice. “What do you suggest?”

“Holding a press conference would likely be the simplest solution and would allow you to address all the newspapers at once. It would have been better if we had both you and Mac here, but given the mob at our gates I fear we have little time to lose. The longer we leave it without some formal comment the worse the speculation is likely to be.” Celestia tapped her hoof thoughtfully against the edge of her saucer. “Another possibility is…” she trailed off.

“Is?” Luna prompted impatiently. “Is?”

Celestia, much to her sister’s amazement, actually fidgeted in place, shifting her weight uncomfortably. “A passing thought, nothing more. On second thoughts, perhaps not the best of ideas given your dislike for the press intruding into your affairs.”

“‘Tia…” Luna growled.

Celestia sighed, dropping her head down. “I am aware that the Apple family’s finances, much like many other farmers, are not the best. If you and Mac were willing to offer, say, an exclusive interview with one of the papers…there would be a bidding war the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Fleur De Lis talked about her relationship with Fluttershy. As well as the, ahem, financial incentives, an exclusive arrangement would force the other papers and magazines to keep their distance for fear of legal action.” Celestia lifted her head to glance quickly at Luna, finding the midnight-blue alicorn glaring back at her. “Of course there would be protests, accusations of royal favouritism and we would most likely end up alienating some of the press which would perhaps not be the best course of action. But like I said, on second thoughts…”

“Regardless, we are not about to flaunt the details of our relationship in some sordid gossip column,” Luna snapped. “If we had our way, this entire conversation would be unnecessary. We do not understand why we must answer ANY of their questions! You do not see them hounding every pony in the street for intimate details of their trysts. Why must we be different?”

“Because of who and what we are. Many ponies seem to think that being a Princess must be a life of glamour, that we must have our choice of any stallion or mare we might like. There are, of course, the rather more salacious rumours about what goes on behind closed doors.” Luna snorted and Celestia just smiled gently before going on. “Also, of late, there is an endless thirst in our little ponies for this sort of, well, gossip is really the only word for it. You’ve no doubt seen the Enquirer, the Equestria Free Press and so on.”

“We would not sully our hooves with them,” Luna snapped. “Their scandalous insinuations and guesswork about our private life would have seen them executed for treason once upon a time.”

“While I can understand that reaction, there’s something else you might want to consider. I know since your return you’ve been frustrated with some of the things being said about you, Lulu, about you and your batponies. If...you were to do an interview, give your side of things, let our ponies see you, see the sister I know and love and not just the Princess, it might go a long way to changing public opinion in your favour. You decry the rumours and guesswork? Then give them your side of the story.”

Luna sighed, glancing out towards the balcony. “We must consult with Mac before we make any decisions. It is not just our story to tell.”

“Agreed, but in the shorter term you will have to tell the press something. They’re not going to stop or go away until you do.” Celestia hummed to herself as she nibbled on another biscuit. “I can ask Kibitz to put something together for you to address them. You can either give them a simple formal statement and nothing more or we can allow them time to ask for more details. We can limit their questions and set a time limit so at least we will have some measure of control over the scrum this is likely to descend into.”

Luna nodded. “A prepared statement will be best, we think...however we do not wish to appear entirely unapproachable. Let us limit it to, say, five questions?”

Celestia rose smoothly. “I think that would be very fair, Lulu. I’ll arrange things with Kibitz and we should be able to have the conference later this morning if that is okay with you?”

Luna grunted an affirmative, returning her sister’s nuzzle before she was left in peace. Topping up her coffee she stepped out onto the balcony once more, gazing out towards Ponyville only to find herself dazzled as a brilliant burst of light went off inches away from her face.

“Princess Luna! Is it true that you’re in a relationship with McIntosh Apple? Care to comment on the political fallout of dating somepony from outside the nobility? Have you anything to say about the rumour that Lord Ironshield is going to try and table a motion to--”

“BE SILENT!” Luna roared as she staggered back, rubbing at her eyes to try and clear the spots from her vision. Blinking frantically she could make out the image of a dark grey pegasus hovering just in front of her balcony with a notepad clenched in his hoof, a camera hanging around his neck.

“But Princess Luna--”

“Enough! You are not welcome here and we have nothing to say to you! Guards! Night Guard, attend your Mistress!”

The door to her chambers burst open and the two grey armoured batponies burst into the room. They didn’t wait for a command, launching themselves across the room and out the open doors to grab hold of the frantically protesting pegasus, dragging him bodily back and away from the balcony.

“You can’t do this! Freedom of the press--!”

“Does not extend to violating the sanctity of our private chambers!” Luna snapped back. “Night Guards, this one is not allowed to set hoof in the palace again. Take his name and the paper he works for, we shall be having words with his employer.”

“Mistress.”

“I’ll lodge a formal protest! Ponies have a right to know who their ruler is involved with!”

Luna held up a hoof and the guards stopped as she stepped forward to stare down at the stubborn pegasus. "Ponies should also know better than to trespass into areas reserved only for members of the royal family and the guards. By coming here you have invaded our private chambers, trespassed into restricted airspace and could not only lose an interview opportunity, but your job, your home and your freedom." She paused a moment to let that sink in. "Now, if you wish to continue your protests you are free to do so, but then my guards will be taking you to the nearest magistrate to be charged, rather than to the front gate to be sent on your way. I would suggest you choose very carefully now. What is more important to you? Your "rights" to this story, or your freedom?" She never once raised her voice, but the icy tone made it very, very clear that she was serious.

The pegsus swallowed convulsively, his eyes darting left and right, finding no sympathy in the eyes of the guards or in the face of his Princess. "F-Freedom," he finally managed to blurt out, swallowing hard.

"Then the next time you wish to take photographs, make an appointment. Guards, escort him out."

She didn't move an inch as the guards flew him away, no longer protesting. She watched as they set him down at the gate, saw him look back up at the balcony and flinch as he realised she was still there. He exited the castle at something just below a gallop and only then did she finally walk back inside, closing and locking the doors firmly behind her and pulling the drapes.

The press conference was held in the gardens, the crowd simply too big to be comfortably contained anywhere other than the main hall. It was decided that keeping them outside also meant they would be easier to disperse once the conference was over, and limited their direct access to other parts of the castle or to any staff that they might wish to try and ply with questions. There had been some protests from the ground staff about the damage to lawns and flowerbeds but there was little that could be done other than have the Guards corral the press in as best they could.

It was nearly noon by the time Celestia stepped up and onto a hastily constructed stage. She cast an eye over the crowd of ponies, all chattering away to each other, speculating, trading rumours and tips. Clearing her throat she summoned her magic to cast the amplification spell.

“Mares and gentlecolts of the press, thank you for your patience.” She paused long enough for the conversations to die down and all eyes to turn towards her. “I understand you have many questions but, for the sake of clarity, we will be limiting those questions today. My sister, Princess Luna, will read from a prepared statement and then she will answer five questions of her choosing. Any further questions should be directed in writing to the Royal Press Office. I will now pass proceedings to Princess Luna.”

Luna stepped forward, clearing her throat and doing her best not to fidget in place. Calm. Poise. She was a little out of practice with public speaking, she had to admit, and seeing so many cameras pointed at her wasn’t exactly helping her nerves. What had Kibitz told her? Oh yes, never call them peons or peasants. Subjects. That was the word.

“My dear subjects. As my sister said, we will read from a short statement and then we will take some questions. I come before you today as both Princess and as a simple mare. As your Princess, it is my duty to confirm that the rumours you have heard are true. I am in a relationship with McIntosh Apple of Ponyville, we have been seeing each other for a number of weeks now. As a mare, I would ask that you allow us our privacy. Our relationship is but in its infancy and we would wish to nurture and explore it in the same way as any of you would.”

She let her eyes scan the crowd. A few notes had been taken, but it seemed that most of the reporters had taken her confirmation as a given. Hooves were twitching, sidelong glances were given to the ponies around them as each readied him or herself to be the first with their hoof in the air for a question.

Astonishing, she mused to herself. She imagined that if she requested it, they would turn on each other like a pack of feral hounds just for the right to ask their questions before anypony else. She took a deep, slow breath and braced herself.

“We will now take questions.”

Every hoof shot upwards, the air filled with a babble of voices as every pony there attempted to get her attention and catch her eye. She scanned the crowd briefly, then pointed at a unicorn mare with a rather fetching purple hat. “You. The unicorn mare with the very pretty hat. Yves Coltaldi, if I am not mistaken?”

The mare smiled broadly. “You have a very good eye, your Highness. Scarlet Prose, Canterlot Chronicle, and might I be the first to congratulate you on your relationship. It can’t have been easy for you since your return.”

“You have our thanks, Ms Prose. What is your question?”

“How did you and Mr Apple meet? I mean, he doesn’t really seem the type to mingle in Canterlot society.”

Luna struggled to keep the frown from her face. Was it her imagination or was there a subtle undertone of disdain there? “We met at Nightmare Night in Ponyville,” she replied coolly, keeping her answers brief and to the point. “Next question.”

Once again every hoof was raised. Luna picked one from the front this time, an orange earth pony stallion with a cutie mark in the shape of a camera, a somewhat common mark as they went. “You. You may ask the next question.”

“Quick Snap, your Highness. Equestria Herald. Will you be relocating to Ponyville or will Mr Apple be moving to Canterlot?”

“We think it a little premature to be discussing such things. For the moment there are no plans for either of us to move from where we are. Ponyville and Canterlot are not so distant from one another as all that. Now, next question. We shall answer three more.”

Again, every hoof was waving frantically in the air and Luna hmmed to herself as she picked out a pink-hued pegasus mare this time. Hah, just let anypony try and accuse her of showing bias to one particular facet of the press! “You there, the pegasus who reminds us of our niece, Cadance.”

“Thank you, your Highness. Rose Twister, Cloudsdale Free Press. Have you slept with McIntosh Apple yet?”

Luna blinked slowly. “We beg your pardon. We are not certain we heard thy question correctly?”

“I asked if you had slept with McIntosh Apple, your Highness,” the impertinent pegasus replied without a trace of contrition. She held a notebook in one wing, her pencil clenched in the other, waiting eagerly for her response.

“You...dare?” Luna breathed. “How DARE you ask such a question of us? What business is it of thine or anypony if we have consummated our relationship? What right dost thou have to ask what goes on between a mare and stallion? That is no concern of thine or anypony else and we are insulted thou wouldst even consider asking such a personal question!”

“I can’t help but notice that wasn’t a denial. Ponies have a right to know who might be influencing the decisions of their monarchs, Princess Luna.”

The pegasus simply would not stop, and now there was a murmur of agreement from the other ponies around her that had Luna suppressing the urge to flutter her wings in agitation. Out the corner of her eye Luna could just see Celestia and Kibitz, her aide-de-pony, in hurried conversation.

“Princess?” Rose Twister prompted. “Are you going to answer the question?”

Luna took another slow, deep breath, sitting firmly on her first immediate response which, while entirely factual and accurate, would have lit a firestorm that would take months to put out. She, instead, kept it simple. “No. Next question.”

Again the hooves were in the air, but before Luna could pick another pony, the pegasus was speaking again. “I hardly think that’s fair or appropriate, Princess. You can’t simply refuse to answer, or expect this issue to go away. Ponies will ask, and speculate. Here and now you can set their minds at ease and we can report the truth.”

“Their minds AT EASE?” Luna couldn’t keep the anger from her voice this time as she pinned the insolent pegasus in her gaze, her mane roiling and darkening like a thundercloud. “Pray tell, just what is it about this that concerns them?”

Rose Twister, showing either a backbone of iron, or a skull filled with rocks, ignored all the warning signs and pressed on regardless. “You are, pardon me for saying so, not long returned to Equestria. You keep to yourself, you have taken no partners that anypony is aware of…”

“Nor has my sister. Do you question her about her carnal activities as well?”

There was a moment of hesitation on the pegasus’ face at that, a flicker of doubt in her gaze, but it was gone a heartbeat later. “Can I speak freely, Princess Luna?”

“You certainly have been up till now. Pray, continue.”

“Your Sister never raised an army to conquer Equestria and plunge the world into eternal darkness,” was the blunt reply. “So no, we don’t ask her about things like this. You, on the other hoof, are an unknown save for what we know of your past and that past? It frightens ponies. They need to know that you aren’t about to make another mistake, that their lives aren’t going to be put in jeopardy thanks to the actions of some stallion from Ponyville whispering in your ear.”

Luna opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again, momentarily struck dumb, rage boiling within her, threatening to erupt at any moment. But could she truly lash out? Were those worries and claims entirely without merit? Impertinent, prurient, but with a grain of truth at their core.

“I…” she stammered. “We do not…”

“I think that’s quite enough for today,” Celestia interrupted as she smoothly stepped in. “McIntosh Apple is brother to the Element of Honesty, I would think those credentials would put his motives above suspicion, don’t you?” The question was addressed to the group as a whole, but her gaze flicked down to Rose Twister as she spoke and the pegasus finally lowered her head, accepting the unspoken rebuke. “Thank you all for coming. As we stated earlier, any further questions must be directed to the Royal Press Office. Good day.”

She turned back to look for Luna, but the midnight blue alicorn was already gone.

Luna landed on the balcony of her suite, pacing back and forth, fighting to stay in control of her emotions, rubbing at eyes that prickled and itched with tears she refused to shed. Her skin felt too tight, her wings twitching, hooves clattering with nervous energy. The last thing she needed was another incident like last time. The reporter had been right, she was still something to be feared. She could feel it just beneath her skin, an emptiness that clawed at her, a darkness that she still fought even after the Elements had purified her...mostly purified her.

That was the secret nopony could know, that the Nightmare was not some demonic taint, some rogue spirit, it was as much a part of her as anypony. She'd come so close to losing control in Ponyville, she couldn't allow that to happen again, especially not here. Celestia, too, had her personal demons, though millenia of control ensured that her sister’s were kept firmly under lock and key. Hers were much closer to the surface, they always had been. Mercurial, changeable, she had always been the wilder one, loving and hating with equal passion, her highs and lows that much more sharply felt.

And right now, she teetered on the edge of a dangerous low.

She glanced up at the sky, glaring at the traitorous sun that hung overhead. There was no way Mac would be asleep, no dreams for her to reach him in. If the press were besieging Canterlot now, she was under no illusion that they wouldn’t be doing the same in Ponyville at this very moment. She would find no respite there and leaving to go to him would simply add more fuel to the fire, more credence to those that suspect this unknown pony of influencing her decisions. She would have to wait.

She hated waiting.

She’d had an eternity of waiting on the moon.

“Lulu?”

Luna didn’t turn around. She could hear the slow beat of those broad wings behind her, that soft voice only making her want to hunch her shoulders, to hide behind her mane.

“Go away, Tia. I can’t do this, not right now.”

“I...I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. This was my idea and it seems that it was a bad one."

Luna lifted her head a little, staring at her reflection in the glass, turning so that she could see Celestia hovering just beyond her balcony, her sister’s expression one of concern. “You are not responsible for the actions of our little ponies. Now please…I wish to be left alone for now.”

Celestia hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll cancel your Court tonight.”

“No. The Night Court will continue as usual. We cannot show weakness or uncertainty, not now, not with so much extra scrutiny. Routine must be maintained.” She finally turned to meet her sister’s gaze and frowned at what she saw.

For the first time, Celestia looked...careworn, the weight of centuries bearing down on her shoulders, the weight of so many decisions etched into her face. She managed a soft, sad little smile and just nodded. “Is there anything else you need?”

“For now, no. We will deal with any more requests or questions as they come.”

“You really should get yourself an assistant, Lulu. I couldn’t handle my days without Kibitz, I don’t know how you manage.”

“The night is quieter than the day, it always was. There has never been enough work to justify having a pony following me around all the time.”

Celestia smiled wryly. “You may find that is about to change. Take care, Lulu. If you need to talk, you know where I am.” She bowed her head to her sister before turning and swooping back down, vanishing between the columns and disappearing inside the palace.

Luna sagged a little once she was alone again, her horn flaring briefly as she unlocked the doors to let herself inside. She closed and locked them behind her again as she trudged across the room to open the front door and address the two batponies posted diligently outside. “We will see no visitors today before the Night Court. Please ask the kitchen to send up some coffee as well if you would be so kind.”

The two batponies exchanged glances before the one on the left turned to her. “Is everything alright, Mistress?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

They again exchanged glances. “You, uh...you look upset.” The batpony stammered. “We didn’t mean to intrude but...did the press conference not go well? We couldn’t hear it in here but we all knew it was going on.”

Luna smiled wanly. “No, my dear pony. No, it did not go well.” She leaned in a little closer to get a better look at him. “Storm Clash, isn’t it?”

The batpony smiled in delight at being recognised and saluted Luna, his hoof crashing against his breastplate. “That’s me, Mistress. It’s an honour to be posted to your personal detail.”

Luna nodded thoughtfully and turned her attention to the other, younger stallion who cleared his throat and bowed respectfully. “Mistral, your Highness. Don’t worry if you don’t know my face, I’ve not been long in the Night Guard.”

“Fresh from the caverns, Mistress,” Storm Clash added cheerily. “Emberfire assigned him to me so I could show him the ropes. Don’t let his being wet behind the ears bother you. Truth is the kid’s a natural. He whipped Midnight Gale from one end of the training ground to the other last week and walked away without a scratch.”

Luna glanced back at Mistral with one eyebrow raised. “An impressive feat, young Mistral. I understand that Midnight Gale has been undefeated in the annual tournaments between the Night and Solar Guards for the last five years in a row." She glanced at Storm Clash who nodded in confirmation. "Perhaps this year we will see a new champion’s name on the trophy. You are most welcome among us, Mistral. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

Mistral shifted a little nervously under her gaze and Luna chuckled softly. “You are not used to being so close to royalty?” He shook his head and Storm Clash smirked. “You will find that we are far less formal here. The Solar Guard outnumbers my Night Guard by more than five to one. They are an army, we are a family. Should you have any concerns, any worries or queries, please bring them to Emberfire or directly to myself if you are not comfortable speaking to him.”

Mistral couldn’t help himself, it just slipped out. “And speaking to a Princess would make me feel more at ease?” He slapped his hooves over his mouth in horror. “P-Princess Luna, I am SO sorry…” he stammered out, only to splutter to a halt as he found Storm Clash exchanging an amused grin with the Princess. “I...I’m not in trouble?”

“No, kid,” the older batpony assured him with a toothy grin. “You’re not in trouble. Just don’t go talking like that to Sunbutt.”

Luna sighed softly. “I thought I had asked Emberfire to talk to you all about calling my sister that.”

Storm Clash saluted, the impish grin on his face making his words ring rather hollow. “He did indeed stress to us the importance of referring to Princess Sunbutt with all due deference and respect, Mistress!”

Luna sighed a little louder this time, shaking her head, the smile on her face making it terribly difficult to be properly disapproving. “Watch this one,” she advised the dumbstruck Mistral. “He will teach you terrible habits.”

“Only the BEST terrible habits,” Storm Clash added with a broad grin. “Now, we’ll let you be, Mistress. We’ll have some coffee sent up to you right away. If there’s anything else, we’ll be right here.”

Luna gave both the guards a thankful little smile before closing the door and retreating back inside the safety of her chambers.

The rest of the day passed slowly… She was in no mood to sleep, but her usual favourite coffee made her stomach sour and so she left it to cool on the side and instead retired back to her bed, finally falling into a fitful sleep.

Her raising of the moon that night was not her best, if she was honest. Her placement of the stars was perhaps not quite as artistic as other nights, but right now she wanted only one thing, to feel him pressed against her. Dreams weren't quite as good as the real world, but she would take anything that she could get. It wouldn’t be much longer now.

The Court that night was busier than usual, and she could not help but notice the cluster of reporters and photographers that lurked just outside, their bulbs flashing as they took pictures of her, the guards, the petitioners and anything else they could think of. Luna had banned them from the court unless they had legitimate business with her but there was little she could do to stop them from taking their pictures, much as every flash made her tense and grind her teeth that bit harder.

While she did not exactly hurry through the list of petitions and requests, her attitude was perhaps a bit more brusque than usual, the crowd of ponies dwindling with unusual alacrity as she dispensed with each matter as briskly as she could. Almost before the herald had announced the end of the Court she was off her throne and out the door. She brushed past those few reporters who had doggedly stuck it out right to the end in the hope of grabbing a moment with her, a comment or a picture, launching herself into the air with one stroke of her broad wings.

The cool night air soothed her, relief suffusing her as she touched down lightly on her balcony once more. Her duties discharged, safe at home for the moment, there was only one thing left to do. She curled up comfortably on her bed and stepped into the dreamscape.

As she had hoped, Mac was sleeping and she quickly drew his dream to her. To her relief there were no nightmares about the Gala tonight. This dream, instead, appeared to be something to do with a festival in Ponyville, something about Summer Wrap Up? She must look at attending that some year, it would be interesting to see how they celebrated outside of Nightmare Night.

Waiting for a gap in the crowd of ponies, Luna fell into step alongside Mac as he trotted past the many stalls and attractions, seemingly intent on something other than merriment. He didn’t notice her at first, seeming intent on finding something in the melee of ponies but once her wing brushed up against his flank he quickly turned to face her. “Princess?”

She smiled softly. “I thought we had agreed you didn’t need to call me that.”

He blinked, then oh’ed and chuckled softly. “Ah’m dreamin’ again. Well now, this is twice ya’ve come to see me. To what do ah owe the pleasure of your company, Luna?”

His simple words, the genuine expression of pleasure at realising she was actually there with him…it was just too much. She couldn’t keep up the facade anymore. Before Mac’s eyes her expression crumpled, her eyes filling with tears. “Just hold me, Mac. Can you do that for me? I...I need that right now, more than anything.”

“Anytime, Luna,” he whispered as he pressed against her, sliding his neck along hers, drawing her head down to press against his chest. The clamour of the ponies around them slowly faded into the background till there was just the two of them standing in a formless grey mist.

She spread her wings to cling tighter to him as the tears trickled down her cheeks, wrapping her forelegs around him, clasping him to her as a drowning pony would cling to anything that might offer a glimmer of salvation.

“Bad day, huh?” Mac whispered, nuzzling into her mane as he eased her down and curled up with her, scooping her in as close as he could, while she cried silently against his chest, her hot tears soaking into his coat. “It’s okay. Ya don’t need to say anythin’. Just know ah’m here for ya. Ah ain’t going anywhere.”

He held her close, stroking a hoof through her mane and down the back of her neck, humming under his breath before he began to sing softly to her.

“Go to sleep little foal.
Go to sleep little foal.
Your mama's gone away and your pa's gonna stay,
Didn't leave nopony here t’play.”

Luna smiled faintly. “It never fails to amuse me how so many lullabies deal with quite unpleasant circumstances. Children dying in their sleep, falling from trees, the loss of parents...”

“What can ah say? Lotta lullabies really are kinda macabre if ya really think about it. Ah guess, try as ya might to deny it, lotta kids have a bit of a fascination with the creepy and spooky. Applebloom always liked this one though when she got older she did start askin’ about the meaning of the lyrics. She wondered sometimes if I was singing about our own parents.”

Luna nodded as Mac dipped her head down to kiss the tears from her cheeks, nuzzling softly at her damp skin. “And were you? You may decline to answer if you choose, if this is too personal a matter.”

“Not directly but...it sure did take on a whole new set o’emotions after that. It...ain’t something we talk much about, but it ain’t a secret either. They wuz out one day with the cart and a wild storm from the Everfree hit us bad. Weather Team has got a lot better at corrallin’ and guidin’ them these days but back then there weren’t much you could do but hunker down and wait for it to pass. They were caught out up by Smokey Mountain and as far as we could tell the path was washed out from under’em. They didn’t stand a chance. Search party found’em the next day at the bottom of a ravine.” Mac broke off, taking a slow, deep breath to steady his emotions. “It’s a shame ya’ll never get to meet’em. Ah think they’d have liked ya a lot. Ma always did want plenty o’fillies in the family, as ya might have guessed.”

Luna gave a soft sound of agreement, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips before settling in a little closer, nuzzling his chest. “There’s another storm coming, Mac. I suspect you received a taste of it today?”

“Eeeyup. Mourne and ah were able t’dodge’em today, but ah reckon they ain’t going anyplace anytime soon. Can’t dodge’em forever. That what got ya so rattled?” His eyes narrowed, his grip on her tightening a little, his protectiveness making her smile. “Somepony’s flanks needin’ a whuppin’? Ya just point them this way, we’ll set’em right.”

She chuckled and hugged him a little tighter to her. “No, right now this is all I need. Your calm, your resolve, your stillness.”

“There ya go with that again. Ah’ll still be damned if ah know what it means, but ah ain’t gonna complain.”

She lifted her head to brush a soft kiss to his lips. “It means sing to me, Mac. Let me hear the rest of the lullaby.”

He smiled warmly down at her. “As you wish.”

“Go t’sleep little foal.
Go t’sleep little foal
Everypony's gone in the cotton an'the corn
Didn't leave nobody here t’play.”