Princess Luna was still in a haze when her sister guided her to sit upon a bed in a strange house. Celestia had told her the town’s doctor was overworked and a contingent from her new capital, Canterlot was scheduled to start arriving in the next few hours to aid the beleaguered town... this Ponyville. The guilt returned, memories of her time as Nightmare Moon were far from distant. The house she was in had probably belonged to some citizen whose family she had killed, yet she was welcomed by all and given a private room to await the doctor.

"Why didn't you slay me, Dusk? You know the truth of what I did. What I am. But you chose to banish the darkness and leave me naked with only guilt to clothe me." Yet, as memories of the young unicorn entered her mind, its wasn't tears of remorse she cried. Joy had again overwhelmingly replaced the pain in her heart.

A sudden knock upon her door caused Luna to shy away from the emotion again, her blanket turned robe drawn up tightly to her bare figure. Through the door, a voice called for what she realized was the second time. "Princess? I said I'm Nurse Redheart. May I enter?"

Princess Luna... she needed to get use to that title again. Pulling herself together again, she answered before the mare tried a third knock... or stormed away. "Thou mayest enter, Physician, though we are ill-dressed and wish the doorway sealed once more as soon as thou do."

The light laughter she saw dancing in the citizen’s eyes when she slipped inside and locked the door took weight from her heart. If this mare who spent day and night with victims of her dark past self could be so forgiving, maybe she was being a little too hard on herself. Trailing over the Nurse with eyes that had seen many years, she picked out the light and soft hum the mare murmured in soft singsong below her breath. "Is thy song for comfort to the patient, lady mare?" she asked, genuinely curious about what might have the working mare in so good a mood after such foul days.

If Redheart was embarrassed at being called by such an old fashioned title, she showed no signs Luna could pick up. A happy sigh escaped her lips along with a knowing chuckle. "A certain stallion is in need of some nursing, and rather than let the lottery of daily life choose for him, he asked Princess Celestia to send for me. I've never been in Her Highness’ presence before, and now I am blessed not just to care for you, dear Princess Luna, but for him as well." A faintly wolfish grin appeared on the younger mare's lips, causing a moment of concern for this unknown stallion. For just a moment, she considered voicing it, then relented. Maybe this was how things were simply done these days.

As the nurse approached her bed, Luna could at last see what had been hiding on the tray she had carried in. A bucket of warm water with a yellow green rectangular mass floating inside. Now, an eyebrow arched and she asked in a level, if confused voice, "And what kind of medical procedure requires us to eat that... yellow blob... thing." Her incredulous gaze fixed on the smaller mare... only for her to launch into soft laughter.

Her tender gaze locked with Luna's own proud cyan glare the nurse quickly calmed herself and drew the sponge from the water, squeezing from it most of the moisture. "Its not for eating, Princess, but for cleaning. Your sister thought you might enjoy a bath... but with Ponyville's spa acting as a second clinic, this is the best we can offer. The mare paused holding the warm sponge close to Luna's throat.

The Princess whipped her eyes around, looking for why the mare had stopped; abath , even just of the sponge variety suddenly sounded like the greatest of luxuries. "Then proceed. You have our permission to touch us."

The earth mare again softly giggled and reached out with her free hand to stroke Luna's own jaw before moving lower to the edge of her tightly clutched blanket. "It'd be my dearest pleasure dear Princess, but this is in the way." An eyebrows raised awaiting Luna's response.

Suddenly she had no more questions, simply a shocked gasp and slow sigh. The sensuous pleasure of the odd, soft sponge the nurse held as she at last began to relent and to reveal her bare figure, allowing the cloth to descend from her shoulders. As Luna revealed her large and flawless breasts’ pink flesh, thick nipples and broad areola's pink hue an offset to her pale flesh, her eyes inspected Redheart's own reaction. As her hand moved to clutch the sheet to her hips, it sunk lower, revealing the smooth skin of her belly, light definition of abdominal muscles and the hourglass figure of a trim princess. But no lower she declared silently. That was only proper.

And then the soft sponge began its journey across her throat and soon all thoughts were lost to the silky bliss of pleasure that now began stroking across her flesh. A dark blush formed in her cheeks as down in her belly a hot feeling she had long forgotten suddenly returned, sparking lewd thoughts she had not felt in far too many years. Redheart's touch to her jaw with a free hand directed her, guiding her to shift back upon the bed, laying down while the smaller mare sat upon the bed’s edge. Her body laid back and gave in to another’s touch, she couldn't prevent a low moan whispering from her lips. When Redheart's hand went for the sheet to peel it free of her loins, she hadn't the strength to resist, the now wet cloth peeling free of her thighs and letting a rich scent fill the room once its guard was removed.

With this revealed to the Nurse, Luna was shocked at how kind the mare's reaction was. Her hand with the sponge lifted free and returned to the warm water while her voice dropped lower to offer the her a choice. "I can stop my Princess... or I can get a stallion who knows how to keep his lips shut..." the offer stood for but a second in Luna's mind before she drew up her own right hand, cupping the mare's cheek voice whisper quiet. "The Stallion is a kind offer, but you are the one who brought these feelings out... unless you do not find your Princess attractive, please... continue." and before she knew it the sudden rush of a deep kiss enveloped her lips. The strong pressure of ardent passion resounding in the moment while the Nurse drew one hand into her thick mane, the other returning with that damp sponge and drawing wet, silky pressure across her throat and down now, over her right breast, rolling across the tender hard flesh of her nipple all in one smooth motion. It was clear to her now that her question was clearly answered; Redheart was happy to share this moment.

Breaking the kiss and gasping for breath, Luna let her own body lay back to give the nurse full access to her needy body. One hand drew up behind her head to prop it up atop a pillow even while her eyes half slitted until nearly closed in pleasure from that warm, damp, and silky tease across her nipple's pert flesh. Yet all of this was nothing, for just as Luna had begun to relax under her touch, the sponge moved to soak her other breast and Redheart's mouth replaced it, wrapping around the erect nipple, biting down at the tender nub and rolling it between teeth and tongue. Once more, a roar of heat quickly spread through her body, and Luna's free hand slid into the pale pink locks of the nurse's own hair, wrapping around them. She gripped stiffly at the silky hair, tied up as it was into a thick bun that give her a great handle. At last, her husky voice echoed in the nurses ear with great lust. "Thou torment thy Princess, and now she soaks this stranger’s bed."

As she had hoped, the smaller mare drew back from her heaving chest with a grin that matched her own lust. The mare wasn't shy to speak up on this, licking the taste of Luna's flesh from her lips. "Then I will have to clean up after my princess. Even if I must do it with my tongue." Luna thrilled at the aggressive tone the mare gave her, then realized the sponge had been thrust between her thighs’ wet flesh, ripples of pleasure making her gasp in delight, arching her back and lifting her shoulders high up off the bed's surface. Both hands were now deeply entwined in the nurses bun, pulling her face back up and forcing a deep kiss upon the younger mare's own lips. She suckled on the lower one and raked across the trapped flesh, teasing with her tongue over the pink lip.

Redheart was far from shy in response; for even as the deep kiss sucked on her lips and pressed home Luna's lust, the nurse got a rhythm to her stroke of sponge across the princess’ slick thighs. Moving her fingers in steady strokes back and forth between the valley of Luna’s thighs and across the length of her slit, Roseheart indulged in every noise her lover made. Silky teasing tormented over the very pert pearl of Luna's own clit. She would win out in the end, as Luna had to release the mare's lips and fall backwards, moaning harshly into the sweet nurse's ear, at last releasing the strong grip she held upon that pink bun. The alicorn laid back, gasping for her own lustful breath.

With her body free, the nurse didn't delay a moment longer. With her sponge tossed suddenly back to the bowl the earth mare slid a hand across silky flesh to lift Luna's legs, allowing the princess’ ankles to rest upon her shoulders and drawing her lips to the older mare's sex. Luna quickly got carried away with the sudden assault of aggressive lips to her silky, soaked thighs, even as her ankles lifted and turned to wrap around to clutch her across the shoulders with the pressure of firm toned calves digging into the smaller mare's back. Redheart's attentions were given directly to her cunt and its silky depths, with an aggressive assault of lapping tongue and two fingers dragging across the inside walls of that fold hidden inside sensitive flesh.

With pressure building, Luna found herself at the limits of what her body could manage. Her restraint was overwhelmed by the endless aggressive attention of that tongue and those fingers. Gasping harder than ever before under the continued deep thrust of those digits, Luna couldn’t get her mind off how devilishly skilled Roseheart was at raking over the most sensitive inner walls of her sex. She moaned suddenly in pleasure, "By the Night! Do you ever relent?" If she had expected any mercy from Redheart's continued assault, she was given none.

Panting with still lustful need for release, Luna at last drew forth her own magic, pulling with it, and drawing the sponge back from the bowl. Squeezing it out and then floating it up to tease up under Redheart's skirt, she pushed the magically propelled, silky sponge to tickle across the mare's own folds. A gleeful grin spread over her lips as her voice whispered in low and greedy tones. "Why Nurse... you wear no undergarments beneath your uniform? Who is this lucky stallion against whom you are plotting?" But if Redheart took the time to answer, Luna had no time to hear it, as the sudden assault of two more fingers upon her soaked slits’ depths, while a mouth drew away from the wet walls and pressed lower, into the ample flesh of Luna's ass teased a gasp from the mare. This sudden assault proved to overwhelm the last of Luna's reserves, and a harsh shudder rippled through her towering body, pushing over the limit of her orgasm.

All the while, that silky sponge continued to thrust and tease in heavy strokes and dragging pressure across the slit of her smaller lover's sex. Even as her own screaming lust echoed forth, she could feel the shuddering figure of between her thighs give in to her own release. Whimpering with pleasure, the sound of Redheart's release allowed Luna to relax, her head falling back to the bed again while the last echoes of pleasure rippled in the teasing final wave of her own orgasm. Muffled words drifted up from between her thighs, revealing with a coo, the name. "Dusk Shine Princess.. He is a powerful unicorn with no mare of his own yet. I plan to tender some loving care for him soon."

For a moment something whispered in Luna's mind, a slight twinge of... jealousy? She waved it off, unlocking her ankles from the mare's back and drawing her up until she lay chest to chest with the little earth mare, lingering kisses teased across the nurse's jawline, while a quiet coo whispered free of her throat’s base. "He is? And without a mare to care for him..." her fingers twirled in silence though the locks of Redheart's hair, a slow smile spreading. "Then when thou hast thy composure back, thou shouldst take care of the poor lad... but don't be surprised if he is never alone. Five mares hath taken a great liking to him, and thou might not find them willing to share." Even as her low chuckle whispered free, idle nails traced a soft stroke across the curve of the slender mare's jaw when her kisses had ended.

Redheart's reply surprised her. "I don't want to claim him as mine, Princess Luna... just the pleasure of knowing he asked for me for his own medical care... It's as grand a pleasure to being in your arms today." A shared blush was offered to Luna who gently offered her own nod and kiss on the healer’s forehead. "Then clean thyself with the sponge and go care for him, I need rest for we have some party later today." As she closed her eyes and lay back, she could feel the smaller mare stand up and go about quietly cleaning herself. Eyes slitted open just enough to watch this show, Luna was swift to drift off to sleep with a grand smile on her lips, and rested peacefully.

Early afternoon had come quickly. Princess Luna was at last awake to soft knocking once more at her bedroom door. This time though, it was a voice she recognized; the unicorn Rarity whose voice was like silver bells. "Excuse me, Princess Luna, but Princess Celestia told me that none in town have anything in your size. It's an unsightly, rushed job, but I thought I could at least offer you something better then that old table cloth to wear."

Luna was more than willing to welcome any chance to wear anything other than that thousand year old rag a second time. Swiftly crossing the room and unlocking the door, she peeked out to check for any others who might be in the hallway. The sight of a single unicorn carrying one deep blue dress slung over her arm while a heavy wicker box floated behind. Inspecting the hallway and realizing it was safe to allow the mare inside, Luna stepped back, allowing her full access to the room.

With casual grace, Rarity paused for a moment to allow Princess Luna to look around the hallway before entering the room when she stepped out of the way, stepping inside with her box of 'extras'. Under Luna's watchful eye, the shorter mare glided to a free table, and if she could smell the scent of sex that still hung in the air, she said nothing of it, instead opening a window, while leaving the drapes closed. Her light voice filled the air, "It's far too bright out today, Princess. Would you care for some tea before trying things on?"

Swallowing a tight breath, the princess clutched the thin white cloth tight over her bare body, speaking low and with restrained care. "We would like the clothing first, please. Its been a thousand years since I've felt properly dressed, seamstress Rarity." For only a moment her eyes inspected the box of private things before she was captivated by the dress Rarity hung from the curtain rod above the now open window, allowing it to air out while they spoke.

No sooner had her words been spoken, than did Rarity nod warmly and collected up an odd, long and thin ribbon, swiftly moving to stand before her and lifting the band up high before pausing, gently clearing her throat. "For a proper fitting, you'll need to lower your... robe, Your Majesty." Her words were polite, and those deep azure eyes won her way into her heart.

Again with the nudity! Yet the words had merit, and so with a soft sigh whispering free of her lips, she allowed the robe to lower. "In our day, seamstresses might measure by eye and over our clothing, but we will defer to the craftsmare's keen eye." If the unicorn mare had a poor reaction to the words, she didn't show it; slipping in close to her own towering body, wrapping measuring ribbon across her shoulders, around her breasts, her hips and thighs.

The whole time, she spoke with gentle care, impressing Luna with the detail and effort she was willing to put in so quickly. "I only brought five or six kinds of fabric for bras or breast wraps with me Princess Luna. I hope something will catch your eye. Unless you are of a mind to go with undergarments sewn into your dress? Of course, it might delay any other adjustments I might make to your dress but a comfortable bra can be wonderfully comforting don't you think?"

Luna was left in the dust of Rarity’s rapid conversation, at last speaking up when she saw the mare picking at different cloths from the box. "The... dark purple or black silks should be a nice match to our tastes, seamstress Rarity. And we would like a breast wrap, unless these... bras? you speak of are more comfortable." Shocked at the sudden laughter produced by the tiny unicorn she arched a brow and started to pull the blanket back up over her nudity. "What jest did we make? We are unaware what we had said that was so funny..."

Suddenly, the mare Rarity shifted to stand, hands slipping behind her back and unzipping her own dress a little so she could draw the shoulder straps free and reveal the silky blue bra that cupped and lifted her breasts to put a proud level of cleavage on display. With fingers drawing over the silky material, the little mare spoke in tender explanatory terms. "You see Princess, Bras cup the breasts, and support them. If you wish to be fancy, you can get bras that lift or shape your breasts like mine, to put more va-va-voom in your appearance... err so to speak." A dark blush was offered for a moment before the little mare drew her dress up once more to cover her shoulders and bra again.

Now truly fascinated by the story and display before her, Luna let her eyes linger on the way the bra shifted the smaller mare’s breasts, her eyes then lowered to look to her own. At last, she spoke with carefully chosen words and a neutral tone. "We have no stallion we are currently courting, and with our history with the ponies of Equestria, we doubt any stallion will be wanting to get too close to us unless ordered to.. or by force. And if what we have heard about stallion population is true, they have every right to be picky." A silence was shared between the mares before Luna at last spoke up with quiet words again. "But we like the idea of comfort and support, we have missed our old corset so."

Apparently, that was all that it took for Rarity to decide. The darkest of purple silks she had brought were selected, and using the measurements she already had put to memory, a needle and scissors were brought together with both hands and magic. Thanks to this, she was able to work at quite a quick pace, working swiftly to cut and stitch the princess a bra. It might have been crude and far from one she publicly thought to brag about, but for today it will serve its purpose. "If you return to Canterlot with the princess, I can give you the name of a dozen sewing houses that might do private work for a lady as noble as yourself without question Princess... That way you wouldn't have to deal with public shops and stranger’s eyes." A brief pause as the half finished bra was inspected, and rubber straps were selected of the same hued material was picked so the bra could be resized as needed to fit properly around the shoulders and across the back. "Of course, if you wish to keep things more private and are willing to put up with occasional visits to or from me, I also would consider it to be an honor to try and make things that could delight you... at least something wearable until you pick your own private seamstress."

Shocked at all the mare could say and do about things that she had not yet even began to think about herself, Luna was lost in a stammer for a minute until the now complete silk bra was passed over. Inspecting it with detailed care, before she saw Rarity making motions of how to slip it on and pull it across her back. As soon as the silky material cupped her heavy breasts, it became clear she had made the right choice, as the feel of rich cloth really did make her feel more relaxed and confident. With Rarity to guide her, she learned how to adjust the bra's straps and how to lock and unlock the clasp that lay hidden between her shoulder blades. "And you say with extra work a bra can feel... better then this seamstress? You mustn't brag so much, this already is a new world to us... but one we like.. greatly." And here she offered the talented Unicorn a playful grin.

The mare's response was a broad and knowing grin. "Stallion or not to impress my dear Princess Luna, you look darling already. I can't wait to see how fantastic you will make my dresses look... unless you've changed your mind on that? I dare say I would love to make you something more... fetching." the wink she gave made Luna pause a moment, but her head shook lightly.

"As kind as your offer is seamstress, today is not a day for tempting stallions. I wish to look humble and proper. Respectful if possible. Until I am more comfortable with my guilt, I don't think I'll be wooing anyone." Even at her own depressed words a finger stroked the fabric of soft silk that supported her ample breasts’ weight.

Rarity appeared sympathetic, as she didn't push that issue, instead quickly working with both hands and a deft magical aid to run sewing needle through silk. While the panties resembled a thong, they were at last a matching pair and comfortable. "I hope this will work for a day or two, it really isn't nearly the quality you deserve, Your Highness. Normally, I'd demand a few hours to improve the work, maybe sew in your initials and perhaps a copy of your cutie mark or even just some beading."

That wistful look in Rarity's eyes made Luna quickly shake her hands, her voice rapidly attempting to reassure the younger mare. "No, no, no. It's very kind of you to offer such effort for our sake, but we do not need it this day." A deep blush held on her cheeks as she pulled on the new panties feeling at last clothed again in some sense of the word. "Now the dress dear seamstress?" Thus the day carried on until...

When Princess Luna at last stepped outside the house that had been her haven while two doctors visited and Rarity worked to make adjustments to the royal blue dress originally designed to fit a mare a foot shorter than the eventual customer. And yet, it was a raw testament to the boundless skill of the young unicorn that the dress had been altered to fit, and look proper to match.

Deep royal blues, nearly black in shade, hung close over her shoulders, the backless dress held up around her throat with a thin silken band, while two wide straps ran down the front, leaving only a thin slit to reveal her ample cleavage but almost no flesh. Just below her breasts’ curve, the cloth joined together on the front, drawing down across slender yet toned abs and flaring wider across her hips. From behind however, thanks to the weight and size of her massive dark blue wings, only a hint of flesh could be seen despite the wide and low back. rapping around and coming together just above her tail with a hole in the cloth so close to that upper edge that it was hardly more than a string hanging above her tail, the dress looked stunning on her curvy figure.

Thankfully, the dress had been a ball gown before the adjustments, so while it was made to reach a normal mare's ankles on her towering Alicorn frame, the dress only made it to just above her own knees, and the slit on the right leg had to be sewn up before she would accept it despite Rarity's protest that it could teasingly show her cutie mark on her hip. In revenge, or so Luna felt, Rarity had found fine, thigh-hugging purple-blue high heels with a matching Tiara to rest in the weight of her hair. Here, even Rarity had relented, the Alicorn's locks were allowed to stay wild and dancing in the ethereal wind that lifted and teased at the loose locks.

Now with a soft stride, she walked past the two pegasus guards who stood watch at the house’s door, moving to look around the town before gaze turned swiftly back at the guards. "We... we wish to see the clinic. To visit those who w... who Nightmare Moon hurt so badly." The stone-faced men gave no sign of hearing her swift change of wording, instead glancing once at each other before giving the smallest of nods.

Red and black mane trapped under his golden helmet, the older guard stepped to her side, a hand lifting to point towards the west. "Then please follow us Your Highness. It is but a short walk a few blocks this way." A pause as she looked in the direction he spoke of and turned to begin walking, only realizing as she went that they had followed her, ignoring it until the same stallion spoke again. "It's sadly inadequate for their needs, princess. Her Highness, Princess Celestia has already called for the building of a proper hospital here in Ponyville, and all towns of this size when she heard from so many of the locals about how overwhelmed their clinic was from day to day."

Her head turned to gaze at the elder guard, arms gently crossed over her belly while she quietly said as she walked, "A shame that it took such a horror as Nightmare Moon's return to make all realize the basic medical needs of a kind town was already overwhelmed."

The pegasus offered her a small shrug, and only soft words. "It's one of the sad facts of life. Bureaucrats tell other Bureaucrats that something’s right or wrong at the moment and the other tries to argue the opposite point. Sadly, only when something goes wrong, does it become truly obvious what the real situation is. Your sister has seen such, and plans to devote more of her time to picking out these matters personally."

And then, the sound hit Luna like a wall. They had not even rounded the corner and she knew were the clinic was. Shockingly, the noise was not of wailing pain and overwhelmed workers, but of serious business being done by many at the same time. Steeling herself against what was to come she stepped around the corner, even while fear grew in her heart. Yet just as the sound suggested, this was no chaotic mess anymore. Over twenty beds had been piled in the street between the clinic and its neighbor a day spa now converted to more serious work. Here, backup from Canterlot had made great progress in relieving the overwhelmed clinic workers, and between nearly twenty effectively working doctors, plus their thirty nurse aids were at work.

As she started to walk between beds, it was not the revulsion, nor fear she expected to feel, but instead, soft whispers of marveled joy, and even hands lifting to touch her fingers, to speak quiet words of reverence and joy. As she made her second pass through the middle of those gathered, she halted in the middle of the gathered crowd, closing her eyes tight and swallowing a hard breath. At last, she spoke, though her words were weak, and torn with joy at how even those she had hurt welcomed her. "Forgive us people of Ponyville... Warriors of Celestia's private guard. It's with the greatest shame We came to you, yet you welcome us with such kindness. We promise you the honor of your kind welcome is not lost on us. We can only try our best to return the kindness you've show to us this day.. Sleep well this night, and know your dreams are once again safe." a promise made, she intended to keep it. It meant returning to duties long abandoned, yet somehow it warmed her heart thinking of such important duty.

It was with that joy in her heart that she took another hour to wander the gathered crowd, stroking hand or cheek of mare and jaw of stallion, offering each soft kind words in turn. The love they poured in return warming her once more in a way no clothing could manage.

Hours later, and with the grand party over, Luna turned to nod softly to the gathered watching townsponies. Together with her sister Princess Celestia, Luna stepped up on the gold painted chariot that was tied to six, powerful pegasus guards. As she looked once more back to the townsponies, seven now very beloved faces were gathered together in the crowd, plus two she had spent the afternoon speaking with in great detail, her sister's own Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor, and a young alicorn only in her late twenties, the recently proclaimed Princess Cadence. Somehow having family made things feel better, and in Cadence she had found someone reminded her of Polaris in a way. And that thought did bring sudden weight ot her mind. How long had it been since Polaris had died... She pushed the thought away, those were good times long past, no need to worry about such things when they were also some of her happiest memories.

Before the guards lifted off, she turned her gaze again to the six mares who had gathered around one stallion. Swallowing her pride, she spoke out again at last, her voice level and warm, though so soft, it was likely no one else could ever hear her over the powerful noise of a happy crowd. "We wish to thank you once more, dear Dusk Shine. You remind us of the good times long gone, and a daughter lost to time so long ago."

Yet if she expected the crowd to cover her words, the soft nod Dusk offered her in return was a shock. Had he heard, or was it simply a polite motion to whatever he thought she might be speaking of because of the powerful noise of those who filled the city center? And then suddenly they were airborne, the guards taking flight at Celestia's order. Her gaze turned to the elder sister and kindly Princess, only to find her reading a letter with a odd smirk on her lips. "And what is that dearest sister?"

Princess Celestia carefully turned the paper over, her smirk spreading wider. "Before Dusk knew you were Nightmare Moon, he wrote me a letter while trying to sort out his own thoughts. And after seeing my reaction to it today he was quick to rewrite it as a student profile of you according to both personal experience and historical records." Her hand turned to offer the page, Luna gently accepted the thin parchment and quickly began to scan the writing.

Suddenly seeing herself from the outside in those simple words, two ideas came to mind. Her voice tender and low, she returned the folded page to her sister, eyes serious and tone matching. "He sees so much... and yet he misses small things that bother me suddenly. Princess Cadence, she is your granddaughter is she not?"

The words caught Celestia off guard, and yet a smile spread slowly. "Great, great a few times... but yes." There was a pause, but the question Luna was pushing for was far from subtle, and at last Celestia nodded. "Yes. Yes he is."

That topic finished, and Luna's heart now suddenly calmed once more. She managed only to point to the letter from Celestia once more. "Are profiles of people like that common? I should have great use for such knowledge."

Celestia shared a smile and tapped her chin with the page before she replied in a soft tone. "Then we shall make them common for you sister. Dusk will be able to do much of that work for you. He is a good at picking up details and writing with limited bias. Besides, it gives me excuse to tease the poor boy." Quickly, she drew parchment from the pile of papers in her lap, her magic's golden hue floating the page and quill with ease, and her swift writing moved over the page. Yet a pause lingered as she considered for a moment. "Maybe... Maybe I will give him a week on this task. He has had so hard a week."

Considering on her own side, Luna returned her own smile warmly and let her shoulders lift in a shrug. "Why not start easy. Have him write one for himself to test his own bias. Then in a few days one of his assistant Barb. The little dragoness is fascinating in her own right. After that, ramp it up to milk his mind and keep him on his toes."

That drew a laugh from her sister, and a warm nod. Quickly Celestia began to write again. "You're right dear sister... It's a pleasure to have you here once more to bounce ideas around."

Her heart aching again for a moment at those words, Luna leaned in against her sister, resting her head upon her taller sister's own shoulder, her voice a low whisper, "It's just a pleasure to be myself once more."

It was so many hours later and once more, reality was sinking in to a horrific degree. The white marble balcony of Princess Celestia's lookout offered a view that towered so high over the capital of Equestria, the grand city of Canterlot, that in one lazy gaze, Luna could inspect the wide city that stretched from one horizon to the other. A ripple of power she had not sensed in so many years whispered out across the evening sky, her sister taking a grip upon the sun itself and with quiet calling, ordered it to set at last. This was a ritual they had done together so many times, so long ago. Memories of it tugged at Luna's heartstrings... back when she was a filly, back when she got her cutie mark.

And then suddenly, it was her turn, the sun had set and Princess Celestia stood at her side, waiting for her to take up her duty once more. Her mind now instantly focused, razor sharp need poured into her thoughts, while memories of a thousand nights of doing this very duty poured forth. At last, her wings unfurled, and she braced before launching into the air, to once more take to the sky, her magic pouring forth and willing the moon to accompany her in flight once more. As powerful as her magic might be, this was such a long forgotten act, it strained her in ways she hadn’t felt in so many ages.

When at last she opened her eyes, she was in a sweating heap upon the balcony once more, but the moon had been lifted and stood full and bright declaring itself before the night sky. Footsteps arrived at her side and a soft voice spoke up softly. "No stars tonight?"

Too tired to even stand up once more, Luna cast her gaze to the sky, willing the stars to be there yet not having the strength to pull together and force forth the stars once more. At last after several minutes of useless gazing in silence her voice spoke up in a weak whisper, almost heartbroken at having to acknowledge failure. "I... suppose I am still a little out of practice."

A hand cupped her shoulder, and soft voice lifted with tender care as her sister knelt at her side eyes looking deeply into her own while tender words were spoken with gentle care. "Tell you what..." a pause waiting for her to look back into her older sister’s eyes. When she did, a warm smile was waiting for her, and a warmer voice spoke once more. "I'll do the stars tonight... If you help me with the sunrise in the morning."

Overwhelmed by her sister's kind words, Luna couldn't help but wrap her arms around her older sisters neck holding her tightly close. A single word offered in grateful thanks. "Aye..."

Alone. This was what had driven Luna to madness in the old days; what had brought up her jealous rage and started the horror of Nightmare Moon. Tonight she found herself alone again. Celestia had gone to sleep hours ago, and yet, Luna did not find that jealous feeling of loneliness returning. This night would be her first chance to take up the pledge she had made today. In seconds, she was settled on her throne, yet her mind was now miles away in another realm and walking among the dreaming minds of Ponyville's clinic patients. Luna poured her will over the poor souls gathered in those two rooms. Stretching out with her power, she entered every dream at once, pacifying a nightmare here, stroking a scared child's head there. It took only minutes for her to care for all those gathered here.

Satisfied with this, she let her strength thin out, and spread across all of Equestria. This had to be done slower, and ate up hours of the night, yet in time, she found the last of those troubled souls and made sure none ever need to pass the night in horror. Only then, did she return to herself, discovering a guard standing at her side silently waiting. "If you had said something... We wished we could have returned sooner... forgive us for making you wait, sir guard."

Shining Armor simply took his turn to shake his head, kneeling as best his battered ribs allowed him before standing up once more. "Princess Luna, it is my pleasure to wait while you care for the sleeping souls in a way only you can... Dusk told me about it when he visited me in the hospital you know. He thought it was just an exaggeration of your duties of guarding the night." Head shaking, he waved off her question. "I have news that's more important than my brother’s ability to research such obscure facts so swiftly."

Stepping aside, he waved a hand to the four guards who stood behind him. But when they stepped forward, Luna felt at home for the first time in centuries. The four bat pegasi bowed in time together, their voices united as one, "We are few, Princess Luna, but the Night Guard is glad to once more have our princess back."

Tears streaking her cheeks she ran swiftly forward, to hug the shocked four guards while her own voice struggled to speak up. "You four... you are the last of your kind?"

Shining knew he had to speak up for them, the men now all too deeply ashamed to speak themselves. "When Nightmare Moon turned on the people of Equestria, much of the night guard joined her. And when your sister banished her, most refused to stand down. The war lasted nearly ten years. Sadly, bad blood is still felt by some pegasi and their bat-winged brothers. But my men know better. We search now daily to find any more of the lost tribe, and hope that with your return they will no longer fear the violence that we do not wish on them."

That sad truth was heavy on her heart, yet it was just another sin with which she would have to learn to deal. Nodding to Armor, she spoke with soft care. "Then if you will excuse us, my four guards are more than enough, and you must get to rest before my grand niece comes to turn her screws on you." The shocked look she was given made it clear she had picked right from Princess Cadences words this afternoon. They were clearly close, and that was sweet. Turning slowly once more, she moved to return once more to her throne, a hand stroking across A Letter her sister Celestia had received just after sunset. Dusk's description of himself was well written, and had been a interesting read.

Her voice soft she spoke only to herself, while the four guards took up position in a circle around her throne. "Dusk... how do you dream?"

Author's Notes:

OK! First smut scene over! Who saw that coming??

This really ballooned out of control like most chapters so i'm just going to accept that my expected length and what really happens will rarely match up! ope you all like what Luna does in her first day home, interlude 3 will be a pleasure to write next.