There were rare occasions, Luna found, in which the phrase “spared no expense” fell woefully short of the efforts of those around her. As a princess, such a thing was nigh impossible. She had known every comfort, every luxury, and every pleasure the realm had to offer prior to her banishment a thousand years ago.

Little did she realize how those years without had built up a sort of deficit. She had only survived her return party in Ponyville by remaining at Celestia’s side, like a little filly struggling to hide behind her mother’s legs in fear of some new pony.

In her case, dozens upon dozens of new ponies. And now …

Somewhere, buried deep within her mind, beneath a veritable ocean of excitement and anxiety, giddiness and fear, foalish eagerness and insurmountable nerves, there was a note of awe at the way Celestia, her sweet, loving sister, rallied everything and everypony around her to make this day perfect. Or perhaps, not quite this day.

This night.

For it seemed as though night had fallen over the castle already. Luna had expected some change, perhaps a few banners in the Throne Room and hanging from the balcony where her Dusk Ceremony would take place. Maybe a few dignitaries would make the journey so they might find front row seats to observe such a historic event.

The mere thought made her heart race and her breath hasten. She had not expected all of this.

In but a day, Celestia had all but transformed the castle into a veritable homage to her lovely nights. Oh, there were those banners of midnight blue and silver and black trim, with her crescent moon and the nebulous splotch of black night emblazoned on each hanging from the rafters in the Throne Room. Though not just in the Throne Room. All through the main entrance, her banners hung. The red carpet had been taken away, replaced with one matching her colors of the night, even the flowers decorating the planters had been changed— gone were the sunflowers, tulips, and marigolds she had grown so accustomed to seeing. In there place were moon lilies, blue roses, lilac, and tiger lilies.

The latter, no doubt, was Celestia’s little way of giving a sort of nod to her budding relationship with Twilight, and the younger mare most certainly enjoyed the first sight of her favorite flowers when they joined her for a late breakfast.

It was all so lovely.

And Luna was wrestling with just how she felt about the whole thing, even as her faithful hoofmaidens labored to groom her and Moondancer read off the list of visitors.

Or, rather, it was, in part, because of said list.

“Fancy Pants and his wife, Fleur de Lis, accepted the invitation almost as soon as it went out,” Moondancer muttered, reading from the list. “They extend their best wishes and look forward to meeting with you afterward if you’re available. The mayors of Manehattan, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and Trottingham have come, with several others sending letters expressing their want to reserve a seat at the earliest possible convenience for your next.”

In the mirror, Luna watched as Erebos snorted and glanced over Moondancer’s shoulder. “Reserve a seat? Do they think this is some sort of restaurant? This is a Dusk Ceremony! Simply come at dusk!”

“Actually,” Twilight chipped in from her place on Luna’s right, seated just within reach, but out of the way enough that the mares could work without issue, “it sort of makes sense. If we told them all they could come, could you imagine how many might show up at once? And imagine trying to organize with Shining to account for that number.”

The stallion pulled a face. “Good point, Lady Sparkle,” he replied. “Just the wording, I suppose. Seems almost like cheapening it.”

Moondancer fixed him with an amused look. “Then we can discuss rewording it later.” She turned to the next page, her brows shot up. “Ah. Galetalon, the ambassador for the Griffon Kingdom, is in the city and looks forward to witnessing the event, as is Lord Ignis from the Dragon Lands. Ignis requested we inform you that the Mother of All Dragons extends her warmest welcome home and wishes you well though she cannot be here, and remembers the friendship you enjoyed with her ages ago …”

On and on Moondancer went, rattling off names and cities and titles Luna only vaguely remembered. Oh, the older cities like Roam or Prance were quite vivid to her memory—as they had been when she last saw them ages ago, at least. But those newer cities like Manehattan? Or Baltimare? Oh, yes, she knew from either Celestia or Moondancer where they were, but she did not know them. Or the ponies who held those posts.

A mayor was sort of like a lord of old, if she recalled. But rather than commanding the fealty of the ponies, they were voted in by constituents. There was a mayoral seat of Canterlot who aided in dealing with local ordinances and issues, but occupied by Celestia and herself. It was more an honorary title than a necessity.

Celestia did like to joke that she’d never lost an election campaign, despite never actually running.

She felt the gentle strokes of Aurora’s brush stop. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the little mare rise and bow. “I’ll go retrieve your regalia, Your Highness. If you approve of the state of your coat, of course.”

Luna turned to look into her mirror, her eyes tracing over her reflection with a hawkish gaze, searching out any signs of imperfection. It simply would not do to make her return to the public eye in any other state … but at the same time, she did not wish to put additional pressure on her staff.

There was no need to share that burden. Her past, yes, with Twilight. Her stress for this? Her first Dusk Ceremony since long before her banishment? No.

Not that she could find even a tuft of her coat out of place to begin with. Her hoofmaidens knew her well, and Aurora knew how to brush her coat until it was as smooth as velvet and moonlight traced along her form. Just the way she liked.

“Thank you, Aurora,” she replied with a nod. “Please do. And … if it is not inconvenient, a once over on my regalia if you please.”

Aurora bowed again, then hurried off to do her bidding.

Twilight took that as her cue to slide closer, rubbing their shoulders together and smiling up at Luna. “How do you feel?” she asked softly.

Before Luna could answer, three short knocks sounded against the door. She glanced over her shoulder at Erebos, who nodded in return and strode to the door. Luna then turned back to look at Twilight and gave a rather plastic smile. “I am … conflicted.”

“Nervous?”

“Incredibly so. Yet I feel elated. A perplexing mix, to be true.”

Twilight’s smile did not so much as falter, though she leaned up to nose against her cheek. “You’ll be fine. They’re going to love seeing this, just like the girls and I did when you first showed us.”

Midnight blue ears perked up. “Truly?” Luna asked, trying in vain to keep the excitement out of her voice.

“I think so.” Soft lips pressed against her cheek. Twilight drew back just enough to meet her eyes, her hoof trailed up Luna’s leg to rest on her shoulder. A hint of knowing mischief sparked in her eyes. “And I think you might be surprised by how much ponies are looking forward to it.”

Curious, Luna held up a hoof to signal for Winter Chill to stop her preening efforts. A single brow arched. “Why do you say that?”

The corners of her lover’s mouth twitched. “Call it a hunch,” Twilight replied coyly.

“A hunch,” Luna repeated, turning her body slowly to loom over her lover. “I do believe you are trying to tease me, love.”

“Maybe a bit.”

“And you know full well that I am well-versed in such games. Do you truly wish to play now?”

Fluttering her eyelashes, Twilight turned to pointedly look to Erebos as he returned. His amber eyes gleamed and his lips curved into a toothy grin.

“Your Highness,” he rumbled, “you have visitors.” Erebos stepped aside and gestured for whomever he admitted.

Luna did not miss the way her lover promptly sucked in her lips to hide a grin and turned herself away, hiding her mirth as best she could. Midnight blue ears twitched at the sound of hooves thumping against the floor along with wings beating. Her eyes lit up as Pinkie Pie’s happy pink face poked around the corner. Her bright smile lit up the room and a happy squeal tore from her lips before she shot across the room and launched herself bodily at the Princess of the Night.

Even Luna’s larger form could not save her from being bowled over and hugged tightly, so much that her breath was squeezed from her lungs.

“Hiya, Luna!” Pinkie chirped, her voice bubbling with giggles.

Luna gave a strained smile and managed to untangle her hoof just enough so she could gently pat the mare’s bouncy mane. “Hello, Pinkie Pie.” She paused, glancing up to regard the four other mares and lone dragon who had followed along in her wake, each wearing amused grins and stifling laughter. “And faithful companions, it seems,” she added. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Rainbow Dash zipped forward to hover before them. “The Dusk Ceremony, of course! You didn’t think we’d miss this after the first time, did you?”

“‘Specially not when Princess Celestia put word out that this was gonna be yer first public ceremony in a while,” Applejack added. “Granny, Mac, ’n Apple Bloom are here too. They’re findin’ a good seat up close, since Granny goes way back with Princess Celestia. Twi just asked us to come up ’n say hi, ’n offer support.”

“Quite,” Rarity said. “And, if you don’t mind me saying, Princess, I, for one, simply cannot wait to see your work again. And how everypony will certainly stand agape at the display!”

Luna’s eyes went wide. Rustling her wing, she glanced off to the side. “I do appreciate your sentiments,” she began, “though I do have some reservation. I … would like to say that I expect a crowd and can handle such, but … I have doubts on both.”

“Oh, I couldn’t blame you! All those ponies …” Fluttershy shuddered. Then she stood, straightening up to offer a small smile. “But I think … well—” she looked over her shoulder at the dragon seated on her back “—Spike, you said Princess Celestia was expecting—”

“A huge crowd,” he cut her off with a nod. His reptilian green eyes flitted over to meet Luna’s. He beamed. “And from what we heard while walking through the city, it sounds like this is the big thing on everypony’s mind. So, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about, uh, not getting attention.”

Mixed feelings, the warmth of joy and squirming, twisting sensation of anxiety playing tricks with her insides brought another strained smile to Luna’s lips. Her ears pinned back against her starry mane. “I … do hope to meet expectations, then.”

Twilight stood and trotted over, her teasing, mischievous smile gone. Instead, there was one of utmost sincerity as she leaned down to nuzzle Luna’s cheek. Just along the corner of her mouth.

Slowly, she moved up to whisper in her ear, “You’ll be fine. We’ll all be there with you.”

Warmth flooded her chest. For the first time in hours, Luna’s smile was genuine. For the first time in over a thousand years, she felt ready, despite the familiar tingle of nerves along her coat.

Everything would be fine. Her love had assured her of that much. If ponies these days showed little interest, it would be … unfortunate. But something she could adapt to. After all, she had something she lacked in the days of old.

Namely, Twilight Sparkle at her side.

All would be as it was meant.

Her heart thundered in her ears like the sound of a furious storm. Luna could feel her blood racing, adrenaline coursing through her veins and only growing with each step she took down the long corridor, passed all the banners bearing her mark and planters with her favorite flowers, even the carpet leading to her sister’s famed Solaris Balcony—or, now, their balcony. One which may be in need of a name change sometime in the near future. A discussion for a later date.

If her ancient heart did not fail.

Almost as though she could sense Luna’s nerves making a return, Twilight Sparkle stepped closer, brushing their shoulders together as they walked and playfully flicking the ends of her tail against Luna’s cutie mark.

A shiver ran through her from the very spot her love touched. Luna returned her efforts with a warm smile which did little to disguise the nerves hidden behind her eyes.

Twilight smiled back nonetheless. She leaned in, nuzzling against Luna’s shoulder in silent comfort, and seemed to send a feeling of renewed confidence coursing through the Princess of the Night’s veins as they followed in Erebos and Moondancer’s wake. Behind the pair trailed Twilight’s friends, each happy to stand to the side with her and her fellow princesses. A note of solidarity for which she could not understate her gratitude.

Up ahead was an open doorway, with one Day Guard and one Night Guard posted on either side, as was so in the old days. A tribute to when the Princess of Day would smile and bow as she lowered her sun, stepping aside to cede the land to her beloved little sister’s night.

The memories of past ceremonies flashed before her eyes, and with them came all those old emotions. All the joy they shared, the love of old friends and past lovers, the grief shared at their loss and that of her sister’s smile …

And the pain she endured when she stepped away from her Night Court and abandoned her Children in the name of their protection.

Luna shook her head. It was all in the past. It would always be there, right over her shoulder in the form of that old ghost, that shade of what she once was, trapped in the mirror in her dream realm. A burden she would bear long after this generation passed on, until time stopped.

But that did not mean she could not live for the present.

Proof of which was embodied in the presence of the lovely young mare at her side. Always there, always willing to share her smile and laughter, and bring Luna out of the darkness of her own sorry and into the light once more.

Her love.

Midnight blue feathers fluffed. This Dusk Ceremony would be special indeed. In part, due to the nature, the first public ceremony in recent history. That much was for certain.

The rest, though …

Her eyes flitted to Twilight again. The warmth in her chest billowed and spread throughout her body, stirring a fluffing of her feathers and a merry swish of her starry tail which brushed against Twilight’s flank almost possessively.

Almost?

Definitely so.

The delightful shudder and fluttering eyelids her efforts earned forced her to quash a note of approval which built in the back of her throat and threatened to voice itself as a low, sensuous purr. Thoughts of taking Twilight into her embrace once more, back in the comfort and privacy of her room, to lavish her affection nagged at her, tempting her with their sweet whispers.

Now was not the time for such things. There would be plenty afterward. The entirety of Twilight’s time in this world, if she chose to remain with Luna. A finite life, yes.

All the more reason to make this first Dusk Ceremony the most splendorous of them all.

For her.

But something else nagged at the back of her mind, giving her pause as they stopped before the guards posted at the door so they might greet her with a low bow. There was something she had neglected in her night sky. A development which had fallen by the wayside with the shade’s wicked games.

There was one without a name.

A star which had chosen its own name, as some did, but refused to tell her.

A tickle of ice flowed through her veins. That would complicate matters. Each of her stars had names, all to be called out for her ponies to appreciate.

Twilight nudged her forward. Luna shot her a sidelong look, a sheepish smile, then did as prompted. It was time for the ceremony, not worry.

All would be as it was meant.

If her newest star refused to give its name, she would simply have to wait until the time was right.

On the balcony, three ponies awaited. Shining Armor stood, garbed in gleaming purple armor with golden trim, the high Captain’s crest suited him well, as did the golden sun emblazoned on his shoulder and over his chest. His deep blue eyes met hers, a small smile full of warmth and respect spread across his face as he gave the tiniest of nods. He did not wish to spoil the ceremony with a premature bow.

Celestia had kept him well-informed.

At his side was her lovely niece, Cadence. The Princess of Love, Luna noticed, looked positively radiant, glowing with delight. Her purple eyes were wide with awe, the smile upon her face could have lit a moonless, starless sky for miles and miles. It seemed as though she struggled to keep her feathers, impeccably preened, from fluffing like a newborn pegasus on their first birthday.

But she failed.

It only grew worse when Luna returned her smile.

“Niece,” Luna greeted, her voice low. The pair embraced, Luna chuckled at the way the youngest princess vibrated in her grasp. “I daresay you seem more lively than ever.”

Cadence beamed. “I’ve heard stories of Dusk Ceremonies from Auntie Celestia since I was a filly,” she replied. “I’ve wanted to see one done properly, by you, forever!”

A laugh escaped before Luna could stop herself. “Such flattering words. I hope to meet expectations, then.”

“Oh, I doubt you won’t.” Then, Cadence’s smile turned almost vulpine. Her eyes flitted between Luna and Twilight, who squeaked and tried to hide, earning a titter. “Oh, no hiding from me, Twilight Sparkle! You and Auntie Luna owe me a long discussion on how you two have come together. You’re not just going to tap-dance into my domain and go hiding when it’s time to pay the piper!”

Shining coughed. “Cadence,” he hissed, his eyes darting between his lover and the crowd. “Probably not the time. And, couldn’t we just, y’know, ask them to come over to dinner like a normal family?”

The Princess of Love blinked. Then, slowly, a rosy blush spread across her cheeks. She ducked her head and pressed against his shoulder to hide a sheepish smile. “Of course. That works just fine, too.”

Foals. I am surrounded by foals, Luna mused with a shake of her head. “I would not be opposed. Love?”

“That sounds nice to me,” Twilight murmured.

“The matter is settled, then. We will discuss this later.” Her piece said, Luna turned, her breath caught in her throat as she looked upon the third pony awaiting her with a radiant smile, silhouetted by the sun she so lovingly raised and set.

Celestia stood at the edge of the balcony, facing Luna as her ethereal mane swayed lazily in the early evening breeze. Her pristine white ears were perked, and those ancient eyes shone with love and utter joy, the likes of which even Luna had not seen in … oh.

Since the night of her return.

She drifted closer, pausing a moment to look at Twilight. She bit her lip. It almost pained her to ask it, but this was something she had always shared with Celestia. Like their secret hoof shake.

Twilight caught her meaning without it being spoken. She nodded once, then leaned in to nuzzle Luna’s cheek, and ducked out from under her wing. Luna guided her to a spot a mere step from where she would stand throughout. Near enough to hold once her work was done.

Then she turned to face Celestia.

“Tia,” she greeted.

Celestia’s feathers fluffed. “Lulu. It’s time at last.”

“At last?” Luna tried to tease, her tone faltered a touch. “The night comes after every day, O Ancient One. We have shared many since my return.”

“True. And I’ve treasured them all. However, that’s not what I meant.” Celestia cast a meaningful look to her right, out over the edge of the balcony.

Out over to a veritable ocean of ponies.

A raucous cheer went up from the crowd of multicolored bodies. Hooves stomped, the very ground beneath her hooves seemed to shake. Luna could only gape, her jaw dropped and wings flared out wide as she tried to count.

She failed.

There were just too many. Colts, fillies, stallions, mares, griffons, minotaurs, why, there were even a few diamond dogs mixed in! And was that a wyvern?

By the stars, it was.

So many.

“All of them?” Luna whispered. “They all came so quickly?”

“They came to witness history,” Celestia replied. “They’ve come to welcome their Princess Luna back to the public, where she rightfully belongs and show her that their love is hers once more. As it was always meant to be.”

Luna’s throat tightened. The edges of her vision blurred as tears brimmed and threatened to spill down her cheeks. She hastily closed her eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. The corners of her mouth tugged into a smile.

They came. Just as Spike and the others said. They all came.

Her nights were not so empty after all.

“I … I am ready,’ she whispered, slowly opening her eyes. They would see her best work. Unmatched by any in all her years.

She would see Luna’s best.

As she looked down at the crowd, Luna could not help but pick out familiar faces. There were young Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Big Macintosh, who stood at the ready in case Granny Smith might fall faint. Then there was little Pipsqueak—oh, he looked quite dapper in a little bowtie! Adorable, really—and a crowd of Ponyville foals with their parents and Miss Cheerilee. All in the front row, standing beside …

Her off-duty Foals in Gilded Dress and their families.

At the forefront, she saw him. He looked so much like Silent. Strong, his chest muscular, and jaw chiseled out of stone. Beneath an ocean blue mane parted down the middle, a pair of brilliant gray-purple eyes gazed back at her. His wings, white and tinged with a hint of the same lovely color as his eyes, were folded neatly at his side. Well, one of them was.

The other was wrapped around a small, beautiful mare of eggshell white coat and a blond mane with streaks of pink. She was practically bouncing on the tips of her hooves, earning a teasing grin and a laugh from the even smaller mare standing by her side with a pair of young foals—one a grumpy pegasus, the other a happy earth pony who managed to nose his way beneath the other’s wing.

Sleepless Night’s eyes met hers. Luna could almost see Silent Night’s ghost standing to his left, his eyes filled with pride as he looked upon his descendant, then back at his princess. That bright, coltish smile played upon his lips, the one he only allowed her to see.

Slowly, Sleepless smiled. He bowed his head, an act his lovely Dreamweaver was quick to imitate when she noticed.

They had all come.

“Citizens of Equestria!” Celestia spoke, her voice silencing the crowd in one fell swoop. “Friends, honored guests and dignitaries, and all who have come to witness this event, welcome—” she let the word hang a moment, ever the dramatic “—to the first Dusk Ceremony in one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight years.”

Luna reeled. She could feel the air being sucked away as the crowd gasped. Had it really been so long? If any would know, it would be Celestia, of course.

So very long.

“Yes, this is a historic event. The first in generations, and the first official public appearance for my sister, Princess Luna, since her return.” Celestia turned, her smile shone brighter than ever before. “And, more importantly, a show of how things were always meant to be. Night and Day, together as equals once more. Today, the Throne is whole. And now, it is my honor, my privilege, and my utmost joy to cede this land to her.”

Celestia bowed low, nearly touching her nose to the floor. When she rose, her horn was wreathed in a shimmering gold glow. The sun began to set slowly, sinking to the horizon.

Purely on instinct, Luna did the same, she channeled her magic and began to tug her moon from where it rested beneath the eastern horizon. Dragging it in a slow arc across the sky.

“The day ends,” Celestia proclaimed, “and its Princess passes dominion to the Princess of Night.”

With tears welling in her eyes, Luna replied in kind, “The night begins, its Princess extends her gratitude to the Princess of Day for watching over the land they share, as they vowed ages ago.”

A polite rumble of applause came in reply.

Finally.

Luna drew in a deep breath. She was ready. She was so ready.

She had waited so long to have this again.

Celestia stepped back, gesturing for her to step to the forefront. Luna gave a nod in reply and took her rightful place. The land was hers now. Her ponies’ attention was as well.

It was time to give them what they wanted. Come forth, little ones. Time to awake and shine through the darkness.

The moon reached its peak, with a wave of her hoof, the sky was painted a deep, inky black. Like paint flowing from the end of her brush. Luna turned her gaze skyward and jabbed a hoof to a point just to the north. “Clover, there!” she cried in the Royal Canterlot Voice so all might hear.

A burst of light flashed through the sky, a star twinkled into existence and gleamed brighter and more brilliant than ever before. Clover’s face flashed before her eyes, smiling down upon her, happy. Happy for her.

Another gasp swept through the crowd. Behind her, Luna heard Cadence let out a delighted squeal.

Again, her hoof pointed out a space. “Platinum!” she called. “Hurricane! Pansy! Smart Cookie! Puddinghead!”

With each name came a burst of light and a shimmering, twinkling star. The crowd below, the ponies around her cried out in awe. She dared to look down, pausing her efforts a moment to behold their reactions.

All smiles. All eyes full of wonder.

A bright grin began to tug at her lips. She let out a breathy laugh and called forth the next. “Tempo Rubato! Fortissimo and Sforzando, to your father’s side! Fil di Voice, keep them in line! Beethooven, Werner, with Tempo!”

All six came forth on command. For once, they behaved, shining and twinkling brighter than ever. All their faces, from the Founders to her beloved Children flashed before her. Each seemed to encourage her onward, to ask that she bring the others out to play as well.

That she did. Captain Noir, Lieutenant Shade, Sergeant Silent Night came forth. Captain Nightshade, redeemed long after she passed on, as well.

Again and again, she called her stars forth. Happy tears rolled down her cheeks as thunderous applause filled her ears.

Over a thousand years she waited. And now, with one last star, her night would be more beautiful than ever before.

If only I knew your name … she thought with a mournful sigh as she reached up, ready to bring its light to grace her night.

Silly mare. You already do.

A sudden tingle in the back of her mind made her ears stand up straight, the smile wiped from her face. She could hear it calling. Her eyes went wide as a sweet, familiar voice whispered in her ear.

Look to your left, you silly mare, it teased. You’ve known my name all along. It’s the first on your lips when you awake and the last before you sleep.

Luna’s jaw hung agape. Slowly, she turned to stare at the very mare who lit up her life. The same who drew her out of the shadows at last.

Twilight Sparkle blinked and tilted her head. Her brows furrowed as she fixed Luna with a silent, quizzical look.

Luna reached out to wrap a hoof around her shoulders and drew her in close by her side. She leaned down, so they were nose to nose, and closed her eyes. Then, she tilted her head opposite Twilight’s and sealed their lips together as she jabbed her hoof at the sky once more.

The last star burst into the night, right beside the moon as it would always stand.

None had ever shone brighter, nor ever would.

Luna broke the kiss first. A watery smile tugged at her lips as she regarded the love of her life and called out its name for all to hear:

“Twilight Sparkle!”

Author's Notes:

A lovely commission done by Silfoe. Really no other way to end it.