Bronze snorted as he woke up, not opening his eyes as he realized that whatever he was laying on, it was soft~ beyond belief. He groaned in content as he hugged something warm and firm to his chest. It was then that he paused, and cracked open an eye in confusion. The room he was in was in dark tones, the ceiling seemed to be a spot-on portrayal of the night sky, and he could see a closed set of double-doors with glass windows letting him see it was a balcony. Overall, the room screamed opulence and nobility. 'Right, Luna offered a cozy bed, I accepted. But Luna wanted to hear more about my world, we chatted and...uh-oh....'

Bronze carefully tilted his head to look past his snout, and he sighed quietly through his nose. 'Yep....' He was cuddling the absolutely adorable Princess Luna, who was snuggling into his chest. The tiny alicorn was all-too-content to continue sleeping and Bronze couldn't bring himself to dislike the situation, and smiled before he decided to go back to sleep. His reasoning being the princess needed her rest, what with having been through a very cruel ordeal the past millennia. However, he was jerked awake when he realized something.

Luna was growing. Seriously, like as in rapidly aging type of growing.

Bronze watched in awe as the tiny filly, within the span of possibly a half-hour, went from the size of a filly, to almost Celestia's size. Bronze wasn't really wondering why, or how, but in that she seemed to definitely be Tia's sister now. At this change, Bronze blushed when she mumbled in her sleep and wrapped her forelegs around his torso to hug him tighter while she nuzzled his chest. 'Whoa...she's...gorgeous. So elegant, and still maintains her adorable qualities from before.' Bronze grinned as he simply relaxed again, rolling onto his back, Luna mumbled as she shifted to be laying her head on his chest, and he sighed, so comfortable.

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“Wake up Bronze.” At the familiar, yet gentler husky voice, Bronze opened his eyes wearily to see the adult Princess Luna looking down at him with a soft smile. “You slept well.” Luna teased, her tone light.

“Mmph...bed soft...mare snuggly....” He managed to grunt out, getting a grin and blush out of the lunar alicorn, who giggled at the simple explanation.

“Well, tis good to know that I am so snuggly. I have not had the pleasure of sharing a bed before, and I must say, that sleep is quite more refreshing when shared with another.” Luna admitted as she stood on the bed, and stretched her whole body like a cat or dog, which made Bronze chuckle at how cute it was. “As it is, I apologize. You slept the whole night, straight through the next day into the next night. Whatever caused it, it must've also been what caused my rapid return to my proper form. My power has yet to finish recovering however.”

Bronze groaned in annoyance. “All that effort to return to being diurnal, ruined by a good snuggle and returning to nocturnal.” He then chuckled as he sat up. “Would me being allied with the Night, and a worshiper of the Moon have anything to do with this?”

Luna perked at his words, her wings flaring for a moment in excitement. “You mean...you really ARE a worshiper of the Night? My Moon?”

Bronze blinked. “Yeah. I was back in my world, and our night and moon are nowhere near as beautiful as it is here.” Bronze was shocked when Luna squealed in delight, and pounced him to the bed with a hug.

“Thank you so much! It is wonderful to know at least one loves the night so! If only you had been here a thousand years ago! Perhaps...perhaps then my jealousy would not have been so great, that my inner darkness would have taken over.” Luna nuzzled his cheek, and Bronze blushed. That wasn't just an innocent nuzzle.

“Um...you're welcome. You deserve adoration for such a glorious feat. I know for fact that at most; half of my world's population is awake at night. The half the “normal” people forget, or don't care about. The half that work thankless jobs so the sun-lovers don't have to....” Bronze growled, and Luna hugged him a little tighter.

“Don't think like that...that way leads despair.” Luna warned seriously. “I would know. I was possibly the only one who was always awake during the night. I ran the country in the shadows, my spies and guards protecting us. Yet...nopony cared. They only saw Tia. They only saw the sun.” Luna sighed, sniffling. “Why must us creatures of the night suffer so?”

“We suffer, so the creatures of the day don't have to.” Bronze restated, this time with some conviction, getting Luna to smile as she nuzzled into his mane and sniffed. 'Is she...scenting me?'

“I am glad to have such a friend.” Luna let go of him and used her wings to rise from the bed and glide to the gilded obsidian doors inlaid with silver crescent moons that he didn't see before from facing the balcony and ceiling each time he was awake. “Well, there's no getting to sleep after all the rest you've gotten, so why not join me for a tour of the castle? Only my guards are up at night, so we won't have any of those uninteresting stone-faced white stallions to ignore.”

“White stallions?” Bronze asked as he got out of the bed, and follow the now full-grown mare through the doors. She was only slightly shorter than Tia, but he sensed somehow that wasn't right. She was still missing something. 'She said her power hasn't returned...that would explain why her hair isn't all ethereal like Tia's...maybe....'

“Yes. My sister's Solar Guard and Royal Guard wear enchanted armor that cast an illusion over them, making them all seem to be the same pure-white stallion with blue hair and pale blue eyes. Personally, I feel it is my sister's rather shameful desire to have an ideal image of her “preferred” stallion to ogle while she goes about her duties. However, I see the advantage of such a thing, as any would-be criminals cannot identify which guard is who. It creates confusion and dissuades potential crimes if the criminal cannot say whether or not a guard was the witness in court.” Luna beamed. “So....”

Bronze noticed that every guard they passed was a dark ashen gray, their eyes amber with slits like his blue slitted ones, and they all had purple hair. Also their ears had cute tufts on the ends of them, and the pegasi had bat wings rather than normal wings. “Cool...but...doesn't this mean that you....” Bronze alluded to what she said before about her sister's guards, and Luna shamelessly grinned with a blush, and Bronze laughed loudly. “Luna, we are going to be such good friends.”

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After Luna stopped by the armory on their tour and got one of her old black peytrals inlaid on the chest with a familiar crescent moon, black set of shoes and her dark tiara, she guided him through the rest of the castle, gladly informing him of the ancient history she was more familiar with than the recent which he was earnestly interested about and asked more of. Bronze was a student of history, and loved lore both factual and fictional, something Luna shared with him, hoping to chat about even older history from even before her and Tia's births.

It was during the tour however, that the two finally succumbed to their rumbling tummies, and made a raid on the royal larder, considering that a fully-staffed night shift hadn't been put in place yet, so there was no cook on hoof to prepare something. It was hilariously, half-way through a wheel of cheese, that Luna commented on the lack of meat in the larder. “Tis a shame! Once, we curried favor and hosted the carnivores and omnivores of the world often enough we had the luxury of butchered fare to nibble on, even if ponies would turn green at the sight of it.”

“I know; there's nothing here but vegetables, fruits, heavy grains, starches, and preserves.” Bronze idly complained since his new friend had deigned to before him. “There aren't even any nuts, berries, or even proper leafy greens like spinach, Brussels sprouts, or lettuce. How do you ponies live on such a mundane pallet?” Bronze decided however, to give some daisies a try, and winced at how surprisingly sickly-sweet they were. And he liked sweet things.

“I must confer with my sister on this matter. I refuse to live in a castle so poorly staffed, defended, or poorly stocked. I'll have to move out, even a normal home is fine in comparison so long as a nearby restaurant exists to satisfy my tastes.” Luna huffed in agreement, before frowning at the distressingly large amount of space devoted to holding and magically preserving CAKE! “And the efforts she goes to in order to fulfill her obsession with cake...disgusting. No wonder sister has gained so much weight. She wears it well, but she's lost her svelte form I once shared with her.” Luna stood from her plate, and gestured to herself with a hoof to point out her tight and fit body, which Bronze nodded in agreement with.

“Yeah, Tia looks great, but she could definitely afford to lose some weight.” Bronze didn't notice his rhyme for a few seconds, but it reminded him of some things. “Oh fudge!” Bronze shouted, startling his royal friend. “I forgot my tanned manticore hide at Zecora's!”

“Thou hast slain and harvested a regal beast for it's body? That is impressive friend. It is good to see you indulging in your new people's pastime.” Luna commented, and this made Bronze groan as he remembered something else.

“I've got to harvest that hydra I killed! It's been laying in that field for two days now, and Mayor said she'd have it dragged into the Everfree if I didn't do anything with it soon. Only I know nothing of harvesting from a hydra, I've only just learned from Zecora about manticores alone, and...ugh....” Bronze rubbed his face in worry, as while he had no love for that monster, he didn't just want to leave it to rot. It did put up a good fight after all.

“Friend, if all this is so, then I shall lend you my skill!” Luna beamed as she spread her wings in excitement. “It has been far, far too long since I have gotten my hooves bloody, and if you don't mind my rusty skills damaging some things, all I ask in return is some of the bones for use in my forging. Hydra bones make excellent hilts and other things for weapons and armor.”

“You're a blacksmith Luna? Luna, kiss me you perfect mare, because if you get any more attractive I'll have to proclaim my love for you.” Bronze joked with a laugh, and he didn't see the princess's wings go ridged and her face light up with red. She recovered as fast as she could though, avoiding him seeing her flustered. “Of course, I'd love to have your help, but we'll have to pester Zecora. I don't want to leave her out.”

“O-of course! I would be glad to meet this friend of yours.” What Luna didn't mention was she wanted to meet the female that made Bronze get that obvious look in his eyes. Also, if she was a skilled hunter, she might be able to arrange hunting parties, something the ponies of this day and age seemed to have completely forgone.

“Then let's finish up here and go. Zecora seems the night-owl to me, and if not I don't think she'd mind.”

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“Are you certain of this?” Luna asked as the dark carriage drawn by a couple of her thestral guards landed quietly like whispers in front of the library.

“It's fine. I have no idea where my parents are staying right now, or what's going on at home at all. But Twi told me I have free access to the library at all hours to use my front door. Something about my magical signature being tied into the security she'd set up, and I don't want to worry Fluttershy should we wake her somehow. She's too skittish for something like...this.” Bronze gestured to her guards. “No offense.”

“None taken. We get that a lot. It's why we're primarily nocturnal.” One of the guards responded. Apparently, the thestrals were the few members of the Night Guard not under illusions aside from color changes. They were omnivores with a taste for blood, and that combined with their naturally intimidating visage led a social stigma of irrational fear against them. So, with their natural night vision, they pretty much all went nocturnal to help avoid discrimination, even if it only worsened their images, they couldn't care less after countless generations of scorn.

“Thank you good sirs. You may return, I shall make my own way.” Luna dismissed, and with a couple of confirming nods, they took off after their passengers got out. “So...I get to see your home.” What Luna was implying was that to take a mare into his home was an immense display of intimacy and trust, usually only extended to close friends or potential mates. At least, that was how it worked back in her era.

“At night, yes. I'll let you see the night sky while we're passing through. I want to know what you think, beings you are THE authority on the night.” Which, of course, flew clear over Bronze's high-up head, getting Luna to feel just a little disappointed, but she didn't show it. “Now...where's that key....”

It only took a few minutes, but eventually Bronze found the spare key to the front door of Golden Oaks in a fake rock, and they quietly soft-hooved their way upstairs and to the mahogany Doorway. “Tis a beautiful door. Mahogany is such a regal wood.” Luna whispered in approval, making Bronze smile.

“Thanks. I was the one who bought it. Against my mom's wishes, but she loved it in the end.” Bronze opened the door...only to worryingly see just a closet. “Okay...I...wait.” Instead of panicking, Bronze closed the door gently, and softly knocked two times. Shortly, the door was opened by Jeeves, who bowed and opened the door off to the side.

“Welcome home sir. And welcome to you as well madam.” Bronze smirked at this new development. It would seem Jeeves was a built-in security system of sorts. Unless he welcomed those at the Doorways, they would lead nowhere from the Equestrian side.

“Brilliant, at least now it's more unlikely for someone to just waltz into my home on accident. Thank you for standing vigil Jeeves, even if you almost worried me there.” Bronze entered, becoming his human-like self.

“I must inform you that Lord Robinson and Lady Robinson have befallen a rather mixed fortune.” At this, Bronze paused in the Doorway, and Luna looked on in concern as Bronze gestured for his golem to continue. “It would seem that, since their original forms were too damaged to safely transition back to, that they have been granted alternate forms such as you sir.”

“Oh! So they're still healthier over here now? That's great! It also means they can maybe interact with our world while still transitioning to Equestria. Gog knows, they can't imagine abandoning my siblings. Thank you for telling me Jeeves. Come on in Luna.” Bronze forgot to mention to intend her armor to be concealing, but she'd already stepped through, and his nose promptly erupted in a gush of blood that threatened to choke him, and he spat up gobs of dark blood to the side.

“Bronze! Art thou well?!” Luna asked worriedly as she approached, but stopped when he held his hand up for her to stay back. Luna was, in a word; glorious. She was easily shaped like Applejack and Zecora in the size of her assets and curves, yet unlike them she had a less muscular yet firm and supple tone, and stood a foot taller at around 7 feet, which made sense as she was now much larger than them as a pony too. Her armor at least covered her nethers and nips, but that was pretty much it.

It was like she was wearing a metal bikini, silver crescent moons over where her nipples were, and she had black armor boots on which completely contrasted with the utter lack of everything else. It was probably because the Doorway had so little to work with and she hadn't thought of being conservative. “I...am fine. Not as fine as you, but fine. You didn't think of your apparel being conservative, so you're quite provocatively garbed right now.”

Luna blushed as she looked down at herself. She was a snowy pale toned woman with huge angelic dark wings, and a long dark blue horn of the same hue coming up from her forehead, helping hold up her tiara. Her long lighter blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall of shimmering locks. “Oh...these are teats then? Why are they up here? Would they not be in the way? At least for minotaurs and centaurs I can understand, but with such unsteady legs and no tails, they are quite impractical.”

“Yeah, pretty much everypony who comes through asks that. I don't know, don't care, they're attractive since they've been part of our race's physiology since we started out. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to clean up my mess.” Jeeves had already moved to mop up the blood, and Bronze went to the bathroom to rinse out the blood from his nasal cavity and mouth/throat.

Meanwhile, Luna looked around his house in awe of the modern design and unfamiliar gadgetry of the TV in the living room and appliances in the kitchen. But, she could not hold off her curiosity as she wandered out the boggling sliding glass door, which Jeeves was all-too-kind to open for her upon her trying to figure it out without breaking it. What she saw was disappointing.

A blinding light beaming upward from somewhere relatively nearby was illuminating the cloud cover overhead to the point where the sky was completely concealed. With a glow of her horn and a wave of her hand, the clouds overhead rapidly dissipated into a sudden downpour, and after several seconds of the flash-flood inducing deluge, what she saw further disappointed her. “Why is the moon so small? The stars so dim?”

Luna knew of how light pollution weakened her star's lights, and it was one of the few things that made ponies' dismissal of her night a very small blessing. Again, Luna's horn shimmered, and she gestured to the moon as if grabbing it, and when she pulled her hand towards her, the moon obeyed eagerly. The heavenly body which she unknowingly shared her name with, drew closer to the Earth than it ever had in it's existence save for when it was once part of the planet so, so incredibly long ago. The half-moon seemed to shine brighter, as if it was happy with it's new, more intimate closeness with it's older sister.

Luna smiled at the silvery orb's approval, and was about to do something about the stars when Bronze suddenly grabbed her wrist and forced it down to her shock at his horrified expression. “What did you DO?!”

“W-what do you mean? I just-.”

“PUT IT BACK! Who knows what effect that'll-.”

“Too late sir!” Jeeves reported from inside, the news on, broadcasting loudly over the speakers. “You must see the ramifications of Madam Luna's actions before you do anything else!”

Bronze pretty much dragged the worried and confused princess inside by the wrist, hurting her as he nearly sprinted her into the living room to see an NBC emergency live broadcast. “-It is unknown what has caused the moon's rapid approach to the planet, but as of this time, astronomers can not conclude if it is getting any closer, or if it is now maintaining it's new perilous orbit....” The anchor waited a few moments to read the feed before continuing, remaining serious and dutifully calm in spite of the circumstances as his duty required. “We are getting live feeds of coastal disasters springing up world-wide, all coastal cities get to high ground and evacuate immediately. Tidal waves and flash floods incoming. Already getting reports of confirmed tidal waves heading for cities such as San Francisco, Tokyo, New York, Tampa, Miami-.”

“Oh God....” Bronze uttered in horror as he collapsed to the couch, clutching his head trying not to panic as Luna covered her mouth and she began to cry in absolute mortification of what she'd done.

“W-why? Why is this happening? Whenever I changed position of the moon back home-!”

“THIS ISN'T YOUR HOME!” Bronze screamed at her, not regretting it as she flinched away at his fury, his voice loud enough to rival the Royal Canterlot Tone. “YOU'VE DOOMED MILLIONS TO DIE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!” He hyperventilated, and looked to Jeeves, who seemed knowledgeable of things. “Jeeves, if she puts it back-.”

“It is too late sir. The damage is done. Even is she were to put it back it would actually worsen things. As it stands, there will simply be a massive change in the tides, a slight change in the Earth's gravity, and only a single upsurge in these tragedies. Good news however sir; with the moon's new position, the occurrences of these waves will drastically decrease by a markedly high margin. So to say; she's rather saved the world from a long-drawn out series of disasters with one world-spanning one. Projections of recovery state that the loss of life will actually positively effect the overall world economy and international unity to recover the losses. Speeding humanity's progress by perhaps several decades.”

They both took this in, and Bronze sighed despondently. “Luna...just don't do that again. Don't concern yourself over it. At least none of my family live on the coasts aside from Grandpa Robinson in Clearwater, but he's visiting the old family home in Missouri right now. I know it's selfish of me to ignore the lives of millions...but...it isn't my place to judge.”

“What do you MEAN it isn't?! You're practically the ambassador for this world to ours and I just...I just....” Luna broke down as she collapsed into the couch, sobbing.

“Cry it out Luna. Because there's no words for this. Nobody will ever know, or believe you did this on this side. So I'll keep quiet about it. I'm a cold and calculating man Luna, so I can forgive this once. You aren't a terrible person, you just made a mistake. Just...give me a moment to adjust.” Bronze meditated as Jeeves fetched some tea and comfort food from the kitchen, they'd both be needing it.

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When they exited the Doorway in the rear of Zecora's hut, Bronze was stone-faced and suitably calm as he'd deadened his emotions like he usually did in response to tragedies, while Luna's eyes were bloodshot, her voice hoarse, her fur around her eyes and nose sopping as she sniffled and still let out some tears. “Let it go Luna. Just be glad you weren't at full power, so our moon; Luna, didn't get some other magical property aside from a new luster.”

“I envy and also pity you Bronze...to be so cold and heartless where it counts...you'd have been a deadly adversary 1700 years ago during the wars with Bullgaria.” Luna laughed with a hitch in her voice, her attempt at levity falling short. “You won't tell Tia? Anypony?”

“You have my word, on my honor and my name Luna, that this horrible circumstance is to be swept under the rug and forgotten by all but us.” Bronze stated, meaning every word of it. “Now, c'mon. We have a lot of work to do, and it will help to keep you occupied with something.”

Luna sniffed again with a nod as they circled around to the front door, where Bronze knocked politely. Shortly, Zecora answered the door, looking both surprised and pleased to see Bronze, but purely confused at the sight of Luna. “What has happened might I ask, to cause this one enough tears to fill a flask?”

“It is a private issue that is nobody's concern save her own Zecora.” Bronze stated with a sad tone, letting the mare know that to pry would be a very bad thing.

“Apologies, would some Zebrican tea put you at ease?” Zecora asked, getting shakes of negatives from both of them, they'd already imbibed nauseating amounts of their favorite teas trying to drown out the guilt and despair they'd felt. “I see, it is not something to solve with tea.”

“It is something that cannot be solved, or forgiven. But I shall live with it, as I must for all things.” Luna stated sorrowfully. “Fair Zecora of lands away, I come to seek your company this day.” Zecora perked up at Luna forcing an effort of rhyming, and she smiled at the gesture.

“It is good to see I am aware, that even to mares I do seem fair. I shall gladly do what I must, to help fix your mood from bust.” Zecora gestured for them to enter, and they graciously accepted. “So what sort of company do you seek, just know that my preferences are far from meek.”

“Actually Zecora, allow me to properly introduce you. This is Princess Luna, Mistress of the Night, Mare of the Moon, and Lady of the Stars.” Bronze waxed poetic, getting the depressed mare to titter slightly and smile.

“I am helping dear Bronze with processing the hydra he's slain a couple days ago. However, I am out of practice, and having an extra pair of experienced hooves would be appreciated.” Luna explained, and Zecora practically lit up in excitement.

“Truly? You have slain a hydra Bronze? I shall have to hear the tale as we work, for the corpse is getting far too cold. Hurry, we haven't time to lose!” Zecora forwent her rhyming in excitement as she quickly gathered her things.

“We'll be bringing it to the clearing nearby Zecora, so don't bother packing too much.” Bronze informed, and Zecora actually seemed to be dancing a bit in joy. Just what is making her so happy?

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“...Wow....” The explanation for why Zecora was so elated was rather suitable for her excitement. Apparently, hydras have special glands that allow rapid regeneration and duplication of cells, which was why they regrew and added heads as a defense mechanism if they were up against something much larger with sharp claws, such as something called an ursa, or a dragon. Zecora also knew of a special ritual that would allow said glands to remain fresh, and continue to produce their special restorative secretion which worked with ANY living cells, making them the ultimate healing poultice ingredient, as raw and straight the secretion was too potent for non-reptilian creatures, causing cardiac arrest, brain failure, or any number of complications.

It was also highly addictive, making it illegal in most countries.

However, Luna was aghast at the idea. When used in the poultices and potions Zecora was describing, this single ingredient was the key thing in them saving lives. She was going to have a good, long talk with her sister about legalizing the use of “hydra” in the manufacture of potions and healing salves.

After helping Zecora secure the three orange glands in her storage room where they would drip their special fluids into collection flasks, they set about skinning sections of the monster's scaly hide, using a similar process as with the manticore hide, but with added steps which Luna hastened with her magic as the usual process would take a whole day at least.

First they soaked, or as Luna called the spell: quenched, the large sections of orange scale hide, cleaning them, and then went about liming and deliming them using the necessary ingredients that Luna summoned from her old forge. Then to finish off the process, she cast some old favorite spells she'd made that pickled and chromed the flesh, before they put them through another rinse and left them out for a final dry on some carved poles.

“Pfft, and you said you were rusty.” Bronze said as he wiped blood off his hands. While Zecora and Luna were tanning, he'd continued to root about the creature's corpse, hacking off sections of meat for preserving which he was told was safe for consumption, and also avoiding the poison glands he recognized thanks to having seen the one Doctor Hoarse had removed from the manticore as he harvested the organs. He had plans for that poison, but he'd need a doctor's surgical knowledge to remove something that volatile that wasn't as benign as the ones they'd harvested for Zecora from the bases of the necks of the thing.

“In fact I am Sir Brave! Twas once a time I could boast accomplishing such a feat within mere minutes rather than hours! Still, twas a wonderful tanning, and I hath found myself at ease despite earlier events.” Luna beamed, some of her grace and poise returned to her from the cathartic activity.

“This amazes me princess. I had not known the Star Maiden was one for honest, grim work.” Zecora stated with a smile, likewise not caring for the blood spattering her, as Luna was also covered in various bodily fluids from the activity and not caring either.

“My very existence had fallen to folklore in the time I had been gone, I am surprised your people still remember me at all.” Luna stated with joy as the first rays of morning began peaking through the trees. “Oh dear! I hath forgotten!” Luna looked up to the sky, and rapidly moved her namesake across the sky and below the horizon in a smooth arc around the planet. “T'would seem my sister has awoken. I must return to her.”

“Luna.” Bronze said seriously and clearly, getting the mare's attention. “Remember, you don't have to tell her anything if you don't want her to know. Just being sisters doesn't mean she's entitled to know everything you've ever done wrong.” Bronze looked her in the eyes, and Luna felt...calm. At peace. Something she hadn't felt in so, so very long. She didn't know what about him incited such a sensation, but she smiled genuinely.

“Thank you.” She said simply, and then teleported home, leaving Zecora to raise an eyebrow at her balrog friend.

“If I were not aware, I'd say that such a flirt was quite the dare.” Zecora knew that he wasn't trying to worm his way into the princess's heart, and was genuinely trying to help her like a true friend, but Zecora couldn't help but feel that Bronze would likely develop more than mere platonic feelings for the alicorn considering how deep their interactions were.

“She needs help Zecora. Help I'm going to give her the best I can as her friend. I messed up, big time, and now so many are paying for it. What that means I will not elaborate on, for I swore I would never tell what she's done. Just know; never ask, and respect her desire for privacy.” Bronze looked away from where Luna had vanished to his zebra friend, and he looked her in the eyes as well, only for Zecora, it had the opposite effect of exciting her. “Mistakes are made by us all, and it is no place for any to judge others based on them unless they do not acknowledge or learn from them. Thank you for your help. You may use the rest how you wish save the bones since Luna wants them for her smithing. Good day my friend, I need to go home. I have...much to do.”

Bronze walked with hesitance to his Doorway on her house, and after he left, Zecora finally plopped her flanks onto the ground, taking a steadying breath. “What sorcery is this? His eyes made my heart race, it felt like it would leap through my chest at such a pace. They had the opposite effect on the princess, I'd better hope that isn't to happen all the time, lest my heart desire excess.” Zecora was baffled, she'd barely known him for all of a few days, and only met him twice, yet she knew the signs. Why was she desiring him? 'Let us hope it is merely a passing fancy, for a courtship with a minotaur would be quite chancy.'

Their size difference being a major point of reference, but that just made the zebra blush and hiss as she rubbed her flanks into the grass a bit. 'It has been a long time...perhaps this one needs more than lime?'

Author's Notes:

Something dark, tragic. The laws of one universe do not equal those of another, a Goddess's folly has cost the lives of millions. Yet, that goddess has something she did not have before.

A Friend.

One who won't let her face judgement for her mistake, at least not alone.