“Really?” Thomas inquired. “The big event is a day off?”

“Indeed,” Luna affirmed.

“That sounds nice and all,” Thomas began. “But my dad always used to say that if you found a job you loved, you’d never have to work another day in your life. And I think I got that.”

“Aww,” the mare attendants cooed.

“Be that as it may,” Luna continued with an appreciative grin. “Lady Attentive Eye says that if we work thee too hard for too many days straight, it may cause burn out. And based on recent evidence,” she gestured to Thomas’ now covered crotch, “it seems we have acted just in the nick of time. So we have passed a decree that our concubines are to have two days off every week.”

“Did you really need to pass a decree for that?” Thomas cringed.

“Dearest, Thomas,” Luna tilted her head curiously. “Arst thou embarrassed of thy royal duties to serve thy Princess?”

“No. Of course not,” Thomas insisted. “Well, maybe it’s still a little weird to be called a concubine.”

“Wouldst thou prefer consort?” Luna suggested.

“Yes actually. Also, it just seems a little unnecessary to go through the trouble of making a decree over what I’m pretty sure can be solved in a scheduling memo.”

Luna smirked as she stepped out of the tub with the attendants in swimwear following close behind. “Thine words are taken directly from the lips Lady Attentive.” She said coyly as she walked passed her little human to the middle of the room where the attendants began dressing her.

“So what’d you do?” Thomas asked as he stepped into the bath and grabbed a spare sponge, dabbing it around his body while he watched through the open door. The maids had formed something akin to a supply line between Luna and the closet with her royal gowns.

“We stood gallantly in our office, our hoof extended in awe inspiring glory,” Luna held out her hand for emphasis, “and we made the decree anyway because that sort of thing is fun.” The moon Princess spoke with such proud authority that she nearly slipped into the Royal Canterlot Voice, much to the amusement of her current audience. “And then Lady Attentive wrote a memo and had her assistants amend it to the schedule.”

Thomas stepped out of the bath and smiled up at his Princess. “I love the way you can take something as dull as a schedule change and make it sound so grand.”

Luna smiled back at Thomas and affectionately cupped his cheek in her hand. “And we love the way thou lov'st our endeavors to ameliorate dull tasks.”

A friendly laugh was shared all around. Luna tended to be rather quiet around strangers, so it felt heartwarming to see her open up. This was especially true between her and Thomas as they had engaged in much pillow talk after his ‘work sessions’. If the Princess hadn’t been reminded of the fact that she’d been sex starved for a millennium, she might have adopted him as her nephew or something. But never mind that awkward line of thinking. Life was good as it was.

“But tell us, dearest Thomas,” Luna continued. “Thou hast said that thee has received a schedule from Lady Attentive already, so how didst thou not know about thine day off?”

Thomas puzzled at this question. “It was actually one of her assistants who gave me the schedule. I think it was that earth mare, Silver Specs. The schedule she gave me was actually yours.”

Luna raised an eyebrow at this. “And thou did'st not find this suspicious?”

Thomas shrugged. “I figured that since you pretty much have me follow you around all day anyway, that giving me a separate schedule wasn’t worth the paper.”

Luna scowled at this. “We suspect Lady Attentive will have words for this Silver Specs for such a grievous misstep.”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal, was it?”

“It most certainly was,” Midnight Chain asserted. “It is basic procedure that all members of the castle staff are to only receive their own schedules, but none are more important than the Princesses’. What if Luna’s daily routine were to fall in the wrong hooves, like the paparazzi, an assassin, or worst yet, a fan-mare?” The three mare attendants shivered in terror at such a frightening thought.

“Ah,” Thomas nodded understandingly. This is one of those cases where I’d best just smile and nod. Any explanation on why fan-mares were worse than assassins would probably just end up being more confusing.

“What’s more,” Luna added. “It doth seem strange that Attentive’s words would find themselves so precisely upon thy lips. Could it be that thy lips have wandered to the visage of our faithful secretary?” she asked suggestively.

It took Thomas a moment to piece together what she had said. “Nope,” he shook his head firmly, denying the accusation of kissing someone other than the Princess. “No wandering lips here.”

Luna’s ears drooped a bit. “We see,” she said disappointedly. “Pity.”

“Why is that a pity?” Thomas asked. “I mean, shouldn’t it be expected that I only be loyal to you?”

“Of course not!” Luna said with a level of offense no pony was expecting. “Thou art not our slave. Thou art our faithful servant and a citizen of Equestria. The guards are our loyal protectors and would give their lives in our defense, but they are allowed friends and family with whom they also share loyalties.”

Their work completed, the attendants stepped away from the Princess who was now wearing a regal black and violet gown with transparent starry trim. The whole thing was very form fitting and did wonderfully to accentuate her curves. She was also wearing her crown, the necklace engraved with her cutie mark, and a pair of golden earrings.

Luna then walked over to Thomas and put her hand on his shoulder. “Tis unhealthy to devote thyself to the attentions of a single pony. On that, thou can'st trust us, Thomas. Dost thou understand?”

“I think so,” Thomas nodded, realizing that the way she spoke his name meant she was being serious. She’s probably referring to the feelings of jealousy and inadequacy that lead to Nightmare Moon. Probably not much risk of me trying to bring about everlasting night, but she does have a point about it being unhealthy.

Luna smiled as she looked down at him. “Wonderful. So, on thy day off, thou art expected to go forth and have a life outside of work. Perhaps even ask if Lady Attentive might be interested in dinner.”

“I don’t think she’ll be up for it,” Lunar Stone offered. “I hear her barn door don’t swing that way.”

“Ah,” Luna nodded. “She is, as you ponies say today, a filly fooler?”

Lunar Stone nodded.

“Ponies, these days,” Luna rolled her eyes. “In any case, tis as thou saidst earlier, my little human. Thou art to begin thy first day of life in Canterlot away from our side. We wish thee the best of luck,” she nodded and left the room with her attendants in tow, each giving a friendly goodbye smile while Lunar Stone gave a wink. Before the door closed, there were rapid hoof steps as Luna poked her head back in the room. “And try not to do anything too extraneous. We want thee fully recharged when thou returnest to our service.”

And with that, the door closed, the sun set, and the moon rose.

A bit of character development and a little world building mixed with a bit of humor. Sort of a filler chapter, but I hope you enjoy it just the same.