Luna grumbles irritably and rolls onto her back, her slumber faltering for the fourth time in as many hours as vague feelings of worry and doubt force their way into her thoughts, the gentle touch of her petal bedding blending disconcertingly with the plushness of the couch beneath her physical body. The normally calming scent of ink and books takes the opportunity to invade her more aromatic surroundings as well, and a few tosses and turns later she grudgingly allows her eyes to open, the carefully crafted meadow of faintly luminescent blue and purple flowers making up her personal dream realm melting away to reveal the familiar bleeding together of the dreamscape's blues, purples, and whites.

Spreading her wings, she flaps them gently, her own will doing more to propel her forward than the motions of her body. Stray currents of subconscious thought press against her as she floats towards her destination, lightly pushing her mane and tail to and fro like a warm breeze would in the real world, Luna's mind wandering with the sensation to pleasant memories made during the recent summer months. A sudden chill brings her back to the present however, shivering and looking around just in time for a gale to slam into her face. Tumbling head over hooves from the force of the blow, Luna quickly rights herself and backs up, narrowing her eyes at the still-distant source of the disturbance.

The dreamscape of the Everfree resists her glare however, the murky smoke suffusing the place giving an energetic swirl as if amused by her anger. Letting out an annoyed grunt, Luna summons forth a pillow from the ether, setting herself down on the floating cushion to safely observe the chaos of the forest.

Luna stares at the Everfree dreamscape patiently, her eyes locked onto a single point near the border as she waits. Without warning, a form takes shape from the haze, the faint outline of a tree appearing for a few moments before collapsing back into incoherent murk.

And then… now!

Her eyes dart to another point up and to the left, her gaze arriving just in time to see… nothing. However, after watching for a few seconds another form takes shape within the smoke at the edge of her peripheral vision, dissipating the instant she looks at it. Luna's pillow lengthens slightly and she faceplants into it, letting out a frustrated groan.

"You know," an amused voice says from behind her, "while I am glad to see you taking a break from your nightly self-torment sessions, sleep works best if you let your mind rest along with your body."

Luna lifts her head, turning her pillow with a thought and raising an eyebrow as she rotates to face her mental companion, "And yet, you seem to be wide awake as well."

"In my defense, it is rather difficult to find peaceful sleep when one's restless mindmate decides to turn the lights back on," Selena replies wryly. "So. What's bothering you?"

"…I am not so certain that I made the correct decision, to meet with the vamponies so quickly," Luna answers after a moment, glancing down at her pillow. "I know why it can't wait, generally where I need to go, and what I need to say, but how exactly should I go about saying it? I may well only get one chance at this, and if I am not able to make them understand how things will be changing in a way they will accept, then there will inevitably be conflicts, and even though a thousand years have passed it does not sound like they have recovered enough to survive such unrest. The fate of their species could very easily depend on the words I choose to speak later tonight."

"I'm sure everything will turn out alright," Selena says, smiling reassuringly. "Midnight and Dawn seem to trust you, and to understand the necessity of change now that their kind has been revealed."

Luna nibbles the inside of her mouth nervously, "Midnight's reaction is part of what has me so worried. When she realized what had happened a thousand years ago, she was frightened of what I intended to do to her – it was only through giving her my blood that I was able to so quickly allay those fears, and I can hardly do the same for each and every vampony who lives nearby. Not to mention we don't even know what it would do to them; it may have healed Midnight's wounds, but it also altered her cutie mark, which is always an indication of something far more subtle and serious. And we haven't even told Midnight, or Celestia for that matter, specifically what we intend to say needs to change. Celestia I know completely trusts us – well, me, at least – but Midnight… Midnight I am not so sure. This certainly has a much greater impact to her than it does my sister, and if even she ends up refusing to abide by our proposal, then it seems likely that none of the other vamponies will either."

"Well then, the solution seems obvious," Selena states matter-of-factly.

A couple seconds of silence pass, Luna watching Selena expectantly before filling the void of words with a question, "That solution being?"

Selena rolls her eyes, "If you are so worried about what Midnight will think, then ask her. If you are worried about how the other vamponies will react, then ask her that too. And if she thinks your plan won't work, then ask her why and what she thinks should change."

"Oh, right," Luna says, blinking in surprise, then rubbing her temples. "This is why Celestia usually takes charge of politics and diplomacy – it sounds so obvious now that you say it."

Selena bobs her head and floats over to Luna's right, staring at the dreamscape of the Everfree Forest, "So, have you seen anything interesting out there?"

"No," Luna grumbles, turning her pillow towards the forest's murky depths as well, "and at times I am almost certain that it is toying with me."

"The forest does seem to love its secrets… " Selena murmurs, staring pensively out into the undulating black fog.

Luna sighs after a few minutes, giving Selena a flat look, "Do you intend to tell me what's on your mind, or shall I start guessing? Because clearly I am not the only one being bothered by something."

Selena looks away from the forest of smoke, sending Luna a quick glance before dropping her gaze to stare at her hooves, "Celestia."

Luna pulls her front hooves towards her chest, letting her left side push into the pillow slightly as she repositions herself, "Ah."

"What if she doesn't like that I live in your head? What if she wants me to leave your mind?" Selena asks nervously, "What if she just plain doesn't like me? What if she freaks out like she did with the changelings and starts demanding that you choose-"

"Then I will not," Luna interrupts. "You are both important to me."

A smile flickers weakly across Selena's lips and she looks back up at Luna though her head remains lowered, "That… isn't really an answer."

Luna pauses, giving Selena a pointed look, "If anypony tries to force me to choose, then they will have made my choice all the easier."

Selena winces at the implication, her ears drooping, "Sorry."

Luna pushes her pillow away, the imaginary fabric holding it together unwinding into nothingness as she embraces Selena, "But that isn't going to happen; you two are my favorite ponies in the world and you are going to get along fine – there will be no choosing."

"I'm sure you're right," Selena replies, returning Luna's hug before pulling back. "I'm just really nervous about meeting her. I haven't met anypony in person in a really long time, and it's Celestia of all ponies… "

"And it will be fine," Luna reiterates confidently. "And, who knows, depending on how well it goes, perhaps you could even ask her about your idea of having a partial eclipse soon."

Selena giggles, smiling, "Let's not start putting the cart before the pony. Besides, you're the one who controls the moon, not me."

A tingling runs over Luna's body before she can reply, the pair glancing up to find the full moon suddenly shining down upon them as if summoned by their words.

"It's time?" Selena asks.

"It is," Luna says with a nod, the dreamscape dissolving into a wash of colors as she takes her leave of the realm of sleep.

Luna continues lying on her couch after she re-enters the waking world, allowing herself to bask in her body's relaxation for a little while longer before forcing herself into motion. Several wonderful, full body stretches later, she stands beside her couch, levitating the forgotten fourth waffle still resting on her plate to hover next to her as she makes her way up to Twilight's top-most balcony. Sparing a glance for the telescope clamped to the northeast section of the railing encircling the platform as she pushes open the trapdoor, Luna sits on the western side of the balcony, resting her forelegs on the railing while she consumes her now long cold waffle and watches the dimming sunset mark the passing of the day's final moments. However, a split second before the sun vanishes entirely, Luna's ears twitch at the sound of an inaudible voice and she smirks mischievously, a light blue glow pulsing over her horn to push her sister's celestial object into hiding an instant too soon. Almost immediately the sun edges back into the sky, hanging there for a long moment before once more descending out of sight. Snickering, Luna walks over to stand beside Twilight's telescope, the groove of her horn glowing faintly and the air thrumming with focused magical power as she pulls her moon up from behind the eastern horizon and imbues it with enough energy to continue it's trek across the night sky.

"That was so cool!" a colt's voice calls out, drawing Luna's attention to Pipsqueak who waves up at her from between two older ponies. "Hello Princess Luna!"

Both ponies on either side of Pipsqueak precede their own hesitant wave with a quick bow, the stallion's yellow mane and tail complementing his nearly pure white coat, his cutie mark of a train conductor's hat the only other source of color on his body besides the green of his eyes. Meanwhile the mare on Pipsqueak's other side is entirely brown, her cutie mark of a pair of railroads forming an 'X' blending in with the rest of her body.

"Greetings, Pipsqueak," Luna replies, enhancing her volume with the barest amount of the Royal Canterlot Voice to ensure her words carry clearly to the ground. "How are you this fine night?"

"Well, it's my bedtime, so that isn't so great," Pipsqueak answers unhappily. "I want to stay up all night like you do, Princess!"

"Your dedication to our night is admirable, young one," Luna says, a suppressed giggle hidden beneath her false solemnity, "however you should indeed rest – you would not wish to then sleep away the day while your friends are awake to play, would you?"

Pipsqueak pokes at the ground with a hoof, "I guess not… oh! Will you be coming back to Ponyville for the Nightmare Night festival this year? The food and the games and everything are great, but it's just not the same without you!"

"Unfortunately we have already committed to make an appearance in Las Pegasus, and then at the base of Mount Olympony later that same night," Luna replies, letting out an exaggerated sigh of regret and pausing for a few seconds as she watches the hope drain from Pipsqueak's face. "But, I have no such obligations for the year after."

"Really?" Pipsqueak asks, giving a quick rear of excitement, "Yes! Thank you, Princess! It'll be the best Nightmare Night ever; I'll make sure of it!"

"Of that, I have no doubt," Luna states, smiling warmly down at him.

Pipsqueak's mother nudges him forward, "Come on Pip, let's go; I'm sure the Princess has some very important work to do, and like she said, you need your rest."

"Alright… " Pipsqueak says sadly, taking a few steps before waving to Luna again, "Goodnight, Princess Luna!"

Luna returns the wave, "Pleasant dreams, Pipsqueak."

Though as she turns towards the trapdoor to head back inside, she manages to hear one last string of words from the young stallion.

"See? I told you Luna is best princess!"

Spreading her wings to glide down past the ladder leading up to the balcony, Luna makes her way towards the first floor of Twilight's house, a smile stuck on her face and a spring in her step.

As soon as she reaches the stairs to the library, Luna looks towards the ground floor just in time to see Lunar Trail drop skillfully from his hook onto his hooves while Shadow Strike and Night Glider equip the last of their armor, all three of her guards giving her a salute as she descends the flight of stairs.

"At ease," Luna says automatically, the thestrals relaxing at her words.

Shadow Strike steps forward, "Your highness, by your leave, Night Glider and I are ready to begin patrolling the town."

"Of course," Luna replies, dismissing them with a wave of her hoof.

The pair offer a brisk bow before heading towards the front door, both taking a couple apples from a refilled fruit bowl sitting by the doorway and stashing one under each wing as they exit.

Lunar Trail meanwhile rapidly dons his armor as Luna finishes her descent, slipping his hind legs into a pair of obsidian blue greaves. Reaching back, he tightens two woven, pitch black belts connected by a side-release buckle on the top and bottom of both pieces of armor until they are snug with his legs. The greaves for his forelegs follow suit, each of these also bearing a silver engraving of Princess Luna's cutie mark and attached to a sharpened steel hoofshoe by the same woven material as the belts, the shoes slightly smaller than his hoof – though with enough give to allow his foot to be pushed inside and held tightly in place. With one final smooth motion he swings the last piece of his armor over his body and lets it fall into place across his barrel, the helmet connected by scale plates running up the back of his neck dropping neatly onto his head as he clips and tightens the belt beneath his barrel followed by the one under his chin.

"You are ready?" Luna asks as she walks past him.

Using his tail, Lunar Trail slips a trio of of sheaths into hidden slots between his armor and his back, the first two a pair of daggers and the third a shortsword, "Yes, Princess!"

"Good," Luna replies, Lunar Trail cantering to take his place in front of her as she enters the tunnel leading to Twilight's basement. "Let us wake Midnight and Dawn, and then be on our way."

The wood of the tree vanishes after less than a single step into the tunnel, for a short time leaving it made of nothing more than densely packed dirt as the underground path steepens and begins to curve back around to the left, whitish-blue crystal lamps periodically flickering to life as they continue downwards. About 90 degrees into the curve, the tunnel takes on a more ribbed appearance, thick roots periodically wrapping the walls along with a couple punching straight through the ceiling and into the floor. A full minute after leaving the library, the pair finally reach the basement, stepping into a small circular room lined with more roots – and surrounded by five new tunnels, each placed precisely 60 degrees apart from each other.

A weak breeze pushes at their backs as Lunar Trail glances down each of the tunnels, impenetrable darkness consuming all of them after a short distance and two even branching off into additional tunnels of their own, "So… which way do you think they went, Princess Luna?"

Luna points at the closest of the tunnels to the left of the one they entered from, "We are fairly certain they went that way."

"Err… I'm not doubting you, Princess, but what makes you so sure?" Lunar Trail asks, examining the royally chosen tunnel more closely. Luna's hoof drops to point at the floor – a few unlit lamp crystals having been apparently thrown various distances from that particular tunnel.

"Ah," Lunar Trail says, trotting into the darkened tunnel just ahead of Luna as she illuminates the way with a weak blue light emanating from the tip of her horn.

Stone bricks quickly replace the compacted dirt beneath their hooves as they follow the path of crystal-less lamps, the two of them soon reaching the third – and last – room attached to the tunnel, this one particularly large, rectangular, and filled with a diverse collection of scorched, melted, shattered, and otherwise irreparably damaged odds and ends, each meticulously labeled, categorized, and placed on shelves of assorted heights, widths, and depths lining its walls.

Lunar Trail's eyes quickly settle on the pair of vamponies, Dawn curled up in the far left corner along with Midnight, the younger vampony's back pressed to the wall while Midnight's faces them. Lunar lifts a hoof to walk over and wake them, however Luna's magic holds him in place and she shakes her head, instead levitating a partially burnt wooden rod from one of the shelves. Rotating it so the unburnt end is facing Midnight, she prods Midnight's shoulder.

Instantly Midnight's head whips around, the entire length of her fangs on full display as she sinks her carnassial teeth into the piece of wood. A murderous growl rumbles in her throat as she grips the rod, the blue light from Luna's horn glinting off a clear liquid dripping from her fangs as her jaw muscles visibly flex under her cheek to drive her teeth further into the wood.

"Luna's light… " Lunar Trail murmurs, staring at Midnight as images of his leg or neck similarly clamped between her jaws flash before his eyes, though the cold touch of fear is quickly tainted by a much warmer and entirely different, yet not unrelated, sensation spreading through his veins.

Midnight's ears prick at the sound of his words, the muscles of her jaw slowly unclenching as the noise filters through the adrenal haze filling her still waking mind. Blinking, she glances first at Lunar Trail and Luna, then at the piece of wood held between her teeth before reversing course and attempting to open her mouth.

The wood refuses to let go however, leaving her teeth lodged firmly in the rod and her mouth held mostly shut, "Mm."

Frowning, she shifts to a sitting position and tries once more to free herself, this time using her forehooves to yank the rod downwards while jerking her head in the opposite direction. After a second of resistance her mouth pops open, the carnassial attached the upper right of her jaw successfully escaping from the rod's woody grip while the other side of her mouth is less fortunate – a bleeding gap now where the left tooth used to be. Midnight's tongue flicks into the fresh hole in her row of teeth, the bitter taste of her own blood spreading through her mouth as she makes quick work of freeing her lower jaw, allowing the piece of wood to fall to the floor.

"Midnight? Are you alright?" Luna ventures, a still stunned Lunar Trail staring at the tooth lodged in the rod.

Midnight swallows in an attempt to clear the unpleasant taste from her mouth, "Hm? Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're, uh… you're sure?" Lunar Trail manages to ask. "I mean, you just yanked out your own tooth."

Midnight shrugs, "It had started feeling kind of loose while I was eating earlier, so it was probably going to fall out on its own soon anyway."

Luna and Lunar trade confused looks, Midnight glancing between them with equal confusion, "What?"

"Nothing," Luna replies uncertainly, "it's just that you are so calm about this, as if losing a tooth is a completely normal thing to occur, yet you do not seem to be missing any other teeth."

"Well… yeah," Midnight says, "they grow back."

"Your teeth grow back after they fall out?" Lunar Trail asks. "As in, all on their own?"

Midnight tilts her head slightly, "Do yours not?"

"Uhh… " Luna Trail shakes his head, "no, no they do not."

Midnight's brow knits as she considers that fact, "But, what do you do if a tooth gets chipped, or knocked out?"

"We fix it with a potion or with magic," Luna answers simply.

"Or we just deal with having a tooth missing," Lunar Trail adds.

Midnight blinks, "Huh."

A groan suddenly emanates from behind Midnight, Dawn opening her eyes to look at the adult ponies in the room, "So is it time to leave, or can I go back to sleep while you guys talk about teeth and stuff?"

"Nope, time to get up," Midnight replies, poking at the belly of her younger sister.

Dawn curls into a ball to protect herself from her sister's persistent hoof, standing and stretching with a yawn once it is safe. Spreading her wings, she flaps them a couple times then refolds them to her sides, Midnight following suit and spreading her own wings to their fullest before bringing them back to rest against her barrel.

So are you going to ask her or not? Selena prods.

"Actually, Midnight, there is something I would like to hear your opinion on before we depart," Luna says after a moment's hesitation.

Dawns groans again, collapsing back to the floor.

Midnight casts an annoyed glance at Dawn before looking up at Luna curiously, "Um, ok. What?"

"Well… " Luna glances away uncomfortably, "with the existence of your kind now being known, a lot of things are going to be changing, the main… problem, I suppose, being that vamponies are going to have to accept that other ponies have the right to refuse to be fed on – once everything is figured out and agreed upon, you aren't going to be able to continue breaking into ponies' homes at will and drinking their blood. Ponies are going to have to be able to give and take permission, and vamponies are going to need to get permission – something along those lines."

"So," Luna continues, "before we go and meet with all of the vamponies around Ponyville, I am curious as to what you think about this as well as what you think the other vamponies will think about it."

Midnight looks at the floor, deep in thought for several seconds before looking back up, "Do we have a choice?"

"Not… really, no," Luna answers, wincing with discomfort. "Still, I would like to force the issue as little as possible."

"Mmm… " Midnight says, thinking for a little while longer, then shrugging. "I mean, I don't like it, and I don't think anypony else will be happy about it, but at the end of the night I don't think it will be too bad as long as we're not expected to end up as servants in exchange for blood or something." Her expression darkens, "I'm not going to go around begging for blood just so I can survive, and I'm not going to starve myself if nopony wants to 'give permission'."

"I am relieved to hear that the others of your kind should be willing to consider my proposal," Luna replies, cracking a smile. "And rest assured, while I have not worked out the exact details yet, whatever arrangement we come to will not be one of that nature."

"Good," Midnight says with a nod, poking at her little sister's collapsed form. "Hey, we're done talking, get up."

Lunar Trail turns to leave as Dawn gets to her hooves, Luna following behind him while the vamponies walk behind her, the four of them making their way to the library and towards the front door. Lunar Trail pushes the door open, holding it while Luna and Midnight walk out to stand with him beneath the stars. Dawn hesitates however, raising her hoof to step outside only to pull it back, the process repeating itself a couple times until with a gulp she vanishes into the shadows.

"I'm good," Dawn whispers from beside Midnight, her voice barely audible.

With nopony left within Twilight's home, Midnight takes to the sky, Dawn flying close enough to her sister for Midnight to feel the air displaced by Dawn's wingbeats on her own wings. Luna and Lunar Trail follow in their wake, both of them giving Midnight a more normal berth as they allow her to lead them towards her home.