I lounged on the couch, watching Luna fume over a thick book. So, seriously, she was one pissed off pony.

“This is ridiculous! How can the tax code have grown to fill an entire tome!?” she exclaimed, her ears folded back, her entire mane actually stirring more than its normal slight movement. It actually reminded me somewhat of her sisters right now.

Lowering my own book, a rather simple magic manual, I looked over at where she was sitting by her desk. “What was it before?”

“A simple ten percent tax for the entire population.”

I raised my eyebrows at that. “Well... I suppose that would be simpler. I'm not entirely sure that's fair to poorer ponies, however. Those ten percent might be what a poor pony requires to be comfortable while richer ponies could pay fifty percent without even really noticing.”

The Princess gave me an annoyed look, shaking the tome at me with her magic. “As that might be, that does not excuse five hundred pages of percentages, exceptions and exceptions to exceptions! There is a special tax on bread! Bread!!”

I couldn't quite help but agree with that. That did seem somewhat excessive.

She let out a frustrated sigh and dropped it back onto her desk with a thud. “I need to discuss this with 'Tia. There has to be some way to simplify this.”

Shrugging, I returned to my own book. “Don't ask me, I'm not an economist, I'm not even that good with numbers. And if I'll be honest, I'm pretty sure the tax code back home is even more complex.”

Luna gave the offending tome a glare before closing it, dropping it on the desk with a thud before she jumped off her chair. “Things were simpler in my time. Laws were simpler, taxes were simpler. Even the music was simpler!” she complained as she walked up to pick up an apple from a bowl on the table.

Closing my book, I just watched her as she took a bite from it.

“...But that world is never coming back.” she finished softly.

“No. We both have to adapt to this one.” I agreed.

If they had not figured out a way to get me back by now, they probably never would.

Sighing, Luna sat down on the floor, shaking her head. “...Sometimes I am unsure of who this is harder for. You or me.”

We stayed quiet for a moment before I chuckled. “Honestly? I think it might actually be harder for you. This world is rather different from mine, but you see parallels to how things used to be.”

She smiled faintly and shrugged. “Or the other way around. Like you said, at least some things are familiar for me.”

“There are some similarities to my own world as well.” I said with a grin, giving my own book a small wave. “Books, for one thing. Admittedly not about magical theory, but still.”

Luna chuckled and jumped onto the couch opposite to me, laying down facing me as she picked the book from my magic to read the title. “Elementary Transformations by Fire Cube.” she read aloud. “I have not read this one.”

“I think it's rather new.” I admitted. “I went to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns yesterday and got their book list for first year students. Honestly, I should have thought about that earlier.”

Not that it would have helped much, I could still barely do the basic exercises.

Luna nodded and idly flipped through it. “Tia always did enjoy teaching.” she said and smiled, “Seems like an informative tome.”

“So... going to go to the summer sun celebration?” I asked, flicking my ears as I looked up at her.

The Princess hesitated and then shook her head. “Not this year. I believe we might have caused enough disruption during the last one. We do not wish to scare ponies this year.” she admitted before smiling again as she noticed my frown and adding; “I know what you wish to say, Page. Do not waste your breath. I have made up my mind.”

I gave her an annoyed look at that, but didn't say anything.

She sighed. “...We have planned to make a public appearance in a month.” she admitted. “We wish to turn Nightmare Night from a time of horror to a feast and celebration of the stars.”

“...Are you sure that would work? That's an old tradition right?”

Luna nodded. “From the time of my... exile. Hence the name and why we wish to change it. It is not who I am. I don't want the ponies for fear me and it seems like the best time to start. And we will begin in Ponyville where we will apologize to the inhabitants.”

I wasn't that sure that would work. Traditions are difficult to change. But she did seem to know what she was doing most of the time and she did have thousands of years of experience on me.

Chaos spirit containment not withstanding.

She frowned. “You look dubious. You don't believe they will see me as Princess Luna rather than Nightmare Moon?”

I quickly shook my head. “It's not that, Luna. If they can't see that, they are blind. It's rather the tradition itself. I don't know what they do on Nightmare Night, but I do know that traditions are difficult to change. Especially those that lasted as long as Nightmare Night, if it has indeed gone on since your exile.”

Luna looked thoughtful at that. “You may have a point.” as she shifted on the couch. “As I understand it, the tradition is dedicated to hiding from and appeasing Nightmare Moon. I have not yet experienced it myself... Last time I was not ready.”

“...I was not exactly paying attention either last time.” I admitted with a shrug before I smiled.

“Would you like to join me?” She asked with a smile. “Perhaps seeing somebody by my side who is not afraid will help.”

I couldn't help but smile back despite how little I liked this entire public thing. If she wanted me there, I would be. Besides, it might be fun.

“I would like that.”

Luna nodded and flipped open my magic book again. “Let's see what this book is teaching you. Perhaps I can give you some pointers.”