Since it was a dream, the moon stayed in position, having no reason to move from its place amongst the astronomically correct stars. They chatted to each other as the night wore on, Twilight teaching Luna of the various astronomy titbits she had on the vast expanse of stars, galaxies and other astral objects. At the same time, Luna told Twilight stories of the stars, painting her history across the night-time sky.
“You know, it’s weird, our roles have like, reversed.” Twilight mused during a lapse in the conversation.
“How so?” Luna inquired.
“I mean, I was meant to look after you, and you were meant to teach me, but it’s ended up the other way around.” Twilight explained. Luna chuckled at the thought.
“Yeah, things have really changed in a really short period of time.” Luna replied. “However, there’s still so much more to do, even though Nightmare Moon was banished to the depths of my mind, she is still present and likely working her way out, and I doubt she would fall for the same trick again.” Twilight nodded, the banishment was not the end, it was merely a delay.
“No. I wouldn’t”

Twilight and Luna span around simultaneously, there atop the tree behind them was a mare. She stood against the night, the ethereal royal blue mane and tail blending in with the night and the polished armour glinting evilly in the moonlight. They jumped to their hooves, Luna taking stance a pace or so ahead of Twilight and slightly in front of her, as if acting as a shield for the other mare.
“Nightmare Moon!” Twilight declared redundantly, “How did you get here?”
“The same way my dear counterpart did.” Nightmare Moon said.
“The magical link?” Luna spoke up, Nightmare Moon nodded with a grin.
“But... What about the banishment?” Twilight asked, fearful that their banishment had failed and Nightmare Moon was here to extract further revenge upon their near-broken minds. Nightmare Moon let out the sort of laugh some might give to a foal who has asked a particularly stupid question.
“That little banishment did not stop me from entering dreams, it merely prevented me from controlling them.” Nightmare Moon said, dismissively waving an iron-clad hoof.

Twilight was still frowning in puzzlement.
“Why did you never appear before?” Twilight continued her questioning, still keeping her guard up. Nightmare Moon let out another laugh, it was the same laugh that would have struck fear into their hearts just a day or so ago. Now though, against the backdrop of the calm night, in the relative safety of Twilight’s dream, it didn’t seem so scary.
“I never had any inclination to.” She replied with a small shrug, content with only explaining the bare minimum.
“So you have one now?” Luna asked, knowing that it would be a simple matter to expel Nightmare Moon from the dream if needs be.
“It just so happens that I do.” Nightmare Moon replied with her sinister smirk, “I came to warn you actually, because I’m such a nice mare. You see, that little trick you had going with the fire elemental magic? That won’t work a second time, not because I’ll be expecting it, which I will, but due to the tiny, insignificant fact that it would kill me. And I’m sure you know what that means.”

Luna stood resolute, she knew that they would have to change tactics, but she didn’t have any idea it would be for this reason.
“Is that everything?” Luna asked, chin jutting out defiantly against their tormentor.
“Why yes, I do believe it is. I’ll leave you two lovebirds to your dreams. Oh! And remember that my banishment won’t last forever. I’ll see you soon.” Nightmare Moon said, flashing them a smile that showed off her fangs before slipping out of the dream. Once she had disappeared, Luna flumped to her haunches with a harrumph.
“Well, that’s put a damper on my night.” Luna said frustratedly, Twilight stepped forward so she was once more beside Luna.
“Yeah, think we should head off then?” Twilight asked, Luna gave a nod.
“Goodnight, Twilight” Luna said, fading out with a sigh. Twilight grimaced at the thought of Nightmare Moon and the prospect of having to come up with a new way to beat back Nightmare Moon before the dream realm faded to black around her and she slept soundly thence forth.

Twilight awoke with the sunlight in her eyes and she instinctively raised a hoof to shield them. She let out a silent yawn and looked over at Luna. Usually they woke up at the same time or Luna would wake up before her, but today Luna was still sound asleep, a soft snoring sound emanating from under pillow Luna had atop her head. Twilight let out a smile at the sight and quietly slid out of the bed so as not to wake Luna up. Twilight pondered what to do, it was still too early to make a start on breakfast, so what else could she do? Her eyes slid around the room, looking for something to occupy her whilst she waited for Luna to wake up. Her gaze fell on upon her bookcase, in particular a slender, leather-bound book. It had been much too long since she had written in it but better late than never.

Twilight pulled the book out and set it down at her desk, moving onto getting together a quill and ink. She prepped herself up to writing paragraphs to make up for the time she had missed, but when it came to summarising all of the feelings that spanned across the week, she had no idea where to start describing them all. She stared at the blank page for several moments, pondering what she could possibly write. Eventually she contented with a simple, three word sentence that accurately summed everything up. ‘I feel conflicted.’ Twilight sighed at her rather inadequate writing but tiding everything away none the less. Just as she slipped the tome back into its regular resting place Luna gave a small groan that was mimicked in the pillow on her head. She rolled over, the pillow falling off, and she groggily opened her eyes.

“Morning Twilight, you’re awake early.” Luna stated with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Morning.” Twilight replied with a smile, stepping away from the bookcase.
“So, what do you think we should do today?” Luna said once she had stretched her limbs with a satisfied groan. Twilight pondered the answer, what did she want to do?
“Well...” Twilight began, “Yesterday was amazing and all, but I think we should try and get back some sense of normality. As much as I would love it, we can’t just relax every day, and we are supposed to have duties whilst we’re here.” While Twilight referred to the both of them, she was directing the ‘duties’ part mainly at Luna, and they both knew it.
“Yeah, I guess I have been slightly lax on my teachings.” Luna said with a small nod, “And now that you mention you, I did have something that I wanted to teach you.

Due to Twilight’s level of magical ability, teaching her wasn’t as simple as being like ‘Here’s a new spell, go practice it.’ At her level it was all about the theory. This may seem boring to most but was actually quite fun for those more academically minded, or those adverse to actually performing magic for some reason or another. Luckily Twilight was both of those and found Luna’s lesson very enjoyable. Luna was a keen teacher with an in-depth knowledge of the subject and was able to answer each of Twilight questions (of which there was a lot) with relative ease. It was also good for Luna that magical theory hadn’t changed all that much over the millennium she had been away. It was one of those subjects which didn’t really change, but just had more added onto it as time wore on, much like mathematics.

Luna finished her talk on defensive transmogrification, a magic Luna hoped Twilight wouldn’t have to use as it is nigh on impossible to change back. She looked out the window and gauged it be just before midday.
“Ok, let’s finish up for today, it’s almost noon. What do you want to do now?” Luna asked. Twilight finished the sentence she was writing and closed her notebook.
“Why don’t we...” Twilight began before trailing off.
“Twilight?” Luna said, looking at Twilight concernedly when she failed to continue. Twilight shook herself out of her reverie and looked at Luna seriously.
“Luna, what day is it today?” Twilight asked, Luna told her. Twilight jumped to her feet.
“Horsefeathers! I can’t believe I forgot!” Twilight exclaimed, busying herself about the library, quickly brushing her mane and putting away her study stuff.
“Forgot what?” Luna inquired, watching on with a confused expression on her face.
“The picnic! Every week me and my friends get together for a picnic at Ponyville Park,” Twilight explained, “and it happens at noon!”
“Am I coming?” Luna asked, not bothering with subtlety, at the best of times Twilight would struggle to notice it, and now seemed not to be the best of times. Twilight stopped in her tracks, she hadn’t thought of that, what would her friends think if she just brought somepony else to their picnic? On the other hoof though, she couldn’t exactly just leave Luna behind.

“Erm... I suppose so.” Twilight replied slowly, mulling over hypothetical situations in her mind, Luna nodded. “So... Are you ready?” Twilight asked, there wasn’t actually much she needed to do to prepare for the outing, it wasn’t her turn to bring the snacks. Luna nodded once more.
“I would understand it if you didn’t want me to intrude, this is obviously something of great importance to you.” Luna said, nailing the cause of Twilight’s unrest instantly, not that it wasn’t obvious though. Twilight shook her head firmly.
“No, you’re going to be here for years with me, they should get used to you being around, not only that but we haven’t seen them for a while now and it would be good for you to get to know them some more.” Twilight explained.
“I see, and yes, I’m ready.” Luna said. They left the library, Twilight still mentally berating herself for forgetting their get together.

Luna on the other hoof, she was thinking of Twilight’s words, in particular the ones about her being here for years. It wasn’t that she was shocked by the news, she had already known it, it was that she didn’t know what would happen after those years. Even when Luna regained her powers of the night-time sky, she would still have that magical link with Twilight. She knew that she would have to take back her duties when that time came, but what of Twilight? It was possible for two linked ponies the live apart but it would greatly weaken them, much like being on the moon. Twilight would have to leave Ponyville if they were to stay together as the majority of Luna’s royal duties required her presence at the Castle. Twilight wouldn’t like it, it would mean leaving her friends and her life. But she must have known that she would have to go back to Canterlot at some point, after she had finished her study in friendship. This train of thought lead her to think of her sister’s ideas. If this entire situation didn’t happen and Twilight had finished her research into friendship, would Celestia still have given Twilight Luna as a new tutor? Would they have discovered their feelings? Or would they have stayed just friends? Luna’s introspective questioning was cut off though by their arrival at Ponyville Park. She realised she had been silent for the entire walk and glanced guiltily over at Twilight, but she seemed as caught up in her thoughts as Luna had been. Luna decided that she would need to have a discussion with Twilight, no matter how much they hated it, they needed to sort out the future. And then there was still the question of Nightmare Moon...

Twilight led Luna over to a section off the one side of the park with practised ease, they obviously always met in the same spot. Luna wondered if there was something special that had happened in that spot. There was so much of Twilight’s past that she didn’t know, and even more so the other way around. Twilight could already see her friends seated around the familiar tree, chatting to each other.
“Hi guys.” Twilight said in a friendly tone. They looked up and warmly greeted their friend, followed by some rather more formal greetings for Luna.
“Erm, hello.” Luna said awkwardly as the pair sat themselves down on the sheet laid out on the grass.
“So you finally turned up, thought you hate being ‘tardy’?” Rarity asked jokingly, she didn’t seem accusatory and Twilight smiled good-naturedly.
“Yeah, I guess we lost track of time.” Twilight replied, referring to herself and Luna.
“Oh, so you been spending some o’ yer alone time with your mare eh?” Applejack said with an exaggerated wink. Twilight blushed a deep red.
“No! Luna was just teaching me.” Twilight explained quickly.
“Ah’m just joshing with ya.” Applejack chuckled and Twilight’s face lost a bit of its hue, though not all.

Luna observed each of them in turn as they continued their friendly chat. Applejack and Rarity were the main speakers in the group, heading the conversation and asking questions to keep it flowing. Twilight talked a fair bit too, though she rarely asked anything. Rainbow Dash was sitting back and relaxing, occasionally chipping in with the odd comment. Then there was Fluttershy, she sat silently, occasionally sipping her tea, though she didn’t seem to take part in the talking and was content just to sit and listen she was still smiling and seemed to be accepted as a valid member of the conversation.
“Luna?”
Luna looked over at the source of the voice, snapping herself out of her observations.
“Hmm?”She replied.
“I asked whether you would like some tea, Your Majesty.” Rarity repeated herself to Luna, holding out a cup.”
“Oh, yes please, and please, call me Luna.” Luna said, taking the offered cup.
“Yes Pr-, uh, yes Luna.”
“Thank you.” Luna replied to both the tea and the use of her preferred addressment.

They all sat silently as the tea was handed out, save for a few ‘Thanks’ and the return ‘Your Welcome’s.
“So... What is it you do at these picnics?” Luna asked as the other mares stayed silent.
“Ah, mostly just chatting really, catching up with each other.” Rarity explained, Luna nodded.
“That reminds me! I was gonna ask where it was that you two went on that trip o’ yours.” Applejack added, the other mares nodded along, not many of them knew where they had gone for their journey for the other elemental magic artefact, aside from Rarity that is, and she probably didn’t have much details. Twilight turned to Luna.
“Do you want to tell them or shall I?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t mind.” Luna replied.
“Ok, you can do it then.” Twilight told her, settling into a more comfortable position. Luna nodded, knowing that Twilight was trying to get her to bond with her friends some more. She looked around the circle, all eyes were on her, even Rainbow Dash’s who had spent most of their time staring at the sky under a pair of sunglasses. However, since she was still wearing them it was hard to tell what she was actually looking at. Luna cleared her throat and told them of their journey through the Everfree Forest and to the cave on the mountain, neglecting the nightmares of course, Twilight and her both agreed that should be kept between them.

“Phew, sounds kinda spooky that cave, and I don’t much trust that Everfree Forest neither.” Applejack told the congregated ponies after Luna had finished talking. Luna gave a nod in reply. Now that everypony knew the story behind their quest of sorts, they placated themselves with talking amongst themselves, Luna occasionally adding something to the conversation and the other ponies accepting it easily. For one of the first times in her long life, Luna felt among friends.
“So tell me, how is the relationship going?” Rarity asked, always eager for gossip.
“Oh it’s going fi-” Twilight began, but was cut off by Rainbow Dash suddenly propping herself up and speaking.
“Ugh, do we have to talk about that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Now Rainbow,” Rarity replied without missing a beat, “I know you were never one for romance but that was rather rude, even for you.”
“I know, it’s just... Listen, just forget I said anything.” Rainbow Dash said, flopping back onto her back frustratedly. Rarity frowned at her.
“Is there something wrong?” Twilight asked, Rainbow shook her head resolutely.
“You know you can tell us anything dear.” Rarity reminded her, Rainbow Dash slowly got back into sitting position.

“It’s stupid.” Rainbow Dash told them, but continued anyway, now that she started she didn’t want to stop, “It’s just that...” She turned to Twilight, “I’ve always had a crush on you Twilight!” Rainbow Dash blurted out, immediately clapping both hooves over her mouth. Twilight leaned back in the shock that was apparent on her face. She was the only one. Twilight noticed that and her visage turned to one of confusion.
“Wait... How come you guys don’t seem surprised.” Twilight asked.
“Well, Rainbow isn’t exactly the most subtle of ponies.” Rarity replied, there were some nods from the other ponies.
“I... I don’t know what to say.” Twilight said, turning back to Rainbow Dash, who still had her sunglasses on, but she could see a single tear running down her cheek. Rainbow Dash, shook her head.
“It’s ok, I knew it would never happen,” Rainbow Dash sniffed, “and... and I’m happy for you, I just wanted, no, needed to let you know, ya know, get it off my chest.” Twilight nodded and gave Rainbow Dash a consoling hug.
“There’s plenty of better mares out there Rainbow, don’t think I’m the only one for you.” Twilight whispered to her, Rainbow Dash nodded, before taking a deep breath. She seemed to have calmed down now and sat back in her place, taking a Fluttershy-esque pose that told everyone that she was ok, but wanted to be left alone.

“Right. Well, I best be off, farm’s a-waiting for me.” Applejack said finally, rising to her hoofs, tipping her Stetson in their direction and heading off without waiting for a reply. The rest of the ponies gave each other their farewells and left.
“You ok?” Twilight asked once it was just her, Rainbow and Luna alone.
“Yeah... I just need to sort my thoughts out, you go on guys.” Rainbow Dash told them, Twilight nodded in reply and she and Luna made their way back to the library. When they arrived Luna sat Twilight down on the couch and got a quill and notebook out.
“Twilight, we need to think long and hard about this.” Luna said, setting down the supplies and taking her seat next to Twilight, a serious, determined look on her face.
“About what?” Twilight asked, it was just turning to late afternoon and the breeze ruffled her mane softly.
“The future.” Luna told her, Twilight bit her lip and nodded, she knew that they would have to do this one day.

They spent the rest of the afternoon and the evening discussing the future. They sorted out things like what Twilight would do once Luna regained her astral powers, if they would go ahead with getting the other elemental magic pieces, when they would tell the people of Ponyville that they had a princess living among them, and what to do with Nightmare Moon. On that last note they decided that against all previous promises, they would have to involve somepony else, namely Princess Celestia.
“I hate having to get my sister to do something else on top of all the work she has to do already.” Luna said, but she knew that if anypony could help them, it was her.
“I know what you mean, listen, let’s sleep on it, see if we still feel the same way in the morning.” Twilight said, Luna nodded at the reasonable suggestion and they tidied up the paper and quills, setting them on Twilight desk for later reviewing before climbing into Twilight’s bed, which now housed both of them. Luna slept with her forelegs wrapped around Twilight’s stomach and her nose nuzzling Twilight’s neck. Twilight fell asleep with a smile on her face.

For all of their talk of the future and things to come, neither of them made mention to their relationship, they didn’t know what would happen to it in the future, and they planned on keeping it that way.